Free Line 109 — October 2026 - Flipbook - Page 176
ALEX
PAUL HANSON
STEVE
BENNETT
BRIGGS
I moved back to the town c en t re s tre tc h e arly t h a t Au g u st a n d
m anaged to land a 26 lb mi r ro r a n d a 2 7 l b c o m m o n i n t h e s a me
n i ght .
I then fished the opposite bank a few weeks on and caught a
20lb leather.
Tip: Helicopter rigs seemed to present best in the weedy
conditions that exist in the town centre stretch.
I had an open season blank in town centre accompanied by
the trouble that occurs with fishing in town centre, brought
by the drunks that rallied around the banks at night . (This
only seemed to be an issue in town due to the pubs). I decided
to move upstream. The first night I fished at East Farleigh, I
managed to hook into a 21lb common with some scars followed
up by a 22lb jet black common!
The following night , I landed a chub weighing 9lbs 8oz, which
would have beaten the official UK record if I had submitted it .
At the time I did not want to report the location of the capture,
as I was worried that I would lose my newly found spot to keen
match fisherman.
Anyway, that was a season to remember, and I could talk for
hours about it . Many more carp were caught later on this season.
The fish:
Most seasons, I manage to ca tc h ro u gh ly t h e s am e n u m b e r
o f carp no matter how hard I t r y. I h ave be e n q u i te l u c k y w i th
t h e number of 30lb-p lus f i sh I h ave l a nd e d f ro m t h e M e dway.
I h ave had six different 3 0 s a n d o n e re ca p t u re i n t h e l as t n i n e
s e asons, averaging about o n e 3 0 l b c ar p i n eve ry te n c a p tu re s
u n til my fourth season where a 2 0 lb ca rp s ee m e d h a rd to c o m e
by, let alone a 30!
I do hope that we see a 4 0 l b c ar p c o m e o u t o f t h e rive r s o o n ,
FREELINE 62
