The totality of a Fishing trip is something that my Non-Angling friends never ever quite seem to grasp!
Some 10 miles from my house is the County Town of Matlock, Derbyshire.
A small rural town, beautifully set amongst the soaring Pennines and bisected by the rushing,foaming River Derwent, which must be crossed by the only Bridge, smack in the Town Centre, if you are following the A6, East/West road or vice versa.
A beautiful town and a thriving tourist centre, but never more so than at 5.30 on Saturday morning, as I pulled up at the traffic lights and was startled at the sudden alarming clapping of the flock of 50 or so Town Pigeons exploded in fright at my appearance!
I watched them twisting and wheeling ,up to the roof-tops and reflected that it was all for me!
As was the Town, as there was no-one else in sight and I had all this beauty in splendid isolation.
All of the normal! Non-fishing people miss this side of life! and coupled with an eager sense of anticipation at the forthcoming fish-in, I was truly content with my lot as I crossed that picturesque River Bridge and made my way through Derwent Country, Dove Country and on to the Sow.
Typically, Les was the last person to decide to join the fish -in and thus the 1st to arrive!
Peter, having experienced all sorts of trauma and doubtful until the very end was the second and I, with my cunning plan for early attendance the 3rd!
The reasons I had set off to be there early were simple!
Firstly, I'm still a big kid at heart, can't wait for anything! and want good things to go on as long as possible!
Secondly, On the Izaak Walton site, it describes that 'Orange badge holders may drive to the peg'
Now it doesn't say thay this is only possible in fine weather, but as I had been there before, I knew it to be the case.
However I reasoned that, with the nice weather we had been having, I may just be able to arrive early, sneak down to the peg and unload the mass of gear, that despite all the problems it causes me!, I just dont feel comfortable fishing without it. AND as a Tackle Tart, one has a reputation to keep up lol
I pulled up by the car park, saw my 2 friends cars there and proceeded to drive past the park and top lake, down the track by middle lake, intending to empty the car and run it back up to the park, with no-one the wiser!
It was not to be!
Suddenly! from out of nowhere! up popped an irate little Gnome, waving , of all things, a bloody shotgun at me!!!
This was Paul, the Fishery owner, who has obviously never attended a customer satisfaction course in his life!
He has more Bans in a days fishing than the average Church will post in 100 years of marriage services!
My blood ran cold and through my mind ran the imagined post on the MD's forum for tomorrow!
'Great day, caught lots of Fish, Zippy shot early on!!!!'
Well, I let him rant on for the 3-4 minutes that he seemed to need, waved my Orange Badge at him with a stuttered explanation, and reversed back to the car park.
By this time Les and Peter had arrived back from thir peg inspection and far from sympathetic as I expected! muttered something like " Serves you right you daft B-----d, We aint pushing you out!" The incident ended with Paul jerking back the bolt , just to show me that a live round was in the gun I assume!
He then collected our money and apart from learning later on that he had yet another mobile in his Lakes, that was the only time I saw him smile!
So, along with Peter and Les, I set off loaded with kit to the bottom Pool.
Choosing open pegs and leaving the Island pegs for the later arrivals (thus avoiding criticism that we got there early to nick the best swims!) Peter and Les started to set up, whilst I returned to the car for my 2nd lot of kit!!!
Heres Les and Peter setting up and Peter with the second Carp of the day (and its not even 7.40!
Finally having installed the rest of my kit behind my peg! I started to set up,but Peter the Matchman, was ready! fishing ! and catching!!!! before I had even unzipped my Rod Bag.
Before 8.00 am , He had 3 carp and a Tench (the 1st live Tench I,ve seen this year,) but was too quick replacing the 1st fish, so that went unrecorded!
I finally was set up and fishing,started to catch several small Roach, Rudd, Perch and a Gudgeon, but then the interuptions came thick and fast!
Firstly, others began to arrive! Wendy with Oldham, Geoff and Dai, Waxi,PJ and all!
Then the mobile phone and text messages were discovered (Unheard during my drive)
Les, voice brimming with pride that he had safely navigated his way there 1st! (Well I sent him a map yesterday!)
Toma! a text wishing us all 'Good Fishing' Thanks Andy!! Thoughtful and appreciated.
Waxi! 1 of his famous 'nearly there' texts!
Then the dreaded phone burst into life and displayed WEBBO on the screen.
