A LATE NIGHT, BUT FINALLY I GET THE ZEDS IN!
Missed sleep after a talk in Newark, but two days later the zander go on the feed
LAST week my wife Margaret and I decided to spend a few days in North Yorkshire, eating proper English food and drinking fine wine and ale.
It was delightful to be walking, sightseeing and spotting the wildlife on the coast, and also to be reminded that there is no need to travel abroad to have a great holiday. There’s still plenty of fishing closer to home…
WEDNESDAY
My fishing pal Ray Cutler picked me up at 2.30pm to get to Newark Showground. I was a speaker, along with master float maker Andy Field, and top specialist angler Bob Roberts was compere for the night.
There were roadworks around the town, which made getting there a nightmare, and we didn’t arrive till 5.45pm, but no matter, it’s all in the life of a full-time angler. Nottingham Piscatorials, who ran the show, are the perfect model for any angling club.
When they do something, they do it right!
There must have been close to 400 anglers sitting down to listen to us. At first young Andy was a little nervous, and rightly so – I think this was his first talk to a live audience – but he held his nerve and put on a good show.
By then I’d had a few pints and was in the mood. I was told after my talk that the crowd had loved my performance, which is always nice to hear.
I talked about barbel, chub, the river, otters and kids. It was a serious talk but with a little humour thrown in for good measure and a little adult language as well, but would you expect anything else from a lad born and bred in the Black Country?
It was also nice to see Bob Roberts. Bob and his family have been friends for years now, and it was also great to meet up with old pals from years back, notably Alan Rawden, one of the best specimen river anglers ever and a top bloke.
Alan and I talked about the old National Association of Specimen Groups days and how fishing has changed over the years. All good stuff!
After saying our thanks to the Nottingham lads for a great night we were on our way, and that’s where it all went wrong. Junctions on the motorway were closed and it made for the worst possible journey home.
By the time I got into bed it was 2.15am and I was completely shot – a disappointing way to end what was otherwise a great night.
THURSDAY
Spent most of the day playing in my tackle den, making traces for a zander trip tomorrow and a planned pike trip in the next couple of weeks with Steve Greenway.
I also spent a few hours on my
latest book ‘The Ramblings of a River Angler’. There’s still some hard work to do on it, tying up all the loose ends before I send it over to Little Egret Press.
I have a few books in me but my biggest problem is that I like to go fishing too much! It’s a nice problem to have. Even as I write, I am thinking about popping down to the boat for the last few hours and doing some jig fishing, but I
resisted the temptation.
I was tired from last night, and lord only knows how poor old Ray felt today after driving for hours.
FRIDAY
My Evesham-based friend Wayne Langston had invited me down the Warwickshire Avon for a spot of zander fishing, and I couldn’t get there quick enough. At first I thought it would be difficult, as the water was tapwater clear and there had been a frost the previous day, but Wayne assured me it would fish well.
He was right! Right from the start we had takes on small deadbaits and simple running rigs, which made for great sport. The wind was cold and everything was against us, but still the zander fed and they were of a good size.
Zander are an interesting fish to look at as well as fish for. They’re a little more moody than pike in their feeding habits but one thing’s for sure, I enjoy catching them!
The Avon is like the Severn when it comes to zander – they have been there for years now and have found a level that does not affect fishing for other species.
I know some anglers are moaning about the fishing in Evesham, but these same match anglers were complaining about not catching anything at Shrewsbury five years ago, and yet last year the place fished its head off. So will Evesham, given a little time. Small fish are cyclical, but in my opinion there are too many matches fished there week in and week out. No river can support that much pressure.