Trick or treat….

Tags

Halloween, Orange, Pike Float, Treat, Trick

Found on the high tide was a pear shaped pike float. The only trick to retrieve this treat was to use a long willow branch to draw it towards the slipway. Its bright orange top bobbed in between the autumnal leaves floating on the tide.

Happy Halloween!

Mallard and Claret..

Tags

Bordeaux, Claret, London Dry Gin, Mallard & Claret, Recipe, Red Wine, Roast, Sipsmith, Sloe Gin

Whilst temperatures dropped, a light scattering of snow fell over the East Coast during the early hours of Saturday morning. This sudden change in temperature may be an early sign that this winter could be harsh. With this in mind, I thought of a seasonal tipple and a hardy meal to add comfort to those suffering from the cold crisp wind that blew in from the North East.

Wild Mallard with Damson and Sloe Gin Sauce.

At the Barnes farmers market on Saturday the first stocks of game started to appear, venison, partridge, pheasant and mallard. Having cooked partridge the weekend before I opted for mallard this time round. This small wild duck which is seen in numbers on our local pond makes a good meal occasion.

There are many recipes for duck. One of mine includes damsons, Juniper berries, marjoram, baked apples and sloe gin.

You need to find a duck that has good plump breasts, so when chosing one make sure you look carefully as these birds can be pretty lean. Clean the bird down and pick off any remaining feathers. Rub some butter over the skin and season with sea salt, pepper, marjoram and 2-3 crushed juniper berries.

Peel and slice a Bramley apple and place this in the breast cavity. Place the mallard on a roasting tray and roast in the oven at 200c for 15mins then turn down to 180c for a further 30-40 mins. You’ll need longer of using a Gressingham duck if you can’t get hold of a mallard.

Whilst cooking the mallard you can prepare the damson purée. Wash and clean the damsons, place in a small pan with a small amount of water add some sugar, cook the damsons until the skins split and the sugar has dissolved, then simmer for 20 mins. Add a good 35ml-50ml measure of home-made Sloe Gin.

If you haven’t made any Sloe Gin yet there is still time to get a bottle ready for Christmas or if you can’t wait that long buy a bottle of Sipsmith Sloe Gin Vintage 2010 made by our local distiller in Hammersmith which is available from most branches of Waitrose or try Captain Harriman’s accelerated sloe gin as featured in Shooting Times. See http://www.sipsmith.com

Sloe Gin Recipe: Pick your sloes, this year is a good year for them and I’ve seen these fruit of the blackthorn bush like clusters of musket balls.

You need about 450-500g/1lb of sloes, then prick each one with a needle or a cocktail stick will do. Once the fruit is prepared tip them into a sterilised bottle, allowing the fruit to fill a third of the way up. Add at least 250g/8oz of caster or granulated sugar then fill the bottle up with a good own label London Dry Gin as most of these are made by one of the top three UK Gin producers, being either G & J Greenall, Haymans or Thames Distillers. You’ll need about 1 litre. Seal the bottle tightly and give it a good shake.

Place your bottles on a cool dark cupboard and shake every other day for the first week, then shake one a week for at least 2 months. Finally after 8-10 weeks strain the sloe gin through muslin into a sterilised decanter or bottle.

Once the duck is cooked take it out of the oven and let it stand. At this point sieve the damsons and discard the pips. Place the remaining damson purée into a small ramekin to serve with the duck.

Mallard and Claret, cooked by Gary Hazel (talesbytheriverbank).

You can serve the duck with either roast parsnips and potatoes, use some of the duck fat for roasting or serve on a bed of celeriac mash. Remember to place the potatoes in to roast with about 45 mins to go before the duck is ready.

