Do you know, I'd almost forgotten about my "adventures" on here! That say's a great deal uh? Well, I guess I had better fill in the missing pages as best as I can! I lost the job I had strived so hard get and boy was that a massive kick in the nads. Rightly or wrongly, I always assumed that if I ever did get hurt either at work or not then I would be okay and would be looked after.....ha ha how bloody naive was I. So, a brand new chapter was staring directly in the face and was shouting at me, Rob, what are you gonna do now then?? I admit, for a while, i was lost. It takes a bloody long time to re adjust from being in uniform nearly all of my adult life to then being cut free and thrust out into the unknown. Yes i got a pension but it wasn't anywhere near enough to keep me and the family/house going without finding an alternative source of income. And so it came to pass. I found myself mooching about in my local tackle supermarket. I then happened to make a flippant remark to the store manager and a couple of weeks later I found myself working part time in the tackle industry! This went on for a little over a year and despite working every weekend, the need to move on was growing. I enjoyed the experience. I felt though that something was missing, I needed to be challenged. I had previously seen an advert stating that the Environment Agency were looking for staff so I applied. After what seemed like an age, I managed to tick all the boxes and sold my soul to the devil. The application went off and I promptly forgot all about it. A few weeks later, I had a reply via email stating that my application had now progressed to the next stage and that I was invited for interview...shit, this is all getting a bit real now. Come the day and I was as ready as I'd ever be. The other candidates, well to say I felt like the proverbial token thick twat is a major understatement. These kids were all that, kids. But crucially they all had a degree in something. As for me, well I left school with the IQ of a plant pot so this was going to be a waste of time. I decided that I'd got nothing to lose so within a short space of time it was all over. I left feeling bemused and completely undecided if I had done well or had just embarrassed myself (yet again!) fast forward two months and whilst sitting at home staring at my inbox my phone rang. i nearly fell off the chair when the caller told me who he was and indeed, what he wanted. I was being offered a full time job at the EA as a Fishery Enforcement Officer, m ore commonly referred to as a Bailiff! Needless to say I took the job and two years down the road I'm still there. The very best thing about my job is that I can live and breathe fishing, every day and I bloody love it! I have also been most fortunate in securing some excellent venues and have done reasonably well so far. I've even caught a few Zander...

I have loads to tell so if you bear with me, I will add more as soon as time permits.....

A brand new chapter......

They often say "be careful for what you wish for......" In my case it came true. I'd been dealt a bum deck of cards and had lost the job I loved with no hope of ever going back. Thanks to the surgery after the accident, I was now desk bound. Words simply cannot express the feelings of emptiness and dismay. I'd been an operational copper for all of my career and now it had been snatched away from me. So, onwards and upwards Rob!!
Once the written formality had landed on my doormat, along with the cheque, I found myself to be the very proud owner of a brand spanking new boat. I'd done my research prior to purchase and had settled on the 14' aluminium seastrike. That coupled with a Honda BF20 engine made for a very sweet package. I later added a few bits and bobs which included a canopy, electric winch, swivel seat and a few other little personal touches.
With the boat ready to go, I decided to remain faithfull to that most fearfullest of rivers, the river Yare. I have fished this river for many years now and have done reasonably well. I am absolutely convinced that this river holds some very big pike and the dream is for one of these big old girls to slip up one day and take one of my baits.
The first outing was just a quick test run. My good lady wife came on board and I was able to convince her that it would be a crime not to take a couple of rods with us!
The launch went well despite the wind doing its level best to test my strength. We scooted off upstream towards the fine ciy of Norwich. I was very pleased with the way my new baby was behaving so I quit the engine and moored up in an area which has been kind to me in the past. I fumbled around for the deadbaits and soon enough had two slung out and seated in a good position.
Just as I was in full conversation with the wife descibing my obvious boat handling skills, I noticed that one of the floats had taken on a sideways dance......the first run!! I was probably more excited than I had been for many a year at the thought of boating my first pike to the new vessel.
The fight was as I recall pretty un spectacular, and I swung in a fish of about 8lbs. The weight was completely irrelevant, I was a happy man.

The Winter of Discontent....

