In reply to Post #421
Thanks ken glad you like my stories
Thanks ken glad you like my stories
In reply to Post #420
I used to like the simple things in life when i was young i would love to lie in the hay fields on a warm sunny day the field would be full of wild flowers, it had a smell of its own i would watch the sky larks height up in the sky and listen to there song then we had the curlews, there was never a dull moment at night we had the nightingale what a wonderful song she had, The country side was full of birds i would clime the rocks to the jackdaws nest infact i took a youngster and reared him my self he would come every where i went even to school he would be there when i came out of school at four o'clock and land on my head or shoulder he even came fishing with me he would soon warn you if any one was around,
They were idyllic days we never had a care in the world we would be out from morning until dusk i would clime the tree to the buzzards nest and look into the nest and marvel at the the chicks it held we found the sparrow hawks, nest the kestrel, to i never once took there eggs, i watched the gold finches, on the thistle head it was all part of my life to wander the hills and vales and watch the the brown hare, or the grouse. I loved to be out on a summers evening and lie beside the pool with my rod poking through the gap in the old willow tree hoping to catch the carp, that lived in this lovely little pool they did not grow big three or four pounds but to us youngsters they were huge we would catch them on floating crust we had no landing nets and we would lift them out with our hands getting our feet wet at the same time that never bothered us we would take our socks of to dry hanging them in the old Willow tree.
We would wander the woods and lanes with our catapult most young lads had one tucked in there pocket and shoot the rabbit that had hid in the nettle patch there was so many rabbits, in the late forties and early fifties we lived on them they kept us in meat they were wonderful days we would swim in the river watch the sand martins make there nests in the river bank you would see the blue streak of a kingfisher, as he passed you by i found his nest under the over hung bank we had the run of the country side then we had the dipper i used to watch him find his food under the fast water by the old weir what a wonderful little bird he was we would spoon the eggs from a moor hens nest with a long stick and a spoon tied to the end we would boil the eggs in an old tin with water from the river then eat them with our sandwiches what more could we ask the days of our youth seems like only yesterday but alas those days have gone never to return. well a bit more latter
I used to like the simple things in life when i was young i would love to lie in the hay fields on a warm sunny day the field would be full of wild flowers, it had a smell of its own i would watch the sky larks height up in the sky and listen to there song then we had the curlews, there was never a dull moment at night we had the nightingale what a wonderful song she had, The country side was full of birds i would clime the rocks to the jackdaws nest infact i took a youngster and reared him my self he would come every where i went even to school he would be there when i came out of school at four o'clock and land on my head or shoulder he even came fishing with me he would soon warn you if any one was around,
They were idyllic days we never had a care in the world we would be out from morning until dusk i would clime the tree to the buzzards nest and look into the nest and marvel at the the chicks it held we found the sparrow hawks, nest the kestrel, to i never once took there eggs, i watched the gold finches, on the thistle head it was all part of my life to wander the hills and vales and watch the the brown hare, or the grouse. I loved to be out on a summers evening and lie beside the pool with my rod poking through the gap in the old willow tree hoping to catch the carp, that lived in this lovely little pool they did not grow big three or four pounds but to us youngsters they were huge we would catch them on floating crust we had no landing nets and we would lift them out with our hands getting our feet wet at the same time that never bothered us we would take our socks of to dry hanging them in the old Willow tree.
We would wander the woods and lanes with our catapult most young lads had one tucked in there pocket and shoot the rabbit that had hid in the nettle patch there was so many rabbits, in the late forties and early fifties we lived on them they kept us in meat they were wonderful days we would swim in the river watch the sand martins make there nests in the river bank you would see the blue streak of a kingfisher, as he passed you by i found his nest under the over hung bank we had the run of the country side then we had the dipper i used to watch him find his food under the fast water by the old weir what a wonderful little bird he was we would spoon the eggs from a moor hens nest with a long stick and a spoon tied to the end we would boil the eggs in an old tin with water from the river then eat them with our sandwiches what more could we ask the days of our youth seems like only yesterday but alas those days have gone never to return. well a bit more latter
In reply to Post #418
Nice countryside story Pete.
We have badgers coming through our garden,although I live in an urban area.
Unfortunately,they do dig up some of the lawns,but the badgers were probably here before the houses were built.
Keep writing Pete,we all love it !
Nice countryside story Pete.
We have badgers coming through our garden,although I live in an urban area.
Unfortunately,they do dig up some of the lawns,but the badgers were probably here before the houses were built.
Keep writing Pete,we all love it !
In reply to Post #424
The woods were full of wild life when i was young we would walk miles we would sit and listen to the noises of the woods you would hear the sharp yap as the vixen, called her cubs the wood pecker, as he hammered away trying to get him self a grub or two then the mew of the buzzard, as it sored above the woods. They were so full of wild life we would find the snares set for the rabbits on the edge of the woods the keeper would be around to check them before long he would not miss the odd one or two that we stashed in our bags we would make our way out of the woods and follow the river onny as it flowed across the meadows you would see the rise of the trout has he took a fly in a spray of silver water. The river was full of trout stocked by the many estates for the syndicates who fished this wonderful water we would watch the water voles that scampered along the river bank, they would disappear with a plop in the deep water they were very shy animals but were in abundance in my youth sadly not today.
I would lie behind the under growth beside the river hardly breathing as watched the otters, play they were large animals they would take the odd trout then sit on the boulder to eat there prey i really wondered how long they would last as the otter hounds, would be around i did not like to see that as the river ran red with the blood of this majestic animal, but the the trout, and grayling, had to be protected for the estates, and the syndicates, that fished this idyllic water. What a beautiful fish the trout was with his coloured spots he was easy to catch with a worm or spinner but the river was patrolled twice a day by bailiffs early morning was the time while they were still tucked in bed. I liked a rainy morning with a touch of colour in the water i would trundle a worm under the bank you would feel the pull of the line between your fingers as he took the worm it was nothing to catch twenty trout, in those conditions they would be shared out between our family and neighbors and were always welcome.
