In reply to Post #194
When i moved back to the village of my birth i really started to fish i was fishing mad i did quite a bit of tench fishing i paired up with another young chap he had a motor scooter away we would go with two baskets on my back and the rods we started to fish a local water called the dell i loved the place and i soon became a member it was full of big tench and some nice roach there was some carp in the water but it was very rare to see any come out we both would float fish in the big holes in the Lillie beds we would throw a bit of ground bait out, usually bread crumbs mixed with sausage rusk it did the trick the lad i fished with was called Dave anslow we usually fished in a double swim you would see the lilies moving as the tench grubbed around stiring great patched of mud from the bottom they soon found our ground bait the whole swim would be a mass of bubbles we watched our floats, they would move about as the fish brushed against the line then the float would rise in the water and slide away it was hectic fishing we now had landing nets so there was no problem landing the fish, we caught some good tench not huge usually around three pounds plus when hooked they did scrape and you had to try and keep them away from the lilies or you would be snagged and lose the fish i learned a lot fishing with Dave he liked a bit of match fishing but that was not for me.
When we were not fishing the lake you would see us fishing the Severn we both liked it when in flood the river Rea met the Severn and caused a big pool where the water backed up we had some cracking days fishing there it was full of fish taking refuge from the main river we both caught usually roach and chub there was few pike they would strike at our hooked fish in those days i had an old sea rod i would put some heavy line on my wooden reel a big old pike bung then a treble put on a live bait and cast it out it would not be long before the float vanished below the surface and you were in i have landed some nice fish up to fifteen pounds you could catch four or five in a morning we always put them back it was great fishing things had started to improve tackle was getting better i just looked at the clock i am writing this at three in the morning i am suffering from gout and can not sleep for the pain it is a terrible thing caused by to much acid in the blood my foot looks like the the rising sun very red and painfull well a bit more latter
When i moved back to the village of my birth i really started to fish i was fishing mad i did quite a bit of tench fishing i paired up with another young chap he had a motor scooter away we would go with two baskets on my back and the rods we started to fish a local water called the dell i loved the place and i soon became a member it was full of big tench and some nice roach there was some carp in the water but it was very rare to see any come out we both would float fish in the big holes in the Lillie beds we would throw a bit of ground bait out, usually bread crumbs mixed with sausage rusk it did the trick the lad i fished with was called Dave anslow we usually fished in a double swim you would see the lilies moving as the tench grubbed around stiring great patched of mud from the bottom they soon found our ground bait the whole swim would be a mass of bubbles we watched our floats, they would move about as the fish brushed against the line then the float would rise in the water and slide away it was hectic fishing we now had landing nets so there was no problem landing the fish, we caught some good tench not huge usually around three pounds plus when hooked they did scrape and you had to try and keep them away from the lilies or you would be snagged and lose the fish i learned a lot fishing with Dave he liked a bit of match fishing but that was not for me.
When we were not fishing the lake you would see us fishing the Severn we both liked it when in flood the river Rea met the Severn and caused a big pool where the water backed up we had some cracking days fishing there it was full of fish taking refuge from the main river we both caught usually roach and chub there was few pike they would strike at our hooked fish in those days i had an old sea rod i would put some heavy line on my wooden reel a big old pike bung then a treble put on a live bait and cast it out it would not be long before the float vanished below the surface and you were in i have landed some nice fish up to fifteen pounds you could catch four or five in a morning we always put them back it was great fishing things had started to improve tackle was getting better i just looked at the clock i am writing this at three in the morning i am suffering from gout and can not sleep for the pain it is a terrible thing caused by to much acid in the blood my foot looks like the the rising sun very red and painfull well a bit more latter
In reply to Post #195
As i stood under the hedge that surrounded the big wood it started to snow i pulled my coat around me to keep me warm the north east wind was bitter looking up the field he came towards me head held high he stopped and shook the snow from his rustic coat he sniffed the air looking back, he was in no hurry i heard the sound of the hunting horn surely they are not out today in the distance i could see the dogs spread across the fields. The old dog stopped once again and sniffed the air he had done this many times before he knew these woods well it was his place of birth he knew every path and tree, he remembered how he had played out side the big earth many years before, he slipped under the old hedge and fence that surrounds the wood and was lost from sight i knew this dog well i had seen him many times before he would make his way to the big lake and would walk the waters edge he would leave no scent today, in the distance i could see the red of the huntsman's coat it was a foot pack. Where the guns were standing i did not know more figures appeared and stood out against the white of the snow covering the distant fields, there would be no scent today even the tracks of the passing dog had disappeared beneath the drifting snow on they came you could now hear the cry of the hounds as they came toward the old hedge they were exited by the chase the horn blew once again they were in full cry on and on they came i knew the huntsman well hi Pete he said have you seen charlie pass this way, yes says i he passed me by but you wont find him today under the fence the dogs went coursing here and there but no scent could they find.
The old dog had long gone he had traversed the big lake making his way to the rhododendrons under these big bushes he would crawl he now stretched out he had done this many times before he felt secure as the warmth of the bushes protected him against the wind and snow, here he would stay until hunger beckoned and then he would be away hunting the distant fields or farms the huntsman called the dogs away the snow was now falling heavy and drifting in the wind they gave old charlie best today the old dog knew he was safe as he had done this many times before that's how he had reached the age he was, once again he had out witted hounds and man to live another day. a bit more latter
As i stood under the hedge that surrounded the big wood it started to snow i pulled my coat around me to keep me warm the north east wind was bitter looking up the field he came towards me head held high he stopped and shook the snow from his rustic coat he sniffed the air looking back, he was in no hurry i heard the sound of the hunting horn surely they are not out today in the distance i could see the dogs spread across the fields. The old dog stopped once again and sniffed the air he had done this many times before he knew these woods well it was his place of birth he knew every path and tree, he remembered how he had played out side the big earth many years before, he slipped under the old hedge and fence that surrounds the wood and was lost from sight i knew this dog well i had seen him many times before he would make his way to the big lake and would walk the waters edge he would leave no scent today, in the distance i could see the red of the huntsman's coat it was a foot pack. Where the guns were standing i did not know more figures appeared and stood out against the white of the snow covering the distant fields, there would be no scent today even the tracks of the passing dog had disappeared beneath the drifting snow on they came you could now hear the cry of the hounds as they came toward the old hedge they were exited by the chase the horn blew once again they were in full cry on and on they came i knew the huntsman well hi Pete he said have you seen charlie pass this way, yes says i he passed me by but you wont find him today under the fence the dogs went coursing here and there but no scent could they find.
