In reply to Post #697
I loved the autumn as i have said before a wonderful time of year and i loved the colour of the dying leaves the weather had cooled down and you could almost smell the approaching winter it was a real busy time for the game keepers as they would now be shooting the wild duck at evening flight and getting the pheasants ready for the start of the pheasant shooting which begins in October.. In my younger days the estates reared thousands of birds pheasants partridge duck and some estates employed as many as eight keepers. THE guns would arrive in the morning usually about nine thirty and would start the day with a spot of good slow gin and would then pick there peg number for the first drive. Some of the guns were real posh and used to talk like they had a plum in the mouth and all dressed up i used to laugh as i hid behind a hedge or the nearest tree. in a day they would shoot hundreds of birds and i was never far away and as i have said before i would pick a few before the dogs started to pick them up after the drive. i would really laugh you would hear the gun say keeper i shot two or three birds there over in that bramble and watch the keeper shake his head. i had already had them and were now hidden in the hedge. i would always have a sack with me and would wait until the end of the day and all was quite then collect the birds and make my way home some times with as many as eight brace for those that don't know sixteen birds. it was an easy way of poaching and i suppose looking back i was about ten years old and it used to fill me full of excitement. Old SAM the keeper used to tell me off and would say i can always give you a brace for your parents but it was not the same i used to like being out there and snatching a few birds doing my own thing and i could always make a bob or two. From the day i met SAM who learned me so much i never once poached his patch he would let me catch a few rabbits with my old ferret and at times would come with me but he would never over do it as the rabbits in those days were revenue for the estate and would all be sold at market for sixpence each or even less there would be thousands at the market, and they would be bought and taken all over Britain London Birmingham as rabbits really made a good and cheap meal especially after the war when people were really hard up but it was not to last it was not long before myxomatosis reared its ugly head which had a real impact on the country side and all its wild life.. moe latter
I loved the autumn as i have said before a wonderful time of year and i loved the colour of the dying leaves the weather had cooled down and you could almost smell the approaching winter it was a real busy time for the game keepers as they would now be shooting the wild duck at evening flight and getting the pheasants ready for the start of the pheasant shooting which begins in October.. In my younger days the estates reared thousands of birds pheasants partridge duck and some estates employed as many as eight keepers. THE guns would arrive in the morning usually about nine thirty and would start the day with a spot of good slow gin and would then pick there peg number for the first drive. Some of the guns were real posh and used to talk like they had a plum in the mouth and all dressed up i used to laugh as i hid behind a hedge or the nearest tree. in a day they would shoot hundreds of birds and i was never far away and as i have said before i would pick a few before the dogs started to pick them up after the drive. i would really laugh you would hear the gun say keeper i shot two or three birds there over in that bramble and watch the keeper shake his head. i had already had them and were now hidden in the hedge. i would always have a sack with me and would wait until the end of the day and all was quite then collect the birds and make my way home some times with as many as eight brace for those that don't know sixteen birds. it was an easy way of poaching and i suppose looking back i was about ten years old and it used to fill me full of excitement. Old SAM the keeper used to tell me off and would say i can always give you a brace for your parents but it was not the same i used to like being out there and snatching a few birds doing my own thing and i could always make a bob or two. From the day i met SAM who learned me so much i never once poached his patch he would let me catch a few rabbits with my old ferret and at times would come with me but he would never over do it as the rabbits in those days were revenue for the estate and would all be sold at market for sixpence each or even less there would be thousands at the market, and they would be bought and taken all over Britain London Birmingham as rabbits really made a good and cheap meal especially after the war when people were really hard up but it was not to last it was not long before myxomatosis reared its ugly head which had a real impact on the country side and all its wild life.. moe latter
In reply to Post #700
I suppose i am very lucky to have led the life i have i started fishing at a very young age and had a very loving family we were not well off and at times life was very hard for my parents especially my mother who lost my father in the late stages of the war. It was not until she met my step father that things really started to improve for my mother and myself he was a marvelous man and i will always be proud to have called him my father he was all i had known all my young life. And he encouraged me to fish and shoot. although money was in short supply when i was young every Xmas i would always get some fishing equipment he bought my first fixed spool reel a Mitchell 300 a combination rod split cane made by hardy which when he died two years ago while sorting paper work out we found the receipt seventy pounds he paid how i don't know he was only a signal man on the railway and the wages were not that much so i hold him very close to my heart and he will remain in my memory for ever. My step father never ever fished so i learned most myself i made mistakes but it was all part of the learning process and gradually i got better and better. i awoke one Xmas morning to find a parcel by my bed and on opening it ,found to my delight an air gun it really changed my life although not that powerful i did shoot a few pheasants with it to the delight of my parents. mum would worry that i would get caught but i could run and was quite quick on my feet. we would have roast pheasant for Sunday dinner and any left she would make into a stew mixing it with any rabbit meat we had left over so we really did not starve i got quite a reputation for my poaching and as i have said before even supplied my school teacher with a few pheasants and rabbits it was not just the pheasants and rabbits but the gray ling and trout also that inhabited the river onny that kept us fed in the years after the war. There was always something to eat potatoes from the fields black berries apples from the farmers orchard eggs from the farm yard i was always on the look out for a free meal which helped my parents and our neighbours i suppose it was stealing but we needed to survive and we certainly did before dad died he wanted me to write a book about my life and nature well i suppose i am now trying but wether anything will come of it i dont know i have freind on here that are really trying to help and i will be in there dept forever more you know who you are so all i can say is thanks i owe you one more latter pete
