In reply to Post #603
We used to fish a pool in south shropshire it was a pretty place the water was always a shade of blue a local said it used to be a marl pit, a local farmer told us if we got caught fishing it we would be in terrible trouble and maybe end in court, as usual we took no notice, it was a route march to get there the big ferns were over our heads there were two pools, the smaller one you could sit and watch the carp feeding on the bottom they would stir the shallow water making big clouds of silt until you could see nothing there was only about ten carp in that small pool and no matter how hard we fished we could not catch one, they all looked to be upper doubles this was in the early sixties.

The other pool was a lot bigger with a boat house at the far end we started to float fish and caught some wonderful Rudd thinking back there was none under a pound with a lot over two i was fishing in about eight feet of water the float dipped this was no Rudd i had hooked into one of the carp i just could not stop it on the light tackle i was using but it gave us an indication what was in the water the only trouble you were constantly on edge, i could see some one had been down there on a regular basis as they had made a path throughout the ferns and brambles, right behind where we were fishing there was a big Hall and they had dogs, which were barking most of the time we just hoped they would never come down to the pools and discover us.

We fished those pools for a good many weeks but in september it nearly came to a end, graham some ones coming we both dived into the big ferns rods and all we lay there hardly breathing we watched as two men arrived and walked over the dam they were carrying a big bucket each i heard the one say its a pity we can't get the tractor down here it would be a lot easier than buckets but sir wants the pheasants fed its a bloody long way to the pen twice a day, they vanished into the woodland but never returned that way, i said to graham they must be the keepers who are feeding some young birds in a pen in the woods we will go and have a look latter on, but we never fished the water again until the following year i personally i had not seen as many snakes they were every wear we fished on the pools, most were grass snakes but there was a few adders as well it was a bit off putting to say the least graham brought a big adder he had caught in his net it would strike if you but a stick anywhere near it it was lovely marked with the sig sag on his body we put the net down and let the snake go the funny thing we never saw one the year before, i took graham to another lake not far from where we were fishing and we caught some beautiful tench which i will tell you about next time. well a bit more latter.

In reply to Post #604
Brilliant, Pete, just brilliant.

Many thanks...

In reply to Post #605
Thanks ken more to come it all takes a bit of memory its such a long time ago thanks again appreciated.

In reply to Post #604
As i have said i took graham to see this other lake it was a few years since i had poached it the problem was it was right in front of this big hall and it was still private absolutely no fishing and still is to this day, on arriving graham looked at me and said where are you going to leave the car, down the lane its a bit over grown it looks as it had not been used for years, so it should be alright. we will fish in front of the Rhododendron bushes and fish between the reed bed what if we get caught pete said graham no chance its not the shooting season yet but at times you may see the keepers, around but as long as we are quite we should be ok.

Do you think they will see us from the hall said Graham, they never did when i poached it all those years ago they even had a garden party out front on the lawns which came down the the lake side and they never saw me. We started to use one rod each it was only about four ft deep so it was to be float fishing we used bread flake with a maggot on the tip of the hook, we started to catch Rudd, big fish you could not close your hand around them we only had a pair of old spring balance scales, but we weighed them in an old piece of net we had acquired they were mostly over two pounds with a number over three pounds. God it was some of the best fishing we have ever had, we tried a little red worm tipped with maggot it had hardly sank to the bottom before it was away it bent the rod double what ever have you got on pete, i don't know but its quite big i replied i managed to get it to the waiting net its a tench said Graham, and it was, and on weighting the tench,it was over four pounds a good fish as it was the early sixties, when we go Graham we must cover up any trace that we have ever been here we carried on fishing most of the day and caught many more Tench, the biggest
over five pounds which Graham, caught it was a good day that we both enjoyed, we packed up about six in the evening, on arriving back at the car some very angry farmer, or keeper, had left a note on the windscreen of the car could we please call at the hall and tell them why i had parked the car down the lane and what business we had in the area, what are you going to do pete nowt what if they have taken the redg number of your car, its a chance we have to take i said so away we drove looking in the mirror i could see this motor bike following us driven by the biggest fattest police man, i had ever seen he was like a pork pie on a round of beef he waved us down, where have you been ludlow, said i but your car was down the lane by the hall, thinking i quickly i said we had run out of petrol he never looked in the back but said so you parked it in the private drive no the lane, i said, how did you get to ludlow we caught the bus said i, have you got a can yes putting my arm behind my seat i pulled out this old red can,
thats fair enough i will tell them at the hall thanks have a good trip back home he answered, as he drove away we both burst out laughing, Graham said that was a bit to near for comfort it was said i we will have to find a better hiding place next time, graham laughed how long before we are back here next week i said and winked my eye. more to follow

