Free Line 109 — October 2026 - Flipbook - Page 222
ALEX
GRAHAN
PAUL HANSON
STEVE
BENNETT
BRIGGS
STEVENS
the fish in the net, but similar to the Savay looking one I had earlier in the
season, it didn’t have the weight. John Wilson’s saying of, “It’s not as big
as I first thought… ha ha ha!” springs to mind. On the scales, it went 29lb
8oz, still a big fish by ‘main river’ Thames standards. It looked superb in
its winter colours – dark on top with yellows and a bit of pink on its belly.
Nothing more happened that night, and I left the river, already clucking to
get back for the last weekend of season. Unfortunately, it had rained nonstop
in between the sessions, and the river was up and coloured. I did manage to
winkle out a 9lb-odd barbel and one at a PB-shaking 13lb 14oz on the first
night, but the river rose and fell by over two feet the following day, and that
was that – the end of the season.
Whilst I’ve been typing this, I’ve worked out that I’ve caught carp from
every section on the Thames from below Teddington lock up to Eton lock,
except one. I think I’ll have a go on that section this year…
FREELINE 10 8
