Success can be 101 different things
One of my best memories ever was waking up in France and seeing a red squirel, 3 ft from me
Another was seeing a badger 20 ft away from me on a tiny little river at 2 am
Beat that
One of my best memories ever was waking up in France and seeing a red squirel, 3 ft from me
Another was seeing a badger 20 ft away from me on a tiny little river at 2 am
Beat that
In reply to Post #1
Never had it happen yet, but got to be Kingfisher landing on your rods! For me it's just being able to get out fishing!
Never had it happen yet, but got to be Kingfisher landing on your rods! For me it's just being able to get out fishing!
In reply to Post #1
I was fishing linchhill once and had a badger sat just outside my bivvy.I used to fish a little lake that had a friendly Robin,he used to like sitting on the handles of my reels
I was fishing linchhill once and had a badger sat just outside my bivvy.I used to fish a little lake that had a friendly Robin,he used to like sitting on the handles of my reels
In reply to Post #2
I had this this other week, he dived in twice as well both times landing back on the rods, brilliant!
Got a video of it too but posting that on here is another story.
I had this this other week, he dived in twice as well both times landing back on the rods, brilliant!
Got a video of it too but posting that on here is another story.
Had a Mink run in front of me while barrowing my gear back to the car yesterday.
In reply to Post #5
everytime i fished a certain swim i used to have a Tawny Owl sit above me, literally feet from the roof of the bivvy, i used to watch it for hours.
I think i was in his space more then him in mine
everytime i fished a certain swim i used to have a Tawny Owl sit above me, literally feet from the roof of the bivvy, i used to watch it for hours.
I think i was in his space more then him in mine
As a photographer when I go fishing I tend to go with some pretty neat camera gear so I can normally get my sights down digitally.
In reply to Post #7
Cracking pic mate
Cracking pic mate
In reply to Post #7
Very nice pic
Very nice pic
In reply to Post #1
It was just after getting dark and I had set my rod on the pod after casting out, i was kneeled down and looked up for what ever reason and there was a owl hovering right above my head, I couldnt hear it al all. Scared me and I bet I scared it also. It was winter and I had a hood up, maybe it could see part of my face and thought I was dinner.
It was just after getting dark and I had set my rod on the pod after casting out, i was kneeled down and looked up for what ever reason and there was a owl hovering right above my head, I couldnt hear it al all. Scared me and I bet I scared it also. It was winter and I had a hood up, maybe it could see part of my face and thought I was dinner.
In reply to Post #7
Great
Great
In reply to Post #11
Some nice spots, my weirdest was getting a small deer out the canal in my landing net, poor thing, it was ok
Some nice spots, my weirdest was getting a small deer out the canal in my landing net, poor thing, it was ok
In reply to Post #12
Rescued a baby rabbit when I was younger,I was collecting tadpoles to put in our garden pond
Rescued a baby rabbit when I was younger,I was collecting tadpoles to put in our garden pond
Giving a stranded bumble bee some sugar water so it got the energy to fly.
Simple solutions, I like bumble bees.
Simple solutions, I like bumble bees.
In reply to Post #1
Remember the Passion For Angling opener?
"the secret of success is not how to catch, but how to enjoy"
Says it all for me...
One particular evening I remember hearing a bird which seemed to replicate every other birds song I'd ever heard + a few car alarm noises throw in too, crystal clear, the sound was absolutely phenomenal. After a bit of research I found that I had heard my first nightingale, will never forget that sound.
Remember the Passion For Angling opener?
"the secret of success is not how to catch, but how to enjoy"
Says it all for me...
One particular evening I remember hearing a bird which seemed to replicate every other birds song I'd ever heard + a few car alarm noises throw in too, crystal clear, the sound was absolutely phenomenal. After a bit of research I found that I had heard my first nightingale, will never forget that sound.
