Windy
Well-known member
Y'know what, I have been musing of late on stuff.
I was getting to the point of very infrequent fishing because simply of the complete can't be arsed-ness of getting all the gear together and wheeling it this way and that and setting up and taking down and... an hour to get there, an hour to set up, an hour to take down.... sheesh.
So this season, allowing for a pretty awful start with the weather either tipping it down or burning my baldness to a cinder, I have gone back to basics.
No, not joining the Norfolk jacketed, plus fours and cane rod brigade, but just basics.
I thought back to when did I MOST enjoy my fishing. Came up with the answer when I was young, hadn't a clue and hadn't much tackle. Everything had to be capable of being carried on my pushbike.
Got bit more of a clue these days, but have very strongly reverted to not so much tackle.
This last month or so I have made a concerted effort to cut out all the myriad alternatives, choices and weight of tackle that no surrounds us.
New rule: only three rods in the car, - 1 x float, ledger and spinning. Secondly, take only one of them out of the car at a time. One discipline, one rod, no rod pods or three way multiples. One man, one rod, concentrate and do it right. Well, as right as I ever get it, I still remain a dub.
Plus which the only other tackle is my tackle box for the relevant discipline, landing net and that's it. Oh, and a small shoulder bag for a pint of maggots, a loaf of bread, or half a dozen spinners (as applicable). And a lump of my home made secret recipe paste (or cheese paste if after chub).
When tackling up I then don't worry about clever shotting patterns I have read in the latest magazines, or super fine lines or super modern hi tech lines (anyone want to buy my stockpile of useless nano and super thin flouro lines ? all of which cut through themselves and are therefore effectively useless for anything but the lure fishing they were designed for) nor do I bother dotting down my float tip to a tiny almost invisible spot on the water, or using impossibly fine float tips in the first place....
Nope. Good solid half an inch of peacock waggler sticking up nice and visibly with bulk shot where God intended, round its base, and no great sophistication beneath that.
Oh, and running water. Definitely running water.
And you know what ?
I've been enjoying myself, no end.
And even more surprisingly, catching fish consistently, more frequently, in larger quantities and of generally better quality than I ever have over the last three or four seasons.
Not threatening any PB's or so on, but on the other hand enjoying myself muchly. Very very more muchly.
And my goodness me, the quality of fish in the effectively unfished rivers and navigations is startlingly good in my area.
So I think I am kinda reconnecting with what I enjoy about this sport. Not being clever, or the best, or competitive, or even particularly good - cos I ain't - but just happy fuddling along in my own happy way.
I know how to catch more with dotted down this and micro that and invisible lines that I can't see to tie to a size 22, and all the theories and complicated feeds and this that and the other..... but bloody hell, damned if I want to.
I suspect that I may be heading for the plus fours, but definitely nothing is ever going to make me give up the joys of a modern rod !
I was getting to the point of very infrequent fishing because simply of the complete can't be arsed-ness of getting all the gear together and wheeling it this way and that and setting up and taking down and... an hour to get there, an hour to set up, an hour to take down.... sheesh.
So this season, allowing for a pretty awful start with the weather either tipping it down or burning my baldness to a cinder, I have gone back to basics.
No, not joining the Norfolk jacketed, plus fours and cane rod brigade, but just basics.
I thought back to when did I MOST enjoy my fishing. Came up with the answer when I was young, hadn't a clue and hadn't much tackle. Everything had to be capable of being carried on my pushbike.
Got bit more of a clue these days, but have very strongly reverted to not so much tackle.
This last month or so I have made a concerted effort to cut out all the myriad alternatives, choices and weight of tackle that no surrounds us.
New rule: only three rods in the car, - 1 x float, ledger and spinning. Secondly, take only one of them out of the car at a time. One discipline, one rod, no rod pods or three way multiples. One man, one rod, concentrate and do it right. Well, as right as I ever get it, I still remain a dub.
Plus which the only other tackle is my tackle box for the relevant discipline, landing net and that's it. Oh, and a small shoulder bag for a pint of maggots, a loaf of bread, or half a dozen spinners (as applicable). And a lump of my home made secret recipe paste (or cheese paste if after chub).
When tackling up I then don't worry about clever shotting patterns I have read in the latest magazines, or super fine lines or super modern hi tech lines (anyone want to buy my stockpile of useless nano and super thin flouro lines ? all of which cut through themselves and are therefore effectively useless for anything but the lure fishing they were designed for) nor do I bother dotting down my float tip to a tiny almost invisible spot on the water, or using impossibly fine float tips in the first place....
Nope. Good solid half an inch of peacock waggler sticking up nice and visibly with bulk shot where God intended, round its base, and no great sophistication beneath that.
Oh, and running water. Definitely running water.
And you know what ?
I've been enjoying myself, no end.
And even more surprisingly, catching fish consistently, more frequently, in larger quantities and of generally better quality than I ever have over the last three or four seasons.
Not threatening any PB's or so on, but on the other hand enjoying myself muchly. Very very more muchly.
And my goodness me, the quality of fish in the effectively unfished rivers and navigations is startlingly good in my area.
So I think I am kinda reconnecting with what I enjoy about this sport. Not being clever, or the best, or competitive, or even particularly good - cos I ain't - but just happy fuddling along in my own happy way.
I know how to catch more with dotted down this and micro that and invisible lines that I can't see to tie to a size 22, and all the theories and complicated feeds and this that and the other..... but bloody hell, damned if I want to.
I suspect that I may be heading for the plus fours, but definitely nothing is ever going to make me give up the joys of a modern rod !
)