I suppose i am very lucky to have led the life i have i started fishing at a very young age and had a very loving family we were not well off and at times life was very hard for my parents especially my mother who lost my father in the late stages of the war. It was not until she met my step father that things really started to improve for my mother and myself he was a marvelous man and i will always be proud to have called him my father he was all i had known all my young life. And he encouraged me to fish and shoot. although money was in short supply when i was young every Xmas i would always get some fishing equipment he bought my first fixed spool reel a Mitchell 300 a combination rod split cane made by hardy which when he died two years ago while sorting paper work out we found the receipt seventy pounds he paid how i don't know he was only a signal man on the railway and the wages were not that much so i hold him very close to my heart and he will remain in my memory for ever. My step father never ever fished so i learned most myself i made mistakes but it was all part of the learning process and gradually i got better and better. i awoke one Xmas morning to find a parcel by my bed and on opening it ,found to my delight an air gun it really changed my life although not that powerful i did shoot a few pheasants with it to the delight of my parents. mum would worry that i would get caught but i could run and was quite quick on my feet. we would have roast pheasant for Sunday dinner and any left she would make into a stew mixing it with any rabbit meat we had left over so we really did not starve i got quite a reputation for my poaching and as i have said before even supplied my school teacher with a few pheasants and rabbits it was not just the pheasants and rabbits but the gray ling and trout also that inhabited the river onny that kept us fed in the years after the war. There was always something to eat potatoes from the fields black berries apples from the farmers orchard eggs from the farm yard i was always on the look out for a free meal which helped my parents and our neighbours i suppose it was stealing but we needed to survive and we certainly did before dad died he wanted me to write a book about my life and nature well i suppose i am now trying but wether anything will come of it i dont know i have freind on here that are really trying to help and i will be in there dept forever more you know who you are so all i can say is thanks i owe you one more latter pete
In reply to Post #701
I was in my middle twenties when i got my first car or should i say van a friend said he knew some one who had A35 van for sale and it was in good nick it was standing on the drive when we arrived how much mate twenty five quid ten minutes latter i was driving home in it . That little van opened up my life it took me fishing shooting and on hols with the family in fact it completely changed my life and gave me freedom to fish and may i say shoot poach farther afield. i would fish the meres in Cheshire Shropshire in fact any where we could wet a line. we fished the meres at ellesmere Crows mere, Blakemere, Whitemere, Colemere, where we eventually broke the British bream record ,and it was where we formed The Three counties specimen group if i remember at the time we had about 14 members but it soon grew in strength and because of our popularity we soon had some well known anglers getting invitations to fish with us.
They were great days tackle was starting to improve but a lot of my friends could not afford the money to buy it one chap that was in our group would use nuts and bolt for ledgers that's how hard up some used to be. i suppose i was lucky i managed to catch a few biggies over the years and won rods reels sets of floats mainly billy lanes i won two of these big boxes of floats and gave graham one of the sets i also gave him rods and reels i did not need them all and that's what friends were for . we would all help one another out and share our knowledge with other members of the group. In fact as i have mentioned before this is where my friendship with dick walker began and with a good many more stars of yesteryears so i suppose i can look back on my life with pride and be proud of all i have achieved well that's not allot but i have met some great friends along the way some famous some not. Graham and myself would be away guns in the back and would poach a few pheasants it has been known to shoot a couple of birds over the hedge stop the van at the side of the road and bang not really the thing to do but you could get a quick get away in the van, and it was easy way of getting a meal or two and you must remember times were still very hard and we both had young family to keep well thats a bit more about my life more latter
I was in my middle twenties when i got my first car or should i say van a friend said he knew some one who had A35 van for sale and it was in good nick it was standing on the drive when we arrived how much mate twenty five quid ten minutes latter i was driving home in it . That little van opened up my life it took me fishing shooting and on hols with the family in fact it completely changed my life and gave me freedom to fish and may i say shoot poach farther afield. i would fish the meres in Cheshire Shropshire in fact any where we could wet a line. we fished the meres at ellesmere Crows mere, Blakemere, Whitemere, Colemere, where we eventually broke the British bream record ,and it was where we formed The Three counties specimen group if i remember at the time we had about 14 members but it soon grew in strength and because of our popularity we soon had some well known anglers getting invitations to fish with us.
They were great days tackle was starting to improve but a lot of my friends could not afford the money to buy it one chap that was in our group would use nuts and bolt for ledgers that's how hard up some used to be. i suppose i was lucky i managed to catch a few biggies over the years and won rods reels sets of floats mainly billy lanes i won two of these big boxes of floats and gave graham one of the sets i also gave him rods and reels i did not need them all and that's what friends were for . we would all help one another out and share our knowledge with other members of the group. In fact as i have mentioned before this is where my friendship with dick walker began and with a good many more stars of yesteryears so i suppose i can look back on my life with pride and be proud of all i have achieved well that's not allot but i have met some great friends along the way some famous some not. Graham and myself would be away guns in the back and would poach a few pheasants it has been known to shoot a couple of birds over the hedge stop the van at the side of the road and bang not really the thing to do but you could get a quick get away in the van, and it was easy way of getting a meal or two and you must remember times were still very hard and we both had young family to keep well thats a bit more about my life more latter
In reply to Post #702
As we stood on mr Atkins land near bomere graham myself and a friend called Rodger we were there to catch the rabbits that were causing a considerable amount of damage to the farmer and his crops. We would ferret and shoot any that missed the nets it was an annual event at the farm although we could go any time we wanted. It used to make me laugh a bit as it was one of the farms that i used to poach when i was a youngster well i was not that young maybe around twenty . We loved be out on a wild wet windy night we would shoot the pheasants when they were at roost with a lamp and rifle and always made a bob or two especially at Christmas's .
