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 New Posts  Old school angling pt2.
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nwpiker41
Posts: 8093
nwpiker41
   Old Thread  #1000 28 Feb 2011 at 6.28pm  0  Login    Register
Great thread and essential forum reading .I shall sticky the thread for a while,to encourage Pete to continue to add to the thread







(c) 2010 Peter Pemberton (Petethecrip) all rights reserved

Material published by Peter Pemberton (Petethecrip) on these web pages is copyright of Peter Pemberton (Petethecrip), and may not be reproduced without permission. Copyright exists in all other original material published on the internet by Peter Pemberton (Petethecrip) and belongs to the author depending on the circumstances of publication.
petethecrip
Posts: 2831
petethecrip
Honorary member
   Old Thread  #701 14 Apr 2015 at 5.58pm  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #1000
My Gran and The Family, Are very appreciative as am I and very thankful for all of your heart felt messages, Pete my Grandad would be very proud and overwhelmed at the thought of so many people paying there respects,Thanks Again, The funeral will be held at Shrewsbury Crematorium, On the 23rd of April at 11am. If anybody would like to pay their respects further, please come and join us.


Kind Regards

Pete's Family


petethecrip
Posts: 2831
petethecrip
Honorary member
   Old Thread  #687 4 Apr 2015 at 12.28pm  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #1000
This is Petes grandson Ant, Sadly on the 1st of April, Pete suddenly passed away, We are all in shock and i thought it might be appropriate to let every one on here know as he was very proud of the stories that he shared with you and always spoke about this forum with pride, i will inform you all of any funeral arrangements if any of you would like to attend.


Many Thanks To You All

Ant and Family




deaffred
Posts: 4818
deaffred
   Old Thread  #710 31 Dec 2017 at 11.57am  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #709
Been reading some of Petes stories as he was a nice guy and we talked privately about various things but mostly wildlife and foxes .
Sadly missed .
KenTownley
Posts: 30593
KenTownley
   Old Thread  #709 27 Jul 2016 at 11.08am  0  Login    Register
Just been re-reading some of Pete's reminiscences. What a writer and what a fabulous thread this is! Pete was a really well known angler in his day, always in the papers, mates with the great and the good of the time (Walker, Taylor, etc.) and his stories shine a light on the old days and old ways. They are a delight compared to the hard bitten, cold and humourless jargon-ridden crap we are served up with today.

Deserves a bump IMO.
Bluepanido
Posts: 2944
Bluepanido
   Old Thread  #706 14 Jun 2015 at 6.38pm  0  Login    Register
I haven't looked at the Old School Angling thread for a while. Very sad to read of Pete's passing. An old school legend, I've enjoyed reading your stories. RIP.
kenwright09890
Posts: 458
   Old Thread  #705 9 May 2015 at 6.09pm  0  Login    Register
Rip Pete
oldfletch
Posts: 1467
   Old Thread  #704 18 Apr 2015 at 8.49am  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #703
Great enjoyment reading your stories. May you rest in peace.
tinofmaggots
Posts: 5835
tinofmaggots
   Old Thread  #703 17 Apr 2015 at 11.11pm  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #701
sad to have a final chapter,, Pete we gonna miss you buddy,


RIP Peter.
chopper
Posts: 4766
chopper
   Old Thread  #700 10 Apr 2015 at 8.18pm  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #687
only just seen this. r.i.p peter.
Andy_P
Posts: 7990
Andy_P
   Old Thread  #699 9 Apr 2015 at 5.01pm  0  Login    Register
Such sad news, RIP Pete
Expat_in_Poland
Posts: 7979
Expat_in_Poland
   Old Thread  #698 9 Apr 2015 at 4.45pm  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #694
Very sad, Peter was a good friend to me in times of trouble and in all times, always kept in touch despite me being here and him in the UK. Am really gutted to lose such a friend. A sad loss to the angling world and his family. A fantastic chap who always had time for others to listen and to exchange experiences. So glad he shared his stories and history of ordinary people's lives with us on here and more. Sadly the world of angling has lost another great fisherman. RIP Pete, hope you are dangling a line up there somewhere
Dicky
Posts: 2354
Dicky
   Old Thread  #697 7 Apr 2015 at 9.36am  0  Login    Register
This is really sad news I aways looked forward to petes stories. I my self will miss them. The fourm won't be the same without him.

I hope the funeral goes well and sending my best wishes to petes family at this very sad time.

Rest in peace pete.

Rich
rob-d
Posts: 2118
rob-d
   Old Thread  #696 7 Apr 2015 at 8.32am  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #687
so sorry to hear this, i had the pleasure of meeting pete a couple of times and i loved listening to his stories of his life and times. truly an inspiration. rest in peace mate.
Serenity
Posts: 859
   Old Thread  #695 6 Apr 2015 at 1.48pm  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #687
I am very sorry to hear this. I remember Pete appearing all those decades ago in the Angling Times with his catches of specimen bream and hugely enjoyed his trips down memory lane on here.

Hopefully, he will meet up with Dick again at that special venue in the sky.

R.I.P. Pete

KenTownley
Posts: 30593
KenTownley
   Old Thread  #694 6 Apr 2015 at 1.27pm  0  Login    Register
Tragic news. So sorry to hear that this grand fella has passed. I worked closely with Pete on a manuscript he did for a fishing book and he sent me reams of material and photos. I don't think many of us on here realise just how high profile Pete was back in the day, the guys he knew and fished with, the publications he worked for, and the huge high regard in which he was held by his peers. We are all very privileged to have had access to his wealth of knowledge and experience and the world will be a greyer place for his passing.

I am not religious in any way, and mentioned this once to Pete. "Not to worry," he replied, "God loves you anyway!" He always closed his PMs with 'God bless' and while it may be inappropriate for an atheist to say so, God bless back at ya, Pete.

So sad.
charlatan
Posts: 100
charlatan
   Old Thread  #693 6 Apr 2015 at 12.42pm  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #687
SO SAD . R. I. P. PETE.
andywilcock
Posts: 1921
andywilcock
   Old Thread  #692 6 Apr 2015 at 10.42am  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #687
So sorry for your loss.
I read his stories with great excitement for the passion that he brings to it.
You can be very proud of him.
R.I.P.
loncilott
Posts: 37
   Old Thread  #691 6 Apr 2015 at 7.48am  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #687
RIP
john5
Posts: 1606
john5
   Old Thread  #690 5 Apr 2015 at 11.38am  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #687
R.I.P.
bigjim001
Posts: 9256
bigjim001
   Old Thread  #689 5 Apr 2015 at 10.02am  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #688
Jesus

a true gent long time forum member

Thoughts are with your family R.I.P
SlugHunter
Posts: 22752
SlugHunter
   Old Thread  #688 4 Apr 2015 at 6.08pm  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #687
I am so sorry to hear about your loss...

R.I.P
petethecrip
Posts: 2831
petethecrip
Honorary member
   Old Thread  #685 26 Mar 2015 at 12.26pm  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #684
I am sitting here at home watching a very cold wind sway the trees no fishing today for me, i will see what its like tomorrow but the banks get packed most week ends so i will have to take my chance

Years ago you never saw the amount of anglers you see today things have altered, most lakes we fish to day are not private like they were in my younger days, private or not i used to fish them, i really enjoyed going you never knew what situation you would find your self in, i used to fish a quite a large lake in a village about six miles from my home, it was a most beautiful lake full of big tench and lovely Rudd you really never saw anyone, but this one morning was a bit different,i had caught a number to tench not really big all around two pounds i had just had a drink of mums ginger beer, when i was a bit startled to see a number of gentlemen standing on the lawns in front of the hall. They had all got guns in shoulder bags and a glass in their hand i heard sir saying drink up plenty of time latter on for drinking, i watched as i heard the keeper say you will all draw for your peg some had their wives with them they were all wearing tweeds and long laced up boots no shooting low he bellowed i never realised they were shooting the lake i was fishing you can shoot any pheasants he shouted i moved further into the undergrowth and lay down and watched, it was to late to make a run for it.
I watched him putting the guns out there must of been around twenty guns they must have been friends of sirs from the army as the war had not finished that long ago i think they had only got the estate back into some order but there was still a lot to do especially for the keeper he still had the vermin to attend to as the estate had gone completely wild as it had been left to own devises for a number of years, i was a bit frightened when the guns started to shoot but soon relaxed and watched this magical spectacle going on all around me god some could shoot, they would hit those duck really hight up, some would come crashing down hitting the bushes not far from where i lay, i thought bugger the fish, lets collect a few of these ducks that had been shot it was a bit dodgy but i managed to collect half a dozen or three brace of pheasants, and a couple of ducks, i popped them in my big post office bag, i carried my tackle in and half walked or crawled away from the shoot, i got into the field and lay behind this sheep feeder it was full of hay i could hear one off the guns say keeper theres one or two down over there, he could not find many maybe a couple. The keeper said they must of been runners sir i can't find anymore than a brace of pheasants and a couple of ducks. I laughed as i made my way home i collected my bike from where i had hidden it, and soon got to the gate of our house, mum said your home early yes i replied i have got you these her eyes lit up you will get caught one of these days she said laughing. well there you are more, latter
petethecrip
Posts: 2831
petethecrip
Honorary member
   Old Thread  #684 21 Mar 2015 at 11.31am  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #683
I was fishing yesterday and it really went cold while the eclipse was going on, i think every one blanked i did have a run but lost it on a snag that was enough for me i packed up at 5-30 and headed for home i could not get warm all night, the wind blowing down the lake was absolutely bitter, lets hope it gets a bit warmer in the coming weeks my mrs thinks I'm a bloody nutter going in cold weather like it has been but i have caught a few over the weeks if i had not gone and took my chances i would not have caught i know i am in my seventies but i will keep fishing while i can.

It really is funny this small lake used to be full of rainbow trout, i used to poach it many years ago and caught some nice fish there was also some good eels, in the water i had them to four and a half pound i few years ago the bailiff on the water, came around to my house hi pete can you help me out whats up Bernard, we think we are getting poached can you come and have a look, it was not me as my poaching days were over. I had heard some one was selling trout in the pub, but i could not get a name, yes Bern i will meet you down there on Saturday afternoon, i took an old gaff with me i soon showed them where the fish were going i had eighteen night lines they had been expertly covered up no one fishing the lake would even know they were there.

Can you catch them pete i will need two or three chaps, with me ill come said Bern, my mate Graham, will come said i do you won't them caught on frightened, we will think about it at home i decided to frighten them i had some of these Halloween faces that glowed a horrible green, and one that looked like an old witch, i picked Bern up before dark have you got those old sheets, yes four in all we put the masks on around dark and sat down and waited i did not think they would arrive until midnight i was right over the style got the four poachers and headed straight away to their night lines, we waited until they were about to set some more when Bern let out a call like a banshee they turned around to see what it was they shone a torch up into the wood there was one hell of a shout run lads the place is haunted we fell around laughing we ran after them to the style they literally fell over into some of the brambles but we let them go we will go to the fox tomorrow night Graham we may get a laugh.
we went for a pint on the Saturday night we saw them telling the landlord what had happened, the one said to us do you still fish Bomere yes we replied, if i was you i would not go any where near the place its haunted we listened to his story we had a job not to laugh the landlord twigged what had gone on, good lads have a pint on me they have been selling trout in here for weeks i wondered when they would get caught we all had a good laugh.
well there a bit more. more latter.
petethecrip
Posts: 2831
petethecrip
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   Old Thread  #683 17 Mar 2015 at 11.33am  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #682
I have been chased many times, i am one lucky chap i have never been caught the one lake i had permission to fish. Graham and i were sitting there very relaxed, when this big women started shouting abuse at us telling us to get off the property, next thing she started running towards us like a big peace of blubber with a big carving knife in her hand, its time to go graham she means business, we picked up our rods and bag and made a run for the van, i looked behind us she was still coming and still had the knife in her hand we reached our van opened the the rear door and literally chucked our tackle in we just made into the car and started the engine when a police car arrived, i heard him say i will have that knife please now go back to the house i got out off my van hi pete hows it going it isn't, no he said she is puddled i said its like something out of a fairy story, who gave you permission john his about the best of the family the other brother is just like his sister, but i have fished here for months with know trouble, pete i would go now let it cool down i will see john later and get you written permission i am sure it will be ok i will ring you Monday at work and he did it all ended very well we had our tickets one each, thanks Paul what about his sister with the knife i gave her a stern talking to and gave her the knife back you will have no more trouble with her so every thing turned out right we fished there again and never had any trouble the sister came out and gave us a wave which we returned it was if nothing had ever happened.

There was another lake not very far from where we had been fishing so off we went i have not got permission but i do know him he is the hight sheriff of Shropshire i have got to know him quite well we arrived at the house i gave the bell on the door a push it was answered by a young lady is sir in i said she looked us up and down i will go and see whats your name i told her the next i heard is that you pete yes sir, come on in we are a bit dirty never mind, i will get us some of our home made beer and he did it was very nice over another drink i told him what had happened at the other lake i have had some trouble with those people
he answered. well i suppose you would like to fish my own lake yes sir he wrote us permission you are the only ones that are allowed down there you can take your car to the water you may see my gardener down at the lake he may come for a chat we gave it a go before going home and caught a five pound tench but also some common carp were seen so the day ended well. A bit more latter
petethecrip
Posts: 2831
petethecrip
Honorary member
   Old Thread  #682 13 Mar 2015 at 12.14pm  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #681
I have been doing a bit of carp fishing and i am quite pleased that i have caught not big by any bodies standards but big enough to make me very pleased, there are some lovely fish in this old lake worth catching, Bernard graham and myself stocked it with eighteen carp many years ago i was contacted by this chap that had quite a big pool at the bottom of his garden the fish were mostly small in size but did they grow when we transferred them to the lake we are fishing now.

i know there are some mid twenties and there could be the occasional thirty but thats to be seen one thing i have got fishing in this weather is a chill i have felt quite bad shaking and shivering the quicker it goes the better so i can continue with my fishing you may say not in this weather but if i can catch fish i will be there no matter what the weather is my wife does not like me going because of my health, you only come this way once so get out there and fish.

over the years i have fished in some terrible weather once with Graham on the Shropshire meres i had just moved to discuss the fishing whether we should go or stay when there was a terrific crash the lightning hit a tree behind where i was fishing it came crashing down on my bed chair, it was only a garden lounger, as we could not buy the bed chairs of today, i think some one was on my side that night as if it had hit me i would not be here to tell the tale, we decided to go but it was flooded behind where we were fishing its a good job we had waders it was nearly up to the tops as we got to dry land under the big beech trees there was another bang and flash we could see in the distance of the wood, another tree came crashing down, we went over the canal bridge to my van and we were away it took more time to get home, there was tree branches over the road we moved most and just managed to get by what a b night when i got onto our village i took Graham home leave to tackle in the back he said and that exactly what we did it was still pooring with rain and still lightning i was glad to get to bed that just one more story. A little bit more latter
petethecrip
Posts: 2831
petethecrip
Honorary member
   Old Thread  #681 3 Mar 2015 at 11.48am  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #680
Having bad news last week it has really made me think, so here comes another tale from long ago it was about a young lad that really struggled to catch fish that youngster was me, i had no idea how to fish, until i met a gentle man called peter finch. he put me in the right direction, i had all the right tackle so it was a matter of catching. I thought to my self i know the river, i was told i would get caught the locals were ever so good to me and would pass on information but they told my parents it was very private and was owned by shropshire fly fishers and some was owned by private individuals well i took no notice and caught trout until they came out of my ears my parents and our next neighbours who were very grateful, one place i really loved was the water falls i had a spot i liked to fish i would ledger a worm right under the sill of the falls i had no rod rest only one i had cut from hazel i had left it to dry out and had not used it for sometime it certainly did the job this one day my rod flew around i was lucky i did not lose it, i played this fish i had got him to the side and there lay a most beautiful pike it must of been at least 10 pounds how on earth was i going to land it i had no net in i went and lifted it out with my hands i caught my finger did it bleed after i just stood admiring the fish and its lovely colouring, i must get it back, i looked around to see there was anyone around i.e the water bailiffs all was clear, into the river i got and held it in the water, i watched as it swam away i dried my self with an old towel i had with me.

i carried on fishing the next fish was lovely brown trout, that went strait in my bag i cast out again and watched as the rod top bent right around i played the fish i could see it was a lovely perch it was at least two pounds, i heard a voice behind me shout, it was a lady mrs smout from the terraces where i lived ill have that perch she shouted, no i am going to put it back which i did i put my hand in the bag and gave her the only trout i had a smile broke across her face thanks pete our sid will love this with a few potatoes and peas no problem i shouted to her as she crossed the field i will have to catch a few more trout before i go home. well more to follow
petethecrip
Posts: 2831
petethecrip
Honorary member
   Old Thread  #680 26 Feb 2015 at 12.05pm  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #679
I could not wait until august i would lie down in the heather and watch the guns preform i kept a fair way from them as the guns made me nervous, the guns really got exited when the grouse come hurtling towards them i kept my head down as the beaters passed me by it was a dangerous job for every body that took part it was certainly not like todays grouse shooting when i think back they had some keepers, involved beating others, picking up i was nearly flat out in the heather when this big spaniel came and licked me all over i tried to get him to go but he would not, he prefered to lie down with me, i was getting a bit worried i did not fancy running in this thick heather, its funny really its the only bird that has eluded me never mind ill keep trying.

i heard a wistle that signaled the end of the drive, the keeper called his dog come charlie he shouted and away went the dog, you got nothing the keeper said, no said the beaters he was working with us they knew how cruel he could be he would shoot his dog if he did not bring anything back. On the way back i looked at sirs pens i have a friend who told me they had put 18000 thousand birds in the two pens nearest the big hall they were full of young poults i had a look at the other pens and they were full, also what a time i am going to have latter on i must learn a bit more about the woods as this would be the first time i would poach it. I called at the miners arms i asked the landlord when the keepers came for a drink fridays and saturdays said Bert you going to poach sirs pheasants pete if so bring us a couple of brace ill do just that bert they get rather drunk there not much good by the time they leave here they would stay all night if i let them, they play darts and tippet they love the games what time do they leave around midnight they can hardly stand up, does the police get here never seen them said bert we have only oil lights so when them big curtains are shut you would see no light through them. I will tell you a story pete the old sgt would call here and put his car around the back of the pub i think it was a westminster, he would have a constable with him they loved a drink what if you get caught drunk behind the wheel i said who's going to catch me there only us in tonight and i am the sgt well that was that the sgt has now retired so i take no chances. I said good night to bert and made my way home he shouted behind us don't forget the pheasants pete i put up my hand . a bit more latter.
petethecrip
Posts: 2831
petethecrip
Honorary member
   Old Thread  #679 21 Feb 2015 at 11.20am  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #678
Yes ralph i did have a few escapes, an old gypsy friend asked me to go with him to get a few partridge he had a camp not to far from where we were standing, in fact four of the clan turned up bring your gun pete, i turned up just as it was going dark you ready then he said to the others yes they answered and away we went across this fields god it was cold with the wind blowing i would be glad when it was over i could just about see a stick in the distance my old gypsy friend tom, said don't make any noise you see that stick that is where the partridge are they roost on the ground so we should catch the lot thats if old bell and gerry and their under keepers keepers have not put any briars on the ground so our net will snag they are both buggers for doing that.

What ever have i got myself into i thought, but tom was an expert poacher who knew his job he would not have come this far if there was not something to catch and take home, four men one on each corner of the net and me behind with my gun over the birds, they went they tried to escape, but there was no getting away they dragged twenty grey partridge from under that net, you got y bag pete, are you taking the lot i asked i was a bit upset why do you ask well i always leave a few i understand what you are getting at. No if they were wild birds i would but these are reared by the keepers they rear thousands for the gents, and ladies, to shoot, i knew that from watching them when they shot.

How many have we got tom i counted twenty not a bad night eh pete we will make a few bob between us they should get most into your big bag ill carry it he said, but we have another covey to deal with which is a bit nearer home not far from the fish pool i know were that is i whispered as we came towards the pool in the wood we stopped can you see the marker pete yes tom, we will hide the bag with the birds under the big hedge behind us now all was ready you walk behind pete with your gun we aproached where the birds were they dropped the net over them it was over so quickly another sixteen they folded the net up and put a few more birds in my bag god tom you won't carry that far wait and see said tom, in the distance i could see some one waiting it was toms brother with a cart to put every thing in how many tom he shouted thirty six said i. Thats a very good night we all agreed, it was back to the vans for a welcome cup of tea we chatted sitting round the open fire i owe you some money ill take the birds down tomorrow and see how much we will get good night all i shouted. well theres a bit more until the next time
ralph69
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ralph69
   Old Thread  #678 21 Feb 2015 at 0.29am  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #677
In the clear for once
petethecrip
Posts: 2831
petethecrip
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   Old Thread  #677 15 Feb 2015 at 2.21pm  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #676
i have just been watcing a male blue tit, going mad with my car mirror the problem is he can see himself and he thinks he is another male, they are looking at my two nest boxes i dont know which one they will choose
I am very pleased i have a pair of bull finches, in the garden the male is spectacular with a beautiful red breast. I am sitting at home making a few rigs also filling my new centre pin up have not used one for years and am looking forward to using it. Its my second chilhood you know, but on a serous note there are some huge perch in the small lake i fish i have seen them taking quite big rudd i could not fish for them last year as i was rushed into Hospital and missed most of the season but i am just hopping this year will be a better one.
This pool is one i poached for thr trout years ago there was some nice fish in the pool, i would go after dark and worm, the place i did not know at the time there was some big eels in the water i caught one of six pounds while fishing for the trout, it was a lovely fish so i put it back, i do wonder if they are still in the pool i was there one night a saw the headlights of a car coming over the fields, i hid in the wood above the lake i soon recongized who it was the sgt with two constables from my village, and another landrover with the keepers, god they were out in force tonight no one knew i was there so perhaps they were after some one else.

I had broke the rod down and carried the fish in a bag on my back. Just behind where i was hiding was a very big tree it was a fir with plenty of foliage i shinned up rod tied to my back with the bag i got to the top and lay down across the branches. They could not see me but i could see them the one keeper jerry, had got his dogs with him but i did not fear them i used to feed them over the top of their pen they were used to me so i knew even if they caught a smell of my scent they would not bark. Come around here shouted the Sgt to his constables. They have not been shooting tonight gerry who was one of the head keepers perhaps they have gone to my place shoputed another i reconized him staight away it was old bell the keeper from condover. Its worth a look said said the keeper i waited for them to go and caught another six trout i looked at my watch it was 1-30 it was time to go i crossed the feilds with a big smile on my face no chase tonight i was in the clear for once. a bit more latter
petethecrip
Posts: 2831
petethecrip
Honorary member
   Old Thread  #676 10 Feb 2015 at 12.37pm  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #675
one thing i shall never forgot i was hoping to start work for the home office it was many years since i poached to make a bob or two. I had to go before the super, who was in charge of the police station where i was going to be working i knocked the door. I was a bit shaky i heard a shout from within come in i walked towards a chair sit down so your the one that poached our shoot all those years ago. I honesty did not know what to say i literally froze, come on then he shouted don't be frightened i honestly enjoyed our little forays, i felt a bit more brave and out it came yes and i really enjoyed your pheasants and fish, i thought thats it i was waiting for his reply god is he going to give me the sack before i had even started, he gave out a big laught, hows your mother and father pete god she would not tell me anything you were involved with, my sgt used to go scaty he would get in his car saying one day one day.

