In reply to Post #479
what a wonderful day yesterday I even got sun burnt on a serous note Graham and I went to fish a new lake one we had not fished before. I suppose we are really lucky as grahams son in law has got a tackle shop on site and the owner told us we could take our car down to the water a great help as we are both a bit long in the tooth old age never comes without its problems my first cast produced a small mirror then graham had a long common we never caught any over ten pounds but they are certainly in the water I think the carp, had there minds on other things and had started to spawn it was follow the leader we saw some really good fish I tried on a floater to no avail graham suffered a bad back most of the day so we packed early but we will be back it is a most beautiful place peaceful and very quiet there were a few others fishing the place but all blanked we were the only ones to catch .
the beautiful lake
As I sat there I reminisced about the past god when I was young I could walk great distances and run, most of the lakes I fished were poached you could not get permission for love or money one such lake was in the middle of a big wood right behind the keepers cottage it was surrounded by a big reed bed I caught some wonderful bream from the water not huge but in the six to seven pound mark I also caught some big eels, on ledgered worm they averaged three to five pounds in those days eels were eaten I loved them covered in batter and fried but I put most back the keeper would come down to the water to feed his ducks, there were hundreds on the lake I hid in the reed beds he never saw me once but it was a bit dodgy his dogs would bark all day which put me off a bit but I continued and never once got caught.
\
Another of the lake
When they started to shoot the water for its ducks I would hide and watch the proceeding there were around sixteen guns they shot hundreds any that came down by me I would collect and put them into my bag the locals said you will be caught, they would come no where near the place there were signs on the trees you will be shot on sight if caught in these woods, I must admit I had a few shots over my head to frighten me the keepers were old school hard men who would stand no messing. Back to the ducks some times I got to greedy and found I could not carry them all home so I would hide some and fetch them latter there was so many shot a few would not be missed we always shared them out with friends and neighbors no one refused a free meal in those days. well a bit more latter
what a wonderful day yesterday I even got sun burnt on a serous note Graham and I went to fish a new lake one we had not fished before. I suppose we are really lucky as grahams son in law has got a tackle shop on site and the owner told us we could take our car down to the water a great help as we are both a bit long in the tooth old age never comes without its problems my first cast produced a small mirror then graham had a long common we never caught any over ten pounds but they are certainly in the water I think the carp, had there minds on other things and had started to spawn it was follow the leader we saw some really good fish I tried on a floater to no avail graham suffered a bad back most of the day so we packed early but we will be back it is a most beautiful place peaceful and very quiet there were a few others fishing the place but all blanked we were the only ones to catch .
the beautiful lake
As I sat there I reminisced about the past god when I was young I could walk great distances and run, most of the lakes I fished were poached you could not get permission for love or money one such lake was in the middle of a big wood right behind the keepers cottage it was surrounded by a big reed bed I caught some wonderful bream from the water not huge but in the six to seven pound mark I also caught some big eels, on ledgered worm they averaged three to five pounds in those days eels were eaten I loved them covered in batter and fried but I put most back the keeper would come down to the water to feed his ducks, there were hundreds on the lake I hid in the reed beds he never saw me once but it was a bit dodgy his dogs would bark all day which put me off a bit but I continued and never once got caught.
\Another of the lake
When they started to shoot the water for its ducks I would hide and watch the proceeding there were around sixteen guns they shot hundreds any that came down by me I would collect and put them into my bag the locals said you will be caught, they would come no where near the place there were signs on the trees you will be shot on sight if caught in these woods, I must admit I had a few shots over my head to frighten me the keepers were old school hard men who would stand no messing. Back to the ducks some times I got to greedy and found I could not carry them all home so I would hide some and fetch them latter there was so many shot a few would not be missed we always shared them out with friends and neighbors no one refused a free meal in those days. well a bit more latter
In reply to Post #482
What a morning absolutely pouring with rain I was off fishing once again looks if I will have to unload the car and put the tackle back in the house, its not that I don't like wet weather but I don't like getting wet setting up so we will go and have a look at another water that we are both thinking of fishing. I always remember one night graham and I went fishing I suppose it was in the late sixties . we never bothered much about rain but this was something much different and I could have been killed we set up on a local Mere it was not to bad a warm humid night when it started to thunder the lightning was absolutely spectacular we were under our umbrellas they were not very good in those days heavy and cumbersome and not entirely water proof I have peronaly I have never
seen rain ,or lightning,like it with every flash you could see the other side of the mere I got up out of my chair to talk to graham when there was an almighty crash the tree behind where I was fishing was hit and it crashed down onto my bed chair god was I lucky it smashed the chair to smithereens it certainly would have killed or injured me badly there was only one thing for it to pack our rods and head for home It never stopped raining all night I was never so glad to see home we both said never again.