Back to the woods spring was my favorite time the woodland floor would be a sea of blue from the blue bells , i would sit down what a beautiful aroma they gave off. The one wood was full off daffodils we would collect bunches and sell them around the town, we made a few coppers for fishing hooks and such i loved to clime up into the farmers barn you would find the barn owl, and her chicks, what a noise they made if they thought they were being threatened i would hold one in my hands he looked just like a ball of fluff he would really squawk and spit until i put him down they were plenfull when i was young but sadly missing today in any numbers. I did not like climing to the tawny owls nest as at times they would attack which happened to a freind he was very lucky he never lost an eye. You would hardly see a badger but they were there i did find one set, but in those days the keepers, kept the numbers down old sam my freind the keeper never killed one well not while i knew him but he was the exeption.
Well bit more latter
The woods were full of wild life when i was young we would walk miles we would sit and listen to the noises of the woods you would hear the sharp yap as the vixen, called her cubs the wood pecker, as he hammered away trying to get him self a grub or two then the mew of the buzzard, as it sored above the woods. They were so full of wild life we would find the snares set for the rabbits on the edge of the woods the keeper would be around to check them before long he would not miss the odd one or two that we stashed in our bags we would make our way out of the woods and follow the river onny as it flowed across the meadows you would see the rise of the trout has he took a fly in a spray of silver water. The river was full of trout stocked by the many estates for the syndicates who fished this wonderful water we would watch the water voles that scampered along the river bank, they would disappear with a plop in the deep water they were very shy animals but were in abundance in my youth sadly not today.
I would lie behind the under growth beside the river hardly breathing as watched the otters, play they were large animals they would take the odd trout then sit on the boulder to eat there prey i really wondered how long they would last as the otter hounds, would be around i did not like to see that as the river ran red with the blood of this majestic animal, but the the trout, and grayling, had to be protected for the estates, and the syndicates, that fished this idyllic water. What a beautiful fish the trout was with his coloured spots he was easy to catch with a worm or spinner but the river was patrolled twice a day by bailiffs early morning was the time while they were still tucked in bed. I liked a rainy morning with a touch of colour in the water i would trundle a worm under the bank you would feel the pull of the line between your fingers as he took the worm it was nothing to catch twenty trout, in those conditions they would be shared out between our family and neighbors and were always welcome.
Back to the woods spring was my favorite time the woodland floor would be a sea of blue from the blue bells , i would sit down what a beautiful aroma they gave off. The one wood was full off daffodils we would collect bunches and sell them around the town, we made a few coppers for fishing hooks and such i loved to clime up into the farmers barn you would find the barn owl, and her chicks, what a noise they made if they thought they were being threatened i would hold one in my hands he looked just like a ball of fluff he would really squawk and spit until i put him down they were plenfull when i was young but sadly missing today in any numbers. I did not like climing to the tawny owls nest as at times they would attack which happened to a freind he was very lucky he never lost an eye. You would hardly see a badger but they were there i did find one set, but in those days the keepers, kept the numbers down old sam my freind the keeper never killed one well not while i knew him but he was the exeption.
Well bit more latter
In reply to Post #425
I Can always remember when myxomatosis first hit us in all honesty i could of cried we as youths would go up the field the rabbits would be there in there hundreds their heads were swollen with sores all over we used to put them out of there misery it was a terrible sight and all caused by a flea the disease had been put down indiscreetly in fact it was pox i don't think all the farmers liked it as it put quite a few out of work a lot of the big estates employed a chap to catch the rabbits and made quite a lot of revenue out of them its hard to think any survived but they did in small pockets around the country side it affected most families as they relied on the rabbit for meat
The rabbit made a steady come back over the years but when i live the Rabbit have had liver fluke and that has killed quite a few but no doubt they will be back in numbers before long.
There was no more ferreting some were kept for ratting but most were got rid of it was a big shame i kept mine until he died of old age when a youngster he would curl up in my shirt it made me stink a bit my mum used to say get a wash your not coming in house smelling like that but i still had my fishing the trout in the rivers or the many lakes that i poached i still loved to go to the small lake that held the carp the owner loved to see us as youngsters and never charged us once i spent hours fishing that lake, i soon learnt and caught fish not big most were from three pounds to five so it was with suprise that my float slid away and i hooked a bigger fish by the time i got it on the bank i was shacking with exitment i can remember a man called peter finch who i became a good freind, it was weighed on peters, scales and was ten pounds exactly. I think every one came to have a look i was told it was a good fish for those years i watched it swim away after that i wanted bigger but the lakes i fished did not hold the bigger specimens so it was back to the small lake i learned to catch the carp on floating crust i watched as they sucked it in i hit some and lost others but i never caught any thing close to ten pounds but i was happy with the fish i caught and to this day they remain in my memory
I Can always remember when myxomatosis first hit us in all honesty i could of cried we as youths would go up the field the rabbits would be there in there hundreds their heads were swollen with sores all over we used to put them out of there misery it was a terrible sight and all caused by a flea the disease had been put down indiscreetly in fact it was pox i don't think all the farmers liked it as it put quite a few out of work a lot of the big estates employed a chap to catch the rabbits and made quite a lot of revenue out of them its hard to think any survived but they did in small pockets around the country side it affected most families as they relied on the rabbit for meat
The rabbit made a steady come back over the years but when i live the Rabbit have had liver fluke and that has killed quite a few but no doubt they will be back in numbers before long.
