Dreams to be realised

Reluctantly I've come to the realisation that it won't be but a few years before I am unable to follow a branch of the sport that has given me immense enjoyment over many years. This has been brought about by physical injury sustained many years ago. Of late the damage to the spine has made mobile lure fishing more and more of a trauma, to the point where I have had to reduce outings. So to re-evaluate my options, as far as pike are concerned I have achieved every ambition I ever had, and along the way in all humility can claim to have gained some recognition. And since I could never give up fishing, to maintain what drive I have left I have decided to allocate time to other species namely, chub and barbel, these being the only two species that I have not had to specimen size over the last fifty odd years. And at least manage to get a good sit down whilst doing so. Something I haven't done for the last twenty five years.

So let me ask, is there anyone else out there had by force of circumstance to change their approach or even species?

Come on guys, give me hope, don't let this be a cry in the wilderness.

Derek,

Sorry to hear that, i am still lucky to have my health and be mobile. I did have a bad fall a few years ago, that plays up now and then, but fingers crossed.

I am sure you will enjoy the Chub and Barbel fishing in the same way you enjoyed all the other years of fishing.

Good luck and take care.

tough luck derek on your injury as for myself although i am still fit and strong father time is catching me slowly ,match fishing was my passion until i grew disillusioned with the the modern carp trend ,i drift between specimen tench and river fishing but i have found a new kind of peace that is to fish different venues avoiding carp where i can and simply doing the best i can to put together a net of decent fish and enjoying it ...no targets no time limits just fishing and after all isnt that what its all about.

Guy's, thank's for the P.Ms, it's much appreciated. But I think I may have giventhe wrong impression.

At age forty I was heavily into power lifting and during one lift I twisted and damaged a couple of discs in the spine. As time has gone by inevitably arthritis set in and plays up. It's not that I can't lure fish anymore, I just can't do it as ''frequently''. Whereas up to a year or so ago I could endure three mile walks whilst lure fishing. Now on a ''good'' day I might make it twice through the week,usually once!!

The thread was to ask if anyone had to reduce their favourite type of fishing , and to some extent supplement it with another.

But thanks anyway for the kind thoughts, I'm touched.

Hi Derek, I empathise very closely. Some years ago back pain led to me having to give up fly-fishing (other than for very shot sessions) and lure fishing causes me similar pain. However my return to coarse fishing has brought me far better sport than I ever had previously with new friends to share with as well - so every cloud has a silver lining!

My current fear, though, is that following the back op I had to "rectify" the problem 4 years agoI may find that in due coursefishing the difficultriver banks that I often visit may have to cease prematurely/forum/smilies/crying_smiley.gif

Derek, at the ripe old age of 42 I am slightly puzzled what to say?

Your angling life so far has been, awesome? I don't know if you see it that way? But I do.

I also know you have had your physical problems too, but has that stopped you?

Has it hell! You've adapted your fishing and hats off to you for that. I've got one or two "less abled buddies" who I fish with. When I feel down I give myself a sharp talking to and it all falls into place.

You don't need hope mate and it's not a cry in the wilderness, turn to your friends Derek, you will find out who they are.....

And if that fails, get a boat /forum/smilies/wink_smiley.gif

Exactly so John, the banks on much of the Tidal Trent are a nightmare, as are many of the Fenland drains and rivers. Sods law would have it that these are my favourite venues,and I long to be there. Now by necessity I have to change venue after every trip,as two consecutive trips to the above leave me in agony, and laid up for a day or two.

Hence the reference to chub and barbel, allowing me a leisurely sit down and recovery for the next time out.

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Oh yes and thankyou Mr Spiller for your kind remarks.

It's what you make of it Derek.....

So long as you still enjoy it Derek, that's all that matters and long may that continue.....

p.s. Steve will do /forum/smilies/wink_smiley.giftight lines mate.

Strangely enough I was going to start a thread on similar lines.

I too have had to come to terms with the fact that carrying lots of tackle along dodgy banks such as the Tidal Trent, is over. There were a couple of occasions fairly recently when I fell on the tidal banks, which as some of you know are awful, and not a soul was around.

It was scary.

I haven't fished the Tidal Trent at night for barbel since.

There are times when I yearn again to tread the banks of the Trent, but getting people to come with me mid week is a nigh on an impossibility, what with families and jobs.

But not to worry, I have my trout fishing which is one of my first loves, and this I can do without much bother as I don't have to carry tons of debris with me and the best venue is only 4 miles away. And shortly I might get a bit of chub and roach fishing which does not demand the carrying of tackle.

It is this carrying of gear that gets to usmore senior types. Something Derek you are going to have to face after many years fo freedom with a rod and reel, anet and a pocket full of lures.

But at least you will be able to sit down.

The Victorians had the right attitude.

"Get your man...................."

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Derek I sympathize having suffered prematurely in my case with a bad back. …shifting tackle, walking long distances, Bivvys, bed chairs etc…its difficult for non sufferers to imagine the physical restrictions it imposes whilst anyone who has suffered will know its nothing short of total B******ks with a capital “B” ! It forced me to completely revamp the way I physically fished but also just as fundamentally it forced me to rethink things mentally as well.

For quite a while I was doing a lot of fishing that involved some of bigger species. Carp, Pike, Cats etc however I had to all but give up fishing for them for the simple reason that I could no longer pick em up! I remember one day very well…I was fishing on a slightly elevated area and I caught a Carp, a very good Carp, but it was totally impossible for me to do anything with it. I could not even lift it the foot or so from the water onto my mat. Even if I had managed to get it up to the mat I knew there was no way I could weigh or photograph myself holding it. All I could do was unhook it (with difficulty) in the water and reverse the net to release it. I packed up immediately extremely hacked off. I knew Things were going to have to change. Worse was that on the drive home I was almost discounting the capture due to the fact I did not weigh it. I even contemplated whether I wanted to fish at all if I could not weigh them! It’s an eye opening concept that I would suggest would do no harm for every angler to consider at some point….

