INDIANANGLER

After being a good boy for the weekend, I was given a one day pass to go fishing by my drill sergeant.. So gave my old man a call the evening before and told him about my temporary freedom.. After being married for over 35 years, it was easier for him to get permission from his wife a.k.a Mom..

An early breakfast was followed by a stroll down to dad's place and by around 730am, we were at Sealdah market, picking up ants eggs.. Half an hour later, we were in the Fort..
Bait and gear ready, my dad (hereafter referred as Old Man) and myself parted ways to each other's machans.. Please note that we do not share each other's baits to be used as we both feel that we will get jinxed. Suggestions are thrown but never confirmed on being used..

Anyways, after settling down on my machan and offloading all my gear, I decided to groundbait the area as it had been some time since I fished the swim.. Choice of groundbait would be Khol (soaked overnite in in water) with rice soaked overnite in country liquor and biscuit crumbs. Also used was Ghee gaard (ghee residue) mixed with some ants eggs and mud. 20 cricket size balls would be enough for today..
Groundbait was duly dispatched into the water about 40 feet from the machan. Water depth here is about 10 feet...
Baits used were bandel cheese with bread and ghee mixed with bread. Both were coated with ants eggs..

After about 30 minutes, I had some fish jump where I had dropped my groundbait, but I was not getting any takes. Few nibbles but nothing major for me to strike and I did not want to as I new they were only small fish and a mis-strike would only hurt them, so i let them have their fun and food..

The day began getting hotter and the fishing became even slower. Met up with old man during the day and we sat next to his machan and had a cold one. My Old man prefers his couple of shots of whiskey while he fishes (while I know most anglers would not advocate this practice, but my dad has been doing this nigh 50 years and i am not going to try and stop him.... for fear being thrown into the water )

Anyways, it was about 4.30pm now, and dad had caught quite a few small fish about a kg each and that were hell bent on suicide.. To be noted that all were returned back to the water with due expletives being used against their parents and grandparents and their absence...
Alongwith other angling friends we decided to have a cup of chaai at the canteen that borders that FW lakes. While sipping on the hot cup of tea, I saw this fish jump and settle down in the "chaar" (area of groundbait). I knew at once, he was there to feed.. I raced back to my seat but approached stealthily as I was close as well as when I got onto the wooden machan.. I didnt want to spook him.. My baits were not looking too appetising so I took some bread and mixed it with ghee and few drops of vanilla essence. It did smell quite good and good enough for me to eat
.. A roll in the ants eggs was followed by the bait being cast to the designated spot where I saw the fish settle..
A few minutes later, the float bobbed and disappeared. Whhhhhheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee, the reel screamed as I tightened the drag a bit.. I was using small hooks and braid line so I was confident on my set up but then also didn't want to piss off lady luck.. After a 10 minute fight, i landed this 3kg rohu (it must have been about 5kgs but the water shrank it , I swear )
An hour later, we were back at my parents' place where Mrs RidgeCooke and Mrs RidgeCooke Sr were waiting with the rolling pins ready to their bidding in case of a failed outing... Luckily for our craniums, we were safe..
Here's the picture of our fish. Sorry I could not get more pics of FW but will try again in the near future.. Being a military area, I do not want to rub the military the wrong way and get a missile up my sensitive regions...

Anyways, my vocab has come to an end.. Will answer questions thrown by the forum for a nominal fee to be decided upon the type of questions asked)..

Tight Lines,
GRC

P.S. am trying to post the pics but is not coming... How do u guys do it ????????????????????????????

I nearly peeled of my 32 " LCD trying to find the pic :) Nice write up Gavin. Upload option is just above the submit button. it will be uploaded to imageshack and then you paste forum link that appears below the image. You paste this link in your post.

Cheers

DeZZ

I tell you what ....Looks like he pinched some of his ole mans whiskey and knocked off in the afternoon on the grassy bank at FW ... and the story above is a bad dream ... If you wish to meet the poor sod .. hes in room 007 at chowringhee street ,, recovering from a lathni to the cranium LOL

However this is Mr. GRC @FW............Clicked long way back.



Uploaded with

Saiki

I see Owens Chappals ....and the fluffer is drinking tea ... hes lost it

There you go... Image posted, thanks to Dezz

Hey Saiki- Where the fluff have you been ? Making a plan for Beleghata.. You in ? Or are the family jewels still hypothecated to the wife ?

Freddie - Where you mate ? Still waiting for the stickers though...

Santo - We bongs dont need no lubrication, just comes naturally (pardon the pun )

Cheers mate,
GRC

And just before you buggers start hijacking this thread... The missus is holding the fish

Hi Gavin, congrats. Find pic posted below.



Tight lines!

Is it you GRC in the Pic.

Opps. Sorry Mate....

Good fish, Congratulations.

Regards,

Ali.

Ali, it's Mrs Gavin in the pic.. :))

Congrats Gavin,

nice catcha & nice write up too.

regards,
Keyur

thanks Keyur, sadly i cant take too many photographs as it is a military area and there are lot of restrictions... But one of the best places I have fished at...

Regards,
GRC

Were you fishing fort william..

Ali.

Good show Gavin, that’s a very strategically taken picture

Sammo - you know why i lost the fish at that god forsaken place and it was a very stupid thing that i did, however this time i was absolutely confident about the line... No more repeats of the fish getting away..

Bobster - Had to be tactful about it, knowing the wonderful members of IA.. Buggers would have had a field day...

GRC

You got that one right..

hey gavin This is nice catch man...... Congrats.


But what about Catch and Release man....

Hey biltu,

Those who have fished with me will tell you that I dont take more fish than I can.. And if I catch any small fish, I will release them..Please go through my initial write-up where it mentions that my father had released quite a few fish that were about a kg in weight.. I dont know any fisherman in Bengal who would do this but my father is an ANGLER..

On the personal front, if I remember correctly, I had caught quite a number of small fish that day and if the military records are to go by, there was also a mrigal of about a kg that was also released by me after getting this rohu..

So, I do release most fish that I catch, but I do take a few home for the pot.. Every angler does but I DO NOT fill my nets up with every fry and tadpole that all other fishermen do..


Tight Lines,
GRC

Now I am believe You are really a True Angler ....

Thanks Biltu.. You may be a good fisherman but time to become a GREAT ANGLER..

Tight Lines,
GRC