Chateau Grand-Puy-Ducasse Pauillac 1995

Serve with a good bottle of Claret, a fine red from the Bordeaux region of France. Berry Bros & Rudd do a 2009, Good Ordinary Claret,13.5% alc, priced at £8.75. It is Medium-Full Bodied, Dry, Cab.Sauvigon Blend and is drinking well now. See http://www.bbr.com/shopping/berrys-pwn-selection-bordeaux other good wines depending on your budget would be Graves, Pauillac, Pomerol, St Julien or St-Emilion http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ch%C3%A2teau_Grand-Puy-Ducasse

Mallard and Claret

Whilst waiting for your duck to cook it gives you a chance to sit down with small glass of sloe gin and tie a Mallard and Claret, this popular trout fly imitates a wide range of trout food.

Hook: size 8-14. Thread: black tying thread. Tail:6-8 fibers of golden pheasant tippet. Rib: silver or gold wire. Body: dubbed claret seal’s fur. False hackle: black Hen hackle. Wing: rolled wing from mallard bronze sholder feather. Head: finish off with black tying thread and coat with varnish.

Something for the weekend Sir!

Tags

Brady Of Halesowen, Cornwall, Creel, Game Bag, Grayling Fishing, River Coln, River Kennet, Storage, The Conway Creel., Vintage Bag

Detail of a Brady of Halesowen Fishing Creel

I have been fortunate enough to acquire a vintage Brady creel fishing bag known as ‘The Conway Creel’ in good used condition from the depths of Cornwall. These creels’ are highly sought after especially when the price of a new one from Brady of Halesowen will set you back a good £280.

A Vintage Brady of Halesowen Fishing Creel

This is a good addition to my collection of bags, possibly not the most practical but a stylish addition to the rest of my traditional vintage tackle. What I will make is a waterproof liner for the wicker creel out of a piece of old waxed cotton material from an old jacket.

It’s that time of year when the temperature drops enough that our friend ‘Jack Frost’ calls and makes his mark. For me this is the best time to head out Grayling fishing, using either small nymphs or trotting with a float.

The Itchen, Kennet and the limestone River Coln are rivers I have fished for Grayling, these fish provide great sport during te winter months. See http://www.fishingbreaks.co.uk/gloucestershire.htm for information on where to fish and stay if fishing the Coln. If you want a great weekend away then a trip to Gloucestershire or the Yorkshire Dales Grayling fishing wont disappoint.

Partridge with three P’s….

Tags

Berry Bros & Rudd, Burgundy, Cognac, Cooking, Game, Game Recipe, Hunting, Juniper, Lea & Sandeman, Partridge, Pinot Noir, Red Wine, Wine

Partridges from Winterbourne Game, served with pears, potato and parsnip chips. Cooked in the ‘Tales Kitchen’.

Having been given a couple of Partridge last Saturday I thought I’d use an old recipe I had. Partridges with marinated pears in cognac served with parsnip and potato chips.

I first clean the birds down, remove and odd feathers and pat them dry with a clean cloth. Then I cover the breast skin with a mix of unsalted butter seasoned with thyme, cracked black pepper and crushed juniper berries.  I then dress the bird with a cross of good quality bacon rashers, this adds just a touch of flavour and helps keep the birds from drying out.

The oven needs to be at 200c and I place the birds on a roasting tin and cook for 30mins, before removing from the oven to take off the bacon to brown for a further 15mins at 180c.

After about 20min you need to cook the potato and parsnip chips, I do these in a mix of light olive oil and vegetable oil. I find the best chips to be made from Maris Piper, they just have a good texture and taste.

Whilst cooking the partridge I saute the peeled pears in butter and add some remaining herbs, cook these until golden brown and set aside. Add a dash of Pear Cognac towards the end of cooking.

A good vegetable accompaniment to serve with this meal is spiced red cabbage.

As for wine, I suggest a good Pinot Noir has the right amount of body and spice not to overpower the flavours of this dish. http://www.bbr.com/grape-pn-pinot-noir or http://www.leaandsandeman.co.uk/blog/category/grape-varieties/pinot-noir/ for or http://www.waitrosedirect.com/wine

The accidental angler….