Before we even went out we would make sure who wanted what and any left over would be sold to a friend who ran a market stall who specialized in selling game the money always came in handy at Xmas it would help buy presents for our children and maybe a pint or two as times were still pretty hard. But now we were catching the rabbits on one of the farms we poached all those years ago, but now we were doing it legaly. We would net all the holes we could see and put in half a dozen ferrets some of these warrens, were very big and had been used by the rabbit population for years. graham and myself would stand quietly by the hedge with our guns hoping to shoot any that missed the nets quietness was the order of the day and eventually rabbits would start to hit the nets and would be dispatched in the blink of an eye some of the bigger warrens would take a couple of hours to ferret properly, and you may catch as many as ten couple. One warren we did was in a small fir wood it was absolutely huge there were holes every where to many to net so we filled a lot of the holes in and left it for a couple of days then we would return to see how many they had opened up . when we eventually ferreted this wood we only netted the open holes that the rabbits were using and ended the morning with fifteen couple a good mornings work which really pleased the farmer this was our way of life and it was surprising how much trust the farmer had in you i have sat in many farm houses on Christmas eve in front of a roaring fire supping a drop of malt whiskey and eating mince pies it was there way of saying thanks for all you have done more to come latter
As we stood on mr Atkins land near bomere graham myself and a friend called Rodger we were there to catch the rabbits that were causing a considerable amount of damage to the farmer and his crops. We would ferret and shoot any that missed the nets it was an annual event at the farm although we could go any time we wanted. It used to make me laugh a bit as it was one of the farms that i used to poach when i was a youngster well i was not that young maybe around twenty . We loved be out on a wild wet windy night we would shoot the pheasants when they were at roost with a lamp and rifle and always made a bob or two especially at Christmas's .
Before we even went out we would make sure who wanted what and any left over would be sold to a friend who ran a market stall who specialized in selling game the money always came in handy at Xmas it would help buy presents for our children and maybe a pint or two as times were still pretty hard. But now we were catching the rabbits on one of the farms we poached all those years ago, but now we were doing it legaly. We would net all the holes we could see and put in half a dozen ferrets some of these warrens, were very big and had been used by the rabbit population for years. graham and myself would stand quietly by the hedge with our guns hoping to shoot any that missed the nets quietness was the order of the day and eventually rabbits would start to hit the nets and would be dispatched in the blink of an eye some of the bigger warrens would take a couple of hours to ferret properly, and you may catch as many as ten couple. One warren we did was in a small fir wood it was absolutely huge there were holes every where to many to net so we filled a lot of the holes in and left it for a couple of days then we would return to see how many they had opened up . when we eventually ferreted this wood we only netted the open holes that the rabbits were using and ended the morning with fifteen couple a good mornings work which really pleased the farmer this was our way of life and it was surprising how much trust the farmer had in you i have sat in many farm houses on Christmas eve in front of a roaring fire supping a drop of malt whiskey and eating mince pies it was there way of saying thanks for all you have done more to come latter
In reply to Post #703
What a day yesterday i managed a visit to the west mid game fair. it was a real struggle walking around and had to sit down on a regular basis i have not been for a few years because of my health but it was nice to meet a few friends from the past. one person i did meet was Rob d from somerset and his mate both members of the carp forum nice lads and over a drink of cider we had a chat and a good laugh he did know i was going with graham but it surprised me when he picked me out of the crowd but i was very glad to have made there acquaintance. by the time we went home i could hardly walk and i am not much better this morning. I had quite a shock when i visited the orthopaedic oswestry on Thurs i am told i have severe thinning of the bone and i have got to have a scan, in the near future how this will effect my fishing i don't know as it can become quite nasty but if they catch it in time can be helped with drugs the first knee i had done 18 months ago is showing severe thinning on the left side and the hip has become loose which i had done eight years ago and there i was thinking i would be alright.
Well lets get on that's enough about my health looking around it seems to have been a good year for blackberries and hazel nuts no one seems to pick them like we used to years ago but i suppose it was a necessity then. i have also seen a few picking the mushrooms its also been a good year for the wild life loads of rabbits . So there will be plenty of food for old foxy for some time to come. My old mate Rodger will be out with his ferrets next month and will make a bob or two graham and i may go with him depending on my health. we shall carry on our quest for the barbel and if not to cold shall fish into the winter when you can catch the bigger fish. One thing that concerns me is the badger cull i hope it does not become a free for all there is need for control but not extermination and i know a few farmers who would shoot them all. This must not happen its really going to be hard i have visited some of these big sets for years they have been there for generations and i would hate to see them all destroyed . The same will happen with otters protect any animal over time they get over populated and will compete for food its happening now its an easy option for otters to kill and eat our carp especially in some commercial fisheries where there is a high stocking policy well a bit more latter
What a day yesterday i managed a visit to the west mid game fair. it was a real struggle walking around and had to sit down on a regular basis i have not been for a few years because of my health but it was nice to meet a few friends from the past. one person i did meet was Rob d from somerset and his mate both members of the carp forum nice lads and over a drink of cider we had a chat and a good laugh he did know i was going with graham but it surprised me when he picked me out of the crowd but i was very glad to have made there acquaintance. by the time we went home i could hardly walk and i am not much better this morning. I had quite a shock when i visited the orthopaedic oswestry on Thurs i am told i have severe thinning of the bone and i have got to have a scan, in the near future how this will effect my fishing i don't know as it can become quite nasty but if they catch it in time can be helped with drugs the first knee i had done 18 months ago is showing severe thinning on the left side and the hip has become loose which i had done eight years ago and there i was thinking i would be alright.
Well lets get on that's enough about my health looking around it seems to have been a good year for blackberries and hazel nuts no one seems to pick them like we used to years ago but i suppose it was a necessity then. i have also seen a few picking the mushrooms its also been a good year for the wild life loads of rabbits . So there will be plenty of food for old foxy for some time to come. My old mate Rodger will be out with his ferrets next month and will make a bob or two graham and i may go with him depending on my health. we shall carry on our quest for the barbel and if not to cold shall fish into the winter when you can catch the bigger fish. One thing that concerns me is the badger cull i hope it does not become a free for all there is need for control but not extermination and i know a few farmers who would shoot them all. This must not happen its really going to be hard i have visited some of these big sets for years they have been there for generations and i would hate to see them all destroyed . The same will happen with otters protect any animal over time they get over populated and will compete for food its happening now its an easy option for otters to kill and eat our carp especially in some commercial fisheries where there is a high stocking policy well a bit more latter
In reply to Post #704
hi pete it was a pleasure to meet you and graham and we did have a chuckle over a cider. also it was nice to see you were passing your knowledge on to grahams grandson. i hope he takes it all in.
all the best pete,
rob.
hi pete it was a pleasure to meet you and graham and we did have a chuckle over a cider. also it was nice to see you were passing your knowledge on to grahams grandson. i hope he takes it all in.
all the best pete,
rob.
