Darryl Dunn had a superb result last week with a new PB common – well done Darryl!
‘I was so keen to get back to my Kent syndicate I went straight from work after completing a 12 hour night shift.
I spent a good couple of hours scouting about when I arrived trying to find fish with little luck. A chilly northerly wind had pushed them out of all the haunts I had found fish before.
As I was still fairly new to the water and by now I was flagging a bit myself, I chose an area on the back of the wind. I unloaded the car only to discover that I had left both of my landing nets at home. I was now faced with a 160 mile round trip to fetch them or find the nearest tackle shop and quickly purchase a net. I cursed my lack of sleep and forgetfulness and set off in search of a replacement.
I was soon back in the swim, new net in hand and eager to get things sorted. Thankfully everything went quite smoothly after that. Three hinged stiff links were positioned on spots I was happy with and the bed was calling for a couple of hours well needed sleep.
Darryl’s hook pattern of choice
I had been asleep for 2-3 hours when I was awoken by the tune of an alarm. It turned out to be a mid double pike. Another stiff link was tied up using the Tungsten Loaded and a size 5 Cryogen SR hook, and was soon back out on the spot.
Fish activity was very quiet both that evening and at first light the next morning, probably due the the relentless chilly wind.
Mid morning arrived and I was perched on the bed chair supping on a brew when my left hand rod burst into life and hooped round. I was quickly on it as a fish swirled on the shallow margin spot I had hooked it on.
I could see straight away that this was at last a carp but thought it looked like a smallish common. I bullied it a bit to stop it making the reed bed and soon had it a couple of rod lengths out. The fish rolled and then powered off into deeper water with me thinking “That’s a bit bigger than I first thought”.
The fight then became much more like a typical big fish fight, slow and purposeful . Patience won the day and I had what looked now like a 30lb common coughing water as I slid the net under her. It was only then that I got a good look at her and the width across her back. “Hmmm……That may be a little bigger than I had first thought ” I chuckled. When I hoisted her up onto the scales she went 44lb on the nose, a new PB common for me and a very pretty fish to boot.
Another 24 hours passed with no more action but I went home a very happy man’.