Mark one
Big fish magnet and Spanofile, Mark Searle has really ended the season with a bang. Not satisfied with a limit bag of 25lbs plus from Hanningfield, which included two six pounders, Mark has landed one of the biggest fish this year
from Rutland. He tells the tale.

A Day on the rudder

It is 6.15am and my alarm has just gone off so I get out of bed with little enthusiasm and I look out of the window to see what the weather is like! Looks good overcast, bit of wind and dry, so off to the shower I go. Returning from the shower I could hear the rain hitting the bedroom window, it was pouring, looks like another wet day¹s fishing. I head off to pick up Graham, it was still raining when I got there but like two optimistic die-hards we head for Rutland. The rain did not let up all the way to Rutland, so we decided a slow leisurely breakfast was in order and hope the rain would stop, or at least die down a bit.
After breakfast the rain stopped,  we set up our rods both opting for slime lines (not sure why) and Graham sorted out the rudder. We made our way up the South Arm, but it was now pouring with rain again, and very cold. As I
had never been ruddering before Graham explained the finer points as we motored along. Our first drift was from Brown¹s island to Gibbet¹s Gorse. This was a good drift with no other boats about so we could work the water well and found a load of stock fish. After a couple of drifts I think all the boats on Rutland Water joined us, so we decided to move over to another drift from the other side of the island but this proved to be fruitless. By now my
hands were so cold that I could hardly hold my coffee cup. Graham suggested a drift from Lax hill to the Visitor Centre. Shortly after starting our drift I had a pull followed by a take which saw my rod bend over double. I knew it was a big fish and was sure it was a pike.  Graham said it could be a Brown. Then every thing just set solid and
didn¹t move, my boat partner now suggests it is the bottom, then changes his mind, ³it's definitely a fish². Graham saw the fish before me, "careful don't lose it, it's a good fish". I then saw it myself just before it went on another run, not fast but solid, but my rod then straightened and we thought the fish was lost. Then the rod bent over again. The fish swam towards us trying to shake the hook. After a few more short runs it came to the boat where Graham, who luckily had a large net, landed a fine 11lb 9oz brown trout for me. As he lifted it into the boat the hook dropped out, it was to be my day. As so often when fishing, the person who finds the fish, shows someone how
to fish or who's first time it is, has a quiet day and the beginner has all the luck. Thanks Graham for a great day and netting my fish, probably, of a life-time. The only down side was my coat which is no longer 100% water proof more like 30%. I got very wet and cold, but it was worth it.
Mark Searle