In reply to Post #704
As i went out into the garden Monday evening i got quite a surprise sitting on a big plump pigeon was a hen sparrow hawk she was ripping out the feathers to get at the succulent meat on his breast. a managed to approach the hawk to within two feet she started to get very aggressive and jumped up and down towards me showing her talons warning me it was her kill and i was not taking it from her. well i had a camera in the car and managed to get a few shots of her feeding on the pigeon i had to use the flash and was surprised she was oblivious to all that was going on around her and was not frightened one bit i had to go up the road to my daughters and when i came back she was still there so i left her in piece to finish her meal all that's now left is a few feathers but its not the first time she has visited our garden as we have found feathers before black birds as well but its the first time i have caught the culprit in action my neighbours really do not like it and i am a bit surprised as most have been brought up in the country side and still don't understand its ways i have told them nature is very cruel and only the fittest survive i expect she will be back in a few days for another pigeon as we have a good many which have breed in my garden
Graham and myself will be out barbel fishing tomorrow and are quite hopeful as there is a bit of colour in the water and it is slightly up talking to the local anglers they seem to be catching a few up to around nine pounds plus but have also been catching some big old Bream good fish between six and seven pounds mostly on pellet i am an all rounder and will gratefully exept anything that graces my net be it chub bream or barbel its not just the fishing its about being out and about being one with nature. Talking to the Salmon anglers they have not done very well fish being in short supply but have caught some very big barbel while fishing the worm they have also caught some nice perch and pike while spinning so its not all bad news. i must now go and mix some ground bait for our feeders for tomorrow. more a bit latter
As i went out into the garden Monday evening i got quite a surprise sitting on a big plump pigeon was a hen sparrow hawk she was ripping out the feathers to get at the succulent meat on his breast. a managed to approach the hawk to within two feet she started to get very aggressive and jumped up and down towards me showing her talons warning me it was her kill and i was not taking it from her. well i had a camera in the car and managed to get a few shots of her feeding on the pigeon i had to use the flash and was surprised she was oblivious to all that was going on around her and was not frightened one bit i had to go up the road to my daughters and when i came back she was still there so i left her in piece to finish her meal all that's now left is a few feathers but its not the first time she has visited our garden as we have found feathers before black birds as well but its the first time i have caught the culprit in action my neighbours really do not like it and i am a bit surprised as most have been brought up in the country side and still don't understand its ways i have told them nature is very cruel and only the fittest survive i expect she will be back in a few days for another pigeon as we have a good many which have breed in my garden
Graham and myself will be out barbel fishing tomorrow and are quite hopeful as there is a bit of colour in the water and it is slightly up talking to the local anglers they seem to be catching a few up to around nine pounds plus but have also been catching some big old Bream good fish between six and seven pounds mostly on pellet i am an all rounder and will gratefully exept anything that graces my net be it chub bream or barbel its not just the fishing its about being out and about being one with nature. Talking to the Salmon anglers they have not done very well fish being in short supply but have caught some very big barbel while fishing the worm they have also caught some nice perch and pike while spinning so its not all bad news. i must now go and mix some ground bait for our feeders for tomorrow. more a bit latter
In reply to Post #706
my wife was rather shocked today when the sparrow hawk returned while she was in the kitchen it took a pigeon in flight and crashed into the kitchen window, it crashed to the floor in the back yard got up and flew away with the pigeon still in its talons its a wander it did not kill its self i have seen this happen before and the bird has been killed
Well we had a good days barbel fishing the river had a bit of colour and i started to use the small ellipse pellet first cast i accounted four a six pound fish not bad really as others were struggling i caught five barbel in total and two chub the biggest barbel was eight pound plus and the smallest five pounds the chub really pleased me as they were both five pounds plus. My poor old mate graham struggled a bit not catching any barbel but managed a couple of good chub on small halibut pellets the biggest five pounds eight oz very good fish. i think we would have caught a few more if we had been a little bit earlier this morning but i had a appointment at the docs so we were a bit late starting. Talking to other anglers who came for a chat said they had not caught and were really struggling as graham says that's fishing we will be going again next Tuesday and i hope we can catch a few more of these hard fighting fish i never fish the week end as i like piece and quite you just get to many fishing and that not my style well i am a bit tired so i will tell you some more tomorrow
my wife was rather shocked today when the sparrow hawk returned while she was in the kitchen it took a pigeon in flight and crashed into the kitchen window, it crashed to the floor in the back yard got up and flew away with the pigeon still in its talons its a wander it did not kill its self i have seen this happen before and the bird has been killed
Well we had a good days barbel fishing the river had a bit of colour and i started to use the small ellipse pellet first cast i accounted four a six pound fish not bad really as others were struggling i caught five barbel in total and two chub the biggest barbel was eight pound plus and the smallest five pounds the chub really pleased me as they were both five pounds plus. My poor old mate graham struggled a bit not catching any barbel but managed a couple of good chub on small halibut pellets the biggest five pounds eight oz very good fish. i think we would have caught a few more if we had been a little bit earlier this morning but i had a appointment at the docs so we were a bit late starting. Talking to other anglers who came for a chat said they had not caught and were really struggling as graham says that's fishing we will be going again next Tuesday and i hope we can catch a few more of these hard fighting fish i never fish the week end as i like piece and quite you just get to many fishing and that not my style well i am a bit tired so i will tell you some more tomorrow
In reply to Post #707
The leaves are starting to change to yellows and browns and some are already coming off the trees autumn is approaching fast. Its a great time off the year you can now feel a chill in the air as evening approaches at this time of the year the fishing usually improves we catch the bigger fish carp and barbel as they stuff them selves full to help through the impending winter.