Tags

charles Rangeley-Wilson, Conservation, River Chess, River Chess Association, Trout, Water Crowfoot

 When people ask what was my first memorable fishing experience it has to be when I was taken to the River Chess near Chenies Village with may parents back in the mid 60’s.My parents bought a flat in Shire Lane in Chorleywood, a small town serviced by the Metropolitan Line. Here I grew up on the Bucks/Herts border as a young boy. I spent most of my time playing on the tree-lined embankment that divided Shire Lane and a service road that gave access to the larger house further up the hill. There was also some waste ground in between some houses known as ‘The Shack’. Here we would play on what was the foundation of a former house or outbuildings.

During the long summer holidays I would play with friend on Chorleywood Common, a large expanse of land that sat at the top of an incline from the station and covered an area that ran from Chorleywood itself to the border of Sarratt. The terrain was a mix of heathland covered in heather, gorse, bracken, thickets of silver birch and the rest was made up of beech or oak. In the centre of the common was a golf course and on Saturdays I would sell golf balls I found back to golfers as they made their way from the Sportsman pub across a gravel car park to the first tee.

Towards the end of June one year I remember being taken in my parents Triumph Vitesse convertible down a winding road that was barely wide enough for a car and the only way the road was accessible for two vehicles was by intermittent passing places otherwise the art of reversing a car several yards sorted those who were skilled drivers and those who weren’t.

The River Chess is a Chiltern chalk stream that starts in Chesham and makes its way though pastor and meadows with wood thickets here and there. It has been the location used for Charles Rangeley-Wilsons’, The Accidental Angler and the TV drama, Goodnight Mr Tom.

An image from Bernard Venables Angling Waters, that reminded me of the River Chess

The road we drove down was situated at the top of a hill in Chenies Village, from the road it looks just like a farm track and now is gated. At the end of the long road that made its way down the hillside , the road became nothing more than a track that passes through a ford. There is a small wooden bridge that crosses the river for when it is in full spate. And if a pedestrian the only passage across the river unless you want to get wet feet.

With water so gin clear you could see the bottom and on occasions you could see crayfish and caddis. The margins were full of Watercress and Purple Loosestrife, in the middle you would get clumps of Ranunculus or Water Crowfoot, here wily brown trout would take refuge, only leaving their position to snatch at fresh water shrimps, larvae and drowned olives.

I remember white flowers on the water and in the margins bright yellow buttercup like flowers stood proud. The river flowed quickly, in those days it was in better condition than it is today, although I am aware that the River Chess Association are working hard to restore parts of the river. It has suffered greatly from extraction. In one places where there was once a deep pool, this is now full of silt and fallen branches and the water less deep. Also the river has been widened in places, altering the rate of flow.

It was from behind a clump of Ranunculus that I saw a beautiful 9ins brown trout, its spotted flanks marked with black, brown and orange with a golden olive under-belly. I had clearly spooked it as it then charged under the wooden bridge and upstream. I was armed with a small tiddler net, it was made of green mesh with a cane handle and had a metal coat hanger frame supporting the net.

I lay in wait for a while as I hoped it would return to the place I first saw it. I could see it in the shallows of the ford darting from one side to the other taking flies trapped in the surface film, but for sure it wasn’t going to come back whilst I was mid-stream so I decided to climb back on the bridge and watch the swallows darting across the river taking flies off the surface of the water.

By chance I spotted the trout easing itself back momentarily taking refuge under the bridge. With a sudden turn in the water it shot past downstream. Here was my chance to net a fish, I had to be quick, I  knew that if I made the fish run it would have to run down the channel of weed and if I had my net in the right place I had a good chance of getting it. As it transpired the fish ran but straight under the bridge, however it didn’t come out the other side. Then I noticed the fine tail fin waving from side to side, it started to drift back with the current that was being forced through the uprights of the bridge. With the net in place and my heart racing I waited, and waited, until the fish drifted close enough for me to scoop it up. There in my net was a River Chess brown trout, its mouth gasping for air, its eye bright and glistening in the evening sun and it glass like flank so full of colour with a rainbow shimmer.

