Steve Plant, regular fishing partner of mine and occasional contributor to FISHINGmagic, was reminded yesterday just how fickle fate can be to anglers. Last week Anglers Mail gave a free one day rod license out in the hope of encouraging anglers to take non-fishing family and friends out for a day.
The previous day I had taken a good catch of chub and lost a substantial barbel on Lancashire’s river Ribble and after consulting with Steve, he decided that would be the ideal venue to get his father a fish or two. Steve took his dad, Peter, onto a day ticket stretch of the river…….with remarkable results.
After an absence of 30 years Peter took control Steve’s rods and bait, settled in one of his son’s favourite swims and made his first tentative casts and was soon back into the swing of things.
Steve has fished the Ribble for a number of years but is yet to take his first double figure barbel. He decided not to fish himself but sat behind Peter, offering advice and encouragement.
After a short while Peter found himself playing a barbel and soon his first of the species lay in the net at a little over 5lb’s. Understandably delighted, he recast and settled down, happy in his days work.
What happened next I’m sure you will all have guessed, another crashing bite and a much heavier fish was soon careering downstream.
Under the constant guidance of Steve, Peter took over 10 minutes to subdue his adversary and upon netting the fish Steve was seen to drop to his knees, crying and punching the ground.
Apparently it was glee, but a more unkind reporter would take this to be the actions of a man in despair.
The plaintive cry “why, oh, why” could be heard drifting across the Ribble valley as the scales registered 10lb 13oz.
Peter, I’m told, is now unbearable, telling Ste where he has been going wrong for all those years and is threatening to come fishing with me for a day.If you’re reading this Peter I’ve just one thing to say – “NO BLOODY CHANCE!”…..
