Sorry, but I have to get this off my chest.

To set the scene, I've had a great summer fishing. Mostly on the Wharfe, but also on the Ure and Aire. I had a cracking 15" brownie from the Wharfe earlier on, and have had good success with many 12"-13" brownies throughout the season.

So what better way to finish the season with a day on the Kilnsey AA waters on the Wharfe? Second oldest club in the land, no chest waders, allocated beat, well stocked. Hurrah.

So Saturday it was. Good day for it. Friend Andrew and I had a good day and with a few fish already landed - as we got into early afternoon - I spotted a fish rising near the opposite bank. I could tell from the rise it seemed a larger fish. So, a few casts of the faithful JT Olive and it took. Well, it was like striking into an immovable object. Suddenly the water exploded as it seemed like I'd hooked a shark. Played it for a while, though the truth is it did what it liked and I was pretty much a helpless bystander. With a 3lb leader I didn't want to take any unnecessary risks. At one point it swam lazily towards me and I caught sight. Have you seen the film "Jaws?". Despite being stood on the bank in my waders, all I could think to myself was "I'm going to need a bigger boat....." It was huge.

Anyway, after a short while, when he got bored, he turned and - with one flick of his massive tail - was gone, the fly having pulled out of his mouth.

I was physically shaking. And here's the thing. I actually dreamt about it last night!

I would point out that friend Andrew's idea of consolation at the point of loss was to laugh and shout "nope, it got away - doesn't count".

I'm going to console myself with the fact that Kilnsey do stock some very large fish, so maybe I would just have been 'stockie bashing', but even so. Will I ever get over losing that fish? Will I ever get another one like it?

Roll on next season.....

Cheers
Stuart

What size did you think the fish was? to be honest mate, if there was much of a chance of a 5 pound or bigger fish, it was a bit silly to go out with 3lb line.! you'll get another, there's always another out there, but i sympathise with you. lost monsters are always the worst.

Cheers mate, no, you're right, I won't be fishing the Kilnsey waters with 3lb in future. Hoping to get down to Bolton Abbey on Sunday to get over it, although not expecting such a monster from there!!!

You never get over stuff like that. It will haunt your dreams forever more.

Back in my match fishing days I hooked a played a carp on the pole for over two hours, it would have won me the match and a significant pot of money. The pole snapped and the carp broke the elastic just before I could net it. Gutted is an understatement - it was over 20lb and the pole I was using was borrowed.

The 35lb salmon i lost. NEVER will i forget the sight of that one, and the 28 pound brown i'd stalked all day only to get him to take before running through 3 weedbeds. i could only hold on as he towed a huge weight behind him until the inevitable happened and teh fly pulled out. you get over them, but you'll never forget them...