november-2026-free-line-part-2 - Flipbook - Page 60
FREE LINE / FIELD JOURNAL
STEVE CARTWRIGHT
FIELD NOTES
I always stick a PVA mesh bag on pre-casting, as I find with the snowman
hookbait, it sits perfectly when the bag starts to break down. Once again,
all goes quiet, but I bait the same spots around 7pm with fresh baits on the
hairs and cast out once again for the night.
The temperature dropped once again, and a mist developed over the lake
from 11.30pm from the cold air hitting the lake water, which was warming
up slowly due the sun throughout the daytime hours. I have to be honest;
I did not expect anything that night. I got in to my bag, watched a movie
on Netflix via my phone and was fast asleep come midnight. I know I must
have been fast asleep around this time, as at 00.15hrs, the sounder was
blasting out on the middle rod again.
I sort of got up out of the bag eventually, hit into the fish, and with no
drama to be honest, I netted a nice common within a couple of minutes. It
looked a healthy one, chunky, and my first thoughts were that it could be
close to 30lb. I left it in the net while I got the camera gear ready, zeroed
the scales and weighed the fish Nope, not a 30, but a nice, healthy looking
28lb 15oz. One of the guys came round to take some photos for me. They
ain t great, but that is another story. I thanked him and back to bed I went
for a very uneventful night again.
The next day, the sun pops out, and a few carp started to cruise the lake. I
am in Second Point, a great swim to intercept them, as casting is no more
than 45 yards. I look around for my controller float, and it has disappeared.
Zippy, 29lb 2oz
FREE LINE
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