|
|
| |
He is also a very keen angler, having come back to the sport five years ago following a break of several years. In this regular column he will tell us about his progress as an angler – his thoughts about the sport, what he learns, the fishing trips he makes, the anguish, the humour, in fact everything he experiences as his angling career develops.
Pilgrim’s Progress – read it everyThursday!
A Day With The Editors
It all began with a call from Graham Marsden…’How do you fancy aday out with Stu Dexter, he wants to do a picture-feature for CoarseFisherman magazine’. Stuart is the editor of the aforementionedmagazine and each month there appears within an article entitled’Dexter’s Day’, whereby Stu spends a day on the bankside with anangler, taking lots of photographs and (hopefully) catching lots offish. I felt privileged to be asked, but it was the ‘catching lots offish’ bit that bothered me…
|
|
| |
Still, we agreed to meet up at one of my current target venues(before the foot-and-mouth epidemic), the River Mease inLeicestershire. When I arrived the ‘Gruesome Twosome’ were alreadythere. We had a quick walk along the river, as neither of them hadeven seen it before, never mind fished it. I was able to point outfeatures and ‘hot spots’. The river looked good, the weather was fine(although a little cold) and we were all set to fill the Marchedition of Coarse Fisherman with some lovely fish photographs.
As we got our gear out of the cars and set off across the field, Irealised that some things will never change. One minute I’m talkingto Graham, the next I look up and he’s about 200 metres ahead of me,puffing and panting, but definitely fulfilling the ‘GreyhoundMarsden’ tag.
|
|
| |
Graham fished with a float set up, choosing a nice fishy lookingglide to trot down. Fishing maggots and light tackle. He was hopingto catch a nice bag of mixed fish, with maybe the odd biggie thrownin for good measure. I went for my usual ‘all or nothing’ approach(which is always a handy excuse for blanking – Graham), fishing4lb hook length and size 4 hook, with a big piece of bread. The onlyproblem is that it is more often a case of ‘nothing’ rather than’all’.
As I tackled a variety of swims, baiting up with mashed bread andflitting between each one, Graham provided Stu with a variety ofshots as he skilfully trotted his float through the swim. However, Inearly provided Stu with a wonderful photo opportunity. Fishing anovergrown swim, my line tangled on some overhanging branches.Reaching out I stretched and leaned so far that I suddenly feltmyself plunging towards the water. I don’t know how I managed it, butsomehow, in a split second I managed to pull backwards and steadymyself.
Late morning became early afternoon, and we were still strugglingto catch a fish. Then suddenly Graham’s float dipped, he struck andon the bank was …a minnow! Not to be content with just one, he wenton to add another three! But I must mention the ‘2’ chub he alsocaught. ‘Two pound chub’ I hear you say, ‘that’s not bad’. Well,actually, I don’t mean 2lb, I mean two inches.
|
|
| |
As the afternoon dragged on and our session came to an end, Irealise the ‘Curse of Sedge’ had struck once more. Graham told methis was the very first time in his association with Coarse Fishermanthat he’d been on a photo shoot and not produced the goods. And thiswas one session that really needed to produce, as Stu was trying toget an article together for printing deadlines.
Still, we had a great time together and we’re going to do another’Dexter’s Day’ in the summer, but this time I’m going the week beforewith a couple of keepnets to make sure I catch something. Now wherehave I heard something like that before?
So, unfortunately, we didn’t make the March edition of CoarseFisherman. I realise though, that there are three ways to becomefamous in the angling world: catch big fish; fall in on a regularbasis; or be a big time blanker. Well, I suppose, as in the words ofMeatloaf…’two out of three ain’t bad’. So there’s hope for meyet.
|
|
| |
So Stu, sorry that we didn’t catch, but I did after all, offer tocompensate by baptising you in the river. But seriously, great dayout with a great couple of editors and proof again that it’s not justabout catching fish. Except when you’re on a Coarse Fisherman shootthat is.
On a final note, I must give a good plug to Coarse Fisherman. It’sactually the only magazine that I subscribe to. Nothing to do withthe amazing subscription offers of course. But for £ 35 you getthe magazine delivered monthly to your door (the cover price is£ 2.50). The current subscription offer is a Thermos vacuum flask(0.75L), which itself has a recommended price of £ 21.99. Greatvalue, why not subscribe right now. You can do so over the phone,paying by credit card. The office number is 0116 2511277.
Next week’s Pilgrim’s Progress goes allornithological as I write about ‘Close Encounters Of A FeatheredKind’
The Reverend Stewart R Bloor
Sedgley International Christian Ministries
PO Box 1216, Dudley. DY3 1GW.
Telephone : 01384 – 828033
Web site : www.sicm.org
e-mail : missionscentre@sicm.org
