Des Taylor’s Diary of a Countryman
Chew Valley pike of 32lb is my 60th over 20lb in a riot of catches
IT’S been a very special week for me – I finally banked my 60th 20lb-plus pike from the UK.
It came from the phenomenal Chew Reservoir during a trip with my good mate John Chester and was actually one of a number of thirties taken. To be honest, I’d have been as happy with a mid twenty to get me over the line!
Anyway, here’s how my historic week unfolded…
SATURDAY
A busy afternoon presenting the prizes at Bells Mill Fishery for a match to raise money for the heart ward at Worcester Hospital. Local angler Ray Prickett organised the event and I think they raised £1,200. Well done!
It was straight off in the evening to conduct a talk at Fenemere Angling Club at Baschurch. Max Taylor picked me up at around 4.30pm and dropped me back off about 1am on Sunday slightly the worse for wear.
MONDAY
I spent the afternoon getting my pike gear and bait ready for my trip to Chew Reservoir. Would I catch a big one? All I knew was that when the float went under, my heart would miss a beat.
TUESDAY
Chew day finally arrived and John and I were like kids in a sweet shop, delighted just to be out on the water! Most of the lads headed for Stratford Bay, but we went for other areas where John had caught some fish last October.
Unfortunately, the water levels were at their lowest for years and John thought this could be the reason for the lack of fish in our zone. Indeed, except for a small double landed by John, by lunchtime we hadn’t caught a thing. At this point we had to decide whether to explore elsewhere, or get in among the crowds where a couple of big fish had already been taken.
“Come on John lad let’s get in the ruck and catch a few kippers,” I said.
“Too true Desmondo!” was John’s answer. That was good enough for me.
After trying a couple of spots, we finally settled into a likely looking area. I cast a small smelt 15 yards from the boat and John prepared to do the same, but before he could get in my smelt was away.
I nearly fainted as the braid peeled off the reel. As soon as I pulled into the fish I knew it was something special. Near the boat the fish jumped out the water and I couldn’t help shouting: “It’s a bloody whacker.” And so it was.
With the fish hanging over the side in the landing net, I sat down and looked at John and we both laughed out loud. We shook hands as the scales registered 32lb 4oz. To say I was happy is the understatement of the year.
Over the remainder of the day other fish came to the net, the best at around 18lb, again to John but the day was done for me as soon as that big fish slid over the net.
That night we met up with the legend that is Ray Brown of the old ‘Coventry Circus’ specimen group days and the three of us talked of fishing and, of course, my 30lb pike. I slept like a child that night as happy as an angler can be.
WEDNESDAY
With a 30lb pike already under my belt I was eager for the next pike! This time we headed straight for the hotspot with no messing about and I remember saying to John: “Where eagles dare, my son.” John just winked and nodded. Little did we know what this day was to bring.
The weather was perfect, slightly overcast with a chop on the water and the pike were feeding big style. Within minutes of arriving, John was into a double and then my smelt was taken by another good fish of 27lb 4oz.
John had caught more fish than me but seemed to be picking up the smaller pike, although at Chew that can change on the next run. In John’s case this was two runs almost at the same time. First up was a new pb of exactly 34lb – again to a smelt. Before we could weigh or photograph it, a 21lb pike decided to pick up his other smelt.
With only one net I hand landed the 21lb fish without a glove and everything was fine once I stopped my hand bleeding! With this fish photographed and returned, we set upon unhooking the bigger pike and taking photos of the beast.
The boats around us also had a thirty and two twenties – total madness really! Then again, only Chew can produce pike sport like this and I was just glad to be a part of it. John is a true angler and part of the brotherhood that loves all fishing and everything that goes with it and he was chuffed, the sort of happiness only our fellow anglers know about when an ambition is realised.
This truly was one of those great trips that both of us will remember for the rest of our lives. Sport was quiet after all that, but in a way I’m glad because more fish would have diluted the moment a little.
As I headed up the motorway back home I laughed out loud at our random conversations on the boat and the performance of those two big pike at once!