Home to shrewsbury
When I was youngster I would be out in all weather one lake I poached was full of eels there was no shortage in those days I would be away before dark all I took was one rod and a tin full of lob worms I would put a big bunch of these big riddlers ,on the hook out I would cast it was not long before my silver paper indicator shot up as the eel took line from the spool on the reel you never knew what size you would catch it could be anything from two to four pounds this would be in the early sixties they were wonderful to eat I used to get orders from the locals but I soon stopped this and put them back they were wonderful days although you didn't have much money I loved my fishing and the countryside I would watch the foxes, and all wild animals the little door mouse used to amaze me I would pick it up it would be curled up in its nest it never stirred from its sleep they seem quite rare today they were lovely days no one bothered me I was a jack the lad I never liked taking any one with me as I was responsible for myself and not others I loved the freedom and walked the country side and poached the lakes and the keepers coverts I was not a thief I poached so we could live I loved the chase and I got a thrill from it. well a more latter
The eel
What a morning absolutely pouring with rain I was off fishing once again looks if I will have to unload the car and put the tackle back in the house, its not that I don't like wet weather but I don't like getting wet setting up so we will go and have a look at another water that we are both thinking of fishing. I always remember one night graham and I went fishing I suppose it was in the late sixties . we never bothered much about rain but this was something much different and I could have been killed we set up on a local Mere it was not to bad a warm humid night when it started to thunder the lightning was absolutely spectacular we were under our umbrellas they were not very good in those days heavy and cumbersome and not entirely water proof I have peronaly I have never
seen rain ,or lightning,like it with every flash you could see the other side of the mere I got up out of my chair to talk to graham when there was an almighty crash the tree behind where I was fishing was hit and it crashed down onto my bed chair god was I lucky it smashed the chair to smithereens it certainly would have killed or injured me badly there was only one thing for it to pack our rods and head for home It never stopped raining all night I was never so glad to see home we both said never again.
Home to shrewsbury
When I was youngster I would be out in all weather one lake I poached was full of eels there was no shortage in those days I would be away before dark all I took was one rod and a tin full of lob worms I would put a big bunch of these big riddlers ,on the hook out I would cast it was not long before my silver paper indicator shot up as the eel took line from the spool on the reel you never knew what size you would catch it could be anything from two to four pounds this would be in the early sixties they were wonderful to eat I used to get orders from the locals but I soon stopped this and put them back they were wonderful days although you didn't have much money I loved my fishing and the countryside I would watch the foxes, and all wild animals the little door mouse used to amaze me I would pick it up it would be curled up in its nest it never stirred from its sleep they seem quite rare today they were lovely days no one bothered me I was a jack the lad I never liked taking any one with me as I was responsible for myself and not others I loved the freedom and walked the country side and poached the lakes and the keepers coverts I was not a thief I poached so we could live I loved the chase and I got a thrill from it. well a more latter
The eel
Watching the wildlife has always been a big part of my fishing. 
In reply to Post #483
I loved to walk in the high country over the bogs and ditches with my trusty old gun in my hands we shot for food and we would walk miles in search for a rabbit or two they were black rabbits, that's all we saw in this ruff hill country . It was hard going we had a trusty terrier that would find them and drive them out for us to shoot the land was covered in broom and gorse we would retire at dinner time and went to the minors arms any rabbits we had shot we would sell to the land lord I would sit in front of a roaring fire with a pint and a pork pie they were lovely days we poached the streams the woods belonging to the lord I will mention no names as he was a member of parliament as his son is now I would shoot the duck, on the pools that bordered the estate the woods were keepered they also shot the grouse, from buts on the hill tops I would watch from afar they would shoot quite a few. We walked the mountain tops in search of a grouse, or two but did not have any success.
