Since then I was going to rest a bit, with only two days work scheduled and a bit more fishing - yeah right. I got involved in another job and had eight straight eleven hour days. Wow, this semi-retirement sure whacks you out.
paul4
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Fishes at last
Last Friday I had a barbel, not huge but at 9-06 very welcome. Followed by another three, it was a red letter day in the context of my dismal season. Very happy that it was old and tried and trusted methods, tackle and bait.
paul4
paul4
Saturday, July 24, 2010
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
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
Thursday, July 15, 2010
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
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
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
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
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
Monday, June 28, 2010
It's still hot today
It's a funny old world. I used to love football but I didn't get around to watching any of the world cup - but just tell me why people were suprised we got knocked out. Well, actually, don't bother to tell me, I'm not interested.
Now tennis, that's a sport worth watching ................... errrrrrrr, no it isn't.
So I watched the F1 Grand Prix, but all the time I'm thinking who and how will they get at McLaren this time. Oh, a drive through penalty for an error by Hamilton, no complaints there. Except Alonso who cries unfair, of course cos it's McLaren and it's Hamilton. He wants all the drivers disqualified so he gets to stand on the top step. But Alonso was adamant that the incident had been pivotal to his chances of success in front of his fellow Spaniards in Valencia - think again, maybe you need to drive faster perhaps, and for christ sake stop whingeing.
Jeez, it's too hot to sit here typing stuff, as I said this blogging could get boring. There's interesting blogs and there's plain uninteresting blogs. Mine is the latter I guess as I don't have a go at anyone, nor anyone want to have a go at me. No blog wars for me thanks, much of it's really pathetic.
Talking of hot, I just bought a bladeless desk fan. click this link Silly me, couldn't resist the new technology even though it was a mind-blowing £200 all but a quid. Mr. Dyson is on a winner here, except I took it back for a refund cos I have ears, and I want to be cooled down not deafened. Shows my stupidity at deciding in a large store, where the ambient noise was obviously a tad over that in my house.
paul4
Now tennis, that's a sport worth watching ................... errrrrrrr, no it isn't.
So I watched the F1 Grand Prix, but all the time I'm thinking who and how will they get at McLaren this time. Oh, a drive through penalty for an error by Hamilton, no complaints there. Except Alonso who cries unfair, of course cos it's McLaren and it's Hamilton. He wants all the drivers disqualified so he gets to stand on the top step. But Alonso was adamant that the incident had been pivotal to his chances of success in front of his fellow Spaniards in Valencia - think again, maybe you need to drive faster perhaps, and for christ sake stop whingeing.
Jeez, it's too hot to sit here typing stuff, as I said this blogging could get boring. There's interesting blogs and there's plain uninteresting blogs. Mine is the latter I guess as I don't have a go at anyone, nor anyone want to have a go at me. No blog wars for me thanks, much of it's really pathetic.
Talking of hot, I just bought a bladeless desk fan. click this link Silly me, couldn't resist the new technology even though it was a mind-blowing £200 all but a quid. Mr. Dyson is on a winner here, except I took it back for a refund cos I have ears, and I want to be cooled down not deafened. Shows my stupidity at deciding in a large store, where the ambient noise was obviously a tad over that in my house.
paul4
Sunday, June 13, 2010
No blogs for a while, and then it's like busses
Whilst sorting my gear, I found some scraps of paper in my fishing bag. Don't bother to write down fish captures as a rule, as you can see by the scribbling to get the pen working, but I remember the first one well (the top part)
It was absolutely peeing down that day. Just one ounce short of 4 doubles ......... just an ounce.
This one was a record of the first outing with a new rod, a self-built Harrison 1.5lb tc GTx. Funny, but I got a double the next time out too, that's three in the first two trips with this rod, but I don't actually like the rod. But as there's a new version that's 1.75lb tc, I might just ....................
***************************************************
Here's the most important bit of kit - yes even more important than my c'pins
Have to rush, I put the hemp on (on a calor fed cooking ring, NOT the above stove) and wondered why it was frothing over the top of the pot ......... used bl##dy baking powder instead of bi-carb. Stupid boy. Must check washing and rinsing it off before starting cooking again has not flooded my floor.
paul4
***************************************************
Here's the most important bit of kit - yes even more important than my c'pins
Have to rush, I put the hemp on (on a calor fed cooking ring, NOT the above stove) and wondered why it was frothing over the top of the pot ......... used bl##dy baking powder instead of bi-carb. Stupid boy. Must check washing and rinsing it off before starting cooking again has not flooded my floor.
paul4
Today I'm ...........
It's been hectic lately. Doing a lot of decorating for folks, but am having some time to m'self now, never was planning to work too much after retiring :-) but it kinda gets that way sometimes. 'er indoors finally told work to stuff it, really pleased she won't have that any more.
Blog took back burner, but then I never was sure I'd bother that much. Inspired by T2C's pics this morning (well Faye's anyway) on his blog so I might just get my camera out ............. problem is that I'm cr#p when using a camera.
Getting my fishing gear ready for the new season - I have a target to catch more than last season LOL. Practised getting my bivvy up yesterday, don't know whether I'll need it but you never know. Did pretty well, but how do you get that thing back in the bag? Two phone calls later and sorted, got it down, and up and down again in no time.
Painted my garden bench again yesterday, second coat. Tossed up between watching the World Cup footy, or watching the paint dry on the bench ................. bench won. I could watch the bench with a few bees buzzing wheras the footy would have 50,000 bees - have they sorted that yet I wonder? Do I care? errrrr, NO.
Still have ten IOM TT programmes recorded, welcome respite from cr#p footy matches ..... Algeria v Slovenia, Serbia v Ghana, who'd want to watch them?
Years ago I'd live and breathe footy, what has changed apart from my hair colour? Hair?
F1 Grand Prix qualifying was exciting, if you like it that is. I thought Lewis was great, just hope that he doesn't get bashed by the Red Bulls - no team orders (they say) but maybe they'd bash a.n.other rather than their own this time? :-) Looking forward to the race today.
Kettle boiling, time for tea, and must get some hemp in the pot.
paul4
Blog took back burner, but then I never was sure I'd bother that much. Inspired by T2C's pics this morning (well Faye's anyway) on his blog so I might just get my camera out ............. problem is that I'm cr#p when using a camera.
Getting my fishing gear ready for the new season - I have a target to catch more than last season LOL. Practised getting my bivvy up yesterday, don't know whether I'll need it but you never know. Did pretty well, but how do you get that thing back in the bag? Two phone calls later and sorted, got it down, and up and down again in no time.
Painted my garden bench again yesterday, second coat. Tossed up between watching the World Cup footy, or watching the paint dry on the bench ................. bench won. I could watch the bench with a few bees buzzing wheras the footy would have 50,000 bees - have they sorted that yet I wonder? Do I care? errrrr, NO.
Still have ten IOM TT programmes recorded, welcome respite from cr#p footy matches ..... Algeria v Slovenia, Serbia v Ghana, who'd want to watch them?
Years ago I'd live and breathe footy, what has changed apart from my hair colour? Hair?
F1 Grand Prix qualifying was exciting, if you like it that is. I thought Lewis was great, just hope that he doesn't get bashed by the Red Bulls - no team orders (they say) but maybe they'd bash a.n.other rather than their own this time? :-) Looking forward to the race today.
Kettle boiling, time for tea, and must get some hemp in the pot.
paul4
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