Listen pete i have a small trout pool around an acre i have been poached a bit can you come and have a look yes no problem. I will pick you up from home on saterday if thats ok with you you can shoot the ground its about forty acre the farmer will be pleased he is over run withj rabbits, thanks have i got the job of course you have you can start tomorrow i will tell your boss at head office, before i go can i take my freind graham with me two is better than one catching poachers, do i know him he blurted out no i dont think so said i you will have to trust me i saw i smile cover his face i could not years ago could i. We both gave out a chuckle is 9-30 to early to pick you up to show you both the small lake no sir that will be great we will be waiting.

He arirved on time and trasported us to this lovely lake if fact Graham and myself knew this lake from years ago but we had never poached it. It was set in this beautiful valley and belonged to a farmer freind we knew i got a hook out of his car and screwd it onto a landing net handle whats that for pete i will show you sir dont call me sir call me tom around the side of the lake i went i had five night lines straight away two had fish on, Tom just stood there and said good god i have never seen that done before, ill leave the rest and come back friday and saturday thanks pete. he took us see the farmer bloody hell tom what are you doing with these two rogues best poachers in shropshire hellow pete how are you both not to bad, come in for a drink i knew what was about to happen out came the glasses and they were filled with golden cider want some bread and cheese to go with it he shouted from the kitchen, tom explained what was about to happen no problem i would rather have those two on my land than any body, the poaching will soon stop if i know pete.

I will tell you more latter we both smiled on the way home tom said you can fly fish it if you like, thanks tom we will give it a go latter on.
petethecrip
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   Old Thread  #675 7 Feb 2015 at 2.02pm  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #674
One thing i always did was put a brace of pheasants or trout hung on the keepers gate it really wound old bell up but it was my way of saying thank you he knew it was me he sent the police to the house a few times but i always had a excuce. This one day i was asked did i fancy poaching a new shoot, i said to the person that asked i have never poached or heard of the place if i went i would want to have a look at the place before giving it a go i asked how many keepers on the shoot the aswer was five, one head keeper and four under keepers i was not sure so i put the invirtation to one side for the time being.

In the meantime i was going to catch a few rainbows i hope. It was a dark windy night when i set off across the fields, i had one rod ,a few worms, and a few spinners, it was about a mile from my house i had been given a night scope from some one that was in the army throught the war years, he showed me how it worked it was a bit old and antiquated but i thought i would give it a go i looked over the field and found it was not to bad i soom reached the bank, and just looked throught the scope i could see all around the lake and no one was preasent i used a devon minnow first they were dfeadly i caught a few minnows in my trap in the afternoon i mounted one on the flight of the minnow and clipped it in. My first cast produced one of five pounds a really nice fish i put it back it was to big for what i wanted, next fish was around two pounds i knocked on the head it was just the size i wanted i had i had caught six and just sat down when i heard a car or tractor coming in the distance i grabbed the rod and bag and ran for cover, i watched from the wood there there was at least five and they were all poaching i let it go quite. The car was not from around here so i shouted your all under arrest i fell about laughing they all ran and tried to get in the car all together, i have broke my rod shouted the one shut up shouted the driver or you will be left here it was like something out of the circus talk about panic i watched from a distance as the car shot across the field onto the road, well that was the last for tonight i vanished into the darkness of the wood and made my way home. i will tell you more latter.
petethecrip
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   Old Thread  #674 5 Feb 2015 at 1.07pm  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #673
I walked by night, and day, poaching fish and game, there are not to many of us left today, to me it was a game i loved the exitment of it all in my latter days i caught them but they were not true poachers like yesteryear when i was young i poached to live and of course make a bob or two as money was needed to help the family. As long as we caught a few rabbits for home and freinds i could keep the money which i made selling to the butchers. It was money that helped me out to buy fishing tackle hooks line and such.

I was never frightened to be out at night by myself in fact i liked my own company as i was not responsible for others. I was using a rifle to shoot the pheasants i would tie a torch to the barrel of the gun it was very acurate way to shoot the birds, when they were at roost in some of the couverts there was so many birds you really wondered which ones to shoot at i would take three or four and move on to the next tree, the keepers had put thousands down they would not miss a few or so i thought i was soon to find out i loved being out i loved to hear the vixen scream, some men i had taken with me froze at the noise i would laught to myself they were not true country men infact that is one reason i took no one with me.

I would shoot around twelve that was enough for tonight i some times hid a few and went back for them if they were two heavy to carry, i would pick another wood the next time i went always one step a head of the keepers i found a friday or saterday were good nights to go, as most were in the pub it was not just the pheasants but duck, as well i did take a friend that could really shoot he never missed many the problem was retreaving them i have seen us botth stripped to the waist and wade in to pick any up any that had dropped in the water bloody hell it was cold we would get out to dry our selves, our teath would really chatter, in fact i did trust john and did give him an opportunity to come with after the pheasants but he would always say no i am not being hounded by the keepers dogs he would say, i will tell you more latter

petethecrip
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   Old Thread  #673 28 Jan 2015 at 12.28pm  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #672
On this one esate that we beat for sir told raymond and myself that we could if we liked fish on his lake over xmas it was a wonderful place we thanked him he told us he would be down to see us, sir we will have to see how the weather goes, we arrived and set up we both were catching rudd within and hour, i set the old pike rod, up i was in straight away he was only a couple pounds but very welcome i hid it just like his wife had told us she just did not won't the mess.

The next fish felt a little bigger around the lake he went, he ploded on never giving any line at last i got him to my crapy net i was praying for another for Christmas mum said i would have to see. I can see it now all my mates were exited as christmas eve was the very next day but this day had not finished yet i heard a noise and looked around there stood Sir i have brought you both some ginger beer which i made a couple of days ago and whats this as he parted the net can i have that fish,, Sir your wife has said no god thats a blow i will go for a camera wich he did it looked if it had come from the ark he set it up, he was using big slides he said he would show us when we went to the hall.

Raymond have you fished the lake by the hall no sir come with young pete after the shooting season there are a few good carp in there, thanks sir said ray it was getting dark i am sure i could hear the sound of singing coming from within the castle walls we were asked in even though we were all going to a Cristmas eve party tomorrow night as we entered to us kids it was like a fairy groto here young pete try these on i went away with socks gloves sir asked if sam had come down from his shoot to see us i really did not know, until i got home we stayed singing carols it looked if it was going to be a great xmas Sir took us home we will pick the bikes up tomorrow i hope your coming to beat with old sam after xmas yes said both of us, thanks sir don't forget tommorow night he said as he dropped us off look sams bike, is out side your house i wonder what he has bought you all i did not have long to wait as i walked sam sat decide the fire drinking damson wine how are you young man sorry i could not come up as sir wanted us fish his lake. never mind said sam ill be there tomorrow night i showed him what sir had bought your a very lucky lad ray had the same. well ill tell you all what happened the next night.
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   Old Thread  #672 27 Jan 2015 at 11.19am  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #671
When i was a young lad at school i had a paper round like many others i used to cycle seven miles every day before school it was hard going on the shop bike it was a sit up and beg sort of thing the paper bags wen't over the back weels either side on a frame.



We went in hail rain or snow it was really hard if it snowed the school turned a blind eye if we were late on days like that we were the only way to get to the farms with there papers it was like a life line to them my mate dilvivered to half of the round it used to be very big round and failed to get the papers to all the customers so the round was split with my mate ray it was great at christmas the farmers were extremely grateteful for the the years work at times i had trouble carrying the amount of money if one missed you out they would send it in a sealed envelope if lucky we both had a few pounds i used to look at fishing books but mum said don't buy any as you never know what i would be given in my stoking.



My mother and father were very kind it must of cost them pounds but when young you don't think life was very hard it was not long after the war and money was in short supply i bought hooks and line for my reels even a cane rod it was great i would cycle out to a local lake catch some rudd for live bait i struggled as i had know idea at all but a man called peter finch put me in the right direction i had a big old cork float with a couple of trebles it was hard going in the deep snow but i wrapped up warm a couple of wool socks in my welingtons a big duffle coat with pegs for my pockets my first cast caught after sitting there around two hours i watched as my float slowly drifted under i struck and what ever was on the other was not letting me have much line butt i persevered and caught it was only five pounds but really lit my face up after that my world was my oyster i really could not get enough of it i would sit for hours but never caught another pike. well a bit more later












god it was cold you could not get my hands warm i has frost in my feet i could hardly walk when i got home mother warmed me up beside the fire my toes had turnrd a funny couloir but after a while they started to work but hurt till i cried never again will you go out when the weather is that severe but she never complained again.
petethecrip
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   Old Thread  #671 22 Jan 2015 at 2.04pm  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #666
Thinking back i have been asked to catch a number of poachers over the years can you help us out usually, the estate got in touch before the keepers, i would answer depends what it is they are taking all our trout we can't catch them we have tried there crafty little buggers lads from the village i will see what we can do i found out they were not from our village,and most were only taking few for there parents, i had got a few cartridge that were unloaded no pelletes only powder they certainly made a deference if strapped to a fence and loaded into a device that the old blacksmith had made for for us i would strap anything up to ten along the top top of a fence they had only to touch any one of them there would be an almity bang and a big flash they would be away across the field calling the keepers all the names they could think of it stopped abuse and most never came back

It was a big laught if you could se them runnig across the side,of t wood the men and women were all dressed up in there good cloths so they could go to the pub when they got back the women's skirts must have been covered in mud but that never stopped them from having a drink or two i contacted the landlord on how many trout was sold that one night twenty trout was the answer They never came that way again we had them covered not only by muck from the grass but they also covered in cow **** they were livid with all the smell and mess from there skirts it also offended the land lord who had to scrub his stone floor i can tell you there was a few harsh words said that night but given as week it was all forgotten

It was soon forggoten they rolled up[ with a few brace in the bottom off their cart they had a right old time that night but it was to be there last before my feet touched the bedroom floor mum shouted me the estate men have been here can you give them a call tomorrow i knew what it was about it was about the increase in the poaching we stopped it once and for all but ill tell you it was really hard. more next week
petethecrip
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   Old Thread  #670 17 Jan 2015 at 6.28pm  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #669
talking about parkas i think i lived in one they were a great coat when i was catching big bream in the seventies i think i slept in one i used to pull it up over my head and away to sleep i was lucky and my mate that has sadly passed away, dick walker gave us a pair of heron bite ind iindicators what a difference they made we did not have to lose any sleep they did the job i appreciate you comments god bless pete
Big_Man
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   Old Thread  #669 16 Jan 2015 at 11.55am  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #661
Some wonderful antidotes and stories, found them fascinating and informative. Like you getting older now, love all sorts of fishing, particularly float fishing running water. When I was a kid we were poor so no money and mum wouldn't have us in the house during school holidays. Birdnesting in the spring, fishing in summer and winter and also rabbiting with ferrets and nets. Use to sit wagglier fishing for roach in winter totally frozen, only had a parka from Milletts, thick jumper knitted by mum, white sea socks, rubber wells and jeans (with a pair of mums old tights on underneath jeans.
petethecrip
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   Old Thread  #668 13 Jan 2015 at 10.56am  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #667
I certainly do remember that snow it was really hard i never got out for at least 8 weeks, we had a letter to go back to work on the tenth week when we got there the forman sent us back home he said the frost was in the bricks, he also said the ground was still frozen to cut a story short they kept me their with a few others just incase any new bricks arrived, god did we have some fires in the new fire places we played cards most days


god bless pete
biggsyhaulin
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   Old Thread  #667 13 Jan 2015 at 10.41am  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #666
Nice one pete,remember the snow of 63,,
petethecrip
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   Old Thread  #666 11 Jan 2015 at 12.23pm  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #665
Looking over the feild from where i live it certainly looks like snow the wind seems to be blowing from the cheshire gap that usualy means snow but we will have to wait and see.

Over the years i have seen some snow mostly waist hight i have pushed myself throught with just a shovel but some was far to deep over a five bar gate and frozen solid. The roads compleatly blocked no lorries and such could reach us only a hellecopter, that flew animal feeds in and a big tray of bread, for us living on this sparse hill side was very hard in the winter, but beautiful in the summer months, but i liked most months i would be away with my gun i poached most things rabbit, hare, pheasent, partridge, and such a friend even got a sheep, or two but i kept out of that it was taking it a bit to far. i would l find a good ditch i could lie in with some bags to keep the mosture out then feed an area in front with currents the pheasents loved them i would return the next day i had made a line, up especaly for catching the pheasents, they were suckers to catch this way tie it on to a hazel stick using a size twelve or eight hook cast out and wait for a bite, it would soon come it was nothing to catch half a dozen or so that was enough for me they are quite heavy to carry back in a sack but they will last a few days well in freezing weather they will last a lot longer, we would clean up feathers and so the keepers would not notice anything unusual.

I would also shoot i was given a old two two it was a bit of a antique some one had tied up the stock with wire but it worked and was quite accurate so i could lie down on most shoots and have a few away it was not as messy as catching on currants or raisins, then the melting snow swelled the mountain streams and small rivers as it fined down and flowed to the valleys below of i would be away with a rod line and worms i would soon have a dozen or so they never grew that big half a pound at the most but were nice eating when i met dugie he had a marvelous dog we shot some good bags of rabbits we had no trouble getting rid of them and made a few bob this was in 1962 we survived the snow it was april by the time i got back to work and some of the ground was still partly frozen. well a bit more latter

petethecrip
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   Old Thread  #665 7 Jan 2015 at 12.07pm  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #663
Thanks all for your kind remarks very much appreciated.


I loved the country side and all that was in it but this was taking it a step to far, come on pete lets explore the grave yard it was not for me, but how do you say know i could not be called yellow so we had to get on with it we lit our candles in our lantern,s there was only five of us my mouth was dry before we got anwhere near the place we got under the oldgate house it was absolutly over grown mostly by black berry bushes in places they were over our head. Althought some had been cleared i was taken back a bit some were from the old gypsy clans some i knew from years ago i must admit i shed a tear, then i heard my mates shouting i had got down on my knees i had waited for this where are you pete, with a granky voice i answered them and a bit of hi oh i heard then running coming towards me i let the first go by but grabbed the next by his shoe, he has got me, he shouted please let me go i did as instructed making one hell of a noise i was screaming i could not could not stop laughing, away, they went up the old path i had managed to clime one of the tree,s they were calling pete as they came by i shook the bought unmerciful god did they go well i should say screaming and it never stoped untill they were under the gatehouse and half way aqcross the field they were still shouting by the time i had caught them up.

WHERE have you been pete same place as you did you not see the ghosts what ghosts the one grabbbed his ankle and pull him in to some old brambles i only saw him once bu it frightened them to death who was i to tell them the builders and funeral directers had been around repairing walls, well they had and were making a Fair good job of there efforts the undertakers were mostly recarving most of the old grave stones they seemed to get on well together looking back the venture would take a few years but it would keep them in work for some time. well theres a bit more latter.
kenwright09890
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   Old Thread  #664 5 Jan 2015 at 2.59pm  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #663
Lucky indeed the chap saw you,have to admit I used to regard cross country as more of a punishment than a sport when I was at school Thanks again for all the time you've put into these posts
petethecrip
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   Old Thread  #663 5 Jan 2015 at 2.15pm  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #661
I bet you did fred bath nights were on a saterday, or a sunday, depending the state you got in and beleave me i got in a few never mind ha ha. did i ever tell you the story about me nearly getting drownwed it happened i asure you all. In those far off days i was a good at cross country running i won `a few titles all over shropshire this one particular day we were running competing against another school i think it was ludlow away we went down this lane towards the river over a barbed wire fence most crossed i helped them then all of a sudden a huge wave appeared i heard them shouting but it was to late it caught me at chest level i had my back turned when it hit me it liffted me off my feet the next thing i knew i was in a raging current the river i went under a few times before grabbing a fence and there i stayed i saw this man shouting where are you here just under the bank with an almighty heave he lifted out of the water he put me over his shoulder and carried me clear of the river good job i was looking he said as he carried me to the local abattoir they had contacted our headmaster and he came running are you alright lad yes sir this kind gentleman manged to lift me out of the river mr kenedy shook him by the hand and said thank you then he sdaid to me who authorised
this race today i dont no sir get off home we will see you tomorrow yes sir and away i went home my mother was not well pleased look of the state your in i nearly drowned mum she put her arm around me
and said ill go and get the bath why i have had enought water today to last a life time she then shouted you dont know what is in that water so i ended the day in that bath who said you can run in this weather there
was many more complaining i hope they dont stop it,, no mr Davies had been lisning its no ones fault it happened we should have watched the weather more thats what most were saying as we stood to attention next day my name came up and old kenedy thanked god for allowing me to live i was a bit nervous what the others would say but all was welll well thats another of my stories, more to come latter.

biggsyhaulin
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   Old Thread  #662 29 Dec 2014 at 6.35pm  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #661
I too loved those tin baths,as I got out my sister got in,
Happy new year to you pete
petethecrip
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   Old Thread  #661 29 Dec 2014 at 3.24pm  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #659
Well nearly another year gone its been sad for me losing a fishing mate. Graham and i did most things together some legal some not its fifty one years of fishing shooting and poaching, We also reared pheasents partridge they were great good days we spent hours watching a goshawk with her nest some say you should not clime a tree with a nest with eggs i did the bird went a bit scaty or should i say attacking me she had a good clutch of four eggs the male loocks very much like a large sparrow hawk the pair did quite a bit of damage between them i.e. taking young poults from our pen, good job it was graham and myself as some would have got shot by some keepers we both loved the wild life so we covered the pen with more wire and camouflaged it that stopped then any poults that died would be given to them i think we kept them alive on rabbit, the female let me get to her nest without attacking so she exepted the fact it was us the pair reared four lovely chicks and gave graham and myself a great time watching them. When i first met Graham we were everywhere together one day he said to me i have been told to keep away from you pete the chap said you were bad news little did he know i am the same we both hour heads off. We loved those days it was not only wil both we watched farmer jones when he coupled those big gray and and black shires they were so lovly pulling the tool that got the potatoes he knew we would take a few so he did one row just out from the big hedge, he shouted they be for you we soon picked ours up the farmer had a look there for your parents take no more and we certainly took no more he was a good farmer and he trustred us to keep av eye on things and we certainly did .He let us fish his part of the river if them baliffs come take no notice, tell them to come and see me we never gave them the oprtunity we were away if we saw them in the distance .

On the farmers stretch he had a wood that was in the middle of the river we were lucky to swim over dry our selves then start fishing we made a few pegs we would usualy catch around twenty between us if the baiilifs came jusy lie in the under growth it was realy called garlic island a good name considering the semll,
you would be plasterd all over your body mum would get the old tin bath out infront of the living room fire they were great days well a bit more latter may i say a happy new year to you all, god bless pete
petethecrip
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   Old Thread  #660 22 Dec 2014 at 2.48pm  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #649
 photo 004-2.jpg

This is the last fish that graham netted for me, before he passed away
petethecrip
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   Old Thread  #659 22 Dec 2014 at 12.24pm  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #657
Thank you all for the kind messages i really appreciate them well i do hope you like the next story its set not far from where i live.

It was christmas eve and a lovely night to be out , there was a slight breeze but before long it had turned to a raging storm, the trees creaked as the wind ripped through the tree tops i stood with my back to the tree, i had taken a friend with me this night his name was billy a nice lad and one that kept his mouth shut whats up pete nothing bill just listening to see if outs about how do you listen when its so ruff sh sh don't talk i am listening for any noise from the house, he must of gone to the pub, hold the torch bill and shine up this tree it was quite a big oak there was always a few up in the branches hold the light on him i looked down the sights it made a slight bang down came a big old cock he had survived last years shoot if not more i looked at his feet he had spurs like nails, he is no good i will feed him to our dogs thats a waist pete ill have him if you don't mind ok put him in the bag said i with a smile on my face Is this the wood thats haunted pete so the say billy, i hope we don't run into it you will know if we do it makes a bit of noise said i after that billy eyes were every where and not on the job, billy give me that torch you can pick the birds up so i strapped the torch to the gun we had shot about six when this old vixen let out a terrible scream bloody hell pete its the ghost away went billy i fell about laughing i could just make out billy as he ran to the path i thought thats the last ill see of him tonight. I shot another four it was now time to go i made my to the path i heard a noise pete pete where are you bill up this bloody tree i heard him the keeper coming back from the pub so i climed this tree he was a bit pidled the way he rode hid bike he will off had a skin full tonight being Christmas eve all of a sudden the bells rang out they sounded if they radiated from under the water bill was away once again its them bloody haunted bells ringing from that long lost village who told you that me dad as he disappeared over the gate into the farmyard he was soon back the old bugger had left his bull in the yard to keep the likes of us out ill never come with you again why bill because of those bells and that screaming ghost i had not the heart to tell him it was only the bells from Condover church ringing xmas day in . Bill is now in his seventies and still tells people he heard the bells and a screaming ghost. i laught when i hear him as i know better so i do not want to spoil his tail well ill wish you all a very nice christmas
and a great new year. god bless pete
petethecrip
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   Old Thread  #658 22 Dec 2014 at 12.24pm  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #657
Thank you all for the kind messages i really appreciate them well i do hope you like the next story its set not far from where i live.