First night on a new water about 18 years ago ,
I only put my biv up near a car park, turned out it was according g to Google one of the best dogging sights in Essex, I blanked
I only put my biv up near a car park, turned out it was according g to Google one of the best dogging sights in Essex, I blanked
In reply to Post #16
Define 'blanked?
Define 'blanked?
In reply to Post #1
Most memorable for me was having a pair of nightjars displaying above my head while sat next to the rods watching the water.
Got to be one of the best displays of any British birds.
Live with me forever.
Most memorable for me was having a pair of nightjars displaying above my head while sat next to the rods watching the water.
Got to be one of the best displays of any British birds.
Live with me forever.
In reply to Post #4
I woke one morning to find 19 Swallows sat the full length of my two rods on my pod. Don't know how long they'd been there but as I went for the camera they were gone.
I woke one morning to find 19 Swallows sat the full length of my two rods on my pod. Don't know how long they'd been there but as I went for the camera they were gone.
In reply to Post #17
What are u insinuating,
Did a lap see nothing and the carpark had a nice bit of grass
to put me tent on, watched the water like a proper carper then packed up
What are u insinuating,
Did a lap see nothing and the carpark had a nice bit of grass
to put me tent on, watched the water like a proper carper then packed up
In reply to Post #7
Beautiful picture that mate
Where I was fishing over the last couple of years I used to put branches in water to make perches, used to get regular visitors, amazing watching them, apparently black in colour I believe. I once heard, that light refraction makes them blue or something?
Success for me means one thing now, finding somewhere to fish by myself or with minimal other anglers
Beautiful picture that mate
Where I was fishing over the last couple of years I used to put branches in water to make perches, used to get regular visitors, amazing watching them, apparently black in colour I believe. I once heard, that light refraction makes them blue or something?
Success for me means one thing now, finding somewhere to fish by myself or with minimal other anglers
A very memorable moment for me was sitting next to a beautiful lake and seeing an Osprey circle overhead, made even better when he decided to stoop in to the lake!
In reply to Post #1
Hmm, nothing special for me when it comes to seeing a badger. At my previous house, we had them in the garden almost every night. Bloody missis started feeding them and then that was it, no getting rid of them.
I guess for me, seeing a sea eagle feeding when pike fishing in Scotland is right up there. But there's no beating the two naked French girls I stumbled on when stalking a river a few years ago
Hmm, nothing special for me when it comes to seeing a badger. At my previous house, we had them in the garden almost every night. Bloody missis started feeding them and then that was it, no getting rid of them.
I guess for me, seeing a sea eagle feeding when pike fishing in Scotland is right up there. But there's no beating the two naked French girls I stumbled on when stalking a river a few years ago
In reply to Post #7
Superb.
Superb.
In reply to Post #1
One of the lakes I fish has some very friendly Robins, they come
within a couple of feet from me and I feed them some digestive
biscuits, one jumped up on my boot and I froze so I didn't frighten
it off, a couple of years ago one jumped up on my boot then hopped
up on my knee, again I couldn't move a muscle for fear of it leaving,
last week a black bird came within a couple of feet, I love it.
One of the lakes I fish has some very friendly Robins, they come
within a couple of feet from me and I feed them some digestive
biscuits, one jumped up on my boot and I froze so I didn't frighten
it off, a couple of years ago one jumped up on my boot then hopped
up on my knee, again I couldn't move a muscle for fear of it leaving,
last week a black bird came within a couple of feet, I love it.
Woke up one morning with deer drinking from the lake just a few feet away. Stayed still and had around a minute watching them before they spooked and bounced away
In reply to Post #23
I guess for me, seeing a sea eagle feeding when pike fishing in Scotland is right up there. But there's no beating the two naked French girls I stumbled on when stalking a river a few years ag
Oh, that reminds me, a club lake I used to fish over the weekend was made
even better when ....one Saturday night after 11pm I sensed someone
was behind me, when I turned there were 3 or 4 guys looking across the lake to
the houses the other side, they all had bins, I asked what was going on
on, one said "don't you know", I got my bins out to see a young lady
undressing with the light on and the curtains wide open, it could be
difficult to get that swim on some Saturday nights.