Anyway that aside what I did was actually not so dissimilar to what you are contemplating now. I decided to return to my roots as it were and started to fish again for the Chub the Roach, Perch, Barbel & so on…fish I might actually be able to pick up and without having to hump a ton of tackle. After a few years of multiple rods and buzzers to return to fishing with a single rod and a float were a revelation….I had forgotten how much I liked doing it!

Nowadays I am able to mix it up a bit and can get the multiple rods out from time to time. You learn to adapt and find ways round problems. For example spinning from a tiny collapsible high stool (maybe an idea for you Derek) There are still things out of reach and particularly difficult is having to pass up certain situations were I know fish are catchable but I physically cant take advantage of the situation in front of me..that’s hard believing me! The fact I fish alone does not help but so be it. It means you have to work that bit harder in yourfishing but it makes any capture all the more worthwhile and memorable.

Easily solved, Derek, get Ron to carry your gear.

You just enjoy casting a rod and landing big pike.

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Phillip, that's the exact point I was trying to make, except that your description of events that lead to change are far more clearly stated than mine,(my error). There must be many on here who by force of circumstance have had to modify or change their approach in order to continue this great hobby of ours. And since anglers tend to be possessed of great inventive skills,I was more than interested in how others may have overcome certain physical limitation.

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Woody, I'll certainly put your suggestion to Ron when he visits with me tomorrow. I think you make a very valid point, but no doubt the cantankerous bugger will find fault.

Derek, you and Ron need a young lad to take under your wing, preferably a strong fit young lad who could carry your tackle too. Imagine the feeling of passing on your knowledge and skills to such a lad.

............I wish I was young and fit............and lived closer /forum/smilies/sad_smiley.gif

Derek, You have my greatest sympathy, because I had to sell of my spinning gear a couple of years ago because the pain in my back and arm became too great. Now I am beginning to think about my carp and barbel gear!

I am afflicted with Scheormanns disease, curvature of the spins, degenerative arthritis in the spine and collapsed discs! The specialist gives me about 10 years before I'm permanently in a wheelchair but I will fight every inch to avoid that!

They have already cost me my profession, my horse riding, rambling, cycling and golf, now the damned things are eating away at my last great passion, angling, (passion disappeared many years ago!)

Fight for as long as you can to enjoy every last minute before you have to submit!

Take care,

Don

It would not worry me a damn if I couldn't weigh a fish again. The lack of carrying scales would mean another useless chunk of metal better left at home.

I really think the fishing tackle supply industry should do something about getting the weight of equipment down. Fly rods are no problem weighing only 3 1/2 oz these days. You can get a lightweight Korum chair, but a lot of work remains to be done in this area, especially with titanium instead of aluminium.

Coarse fisheries could be improved by allowing the disabled and older people to park next to their swim. Circular roads around fisheries should be a must.

And then commercial fisheries in general.

They would appeal far more to people like myself if they were properly landscaped and stocked with species other than carp.

Well said Ron, very few commercial fisheries have the appropriate facilities for Disabled Anglers, and the elderly. that are needed. I can think of about half a dozen in the South yorkshire area and by law they are supposed to provide them!

One new fishery that is still under construction is Aston Springs, part of the KJS Aston Fishery, will provide full disabled access to special pegs designated for them. Ken Swain has listened to me and others and investigated the need and type of provision.

Not only that this fishery will be a model for environmentally friendly and conservation minded fishery management.

Instead of cars driving around the ponds I would do what Hayfield used to do and have a shuttle service with Golf Buggies carrying peoples gear. This stops the banks getting choked with cars.

Cheers friend,

Don

Isn't it strange that we never consider the plight of the elderly until we become old ourselves! It's only when we ourselves become deprived of access to venues due to physical limitations that we are ''forced'' to examine the situation. I recall that in an earlier post I made that point to Phillip.

Many coarse fisheries are being improved Ron, insofar as access goes. Take Dam Flask as but one example, new pathways, wheelchair ramps etc. The downside to this of course is that now the reservoir is open to all,where as previously it was ''angling personal only''. Now you have picnics, jogging, dog walkers, dog swimming lessons which infuriate all anglers ''young and old alike''.

I agree entirely with your views on commercials, they could easily be made into pleasant surroundings ie- a bit of judicious planting, unfortunately for me they would make poor pike fisheries. For as we know pike thrive on neglect!! no iffs or buts there, and I believe it to be almost a solitary form of angling.At best needing no more than a couple of good friends to share it with, and lots of available water.

Not for me those social gatherings at some newly discovered trout water, ''no matter how big the supposed fish''!!

dek you have done great things in pike fishing but your greatest moment is still to come

Saving volume and weight

I have worked on fishing light for a few years now. One thing to overcome is the taking spares for everything and extras. This fear of something breaking and not having a spare. I decide what I am going to fish for before going and only take minimum tackle. One rod, one reel, one landing net, one small seat. A few floats and bits in the smallest box I can use to fit them. Only a small flask and minimum bait. I havn't yet come a cropper and I have been doing this for long time. You can economise on weight and size for a lot of things if you put your mind to it and it is quite an enjoyable challenge working out how to save weight.. And fishing is a lot more pleasurable than carrying huge amounts of it around.
I dont know if this advice will help you Derek but, I hope so; give it some thought.

What volume and weight saving devices are there anyone?