november-2026-free-line-part-2 - Flipbook - Page 40
FREE LINE / FIELD JOURNAL
PAUL OXENHAM
FIELD NOTES
Cursing my selection of longer rods for this trip, and with an awkward
side-swipe of a cast across my left side, I just about managed to flick a 2oz
running lead and baited rig out to the general vicinity. It certainly felt like
a soft, silty drop, and I didn t feel inspired with confidence. The line was
carefully sunk, the indicator laid on the floor, and I wandered back to the
Point, thinking I d better put the net between the two rods in the Point and
the rod now in the little hideaway to my right. As I laid the net down, the
old Delkim gave a series of quacks , and the indicator pulled tight to the
rod. Before the line had even released from the clip, I had given the rod a
sideways wallop and was connected to a very heavy feeling fish.
With a shout of Fish on! I struggled to keep the fish from getting under
the marginal overhanging bushes to my right. As it lunged for the snags,
large vortexes were being sent up in the deep margin with plumes of leaves
and clouds of silt spreading over a wide area. Minutes before, I was kicking
myself for the choice of long rods, but now the extra reach and power
allowed me to get a good angle and just about keep control over the still
unseen fish.
I slowly gained the upper hand, and eventually it swung around in front.
As it took a gulp of air, Will slid the net under an obviously sizeable fish. At
the bottom of the bank, Will peered into the net with a comment of Holy
s**t! Look at the size of THAT! I d bagged a special one.
I was in a complete daze, but thankfully Ray, Andy and Will helped me
weigh her, a new PB for me and first UK forty at 4lb 8oz. I d achieved
my lifetime ambition and captured a proper lump, and what a fish it was.
Everything felt slightly unreal
an out of body experience , I later wrote
in my diary. After I d jumped fully clothed into the margins to gently return
her and the back-slapping, handshakes and congratulations were done,
everyone drifted off, and I was left alone with my thoughts. It was difficult
to take in the enormity of achieving what I d dreamed of for so long.
FREE LINE
40
