He is also a very keen angler, having come back to the sport in 1995 following a break of several years. In this regular column he will tell us about his progress as an angler – his thoughts about the sport, what he learns, the fishing trips he makes, the anguish, the humour, in fact everything he experiences as his angling career develops. | ||||
SHROPSHIRE TENCH CAMPAIGN OFF THE MARK I’ve recently taken out a permit that allows me to fish a Shropshire estate lake. Although it does contain other species, it is tench that I am interested in. As the lake follows the traditional closes season, once June 16 came round I was determined to make the most of the couple of months or so that I have designated to concentrate on the venue.
I set up in a swim that had a reedbed to one side and a large group of lily pads to the other. The water has a reputation for decent tench and so I wasn’t going to fish too light. My main line was 6lb, with the same breaking strain for the hook length, but switching to fluorocarbon as opposed to the standard mono that was on the reel. The first thing I did was to put out a good helping of brown crumb laced with dead maggots and sweetcorn. Then, when I was ready to start fishing I cast the leger rod alongside the left-hand reedbed and put a float close to the lily pads on my right. Then I sat back, poured a cup of tea, and waited! A shame, but no night fishing The venue does not allow night fishing, and as it is all quite strict there’s no room for accidentally forgetting what time it is! It’s a shame really, because there is no logical reason as to why night fishing should not be allowed. The lake is in a rural area, there’s no one to disturb, and in fact I can’t think of one reason why one has to pack up at dusk, except that it’s written in the rules!
Immediately it tried to head for the dense reedbed. This is why one needs to fish with suitable line. It’s no use fishing ultra fine lines if every fish is lost. As I was fishing 6 lb, I had the right balance between controlling the fish and giving me good sport as I played it. (It’s no good going too heavy either. Bites will be very hard to get and when they do come it will simply be a case of winding the fish in). A good start with a 5.5 After a few vain attempts to lose itself in the reeds I gently brought it out into open water. The odds were now very much stacked in my favour and so it was no surprise a minute or so later to slip the net under my first fish of the campaign on the lake. It weighed in at 5lb 5oz, and posed nicely for the camera before happily swimming off to join its friends once more. Within minutes of re-casting the bait, I again had another screaming run. But this time the fish eluded me. By now it was time to pack away my gear and begin the long walk back to the car park. After the night fishing ban the distance from car park to lake is the other down side of the venue. However, if I can keep catching tench like this, I’m sure it won’t be too much of a distraction!
Fond memories of fox gloves I remember as a kid how we used to put foxgloves on the ends of our fingers. They seemed so common in those days. Now, they’re much rarer, along with so many of our native flora and fauna. In the area of south Staffordshire where I grew up, there were so many spots that had the name ‘Bluebell wood’. Today, again, that beautiful flower too, is under threat. So, as I fished, it was indeed a pleasure to just examine and admire the humble foxglove once again. Of course being a reasonable sized lake the venue has its fair share of wildfowl. When I arrived on my second visit a couple walking past made comments to me regarding the gentle nature of the swans that are on the lake. I wished they had been there a few minutes later when one of the swans struck into a female mallard and her young!
As the swan pursued the goose, I saw the latter dive. At first I thought I was seeing things. But no, the bird surfaced 20 metres or so away, only to be attacked once more. Then the goose dived again to evade the swan. This scenario was repeated a number of times before the swan finally gave up. I can only assume it was sheer fear that caused the goose to do what it did. It was just like watching a great crested grebe. They dive, and you don’t know where they will then re-surface. So much for gentle swans! | ||||
Next Thursday’s PP is back on the lower Severn, when I’ll tell you how my barbel campaign is going so far. As well as Mr Whiskers, I’ve also been catching other species as well. Read all about it next week in ‘A MIXED BAG ON THE LOWER SEVERN’. See you then. The Reverend Stewart R Bloor Pilgrim’s Progress – read it every Thursday! |
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