Well Christmas is just around the corner and the boats are all off the water for repairs and painting. And although I will almost certainly have a few days out hunting a festive fish or two, my heart is not really in it when my fingers are freezing and there’s a nice cosy fire going at home. Before the snow arrived, we had a great time down on Windermere in the autumn and although not every day was a brilliant fish filled session, we had enough good fish to keep our spirits up- five twenty pounders to 23.8 and a good number of mid and upper doubles as well, but we did have to work hard and keep the faith on some occasions.

The best illustration of how patchy Windermere can be was one fabulous weekend when Dave Penny and his dad Les came out for two days fishing. Both experienced bank fishing pikers it was a double birthday treat and I hoped the fish were in agreement. Day one looked perfect, one of those sepia toned quiet Autumn days that feel just right. We had eight chances and once the ‘boys’ had got the hand of really winding down to feel the weight of the fish before lifting in, Les had a personal best mid double and five other doubles. Next day I warned about lightning rarely striking twice but to all our delight we ended with another four cracking pike with the best being 20.8lb and a back up 18.0. What a great weekends fishing and we all went home with a smile on our faces.

Next day I was out again with a Loch Awe regular. I had mentioned to Brian that a couple of friends were out fishing and not to panic if a boat came alongside for a brew. Mid morning, and a silver craft morored into view and we lifted the starboard rods as the boat came alongside .

‘Morning Eric’ said the smiling occupants and we shook hands and shared the crack for a while. My normally talkative client had gone a bit quiet as we caught up and the conversation ebbed and flowed. It was only as the silver boat pulled away that I realised I perhaps should have warned starstruck Brian that my two mates were none other than Ed Brown and Matt Hayes!

Over the next couple of days both Matt and I had a real struggle with just a couple of scraper doubles. The wind had swung into the east and the pike switched off, and even anglers of the calibre of Mr Hayes have a hard time of it sometimes. So don’t despair if you are not catching, it might not be that you are a lousy angler, just the fish don’t want to feed. Although……!!!

And that’s about it for now. So have a great festive season, be nice to those you love and maybe some of those you don’t, just to surprise them.

Stay warm and safe and I look forward to seeing you next year…I’m already looking forward to Windermere in February.

In case I don’t get round to posting a Christmas Special,

MERRY CHRISTMAS and a PEACEFUL NEW YEAR.

Tarra,

Eric

Happy Birthday Mr Penny

And happy Birthday to you too Mr Penny

Tarra and Merry Christmas