" I Coulda Been A Contender "

" Regret is the worst human emotion. If you had of taken another road, you may of fallen off a cliff. I'm content "

William Shatner


Done the Paras10, a ten mile cross country yomp with 35lb pack and boots last weekend. I was aiming for around 2.15 but somehow managed to come in under the Para qualifying time at 1.48. Well pleased.
Great event, well organised as expected . Lots of Gurkas, East Anglians and Paras taking part, not many no hopers in this one.

Managed to source some bespoke garden furniture from a large local reservoir. Bloody heavy but make perfect tables, just big enough to take a large glass of red, small plate of cheese and a book. Wunderbar.

That's me below, did I mention I did the Paras10 ?

The fish in my "private pit" have been spawning, so I've not been fishing, but have spent time watching and observing. I've told Lord Pualus of Clacton about the water and shown him round, so now have someone to take some photos. He's mega keen too and a fine fellow.

Took The Masonmeister and Young Charles crabbing at the weekend. Like all youngsters, they loved it. That was until Young Charles grazed his knee and then much wailing commenced. Unfortunately, this went on for bloody ages. I even had to finish off his ice cream for him.

Light for eighteen hours a day, warm and sunny, everything in full bloom. It doesn't get better than now,

'Ave It

" Simplicity, simplicity, Simplicity. I say let your affairs be two or three, not hundreds or thousands"

Henry David Thoreou

So do I Dave.

Nice looking water eh ? I've walked past it a few times but never seen any fish, but a few weeks ago I noticed how coloured the water was. Doesn't get coloured without a reason, so I sat down on the bank for an hour and watched. I eventually spotted a very light coloured "ghostie" carp. Then another, then a group of them. Good sized too. Hmm.

There are " Danger - Keep Out" and " No Fishing" signs everywhere, so I jumped over the barbed wire for a snoop round. No sign of anyone ever fishing, very overgrown, steep banks, but a couple of interesting out of the way spots.

The other day, I came back with some bait, selected a swim and chucked some in. Within twenty minutes half a dozen decent sized carp were tails up feeding on the bait.

Alarm clock set for 4.00 the next morning, bait in the water by 4.30 and within five minutes I was in to a decent fish that tore off, making the reel scream and rod hoop round double. A few minutes later a gorgeous looking ghostie type mirror not far short of 20lb was in the net. Nice.

Tucked away out of sight

I only fished for a couple of hours, but had five carp and lost two. They all fought like demons. The thirty plus year old Sportex 2lb TC had a real hammering.

As well as the  first fish, I had one nice common around 15lb, a couple of  low double ghostie mirrors and a litlun around 5lb. By 7.00 I was having breakfast.

Crap photo, but you can see it's a lump

You won't be surprised to learn that I'm going back for another go soon.

So's that

Later the same day I had my first trip of the season down the river bass fishing. Float fishing a few yards out in a couple of feet of water, plenty of schoolie bass were hitting the ragworm almost every cast. Nothing decent but plenty of time yet.

I saw a mate lure fishing the same spot but unusually, on this particular evening, he didn't have a touch.

It was a beautiful warm spring evening, we had a good chat and a few fish, what more do you want ?  I'm looking forward to plenty more evenings like that this season.

Pikeying

"Be outspoken but not obnoxious"

Chuck D

Pikeying ? That's a new word.
Pikeying - To search, forage or gather this, that and the other, for free.

Massive tides last week so I went down the beach to see if I could see any gullies,  bait beds, etc.
I love messing around on the beach. Found a large bed of razor clams on a stoney ridge about 120 yards out, which is only exposed a few times a year.

The clams are in the holes you can see on the photo above and squirt water a foot or two upwards as they here you approach. Walk along with a bottle of table salt. pour some down the hole and if you're lucky they'll come up and you can grab them. Got about thirty clams that are now in the freezer for eating soon.

Added bonus of half a dozen leads and it's been a nice early morning on the beach.

After a couple of half successful Alton sessions I decided that it was time for a float making session. Due to the undertow at the reservoir, you sometimes need a float 15-20 inches long to get below the drift. Lobby came up with a few full size peacock quills and I bodged together some bespoke floats.

Last weekend a great weekend in the southern Spanish hills with Mr and Mrs Turdster. Bit of walking, cycling and lots of eating and drinking. Wunderbar.

Days Like These

 “Forty-two. His age had astounded him for years, and each time that he had sat so astounded, trying to figure out what had become of the young, slim man in his twenties, a whole additional year slipped by and had to be recorded, a continually growing sum which he could not reconcile with his self-image. He still saw himself, in his mind's eye, as youthful, and when he caught sight of himself in photographs he usually collapsed ... Somebody took my actual physical presence away and substituted this, he had thought from time to time. Oh well, so it went.”
― Philip K. Dick, A Maze of Death 

Obviously the above applies to you, not me. I'm in prime condition and improving with age.

Been busy,  very busy. Preparing for the Paras10 TAB. For Wak Baines benefit, this stands for Tactical Advance into Battle. He's a military man you see. A ten mile off road march with a thirty five pound pack, long troosers and boots. Max time allowed three hours, the Paras have to do it in one hour fifty. I'll be aiming somewhere between the two.