The old dog had long gone he had traversed the big lake making his way to the rhododendrons under these big bushes he would crawl he now stretched out he had done this many times before he felt secure as the warmth of the bushes protected him against the wind and snow, here he would stay until hunger beckoned and then he would be away hunting the distant fields or farms the huntsman called the dogs away the snow was now falling heavy and drifting in the wind they gave old charlie best today the old dog knew he was safe as he had done this many times before that's how he had reached the age he was, once again he had out witted hounds and man to live another day. a bit more latter
In reply to Post #196
As i sat under the big oak and watched the stars over head i heard unmistakable call of the vixen it was carried on the wind from deep in the wood i loved to hear the noises of the night when i was fishing. The wind ripped through the top of the old oak tree, the clouds drifted across the full moon casting shadow of silver across the distant fields in the distance you could hear the cry of the geese , they were traveling to some distant stubble field the crash of a fish far out in the lake that brought me around the water foamed at my feet the wind was warm i did not need a heavy coat for protection from the weather tonight, i had positioned my three rods one was fished to the left by the side of the reed bed the other two out in front in the baited area i lay down on the bed chair and thought of the times long ago when i first fished this ancient pool it was formed by the ice age i wondered how many in the past had fished its depths whether the fish had been used for food, i looked up at the big oak from my bivie door and wondered how many years had it stood beside this old lake a screech from a owl made me jump somewhere out in the lake another fish crashed out disturbing a coot, who made that unmistakable call kwok, she had nested on here early on in April rearing her brood of seven chicks and had another brood in June she had done well this year although she lost some of her chicks to a mink.
The black carp
I was startled from my slumber by the my alarm it went into overdrive i was on the rod in an instant, it felt a good fish as it rolled on the surface just out in front it made a rush to my left but applying pressure i managed to turn his head at last he lay on his side and i manged to slip the net under him he was mine i carefully lifted him onto the mat and parted the net it was a good fish a mirror on weighing him he was twenty eight pounds four oz a good fish my mate was fast asleep so i sacked it in deep water until morning when i could get the photos done, i cast out again to the baited spot and returned to my bed once again i was awakened not by the alarms but to some one shooting looking at my watch it was two thirty i got up and looked out side you could see the lamp being used as it swept across the distant fields they were lamping shooting the foxes that were numerous around here owing to the tip which was over the field from where i fished, i suspected it was the farmer or one of the locals who had got permission i remembered the times when graham and myself had traversed the same fields looking for the humble rabbit it was not unusual to shoot fifty a night which we sold to the local market or friends i am afraid it was not always legal but such is life, a pheasant piped up disturbed from it roost by the sound of the distant gun i watched as the light disappeared in the distance it was early morning when my alarm sounded again i managed to land another mirror of twenty pounds a real black fish it had a big slash down its back which had now healed i wondered if it had been struck by one of the boats that was used for skiing . i returned both fish and watched them both disappear into the depths of this ancient lake. a bit more latter
As i sat under the big oak and watched the stars over head i heard unmistakable call of the vixen it was carried on the wind from deep in the wood i loved to hear the noises of the night when i was fishing. The wind ripped through the top of the old oak tree, the clouds drifted across the full moon casting shadow of silver across the distant fields in the distance you could hear the cry of the geese , they were traveling to some distant stubble field the crash of a fish far out in the lake that brought me around the water foamed at my feet the wind was warm i did not need a heavy coat for protection from the weather tonight, i had positioned my three rods one was fished to the left by the side of the reed bed the other two out in front in the baited area i lay down on the bed chair and thought of the times long ago when i first fished this ancient pool it was formed by the ice age i wondered how many in the past had fished its depths whether the fish had been used for food, i looked up at the big oak from my bivie door and wondered how many years had it stood beside this old lake a screech from a owl made me jump somewhere out in the lake another fish crashed out disturbing a coot, who made that unmistakable call kwok, she had nested on here early on in April rearing her brood of seven chicks and had another brood in June she had done well this year although she lost some of her chicks to a mink.
The black carp
I was startled from my slumber by the my alarm it went into overdrive i was on the rod in an instant, it felt a good fish as it rolled on the surface just out in front it made a rush to my left but applying pressure i managed to turn his head at last he lay on his side and i manged to slip the net under him he was mine i carefully lifted him onto the mat and parted the net it was a good fish a mirror on weighing him he was twenty eight pounds four oz a good fish my mate was fast asleep so i sacked it in deep water until morning when i could get the photos done, i cast out again to the baited spot and returned to my bed once again i was awakened not by the alarms but to some one shooting looking at my watch it was two thirty i got up and looked out side you could see the lamp being used as it swept across the distant fields they were lamping shooting the foxes that were numerous around here owing to the tip which was over the field from where i fished, i suspected it was the farmer or one of the locals who had got permission i remembered the times when graham and myself had traversed the same fields looking for the humble rabbit it was not unusual to shoot fifty a night which we sold to the local market or friends i am afraid it was not always legal but such is life, a pheasant piped up disturbed from it roost by the sound of the distant gun i watched as the light disappeared in the distance it was early morning when my alarm sounded again i managed to land another mirror of twenty pounds a real black fish it had a big slash down its back which had now healed i wondered if it had been struck by one of the boats that was used for skiing . i returned both fish and watched them both disappear into the depths of this ancient lake. a bit more latter
In reply to Post #197
As i walked down the woodland ride i stood and listened the only noise i could hear was the buzzard who soared on the thermal high above the wood, giving the occasional mewing or ee-uu i have walked these rides many times over the years the woodland floor was a mass of primroses as far as the eye could see they had grown in this wood for generations i put my back to a big oak and sat down and thought about the days i had sat here and watched the fox cubs rolling down the steep embankment at the time the woods were a sea of blue bells and the cubs flattened every thing in their way they would then scamper back up the bank and do it all again there was six in all all healthy cubs and well fed they would soon tire and would then fall asleep in the ferns that surrounded the big earth i felt really privileged to watch these young foxes i am sure they knew i was there and would come right up to where i lay hidden in the ferns and blue bells.