There was no more ferreting some were kept for ratting but most were got rid of it was a big shame i kept mine until he died of old age when a youngster he would curl up in my shirt it made me stink a bit my mum used to say get a wash your not coming in house smelling like that but i still had my fishing the trout in the rivers or the many lakes that i poached i still loved to go to the small lake that held the carp the owner loved to see us as youngsters and never charged us once i spent hours fishing that lake, i soon learnt and caught fish not big most were from three pounds to five so it was with suprise that my float slid away and i hooked a bigger fish by the time i got it on the bank i was shacking with exitment i can remember a man called peter finch who i became a good freind, it was weighed on peters, scales and was ten pounds exactly. I think every one came to have a look i was told it was a good fish for those years i watched it swim away after that i wanted bigger but the lakes i fished did not hold the bigger specimens so it was back to the small lake i learned to catch the carp on floating crust i watched as they sucked it in i hit some and lost others but i never caught any thing close to ten pounds but i was happy with the fish i caught and to this day they remain in my memory
In reply to Post #425
I Can always remember when myxomatosis first hit us in all honesty i could of cried we as youths would go up the field the rabbits would be there in there hundreds their heads were swollen with sores all over we used to put them out of there misery it was a terrible sight and all caused by a flea the disease had been put down indiscreetly in fact it was pox i don't think all the farmers liked it as it put quite a few out of work a lot of the big estates employed a chap to catch the rabbits and made quite a lot of revenue out of them its hard to think any survived but they did in small pockets around the country side it affected most families as they relied on the rabbit for meat
The rabbit made a steady come back over the years but where i live the Rabbit have had liver fluke and that has killed quite a few but no doubt they will be back in numbers before long.
There was no more ferreting some were kept for ratting but most were got rid of it was a big shame i kept mine until he died of old age when a youngster he would curl up in my shirt it made me stink a bit my mum used to say get a wash your not coming in house smelling like that but i still had my fishing the trout in the rivers or the many lakes that i poached i still loved to go to the small lake that held the carp the owner loved to see us as youngsters and never charged us any money. I spent hours fishing that lake, i soon learnt and caught fish not big most were from three pounds to five so it was with suprise that my float slid away and i hooked a bigger fish by the time i got it on the bank i was shaking with exitment i can remember a man called peter finch who became a good freind, it was weighed on peters, scales and was ten pounds exactly. I think every one came to have a look i was told it was a good fish for those years i watched it swim away after that i wanted bigger but the lakes i fished did not hold the bigger specimens so it was back to the small lake i learned to catch the carp on floating crust i watched as they sucked it in i hit some and lost others but i never caught any thing close to ten pounds again but i was happy with the fish i caught and to this day they remain in my memory. A bit more latter
I Can always remember when myxomatosis first hit us in all honesty i could of cried we as youths would go up the field the rabbits would be there in there hundreds their heads were swollen with sores all over we used to put them out of there misery it was a terrible sight and all caused by a flea the disease had been put down indiscreetly in fact it was pox i don't think all the farmers liked it as it put quite a few out of work a lot of the big estates employed a chap to catch the rabbits and made quite a lot of revenue out of them its hard to think any survived but they did in small pockets around the country side it affected most families as they relied on the rabbit for meat
The rabbit made a steady come back over the years but where i live the Rabbit have had liver fluke and that has killed quite a few but no doubt they will be back in numbers before long.
There was no more ferreting some were kept for ratting but most were got rid of it was a big shame i kept mine until he died of old age when a youngster he would curl up in my shirt it made me stink a bit my mum used to say get a wash your not coming in house smelling like that but i still had my fishing the trout in the rivers or the many lakes that i poached i still loved to go to the small lake that held the carp the owner loved to see us as youngsters and never charged us any money. I spent hours fishing that lake, i soon learnt and caught fish not big most were from three pounds to five so it was with suprise that my float slid away and i hooked a bigger fish by the time i got it on the bank i was shaking with exitment i can remember a man called peter finch who became a good freind, it was weighed on peters, scales and was ten pounds exactly. I think every one came to have a look i was told it was a good fish for those years i watched it swim away after that i wanted bigger but the lakes i fished did not hold the bigger specimens so it was back to the small lake i learned to catch the carp on floating crust i watched as they sucked it in i hit some and lost others but i never caught any thing close to ten pounds again but i was happy with the fish i caught and to this day they remain in my memory. A bit more latter
In reply to Post #427
After we had no rabbits i started to go poaching for the pheasants in the forties and fifties the big estates put thousand down for the gentry to shoot i would go and watch when they were shooting i would hide and watch the gentlemen and ladies shoot they would all be dressed in tweed, It was quite easy to get a pheasant or two i would watch where they came down and then pick a few up before the keepers came with there dogs i would laugh to myself when one of the gentleman shouted keeper i have birds down over there but i had already picked it up it was safely in my bag. I was satisfied with six or seven i would get into the wood and make my way home it was really hard in the early fifties and the birds were always welcome we would share them out with our neighbours as every one helped one another you could leave your back door open we had no burglars its a bit different today.
But they were good years for us youngsters, we would be out all day birds, nesting or camping in the woods funny really i always felt safe in the woods we would light a fire and eat baked potatoes or we boiled moorhens eggs they were wonderful days. I would clime the trees to the kestrels nest i never took one egg i just liked to see them in the nest some time there would be chicks i would hold them in my hand and think how wonderful nature was but if the keeper, found the nest he would shoot at the nest killing all that was within he would shoot anything that threatened his birds including badgers and buzzards .
I loved the river and i would poach it for the trout, i had one or two near escapes i was fishing this one day i looked to my right i saw the bailiffs, coming up the feild i could not run as they would see me so i hid in the under growth by the side of the river bank i held my breath as the passed me by. They would patrol the river twice a day looking for poachers the river was full of trout, and grayling, they were easy to catch with worm or a small spinner and i had no trouble getting rid of them they were always appreciated by our friends and neighbours. I was told about a small pool at place called Branden hill i eventually found the pool it was in the middle of a big wood i did manage to fish it with a friend we caught some spectacular Rudd, but it was a bit dodgy you could see that it was keepered it also held some good perch, i don't think the pool had ever been fished i think it was used for duck shooting we were lucky and never got caught and had some enjoyable day fishing the pool. well a bit more latter
After we had no rabbits i started to go poaching for the pheasants in the forties and fifties the big estates put thousand down for the gentry to shoot i would go and watch when they were shooting i would hide and watch the gentlemen and ladies shoot they would all be dressed in tweed, It was quite easy to get a pheasant or two i would watch where they came down and then pick a few up before the keepers came with there dogs i would laugh to myself when one of the gentleman shouted keeper i have birds down over there but i had already picked it up it was safely in my bag. I was satisfied with six or seven i would get into the wood and make my way home it was really hard in the early fifties and the birds were always welcome we would share them out with our neighbours as every one helped one another you could leave your back door open we had no burglars its a bit different today.
