shipbroker Posted January 27, 2015 Share Posted January 27, 2015 As a spinoff of flyfishing thread. .. I lived half a mile from a large fenced park lake which was safe for parents to let kids go and watch others fishing, so by 10 I was into my first rod and went to the lake every night after school for many years. ...I was hooked,literally, by the lad fishing next to me and had a size 14 with two maggots dangling through my eyelid. ...I was taken to nearby fire station who took me to the Eye Infirmary where it was removed. .. following day my parents got to know about it with an article in local paper ' Park Fisherboy hooks himself'....Howard, the lad that hooked me ended up at same secondary school and we still exchange e-mails. I joined Middlesbrough Angling Club and for many years fished matches with them, including Angling Times Winter League final,as reserve. I was also a member of Yarm & Stockton Angling clubs, and learnt my flyfishing ways with a shortlived Club called Dales Flyfishers. ..My maggots cost me nothing as I had a weekend job working in a Tackle Shop! Went to London in early 60's and fished nearby Wandsworth Common ponds then joined a LAA Club in East London and fished their matches. At same time was a member of the National Anguilla Club and attended their annual gatherings trying to break British Rod-caught eel record, this involved trips to Loch Ness,Castle Howard, Hornsea Mere and weekly trips to the gravel pits of the Thames Valley ( member of the then Slough Estates Angling Club,later Kingsmoor Anglers).....other Anguilla members at time were Bob Church,Jim Gibbinson, Fred Wagstaffe and Dr. Terry Coulson. ...who found their 'fame' in other directions. Moved to Bedford in early 70's and following marriage did little fishing apart from Open Matches on the Great Ouse. ......moved to Lincolnshire for three years and managed a little pike fishing only. Returned to native North East end of 70's and new job and family prevented all but some sea fishing and a rare day trouting on Stockton AC waters. Twenty years ago moved into rural North Yorkshire and through caravanning friends started fly fishing and tying again. .....since then have restricted myself to fly only and sold all my coarse tackle. I don't tie anymore as don't have time or patience. ... I am happy lake or river fishing and my main holiday with a rod is usually on the River Tweed in April at Melrose. .although this year I am hoping to coincide two Lake District rallies with some fishing. . Sorry if this has turned into a CV of fishing. .... geoff Kia Sorento KX-1 CRDI 4WD towing an Elddis Affinity 530 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gumdrop Posted January 27, 2015 Share Posted January 27, 2015 I started with a jam jar, fishing for minnows, then a garden cane next a split cane rod and a cheap wooden centre pin reel I was given. Later I was given a through action "avon" rod and bought an open faced reel, with that and a gas mask bag I would walk miles to dap live flys on a hook for trout dace grayling and occasionally a chub. I bought fibreglass blanks and made another "avon" style rod and a pike rod, I signed them both with indian ink! I joined Bathhampton club and fished for Tench (my favourite fish) and Barbel (I caught more pike and chub than barbel) I made a special rod with a fine rod blank top section and fished mill races and ponds for gudgeon and minnows, often catching hundreds of them. I tried sea fishing at Chesil Beach and other venues boat fishing was too expensive although i did give it a brief try. Fly fishing was with borrowed kit and being treated by the nextdoor neighbour (he had a daughter but wanted a son ) I don't fish nowadays except from the beach spinning for bass and mackerel, (I get told off for putting them back) boat fishing for mackerel and their companion fish with a fly rod and line when we visit Beer/Seaton. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VigilantCGI Posted September 9, 2015 Share Posted September 9, 2015 Not many folks can say their missus got them into Fishing, but I can Mrs Vigi did fishing with her Dad ever since she was about 10, sop when we started going out and I met the in-laws one of the first things we did was the three of us went to a Trout fishery in Oxfordshire. I'd only been fishing once before in my life with my Dad and Grandad down the Gala Water in the very early 90s when I was about 4. I remembered us catching naff all and getting eaten alive by midges! This time around though I caught a couple of really nice rainbows which we took home for tea. Suffice to say I enjoyed the experience so much that I'm "hooked" and now the missus and I go fairly regularly. Up here in the Highlands many of the lochs are free to fish from which makes it a very affordable and simple hobby. Down South not so much, my FIL has to have a Rod License and some of the prices charged for permits are eye-watering Some nice Browns & Rainbows to be had in Loch Ness which is where we go most often. Nothing beats the taste of a nice fresh trout when you cook it a couple of hours after you've just caught it. Yum yum. Vigilant Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shipbroker