In reply to Post #496
great story that pete

In reply to Post #497
Thanks paul and William really appreciate your remarks just got back from holidays more stories to come

In reply to Post #498
Well I am back from holiday god has it been hot, just like when I was a small boy the hedgerows have been ablaze with flowers, all sorts the foxgloves, have been absolutely stunning I can well remember walking the lanes of Shropshire when I was a lad the hedge rows would be alive with wildlife, and covered in flowers, the fields were not sprayed and the meadows, were also full of flowers,, I would lie down in the tall grass and listen to the grasshoppers, chirping away and watch the skylark, high up in the blue sky.

I would also listen for the mew of the buzzard, or the call of the curlew, they were wonderful days I played truant from school on more than one occasion I would go fishing, all day or birds, nesting I loved the countryside I learned how to set a snare for the rabbits, I learned that from the rabbit, catcher they were the days of my youth that will never return. My schoolmistress was a miss Thomas she called me out of class this one day I thought what have I done now, peter, she said I hear you catch a few rabbits, and the odd pheasant, what could I say other than yes miss I nearly fell over when she said can you get me a couple of rabbits, and maybe a brace of pheasants, when in season yes miss I said in a trembling voice. I walked away with a big grin my face and to be honest I did take her a few I would take them to her bungalow and she always gave me a couple of bob which was an awful lot of money I could buy fishing hooks, sweets, or a comic, or two the eagle, was one such comic the dandy, was another they were wonderful days.

I loved to walk the river side I would take my rod, with me may was wonderful month I would watch the big hatch of mayflies, the river would be covered in spent flies I would use the smallest hook I could get I would stick a hook through a dead may fly, and float it down the side of the river god they would take it greedily causing a shower of silver spray they were beautiful fish, with their golden flanks covered in spots, they only weighed about a pound a good size for eating any moor hens eggs, found would be taken home to eat , we would also see the water vole, they were not rare like today but were a common sight i would also see the otter, in those days they were a shy animal and kept out of your way they were hunted by the otter hounds and were kept to a manageable level as I have said before the river ran red with the blood of this animal. I loved all the wildlife and could not stand and watch this brutality but looking back it was a necessity to control this predator from taking the trout and grayling this river held. well a little more latter

In reply to Post #499
If i was asked what do I miss most I would answer not being able to walk my beloved hill country its been a big part of my life I loved to be out on a windy night when the moon was full and I could watch the shadows from the clouds dance across the fields or the call of the fox from the distant woods or watch a family of badgers worming in the valleys, or to poach the trout from the babbling stream this is what I miss most.

one such stream was full of brown trout the owner would never let anyone near he gave no one permission in fact he was grumpy old bugger but I did not heed his warning he had signs nailed on trees poachers will be prosecuted, sod his signs I said to my friend Dougie, I will have some of those fish, and I did I would creep into the woods , the stream ran through the woods, all I took was a spinning rod, I mounted minnows,I had caught that morning on a flight, into the water I went it was only up to my knees I would cast to the far bank let it swing around in the current the rod tip would hoop over and I was into a fish they were lovely trout beautiful bronze flanks and covered in spots
they were lovely for eating they were only about half a pound the biggest a pound but we needed them to eat as our life was quite hard wages were not that good. Dougie would not believe I had fished that water he knew the owner who he said was a bit of a nasty man if he caught you would be in court, or even get a hiding, his got to catch me first I said with a smile and a wink you coming with me next time I go Dougie you must be joking he said ill go most place but not there the mans off his head not only that he has those big Alsatians, if they grab you they will do some damage yes but they have to catch me first.