But they were good years for us youngsters, we would be out all day birds, nesting or camping in the woods funny really i always felt safe in the woods we would light a fire and eat baked potatoes or we boiled moorhens eggs they were wonderful days. I would clime the trees to the kestrels nest i never took one egg i just liked to see them in the nest some time there would be chicks i would hold them in my hand and think how wonderful nature was but if the keeper, found the nest he would shoot at the nest killing all that was within he would shoot anything that threatened his birds including badgers and buzzards .
I loved the river and i would poach it for the trout, i had one or two near escapes i was fishing this one day i looked to my right i saw the bailiffs, coming up the feild i could not run as they would see me so i hid in the under growth by the side of the river bank i held my breath as the passed me by. They would patrol the river twice a day looking for poachers the river was full of trout, and grayling, they were easy to catch with worm or a small spinner and i had no trouble getting rid of them they were always appreciated by our friends and neighbours. I was told about a small pool at place called Branden hill i eventually found the pool it was in the middle of a big wood i did manage to fish it with a friend we caught some spectacular Rudd, but it was a bit dodgy you could see that it was keepered it also held some good perch, i don't think the pool had ever been fished i think it was used for duck shooting we were lucky and never got caught and had some enjoyable day fishing the pool. well a bit more latter
In reply to Post #428
The earliest recollection i have was fishing with my grandad i was only three years old i lost my father in the war and lived with my grand parents my grand father died in 1947 at the age of fifty two i was broken hearted my mother had to work so i spent most days with my grand mother but she liked a drink and would give me a clout with her walking stick my mother packed up work to look after me i can remember the farmers picking the women up on a tractor and trailer to go potato picking they were hard days i used to go with her it was back breaking job they would be paid every night and you could take home two buckets of potatoes.
At the time my mother had taken a land girl, in her name was joan she payed for her board and lodge, she would bring these big cart horses home with her and Tie it to a big mangle in the garden they frightened me but they were docile animals, i can remember riding to shrewsbury on its back when Joan took him to the black smith for new shoes, although they were hard days we had a good time we would pick the mushrooms, the black berries, any thing to keep us in food a lot of the fruit, was bottled and kept in the cupboard for eating at a latter date we had to fetch the water daily from a communal conduit you would insert a key turn it on and the water would flow we used about four buckets a day if it froze you would light a fire, to thaw it out i soon started going fishing again i was seven years old and would fish the river Rea, i really had no idea how to proceed but with a bit of practice i would catch a minnow or two i persevered and caught a few roach i was hooked on fishing and that's all i though about night and day.
Mother met a man his name was Albert, they married and he really changed my ;life he was lovely step father, he was signal man with the railway he took a interest in every thing i did and encouraged me to carry on fishing i suppose i was eight years old when we moved to craven arms, in south Shropshire,and lived at five newington terrace this is where my fishing really took off i learned to float fish and fished for the brown trout that the river onny held, There was that many estates with lakes but you could not get permission so i poached most in the early years i used mainly bread or worm until I got some maggots from tays the butchers they killed the animals and sold the meat i would go down and sort throught the skins that had been thrown out side for the rag and bone man god did i stink but it was worth the effort and really made a difference. well a bit more latter
The earliest recollection i have was fishing with my grandad i was only three years old i lost my father in the war and lived with my grand parents my grand father died in 1947 at the age of fifty two i was broken hearted my mother had to work so i spent most days with my grand mother but she liked a drink and would give me a clout with her walking stick my mother packed up work to look after me i can remember the farmers picking the women up on a tractor and trailer to go potato picking they were hard days i used to go with her it was back breaking job they would be paid every night and you could take home two buckets of potatoes.
At the time my mother had taken a land girl, in her name was joan she payed for her board and lodge, she would bring these big cart horses home with her and Tie it to a big mangle in the garden they frightened me but they were docile animals, i can remember riding to shrewsbury on its back when Joan took him to the black smith for new shoes, although they were hard days we had a good time we would pick the mushrooms, the black berries, any thing to keep us in food a lot of the fruit, was bottled and kept in the cupboard for eating at a latter date we had to fetch the water daily from a communal conduit you would insert a key turn it on and the water would flow we used about four buckets a day if it froze you would light a fire, to thaw it out i soon started going fishing again i was seven years old and would fish the river Rea, i really had no idea how to proceed but with a bit of practice i would catch a minnow or two i persevered and caught a few roach i was hooked on fishing and that's all i though about night and day.
Mother met a man his name was Albert, they married and he really changed my ;life he was lovely step father, he was signal man with the railway he took a interest in every thing i did and encouraged me to carry on fishing i suppose i was eight years old when we moved to craven arms, in south Shropshire,and lived at five newington terrace this is where my fishing really took off i learned to float fish and fished for the brown trout that the river onny held, There was that many estates with lakes but you could not get permission so i poached most in the early years i used mainly bread or worm until I got some maggots from tays the butchers they killed the animals and sold the meat i would go down and sort throught the skins that had been thrown out side for the rag and bone man god did i stink but it was worth the effort and really made a difference. well a bit more latter
In reply to Post #429
An old gypsy taught me how to tickle the trout old jack really could catch them he knew the country side back to front he would take me up in hill country the little streams were Cristal clear and full of trout not big but two or three made a good meal i would be up to my knees in water slide yer hand under the bank when you find him slip your hand under his belly then move from side to side he should roll over on his side then as quick as lighting close your hand and in one movement throw him onto the bank he cursed when i did not manage it but i persevered and became quite good at the art of tickling the trout.
