Desperate Times Call For Desperate Measures...

[slinkymalinky]

Well I finally cracked under the pressure of fishless weeks. I just got back from the little dam at the bottom of our street where I had a 15 minute session harassing the local carp population.

It's something that I only seem to do when the weather, house, work, have conspired to keep me off the water. It always makes me feel slightly guilty that a grown man can be reduced to desperately trying to catch mud-sucking slugs in a pond... in full view of passing traffic and a lot of my neighbours.

Anyway... here's the important info. Tackle was a Silstar HG Graphite 1-3kg rod with a Shimano Stradic 1000. I felt a little undergunned but I haven't put any line on my 20000 Stella yet. Got to Spot X (my secret plank on the little jetty) and started cubing with Sunblest.

Cubing mud suckers takes incredible patience and the temptation to move was strong when after 2 minutes I still hadn't seen any action. Eventually though my persistence paid off when the broad cream and orange shoulders of a stud carp slowly appeared in the trail.

My hands were shaking as I fed a shortened Gulp Turtleback worm onto the little worm hook and dropped it in the trail. I held my breath as the magnificent fish came up slowly beneath the little plastic... inspected it with all the wily caution of a bush pig... and inhaled my offering.

I gave the fish a metre or 2 of line to get the lure down and struck hard. The water exploded in a shower of small ripples!!

The great foe made a powerful dash for freedom stripping off maybe 2 or 3 inches of line against a powerful drag setting, then began to doggedly circle. After what seemed like hours but was probably only 90 seconds, with my back arms and shoulders aching, I managed to scramble down to the precarious rocks on the bank.

The golden flanks of the mud sucker shone with the luster of mustard in the morning light as he slid towards the waiting lip grips. After a few aborted attempts to get the grips into its condom-like mouth, I finally had my prize. 3kg of prime fertilizer.

I couldn't deprive such a noble adversary of its freedom so... despite regulations to the contrary (and because I didn't want to get smelly and deal with the mess) the magnificent fish was released... disappearing slowly into the coffee like depths of the pond to await my return.

My only regret as I walked back up the hill was that I hadn't taken my camera to show you all its stunning beauty. Next time......

Cheers, Slinky

[robeebee]

that's the best post i have ever read

top stuff mate

[Ray R]

I sat here and read the entire story, what a great offering, Slinky you should author a book....

[sadamson]

Great report and you were brave enough to go out on such a crap day.Good thing you did not have your camera no evidence.

[Hodgey]

Terrific read, Tony.

I don't think I have read such eloquent prose written about the pursuit of the humble carp!

Hodgey

[shefford]

HAHAAHA

powerful dash for freedom stripping off maybe 2 or 3 inches of line against a powerful drag setting, then began to doggedly circle. After what seemed like hours but was probably only 90 seconds

Classic

[jewgaffer]

Tony that was a very well written story 100/100 for pure elegance I like the way you handled the light gear, tightened up and only allowed the carp to use the line angles.

I won't fish for those critters until they put a bounty on their rectum, any speed cameras in that passing traffic ? .

Cheers

jewgaffer

[gdcalmer]

Hi Slinky

Interesting,my brother lives in Kellyville, and also has a pond down the bottom of his street with carp in it.

His wife Dawn takes their grandsons down there for a fish.

Ring any bells?

Wendy.

[slinkymalinky]

Hi Slinky

Interesting,my brother lives in Kellyville, and also has a pond down the bottom of his street with carp in it.

His wife Dawn takes their grandsons down there for a fish.

Ring any bells?

Wendy.

Hi Wendy... I don't know anyone named Dawn but it's quite possible we're nearly neighbours. I just got back from another walk to get some photos of the trophy fish I'll post them in a sec.

Cheers, Slinky

[arpie]

Hi Slinky

Top report & most enjoyable read! Almost made me want to go out & target the under-rated Carp!! Only ALMOST!!

Hmmm - was this the grilled slug that rated so poorly, behind (or was it in front of) my lovely Lambs Fry & Bacon???

Well done - shame you didn't have the camera to immortalize the moment for ever!

Cheerio

Roberta

[andrew399]

Moderators please review this post for immediate deletion in relation to illegal fishing practices ie releasing carp! you criminal!!

Na just kidding, that was an extremely well written report! And to be so entertaining without any photos almot makes up for your criminality!

Edited June 15, 2008 by dicko

[Laredo]

just want to remind you that carp do an awful lot of damage to native species.

[bongie555]

hemingway eat your heart out..... lol. great report,I seriously had shivers running down my back reading it

[andrew399]

just want to remind you that carp do an awful lot of damage to native species.

not in a pond at the end of the street they dont!

[Zerko]

The golden flanks of the mud sucker shone with the luster of mustard in the morning light as he slid towards the waiting lip grips. After a few aborted attempts to get the grips into its condom-like mouth, I finally had my prize. 3kg of prime fertilizer.

Reads like a Mills & Boon. Love it.

[Spanker]

Hahahahahahahahahha

Well done sir!

You should see the carp in the Lane Cover River off the weir. Some of those beast would be 10kg+

Spanker

[gretsch]

Shear poetry.. PJ Garn has a competitor!!!

[ElwoodBlues]

That was a very well written report

It fully sucked me in and I couldnt stop reading

I think you should send it in to a fishing mag to be published

well done