The hills and bogs we used to walk and poach
The pheasants were obliging and shot a few when our dog, flushed them out of the broom and gorse Dougie my friend was quite a good shot but he worried me his gun stock was held together with wire he would say dust thou worry about my old gun it be good for a few years yet bloody hell he could certainly use it he worried me he shot this lamb, lets get it home Pete I said you will get us put away no I have had them before how many only about ten over the years god he was a real poacher, he got his grandad to fetch it latter that night he took me to see his father he was a road man and lived in one of the road houses, it was on wheels so it was moved to where he was working he had a bed and one chair but it was very comfortable with the coke fire burning in the big stove in the corner he had a few rabbits, hanging out side he did a bit of poaching him self he kept the ferrets, in a cadge in the same room he was a hard man and lived a ruff life, but got by with the money from his job and the bit of poaching it was sad really they found him one morning on the moor he had been to the pub and had a heart attack but he died in the country side he loved so much
looking back to my beloved hill country the minors arms in the distance
We got by but it was hard when the snow came it hindered us quite a bit but we took our chances and poached the keepers coverts we did not take many birds, just enough to survive on the same estate was a small lake it was stocked with rainbow trout, for the owners and his friends pleasure we both would set a few night lines it was a bit dodgy as the lake was in front of the hall but we would cast a line out with worms on the hook then cover the line with soil and peg it down we would set half a dozen come back in the evening just as it was going dark we would catch half a dozen, recast and cover with soil, then we would be away we had to live they gave us a change to our diet but we were treading on dangerous ground it was heavily keeper but they were great days if some one said would you do it again my answer would be yes but you don't get another bite of the cherry but I have my memories there are not many of us left now but I loved every minute of it. more a bit latter
Another from hill country
the dog flushed the rabbits from the beautiful gorse
Dougie dad kept the ferrets in the road side hut were he slept
WHERE I LIVED
I loved to walk in the high country over the bogs and ditches with my trusty old gun in my hands we shot for food and we would walk miles in search for a rabbit or two they were black rabbits, that's all we saw in this ruff hill country . It was hard going we had a trusty terrier that would find them and drive them out for us to shoot the land was covered in broom and gorse we would retire at dinner time and went to the minors arms any rabbits we had shot we would sell to the land lord I would sit in front of a roaring fire with a pint and a pork pie they were lovely days we poached the streams the woods belonging to the lord I will mention no names as he was a member of parliament as his son is now I would shoot the duck, on the pools that bordered the estate the woods were keepered they also shot the grouse, from buts on the hill tops I would watch from afar they would shoot quite a few. We walked the mountain tops in search of a grouse, or two but did not have any success.
The hills and bogs we used to walk and poach
The pheasants were obliging and shot a few when our dog, flushed them out of the broom and gorse Dougie my friend was quite a good shot but he worried me his gun stock was held together with wire he would say dust thou worry about my old gun it be good for a few years yet bloody hell he could certainly use it he worried me he shot this lamb, lets get it home Pete I said you will get us put away no I have had them before how many only about ten over the years god he was a real poacher, he got his grandad to fetch it latter that night he took me to see his father he was a road man and lived in one of the road houses, it was on wheels so it was moved to where he was working he had a bed and one chair but it was very comfortable with the coke fire burning in the big stove in the corner he had a few rabbits, hanging out side he did a bit of poaching him self he kept the ferrets, in a cadge in the same room he was a hard man and lived a ruff life, but got by with the money from his job and the bit of poaching it was sad really they found him one morning on the moor he had been to the pub and had a heart attack but he died in the country side he loved so much
looking back to my beloved hill country the minors arms in the distance
We got by but it was hard when the snow came it hindered us quite a bit but we took our chances and poached the keepers coverts we did not take many birds, just enough to survive on the same estate was a small lake it was stocked with rainbow trout, for the owners and his friends pleasure we both would set a few night lines it was a bit dodgy as the lake was in front of the hall but we would cast a line out with worms on the hook then cover the line with soil and peg it down we would set half a dozen come back in the evening just as it was going dark we would catch half a dozen, recast and cover with soil, then we would be away we had to live they gave us a change to our diet but we were treading on dangerous ground it was heavily keeper but they were great days if some one said would you do it again my answer would be yes but you don't get another bite of the cherry but I have my memories there are not many of us left now but I loved every minute of it. more a bit latter
Another from hill country
the dog flushed the rabbits from the beautiful gorse
Dougie dad kept the ferrets in the road side hut were he slept
WHERE I LIVED
Keep them coming mate, that ferret reminded me of a few good mornings, i haven't smelt one for years now. 
