To fish or not to fish......Stormy Sunday

Its been a funny old week.  Disagreements with friends to the point were you wonder why you bother.  Social media has a lot to answer for, instant it maybe, but instant  sometimes means you regret saying things in the heat of the moment.  Then pride will not let you go back.  It happens to all I am sure but its sad when friends fall out. Rather do things face to face but can't be everywhere at once.

Still life's too short and I must get on.  So where to today.  As I said a funny old week. been practicing lately for the Angling Times Supercup and midweek saw the team almost picked.  It was decided to have one more practice before we named the team. Several guys pushing for few places causes tension and spice. Still suppose its better to have healthy competition as opposed to struggling to put out a team.

Which is what our opposition had. So as I said funny old week.  All the angst over team selection came to nothing as our opposition Wests tackle apologized and forfeited/ withdrew from the match.

So do we still practice, well with first round of Ditchers Spring League following Easter we decided yes.  The horrendous rain and storm force winds were not welcoming. Several wimpy pull outs with bad backs bad knees and bad anything but fish on a day like this . Me I just wanted a few fish and a Bream.

Well not quite.  It was skimmer first chuck, followed by two perch and a gudgeon.  The day was virtually unfishable a cross wind of gale forces proportions right to left; and a a hard towing canal from left to right made presentation very difficult.  Couple this with "haven't got a clue " boaters  going side ways down the canal it was hard.

Keystone cops stuff as bank side helpers try to help.  No sympathy from us for the fella driving as he tried to jump ashore but fell short - splash.  I tried not to laugh too much. After all despite all of our requests to go slowly down the middle, it was too fast and anywhere but the middle.  Leo was laughing so much and not concentrating, that the storm force winds took his rig into a tree above him.

It needs to be noted here that Leo and other anglers hook trees to.  The myth continues that I am the only angler to hook a tree.  The day gets worse the bites are slow and people  are starting to walk the bank.

The pressure on my pole is increasing as the wind gets even stronger.  Its impossible to fish across without your pole looking like a banana. So I er on the side of caution and keep in the deep mid water. The tree behind me cracks under the pressure of the wind and a substantial branch hits the tow path.   I fear the worst as another very loud bang makes me think a branch has come down on my carbon.  Unfortunately the carbon crack was Brians pole on the next peg , the wind tacking its first victim of the day.

The rain is driving water in every knook and crannie, so much so that coupled with the difficult bait presentation and slowing bites.  Means PG and Kev the bread have had enough; and packed up.  Leo myself Brian and Chris stay on for a bit but in the end it was pointless.  We weigh and pack up. Brian as always has managed the best weight.  Chris had a couple of big perch and pips me.  Leo tips back and doesn't weigh.  Long weekend next week and with no super cup I think a lovely pleasure session and a big bag of fish to boost confidence me thinks.