It was christmas eve and a lovely night to be out there was a slight breeze but before long it had turned to a raging storm the trees creaked as the wind ripped through the tree tops i stood with my back to the tree, i had taken a friend with me this night his name was billy a nice lad and one that kept his mouth shut whats up pete nothing bill just listening to see if outs about how do you listen when its so ruff sh sh don't talk i amm listening for any noise from the house he must of gone to the pub, hold the torch bill and shine up this tree it was quite a big oak there was always a few up in the branches hold the light on him i looked down the sites it made a slight bang down came a big old cock he had survived last years shoot if not more i looked at his feet he had spurs like nails he is no good i will feed him to our dogs thats a waist pete ill have him if you don't mind ok put him in the bag said i with a smile on my fac Is this the wood thats haunted pete so the say billy i hope we don't run into it you will know if we do it makes a bit of noise said i after that billy eyes were every where and not on the job billy give me that torch you can pick the birds up so i strapped the torch to the gun we had shot about six when this old vixen let out a terrible scream bloody hell pete its the ghost away went billy i fell about laughing i could just make out billy as he ran to the path i thought thats the last ill see of him tonight. I shot another four it was now time to go i made my to the path i heard a noise pete pete where are you bill up this bloody tree i heard him the keeper coming back from the pub so i climed this tree he was a bit pidled the way he rode hid bike he will off had a skin full tonight being Christmas eve all of a sudden the bells rang out they sounded if they radiated from under the water bill was away once again its them bloody haunted bells ringing from thet long lost village who told you that me dad as he disappeared over the gate into the farmyard he was soon back the old bugger had left his bull in the yard to keep the likes of us out ill never come with you again why bill because of those bells and that screaming ghost i had not the heart to tell him
kenwright09890
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   Old Thread  #657 19 Dec 2014 at 10.42pm  0  Login    Register
Wonderful thread,wish you a happy Christmas and a great new year Pete and thanks for a great read
Dicky
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   Old Thread  #656 19 Dec 2014 at 8.26am  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #655
Merry Christmas pete I love reading your stories they make brilliant reading! keep up the good work
petethecrip
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   Old Thread  #655 18 Dec 2014 at 11.47am  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #654
Thank you fred very much appreciated. I like your kind remarks regarding the haul of big chub it is true about youngsters missing out there are some good fish to be caught on our rivers using a waggler a very happy xmas and a wonderful new year. god bless pete
biggsyhaulin
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biggsyhaulin
   Old Thread  #654 16 Dec 2014 at 7.12pm  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #648
Oh mate,a great chub bag,had a few like that from the lea at broxbourne.
Unfortunately youngsters are missing out on putting a waggler through running water.its an art in itself,
Great stories pete,keep em coming,merry Xmas to you,
petethecrip
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   Old Thread  #653 16 Dec 2014 at 1.22pm  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #652
Hi dean Rodger is the most caring man the keep net he uses is absolutely huge, if their was any cruelty Rodger would not have put the fish at risk, he is a fantastic angler and helps many others along the way i hope this puts your thoughts and mind at ease. god bless pete
Fozzy
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Fozzy
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   Old Thread  #652 15 Dec 2014 at 11.01pm  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #651
Lovely Barbel, The jury is out on those nice big chub being kept in a keep net Pete
petethecrip
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   Old Thread  #651 15 Dec 2014 at 10.55pm  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #650
Hi Adam we certainly have some nice fish but we are still getting trouble from the otters and other predators ,but the chub dace and roach seem to be making a come back which is nice to see sorry i am late answering your thread, i have not done the fishing i would like to have done this year, maybe latter good luck pete.
wandle1
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wandle1
   Old Thread  #650 14 Dec 2014 at 11.24pm  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #649
Brilliant pictures there Pete...how I wish we had some decent river fishing down here.....,well we have big perch in the Camel but the Salmon/Trout chaps remove them.....................


petethecrip
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   Old Thread  #649 14 Dec 2014 at 3.51pm  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #644
 photo 2014_11_24_1SA_12-12-3_zps443c63ab.jpg
my dear friend rodger with a big catch of chub from shrewsbury also with a good barbel weighing in at twelve and 120z

 photo 2014_12_04_Sydney_Avenue-3_zps4ce8fc6b.jpg
petethecrip
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   Old Thread  #648 14 Dec 2014 at 2.35pm  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #647
I promised to put these photos up they were caught by my dear friend Rodger he has not been a well chap he is also bailiff he is one of the best waggler fisherman i have ever seen. more of the same latter
petethecrip
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petethecrip
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   Old Thread  #647 12 Dec 2014 at 5.08pm  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #646
Thanks wandle very much appreciated
wandle1
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wandle1
   Old Thread  #646 11 Dec 2014 at 9.47pm  0  Login    Register
Brilliant stuff Pete.....when I`m out night walking in the woods with my lil cocker your experiences are always in my mind especially when I`m near a stream or river...

glad your feeling a little better....


petethecrip
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   Old Thread  #645 10 Dec 2014 at 6.25pm  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #644
petethecrip
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petethecrip
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   Old Thread  #644 10 Dec 2014 at 1.07pm  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #641
My old mate the bailiff Rodger has been in touch he was worried he had not seen me this season well i suppose he had not owing to me being in hospital a couple of times he tried to ring but there was no reply he has sent some lovely photos of one a big barbel. And one of a big catch of chub, i will post them latter i am sure you will be interested i am really fed up as i have to rest until after christmas maybe more thats not me i am used to going down the woods and such or fishing the river like Rodger and friends the wife won't take her eye off me incase i have gone there is a little lake not far from my house i have watched the the perch taking the Rudd some over 4oz quite a mouthfull they are big fish i can't wait to have a go at them. I will give them a big mouth full of worms i can't understand why no one fishes for them i have watched them tearing through the shoal of Rudd
right in front of were i was standing, they are big and i cannot wait to have ago but that will have to wait until i feel better.

This is a storey from long ago about my family and others who did not have much money it was around eight years after the war and every one struggled to get enough money to keep the families going, i suppose this is what made me a poacher. It wast fast coming towards Christmas eve , The farmer up the road had a big pen of cockerels they were nearly ready for market, so they would be killed within the next few days. A friend called ray said he would help me we went very quietly not a noise did we make. they were all in this hen house i went in like lighting and grabbed two they were big birds we put them in the bag they were around eight pounds a piece we took them down the fields it was pitch black we did managed to kill and feather them i hoped they would think a fox had been in the pen at there time i did not know they had a couple of men guarding the birds we were lucky as if we had gone latter we could have been caught they were in the pub before their shift i it was three days before christmas should we have another couple pete said ray we could i suppose so the next night just on dark we had another it all went well we killed and feathered them and away home we went i gave ray two give one to your neighbour ray. They killed those birds next day they asked if we would help ray and and i feathered the birds i felt rather bad he gave us another bird each and five bob no one missed the other birds as he had far to many. well there is another story more latter.
petethecrip
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   Old Thread  #643 5 Dec 2014 at 11.25am  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #641
In reply to Post #641
THANKS
petethecrip
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   Old Thread  #642 5 Dec 2014 at 11.25am  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #641
In reply to Post #641
Thanks
petethecrip
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petethecrip
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   Old Thread  #641 30 Nov 2014 at 12.19pm  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #636
I was encouraged from a young age to go fishing although when my Granddad died i was really lost and taught myself it was hard going, i was completely obsessed and even played truant from school to be on the bank but in the end i got caught and faced the dreaded cane which i had three time on both hands god did it sting i would not cry to give the head master satisfaction it slowed me down for some time after, about six miles from my home lived a mr evans he was nice old boy and a friend of the family come on up you can fish my lake anytime, he said to my father its alright Bert no harm will come to them and i must say it did not we would cycle up i loved night fishing we would lye on a plastic sack covering our selves over with a big army coat we would watch the stars shooting across the sky what a beautiful sight.

One thing i did not understand was these gentlemen that walked around the lake night and day with a rod in their hand and wearing a big hat there was one chap that shared information with us his name was peter finch he taught us quite a lot and i will always be indebted to him but others would tell you nothing i knew Raymond and myself would catch in the end we were mostly self taught i had no one to turn to as my mentor and granddad died in 1947 it was a very sad time in my life as we were very close, but we must keep on trying well thats what i told Ray little did i know it would come by pure luck, at the bottom end of the lake was a big weed bed i would throw pieces of bread into the weed and watch the carp take it. I only had the tank aerial rods and a couple of old wooden centre pins i would pull the line from the reel and coil it behind me put a piece of crust on a big black eel hook cut a bank stick out of the hedge to put the rod on i would give it the big chuck and out it would fly out landing amongst the weeds i could not believe i would catch on this method but i did i watched this one fish bow waved towards the bread and it was gone in a instant my line flew from my pin i lifted the rod and he was on it took around twenty minutes to extract him from the weed one angler came running with a net and we landed a superb common of ten pounds this angler told me that it was a good fish for this era i never saw him again in all the years i fished there. Mr Evans came out carrying big bottles of ginger beer for myself and Ray good lads congratulatoins was in order but i never thought like that it was only a fish to me i also learned a lot from mr crabtree goes fishing, i did not realise in a few years i would meet my boy hood hero Dick walker and strike up a friendship until he died in the eighties. well there a bit more lots to come latter.
petethecrip
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   Old Thread  #640 29 Nov 2014 at 4.09pm  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #639
Just ordered a pin not used one for years i can remember wallis super wizard lovely rod i hope i will survive feel a lot today thanks appreciated
biggsyhaulin
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biggsyhaulin
   Old Thread  #639 29 Nov 2014 at 2.29pm  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #638
Glad to your ok pete
On looking around my loft for the Xmas bits,bobs,just had to get my dads rods out for a look.......Wallis super wizard(whole cane,split cane,agatine rings) and Avon royal supreme centre pin .....I remember sitting with him in the mid 50s on the lea and Thames ,great times,
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   Old Thread  #638 28 Nov 2014 at 1.50pm  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #637
Thanks ken apprecated
KenTownley
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KenTownley
   Old Thread  #637 28 Nov 2014 at 1.16pm  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #636
Glad to have you back, Pete, and equally glad to hear you are on the mend. Must have been a bit scary for you though. Keep the stories coming. They are a beath of fresh country air in this over hyped carp world.
petethecrip
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petethecrip
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   Old Thread  #636 28 Nov 2014 at 11.01am  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #635
I will be home recuperating from my illness for some time so i will be able to add to my stories. i suppose people knew me as jack the lad when i was teenager i was always out fishing or shooting or watching my beloved wild life, i poached the trout because food was not easy to get we lived on rabbit and trout with the occasional salmon if i was lucky, it kept my family in meat and all our friends, i loved trundling a worm down the brook or river this was done mostly at night when the bailiffs and keepers were tucked up in bed i would always keep an ear open if i heard a twig crack it was time to move or smell tobacco especially a pipe its surprising how many keepers smoked a pipe the smell carried on a breeze for some way.

This is the story is of such a night i always traveled alone as i was only responsible for my self i would travel by bike and hide it until i finished, this particular night i was trying a new venue i traveled light only a rod worms a a few spinners mostly devon minnows, although i had never fished this stretch before it still belonged to oid bell the keeper i was going to fish from inside a big wood i would have to stand in the water, cast out and feel for a bite i had caught about twelve trout, when i smelt tobacco smoke not taking any chances i crossed the river and lay in the undergrowth the other side, it was not long before i heard talking i recognised the one voice as the police sgt from our village looks if no ones around tonight frank i could hear them as clear as day they shone a light across the river then down the river making sure all was quite, we will have a look further down on chris jones land ill take you down in the land rover said the sgt, and away they went i never trusted old bell he was a real good keeper and had a habit of coming back when all was quite i had quite a few run ins with him but i did respect the man i wondered if to carry on so i stuck a devon minnow on and fished from the bank side i had just caught another nice fish when i hear a shout the bugger had come back don't think he had seen me or so i thought ,this was to be one hell off chase i saw the sgt ford the stream with his land rover i was way i hid the fish, i was way up the field and onto the road through the village of Condover and onto Howard joneses land there i crawled into a big pipe that went down the side of the railway line i could hear shouting in the distance so there was more than two in this chase i just lay there and hoped for the best i heard the sgt say i will bet its that bugger from bayston hill meaning me i nearly burst out laughing they moved on to my village that gave me time to slip back and collect my rod and fish i found my bike an started walking across the fields to the back way to my home i arrived home at two am i left the fish in the shed i had just got in when there was a knock on the door it was the police and old bell they were out of luck no one answered i heard the sgt say ill check him out tomorrow and he did he could not prove a thing mum said i was out down in town with friends. so here ends another story. more to come latter.
petethecrip
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   Old Thread  #635 27 Nov 2014 at 5.01pm  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #633
Being a shropshire lad i was brought up to hunt and fish to harvest what was good for us i shot to eat it ts part of my heritage i have looked after a few shoots and fisheries it takes a poacher to catch one or so they say and i have caught a few.

I would like you to come with me to shoot the geese on a clear moonlight night the frost was white upon the grass as Graham and myself walked across the fields if you looked back you could see your tracks in the grass every blade was a shimmering white we we're wrapped up warm to keep the heat in i suppose we were both in our twenties, up they went in front of us we had disturbed a covey of partridge they had been sheltering under a big oak tree for warmth we never raised a gun and watched them disappear over a distant hedge, the geese would fly all night in the moonlight but we were prepared to wait it out as we knew they would come in onto the lake behind us, i had my big black lab with me his name was blaze a very strong and trusty dog we made our way to a distant ditch which was warm and dry getting our selves comfortable to wait it out. It may be midnight before they came they will be in there hundreds with Canadian and greylags and a scattering of snow geese that flew with the scenes, we had pulled a branch or two over our heads we could shoot through the openings we had left open, in the distance we could hear a dog fox calling his mate she answered his call with three sharp barks of course they will now be mating i know this big dog i have mentioned him before his name was white tip now long since gone i found him curled up behind a tree his life had gone his beautiful brown eyes had closed for ever i could of shot him many times but i let him go i had an understanding with him he was not frightened of me one bit.

My dog was shaking with with excitement we listened you could hear the geese calling in the distance blaze had heard then long before us they would take some time to reach us we loaded our guns we were using magnum loads the first geese flew over our heads we let them come in we shot the next scene taking the rear birds i saw four drop away went my dog bringing one greylag back to hand and a further three Canadian we only wanted wanted around a dozen to share with friends the next that came were greylags up went our guns they were much higher we only took two but nice birds all the same, we then settled down to wait an old tawny owl decided to land in the tree just up from where we were now he was in fine song before long what a racket he made he would soon be down the farm looking for his nightly dinner, it was a good hour before the next scene came the sky was black their must of been at least 500 birds we manage another four all Canadian, then another scene appeared we took four more all grey lags and that was that enough for one night we tied the geese together and slung them over our shoulder and made for our van across the field it was a successful night i said to graham we will have to leave some and walk back for them they were far two heavy we put the dog in the van with the birds and fetched the rest it was now one in the morning we looked back and they were still coming in, now it was time to let them rest we would not touch them for at least two weeks that was near xmas we would have more orders to fill this was many years ago we were both young and strong now there is me left as my friend Graham has passed on well theres a bit more from years ago more to follow.
petethecrip
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petethecrip
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   Old Thread  #634 26 Nov 2014 at 6.33pm  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #633
Well after collapsing i have been in hospital two weeks they found a big hole in both side my lungs one with a big apses i could not breath i am a lot better now and i am hoping to return to my stories god bless you all pete i really though it was my last .
petethecrip
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   Old Thread  #633 6 Nov 2014 at 11.52am  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #632
I was sitting on my chair hoping for a fish or two, when i see this old dog fox he came down for a drink he saw me sitting there but it did not frighten him one bit he had his fill and slowly walked back into the wood, i listened the birds were kicking up stink, they did not like this preditor in their mist, and who can blame them a couple of pheasants got up and flew over the pool, right behind where i was fishing is a hide a friend made but inside can give you a bit of a shock sitting in a chair is a skeleton, he has a yellow coat on some one has been playing tricks with our members i don't know why they don't sit him beside the lake and put a rod in his hand i am sure it wold act as a deterrent and send any poachers running.

I like this water it has a mixture of big and small fish. the biggest i have had was fifteen pounds but there are a number of upper twenties that have been caught so it leaves me with a bit of hope that i may get one or two out, another fish i have seen in the water is perch i have watched as they chased the Rudd scattering them in all directions there are not small perch but big fish i would really like a go at these predators we will have to see how the winter progressses the lake can get frozen over quite quiickly i am afraid at my age i dont like being out in the cold and the wind really is a factor on this water

Not far from this water is the lake i fished behind the keepers cottage, i used to take my life in my hands the place was really a bog and you had to watch where you put your feet i had some wonderfull days fishing this water i would hide in the reeds it was nothing to catch a good bag of bream they were not huge fish maybe the biggest around five pounds but good fish i was only around fifteen years old i also caught some terrific Rudd from this water you could not get your hand around their bodies they were a lovely golden colour there is still one or two in the water Graham and i had one or two goes for them and always caught a couple i was always on edge the keepers dogs barked nearly all the while he came down once or twice when i was there i would hide up the nearest tree i could time him when he would come down how long he stayed he would bring a couple of sacks of potatoes mixed with barley for the ducks i have never seen so many ducks so i made my plans for latter i was going to have one or two away on shoot day. Well a bit more later
petethecrip
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   Old Thread  #632 28 Oct 2014 at 11.13am  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #631
Not far from our house lies another small lake the locals would say don't you dare fish there as the keepers will catch you i would take my gun around dusk and wait for the duck to appear it was a natural water infact i never saw it ever fed, i had bought my self a single twelve bore shot gun, i shot a few birds with that old gun but you were always on edge i would be keeping an eye open just incase the keepers turned up, i got carried away this one night before i knew it they were onto me i heard a shout drop that gun no way i was away into the adjioninig spinny i litterally dived under the the barbed wire fence i was followed by a couple of guns going off the buggers were shooting to scare me out of the little spinny they need not of worried i was away the other side. I must admit it happened a few times over the years and i always got away i had a few near misses when the old sgt was involved you could usually hear is old land rover coming over the fields, the old honey meadow was another water the place was full of eels good fish i used to set night lines for them it was nothing to catch a dozen a night the locals would snap them up they were a good source of food as it was not that long after the war i can still see my mother stripping the skin from the eel then rubbing it with salt they were good days we never starved we always had plenty of Game to eat.

I it was not the pheasant it was the trout i had no trouble getting rid of the trout friends would snap them up i always let old bell have a couple it was my way of saying thank i would of loved to have seen his face when he opened the garden gate next morning they were good days so full excitement i used to get asked can i come pete when you go next i preferred my own company, i had only myself to look after and not others but i did have some friends i would let come when i went, they had been brought up in the countryside and i could trust them with my life but most were to frightened to come along especially in the dark i would say i have seen no one worse that my self now,t will hurt you in these woods only another human it was true i never ever saw anything other than the wild life, i have seen grown men freeze at the sound of a vixen screaming. Well a bit more latter
petethecrip
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   Old Thread  #631 25 Oct 2014 at 12.30pm  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #628
I loved the the countryside and its wild life i spent hours in the woods and down the fields i learned by spending time watching the wildlife i loved to poach the trout stream and catch the beautiful brown trout when fishing it would hit the devon minnow in a see of spray i have caught as many as ten fish in no time at all they all past the same size around a pound just the right size for eating i could not catch enough for home and our friends.
Over the years i met i met some good friends some were the local gypsy clans they were good people and made there living from the land as i have said before i would ride their horses up and down the woods and fields they learned me a lot i would go with old jack ferreting the rabbits, he never took to many usually half a dozen they would cook them in a big pot hanging from the open fire with potatoes onions any thing they could Get free from the local farms they would all sit around the stew pot waiting for it to boil they always handed me a dish full with great slabs of bread it was really good to eat i never got hungry after that, they even went to see my mother to make sure it was alright for me to go down there i can remember old jack knocking the front door hello misses just checking to see if it was alright to take the lad with us when rabbiting thats alright jack she shouted, left you a couple of rabbits said he how much said mother nothing to you.

i spent hours and hours with these people they used the old traditional caravans lovely painted i never once spotted dirt or such after tea they would sit around the fire smoking their clay pipes and if fiddler was around they would ask him to play a tune they would sing and dance around the fire they were quite religious and would sing hymns jack even learned me to tickle the trout. when i think back most have died years ago some of the youngsters now live in houses not many on the road anymore no romanies around any more. well a bit more latter
petethecrip
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   Old Thread  #630 25 Oct 2014 at 12.30pm  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #628
I loved the the countryside and its wild life i spent hours in the woods and down the fields i learned by spending time watching the wildlife i loved to poach the trout stream and catch the beautiful brown trout when fishing it would hit the devon minnow in a see of spray i have caught as many as ten fish in no time at all they all past the same size around a pound just the right size for eating i could not catch enough for home and our friends.
Over the years i met i met some good friends some were the local gypsy clans they were good people and made there living from the land as i have said before i would ride their horses up and down the woods and fields they learned me a lot i would go with old jack ferreting the rabbits, he never took to many usually half a dozen they would cook them in a big pot hanging from the open fire with potatoes onions any thing they could Get free from the local farms they would all sit around the stew pot waiting for it to boil they always handed me a dish full with great slabs of bread it was really good to eat i never got hungry after that, they even went to see my mother to make sure it was alright for me to go down there i can remember old jack knocking the front door hello misses just checking to see if it was alright to take the lad with us when rabbiting thats alright jack she shouted, left you a couple of rabbits said he how much said mother nothing to you.

i spent hours and hours with these people they used the old traditional caravans lovely painted i never once spotted dirt or such after tea they would sit around the fire smoking their clay pipes and if fiddler was around they would ask him to play a tune they would sing and dance around the fire they were quite religious and would sing hymns jack even learned me to tickle the trout. when i think back most have died years ago some of the youngsters now live in houses not many on the road anymore no romanies around any more. well a bit more latter
petethecrip
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   Old Thread  #629 25 Oct 2014 at 12.30pm  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #628
I loved the the countryside and its wild life i spent hours in the woods and down the fields i learned by spending time watching the wildlife i loved to poach the trout stream and catch the beautiful brown trout when fishing it would hit the devon minnow in a see of spray i have caught as many as ten fish in no time at all they all past the same size around a pound just the right size for eating i could not catch enough for home and our friends.
Over the years i met i met some good friends some were the local gypsy clans they were good people and made there living from the land as i have said before i would ride their horses up and down the woods and fields they learned me a lot i would go with old jack ferreting the rabbits, he never took to many usually half a dozen they would cook them in a big pot hanging from the open fire with potatoes onions any thing they could Get free from the local farms they would all sit around the stew pot waiting for it to boil they always handed me a dish full with great slabs of bread it was really good to eat i never got hungry after that, they even went to see my mother to make sure it was alright for me to go down there i can remember old jack knocking the front door hello misses just checking to see if it was alright to take the lad with us when rabbiting thats alright jack she shouted, left you a couple of rabbits said he how much said mother nothing to you.

i spent hours and hours with these people they used the old traditional caravans lovely painted i never once spotted dirt or such after tea they would sit around the fire smoking their clay pipes and if fiddler was around they would ask him to play a tune they would sing and dance around the fire they were quite religious and would sing hymns jack even learned me to tickle the trout. when i think back most have died years ago some of the youngsters now live in houses not many on the road anymore no romanies around any more. well a bit more latter
petethecrip
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   Old Thread  #628 14 Oct 2014 at 1.54pm  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #627
I those days i really did not like myself i think that it was brought home when i took on to many i looked as if my head had swelled like a football plus a broken nose and missing teeth i soon learned that fighting was a mugs game i ended up in hospital and nearly broke my parents hearts. lets say the four that did it to me came unstuck the local police did nothing as they thought it would get the four off the streets. And from that day i never fought again unless it was a necessity and i was threatened i can't even remember going down the fair again if anyone thinks fighting makes you look big they are telling porkis some in their eighties and nineties that still live on my village can still remember those days, i can remember the pain thats about all. All the men i worked for including mr joce stuck by me be jesus he said you will have them back and when you do forget it. And that what i did i resomed with my poaching and kept to my self a lot of the lads bought pheasants from me some even offered to come with me i really did let three come with me mr Joyce himself he new what were going for and had learned at a young age in southern Ireland he had a few bust ups with local keepers i won't none of that i have never been caught and i won't it to remain that way.

