Making plans

I've just got back from a quick visit to Sandwich Coarse Fishery. No; I didn't take my tackle, just went there to see Ken, the bailiff, (Kevin is away on holiday) and sort out a session for Benno and myself on Sunday. Aldred, my Dad's gardener, was also there; so I spent quite some time chatting and enjoying a cuppa in the company of these two guys. Subjects ranged from split cane rods, through old reels and centre-pins, match anglers and their lack of appreciation of the surroundings they fish in, to the woeful employment  ethics of Dragon Carp - ref: Ken's son Anthony and the shameful way he was treated as the Ramsgate store was closed down. Quite a varied conversation, whilst drinking my coffee.
Permission granted, I then went for a stroll around the complex - camera and binoculars to hand, just in case! A nice mixed flock of Siskin and Goldfinches were feeding in the alders beside the match lakes, whilst a Kingfisher was glimpsed as it sped by, whistling loudly. Walking around the Specimen Lake, a large carp "lumped out" beside one of the islands - the signs are all very positive for the weekend ahead. Perch are our targeted species, but any fish which puts a bend in the rod will do. Bait is being purchased, as I write, Bev getting the frozen prawns from Tesco, my lobworms will be extracted from the lawn when I've finish my shift tonight. The perch which inhabit the local "carp puddles" are an unknown quantity - in as much as very few anglers make any effort to deliberately seek them. Accidental captures make up the bulk of the reported fish, the average size being well in excess of two pounds, and that'll do for me!
Work is going crazy - overtime for the complete run up to Christmas! Thank-you very much, I'll have a bowl full of that - first pay day in January will be very pleasant indeed.

Keep it real

So I now have a new toy a, 56 year old, split cane fishing rod! What I haven't got is a magic wand - this wonderful gift has, by its' very design, some serious limitations concerning where and how I can use it. Just as a golfer couldn't play a meaningful round using only a putter - the Mk IV is not built for every angling situation, although it remains a very versatile tool. The ten species in "No need to lie" might have to re-assessed and priority given to those to which this particular rod is most suited? Obviously, I also have to take into account the venues I have available and what I am hoping to achieve during this adventure? If I am to remain true to my original desires, before I ever came close to owning such a rod, I must also use reels and methods which are compatible with the period I now seek to replicate. I am not, however, so stupid as to wish to use that crappy mono, the blunt hooks and  hopeless terminal set-ups of that era, no; I'll use the best that I can get my hands on, after all, I still harbour the desire to catch big fish. My reel choice is very straight forward, the rod will either be fitted with the Garcia Mitchell 300 or my Fred Crouch "Match Aerial" centre-pin. I made the mistake of trying that FSR half-bail effort and felt ashamed for doing so - it was completely unsuited.

The oldest of my three Mitchell 300's. Flaking paint and that "lived in" look - still a perfectly usable reel.

My Mk IV project, therefore, will revolve around my ability to catch five species which I can expect to encounter during sessions at my local fisheries and will provide a realistic challenge whilst using this kit. It is an open ended, personal, challenge which requires no time restrictions or rules, other than those which I have outlined.

Chub - a fairly common species in the local stretches of The Stour but not one I've pursued with any conviction. My best from the river is a very respectable 5 lbs 2 oz, yet there are fish which could easily add two pounds to this weight lurking in the depths. Benno has a six to his name, therefore my target is to match that weight, or better it?

Carp - probably the most straight forward species to achieve any type of target, given the wealth and variety of local fisheries. My only stipulation is "no boilies" - floaters (crust) or particles/naturals only. I might even, on occasions, use a float instead of that Heron bite alarm, just to make things even more authentic. I'd love to take a double figure wildie from the local drains; although, ultimately, I want to beat my 23 lbs 14 oz PB using this kit.

Pike - I only have two venues in mind where this rod might be suited. I won't be slinging my usual "big baits" but, instead will scale down to allow small 1/2 Sardine/Bluey to be presented at relatively close range (less than 20m). I will be doing this for two reasons - firstly I have no desire to place undue stress on the rod and second, I want to be able to set the hooks on the strike. A double will see this part of the challenge done and dusted.

