Farewell 2013…

Tags

2014, Chapmans of Ware, Chris Clemes, Fishing, Hardy's, New Year, Restoration, Vintage Tackle

As the year draws to an end and hours before we herald in the new, I take time to reflect over some of those golden moments of the past year.

A few gems of vintage tackle were found, rods by Chapman’s of Ware and Hardy’s in a dishevelled state were then brought back to their former glory by Richard Narewski, a master craftsman and rod builder.

I met Chris Clemes earlier in the year and had the opportunity to try out his fantastic cane rods in Green Park in the heart of London of all places. At this time he is fishing in South Africa whilst we endure the wind and rain.

An early trout fishing trip in Arctic conditions gave young Tales his first 3.5lb fish, this was to set the bar for 2013 and he maintained a good level of fish all season with an early autumn haul of three 3lb fish in 10 minutes from underneath an alder at Robins Wood Fishery.

In May I took up a new position with a Dutch distiller and from there on in was little time to fish, simply work took over. My focus was then on building the distribution for Sloane’s Dry Gin and Rebellion Rum which has taken me to all four corners of our land, over hills, across meadows and streams. Next year I will leave a travel rod in the boot of the car just in case I get an hour here and there to cast a fly or bait.

There were to be no sea-trout or salmon caught this season, nor did we catch Esox or a prized silver bar of sea bass. Our sea fishing exploits were few and far between, trips to Norfolk and Cornwall resulted in blanks, with the sea full of sand eels we expected at least to connect with a bass but it wasn’t to be.

On our travels we met many new faces and those with the passion for angling have turned into friends, their kindness to advise, help and guide young Tales when our paths have crossed give one faith in humanity. Fishing like football is a sport embraced by all irrespective of colour, creed or background.

Mrs Tales has put a ban on any new tackle purchases, probably a good thing in reality as there are lots of ‘sticks’ as she calls them that need to grace the river rather than line the rear passage way to the garden. I guess we need to plan a few trips for 2014, a weeks salmon or sea-trout fishing is high on the list.

If I look at my WordPress stats then one post that seemed to repeatedly get viewed was my recipe for cooking black pudding, strange it may seem but that is what the stat monkeys at WordPress say.

Well can I wish all of you who took time to drop by talesbytheriverbank every good wish for 2014 and many tight lines.

Gifts from Santa…

Tags

Christmas, Fishing, Keith Arthur, Presents, talkSport

With Christmas Eve and Christmas Day now part of history it is now time to look forward to the New Year. Santa had been kind this year giving young Tales all that he wished for and for myself some useful items, a pen to write my notes, a lunch box, a Bluetooth speaker to listen to Keith Arthur’s, Fisherman’s Blues on talkSPORT when banished to the shed or the riverbank, shaving cream to protect my skin, a cocktail book and a box of honeycombed treats.

What was observed was that Santa clearly understood from Mrs Tales that I did not need any more tackle!

With most of the south of the country under inches of flood water there would also be no river fishing over the Christmas break unless the rain holds off and the water drops away, only then will conditions be right to head to the river. Oh, how I miss listening to the trickling water and song birds.

One man and a coracle

Tags

Black Lion Pub, Coracle, River Thames, RNLI

Boxing Day is nearly over and before I settle down with a hearty plate of cold ham and pickle let me tell you about one thing that happened today. Each year Boxing Day comprises of a late start after a good breakfast, this year of duck eggs, honey roast ham on granary toast. Our planned trip to the the races was dropped in favour of a long walk by the river.

We headed off downstream towards Hammersmith with young Tales opting to cycle the 3 mile round trip. In very muddy conditions the tow path was busier than the M25 with hoards of people out for a stroll. We stopped off at the Black Lion for drink on the way back up the other side if the river, a welcoming log fire was to be found within a yurt, yes that’s right a yurt, now a feature on the Chiswick Mall.

