“It’s all about being connected to other humans as well as fish!”
SOME of my finest fishing right now takes place in daydreams. Perhaps it was always the case, but when you’re stuck indoors with a hyperactive toddler and every other bit of news is about Covid or anarchy in America, these trips to somewhere more innocent, whether real or imaginary, become more important than ever.
As much as the actual fishing adventures, however, another truly glaring aspect is how much I’ve missed the many friends I’ve made through angling.
Whether it’s sharing a road trip with a pal or catching up with all the lovable rogues at the local match, our sport is about being connected to other humans as well as fish!
Which is why it has been such a relief to see fishing permitted again, even if that’s strictly League of Gentlemen style ‘local fishing for local people’. How many of us were feeling rather trapped already, and let out a huge sigh of relief with the welcome news from the Angling Trust?
In particular, it was great to get out with my pal Adam Aplin again last weekend. Like me, he is a keen angler who’s had more than his share of cabin fever lately, with the pressures of a young family and bills to pay.
I can’t actually remember the last time I saw so many people fishing as last weekend, but to the credit of 99 per cent of us, social distancing and respect have been ever-present. No mean feat when technically we shouldn’t even be sharing a landing net, let alone a peg.
Actually, I find these times of national drama curious for angler behaviour. So often in the past, most notably during royal weddings and big sporting events, I’ve gone fishing expecting venues to be empty only to find them rammed!
The pretty Harper’s Ponds was our chosen water, and one that has been a brilliant investment from my local Exeter Angling Club. Packed with silverfish and small carp, it’s a great place to simply pole fish for bites, which is exactly what we did.
With tackle shops closed, my pint of maggots felt like a precious commodity on a chilly afternoon! In no time we were catching roach and the odd skimmer or carp – but more importantly than that, everyone was able to let off a bit of steam.
Fishing is no silver bullet to mental wellbeing, but the value as a kind of social pressure valve was obvious to see. The relief was palpable, and the anglers were as friendly and chatty as I’ve ever known them. In fact, you wonder how many foul moods and domestic rows have been avoided just by letting us get back to what we love.
Nobody can guarantee that this will be the same next month or even next week, but for those few hours I’m sure we all felt like a big weight had been lifted off our shoulders.
“I can’t remember the last time I saw so many people fishing”