I was there one night when I heard barking in the distance I never took much notice until they came closer oh it was him the mad hatter and his dogs, I was already in the water so I moved across the stream and kept to the far bank still in the water, it was not that deep there was a bridge downstream that's where I was heading I could hear the dogs they were quite near it was dark the far side where I was and there was no scent, I stayed under some overhanging branches I heard the owner call his dogs, back. Good job the water was warm I made my way forward half swimming half walking it was a bit awkward with my rod still in my hand but I made the bridge and lay on the ledge above the water I could hear talking I wondered who was with him whoever it was said no ones here tonight sir, I pushed my head up craning my neck to see who it was but it was to dark, I had got sixteen trout in my bag that was also wet through, they stayed taking for over one hour then I heard Cyril, ring me at the station if you get any trouble, thanks sgt I was away to my bike and up the field I went getting home around two thirty in the morning I laid the fish out on a big plate my family would certainly enjoy them and some would go to our neighbors and friends. more latter

In reply to Post #500
When I lived at craven arms that was in the late forties and early fifties all the lakes, and streams, were private the only way you could fish was to poach and I did my fair share of that there was a farmer whose name was price, he had a stretch of the Onny he kept it for his own use, I would watch him fly fish, he was very good and always caught a few I poached it many times using little red worms from prices, farmyard he would have blown a fuse if he thought I was using them to catch his trout.

He was a nice old boy he would say to yours truly go and collect the eggs, if you have the time, he had hundreds of chickens all free range to be honest I don't think he knew how many he had he would give me a bucket to put the eggs, in they would lay there eggs, any where in the woods, under the rhododendron bushes, in the haystack, it really kept me busy it would take all Saturday morning i would fill the bucket to the top he would always give me a dozen and some crisps for helping out I always kept an extra dozen for family and friends what he didn't see never hurt this was in late forties, I was only around eight years old we had to survive the best way we could as it was just after the war.

A neighbour gave me a big hob ferret, I carried him everywhere I went even school,with him he slept curled up in my shirt I was in a miss juckes, class she blurted out whatever smells I got into rather a lot of trouble with that ferret of course it was me I took the ferret, out of my shirt miss juckes, gave a big shriek and shouted take that thing home which I did I was sent to see the headmaster whose name was kennedy he could see the funny side and let me off with a few strict words my mother was always saying take that ferret, out of your shirt it makes you smell but I did not I always carried him there to my mother's disgust, he caught us a good many rabbits, over the years until myxomatosis reared it ugly head that really hit us badly we lived on rabbit, some of the estates also suffered they made a lot of revenue from the humble rabbit.

With the rabbits, dead due to the disease, I started to catch the pheasant, there were hundreds put down for shooting they were quite easy to catch but you had to watch the game keepers, I learned fast I had a few with my catapult but I also did well lying in the undergrowth using a fishing line a hook and sultanas, they would take them greedily it was easy to catch half a dozen and it was always appreciated by my parents and neighbors mum worried that I might get caught I told her not to worry I can run faster than them I never did get caught but I had a few near misses over the years. well more latter

In reply to Post #502
It was so hot today we came back early from fishing we could not stand the heat we did catch but nothing big we keep trying as we have seen one or two big fish in the lake, I had a moorhen, and her chicks, to keep me company most of the day I took one or two photo she has done well to rear six chicks, one thing that has delighted me was to see a water vole, it looks if the owner has one or two of these lovely little animals he was quite chuffed when I told him I do hope he has no trouble with mink, in the future as they will kill them they are becoming quite scarce in our countryside when I was a youngster they were quite common but the arrival of the mink was their demise.

The young moor hens
I was talking to my mate graham about the wildlife, when we were young there was an abundance of birds and animals, that we don't see so much today I personally put that down to farming methods that has forced a lot of our wildlife to disappear. One bird I did see today was a curlew, we don't see so many in our county now the hay field have disappeared that the bird, favoured for its nest, when I was young I would watch the bird land in the hay field and find its nest it had four eggs, beautifully marked to blend in with the surrounding ground you could easily walk over the nest if you were not careful. They were lovely days I would also lie down at the side of a plowed field and watch the peewit commonly known as the lapwing it would land on the plow then run to its nest I could find at least three nest in a field we did eat them in the forties and fifties my mother would pickle them in those days but it is another bird that I has nearly vanished from our county.