I'm sure there will be lots of other middle aged blokes trying to prove they "could've been a contender".

See that photo of that controller ? I was collecting crabs for bait for upcoming sting ray fishing and found it. Most definitely an omen.

Me and Deadly Dave went last night. I had three roker to 8lb , plus two dogs and a few whiting. Deadly was dogged out, with eight of the buggers, plus a nice skate same size as mine. Bloody freezing, the bait was still frozen when I got back home at 01.00. Enjoyable night though.

Preparing for a bit of poaching for some nice, almost certainly unfished for carp at a local, very private pit. Stand by for news. Hopefully not of my arrest and imprisonment.

My poaching spot

RIP Robert M Pirsig, author of "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance". A classic. Read it if you haven't already. And if you have, read it again.

Reasons To Be Cheerful - Part 2

"Every spring is the only spring. A perpetual astonishment"

Ellis Peters

This warm weather bought the snakes out last week. On the way back from fishing I almost stood on this adder. I made a ridiculous vomiting noise when I saw it, they give me the creeps. Didn't stop me from going back for a photo though

A day later, walking around the reservoir I heard that familiar snake sound in the leaves and there were three grass snakes together, big buggers too. Lots of them about at the moment.

Now, this is possibly the crappiest holiday park on the Essex Sunshine Coast. Seawick Holiday Park. It's near where we fish for skate.

Lots of fat old munters eating chips, middle aged blokes in tight football shirts drinking pints in the Sailor Boy pub at eleven in the morning, other people walking their Staffies, or Devil Dogs as Wak Baines calls them. Book your dream holiday there now.

I've been making bass and pike floats this week, as well as some ultra long wagglers to beat the reservoir drift. Can't buy them, so I'm having to weave my magic. They will undoubtedly turn out to be functional rather than beautiful, but that's OK.

I like doing it, there's something therapeutic about making stuff. Wild Billy Childish said it's better to do something badly yourself than getting somebody else to do it for you well.

In the case of float making, drawing, painting, etc, I think he's right. When it comes to wiring or plumbing your house I think we disagree.

Last weekend I did the Little Bromley 10 km. Finished in 45.08. Previous year was 45.04. Incredible you run all that way and finish within a few seconds both times. Great race, good atmosphere, five hundred entrant sell out, around some lovely rural lanes. Then it was off to the Italian restaurant for a pig out and drink. Outdoor table in the sun. Happy days.

Reasons To Be cheerful - Part 1

 "Always walk on the sunny side of the street"

Me


Where to begin ? Winter is now just a bad memory, it's all happening here in deepest Essex.

Last week skate fishing varied between good and appalling. Got up at 04.00 onTuesday morning for a pre work session. First cast, an eleven pounder. Second cast an eight pounder. It slowed down but I ended up with five decent fish in a couple of hours.

I then blanked the next two trips.  Oh well.

A week ago I spotted the first mullet of the season, I'm going to catch one on the fly this season. Or not catch one on the fly.

Here be mullet

Look at it, looks "mulletty" doesn't it ?

I've had a few trips to the reservoir too. Plenty of roach, but they've onlybeen feeding as the the sun dips below the horizon, so it's a question of catching them before it gets dark. Loads of bats out at dusk over the ressie.

A few of the migrant birds have showed up too. Coming over here, eating our insects. Plenty of chiffchaffs, whitethroats and blackcaps, plus the odd reed warbler. Nightingales and cuckoos in the next week I reckon.

The crabs have started peeling too. I've been down the river on the last three tides stocking up. It doesn't last long so you've got to get 'em while you can . Back breaking work though. When I catch my huge sting ray it'll be worth it though.

The Mighty Colne

Wood anemones and bluebells out in force. Bluebells very early.

Got to be the best time of year hasn't it ? Get out there and suck it up. More roach and tench fishing at the ressie over the Easter weekend hopefully. And a skate trip or two.

Another blog update shortly. So busy I've barely got time to work. The junior Dann brother said he thought I did " Less work that Poodle Riley in his last years at Alan Williams ". Now that's a bit harsh.

Old Albion is Reborn

"Turn your face to the sun and the shadows fall behind you"

Unknown

A run I've done a hundred times and I never get bored with it. Up early and taking it all in as I jog along the river.

Not a bit of wind, birds singing, nobody about. Perfect.

Careful over that dyke old boy.

Had a quick roach trip to Alton too. Just a couple, but it looks the doggies dooh dahs down there at the moment. In the words of Arnie, I'll be back.

A totally unrelated photo of a damn fine coffee shop in Brighton, where I holed up to get warm when I should have been plaice fishing two weeks ago. A good coffee, something to eat and a paper to read. Luxury ( especially if you're reading about Utd being beaten ).

Bloody wind putting the brakes on the skate fishing at the moment. However, a week ago, I saw a two or three hour weather window where the forecast said it would drop off briefly. A call to Deadly Dave and we were on the beach in an hour.

Started horribly rough but then it dropped off nicely, whereupon me and DD helped ourselves to nine roker each in a couple of hours. Best fish of 9lb falling to me. Because as you know, I am the Ray God.