An Epic tale of one that didn’t get away…..

“On Friday (19th September)  the water level was down to 1’6”, and all pools in great shape.  I had a violent take in the Lang Pool at 1145, and a dour struggle for maybe 5 minutes, whilst i walked the fish further up into the pool a couple of times, before it went on a long run (screaming reel!) right down to the tail and over the lip into the maelstrom below, full line plus maybe 30 yards of backing.

I assumed it was all over, but started the perilous journey down into the white water and rocks, basically to retrieve my fly-line.  It took about 10 minutes to cover the first 50 yards – struggling through overhanging bushes and slippery boulders (only thigh waders), with having to submerge the whole rod from time to time to thread it through underwater branches.

I was reeling in as I worked my way downstream, and eventually got a tight line, which I thought was jammed, until it moved off downstream again!

After a further 50 or so yards, the line really was jammed behind a rock close to the other bank, and after running out of options, I decided i had no option but to point the rod straight out and break the leader (12lb bs) – however, almost at breakpoint, the fish came to life again, and the line came free.  That same jam and release scenario happened twice more over the next 100 yards or so, until finally I reached the fallen tree just above the Hut Pool, which took me several minutes to pick my way through, and we had arrived in the pool itself.

Whether the fish had rested en route I don’t know (I most certainly hadn’t), but I found it almost impossible to get it out of the current in the Hut Pool, it just stayed head down with an occasional foray downstream.  It took a full 20 minutes before I had any sort of control, but I was still unable to bring the fish into my side of the river – the light was such that I could see it very clearly, with its massive kype in plain view.

I have never put such a strain on a fish!  Without a net (abandoned on the Lang Pool), and no prospect of a lateral presentation for tailing, I ended up with its head out of the water and mouth wide open, so made a silly decision to try grabbing on to its top jaw to bank it.  I now have several deep lacerations to show for that!  At the second attempt, I finally found its gill, and the struggle was over………..at 1315.  A full 90 minutes, which stress-tested my back, balance and blood pressure issues to the point where I can now tell the doc (appointment tomorrow) that some of his meds actually do work…..maybe.

I quickly measured the fish at 31″ long and 18″ girth, which, given its cock fish physique, is about 16lbs.  Had it broken me, I would have reckoned it a little heavier than that.

I looked at the location again yesterday, and think it was probably only a 2% or 3% likelihood of a successful outcome – I have absolutely no idea as to how it was possible to get down that wild stretch even without a fish to contend with, let alone land it.  I may need counselling for some time, but I was so pleased it was on my little black fly!”

Some of us have followed fish down (or even up) river from one pool to another, but doing so from the Lang Pool is unprecedented! Don’t try this would have to be advice of the Committee, mindful of our insurance indemnity policy!