I loved birds nesting when I was a young boy I was quite a good climber I could shin up most trees I used to collect the eggs until I met Sam the gamekeeper he taught me to look but not take write down where the nest was and how many eggs or chicks the nest held. It was funny really as Sam had a huge collection from the days of his youth and his job helped but as he got older he got more into conservation although he was a gamekeeper he had a soft touch when it came to wildlife, I always remember a badger, getting caught in a snare he took some wire cutters held him down with a pikle it had really cut into his flesh so he got the animal into a sack and took it home for his wife to look after and she did and it survived a few weeks latter Sam took me along to release it back into the wild it was Sam who learned me so much about wild life and to do a bit of poaching oh yes he would poach the trout and grayling. well a bit more latter

Picking the food for the chicks

In reply to Post #504
Raining again but we really need it the ground is so hard it will take a bit to soak in. It should do the fishing some good, graham and I are going to have a try for the barbell, next week we have been fishing for the carp, we have caught a few but no size and it has been far to hot, Thursday really got to me and graham I felt sick and giddy from the extreme heat I was a bit wobbly on my pins as well we should have really put our umbrellas, up. And should have known better at our age I ended up having a cold shower when I got home which made me feel alot better then I started to shiver which went on for a couple of days I think we were not to far from having sunstroke.

I have been trying to remember when I last did a bit of poaching I know graham was with me we had been out with the rifle rabbiting this one hedge that ran throught the property consisted of big hawthorn trees I shone the light up into the hedge what a surprise we got I counted at least twenty Pheasents, that had gone up to roost. It was all to much and we had six of them I suppose that must have been in the sixties we did not like the farmer the other side of the hedge, it was the boundary between the two farms he was an awkward old cuss who reared a few birds for his own shoot he ran a syndicate the members were mostly farmer friends he was always asking us to clear his rabbits he was a big church man and had his own bench in the church with his name on it, because we cleared his rabbits, he also thought we should go to church and thank god, for all we had no way and we told him so after that he was never the same man but as I have said we had a few of his birds we had no trouble getting rid of them and with the rabbits we made quite a bit of money.

There was many ways to make a bit of money in those days Christmas, was 0ne such time we would cut the holy, and sell it to the local shop, the occasional Christmas tree, went missing from the woods, that had been planted with fir. The forestry commission, would cut them down in there hundreds and send them all over the country to Birmingham, London, and all the major cities, it was big business we had a few when they cut them down but you would really have to watch yourselves as they kept an eye open and watched the trees, night and day right up until Christmas, the ones we took we had orders for and sold them to the locals, another way was to shoot the Pheasents, that would mean going out at night. We had no trouble getting rid of the birds, as most of the locals, would buy them it was hard going in those days and this was how we made our pocket money. well a bit more latter

In reply to Post #505
Yesterday I went to a dear friends funeral he was a member of my syndicate for a number of years, he only went into hospital for an operation to put a stent, in and never came out he was only sixty five, and had just retired it really got me thinking how fragile our bodies,are I try and live my life to the full and enjoy every day my friend had everything to live for a wonderful family his fishing and shooting,life is so short I really feel for his family but time will heal .

I myself has had a wonderful life and many of my generation called me a jack the lad I was I would roam the woods,the fields,any where I could get a free meal I was given an air gun one xmas it really changed my life it was nothing like today's air guns but I became quite a good shot using it. My friend the keeper whose name was Sam, put a new spring in the gun, he used it to shoot the rooks, which he ate in a big pie, god it was a powerful Sam told me to be careful as it was now very powerful I could shoot a hole through a big tin bucket that gun went everywhere I went even thought I was only about ten years old it was the early fifties and things were very hard it was only about five years since the war finished. the keepers that came home after the war had a lot to contend with clearing the vermin,and building new pens,they put hundreds of pheasants, down for the gentry to shoot, they were daft birds, the woods and field were full of them so it was only a matter of going up the fields hiding in a ditch it was not long before I had shot one or two birds for the table they were always appreciated by my parents and our neighbours in those days we helped one another which is sadly lacking today.

