Another long common from last night...
I was sat in my office as afternoon became evening last night and suddenly got the urge to wet a line. Okay, it wasn't a sudden urge, I had been listening to the wind in the trees all day whilst they swayed around in the corner of my eye.
Did I really need to work until dark again?
Would the world stand still if I didn't?
Would the carp be passing by my favourite evening pitch?
Before I knew it a flask was made, the 10 ft'ers loaded with centrepins were in one hand, my small canvas bag on my shoulder and The Land Rover was once again off on a mini adventure.
The wind was cutting into where I knew it would be cutting in. I had bait left from the weekend which was just starting to sour and knowing how much the carp seem to like it right at the start of it not smelling so great to me I emptied my bucket in the edge then did a full lap of the 10 acres with my gear on my back. The mozzies loved this!
Extra sweat built up with being only lightly laden with tackle seemed to ring the blood available here bell.
I found carp cruising the shallows, but so too were the coots, mallards and swans. I stood watching the carp for a while, but didn't fancy the feather warfare.
So, it was back to where I had tipped my bait in. Already the gin clear water had started to take on a milky tinge, something was on the bait already. I refrained from standing to see exactly what, for the water in incredibly clear. My 'Wallis' cast fortunately this time was just that and not a 'Wally' cast as can often happen when you are trying to be extra stealthy.
The line was flicking around almost straight away, I'd got the hook bait in without spooking what ever was feeding. Several times I reached for the rod thinking I was away, but each time managing to control the instinct to snatch back until I was sure it was a take and not simply the line catching on fins. Finally with a tightening of the line and a bulge in the water, I was connected. The rod bent much further than what you would describe as a healthy bend and line ripped from the reel against the palm of my left hand. 10, 20, 30 yards and a sudden turn in direction followed by a furious water smashing leap. in the 42 years I have been catching carp I had only ever had two carp leap during the fight until I started to fish here. For some reason these long carp take to the air which is such a spectacular sight.
With the speeds this fish was reaching it was so obviously one of the old strain which can't be too far removed from the old wildies. Finally in the net, my opponent still hadn't had enough and constantly charge inside the net, very grass carp like. What a furious creature it was. On the mat I seemed to be peeling mesh back forever before I revealed it's massive tail. I absolutely love these old strains and hopefully they will somehow manage to keep reproducing before they are lost for good.
It might not be a monster, but it gave me a massive kick and must be one of the longest common's I have had for length to girth ratio.
I was back home before dark, mission accomplished.