my mates would say i smelled of foxes i suppose i did as i spent many hours watching them. I will tell you more about these young cubs as i watched the vixen would arrive with a rabbit or pheasant put it down and give a sharp yap the cubs would come running so excited to see there mother some tried to suckle but she would push them away as they could now eat meat and her milk had dried up, looking at the vixen you could see she had been pulled about and was really not in very good nick but she would pick up once the cubs had gone but she never saw her young cubs grow up she was killed shot by the local farmer i wondered how these young cubs would survive they were not old enough to hunt for there selves so i left a rabbit in front of the earth i did not expect them to eat it with human scent from my hands but they did i watched as they played tug of war with this rabbit one thing i did not expect was to see this big dog fox appear and leave a rabbit in front of the earth then a vixen came on the scene and started bringing food to these youngsters i knew this vixen she was very small i really wondered if she was a litter sister to the vixen that had been shot i had seen this happen before but if you read the books they say it does not well i can honestly say it does.
I loved the foxes and it is funny how i got to know them, every one was slightly different in some small way the one dog had a really dark coat another a sandy colour i soon learned to tell them apart we had a three legged one but he could still hunt and run as fast as one with four legs. The six young cubs soon left the safety of the earth and went there separate ways two of the cubs were vixens and did seem to stay together for some time but the other four were males and moved away not many survive the first twelve months they are either shot or end up as road casualties. well theres a bit more about my favorite animal the red fox i have spent many happy hours watching them over the years and they have given me great pleasure. well a bit more latter
As i walked down the woodland ride i stood and listened the only noise i could hear was the buzzard who soared on the thermal high above the wood, giving the occasional mewing or ee-uu i have walked these rides many times over the years the woodland floor was a mass of primroses as far as the eye could see they had grown in this wood for generations i put my back to a big oak and sat down and thought about the days i had sat here and watched the fox cubs rolling down the steep embankment at the time the woods were a sea of blue bells and the cubs flattened every thing in their way they would then scamper back up the bank and do it all again there was six in all all healthy cubs and well fed they would soon tire and would then fall asleep in the ferns that surrounded the big earth i felt really privileged to watch these young foxes i am sure they knew i was there and would come right up to where i lay hidden in the ferns and blue bells.
my mates would say i smelled of foxes i suppose i did as i spent many hours watching them. I will tell you more about these young cubs as i watched the vixen would arrive with a rabbit or pheasant put it down and give a sharp yap the cubs would come running so excited to see there mother some tried to suckle but she would push them away as they could now eat meat and her milk had dried up, looking at the vixen you could see she had been pulled about and was really not in very good nick but she would pick up once the cubs had gone but she never saw her young cubs grow up she was killed shot by the local farmer i wondered how these young cubs would survive they were not old enough to hunt for there selves so i left a rabbit in front of the earth i did not expect them to eat it with human scent from my hands but they did i watched as they played tug of war with this rabbit one thing i did not expect was to see this big dog fox appear and leave a rabbit in front of the earth then a vixen came on the scene and started bringing food to these youngsters i knew this vixen she was very small i really wondered if she was a litter sister to the vixen that had been shot i had seen this happen before but if you read the books they say it does not well i can honestly say it does.
I loved the foxes and it is funny how i got to know them, every one was slightly different in some small way the one dog had a really dark coat another a sandy colour i soon learned to tell them apart we had a three legged one but he could still hunt and run as fast as one with four legs. The six young cubs soon left the safety of the earth and went there separate ways two of the cubs were vixens and did seem to stay together for some time but the other four were males and moved away not many survive the first twelve months they are either shot or end up as road casualties. well theres a bit more about my favorite animal the red fox i have spent many happy hours watching them over the years and they have given me great pleasure. well a bit more latter
In reply to Post #198
We have had over the years a few practising the black arts in our woods we have found everything from crosses up side down nicely made and screwed to the tree we took it down and threw it away but it was back within the week i did meet the culprits as i have stated in a earlier thread all women i was bit embarrassed they were all in the noddy they explained they were good witches i could not keep a straight face it went bright red there was about twelve in all some were really attractive i could not get home quick enough to tell my mate graham they even asked me if i was embarrassed i was a bit you don't see that very often especially, when you had gone to bait up, we came in contact with another group, on Bomere this was years ago they had made little men and they hung them from a tree branch they were all made the same and had a proper noose around there necks we never met the group doing this but it left a nasty taste in your mouth the one i found latter on had a needle going through his head and was hanging by his neck we destroyed them all.
It never put me off fishing the place and quite honestly i never saw any one maybe i was not there at the right time we had some great times fishing the lake the pike champion ship of great Britain was held on the lake a couple of times i can't remember the out come of this big competition i know there was a big entry , we also had the British eel club they fished it for some time but i don't think they did very well and pulled off . I must admit graham Bernard and myself fished it for eels in the late sixties but we never caught one funny really as there was a over flow at the one end of the lake i have never heard of an eel coming out until about three years ago one was caught at a weight of four pound eight 0z but i have heard of none since we had some very good pike days especially in the sixties early seventies its where i first met a young dez Taylor who was fishing for the pike he tried to sell me a water proof suit he fished bomere for a good many weeks we also had a few big name carp anglers on bomere trying there luck this was when it was day ticket it was my job to check the tickets but we had a job with lots of litter left it was full time job picking it up so it was not long before it went syndicate again it was the best thing that happened we had a very young Ellis brazier who ran the syndicate i never joined but was allowed to fish free owing to me looking after the place. And you all know Ellis went on to better things i can remember him catching his first thirty from the lake i did the photography. He has since suffered a heart attack i felt very sorry for him but i believe he has now recovered and is fishing again. well a little more latter
We have had over the years a few practising the black arts in our woods we have found everything from crosses up side down nicely made and screwed to the tree we took it down and threw it away but it was back within the week i did meet the culprits as i have stated in a earlier thread all women i was bit embarrassed they were all in the noddy they explained they were good witches i could not keep a straight face it went bright red there was about twelve in all some were really attractive i could not get home quick enough to tell my mate graham they even asked me if i was embarrassed i was a bit you don't see that very often especially, when you had gone to bait up, we came in contact with another group, on Bomere this was years ago they had made little men and they hung them from a tree branch they were all made the same and had a proper noose around there necks we never met the group doing this but it left a nasty taste in your mouth the one i found latter on had a needle going through his head and was hanging by his neck we destroyed them all.