In reply to Post #485
I am going fishing tomorrow and Thursday so I will carry on with my stories the weather seems to have picked up so its out with the rods I can not wait I have fished with graham for over fifty years its been a fantastic friendship and I hope it continues for a few more years. We have both fished most of the lakes and rivers in our area and its not always been legal one such lake is not far from my home its a beautiful place with a few nice Tench, and eels, its set in beautiful gardens, the lawns reach down to the lake side we would hide the car and walk across the fields to the water we did not take a chair but would sit in the sun house that was built beside the lake we could open the doors and just sit there it was wonderful and all the times we fished it we never got caught once. It was alive with wildlife, we used the sun loungers to fish from and we caught some beautiful eels, a friend of mine caught one weighing seven pounds the place was alive with them the water was covered in lilies, pinks and whites some one in the past had spent a lot of time looking after the place we also caught some very nice Tench, not huge they averaged around for pounds but did they fight before leaving we would put everything back as it should be and close the doors not once were we discovered.
Long before I met graham I poached another lake not many people knew it existed only a few friends and they would never take the chance because it was to close to the farmhouse but I fished it at night it was a mixed fishery and I started to catch trout, big ones three pounds plus there were rainbows, and browns, the owner was a grumpy old bugger he must of stocked them he was known as a bit of nasty kind of a chap and if he caught you on his land
would not hesitate to give you a slap and fetch the police,and you would be put in court not many people liked him and kept away I was fishing on the lake this one night when I heard this tractor, coming up the field towards me it was him how on earth he knew I was there I don't know but it was closely followed by a land rover,
you could see the light flashing blue just behind me was a wood so over the fence I got I hid the rod and up the nearest tree, I went I could hear them talking it was the sgt from my village with another pc apparently they were not after me but someone had seen some men with dogs, on his land he said they were lamping funny really I had seen nothing it could've been old jack the gypsy, and his friends they were out most night catching the Hares, I had been with him a few times when I went down to his camp he always had a few hanging behind the caravan.
I heard the farmer say sorry I called you out no problem replied the sgt and away they went I was back on the lake in minutes I caught some nice Rudd, and Tench, with a few trout, thrown in which I kept I looked at my watch it was two thirty in the morning I must make for home before first light as I walked past the quarry I stopped I could hear talking as I got a bit closer I could see it was the sgt and constable, they were waiting to see if any one appeared across the adjacent field so over the hedge I got and crossed the railway line and into the lane that led to our village I got home around three thirty what a night I had five nice trout, were in my bag the one was about four pounds so my parents would be pleased well that's another story about my life it would be around 1959 and theres more stories to follow. more a little latter
I am going fishing tomorrow and Thursday so I will carry on with my stories the weather seems to have picked up so its out with the rods I can not wait I have fished with graham for over fifty years its been a fantastic friendship and I hope it continues for a few more years. We have both fished most of the lakes and rivers in our area and its not always been legal one such lake is not far from my home its a beautiful place with a few nice Tench, and eels, its set in beautiful gardens, the lawns reach down to the lake side we would hide the car and walk across the fields to the water we did not take a chair but would sit in the sun house that was built beside the lake we could open the doors and just sit there it was wonderful and all the times we fished it we never got caught once. It was alive with wildlife, we used the sun loungers to fish from and we caught some beautiful eels, a friend of mine caught one weighing seven pounds the place was alive with them the water was covered in lilies, pinks and whites some one in the past had spent a lot of time looking after the place we also caught some very nice Tench, not huge they averaged around for pounds but did they fight before leaving we would put everything back as it should be and close the doors not once were we discovered.
