Like Ali versus Foreman a new dawn broke. A bloody painful dawn after a 1am finish at the Chiefs and a sleepless night. 5.30am alarm call, a wash of the eyes with coffee, pasties placed on board and off across the Midland's Foreman sped - into the West! If only SatNav would drive the car as well!
I think he's on peg 19 somewhere - Circa 1920's
As usual the two anglers had not learnt their lesson and arrived before the fishery was officially open. Full of optimism local knowledge was sort and an abundance of options presented themselves. They initially explored Milo, up to their ankles in mud a la Passchendaele, it was ignored, some signs of life, but heavily shelled and local knowledge wasn't encouraging. Owner suggested Arena - now only pleasure fishing to save it for Fish-o-mania, Suez, Tara, Drumble, Milo - basically every lake. So armed with maggots as arrows and feeders as bows Drumble offered the best option for a few quarry on mild February morrow.
Can you see the sun shining!
Selecting pegs 18 and 19, with enough space for the missing third musketeer (in fact the whole lake) the competitors cast forward. Things were looking good as the sun shinning Foreman caught a small chub first chuck. More followed with Ali constantly exchanging punches. Barbel for Ali, chub for Foreman. The odd Tench, Bream and Carp.
Ali's Tench - Unusual for Feb?
But it was slog of a match, pellet tried but to no avail, close to the island pick up a fish then nothing, mid water pick up a fish then nothing, no real reason to any of it. Red maggot took all the fish. Ali taking all the barbel, Foreman not one? Fish would come in twos and threes between the anglers and then long stretches with nothing. Water still very cold and very little activity on the surface. Weather at its max about 13 degrees and a mild evening - but it needs time to warm up. Back to the lows next week of 1 or 2.
2lb Bream
Biggest fish 2lb bream with carp of just smaller size. Fish were lost by both anglers on the way in and Foreman was broke close in by a fish he never saw, clutch too tight for 2.5lb hook length - busted!
Overall a win for Ali easily on weight - 14 fish each with Ali getting one after the all in was called. Incorrectly informing Foreman that he was still fishing, as Foreman handed him his landing net with one hand and waved his detackled reel at Ali with the other?
Nice to dust off the kit, Foreman had about 8lb with Ali around 10lb. Could be an interesting season if feeder is the tactic.
Cudmore definitely worth another visit soon as a mid way point between Shrewsbury and Nottingham, with warmer weather a serious day could be had on Drumble either on pole or Feeder.
Where is this guy?