It was nearly Christmas and i wanted a few birds for the locals so the i thought it would be some of Bells he put a large amount of birds down in the woods i explained to the lads to follow me and don't make a nose and thats exactly what they did i think they really enjoyed the experance we shot over twenty birds i led the way out of the wood past old bells gates i looked at those gates with a tear in my eyes i remembered some of the great times we had over the few years, i had poached those woods.

What times the pub shut said mr Joyce iil tap the window i did and the landlord said come in he knew mr joyce from working on then road where have you been pete poaching yes any chance of a few to put under the dominoes
yes it will buy us a bit of beer i know we sold over 15 birds over under the cards and made quite a bit of money, i offered the lads there share no way they were quite happy to come along i knew i could ask them again so theres a bit more. more latter to come latter
petethecrip
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   Old Thread  #627 7 Oct 2014 at 5.21pm  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #626
When young i had no fear of any man to my mother said i was spoiling myself, i would end up at the fair ground they would offer five pounds to fight their prize fighter me a young chap would go down and watch for a bit then if i though i had a chance i would put my hand up for a go i would be stripped to the waist i stood in the ring eying their fighter he was made like a bull he came out of his corner like a swinging his fists he expected me to go down and call an end to this fight but i was made of sterner stuff he jabbed with a right it bloody well hurt i was up when he came at me again i was ready i stuck the nut on him he went down the canvas was covered in blood i don't think they liked what i had done it was time to run i grabbed my jacket and shirt and run like hell i was stopped by a gentleman the other side of the ring whats your name young man i can put some business your way meet me tonight i saw him latter at the old sun pub now gone demolished to make way for shops and such when i went there they would be playing the piano funny really they were all irish come in young man i looked around and their sitting by the piano he nodded i hear you sorted one of the fighters out at the fair.

I knew this man well he was my foreman on the job i was doing with a local firm in the beginning i was the only local man working mr Joyce, kept and eye on me if i got to cheeky and he caught me he would give me a good hiding he was only trying to teach me to be a gentleman and not to loose my temper so easily i loved these irish men they worked hard and played hard most came over to work and never went back to there homes in Ireland i loved their company. i would take a big jug of tea around the men most had tin mugs i filling one mug when i was grabbed by the balls bloody hell did it hurt the next thing i knew was my foreman pulled this welsh man to his feet he gave me the nod although in pain i was ready he let this welsh man go he came at me like a mad bull i dropped him very easy and i was given a clap by the lads. Now mister you can collect your cards at the office shouted mr joyce i went over to him don't sack he may have a family to support that welsh chap came a big friend over the years mr joycs died early in life i would like tp think he was a friend the next foemen was mr Donnelley he was another hard man he liked me i liked him we had great respect between us he called me one day what pay do you get i told him i have just put it up to twenty pounds a week god that was big money in those days i could go out and have suit made to measure ill tell you more latter. I loved these lads ill tell you more about taking them poaching. more latter
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   Old Thread  #626 29 Sept 2014 at 3.23pm  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #625
I loved the hill side it was like walking in a different land in my time as a youth it was so pretty it had not been spoiled like today with cars and such i spent hours watching the game grouse and such i also watch the various raptors that seemed to be making a come back buzzards sparrow hawks and kestrels they used to feed off the humble rabbits. i loved fishing the mountain streams off would come my boots roll up my trousers and in i would go under the over hanging bank i would feel the stream lined body of this fish i would soon have him on the bank i looked at this pretty fish no more than there quarters of a pound big for this mountain stream.

i continued down stream catching one or two for the pan at home I had tickled at leased twelve when a voice sounded whats e doing down there young un nowt sir. you be after sirs trout he won't be very happy about that. YES but his got to catch me first i managed to get my socks and boots i looked up he came hurtling down the bank but i had a least five hundreds start have you tried to run in heather i looked back he had vanished from sight i saw him crawling up the side of the stream bank he certainly was not in a good mood i wished him good day and i was away shouting i will have a few more yet i managed to get into the adjacent woods i heard another shout thou won't get away this time, you don't won't a bet does you i looked up the bank behind where i stood and there stood the lord of the manner well i called it that infact it was the big hall, he shouted once again your the bugger that had my duck last year it could of been sir i thought for a minute he was going to blow up, i thought to make my escape i managed to get to my bike with ease and cycled across the fields i saw no more of them and managed t get to the farm of a friend Chris Davies we sat and had a laugh with a big cup off coffee got your rod pete yes i have not used it yet have a go on my piece of river bloody hell Chris what will bell say nowt its my land i let who i won't so i was away pete get us a couple as approached the river i will mate i caught forteen in all not one under a pound i gave Chris three and i was away as i cycled passed bells i tied a couple to his gate thanking for the sport i had on his river. well thats another story. more to come latter

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   Old Thread  #625 27 Sept 2014 at 1.19pm  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #622
I really think christmas was my busiest time even into the sixties things were very hard i would be kept busy cutting holly and mistletoe anywhere i could get it for free, then there were the nights out i even had old farmer prices turkeys, it was only by luck i found he had any. I was up the fields when i heard all this noise what was that i found an old brick shed which really had not been used for years and in it were these black turkeys i had made my mind up i would have three or four before he killed them for xmas

I took another friend with me the night i was going to have them, his name was ray where be they pete up the grove wood i said I'm not coming up there it be Haunted well me mam says it is, i have never seen anything all the years i have been going up there alright ill come i want a bird for me mam, it was the worst night i have ever had i opened the latch on the gate to the shed i was hit in the chest by this big angry bird bloody hell he had me on the floor i managed to get my torch out and called

ray, no answer i am sure he hit a new world record for doing the mile i was scratched all over but managed to get the best off this old bird i took four in all i met ray down the field i was just coming back bloody hell pete your bleeding all over i gave one to ray for his mam although he ran away .

That was that i never ever took anyone with me again i made quite a lot of money at that time of year i poached the pheasants they were very daft birds so easy to catch they would put thousands down on some estates all you needed was a bit of luck i used a piece of line with a hook tied to one end bait was sultana i would buy a bag and scatter a few around god those birds loved them i would hide in a ditch the silly birds hooked their selves you just pulled them in and smack them on the head and into the bag they went i have had twenty or even more . This is how we lived they were good days more latter
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   Old Thread  #624 25 Sept 2014 at 6.32pm  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #623
Thanks ken i appreciate your kind remark
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   Old Thread  #623 25 Sept 2014 at 5.21pm  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #622
Many thanks, Pete.
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   Old Thread  #622 25 Sept 2014 at 12.50pm  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #618
Old bells dogs were very good the old bugger trained them quite well, he sold a lot all over the uk he was no fool, i had one or two near escapes but i also had great respect for the old gentleman. I was a fisherman and dearly loved the trout in the stream they had been stocked by the owners they were fished mainly by friends of the estates and looked after dear old bell. It was not long after the war and people would eat most things offered them they had lived off rabbits for years. As i crossed the field i could here the wind rushing through tree tops i hid my bike in some big ferns into the wood i got and sat down and listened there was a sharp yap further into the wood a dog fox no doubt little did i know that at one stage in my life i would lease the woods and such but its not then but now the river was well kept i got up from my resting position and looked in my bag i had some lovely red worms in a jar which i had collected from the farm yesterday they would do hooking a couple on the hook cast out the only weight i had was a box of BB shot i used two. The line swung around then tightened up no need to strike the fish was on i played it to the bank we had no landing nets then into the shallow water i got and picked this lovely deep fish from the water a good pound i need more around his size to night. THE wind was blowing well into the trees i would not expect ay Baliffs or keepers to be out tonight but how wrong could i be, i had caught another dozen fish when i could smell pipe smoke its got to be bell before i could turn around he was there i dived into some bracken and just lay there he never saw me he shouted to some on the other side of the river have you seen any one bill no nobody is around tonight ill cross the shallows to your side i don't won't to be out all nigh i listened for his land rover to start up he was away i could hear it fading in the distance

i caught another five or so fish, when i heard a shout the crafty bugger had not gone home he was now joined by mr pc plod and company i heard him run through the trees he has gone that way away they went blowing there whistle as they went i just walked over the water fall i stumbled onto the blind school land i hid my rods and bag under the chicken pen and climed the nearest big tree i watched as they came back and stood talking its that bugger from Bayston hill he was talking to the Sgt we will check him out today or tomorrow thanks said bell we may as we'll call it a night i got my bag and rod and i was away on my bike i got home around three in the morning i washed the trout and put them into the pantry i washed and went to bed
i heard the police motor bike i had a look it was pc jones he looked quite funny on the bike as he was very big man, your lad in mrs yes he is a sleep and has been all night thanks we will call again and away he went well theres a bit more. more to come
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   Old Thread  #621 22 Sept 2014 at 6.59pm  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #618
Been away for a time so more stories to follow
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   Old Thread  #620 6 Sept 2014 at 7.39pm  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #619
appreciated Daniel
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   Old Thread  #619 5 Sept 2014 at 1.03pm  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #618
Abosulutely briliant snippets of a life full of living!!...I'm sure alot of us feel we were born to late reading this thread. Good mates being out there with nature is what carp fishing means to me, however i'd say we have all had a watered down version in comparrison.
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   Old Thread  #618 31 Aug 2014 at 4.01pm  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #617
Well I have managed to put a few fish on the bank nothing really big but mostly doubles the biggest around fourteen pounds but have seen some good photos of middle twenties so it is only a matter of time. Although I am seventy two I still get that buzz when fishing a new water I wish I was younger to do the things I loved to walk the fields in the dead of night holding my trusty rifle graham by my side we would shoot the humble rabbit some night over fifty, I have had a wonderful time over the years simple things gave me pleasure like standing in the woods listening to the wild life I have slept under the ferns they made a comfy bed covering myself with the same the vixen screamed it would freeze the blood of most that had not heard it before the screech of the owl one wood I poached he put down galinees they soon warned the keeper if there was anyone around lovely to eat I would have a couple before they even called into the bag they went and so did I what a racket they made in the dead of night the keepers would soon be out of their beds, I would be long gone onto the next estate it all gave me pleasure. Into the next wood, I would listen for a while just incase they had been called out to watch their coverts not a noise you can tell when someone's about a crack of wood where he had stood a rustle of clothes catching the undergrowth the smell of a distant pipe they all gave you a warning when some one was around I would take my time have six nice birds with my rifle and torch then away to the next wood.

At times you would be discovered then the chase began this really excited me I would be away with the keepers and maybe dogs I would hide my pheasants one ploy I used was to run the river bank crossing where I could if near old bells shoot I would run the top of the waterfall then down the other side across another fall under the road bridge and wait and see I smelt pipe smoke knew instantly it was old Gerry Haiz, if he was here so was old Bell the next thing I knew was my face being licked by a big old lab it was bells he knew me he soon got fed up
and away he went when bell called him back come you old bugger I watched and waited but they disappeared into the distance I was lucky once again. well a bit more latter
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   Old Thread  #617 16 Aug 2014 at 1.10pm  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #616
I have been doing a bit of fishing, i have caught a few i have been going with a big friend, well two they have made me go as i would not of gone after Grahams death, but i suppose i must move forward so i have been going with Bern and big Tom they have both been a big help Bern fished with Graham and myself loads of times in the sixties and seventies Bern has been a friend for 42 years Tom not so long about 15 years he is a member of our shoot personally i could not do with out him he is a lovely chap and will help out anywhere we need him, well the fish i have caught have not been huge but i have enjoyed going, there are some big fish in the lake so we will just have to wait and see i will put the time in, there are some lovely Rudd present so i might just have a go for them.

Graham myself a Bernard have had some good times together not only fishing, we liked a drink or two god we have been in some terrible states over the years but it has done us no harm we all loved nature and that lead us all over shropshire watching foxes, falcons, deer, anything that took our fancy Bernard was never with us when we poached. Grahams brother came along we would go out with a long net and caught loads of rabbits a Dark windy night was the time and we poached a few estates, and we were discovered on a few occasions so the net was up and away we went,at times they would call the police, they would come with their horns blaring away any self respecting poacher would be long gone. I can remember one particular night we failed to get away before the law appeared with three very angry keepers, we hid the net and away we went in those days i could run we were surrounded by the river and it left nowhere for us to go only in the water i said to Graham we can ford it further up stream dick said there a farm a little further up the fields we could hear whistle and shouting all around us we approached the farm up into the hayloft we climbed

we removed a few bails i making it big enough for the three of us after getting in we pulled the bails back over us and there we stayed for over two hours the police and keepers did arrive but never twigged where we were, we heard one keeper say they must of crossed the river
where the ford is its not to deep they may of got their feet wet but then they were in the woods by the big
hall , they could soon be on the road and away home. we nearly burst out laughing, i have got a road block said the Sgt if they go towards shrewsbury, we will nab them, and away they went, the car was hidden on a old airdrome which the yanks used in the war, no one ever went near the place they said it was haunted by the air men that had lost their lives in the war it was now covered and very over grown but easy to hide your car we were soon on our way to dicks we only caught twenty rabbits which was really waste of time but we enjoyed every bit of it we were soon enjoying cheese sandwiches and mugs of hot tea if the police were waiting they would be there a very long time. well thats it for now rigs to tie more later
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   Old Thread  #616 8 Aug 2014 at 11.43am  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #615
Graham and i made one more visit to the pool in the woods what a rout march it was the ferns they were over our head we sweat gallons before arriving at our destination, on looking around things were just the same as when we last left it we fished together this time with our backs to the ferns i said look at that graham one of the biggest grass snakes i had ever seen came across the water and disappeared into the ferns we had not seen an adder as yet. But as the day warmed up they made an appearance they lay on the beech sunning there selves we left them well alone i must admit it was one of the best days fishing we have ever had we caught some tremendous Rudd some over three pounds i wonder why no others fish the place graham, the dogs still barked at the hall well half a hall most had been burned down.
We were just having a sandwich when this funny looking bloke came down the path towards us he looked as if he needed a good wash he had a great big beard which looked as black as soot it was to late to run.

Morning gentlemen whats e doing here if e catches y from the hall e will kick your asses, we did not know what to say, we did meet him years ago he would not give us permission to fish the pool but offered us some fishing on the river severn i must admit we never took him up over his kind offer, he won't give e permission on here iii tell e the story why, he once had a rowing boat on here his wife and son were rowing around when the young lad stood up and overturned the boat well that is what they thought happened, they both drowned they never found them for over a week this was once an old marl pit and is quite deep at the one end in those days they never had the equipment they have today. The inquest said the boat should never have been taken out it was dangerous for two people, it was only made for one person so that is why he does not let anyone down fishing, i own the farm up the road i can not stand the miserable old bugger, out shot his hand and grabbed a big grass snake i got my dinner now and off he went, i looked at graham what do you think about that i have never seen anyone eat a grass snake before, we watched where he went he got over the fence onto the field we had a look but he had vanished, we will call at the farm on the way home and ask the name of the gentleman that lives at the hall, and thats what we did we were greeted by a youngish chap we have just met your gaffer, he told us a bit about the accident at the pool he can't have hang on he brought a photo out is this him yes, well he has been confined to bed for over two years he can't walk, well thats him we both said, well that is a bit strange ill have a word with the doctor on his next visit, by the way the chaps name is Mikel Travaloin if i was you i would not go to see him he is a nasty old bugger, that was the last time we ever fished that pool that was in the sixties make of it what you will but its all true. well more latter
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   Old Thread  #615 5 Aug 2014 at 12.11pm  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #614
When fishing we always had a look at the land that surrounded us trees, and hedge rows, this was in the sixties or even in the late fifties if there was a few rabbits then we may go back and use a long net, or if pheasants then we would pay them a visit one windy nigh and shoot a few. On this big estate we discovered it had quite a nice lake, we had a look just as it was breaking light it was quite big with a boat house at the one end.

We would only take a float rod with us charlie would not come as he said the estate was quite heavily
Keepered he should know as he been a keeper,himself, ill wait in the car and see what happens he said in a heavy voice. On this particular night saw Graham and myself lightly loaded with two float rods bait and a few hooks and weights we left old charlie tucked up in a old blanket and put a bit of fern over the car looking back you could not even see there was a car there, it was standing on a old concrete run way that was now heavily over grown no one ever went there.
Graham and i made sure we had adequate bait with us we settled down between the the boat house and the reeds it was quite dry it was a fish a cast, mostly a tench lovely green colour i suppose we got carried away we had caught at least forty fish when we heard movement along the bank side he is smoking a pipe pete, said graham, lets wait here and see what happens and thats what we did until a few more, joined the other one, they binner here to night gaffer is em in a deep shropshire dialect, no we will walk on a bit father into the wood before he could say any more two shots, rang out thats jim the other said his got a problem, bang, bang, away they went like a herd of cows chasing a dog, come on out you two i knows yer there we charged up the bank to be met with the strangest chap i had ever seen he had an old bag over his head he then pointed a four ten shot gun at us, he could do no more and started chuckling like an old hen, you prat charlie we jumped and wrestled him to the ground and could not stop laughing. Stop them keepers may be back no said charlie they will be tucked up in bed by now, whats you gone a do with my gun charlie we will bag a few pheasants when we get nearer the car what a night forty tench and fifteen pheasants it ill do for me says i as drove for home we dropped charlie off i only want a brace for myself said charlie and ill come fishing next week he said ok see you then, i dropped Graham off outside his house i had a snack the wife had left me a wash and off too bed looking at my watch it said four thirty i soon slipped into heavy sleep and dreamed of things to come. well more latter
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   Old Thread  #614 29 Jul 2014 at 11.26am  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #613
I can well remember sitting with Charlie and graham on the river Severn we were ledgering for roach and chub I noticed a few rats running over our baits that were in boxes then a few more passed us by have a look up the bank Pete said Charlie before I could open my mouth Graham shouted run looking across the field all I could see was like grey black wave its bloody rats Pete hundreds of them Charlie took one look and shouted up that tree, I was half way up before he shouted, I had seen this before rats were moving home something had disturbed them we all waited when they passed under the tree the big ones came first then the younger ones followed by the very young and infirmed there was literally hundreds maybe over a thousand it was like a big wave coming towards us I had only seen this once before but that was when was at school I was stood by a river bridge crossing the main road they passed us by on the field side then crossed the road there was not many cars around in those days to run a few over I was standing with an old farm labourer let em be he said they wuner hurt e as long as yer stand well away in broad Shropshire language, I was only a nipper I was not going give them any chance.

Did you say you had seen this before yes Charlie on the bridge by prices farm craven arms, I have seen it once shouted Graham when I worked on the farm with my dad, so we have all seen it before as we sat up the tree more and more came in all my years I have not seen as many said Charlie, some that passed us were real oldies manky looking like they were on their last legs I felt like climbing down the tree and smacking them one with my rod rest but I did not, we watched them go through the distant hedge Charlie said look at that, one of the biggest rats I have ever seen came back through the hedge and came this way keep quiet and watch said Charlie he was making sure all had gone I said to charlie and graham after they had all gone what intelligent animals they were, from when we got up the tree it was a good half hour.

Lets have a sandwich said Charlie that's really made me hungry we can then carry on fishing he took a big bite it nearly made me and graham sick at least ours were in an old oxo box I would not touch them I fed mine to the swans graham and myself fell about laughing whats a matter with you two said Charlie nothing really nothing. well a bit more latter
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   Old Thread  #613 26 Jul 2014 at 3.09pm  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #424
I suppose it was the sixties that had put a swagger in our step, as we had all left school but other things had me thinking and planning, How can we fish old jaspers pool I was determined to have a go it was a long way to go from home,but it was ok when we lived in hill country, but that was years ago my in laws may not be very pleased if I disturbed them from their slumber. A pete said john I hear he stocked the lake or pool as you call it with some good size rainbows and Brownies l will have a look before we go said I, can i come said john wait and see said I. We will wait and see i always picked my dear friend Ray, you can come if you wish ray no probs shall I go now no I want to introduce to others you have not met as yet and Malcolm is one of them he is living his dream and can't wait for for us to get on our way john I shouted come before ye gets very wet which he did he looked like a wet lobster sorry john I don't mean it as we neared our destination I called them together I will say it again no killing just have look tonight can we have a pint tonight the others came back quite quickly we crossed the hill quite fast

Onto our bikes and away home, we reached the public house quite fast, persey never minded us youngsters in the bar and would say miss behave and you will get chucked out. I just hope the law don't turn up tonight, old persey did not know when the law would turn up it could be any time you younguns up the stairs if they arrive
hear me whistle and the copers have arrived out side, up stairs we we would go, i knew the landlady well she spoiled us rotten, we had a big dinner and a couple of pints.we would not leave the house until it was quite. the police had gone are we going latter said john I don't know yet to much against us and the weather is about to change so we will wait and see. i am very tired. so more latter
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   Old Thread  #612 17 Jul 2014 at 11.01am  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #611
Well i am starting to feel a bit better, and have joined a small syndicate, although i have fished it before years ago i never relized how big the fish have become. there are a few small ones but it is such a lovely place i could not refuse, Its funny really it was a trout fishery for many years the chap in charge asked me if i could sort the place out my answer was no, although i ran an old gaff hook around the side of the lake for him and discovered sixteen night lines some with fish on, it helped him tackle the place and show him how most of it was done the next time i saw him he was well pleased the police had caught two but not all but at least it was a start.

I was fishing the big lake at the time i used to watch the poachers arriving, from my village side of the lake, there was always around six they would arrive around twelve thirty and would be away around two thirty you could set your watches by them i used to say to my mate Graham, they are going to get caught if they don't alter their times, if you could not see them you could hear them they were a noisy lot. You can tell how long ago it was. it was a vey still night when a police whistle aroused us from our sleep, the year was around late fifties early sixties the place was swarming with police officers, and keepers, we were all right we ran a small syndicate, on the lake i think most our members kept heads down i heard next morning that the tally was none, i should think not with all the noise they had made but at least it kept the poachers away for a few weeks.

