BARELY A GLIMMER
It may just be that I'm getting older but every new winter seems to be longer and more miserable than the last. Those crisp frosty mornings when the sun breaks through and sets the whole world steaming have been replaced, in my mind at least by dark, damp days made colder than cold itself by the nasty, creepy, chill breath of light easterlies that gnaw at ones bones and drive a wish to be back home by the fire. Yet if these hard days had one saving grace it would be that they make these warmer spring days all the more welcome.
After Wednesday's glorious, Tench-filled morning at Jubilee, we were expecting great things, just two days later, from the Grand Union but it was not to be. A potentially nice morning was dulled by yet another sharp, snipey breeze and if I'm honest, most of it was spent looking forward to dinner in the pub. It certainly wasn't spent battling it out with more than one microscopic Perch apiece; and this from a stretch that usually produces well.
Like every angler, the most visited pages on my phone are weather apps. Saturday they said, it would be raining at dawn. Sunday morning would be dry. I decided to give the former a miss and go on Sunday instead only to find by late evening that the geniuses at the various met offices had changed their minds and flipped the forecasts around. No problem I thought and quickly packed the car.
Saturday dawned to a new forecast of rain all morning but it was too late. It was 4.30 in the morning and I was up so I went. Of course it never rained at all, it was mild and fine; in fact by nine o clock it was a lovely day. I can only think that a lot of money is wasted giving meteorologists a university education; they'd be better off looking at a fir cone on the windowsill or checking to see if the cattle are lying down.
Whatever the forecasters thought, the fished seemed happier to feed than they have of late and I quickly caught a couple of skimmers and a nice Roach of a pound and an ounce. In fact I was so pleased with myself that I was on the bank at dawn the next morning only to find myself struggling once more.
Sadly this has become a recurring theme with miserable results at both Jubilee and 'The Pool'. There are signs of the annual awakening however, not so much among the fish population but the trees are bursting into life with the landscape beginning to acquire a pale green flush of colour. This, along with the occasional patch of blackthorn blossom and a steady hatch of midges in the more sheltered corners suggests that it is more matter of patience than effort which will make the angler's life more fulfilling. Soon, I hope it is soon.
After Wednesday's glorious, Tench-filled morning at Jubilee, we were expecting great things, just two days later, from the Grand Union but it was not to be. A potentially nice morning was dulled by yet another sharp, snipey breeze and if I'm honest, most of it was spent looking forward to dinner in the pub. It certainly wasn't spent battling it out with more than one microscopic Perch apiece; and this from a stretch that usually produces well.
Like every angler, the most visited pages on my phone are weather apps. Saturday they said, it would be raining at dawn. Sunday morning would be dry. I decided to give the former a miss and go on Sunday instead only to find by late evening that the geniuses at the various met offices had changed their minds and flipped the forecasts around. No problem I thought and quickly packed the car.
Saturday dawned to a new forecast of rain all morning but it was too late. It was 4.30 in the morning and I was up so I went. Of course it never rained at all, it was mild and fine; in fact by nine o clock it was a lovely day. I can only think that a lot of money is wasted giving meteorologists a university education; they'd be better off looking at a fir cone on the windowsill or checking to see if the cattle are lying down.
Whatever the forecasters thought, the fished seemed happier to feed than they have of late and I quickly caught a couple of skimmers and a nice Roach of a pound and an ounce. In fact I was so pleased with myself that I was on the bank at dawn the next morning only to find myself struggling once more.
Sadly this has become a recurring theme with miserable results at both Jubilee and 'The Pool'. There are signs of the annual awakening however, not so much among the fish population but the trees are bursting into life with the landscape beginning to acquire a pale green flush of colour. This, along with the occasional patch of blackthorn blossom and a steady hatch of midges in the more sheltered corners suggests that it is more matter of patience than effort which will make the angler's life more fulfilling. Soon, I hope it is soon.
Comments
Post a Comment