 

Perch - Dick Walker was the record holder, for a time, with a 4 lbs 12 oz fish from Arlesey Pit in Bedfordshire. It is, therefore, only fitting that I use the rod which bears his name to seek these wonderful fish. Again I am spoilt for choice with the local venues where I have a realistic chance to take fish of two pounds and better. I have no target weight, as yet.

Barbel - just one fish from The Stour, that's all I want - size is unimportant.

There you have it - my rough plan for the rest of my angling life. I won't cease using my regular gear but, instead, will pick and choose the tackle best suited for each situation, as they arise.

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.

Sunshine on a rainy day

I'm sat at my desk looking out, into a gloomy, grey sky, with heavy rain beating against the windows. I'd have liked to be perch fishing in such conditions, but the logistics of transport and work commitments have precluded such opportunist folly - dream on, that day will dawn when the clock is no longer lord and master. Until then, however, I will have to enjoy whatever comes my way. Many hours have been spent, recently, studying my dodgy images of "micro moths" in some desperate attempt at gaining an insight into this complex group of insects. Progress is slow but there is basis for optimism on my part - and I'm enjoying this learning experience, that's important.
Going back through these archived photo folders, I keep delving into the Cephalonia (Kefalonia) files, purely to relive that exciting fortnight when I realised just how important birding is in my enjoyment of being me!

Extremes of sun light and shade - one of the most testing situations I have ever used a camera in.

Sixty-one species and not a single "lifer" - the holiday was way more important than that. The first time Bev and I had been away, together, in three years and we needed this break. I suppose that this will be construed as a precursor to my "2015 Review" (Thanks Steve! - just joking) It is not, but hey-ho!, does it matter? It's still pissing down with rain and the images I am looking at are the very opposite. I'd thought about a post title of "Hippo up an Olive Tree" - made me smile but didn't work.
I came away from this holiday completely humbled - no way was I as good a birder as I thought I was. Steve say's "rusty" - I say "ordinary" I was way outside my comfort zone and boy did I know it?

A Subalpine Warbler - race unknown

Western Conifer Seed Bug?

Subalpine Warbler - race unknown

An Icterine Warbler - a "Hippo in an Olive Tree!"

Don't have a Scooby!

These photos are a random mix of memories from a time and place where the sun shone brightly and I was free to do my own thing - happy daze!

How can this be?

Is it possible that I have friends, with whom I've never met? Steve Gale writes a blog, as does Derek Faulkner, Stewart Sexton, Gavin Haig, Darren Roberts and there are many, many others - kindred spirits whose outlook is similar to my own. We exist - but in a world that is all smoke and mirrors?
We use the wonders of "Google & Microsoft" to allow others to share our spin on the mundane routines that are our very existence; liven it up with a few pretty pictures or the tale of some away-day or other, but space explorers we ain't. What we get up to in our own little worlds is simple and available to every inhabitant of the UK - we all get outdoors and look. Not a particularly radical concept but one, I fear, that is becoming more uncommon as this same technology, which allows us to share our experiences, replaces reality with the fraudulent alternative of virtual reality.

How many people take the time to look at the ordinary?

Whilst I see what we do as "folly", there is a spark of responsibility involved at another level? If, by doing our thing, we are able to encourage others to get involved, our type of blogging is a positive way of using this modern technology to advance, and enhance, the interest in our natural heritage.
We might not all sing from the same Hymn sheet, but sing we do - a powerful tool in this day and age!

If by sharing our own interests, we are able to encourage others to get involved, we can be content in the knowledge we've done our bit to ensure future generations will have a natural world to discover for themselves. Here endeth the lesson! (P.S. - I've already applied for Saint-hood!)

It  doesn't matter what form - enjoying wild life is at the very core of my existence

What a gift

It's been quite a whirlwind of social engagements since Friday, my 60th birthday. £47 on bacon rolls for my colleagues in digital, out for a Chinese with friends that same evening before meeting up with my family at The Comfort Inn for a social on Saturday night. During my time on this earth I have been given some fantastic presents by various people, Bev especially good a choosing just the right thing.