With pints drunk we decided to head back for an afternoon of films, however upon leaving the pub we spotted a coracle being carried on the back of a man. Further up the Mall we saw the gentleman place his coracle in the water but seemed to struggle to launch it. I offered to give a helping hand but was alarmed even at low tide that at the rate of flow of the river. Our dear friend was not really dressed for his maiden voyage with his suede blue boots, blue wool coat and I observed no life jacket. As he stepped into the coracle I passed him a leaf shaped paddle, the green paint still wet. With a bit of manoeuvring I cast him off but with great concern, he wobbled and for a moment I thought was going to tip over but like the owl and the pussy cat he slowly slipped away between the boat houses and Chiswick Eyot, in control I’m not so sure. As I proceed up the river, looking back from time to time, I noticed our man in the coracle not emerge either on the shingle or on the water, as I passed the RNLI station I thought it was worth giving them the heads up on our man in the coracle as I feared with such a strong outgoing tide and swirling currents he may find it difficult to beach himself. My concern was taken seriously and the team from Chiswick quickly took to the water, far off in the distance I could see the coracle it bright orange hide hull caught in the late afternoon light.

I hope I didn’t hinder our dear friends maiden voyage but I would rather know his adventure ended safely.

Happy Christmas and Tight Lines….

I wish you all a very Happy Christmas and every good wish for the New Year.

If you happen to find yourself with time on your hands but the water too coloured and running too fast to fish then settle into a chair with a glass of hand crafted elixir and a good book or blog to read, so thank you to the 57,574 of you who have visited my blog, I hope you managed to take something of value from my ramblings and insights.

I found myself in The West Country yesterday under leaden skies and pouring rain. It was a day of hope for a better future on the personal front and on the way back to the station I stopped off at the Oxfam Bookshop and purchased a mint copy of Land’s Edge by Tim Winton. With disruption to the rail travel over the last 24 hours it was a valued travel companion to pass the four and a half hours it took to return to London.

My I wish you all a Happy Christmas and New Year with sunshine and tight lines.

On the sixteenth day of Advent…

With little time to indulge in my passions as work issues take over with meeting after meeting and any down time being taken up with preparation for Christmas.

Tomorrow I take a train before dawn to Lancashire where it will pass through meadows, woodland and over streams, no doubt through pouring rain which in some areas like South Bucks and Herts is needed to balance the water table for rivers such as the River Chess and Colne.

Whilst thinking about rivers and their upkeep and restoration I was interested to spot today on the windscreen of a Bentley Coupé a sticker for the River Exe Project, a river I have fished as a teenager and fond of. I wondered what the owner of this fabulous car had to do with this project.

https://www.riverexereta.co.uk
https://www.wildtrout.org/news/restoration-project-st-James-leat-river-exe

On the fifteenth day of Advent…

Tags

Beef, British Food, Geronimo, Lunch, Pike fishing., Pub, River Thames, The Bulls Head

Where time and tide waits for no man nor does it seem the speed that Christmas descends on us.

The tree is up, lights and baubles adorn it and the wreath is on the door. Not quite the traditional holly wreath but I have gone for a twinkling star…

As the day seemed to pass all to quickly we decided that it was easier to have a traditional pub lunch, today we chose the newly refurbished The Bull’s Head. Now under the watchful eye of Ed Turner and his team, this latest venture from Geronimo Inns didn’t fail to live up to expectation, in fact, it exceeded it.

I was hankering to get out to the countryside today as I will be travelling most of next week and then Christmas will be upon us.There was unfortunately no opportunity to flirt with a lady of the stream or out wit Essox but in the end pleased that I settled for a plate of roast beef washed down with Cornish Ale. I look forward to indulge in the sea food platters at some stage. I’m also more than impressed with their commitment to British homegrown / sourced food.

At least I now know that if I venture off fishing over the festive period or any other weekend then there will always be the option of a warm plate of food here, my local.

https://www.thebullshead.com

 

On the thirteenth day of Advent…

Tags

Andrew Field, Fishing, floats, Letter, Royal Mail, Santa, Wish List

On this day an important letter was posted with urgency to a gentleman by the name of Santa. I hope our dear fellows at the Royal Mail will take this letter and with Gods speed deliver it.

