november-2026-free-line-part-2 - Flipbook - Page 80
FREE LINE / FIELD JOURNAL
JAMES COTTEE
FIELD NOTES
I knew that at 115 yards and baiting in a line over two rods, my bait was
going to be a lot more spread out and hopefully keep them in the area a
little bit longer as from what I ve learnt these carp like a bit of bait. So the
spot was sorted. Now just to apply some bait I ended up mixing up a 5kg
bucket of chopped and whole DT baits Supa Fruit boilies, pellet and corn.
After putting the bucket in, I sat back watching the lake and tied myself
three new slip D-rigs consisting of size 4 Ridgemonkey Curve Shank hooks
and 25lb Soft Camo braid tipped off with either an NBlend Match The
Hatch wafter or a Yellow Green Water Beast pop-up. Perfect! Two rods on
the dancefloor and another stuck into a solid bag at a showing fish.
After seeing a couple of fish show just after dark and not far from the spot,
I went to bed feeling quietly confident. I didn t have to wait too long, as at
half one, my middle rod s bobbin hit the deck. I ran out to the rod as quickly
as any of us do awoken from our slumber at that time in the morning
expectant of a tench. I wound down through the slack and made connection,
and shortly after, all thoughts of tench were gone as the clutch started
to tick. A short, spirited fight saw me land my first fish of the session, a
respectable 26lb 8oz mirror, which nearly evaded capture twice after my
head torch decided to die on me. I m really not one for head torches, but
sometimes in the pitch black they really do help to see what you re doing.
After a long debate with myself at two o clock in the morning, I left the
rod out of the water, as I couldn t see the island out in the darkness. My
thoughts were that if I crossed my other line, either rod could cost me a
tangle and even a lost fish, plus I still had one on the dancefloor.
With that done, I wrapped the rod and checked the hook point and rig.
She was still good to go, so I put on a fresh hookbait and set my alarm for
first light.
It really didn t seem like long after I put my head on the pillow that I was
back up and racing down to the rods again.
FREE LINE
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