It never put me off fishing the place and quite honestly i never saw any one maybe i was not there at the right time we had some great times fishing the lake the pike champion ship of great Britain was held on the lake a couple of times i can't remember the out come of this big competition i know there was a big entry , we also had the British eel club they fished it for some time but i don't think they did very well and pulled off . I must admit graham Bernard and myself fished it for eels in the late sixties but we never caught one funny really as there was a over flow at the one end of the lake i have never heard of an eel coming out until about three years ago one was caught at a weight of four pound eight 0z but i have heard of none since we had some very good pike days especially in the sixties early seventies its where i first met a young dez Taylor who was fishing for the pike he tried to sell me a water proof suit he fished bomere for a good many weeks we also had a few big name carp anglers on bomere trying there luck this was when it was day ticket it was my job to check the tickets but we had a job with lots of litter left it was full time job picking it up so it was not long before it went syndicate again it was the best thing that happened we had a very young Ellis brazier who ran the syndicate i never joined but was allowed to fish free owing to me looking after the place. And you all know Ellis went on to better things i can remember him catching his first thirty from the lake i did the photography. He has since suffered a heart attack i felt very sorry for him but i believe he has now recovered and is fishing again. well a little more latter
In reply to Post #199
I don't know what it is but there something nice about the woods this time of year maybe its the leaves changing another year over, you can smell decay all a around you, and can certainly see more when the trees have no foliage. when i was young i would fish the winter through we had no protection in those days i would be away float fishing on the mighty Severn or the little Rea brook the times my line froze to the rod my hands would be frozen but i caught it was mainly roach or chub we really never fished the lakes as most fish would turn off they obviously did feed at times but we never had the cloths of today to protect us i remember fishing this one night with angling Times it would be around 1970 it was on blakemere we fished for the big bream it held, i remember covering our bodies up with a blanket then a piece of canvas it would be late November early December we must of dozed off it was freezing hard i awoke with a start i have never been so cold i was white all over the frost had frozen the canvas solid i looked over at graham he looked like something out of a horror story the canvas looked white and it had frozen some of his hair we both could not stop shaking i said never again but we did and fished Berrington one night in late November the very next year, that was the last time i ever fished a winter night we were both frozen to the bone i remember carrying our tackle back to the car my fingers were that cold i was nearly crying and that was not the end we finished up in bed quite, poorly with flue like systems we could not afford to be away from work we needed the money we had young families and times were still quite hard i certainly did not want the sack but jobs were a bit easier to find in those days but the money was not that good.
I have also shot in terrible weather we would go up in hill country graham and I always got a few invites on some of the pheasant shoots another friend always came with us his name was Rodger he used to beat for us i have been in some terrible storms in those hills the snow soon drifted making walking nearly impossible when you were in the woods standing the snow did not appear to be that much as it could not penetrate through the big fir trees you would get a bit under foot but not much but once out side the woods there could be as much as a foot of snow more where it had drifted i can well remember calling it a day usually about three in the afternoon we have gone back to the cars no way could we get out it would was over a foot deep the farmer would get the tractor and pull us out but the roads were like an ice rink not much gritting done like now a half hour journey would take a couple of hours by the time we had called at the local pub for a glass of malt to warm us up , i was always glad to get in the house and warm myself by the fire but they were great times i have loved every minute and if i had the chance i would do it all over again. well a bit more latter
I don't know what it is but there something nice about the woods this time of year maybe its the leaves changing another year over, you can smell decay all a around you, and can certainly see more when the trees have no foliage. when i was young i would fish the winter through we had no protection in those days i would be away float fishing on the mighty Severn or the little Rea brook the times my line froze to the rod my hands would be frozen but i caught it was mainly roach or chub we really never fished the lakes as most fish would turn off they obviously did feed at times but we never had the cloths of today to protect us i remember fishing this one night with angling Times it would be around 1970 it was on blakemere we fished for the big bream it held, i remember covering our bodies up with a blanket then a piece of canvas it would be late November early December we must of dozed off it was freezing hard i awoke with a start i have never been so cold i was white all over the frost had frozen the canvas solid i looked over at graham he looked like something out of a horror story the canvas looked white and it had frozen some of his hair we both could not stop shaking i said never again but we did and fished Berrington one night in late November the very next year, that was the last time i ever fished a winter night we were both frozen to the bone i remember carrying our tackle back to the car my fingers were that cold i was nearly crying and that was not the end we finished up in bed quite, poorly with flue like systems we could not afford to be away from work we needed the money we had young families and times were still quite hard i certainly did not want the sack but jobs were a bit easier to find in those days but the money was not that good.