I liked the true Romany, he loved to roam the country lanes and villages he always had a dog or two, i went out in the day with him on more than one occasion he was a bugger to catch a few hares, carry these hares lad he would say i soon started to say no as they were to heavy to carry it was nothing to see six or seven hanging by the caravans he would sell a few. i did not like hare it had very strong aroma when cooking the meat when tasted had the same aroma it was far to strong . It was jack that taught me to catch the pheasant, with a fishing line, bait was a sultana or current they were so easy to catch we would lie down in the under growth chuck a few currents on a clear patch the birds would go mad it was like baiting up when fishing we usualy ended up with about ten birds
I can always remember him coming to our house hello misses he would say do ya mind the youngster coming out with me poaching she made him a cup of tea he was a nice old chap and could tell a story or two he had a number of horses from greys to piebalds he would let me ride around on this one horse he was so quite and i never fell of once, i don't know how many he had but he would break them in and sell them on i don't think there was a shortage of money ,i never once saw him go to the pub he never waisted his cash like others in those days.
more latter.
An old gypsy taught me how to tickle the trout old jack really could catch them he knew the country side back to front he would take me up in hill country the little streams were Cristal clear and full of trout not big but two or three made a good meal i would be up to my knees in water slide yer hand under the bank when you find him slip your hand under his belly then move from side to side he should roll over on his side then as quick as lighting close your hand and in one movement throw him onto the bank he cursed when i did not manage it but i persevered and became quite good at the art of tickling the trout.
I liked the true Romany, he loved to roam the country lanes and villages he always had a dog or two, i went out in the day with him on more than one occasion he was a bugger to catch a few hares, carry these hares lad he would say i soon started to say no as they were to heavy to carry it was nothing to see six or seven hanging by the caravans he would sell a few. i did not like hare it had very strong aroma when cooking the meat when tasted had the same aroma it was far to strong . It was jack that taught me to catch the pheasant, with a fishing line, bait was a sultana or current they were so easy to catch we would lie down in the under growth chuck a few currents on a clear patch the birds would go mad it was like baiting up when fishing we usualy ended up with about ten birds
I can always remember him coming to our house hello misses he would say do ya mind the youngster coming out with me poaching she made him a cup of tea he was a nice old chap and could tell a story or two he had a number of horses from greys to piebalds he would let me ride around on this one horse he was so quite and i never fell of once, i don't know how many he had but he would break them in and sell them on i don't think there was a shortage of money ,i never once saw him go to the pub he never waisted his cash like others in those days.
more latter.
In reply to Post #430
I have been reading the otter thread with some interest otter Holt's are not a new thing they existed in the early fifties its up to the landowner whether he wants one on is land its not illegal to make one. Foxes have been living in man made earths for generations i could take you to four in a eight mile radius from my home i know of one Holt on the river Rea i cannot walk there to see if its being used because of my health. That Holt has been there since the early seventies , funny at the same time Graham and i were fishing berrington pool for the Bream this one morning as we watched a big dog otter appeared right in front of us he stayed for a couple of days then he was gone he was a big animal i should think he was traveling through looking for a female to mate with.
Otter hunt years ago
The problem we have now is the amount of a otters, although the environment agency supports the release of the otter, they are not actually releasing them. Its down to other organizations some are legal some not. the problem we have is there are now far to many for the available food in the rivers, so they move to lakes and pools that were not around when i was a youngsters it make easy hunting when full of fat carp. When i was a youngster they were kept in check with the otter hounds not a pleasant sight but they did the job. The ones i saw were very shy and seemed to hunt the rivers not the small pools and lakes some have now got liver fluke which can make them very weak it makes them more susceptible to other diseases and injuries.
I was around ten years old and would use my bike to get to most lakes i would hide it in the under growth one such lake was in clun a few miles from my house it was owned by squire rock at the time it was used for duck shooting i can remember knocking his door and asking his permission to fish the lake he went bright red and this was his words if i catch you on my property ill shoot you with a ball of your own muck he then slammed the door in my face what he did not know i already fished the lake it was full of tench the biggest i caught was only around two pounds it was really good fishing there was also some good pike in the lake i would spin a small minnow mounted on a flight they were to easy i caught quite a few over the coming months i think 10 pound was the biggest it was a huge fish for myself and my mates i never ever got caught fishing that lake it was so quiet. The only ones i saw were the keepers when they came down to feed the ducks. Well a bit more latter
I have been reading the otter thread with some interest otter Holt's are not a new thing they existed in the early fifties its up to the landowner whether he wants one on is land its not illegal to make one. Foxes have been living in man made earths for generations i could take you to four in a eight mile radius from my home i know of one Holt on the river Rea i cannot walk there to see if its being used because of my health. That Holt has been there since the early seventies , funny at the same time Graham and i were fishing berrington pool for the Bream this one morning as we watched a big dog otter appeared right in front of us he stayed for a couple of days then he was gone he was a big animal i should think he was traveling through looking for a female to mate with.
Otter hunt years ago
The problem we have now is the amount of a otters, although the environment agency supports the release of the otter, they are not actually releasing them. Its down to other organizations some are legal some not. the problem we have is there are now far to many for the available food in the rivers, so they move to lakes and pools that were not around when i was a youngsters it make easy hunting when full of fat carp. When i was a youngster they were kept in check with the otter hounds not a pleasant sight but they did the job. The ones i saw were very shy and seemed to hunt the rivers not the small pools and lakes some have now got liver fluke which can make them very weak it makes them more susceptible to other diseases and injuries.