. i would love to be out and about at this time of year especially the beginning of October this is when we would start to ferret the rabbits or poach a peasant or two or stand under the hedge on a moonlight night and shoot the geese as they come into rest on the quarry pools canada's grey lags we never over did it only taking what we needed four or five geese and we would be away the younger ones always made good eating ,and were quite tender if cooked the right way.
some people did not like us to shoot the geese but it was our heritage and a necessity we needed the food nothing was wasted the same with the rabbits and pheasants we harvested them like the farmer does with potatoes. There was nothing like a brace off partridge lovely to eat and i really prefer them to pheasant. i have also caught the bigger rainbows in September and October and loved to be out in the punt all legal and i did not have to pay as the owners were friends looking back i caught my biggest an 18 pounds plus fish in September and i donated it to the local blind school at Condover who were very grateful. And so was i they had let graham and myself fish there private stretch of the brook for many years and it was away off saying thank you. When that blind school closed down it really caused a lump in my throat as we had made many friends over the years even the kiddies knew us and would be after us for sweets how they knew we were there i don't know. i do know their hearing was very good and could distinguish between graham and myself we would take bags of toffees and such and would be surrounded by this lovely kids who were really unfortunate to be born that way. Old Bell the game keeper could not bare the thought, of us fishing on that private stretch and even went to see the head master to try and stop us but he failed miserably it was all about the trout that the brook held it was stocked for the local gentry and he could not bare the thought of us especially me fishing there as i had often poached the estate and the brook for its trout he had chased me on many occasions but could never catch me but alas those days have now gone and old Bell now lies at piece and most of his underkeepers those days we will not see again they were exiting days i would do all again if permited but thats not an option so we live with our memories and pass on our experiances to the younger generation just as my grandfather did to me more latter
The leaves are starting to change to yellows and browns and some are already coming off the trees autumn is approaching fast. Its a great time off the year you can now feel a chill in the air as evening approaches at this time of the year the fishing usually improves we catch the bigger fish carp and barbel as they stuff them selves full to help through the impending winter.
. i would love to be out and about at this time of year especially the beginning of October this is when we would start to ferret the rabbits or poach a peasant or two or stand under the hedge on a moonlight night and shoot the geese as they come into rest on the quarry pools canada's grey lags we never over did it only taking what we needed four or five geese and we would be away the younger ones always made good eating ,and were quite tender if cooked the right way.
some people did not like us to shoot the geese but it was our heritage and a necessity we needed the food nothing was wasted the same with the rabbits and pheasants we harvested them like the farmer does with potatoes. There was nothing like a brace off partridge lovely to eat and i really prefer them to pheasant. i have also caught the bigger rainbows in September and October and loved to be out in the punt all legal and i did not have to pay as the owners were friends looking back i caught my biggest an 18 pounds plus fish in September and i donated it to the local blind school at Condover who were very grateful. And so was i they had let graham and myself fish there private stretch of the brook for many years and it was away off saying thank you. When that blind school closed down it really caused a lump in my throat as we had made many friends over the years even the kiddies knew us and would be after us for sweets how they knew we were there i don't know. i do know their hearing was very good and could distinguish between graham and myself we would take bags of toffees and such and would be surrounded by this lovely kids who were really unfortunate to be born that way. Old Bell the game keeper could not bare the thought, of us fishing on that private stretch and even went to see the head master to try and stop us but he failed miserably it was all about the trout that the brook held it was stocked for the local gentry and he could not bare the thought of us especially me fishing there as i had often poached the estate and the brook for its trout he had chased me on many occasions but could never catch me but alas those days have now gone and old Bell now lies at piece and most of his underkeepers those days we will not see again they were exiting days i would do all again if permited but thats not an option so we live with our memories and pass on our experiances to the younger generation just as my grandfather did to me more latter
In reply to Post #708
The first time i went fishing i was only three years old my grandfather would take me it was 1945 the end of the second world war was in sight. i would stand with a cane with a bent pin as a hook for hours and hours . fishing has had a great influence on my life grandad did not know what he had started he died in 1947 i was broken hearted as he was my mentor i had also lost my father in the war . I was young but as the years past i soon learned to look after myself i fell in love with the countryside.
When mum met my step father things really started to improve he bought my first bamboo cane rod and with an old fashioned wood reel i would wander the streams brooks and pools as i have said tackle was limited we were very poor so i made do with silk line peacock quills and what hooks we could get mostly big black things they were used for eel fishing i think i did manage to get hold of some model perfects a friend of my step father managed to get them from shop at ludlow but we mostly managed with the old eel hooks i think they were a penny each but they did most of my fishing it was quite some time before i used the nylon line you could not get hold of it where i lived.
A s i have stated before my father was a signal man with the railway not a very well paid job but it was a living before we moved from my village of bays-ton hill i would wander the banks of my beloved Rea brook i was only around six years old but in those days you had freedom you were safe not like today it has completely changed. i well remember the first big fish i caught from the Rea i was fishing in a big old Edy my float went under and i was connected to some monster my rod was bent double and i thought it would break i could feel every moment every twist and turn we had no landing nets in those days so i managed to get it to shallow water there it lay in all its glory a big old roach no more then a pound and a half but to me it was a true monster and i could not wait to get home and tell mum and dad about my capture this was one of many from the Rea. but it turned my life upside down i was truly hooked i slept and dreamed about fishing i think if i remember right my father bought me a copy of Mr Crab tree goes fishing i would lie in bed with an old oil lamp for light and read that book time and time again it must of been one of the first copies out. i was fishing mad.
When we moved to craven arms that really changed my life and my fishing dad got hold of two tank aerials which he had made into rods they were certainly better than the old bamboo rod i had i was now nine years old my dad did not fish so i really taught my self i made mistakes but i steadly started catch a fish or two mainly trout but it was a start more latter
The first time i went fishing i was only three years old my grandfather would take me it was 1945 the end of the second world war was in sight. i would stand with a cane with a bent pin as a hook for hours and hours . fishing has had a great influence on my life grandad did not know what he had started he died in 1947 i was broken hearted as he was my mentor i had also lost my father in the war . I was young but as the years past i soon learned to look after myself i fell in love with the countryside.
