More success and a rare sighting

Benno and I returned to the RMC for yet another session after pike. Our chosen section has really produced the goods for us, of late. True to form, the only bite during a six hour stint, fell to one of my (three) rods and resulted in another fantastic fish; this time one of 19lbs 4oz. As is our ritual, we got photos of both flanks, although we could already see that it was a new fish by some pronounced scarring on the top of its' head and an old hooking scar on the right side of the mouth.

It was a fantastic looking fish which had a proper tear-up before it was ready for the net - I was using a 13' 2 3/4lbs T.C. Tri-cast with an ABU Cardinal 155 - a bit heavy by my usual standards.
It is very difficult to know whether or not we are being successful - is one bite for 36+ rod hours a good return for our efforts? I do know that when Benno and I look back over the season, we will see it as a very enjoyable period - a bit like how I view the memories of my school holidays; the summers were always sunny!

We recorded a Woodcock, at dawn, and had a couple of sightings of a magnificent male Marsh Harrier. Brian Harper telling me that this is a good bird locally! At least three Common Buzzards, a Little Egret and several Kingfishers were able to brighten up the time we spent at the venue. However, the rarest sighting, we had, was of a Cinque Ports AS bailiff. The first one we have seen this season - so the £10 day-ticket fee was money well spent. The young bailiff is a very likeable chap, although a match angler! Looking at the ticket, it is clearly stated that two rods are the limit - hey-ho! Now we know, we'll make sure we are little more cute with our use of that "extra rod" and not present a version of the Grand National course with six rods spread out along the top of the bank.