I was around ten years old and would use my bike to get to most lakes i would hide it in the under growth one such lake was in clun a few miles from my house it was owned by squire rock at the time it was used for duck shooting i can remember knocking his door and asking his permission to fish the lake he went bright red and this was his words if i catch you on my property ill shoot you with a ball of your own muck he then slammed the door in my face what he did not know i already fished the lake it was full of tench the biggest i caught was only around two pounds it was really good fishing there was also some good pike in the lake i would spin a small minnow mounted on a flight they were to easy i caught quite a few over the coming months i think 10 pound was the biggest it was a huge fish for myself and my mates i never ever got caught fishing that lake it was so quiet. The only ones i saw were the keepers when they came down to feed the ducks. Well a bit more latter
In reply to Post #431
I suppose i was around fifteen when i started to fish for the eels, on the river severn, i would be out on the lawns at night looking for lob worms, god i certainly caught a few eels, from the river in those days i am told they do not get caught in quantity like we caught years ago. It was nothing to catch twenty or more in a night so things have changed i would take a few home for eating then return the others i caught they were not that big around two pounds maybe three pounds but good fun to fish for i even had the occasional salmon, when fishing lob worm if landed it would be in my bag and away home i would go the only transport i had in those days was my bike, it took me every where it all changed when i met a lad called terry anslow, he had a motor scooter we went every where fishing we would spin the river rea catching small jack pike, or ledger for the big chub when i say big only about three to four pounds but they were huge to us youngsters. We also fished behind the old mortuary on the river Severn we would fish for the roach we really caught some good bags but the best was fishing for the pike with live bait god we did catch a few the biggest was around fourteen pounds but we caught up to eight in a morning that's not bad going. They have now vanished why to many predators taking the small silver fish, where i could catch a good net of dace, your now lucky to catch one.
They were wonderful days the rivers and lakes were teaming with wild life and fish, i have had a passion for wild life since i was a young child. When i see whats happening to day it nearly makes me cry the birds, of the country side are vanishing birds we took for granted are no longer seen the curlew, is one such birds the bittern, although i saw one about twelve months ago the English partridge, or the grey as its called they have vanished in some parts of the country side this is down to farming methods we have one covey on our shoot and no one is allowed to shoot at them you do not see the reed warbler, like we used to even the linnet, has started to vanish whats happened to the meadow pipit, another gone missing i could keep on man is destroying him self the hedges, have been pulled out on a good many farms to make it easier for the big machinery the combine, but its making a big dust bowl as the hedges helped drain the water away they are no longer there and the wild life they harberd has also gone when will we ever learn well rant over, a bit more latter
I suppose i was around fifteen when i started to fish for the eels, on the river severn, i would be out on the lawns at night looking for lob worms, god i certainly caught a few eels, from the river in those days i am told they do not get caught in quantity like we caught years ago. It was nothing to catch twenty or more in a night so things have changed i would take a few home for eating then return the others i caught they were not that big around two pounds maybe three pounds but good fun to fish for i even had the occasional salmon, when fishing lob worm if landed it would be in my bag and away home i would go the only transport i had in those days was my bike, it took me every where it all changed when i met a lad called terry anslow, he had a motor scooter we went every where fishing we would spin the river rea catching small jack pike, or ledger for the big chub when i say big only about three to four pounds but they were huge to us youngsters. We also fished behind the old mortuary on the river Severn we would fish for the roach we really caught some good bags but the best was fishing for the pike with live bait god we did catch a few the biggest was around fourteen pounds but we caught up to eight in a morning that's not bad going. They have now vanished why to many predators taking the small silver fish, where i could catch a good net of dace, your now lucky to catch one.
They were wonderful days the rivers and lakes were teaming with wild life and fish, i have had a passion for wild life since i was a young child. When i see whats happening to day it nearly makes me cry the birds, of the country side are vanishing birds we took for granted are no longer seen the curlew, is one such birds the bittern, although i saw one about twelve months ago the English partridge, or the grey as its called they have vanished in some parts of the country side this is down to farming methods we have one covey on our shoot and no one is allowed to shoot at them you do not see the reed warbler, like we used to even the linnet, has started to vanish whats happened to the meadow pipit, another gone missing i could keep on man is destroying him self the hedges, have been pulled out on a good many farms to make it easier for the big machinery the combine, but its making a big dust bowl as the hedges helped drain the water away they are no longer there and the wild life they harberd has also gone when will we ever learn well rant over, a bit more latter
In reply to Post #432
From an early age i have always loved the woods i would stay all day just watching the wild life my favorite was old foxy, the gentlemen of the woods i would watch as the keepers and friends walked the woods through to the standing guns, who were there to shoot old foxy, but he was crafty they say Foxes, don't like water i have seen them use the lake to there own advantage they would swim,around the lake keeping tight to the reed beds, there was one dog that would clime the ivy tree and hide in the foliage he did this on numerous occasions and they never did shoot,him. I have watched many times as he was driven out of thick cover brambles and into the shallows you could hear the dogs howling they were on his scent. He would swim the lake leaving no scent. i have watched as the dogs came towards the style but old foxy would be under and away long before the huntsman arrived with the dogs have you seen him sir no said i. I would watch as they continued across the fields but there would be no kill today old foxy had long gone.
I feel very privileged to have been there and watched as that old dog mated up with one of the smallest vixens i had ever seen i only ever saw him once bring a rabbit,to the earth. I really thought the cubs would not survive but she did an excellent job rearing five healthy cubs she was so small she looked like a young cub,her self she was around our woods for at least three years she then vanished and we have never seen her since they do not have a very long life but that old dog survived for a good many years we found him dead one morning lying inside the wood that he had loved so much he had been shot on looking in his mouth he had lost most of his teeth they were rotten his lovely coat and brush had got silver hairs he was old and would not of survived another year but that is nature
i really missed that old gentleman but another has took his place maybe its one of his sons i have only seen him from a distance so we shall see he looks quite big and he seems in good nick. more latter.
From an early age i have always loved the woods i would stay all day just watching the wild life my favorite was old foxy, the gentlemen of the woods i would watch as the keepers and friends walked the woods through to the standing guns, who were there to shoot old foxy, but he was crafty they say Foxes, don't like water i have seen them use the lake to there own advantage they would swim,around the lake keeping tight to the reed beds, there was one dog that would clime the ivy tree and hide in the foliage he did this on numerous occasions and they never did shoot,him. I have watched many times as he was driven out of thick cover brambles and into the shallows you could hear the dogs howling they were on his scent. He would swim the lake leaving no scent. i have watched as the dogs came towards the style but old foxy would be under and away long before the huntsman arrived with the dogs have you seen him sir no said i. I would watch as they continued across the fields but there would be no kill today old foxy had long gone.