I guess for me, seeing a sea eagle feeding when pike fishing in Scotland is right up there. But there's no beating the two naked French girls I stumbled on when stalking a river a few years ag
Oh, that reminds me, a club lake I used to fish over the weekend was made
even better when ....one Saturday night after 11pm I sensed someone
was behind me, when I turned there were 3 or 4 guys looking across the lake to
the houses the other side, they all had bins, I asked what was going on
on, one said "don't you know", I got my bins out to see a young lady
undressing with the light on and the curtains wide open, it could be
difficult to get that swim on some Saturday nights.
I got invited to fish a lake in southern France that was a fish farm and the new owners wanted to turn it into a carp fishery so it had never seen an angler
on the 3 day I woke up at dawn to the sound of fish crashing but could not see them as the lake had about a metre of mist on the water I was sitting on my bed desperately trying to see where these lumps were crashing I stood up walked out my doorway and no more than 6 or 7 metres to my right
was a beautiful Stag the steam coming out of his nostrils was like two upside down ice cream cones he turned his head and we just looked at each other I was thinking if I could get a picture it would win awards I knew my camera was just inside on my table but out of reach
as slowly as I could I lowered my head leaned inside grabbed the camera when I looked he had gone
when the weekend came it was like WW3 I had never heard so many guns all around ! the owner came round and explained it was the 1st day of the hunting season on Sunday mid day an old beaten up pickup came roaring across the field behind me with two guys in the back with guns and a big dead stag bloody heart breaking
on the 3 day I woke up at dawn to the sound of fish crashing but could not see them as the lake had about a metre of mist on the water I was sitting on my bed desperately trying to see where these lumps were crashing I stood up walked out my doorway and no more than 6 or 7 metres to my right
was a beautiful Stag the steam coming out of his nostrils was like two upside down ice cream cones he turned his head and we just looked at each other I was thinking if I could get a picture it would win awards I knew my camera was just inside on my table but out of reach
as slowly as I could I lowered my head leaned inside grabbed the camera when I looked he had gone
when the weekend came it was like WW3 I had never heard so many guns all around ! the owner came round and explained it was the 1st day of the hunting season on Sunday mid day an old beaten up pickup came roaring across the field behind me with two guys in the back with guns and a big dead stag bloody heart breaking
In reply to Post #28
I was enjoying that for a while bud
I was enjoying that for a while bud
In reply to Post #1
Daydreaming, reminiscing and getting pictures in your mind.
I've taken hundreds of pictures whilst fishing, but none capture the personal moment - last year it was like I was fishing a bloody zoo - a snake slithered across the front of the swim and whilst I don't like them I just watched him mooch about - then a little mouse popped in for some broken bait before the resident geese were a bit more blatant and knocked on the bucket for some food.
When you have the pleasure to fish alone - it amazes me how unimportant catching really is. I explain to non fishing friends when they ask why I do such a pointless hobby by saying ‘if I sat on a chair in the middle of a wood - making tea, muttering to my myself, I would be labelled a nutter or a pervert, put out a fishing rod, and I have an acceptable hobby'
With the advancement and popularity of fishing, 99% of us no longer enjoy the mystery, named and often caught fish are the norm, so I make up for this by day dreaming and smelling the flowers along the way.
Daydreaming, reminiscing and getting pictures in your mind.
I've taken hundreds of pictures whilst fishing, but none capture the personal moment - last year it was like I was fishing a bloody zoo - a snake slithered across the front of the swim and whilst I don't like them I just watched him mooch about - then a little mouse popped in for some broken bait before the resident geese were a bit more blatant and knocked on the bucket for some food.
