A bite, at last

I had a very pleasant afternoon/evening in the company of my good pals DaveC and ColinW, fishing a nice club water. The journey there was hell ('ish) - should be 60 mins, took me 2.1/4 hours as there had been a 3-vehicle accident on the Motorway. I used to get impatient crawling along in traffic but these days I just realise that my inconvenience is minor compared to those in the accident - I have time enough on my hands, as the fish will wait.

Yes, I had my first proper bite of the season, and resulted in banking my first berbel this season, an 7-8lb'er (didn't weigh it, of course, at that size) and I was very happy, especially after such a lean spell. The night was lovely. It got dark at about 10.30pm and I was sitting in my shirtsleeves right up until midnight, but we have to stop fishing then (club rule) otherwise I would have loved to have stayed. Funny, but my two pals were cold and they had their jackets on, but not me and they couldn't believe it when I walked along at 12.15 still with my sleeves rolled up.

I had a mishap though. I often use Spam or Luncheon Meat for bait, and my pal had brought me some special meat with extra flavours for fishing bait use only.

He showed me his that he had opened at home and it did smell very strong (lovely) but as I opened my tin, whilst I was sitting down, this red/brown smelly liquid poured out all over my shirt, my trousers and my chair. He his head off and said his was ok as he'd had it in his fridge . Anyway, nothing I could do as my emergency change of clothes in the van did not include trousers but joggers, not really suitable for fishing. So I phoned my wife and asked her to get two buckets out and some detergent and I'd soak my clothes in this as soon as I got home which would be at about 1.45.

I've fished this water over 20 times, but ever faithful to my reputation, took a wrong turn on the way home.

Anyway, when home I spent a while scrubbing my hands with soap and my stainless steel soap bar - all this without hot water as it's still not fixed.

But I enjoyed my fishing so much, what's a bit of smell? I care not, better ask 'er indoors. At least it wasn't Monster Crab

Fancy a nice hot curry tonight, and those beers I didn't get to drink Thursday, lovely.

paul4

New guiding service

I am thinking of joining the ranks, and doing some guiding (for barbel)

Mine will be with a difference though - I will give some tuition in using a centrepin BUT then I go to one venue and my client will go to another, as certainly it would increase their chances if I wasn't there

paul4

Who, me?

(image courtesy of www.wildaboutbritain.co.uk)

A pleasant evening session on the river

I fished last night, a very pleasant session from 8.30 until just before 11. Local'ish water that I first fished in the  early 70s and for 20 years or so, just rejoined.

I was sitting low - my chair is much modified for sloping banks I usually fish from, but here on flat banks I had to leave the legs folded under and was almost on the ground, just as well it was dry. Nothing much scares me at night whilst fishing, animal-wise, but something put the bejeezus up me at about 10.30. Too late for a dog, it was definitely four-legged and it ran towards me along the path and then crashed into the undergrowth, uttering a single high-pitched gruntly scream (for want of a better phrase to describe it). I bl##dy well shook for a few moments. One guy didn't hear it but he reckoned it could have been a mink? I've seen mink many times but never heard them, but something tells me it was NOT a mink.

Taking to my good friend Monty earlier, he what's an oracle of things furry, reckoned a Muntjac. He could well be right, I know they "bark" but just read that they do "scream" when alarmed. It certainly must have been scared too when it saw me.

Anyway, a very pleasant evening. Catch fish? well, as I always say "catching fish is a bonus to a good day/evening out" and I didn't need the bonus last night. Enjoyed it. Enjoyed the antics of the bats, not avoiding my line very well - I think they were playing a game.

paul4