I spent some time in a secure unit when I was 20. Actually, ‘secure unit’ is being generous – it was a Mental Hospital, dating back to the First World War and since bulldozed and developed (for housing, obviously – nobody gets mentally ill anymore). ‘It’s nothing like One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest,’ theyContinue reading “Institutionalisation”
Tag Archives: Fishing
Dorset Life
I had a couple of hours free yesterday afternoon, and, thanks to Ben (my brother-in-law), I had almost a pint of maggots in my bait tub. With relatively clear skies and an air temperature reluctant to raise itself above zero, grayling were the obvious fish to chase and I nipped down to the River Frome.Continue reading “Dorset Life”
Polarization
I often wonder how other people view ‘time’ in their minds. Mine shapes like a loop in a rollercoaster, blurred at the bottom, but specific dates (my birthday for one) always acting as an anchored point of reference. Rather like a compass needle, I ‘roll’ around the corkscrew to find my position in the year,Continue reading “Polarization”
Summer Crus
Such is the delicious intensity of the final few weeks of the fishing season, the slightly lengthening days countered by the shortening of opportunity, that when it stops, I cannot believe for a second that come June I will be so laid back about my fishing. I’m still inspired, but in a very different way.Continue reading “Summer Crus”
Shapes
With less than five weeks until the end of the fishing season, I am normally fishing frenetically in early February, but even on those odd days when the river has shrunk back within its banks the wind has howled and I have left the rod bag in the calm of the hallway. I did manageContinue reading “Shapes”
More Tench….
Time has not been my friend so far this season. After Opening Day I have only been able to squeeze one evening’s fishing in – and I had to return to the same lake. It was brighter and warmer and I headed straight for the swim where I caught previously. The weed had thickened andContinue reading “More Tench….”
Opening Day
It came around a bit too quickly this year and caught me slightly off guard, but still my sleep was fitful on the night of the 15th. Opening Day really is a bit special. So much happens in three months, and though the first fingers of spring were gently gripping in mid March, you stepContinue reading “Opening Day”
Old and New
Apologies for the trumpet blowing, but needs must….! There is a rather nice review of The Idle Angler in the latest edition of Salmo Trutta, the annual journal of the Wild Trout Trust. Thank you very much to the reviewer! Also, this week sees the release of Issue 3 of Fallon’s angler – and itContinue reading “Old and New”
Open Season?
At the end of the 19th Century a close season was introduced for coarse angling. With the majority of fish being caught and killed, it was determined that fishing be outlawed through the spring when the fish were most likely to spawn. The close season has always been contentious within angling circles as many believeContinue reading “Open Season?”
Final Day Fun!
There was a low turnout for the annual Golden Scale Club Final Day Fish-in this year – mainly because no-one knew about it. Of course, with the lack of competition, the fish fed well – and although the final day is principally an opportunity to empty the dregs from bait-tins and compare cakes, catches areContinue reading “Final Day Fun!”
Kevin Parr 