Within the envelop are the hopes and dreams of young Tales. We noted this year few things were asked for, his passion for the beautiful game and love of the great outdoors featured, oh and something for his cats…

What he did realise was that he hadn’t asked for any fishing tackle, not that he needs any, however something related to fly fishing or a nice red perch bobber from our dear friend Andrew Field or Paul Cook….we will just have to wait and see.

On the twelfth day of Advent…

Tags

Norfolk, Old Salts, Pike. Knowledge

My thoughts are about pike fishing in the land of the big blue sky. Prompted by fellow writer thetuesdayswim who on a recent visit was after seeking some local knowledge. Knowing this area of the North Norfolk Coast Path well after years of staying at Wells-next-the-Sea I hope I can point the dear fellow in the direction where he will find Essox in wait. In order to temp these predators from the reeded margins a good oily sprat or herring fillet from the local fishmonger is ideal bait.

Having been tipped off last year about a good spot near Cley it transpires that a local old salt who sells tackle from a shed at the end of his garden will no doubt be better to advise on where exactly to go.
Should you find yourself on this part of the North Norfolk Coast I suggest you look out for a sign by the side of the road advertising ‘Tackle For Sale’ .
For He who seeks knowledge is then better equipped and from behind that door an Advent surprise of pike tackle will be found.

Seek and thee shall find.

On the eleventh day of Advent 11.12.13…

Tags

Advent, Burlington Arms, Fog, Rebellion Spiced Rum, River Thames, Royal Academy, Winter Warmer

On this the eleventh day of Advent brings with it a shroud of dense fog to cover London and up the River Thames, where by mid morning the Middlesex bank towards Dukes Meadows was bearly visible.

Somehow in all the excitement yesterday of visiting The Keeper’s House at the Royal Academy I managed not to prepare a post for the tenth day of Advent. Also later I was to observe that young Tales had not pealed back the perforated window to reveal a chocolate, how tempting it was to do it but self control ruled.

However for me the tenth day was eventful and a visit earlier in the afternoon to the Burlington Arms concluded with the consumption of ale as several industry friends descended on the venue to discuss the merits of the run up to Christmas for the drinks trade where the discussion focused on how difficult and challenging business still is.

So to add some Christmas cheer on this cold and damp day I present to you a winter warmer of mulled Rebellion Spiced Rum with cloudy apple juice. To prepare this festive elixier you’ll need a bottle of Rebeillion Spiced Rum, a litre of fresh pressed apple juice, an orange, 2 cinnamon sticks, 4 cloves, sliced apple, pealed and thinly sliced fresh ginger root, fresh or dried cranberries for decoration,a lime and a sprinkling of nutmeg. I promise you this is a great alternative to mulled wine.

If you ask why I have chosen Rebellion Spiced Rum it’s because it is made with great Caribbean rums and fresh ingredients in the blending process where they use fresh Madagascan vanilla pods, this makes it close to the old style Sailor Jerry rum but in my view even better. You can buy it via most online drinks retailers, Mater of Malt, Speciality Drinks or Delivered Drinks and at just over £18 a bottle it’s great value.

https://www.masterofmalt.com

On the ninth day of Advent…

Tags

Advent, B James, Fly Fishing, Grayling, Hardy's, Itchen, Speedia, Split Cane, Trotting

Under the winter sky there would be nine ladies of the stream dancing with their crimson dorsal fin in the current. Today would have been ideal to fish for grayling on either the Test, Itchen, Kennet or Frome.

Trotting with an Avon float suspended from the end of my vintage B James Perfection or my Chapman Shelford and paired to a Speedia or Hardy Conquest, this is what classic angling is all about. However, a short cane or graphite fly rod with a light line and a Polish woven nymph would also be the ideal set up for winter grayling fishing.

With unseasonably warm temperatures I can imagine a dry fly would work if cast into the shadows.

I have a good selection if grayling flies to choose from however there is nothing more satisfying than to see the tip of a float move as a grayling focuses and takes the bait on the turn.

To all of you who have escaped the High Streets in search of solace I wish you tight lines with the ladies.