Long before I met graham I poached another lake not many people knew it existed only a few friends and they would never take the chance because it was to close to the farmhouse but I fished it at night it was a mixed fishery and I started to catch trout, big ones three pounds plus there were rainbows, and browns, the owner was a grumpy old bugger he must of stocked them he was known as a bit of nasty kind of a chap and if he caught you on his land
would not hesitate to give you a slap and fetch the police,and you would be put in court not many people liked him and kept away I was fishing on the lake this one night when I heard this tractor, coming up the field towards me it was him how on earth he knew I was there I don't know but it was closely followed by a land rover,
you could see the light flashing blue just behind me was a wood so over the fence I got I hid the rod and up the nearest tree, I went I could hear them talking it was the sgt from my village with another pc apparently they were not after me but someone had seen some men with dogs, on his land he said they were lamping funny really I had seen nothing it could've been old jack the gypsy, and his friends they were out most night catching the Hares, I had been with him a few times when I went down to his camp he always had a few hanging behind the caravan.
I heard the farmer say sorry I called you out no problem replied the sgt and away they went I was back on the lake in minutes I caught some nice Rudd, and Tench, with a few trout, thrown in which I kept I looked at my watch it was two thirty in the morning I must make for home before first light as I walked past the quarry I stopped I could hear talking as I got a bit closer I could see it was the sgt and constable, they were waiting to see if any one appeared across the adjacent field so over the hedge I got and crossed the railway line and into the lane that led to our village I got home around three thirty what a night I had five nice trout, were in my bag the one was about four pounds so my parents would be pleased well that's another story about my life it would be around 1959 and theres more stories to follow. more a little latter
In reply to Post #487
I lived in the woods and fields when I was young my parents knew where I would be I loved the wildlife. Fishing and shooting was my life but it was a necessity in the late fifties for our food most of the rabbits, had died out through Myxomatosis, so it was other game that kept us in food my first real gun was a webley, four ten there was no finesse or skill in my shooting, in those days I shot so we could survive I learned early on in life how to poach the pheasant, duck, and trout, I would wait for the ducks, to come into the flight pool I would lie in the reed beds and when the duck, came within range I would shoot them on the water I have shot two birds, with one shot the water was a bit cold in October but in I got and fetched the birds, or pulled them in with a long stick, it was not only duck, the one pool was no more than acre it held some wonderful trout, the keeper would come down to the pool every evening to feed his ducks, after he would be away to the pub I would watch from a distance he would ride his old bike to the three fishes public house, and would not go back home until chucking out time which in those days was ten thirty or by the discretion of the landlord could go on until midnight, by this time the keeper, would be well and truly drunk, he would ride his bike back through the woods falling off a few times before he got to his cottage.
The woods I poached
This was the time I poached the trout, I would set night lines with a big bunch of worms cover the line over with soil and peg it down the old keeper, was not interested he was to busy snoring in his bed, I was I usually set around ten lines I would be back before first light there would be eight or nine trout, caught I would then reset the lines and away home I would go. It was to easy I should have known it would come to a sudden end I went this one night to have a look at the lines, I had reset that morning. I had caught around five trout, when I noticed a car lights coming up the road towards the pool I nearly left it to late to get away it was no car but the police landrover ,it was the Sgt and two police constables, then I heard a shout it was the keepers stay where you are, if he thought I would he was severly mistaken I hid my bag and the trout, and away I went god they had dogs I was over the fence into the field there was a drainage ditch further down the field full of water, I was in up to my knees I ran down the ditch and came out by the quarry up I climbed into the nearest tree it was an old oak covered in ivy I lay across the highest branch and covered myself up I stayed there for at least two hours the dogs lost my scent when I went into the water I did hear them shouting in the distance but I was safe before I got home I retrieved my bag and fish, on arriving home my mother said the police had called and wanted to know where I was in bed she said good job he never looked they had got my parents out of bed, mother used to get scared I would get caught don't worry mum I would say I can run faster than them and I could but I also knew the lay off the land which helped greatly it was now 3am and time for bed I had many incidents with the keepers they knew it was me but could not prove it and I can tell you all they never did well theres a bit more about my life as a poacher and its all true. a bit more latter
More water I poached or the brown trout
More woods that I poached
I lived in the woods and fields when I was young my parents knew where I would be I loved the wildlife. Fishing and shooting was my life but it was a necessity in the late fifties for our food most of the rabbits, had died out through Myxomatosis, so it was other game that kept us in food my first real gun was a webley, four ten there was no finesse or skill in my shooting, in those days I shot so we could survive I learned early on in life how to poach the pheasant, duck, and trout, I would wait for the ducks, to come into the flight pool I would lie in the reed beds and when the duck, came within range I would shoot them on the water I have shot two birds, with one shot the water was a bit cold in October but in I got and fetched the birds, or pulled them in with a long stick, it was not only duck, the one pool was no more than acre it held some wonderful trout, the keeper would come down to the pool every evening to feed his ducks, after he would be away to the pub I would watch from a distance he would ride his old bike to the three fishes public house, and would not go back home until chucking out time which in those days was ten thirty or by the discretion of the landlord could go on until midnight, by this time the keeper, would be well and truly drunk, he would ride his bike back through the woods falling off a few times before he got to his cottage.
