My fishing challenge will be recognised by all those with young children, namely finding the time to angle and yet with minimal impact on my family. Over the years I have chased about the country (and beyond) in search of nice places to fish but that doesn't really fit with my lifestyle nowadays so I needed to look a little closer. Using a pin, some thread and a map of the city, and sticking the pin in the cathedral (sorry big fella), I drew a radius and challenged myself to find some good fishing within the circle. That's not easy, we aren't talking Hereford you know, but I was working on the old adage about the 'camp pool'; often the best fishing can be under your nose (so ignore it at your peril!) as opposed to an eight mile walk (or a ninety mile drive) away! So the concept of 'In and Around' was born, in my head at least.
Anyhow - if I was to make the most of what little time I had - grabbing an hour here and there before the family stirred, everything had to be primed and ready. No time for adjusting floats, this was to be real 'smash and grab', urban angling.
Late one night I had an epiphany that culminated in the delivery of a truly wonderful piece of craftsmanship. What I needed were some float winders. Ah, and what I also needed was something aesthetically acceptable to carry them in and to protect my 'hard graft' elder floats.
That's where Robbi came in. I sent him some thoughts, followed by a sketched out design, and back came THE most perfect and wonderful leather pouch to protect my winders*. Here is yet another example of the wonderful camaraderie and incredible eclectic mix of talent that is the Traditional Fisherman's Forum.
So, this morning, I did a smash and grab raid in the City Centre. From bed to bank was less than twenty minutes and a wonderful two hours followed before the inhabitants stirred, the dog walkers appeared and the girls and boys had even thought of awakening from their Friday-night-Saturday-morning slumbers. I had a good baker's dozen of glorious 'goer' roach and a couple of nice chub to add that special thump thump to the rod tip.
Thank you Robbi, you have a very special talent Sir!
*i am not showing you the winders because currently they are horrible plastic things but I was watching my other half knit last night and I was thinking that her cane knitting needles might combine well with some reclaimed timber, to give me something more in keeping with my marvellous leather pouch! But don't tell her that, will you?
chuffed you like it mate.
