On the second week of the summer holidays Lee was still unavailable and I was booked for two sessions with PAYP from Slough with eight pupils each day. I had asked Richard Metcalf (another PAA coach) to come all the way down from Blackpool to help me and I had “sweetened” the request with the promise of a day on the river Kennet inbetween. Richard was on the same PAA course as me at Brooksby back in 1999 and is now training other coaches.We have a reunion every year at the NEC fishing show and he has always wanted to come for a day on the Kennet.
Those of you who have met Richard can guess the fun we had on the two courses this week. The kids from Slough had never met anyone like him. It was great to watch him work his own particular brand of magic with them and I am sure they will remember him for a long time. Twynersh produced the goods as usual and everyone caught fish, including one girl who screamed in terror every time she swung a fish in but she still managed to catch eleven.
On the Wedneday I took Richard down to the Wasing Estate to fish the Brimpton beat. Richard chose to fish the weir pool and caught a mixed bag on the maggot feeder while I trotted a float for the dace and roach. A week before I had been surfing on Ebay and had found a Drennan Super Stick float rod in good condition which I managed to win for £44 including postage. I used this rod in conjunction with my B.J.Lightweight Purist centrepin reel with a one and a half pound hook length (the river was too low and clear for the barbel). What a fantastic rod, why haven’t I had one before now? I must have caught over one hundred dace and roach trotting a small avon float, about the most fun you can have with your clothes on.
Richard really enjoyed his day on the Kennet and I enjoyed his company, it was a pleasure to work with him too. Perhaps I can lure him down again later on in the year for a day on the Itchen.
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