CLIFF TAYLOR was chuffed with a giant personal best tench of 11 lb 8 oz – but he is dreading the results of a huge maggot escape.
Tenchfishers member Cliff made the long journey from Crewe in Cheshire to a fish-in for group members at Norfolk’s Bawburgh Fisheries.
When he got there he suffered that nightmare most anglers have experienced – a maggot spillage.
The scale of the problem for Cliff was a big one though… as three pints of maggots had escaped in his car!
He didn’t let him bother him as he took a dozen prime tench including others of 9 lb 8 oz and 9 lb plus six eight-pounders.
Now he’s awaiting the dreaded ‘buzz’ in his car.
The 60-year-old IT manager said: “Things got off to a bad start as when I opened the rear door to get my gear out of the car I was greeted by maggots everywhere.
“My bivvy had slipped onto a maggot box and had pooped the lid, releasing three pints of maggots.
“I only managed to rescue half a pint of these and the rest have hid themselves in various crevices in the car.
Tenchfishers man nets first double right on cue
Cliff continued: “Although I was drawn 15th out of 16 I was delighted to find that my favoured peg had not been taken so I jumped on it.
“I started the session by spodding a mix containing two pints of crushed caster, a kilo of finely chopped worm, half a kilo of worm soil and a bag of Dynamite Frenzied Hemp with Worm Meal.
“On top of this went two pints of hemp. I topped up the swim twice more over the session with a similar amount of feed.
“The big fish came as I started to pack away my gear in preparation for the long journey home.
“I was simply ecstatic. Having fished for tench for over 40 years I at last had a double.
“Tenchfishers from all over the complex came to congratulate me, making the moment even more special.
“All were caught using worm kebabs with a size 12 micro barbed hook, a 4 inch 10 lb Korum mono trace, a 50 g feeder and 10 lb Terry Eustace Pro Gold main line.”
Clean up could not prevent swarm of flies
Cliff added: “The maggots have now turned to casters but have yet to hatch.
“I took the car to the local garage over the weekend to hover up any casters I could find – the wife refused to let me use her hoover, which wasn’t surprising.
“I would estimate that I hoovered up another half pint which leaves two pints, and approximately 7,000 casters unaccounted for.
“The next couple of weeks will see the flies hatch which will mean I will be greeted by swarms of flies morning and night when I open the car door,” concluded Cliff.
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