When you have the pleasure to fish alone - it amazes me how unimportant catching really is. I explain to non fishing friends when they ask why I do such a pointless hobby by saying ‘if I sat on a chair in the middle of a wood - making tea, muttering to my myself, I would be labelled a nutter or a pervert, put out a fishing rod, and I have an acceptable hobby'
With the advancement and popularity of fishing, 99% of us no longer enjoy the mystery, named and often caught fish are the norm, so I make up for this by day dreaming and smelling the flowers along the way.
In reply to Post #30
Being quiet is an art
Being quiet is an art
one of my biggest adrenaline rushes was my first meeting with a white-tailed sea eagle. These things are huge, and to watch them hunt and get the shots was a checked box on my bucket list.
In reply to Post #32
Your photos are incredible. Thanks for sharing
Your photos are incredible. Thanks for sharing
In reply to Post #32
In reply to Post #32
Wow thats an amazing picture !
I have had a few holidays in the Scottish Highlands and while driving the coastal road near the summer isles saw a white-tailed sea eagle sitting on some rocks very close to the road I stopped the car but it spooked him and it flew over our car the wingspan had to be at least 7 to 8 feet its the biggest bird I have ever seen I would not have believed a bird could be so big if I had not seen it with my own eyes
I have stayed in Ullapool a few times and the wildlife is amazing (apart from the midges at certain times of the year that is )
Wow thats an amazing picture !
I have had a few holidays in the Scottish Highlands and while driving the coastal road near the summer isles saw a white-tailed sea eagle sitting on some rocks very close to the road I stopped the car but it spooked him and it flew over our car the wingspan had to be at least 7 to 8 feet its the biggest bird I have ever seen I would not have believed a bird could be so big if I had not seen it with my own eyes
I have stayed in Ullapool a few times and the wildlife is amazing (apart from the midges at certain times of the year that is )
In reply to Post #35
Thanks, guys for your comments, very kind. I used to do a lot of wildlife photography on the west coast of Scotland, with the White Tails being the star attraction. These birds were re introduced in the early 80's from Norway onto the isle of Rum. For some reason, they didn't take to it and went across to Mull. The numbers have slowly increased to around 120 pairs and can be spotted right across Scotland onto the east coast. Some great news for once, a magnificent creature known as the flying barn door with a wing span up to 8ft.
And here is my last one, A red stag night shot taken from a trail cam setup using a magboob lighting rig. Enjoy.
Thanks, guys for your comments, very kind. I used to do a lot of wildlife photography on the west coast of Scotland, with the White Tails being the star attraction. These birds were re introduced in the early 80's from Norway onto the isle of Rum. For some reason, they didn't take to it and went across to Mull. The numbers have slowly increased to around 120 pairs and can be spotted right across Scotland onto the east coast. Some great news for once, a magnificent creature known as the flying barn door with a wing span up to 8ft.
And here is my last one, A red stag night shot taken from a trail cam setup using a magboob lighting rig. Enjoy.
ANOTHER awesome photograph ! I was fishing in Spain on the Ebro and had lots of birds of prey screeching above us and it would echo around the cliffs
every now and then one would come down like a missile in front of us and fly off with a fish they were Peregrine falcons I never managed a picture but saw this amazing picture on the net
every now and then one would come down like a missile in front of us and fly off with a fish they were Peregrine falcons I never managed a picture but saw this amazing picture on the net
In reply to Post #36
That is an amazing photograph. Do you sell prints? I love that kingfisher
That is an amazing photograph. Do you sell prints? I love that kingfisher
In reply to Post #1
Success to me is getting that mid week switch off from my stressful, not spoling family plans for the weekend by doing it, and catching a few along the way!
Success to me is getting that mid week switch off from my stressful, not spoling family plans for the weekend by doing it, and catching a few along the way!
