One thousand - not out!

A milestone in the Of Esox & Observations blogging journey; post number 1,000. Who'd have thought it? Having risen from the embers of "The Non-conformist" fallout, I have been amazed at just how little angst and controversy this blog has gotten involved in. Differences of opinion are to be expected, no matter what the subject matter, but, by and large, this venture into Blog-land has been a very enjoyable way of placing my slant on things into cyber space, thus sharing thoughts with an unknown audience of infinite diversity. Long may it continue?

Saturday's swim at Marshside

My float, being fished slightly over depth, relying on a single BB shot and the weight of my prawn section
to cock it. I have a problem remaining focused on a float when the action is regular, this was absolute torture.

Out with the rods again, this weekend, I should have known better. On Saturday morning the opening gambit of Mick, the bailiff, was "you must be f**king mad" - How polite, how reassuring? To be brutally honest - he wasn't far off the mark; I endured a total blank, not a touch on float nor bite alarm. Well if I couldn't catch a perch then Sunday meant I'd go out onto the levels for a bit of pike fishing and so it was. Different venue, same outcome! The only time I heard an alarm was whilst I was getting the rods set up. To top it off I had to move the rods twice due to cat-ice forming in the margins as the dawn broke over the frozen marsh. A spectacular sun rise was enjoyed, despite the lack of fish, with a Barn Owl hunting the reed lined banks well after sun up, a sure sign that prey is difficult to locate in these sub-zero conditions. Four Little Egrets flew from their roost site and there was a small, yet definite, movement of Lapwings heading westwards, high overhead. A Common Buzzard provided the bulk of the entertainment as it hunted from fence posts and telegraph poles. It would regularly drop down onto the ground as if it had located some food item, although I didn't see it catch anything in the two hours I was watching. It seems blanking was a common theme out there?

My basic set-up when pike fishing out on the flatlands

Cat ice forming in the margins as the light intensified

The forecasters are promising a rise in temperatures, possibly into double figures by Thursday, and I am hopeful of getting back out for an afternoon session,or two, in the coming week. Whatever happens, I can't catch any less.