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Still
determined after last nights Rudd session was cut
short, I returned to the same area where I had
landed the 2lb 8oz specimen and continued to fish
with the same tactic, float fished corn over micro
pellet. The weather was a lot better and even though
the cloud was still out in force the rain wasn't
anywhere to be seen. Sitting back in my chair,
watching my float through the parted rushes I could
clearly see the odd small bubble break the surface,
a sure sign a decent Rudd was feeding over my bait.
Since targeting the species seriously, I have been
very lucky to observe their behaviour and get used
to the tell tale signs of them in the swim. Rudd
bubbles are very unlike Tench and Bream, which tend
to fizz up the bottom; Rudd seem to give off a few
small bubbles every now and then.
By now
my eyes were locked onto my float, I just knew
something was about to happen. Slowly the float
began to knock and edge towards the pads, and then
it slid away. As I struck, I felt what was obviously
a very good fish kicking underneath the pads, and if
it was a Rudd, it was a very good fish! As I eased
the fish out into open water, I still couldn't see
anything due to the murky water. I reached for the
net and got it in position, by now I was shaking
like a leaf, I was barely 30 seconds into the fight
but it felt so much longer. The next thing I know a
huge golden flank hits the surface, causing me to
greet it with some quite unsavoury language!
The
next time I see the monster, it's laying beaten on
the surface and in instantly in the back of the net.
Looking down at the fish on the mat and I'm
speechless, its a big fish alright, and a pretty
beaten up one at that! After shaking off the shock,
I do the honours with scales and weigh in a new PB
at 3lb 7oz - Well that more than made up for the
opening day disaster!
I
continued to fish on and land a couple more decent
Rudd plus Tench and Bream, but before long I needed
to get home and look at the pictures! When home,
close inspection of past photo's proved that this
fish was indeed one I had previously caught, in fact
I caught it at a personal best weight of 3lb 4oz in
2004! He has a very distinctive black spot just
below his dorsal. Unfortunately he doesn't look as
in good-a nick as he did back then, but I suppose he
must be well over 10 years old! |