In reply to Post #38
Thanks Dom, I used to, but I stopped selling photography services this year. Covid along with degenerating discs in my back put paid to it I'm afraid. I do tick along though whilst out and about, or I try to
Thanks Dom, I used to, but I stopped selling photography services this year. Covid along with degenerating discs in my back put paid to it I'm afraid. I do tick along though whilst out and about, or I try to
In reply to Post #1
just getting over the lake fishing or not is success for me. Fishing is second to family and a good group of friends
just getting over the lake fishing or not is success for me. Fishing is second to family and a good group of friends
In reply to Post #36
Some cracking pictures there again mate
Seen quite a few golden eagles over the years, like you, lover of the west coast, simply stunning, spent a lot of time up there as a kid, been on most of the islands too. Not seen many sea eagles though. Saw a golden eagle take a rabbit a couple of years ago, out on the mountain bike on Islay, flew straight across in front of me and took it, amazing to see!
Closet I have come to red dear was in the Kentmere valley, just off high street in the lakes, walking a path and two full grown stags came straight down the path and thankfully took a left in front of me down the hill, impressive creatures, I was a bit twitchy too I will tell you!
Out of interest, have you seen any Orca, would love to see those!
Loch Lomond this bank holiday weekend for me, spinning rod too
Some cracking pictures there again mate
Seen quite a few golden eagles over the years, like you, lover of the west coast, simply stunning, spent a lot of time up there as a kid, been on most of the islands too. Not seen many sea eagles though. Saw a golden eagle take a rabbit a couple of years ago, out on the mountain bike on Islay, flew straight across in front of me and took it, amazing to see!
Closet I have come to red dear was in the Kentmere valley, just off high street in the lakes, walking a path and two full grown stags came straight down the path and thankfully took a left in front of me down the hill, impressive creatures, I was a bit twitchy too I will tell you!
Out of interest, have you seen any Orca, would love to see those!
Loch Lomond this bank holiday weekend for me, spinning rod too
Success is just being there
In reply to Post #32
Just look at the stunning beauty of that fantastically graceful creature. Simply Incredible.
That's one thing that many of us anglers have in common, I think we all adore wildlife and nature. It's certainly a massive part of it for me.
Just look at the stunning beauty of that fantastically graceful creature. Simply Incredible.
That's one thing that many of us anglers have in common, I think we all adore wildlife and nature. It's certainly a massive part of it for me.
In reply to Post #32
And, what a shoot amazing
And, what a shoot
amazing
Great pics and story's, after all this time I still can't believe how lucky l am to fish, I need it
In reply to Post #42
Thanks, Chris, No, No Orca, but loads of bottlenose dolphins. Up at Calgary Beach, you will see basking sharks along with the odd otter. Mull I use for wildlife and then go up to Skye for more Sea Eagles with landscape work. Fairy pools are stunning, with the Monroes in the background. Waterfalls around every corner, truly stunning. You can't beat that region for some photography if that's your thing.
Thanks, Chris, No, No Orca, but loads of bottlenose dolphins. Up at Calgary Beach, you will see basking sharks along with the odd otter. Mull I use for wildlife and then go up to Skye for more Sea Eagles with landscape work. Fairy pools are stunning, with the Monroes in the background. Waterfalls around every corner, truly stunning. You can't beat that region for some photography if that's your thing.
In reply to Post #47
Fantastic mate, certainly handy with that camera
Saw the otters before and last year, did the NC500, as you say, West coast blows the rest away for me too. Beautiful place to spend some time, sounds like you have
Fantastic mate, certainly handy with that camera
Saw the otters before and last year, did the NC500, as you say, West coast blows the rest away for me too. Beautiful place to spend some time, sounds like you have
In reply to Post #1
Hi,
Great post
Also feel very lucky to be out in the countryside away from the "civilians" a couple of nights a week.
I got treated to a masterclass last year when an osprey popped in for lunch on the reservoir I fish.
it caught much faster than me
breathtaking to watch.
cheers
Neil.
Hi,
Great post
Also feel very lucky to be out in the countryside away from the "civilians" a couple of nights a week.
I got treated to a masterclass last year when an osprey popped in for lunch on the reservoir I fish.
it caught much faster than me
breathtaking to watch.
cheers
Neil.
In reply to Post #49
Fantastic, thankyou
Fantastic, thankyou
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