Decisions,Decisions??

[Chris Plumb]

Every year since we were teenagers, Paul and I spend a Saturday in May walking a few waters and planning what we'll do on the glorious 16th. Before we embarked on this year's trek plan A was to tench fish the canal.

 

That was before we started our annual wander! So we thought we'd suss out the canal but park up by the river. The river looked in really good nick - lots of welcome weed growth and good flow. The canal was generally uninspiring and featureless until we'd walked nearly 2 miles when we found some mouth-watering swims. Our thoughts however were very much on long treks here with full kit on HOT summer days. Not something which filled us with joy!

 

So on returning to the car our decision was made. We'll go for plan B: The 16th would be spent trotting the river.

 

"Lets drop into that other stretch of river and that all-season tench water on the way to the pub" says I.

 

Well the river here was a severe disappointment - very low weed growth and pushing through like a train - very puzzling. The tench water - a revelation despite being open all year it was evident that had been hardly fished. Most of my 'hot' swims from last year were untouched and badly in need of raking. To make matters 'worse' we saw a float go under and an angler lose a good tench after an inept fight (I muttered 'He's going to lose that unless he loosen's the clutch.') just as the line parted.

 

So we're now on Plan C: Fish the Tench lake.

 

No doubt by the time the 15th come around we'll have gone through the alphabet.

 

Chris