Getting to know you.

I put the food blender thingy into the bag of bread and hey presto, liquidised crumb, the winter groundbait par excellence. I'd kept back a few slices for the hook and grabbed some cheese paste from the freezer - time to fish.

My choice of swim was governed by how far I had to walk but I was happy that I stood a good chance of a chub or two. I dropped a handful of bread and a few balls of paste into three likely swims then settled into a crease swim between a couple of overhanging willows. Out went a feeder full of crumb and a lump of flake on the hook, I sat back and began to relax wondering how long before my association with my newly acquired New Superb rod and Hodder reel would become fruitful. It didn't take long.

Just ten minutes after casting the rod pulled down toward the river, I lifted into a spirited fish and purred to myself as the rod absorbed the lunges with plenty of power to spare. In the net it was obviously a good chub so I decided, unusually for me, to weigh it. I was glad I did, it went 5lb 4oz, a fitting first customer for my gear.

I put a bit more bait in then fished the other swims I'd prepped for nil result. Despite the lack of action, whilst sat down the bank and out of the wind, the low winter sun was warm and I felt very comfortable. Alas I did not stay long, the first swim was calling me back and I sat myself down for the last of the daylight. Immediately the increasing northerly wind felt colder and as the sun dropped behind the trees on the hill opposite so the temperature plummeted. I sat huddled in my thick coat with hands in my pocket, I was tempted to have Harvey on my lap for his warmth but he's a restless so and so and I'd have just got muddy. I had a few taps from small fish and a quick take that again probably came from something small. It felt like another fish was on the cards. I switched to cheese paste and had another, more positive bite which resulted in a chub of about three and a half pounds, that was enough, my hands were now frozen.

Despite there being maybe half an hour of light left before it got dark I trudged back to the car and quickly put the heater on, they'll still be there next time and I'm eager to have another trip with the rod and reel.

When you simply positively absolutely have to....

I'll be honest 2013 started the way 2012 finished - badly! A family member taken to hospital on Christmas day, worry for a while then, after a brief respite, a death on Nicky's side. To exacerbate the situation we were unable to get to the funeral due to the snow.

To escape from the stress and the weather we had a very pleasant stay in Devon where we relaxed in front of the fire and read a lot. Coming home you soon realise that such holidays are temporary affairs and the search begins for a boost, that quick fix that helps you through this miserable time of year. So we went to an auction.

I really shouldn't be allowed in these places as they are an exciting Aladdin's Cave of treasure that titivates the senses whilst reducing the common sense. I am always fascinated by the taxidermy even though I have nowhere to display a large fish, bird or antelope's head. The tiger skin along with the photographic account of its demise, the boar lance (great to dissuade poachers) the ski's, the saddles and, especially attractive to Nicky, the fur coats. Oh no, you could never wear them without a tin helmet but they are beautifully made, look wonderful and are extremely warm, what is more coats that cost over £1000 many years ago are now going for around £100 - tempted? There was one made of pony skin - I'd love to announce that in certain company, light blue touch paper......

But the main reason for being there was of course the fishing tackle. Last time there was a plethora of goodies but this time considerably less and, to be blunt, the quality was much lower. However, a pearl amongst swine shone through and I put a cane rod together and swooned at its beauty. Neil was with me and agreed that it was a bit special, I left a bid.

At home I discovered that the rod was indeed special and rare, an Allcocks New Superb which is designed to tame barbel and carp - I figured my bid was too low and knew that I simply positively absolutely had to have it. I went back to the auction room to bid in person. The bidding was frenetic and shot past my first estimate, I joined in the fray and found I was up against John Farey a dealer and the owner of the highly recommended Fisherman's Emporium. I figured that if he wanted it that badly it was worth the effort so I dug in and eventually the hammer fell in my favour. I breathed a sigh and went to speak to John who said "If I'd known it was you bidding I'd have backed off", now he tells me!

Not to worry, I got a centre pin for a song and a box of books for £25 and found in it an unread copy of   Ultimate Pike worth up to £100.

This tale has no moral, it is an account of retail therapy and a fortunate find or two. I won't recommend any of you going to sporting auctions as I don't want the competition should I spot another gem. So maybe there is the moral, stay away from auctions, unless its ebay and you want to buy a very good pike book.

Tuppence a bag.

Chaffinch and goldfinch

I used to fancy the idea of being a wildlife photographer. In my twenties and early thirties I spent a lot of time chasing butterflies - literally not metaphorically - and collected a bundle of photographs of most of the species the UK has to offer. Snakes and lizards were my other passion and me, Chris and Paddy used to set off to some far flung area in search of them. This led to an incident in an area of sand dunes where Chris and I were searching for Smooth Snakes only to find it was the gathering point for large numbers of gay naturists, we found plenty of smooth snakes all right but none that I felt the urge to photograph.