I have never forgotten that moment for that was the start of my interest in the river and in fishing.

http://www.riverchessassociation.co.uk/the-river-chess.html

Hooked on Floats

Tags

Andrew Field, First Edition, Handmade Floats, Jeff Della Mura, Vintage Fishing Floats

Vintage floats…it’s an obsession

With the pending launch date of the 18th November noted in my diary for Jeff Della Mura’s book ‘Hooked On Floats’ at The National Vintage Tackle Fair, I couldn’t help thinking about what is that drives so many designers, marketeers, artists and media relate people who share a passion for angling and all things related with it.

In the text of the Publisher’s synopsis on Hooked On Floats it details the general description of the book as ‘Vintage fishing floats are becoming hard to find and are increasingly expensive. Sure indicators that interest and the need for knowledge are growing. Hooked on Floats is a timely arrival. The book is not a direct history of floats, nor is it a treaties on their  design or use. It is intended as a collector’s companion and features much need identification and chronology source from numerous markers’ catalogues.

Hooked on Floats is focused on fishing on fishing floats dating from 1860 to 1960, the period from which most material can be found. The bulk of the floats featured in this publication are from the author’s own collection.

The Press Pack notes that Della Mura has been absorbed by angling’s most humble artefact for more than a decade and was anointed in one radio broadcast as England’s most obsessive float collector. There are a few people I know who may challenge that statement, as there are many like-minded souls.

Della Mura’s opening chapter offers the personal reflection of a number of float enthusiasts-some being very familiar names in the world of angling – who share their thoughts and their favourites.

I’m looking forward to getting a copy of this book and if any of you out there share this passion for float collecting then can I urge you to place your order promptly as the initial run of the Standard First Edition is limited to 340 copies.

Hooked on Floats by Jeff Della Mura

The book as approximately 77,000 words and illustrated by photographs by David Watson. The Standard First Edition copies come in hardback with red linen covering, gold foil blocking to cover and spine with res silk ribbon market and full colour printed with a gloss laminated jacket. This edition is priced at £50 plus p&p.

If you want a Superior First Edition these are limited to 60 copies, half bound in leather with handmade marbled end papers and comes in a slip case but this is priced at £210 plus postage and packing.

See http://www.hookedonfloats.com

For me it’s not about just collecting floats but I see these humble items as individual works of art especially those produced by Paul Cook and Andrew Field which have a following and I have read accounts where anglers will take to the water to retrieve one if it becomes detached.

Float Storage

The other part of this passion is what to store them in and I will cover this off over the next few weeks.

Hot Orange…

Tags

Nigel Slater, Partridge, Pear, Sunset, thames

Sunset on the Thames

The evening sunset was stunning, its warm glow a hot orange just like the tops of my floats.

The tide flowed in like a pool of mercury its mirror finish reflecting the sky and riverbank so perfectly. The only thing missing was a float trotting by.

Hot orange tipped Avon floats.

Hammersmith Bridge with a flood tide.

The tide was high, had the Mall wall not been there it was a flood tide. I had not witnessed the tide so high around the base of Hammersmith Bridge for a long time.

With so much orange and red in the sky it reminded me of a late drive of partridge. Having detailed about red-legged partridge in an earlier post it prompted me to look for some at the local farmers market where I help out now and again.

I will be cooking some partridge tomorrow, these were kindly given to me today by Chris from Winterbourne Game who has a stand at Barnes farmers market. It’s that time of year to cook some hearty meals as the nights draw in. I’ll post up some recipes over the next few weeks. In the meantime Nigel Slater has a few good recipes http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2011/dec/04/nigel-slater-sunday-roast-pheasant, one of my own favourite recipes is partridge with pears in cognac, served with parsnip chips and red cabbage.

A package from Tyne and Wear

Tags

Brady Of Halesowen, Fishing Bag, Leather, Vintage

An early Brady of Halesowen fishing bag

At 9.30am the door knocked twice and there in the postman’s hands was a box from Tyne and Wear containing an old Brady Fishing Bag in what was described as tired condition.

