There are lots of reasons why I love guiding and instructing- the fish, wildlife, big skies and the scenery, the crack and best of all, the characters that come fishing. And of late I’ve met some great ones. With the onset or real winter I have been out on Windermere with pike who were slightly preoccupied with re arranging their affairs to suit the change in seasons. As the temperature fell away on a daily basis and fishing became harder, food and hot drinks became the order of the day. Pity then that someone stole the stove!! Can I have it back please ( and the Fox long pliers) Every cloud has a silver lining though and the new stove works a real treat. First proper meal on the Beagle was a pan of ‘Lobby’ brought along by Rod and Carl Lewis for a sixtieth birthday lunch. I always thought a lobby was somewhere between the front door and the living room but seems not so in Wigan and Leigh. Lobby is a recipe for a nourishing stew that a great way to warm up on a cold lake with low winter sun and a pan of great hot food. Try It! Its easy This is what you are going to need for a reet gradely Lobby. 1lb Lean Stewing Beef 1lb Potatoes 1lb Carrots 2 stock cubes And an onion 2 Pints of water To make the Lobby next. Put your meat into a saucepan, add 2 stock cubes (crumble them up) and add your 2 pints of water. Bring your water to the boil and simmer until the meat is quite tender. Ok, now you need to peel your potatoes, carrots and your onion. I would recommend dicing the potato and carrots then chop the onion into small pieces. Now you need to add the vegetables and cook until the vegetables are almost cooked. If you need to, you can add more water. Simmer for a further 20 minutes. Leave to cool put a lid on the pan and seal with Duck Tape. Take to boat and re heat to suit! If you make it as good as Carl’s dad you’re in for a treat. “Gooing fer’t reet gradely Lobby” suddenly makes sense. Oh yes and we did manage a few fish like this 18.12 pike for Chris Bell from Penrith. Stay warm, and hopefully it will warm up a bit in time for the next sortie to the big lake in a week or two.

Tarra. Eric

Rod Lewis and a specimen Lobby

Rod testing !!

Chris Bell 18.12