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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.
Pilgrim’s Progress – read it everyThursday!
Make Mine A Double – Again
My love affair with the River Dove continues to blossom. Actually,our relationship has been on the fast track ever since we set eyes oneach other. So, it’s true to say that this is no mere flirtation, buta full blooded long term relationship. Our union has already yieldeda number of bonny arrivals, two of them being over the 10 lb mark.
I don’t know what it is that attracts me to my new love. Perhapsit’s the curvaceous way that she meanders through the lush meadowsthat fringe her banks. Maybe that deep and alluring charm, the wayshe takes over my every thought, both day and night. The times wespend apart I find I am forever thinking of her beauty, longing to betogether once more.
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Anyway, less of this poetic rambling and back to reality! Mind, Imust say there is more than a passing acknowledgement of the truth inthe opening paragraphs to this week’s PP. Last week my wife woke upto find me leaning out of the bedroom window in the middle of thenight. When she asked me what I was doing, I told her I was checkingon the state of the Dove. So far, so good, except for one thing. Idon’t live on the banks of the river. As a matter of fact I live morethan thirty miles away!
A Successful Current Campaign
As you will have gleaned from recent PP’s, I’ve been doing ratherwell for myself on the Dove during my current campaign. It’scertainly been enjoyable. What’s that word again? Err, yes, that’sit, a ‘blank’. It’s been that long since I returned home fishless,I’m actually beginning to wonder if last season was real or just anightmare. I’m talking about the terrible, almost Biblical extremesof weather we had that stretched from autumn through till spring lastseason. I struggled so much, I described myself at one point as theangling equivalent of Accrington Stanley.
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So, the success I’m enjoying at the moment is very welcome indeed.The trip I made to the river I’m talking about in this week’s PP,however, at least ‘on paper’ was destined to bring me back to earthwith a loud bump. After a spell of reasonable weather, thingschanged. Although some aspects of weather, such as prolongedrainfall, are not in themselves necessarily bad as far as barbelfishing is concerned, when it is all underwritten by strong N / NE winds, things don’t look too promising. However, one thing that Ipossess is an optimistic spirit. The reality is that if we went onlywhen conditions looked perfect, we’d probably not get out that much.And when we did, we’d only blank anyway.
I Set Up In A Biting Wind
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Setting up on the banks of the Dove, the first thing I did was putthe Brotel up, to keep away the driving winds. Even though I was wellwrapped up with layers of clothing plus my all in one fleece suit,not to mention neoprenes, it was a biting wind. I was fishing by lateafternoon, and figured that was my best chance of a fish, before itgot too cold. The weather forecast was that temperatures wouldplummet later on, and believe me, on this occasion, the ‘Met Man’ wasright. As the sun set, and the wind showed no sign of abatingwhatsoever, it was very cold. My mind went back to the long, warmsummer nights when I’d done many a session wearing nothing other thanshorts and tee-shirt.
Close To Either Side Of The 10lb Mark
Thinking that my bubble had finally burst as far as this currentpurple patch is concerned, I was resigning myself to a fishlesssession, when suddenly, and without any warning whatsoever, my rodlurched forward. Striking, I knew I was into another good fish. Intypical Dove style, it refused to give in without a good fight. Itcame to the net three times before I managed to slide it into thesafe confines of the waiting mesh. Looking at it in the net I knew itwould be close to either side of the 10lb mark. But which side? As Ilifted the weighing net ,complete with fish, the readout settled at9lb 12oz. Another super looking Dove fish posed for the camera andmade me a very happy man.
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But if that fish made me happy, then the next one made meecstatic! No sooner had the fish been returned and I was fishingagain, the rod once more let me know that another barbel had takenthe bait. Again, I knew this was another good fish. After the usualtitanic battle another potential double made its way into the landingnet. This one however, was on the right side of 10lb. (Not that thereis a ‘wrong’ side, of course. I don’t want to give the wrongimpression). In fact, it weighed in at 10lb 3oz. A few photographslater and this fish is swimming away to join his friends.
Not Drunk But Intoxicated All The Same
At that I decided to call it a day. More than four hours withouteven a tap, and then two good fish within minutes of each other. Iswear that I glided back to the car and my feet didn’t touch theground. I was certainly a very happy man. Three Dove doubles in asmany weeks has certainly brought me joy. Driving back home throughthe nearest town I saw a couple of drunks returning home after anight out. As I watched them staggering along, I thought to myself,each to their own, but as for me, nothing can match the way I feelnow.
They Want Me For My Money!
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Mind, there is a bit of a down side to all these double figurebarbel I’m catching lately. Back in July when I began my campaign, Itold my two daughters, Rebekah and Miriam, that for every double Icaught I would give them £ 1 each. I’m just glad that I didn’tpromise to match the fish pound for pound, otherwise I’d be reallybroke. So far, it’s only cost me £ 6, but at this rate I may haveto take out a second mortgage. And the girls have certainly wised upto it. I wondered why they started asking me what I’d caught everytime I went fishing. I thought they were taking an interest in myangling. No way! They just want me for my money. Bit like their Momreally…..
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
