50 up

Tomorrow I'm nearer 70 than 30 as Wak Lite said the other day. Half a century old. More of this for a good while yet and I will be happy.....

Into the light

I had never seen Joy Division or New Order live so an opportunity to see Peter Hook and the Light play most of Joy Division's back catalogue last night at Norwich Waterfront with Wak Lite, putative historian/recordist of the Essex coastal fishing  industry was not to be missed following a musing about impending middle age over a chain Italian menu fisso and for me a sparkling water.

Average age of a good sized turn out was I'd say 45 with several dad/lad/daughter pairings and a lot bigger waistlines than the first time round. Starting off with Warsaw the very tight twin bass, guitar, drum and keyboard unit, fronted by the belligerent, engaging Hook gave a full 90 minute, hard-edged take on nearly all you'd have remembered or wanted  to hear. Simple but effective lighting and to my ears a good mix.

 
Highlights? The Norwich baiting intro to a pounding Transmission and the subsequent sledging of the1-0 taunter and the finale Love will Tear Us Apart. Roll on the Stranglers Wak.

Back on the pond

Contrasting weather yesterday and today, Cold, wet and dreary Saturday, Sunday glass is rising and a beautiful crisp morning with slight frost. Made it down to Captains  from 3pm, lots of weed clearing has been done. No interest in my sardines though. Buzzard heard mewing briefly. Found out that £52 to clean sensor on camera has simply resulted in moving the dirt along a bit as I have not undone the lens since bringing it back from being cleaned.

 Looking down the pond from the island.

Wishful thinking

Domestic chores and shortening days are restricting my fishing opportunities if no one elses. Something to keep my enthusiasm sharp.

Are the cod in yet?

Hope Wak likes these, they're as near as I get to sea fishing. No bushes or gravel bars to cast to.....

Last knockings today

Haven't got round to worm gathering yet so played safe and headed for a late go on Captains this afternoon despite the river looking quite good on the recent rain we have had.

Was going to work back to the dam but tooled-up lure angler ahead of me so started here to let the warer calm out a bit ..The pond is shallow, silty and where not silty weedy.  Little to report until a fizzer off the bait runner up by the boathouse in the stygian gloom. Short, stocky dark fish, allthough you would find that hard to tell as the camera steamed up in the dropping  temperature and damp air.  Chinned it out and lightly hooked in the scissors so no manky wet net to deal with. Went like a train in the shallow water.

 
That's 4 trips, 6 fish  and 3 doubles so far. Worm harvest calls as I do want to find some perch on the river  as autumn beds in.

Cromer

Saturday afternon walk at Cromer. 

A Midlands still water

Excellent day today on a Midlands still water with Wak Lite. As well as the fishing there were a wheeling flock of lapwing, a kingfisher, a buzzard and a hornet to liven  things up. Several abortive takes as well.

First of the day on a tiny mackerel

                                                                   Low double, perfection.

                                                      Look at the chin on that..........

 Wak Lite. Master of all he surveys.

Next trip maybe jigged zander on a slightly bigger Midlands still water.

Just old school

              Mak Morris with a Tip Pit summer double                         Me with a pair of Ardliegh browns

Pictures courtesy of brother Paul

Daze of future past (Part 3)

These are all from the Match Pit, Wivenhoe.

Top fish a bream, probably on maples from an area we imaginitively called the Reeds.  12 + feet under the rod tips and a great area for slider float fished brandling/sweetcorn for good nets of skimmers as well as our particle approach. Note the bike, essential for getting there but also whizzing round to check what was going on elsewhere.  This would have been Silver Machine. Rods were some trusty 11 foot glass blanks that got a beating and the poor man's cousin reel, the Cardinal 155's

Bottom fish a winter common just around doubles. Would have been on sidehooked seafoood boiliee off the point of the further island in the centre of the lake. (Opposite the Reeds) No hair rigs then. Dave Gripping Hands Lake the ghillie. Some morning fish but usualy runs between 2 and 3pm what ever the weather.

Speaking of hair one of my better dos I think....