Which brings me to this morning - no, its nothing to do with smooth snakes - I've been trying to get a picture of a brambling. We've always fed the birds, it used to be a bag of loose peanuts from the local shop but over the years this has escalated somewhat. A van left a delivery the other day which consisted of over 50kgs of various seed mixes and Nicky found some reduced items in a pet shop which have been added to it. The old song from Mary Poppins went along the lines of "Feed the birds tuppence a bag" well that song has failed to keep track with inflation.

We pay a little more for sunflower hearts and a 'no mess' seed mix which really does help to keep the garden free from a thick layer of rotting husks and this is much healthier for the birds themselves. The birds seem to appreciate it too, for a small, suburban garden we have an excellent variety of bird visitors but being so close to the countryside helps.

Brambling between the chaffinches

Brambling

For the last four or five winters we have been visited by bramblings and they are a big favourite. I'd only ever seen one brambling before many, many years ago on a trip to the seaside, of course nobody believed me but as a youngster I was a mad keen birder and I know what I saw. But when we had five or six of them in the garden I was delighted and they've been back ever since. Blackcaps are another winter feeder but only ever on the feeders in the back garden. Last night with the temperature plummeting, it has brought our first blackcap of the winter.

Back view of a Redpoll

Whilst waiting for a chance to snap at my target this morning I spotted another rare visitor, a redpoll. It was a male in its first winter and very welcome. I tried to get a picture but only succeeded in getting a rear view shot, the damned things don't sit still for long. Nor did the bramblings, every time I had one neatly framed it would flit off and I'd have to start again only to have a car, person or cat appear and the whole mixed flock would be up and off. So, the pictures I took are not perfect due to my camera's limited ability, my very limited ability and the whole lot being shot through a dirty window - which apparently is also my fault.

If you have a spare 'tuppence' and can find it in you to put a few seed or nuts in a feeder then please do it, there are very few berries left on the bushes this winter and a lot of our feathered friends are going to struggle during the cold weather. Also, there can be few greater pleasures that accumulating dozens of feathered pets that will brighten a cold day and give you hours of entertainment.

Losing my head

Had a wander around the lake yesterday. Strange, some days the bushes and trees are a cacophony of bird song whilst at other times they are all but silent. Yesterday was a quiet almost sombre day except for the liquid trill of the occasional robin and a blue tit or two, it made the place feel isolated and a little lonely.

As I squelched down a slippery path I noticed a badger's skull in the undergrowth, further examination uncovered the rest of the skeleton. Its not often you find one of our larger mammal's bones and I couldn't help wondering just how it came to meet it's demise. I've found a couple of badger skulls before but never the whole skeleton, I decided to just pocket the head and pass it on to Neil who has a little collection.

A little farther along I was casting an eye over the coloured water for any signs of life when I caught my foot on a stick. Unfortunately it was quite a long stick buried beneath leaves and was pointing
directly ahead of me so my stumble didn't move it at all, it just stuck there and over it I went - splat!

I lay on my back staring at the sky through the tree canopy and did that little two second assessment of my well being - all systems 'A' okay and up I jumped. I looked for the skull which had been in my hand, I had tossed it to the side as I did my pirouette so it couldn't be far away. Well, ten minutes later after searching high and low I had to give up. Just where that skull went it a mystery, I really did hunt hard. I figured that the woods were not ready to let it go and I wouldn't be surprised if it were to turn up back with the body.... although I didn't look there - just in case.

Today I had another walk along soggy fields to the river. I'd done the same walk last Sunday but the river was just too high and there was nowhere to shelter from the extreme force of an angry Wye, today though, things were much better and there was merely 4' or so extra water rushing through.

The difference in level from last week to this.

I put a few free offerings of cheese paste upstream of a sunken tree where the water looked level and steady compared to much of the surrounding river. Out went a lump of paste on the hook and four smaller pieces on a PVA stringer, I sat back on the treacherous bank to await action. It took just a minute before the rod banged down and I hit a chub of about three and a half pounds.

A good start but it didn't continue, I tried a few more swims ending up on the inside of a bend where I had a violent take which I missed  My instincts make me think it was a trout due to the speed of the take

but I'll never know for sure. The amount of debris I was picking up was getting to me so I called it a day.

2013

Happy New Year

I've made a resolution for the new year. Yes I know that we all do it and within a few hours we break them but this year I've got that covered. Also, I'm aware that in previous years I've actually achieved the opposite of my chosen goal so, again I've sorted that and I'm using reverse psychology on myself. So, this year my new years resolution is,

       to put on weight and become more sedentary.

