Free Line 108 — September 2026 - Flipbook - Page 203
TONYSTEVE
SWEETAPPLE
BRIGGS
a new rig and rowed back o u t . A fe w h o u rs l a te r t h e s a m e
ro d screamed off with a n ew P B co mm o n o f 2 1 l b 5 o z . I t wa s
d e finitely worth the rig in t h e mo u t h th a t ni gh t .
T h e next s eason got a lot b et te r w i t h e i gh t c a rp i n to t a l . I g o t
my first one two days into t h e s e a s o n , an 1 8 l b 1 5 o z c o m mo n ,
fo llowed by a dark 18 lb 2 o z c o m mo n . A co up l e o f n i gh t s l a te r,
I had a new PB mirror top p i n g t he s ca l es at 2 9 l b 7 o z. N ow I
s t arted to think about a T h a me s 3 0 , b u t a s l o n g a s I g o t o n e
i n the net each seas on, I wa sn’ t b o t h ere d. I t i s a ll a b o u t t h at
m oment when the alarm scre am s , th e re el s g o ma d a n d th e ro d
i s bent around, never know i n g wh at i s o n th e en d – th e j oys o f
t h e Thames! I also had a P B b arb e l t h at s e as o n a t 13 l b .
T h e following season, I g o t my d riv i ng li c e n c e , a n d I c a u gh t
s i x carp: the biggest two we re 2 2 l b 9 o z, a co m mo n a n d a 2 2l b
1 2 oz mirror. It was at this t i me th a t I g o t th e n i c k n a me T h am es
FR E ELINE 93
