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Well not a lot to report Simps - this wasn’t booked down as the start of the ‘Gruellers’
In fact before the draw I quipped that there were a few missing regulars because the forecasted climatic conditions were not in keeping with a typical Grueller - although there was a grass frost I noted later
Yep, there were a few missing because of other commitments but I hadn’t really publicised the ‘knock up’ . I‘ve since learnt of a few regulars that were not aware of it because it wasn’t ‘advertised’ in its normal place in the Cashmores section.
And so it came to pass we stuck 9 pegs along the kennels section just in case a couple of ‘possibles’ put in an appearance, but as the time approached 9am it was evident that there were only going to be 7 of us. Ah well, less walking and weighing in to do - and a chance of some good banter I thought
Sadly the banter didn’t materialise for myself as I was marooned on end peg 9 - reverse pegged so I did have the shortest walk - just past the weed bed by the ‘broken bridge’
On plumbing up I was staggered by the lack of water on the peg compared to others. The canal was lower than usual - the lowest I’d ever seen it due as I learnt on Monday to the closure/planking of the canal system to halt the pollution incident. It really was a good 6-8 inches down from our last visit against Larry Teepots TA gang and much more compared to previous years.
I’d got a quite fanciable bit of tree hanging in the water at 11 mtrs across to my right - but it was only about 8 ins deep and it looked like the colour was dropping out the cut
Instead of my normal long lined 5 & 6ft punch rigs, a 4 foot version was more than ample for the 2ft shelf 3/4s across
The off and for some reason - well primarily I felt I hadn’t a lot of options across - I fed two areas on my normal punch line.
A look at area 1 and a bite after a couple of mins and a roach was swung in. Second put in a rudd………not what I really was looking for. Where were those skimmers? Were there any in the peg?
No bite forthcoming on put in three so I swung the rig to area two. And away the float went………..a better fish was thankfully netted. A couple of smaller stamp skimmers also put in an appearance.
Meanwhile The Hunter paid us an early visit and checked whether I’d set up the ‘normal 4 rigs’ perhaps it was indicative of my apathy today……..only 2 were set up, along with the 3mtr whip which was rendered useless as a breeze picked up strongly later on.
Also indicative of my apathy……… Cotti had picked my bait up and I’d cadged the licky bread off Heinzer - what’s the saying, oh I remember ‘Fail to prepare…………prepare to fail’
An hour or so in, a group of possibly 50 ramblers came along. Although they were ‘quiet and orderly’ as they passed, that seemed to signal the fishes vanishing act…………not just for me it seems.
After scratting around I refed the white stuff and had a look over that bush that I’d been firtling a bit of bait against. First put in a sail away…………and a small 2oz kinver was the result. Then nowt.
Yamo also paid us a visit, followed by Phil B who hadn’t clocked we were having a knock up but who had spotted the parked cars on his way past
With nothing responding to the white stuff I tried to convert it to a caster line……….but wasn’t holding out much hope as I couldn’t remember the last time I’d had a caster fish on the cut
But at 12.15 the float dipped and a 4oz kinver had taken a liking to the shell.
Confidence renewed in the bait I persevered with it - 5 or 10 mins later and another bite………which I promptly missed.
And then I must confess a short while later as Yamo watched on, another bite………….fish on…………..but it came off as quick as it was hooked.
And that was about that…………MrV also paid us a visit and sat with me for quite a while as I now found myself aimlessly going through the motions, waiting for that whistle as I couldn’t conjure up a bite whilst Heinzer a couple away was steadily pulling away
Sorry Simps, I toyed with getting up off my box and taking a few pickies - surely Tricast62 and co must have been bagging down ‘the other end’ -.but I’m sad to say the honest thing was I couldnt find the motivation - I was having yet another mojoless moment not being helped by being isolated from any banter over the 5 hours
The whistle finally came to put me out of my agony and Heinzer did the honours with the scales
having just spoken to my roving reporter 