This very beautiful syndicate that i have just joined was the same lake that the trout poacher had fished all those years ago, and i will let you know another secret it was the same pool that Graham Bernard and myself had put carp into this was in the early sixties they had come from a small water and the owner wanted them removing you would not do it today because of the possibility of what other fish carry i.e. decease and such the first carp caught was on a fly and weighed in at eighteen pounds the owner of the fly fishing syndicate who was also a big friend, asked me where the carp could have come from i nearly laughed in his face i don't know i said. But now years latter i can say. well more come latter
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   Old Thread  #611 8 Jul 2014 at 10.55am  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #607
Well we fished that pool many times until this one day graham came running pete there are keepers every where,don't worry graham, we will have some fun and be away with some plump ducks and pheasants hide the rods and come back here we will hide in the bushes if any shot birds come our we will have them away have you got a bit of room in your bag to put a few birds in i have my big postal bag we can get at least eight or nine in mine they came out of hall onto the lawns they were all dressed in there tweeds of course they had there loaders there wives were all dressed up in long skirts god there posh pete well they are related to royalty they will shoot the ducks and pheasants there are some first class shots amongst them what about the dogs pete won't they find us we can clime that big old tree if it gets a bit to hot but honestly i have no trouble before just pick the birds you can see the dogs won't be along for a bit they will not use them until the end of the drive i had managed to pick a fair few i called graham he came running have you got a few six then lets be way over the river we went we got a bit wet we had picked our rods up before making our way through the hedge, do you fancy a pint graham i certainly do he replied they know me in there we walked into bar there was a nice warm fire and plenty of customers hi pete not seen e for a bit in broad shropshire drawl do you have any wares i might in took him to the van he bought all the ducks i had i stuffed the money in my back pocket i will share the money when we get home, you calling at the fox pete can do if you won't we can keep a brace a piece and put the rest under the dominoe table we will make a bit, we walked out of the fox two happy chaps with a bit of cash in our pockets it was nice to get home to my young wife and a warm fire forgive any spelling mistakes as i have just come out of hospital thanks for reading my stories god bless pete more to come latter
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   Old Thread  #610 7 Jul 2014 at 10.59am  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #609
Thank you shane appreciated i am very sore band bruised
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   Old Thread  #609 5 Jul 2014 at 7.15pm  0  Login    Register
Hope you make a speedy recovery Pete.
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   Old Thread  #608 5 Jul 2014 at 5.46pm  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #607
sorry there are no stories have just come out of hospital and i am quite sore and can hardly walk around but will continue as soon as possible thanks for reading my stories god bless you all from pete
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   Old Thread  #607 24 Jun 2014 at 3.36pm  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #604
As i have said i took graham to see this other lake it was a few years since i had poached it the problem was it was right in front of this big hall and it was still private absolutely no fishing and still is to this day, on arriving graham looked at me and said where are you going to leave the car, down the lane its a bit over grown it looks as it had not been used for years, so it should be alright. we will fish in front of the Rhododendron bushes and fish between the reed bed what if we get caught pete said graham no chance its not the shooting season yet but at times you may see the keepers, around but as long as we are quite we should be ok.

Do you think they will see us from the hall said Graham, they never did when i poached it all those years ago they even had a garden party out front on the lawns which came down the the lake side and they never saw me. We started to use one rod each it was only about four ft deep so it was to be float fishing we used bread flake with a maggot on the tip of the hook, we started to catch Rudd, big fish you could not close your hand around them we only had a pair of old spring balance scales, but we weighed them in an old piece of net we had acquired they were mostly over two pounds with a number over three pounds. God it was some of the best fishing we have ever had, we tried a little red worm tipped with maggot it had hardly sank to the bottom before it was away it bent the rod double what ever have you got on pete, i don't know but its quite big i replied i managed to get it to the waiting net its a tench said Graham, and it was, and on weighting the tench,it was over four pounds a good fish as it was the early sixties, when we go Graham we must cover up any trace that we have ever been here we carried on fishing most of the day and caught many more Tench, the biggest
over five pounds which Graham, caught it was a good day that we both enjoyed, we packed up about six in the evening, on arriving back at the car some very angry farmer, or keeper, had left a note on the windscreen of the car could we please call at the hall and tell them why i had parked the car down the lane and what business we had in the area, what are you going to do pete nowt what if they have taken the redg number of your car, its a chance we have to take i said so away we drove looking in the mirror i could see this motor bike following us driven by the biggest fattest police man, i had ever seen he was like a pork pie on a round of beef he waved us down, where have you been ludlow, said i but your car was down the lane by the hall, thinking i quickly i said we had run out of petrol he never looked in the back but said so you parked it in the private drive no the lane, i said, how did you get to ludlow we caught the bus said i, have you got a can yes putting my arm behind my seat i pulled out this old red can,
thats fair enough i will tell them at the hall thanks have a good trip back home he answered, as he drove away we both burst out laughing, Graham said that was a bit to near for comfort it was said i we will have to find a better hiding place next time, graham laughed how long before we are back here next week i said and winked my eye. more to follow
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   Old Thread  #606 23 Jun 2014 at 9.52pm  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #605
Thanks ken more to come it all takes a bit of memory its such a long time ago thanks again appreciated.
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   Old Thread  #605 22 Jun 2014 at 1.24pm  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #604
Brilliant, Pete, just brilliant.

Many thanks...
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   Old Thread  #604 18 Jun 2014 at 10.58am  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #603
We used to fish a pool in south shropshire it was a pretty place the water was always a shade of blue a local said it used to be a marl pit, a local farmer told us if we got caught fishing it we would be in terrible trouble and maybe end in court, as usual we took no notice, it was a route march to get there the big ferns were over our heads there were two pools, the smaller one you could sit and watch the carp feeding on the bottom they would stir the shallow water making big clouds of silt until you could see nothing there was only about ten carp in that small pool and no matter how hard we fished we could not catch one, they all looked to be upper doubles this was in the early sixties.

The other pool was a lot bigger with a boat house at the far end we started to float fish and caught some wonderful Rudd thinking back there was none under a pound with a lot over two i was fishing in about eight feet of water the float dipped this was no Rudd i had hooked into one of the carp i just could not stop it on the light tackle i was using but it gave us an indication what was in the water the only trouble you were constantly on edge, i could see some one had been down there on a regular basis as they had made a path throughout the ferns and brambles, right behind where we were fishing there was a big Hall and they had dogs, which were barking most of the time we just hoped they would never come down to the pools and discover us.

We fished those pools for a good many weeks but in september it nearly came to a end, graham some ones coming we both dived into the big ferns rods and all we lay there hardly breathing we watched as two men arrived and walked over the dam they were carrying a big bucket each i heard the one say its a pity we can't get the tractor down here it would be a lot easier than buckets but sir wants the pheasants fed its a bloody long way to the pen twice a day, they vanished into the woodland but never returned that way, i said to graham they must be the keepers who are feeding some young birds in a pen in the woods we will go and have a look latter on, but we never fished the water again until the following year i personally i had not seen as many snakes they were every wear we fished on the pools, most were grass snakes but there was a few adders as well it was a bit off putting to say the least graham brought a big adder he had caught in his net it would strike if you but a stick anywhere near it it was lovely marked with the sig sag on his body we put the net down and let the snake go the funny thing we never saw one the year before, i took graham to another lake not far from where we were fishing and we caught some beautiful tench which i will tell you about next time. well a bit more latter.
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   Old Thread  #603 9 Jun 2014 at 12.40pm  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #602
I grew up with nature and have loved it all my life, i have had a wonderful time along the way i loved the woods even at night they fascinated me i spent hours just listening to the noises of the night the scream of the vixen can freeze the heart of some body that had not heard it before, i have listened many times and have heard the vixen calling her cubs, it can be just a couple of barks or even more, if someone was about she would call them to the safety of the earth.

Myself and Bernard regularly used to film them with our camcorders some of the things the vixen would do if she thought there was anyone around, we were well hidden at the side of the wood, she circled the field four times even squatting down for a leak just feet from our hide, when she was sure she would give a yap yap or a wo wo wo when calling her young cubs out to feed on the rabbit she had brought them, they were only small i don't think they had been out side the earth before i think they were only four or five weeks old i have watched that vixen bring rats even hedgehogs to the earth, one evening i followed her at a distance she had got a young lamb in her mouth i could not tell if it was dead or alive but it kept her five cubs happy for the rest of that day.

Not far from that earth was a small pool, it held some really good eels it was used for feeding the keepers ducks i would put night lines down after casting it out using a rod i would cut the line then peg it down then cover it with soil i have caught at least five or six in a night they were greedily eaten by our neighbours and our selves, in the late fifties and early sixties the wages were not that good so we would eat most things that were edible as it was a change of diet, I can remember buying my first shot gun i was only sixteen it was a webley four ten bolt action it opened up a new world to myself i would shoot the ducks on the same pool i caught the eels i would wait for the keeper to come and feed them, then he would be away to the pub he used a Bsa motor cycle so you could hear him coming long before he got to the pool, At the time i had a good friend called john ledington he had a double barrelled four ten there was no finesse in the way we shot as we were poaching so we would hide in the reeds and shoot them on the water then try and pull them in with a long stick if that failed into the water we went it was not to deep but it was bloody cold we usually shot
around ten between us then we would be away over the railway line up through the wood and and away home. well more to come latter
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   Old Thread  #602 4 Jun 2014 at 11.25am  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #601
I was never at home when i was a youngster i was either fishing or poaching some lake or even the pheasants one such lake was outside bishops castle, no one fished the lakes as they were strictly private and when i was young they were used for shooting no one ever fished there they were most beautiful set in a valley. I would ride my bike from craven arms hide it then clime over the wall and make my way through the
Rhododendron bushes to the side of the lake i hid my self in the reeds they went all the way around the lake i fished a float using little red worms i caught from the start mostly Rudd they were nearly all the same size around a pound i also caught a few tench not big around two pounds did they fight i was so engrossed with my fishing i never noticed all the guns the other side of the lake until i heard a whistle it looked if they were going to shoot the duck i did not know if to go or hide myself in the undergrowth i chose the latter.
 photo 2442b577-6dee-49a2-8d9d-cd1b6f8abf99_zps4ad520a9.jpg
The lake I poached all those years ago

There must of been over fifteen guns plus keepers and beaters god some of the guns were very posh all in their tweed suits they spoke like they had a plum in there mouthes, some had a gentleman with them loading their guns from the off you could see they could shoot some birds were very hight if they came down by me i had them away before they were picked with the dogs, i was taking a big chance but i managed eight duck and two pheasants that was enough for today i was over the wall with my rod and birds i never thought how i was going to carry them i had quite a big postal bag i used to carry my sandwiches and tackle so i managed to put most of them in the bag but the rest were tied with binder twine i hung them around my neck hiding them under my coat it was a bit uncomfortable but i managed until i came to a little village i was waved down by this big fat farmer where have you been he said fishing said i where not in my river i hope no sir what have you got in your bag nowt i answered only my pop and tackle on your way, then he said and shouted don't let me catch you fishing my river no sir and i was away as quick as i could pedal it took me two hours to get back home but it had been worth it the ducks were shared with our neighbours as it was only a few years after the war as most people had very little money to buy meat and such well a bit more latter
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   Old Thread  #601 28 May 2014 at 11.30am  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #600
In the early days when i first met graham we would poach and fish where we wanted we have been chased a good many times Bomere, and Shomer, were strictly private we poached the place but we never seemed comfortable. At the time the owner was a mr Davies i had been warned about him on a number of occasions he was a hard man and had put a number of locals in court and that was for staying off the public foot path that ran through the wood i had rang the owner on several occasions but his answer was always the same even thought he knew my family he would shout and rant if i catch you on there you will be in court. I was not going to be put off so we dicided to go down to his farm i can always remember knocking on the door it was opened by a very angry gentleman what do you two want can we fish your lakes no you bloody well can't we won't do any harm and we will keep an eye on the woods that what my keepers for he answered, i kept arguing with him i could not believe what he said next you can go but don't stray into the woods i had a bit off a laugh about this as i had poached his pheasants years ago when gerry was his head keeper i think at the time gerry was still there well on the sunday saw us beside the big lake known as Bomere it was very windy so we sailed the dead bait out on polystyrene tiles with a baloon attached, then when it reached the distance we wanted we would pull the tile back by a piece of string.
 photo 04484f2b-c48f-4607-a0fe-3b3d5fd9b6a5_zps16865c95.jpg
A young me with a Tench from Bomere
That first sunday saw us catch twelve pike the biggest around fifteen pounds i said to graham we will go back and see him at the farm, i knew he would not exept money so we got his wife a big box of chocolates, so the following saturday saw us back at the farm i knocked the door it was opened by sam mr davies can we go and have another go on the lake these are for your wife he looked and said no one has done that before and shut the door in our faces it caught my boot he had to open again it again well can we. Go when you want now bugger off i have things to do, before you go keep an eye on the lake any trouble get my keeper he will soon sort it out none of the locals believed we had got permission gerry the keeper would let us use the punt we would float fish for the roach using sliding floats we has some very good bags with fish weighing two pounds it was our piece of heaven and we fished shomere as well catching bream to five pounds god they did fight on light tackle we even caught an eel that weighed six pounds, At the one ends of the lake was Bomere farm owned by mr Adkins he came down to see us have you got permission young man we have mr adkins, do you two still shoot yes we answered if i give you written permission can you come down and shoot the rabbits yes no problem but what about the keeper ill keep him sweet he answered it could not get any better we soon had mr jones land as well we, had some great times and over the years made good friends with the farmers. more to come latter.
 photo Image1-1.jpg
One of the first carp I caught from Bomere
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   Old Thread  #600 22 May 2014 at 11.16am  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #599
Another lake we fished was in hill country it was a most beautiful place with a big house at the one end when we fished there no one lived in it, apparently it used to be the game keepers house, god what a long way to do your shopping we got quite friendly with the farmer ill take e down on the trailer if y likes he would say he would leave us there and pick us up in three days time he was a nice old boy, they still own the farm it had been in the family for generations.
It was a funny place to fish you always felt on edge the farmer told us there was some good carp in the water and a few good tench i had been by the lake many years before poaching the pheasant and rabbits that was in the early sixties, but i had never fished it we started using luncheon meat it was just getting dark when we had our first run it was to my rod the fish went mad and led me a merry dance up and down the lake it went and put a good bend in my rod, graham and Bern were ready to net it then the line went slack i had lost him what ever was that said graham i don't know it never felt much like a carp, so out went the bait once again i was just getting into my sleeping bag when it was away again god did it fight it turned out to a nice wild carp it was shaped like a torpedo and all muscle we left the weighing to next morning in the night we caught another eight fish between us the biggest was seven pounds we were quite pleased with what we had caught.
 photo recentlychanged.jpg
A few of the wild carp from years ago
I went back to bed i was very tired on waking up i looked to my right and saw this funny little chap he had a big beard and looked if he had come out of the ark i strolled over good morning i said he sat over two antiquated rods they were made of bamboo have you caught i said, none as yet he seemed a bit unfriendly he kept muttering to him self you after the carp i said no I'm after them pussies what do you mean catfish yes he said I've had em to sixteen pounds i take them home and eat them i made my way back to graham and Bern he is fishing for cats said i bloody hell he looks a bit queer what with that big beard he looks a funny colour to like a baker covered in flour.
 photo 1149edcd-e3bf-4b65-913b-4a2d2b40859a_zps3ccc943a.jpg
Graham and bern holding wild carp from years ago
We never took much notice of the old gentleman until i looked across where he was fishing his gone i said he was no where to be seen we never saw him go we looked over the fields but he had gone there was no sign of him where could he have gone said graham we fished that lake many time over the years and never saw him again when the farmer picked us up he took us to his house for a nice cup of tea i mentioned this old chap to him so you have met old George he said looking at his wife he died years a go didn't he she said i don't really know as others have seen him down by the old lake smoking his pipe i know he came from bishops castle and always came by buss and walked the rest of the way he just vanished i said don't know where he went he never payed me said mr whyke laughing his head off ill have to keep an eye open for him, i don't think he was ever seen again when we fished the place again mr whyke said he had traced the old boy to a old peoples home in bishops castle so he is still alive how on earth did he get here when we saw him i really don't know said mr whyke as he has been in the home for five years. well funny things do happen he said. more latter
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   Old Thread  #599 15 May 2014 at 11.28am  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #598
I had a friend visit us the other day we ended up reminiscing about fishing which he and graham and myself did years ago of course it was Bernard, i think in the sixties we went everywhere together at the time we fished a lot at landridnod wells over the welsh border, at the time the carp society fished there socials on the lake most years. There was some stunning carp in the water we would travel up in our vans we used umbrellas in those days with a cover we had some great time fishing there i don't think we caught a carp over twenty pounds but caught some big bags.
 photo dd455a48-19d6-4248-ac1d-be1a4d74966c_zpsedf4b36a.jpg A young graham at landod
I can always remember the last time we fished there it was a beautiful week and very hot in the day time we fished below the road at the far end fishing towards some islands, it became so hectic in the night we packed up using two rods it was a run a cast a lot were mirrors lovely marked fish stubby and fat, the one night we caught over a hundred and fifty pounds of fish we were so knackered we slept most of the next day, the fish came in all sizes from between twelve and twenty pounds we were so bothered by other anglers asking us how we caught them and the bailiffs, that we decided to leave the lake early we did three days catching over four hundred pounds of carp between us i can remember arriving home tired out we had only been in the house half an hour when the phone rang it was Bernard fancy going to acton Burnel for a couple of nights yes i said ill give graham a ring so by three a clock it saw three really tired anglers arrive on the lake by the time we got the umbrellas up and rods out it was time for a kip i was awoken to a screaming run on my right hand rod in the early evening it turned out to be a seven pounds tench i said to graham not a bad start by midnight we had another seven tench all around the same size we had a visit from the game keeper who kept us quite entertained for a good hour
 photo 35ec27cf-9e62-47b2-acc1-5dca919fe539_zps7ff6f56e.jpg
Bern at landridnod all those years ago
Bern had a storming run at around three in the morning it turned the scales to over thirty three pounds then he had another mirror of twenty three pounds god was he proud the next one was mine or it should of been we lost it at the net it looked a good thirty plus from the light of our torch well you win some and loose others then i had a lovely marked mirror of twenty pounds followed my a smaller common poor old graham struggled but he did catch a few nice tench by morning were all truly knackered we had breakfast and slept most of the day we had another great night catching mirrors to over twenty pound plus and plenty of tench i was not unhappy to get home it was a bath and straight into bed we had a wonderful week it gave us plenty to dream and think about for the future well a bit more latter

 photo Image19.jpg
A young me at the burnell
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   Old Thread  #598 7 May 2014 at 11.31am  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #597
My wife and myself have been quite ill and its really taking its toll we could do with some really good weather to help us recuperate one of the members on the carp forum has sent me some nice shots of fox cubs well done keebs i loved this time of year being out watching nature i cant count how many cubs i have watched over the years, and the amount of freinds i made taking them with me quitness was the order of the day no talking i have had them so tame they would come and look for me not the other way around i have sat beside a big hay feild it would not be long before they made there way towards where i lay they would look at me with big brown eyes.

It was a real shame out of a litter very few survived into adult hood lots got run down on the road others got shot there was always one and he lived to a great old age ill call him white tip he was a wonderful animal and quite big he was of course a big dog how many cubs he had sired over the years i could only guess i have told you before about white tip he would traverse the water course he would draw the hounds on and on i have seen them standing below this big ivy tree and as i have looked up you could just see his nose poking between the ivy branches who ever heard of a climing fox but he did and cheated death many times i watch him once on a big fox shoot i lay in the bracken i don't know who was more surprised him or me he walked right into where i was lay i could of touched his legs he just stood and looked i just told him to shoo go he knew i would never would hurt him when he died i found him curled up under a big old oak he had died alone he was areal old gentleman lots of his teeth were broken some had rotted away but i loved every bit of that animal and i shed a tear there has been no fox since that came anywhere near him but they all had there little traits i have been lucky no more than a mile from where i write i have seen a compete black dog blacker than midnight and i have seen a white litter with pink eyes i find it hard now to walk the hedge rows but my mind is alert as ever and i have my memories that will stay with me forever. a bit more latter
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   Old Thread  #597 28 Apr 2014 at 1.01pm  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #596
Thinking back over the years the best time of my life was when I first met my boyhood idol it was good when he phoned me for the first time but it was even better when i met him i was not old and decrepit like I am now,I listened to every word he said of course it was dick walker he was a wonderful man I first read all about him in angling times that was in the early fifties and I know all of us youngsters read his bit in the times, he was someone to look up to I never dream'd in a million years that i would meet him some day but I did and it altered my life to some extent.

I remember reading the Shropshire star and saw an advert for a group of anglers to fish the big Shropshire meres in search of the big bream it held,I mentioned to graham he was all for it we met at the public house opposite ellesmere I just can't think of the name it saw twelve of us altogether and a man called dennis Kelly tabled the chair he was a very knowledgeable chap and knew his stuff but when I looked at the mere we were to fish I said to graham were ever do we start, well to to cut a story short it saw us on the mere at first light looking,for rolling bream and we found them in front. our swims. Graham And myself fished together we made some staging we could fish from,, it was built on boggy ground but we managed,we baited up three times a week for around three weeks we knew we had bream in our swim as we watched them roll over our baited spot.

We were so excited when the time came around for us to fish it was of course June the fifteenth we got set up bait out, and waited for midnight it eventually arrived I did not know how this night would change me forever,I had my first run at approx. 130 am the bobbin moved up and down then slowly moved towards the butt ring up went the rod I am in graham I was watching pete,he put the landing net in the water as i played the fish in the end we netted this big fish we looked into the net and stared in wonder at the sight she was huge,not like the small fish graham and I had caught at other venues. we put it into the net until morning within half an hour another was put in the net. At first light Dennis came around to see how we had fared graham,said he's got two fish here Dennis, looked into the big keepnet turned around and shook my hand you have got two decent bream there i'll go and get the photographer,I did not know we had one well it was the angling times man, i had two fish taken with me holding them what a fuss they made over two Bream one nine and three quarters and the other nine pounds well done pete it was congratulations all around I was the only one to catch and it was not to be the only one over the coming months, cheer up graham its your turn next well that's how it started of course it was colemere ill let you all know how we got on next time I write, that's enough for now, more latter.
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   Old Thread  #596 19 Apr 2014 at 11.56am  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #595
From where i stood you could look into wales a wonderful sight, a buzzard soared on the thermal hight above the hill side, a Hare came running up the hill and passed me by he never even saw me i was standing with my trusted gun waiting for some unsuspecting fox, we were on a fox shoot i could see the beaters they were specks in the distance, they were made up with mostly farmers who's family had traversed these hills for generations they were all sheep farmers and by shooting a animal, that is close to my heart they were protecting their flocks before the young lambs were born latter on in the year althought distastfull to some it had to be done at least twice a year.


I am sure these farmers had one leg shorter than the other they would even run up hill, they were used to it and had done it for generations, i could hear a few bangs in the distance i sat down in the heather and bilberries bushes, a little blue fruit, these hills would be full of pickers come august as they get a good price from there local market, i had put my back to a big fir wood it was so dark inside and no other plants grew i lit my pipe and lay back it was a red hot day i could hear the dogs in the distance i was hight up and could see the valleys down below i had just put my pipe away when i heard a twig crack up i got and waited out came three big deer from the wood behind it gave me quite a shock and my heart raced what ever were the doing this far up the hill maybe the dogs had moved them on i watched as the ran acrooss the hill and vanished into the next valley as i watched as a covey of grouse got up and skimmed the hill side they had certainly been moved by the beaters and dogs.