I have also shot in terrible weather we would go up in hill country graham and I always got a few invites on some of the pheasant shoots another friend always came with us his name was Rodger he used to beat for us i have been in some terrible storms in those hills the snow soon drifted making walking nearly impossible when you were in the woods standing the snow did not appear to be that much as it could not penetrate through the big fir trees you would get a bit under foot but not much but once out side the woods there could be as much as a foot of snow more where it had drifted i can well remember calling it a day usually about three in the afternoon we have gone back to the cars no way could we get out it would was over a foot deep the farmer would get the tractor and pull us out but the roads were like an ice rink not much gritting done like now a half hour journey would take a couple of hours by the time we had called at the local pub for a glass of malt to warm us up , i was always glad to get in the house and warm myself by the fire but they were great times i have loved every minute and if i had the chance i would do it all over again. well a bit more latter
In reply to Post #200
What a day the sky was black with duck all the years we have run our little syndicate i have never seen so many duck they were mostly teal with just a few mallard what a sight, a friend of mine has been reguarly feeding our small duck pool and its been covered in ducks the last few weeks. These ducks have arrived so early it must be the weather conditions abroad most come from Iceland Russia so maybe its the cold conditions that has caused them to migrate a lot earlier than normal they are quite welcome on our small syndicate, there was also a nice show of pheasants that flew very high and fast in the gale force winds a few years ago we used to put down around two thousand birds, but that has finished my health will not allow myself and friends to do the work that it entails we are all mostly old fogeys past our best, but we enjoy one another's company i did not take part yesterday owing to my left hip and back playing up so i sat in my 4-4 and watched the events unfold i or my friend tony has to be there to make sure the day runs smoothly i think our oldest member is nearly eighty years old the youngest is 14 years old he is my mates grandson we are trying to teach him as much about the country side traditions as we possibly can it has changed so much since i was a young man one thing he wont have to do is poach which was a big part of my younger life
A CARP FROM BOMERE YEARS AGO
YOUNG TOM WE ARE TEACHING HIM THE COUNRTY SIDE TRADITIONS
Looking around the lakes yesterday i saw no one fishing i think the carp fishing was not that good this year, why i wonder, i think most of the syndicate live quite some distance from the lake and can not afford to travel to put a little ground bait in it is quite a hard water, well it was when i fished it. I would put in half a bucket hemp three time a week with a handful off bolies on top a little bit often was my motto and it did seem to work and i always fished the margins never putting a bait into the deeper water maybe things have changed over the years most of my fish came at night but one syndicate member told me most come in the day light now so that's one thing that has changed, i was a bit surprised there was no pike anglers on the water as you usually see a few this time of year, i cannot believe how undergrowth is still so thick in the woods the beaters and walking guns said they had quite job getting through the tangle of briers what it really needs is a couple of good frosts to kill it off, we still have a lot of leaves on the trees, but the high winds should bring the rest down . one thing that did please me was the big skeins of geese that came into the old quarry pool they were mostly geylags i think in total i watched at least five hundred birds come in to rest on the pool it wont be long before a few of us have a go at them before the farmers start to complain god knows where all the Canada's have gone i have only seen the odd skein but i have heard stories that there has been a cull on these birds, i hope it is not true but there certainly was far to many in some parts of the country, one such place was Ellesmere where i have been told they made one hell of a mess of the paths that surround the mere, how true it is i don't know but i was also told they were trying to get rid of a few, the one lake i fished at Ellesmere were having lots of problems with the birds and the wardens were *****ing the eggs in season so they would not rear so many young. well thats it for now more latter.
What a day the sky was black with duck all the years we have run our little syndicate i have never seen so many duck they were mostly teal with just a few mallard what a sight, a friend of mine has been reguarly feeding our small duck pool and its been covered in ducks the last few weeks. These ducks have arrived so early it must be the weather conditions abroad most come from Iceland Russia so maybe its the cold conditions that has caused them to migrate a lot earlier than normal they are quite welcome on our small syndicate, there was also a nice show of pheasants that flew very high and fast in the gale force winds a few years ago we used to put down around two thousand birds, but that has finished my health will not allow myself and friends to do the work that it entails we are all mostly old fogeys past our best, but we enjoy one another's company i did not take part yesterday owing to my left hip and back playing up so i sat in my 4-4 and watched the events unfold i or my friend tony has to be there to make sure the day runs smoothly i think our oldest member is nearly eighty years old the youngest is 14 years old he is my mates grandson we are trying to teach him as much about the country side traditions as we possibly can it has changed so much since i was a young man one thing he wont have to do is poach which was a big part of my younger life
A CARP FROM BOMERE YEARS AGO
YOUNG TOM WE ARE TEACHING HIM THE COUNRTY SIDE TRADITIONS
Looking around the lakes yesterday i saw no one fishing i think the carp fishing was not that good this year, why i wonder, i think most of the syndicate live quite some distance from the lake and can not afford to travel to put a little ground bait in it is quite a hard water, well it was when i fished it. I would put in half a bucket hemp three time a week with a handful off bolies on top a little bit often was my motto and it did seem to work and i always fished the margins never putting a bait into the deeper water maybe things have changed over the years most of my fish came at night but one syndicate member told me most come in the day light now so that's one thing that has changed, i was a bit surprised there was no pike anglers on the water as you usually see a few this time of year, i cannot believe how undergrowth is still so thick in the woods the beaters and walking guns said they had quite job getting through the tangle of briers what it really needs is a couple of good frosts to kill it off, we still have a lot of leaves on the trees, but the high winds should bring the rest down . one thing that did please me was the big skeins of geese that came into the old quarry pool they were mostly geylags i think in total i watched at least five hundred birds come in to rest on the pool it wont be long before a few of us have a go at them before the farmers start to complain god knows where all the Canada's have gone i have only seen the odd skein but i have heard stories that there has been a cull on these birds, i hope it is not true but there certainly was far to many in some parts of the country, one such place was Ellesmere where i have been told they made one hell of a mess of the paths that surround the mere, how true it is i don't know but i was also told they were trying to get rid of a few, the one lake i fished at Ellesmere were having lots of problems with the birds and the wardens were *****ing the eggs in season so they would not rear so many young. well thats it for now more latter.
In reply to Post #201
i really wonder what kind of winter we are going to get the amount of fieldfare and Brambling we are seeing huge flocks in Shropshire with a few red wing they all come from northern Europe Scandinavia it must be a lot colder over there to see the amount we are getting here we usually see a few , but not the large flocks we have got now i have already told you about the huge flocks of teal appearing we always see quite a lot of this lovely little bird but not the amount we are seeing now we have also seen a few shelduck which is quite unusual this far in land whether these birds are migrating from Germany and have stopped over to rest on our pools and lakes, One bird i have not seen as yet is the woodcock we usually see quite a number in our woods they usually arrive over night from countries such as Russia and Finland they are a lovely little bird with there beautiful camouflaged plumage which makes it a difficult to observe the dogs usually disturb this bird from thick cover you could easily walk over it as it blends in with the under growth well the gentry used to love to eat this little bird but not enough meat on it for me the species has been in decline for the last few years caused from being over hunted in parts of Europe.
