The Fishing Coach

I have neglected this blog since injuring both my wrists at the end of October, mostly because I have been unable to hold a fishing rod and have been wearing wrist supports on both arms for most of the time. I have really missed my fishing and without it I have lost my motivation to write my thoughts here. I have had to cancel several bookings for guided days out and I apologise to those I have had to let down but if someone is paying me to show them how to fish a certain water or fish with a specialist method then my verbal input is not enough. Try telling some one how to knot a tie without demonstration and you will see what I mean.

It is very important to me to give of my best and if I cannot do that then I think it is appropriate that I postpone the outing until I can do so. This incapacity has caused me to miss my favourite time of the year on the river and the best time for pike fishing on still waters, I have had reports from Chris Clarke about the huge dace and roach he has been catching and he has urged me to join him. Chris has promised me some photos to publish here as soon as he can find someone who can develop the Daguerreotype plates from the ancient camera he still uses. I have seen the rivers rise and fall due to heavy rain and I can imagine the effects of the early frosts on the bait fish in the Predator Lake on the Wasing Estate.

The season ticket for the river Itchen that I purchase each year and that is only valid from mid October to mid February has gone vitually unused. I have yet to fish the Predator Lake on the Wasing Estate for my own pleasure, having only visited it for coaching purposes.

Enough of the whinging, let me tell you what I have done.

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On the 9th December Graham Walker from the PAA finally accepted my invitation for a day on the river Itchen and brought his son with him. Unfortunately the Itchen was not on top form being a funny grey/green colour as it had been recently been in heavy flood. I was unable to trot a float for more than a couple minutes and the fish were reluctant to feed. I spent most of the day trying to put Graham onto some fish and introduce his son to the joys of centrepin fishing. Both caught some fish and Graham being a much more experienced angler managed a large chub probably over five pounds and a Grayling in excess of two pounds. I ended up fishing with a maggot feeder out of desperation, this being the only method my wrists would allow and I was rewarded with a four pound twelve ounce chub.

On packing up I noticed that the Young’s Purist centrepin that Graham’s son had been using was missing one handle. Earlier that day I had noticed a specially machined screw laying on the bank and my magpie instinct had caused me to pick it up not knowing what it was. This was the screw that had held on the missing handle and I now only have to replace the black “plastic?” part.

I have been told by Weller of the Yard that there is an ex employee of J W Young who can supply all the parts for the reels and I have just left a message via his website. This is one for all us centrepin freaks.

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The end of December meant the Christmas holidays and more opportunities for Pike Handling courses with Berkshire Council. Despite my wrists being a little better, it was with some trepidation that I signed the contracts in earlyDecember for three days of coaching.

As the dates approached the healing process had slowed down and the preparation of the tackle was a major effort but luckily Lee Blundell came to the rescue and volunteered to help out on the courses. The management at the Wasing Estate were again generous enought to allow us to use the Predator Lake. Unfortunately we were not able to replicate our Autumn successes as the frosts had changed the feeding pattern of the pike and I had been unable to explore the water beforehand due to my inability to cast a plumbing rod or a lure.

The result was a few dropped runs and two pike. However, the weed had died down enough for me to teach some of the youngsters some lure fishing techniques and this helped to prevent boredom. The last day was extra special with some old friends from Slough. When it was realised thet we were to meet Lee at Max’s cafe at Padworth, money was found from the petty cash to buy breakfast for the young people. The sight of a very quiet and ladylike girl tucking in to a bacon and egg sandwich only slightly smaller than her head will bring a smile to my face for a long time to come.

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As I write this to make up for my previous prevarication, I am looking forward to next Tuesday and the Molesey Anglers Curry Club night out. These get-togethers seem to have got better and better over the year and often we have ten or more attending. The conversation is always vigoruous and the subjects varied. We still use the same venue, although I have looked at others to try and provide a change but none have compared with the value and general friendliness of the Raj of India in West Molesey.

Last year I mentioned an excellent article on centrepins by Paul Whiteing. I have since had some correspondence with the author and as a result he has asked me to write an article to include in the update he was planning. He was kind enough to add this to his work which can now be seen here (click on ‘fishing’, then ‘tackle’ then ‘centrepins’).

In other news… last year I told you about some film clips I had made for a sports instruction website called IWTV. I have now been informed that these can be viewed for free. Take a look at the old post, follow the instructions and have a good laugh.

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