Two Minutes is all it takes
Warning! This is not about photography
I do wonder where I’m going with this blog sometimes. but on the way home from work I decided to stop by the river and try my luck to catch a Perch.
I told you it’s not about photography. I don’t care, but I do care enough about other things in life and this moment was brilliant. So I’m going to share it.
As I walked the 20m from the car to the river. Immediately I could see the conditions weren’t optimal. The recent rain had caused the flow to be moving x3 faster than usual. The added colour I actually prefer, but the current makes it more of a challenge to locate the fish, and this particular spot only offers 10m of bank access to fish from. Challenge accepted!
Cast one, straight into the current and hope to find a Perch hiding in a small nearside slack. Cranking the reel slowly, anticipation of the bite high. But it never happened. I see a small slack water being created by arches in the bridge, that was my next target area. Cast 2, I send the lure straight over, start the retrieve. I feel the lure enter the area of calmer waters, anticipation even higher than before, crank by crank the chance of a bite fades. But then it happens, the bite was like a freight train slamming. The distinct violent head shakes typical of a Perch, digging hard to get to deeper water. I keep the line tight, rod low and the head shakes never let up. Fearing the Perch will shake the hooks, my heart begins to race. 2m to get and I get my first glimpse of the fish in the stained water, I see the distinctive stripes that confirmed the head shakes and diving. it was a big Perch! Net ready, but the fish wasn’t. She had one last charge and trash to shake the hooks. But she failed, and I won the fight. The relief when you see them in the net is overwhelming. Then I noticed the lure was in the net. Confirming my fears of losing her to be a reality. All if would have taken is one more head shake, or me to have let the line go loose!
2lb 12oz, and approx 44cm. A solid summer Perch. I use the term summer loosely. This is the UK after all and I expect nothing less than 13 degree Celsius in July. Regardless of weather, its a good fish. 1lb less than my biggest Perch but stunning none the less.
OK so I lied, there is a little bit about photography. Kind of?
Anticipating the bite, and being in the right place and right time is relatable. As photographers we anticipate the shot, we observe our surroundings, observe the situation and conditions to give ourselves the best chance of making something out of nothing. It all takes practice, like angling to become efficient and maximize our chances, we spend hours honing skills, mastering a certain lure, learning the behavior and characteristics of any given species. Sure you can do none of this and get lucky. Just like photography.
Practice, Practice and Practice.
Then practice more, just keep taking pictures and learning. And one day you might catch that 5lb Perch… Or something, I’ve gone on long enough. And I also acknowledge writing a post and 2330hrs, I talk rubbish. Either way I caught a stunning Perch and failed to make it relatable.
I’m going to bed.