The woods I poached
This was the time I poached the trout, I would set night lines with a big bunch of worms cover the line over with soil and peg it down the old keeper, was not interested he was to busy snoring in his bed, I was I usually set around ten lines I would be back before first light there would be eight or nine trout, caught I would then reset the lines and away home I would go. It was to easy I should have known it would come to a sudden end I went this one night to have a look at the lines, I had reset that morning. I had caught around five trout, when I noticed a car lights coming up the road towards the pool I nearly left it to late to get away it was no car but the police landrover ,it was the Sgt and two police constables, then I heard a shout it was the keepers stay where you are, if he thought I would he was severly mistaken I hid my bag and the trout, and away I went god they had dogs I was over the fence into the field there was a drainage ditch further down the field full of water, I was in up to my knees I ran down the ditch and came out by the quarry up I climbed into the nearest tree it was an old oak covered in ivy I lay across the highest branch and covered myself up I stayed there for at least two hours the dogs lost my scent when I went into the water I did hear them shouting in the distance but I was safe before I got home I retrieved my bag and fish, on arriving home my mother said the police had called and wanted to know where I was in bed she said good job he never looked they had got my parents out of bed, mother used to get scared I would get caught don't worry mum I would say I can run faster than them and I could but I also knew the lay off the land which helped greatly it was now 3am and time for bed I had many incidents with the keepers they knew it was me but could not prove it and I can tell you all they never did well theres a bit more about my life as a poacher and its all true. a bit more latter
More water I poached or the brown trout
More woods that I poached
In reply to Post #488
God it was hot fishing, yesterday I got burned but the day before we got rather wet packing up. We have caught one or two but no real big fish but plenty from ten to fifteen pounds god do they fight on light tackle there are a number of biggies in the water I have seen a few myself. The owner has been really good to us both and allows myself and graham to take the car down to the lake which helps a lot no lugging tackle around to our swim we are going to carry on fishing, there to see what we come up with. The wildlife is amazing which also keeps us occupied , I really have never seen so many dragonflies in my life yesterday I saw a complete black one with a big black spots on both wings, I did try to get a photo but it proved impossible I have loved wild life and have never seen a black dragonfly before maybe others have but this was my first time it was certainly a beautiful sight.
On the lake are a pair of Canada geese they have reared six young ones, they have done really well to rear them all they are very near flying and are trying to take of from the water but as yet they have not managed it god the male, is so protective of his brood, he even attacked my car when we past them on the way home. They had been grazing on the grass around the lake he tried to peck the tyres on my car we both found it quite amusing . well we have really enjoyed fishing this lake but would really like to try a few days after the barbell but the reports have not been good around Shrewsbury it has been awful although Rodger my friend the bailiff did very well last week fishing a short session from four pm until nine he caught fifteen barbell one roach and a chub biggest barbell ten pound eight oz a good fish he went back the next evening same swim and blanked funny really but that's how it is fishing there one day gone the next.
A big barbell caught by me six years ago
When i was a youngster the rivers were full of fish from Dace, to salmon, there was no barbell, then the dominant fish were roach, Dace, and chub, I loved to fish for the roach you always had a chance of catching a two pounder most were around half pound to around a pound we would ledger with bread paste, we would catch good bags but those days have sadly gone to many predators the smaller fish, don't stand a chance with goose sanders, they take everything in their path we also have the mink and cormorants the fish really don't stand a chance so catching large bags like we did is only a memory, Really sad I can't see it improving if we don't have some sort of control before long the rivers will be void of small fish. The big bags of dace, have vanished so have the big shoals of minnows, and roach, all gone we don't have the big runs of salmon, like we used to a lot of the anglers I know have packed in your lucky to catch one fish, a season most anglers catch nowt when I was young you could catch two or three salmon, per session but those days are over I think the older anglers like myself have seen the good times I hope they will return, but I doubt it will not be in my lifetime, but it remains to be seen I sometimes think man is destroying himself I really hope not but looking at the wildlife when I was youngster the woods and fields were full of different species of birds not any more a lot have vanished I blame a lot on farming methods but not all I sometime think man is destroying him self. I really hope not as the future of all wild life is in our hands . A little more latter
. A little more latter.
