Wednesday, Wednesday.... I love that day....
I only seems like a week since the last Fishing With The Coach Wednesday, and indeed it was. Carp were not going to be crawling up the rod this week, the challenge was going to be somewhat different...
The first port of call was the Shell garage for some go juice for the chariot. It would have been more appropriate for the woman behind the counter to be dressed as a highway woman. I haven't been fleeced this much since my last church communion, circa 1978.
Second stop was to pick up my nephew, who I had persuaded to come fishing with me. Gethyn has not been fishing since 2019 for one reason or another and has been kind enough to find a window in his busy week to come with. Gymnastics, Football, Jujitsu, Goose worrying, saving Polar Bears and fell running are just a few of his activities, so for him to find a slot for fishing is quite remarkable. We chatted in the car about this and that, and I suggested that he should drop the Football once a fortnight and come fishing with us instead? He flipped open his personal organiser and said that he did not have time to give anything up, so I left it there....
We arrived at the venue without getting lost and I popped a DDAS Juniors sign at the entrance so that Gethyn's mum, Lisa, could find the venue later to pick him up for his next 5 activities for the day.
We negotiated the high level security at the gate and made our way up the track to the lake.
We scanned the lake and I gave Gethyn a lesson in basic watercraft, explaining that, the wind was in the North, north east and was, therefore, a cold wind. Fish don't like being on a cold wind and will very often sit in the opposite end of the lake to where the wind is blowing. this is known as being on the back of the wind, where the water temp is warmer. I backed all this up with wild gesticulation with my arms, pointing out likely fish spots and where we should fish.... I turned to see that Gethyn had turned into a very bored looking Chimpanzee, staring at me whilst he rested on his knuckles. Wide eyed and mouth gaping...
I rubbed my eyes and looked at him again. He wasn't a chimp, but he was looking at me incredulously...
Maybe the watercraft lesson was a bit too much, so I suggested that we may like to get some gear out of the car and get started...
After box positioning, Method feeder set up, bait preparation and casting exercises completed, the lad was left to fly solo...and promptly tried a cast without an open bail arm, which I'm sure sent a bow wave to the other end of the lake.
In all honesty, Gethyn hasn't been fishing for at least 18 months, if not two years. To my surprise he picked it up again pretty quickly, casting the feeder softly to the clip like a pro.
Uncle Simon arrived at this point and, once again, the coaches outnumbered the participants. I was expecting Pantsman, Mrs Guru and quiet Faith at some point. They did arrive, but much later....
Gethyn landed a proper one of around 4lbs, easily his personal best fish. Note that it was not placed on the ground for the picture because of the absence of an unhooking mat, but I think you get the idea of it's size...
It wasn't all fish fun however and Gethyn wanted to show that sticks can be just as much fun.
This specimen, that we did not weigh, put up a real fight right to the net. It was identified as a 'Slimystickimus Pigginnightmare. A common species.
Now with three fish under his belt, Gethyn decided that it was time to challenge the coach to a race of numbers and asked me to clear off to my box and fish for my credibility. Challenge excepted...
I invented a fish song to alert Gethyn to and impending fish capture, which made him smile and grind his teeth in equal measure. But I was losing a few so, I invested some real money into the day and changed my hook. Situation resolved and with 15 fish in the bag to Gethyn's four, the challenge was called off, and re-invented as the biggest fish challenge, which Gethyn was leading and, Indeed held until he left to resume his busy life at 1pm.
I asked Faith to come and do some fishing with my equipment whilst 'Mum and Mike' did what they needed to do. Challenge Gethyn was now reverted back to a numbers competition again, this time against quiet Faith. The poor lad did not realise that quiet Faith eats male competitors for breakfast and is a steely eyed assassin when it comes to fishing. Gethyn had, once again, whacked the wasps nest of fate with a stick and smeared on the anti-allergy cream of destiny, as Faith nailed Gethyn to the wall one fish at a time. It was all good fun though, and I really believe that he was enjoying himself.
1pm came round and the phone call from his mum at the gate signalled a change of persona for Gethyn as he changed from potential fat angler to dexterous gymnast. I walked him to the gate and reported that he had had an impressive re-entry into angling, and he should drop all these other silly activities and pursue the one true hobby, Stick fishing!
I returned to my peg and enjoyed the rest of my day. Uncle Simon had found some snotty Bream type things at top kit 'n' two on six mills and 'Team Faith' came down for a chat.
Mrs Guru was on a hot line to somewhere and there were many directional instructions being 'tutted' down the phone to her mum, who apparently was on her was way. Navigation had gotten too much for mum of Mrs Guru and the attempt to find her way down the single road between Chickerell and Nottington,, was abandoned. A notoriously difficult one and only single road to navigate it has to be said...
The audible 'Crack' of young Faiths' heart was heard when the news of the no show of Nanny was made public. You would have to have a very hard heart if you didn't feel her pain. But fishing heals many ailments, including disappointing news of family no shows... Quiet Faith was smiling again, although not as broadly as before...
Uncle Simon was putting the odd fish together, including more snotty Bream and hybrids, as well as a few Mud-pigs. The negotiations for 'Nanny Navigation' continued until and shrill squeal of excitement woke a number of anglers up across the lake as 'The lost Nanny' appeared. There is no doubt that Faith has a strong connection with the lost Nanny and all focus was on her now...
Uncle Simon and Pantsman swapped nautical stories of their time spent in her majesty's service and how many people they have thrown off of balconies for a laugh...
Time ticked on and the my time at the lake was drawing to a close. Although the day had been slightly less dynamic than those attended by constant source of entertainment, the Red Fox, it had been thoroughly enjoyable and I am looking forward to the Junior Pairs match this Saturday. I ended up with 43 Carp, Roach and Bream for I'm guessing to be around 25 to 30lb in total. I will write a full pre-match report tomorrow.
Thanks to all my companions today, I needed that...
The Junior Pairs match is this Saturday at Harbourbridge. Assemble 10.15am
Draw 10.30am
Start 11.30am
Optional lunch break
Finish 4.00pm
Juniors Sec...
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