Fourteen Is Two Part Two; Two And Two Makes Four...14/10/2013

Fourteen Is Two Part Two; Two And Two Makes Four...14/10/2013 Flushed with the success of my goby and smelt session I headed over to Beccles to get some freshwater species on the board. The wind had dropped inland and the water was still; despite the recent rain and wind the weed wasn't apparent floating on the surface like normal and the water wasn't cloudy. Shouldn't have any trouble trolling up a pike on the way down to the chub spot. If I had not left my multitude of lures at home! Damn, what could I use? Flounder spoon! Treble hook on the floor of the car, swivels added to split rings and job's a good 'un. That's one rod set up. Second rod - shot and 24 off, 16 and a 5bb waggler will do for a start. I have brandlings and some maggots from a quick stop at the shop on the way. Good to go. Threatening rain so I'm in a drysuit, forgot how much I hate wearing things tightly around my neck. Tough. I paddled down to the bridge, surprising myself by the spoon having not hooked up weed once on the way down. Good show, it rises to the top and misses the weed, that's a new trick for next summer! No bites though so I pull in to my usual spot. two red maggots go on the size 16. water depth is what I favour, flow direction is what I want, speed is okay...I cast in. Perfect. The float starts to run back across, dips (that's the ridge) comes up and goes under as expected. That'll be Mr. Chavender; chub to you and I. Sure enough... Lovely feel on the IM10 Higher Modulus. I flick to the slack water beyond the pilings...wait a minute or two, rebait and flick again with two reds, the float is jiggling, small stuff, probably dace. I reel in, maggot is sucked out. two on, flicked out again...the float bobs a couple of times, third time it dips under and I strike, yes! It shoots off, feels like a chub again but as it comes close I see it isn't, it's a Rudd! two species! Into the lilies this time, ten minutes and then finally it goes under; species three is a roach. Super job! I try a few different spots, catch more roach and Rudd. I go for a paddle, stop and fish by a duck. Had your cousins for tea the other night mr. Get nothing. Where are the perch? not about. I go on the troll again, maybe I’ll find them up at Barsham. past the rowing club, a couple of roach and then, moving off I get a few hundred yards before the rod pulls down - the biggest, meanest, most feisty pike of the day. The only one as it happens! It had the rear treble in the gills, greedy bugger! It takes a while, the weather is nice though, the water is clear and reflective. A few signs of wind damage, my old fishing spot at Gillingham taking the worst of it with a downed tree that's fallen into the water. I stop here and there, catch a few more roach, take a few more pictures. I get to Barsham, the perch aren't here. I spend an hour there, nothing perchy happening but finally I get something; another Rudd. I move off just as the pump opens up with a roar and a gurgle. I head back and home, arriving in time to start dinner with my wife none the wiser that I've been out fishing, let alone twice!