Today, at last, I managed to get a morning session in down on the Royal Military Canal. With just eight days remaining of the English "Pike season" I knew it might be my final chance so, despite the filthy water, I gave it my best shot. Now in March, I knew exactly where I needed to be and because of this left home around 04.30 hrs. I had two baits in the water by 06.15 hrs and the waiting game commenced. Sunrise was 06.31 hrs and I'd already experienced two aborted takes before, at 08.10 hrs, I finally got the bite I wanted.
The set-up which did the trick included one of the ABU "Carbon Specimen" rods fitted with the John Wilson "Heritage" centrepin reel. It was a fantastic scrap and I was a trembling mess when I finally managed to coax my prize over the net chord. It seems crazy that even after all these years, landing a decent fish can still cause such adrenaline rushes. The scales revealed the fish to weigh 18 lbs (and a smidge) thus constituting the largest Pike I've landed this season. Even with a polarizing filter fitted to the kit, my self-takes weren't particularly good. This was not helped by bright sunshine and the fact that the canal has been a filthy mess for the entire winter and, as a result, the Pike appear pale and washed out,
With a bit of luck, on my side, I might just be able to get another session in before 14th March? If I can't, then I have to admit that today was a very pleasing way to finish my campaign.
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