Daily Mail - Daily Mail Weekend Magazine
It’s just man against fish, I love it!
Continuing our summer series, James, 48, who lives in Hampshire with his partner Louise and dogs Cooper and Ralph, tells how he coped with lockdown – and what he’s most looking forward to now it’s lifting...
Out on the river it’s so tranquil. Look around and you’ll see a kingfisher, dragonflies flitting by, ducks, geese and otters. ‘The River Test near me is a chalk stream, so the water’s naturally filtered through chalk and is very clear. You can see the grayling, classic brown trout and the odd rainbow trout that’s escaped from a farm upstream.
‘Fishing is so relaxing. You don’t have your phone or think about work. I planned to be there for 90 minutes the other day, but I stayed for seven hours! You concentrate and get so in the zone that you forget about everything else.
‘I love the challenge of fly fishing, you against the fish. You cast an artificial fly and hook, then see a fish coming towards it. But it’ll suddenly turn away and disappear, so you have to rethink.
‘I’m not great at it, but I’ve caught a few since I took it up again in lockdown. I first tried trout fishing a couple of years ago when the Formula 1 boss Ross Brawn introduced me to it. I wore brown suede boots and by the end of the day I needed a new pair. You need decent boots and waders so you can get into the water.
‘I tried salmon fishing for four days on the River Tay in Scotland – the only thing I caught was a cold. You’re trying to stand up in 5ft of fierce water and you have to wear a lifejacket. Trout fishing suits me better.
‘Like many, I had a manic life before lockdown. I replaced being busy in my restaurant with working in the garden and painting the house, so fishing has been a way to switch off.
I’ve done so much physical work that I’ve lost two stone. Chefs pick at food and eat late at night, but in lockdown I’ve been eating when normal people do.
‘My garden has never been better. I’ve always enjoyed gardening, but I’ve never had the time. As well as my best ever crop of tomatoes, I’ve been looking after the roses and learning about plants.
‘While mowing the lawn my music has been Aussie band Hollow Coves, and I’ve been enjoying BB King’s early stuff.
Netflix has kept us busy too, with Tiger King and White Lines; I’ve also seen the Guy Ritchie film The Gentlemen, with Hugh Grant at his best.
‘I’ve missed walking around London, which has a special heartbeat. I like walking at night over Waterloo Bridge and along the Embankment.
‘I miss my sister up in Yorkshire and I really miss my Mum – I can’t wait to see her again, but she’s in her 70s so we’re being careful of her health, and at the moment it feels kindest to stay away. I sent a freezer to her at the start of lockdown then got my meat and fish suppliers to deliver to her to fill it up, so she’s not been short of food.
‘I’m busy again now with the restaurants, but I want to still find time to lose myself down by the river.’