Des Taylor’s Diary of a Countryman
If anyone deserves this pb it’s Mr Cutler
THE fishing’s been difficult on the Severn and Warwickshire Avon this week, with high winds blowing leaves and branches into the water. It’s been almost impossible to have the rods out for more than 10 minutes.
Still, I have managed some good fish and my old mate Ray Cutler had a personal-best chub of 6lb 9oz from the Avon on floatfished maggots, backed up with a 5lb 4oz fish – a nice brace in anyone’s books, buddy!
It’s easy to get carried away with the idea that chub begin at 7lb these days, but there are only a handful of venues that produce such fish. Up here in the Midlands most anglers have never seen a 5lb chub, never mind caught one, so Ray’s brace is very special.
Here’s how my week went…
MONDAY
With Alan Philips on a guide day, and in difficult autumn conditions with wind and falling leaves I managed to put him on both barbel and chub. He returned to his hotel a happy angler, and my job was done.
WEDNESDAY
Fished on the Avon between 4pm and 10pm for another blank, but it was a cold evening with a full moon. In fact you could have read the paper, it was so light out there!
Wayne and I went for an early night as the river was dead, and it looked like staying that way.
THURSDAY
Had my new computer all set up and ready for my live Facebook stream and everything went fine except for the volume, which was too low for listeners.
I will get it right, and with two cameras now I can show rigs while I’m talking. Welcome to the hi-tech world of Des Taylor 2018!
FRIDAY
On the Severn for a good day fish-wise with some nice barbel and chub – but the weather turned nasty, with the worst hailstorm on the river I have ever witnessed in October.
At one stage I could hardly see down the river, such was the number of hailstones falling from the sky. Even so, it was an incredible sight that was a privilege to witness. I was glad I’d seen this, even though I was soaked and had to call it a day.
At this time of year I can never make my mind up whether or not to don my waterproofs. Well, I can tell you they’ll now be on every day, probably until next May!
By the way, I make no apology for including a photo of a small barbel with this week’s column.
Too many anglers, myself included, are becoming obsessed with showing photos of big fish only and that is a shame, because the capture of any fish, however small, should be special.
Once I was home I had my power nap before showering and heading off to compere the Adam Penning show in Oldbury, and what a great night it was! Adam gave one of the best carp talks I have heard on the circuit over the past few years. The audience stayed quiet and hung on Adam’s every word.
In between they ate sandwiches and black pudding, which seemed to bewilder our guest. When we revealed the contents of the black pudding our southern friend passed on the offer of eating a plateful. Adam has a new book called ‘Rolling in the Deep’. It’s out before Christmas so keep a watch on his website www. adampenning.co.uk
My wife Maggie, Ray Cutler and I got home about 1am and I don’t know about Ray, but we hit the sack straight away.
SATURDAY
Very tired after a long day yesterday but I was soon making my way to Telford for a Barbel Society meeting. I am proud to be an ambassador of the Society and I was asked to attend along with fellow ambassador Paul Garner to talk about the future of the Society. The meeting went well. After a couple of rocky years caused by a few disruptive people, the Barbel Society is now back on the right track. It was good to meet up with my old mate Lol