I loved to fish the river at this time of year when i was younger it was mostly chub and the roach i fished for but we had great days float fishing for The dace this lovely silver fish is really in decline also the roach are not there in the numbers they were, what with cormorants and goo sanders the latter birds are doing terrible damage on the Severn they hunt in big packs i have seen them all in a line across the river and have counted as many as thirty some anglers have called for a cull i would like to see that happen but you would never get the public to agree to such a thing what with otters mink goosanders cormorants its a wonder any fish are caught, the match weights have really suffered over the past few years Even the tributaries have suffered to name a few the river Rea the river tern not so long ago you would see the water vole on the Rea i have spent hours watching this shy animal when i have been fishing now nearly all gone due to the mink we now have the otter back he may move the mink away but what damage will he do to these lovely little rivers there are far to many otters around now they have no predators or hunt to keep them under control i am not getting into any arguments over this animal. Its humans to blame interfering with nature and having little knowledge about the damage they can do. well a bit more latter
i really wonder what kind of winter we are going to get the amount of fieldfare and Brambling we are seeing huge flocks in Shropshire with a few red wing they all come from northern Europe Scandinavia it must be a lot colder over there to see the amount we are getting here we usually see a few , but not the large flocks we have got now i have already told you about the huge flocks of teal appearing we always see quite a lot of this lovely little bird but not the amount we are seeing now we have also seen a few shelduck which is quite unusual this far in land whether these birds are migrating from Germany and have stopped over to rest on our pools and lakes, One bird i have not seen as yet is the woodcock we usually see quite a number in our woods they usually arrive over night from countries such as Russia and Finland they are a lovely little bird with there beautiful camouflaged plumage which makes it a difficult to observe the dogs usually disturb this bird from thick cover you could easily walk over it as it blends in with the under growth well the gentry used to love to eat this little bird but not enough meat on it for me the species has been in decline for the last few years caused from being over hunted in parts of Europe.
I loved to fish the river at this time of year when i was younger it was mostly chub and the roach i fished for but we had great days float fishing for The dace this lovely silver fish is really in decline also the roach are not there in the numbers they were, what with cormorants and goo sanders the latter birds are doing terrible damage on the Severn they hunt in big packs i have seen them all in a line across the river and have counted as many as thirty some anglers have called for a cull i would like to see that happen but you would never get the public to agree to such a thing what with otters mink goosanders cormorants its a wonder any fish are caught, the match weights have really suffered over the past few years Even the tributaries have suffered to name a few the river Rea the river tern not so long ago you would see the water vole on the Rea i have spent hours watching this shy animal when i have been fishing now nearly all gone due to the mink we now have the otter back he may move the mink away but what damage will he do to these lovely little rivers there are far to many otters around now they have no predators or hunt to keep them under control i am not getting into any arguments over this animal. Its humans to blame interfering with nature and having little knowledge about the damage they can do. well a bit more latter
In reply to Post #202
This morning i noticed the birds are feeding heavy from the feeders in my garden i wonder if bad weather is on the way it is surprising what our little feathered friend can tell us regarding snow and ice when i lived in hill country the sheep would give you signs of approaching bad weather by coming down from the tops and lying down under the hedgerows it was a certainty when they did this you would have bad weather on occasions we would have had to dig them out of the deep snow drifts it is really funny how warm they would be under the snow how they breathed under that lot i do not know. when younger i would track the animals in the snow the fox stoats weasels even badgers but most would stay under ground in severe conditions.
I was down the woods on Saturday in the one corner of the field the farmer had left an unopened straw bale the badgers had opened it up and dragged it into the field they were taking it back to there living quarters to use as bedding i followed them down the wood you could see where they had dropped some of the straw on there way back to the set there must be at least twenty badgers, living there probably more a few years back i would go down to watch them at night what a lovely sight to sit and watch them search for worms on a moon light night, we had them quite tame and they would let us get quite close they were so used to seeing us out at night they never really bothered . i am just hopping they will not get annihilated when the farmers shoot them one thing we have in our favour most of the land surrounding the set is arable there is only one farm in the vicinity that has cattle no milkers only bullocks being reared for eating and quite honestly i have never heard him complain about the badgers.
There was only one angler on the big lake on Saturday he had his bivie up i drove past him in my 4-4 but he never came out to see who it was maybe fast asleep it was quite a chilly day my syndicate had a reasonable day the bag was not huge a few ducks and a few pheasants but i was happy every one except myself had a bit of shooting i watched from a distance sitting in my car as i did not want to do much walking. I am really a bit shocked that more anglers are not fishing the lakes as graham and myself had some wonderful days this time of year fishing for the pike we had them to over twenty pounds in the sixties, but i am told they are not in the water like they used to be why i do not know, i do know when it was day ticket some were caught and killed i suppose that was the future stock i removed some of the people killing the fish
by banning them for life but i could not be there all the while so i dont how many more were killed . This was in the late sixties early seventies some were taken to eat so we cant blame polish and such as it was going on in the sixties i have had pike but was not very keen as it tasted quite muddy but in the forties and fifties you would eat most things . as times were very hard . well a bit more latter
This morning i noticed the birds are feeding heavy from the feeders in my garden i wonder if bad weather is on the way it is surprising what our little feathered friend can tell us regarding snow and ice when i lived in hill country the sheep would give you signs of approaching bad weather by coming down from the tops and lying down under the hedgerows it was a certainty when they did this you would have bad weather on occasions we would have had to dig them out of the deep snow drifts it is really funny how warm they would be under the snow how they breathed under that lot i do not know. when younger i would track the animals in the snow the fox stoats weasels even badgers but most would stay under ground in severe conditions.
I was down the woods on Saturday in the one corner of the field the farmer had left an unopened straw bale the badgers had opened it up and dragged it into the field they were taking it back to there living quarters to use as bedding i followed them down the wood you could see where they had dropped some of the straw on there way back to the set there must be at least twenty badgers, living there probably more a few years back i would go down to watch them at night what a lovely sight to sit and watch them search for worms on a moon light night, we had them quite tame and they would let us get quite close they were so used to seeing us out at night they never really bothered . i am just hopping they will not get annihilated when the farmers shoot them one thing we have in our favour most of the land surrounding the set is arable there is only one farm in the vicinity that has cattle no milkers only bullocks being reared for eating and quite honestly i have never heard him complain about the badgers.