When mum met my step father things really started to improve he bought my first bamboo cane rod and with an old fashioned wood reel i would wander the streams brooks and pools as i have said tackle was limited we were very poor so i made do with silk line peacock quills and what hooks we could get mostly big black things they were used for eel fishing i think i did manage to get hold of some model perfects a friend of my step father managed to get them from shop at ludlow but we mostly managed with the old eel hooks i think they were a penny each but they did most of my fishing it was quite some time before i used the nylon line you could not get hold of it where i lived.
A s i have stated before my father was a signal man with the railway not a very well paid job but it was a living before we moved from my village of bays-ton hill i would wander the banks of my beloved Rea brook i was only around six years old but in those days you had freedom you were safe not like today it has completely changed. i well remember the first big fish i caught from the Rea i was fishing in a big old Edy my float went under and i was connected to some monster my rod was bent double and i thought it would break i could feel every moment every twist and turn we had no landing nets in those days so i managed to get it to shallow water there it lay in all its glory a big old roach no more then a pound and a half but to me it was a true monster and i could not wait to get home and tell mum and dad about my capture this was one of many from the Rea. but it turned my life upside down i was truly hooked i slept and dreamed about fishing i think if i remember right my father bought me a copy of Mr Crab tree goes fishing i would lie in bed with an old oil lamp for light and read that book time and time again it must of been one of the first copies out. i was fishing mad.
When we moved to craven arms that really changed my life and my fishing dad got hold of two tank aerials which he had made into rods they were certainly better than the old bamboo rod i had i was now nine years old my dad did not fish so i really taught my self i made mistakes but i steadly started catch a fish or two mainly trout but it was a start more latter
In reply to Post #709
When we moved to craven arms i got to know a chap called peter finch he was a lot older than myself and would meet him when i was fishing the river onny poaching of course. he owned some half decent tackle well for those years it was very good. i struck up quite a friendship with this gentleman and he gave me lots of information about local waters some strictly private some not one pool i could go to was a small pool about two acres he said i the owner charged one shilling a day and it was stocked with carp Tench and perch.
Asking if i had a bike he said he would show me where it was he asked my parents if it was ok for me to go and two days latter we were sat beside this beautiful pool it had a dam at the one end and was covered in lilies it was a dream i did not know much about carp only what i had read and most said they were impossible to catch. the pool would get quite busy at week ends mysterious chaps creeping around the pool with big old hats on there heads, a rod in hand i would watch them drop a bait in between the weeds or a hole in the lillies usually a big old worm then set the rod down on a forked stick and wait . funny i never saw them catch one fish perhaps i was not there at the right time most of these anglers where from away and most had tents transport was a lot easier to get and some came on motor cycles with sidecars. I got to know the owner quite well over the time i fished there. i would knock the door to pay him and he would invite me in and give me a big glass of pop and tell me wonderful tales about the pool he never once charged me and would wave me away with his hand he was a great old man and allowed me to take a friend and fish days or nights if we wanted to, we certainly did.
Well with my parents permission we would be away on our bikes rods tied to the cross bar bag on our backs with a few sandwiches and a bottle of pop and maybe and old army blanket to keep us warm on a cold night i would get a sack from the farm to sit or lie down on. not that comfortable but we were only youngsters and were to exited to worry about creature comforts if it rained Ray and i would head for the barn and clime up into the hay or straw wrap our selves in the blankets and sleep like babies i would love the sweet smell of new mown hay and we would be as warm as toast but that's years ago. ill tell you more latter about this little pool
When we moved to craven arms i got to know a chap called peter finch he was a lot older than myself and would meet him when i was fishing the river onny poaching of course. he owned some half decent tackle well for those years it was very good. i struck up quite a friendship with this gentleman and he gave me lots of information about local waters some strictly private some not one pool i could go to was a small pool about two acres he said i the owner charged one shilling a day and it was stocked with carp Tench and perch.
Asking if i had a bike he said he would show me where it was he asked my parents if it was ok for me to go and two days latter we were sat beside this beautiful pool it had a dam at the one end and was covered in lilies it was a dream i did not know much about carp only what i had read and most said they were impossible to catch. the pool would get quite busy at week ends mysterious chaps creeping around the pool with big old hats on there heads, a rod in hand i would watch them drop a bait in between the weeds or a hole in the lillies usually a big old worm then set the rod down on a forked stick and wait . funny i never saw them catch one fish perhaps i was not there at the right time most of these anglers where from away and most had tents transport was a lot easier to get and some came on motor cycles with sidecars. I got to know the owner quite well over the time i fished there. i would knock the door to pay him and he would invite me in and give me a big glass of pop and tell me wonderful tales about the pool he never once charged me and would wave me away with his hand he was a great old man and allowed me to take a friend and fish days or nights if we wanted to, we certainly did.
Well with my parents permission we would be away on our bikes rods tied to the cross bar bag on our backs with a few sandwiches and a bottle of pop and maybe and old army blanket to keep us warm on a cold night i would get a sack from the farm to sit or lie down on. not that comfortable but we were only youngsters and were to exited to worry about creature comforts if it rained Ray and i would head for the barn and clime up into the hay or straw wrap our selves in the blankets and sleep like babies i would love the sweet smell of new mown hay and we would be as warm as toast but that's years ago. ill tell you more latter about this little pool
In reply to Post #710
My tackle was a bit crude i had the tank aerials and i used the old wooden reels i think they were called star backs and were used for float fishing not really for carp fishing the only ledger es that you could get were the round or flat coffin leads but i managed and would coil the line behind me on the grass then give it the big chuck some times it would fly out other times it got snagged in the grass but we got by we had no bank sticks so we cut forked sticks out of the hedge row mostly hazel they did the job and got us by we had no landing nets so we got into the water and lifted the fish onto the bank if it was not to deep and on a few occasions have literally dragged the fish up the bank but don't forget this was in early fifties and we had no money to buy such things as nets and such this was how people fished in those far off days.