I feel very privileged to have been there and watched as that old dog mated up with one of the smallest vixens i had ever seen i only ever saw him once bring a rabbit,to the earth. I really thought the cubs would not survive but she did an excellent job rearing five healthy cubs she was so small she looked like a young cub,her self she was around our woods for at least three years she then vanished and we have never seen her since they do not have a very long life but that old dog survived for a good many years we found him dead one morning lying inside the wood that he had loved so much he had been shot on looking in his mouth he had lost most of his teeth they were rotten his lovely coat and brush had got silver hairs he was old and would not of survived another year but that is nature
i really missed that old gentleman but another has took his place maybe its one of his sons i have only seen him from a distance so we shall see he looks quite big and he seems in good nick. more latter.
In reply to Post #433
I would go down to the river Rea and drop in the minnow trap by morning i would have sufficient bait for the day i would use the minnow to catch perch, on one lake i would use a sliding float into 18 ft of water about a yard from the bank you did not have long wait the float would slide away we have caught perch, to three pound plus that was in the late sixties god where has the time gone it was nothing to catch half a dozen in a day it was wonderful fishing. In the fifties i would use the minnow mounted in a flight to catch the trout it was deadly spinning with that method and on the right day you could catch one a cast and mostly the bigger fish.
I have used minnow to catch the chub, trotting it down the river with a big Avon type float, and have had some good results catching them to four pounds plus, i have never seen anyone using minnow, around here for years shame really as i had some good days using them. I have also used the minnow, free lining for the trout when i poached bells brook at condover. The take was positive pulling the rod top around i used to feel for a bite using worm but no need with the minnow, it would hook its self i have caught the trout, to over one pound twelve oz on minnow, but i have caught more trout, on worm, especially at night it was nothing to catch twenty fish the river was full of them as most farmers and estates stocked the rivers for the syndicates, that rented that stretch of water, the river was looked after by two baliffs, and you would see them walking the river twice a day looking for any signs of poaching, i never fished in the day time early morning or evenings was the time you never saw a living soul only you and your rod.
They were great days i tried the minnow on the estate lakes with some success, i caught the roach mostly using worm the farmer would to let me fork into the dung heap on his farm i could fill a box in no time they were not big worms and the roach, would take them greedily for the rudd, i used bread flake, i did catch them on worm but found using bread or maggot, i got the best results. Most lakes and pools were stocked with fish but in the early fifties the lakes were used for duck shooting no way could you get permision to fish so i would poach them they were great days i was still learning but did have some sucsses. A bit more latter.
I would go down to the river Rea and drop in the minnow trap by morning i would have sufficient bait for the day i would use the minnow to catch perch, on one lake i would use a sliding float into 18 ft of water about a yard from the bank you did not have long wait the float would slide away we have caught perch, to three pound plus that was in the late sixties god where has the time gone it was nothing to catch half a dozen in a day it was wonderful fishing. In the fifties i would use the minnow mounted in a flight to catch the trout it was deadly spinning with that method and on the right day you could catch one a cast and mostly the bigger fish.
I have used minnow to catch the chub, trotting it down the river with a big Avon type float, and have had some good results catching them to four pounds plus, i have never seen anyone using minnow, around here for years shame really as i had some good days using them. I have also used the minnow, free lining for the trout when i poached bells brook at condover. The take was positive pulling the rod top around i used to feel for a bite using worm but no need with the minnow, it would hook its self i have caught the trout, to over one pound twelve oz on minnow, but i have caught more trout, on worm, especially at night it was nothing to catch twenty fish the river was full of them as most farmers and estates stocked the rivers for the syndicates, that rented that stretch of water, the river was looked after by two baliffs, and you would see them walking the river twice a day looking for any signs of poaching, i never fished in the day time early morning or evenings was the time you never saw a living soul only you and your rod.
They were great days i tried the minnow on the estate lakes with some success, i caught the roach mostly using worm the farmer would to let me fork into the dung heap on his farm i could fill a box in no time they were not big worms and the roach, would take them greedily for the rudd, i used bread flake, i did catch them on worm but found using bread or maggot, i got the best results. Most lakes and pools were stocked with fish but in the early fifties the lakes were used for duck shooting no way could you get permision to fish so i would poach them they were great days i was still learning but did have some sucsses. A bit more latter.
In reply to Post #434
Snow and more snow its been a ft deep in my garden up in hill country its been really bad with drifts over fifteen ft I really feel for the farmers its now lambing time and they have been digging the sheep, out of big drifts some lambs, have been born under the snow and have not survived but its nothing new nineteen sixty three was a terrible year just the same I can well remember digging the sheep, out and the farmer taking them back to the farm I myself never got from the house where we lived for ten weeks the main road was blocked solid and the frosts that followed were terrible it froze the rivers, solid a lot of the wild life, perished as they could not get the food they needed it killed large flocks of pigeon, it was nothing to find birds, frozen to the ground and some were still alive i would pick them up and warm them up by the fire they soon came around and I would release them back into the wilds it was so bad that the rabbits, would dig them selves out then eat bark from the trees.
I walked the small rivers when I could get it killed a lot of the king fishers as they could not get to there food the humble minnow, some of the rivers had frozen to a depth of seven or more inches I even saw a car on the river Severn that was in the middle February there was no fishing for some time I would take my gun and walk through the snow just to get a couple of pheasants, from the nearest estate the keepers had kept them well fed. I would be frozen by the time I got back to the house but it was well worth the effort we never starved no matter how hard the weather was I can remember a few trees falling over the sap was frozen solid we would be away with our axes and cross cuts cutting it up into logs they soon dried out in the shed and helped to keep the fire going which burned night and day no central heating then only coal and wood but we survived most of the food was brought to the small shop by helicopter bread was home made.