In reply to Post #607
sorry there are no stories have just come out of hospital and i am quite sore and can hardly walk around but will continue as soon as possible thanks for reading my stories god bless you all from pete

Hope you make a speedy recovery Pete.

In reply to Post #609
Thank you shane appreciated i am very sore band bruised

In reply to Post #607
Well we fished that pool many times until this one day graham came running pete there are keepers every where,don't worry graham, we will have some fun and be away with some plump ducks and pheasants hide the rods and come back here we will hide in the bushes if any shot birds come our we will have them away have you got a bit of room in your bag to put a few birds in i have my big postal bag we can get at least eight or nine in mine they came out of hall onto the lawns they were all dressed in there tweeds of course they had there loaders there wives were all dressed up in long skirts god there posh pete well they are related to royalty they will shoot the ducks and pheasants there are some first class shots amongst them what about the dogs pete won't they find us we can clime that big old tree if it gets a bit to hot but honestly i have no trouble before just pick the birds you can see the dogs won't be along for a bit they will not use them until the end of the drive i had managed to pick a fair few i called graham he came running have you got a few six then lets be way over the river we went we got a bit wet we had picked our rods up before making our way through the hedge, do you fancy a pint graham i certainly do he replied they know me in there we walked into bar there was a nice warm fire and plenty of customers hi pete not seen e for a bit in broad shropshire drawl do you have any wares i might in took him to the van he bought all the ducks i had i stuffed the money in my back pocket i will share the money when we get home, you calling at the fox pete can do if you won't we can keep a brace a piece and put the rest under the dominoe table we will make a bit, we walked out of the fox two happy chaps with a bit of cash in our pockets it was nice to get home to my young wife and a warm fire forgive any spelling mistakes as i have just come out of hospital thanks for reading my stories god bless pete more to come latter

In reply to Post #611
Well i am starting to feel a bit better, and have joined a small syndicate, although i have fished it before years ago i never relized how big the fish have become. there are a few small ones but it is such a lovely place i could not refuse, Its funny really it was a trout fishery for many years the chap in charge asked me if i could sort the place out my answer was no, although i ran an old gaff hook around the side of the lake for him and discovered sixteen night lines some with fish on, it helped him tackle the place and show him how most of it was done the next time i saw him he was well pleased the police had caught two but not all but at least it was a start.

I was fishing the big lake at the time i used to watch the poachers arriving, from my village side of the lake, there was always around six they would arrive around twelve thirty and would be away around two thirty you could set your watches by them i used to say to my mate Graham, they are going to get caught if they don't alter their times, if you could not see them you could hear them they were a noisy lot. You can tell how long ago it was. it was a vey still night when a police whistle aroused us from our sleep, the year was around late fifties early sixties the place was swarming with police officers, and keepers, we were all right we ran a small syndicate, on the lake i think most our members kept heads down i heard next morning that the tally was none, i should think not with all the noise they had made but at least it kept the poachers away for a few weeks.

