Trip #115 – Somerset River (Relief Channel) – A Broken Rod and Redemption

A different venue today – a relief channel that, if I’m honest, looked about as uninviting as water can look. Flat, featureless, the kind of swim you’d walk straight past on a normal day. But on the approach I passed another angler heading back to his car. “Had one about 10lb,” he told me, matter-of-factly, like it was nothing. That was enough. If they were in there, I was staying.

The Setup

• Rod 1: Savage Gear Parabellum Spin 15-34g paired with a Shimano 4000FG – 50lb braid
• Rod 2: Greys 7ft Jerkbait Rod paired with an Abu Garcia Max Pro Baitcaster – 50lb braid

I started on the jerkbait rod, still very much finding my feet with it, and managed to put one of my first cast straight into a bush in front of me. Classic. I gave the line a firm tug to free the lure – a bit more gusto than the situation probably called for – and was rewarded with a loud crack as the tip section slid clean off down the braid.

I won’t pretend there wasn’t a tantrum. There absolutely was.

Lure retrieved, rod very much retired, I trudged back to the car for the backup and switched over to a lighter setup – a Fox Fire Tiger pattern this time. First cast out, second retrieve, and I got my first proper follow. Cast straight back over the top of it and – slam. A pike of around 4-5lbs, and just like that the session turned itself around.

Feeling a bit more confident, I worked further down the bank and found another decent open area. Half a dozen retrieves later the lure got absolutely smashed again – a proper take – but the fish had other ideas and shook the hook free just as I brought it in for the net. Gutting, but that’s pike fishing for you.

Headed back to the car with a real mix of emotions – buzzing from the two fish contact, still faintly seething about the rod – and one firm vow ringing in my ears: never buying a Greys rod again.