Stu Lennox enjoyed mix fortunes at Hardwick Smiths on the Linear complex recently, including an incident which we have never heard of before! Read on…
Hardwick dawn
With our daughter having been born only three weeks ago the wife kindly suggested I head out for a quick overnighter, if only to get some sleep above all else. I wanted to stay relatively close so headed to the Linear Fisheries complex.
My chosen lake was Hardwick/Smiths simply because it is my favourite lake on the complex. I spoke to the very helpful bailiffs down there and it had been fishing hard, probably because the whole complex had been hammered over the Easter weekend. I arrived about an hour after first light and was lucky to see some fish show straight away. The peg I wanted to give me the best access to those fish was full, but he would be pulling off that day so I dropped a bucket and headed back to the van to tie some rigs.
Tied up a few hinges
A couple of hours passed and so it was time to drive to the swim and unload, I reversed out of the car park, straight over my kettle which I had been making brews with at the side of the van!
Whoops!
Putting that behind me I finally got to the swim and had a quick marker around in the area the fish had been showing. I found a small raised area that fell off either side into deep water and weed. I decided to try and squeeze all three rods onto the spot and for speed and ease I was going to use hinged stiff rigs using the ESP size 5 Short Chods, fluorocarbon booms and the awesome Ejector Lead clips due to the surrounding weed. Hookbaits were a white CC Moore Northern Special on one rod and two on Pacific Tuna Corkball pop ups glugged in the Tuna L030 liquid.
What are the chances?
I lined up to cast the first rod out and then experienced one of the oddest moments I’ve had while on the bank. I flicked the rod out but as it hit the 12 o’clock position above me there was a commotion, the lead landed short and the next instant a poor, tiny bird landed at my feet. Stone cold dead! Of all the sky to fly in it had to be in the exact same position as my 3oz lead!
I baited up with my take anywhere mix of fresh hemp, maize and maples from CarpParticles UK. Starting off with 20 spods and planning to top up after any fish.
Rods all sorted
With all the rods out and sorted and darkness upon me I decided to make some supper and encountered the final straw. I had forgotten a tin opener and all my food was tinned! I was forced to eat my emergency can of Spam with a ring pull lid!
With all this bad luck I was certain the night would end in a blank but three lovely, double figure stockies at first light more than made up for all the hassle!’
Stu Lennox