Owing to the fact that I need some new fishing gear and bites being at a premium in this match, whilst fishing my thoughts were on what new items to buy, prices and places of purchase etc. It was during this time of reverie I thought of a young angler a friend of mine from school who definitely needed new gear. Here is his story.
The Communist and the Screeching Reel.
EEK SCREECH EEK SCREECH EEK SCREECH. He told us he couldn’t make it today” said Steve surprisingly Steve, Dave and me looked at each other, we were standing on the bank of Dunwear North pit, it was early morning. EEK SCREECH EEK SCREECH EEK SCREECH. “He’s over there said Dave pointing a finger.
The loud Screeching noise came from the reel of our friend Mark Murment. Owing to the size of the lake it took us about 3 minutes to get to Marks swim.
When we arrived at the spot where Mark was supposed to be fishing we were surprised to find his gear but not him. “Hi guys” it came from our right. The three of us turned to see Mark inching his way along a tree which grew out over the water from the bank. The branch that Mark was on was about a foot above the water and his aim was to get a float that was dangling from the end. He inched his way along to within a foot or so of the float, he reached out with his left foot as to catch the line attached to it. Now at this point I should tell you that Marks clothing was shall we say in a state of dilapidation and the same thing could be said of his shoes. For a start they had no laces in them. Well as Marks foot reached out towards the float his shoe succumbed to the power of gravity, Plop in it went. “Sod it I get the bloody thing now” (or words to that effect). He then maneuvered himself as so to use the other foot. In doing so a twig managed to somehow to attach itself to Marks remaining shoe, he tried to retrieve his foot Plop. Both shoes were now resting on the lake bed. Within two minutes Mark after some careful movements was back on the bank minus his shoes and of course the float.
Marks fishing tackle had the same characteristics as his attire, it was definitely lacking quality. To put it in plain terms you could say it wouldn’t look out of place on a city dump located in a third world country. His reel was a combination of a few reels put together and it appeared that the gearing in side was slightly mismatched hence the loud screeching noise. His rod was again a combination. Bottom half was a pier rod and the top half was from a spinning rod, and owing the incompatibility there was no easy fitting together of sections so as a make do solution both parts were just jammed together. His floats and shot were obtained from scavenging from the banks but he did buy line and hooks.
Any how in a short matter of time all of us four where fishing side by side. As I was watching my float my mind started to wander and thinking about the calamity of Marks recent escapade. Mark was certainly a character. My mind drifted still further to the week previous. We were all in class waiting for the lesson to start. Thud a jiffy bag landed on the table in front of me. “Got it, came in the post this morning” Mark said in an excited voice. I looked down at the jiffy bag and to my amazement the writing on the bag stated that it was from, of all places the embassy of the Soviet Union in London. A small group had now gathered around the table intrigued. Mark went on to explain that he had written a letter to the embassy explaining that he wanted to be a communist and could they send him any tips. Hence the jiffy bag, which contained an assortment of pamphlets and a hand book of Karl Marx.
My mind jumped back to the present caused by the excitement of Dave thinking that he had a bite. I turned around to see the others reaction when I noticed that Mark had been reading his newly gotten hand book of Karl Marx. “typical” I thought. The time came to pack up and head home.
Poor Mark had to make the journey in his socks. We got three quarters of the way home when it started to rain. It was then we decided that I should give Mark a piggy back to save his socks from getting wet. My gear was shared between Steve and Dave. Marks gear proved no problem as he only had the one rod and the rest of his gear was in a carrier bag.
As I carried Mark I felt some thing on the back of my neck. The bloody cheek Mark was actually reading his Karl Marx books and to rub it in was quoting from it.
“Men make their own history but do not make it as they please”
“ Reason has always existed but not always in a reasonable form” etc etc etc.
We thankfully reached Marks house, at this staged it should be said that Marks dad had all the personality of nitro glycerine. He could be rather explosive in nature. Steve and Dave stood at the garden gate for safety reasons. While yours truly with Mark still on my back went up to the front door. Mark rapped the knocker on the door and with in 15 seconds the door was opened and we were faced with a some what startled Mr Murment.
“What the F***”
“lost me shoes dad”
“And how the bloody hell did that happen”
“well I didn’t have any laces dad”
“What, no you just wait there, you just hang on there”
Mr Murments was pointing his finger at us and his voice was beginning to raise up a notch or two.