I loved these hills they were full of wild life, i heard a shout and up the hill came a fox it was a big dog he came within twenty ft from where i stood he looked at me with those mournful eyes they were a deep golden brown, we both stood and watched one another he was lucky i let him go he was a most beautiful animal no one would know i watched as he went towards the top of the big hill he stopped and looked back was he saying thanks i will never know, i should not have done that as we were here to do a job the beaters eventually arrived did you see owt pete not a thing only a big hare then it was away to the next drive how many did you get 16 so it was worth it. I had a look at the end of the day my big dog was not there they had three more on the next drive but none for me but it made a good count 18 less for them to worry about, we ended the day at one big farm, our tea was layed out big slabs of cake cheese and beef sandwiches plus pork pie and big jugs of home made cider i said to graham on the way home i think we have had a bit to much to drink this was years ago you never saw a policeman, in those days we arrived home graham could not get to the door his legs had given way his wife, opened the door with laughter saying it serves you right, i had a job getting up the stairs my wife said nowt and helped me get to bed god that was some sort of cider but we had a wonderful day in the company of those we loved my secret stayed with me i never told a soul not even graham. Well a bit more latter
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   Old Thread  #595 12 Apr 2014 at 2.37pm  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #594
Times were hard when i was a youngster my father got killed in the war my mother went out to work to support me until she met my step father then things changed a bit my step father worked for the railway as a signal man but even then the wages were not very hight so anything we got like trout, rabbits, pheasants, and such were eaten with relish, i was only eight or nine years old but soon learned the way of the countryside what i learned then has helped e all my life, i loved the birds, the fox, and the rabbits, we lived on the humble rabbit until that terrible disease nearly wiped them out.

I can remember going round the fields knocking them on the heads, it was a terrible thing and it effected a good many estates, some men losing their jobs but it did not kill all and slowly they started to get over the decease, but a lot of people would not eat them again we sold ours at Bridgnorth market even in the seventies we got three pounds a couple as long as they were not shot, I got to know a chap in shrewsbury who gave us four pounds a couple he was not worried if they were shot that was good money, he would open his freezer it was full of rabbits there was thousands all hanging on hooks what ever are you going to do with all these i asked, a lorry is picking them up on monday then taking them all to France they have all the game pheasants, even pigeon, i wondered how much money he was getting i suspect a lot but we did not care as long as we did all right. I got to know one chap his name was mac night he was an ace at long netting of course it was poaching, we ran this net over one hundred yards along the side of this big sand quarry then another net along the side of a wood, that joined the side of the quarry we left the net up for a couple of hours then dropped them down, we walked the fields that were facing the quarry bloody hell we caught over one hundred rabbits in two nets that was really good going there were four of us to share out the money with but it gave us some pocket money, I used to smile when i was asked where all the rabbits were on the quarry by a couple of friends that shot there probably got mixey i replied and walked away mums the word you never told anyone you could literally wipe the rabbits out on a good night.

They were good days i met another chap named George who lived on our village he liked salmon fishing did i won't to go i certainly did So one saturday morning it was up the the Severn it was a beautiful stretch of river i was spinning away when i get snagged george took the rod from my hands we will use an otter board to free it from the snag he said, it suddenly started to move you have a fish on pete he gave the rod back god upstream he went with me running to catch him up i eventually got him to the bank and George netted him he weighted in at twenty seven pounds, i shook with excitement before we went home that night we caught a further three but not as big as my first one poor old George passed away a few years ago i learned a lot from him and still miss his smiling face. more latter
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   Old Thread  #594 5 Apr 2014 at 1.24pm  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #593
I have renewed all my permits and my rod licences so i suppose i have no excuses, although i am finding it very hard not having my mate to go with, The last thing he said to me was carry on fishing so i shall have to try we fished together all over shropshire and the surrounding counties, never really apart when out in the countryside, or watching foxes, we were also bailiffs on a big trout fishery and at one time on the ellesmere fishing committee, i suppose he was like a brother thats what was said at his funeral thats enough of that so lets get on with my story. As far back as i can remember i had an affinity with the countryside if i was not down the fields i was in the woods in those days you were safe everyone knew one another my parents knew where i was and would always say don't get in trouble but i did and always got away with it.

i would walk the lanes especially in april and may, to me they were beautiful months the birds would be nesting and all the flowers, would appear down the sides of these old lanes, the birds would be singing totally different than today. I loved to lie in the hay fields and listen to the sky lark, hight above or watch the curlew and find its nest, i carried my catapult everywhere even to school, i would hide it in my pocket in the days after the war the fields and hedge rows were full of rabbits, they loved to hide in the nettle patch and i was sure of a rabbit from them times were very hard i used a lead slug, we made them our selves it only needed one to hit a squatting rabbit and he was dead, it was no trouble and i usually got three or four they were always welcome at home, After the war the keepers, that worked for the local estates put thousands of pheasants down the woods and fields were full of them, how its changed they had rearing fields hundred of small pens in rows they would hatch the chicks using broody hens how they got that many hens i really don't know the keeper lived on the rearing field and would shoot any vermin that approached and threatened his birds it was a hard life. It has altered today not so hard i would hide by the rearing field and watch what went on he had a young lad working with his under keepers he boiled the food for the chicks he slept with two under keepers in a hut.

If i was not doing that i would be fishing you would find me up the river catching the brown trout i caught them to order and believe me most wanted them the locals would not go there selves owing to the river having bailiffs i learned what was the best time to go i would go if it was raining or early morning or late evenings i loved the fishing i learned to trot a float down the ides of the river if i got some maggots i would catch the grayling they were a beautiful fish it was nothing to catch three or four and i always put them back in those days they were called the lady of the river. i also fished a lovely little lake it held some nice carp i got on well with the owner and he never charged us youngsters a penny, and was always keen for us to have a go on a hot summers day he would bring us bottles of ginger beer and big slices of cake and if it was on a thursday he would go to auction when he came back he would bring big slices of home made pork pie some local made them for him they had been friends for years and he had a pie every week he was a nice old chap he envited me in one day, he sat around a big table with his friends they were eating home made lamb stew and dipping big pieces of bread to mop up the gravity here youngster have a plate full it was delicious the the meat in the stew was from my own lambs said sid that was his name well we had lots of days fishing sids lake up until his death. well a bit more latter
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   Old Thread  #593 31 Mar 2014 at 1.06pm  0  Login    Register
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I got permission to fish one lake up in hill country it was a nice water but could be quite cold as it really caught the wind but it held some nice fish, i used to like fishing for the crucian carp you could catch them quite regularly as long as you kept the bait going in they were not huge but the heaviest was around a pound and a half the tench went to four pounds and there were a few commons and mirrors in the lake. I arrived this one morning there had been a slight frost, the chap fishing next to me had lost the top three sections of his pole it was being towed up and down the lake i could not believe what i was seeing off he stripped and in he plunges and half walking half swimming he gets this pole and swims back bloody hell it was cold the chap was in his late seventies and he landed a carp of fourteen pounds, he dried himself off back on went his cloths and carried on fishing when i went to see him he was blue and his teeth were chattering i offered him a blanket out of my car, but he refused and carried on fishing for the rest of the day i still don't know if he was hard or foolish.

I fished that lake many times but it is now let out on a weekly basis and has been stocked with some very big carp not far from there was another lake well more of a pool, it certainly held some beautiful carp i asked the farmer if i could go he could not give an answer until his wife popped her head around the door hello pete she said god i went to school with her years ago hello jill, i answered we all had a chat then her husband said go when you want the biggest carp i had was twenty three pounds, and loads of twenties, he started letting the pool which in my opinion was the beginning of the end. There was more and more fishing the place then one day he rang me up how can i protect my fishery, whats up i said i have been robbed pete ,they have took a lot of my golden orfe my neighbours, saw them they had a pick up and tanks on the back, did they get the number of the car no he answered ill go and have a look. well i found where they had got in as it was fenced all around the lake they had cut the barbed wire and drove their pick up in they had netted the pool, there used to be four different shoals in the pool they had taken at least two. We got in touch with the police but had no luck. Their farm was some way from the pool so i put down some trip wires around the fence, over the years we never had anymore poachers, well only one a big dog otter that made quite a lot of mess but he is not there now he must of been traveling through well he has now gone i have not been up for a long time owing to my arthritis but still talk on the phone he stopped everyone fishing there and now only lets people he knows well he says i can take my car around to get into the fishery i might just have a go its going to be really hard without my mate graham, but everyone tells me i must go we will see. well a bit more latter.
 photo f68d5af9-d8e3-4cdd-b231-8d9441ad7ce7_zps1edb7447.jpg

a cross golden orfe my friend andy caught from the pool years ago
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   Old Thread  #592 23 Mar 2014 at 12.44pm  0  Login    Register
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I loved the woods and i was quite happy in them day, or night, i have laid down in the tall ferns many times and watched the wildlife especially foxes, i have watched the stoat take a rabbit or the little weasel a small slender mammal kill a rabbit, that was huge to her small size. This was done on the ride going through the wood i would watch from the safety in the ferns, i have watched a family of these small weasels, they were only the size of my middle finger but what beautiful little things, they would run about but never strayed far from their mother, i have been lucky to have been born in shropshire, and had permission to roam where i pleased its funny really many years before i had poached most of this land, i think the white foxes, gave me most joy i was very privileged to have seen them they were most beautiful, and were the only ones i have seen in my lifetime, we did move them by walking on the earth and leaving our scent, i suppose you will ask why because it stopped them being dug out and maybe killed or even sold a lot of this went on when i was in my twenties.
 photo DSC00181.jpg
The woods i walked now part of my syndicate

I loved to clime i would shin up a tree to have a look in the kestrels, nest it was usually in an old crows nest i would look in and pick up the young chicks, and stare in wonder god nature is so beautiful or clime to the buzzards nest, she would swoop and mew warning me not to touch her chicks, but i did the one i would not touch was the tawny owl, i saw a friend who i have mentioned in my stories nearly lose his eye when he took one of her chicks, he did return it with his granddads, foot up his back side and put it back in the nest, he had the scar on his face for the rest of his life, in those far off days we seemed to have lots to do fishing, camping, birds nesting, i loved to spin the devon minnow in the river and catch the beautiful brown trout, i would catch enough for our tea. Another fish i caught was the grayling, it is a member of the salmon, family i would trot a maggot down under a small float they were lovely looking fish i would never kill one to eat and always put them back. Another fish i loved to catch in winter was the perch, i would fish under the sill of the falls at Halford mill with a couple of red worms, the float would dip and i was in i dragged them up the bank as in those days i had no landing net i never saw one injured in that long grass, the locals would come down and try and scrounge one to eat how could you kill such a pretty fish, but in the war years and after they would. I suppose i would be around eight years old they were wonderful days the days of my youth, a hole in my trousers a katty in the back pocket and all the woods and lanes to walk.. more to follow


 photo 8419898e-767d-4295-a121-0e3909da4bff.jpg
The red worms i would collect from the farm land
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   Old Thread  #591 18 Mar 2014 at 9.27pm  0  Login    Register
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   Old Thread  #590 17 Mar 2014 at 11.56am  0  Login    Register
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Looking back I really have had a wonderful life I have walked fished and shot and made many friends along the way its not all been easy in fact some was very hard I had to think and look after myself from a very young age when my grandfather died, I lived with my grandmother as my mother had to work, she could be a cruel old lady who would give you a clout with her walking stick at any time especially if she had been drinking with her old friend mrs Evans god they would get together and drink a bottle of sherry between them even more at times, when my mother knew what went on she took me from there so I never had anymore clouts with that stick , but my grand mother mellowed over the coming years until her death in 1956 just before I left school.

I used to go down to see old Harry the rabbit, catcher I was only six years old he let me handle his ferrets, he had about twenty, but he would snare most he had a old horse, and cart and would take me around the fields with him when he checked his snares, I would sit and watch as he reset his snares, after taking the one rabbit, out I have never seen so many rabbits, by the time he had been around them all he would go back to where we started and there would be rabbits, in them again we ended up with over five hundred which nearly filled his small cart so you can see how many there was before myxomatosis struck it put a lot of people out of work who made a living catching rabbits.

I can remember picking mushrooms, with my mother she had one of those big wicker baskets by the time we had walked across the field it was full you never see that anymore they were wonderful days, I got to know the gypsies old Charlie lock he married dolly they were lovely people as i have said before I would ride their horse around the foxes, and berries, that was the name of the woods and fields,
, thats another thing that has gone no true Romanies, to day they have all gone what a shame it was old dick from another clan that taught me to tickle a trout, or two. he was a mine of information infact i loved his family his wife, still lives up the road from my house she lives in a house today, dick died years years ago but i am friends with his sons ,and daughter they are the salt of the earth and have all got jobs and work hard, and live in houses, no more caravans those days have gone. well a bit more latter
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   Old Thread  #589 12 Mar 2014 at 6.04pm  0  Login    Register
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It was a dark and frosty night as i made my way across the fields i could see my foot prints i had left behind on the frosty grass, the year was october 1957 and i had one thing on my mind that was a few pheasants, i was making my way to old bells wood, i had crossed the river it was fordable in places, i was making for his coverts the woods would be full of birds, i climed the stile just up from his house. i sat on a old log and l listened all was quite i could not even hear a whine from his dogs, he owned several he was also a good dog trainer and had won many prizes with his dogs he was also a good keeper that i held in respect.

The only worry i had was from his black labrador, it was a mean dog ,give him a chance he would have your ass or leg, i sat on that old log for some time the only noise i heard was from the tawny owl he was out looking for a meal. I heard a bark from a fox ,it carried on this still night, i don't usually poach on nights like this but this was a must, as had to fill my orders times were still hard. Why should all these toffs have the birds, his first shoot was yet to come he had put seven thousand birds in this one pen, and i was going to have some away, i loved to be out at night, i was better by myself as i knew the woods well. As i sat there i taped the torch to my trusted gun, and walked into the wood, i brought the gun to my shoulder shining the torch into the trees, there were hundreds of birds, some on the lower branches, i decided to shoot them first. I took the first shot and brought the bird down he fluttered a bit and was still, i picked him up he was a nice big cock i shot a further six from that tree and put them in my bag, i cleaned any feathers away and left no evidence i had ever been there. I made my way deeper into the wood and shot a further three, i tided up and listened did i hear a noise it seemed far away then i smelt pipe smoke, there was some bugger in the woods was it old bell with his under keeper, i made my way back across the field into another copies, i sat and listened then i heard the unmistakable sound of a dog, they can't be after me i had made no noise, i crossed the river into the grounds of blind school i knew it well and could soon hide in one of the big firs, i hid my gun and birds under the hen house, and climed the nearest fir, i could see across the river and sat on a bough, and waited there was a bang and then a shout there is no one around tonight frank, no Bob, bloody hell its the the police sgt it was old landers, and he had another bobby, with him, i am sure i saw some one cross that field i have seen foot prints in the grass well he has gone now said old bell, i reckon its that bugger from bayton hill again i looked at my watch and grinned to myself ill call at his house in the morning frank, but i don't hold much hope with his old lady, i thought don't go now as you won't get a answer it was now two in the morning all i wanted was to get home i soon got to my hidden bike i could not ride home on the road, so across the field i went it was three am when i got home i hung the birds in the shed and locked the door i was soon in bed the sgt did call next morning mum said i had been in town. god he was determined to catch me but he never did. well a bit more latter
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   Old Thread  #588 6 Mar 2014 at 11.51am  0  Login    Register
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Graham was not past doing a little bit of poaching i can well remember him swimming in some flood water at atcham shrewsbury, to catch a twenty three pound salmon, that had floundered in some shallow water left on the field, he caught it alright and had just pulled up at home when there was a knock on the door, on opening it there stood a water bailiff, he showed graham his card a duly asked for the salmon, i have caught no salmon said graham you were seen taking the fish and was reported by some one watching you. I warn you that you will be prosecuted if you dont hand me the fish, it was no good he had been seen well it was in broad daylight, he gave him the fish and had to sign some paper work he never heard anymore about the incident we tried to find out who had reported him but it was useless as there was so many watching.

That was in the early sixties another incident concerned some potatoes, when i think back what a laugh, money was not easy to earn yo could work many hours for very little. At the time i lived next to a chap called bill price, he was always after anything going cheap he also did a bit of poaching for pheasants especially at christmas, to make a bit of money for a drink or two. Pete do you and graham fancy a few bags of potatoes i see the farmer is storing them in that little building by the side of the road, so the next night saw the three of us away we took two cars, and parked them up the lane, over the field we went and got a bag a each and took them back to the cars .we were just about to get our third bag when i stepped on something there was an almighty howl and shouting i had only trod on someone that was lying in a hole behind the bags of potatoes if you could of seen us running across that field with a bag on our shoulder, talk about being frightened it took a bit to realize what had happened how we did not tread on him before is anyones guess we had nine bags between us i sold one bag and gave my parents a bag one bag was enough for me lets say we never went for anymore.

I can remember one christmas very well we were always after making a bob or two Graham and i had been shooting a rabbits for the landowner it was nothing to shoot fifty or so. We had seen the farmer down the fields he could not even wish us a happy xmas, and he wanted a few of the rabbits,we had shot we had no option we gave him three brace, when his father was alive he always invited us in a christmas, for a drink he was a great chap but not his son talk about chalk and cheese they were so different. We carried on with our rabbit shooting we got to this big hedge row graham shone the lamp up into the nearest tree we were surprised to see a few pheasants at roost it was all to much i did the shooting Graham shone the light we emptied the first tree we shot six birds we had twelve all together graham went for his old land rover he had parked up and we loaded the game not a bad night we had shot fifty two rabbits which we had hung on the barbed wire fence when they became to heavy to carry, we gutted them and left the the entrails for old foxy to eat what a good night those we did not sell around the village would go to market, we made a few bob for christmas it kept us in beer for a few nights. well a bit more latter

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   Old Thread  #587 3 Mar 2014 at 11.25am  0  Login    Register
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My first memory of graham, was around 1961 he lived around the corner from me I really did not know him but had seen him in his car with his family, little did I know it was the beginning of a friendship that lasted fifty one years, I was always out with my fishing rods I would walk down the river Rea, it was only across the fields from where I lived graham must of seen me as he stopped me one day I see you do a bit of fishing yes I replied, I like fishing myself he answered and that was it, he came around to the house this one day not long after I had met him, Pete, I have been told not to knock around with you anymore, why is that then I replied I knew what was coming I had been a bit of a jack the lad poaching and,even fighting, down the fair ground, they said I would get into trouble whos they graham, he would not tell me I suppose most of it is true its up to you mate, so he took no notice and that started our friendship we fished nearly every lake within a ten miles radius some legal some not most lakes were private, then and you could not get permission.

We went to one lake it was a Bird reserve well it still is you could not get permission it was in south Shropshire we only had float rods in those days i still had the tank Aerial rods and the built cane rod the tank Aerials rods did all I asked from float fishing, to ledgering, I never did forget fishing that lake, you no sooner cast out and it was away the fish were mostly common carp, and tench, nothing huge the carp went to around five pounds, we caught loads of tench, to three pounds we ended the day with over two hundred pound of fish, we tried to weight them but I don't know how accurate grahams, spring balance scales were he said they were alright as they had used them at the farm he once worked at. We could not wait to go again and we both were very excited when the weekend came, we had got some big lob worms to try out we both ledgered a bunch it was not long before my rod slammed around I struck and landed a nice carp, weighing six pounds I looked at graham with a big smile on my face, he was also in but it was not a carp when we landed the fish we both stared into the net there lay the biggest eel, I had ever seen when weighed it was just over five pounds, we unhooked it and let it go, we heard a shout and looking we saw two men climbing the fence, I think they're coming to see us said graham, and they were. We stood our ground, the taller of the two said who are you we are fisherman I can see that don't get flippant, with us said the little fat bugger, we are confiscating your rods you should not be here you're poaching. There is no signs saying its private says graham, and while your at it can you swim, the taller one said whats that got to do with it well if you touch those rods you better start learning I nearly fell of my basket laughing, come on Bill, said the taller of the two we will go and ring the secretary, and away they went and so did we. It was not the last visit to this lake over the years and we never saw those pair ever again, thinking back it still leaves a smile on my face. A bit more latter
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   Old Thread  #586 27 Feb 2014 at 12.24pm  0  Login    Register
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Over the years I have met some real funny characters one was a chap named podmore, god he was a good poacher if you asked him to get a water buffalo he would get it which a believe he did for a bet. I only met him a couple of times and he really made me laugh at some of his tales. It's a long time ago so if i am wrong correct me as his family are still alive he once told me that he was about to be arrested and he nailed himself to a tree through his ear which was correct as i can remember a picture in the press he also broke into shrewsbury prison and played father christmas to the inmates there was a picture of the said gentleman on the front page of the paperers but i remember him as i real gentle character now long gone

I have mentioned charlie before in my stories he was another character, if the farmers had any problem with foxes it was charlie they called. He was a very dear friend, when he was in his seventies he could walk up those hills like a mountain goat he would leave men half his age sitting in the heather absolutely buggered and giddy he would shout at them come on you young uns i am sure he had one leg longer than the other god he would go straight up those hills and he never seemed out of breath but he knew the countryside well and all the animals in it. We were together when we found the white fox cubs, they were beautiful one had a black nose, we could not leave them where they were, as they would have been killed by the farmer, we watched them from a few yards away lying in a field of barley we walked over the earth hoping the vixen would move them she did and we never saw them again.

I loved old charlie he had about forty guns in his shoot we were called the paterson hunt, it was formed to shoot foxes, that were troubling the farmers especially at lambing time, they could do the hill farmers a lot of damage taking newly born lambs, i watched one such fox, he was trying to get one from the mother, she had twins, he would separate them she could not protect two, his mate would take the other this happened in hill country a lot we found the remains of seven lambs on one earth, there were two vixens and fourteen cubs in that one earth.

I saw that twice in the years that i knew charlie the other held twelve it was charlie, who started my fascination for foxes, i have watched and took others with me who had never seen a fox or a cub in their life time and they have really enjoyed coming with me . i really get angry with myself that i cannot do it anymore due to my illness but old age does not come by its self, every christmas myself and graham would take charlie around the farms he had helped out over the year, by the time we got to the last one old charlie would be as drunk as a skunk, he could hardly stand graham and i could not stop laughing the tears would run down our faces when we got him home his dear wife would ask us in to have a couple of mince pies and a few glasses of malt, been around your friends have you charlie i dont think you want anymore do you but she was only kidding out of those three good friends i am the only one left they have all past away and most of the farmers charlie visited that night well it is many years ago and you dont realize how fast life goes by. well theres a bit more. more to come latter
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   Old Thread  #585 21 Feb 2014 at 7.57pm  0  Login    Register
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I shall tell you a story about a poacher and a game keeper , i met both in the early seventies they were both hard men and would stand nonsense, i will say no names as the one took his own life due to his wife having an affair, both had done a bit of time in nick but they were both my type old school and knew the woods and fields back to front they both loved wild life, i can't say names so we will give the game keeper a false name Jason the other was phillip who lived on my village i would often see him down the fields with his peregrine falcon and his lurchers he was a nice chap and loved to talk to Graham and myself we would often see him on a friday night at our local pub the fox, he would sell his wares Pheasant, rabbits, partridge, to the locals he had also made his name fighting bare knuckle, he knew i had done my share of poaching and had asked me to accompany him i was very tempted don't go down the big woods i would say the keeper is a bad bugger, he wunna have me he said in a broad shropshire dialect i have handled harder men than him.

