Evening all, I feel like an imposter, really have no idea about this fishing lark, sooo many questions!
Lifes ambition has been to catch a perch - handome devils aren't they. Always looked so goddamn cool in books and mags - a mohicaned boot boy !
..Anyway went fishing to Keston Ponds with my chum Harry Chamberlain approx 35 years ago, and some big boys picked on us and stole our Cresta - went home crying, never caught a thing, don't even remember casting a line !
10 years after this I bought a shiny Normark rod and weights and a reel from a tackle shop in West Croydon (long since disappeared) with my Saturday job money - these literally have spent the last two and a half decades in first my mums and then my loft.
Approx a year ago, having acquired grown up hobbies/pastimes (wife, full time job, mortgage,car, three daughters, taste for curry, beer gut), cleared out loft. Middle daughter (10) very intruiged, and begins relentless campaign for me to take her fishing. Missus eventually caves in and one weekend about two months ago presents me with an EA rod licence ! Damn, I thought, my last excuse out the window !
Nothing for it, so me and young Kate toured our local(ish) fishing spots and shops. Supremely hostile carping types encountered at Norwood Lake, and fairly unhelpful and offhand staff at Angler's Base in Penge (although a veritable Aladdins Cave of shiny gear).
Eventually nettle grasped and three weeks ago we pitched up at Bury Hill Lakes in Dorking, choosing a secluded, or at least not too visible, peg we started hesitantly, but with growing confidence to pretend to fish.
And by God, do you know, we plucked eight, count 'em EIGHT live wild, beautiful creatures from the brown soup in front of us. So shocked and exhilarated, forgot camera, forgot notebook, just amazed and thrilled with the feeling of something alien and invisible fighting on the end of our line. I'm pretty sure, now the panic has subsided they were bream, and one was about eight inches long.
I'm also amazed that the last fish caught (as daughter, novelty having worn off, was just dangling her hook with white maggot off the platform edge) was a beautiful, four inch perch ! Just like the pictures in all the books, even more handsome than I expected. SO I'M STILL WAITING TO CATCH ONE ! I understand that one can get sick of being pestered by this little thugs, but I hope that day never comes.
Anyway that's me and my story - sorry for the length (o'er missus) I do tend to go on - I haven't even mentioned the tangled lines, and that the whole adventure has raised more questions than answered, but for now I'm entranced by the whole hobby/sport, and can't wait to go again (possibly a tuition day at BHL again in mid/late September ?).
Thanks for having me, and for reading so much ! If you actually want to hear my questions, let me know !
Lifes ambition has been to catch a perch - handome devils aren't they. Always looked so goddamn cool in books and mags - a mohicaned boot boy !
..Anyway went fishing to Keston Ponds with my chum Harry Chamberlain approx 35 years ago, and some big boys picked on us and stole our Cresta - went home crying, never caught a thing, don't even remember casting a line !
10 years after this I bought a shiny Normark rod and weights and a reel from a tackle shop in West Croydon (long since disappeared) with my Saturday job money - these literally have spent the last two and a half decades in first my mums and then my loft.
Approx a year ago, having acquired grown up hobbies/pastimes (wife, full time job, mortgage,car, three daughters, taste for curry, beer gut), cleared out loft. Middle daughter (10) very intruiged, and begins relentless campaign for me to take her fishing. Missus eventually caves in and one weekend about two months ago presents me with an EA rod licence ! Damn, I thought, my last excuse out the window !
Nothing for it, so me and young Kate toured our local(ish) fishing spots and shops. Supremely hostile carping types encountered at Norwood Lake, and fairly unhelpful and offhand staff at Angler's Base in Penge (although a veritable Aladdins Cave of shiny gear).
Eventually nettle grasped and three weeks ago we pitched up at Bury Hill Lakes in Dorking, choosing a secluded, or at least not too visible, peg we started hesitantly, but with growing confidence to pretend to fish.
And by God, do you know, we plucked eight, count 'em EIGHT live wild, beautiful creatures from the brown soup in front of us. So shocked and exhilarated, forgot camera, forgot notebook, just amazed and thrilled with the feeling of something alien and invisible fighting on the end of our line. I'm pretty sure, now the panic has subsided they were bream, and one was about eight inches long.
I'm also amazed that the last fish caught (as daughter, novelty having worn off, was just dangling her hook with white maggot off the platform edge) was a beautiful, four inch perch ! Just like the pictures in all the books, even more handsome than I expected. SO I'M STILL WAITING TO CATCH ONE ! I understand that one can get sick of being pestered by this little thugs, but I hope that day never comes.
Anyway that's me and my story - sorry for the length (o'er missus) I do tend to go on - I haven't even mentioned the tangled lines, and that the whole adventure has raised more questions than answered, but for now I'm entranced by the whole hobby/sport, and can't wait to go again (possibly a tuition day at BHL again in mid/late September ?).
Thanks for having me, and for reading so much ! If you actually want to hear my questions, let me know !
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