“Just stay there, don’t bloody move” He turned and disappeared in to the house moments later he returned. He was holding out his hand and in it was a ball of white string. With his voice raised up another notch.
“ What s this eh it’s been in the cupboard for bloody ages, oh no didn’t think about using this, I now got to go and buy you some more bloody shoes”
There was now a silence as he grimaced at Mark.
I was stunned by this outburst and some what embarrassed I slowly turned around and got Mark of my back and on to the front door mat. I stepped outside on to the door step, I turned around just in time to have the door slammed in my face. It should be noted that Mark was tough and took things on the chin, little episodes like didn’t bother him in the slightest.
I walked back up to the gate where Dave and Steve were. “ we still got his fishing gear” Steve said in a muted voice “ we can’t leave here at the gate it’s dustbin day tomorrow”
I grabbed the gear and walked up to door with it and quietly place it next to the step.
Both were at it now hammer and tongs.
“come the revolution people like you will go to the bloody death camps”
“Don’t you bloody quote that communist crap to me”
I walked back to the gate it was time to go.
| Peg | Position | Name | Silver | Carp | Total |
| 5 | 1st | Paul Smith | 14oz | 23lb 07oz | 24lb 05oz |
| 4 | 2nd | Dave Nash | 6lb 09oz | 14lb 08oz | 21lb 01oz |
| 13 | 3rd | Ian Townsend | xxxx | 19lb 12 oz | 19lb 12 oz |
| 1 | 4th | Pete Curnow | 05 oz | 19lb 01oz | 19lb 06oz |
| 3 | 5th | Phil Dodd | xxxx | 18lb 08oz | 18lb 08oz |
| 7 | 6th | Eric Searle | 3lb 03oz | 14lb 12oz | 17lb 15oz |
| 15 | 7th | Robb Dodd | 15oz | 12lb 12oz | 13lb 11oz |
| 9 | 8th | Alan Bland | 5lb 08oz | 7lb 09oz | 13lb 01oz |
| 2 | 9th | Bob Pascoe | 2lb 06oz | 9lb 05oz | 11lb 11oz |
| 8 | 10th | Alan Jenkins | 2lb 02oz | 3lb 13oz | 5lb 15oz |
| 12 | 11th | Dave Searle | xxxx | 5lb 07oz | 5lb 07oz |
| 14 | 12th | Dave Gartenfeld | xxxx | 4lb 10oz | 4lb 10oz |
1st on the day was Mr Paul Smith, when Mr Smith was approached for the weigh in he commented that this was the worst match he had fished in 2 years. Well never or less this angling veteran put 24lb 05oz on the scales for top spot.
2nd place was silvers basher Dave Nash who fished maggot for most of the match but some how managed 14lb 08oz of Carp.
3rd was the angling might of one Ian Townsend who fished pellet to amass a carp only weight of 19 12oz
Let it be said that these three anglers drew out unfancied pegs and to achieve the positions in the match that they did deserve credit indeed. Well done guys.
4th was yours truly yes you read that right I was 4th Must admit I had the favoured peg. On the day I lost 4 rigs to carp so this could be the story about the one who got away. I had 5 Carp all on sweet corn also had a small skimmer also on the same bait.
5th was feeder ace Phil Dodd. Phil had all his fish late on to gather a weight of 18lb 08 oz Phil tempted his fish with pellet.
6th was Carp maestro Eric Searle whose catch tipped the scales at 17lb 15 oz.
7th was end pegger Rob Dodd. Rob was out of form on this match apparently and could only muster 13lb 11oz. But be careful this guy is a force to be reckon with.
8th was match secretary Alan Bland. This gentleman fished meat for most of the time to claim a weight of 13lb 01oz.
9th was none other than the one and only Bob Pascoe. Bob struggled for bites and tried various baits for a weight of 11lb 11oz
10th was Mr Matrix man Alan Jenkins. Alan for the most part used corn as bait to get one Carp of 3lb 03oz and 2lb 02oz of silvers.
11th was Dave Searle who could only manage one Carp which was tempted on maggot.
12th was and by the skin of his teeth Dave Gartenfeld who managed to get his only fish a 4lb 10oz Carp in the dying minutes of the match.
Okay folks just to let you know that the next match is at Trinity Waters Saturday 18th July.
Tight lines
Pete C