Bah, humbug....I don't like Christmas.
I am seriously concerned. "My river" has been neglecting me, I have toiled away and rather un sportingly she has failed to answer my call. I have tried it all, fishing from the bank with statics, drifted and lives, all to no avail. I just don't know if its me or the river. One thing is for sure, I aint never gonna give it up! The good news just in is that I may well be reserving me a place on a new venue, not really sure what it holds but it's a stream fed lake so there is definately some toothy predators to be had. This all came about via a work related task and as yet I haven't actually had a good look at the place apart from a google earth visitation. On the bad news front, one of my very best mates is off to pastures new, New Zealand!! I will miss that chap Andy as he's sure been a bloody good mate over the years. Still, I have an open invitation to visit and sample some pelagic species so watch this space as they say! I'm currently awaiting a largish cheque from work and with the funds hope to purchase a newer and larger shed/workshop. I hope to be able to put a decent sized chest freezer in there as bait storage has been a real headache for me for such a long time. When we get the mackeral shoals in up on the North Norfolk coast, I wasn't really able to bring many home. Not that I'm saying I'm gonna empty the sea but I would like to be able to provide my own deads for the winter season without having to pay shop prices. I still also have this burning desire to buy myself a new boat. My two favourites are 1. The aluminium "seastrike" and would have to be the 14' version. 2. The choice of many, the Seahog seajeep. Either way I'm gonna have to wait as the funds don't stretch to either!! So, thats about all for now, I hope to be out on tmy river next week, I will post a full report.................

A Very Private Water

Monday 6th November 2007.
This had been a day that I had been looking forward to for so long! My good friend Andy had somehow managed to get us a days Piking on a water so secret that not even the big man upstairs knew existed! Well, that maybe a slight exadgeration but none the less, this sure was going to be a very special day. The evening before I was just a mess, I couldn't even concentrate on tying up some new traces so I demolished a good bottle of white wine just to make sure that the sand man would pay me a visit. At 05.15hrs prompt, my alarm sounded and roused me from my slumber. Why is it that when we men have someting really important to do like going fishing, the alarm poses no threat to our levels of conciousness, yet when its the mundane chore such as shopping with "er indoors", you must stay in bed and sleep until the very last moment? So, up I leap like some demented gazelle and first stop is the little room to empty out. This of course was done with as much flourish as I could muster and I must say that my aim and velocity was indeed spot on !! Clothes slung on and then downstairs into the kitchen. There I was greeted by my bleary eyed Labrador who couldn't even be bothered to get up and greet me in the usual manner, even she looked at me with a quizzical eye! Breakfast done and flask made, off to the garage. Kit loaded and arrive at Andys pad. Now even I must admit that I have been partial to the odd "evening before" session but, when I pulled up at Andys house, his gaunt appearance gave me grave cause for concern. In a nut shell he looked like shit. On route to our destination he regailed me with the tales of countless beers and half a bottle of Jack Daniels which then led on to filthy dirty sex at silly o'clock in the morning. Some people have all the luck! On our arrival we crept down to the lake as we were under an obligation not to disturb the owner. Luckily the walk was short and soon enough we were boat borne and launched our livebaits to there impending doom. It didn't take too long for the first bit of action, Andy was in with a lively jack which he slipped back into the freezing cold water. Then again Andys float took off sideways and, just looking at the curve in his rod, gave me all the indication I needed. A good fish was on, Andy took control and steered this beast towards the tiny little craft which we found ourselves ensconsed in and, at the appropriate moment, I reached forward and chinned her out of the water. What a fish, not a monster but, fin perfect and markings that would have made any artist proud. We did weigh her and we settled at 18lb. After ther ritual of making her famous, she was placed back and off she powered, what a start! We remained in the same area for a while but decided to move on to fish another of the likely looking areas further across the lake. We carried on catching some lovely fish but sadly no monster was due to examine the bottom of our boat today. As the day wore on, Andy's face got whiter and judging by the sounds he was making, I was guessing that it was only a matter of time before he would be gracious enough to leave the wildlife a little present!!
Sum total for the day was ten fish boated and a couple of dropped runs. As we were about to depart, the owner popped his head round to say hello and rather sportingly invited us back in a few weeks. This visit will be the time for big old deabaits I think...................................

Thursday 26th October

Back on the river again. Today's session was with long time friend and fellow "Ol Bill" Andy Ramsbottom. Andy picked me up from my home address at 0830hrs and after a brief chat we loaded up and set off for Carrow Yacht Club. This club is situated on the peninsular of the River Yare and the River Wensum. We didn't have the use of my normal boat, so we borrowed one of the club boats, this turned out to be a small Cathederal hulled vesell of approximately 12'. As for power, well you would laugh if you could have seen us, I brought along my ancient Seagul longshaft outboard. This little beastie has been hanging up in my garage for well over five years without a touch of maintenance. Andy began to row our boat into position and I fiddled with the engine. I was absolutely amazed when the beast sprung into life after the third pull!! We motored up the river to our chosen location and began to sort ourselves out. I had the use of a couple of borrowed boat rods, these were set up to trot our livebaits down stream. I placed Andy in the more open area of water and within five minutes his livebait was swallowed up by a hungry Jack which subsequently spat everything out. Seconds later, I was away but again, a hungry Jack was the culprit. It never ceases to amaze me how such a small predator can do so much damage to my carefully made traces! Anyway, we soldiered on for an hour or so but to no avail. A change of location was in order so I fired up the Seagul and off we went. We fared little better on the main river, Andy scoring again with another Jack. It wasn't until we headed off to my favourite area that the real action began. Almost straight away Andy was into another fish but, yes you guessed it, another Jack. We then hit a bit of a purple patch with both our livebaits dancing around to the tune of Mr Esox Lucius but nothing of any reportable size came to either of us. The time was creeping on so we called it a day. I was quite surprised by how small the fish were today considering the size and quality of the livebaits used. Also, the river current was exceptionally slow but reasonably clear. Again, we saw nothing of any other Pikers so I have no real idea how the river is treating others. Next week will always be better !!......................

