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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!
Sow Far…..Sow Good
One of the rivers I’ve wanted to tackle this autumn onwards has been the Sow. However, due to the Foot and Mouth situation, the venues I have available to me on club cards have only recently opened up again. Still, better late than never, I thought to myself, as I made my way north of Wolverhampton, on the last Monday in November.
I fished the Sow a number of times in January and February this year. My average chub was 2 lb 2 oz. I know that off the top of my head without consulting my records, for the simple reason that I only caught one fish, and it was that weight! But, in mine and the Sow’s defence, we would argue that the weather conditions were not the best they could have been. Or, to be more precise, perhaps I should say ‘river conditions’. Last winter will long be etched in the memories of river anglers everywhere.
Treading in the footsteps of the Father of Angling
On this occasion I decided to fish a stretch of the river near to its confluence with the Trent. Arriving at the venue and unloading the car, I realised I had left behind my rod rest. Or, to be accurate, I had the bank stick, but not the screw-in head. Walking down to the river I asked myself the question, ‘What would Izaak do?’. After all, I was literally treading in the footsteps of the Father of Angling. Upon reaching the water’s edge, I looked around for a suitable fallen branch, and by breaking one down to size I had a rod rest that fitted quite nicely in the bank stick.
It was a cold day, and another of those ‘minus’ forecasts was predicted for the evening. As the sun set it became very cold, and a mist descended over the river and the surrounding area. As I sat there, with the full moon illuminating the meadow on the far bank, I became aware of a figure making its way through the mist towards me. Although this may appear spooky, weird, or even supernatural, it was none of those things. In fact, the moment I saw the figure I knew immediately what it was. It was a fallow deer.
The stretch I fished literally backs onto Cannock Chase, a large expanse Staffordshire forest and heathland, which is home to many deer. The one in question settled to graze no more than 25 metres in front of me. It was also joined by four of its colleagues, but they didn’t come that close. I sat there motionless, watching the creature. Even though I had a ring side seat it was totally oblivious to my presence. It was only when I reeled in that it suddenly became aware of me and retreated rather quickly to the safety of the forest from whence it had come.
My Sow average was still 2 lb 2 oz (I blanked!), but the experience of watching the deer was worth being there. After my recent encounters with rats and bulls it was a refreshing contrast to witness such a graceful and beautiful animal. No fish on this trip, but a case of Sow far, Sow good.
Back, with the ‘mashed bread in three swims’ approach
Still squeezing what I could out of November I was back on the River Sow a couple of days later for another late afternoon and into dark session. This time I decided to fish a stretch a little further upstream than on the previous visit. I have fished there before, in fact it was there that I caught my one and only fish from the Sow. But a look through my records revealed that I did 11 sessions for that solitary fish. What I really need, I thought to myself, is a nice confidence-boosting chub.
Setting up and following the tried and tested ‘mashed bread in three swims’ approach I was soon settled down to fish the first of the baited pegs. It was another cold day, but it was nice to be back on the river. It’s been the best part of twelve months that the stretch in question had been closed due to the Foot and Mouth situation. I had hoped to do some barbel fishing during the summer and the autumn, but there’s always next year, because for now my mind is focused on chub.
As darkness drew in I started to get a few taps on the end of the rod. Due to my lack of success previously on the Sow I actually started to get excited about a bite, never mind a fish on the bank. However, my joy was made complete when I struck into a fish that was obviously decent. Just for a second, as it tore off downstream, I thought I may have connected with a small barbel. But slipping the net under the fish after a short but very spirited fight a nice looking chub was revealed.
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The scales registered exactly 4lb, which made it the best chub of the winter campaign so far. A few photographs later and it’s happily back with its friends in the water. Moving to another one of my baited swims I’m playing another good chub within a few minutes. It was with a definite sense of deja vu, as another short and spirited fight ended with a chub of exactly 4lb in the net.
The confidence level had been topped up
No more fish, or even bites, but with the lean spell I’ve been having lately this was good for the confidence level, something that all anglers need to keep as high as possible. Driving home I listened to Leeds getting beaten by Chelsea. Bad news, but at least it was only the Worthington Cup. At least as far as the fishing is concerned, with a brace of 4’s under my belt, it’s definitely a case of Sow far, Sow good…..
Tune in next Thursday and join with me as I ask, and then subsequently answer, the question, ‘Specimen Fish…..Is Size Important’? We live in a day and age where the ‘big is best’ mentality seems to prevail in most areas of life. Next week I want to challenge that attitude, at least where fishing is concerned.
By the way, only 12 days to go now….getting excited yet? Bring on the turkey, mince pies and pork joint I say. I can’t wait.
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
