Yes I remember it like it was yesterday, and it was only some 40 years ago, on reaching the grand old age of 18 I joined the local pub club, that first match was due to be fished on the river Leam at Leamington, but on the morning of the match there was around six inches of snow and it was still falling , but never the less a mile or so walk to the pub to meet the coach and off we go. O
On route a decision was made to transfer to a stretch of the cut at Lapworth as bankside conditions would be better, Lapworth was a venue I had fished plenty of times so at least I knew what to expect, the draw was made on the coach and I drew the end peg, which had the remenants of a reed bed to my left, but a waggler rod was set up to fish in the deeper water down the track, well it was a bottom end attached quill float, dont know that wagglers were around in those days, after a biteless hour saw me adjust the depth of the float, I had put the hook between my teeth to allow me to move the float when I suddeny realised that the single maggot was still on the hook, and quicky spat out, a quick flick of the rod saw it the float along side the nearside reed bed, pouring a coffee to wash the mouth out the float slid away, and a perch of some 3 to 4 ounces was attached and netted, no more bites ensued for the next couple of hours and only two other anglers had a fish, with the snow starting to fall again it was decided to end the match early, a quick look at the three fish caught saw my sole perch considerably bigger than the other two I was declared the winner.
First match first win a pint or two in the nearest pub a turkey to come plus a few pounds meant I was well happy.

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