When I was fourteen we moved back to my village where I was born its name was Bayston hill, this is were a lot of my poaching was done I went to school in condover,it was surrounded with rivers and woods some I got to know very well there were a number of keepers, one was old Frank bell,he was old school and knew his job he looked after the river as well as his pheasants the small river was stocked with trout it was for the wealthy friends of the landowners I watched them fly fish and some were very good. I used the humble worm,or spin with a minnow, mounted on a flight it was so easy I only fished at night it was nothing to catch twenty beautifully spotted brownies I never took all only the bigger fish, those around a pound I well remember my mother doing them for breakfast she was so frightened I would get caught but I never did I had the keepers and police,chase me on a few occasions and i always got away I knew the area well as it was the place of my birth I will tell you more later about old Frank bell,and his under keepers. well a bit more latter

In reply to Post #506
As I walked across the fields the sharp wind stung my face it was October, and I was going to do my rounds, I was bailiff, and looked after the woods and the lakes, in the distance I could hear dogs barking, as I got nearer to the woods I could also smell someone smoking a pipe, I got over the barbed wire fence that surrounded this part of the wood I got into the undergrowth that grew around the side of the lake and made way forward to where I could hear the dogs barking .

As I approached I could see four men the dogs, were terriers, they were literally going mad to get into the hole, the men were digging, I could see they were after the badgers, it was quite away to fetch any help from the owners, and my phone, would not work I could get a signal, bloody hell I said to myself fours to many to approach. I had my gun with me i'll try and frighten them I put two cartridges in the chambers bang bang over their heads bringing down a shower of twigs, the one man fell down in his haste to get away they were shouting to one another bring the nets and tongs they managed to get their dogs, over the fence, I gave them another just for luck bang well I nearly fell down laughing if you could of seen the way they went down the field they were loaded with spades dogs bags I looked at the badger, set they had not succeeded to kill any I made my way to the owners house and managed to call the police they were here within minutes including the helicopter, which way did they go I was asked towards the A49 I said it was quite away across the fields to the main road so they may just catch them.

The badger

But it was not to be they had gone we had no colour of their car or make so it was hopeless I was bloody mad they had got away, I had known these badgers for years infact Graham, Bernard and I used to see them worming when we were out at night shooting the rabbits. I can't stand cruelty I was quite upset most of the next week but three weeks later we got good news they had caught them we had not heard but they had arrested them the same day I saw them. Apparently they were followed to a house in stoke they must have had them on record I was told their equipment, was confiscated and they appeared in court I think two of the men got prison the other two a fine and community service from that day on we have never had any more trouble I kept a close eye on the set but it was never disturbed again. well a bit more latter


The woods I caught the men in

In reply to Post #507
I was standing beneath the overhanging hedge I could see clearly across the woodland floor it was a fox, shoot i could hear the hounds, in the distance these foxes, had caused considerable damage to the local farmers the wood bottom was mostly fern and brambles then I saw him in the distance he was beautiful in his rustic coat he stopped and sniffed the air, he knew he was being hunted this was his territory I was one of twenty guns.

Looking back to the woods where the fox came forward

I watched as he made his way forward he criss crossed the woodland path, he would stop and look around then continue forward to where I stood. I made no sound I waited patiently I knew where he was heading I knew this fox he was magnificent animal, he was big the white of his throat, stood out it was like a lions mane. I watched as he moved closer not a noise did he make before I knew it we faced each other there was no more than a meter between us he looked at me with those beautiful eyes I put my gun, to my shoulder I could not pull the trigger, I knew him well we had crossed paths so many times. I said aloud i'll meet with you another day , I could hear the hounds coming closer I watched as he passed me by he went through the water to my left stopped looked back and he was gone he will live for another day.


The big wood where the foxes ran beside the water to hide their scent

As I faced the wood in front I could see the hounds, a shot rang out deep within the wood, the hounds still came forward they were heading my way and were on the scent of my old friend the dog fox, no he would be well away by now they had picked up his scent, but could not get a line on him, as he had ran throught the water course, that was beside the big hedge. The huntsman arrived have you seen him pete yes says I, where did he go way over there I said I could not shoot he was to far away . Then away they went down through the wood it was not long before the dogs were in full cry they were onto another fox, five more minutes past me by then the sound rang out bang, bang, and then another bang, then silence I made my way forward to the guns, and dogs, have you got any I shouted no said the nearest gun they both got away the undergrowth, was to thick where did they go I asked with a grin on my face under the fence and down the field the old chap over there had a go and missed, never mind there is next week can we follow on down the field the huntsman asked they were very lucky they had got their dogs back no said I the farmer, is very anti and would call the police and that was that for today. This is a bit more about a day in my life. more latter.