A nice chub
God it was hot fishing, yesterday I got burned but the day before we got rather wet packing up. We have caught one or two but no real big fish but plenty from ten to fifteen pounds god do they fight on light tackle there are a number of biggies in the water I have seen a few myself. The owner has been really good to us both and allows myself and graham to take the car down to the lake which helps a lot no lugging tackle around to our swim we are going to carry on fishing, there to see what we come up with. The wildlife is amazing which also keeps us occupied , I really have never seen so many dragonflies in my life yesterday I saw a complete black one with a big black spots on both wings, I did try to get a photo but it proved impossible I have loved wild life and have never seen a black dragonfly before maybe others have but this was my first time it was certainly a beautiful sight.
On the lake are a pair of Canada geese they have reared six young ones, they have done really well to rear them all they are very near flying and are trying to take of from the water but as yet they have not managed it god the male, is so protective of his brood, he even attacked my car when we past them on the way home. They had been grazing on the grass around the lake he tried to peck the tyres on my car we both found it quite amusing . well we have really enjoyed fishing this lake but would really like to try a few days after the barbell but the reports have not been good around Shrewsbury it has been awful although Rodger my friend the bailiff did very well last week fishing a short session from four pm until nine he caught fifteen barbell one roach and a chub biggest barbell ten pound eight oz a good fish he went back the next evening same swim and blanked funny really but that's how it is fishing there one day gone the next.
A big barbell caught by me six years ago
When i was a youngster the rivers were full of fish from Dace, to salmon, there was no barbell, then the dominant fish were roach, Dace, and chub, I loved to fish for the roach you always had a chance of catching a two pounder most were around half pound to around a pound we would ledger with bread paste, we would catch good bags but those days have sadly gone to many predators the smaller fish, don't stand a chance with goose sanders, they take everything in their path we also have the mink and cormorants the fish really don't stand a chance so catching large bags like we did is only a memory, Really sad I can't see it improving if we don't have some sort of control before long the rivers will be void of small fish. The big bags of dace, have vanished so have the big shoals of minnows, and roach, all gone we don't have the big runs of salmon, like we used to a lot of the anglers I know have packed in your lucky to catch one fish, a season most anglers catch nowt when I was young you could catch two or three salmon, per session but those days are over I think the older anglers like myself have seen the good times I hope they will return, but I doubt it will not be in my lifetime, but it remains to be seen I sometimes think man is destroying himself I really hope not but looking at the wildlife when I was youngster the woods and fields were full of different species of birds not any more a lot have vanished I blame a lot on farming methods but not all I sometime think man is destroying him self. I really hope not as the future of all wild life is in our hands . A little more latter
. A little more latter.
A nice chub
In reply to Post #490
These wonderfull days of summer really remind me of my childhood as young lads and living in the countryside we would be out from early morning, until late evening, our parents knew we were safe I spent a lot of my time in the big woods, that surrounded my home. I would be away birds, nesting or just watching the wildlife, I loved bird watching the woods, lanes,and fields, were full of the different species of birds, more than we see today a lot of our bird, life is vanishing mainly due to farming methods, there habitat, has gone one bird that we are not seeing any more is the curlew, when I was a youngster I would lie in the hay fields and watch where they landed the nest never took much finding there were lots of these bird around. Where I used to see eight or nine we now see two the bullfinch, is another they were quite common we don't see any in our area they have long gone its a real shame as they were a beautiful bird.