There was only one angler on the big lake on Saturday he had his bivie up i drove past him in my 4-4 but he never came out to see who it was maybe fast asleep it was quite a chilly day my syndicate had a reasonable day the bag was not huge a few ducks and a few pheasants but i was happy every one except myself had a bit of shooting i watched from a distance sitting in my car as i did not want to do much walking. I am really a bit shocked that more anglers are not fishing the lakes as graham and myself had some wonderful days this time of year fishing for the pike we had them to over twenty pounds in the sixties, but i am told they are not in the water like they used to be why i do not know, i do know when it was day ticket some were caught and killed i suppose that was the future stock i removed some of the people killing the fish
by banning them for life but i could not be there all the while so i dont how many more were killed . This was in the late sixties early seventies some were taken to eat so we cant blame polish and such as it was going on in the sixties i have had pike but was not very keen as it tasted quite muddy but in the forties and fifties you would eat most things . as times were very hard . well a bit more latter
In reply to Post #203
i didnt know that people were allowed to shoot badgers pete, or is it only farmers that are
excellent reading by the way
i didnt know that people were allowed to shoot badgers pete, or is it only farmers that are
excellent reading by the way
In reply to Post #204
n reply to Post #203
i didn't know that people were allowed to shoot badgers pete, or is it only farmers that are
excellent reading by the way
hi ralph have not been clear enough only trained shooters will be used i just hope it does not happen maybe some of the farmers will be good enough shots we will have to see, they are trying out inoculations on some farms catching the badgers then injection we will have to wait to see how it works out thanks for the kind words pete
n reply to Post #203
i didn't know that people were allowed to shoot badgers pete, or is it only farmers that are
excellent reading by the way
hi ralph have not been clear enough only trained shooters will be used i just hope it does not happen maybe some of the farmers will be good enough shots we will have to see, they are trying out inoculations on some farms catching the badgers then injection we will have to wait to see how it works out thanks for the kind words pete
In reply to Post #205
Well i have been down our woods today it was absolutely bitter our small duck pool had frozen over the woods were very still and quite i saw very little wild life the odd rabbit scampered by vanishing in the dense undergrowth one thing i am very pleased with was the amount of woodcock that were put up by the dogs they seem to have appeared over night i saw at least eight and that was only in one part of the big wood there was a time a few years ago when you would put up at least fifty or more i think the snow is not to far away it would not surprise me to wake up to a fair covering one of these next mornings i looked across to hill country and they had a small covering of snow i love these winter days it reminds me about the poaching i did in the surrounding woods for the pheasants especially this time of year we could make a bob or two for our back pockets the woods at that time were full of birds it was quite easy to poach a few with the air gun and torch the only worry you had was the game keeper and if you watched him long enough you would soon learn the best time to poach his birds was between seven at night and eleven o'clock he would be away at the pub usually the three fishes on our village i would pop in to make sure have a pint of mild listen to the chat and see if the keeper was there, he would leave his trusted motorcycle around the back of the pub so he may have gone to one of the other pubs on the village.
But if his bike was there i would be away to collect my gun from home you really had to know the woods and the many pathways i would make for his main coverts they were very easy to shoot i strapped the torch to the gun barrel switch it on look up into the trees pick an easy bird aim the gun pull the trigger and down he would come he would flutter around a bit so i would remove all evidence by picking any feathers up, then to the next tree you repeated it a few more times until you had enough birds I carried an old post bag to put the birds in, it could get rather heavy if you shot to many, and by the time you got home you would be tired out i have shot as many as twenty some nights but it was a necessity in those days as times were very hard i would give a few to our neighbors my mother always worried about me getting caught but i would tell here not to worry i can run lot faster than old Gerry the keeper or frank bell and i knew the woods well even if it was dark i knew which tree to clime to hide or which path to run and get away, even the farm at the end of the wood i could hide in the haystack i never once got caught but had a few near escapes over the years i have had a few shots fired over my head but it was worth the effort in those days the humble pheasant fetched a fair price not like today last week i saw them at the market for a pound each to cheap not worth poaching well that's it more latter
Well i have been down our woods today it was absolutely bitter our small duck pool had frozen over the woods were very still and quite i saw very little wild life the odd rabbit scampered by vanishing in the dense undergrowth one thing i am very pleased with was the amount of woodcock that were put up by the dogs they seem to have appeared over night i saw at least eight and that was only in one part of the big wood there was a time a few years ago when you would put up at least fifty or more i think the snow is not to far away it would not surprise me to wake up to a fair covering one of these next mornings i looked across to hill country and they had a small covering of snow i love these winter days it reminds me about the poaching i did in the surrounding woods for the pheasants especially this time of year we could make a bob or two for our back pockets the woods at that time were full of birds it was quite easy to poach a few with the air gun and torch the only worry you had was the game keeper and if you watched him long enough you would soon learn the best time to poach his birds was between seven at night and eleven o'clock he would be away at the pub usually the three fishes on our village i would pop in to make sure have a pint of mild listen to the chat and see if the keeper was there, he would leave his trusted motorcycle around the back of the pub so he may have gone to one of the other pubs on the village.
But if his bike was there i would be away to collect my gun from home you really had to know the woods and the many pathways i would make for his main coverts they were very easy to shoot i strapped the torch to the gun barrel switch it on look up into the trees pick an easy bird aim the gun pull the trigger and down he would come he would flutter around a bit so i would remove all evidence by picking any feathers up, then to the next tree you repeated it a few more times until you had enough birds I carried an old post bag to put the birds in, it could get rather heavy if you shot to many, and by the time you got home you would be tired out i have shot as many as twenty some nights but it was a necessity in those days as times were very hard i would give a few to our neighbors my mother always worried about me getting caught but i would tell here not to worry i can run lot faster than old Gerry the keeper or frank bell and i knew the woods well even if it was dark i knew which tree to clime to hide or which path to run and get away, even the farm at the end of the wood i could hide in the haystack i never once got caught but had a few near escapes over the years i have had a few shots fired over my head but it was worth the effort in those days the humble pheasant fetched a fair price not like today last week i saw them at the market for a pound each to cheap not worth poaching well that's it more latter
In reply to Post #206
hi pete , spotted a bird round my way a while ago , about the same size as
a blackbird . it had black blue and white feathers, bit like the blue on a magpie
but deffo wasnt one of them. spoke to a game keeper who told me it was a fieldfare
but it wasnt , just wondered if you had any idea what it would have been
thanks,
ralph
hi pete , spotted a bird round my way a while ago , about the same size as
a blackbird . it had black blue and white feathers, bit like the blue on a magpie
but deffo wasnt one of them. spoke to a game keeper who told me it was a fieldfare
but it wasnt , just wondered if you had any idea what it would have been
thanks,
ralph
In reply to Post #207
In reply to Post #206
hi pete , spotted a bird round my way a while ago , about the same size as
a blackbird . it had black blue and white feathers, bit like the blue on a magpie
but defoe wasn't one of them. spoke to a game keeper who told me it was a field-fare
but it wasn't , just wondered if you had any idea what it would have been
thanks,
hi Ralph not being rude a magpie does not have blue in his plumage i think what you saw was a jay beautiful bird full of colour there is one other that has a bit of blue but not as big as a black bird it is the haw finch it has bluish on its back his wings are a blackish with a bluish back and has white wing tips and white tips on the tail they are quite a big finch and a lovely looking bird def not a fieldfair. hope that helps a bit Pete.
