I have laid aside business, and gone a'fishing.

Izaak Walton

Wednesday, March 7, 2012

Taking Mick's Advice...

It was Mick Jagger, and his chum's, who said, "You can't always get what you want. But if you try sometimes, you will find, you get what you need". And with that in mind...

I'd love to catch a 2Ibs Grayling, from the River Goyt, on a nicely drifted nymph, on a crisp winters day. But so far, that goal remains a dream. So, in the meantime I enjoy whatever comes my way.

Angela declared she wanted yet another shopping expedition to Boundary Mill,  my mind turned to Roughlee, a fishery I always enjoy visiting.


After a 40 minute drive, we arrived at Boundary Mill - it's not the best photo I've taken but my heart wasn't in it... I deposited Angie and headed toward the fishery, which is only a 10 minute drive away.

Terry, who lives in the house below, owns and runs the fishery and is very accommodating, but today he was nowhere to be seen. No one else was fishing and the place was very quiet. Terry's dog was in the house, but he never has much to say. I was alone.

Thankfully though, the fishery was open and after signing in, in the "signing-in-hut", I tackled up and cast my first line of the day. Temperature was around 4C but a strong wind off the hills made if feel closer to 0.
The Hills

I was fishing a large and weighted, dark green nymph. Drawing the line in from my third cast met with a gentle nibble, then a pluck and then a solid take and it was good to see a bend in the old rod. After a short, but spirited fight, I was joined on the bank by the chap above. A nice, silvery Rainbow weighing in at around the 1Ibs mark. He remained quite still for his close up and then I slipped him back to live another day.

Bolstered by my early success, I was expecting another fish straight away.  I saw neither hide nor hair of another fish for at least another hour. I fancied a break, so I toddled down the bank to the "cabin". 


Terry leaves tea and coffee and fresh milk, and there's even a microwave for those who may have brought food with them. I never feel the need to display my cordon bleu skills, by heating up a three course meal. A coffee usually does it.




I normally work on a Wednesday (yes, it's Wednesday, today) but continuing with my plan to try to fish a little more and work a little less, I had taken the day off. A friend of mine, John Tyzack, was a high flier in the world of I.T. He got sick of the job and became a fishing guide (and a very good one at that).

I doubt if I ever could give up my job completely, and I would never make any kind of guide. Our family business will always have a strong hold of me, but its nice to daydream of maybe's.
By the way, take a look at J.T.'s website, but be warned, it could make you very jealous.
Click here for the link.

After my coffee break, I headed back up the bank for another try. Within a few minutes I was into fish number two. Again, another nice Rainbow that gave a very good account of itself. A quick snap and once again it swam off to join in the fun underwater.

I cast an eye at my watch, Angie had said she'd be finished by five and it was just after four. I'd had a number of nibbles and plucks, but no solid takes. I cast another line out and it was nearly pulled from my hand by the fish above.

It must have taken my fly, turned in a flash and bored away at top speed. A good scrap ensued with plenty of diving and thrashing and finally, we were together. I loved the look of this rainbow; very healthy, very clean and a blush of deep purple on the flank.
I thanked him and slipped him back.

I wasn't in my office, or in a school, or in a motel, or stuck in a jam on the M25, M6, M11, M40 - take your pick, dear reader. I was a part of the world again - my world - my fishing world.
It's a beautiful place to be.

I broke the rod and wound the line back on the reel, it was time to go and collect Angie from her shopping.

Within the precincts of the shopping centre is Barney's, a fish & chip cafe/restaurant...
Angie was happy....

And I was happy!

Until the next time...

6 comments:

  1. Good on you for taking a day. We all need those, midweek, from time to time. My teeth needed to go to the dentist this morning -- definitely not something I wanted, but definitely something needed. Beautiful fish...that last one's color! Ooh wee ooh! *(not exactly sure how to spell what I'd say) :)

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    1. e.m.b. Fear not old sausage, I hear you!
      Hope the gnashers passed the test.

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    2. You'll be on the Dallas TV show next!

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  2. Sounds like a great day out Alan, some lovely colouring on those fish and topped off by what seems a feast fit for a king and queen, that plate of fish and chips looks rather tasty and those portions look very generous.

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    1. Mark. You're a man after me own heart, Mark. A fine connoisseur of trout, royalty and fish & chips!

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