Bob Brookes Is Looking Forward

‘June will see me mainly avoiding barbel when fishing on the river, when they are spawning or vulnerable after recovering from having done so. Fishing for them at that time can be too easy as they are usually shoaled up in the faster spawning runs.’

As I sit in the house writing this it is early January and the weather is doing its worst. The wind is howling and the rain is belting down onto the sodden garden. It is not a morning when I shall be venturing out fishing or even for my daily walk through the local woods. Perhaps a little later, or maybe not. That’s the spirit!

Good Old Trent Spirit

There were days like this, not too many years ago, when I would have been out there, but not now. I don’t think it is all down to laziness, rather a realisation that with just a few short weeks before my 80th birthday it is probably just common sense.

Three days ago I was out fishing for perch and barbel on the Trent when the river was up about 5 feet above normal. The sun was shining and it was unseasonably warm. I was fishing a prolific syndicate stretch with a couple of pals yet we never had a bite between us, it was a lovely fishing trip despite that. One thing that I am aware of is that although I have much to still look forward to, time is precious and seems to be melting away far too quickly.

It would be too easy to slip into hibernation mode during ‘mucky’ weather but that would be time wasted that I will never get credited back to me. Perhaps I really ought to don the waterproofs and at least get out for a walk? Looking forward there is quite a lot ahead for me in 2023. Apparently something has been planned for my birthday in April that no one wants to tell me about. I have plans to fish my regular crucian venue in the spring months of what was the old close season. I know that will be frowned on by some on here but I will do it, enjoying the bank time I will have rescued.

A Peaceful Looking Trent

June will see me mainly avoiding barbel when fishing on the river, when they are spawning or vulnerable after recovering from having done so. Fishing for them at that time can be too easy as they are usually shoaled up in the faster spawning runs. To me nowadays it is more akin to seal clubbing than angling, so not for me.

In the past I have caught over 100 in the first 10 days of the season. As I say it is not for me, yet some still insist on doing it. Later in the month I am fishing for crucians and tench with others for a day at Rockland Mere fishery in Norfolk. I am looking forward to that immensely as Glenda will be fishing too. I hope she shows us all how it is done.

July will see us for a week just outside Bath, an area we usually pass through but where we have never stayed. We are looking forward to it when we will be getting out into the countryside, probably not be taking any fishing tackle on this holiday. The next holiday booked is in September with our best friends at a lake in a nature reserve in Yorkshire. This is proper old style fishing without chance of catching any monsters, just like when I was a youngster and we love it!

In the next few weeks I will be speaking to Ludlow Bookbinders about binding my 3rd book, entitled The Diary of a Lucky Angler 2017-2022. Because of covid this book spans five seasons rather than the previous ones of just three. I am rather excited about this one as these years saw some superb fish landed and very many memorable sessions shared with friends.

As you can see I am still looking forward to continuing a fulsome and active angling life, exercising both body as well as those little grey cells, as I approach my 9th decade.

Writing & Images Bob Brookes January 2023