This very beautiful syndicate that i have just joined was the same lake that the trout poacher had fished all those years ago, and i will let you know another secret it was the same pool that Graham Bernard and myself had put carp into this was in the early sixties they had come from a small water and the owner wanted them removing you would not do it today because of the possibility of what other fish carry i.e. decease and such the first carp caught was on a fly and weighed in at eighteen pounds the owner of the fly fishing syndicate who was also a big friend, asked me where the carp could have come from i nearly laughed in his face i don't know i said. But now years latter i can say. well more come latter

In reply to Post #424
I suppose it was the sixties that had put a swagger in our step, as we had all left school but other things had me thinking and planning, How can we fish old jaspers pool I was determined to have a go it was a long way to go from home,but it was ok when we lived in hill country, but that was years ago my in laws may not be very pleased if I disturbed them from their slumber. A pete said john I hear he stocked the lake or pool as you call it with some good size rainbows and Brownies l will have a look before we go said I, can i come said john wait and see said I. We will wait and see i always picked my dear friend Ray, you can come if you wish ray no probs shall I go now no I want to introduce to others you have not met as yet and Malcolm is one of them he is living his dream and can't wait for for us to get on our way john I shouted come before ye gets very wet which he did he looked like a wet lobster sorry john I don't mean it as we neared our destination I called them together I will say it again no killing just have look tonight can we have a pint tonight the others came back quite quickly we crossed the hill quite fast

Onto our bikes and away home, we reached the public house quite fast, persey never minded us youngsters in the bar and would say miss behave and you will get chucked out. I just hope the law don't turn up tonight, old persey did not know when the law would turn up it could be any time you younguns up the stairs if they arrive
hear me whistle and the copers have arrived out side, up stairs we we would go, i knew the landlady well she spoiled us rotten, we had a big dinner and a couple of pints.we would not leave the house until it was quite. the police had gone are we going latter said john I don't know yet to much against us and the weather is about to change so we will wait and see. i am very tired. so more latter

In reply to Post #613
I can well remember sitting with Charlie and graham on the river Severn we were ledgering for roach and chub I noticed a few rats running over our baits that were in boxes then a few more passed us by have a look up the bank Pete said Charlie before I could open my mouth Graham shouted run looking across the field all I could see was like grey black wave its bloody rats Pete hundreds of them Charlie took one look and shouted up that tree, I was half way up before he shouted, I had seen this before rats were moving home something had disturbed them we all waited when they passed under the tree the big ones came first then the younger ones followed by the very young and infirmed there was literally hundreds maybe over a thousand it was like a big wave coming towards us I had only seen this once before but that was when was at school I was stood by a river bridge crossing the main road they passed us by on the field side then crossed the road there was not many cars around in those days to run a few over I was standing with an old farm labourer let em be he said they wuner hurt e as long as yer stand well away in broad Shropshire language, I was only a nipper I was not going give them any chance.

Did you say you had seen this before yes Charlie on the bridge by prices farm craven arms, I have seen it once shouted Graham when I worked on the farm with my dad, so we have all seen it before as we sat up the tree more and more came in all my years I have not seen as many said Charlie, some that passed us were real oldies manky looking like they were on their last legs I felt like climbing down the tree and smacking them one with my rod rest but I did not, we watched them go through the distant hedge Charlie said look at that, one of the biggest rats I have ever seen came back through the hedge and came this way keep quiet and watch said Charlie he was making sure all had gone I said to charlie and graham after they had all gone what intelligent animals they were, from when we got up the tree it was a good half hour.

Lets have a sandwich said Charlie that's really made me hungry we can then carry on fishing he took a big bite it nearly made me and graham sick at least ours were in an old oxo box I would not touch them I fed mine to the swans graham and myself fell about laughing whats a matter with you two said Charlie nothing really nothing. well a bit more latter

In reply to Post #614
When fishing we always had a look at the land that surrounded us trees, and hedge rows, this was in the sixties or even in the late fifties if there was a few rabbits then we may go back and use a long net, or if pheasants then we would pay them a visit one windy nigh and shoot a few. On this big estate we discovered it had quite a nice lake, we had a look just as it was breaking light it was quite big with a boat house at the one end.

