Country Mouse

Gone fishing

THIS week marks the start of a new adventure. I have joined a fishing club, which has beats along the idyllic River Itchen in Hampshire. Having waited to become a member for more than a decade, my application eventually crept up to the head of the list and I even survived the interview conducted by existing members.

Fly fishing on rivers is seasonal and all the better for it (there aren’t many insects around in winter), which means that all the tackle can be stowed quietly away during the time off. It’s one of the advantages the sport has over hunting, but I’m always amazed how many things move from the cupboard during the lay off. After a protracted search, I finally found my fishing sunglasses among a pile of goggles and bobble hats from a skiing trip. Although the waders that needed repairing… still need repairing.

I gave my Hardy reel a spin simply to listen to the magic of its sound and checked the flies and floatants amid mounting excitement. I know that, when I get to the Itchen, all the tackle will be forgotten, as I take in the breathtaking beauty of one of the world’s greatest chalkstreams. The fishing will merely be a bonus.