Sunday 8 January 2012
2012
Well happy new year.. 2012 and my first trip
out on the river. It's taken a while after
what seems to have been a month of non stop
rain!!! I did try to get out before 2011 drew
to an end, but we got rained off. A nice gammon
made up for it in the Aspinall Arms at the side
of the Ribble. Think the gammon was on my mind
today as a back up, in case the river was too
high again. Has we made our way out for a spot
of long trotting on the Ribble.
We looked off the bridge and even though still
up a little the river could offer a chance of sport,
gammon would have to wait a much more pressing matter
was at hand.
In fact the unseasonal warm weather after such a heavy
spate filled me full of confidence, not to much, the
fish sometimes, even when everything looks good can
be of a different mind.
So with a few layers to keep out the cold, a warm flask
and with the hat I pinched off Logan I made my way along
the bank with Pete.Looking more like a Russian sniper than
fisherman. The first spot I picked looked as though
it would offer the fish some rest from the strong flow.
Back in fish stalker mode I made my normal approach, a
little feed, then set the rod up, a little more feed,
put the line through the rings "cold fingers already"
feed, float on ..... little more feed and so on. By the
time Im ready to make that first run down the glide the
fish have had twenty to half an hour feeding on freebies.
Those first few runs find you the depth, if a bite
is not forthcoming I play around with the shots
it can just change the way the bait presents itself
to the fish. Not too much needed on this occasion
the float in that special moment burried, without
even the need of thought my hand covers the line
trapping it and the rod is raised with a fick, I should
be able to this, I have practised it so many times in the
flesh but also in dreams and every time I see a river the
thought runs in my head.
The line draws tight the rod arches and the solid but electric
feeling of a hooked fish runs up my fingers... it's good to be
back!!!
After a good scrap a old freind reveals itself and a decent one.
a quick trophy shot and it tips the scales at 4.15lb. I love
Chub not that they are the best fish on the end of a line
but they are crafty and a worthy quarry.
This was a good start, a few more runs and away again this
fish twisted and glided across the swim....
"it's a Grayling"
was the shout to Pete, by this time I had mannaged to get my
line on a branch Pete waded and got it in the net,
"I would have lost that" I said
"I have been helpful then" was his reply.
"well it's once more than last year then" which got
a smile. this one went 1.5lb a few trout out of season
and a couple more lost Grayling before Pete landed
a few.
We moved down stream and Pete found some fish
this looks like it could be a good year even
Pete's catching!!
Pete with one of his brace of Chub.
So a great start to the new year lets hope it's a
good un!! All the very best Tony.
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"Life is but a dream?"
"... on a good day of fishing, the job, the noise and clutter ... fade away until there is only water and the rhythm of the rod and, now and then, a fish."
-Random Phrump
"... on a good day of fishing, the job, the noise and clutter ... fade away until there is only water and the rhythm of the rod and, now and then, a fish."
-Random Phrump
''A Thought''
A simple philosophy I have adopted over the years has been tested and re-enforced in the past few weeks. It is to celebrate those good and pleasing things encountered in daily life, no matter how small, with at least the same vigour as I bemoan the bad or merely vexing.
-Steve Dobson
-Steve Dobson
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