I am looking back fondly upon fishing days as I am getting ready to get on a return into the world's favourite participation sport or hobby, call it what you will. I still have a lot of of my bait and tackle on shelves in the garage, most of it probably outlawed and requiring replacement now so I will be making a pre-emptive trip to one of the many nearby fishing tackle shop in the locale, and for much of the more usual gear, a web bait and tackle shop.
The first time I went tackle dipping was with my pa and his brother who was an experienced angler, to a gravel pit near St Albans when I was something like eight years old. I do not remember much about it, but I did get a couple of roach which I was very pleased about. I say that 'I' caught, though in reality my farther set up my bait and tackle and my uncle demonstrated to me how to cast so that was about the degree of my skill. I seem to remember that that weekend I was also modelling my 1st fur lined parka coat. The things you remember eh?
In my early teenage I became very and I was part of a band of pals who would go to our village ponds on a Tuesday and Thursday afternoon. And, if I wasn't playing football or rugby, I would go for the day on a Saturday. And if I was I would try and go for the afternoon after the game if I could.
Most of my bait and tackle was quite ancient and second-hand. Our village didn't have a specialist fishing tackle shop but we had a mini department store that kept a small selection. For bigger and superior stuff you had to get a bus into Guildford. We also didn't have anywhere close enough that sold maggots, so fairly often bait mixtures would appear, and hunting worms was a very important requirement.
We also used to ride out to a little river at the edge of the village which was fairly daring because we did not have permits for it but it was always good entertainment if you could secure a quality swim. I remember once getting into a shoal of gudgeon and having thirty minutes of fun pulling them out and letting them go again in an almost constant motion. I know veggies, I know, not much fun for the fish but then again, being a wild fish isn't great at any time as far as I can deduce. And when I went home I did throw in the remainder of my bait for them to eat unmolested.
Those were marvellous days, I remember vividly the old lady who lived down the road from the lakes that we had to see first to get a day permit and strolling around the 2 ponds to see who was already there, choosing a swim if ones favourite wasn't taken and then getting the bait and tackle set up for the day and getting the first cast of the day out into the water. Then later, the excitement as somebody hooked into a carp, everyone grouping round giving advice on how best to play it and then hope to be the person to be asked to hold the landing net as the fish comes into the bank.
Those were halcyon days, an early time when as kids we would let out to make our own amusement, no trouble, no naughtiness or hurting other people. I do wonder how many youngsters at the age now that we were then would be allowed to do that. I don't know, but I bet it's not so easy now.
20101213
The first time I went tackle dipping was with my pa and his brother who was an experienced angler, to a gravel pit near St Albans when I was something like eight years old. I do not remember much about it, but I did get a couple of roach which I was very pleased about. I say that 'I' caught, though in reality my farther set up my bait and tackle and my uncle demonstrated to me how to cast so that was about the degree of my skill. I seem to remember that that weekend I was also modelling my 1st fur lined parka coat. The things you remember eh?
In my early teenage I became very and I was part of a band of pals who would go to our village ponds on a Tuesday and Thursday afternoon. And, if I wasn't playing football or rugby, I would go for the day on a Saturday. And if I was I would try and go for the afternoon after the game if I could.
Most of my bait and tackle was quite ancient and second-hand. Our village didn't have a specialist fishing tackle shop but we had a mini department store that kept a small selection. For bigger and superior stuff you had to get a bus into Guildford. We also didn't have anywhere close enough that sold maggots, so fairly often bait mixtures would appear, and hunting worms was a very important requirement.
We also used to ride out to a little river at the edge of the village which was fairly daring because we did not have permits for it but it was always good entertainment if you could secure a quality swim. I remember once getting into a shoal of gudgeon and having thirty minutes of fun pulling them out and letting them go again in an almost constant motion. I know veggies, I know, not much fun for the fish but then again, being a wild fish isn't great at any time as far as I can deduce. And when I went home I did throw in the remainder of my bait for them to eat unmolested.
Those were marvellous days, I remember vividly the old lady who lived down the road from the lakes that we had to see first to get a day permit and strolling around the 2 ponds to see who was already there, choosing a swim if ones favourite wasn't taken and then getting the bait and tackle set up for the day and getting the first cast of the day out into the water. Then later, the excitement as somebody hooked into a carp, everyone grouping round giving advice on how best to play it and then hope to be the person to be asked to hold the landing net as the fish comes into the bank.
Those were halcyon days, an early time when as kids we would let out to make our own amusement, no trouble, no naughtiness or hurting other people. I do wonder how many youngsters at the age now that we were then would be allowed to do that. I don't know, but I bet it's not so easy now.
20101213
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