Hello all you would be expert anglers. I hope you are doing better than the weather, which while not as bad up here as elsewhere is still pretty horrendous. I took the Beagle down to Windermere yesterday and we had a couple of nice fish before the wind kicked in again. It was always going to be a short session but when you can see a wall of foul weather pushing 4 foot waves and approaching steadily down the lake like an advancing army it is a little worrying. By the time we had the rods inboard the weather hit us and we pulled into the jetty just as the first sleet came in. Tying up in horizontal rain at the mooring I did have a moment of wondering why I do this but no doubt when we get a few decent days and we can gaze out over calm water drinking tea and watching for the next run all will be well.

It was interesting as I drove the boat down there after all these years I still get that tingle of optimistic excitement as I approach Waterhead with the boat in tow and look across to the mouth of the river and the peninsulas. Its like any journey I suppose, especially with a boat in tow. There is a sense of being self contained and along the way there comes a point at which you are closer to your destination than to home. For me this is the moment when the adventure really begins, and the future beckons with a teasing excitement. Its a bit like “pssst! wanna meet some fish?”…well come with me… and I love it.

I’m down there till towards the end of March and expect to meet some fine specimens. Unlike last year when the water temperature was way down, at present the surface temp is 5 degrees so once we lose the snow cover off the tops and get a few spring like days things should really pick up. I’ll keep you posted and hopefully I’ll get the hang of my new toy- a go pro camera!!! Action, muttering and adventure, and all on film!.

So good luck if you are watching water come into the house, take care and spare a thought for all those lost fish of the Thames valley…there’s going to be some very upset carp anglers out there!.

tarra, Eric

One to the house rod

Here we go