Who am I?

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An individual, of no great importance, who is unable to see the natural world as a place for competition. I catch fish, watch birds, derive immense pleasure from simply looking at butterflies, moths, bumble-bees, etc - without the need for rules! I am Dylan and this is my blog - if my opinions offend? Don't bother logging on again - simple!

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Wednesday, 9 December 2015

Where will it lead?

"If you don't know where you're going, any road will take you there!" a lyric by George Harrison and a sentiment which I could align myself since first I heard it. I've taken many routes and have been up plenty of dead ends as my life, thus far, has unfolded. Friday 4th December 2015 and I reach the dawn of a new era - a major milestone. As Derek commented, "the road ahead is shorter than the one behind", and it's all down hill from here, or is it? I've recently blogged about my recording and correlation of meaningless data into something more tangible, the acquisition of that Mk IV is the basis for a whole new set of adventures with accompanying maths and statistics - the start of a brand new list!

Lee Morris, the guy from whom my family purchased this iconic rod, has been immensely helpful. Without any hesitation, or prompting from me, he has researched the reel that Dick Walker used to capture Clarissa and has sent his findings, via my comment facility, and allowed me to discover more about the present that my family have given me. He has also been very supportive in his attitude to the rod and how I should enjoy my tenure - it is there to be used, so go fishing!

I don't know the previous owners, Lee is a collector and dealer, I can't possibly know the stories that this fishing rod could tell - but I do know that whilst it remains in my custody, every fish, every reel that is fitted, what line, what rig, what hook size - you get the picture - will be recorded and be available to Benno when, in due course, he becomes the custodian of this wondrous piece of UK angling history. Statistical process control and those mathematical tools I was given during my Unilever years will now be used to provide my own history to an icon which has already got over half a century of events in the bag!

A Chub like this will do very nicely for a start.
I foresee quite a few shots of yours truly, grinning like a Cheshire cat, fish in hand with a
split cane rod and vintage reel combo propped on one shoulder!
In Dick Walker's "No need to lie" 1964, he writes about his experiences with ten species of fish with which he has enjoyed success.  Chapters on Chub, Carp, Pike, Perch, Roach, Bream, Trout, Tench, Barbel and Dace. I'm wondering if it is possible for me to also write my own chapters about these species via the enjoyment of the Mk IV and a Mitchell 300/Match Aerial? It's certainly something for me to think about.
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7 comments:

  1. Monty Dalrymple9 December 2015 at 17:25

    Dylan,

    With the rivers up and dirty around our way. Lure fishing is out for our Christmas social this coming Saturday. So I'll be Chubbing with my MKIV Avon. I was lucky to get this from a mate, older than me and it was never used until my grubby paws got hold of it. It had never had a reel sit on it.

    It's been a while since I last used it, so looking forward to Saturday. Say what you will about modern rods, but cane does make a great photo.

    Enjoy it mate-I know you will.

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    1. Dylan Wrathall9 December 2015 at 18:33

      Monty - I have every intention to take the rod out on Saturday for a perch session at a local commercial. I'm like a silly kid again (not that anyone would notice any difference?)- exciting times lie ahead.
      Take care & tight lines - Dylan

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  2. Ric9 December 2015 at 20:12

    Good luck with the Perch Dyl. Give em a good 'caning'.

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    1. Dylan Wrathall9 December 2015 at 22:28

      Rich, perch were a species which were in very short supply during my time at Tring (1981 - 93) My best came from The Thames and weighed 1 lb 12 oz - I didn't believe it when, on my return to the hobby, they undergone a major recovery and were now bigger than ever. I've had a little dabble and got my PB to 2 lbs 10 oz but have witnessed a few threes whilst I've been out and about. I'd love a four, anything else would be a bonus. The Sandwich Coarse Fishery complex certainly has perch of the size I seek, am I good enough to catch one? You can bet, that if I do, you'll quickly know via the wonders of "Blogland" - Dyl

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  3. Ric9 December 2015 at 22:55

    Dyl, At around the time of the publication, 'The Big Fish Scene' my best perch was 14oz. One day I fished a lake in Stanmore for perch with float fished worm. After three or four fish which were shorter than the lobs I was using, I decided to increase the rate of capture by using a small red worm. I had a bite straight away. No surprise there. The fish I hooked was though. It was so big I had no idea what. Soon found out. A Perch. All 2lb's 4oz of it. That was 1978.
    In late 1994 I went to Startops. I hadn't really fished the place for years but I fished my roach method and it worked, for Perch. But what Perch, mostly over 2lb's. My wife and me ended up with seven. It had taken 16 years to beat that 1978 fish.
    The following season they went mad. Ten over 2lb's at a time. Gavin Haig had never caught a 2lb perch. I think he caught 30 in the first week he tried.
    In less than a year I'd had over 100 2's to a best of 3lb's 5oz.
    There were bigger fish getting caught but they always seem to evade me.

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    1. Dylan Wrathall9 December 2015 at 23:24

      Rich, You've hit it on the button - bigger fish were getting caught, but not by me! Do you know why? Because you have a set of scales and celebrity obsessed tossers don't. I've lost count of the number of carp anglers who now guestimate fish up to "thirties" because that's what Danny Fairbrass does! Utter bollocks - if you care enough to go speccy hunting, you care enough to weigh your captures. A hundred two's in a year! I've had five in sixty! - Dyl

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  4. Ric10 December 2015 at 08:03

    Dyl, I bought a set of scales with just to weigh roach. Big calibrations 4lb's x 1oz, so I could see 1/2 oz well enough. I had an imperial 1lb weight to ensure the 'zero' point was spot on. If I was going to catch a '3' I was determined there would be no mistakes. In February 1984 off the canal bank I had a fish which weighed 2lb's 15.5oz. Close, but no cigar. It was fun.
    Jeff Mills came up to me that day and said, "Ric, that was lucky!". By way of explanation I'd declared that should I catch a '3', I'd celebrate by jumping into the canal.
    Jeff was alluding to the fact that if I hadn't (jumped) they would have thrown me.
    He was joking of course.
    I think.
    Btw. Spoke to him yesterday. First time in ages.

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