
Observation is the Key
We welcome Jerry Hammond to the Fortis Collective. Jerry is a great addition to the team, a well experienced Carp Angler from Broxbourne, Essex. His talents allow him to catch them from the bottom, off the top, or mid water! He is a mobile, observant angler and his knowledge will be a great asset to our future developments. We join Jerry on a tale from one spring…
“Early spring a few years back now, it was perfect conditions for the fish to turn up in a bay at the very end of the lake I was fishing. The wind was warm for the end of March and was gently blowing all day right into this bay. I was so sure that they would turn up.
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The water was crystal clear, and I was able to see right down to the lakebed. I had all my gear dumped near by ready for their arrival. I must have walked around that bay at least fifteen times that day and as the day dwindled away I started to think I had got it all wrong.
I took one more walk round looking and checking every part of the bay, each time I checked I carried on round to a mate on the other bank, and then I would check again on my way back. As I made the return trip back I concentrated my eyes on the narrow channel entrance, and low and behold there they were, through my glasses I saw a big line of black shapes one behind the other as they made their way in.
I sprinted back round to my gear, and shaking like a leaf I quickly put together my Zig rod. I guessed the depth of around eight feet, and simply cast out a cylinder shaped cork insert towards the channel.
I lay my rod on the floor, and moments later the line tightened up as a hooked carp dived from the surface down into the weed beds below, after a while I managed to get it moving and once in close I was able to see it on the bottom struggling for freedom.
My mate came round to assist with the landing and I eventually landed one of the nicest commons I have ever caught.
All the looking and patience paid off in the end!”