On talking to our beloved leader, I discovered that although they had made Stafford, the car (Stu's) had had enough and they were in the process of being towed to a Repairers!
I agreed with Dave that he phone me as soon as he was ready for collection and quietly thought 'Always something!'
Thus it seems to be!
Duly Dave rang and I collected him and Stu, who had managed to avoid murdering the Halfords unhelpful staff (just)
and we got them back , down to the pegs and I returned to fishing.
My swim was now dead, Peters had dried up, Les had stopped catching the better stamp of Roach and it was generally behaving like a typical Commercial Carp fishery!
Nearly every peg was filled! the bait and noise was all around and the fish ran for cover,
I had in haste, mixed a lousy ,stodgy groundbait,was using a large chunk of meat on a carp rod and fishing a long rod waggler, close to the margins!
I had decided to ignore Scotts advice and see if that meat would work! (more later), but here I must apologise to Scott!
The only person I didnt meet yesterday as we weren't introduced!
Tried to E-Mail you Scott, but you have no profile E-mail address, so Sorry Scott and I did appreciate your peg description and methods Post. Next time I hope!!
Then came the good /bad incidents that so often coincide!
Firstly, I had a surprise visitor!
Amongst all the hustle and bustle, a Pheasant sauntered into my peg, perhaps looking for food, but a handsome and welcome sight!
Then a cry of despair! and it was discovered that Wendy had lost her phone!
As she had given me a big hug on arrival, Naturally it was all my fault! and the curse reared its head again.
The pleasant Pheasant and the Worse Curse
From 2.00 Oclock, many of us ceased Fishing and wandered round meeting each other! Some were doing well, Dave had 7, Dai was hitting them, The Oldham boys had a near double, but everyone seemed content!
Stu finally got the message that his car would have to be towed back home and then discovered that the closing sign of 6.00 pm on the Garage was out of date!!and so we had to rush him , Dave and their Gear back to Stafford.
I returned by about 5.20, Les and Peter, both with long journeys leaving and the day slowly coming to a close!
Ray had kindly given me a surplus Trolley earlier, and so I thought that I would give it an hours uninterrupted effort, to try and catch that elusive (to me) Carp, as the Trolley would allow me to pack up quicker!
I had been using the SAME piece of Bacon Grill luncheon meat on the hook All day!
A size 12 hook, simply pulled through the meat with a baiting needle had withstood over 12 casts.
As Les had left the peg next to me and I had no Angler to my right now, I cast another hopeful feeder out towards the Island and picked up the waggler rod again
Now everyone was going, Geoff and Dai, Waxi , Ray, all came to say goodbye and left,
Wendy was packing up and I started to think it time to go!
So of course! The rod buzzer sounded, the drop off finally dropped off and the 10 hour old bait finally tempted this little fellow.
So there's my carp , I finally got 1 and thanks for the photo Wendy!
Nick Polepot arrived to say farewell and we arranged to set up a fish-in 1/2 way between us, as Bedford to Chesterfield has enormous potential! Shades of Adams Mill and the Great Ouse as well!
Finally, with Paul driving round moaning at me to pack up, like some frustrated Long Range Desert Group Commando on his little 4 wheel drive buggy, I staggered back to the Car Park, loaded and left in the dark (Gone 7!!) Sought out Troggy, (Incidentally, I forgot to bring you your lighter Alan!) and finally set off for home.
What a different journey from this morning!
Dark, flashing headlights! glare,tiring and I was really pleased to see my driveway at about 9.30 pm.
As I pulled in, lights sprung on in my rear window!
I had been followed in by 2 friends, with whom we normally go for a drink on sunday night.
I went to their car and they had realised I had only just arrived.
My wife , dressed up! gave me a quick kiss as she got in their car and to my relief everyone went off, leaving me content to have supper, a quiet drink and reflect on an eventful and happy day!
After all, when youv'e been Maggot-drowning, caught that carp!, enjoyed your Companionship and outlived the "Curse", Who wants to spend an evening with Non- Fisher Folk!!!
Zippy
Footnote.
I Haven't mentioned the 'Team Photo' as it has been covered, but I was pleased and Gratified to receive the M/Ds Trophy! and also Geoffs kind present of the plaque that he thought appropriate.
So here for everyone are pictures of these and THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH
Cheers
Trev
Ziptrev
I do NOT BELIEVE it
Edited by - Ziptrev on 18 April 2002 03:07:54 AM
