Part 1
After a busy weeks work, I rewarded myself with a night in the woods....
Collecting everything together, I went for a lighter weight set up. I planned to combine three things I like to do to unwind, a leisurely hike in the warm weather, a spot of fishing and an overnight camp somewhere along the way.
My lovely wife dropped me off some 20km from home in a quaint little village. The houses were a mix of quintessentially English thatched cottages and mid 80s red brick houses. The pub seating encroached on the road but noone seemed to mind as they weaved their cars round the benches. With the sun out and a gentle breeze I ventured into the sheep mown fields, the yellow marked styles stretching out into the distance.
As I crossed from one field to the next, I came across sheep, then bullocks, then dairy cows, then horses then back to sheep. Every animal seemed settled grazing and not one gave me any trouble as I meandered through, pack on my back and rod in my hand. I routinely checked the OS app on my phone, heading for the first stretch of river to throw the lure in. Pike and perch are what I go for, I'm too impatient to sit at the bankside waiting for a fish to nibble at a suspended baited hook.... this type of fishing is wilder I suppose, and I have to pay attention to the river, looking for likely fishy spots. I didn't know this river, so I was just going to have to cross my fingers!
Unfortunately, my first map chosen spot had signs everywhere saying 'No Fishing, Private Banks'... only a little bit bummed out I passed through and took to the semi shade of a hedged footpath. This turned up some of the hedgerow larder and things looked well in advance. In less than 100yds there was small bounty of fruits for the forager...
I crossed another style and went on the hunt for better water. As I traipsed across the fields, my mind wandered to the usual business of umms and ahhhing thoughts, sorting out the jumble in my head and it was a few hours before my brain settled to just enjoying the walk. The ground was rock hard underfoot and this made the going easy. Not many hills where I live.
After some time, I decided to take a lunch break beside a shaded pool. Another sign said no fishing beyond this point, so I dutifully cast my rod into the pool before the aforementioned point in the hope of a bite. Between reeling in I snacked on an oat bar from my food pouch and drank some water.
I always carry the same kind of food on these jaunts. I don't need much more than a constant supply of nibbles in the day with a main meal at night.
Half an hour later, no fish. No bites. Oh well, onwards to the next spot.... passing through a rewilded plantation, I snagged some big hazelnuts that were right on the button. I put a dozen in my pocket for munching later.
Sent from my SM-A528B using Tapatalk
After a busy weeks work, I rewarded myself with a night in the woods....
Collecting everything together, I went for a lighter weight set up. I planned to combine three things I like to do to unwind, a leisurely hike in the warm weather, a spot of fishing and an overnight camp somewhere along the way.
My lovely wife dropped me off some 20km from home in a quaint little village. The houses were a mix of quintessentially English thatched cottages and mid 80s red brick houses. The pub seating encroached on the road but noone seemed to mind as they weaved their cars round the benches. With the sun out and a gentle breeze I ventured into the sheep mown fields, the yellow marked styles stretching out into the distance.
As I crossed from one field to the next, I came across sheep, then bullocks, then dairy cows, then horses then back to sheep. Every animal seemed settled grazing and not one gave me any trouble as I meandered through, pack on my back and rod in my hand. I routinely checked the OS app on my phone, heading for the first stretch of river to throw the lure in. Pike and perch are what I go for, I'm too impatient to sit at the bankside waiting for a fish to nibble at a suspended baited hook.... this type of fishing is wilder I suppose, and I have to pay attention to the river, looking for likely fishy spots. I didn't know this river, so I was just going to have to cross my fingers!
Unfortunately, my first map chosen spot had signs everywhere saying 'No Fishing, Private Banks'... only a little bit bummed out I passed through and took to the semi shade of a hedged footpath. This turned up some of the hedgerow larder and things looked well in advance. In less than 100yds there was small bounty of fruits for the forager...
I crossed another style and went on the hunt for better water. As I traipsed across the fields, my mind wandered to the usual business of umms and ahhhing thoughts, sorting out the jumble in my head and it was a few hours before my brain settled to just enjoying the walk. The ground was rock hard underfoot and this made the going easy. Not many hills where I live.
After some time, I decided to take a lunch break beside a shaded pool. Another sign said no fishing beyond this point, so I dutifully cast my rod into the pool before the aforementioned point in the hope of a bite. Between reeling in I snacked on an oat bar from my food pouch and drank some water.
I always carry the same kind of food on these jaunts. I don't need much more than a constant supply of nibbles in the day with a main meal at night.
Half an hour later, no fish. No bites. Oh well, onwards to the next spot.... passing through a rewilded plantation, I snagged some big hazelnuts that were right on the button. I put a dozen in my pocket for munching later.
Sent from my SM-A528B using Tapatalk
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