A large vintage Brady of Halesowen bag, ideal for putting your red-legged grouse in.

Upon opening the box a dusty and firm canvas bag was to be revealed in original condition with the added bonus of pigeon feathers, cobwebs, moth larvae web casings and the odd lump of mud. The bag was 19ins by 14ins, made of strong canvas, with two leather straps and cotton mesh netting. The water proof lining to the inside was ridged with age but still serviceable. After a good clean down and a treatment of leather feed the bag was back in order.

A Self-Striking Rod….

Tags

bernard venables, Invention, JAK, Rod, Thames Conservancy, The Civil Service Angling Society

Whilst thumbing through a copy of Bernard Venables ‘A Guide To Angling Waters South-East England’ I noticed an old newspaper cutting neatly concealed between the pages. Upon removing the cutting to read I was amused to see the accompanying cartoon by JAK.

The Anglers Rest – …and this is how JAK sees it

It was titled up ‘Unfair to the fish’ say the anglers, and read, ‘Describing it as unsporting, a number of London anglers have joined in banning a self-striking rod. It has been claimed that the rod will complete a catch by itself when left unattended.

The Civil Service Angling Society, of which Sir John Forster is President, has banned its use.

The Secretary, Mr E. R. Cooper said, “The general purposes committee of our society considers this an unsporting way of catching fish. “Accordingly, the committee has banned its use on the society’s private fisheries and in competitions promoted by the society.”

The Thames conservancy have also drawn attention to the fact that use of such a rod is not permitted on the Thames within its jurisdiction.

They all went in two by two….

Tags

Distillery, Edwin Landseer, floats, Highland, The Whisky Exchange, Vintage Biscuit Tin, Whisky, Wimbledon Car Boot

Wimbledon Car Boot

As the hour of 10am approached there could be seen a long line of people outside the Wimbledon Car boot Sale held on this windy October day at Plough Lane. It was if they were waiting to board the Ark. Dealers, buyers and lookers stood in two lines in order to get in, it seemed to be a busier than a usual Wednesday. The only flood to be seen was the 4 inches of water that seems to gravitate towards the centre of the car park. Though it was forecast for rain.

The cordon was removed and the long line of people seem to disappear quickly into the maze od white vans. The breakfast van was parked across the other side of the car park by the Stadium wall and rows of predominately white vans off loaded their bounty from house clearances.

Sir Edwin Landseer ‘The Illicit Highland Whisky Still circa 1892

I wasn’t really after anything in particular it was more a visit out of curiosity. There are always gems to be found here if you look closely enough. Today I saw a magnificent Burr Walnut framed print of a work of art by Sir Edwin Landseer, titled ‘The Highland Whisky Still’ after his oil painting ‘The Illicit Highland Whisky Still’.

Edwin Landseer Print, The Highland Whisky Still – engraved by Robert Graves, published 1876.

The asking price was a mere £60 which was worth it for the frame alone. What I had thought about was my friends at The Whisky Exchange who collect anything to do with Whisky.

An Ideal Float Storage Tube

After a good half hour of walking along the rows of vans I came across a metal tube of about 12in in length, with a hinge lid and distressed paint. I thought this would make an ideal float holder for longer and more delicate floats so it was duly purchased for the price of a couple of cups of tea.

A Surgeons roll, makes a good float holder

What I did find at a previous sale was an old surgeons/dentist tool roll that makes an ideal item to store a small selection of floats in when travelling light when river fishing.

Vintage Storage Tins Found At Wimbledon Car Boot

The only other items that caught my eye was a good collection of old tins, some by Huntley & Palmer and others for Swift Toffees. There were all manner of shapes and sizes, had I thought about if I would have purchased one I saw being in the form of an old travel trunk made by a French biscuit maker.

So which one has the Ginger Nuts in?

The started to spit with rain so it was high time to head back before the heavens opened.