An image which is unable to do justice to this remarkable piece
of angling history

Last night I was reduced to a gibbering mess by a gift that my entire family had collectively purchased for me. A Richard Walker Mk IV, 10' split cane rod by B James & Son London, England (1959). Something which I have dreamt of on many occasions yet have never had the means to acquire - a truly wonderful surprise.

I don't know when I'll next be out, but you can rest assured that this iconic rod will not be hidden away but, instead, be put through its' paces as I seek to add my own stories to the history of this rod. I've been trying to discover what reel Dick Walker had used when he caught Clarrisa, my copy of Still Water Angling shows Pete Thomas and others of that era all using Mitchell 300's at Redmire.

The man himself - Dick Walker poses with "Clarrisa" at Redmire Pool
The source of inspiration for my generation of anglers - a true angling legend.

I might try to get down to Sandwich for a perch session one morning in the week? I can also see myself returning to The Stour for some centre-pin chub fishing, all of a sudden I have a head full of possibilities for new projects.

A statement about modern angling?

One of the angling blogs that I follow is Bureboyblog.blogspot.co.uk - a nicely written variety of posts from North Norfolk and the surrounding areas, generally about angling, but not always. Looking at my "dashboard" this morning I saw that a new post has been made and quickly clicked the link to be rather bemused by a very short (tongue in cheek) caption which accompanies a splendid photo of said angler and four very nice pike taken from various venues in his part of the world.

The caption reads, and I've copied it directly, "nothing more depressing than the photo album of a single species angler."

22nd December 1986 - 23 lbs 5 oz

A single species angler? I don't believe I came into contact with such an individual when I first got into speccy hunting, way back at the very start of the 1980's? However the seeds were already being sown for the upsurge in demand, before the total domination, of carp angling within the UK. John Sidley might have been "The Eel Man" but he was also a bloody good pike angler, Fred Crouch was a Barbel nut, yet could turn his hand to Chub and Roach when the fancy took him. Even Kevin Maddocks, the guy whom I hold responsible for the whole carp fishing fiasco, turned to Catfish when he had nothing left to earn (prove) as a carp angling devotee.


Single species anglers; I might just as well write Carp Anglers, are a relatively modern development, a manifestation of instant gratification and the rise of  the commercial fishery. It is, therefore, the reason that the photo albums of these guys (and gals) are rather one dimensional. After all, there are only so many poses you can use to present a wet fish to the camera - photos very quickly become samey.

 

25 years later and I'm still using that same pose. I don't care how
arty - farty the photographer, there are a very finite number of
poses open to the average angler.

I suppose the question is really, why are the photographic collections assembled in the first place? From my own perspective, my angling journey, through all it's phases, is captured by these images and is there for my personal amusement and memories. Of course I use them to add interest to my blogging, as an indicator of my abilities and commitment and also to share with and, hopefully, entertain other like-minded souls who choose to look at this blog.

Would I wish to change anything? No, I don't believe I would.
Memories of a particular stage in my angling journey - Carp fishing in that exciting period 1983/84
As they were the target, is it any surprise that my photos reflected this?

I consider myself very fortunate to have avoided the snare of carp angling and been allowed to pursue my dreams in phases of single species efforts as the year's seasons progress. When setting my stall for a particular species, I focus all my efforts toward a successful conclusion before changing tack and seeking a challenge elsewhere. It is, therefore, no great surprise that my old albums contain lots of similar images of Catfish, Tench, Carp, Pike and Zander as each species was targeted.

My PB Barbel

One of over 100 seven pound Tench that I've taken from Wilstone.
 

Once again, I am sure that there is an awful lot of age related stuff allied to these thought processes. Modern anglers simply don't have access to the angling apprenticeship that was available to me as I was growing up, and that's as sad as it is true. Responsible parents are unlikely to allow their kids to wander off to the local rivers and canals, unsupervised, in these modern times?

May I end this drivel by stating my thanks to Bureboy for the spark that set the ball rolling - cheers!
My only other option was wild flowers - don't go there!!!