Another Zippy Red Letter Day
I sat outside the Pub on the Village Green and watched the Blue Rover pull in.
It was 12.30 today, April 26th and it was a moment I had been looking forward to with pleasure and anticipation!
The Car bore the Christian motif of a fish and in the case of the occupant; the motif had a double meaning.
Firstly, he was an extremely keen and competent Angler and fishing was a major part of his life,
Secondly he was the Reverend Stewart Bloor, a practising Minister.
I first became aware of The Rev. Bloor through an exciting article I read on the Internet, detailing the capture of a 10lb plus barbell from the River Dove.
Writing a weekly column for Fishing magic, Stewart is known throughout the forums under his pen name ‘Sedge’ and the articles he writes are published every Thursday under the heading ‘Pilgrims Progress’
Here’s the one that so caught my attention. Click Here
He also writes and posts on other forums as well as for the hard press such as Midland Angler, Sheffield Angling Star etc.
Therefore, as you can well imagine, he is a very busy man.
Thus, I was pleased and privileged to be there, as Stewart had arrived for the express purpose of walking me along the River Dove banks, showing me the swims where he had obtained his successes!
On his advice, I had already obtained the club book for this stretch and others that we discussed, as, since reading the aforementioned article, I had written to Stewart requesting information and help.
To my surprise, he had found the time to reply almost immediately, offered help, advice and encouragement, and we had conversed by E-mail regularly since!
This meeting was the fullfilment of an early promise (who could ask for more?) and only one goal now remains.
Stewart has made it his resolution that I shall succeed in landing an 8lb Barbel this season!
I promise him that I will make every effort to do so!
The weather had dramatically altered and rain had been sweeping down! I fully expected Stewart to decline the proposed walk, pop into the warmth of the pub and at best, mark the areas on my club map!
However, the car door opened and out got a big man, with a big smile and a very big heart.
He would not hear of not completing our walk, (Unless I was not well enough to cope with it) so 5 minutes later we arrived at the Car Park by the middle section of my River Dove book.
We dressed for the weather, but it eased and the rain stopped (although the wind never relented)
Then to the first swim and a thoroughly enjoyable 2 hours!
Many swims had names! every swim was covered, either he had fished it, a friend had, or he had seen someone fishing it!
Tactics for near or far side were explained, bait and presentation discussed, Snaggy and dense fish holding features highlighted and depths and flows provided!
If I do not succeed, it is not due to Stewart’s attention to detail.
Even stick float swims, fished by others, as Stewart does not himself seek fish in that method here, were highlighted!
He is an innovative and experimental Angler.
Of the 7 10lb plus barbel he recorded last season, 6 were caught on different baits?
Only twice did he use the same bait to catch a big fish, when many other Anglers would have stayed with the ‘proven’ bait for many years after their initial success.
Am I dreaming all this?
No! Here’s Stewart, back in the Car Park
All to soon it was time for Stewart to go as he was fishing all night for large Bream in a Gravel Pit in preparation for the next ‘Pilgrim’s Progress’ article, which, due to publishing deadlines etc., has to be presented a fortnight in advance.
I look forward to seeing whether he is successful. He deserves to be, if only for the kindness and time he has freely given me.
By the way, No, not once did Stewart mention, or ever has mentioned his religion, except in anecdotes and amusing stories concerning braggart posters, or envious ‘barbel policemen’, jealous of his successes. To accuse a Minister of catching the same fish 7 times, when many of his reports are of poor or blank days, fills Stewart with amusement!
I decided to search a few of the swims (Yes Garry) with the bomb and worm permissible on my Club Trout ticket and warmly thanked Stewart, shook hands and was offered even more help, in the shape of a summer days fishing with Stewart and Graham Marsden, editor of Fishing magic.
As he left, I decided that it was back to the fleece again. (Not worn for several days now, as the wind if anything had intensified.
I started fishing in the nearest car park swim, by the bridge.
The Bridge Swim.
However, the swim opposite and downstream looked so attractive with a cattle drink, fast water middle and a crease, plus overhanging protective willows, that within half an hour, I decided to try there.
The Other side
The water temperature had fallen from 60 to 55.2 today, due to the cold wind and the rain and I was not anticipating much sport under these conditions!
However, I was here, it was only 4 O’clock. And I felt I owed it to my mentor to persevere a little!
The wind was a real pain, and so instead of working the worm, again with a light bomb and a 14 hook, only instead of free running, paternostered simplicity this time, I cast, allowed to swing in to the cover and sat on the tip.
Perhaps Stewarts boss approved and only needed one more thing to reward his efforts!
Well, it came!
The tip jerked, not viciously, but animatedly enough to only mean a fish!
I struck and was rewarded with a larger than expected bow in the rod.
Fearing all the nearside snags, I bullied the fish as much as I dared and luckily, she remained out in the clear.
With a 4lb hook length (well you can hardly justify 10 for trout!) it was some 4 or 5 minutes before she rolled over the net!
Certainly the biggest chub I had taken from the Dove, but a lousy picture, so out of the shadow!!
And my usual hand comparison!
A good 4 lbs, I can’t wait to get accurate scales on my visit to Newt.
I continued fishing, too cold to face moving, but for only 1 more tentative bite!
I phoned Stewart on the mobile straight after my success and he could not have sounded more pleased.
Only 1 fish? Yes, but I would not swap that day, even if I had caught nothing.
That to me was another Red Letter day, I shall use the knowledge and venue to ensure super sport in the summer and I can’t thank enough the man who made it possible
Tight Lines Stewart and once again my appreciation, I’LL say a Prayer today that you succeed (but I hope I don’t give you the Zippy curse!
Cheers
Trev