Fridays River Session

It was always gonna be good! I had a cracking day, the weather held up and for the most part it was relatively clear. I didn't see another Piker and the fish god was kind to me.
I opted to float fish both rods and used a trusty small mackeral. I started off with both baits hard on the bottom but this didn't raise any interest from the fish at all. I wound in both rods and shortened the stop knot. I cast both baits back out and as I was buggering about sorting a place to sit my bum, I saw the right hand float dip down. Initially I thought that the bait had got snagged up on some weed but, then it did it again. The float then sailed away towards the opposite bank. I lifted the rod and wound down, as I increased the pressure to set the hooks, the fish roared off and almost took me with it due to the uneven foothold on the sloping and overgrown bankside!. Here we go I thought, another twenty for the boy wonder. Well not quite, I didn't weigh her but she was a good 15lb maybe a bit more, and boy wasn't she angry! She would not open her mouth to un tangle the mesh of my landing net!. Finally I un hooked her and took her into the shallow water where I held her until the powerful tail kicked back and off she surged back into the oily depths. I allowed myself to punch the air in celebration, not bad my man, not bad.
I tried the same tactics as I lept from swim to swim but the water level was dropping rapidly, my confidence was also dropping and so I made my decision to head off to my banker swim. I don't believe anyone ever fishes this particular swim as basically it involves a good long walk and the first visit of the year entails chopping down copius amounts of stinger nettles which grow unchecked for the main part of the year. I have had more fish from this part of the river that any other part. It is a good holding area for the massive shoals of Bream and is also teeming with bite sized Roach, so it doesn't take a genius to work it all out!. So, I set about chopping down the stingers and cast both rods out mid river. Within minutes the left hand rod was away again, I just love to see that big old float bobbing before it slips beneath the surface. And so I again went through the process of winding down and increasing the pressure on the fish. This one was also very lively and gave a good account before I slipped the net under her belly. Again I didn't weigh her but estimated a weight of about 12lb. I was happy and after admiring that primevil beast, I returned her to the water. I gazed around me for a while taking in all that had occurred today and felt a warm satisfied glow from within. I had accomplished what I had set out to do and so it was time to wander back to the car.
I'm already thinking hard about my next attempt and rather feel that the banker swim could see some serious attention...................................

The Evening Before....

Okay, here we go. I am sitting here like an expectant child on Christmas Eve, why, the answer is simple......I'm going fishing in the morning!!!
I've been a good boy at home and have earned myself some serious brownie points so now its time to cash the buggers in and go fish.
I'm off to one of my favourite venues, the River Yare. I've done really well on this lovely stretch and I'm hoping that tomorrow will be a good day. I intend to take a mobile approach, fish with two rods using a trusty joey mackeral and pin it down hard on the bottom. The Yare Pike seem to like this type of presentation so why change?
I will be giving each likely swim around 30-45 mins and then leap frog up towards my banker swim.
Tackle;
Both rods are identical, Greys Prodigy 3lb deadbait rods. These are absolutely ideal for this type of river and have worked really well for me so far.
Reels are the original Shimano XT10000's. They are more than adequate for the job and I just love anything made by Shimano.
Line is again Shimano, I like the 15lb Technum as the colour (grey) suits most type of water conditions and I have found this line to be exceptionally strong.
Traces are all home made, twizzled as opposed to crimped. I can't get on with crimps, just don't trust them.
Hooks are Fox semi barbed size 4, big and strong these babies, haven't let me down yet!
Indication will be by way of float set over depth, if the pull of the current is too much then I whip the floats off and set up the Fox ledger stems and go on to buzzers.
Nothing techy about that I hear you say, well thats the idea. I can't get too involved with Carpy techy rigs as I don't believe it to be necessary. Ask any seasoned Pike angler and they will prescribe to the simple approach.
I guess I am a lucky chap, I doubt if I will see another Pike angler roaming around like something which has escaped from an SAS boot camp. I'm not saying that I will be completely cammed up to hide myself from my intended quarry, I just like camou clothing!!
Thats my entry for now, will hopefully report on the days catch tomorrow..............................