In reply to Post #508
Going for the barbell tomorrow lets hope we catch a couple the river has been up and its running a dirty colour just how I like it. When I left school I became a butcher boy I really hated it the wages were only two pounds ten shilling a week. I could make more poaching the local lakes and woods, my boss was really a bit of a bugger his name was Mr Roberts if I did anything wrong he would give me a punch I thought to myself carry on old cock you will see a different side to me if you keep on using me as a punch bag.

Me with a big Barbell

I was in the shop this one day and a lady came in who knew me hi Pete she said can you get me a brace of pheasants, well the old bugger, hears what she said after she went he said you can't sell game here especially poached game. I explained I had no intention of selling it in the shop I would take the pheasants to her house if you don't stop poaching, i'll tell the police he said well that was that I told him what to do with the job you can't do that he said but I did and never looked back. It did not take me long to get another job that was really well paid the year was 1958 I was earning sixteen pounds per week and only sixteen, i worked with lots of Irish navies they were great men and treated me very well the foreman got to know I did a bit of poaching, and word soon spread I had that many orders that I found it a bit hard to cope, the only thing I did not like most wanted them dressed and ready for the oven, well I mentioned it to Mr Donnelly the foreman bring them to work he said you can dress them in the shed and that is what I did I really had a good relationship with them all I still see some of the men, they are a lot older than myself and now live in Shrewsbury they were great days.

Another barbell caught in the dark
I found I could not poach just one estate, as I would get caught my orders reached over twenty some weeks so I started to go abroad what I mean I visited other shoots in my area, one was old bells shoot at Condover he was a good keeper and never missed much I was warned about him from the locals on our village but it never stopped me. I would be out with my trusted air gun I would leave home before dark hide my bike and then walk the rest of the way across the fields, the one wood was mostly fir the others oak in season they put thousands of Pheasents, down the one pen was huge it took nearly a whole wood this one pen held over seven thousand birds the problem was the keepers, were out at night watching their birds, it was big business for the estates and the syndicates paid huge sums of money for the privilege to shoot.


Bell cottage hidden in the woods he has long gone

I was chased on a few occasions but I knew the woods, and the lay of the land I got wet a few time fording the river, I fell off the waterfall, a couple of times trying to get to the other side but they were grand days I loved it and if chased it was part of the game it certainly put my adrenaline up I have hid up trees, even lay in the water, I had the dogs walk over me this once I was hidden in a ditch covered over with undergrowth the dogs walked over me and never even smelt a thing, I really thought I would be caught I could hear the keepers and police talking my name was mentioned I did not know what to do laugh or cry but I got away i sat on a stile beside the railway and really had a laugh about it all, The Sgt did visit my house the very next day but good old mum said I was in bed. well theres a bit more. more to come latter.

One of old bells woods I used to poach

In reply to Post #509
As I said graham and myself went Barbel fishing on the Severn yesterday we did not know what to expect as everyone we talk to says its not fishing that well although our bailiff friend Roger has done quite well since the season started.

The stretch we fished
We did not get onto the water until 9 30 am and there was no other anglers fishing the stretch which is quite unusual a few years ago it would've been packed so it looks if what anglers say may be true and another thing we never saw a bailiff all day this was a prime stretch to fish for the barbel nevertheless we would not be put off.
We set up on the stretch of water where I had the big catch years ago which was thirty five fish but those days of big bags is over. Rather than fish two rods we chose one each it did not take graham long to hook into a fish it was not huge but very welcome I hour later he was in a gain but this was no small fish it started to swim upstream against the current putting a good bend in his rod after what seemed a long time he eventually got it near the net but it was away again this was a good fish we never even caught sight of it. The fished stayed down deep you could tell it was big the way it fought, once again he brought it to the net and the hook link parted company all I could say was bloody hell graham I am sorry mate over the last fifty years of friendship I had said that many times.