It was exiting fishing the baits we used were very basic lob worms red worms bread flake bread crust bread paste which you could flavour i lived by the abitor and would go and collect the maggots from the bones and skins that were thrown out for the rag and bone man to fetch i would go home stinking and my mum would play hell and i would get a clip behind the ear but they worked you could not buy them where we lived as yet. but they did eventually come on the market and were sold in brown paper bags for three pence you would take them home and put them into an old tin box i think mine was an oxo box but it did the job and with a bit of saw dust added kept them fresh we also learned about using par boiled potatoes and they certainly worked slugs were another bait we even tried snails but i never did any good with them i would nick a few sultanas and currents from mums jars and i did catch fish but not carp loads of families kept pigeon in those days and i would scrounge the little peas that they fed them on they were deadly when soaked and boiled and i caught loads of fish using them especially roach. well ill carry on latter and tell a bit more
My tackle was a bit crude i had the tank aerials and i used the old wooden reels i think they were called star backs and were used for float fishing not really for carp fishing the only ledger es that you could get were the round or flat coffin leads but i managed and would coil the line behind me on the grass then give it the big chuck some times it would fly out other times it got snagged in the grass but we got by we had no bank sticks so we cut forked sticks out of the hedge row mostly hazel they did the job and got us by we had no landing nets so we got into the water and lifted the fish onto the bank if it was not to deep and on a few occasions have literally dragged the fish up the bank but don't forget this was in early fifties and we had no money to buy such things as nets and such this was how people fished in those far off days.
It was exiting fishing the baits we used were very basic lob worms red worms bread flake bread crust bread paste which you could flavour i lived by the abitor and would go and collect the maggots from the bones and skins that were thrown out for the rag and bone man to fetch i would go home stinking and my mum would play hell and i would get a clip behind the ear but they worked you could not buy them where we lived as yet. but they did eventually come on the market and were sold in brown paper bags for three pence you would take them home and put them into an old tin box i think mine was an oxo box but it did the job and with a bit of saw dust added kept them fresh we also learned about using par boiled potatoes and they certainly worked slugs were another bait we even tried snails but i never did any good with them i would nick a few sultanas and currents from mums jars and i did catch fish but not carp loads of families kept pigeon in those days and i would scrounge the little peas that they fed them on they were deadly when soaked and boiled and i caught loads of fish using them especially roach. well ill carry on latter and tell a bit more
In reply to Post #711
After having a great days fishing on Tuesday with my good mate graham i have ended up in bed and have really suffered sickness and aching all over but whether its a virus or the morphine i have been put on for my arthritis i don't know but its really knocked me back and i certainly wont be taking any more full stop well that's enough of my health.. for now.
one positive thing that, has happened in the last week i have been offered a part in a book that is bieng written by a gentleman on this forum he has already written two books and i am quite looking forward to its launch at the end of next year it wont be the first time i have appeared in a book the last time was about catching big bream by dennis kelly in the mid seventies. i am having quite a lot of help from xpat in poland and our ken townley who has kindly offered to put my stories into chapters when he is back from his holls which he and his wife justly deserve after all they have been through there are a good many on here that have shown there support so you know who you are and thank you.
well graham and myself managed a few barbel when out the other day mostly caught on small halibut pellet 8mill and 10mil if you use anything bigger you don't seem to be able to buy a bite funny really as i used to murder them on the big chokers but not any more we lost a couple to the line breaking and with the help of a good friend who is a bailiff started to discuss line and between the three of us did some tests on the line we had in our bags i was a bit surprised branded line which we use for hook length i wont mention names which stated a breaking strain of ten pounds broke at five pound so we tried some more branded names and they to broke under the recommended breaking strain this has really got us thinking about what we buy and use and i certainly will think seriously about what i use in the future . the biggest barbel was a tad over six pounds we also had a few chub between four and five pounds but as yet no biggies have graced our nets but with a bit of luck it will happen in the future well thats all for now more latter pete
After having a great days fishing on Tuesday with my good mate graham i have ended up in bed and have really suffered sickness and aching all over but whether its a virus or the morphine i have been put on for my arthritis i don't know but its really knocked me back and i certainly wont be taking any more full stop well that's enough of my health.. for now.
one positive thing that, has happened in the last week i have been offered a part in a book that is bieng written by a gentleman on this forum he has already written two books and i am quite looking forward to its launch at the end of next year it wont be the first time i have appeared in a book the last time was about catching big bream by dennis kelly in the mid seventies. i am having quite a lot of help from xpat in poland and our ken townley who has kindly offered to put my stories into chapters when he is back from his holls which he and his wife justly deserve after all they have been through there are a good many on here that have shown there support so you know who you are and thank you.
well graham and myself managed a few barbel when out the other day mostly caught on small halibut pellet 8mill and 10mil if you use anything bigger you don't seem to be able to buy a bite funny really as i used to murder them on the big chokers but not any more we lost a couple to the line breaking and with the help of a good friend who is a bailiff started to discuss line and between the three of us did some tests on the line we had in our bags i was a bit surprised branded line which we use for hook length i wont mention names which stated a breaking strain of ten pounds broke at five pound so we tried some more branded names and they to broke under the recommended breaking strain this has really got us thinking about what we buy and use and i certainly will think seriously about what i use in the future . the biggest barbel was a tad over six pounds we also had a few chub between four and five pounds but as yet no biggies have graced our nets but with a bit of luck it will happen in the future well thats all for now more latter pete
In reply to Post #711
After having a great days fishing on Tuesday with my good mate graham i have ended up in bed and have really suffered sickness and aching all over but whether its a virus or the morphine i have been put on for my arthritis i don't know but its really knocked me back and i certainly wont be taking any more full stop well that's enough of my health.. for now.
one positive thing that, has happened in the last week i have been offered a part in a book that is bieng written by a gentleman on this forum he has already written two books and i am quite looking forward to its launch at the end of next year it wont be the first time i have appeared in a book the last time was about catching big bream by dennis kelly in the mid seventies. i am having quite a lot of help from xpat in poland and our ken townley who has kindly offered to put my stories into chapters when he is back from his holls which he and his wife justly deserve after all they have been through there are a good many on here that have shown there support so you know who you are and thank you.