We would only take a float rod with us charlie would not come as he said the estate was quite heavily
Keepered he should know as he been a keeper,himself, ill wait in the car and see what happens he said in a heavy voice. On this particular night saw Graham and myself lightly loaded with two float rods bait and a few hooks and weights we left old charlie tucked up in a old blanket and put a bit of fern over the car looking back you could not even see there was a car there, it was standing on a old concrete run way that was now heavily over grown no one ever went there.
Graham and i made sure we had adequate bait with us we settled down between the the boat house and the reeds it was quite dry it was a fish a cast, mostly a tench lovely green colour i suppose we got carried away we had caught at least forty fish when we heard movement along the bank side he is smoking a pipe pete, said graham, lets wait here and see what happens and thats what we did until a few more, joined the other one, they binner here to night gaffer is em in a deep shropshire dialect, no we will walk on a bit father into the wood before he could say any more two shots, rang out thats jim the other said his got a problem, bang, bang, away they went like a herd of cows chasing a dog, come on out you two i knows yer there we charged up the bank to be met with the strangest chap i had ever seen he had an old bag over his head he then pointed a four ten shot gun at us, he could do no more and started chuckling like an old hen, you prat charlie we jumped and wrestled him to the ground and could not stop laughing. Stop them keepers may be back no said charlie they will be tucked up in bed by now, whats you gone a do with my gun charlie we will bag a few pheasants when we get nearer the car what a night forty tench and fifteen pheasants it ill do for me says i as drove for home we dropped charlie off i only want a brace for myself said charlie and ill come fishing next week he said ok see you then, i dropped Graham off outside his house i had a snack the wife had left me a wash and off too bed looking at my watch it said four thirty i soon slipped into heavy sleep and dreamed of things to come. well more latter

In reply to Post #615
Graham and i made one more visit to the pool in the woods what a rout march it was the ferns they were over our head we sweat gallons before arriving at our destination, on looking around things were just the same as when we last left it we fished together this time with our backs to the ferns i said look at that graham one of the biggest grass snakes i had ever seen came across the water and disappeared into the ferns we had not seen an adder as yet. But as the day warmed up they made an appearance they lay on the beech sunning there selves we left them well alone i must admit it was one of the best days fishing we have ever had we caught some tremendous Rudd some over three pounds i wonder why no others fish the place graham, the dogs still barked at the hall well half a hall most had been burned down.
We were just having a sandwich when this funny looking bloke came down the path towards us he looked as if he needed a good wash he had a great big beard which looked as black as soot it was to late to run.

Morning gentlemen whats e doing here if e catches y from the hall e will kick your asses, we did not know what to say, we did meet him years ago he would not give us permission to fish the pool but offered us some fishing on the river severn i must admit we never took him up over his kind offer, he won't give e permission on here iii tell e the story why, he once had a rowing boat on here his wife and son were rowing around when the young lad stood up and overturned the boat well that is what they thought happened, they both drowned they never found them for over a week this was once an old marl pit and is quite deep at the one end in those days they never had the equipment they have today. The inquest said the boat should never have been taken out it was dangerous for two people, it was only made for one person so that is why he does not let anyone down fishing, i own the farm up the road i can not stand the miserable old bugger, out shot his hand and grabbed a big grass snake i got my dinner now and off he went, i looked at graham what do you think about that i have never seen anyone eat a grass snake before, we watched where he went he got over the fence onto the field we had a look but he had vanished, we will call at the farm on the way home and ask the name of the gentleman that lives at the hall, and thats what we did we were greeted by a youngish chap we have just met your gaffer, he told us a bit about the accident at the pool he can't have hang on he brought a photo out is this him yes, well he has been confined to bed for over two years he can't walk, well thats him we both said, well that is a bit strange ill have a word with the doctor on his next visit, by the way the chaps name is Mikel Travaloin if i was you i would not go to see him he is a nasty old bugger, that was the last time we ever fished that pool that was in the sixties make of it what you will but its all true. well more latter

In reply to Post #616
I have been doing a bit of fishing, i have caught a few i have been going with a big friend, well two they have made me go as i would not of gone after Grahams death, but i suppose i must move forward so i have been going with Bern and big Tom they have both been a big help Bern fished with Graham and myself loads of times in the sixties and seventies Bern has been a friend for 42 years Tom not so long about 15 years he is a member of our shoot personally i could not do with out him he is a lovely chap and will help out anywhere we need him, well the fish i have caught have not been huge but i have enjoyed going, there are some big fish in the lake so we will just have to wait and see i will put the time in, there are some lovely Rudd present so i might just have a go for them.