Jason was a very hard man we had seen him in action we saw him in the local pub he dropped three men in minutes he was pure evil, but i got on well with him, he was a real old rogue who thought nothing about selling a few of his employes birds to make his wages up, he reared most of the birds himself and would sell a few chicks, i think his employer knew what he got up to but loved him as a keeper, i can honestly say Jason guarded those woods and pheasants with his life, it had got to happen one day they both met up in the woods Phillip had got a few birds and was not going to give them to Jason, Phillip put his bag down and floored Jason up he got took of his jacket and got stuck in god did they fight they were black and blue and both were scratched from the brambles, they fought for two hours and both could hardly stand when they called it a day, from that day on they became the best of friends Jason took him to his cottage and his wife patched them both up the best way she could i saw them after at the local pub the landlord was giving them some strange looks.

A few years latter Jason tried to do his employer by claiming more money than he really wanted he claimed for fifteen beaters when there was only ten, he was sacked and was prosecuted by the police the under keeper had dropped him in it god Jason nearly killed him, and was given three years for his crime poor old Phillip came to a very bad end he shot his birds, dogs, and himself, he was found lying with his beloved lurcher his wife had an affair, he half killed her lover it was all very sad and was really missed by those that knew him,
when we saw Jason again he was no longer a gamekeeper but a man of the cloth we could not believe it no more bad language, no more fighting, he told us he was in prison when he had the call and he had repented for all his bad ways and deeds, as far as i know he is a vicar somewhere in worcestershire well he was the last time i heard of him so if you are reading this Jason god bless my mate. A little more latter
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   Old Thread  #584 14 Feb 2014 at 6.11pm  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #583
What terrible weather we are having i do hope that skef and Bob from somerset are all right it must be awful to lose all your furniture and your house full of water and there is nothing you can do i watched those in London it must be soul destroying it makes me think of the big winter of 1963, it nearly brought us to our knees but we managed to survive with a little bit of poaching, i had a friend called dug it was just before i met graham, dug had a bit of knowledge about the the wild life, and the countryside we talked about where to go we will have to be careful as there was a number of keepers ,well one thing dug the estate would not doing any shooting for some time but they will still feed the birds, old Evans said they had put down thirty six thousand sounds about right said dug well he has all his friends mostly royal and members of parliament but not this year we will have a few dug he gave a great laugh lets wait and see.

There is only one problem i can see dug is the snow we will get there said dug and we did it took at least three hours to reach the estate and we were both wet from getting through the big snow drifts, we decided to feed the fence line and lie in a ditch we are going to use some fishing line tied to a cane we tied on a small hook and used sultanas as bait with a handful of corn around the fence soon got the birds feeding, infact there were birds everywhere you looked we had one after another dug was kept busy putting birds in the bags pete i will go and see if anyone is about he was back in a few minutes all quite he said, how many have we got as he had dispatched most himself twenty thats enough go and kick a bit of snow over those feather that were scattered about, after he had finished it looked if no one had been there, God the bags were heavy walking through the deep snow our hands were freezing, we had no gloves in those days i used to wear socks as gloves but forgot them call at the miners arms, said dug we will have a pint when we went into the pub the fire was roaring we sat next to the fire god our hands tingled as the circulation came back.

Where have you two been asked the landlord, or should i not ask after a few long tailed I
uns said dug, you pair of buggers will get caught and have your ass kicked, a couple of the keepers, come in here but i aint seen them since the snows, sell us a few will you how many can you spare ten, if that ok with you ill get the money has your misses got any of those pork pies she makes, yes do you want one there the best pork pies i have ever had, can i have four more to take home she parcelled them up and we made our way home it took about one hour god i was glad to see it, we will have a look at the valley next time they have put a few to covert old Evans says there are birds everywhere you look, ill see you tomorrow dug, here is your share of the money and the birds we still had five each they would keep us in food for a few days we will make our minds tomorrow where we will go next time good night dug i shouted. more latter
petethecrip
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   Old Thread  #583 14 Feb 2014 at 1.47pm  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #582
sorry about that i lost all my post ill put it up tomorrow
petethecrip
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   Old Thread  #582 7 Feb 2014 at 2.28pm  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #581
Come poaching with graham and I to a mountain lake it was the carp we were after plus the beautiful golden orf the pool held two shoals. The carp were quite big i had caught them to over twenty pounds but you were always on edge looking for the farmer or land owner' it was a wonderful place where you could sit and watch the wild life the lake its self was quite stunning with the beautiful lilies there were pinks and whites we fished in the holes between the lilies and caught some impressive fish the hills were covered in heather and gorse a most spectacular sight i said to graham we must find out who owns the lake and the surrounding land.

So the next day saw us going to one of the local farms in the area looking for the owner of the lake' and we struck lucky' i own it said the farmer he was a jolly fellow with a big ruddy face caused by the weather these hills get in winter you could tell he was a hard working chap' what can i help you with he said we wanted to know if we could fish your lake' the answer was a firm no i do not want any one here they bloody netted the place the other night taking a shoal of my golden orf i have had them for years' how did they get in from the bottom gate that leads onto the road they were seen by neibours of ours they had big tanks on the back of a lorry they never got the registration number the police were informed but up to now we have heard nothing we heard his wife shout bill come and get this tray of tea he went in and was about five minutes before he reappeared. You went to school with my wife where craven arms god thats a long time ago i answered it was pete she appeared out of the house god is that you judy'it is' you have not changed a bit where do you work pete tung in cheek i said the police station at shrewsbury' i am not a police man i work for the home office come in said her husband get the glasses out judy and fill them up with cider i looked at graham he knew what was coming where do you work and whats your name i am graham i am a manger at gonsal quarry he seemed impressed we were slowly getting drunk who's driving me well go steady on the way home.


By the way you can fish my lake anytime you want just call at the farm if no one is around put a note through the door. Well we did manage to get home both worse for the ware graham got out and was walking three steps forward and four back his wife appeared not to happy i am sorry enid the farmer gave us to much cider well to cut a storey short he could not get up the stairs he had a few tries but kept falling down we both stood there laughing well thats it for now. more latter this is the first try on my new apple computer .
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   Old Thread  #581 3 Feb 2014 at 10.50am  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #580
I am not looking forward to wednesday as it is the funeral of my dear mate graham, I went to our last shoot Saturday another season over. We are all old fogies we have lost two of our members this year I realy don't know if I
shall run it again next year, we have had it for over thirty years its not going to be the same without my mate. I met someone I had not seen for a number years last week and he was on about some woods above clun in south Shropshire, I knew exactly where he was talking about, graham Bernard and myself shot those woods years ago he said were you caught, no said i but we were chased all over south Shropshire, its a long story we were invited to a big hare and fox drive at clun, the chap that ran it looked a bit like joe ninety, We had shot over fifty hairs when we went to another big block of fir trees, it was a huge plantation, joe said they had a lot of trouble with foxes, taking lambs they left graham, Bernard, and your truly, standing on this big earth road, that went up through the plantation after about one hour we heard a bit of shooting then to my amazement this land rover arrived this huge chap got out you could not see his face, through the big beard he was sporting, and in a welsh accent he said you're all pinched for poaching, not us mate I said, the police are on the way he shouted god was he nasty, graham looked at me we will be off then mate no you wont your pinched, you wait here ill go and catch the others like hell we will up the road he went blasting away on his horn.

As soon as he was out of sight we were in our car and away we passed two mini countryman with at least five police men, in god we did not even know are way back home. I managed to get as far as craven arms then rather than go on a 49 to shrewsbury we went through the countryside, to a place called much wenlock, we called at a friends house we told him all that had gone on then from there we made our way to shrewsbury, then home dropping Bernard on the way. Latter that evening I rang a friend who had been on the shoot did they catch you Ray, na not me I hid in the forestry but he caught joe ninety and his mates they took them away to knighton police station.
It was in the paper a few weeks latter they all got fined for trespass, they would get away with it today we were lucky and got away apparently the big chap with the beard was the local game keeper, and he had got quite a reputation for drinking and fighting and such. a little more latter
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   Old Thread  #580 30 Jan 2014 at 11.09am  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #577
There are two or three threads on otter running at the same time its realy nothing to do with me but would it not be better if they were all in one thread its definitely frenzies, thread for me as it has become very confusing reading so many different threads on the same subject. When I was a young sprog you were lucky to even see an otter the game keeper and water bailiff and of course the otter hounds saw to that. The river ran just below the school, I would sneak down in my dinner hour taking with me a rod I had hidden a couple of red worms on the hook would soon catch me a couple of nice trout I would take them to a teacher a miss Thomas who gave me sixpence for them. We could cross the river by going over a small white bridge, I went this one day and had a surprise the wind was blowing towards me and as I looked I could see two otter playing a bit further down stream I crept down the field and lay in the undergrowth opposite where they were playing they were chasing one another there was a big boulder the other side I watched as they dragged this trout up and onto the boulder to eat their prey I forgot all about school I was so fascinated by these animals god they were big I saw one or two kills but they always eat what they caught.

When I went to school the next day the headmaster was waiting for me I thought to myself the cane again, where were you yesterday afternoon he said watching some otters, I said he asked me about them then said I suppose you learnt more than you would at school, go and write about them then read it to assembly tomorrow morning and that's what I did. I was awarded with one of those little books the I spy ones about nature, if you saw it in the book you put tick by it I used to carry it in my pocket with a pencil, that was only one side of the otter I was up the river fishing this one Saturday when I heard this unearthly noise I hid my rod and went to investigate, on arriving at the scene it was not a very pretty sight, there were half a dozen men in the water with the dogs, the water was red from the otters blood they held the one above there heads to show all the followers the kill, it was a very small Bitch,i saw the dog dive under the bridge into deeper water he was away I saw him leave the water and run across the field no one saw this only me, come on lads his got away lets see if we can pick him up further down stream it put me off otter hunting I was only young and it did not impress me one bit, but after meeting Sam he taught me differently they were needed to protect the fisheries, I was with Sam this one day and he shot this otter god was it big he was armed with a vicious set of Nashers it was trying to get into the big pheasant pen, i'll take him to the gaffer maybe he will have him set up what do you mean Sam he explained all about taxidermists and how they made their living. well a bit more latter
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   Old Thread  #579 28 Jan 2014 at 11.25am  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #578
Thanks kesa appreciated
charlatan
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   Old Thread  #578 27 Jan 2014 at 5.44pm  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #572
R. I. P. GRAHAM . And all the very best pete love reading your posts fella you take care.
petethecrip
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   Old Thread  #577 25 Jan 2014 at 12.55pm  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #572
I write this with a heavy heart many years ago graham and I found a lake in south Shropshire we approached the owner about fishing the place, it was surrounded by trees and a most beautiful place, the owner lived in a black and white house at the very end of the lake,, yes you can have a go she said I have not let anyone fish it before, I know there is Tench in the the lake and some good carp when can we come, next Saturday she answered the year was 1964 the day soon came around talk about being excited we were the only ones on the lake our tackle consisted of a 12 ft float rod each we had recently bought from our local fishing shop. We had decided to float fish we balled a bit of ground bait into our swim which consisted of bread crumbs from our local bakery, mixed with pink sausage rusk, we fished the same swim out we cast it was only three feet deep it was quite windy but our floats remained steady as we were fishing slightly over depth, we did not have to wait long my float lay flat and shot under the surface I struck and was in I said to graham this seems good fish, I played him to our net it was a lovely fish around four pound into the keep net it went it was grahams turn next, he caught a similar fish and that's the way it went all morning the lady owner came down how are you both doing she enquired i'll show you I said and tried to lift the net I had a job so graham gave me a hand how many there she said we don't realy know maybe over a hundred pounds she was so excited,come again anytime she said thank you we answered.

We could not believe we had a lake to ourselves, and that's the way it continued for weeks, we had steadily caught fish over the weeks with bags of fish well over a hundred pounds, we did hook a carp, but it soon broke grahams four pounds line, then one nice morning we were visited by the owner morning peter, morning graham, thought I would come and tell you I shall be letting the water for day tickets the price will be two shillings and sixpence, our hearts nearly broke but the good news was we had not got two pay, but steadily over the weeks more and more anglers appeared I said to graham I wonder how long this will go on people living litter and such one morning she came around a stopped the lot, even us she told us that she had let the lake to the wildlife trust, and bird watchers, and they did not want angling on the water but I think it was the litter being left. We Did fish the lake again a few years latter I got permission for few of our friends to fish for a weekend but it never fished again like it did for us all those years before. Well that's all for now more latter
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   Old Thread  #576 23 Jan 2014 at 3.01pm  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #575
Thank you all for your kind remarks about Graham I realy appreciate them pete
tinofmaggots
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   Old Thread  #575 20 Jan 2014 at 9.47pm  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #572
Pete mate. I'm wishing your chin up bud . Happens to the best of them.. and you have so many memories that we all have also enjoyed. Keep enjoying them Pete

Bless ya Pete.

Peter.
heathrow
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   Old Thread  #574 20 Jan 2014 at 8.34pm  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #573
RIP GRAHAM
Andy_P
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   Old Thread  #573 20 Jan 2014 at 8.16pm  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #572
So sorry to hear your sad news Pete, a close friend can never be replaced but, you have the memories of all the times you spent together enjoying the countryside, they will last forever

petethecrip
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   Old Thread  #572 20 Jan 2014 at 5.12pm  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #571
My dear mate graham passed away this morning at twenty past two, he has been my fishing partner for nearly fifty one years I don't know how ill manage without him god bless m8 rest in piece


 photo PA200066.jpg

My mate Graham who died today aged 77 god bless
petethecrip
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   Old Thread  #571 16 Jan 2014 at 4.58pm  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #570
I will tell you a few tales about my friend graham who I have fished and shot with for fifty one years, I shed a tear as I write this as I will never fish with him again, I watched how he struggled for breath yesterday I think he knew my wife and I were there, they had sent for his family so my friends life is ebbing slowly away. Since I have had arthritis he has been my right arm only last season we fished for the carp and barbel and caught a few nice fish, how things have altered in the last few months. I first met graham in 1963 little did I know he would remain my friend all these years, he told me he liked fishing so did I, so off we went in a little white mini car that had seen better days you could see the road through the floor, as we sped along, we toured the lakes of Shropshire, looking for places to fish we found plenty some legal some not. One such lake I shall not name as the same owners still have it. It was a wonderful place lilies, everywhere you looked pink, and white, the side of the lake was a big lawn with a big wooden conservatory, graham said we will sit in there at night, you can't do that why not we can lie on those big chairs, they have got in there it was nearly next to our rods. So three nights latter saw us casting our rods out. we were soon comfortable lying on these lovely chairs they were infact rockers, god we could soon fall asleep I watched and saw grahams indicator which was silver paper slowly move towards the butt ring.

I shouted graham you have got a run but all I could hear was his snoring, I lifted the rod and i was in he eventually staggered to me and grabbed his rod, I could see it was big one by looking at the bend in his rod, he played it to the bank, we did have a landing net, of sorts which we had bought between us, I slid it under this fish I had difficulty getting it in, its a bloody big eel, graham how big, very big said I, as we shone the torch we could see how big he was. We had some old spring balance scales with us he weighed in a 6 pounds a very good fish we were lucky to land it on the tackle, we had, out he cast again with a couple of big lobs,for bait you could collect your own while fishing from the lawn, I said hope we don't get caught there was only one way out over the field behind where we were fishing, I thought to my self we wont get another then away went his rod again he picked the rod up and he was in once again you jammy bugger I said this time it was three pounds he had another of two pounds, well that's my mate graham I shall miss him very much I must admit i wonder if I will fish again we will see so god bless m8 I hope you catch many fish in your dreams. More a little latter
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   Old Thread  #570 12 Jan 2014 at 2.23pm  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #569
 photo 626d2e30-3656-4bce-ad77-86da31cd2b33_zps71219337.jpg


My dear friend graham who is in hospital struggling for his life I have fished with him for over fifty years he has been mentioned my stories more than once he has been my right arm since I have had arthrtis we have had some great laughs when we all went on holiday together with our families. I really hope he pulls throught those that know him on our village and the surrounding country side love him to bits and pray he well get better god bless m8
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   Old Thread  #569 10 Jan 2014 at 3.08pm  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #565
Now they say we may have snow, for once I really hope not the weather,, has caused enough damage already my heart goes out to some areas that has had severe flooding. Well lets get on with my story I used to fish a place that belonged to a cousin of the queen, or so I was told. There was two lakes covered in lilies I never got permission only told to be on my way by a well dressed gentleman with a plum in his mouth god were they posh, I could only just reach the big knocker on the door, and then to be told be on your way, I thought no way I am going to fish those lakes, and I did one morning in June, it was a glorious day I got there about six thirty in the morning, you could see it could be hot latter.

I had a look around and decided to fish between the lily bed, in a piece of clear water, I was only using the old tank aerial Rods, the dad, had got made for me, I used a big porcupine quill, to be honest you could not get much else it was only a few years after the war, I used a wooden reel with silk line I managed to cast with it quite well. I would scrounge a few lead shot from the fishing shop manager, he really helped us youngsters, I would nip them onto the line and managed to cock the float, it was casting that could cause a few problems well that's if you did not clear a place behind where you fished, I would coil the line behind where I stood then I would give it the the big heave ho out it fled, landing nicely in the clear water. I waited until the float cocked then I would sit and wait I could see a few bubbles around the float it trembled then vanished under the surface up with the rod, I was in god did it go, I got it to the side of the bank but could not get my hands around the fish, so in the water I got and lifted it out I scrambled out i just stood and stared at the fish, it was a Tench a lovely shade of green I had no scales to weigh the fish but looking at him i guessed he was around three pounds the biggest I had ever caught.

I stood trembling with excitement how many more would I catch, the next was even bigger around four pounds, had I found my heaven, i certainly thought so until i hear a shout come here lad and bring the rod with e, no way was I going over there, I made my way through the rhododendron bushes, and hid the rod and climbed up the nearest tree, it was a big old oak, I got to the top and just sat there no one could see me if they looked up I could see the keeper, and there were others I heard the big chap say he wanna have done any hurt sir e was only fishing. I do not want anyone on the estate do you hear Travers do you understand, yes sir he answered he then walked away with the other keepers. I stayed up that tree until they had gone. I caught another two before it was time to go home I got to my bike there was a note attached to the handlebar, it said if you fish the lakes again keep out of sight of the big house, and hide your bike, else where if I catch you I will take the appropriate action, good luck young un I hope we don't cross paths again, it was signed Bob Travers head keeper. I never did and fished it many times, I never saw Travers or heard from him again. well a bit more latter.
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   Old Thread  #568 3 Jan 2014 at 10.01pm  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #424




















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   Old Thread  #567 2 Jan 2014 at 9.22pm  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #566
Thanks pete graham is seriously ill, I hope he recovers he has a operation on the 8th jan so we will see his daughter is going to the hospital tomorrow its in Sutton coldfield appreciate your kind words I hope you have a great year. god bless m8
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   Old Thread  #566 2 Jan 2014 at 8.50pm  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #565
Happy new year Pete, Wishing Graham a speedy recovery..

Chin up friend...

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   Old Thread  #565 1 Jan 2014 at 2.00pm  0  Login    Register
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Happy new year all, the weather here is atrocious what with the wind not really the weather to be down the woods or in hill country, but when I was younger graham and I would fish in all weather we have sat many times with a big plastic bag around us to keep out the wet and wind, but that was years ago in the sixties we had not got the money in those days but we still caught fish, I remember one night we fished at Acton Burnell we had been set up for about two hours the wind got up and the sky was streaked with lightning, then came the rain, it lashed down the rain was to hard to even get back to our van, we only had umbrellas, we pulled them down right over us and stuck it out and we caught fish tench, mostly around five pounds they were put back without weighing I think it was the worst night I have ever fished .

Another time saw Graham and I up in hill country, we were shooting the ducks, coming in to rest on the trout pools, it started to snow, I said to graham had we better head for home no said he we will be ok. I suppose we were in the middle of a fir wood with the pools down below the tree kept most of the snow off us, the wind got up god it was blowing the duck, still came in I had a big lab at the time his name was blaze, graham had wounded a bird my lab would not come out of the water, the duck kept diving old blaze waited his time up popped the duck and he had him. Graham lets go while we can we put the ducks in our bags, sixteen in all over the fence we got and made our way up the field to the road, god the road was partially blocked we ain't going to get thought that I said good job we had brought grahams land rover, the drifts were at least two ft deep in places then it happened we went into the ditch, what are we going to do now graham we tried digging it out no way would it budge, i'll have to walk to the farm I said to graham, away I went I pulled my coat around me and started to walk then I saw a vehicle coming towards me, it was the council snow plough, he stopped he knew me where ya going at this hour pete, we are stuck I was going to the farm to get the tractor, jump in he said I thought you knew these hills well, I do but we got to greedy shooting the ducks, and left it to late he soon had us on our way ya owe me a pint he said smiling all over his face no probs we both replied.

We got to the nearest pub which was at dorrington, my finger were dropping off bloody hell they were cold, we took the dog with us and sat beside the roaring fire, it was new years eve, and the pub was full we sold all our ducks had another pint and made for home graham invited me in we sat before his fire and both had a glass of malt tomorrow would be another day the start of the new year it was 1982, it seems a long time ago there was a good many more adventures to have over the coming years. I will tell you about them latter, graham and I have been friends over fifty years we have fished and shot together and have got drunk together, but he now lies in a hospital bed seriously ill I have just rang and I am told he is a lot better today he is awaiting another operation and has been in terrible pain, if anything happened to him my wife and i would be broken hearted mind you he is a tough old bugger i'll tell you more latter.
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   Old Thread  #564 27 Dec 2013 at 11.20am  0  Login    Register
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As I have mentioned before I had many friends that were gypsies one such individual was fiddler lock he would go around the local pubs playing his fiddle, especially at Christmas and the new year I can remember him playing the fiddle around the campfire in a place called the berries that is on our village, they would be singing and dancing to the sound of his fiddle. I Was Only a nipper at the time,I would go down and sit with them they bought me sweets treacle toffee in big slabs and apples and oranges.
They were very religious people, I liked old jack he was quite a rogue he taught me to shoot a catapult,he would put a tin on the end of a stick and let me shoot at it until I hit it ya learning he would say, but what I loved most was riding the big hoarse he was brown and white a beautiful animal and so friendly I would ride him around the paths in the berries there was no saddle, I would hold him around his neck or by the mane not once did I fall off, mrs lock lived until she was 108,and I can remember the caravan burning,dolly lock who was a daughter lived to over 100 years old,they lived off the land,I would sit with jack when he was making clothes pegs he would cut two pieces of withy to size then bind a piece of tin around them to hold the top together you never see those pegs around today. I Remember dolly knocking our front door mother would open it hello misses do you want to buy a few pegs or lace today,mum always bought a few pegs,she would be given a posy of flowers thanks bless you misses.
I can also remember the tramps calling saying can you spare a bit of tea for my billie can,they knew were to call mum always gave them a bite to eat and filled there can thank you lovely he would say we would not see him for at least another twelve months they were men of the road. We Also had the knife grinder call he would use his bike to turn the stone that sharpened our knives and axes it cost only pennies you never see them today they have disappeared never to return.

