Big Rudd makes my day as I pick up the shield
A couple of weeks ago I took part in the first John Hollands Memorial match at a place called Buckland Reserve and Fishery near Cliff in Kent. The event was being co-hosted by Reels on Wheels and The Kent Disabled Anglers Association of which I am their patron. I had been told that the venue is very deep and clear plus it holds some very big carp and stacks of rudd, some very big. The big Rudd will be a target for me next year when I take my The Obsessed Angler DVD series there to search for a big un but in the meantime I thought this event would be great to support and also give me the opportunity to take a good close look of the lakes. The turnout was a little disappointing as some anglers had dropped out late for various reasons but I was pleased to be there and looking forward to a good day’s action.
Halfway down the lake was good news
At the draw I pulled out peg 25 which put me halfway down the lake on the far bank and that was good in my books as when I fish venues for the first time I feel fishing midway along the bank offers a 50/50 chance of being near some fish rather being drawn down one end where it could be a case of feast of famine on some fisheries. The gin clear water put me off using the pole as I was convinced despite it being deep that I would simply spook them by waving my pole over the top of a feeding shoal. So I set up a tip rod, my second line of attack and a waggler rod set 10ft with my two red maggots bait set so it would fall slowly in the water making it as natural as possible.
The plan was two fish four rods lengths out and catapult out red maggots and a few 6mm skretting pellets in case I needed to attract some carp into my peg for the tip line later in the match. I had a bite on my first cast and that basically set the tone for the rest of the match as I caught Rudd after Rudd from 2 ounces up to 12 ounces virtually every cast. Two hours into the match I struck into a much better fish which thumped about abit in the deep water and after a minute or so I was netting a bonus 2lbs Rudd which was a fantastic looking fish.
A new PB makes me smile
I could see around the lake that those on the pole were struggling really bad and despite carp bubbling away in my peg I decided to ignore them and carry on catching the rudd on the float as I was thoroughly enjoying myself and building up a nice weight on some plump rudd and the odd perch. An hour after catching the big rudd I found myself playing another good fish which this time turned out to be an even bigger Rudd of 2lbs 6oz which set a new personal best for and as the photos show I was well pleased. Apart from two nice carp from the angler on my left who weighed just over 15lbs I won the match comfortably with 27lbs of fantastic sporting action. I am really looking forward to returning back to Buckland as the fishery manager informed that the Rudd go over 4lbs plus and that is much too tempting to let go.
A piece of history to keep
After the match I was presented with the John Hollands Memorial Shield by John’s father George Holland who also presented the top four anglers with some handmade floats that he had made which looked superb. George used to make floats for the late Dick Walker who was famed for catching the first really big carp in this country at 44lbs which was named Clarissa who spent the rest of her days at London Zoo before she passed away quite a few years ago. I look forward to next year where of course I need to try and retain my crown and if Buckland Fishery is going to be used again to host the event, watch out those rudd.
“Tight Lines”
Russ Evans
27th October 2010
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