Summer Missed

 Like sand through my fingers, the summer drifted into autumn whilst I watched, inactive. 

My last trip was on August 21st, a short evening visit to the Wye, searching for an oxygenated bit of flow where the 'gorilla snot' weed was bearable. I found such a spot, but it had been fished all day. That angler was leaving, and I did not fancy another trek or balancing on a crumbling ledge. I gave it two or three hours, but it soon felt like a vain effort. I blanked.

My few Wye forays had all been a struggle. Low conditions and enthusiasm, just a few chub here and there. I looked forward to some rain, low atmospheric pressure and some barbel. I yearned also for the first week of October and a long-planned Tuna trip. There was much to be excited about. Then, the rug was pulled from beneath me when my chest kicked off again, and another deep infection took root. The coughing I can live with, but the horse pill antibiotics knock the crap out of me. No matter, come early September and I'll be back.

There followed two more conditions of crap health, adding up to five weeks out of seven on antibiotics. I was wrecked. 

During this time, my lad, Neil, was spanking the Lugg. He's had a stack of chub and a few barbel to over eleven pounds, which, by the way, is an unclaimed record. I've envied his energy and passion, but I'm more than happy to see him doing it all his way and reaping the rewards from an often difficult river that never gives up its barbel easily.

A rare Lugg double

As for the tuna trip? Their first two days were blown off, but the third day, and the one I should have been on, produced five tuna between 100 and 450lbs. Alas, I was not up to it and missed the fun. The pictures and videos of the trip were mouth-watering, especially the enormous chaos of striking fish and birds as a shoal of hapless fish is torn into again and again. This maelstrom passed under the boat, and the occupants all got very wet. Hey ho, maybe one day. 

One day, one day.

Anyroadup, I went fishing yesterday. Neil acted as guide and nursemaid, and I sat in an old favourite swim for the last few hours of daylight, feeding hemp and pellets and a little bit of meat on the hook. A proven method to get a bite or two. I banked. Neil had a chub and nothing else moved. Do I care? No, it's my first day out and there's rain forecast next week. I have much catching up to do.