I loved those woods and I would be away all day I always carried a catapult I was brought up with one in my pocket and became quite a good shot with it. I made my own amo out of lead which I collected from the railway sidings it was used on the pigeon, crates they let go thousands of these birds every week they came by train from all over the country mostly on a Saturdays. So I collected the lead seals and melted them down making some lead chunks for my catapult I got quite good I would shoot the rabbits that couched in the big nettle beds or in the hedgerows although I was young I could still get in serious trouble if I got caught as the rabbits, were owned by the big farms and estates they made quite a lot of revenue from of the rabbits, they would be sent by train to the big cities and sold to the game dealers I think they got about sixpence apiece for them but this all stopped in nineteen fifty two when myxomatosis arrived killing most but not all how some survived I cannot say but a few did in small pockets around the country we relied on the rabbit for our dinners we even had it at school, so it was a disaster.
I turned my attention to the pheasant they were stupid birds and were so easy to catch where I lived there were thousands all I needed was a length of fishing line a hook a few sultanas and you were sure of a few they loved sultanas and currants I could catch half a dozen within half an hour they were really appreciated back home and became our Sunday dinner we always shared with our neighbors and friends we never locked our back doors and we would arrive home to find and someone had left some potatoes, and maybe, some onions, or carrots, that's how we got by in those years they were hard food was still rationed cheese butter tea but we got by with help from our neighbours we shared and helped one another sadly lacking today. I poached the brown trout in the rivers and streams a change in diet I could catch up to twenty every time I went out so we never starved I would have to watch out for the river bailiffs, and keepers, we had at least three bailiffs, they were in charge of different sections of the rivers I never got caught I would watch what time they did there rounds. I even supplied a few to miss Thomas our school teacher but that's another story. well a little bit more latter.
the pheasents stupid birds so easy to catch
These wonderfull days of summer really remind me of my childhood as young lads and living in the countryside we would be out from early morning, until late evening, our parents knew we were safe I spent a lot of my time in the big woods, that surrounded my home. I would be away birds, nesting or just watching the wildlife, I loved bird watching the woods, lanes,and fields, were full of the different species of birds, more than we see today a lot of our bird, life is vanishing mainly due to farming methods, there habitat, has gone one bird that we are not seeing any more is the curlew, when I was a youngster I would lie in the hay fields and watch where they landed the nest never took much finding there were lots of these bird around. Where I used to see eight or nine we now see two the bullfinch, is another they were quite common we don't see any in our area they have long gone its a real shame as they were a beautiful bird.
I loved those woods and I would be away all day I always carried a catapult I was brought up with one in my pocket and became quite a good shot with it. I made my own amo out of lead which I collected from the railway sidings it was used on the pigeon, crates they let go thousands of these birds every week they came by train from all over the country mostly on a Saturdays. So I collected the lead seals and melted them down making some lead chunks for my catapult I got quite good I would shoot the rabbits that couched in the big nettle beds or in the hedgerows although I was young I could still get in serious trouble if I got caught as the rabbits, were owned by the big farms and estates they made quite a lot of revenue from of the rabbits, they would be sent by train to the big cities and sold to the game dealers I think they got about sixpence apiece for them but this all stopped in nineteen fifty two when myxomatosis arrived killing most but not all how some survived I cannot say but a few did in small pockets around the country we relied on the rabbit for our dinners we even had it at school, so it was a disaster.
I turned my attention to the pheasant they were stupid birds and were so easy to catch where I lived there were thousands all I needed was a length of fishing line a hook a few sultanas and you were sure of a few they loved sultanas and currants I could catch half a dozen within half an hour they were really appreciated back home and became our Sunday dinner we always shared with our neighbors and friends we never locked our back doors and we would arrive home to find and someone had left some potatoes, and maybe, some onions, or carrots, that's how we got by in those years they were hard food was still rationed cheese butter tea but we got by with help from our neighbours we shared and helped one another sadly lacking today. I poached the brown trout in the rivers and streams a change in diet I could catch up to twenty every time I went out so we never starved I would have to watch out for the river bailiffs, and keepers, we had at least three bailiffs, they were in charge of different sections of the rivers I never got caught I would watch what time they did there rounds. I even supplied a few to miss Thomas our school teacher but that's another story. well a little bit more latter.
the pheasents stupid birds so easy to catch
In reply to Post #492
Lovely story there Pete. Makes you wonder if we really need our ipads and games consoles! How lifestyles have chenged eh!
Lovely story there Pete. Makes you wonder if we really need our ipads and games consoles! How lifestyles have chenged eh!
In reply to Post #493
Thanks pete appreciated
Thanks pete appreciated
This message has been suppressed by a moderator.
Great stuff.