chub_on_the_block
Well-known member
Hello
I started fishing in the mid 1970s, in SW London, at the age of ten or so. Earliest memories fishing the Thames, Bushy Park, Cannon Hill Common. Joined Merton Angling Club in about 1981, left in about 1984 (club no longer exists - any old members out there?). With this club, went on coach trips to great venues in Southern England such as the Dorset Stour, Hants Avon, Rother, Wallers Haven and many lakes such as Witley Park (my all-time favourite venue). I used to do OK in the matches at that time, even though i was barely an adult member then - remember catching 67Ib of Rudd in five hours once !
The mid-late 1980s i spent fishing in Norfolk as i was based in Norwich. I spent one autumn and winter in search of a 2Ib roach from a swim in the River Yare in a section that was barely fished at all - saw a shoal of 1-2Ib fish on my first visit in a shaded weed-free pool under an enormous overhanging tree but only managed to get one out that was over a pound despite many dawn or dusk sessions on the stick or leger.
Since the early 1990s i barely fished at all, apart from the odd trip afar, until this season. Still getting my head around all the changes - predominance of boilies, pellets, hair rigs, bolt rigs, spods, method feeders etc which are all techniques or methods i have never used. I am sad that many/most waters now appear to be carp fisheries or are pea-soup commercial waters stuffed with fish. I am sure i will enjoy the odd session on such waters to remind myself what it is like to have some decent fish in my swim, but catching fish with mouth damage from over-fished waters etc does not light my candle.
Ideally I am hoping to find some nice roach or bream fishing on the local Great Ouse, Ivel or Cam or tench, crucian and rudd fishing in a weedy pond in more natural surroundings. A local tackle dealer has pointed out that what i am looking for doesn't really exist anymore ..but hey the places i used to fish were generally off the radar even back in the "good" old days!!. I have found some nice looking waters and wetted my appetite with some modest catches, .so fingers crossed for the autumn.
Tight Lines to all
Dave
I started fishing in the mid 1970s, in SW London, at the age of ten or so. Earliest memories fishing the Thames, Bushy Park, Cannon Hill Common. Joined Merton Angling Club in about 1981, left in about 1984 (club no longer exists - any old members out there?). With this club, went on coach trips to great venues in Southern England such as the Dorset Stour, Hants Avon, Rother, Wallers Haven and many lakes such as Witley Park (my all-time favourite venue). I used to do OK in the matches at that time, even though i was barely an adult member then - remember catching 67Ib of Rudd in five hours once !
The mid-late 1980s i spent fishing in Norfolk as i was based in Norwich. I spent one autumn and winter in search of a 2Ib roach from a swim in the River Yare in a section that was barely fished at all - saw a shoal of 1-2Ib fish on my first visit in a shaded weed-free pool under an enormous overhanging tree but only managed to get one out that was over a pound despite many dawn or dusk sessions on the stick or leger.
Since the early 1990s i barely fished at all, apart from the odd trip afar, until this season. Still getting my head around all the changes - predominance of boilies, pellets, hair rigs, bolt rigs, spods, method feeders etc which are all techniques or methods i have never used. I am sad that many/most waters now appear to be carp fisheries or are pea-soup commercial waters stuffed with fish. I am sure i will enjoy the odd session on such waters to remind myself what it is like to have some decent fish in my swim, but catching fish with mouth damage from over-fished waters etc does not light my candle.
Ideally I am hoping to find some nice roach or bream fishing on the local Great Ouse, Ivel or Cam or tench, crucian and rudd fishing in a weedy pond in more natural surroundings. A local tackle dealer has pointed out that what i am looking for doesn't really exist anymore ..but hey the places i used to fish were generally off the radar even back in the "good" old days!!. I have found some nice looking waters and wetted my appetite with some modest catches, .so fingers crossed for the autumn.
Tight Lines to all
Dave