november-2026-free-line-part-2 - Flipbook - Page 56
FREE LINE / FIELD JOURNAL
STEVE CARTWRIGHT
FIELD NOTES
Hook and bye! For reasons beyond me and the constant slagging off one
of my mates as to why I do what I do, I weighed it at 50lb 4oz. I even tried
to take a picture with it, but as you will see in picture, I am obviously over
the moon with the capture, but it is out of the way now that s my first
and last ever picture with a cat. I apologise now to you catfish enthusiasts,
but they are not for me ever.
Night time came and once again, it was freezing with frost on the ground
from around 11.30pm, but I had a very nice sleep courtesy of a nice bottle
of Cabernet Sauvignon, a racy French brand that enables the taster to sleep
well. I do not rebait early hours, and leave the rods out in position with one
on an end-of-island drop-off, one to an overhanging tree on the far margin
and one to the 70-yard spot.
I sit there with a brew, Yorkshire of course, thinking I will stay and do the
third night, as you never know.
At 10.30am, again the rain starts to come down d j vu, eh? I sit there
thinking, nah, no way, then yes yes way! The right hand rod melts off
again leave it out! Away we go, get soaked, but whatever now. A few
minutes pass, and in the net is another gorgeous, dark fish. This one called
Pawprint, and on the scales, round they go to 28lb on the nose, thank you
very much a cracking fish! You know, you do not care being soaked when
you are catching, do you? All settled back down, weather gets sunny again
and all is good in the world I have had Zippy, so I was happy as Larry.
For the past five years, I have been using Key Baitsolutions ASM boilies.
I have always managed to winkle a few fish out, but I ve had so many big
hits on this bait, it is incredible. I do tend to smell of ASM when fishing,
and for those that have not had the pleasure, it is gross I totally swear
by it, and you still have to fish well to catch, but when they get on it, they
seem to stay on it. A good bait for me is an easily digestible, soft bait if you
like, and we just love each other end of discussion as do the fish. Ok,
so a few hours later, I get a run on the 70-yard rod another scaly devil
but a bit smaller at 21lb.
FREE LINE
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