He is also a very keen angler, having come back to the sport in 1995 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. | ||||
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STAYING OPEN FOR THE CLOSED SEASON The ‘Closed season’ – how I used to dread those words in the ‘old days’. A legally enforced three-month break from fishing was almost unbearable. No wetting of a line for at least twelve weeks – unless you were a sea fisherman or a game angler, that is. As the latter didn’t interest me, and the fact that I live as far from the coast as one could be in this green and pleasant land of ours, it meant that my angling interest was confined to reading, as we didn’t even have videos in those days! (I’m sounding like Ron Clay here!). Little did Mr Crabtree and Peter realise how they kept a young boy like me happy!
As far as I am concerned, I will continue to obey the law until it is changed, or indeed, if it is changed. But just as much as I would prefer to see any lifting of the close season based on scientific evidence, then I would prefer to see any argument for its enforcement, based on fact also. The problem, as far as I can see it is that some of the argument for the retention of the river season is mere hearsay and anecdotal. By all means take a break from fishing to get your decorating done, but don’t make everyone else do his as well at the same time! After all, some of us have trained our wives well in those areas! This time last year, due to the dreaded Foot and Mouth, I had to wait until April before I could fish a venue of my choice, rather than a fish a venue simply because it was open. The opening of a local pool was a real godsend, as it allowed me to spend some quality time in pursuit of carp.
This year I have been planning my campaign much more carefully, as the lack of limitation imposed by last year’s Foot and Mouth has enabled me to have a total ‘carte blanche’ in terms of what I want to do, and where I want to do it. For those who read Pilgrim’s Progress regularly you will be aware that I develop a definite plan of action over a given period of time. By doing this I find that I am able to focus my attention, and hopefully be more successful, than if I fished here, there and everywhere. Now, at this stage, let me say that I am not being critical in any way towards those that don’t do it ‘my way’. All I’m doing is explaining the reasons behind my own thinking. As I tend to be an organised sort of person anyway in ‘real life’, then the way I approach my angling is merely a reflection of that side of my character. A couple of weeks ago I wrote about my plans to tackle a large Midlands gravel pit. Forgive me for being vague with the geographical location, but it’s another one of those venues that I’m forced to keep mum about as far as revealing its identity is concerned. Concerning the issue of publicity, or not, as is often the case, there are a number of reasons why a certain amount of vagueness is sometimes the order of the day. Publicity bans First of all, there is the situation of a publicity ban by the controlling club or organisation. Speaking from personal experience, that is beyond my control on a number of venues that I fish, and I will not willingly do anything to upset the powers that be. I know for a fact that committee members and bailiffs of some of the clubs I am a member of that have publicity bans, actually read Pilgrim’s Progress each week. Now, I’m not suggesting for one minute that they read it to try and catch me out, but let’s say I’m not going to give them the opportunity!
I wouldn’t want to create problems for the regulars, particularly as it’s most likely I’ll be moving on after a season or two. Remember I’m not fishing what you would describe as ‘commercial’ waters, and so they are a different ball game to venues that thrive on publicity. Regarding the latter, one would expect them to attract large numbers of people, whereas the places I fish, in the main, are the opposite. And thirdly, keeping quiet about location can be down to reasons of self-preservation! It doesn’t take a vivid imagination to work out if an angler was publicising superb catches of fish from a particular stretch of river, that he would probably find it difficult to get on there himself after a while. And so many anglers play their cards close to their chest for that reason. And in the main I tend to lean that way too, but within reason. Gravel pits Anyway, back to my Midlands gravel pit, before the issue of publicity side-tracked me! The water in question is very large, certainly into three figures as far as acreage is concerned. I’ve sifted through the often-contradictory information I’ve received, and come up a number of conclusions. It’s not going to be a water that is easy to crack, there’ll be lots of blanks along the way, but when I do catch it will be with a real sense of satisfaction. From what I can deduce the bream are caught up to the 10lb mark. The catch, of course, is that they appear to be very, very elusive indeed! Still, carp are being captured up to the mid-double range, so while I’m waiting for a big slab, a bonus carp won’t be an unwelcome visitor to my landing net. But it’s in a pleasant enough environment, and offers peace and quiet, so I’ll certainly enjoy the sessions that I will be spending on the water over the next few months.
But even though I have set my stall out as above until June, at the end of the day fishing is all about fun and enjoyment, so from time to time I may do something that doesn’t fit in with my above plans, if I feel like it! I personally like the idea of focusing on venues and species for a selected period of time, but heaven forbid that I would ever become legalistic about it. In fact I may even do some trout fishing before June comes round! But whichever way you look at it, I’ll definitely be ‘Staying open for the close season’. | ||||
So that’s the theory until June 16 comes round again. But what about the fact? Join me next Thursday as I tell you how ‘A couple of gravel pit sessions’ went. But do bear in mind, I did say it would not be an easy venue. Did I blank? Or am I hiding something? Well, there’s only one way to find out isn’t there! See you next Thursday! The Reverend Stewart R Bloor Pilgrim’s Progress – read it every Thursday! |
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