A glimpse of the chalk streams of my youth. While I'm waiting for another opportunity to cast at something other than a leaf on the rec field behind my house ("I am a leaf on the wind"...) I thought I'd share this. The river Chess near little Chalfont.
We used to come down here as boys, 7' spinning rods tied to bicycle crossbars with string, reels in canvas shoulder bags, and tins of worms. A size 10 hook, ears like little radar dishes, alert for the sound of the bailiff (who would sometimes unfairly approach from down or upstream by wading the cunning swine) and eyes glued to water so clear you could see the stones on the bottom. This photo was taken further downstream from where we used to fish, but you get the idea.
4 comments:
I remember teaching myself to cast in the local park before I paid any money to a fishery. Why do people, dog walkers mostly, think they are the greatest wag with their "caught anything" or " what you fishing for, grass carp " quips. If I had a pound for every smart remark I'd have about a tenner by now.
Like the idea of your blog to document your journey into the world of fly fishing, careful I think it's more addictive than any other form of angling.
I too am learning in the park at the top of my road. The most fun I've had so far is with those dogs who become mesmerised by the to and fro of the line as it whips back and forth (or in my case slashes forwards and then puddles back). Still there'll be a short intermission now because my friend Sean has reclaimed his rod for a trip to Iceland and I'll be concentrating on coarse fishing again for a while. And yes, I'm well aware of the potential addiction that's ahead of me!
Have you given up on the art of fishing the fly?
I went last saturday and caught 3 rainbows, one of which was 3.2kg and 59cm. Nearly a new PR. The best of it all: I caught them on a home-tied fly:)
I haven't exactly given it up. Rather I've been consumed again by other forms of angling, specifically big roach. Managed a two and a half pounder last season and am hoping for more once the Autumn arrives properly. I did catch the big one out of classic fly fishing river though!
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