well graham and myself managed a few barbel when out the other day mostly caught on small halibut pellet 8mill and 10mil if you use anything bigger you don't seem to be able to buy a bite funny really as i used to murder them on the big chokers but not any more we lost a couple to the line breaking and with the help of a good friend who is a bailiff started to discuss line and between the three of us did some tests on the line we had in our bags i was a bit surprised branded line which we use for hook length i wont mention names which stated a breaking strain of ten pounds broke at five pound so we tried some more branded names and they to broke under the recommended breaking strain this has really got us thinking about what we buy and use and i certainly will think seriously about what i use in the future . the biggest barbel was a tad over six pounds we also had a few chub between four and five pounds but as yet no biggies have graced our nets but with a bit of luck it will happen in the future well thats all for now more latter pete
After having a great days fishing on Tuesday with my good mate graham i have ended up in bed and have really suffered sickness and aching all over but whether its a virus or the morphine i have been put on for my arthritis i don't know but its really knocked me back and i certainly wont be taking any more full stop well that's enough of my health.. for now.
one positive thing that, has happened in the last week i have been offered a part in a book that is bieng written by a gentleman on this forum he has already written two books and i am quite looking forward to its launch at the end of next year it wont be the first time i have appeared in a book the last time was about catching big bream by dennis kelly in the mid seventies. i am having quite a lot of help from xpat in poland and our ken townley who has kindly offered to put my stories into chapters when he is back from his holls which he and his wife justly deserve after all they have been through there are a good many on here that have shown there support so you know who you are and thank you.
well graham and myself managed a few barbel when out the other day mostly caught on small halibut pellet 8mill and 10mil if you use anything bigger you don't seem to be able to buy a bite funny really as i used to murder them on the big chokers but not any more we lost a couple to the line breaking and with the help of a good friend who is a bailiff started to discuss line and between the three of us did some tests on the line we had in our bags i was a bit surprised branded line which we use for hook length i wont mention names which stated a breaking strain of ten pounds broke at five pound so we tried some more branded names and they to broke under the recommended breaking strain this has really got us thinking about what we buy and use and i certainly will think seriously about what i use in the future . the biggest barbel was a tad over six pounds we also had a few chub between four and five pounds but as yet no biggies have graced our nets but with a bit of luck it will happen in the future well thats all for now more latter pete
In reply to Post #713
Not far from my home was a patch of trees which was called the withy bed it had a small stream running through the middle it used to be absolutely full of water cress and wild duck it was part of a big estate and belonged to a mr mc cartney well i used to go and pick that water cress we loved the stuff the only problem was the owners used to pick it and sell it to the local markets. i would creep down there just on dark get into the water and wade in that little stream i would only take what we needed but it was most welcome by our family i also collected one or two ducks eggs mallards they used to nest in the tops of the withy trees these trees were really looked after by the estate and were never allowed to grow out of control they would cop-pis them on a regular basis.
In the winter i soon found i could shoot a few ducks i would hide in that little withy wood and wait for the ducks to come in at night not very sporting but i would shoot them on the water with my pellet gun the old keeper would come down and feed the duck with sacks of barley so there was always plenty there for the estate to shoot including me i would never over do it only take what i needed but this one night the keepers arrived and it was not to feed the duck it was to catch me there was three of them i was absolutely petrified at the thought of being caught. i suppose i must of left a few tell tale signs a few feathers here and a few feathers there well the chase was on i was not going to leave my ducks or the pellet gun i was in the water and away down through that little wood i went, bag on back and water up to my chest in places. i was frozen i could hear the shouting far behind and the sound of dogs i really thought i had my lot i managed to get to the road bridge over the river onny and hid under that old bridge all off a sudden one of the dogs a springer spaniel came under the bridge and licked my face i kid you not i though my end had come but that was that they called the dog and away he went, i waited a good hour and waded across the onny and away home my parents were none to pleased i was so wet but soon forgave me when they saw the ducks. funny thing it was in the local paper about the keepers chasing some one poaching i kept away from there for some time and let the dust settle but it was not the last time i poached that little withy bed as times were hard and we needed the food so it was a nessesity . more a bit latter
Not far from my home was a patch of trees which was called the withy bed it had a small stream running through the middle it used to be absolutely full of water cress and wild duck it was part of a big estate and belonged to a mr mc cartney well i used to go and pick that water cress we loved the stuff the only problem was the owners used to pick it and sell it to the local markets. i would creep down there just on dark get into the water and wade in that little stream i would only take what we needed but it was most welcome by our family i also collected one or two ducks eggs mallards they used to nest in the tops of the withy trees these trees were really looked after by the estate and were never allowed to grow out of control they would cop-pis them on a regular basis.
In the winter i soon found i could shoot a few ducks i would hide in that little withy wood and wait for the ducks to come in at night not very sporting but i would shoot them on the water with my pellet gun the old keeper would come down and feed the duck with sacks of barley so there was always plenty there for the estate to shoot including me i would never over do it only take what i needed but this one night the keepers arrived and it was not to feed the duck it was to catch me there was three of them i was absolutely petrified at the thought of being caught. i suppose i must of left a few tell tale signs a few feathers here and a few feathers there well the chase was on i was not going to leave my ducks or the pellet gun i was in the water and away down through that little wood i went, bag on back and water up to my chest in places. i was frozen i could hear the shouting far behind and the sound of dogs i really thought i had my lot i managed to get to the road bridge over the river onny and hid under that old bridge all off a sudden one of the dogs a springer spaniel came under the bridge and licked my face i kid you not i though my end had come but that was that they called the dog and away he went, i waited a good hour and waded across the onny and away home my parents were none to pleased i was so wet but soon forgave me when they saw the ducks. funny thing it was in the local paper about the keepers chasing some one poaching i kept away from there for some time and let the dust settle but it was not the last time i poached that little withy bed as times were hard and we needed the food so it was a nessesity . more a bit latter