Posted September 9, 2015 Author Share Posted September 9, 2015 Vigi. ....have fished for trout in Ness & Dochfor. ..make excellent bait for eels if under a 1lb! geoff Kia Sorento KX-1 CRDI 4WD towing an Elddis Affinity 530 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul_B Posted September 9, 2015 Share Posted September 9, 2015 I started when I was very young as my father was a champion match angler along with my elder brothers, I won my first juvenile match when I was about 7 or 8. My dad and my brothers drifted into fly fishing over the 70s sand 80s and I followed a few years later, I must have done something right as I was given with my dads split cane fly rod that he was presented with when he won the All England I prefer fly fishing but I occasionally do a bit of beach casting or spinning for mackerel off Dunoon and other piers in the area when visiting relatives, I gave up sea fishing off boats when the hiked the prices too much. This year I've found a nice CL site with a fishery at Owston Ferry, its so laid back that I've sorted some coarse tackle and had a go at coarse fishing again and I've enjoyed it, they don't have the same fight as trout or salmon but it a pleasant way to spend an afternoon. Geoff, I can also remember eels I never thought they would be an endangered species. Paul B . .......Mondeo Estate & Elddis Avanté 505 (Tobago) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nosnibora Posted September 10, 2015 Share Posted September 10, 2015 Started about 9/10 ish dad fished a bit, cut my teeth on the "cuts" canels, then onto rivers Rye/ Derwent/ Swale/ Holme/ Colne, stated at about 17 to take up Fly, done it ever since, never did comps and what is carp fishing? Done a lot in Scotland Tay/ Tweed, lots of forgotten ones, two memorable ones, on Loch Morrick pulled out a Pike on a "Babydoll" told to kill it, so on the Barbie it went, and at Bunree in the river got a six pound salmon, also heading for the barbie. Dont do much here in France priority is to build the house. Nos Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clubman Posted September 10, 2015 Share Posted September 10, 2015 Although brought up in the countryside I came to fly-fishing late in life. Retirement from HM Forces was looming up fast (after 42 years in the Colours) and I needed something to keep me occupied in my twilight years. I thought fly-fishing could be the answer, fresh air, opportunity, solitude if needed etc. A quick chat with the Resettlement Officer where I persuaded him that I wanted to become a fly-fishing instructor led to the MoD sending me on a 2 week fly-fishing for beginners resettlement course! The rest is history. The cheap rod was replaced with a more, much more, expensive rod, full body waders replaced the wellies and so it goes on. I now belong to the Portsmouth Services Fly Fishing Association and fish many beats on the River Itchen and River Meon. Bliss Volvo V70/Lunar Clubman 475/2 CKW Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redrockhopper Posted September 10, 2015 Share Posted September 10, 2015 I have 19 year old twins. One of them decided when he was 10 that he wanted to try fishing. My husband had no interest so it was down to me to learn. We started with sea fishing and I loved it till my husband decided to see what he was missing. ......what do I next. .....how do I. ....can you. ...... With 2 ten year olds and him to contend with fishing became a chore so I decided to take up fly fishing - on my own! I am now a Level 2 qualified coach and Chair of Chatton Ladies Angling Club. We encourage women and children to try fly fishing though we have plenty of Dads, grandads, partners who come along too. I have just started on the next phase of my development by joining Game Angling Instructors Association (GAIA) as an associate member so I can become a qualified casting instructor. I love fishing - all kinds. The club have weekend away where we fish for trout, grayling, sea trout, salmon and have access to a private lake to fish for pike. I have recently started coarse angling too! The photo is Matt, my son who started it all off with his first pike. I can recomend Hoddom Castle Caravan Park, just outside Annan - great site, lovely clean facilities and great fishing In Northumberland Chillingham Barns CL is lovely and right beside Chatton Trout Fishery Ali Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shipbroker Posted September 10, 2015 Author Share Posted September 10, 2015 Ali. ..Thanks for info on Chillingham Barns CL, never been there but might try now. ......well done on your achievements. geoff Kia Sorento KX-1 CRDI 4WD towing an Elddis Affinity 530 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul_B Posted September 10, 2015 Share Posted September 10, 2015 Ali. ..Thanks for info on Chillingham Barns CL, never been there but might try now. ......well done on your achievements. Geoff Its a nice site Geoff and Chillingham Castle is worth a visit, the castle kept the kids quiet for quite some time Paul B . .......Mondeo Estate & Elddis Avanté 505 (Tobago) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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