Another ‘Target’ hit!

Well….. this is a bit embarrassing….but I’ll get over it.

The second of the Bordeaux ‘Target Fish’ was banked today, and your ‘Roving Reporter’ was the man to do it, on what was the busiest day at Bordeaux so far this year.

A later than usual start for me meant that there were fourteen cars in the car park when I arrived! So, peg selection was somewhat limited, but, as is so often the case at Bordeaux, no-one had made the trek down to the island pegs. I went for peg 25 and set up in my usual MO of fishing on the pole along the margin, feeding with maggots, sweetcorn and activated cell pellets, with an 8mm pellet as hook bait on a banded size 14.

Seven hours later and without a bite, I had just decided to pack up, when there was the slightest bob on the float and then it went just below the surface but without disappearing. I suspected a small Roach or Ide, so just flicked the pole to try to hook it…….

It went off like the proverbial train and I was convinced I had foul hooked. Twenty minutes later I was able to slide the net under the biggest fish in the lake.

It tipped the scales at 20lb 13oz, which very pleasingly means it has added five ounces since being stocked, even though it has been pretty cold. It was still unblemished and was hooked perfectly in the top lip. Sadly there was no-one else about so no picture of me holding it…….

SO…..I get to name it…….I have decided on ‘Pole Dancer’, just to emphasise how it was caught.

In one of those delicious angling ironies….. this means that both ‘Target Fish’ have been caught by members who were not really, erm, targeting them.

I would also say that it underlines that the top end of the lake is well worth exploring, so recommend you get your hiking boots out next time you visit.

TIGHT LINES!

[Trevor Kappes]