Home Features Diaries Third Time Lucky on the Fly?

Third Time Lucky on the Fly?

June 13, 2007

Third time lucky?

AFTER OUR FLY casting session a couple of weeks ago, I went out again today with Martin James from BBC Radio Lancashire’s “At the Water’s Edge” programme for some further tuition. I’d had assurances from Martin that this time he would get me hooked up to a fish, and as usual, he didn’t let me down…. however, if you want to know the full story, get yourself a nice cuppa and settle down – this is likely to be a long read!

I woke up to the sound of the sparrows twittering just outside my window (noisy, inconsiderate little beggars!), jumped out of bed all eager and ready to go fishing, then realised as I looked at the clock that it was only 4.30am. Hmmm. Bit too early! Managed to settle down for another couple of hours, then woke and looked at the clock. 11.44am! Oh bugger! I’d seriously overslept. I was never going to be packed and ready in time for the 12.30 bus to meet him at 1.30! I flew downstairs to put the kettle on (can’t cope with the day without a brew!), then jumped in the shower before frantically gathering together the stuff I’d need during the day. It was then that I switched the radio on to hear the broadcaster announce the 9 o’clock news…..I really must get my eyes tested soon. I’d completely misread the display on my alarm, and got myself into a total flap over nothing. What a relief! Martin has a really busy schedule, and if I’d missed this opportunity, there wouldn’t be another chance for ages.

Panic over, I was able to relax and take the morning at a more leisurely pace. We’d originally planned for me to go over earlier in the day, but Martin had been asked at the last minute to do a live broadcast for Radio Lancashire at lunchtime, so the new plan was for me to meet him after the show and then go off for the afternoon on his beautiful stretch of the River Ribble. I was ready and raring to go, so once I was packed, I headed off up to Padiham Angling Centre to see Steve (the proprietor), have a brew, and chat to the other regulars as they popped in for their supplies for the day’s angling. Much of what they talk about is beyond me, but they make me very welcome, although I do give them some gentle ribbing about the amount of money they spend on boilies, glugs, and strawberry flavoured luncheon meat! The amount of bait some of them buy to pile in, it seems like they’re trying to build their own little feature to fish to!

Caught large bream and roach, but blanked -what’s that all about?

I had to laugh at one guy, who came in and said he’d blanked the previous week. Turned out he hadn’t blanked at all – he’d just caught a few large bream and roach and he was after crap (sorry – that should read carp!). It seemed that other fish didn’t count. I know I’m new to angling, after starting less than a year ago, and possibly I have a rather na