| JEFF WOODHOUSE | |
Jeff caught his first fish at the age of five, a mackerel from a Torquay fishing boat. That was the starting point 55 years ago and the sight of that living silvery image coming up from the invisible depths had him hooked for life. Since then he has practised virtually every type of fishing, although not always successfully. He doesn’t just like fish, he has a love affair with them, in his living room, in his garden and at times, in his freezer. Lately he has spent more time either running clubs or assisting them to become successful. Now he admits to being too old to chase monsters, he’s happier getting as much fun as possible out of what’s before him. In this monthly series Jeff indulges the rebel within himself, often controversial and always trying to think differently about the usual trends in fishing. |
Highs and LowsWell, we’ve started a new year of fishing with young Connor. You’ll remember that last year was his first year of fishing and he was catching specimens that many an angler in their advanced years wouldn’t mind catching. However, things haven’t gone quite as planned this time. Our first visit to the small pond, where we held the FishingMagic Junior Fish-In last year, just resulted in a few small rudd, crucians and the small pastie carp that are in there. Nothing of any size to speak of, but after a cold start to the year this was hardly surprising to an old hack like myself. However, you try explaining it to a disappointed youngster! Yes, blanking or not catching many is a rule in this sport, one that we have to grudgingly accept from time to time, but our opportunities to go fishing have been curtailed a little so far. Once by the fact that I had to help son-in-law Mike build his balcony outside the upstairs bedroom window. We put the main 9 foot posts in last year, that’s when a twelve foot length of 4″x2″ accidentally (I was informed) fell on my head, so luckily no serious damage was done. This time I had to climb on top of a workmate bench to reach the top of the posts when one of the legs gave way and I came crashing down to gash my knee and bruise the bone and even now, six weeks later, I still bear the scars. I’ll swear they’re only after my tackle.
Well, last Sunday brought another opportunity, so we headed for the other club lake at Colnbrook, hopefully to bag a big tench or two up to 8lbs maybe. It was, perhaps, the hottest day of the year so far and after ten o’clock the sun got around and the heat started scorching our backs. On went the factor 40 for a start, but although I’d taken extra drinks for Connor he just couldn’t leave them alone and by midday he’d supped up. All we’d had and were likely to have in that heat, were two bream. His was around 5lbs and mine a smaller 3lbs, so honour, his I might add, was satisfied at least. The five pounder took quite a bit of time to recover, a pity we can’t use keepnets for even a short period in one would have done it no harm whatsoever. Instead, I kept it in the landing net, holding it upright for around 7 or 8 minutes. Even then I wasn’t sure that it was fit to be released so another couple of minutes were given and then it was safely away. It goes to show that in very hot conditions, particularly around breeding time, it pays to take a little extra care when returning fish! That was it though and by one in the afternoon we were away. A New Arrival What I have done recently is bought another boat. It’s a Quicksilver 410sl aluminium hull with floatation buoyancy within the seats. It came on a trailer with a 4hp Mariner outboard and also an Evinrude electric motor, which is whisper quiet for sneaking up on wary fish. I needed a larger boat, the old one was only 10 foot as opposed to this which is 13’6″, but even so, this one is much lighter and easier to manhandle in my advanced years.
We had to pick it up from Blackpool of all places (hadn’t been there since I was a kid, well a 27 year old kid maybe) and tow it all the way back to Wycombe, a total of 217.8 miles. It gave me an opportunity to visit an old friend recovering from an operation in hospital too so we went up north on the day before. Called in on Mr Marsden on the way up and finally got to meet his lovely wife, Anne, and we got lunch (no bill either!) for which I have to thank them both. (I’ll remember to go down the second entrance to your road next time. No wonder you need a sat-nav Graham. It depends which way you approach it Jeff! – Graham) We spent the night at the outlaws and made our way to Blackpool the day after. What an easy road via the M60 it is now from Ashton-Under-Lyne! The only thing missing is a few better placed road signs to find the ***** M60 in the first place. However, we managed it and in no time at all found ourselves lost somewhere in the backstreets of Blackpool around Stanley Park. Well, the guy had given me directions, which were to carry on along the M55, don’t turn off he said, and that would take us straight on to the promenade and make our way past the North Pier. He hadn’t allowed for my know-all missus telling me to turn off as we wanted the north shore and not the south shore. Well, why argue with a wife that’s been to Blackpool all of – twice in the past 40 years and then someone else was driving.
We eventually found him, hitched the boat up, engines in the estate, all lashed down and away on our return. Well almost. The number plate board fell off on one side due to a broken piece of string right opposite Central Pier. I swapped another piece of rope and retied it together with the other end, belt and braces style and off we set again. We pulled in at Charnock Richard services for a KFC (heavenly grub) and had to find a double parking space. When I pulled in, due to the tight angle I had to take, the boat straddled another parking bay so I nipped around the back and lifted it and the trailer two paces to the left and down again. Now that is light and I could not do that with the old boat with or without the trailer. Other than being heavy and only large enough for two, there is nothing wrong with the old boat, which I’d named “Oy U”. I’ll probably put it on eBay as soon as I’ve tested the Yamaha outboard for it, but I can’t see any problems and then it’s ready to go. I can’t wait to try out the new boat as soon as I receive the registration and my lettering for the name. Guess what? ‘Jay Dubya’! I couldn’t think of anything else. Looking Forward Starting the river season soon makes you think of all the plans you have for this coming season. How can we forget the next FishingMagic Junior Fish-In, which again will be held during and as part of National Fishing Week.
Same venue as last year, but not the same weather, we hope. This year we are holding it on the 25th, which is the Friday. It will be limited to 20 places and juniors can be any age, but ideally between 7 and 16 years of age. We will also have Steve Rowlings again as a coach, last year he couldn’t stay long as he was nursing another event on the same day. Graham and I will also be there to lend a hand (I expect he’ll be taking lots of photos of lots of happy smiling sunny lit faces with fish in their hands) and hopefully one or two other experienced anglers to guide things along smoothly. A special announcement and accompanying thread will be made in due course, but this is to forewarn you to book the date in readiness. I don’t know about the hotel providing lunch again, it was an expensive item last year kindly sponsored by our host club, Intertype Angling Society, and Magicalia, the publishers of FishingMagic. Perhaps if those who attended last year showed their appreciation once more it might persuade someone to come up with the money, about £ 700. I’ve also got to do some scrounging now from the tackle companies for little goody-bags and I’ll see if I can get some of those whips again. That’s a nickname for short poles by the way. We’re not about to start flogging the kids. Anyway, if you work in the tackle industry or know someone who can help, mail me and I’m on to it! Other than the abysmal weather last year, all the kids really enjoyed it and we want this year to be even better! So just please pray hard! |