I hope that you all have a good 'un.

Merry Christmas

I'm not a total Grinch when it comes to the Santa Season, I'm just a tad cynical about the 'in your face' aspect of commercialisation. I hate having people shouting at me from the radio, TV or computer  and telling me to buy this, that or the other and that without the latest (insert name here) I'm a nobody and women won't want to touch my trousers.

I'm actually feeling quite Christmassy this year and have bought my best woman some gifts I just hope that Nicky doesn't find out - Ba Bump Tish! All is ready for the big day so there's no need for a last minute dash to the shops although I hear murmurs of a visit to the supermarket to see if there's any bargains though I feel it is more to sneer at the desperate 'leave it to the last minute brigade'. Oh well, I'll  tag along and grab a few liquid essentials.

Its been a funny old year in a totally non humorous sort of a way. The weather has been atrocious and it continues to rain but then I expect you've noticed that. I had all sorts of fishy plans for the year and most of them were abandoned due to the high water levels but I never really got my high-water head on and chose alternatives. Ah well, try again next year, it is only fishing after all.

Anyway, the best bit of news I can pass on is the remarkable road to recovery of my old mate Dave Mason. Many of you will know Dave, a big name in the barbel world and a proper fisherman. He had a massive stroke back at the start of the year and we all feared the worse, further complications left many of us thinking we would lose him and even that it may be 'kinder' if he just slipped away. But they make 'em tough in Oldham and few are tougher or more determined than Mase, he ignored all of the negative and decided to get back to the river bank as soon as possible.

I spoke to him a day or two back and, although his speech is still affected, we chatted for ages. He is a dogged old cuss and is walking short distances without a stick and is heading, according to the bemused medical services, toward an almost complete recovery by the end of 2013. Dave is hoping to have a week or so on the Wye in the summer and many of us will be delighted to see him with a rod in his hand once more.

Happy Christmas to you all, thanks for dropping by and here's to a great and hopefully dryer 2013.

Grayling

I grew up fishing weir pools and its something that has never lost its appeal. Today I sat beside a very small weir situated on the river Test and the memories came flooding back.

Neil and I stayed in a pub overnight then set off in the frost to Dave Steuart's section of river for my annual day of pure fishing hedonism. The mist rolled off the water as we arrived giving the river an alluring atmosphere, we were eager to start but this is not a place to hurry. A drink and a long chat with Dave was the usual start to the day. When we finally began sorting our gear from the car Neil said "I could listen to Dave chat all day" which we all could but there was fishing to be done and given half a chance Dave would have carried on talking - trust me :-)

We decided to fish with cane rods, I was keen to get a bend in my Lucky Strike which I coupled with a Speedia that was owned by Peter Stone (name dropper) and Neil was using a Sabrina with his Adcock Stanton. I fully expected to give in and go over to carbon when the shoulder began to ache but we both stuck it out for the duration.

The river was going through at a fast pace as a few of the sluices were open and there was a fair amount of debris coming through, this coupled with the sudden drop in temperature meant that the fishing was going to be challenging but we were undeterred. We headed to the bottom of the fishery where I settled in by the little weir whilst Neil went to the opposite bank and fished below the main sluice, he hit and landed a trout of well over 3lbs first cast.

In front of me the current was all over the place as water hit the pool from several angles, I know the swim well and let the float explore for a while as I got used to the extra water. I hit something heavy that plodded about before slowly rising to the surface, it was a big grayling but it was hooked in the pelvic fin - then it fell off.

I lost a small trout before landing my first fish, another trout. Then it started to come together, the feeding was working and I began catching a succession of graying most of which were a pound plus and which fought hard in the boiling current.

Then it got to that stage. I became absorbed by the roar of the water and the hypnotic movement of the current, my world condensed into that few square yards of water and I was no longer looking on but part of that tiny microcosm. I knew where the float would dance to next, I read its movements, never deceived by the bottom or the current pulling it under but hypersensitive and alert for the animal movement of a bite. It dipped - I struck before the tip buried below the surface and again the rod bucked and bounced to the distinctive writhing action of a fighting grayling. I was in my element and loving it until Neil appeared at my shoulder and spoke making me jump out of my skin as I plummeted back to the real world.

We moved about and tried a few more swims catching in all of them, Neil even took his first ever salmon, okay it was only a few pounds, out of season and on maggot but he was well chuffed. We ended up where we began and for a while we even swapped swims and rods and still we caught. Yes, its easy there but what the hell, I love it.

The day ended when we were caught in a heavy shower and both agreed that we'd caught enough so it was back the house and another chin wag over a cuppa before the long drive home.