I eventually got back to work in mid march in those days I worked in the building trade I was banks man to a JCB digger we were putting trenches in so we could lay pipes for the sewers the frost was still in the ground it had penetrated to at least two feet it was really hard going and believe me it was still very cold but by April things had changed we were back to normal but it is a winter I have never forgot it started boxing day so it was with us for nearly four months I did get paid some from the social security seven shillings and sixpence a week I nearly told them what they could do with there money but I had a wife and young son to keep so it was accepted and I never got that until April which was back dated thinking back how we survived I really don't know as we had no money the food was on the tick from the shop until we got payed it was really hard but with the few pheasants and ducks I shot we got by. A bit more latter
Snow and more snow its been a ft deep in my garden up in hill country its been really bad with drifts over fifteen ft I really feel for the farmers its now lambing time and they have been digging the sheep, out of big drifts some lambs, have been born under the snow and have not survived but its nothing new nineteen sixty three was a terrible year just the same I can well remember digging the sheep, out and the farmer taking them back to the farm I myself never got from the house where we lived for ten weeks the main road was blocked solid and the frosts that followed were terrible it froze the rivers, solid a lot of the wild life, perished as they could not get the food they needed it killed large flocks of pigeon, it was nothing to find birds, frozen to the ground and some were still alive i would pick them up and warm them up by the fire they soon came around and I would release them back into the wilds it was so bad that the rabbits, would dig them selves out then eat bark from the trees.
I walked the small rivers when I could get it killed a lot of the king fishers as they could not get to there food the humble minnow, some of the rivers had frozen to a depth of seven or more inches I even saw a car on the river Severn that was in the middle February there was no fishing for some time I would take my gun and walk through the snow just to get a couple of pheasants, from the nearest estate the keepers had kept them well fed. I would be frozen by the time I got back to the house but it was well worth the effort we never starved no matter how hard the weather was I can remember a few trees falling over the sap was frozen solid we would be away with our axes and cross cuts cutting it up into logs they soon dried out in the shed and helped to keep the fire going which burned night and day no central heating then only coal and wood but we survived most of the food was brought to the small shop by helicopter bread was home made.
I eventually got back to work in mid march in those days I worked in the building trade I was banks man to a JCB digger we were putting trenches in so we could lay pipes for the sewers the frost was still in the ground it had penetrated to at least two feet it was really hard going and believe me it was still very cold but by April things had changed we were back to normal but it is a winter I have never forgot it started boxing day so it was with us for nearly four months I did get paid some from the social security seven shillings and sixpence a week I nearly told them what they could do with there money but I had a wife and young son to keep so it was accepted and I never got that until April which was back dated thinking back how we survived I really don't know as we had no money the food was on the tick from the shop until we got payed it was really hard but with the few pheasants and ducks I shot we got by. A bit more latter
In reply to Post #435
It supposed to be the first day of spring I have never known its so cold in April, the birds have been caught out some have already got nests especially the black birds the one nest in our garden has four eggs and she is now sitting I really hope they survive in this cold wind, I have also got a hedge sparrow or dunnock, as its known sitting on eggs I just hope she hatches them graham and myself have been to see a couple of carp lakes the owner has told us to take my car to the edge of the water that will suit both as as my health is not that good and I cannot walk far and owing to grahams age he cant do as he used to the lakes hold a few nice carp ,so we will def be having a go he has fenced the one lake off as he did have a visit from those furry things but has had no problems since.
When I was a young chap I loved this time of year we would be off birds, nesting I used to collect the eggs, but after meeting old SAM the game keeper I stopped as he told me to look and don't take I would write it in a small book about the nest, type of bird, and the number of eggs, or chicks, we always took a few duck eggs if found but they were for eating and very nice they were for breakfast they were wonder full days the sun seemed to shine from April on our parents did not worry they knew we were safe it was one long summer if not birds nesting, we would be fishing I cut my teeth fishing the river onny and soon learned to catch the beautiful brown trout and the grayling that it held I had some wonderful times watching the wild life on the river in my younger days it was a privilege to see a otter I used lie in the under growth and watch them playing, but the hunt would be around four or five times a year and would soon sort them out.
I would watch the king fisher and the water voles they were shy little animals but there was no shortage not like today the mink has seen to that its a real tragedy not to see them in any numbers today, I some times think man is destroying himself its time we all learned I have seen some big changes over the years mostly from the farming community pulling out hedges to make room for the bigger machinery not only hedges but small woods as well we have lost a lot of wild life through this sort of farming. a bit more latter
It supposed to be the first day of spring I have never known its so cold in April, the birds have been caught out some have already got nests especially the black birds the one nest in our garden has four eggs and she is now sitting I really hope they survive in this cold wind, I have also got a hedge sparrow or dunnock, as its known sitting on eggs I just hope she hatches them graham and myself have been to see a couple of carp lakes the owner has told us to take my car to the edge of the water that will suit both as as my health is not that good and I cannot walk far and owing to grahams age he cant do as he used to the lakes hold a few nice carp ,so we will def be having a go he has fenced the one lake off as he did have a visit from those furry things but has had no problems since.
When I was a young chap I loved this time of year we would be off birds, nesting I used to collect the eggs, but after meeting old SAM the game keeper I stopped as he told me to look and don't take I would write it in a small book about the nest, type of bird, and the number of eggs, or chicks, we always took a few duck eggs if found but they were for eating and very nice they were for breakfast they were wonder full days the sun seemed to shine from April on our parents did not worry they knew we were safe it was one long summer if not birds nesting, we would be fishing I cut my teeth fishing the river onny and soon learned to catch the beautiful brown trout and the grayling that it held I had some wonderful times watching the wild life on the river in my younger days it was a privilege to see a otter I used lie in the under growth and watch them playing, but the hunt would be around four or five times a year and would soon sort them out.
I would watch the king fisher and the water voles they were shy little animals but there was no shortage not like today the mink has seen to that its a real tragedy not to see them in any numbers today, I some times think man is destroying himself its time we all learned I have seen some big changes over the years mostly from the farming community pulling out hedges to make room for the bigger machinery not only hedges but small woods as well we have lost a lot of wild life through this sort of farming. a bit more latter