In reply to Post #206
hi pete , spotted a bird round my way a while ago , about the same size as
a blackbird . it had black blue and white feathers, bit like the blue on a magpie
but defoe wasn't one of them. spoke to a game keeper who told me it was a field-fare
but it wasn't , just wondered if you had any idea what it would have been
thanks,
hi Ralph not being rude a magpie does not have blue in his plumage i think what you saw was a jay beautiful bird full of colour there is one other that has a bit of blue but not as big as a black bird it is the haw finch it has bluish on its back his wings are a blackish with a bluish back and has white wing tips and white tips on the tail they are quite a big finch and a lovely looking bird def not a fieldfair. hope that helps a bit Pete.
In reply to Post #206
Some local guy asked if i would continue my stories my answer was very simple as long as you all enjoy what i write i will continue, i have not done all i would like to have this year owing to my health i have been struggling to walk owing to my breathing and my back complaint i am now waiting to see a specialist for my back problem which is called senosis, i have just had a scan on my lungs unfortunately i have emphysema caused by me smoking a pipe for over forty years i have not smoked for at least four years but the damage has been done and walking to fast and to far really makes me struggle to breath but i am not ready for old nick just yet i am waiting now to see another specialist and things can be done but there is no cure so if you smoke please pack it up as i would not like to see you all like me.
Well that's enough of that lets get on with my stories heavy snow is forecast for Shropshire tonight followed by heavy rain we certainly need the rain some of our lakes need a big top up i have never seen them so low the ground is still very hard in our area and the recent rain has just not soaked in. Getting back to the wild life going down to my syndicate last Saturday i followed a little Merlin he flew a foot off the ground then skimmed the hedge row to my right and landed in a gate way and allowed me to stop and watch him i was only about maybe a yard from him he was a male with his bluish grey back he just stayed where he was and only took to flight when i put my window down but for me it was a privilege to have seen him this is not the first time i have seen this little hunter and it is always in the same lane. Another bird that has shown up on our shoot is a hen harrier it is a female and she is by her self with no male, how long she will stay i don't know maybe she is only resting coming down from the hill country to the lowlands as food is more available IE rabbits and small birds i just hope English nature does not see the bird as all and sundry may be rolling up to watch her after all it is a triple ssi site even my syndicate has to watch what we do although we have a good re-pore with them and really get on well together they like to see us around as our feeders do feed other birds as well as our pheasants.
The river Severn is bank height it must have rained quite hard in wales i would not mind having ago for the barbel as some real biggies come out in the winter my friend the bailiff has had a few doubles already i think the biggest was over twelve pounds ill have to look for the photos he sent me but he slipped putting back the big one, and ended up in bed hurting his back quite severely i think he is now back in circulation but have not seen him for a couple of months well the foxes should now be mating for all you night anglers you should now hear the vixen calling and the dog answering with with a sharp bark, she will have now chosen the earth she will have her cubs in at a latter date and will lie in this earth on her own out of the bad weather keeping her self warm the cubs will be born early march april not to far away, i hate these dark nights when i poached they were a great help but now i am getting old i prefer the light nights if any one wants to ask any questions regarding wild life please do i am only to glad to help and answer what i can . well that's it for now more latter.
Some local guy asked if i would continue my stories my answer was very simple as long as you all enjoy what i write i will continue, i have not done all i would like to have this year owing to my health i have been struggling to walk owing to my breathing and my back complaint i am now waiting to see a specialist for my back problem which is called senosis, i have just had a scan on my lungs unfortunately i have emphysema caused by me smoking a pipe for over forty years i have not smoked for at least four years but the damage has been done and walking to fast and to far really makes me struggle to breath but i am not ready for old nick just yet i am waiting now to see another specialist and things can be done but there is no cure so if you smoke please pack it up as i would not like to see you all like me.
Well that's enough of that lets get on with my stories heavy snow is forecast for Shropshire tonight followed by heavy rain we certainly need the rain some of our lakes need a big top up i have never seen them so low the ground is still very hard in our area and the recent rain has just not soaked in. Getting back to the wild life going down to my syndicate last Saturday i followed a little Merlin he flew a foot off the ground then skimmed the hedge row to my right and landed in a gate way and allowed me to stop and watch him i was only about maybe a yard from him he was a male with his bluish grey back he just stayed where he was and only took to flight when i put my window down but for me it was a privilege to have seen him this is not the first time i have seen this little hunter and it is always in the same lane. Another bird that has shown up on our shoot is a hen harrier it is a female and she is by her self with no male, how long she will stay i don't know maybe she is only resting coming down from the hill country to the lowlands as food is more available IE rabbits and small birds i just hope English nature does not see the bird as all and sundry may be rolling up to watch her after all it is a triple ssi site even my syndicate has to watch what we do although we have a good re-pore with them and really get on well together they like to see us around as our feeders do feed other birds as well as our pheasants.
The river Severn is bank height it must have rained quite hard in wales i would not mind having ago for the barbel as some real biggies come out in the winter my friend the bailiff has had a few doubles already i think the biggest was over twelve pounds ill have to look for the photos he sent me but he slipped putting back the big one, and ended up in bed hurting his back quite severely i think he is now back in circulation but have not seen him for a couple of months well the foxes should now be mating for all you night anglers you should now hear the vixen calling and the dog answering with with a sharp bark, she will have now chosen the earth she will have her cubs in at a latter date and will lie in this earth on her own out of the bad weather keeping her self warm the cubs will be born early march april not to far away, i hate these dark nights when i poached they were a great help but now i am getting old i prefer the light nights if any one wants to ask any questions regarding wild life please do i am only to glad to help and answer what i can . well that's it for now more latter.