What have you been doing 'Yateley'
by Mark Saether
It's my first proper write up for the team and the site so, where do I start?
Right, so, basically it's been one of the most stressful weeks I’ve had angling, moving up and down the country and being home for probably less than 12 hours followed much later by a 10hr+ trip back home, but, all the same I’d certainly go through it all again if I knew the outcome…hindsight eh!!
It all started with my annual charity match for On Track Fishing - which, to date, I've attended for the last 3 years. The day began with tiredness and sunstroke after a busy week at home. Surprisingly, fishing wasn’t at the top of my priority list for the first 24hours - just some simple R&R. Once I was back to a comfortable state of mind, and the rods finally out, I managed to bag two, a 21lb 8oz and a 15lb 8oz with an 'almost' third resulting in a loss at the net at the absolute edge of last knockings. Gutted. With the session done and dusted for another year, the gear was pack, and it was homeward bound for a shower and some family time.
However, shortly after....
A 4.5hr trip to meet the lads from the Sn4ggz team (Snagg Warriors) for a social down at Swan Valley Lakes in Yateley. Arriving later than everyone else, it left me with the last choice of swim. So out of 35 swims I had the choice of 15. For a change, it wasn't necessarily a bad thing, it became a bit of a 2 for the price of one (being late) as the fish had actually moved away from the angling pressure too.
So with all the formalities of setting up and socialising done - I'll cut a very long story short:
Yateley original common coming in at 31lb 8oz.
As this will be the last time I’ll ever get chance to fish this place, as a few changes will be happening at 'Swan' come the near future, so, I have to consider myself a little bit lucky - out of all it's stock, I'd actually gone and netted one of the original seven fish left in the lake. I kid you not.
Now people reading this will probably wonder why this article I'm writing has any importance whatsoever. Well, earlier this year, our team at incQbait lost one of its most loved members, but not JUST a team member, but MY friend, my good friend, Martin Grantham., whom I have had many an interesting and eventful angling trip with since he and I met at our syndicate, and now is sorely missed.
However, people say not to dwell on the sad times, and every cloud does have a silver lining.
Shortly after the capture and recording of the 'original', news directly from the bailiff, informed us that the fish itself was actually an unnamed specimen. To further the event even more so, I was asked to give the fish it's official name. I was honoured. Without even batting an eyelid, the fish was named.
Martin's Fish.
An absolute honour. May your legend live on.
cheers
Mark