How time flies

Tags

Alloy, Box, Fly, Trout, Wales, West Country, Wheatley

I can’t believe that a full two weeks have past since I last updated my blog. In all fairness not much has happened and as work pressures put pay to any fishing before the end of the season for coarse fish we are now upon the start of the season for fly fishing for trout on rivers.

Over the winter months a few items of tackle were purchased and amongst those items were the odd fly box, namely vintage Wheatley alloy boxes and an interesting item for retrieving the odd fly out of overhanging branches. Having had the time to sort all the tackle out into boxes and mark them up accordingly I am further sorting out the fly boxes to contain patterns for the different rivers and locations we fish, well that was my reasoning to justify the acquisition of yet another fly box to Mrs Tales. This latest box made by Wheatley I assume is an early box but it does seem to have the more modern addition of a foam insert to the top of the lid. The compartment have the distinctive yellow celluloid windows however the compartments to the outer edge have oval shaped windows. It would be great to know if this really is an early Wheatley box, so any pointers would be much appreciated.

This box will be made up of flies for fishing the river and lakes of The South West and Wales as we may head there over Easter. Most of the flies used for Wales will be classic wets which fill form the contents of another box with clips.

In the last edition of Trout & Salmon magazine there was a feature on early season flies, most tied on size 14 hooks and forming a group of emergers. Out of a large collection of flies accumulated over many years I will try to put together a workable selection to cover early season needs for woodland and moorland streams, with a good selection of flies for lakes such as Bala or Tynconel.

It would be good to hear from any of you as to your early season choices of fly. 

From Luxor and beyond…

Tags

Bodiam, Castle, Devon, King George VI, Minnows, Pezon & Michel, salmon, Tin, Vintage

Earlier today a package arrived containing a lure box by Pezon & Michel, Paris. Similar in construction to a Wheatley box but bearing the distinctive Luxor embossed logo to the front.

In another package 20 more sweet painted ladies arrived from North of the Boarders, these are now house in a vintage Edward Sharp & Sons Ltd confectioners tin appointed by the Late King George VI.

Sweet painted ladies…

Tags

Devon, lure, Minnow, Painted, salmon, Vintage, Wooden

Each had it’s own unique decoration much like a row of ladies sitting on the underground. Their makeup painted on in different ways, colour and texture, however these are a mixed collection of Devon Minnows whose purpose is to deceive or attract the attention of the salmon.

Over the years I have cast many of these and on many an occasion retrieved them only to find that the triple hook had lodge itself into a sunken branch in much the same way that a well heeled lady has had the misfortune to get her heel stuck in the groves of the escalator or gap in the pavement, the difference though is that the later is retrievable where many a minnow has been lost to nature.

There are all sorts of Devon Minnow imitations. Here captured below are set of hand painted wooden and brass minnows each carefully decorated and now rare to find.

Other peoples junk…

Tags

Car Boot, Languedoc, Mitchell 440A, Picpoul De Pinet, Scallop Shell, Seafood, Silver Plate

In my pursuit of finding good vintage fishing tackle I trawl car boots, on-line sites and visit a circuit of vintage tackle fairs. There are a couple of antique and vintage markets which always produce the odd reel, box of flies, fishing bags and spinners.

On a recent visit to a local car boot sale I found in the bottom of a cardboard box a metallic blue reel, a Mitchell Match 440A. Still in good working order it is robust and will last at least another 20-30 years. Also as detailed in yesterday’s post I found a large silver plate scallop shell platter which will be ideal for serving mixed seafood on a bed of ice served with a chilled glass of Picpoul de Pinet with its notes of mineral, white pepper and grapefruit tang, it’s a great wine from the sun-baked vineyards of Languedoc. I can’t wait for the warmers days to arrive but this wine when served with fish makes me think of balmy days near the Med.

Picpoul de Pinet 2020, Domain Félines Jourdan, Languedoc, France available from Berry Bros & Rudd, http://www.bbr.com £8.95 or Picpoul de Pinet Prestige 2010 Domain Cabrol, Languedoc, France available at Majestic Wine http://www.majestic.co.uk

For Mitchell reels contact The Reel People – Jims Reel Shop http://www.jimsreelshop.com

Building Blocks Part ii

Tags

Car Boor, chiswick, Fishing, Mitchell, Robins Wood, Silver, Trout, Vintage

The acquisition of vintage tackle seems to form part of everyday life in the Tales household, either by the familiar thud on the doormat or having been tucked into an old Brady bag to escape the eyes of Mrs Tales and smuggled into the house, usually on the first Sunday of the month which coincides with a well known West London car boot.

Having received a package that contained a blue card box bearing the ink description ‘Building Blocks’ and containing a mix of vintage tackle on Friday I ventured out early on Sunday morning to the local car boot sale in search of vintage items for the home, vintage bar ware and vintage tackle.

First purchase of the day was a silver plate scallop shaped platter, large in size and interesting as to its intended use, any pointers would be much appreciated but I guess a platter for sea food? There was much on offer on this bright day in March, however I was focused on finding items that would help me with my gin presentations, and any items to go with my interest in Vermouth, a liquid which I sense my grow over the next few months. I did find three nickel silver Scottish spirit measures, typically large in the measure size but not a must have requirement.

As I scoured more boxes of castoffs, bric-a-brac and odds and ends I came across a distinctive blue painted Mitchell 440A, dusty, ingrained with oil and dirt but all there and when rubbed the blue paint was bright, the chrome un-pitted and the bail arm worked to a fashion, possibly in need of a service by James Partridge of Jims Reel Shop. For just over the fraction of the cost of a pint of Guinness I purchased the reel and tucked it away in my trusted Brady bag. Time was soon ticking by and I had promised young Tales a visit to Robins Wood, a favoured fishery and one he has started to understand how it fishes.

Clearly the teaching of recent years is paying dividends, it wasn’t long after having arrived at this picturesque Surrey trout fishery that young Tales was into a bright eyed fish, caught on a nymph that the fishery owner recommended.

Over the winter months much had been done to improve this fishery, new paths, bridges and some of the dense vegetation and overhanging trees having been cut back. It did give the fishery a tidy and manicured look without detracting from is pastoral feel, where a trickling stream dropping into lakes then down through woodland to make this an idyllic destination worth the 40 minute drive from South West London.

I sense we will be back before the official start to the trout season for young Tales to increase his tally and show that his youthful enthusiasm can out fish me again this season.