After missing the best part of three months of fishing, and probably the best of any season, I then found myself trying to get back into it during the worst period, this being August.
It took time to even begin to enjoy it again and many times I found myself sitting on the bank asking, why am I here ? On the plus side I'm pleased that I did get to fish every time I set off whereas in the past I've either failed to get out the door or I've turned back, sometimes having reached the water. However, it will always be one week at a time.....
The past week or so, results wise, has been pretty good and in the main I've gone home well pleased with my catch, BUT those missing months still rankle as I missed the chance of real quality roach, something that I'd planned for over many months. I certainly cannot complain as many would be over the moon with such catches, but it still seems like a personal loss................Perhaps I ask too much of myself and, likely as not lose the plot round just enjoying whilst I can - who knows, eh ?
This past week or so has also seen an improvement in fish size ( roach ) with perhaps just the start of better conditioned fish as well. Also, the actual fight has been little better. The odd lovely crucian has also shown up in perfect nick - an absolute joy to behold.
No, it doesn't do to be too hard on yourself, so if the desire or the ' can't wait ' feeling leaves you then perhaps it's time to just let it be for a while and do something else, all of which is rich coming from me !!!
Looking forward to late autumn and then winter fishing when I'm planning to roach fish the Thames, but as I say, one eek at a time.......
ps Off subject, but the elderberry experiment, if I can call it that, has given mixed results. Some very nice roach but long spells of nothing between fish. The reason for this escapes me.....................................Scenario ; A dip of the float, then a sail away bite with a good roach the result, followed by another even bigger. Then more than an hour of ziltch followed by 2 /3 fish some 7" long...........Mmmmm.
pps Binka's ' that moment '....Ah, what would we do without it, eh ?