IT PAYS TO STAY IN THE WIFE’S GOOD BOOKS...
... if you’re an angler it makes all the difference between heaven and hell!
AWEEK of guiding for me, and despite challenging conditions I’ve caught a good number of barbel and chub for my customers.
The river was low and clear, and persuading these species to get their heads down early season can be trying. But by using some tricks I have picked up over the years I have put smiles on all my customers’ faces and have converted a few more to the ways of the river angler.
Here’s how it went for me…
MONDAY
Slowest day of the week with Robbie Morton in conditions that didn’t actually look too bad. Bright sunshine had been replaced by an overcast sky and it was much cooler, which I thought would stir the fish into feeding.
But no, for some reason they were not having it and we came away with only a couple of fish after one of the worst sessions I have ever had on the Severn’s Rowley water at Coalport.
Still, that’s river fishing and that’s why it’s called fishing, not catching. When such things happens I don’t analyse the results too much – it’s just a bad day which I have had before and I will have again. If I could work it out and catch fish every time I go out river fishing I’d get bored and take up something else. That’s part of the fascination of river fishing – each day is different and I really don’t want it to be too easy.
TUESDAY
Took Sam Elliot and his younger brother Joe for a barbel session. The river had changed completely and we had takes from start to finish. They caught some lovely barbel, nothing big but that wasn’t the object of the day. Sam and Joe wanted to learn how to feed for barbel and also about swim management over a day session.
I think they learned a lot and we had a great laugh, with plenty of mickey-taking from all concerned.
The weather was warm but not too warm and it was overcast, more like a nice October day than high summer. But the most important thing was that the fish were willing to feed and fought like tigers. My customers both caught personal bests, and although they’d spent time carp fishing in the past I think we have two river converts, which always makes me extra happy.
WEDNESDAY
Tom Raper was my customer today, and even though I was weary after a couple of guiding sessions, after a quick shower and a boiled egg with toast I was back on top form.
Tom’s wife Ruth dropped him off and Tom and I headed up to the Rowley water near Coalport to try and catch him a barbel or two.
The weather was perfect – overcast again – but this time
there was a little colour from overnight rain in Wales. Fishing boilies and pellets, Tom finished with six barbel to 8lb and three chub over 4lb, the best two going 4lb 14oz and 4lb 15oz. In a few weeks they’ll both be over 5lb.
While he fished, we talked about all sorts of species. Tom is an allrounder and he was making the most of his time spent with me. We talked as much about nature as we did about fishing.
Like many of my customers, he’s an avid reader of Angling Times and loves my ‘What to Spot’ section every week.
THURSDAY
A much-needed day in the office. I was behind on a number of things and my wife wanted me to do a few little jobs around the new bungalow, so I had to keep Maggie May happy! Here’s a good tip for any angler who is married – make sure your wife is happy and you’ll get no hassle when you want to go on your next fishing trip!
Anglers often ask me what Margaret says about me fishing so much. Well, the simple answer is, it’s my job and it’s what pays the bills, so what can she say? I had my wife’s full backing 35 years ago when I left my job as a pipefitter to become a full-time angler, and I still do. Believe me, that helps a lot. I also get my bags packed.
Off to Scotland tomorrow for three days at Glasgow Angling in Edinburgh. I’ve never been to one of their shop days before and I’m really looking forward to it. Next week I’ll let you know how I got on up there and how the whisky and battered Mars bars tasted.
FISH WITH DES!
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