Graham with his first fish

I could not catch so I changed to a three ft hook link of fluorocarbon this made the difference although I waited some time. I was feeding the ducks when my rod tip slammed around causing a good bend in the top of the rod I had no need to strike and within minutes I had a nice fish in the net it was not a biggie but very welcome Graham was catching on big halibut and aniseed pellets so i was due for a change the next cast saw me into a much bigger fish which in the current gave

a good account of itself we were just below the weir so the current always runs a bit fast. I usually use a big three oz feeder stuffed with small halibut pellets and fish meal which once again proved successful for both of us.


My first Barbel

My next fish was a big old chub not really big but a nice fish all the same we fished on until tea time without another bite we are both getting on a bit so called it a day i suppose we should of stayed and fished the evening but we were both tired and were both pleased we had caught well I have some photos so I will now put them up cant wait to have ago next week it will be to busy this weekend as its bank holiday. well a bit more latter

The biggest barbel of the day a very nice fish


The last fish of the day the chub

In reply to Post #510
We are going barbel, fishing again later this week to many will be out over the holiday weekend so we will give it a miss for the next few days.
Thinking back to when I was a youngster I started my fishing, at a very young age I think I was about three years old I soon learned I lost my father in the war. My mother married again my stepfather, was a brilliant man who encouraged me to carry on fishing, in those days you could not go fishing, where you liked as most rivers, and lakes, were strictly private, so there was only one way to fish, and that was to poach the lakes, and rivers, on those big estates.

It was a chancy thing to do as most waters were under the care of water bailiffs, and Gamekeepers, you were always on edge fishing the waters, I poached the big estates, and got away with it. There was one such lake, not far from my home I don't think it had ever been fished, so one autumn day saw me away on my bike, on arriving I hid my bike then got over the wall that surrounded the estate, the lake was around twenty acres where do I start I was only a young slip of a lad.

I had took plenty of bait bread, was my favourite plus a few red worms, that I got from the farmers dung heap, I did manage to get a few maggots, from mr Tays abattoir but collecting them made you stink a bit which did not go down well with my parents.

I started to float fish this water it was situated in front of the big hall, belonging to a member of parliament, I will not mention names as not to embarrass his family he has long gone but his family still own the estate, I started to catch Rudd, they were lovely deep bodied fish, they were not small and averaged over two pounds in weight I was using worm this one day I watched as the float, vanished I struck and away it went it felt quite heavy I had no landing net, in those days so you can imagine my surprised when I dragged a lovely trout to the side god the owner must have stocked the water with trout, I shook with excitement what a beautiful looking fish. This fish was not going back to cut a long story short I had another six on worm I was about to cast out again when I heard a shout he is over there keeper he,s bloody well catching my trout bring him back to the house i'll get the police.

God he must of spotted me from the big house, I was away through the undergrowth, I was away I fell over a couple of time I would not be able to get to the wall, it was to far away there was a big old horse chestnut tree, so I hid my tackle, and up I climbed it had still got plenty of leaves, on i lay across one of the top most branches by now there was two other chaps, looking for me as well. I just hoped they would not find my bike then the police arrived I recognized the one he was a constable, from our village, the sgt I did not know I think he came from Ludlow, well they never once looked up in the trees, I was shaking a bit god i think I am going to get caught everything goes through your mind I was only thirteen, but I need not worry as they moved away when the owner arrived, we can't find him sir said the keeper, bloody poachers, the owner said they wan't shooting what do you think sgt we will get him sir, and then they were away I stayed where I was for another hour before I moved.

I had seven trout, in my bag I would have to be very careful on the road going home I decided to go through the woods I would have to push my bike but it was safer, although it would take longer I eventually arrived home a bit worse for wear and very tired the biggest trout, was over four pounds in weight my family were well pleased plenty to share out with our neighbours. I thought that was that until I arrived at school ,on Monday we were in assembly when the headmaster said the police wanted to give us a talk, bloody hell it was the sgt that had been looking for me, he gave us a talk on poaching especially fish and if we knew any one doing it report them to the police station, he had no prove who it was but did know it was a youngster. well that was that I did fish the lake again and never had anymore trouble. well a bit more latter