Graham myself a Bernard have had some good times together not only fishing, we liked a drink or two god we have been in some terrible states over the years but it has done us no harm we all loved nature and that lead us all over shropshire watching foxes, falcons, deer, anything that took our fancy Bernard was never with us when we poached. Grahams brother came along we would go out with a long net and caught loads of rabbits a Dark windy night was the time and we poached a few estates, and we were discovered on a few occasions so the net was up and away we went,at times they would call the police, they would come with their horns blaring away any self respecting poacher would be long gone. I can remember one particular night we failed to get away before the law appeared with three very angry keepers, we hid the net and away we went in those days i could run we were surrounded by the river and it left nowhere for us to go only in the water i said to Graham we can ford it further up stream dick said there a farm a little further up the fields we could hear whistle and shouting all around us we approached the farm up into the hayloft we climbed

we removed a few bails i making it big enough for the three of us after getting in we pulled the bails back over us and there we stayed for over two hours the police and keepers did arrive but never twigged where we were, we heard one keeper say they must of crossed the river
where the ford is its not to deep they may of got their feet wet but then they were in the woods by the big
hall , they could soon be on the road and away home. we nearly burst out laughing, i have got a road block said the Sgt if they go towards shrewsbury, we will nab them, and away they went, the car was hidden on a old airdrome which the yanks used in the war, no one ever went near the place they said it was haunted by the air men that had lost their lives in the war it was now covered and very over grown but easy to hide your car we were soon on our way to dicks we only caught twenty rabbits which was really waste of time but we enjoyed every bit of it we were soon enjoying cheese sandwiches and mugs of hot tea if the police were waiting they would be there a very long time. well thats it for now rigs to tie more later

In reply to Post #617
Well I have managed to put a few fish on the bank nothing really big but mostly doubles the biggest around fourteen pounds but have seen some good photos of middle twenties so it is only a matter of time. Although I am seventy two I still get that buzz when fishing a new water I wish I was younger to do the things I loved to walk the fields in the dead of night holding my trusty rifle graham by my side we would shoot the humble rabbit some night over fifty, I have had a wonderful time over the years simple things gave me pleasure like standing in the woods listening to the wild life I have slept under the ferns they made a comfy bed covering myself with the same the vixen screamed it would freeze the blood of most that had not heard it before the screech of the owl one wood I poached he put down galinees they soon warned the keeper if there was anyone around lovely to eat I would have a couple before they even called into the bag they went and so did I what a racket they made in the dead of night the keepers would soon be out of their beds, I would be long gone onto the next estate it all gave me pleasure. Into the next wood, I would listen for a while just incase they had been called out to watch their coverts not a noise you can tell when someone's about a crack of wood where he had stood a rustle of clothes catching the undergrowth the smell of a distant pipe they all gave you a warning when some one was around I would take my time have six nice birds with my rifle and torch then away to the next wood.

At times you would be discovered then the chase began this really excited me I would be away with the keepers and maybe dogs I would hide my pheasants one ploy I used was to run the river bank crossing where I could if near old bells shoot I would run the top of the waterfall then down the other side across another fall under the road bridge and wait and see I smelt pipe smoke knew instantly it was old Gerry Haiz, if he was here so was old Bell the next thing I knew was my face being licked by a big old lab it was bells he knew me he soon got fed up
and away he went when bell called him back come you old bugger I watched and waited but they disappeared into the distance I was lucky once again. well a bit more latter