The locks were true romany gypsies,along with the prices,and the stevens,their caravans were beautifully painted,when parked up most had a couple of lurcher dogs tied to the back of the van, they would use these to catch a rabbit or two I went with jack one evening he caught a couple of hares,and a couple of rabbits,they were soon in the pot that hung over the fire. I can still see them in my dreams sitting around the camp fire all smoking the clay pipes they were wonderfull days, alas we will never see the likes again. more a bit latter
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   Old Thread  #563 27 Dec 2013 at 9.49am  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #562
Thanks greg very much appreciated have a good one
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   Old Thread  #562 24 Dec 2013 at 8.35pm  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #561
Another great episode Pete, well done for sharing mate.

Happy Christmas to you and yours.

Regards

Greg
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   Old Thread  #561 24 Dec 2013 at 9.25am  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #559
I realy thank the both of you two pete,s god bless and have a great christmas
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   Old Thread  #560 24 Dec 2013 at 9.25am  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #559
I realy thank the both of you two pete,s god bless and have a great christmas
tinofmaggots
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   Old Thread  #559 23 Dec 2013 at 11.53pm  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #557
Merry Xmas Peter and co. Thanks for another year of tales from yonder.I do love our you Generation lived, and have seen similar in my life time too,, maybe that's why,,

always out doors exploring,, a brilliant life,

Thank you.

Bluepanido
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   Old Thread  #558 23 Dec 2013 at 2.48pm  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #557
Greaf stuff
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   Old Thread  #557 22 Dec 2013 at 1.15pm  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #556
Christmas is here again let me tell you all about a lake that was supposed to be haunted, the locals would say don't go in them woods tonight you will hear the bells from the church ringing under the lake, the locals believed that a wicked man lived in the village, and was warned that if he did not change his ways his village, would come to a bad end and the story goes that one night there was a huge storm that flooded the valley, where they lived and it drowned all the people living there.

I laughed at such an idea I have been down those woods all hours and I have seen nowt worse than myself. I was determined to have a look myself they only rang on Christmas eve, so it saw me and a pal going in to the woods are yer taking the gun pete, we could have a few of them longtailed uns said Gerald, in his broad Shropshire voice. Well I suppose we could have a couple a piece said I. we waited until old gerry had gone to his local which was the three fishes on our village, he would not be back until midnight and if he came back early we would hear his motor bike so away we went it was not long before we're deep in the woods I would use the four ten tonight it was a webley bolt action gun, Gerald held the light he shone it up into the trees,i picked out a bird, bang it fell to the ground pick them feathers up Gerald leave no evidence. we had six birds for six shots that's enough for tonight it had started to snow and it was coming down quite heavy lets go past the big lake and hear those bells not on yer life he said don't be such a prat I answered theres no such thing as ghost bells, so we made our way down the track towards the lake. On arriving at the path that ran through the woods above the lake, the heavenly bells started to ring, before I could say anything Gerald was away dropping the bag in his haste to get away, I shouted come back Gerald, not on your life he answered. I heard the clang as he got over the the five bar gate at the farm its the quickest mile he had ran for some time.

What did I do I made my way to the side of the lake the bells were chiming in Christmas, they did not come from the lake but from condover church, which is about half a mile away, for some reason the bells seemed to come from the lake, whether it was because the lake was in a valley I don't know as I made my way over the field to towards home I could see the church spire it was all lit up, the bells were ringing out Christmas carols, pete I heard this voice it was Gerald, I binner going there anymore them ghosts i'll have y don't be daft Gerald the bells are ringing from the church over yonder at condover, na they came from the lake I could not make him understand so the story still goes on to this day. On the same lake a few years ago two friends fished the lake on Christmas day when they heard a scream, thinking someone was being mudered they both went to investigate and saw a woman running up through the wood they called to her she turned around and they could see she was bare from the waist up and she was wearing a long black skirt they both shouted stop, we will help you she got over the fence onto the adjacent field they both followed on getting over the fence there was no sign of the women, she had simply vanished there was nowhere for her to hide. Believe or don't believe I knew these chaps well one was x army who was quite level headed the other man called dave who was a good friend, I had no doubt they saw something that should have not been there unfortunately only dave is alive to tell the tale as the other man died a number of years ago. A bit more latter.


I would like to wish you all a very peaceful Christmas and a happy new year. god bless you all pete
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   Old Thread  #556 17 Dec 2013 at 4.49pm  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #555
I used to fish the river Rea, for years I think I cut my teeth on this old river, when I was a youngster it was strictly private but the farmers used to let us go. There was some nice fish in this small river,i had great sport with the chub,and caught them to over four pounds,I used to get a loaf from the bakery,I would chuck a few pieces of bread in they would go mad for it, the line would straighten and I was in it was great fishing I also caught some lovely roach on the float,trotting down with maggots they were mostly around half a pound but great sport the biggest I caught was two pounds, the river also held some wonderful eels, I would go down at night and ledger a bunch of big lob worms,I would cast it into a bit of slack water under the far bank, the rod tIp would tap tap then over it would go god we had some good eels over three pounds,in those days they would be eaten and I always took a couple home with me.
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Bag of chub and roach from all those years ago from the river Rea

There was also a few trout,they had been in there for years I looked at a record book that a friend had kept and the fish he had caught from the river,George.was now in his late seventies I was only sixteen he told me stories about those years long gone,and how the river was baliffed,by the many keepers,the biggest trout george had caught was four pounds a beautiful brown trout,he also told me about the salmon,that came up the river to spawn in fact he had caught them up to ten pounds,I said to him did you have permission to fish the river god no he replied my brother and I poached it did you ever get caught I asked not likely if we had we would of been taken to court and given a severe sentence maybe prison poaching when I was young was a big offence and was not tolerated by the landowners I thanked him for the information no problem pete one thing george how did the salmon get over the two weirs that were on the lower part of the river,they came up in the floods well george i have caught one it was only around eight pounds it gave me a good fight on the rod I was using, what did you do with it he said with a wink what do you think I replied I took it home it was eaten.

Thinking back they were wonderful days there were water voles,all along the river king fishers,and little dippers,there was an abundance of wildlife I saw no otters,there was the fox,of course I found the king fishers,nest, in a hole under the bridge and climbed to it, but the rope parted company and I fell in the river, over the years I walked that river for miles and never saw a soul I would tickle the trout,higher up the river they were a deep golden colour and covered in spots they only went to around half a pound but lovely to eat those years have long gone. well a bit more latter
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   Old Thread  #555 12 Dec 2013 at 10.59am  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #554
When I was a young lad this time of year was fantastic although we had little money we always had great Christmases people would get together and share things you might have a bit of butter going spare they would swop for some potatoes it was a magical time for us youngsters old sam the keeper would drop us a brace of pheasants some times a big cockeral or maybe a big old goose, I would laugh at my mother feathering a goose she would be covered in feathers they were great days us lads would be away up the fields with a big sack and cut the holly and mistletoe and take it to woods the grocers who gave us a few coppers for our trouble the farmers, always kept a blind eye to our little forays we would go up to the fir wood and see the estate manager and scrounge a Christmas tree or two there was so many cut and stacked ready for collection they would go by train to the cities.

Before myxomatosis I would be up the field with a neighbour of ours a mr davis, I would take my big hob ferret with me he lived in my shirt when we were poaching we would catch a few and would divide them out between the neighbours this one xmas a swan got caught in the overhead power cables which was killed instantly it dropped to the ground some neighbours called merricks, plucked him and he was eaten for xmas dinner, nothing was ever wasted we made quite a lot of money carol singing, I can remember going up to the big hall and singing them a carol we were invited in we stood under this huge tree in the hall we were given mince pie, and asked to sing another carol for the family the squire gave us five pounds between us, bloody hell we thought were rich we divided it between the four of us, my schoolmistress miss owen, asked if I could get her a brace of pheasants no problem I had them by nightfall she gave me a couple of bob I kept all money I made towards buying fishing tackle and maybe a few sweets.
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The ferret



one Christmas I was up at sams give this to yer mam lad he said what is it sam venison I really did not know what it was he explained that it was deer from one of the estates sam was a lovely man who I will never forget as long as I live, he taught me all I know about nature and poaching, as I have said before he was not past doing a bit himself I can still see my mothers face when I gave her this big joint of venison we had it for xmas day it was wonderful lovely and tender sometimes I would go fishing to stokesay pool, but I never caught much in the winter but I loved every minute I did catch a pike of around three pounds this one xmas eve the owner wanted to kill it for eating but I let it go they would eat anything in those days. well a bit more latter.
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   Old Thread  #554 7 Dec 2013 at 7.55pm  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #553
I went down the woods today with my syndicate I stood under the bows of the old oak trees they are now bare of leaves awaiting the winter snows I managed to walk over to the silver birch trees and stood and thought of all those years ago, it is the same wood I poached, I looked over at the stretch of water that ran down the side of the the wood. The old ivy tree is still there where the big dog fox used to climb and hide in the ivy. it brings back happy memories. You could smell the rotting vegetation the leaves are lying underneath the trees another winter now approaches. I went down to the badger set I just hope they will not get shot they have used this set for generations and although I shoot I love every hair on their bodies there are no farmers in the region with cattle so I just hope they leave this set alone it has around forty holes and is a huge set.
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My beloved badger
Last Wednesday I took me binoculars, down with me and watched the wood from a short distance while sitting in my car I wondered what was upsetting the pigeon, and duck, a few ducks,
took off from our pool, then I saw the culprit a beautiful dog fox, he looked a picture of health with his winter coat then the small vixen, appeared from out of the undergrowth I suppose they have now mated she has been around for a number of years so she is quite old. She has avoided being shot or hunted she truly is a lucky vixen she must be around 6 years old so that is a good age
for a fox, they either get snared shot or hunted not many make it through the first year of their life I must admit I love the old gentleman of the woods and it would be a shame if the were not there I don't mind seeing one on our shoot.

We only shot around six hours as we are mostly old pensioner and most feel tired after a bit of walking some are crippled like myself and can't walk to far over 500 duck came off our small pool mostly teal I was sitting on my shooting stick by the time they flew over me they were sky high you would be wasting your time even shooting at them but it was nice to see the birds, I also saw a lot of wood cock, there were quite a few shot I spent my time with tony pulling out the pen feather, for the gentlemen that had shot them all in all it was a lovely day out and I feel much better by being there. My poor mate graham is still very poorly and on top of his cancer, he had a bad cold he has his operation on Tuesday so I hope his cold gets better he has to be at Sutton coldfield hospital for 7 30 in the morning so I shall leave here about 5 30 am I am sure this operation will cure him the specialist said it would I don't know what I would do without him we have fished and shot together for at least fifty years.
well that's it for now more latter.
 photo 3cfd8728-6e76-4b81-b071-e91d6d33f01f_zpsefcf2bdf.jpg

One of tonys dogs
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   Old Thread  #553 1 Dec 2013 at 11.43am  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #552
I started to fish the little pool but I was always on my guard and watching to see if the keepers came. Most days I had seen the owner of the pool riding his big stallion around the fields but he came no where near the small pool i caught some nice fish I would watch the duck, circling over head before they came in to feed on the potatoes, the keepers had put in around the shallow side of the lake. I was around sixteen at the time it was in the late fifties I watched a couple of shoots they had on the pool, there was around sixteen guns made up of gentlemen, and their ladies, they shot a good many ducks mostly mallard. I stood behind the big hedge in the old oak wood I might just get the chance of a couple of mallard, if any came down where I was hidden, it was a bit chancy as there were a number of keepers, present I could see old bell, amongst them and old Gerry Haiz, and his under keepers they had dogs, picking the ducks, up I managed a couple and I was away I had seen enough for now I was determined to have a go at a latter date.

I had a chat with a friend of mine a chap called Harris, he was game to have a go it was now the middle of December and any surplus game, would be sold I had a few orders for Christmas, for pheasants, and duck, so one afternoon saw johnny and myself hidden in the reeds waiting for the duck to arrive in those days there was no sporting shots, we were there for one thing ducks, we would shoot them on the water and wade out and fetch the dead ones we had just shot around sixteen, when out of the corner of my eye I saw a dog, god john run its Gerry and his dog, I don't think he had seen us until we ran stop he shouted or ill shoot, we had just got over the fence into the wood when there was Bang Bang he shot over our heads looking back could I see an old tractor with two other men coming our way dump the ducks, john hide them over the railway line we both went until we came to the old shooting range that was used in the war by dads army, we manage to squeeze down behind the sandbags, and there we lay I did have a look towards the main road and saw the police landrover stationery by the gate, I could see the sgt, and a constable, we stayed there for at least two hours when we left it was dark. John went back and collected the duck i'll have a couple for my parents if that's ok pete take what you want, we poached to live in those days. I went over the fields to our house and hung the ducks, in the shed, peter the sgt been here looking for you said my mother, I told him you were out down town, you're going to get caught one day dad just laughed but we never did this is how we lived. next week we would be after the holly and mistletoe and a few pheasants i'll tell you more later

 photo a312ce30-643e-4dcf-a8dc-3db94f7bd8cb.jpg
the poached pheasent
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   Old Thread  #552 25 Nov 2013 at 11.14am  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #551
What a couple of weeks we have had no fishing I did get down to my syndicate shoot I have not seen so many ducks for many years mallard and teal there must have been at least four hundred came off our small pool but my mind was not on my shooting , all I could think about was my poor mate graham he has cancer. I took him to see a specialist at Sutton Coldfield last week well my grandson drove my car he has to have a operation within two weeks its a very rare form of cancer but it is very curable so he should be ok he will only be in three days at the most but we will all miss him very much I have fished with graham for fifty years and can't think of fishing with anyone else.
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Tony and his dogs he helps me run the shoot and another member rodger

In the mean time I have had a few pictures of fish that my bailiff friend has sent to me he knows I take a keen interest in the vermin control on our river all the shots are of barbell most show signs of attack and most have had parts of their tails bitten off. But they survived in all my long life i have never seen so many otters they seem to be everywhere the difference is years ago they were very shy animals but today they are semi tame and are not frightened of humans. Something really wants doing but there would be a human out cry if they were touched after speaking to a good many of the general public when I have been fishing most have been on the side of the otter. And they honestly think he is a lovely cuddly animal, and that is also taught in schools, you have only to look at tarka the otter or ring of bright water two films that have been shown in schools, I have loved nature all my life and will admit the otter, is a most beautiful animal, when I was young you never saw many and then they had the hounds, that controlled the creature not a very nice way to die the river ran red with the animals blood, the problem is there are to many people that think they know it all, and are blinkered to any damage the otter causes I don't think an answer will be seen in my lifetime but we will have to wait and see I am sorry about me ranting on as it has all been said before. I will put a few of these photos up so all can see hopefully I will get back to my stories soon I was going to tell you all how I got on poaching the duck on the small lake I mentioned in my last thread but that can wait for today. more to come latter

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Shows the damage to their tails I have a few more photos but that will do for now




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   Old Thread  #551 7 Nov 2013 at 11.42am  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #544
Well before I fished Berrington I fished another lake that has now disappeared it was part of a big estate and strictly private just like most lakes were in those days. So the only way was to poach it, if you got caught you certainly would end in court. My tackle then was a bit crude old cane rods plus the tank aerials but they got me by, I knew the small lake held one or two good fish mainly big Rudd and a few nice perch I had asked owner permission but I was always refused he would shout dunner let me catch on my farm or I will shoot y even his workers were frightened of him he was a miserable old bugger. I remember two land girls who worked for him say he made them cry, but I was not frit of him I was determined to have a go my young mates said I would get caught but I took no notice.
I watched the water for a couple of weeks to see if any one came near I did see the keeper come with a chap with horse and cart they started to empty the contents in the pool I found out latter they were rotten potatoes apparently he used them to get the duck feeding and they certainly did they came in there hundreds the potatoes stank a bit but I soon got used to it I would fish the lake in the morning as that was the quietest time. I float fished using bread paste and a few maggots that I got from the fishing shop they would let us youngster have six pennies worth they always put them in a brown paper bag I would transfer them into a box when I got home.

The first time I fished the lake I made swim in the reeds that grew along the side of the lake I can remember casting out i was shaking with excitement I sat quietly and watched the float it suddenly wobbled then disappeared under the surface I struck into something solid it certainly put a fair bend in the old tank aerial rod, it took me some time to get it to the side i had no landing net in those days so it was matter of picking it up and laying on the grass to unhook this monster well it was to me I was only a young un. I could not believe my eyes I was sure it was a carp as I has seen a picture in a book it was about twelve inches long I would look it up when I got home I was really exited the next fish was a Rudd it was a most beautiful fish I caught another three before it was time to go.
 photo fishing004.jpg
like the one I had years ago


I left it another week before I went back I was quite excited I had looked the fish up in my book it was indeed a common carp, I set my rods up and moved into the same swim the first fish was a rudd with lovely bronze flanks a red fins it must of weighted over a pound I had just cast again when I see two men coming down the field towards me I could see they were policemen, how do they know I am here I had been very carful not to leave any signs. I could also see the old codger from the farm he was on horse back they were a good field from where I was hidden, which gave me time to get myself together I was away up the field then into a small wood I did hear shouting but I never looked back I crossed the next field and hid under a railway bridge, they were not to far behind as I could hear them shouting I made my way across the railway and hid in a wood called the Berries I climbed the nearest oak tree after hiding my tackle under some old broom bushes. I stayed up that tree for some time they followed me into the wood but lost me although I could see them after about an hour they packed up looking for me and went back the way they had come god that was a bit to close for comfort I managed to get home by crossing the fields. I would go again but give it a rest for a few weeks I might even have some of those ducks with my old air rifle they were mallard and would make a good meal for family and friends ill tell you more how I got on a bit latter. more to come
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   Old Thread  #550 3 Nov 2013 at 10.07pm  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #549
Thanks Brian and martin very much appreciated
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   Old Thread  #549 3 Nov 2013 at 9.53pm  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #548
still a pleasure reading your thread pete. hope you are well.
second that
keep it going Pete
M
Brian_Woolsey
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   Old Thread  #548 3 Nov 2013 at 2.15pm  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #546
a bit shook up? i bet thats an understatement!!

at the time, we were scared ****less!!
it was only afterwards that we could joke about it.

still a pleasure reading your thread pete. hope you are well.
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   Old Thread  #547 3 Nov 2013 at 11.48am  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #545
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   Old Thread  #546 3 Nov 2013 at 11.48am  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #545
Brian I can imagine it and how you felt, we were a bit shook up seeing this big white missile with a red tip it was absolutely huge as it past the boat you could of cast over it that's how close it was to the boat if it had hit we would not been here to tell the tale although he did have life jackets and such it was bit
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   Old Thread  #545 3 Nov 2013 at 11.02am  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #543
this one day when in the distance we saw what I could only describe as a big white missile coming rapidly towards us it was a bit late to move it missed us by ft bloody hell

oh pete that made me chuckle reading that!
my brother & I used to fish an army firing range, anyway one day we ignored the red flags because the weather was spot on,
laying on the shingle in the dark whilst tracer fire flew over our heads in the dark was a bloody scary experience i can tell you.
almost 2 hours we lay there, scared to lift our heads up & hoping they didn't hit our rod tips!!!

we did bag a few codling though!!
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   Old Thread  #544 3 Nov 2013 at 10.41am  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #543
I told you all about the top pool at berrington anyone caught fishing there would be in real trouble as sir peter Allcroft fed his ducks on the water, I had a good relationship with sir peter and graham and I regularly rowed his wife and children around the pool at berrington. I asked him about the possibility of fishing the top pool his answer was always no until this one day he relented but keep away in the winter, and when I start to feed the duck, yes sir said i. It was a bit of a job to get to the side of the water as it was very badly overgrown but we did manage to make a swim we started fishing with the float and caught mostly small roach, we did catch one or two tench, to around four pounds they fought well on light tackle but the perch, were big I don't think we had one under two pounds and we caught them up to three pounds, the problem was the pike, the place was full of jacks this one day we caught over twenty one on spinner it was really good fun we did catch one at ten pounds. But it was the big pool that we had some surprises we fished with a sliding float with maggot as bait the roach, were beautiful we caught them to over two pounds we also caught bream, to eight pounds plus perch, to three pounds we had to be careful with the perch, they seemed to get the bends if we brought them up to the surface to quickly.
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Rods out at berrington absolutely years ago pig pong balls for indicators

All the years I fished Berrington I never once saw a carp, then I was told by members of the syndicate that several carp had been hooked and lost when fishing for the Bream. I know my friend Bernard weaver caught one at thirty three pounds I said to him where had they come from no one seemed to know they mysteriously arrived overnight I certainly did not complain although I did worry about disease, some of the members wanted them out but that was a no no because of the great depth of the pool. I had got have a go I remember struggling down to the pool this one lovely morning bernards, brother Charlie, was fishing and pushed my barrow too the swim that I fanced. I was certainly struggling with my arthritis, but that was not going to give up I remember fishing two rods one to the Lily bed and one beside the reed bed, boilies were the bait the right hand rod was away within minutes I was really shaking as I played the fish away from the bed of lilies god did this fish fight I got it to the net it was a lovely marked mirror, it weight in at twenty three pounds, not long after I had another of twenty pounds I ended up with two carp, and twelve tench, not one under five pounds it was a great mornings fishing. more to come latter
 photo Image41.jpg

I think this is one from berrington
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   Old Thread  #543 29 Oct 2013 at 10.39am  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #542
When graham and I were younger we liked a bit of sea fishing I ran a club and we went with the Endeavor group, at Aberystwyth we went out approx twenty miles Vic was the captain and the owner of the three boats, he ran, he certainly knew his fishing. I loved fishing for the porbeagle sharks, and the tope, we caught shark, to over two hundred pounds I peronaly caught tope, to forty five pounds that fish got me into the British tope club we had some wonderful days with vic I think I told you about one such day we were fishing the targets that the air force and navy used for practice. vic would radio the authorities and tell them we were fishing in the area and would get the all clear. we were fishing, away this one day when in the distance we saw what I could only describe as a big white missile coming rapidly towards us it was a bit late to move it missed us by ft bloody hell it was huge if it had hit us we would of had a big hole through the boat it was about six ft above the sea vic was straight on the phone playing hell with the authorities we listened to the swearing and such he was told no one had let them know we were fishing on the range, poor old vic had forgot to tell them never mind we had to move out of the area I suppose a miss was good as a mile.
 photo Scan1.jpg
a young me with a good tope
This one day we were fishing when this gentleman collapsed with a heart attack we tried to get him back but it was to late he had gone so vic got on the radio to base and got the helicopter to fetch the body after that no one felt like fishing it spoilt the day. We could not get to port until the tide came in so we carried on we caught fish but no one had their mind on the fishing infact I was glad when I got home this happened twice over the years very unpleasant. We fished with another skipper from anglesey we were out with him one day when we were nearly turned over by a big oil tanker god it was huge as it passed us. There was some language between our skipper and the captain it turned out he was Russian he seem to not care a toss. I loved to fish the wrecks off Anglesey we caught some good fish including cod conger and of course dog fish they were good days we fished a least once a month maybe more.
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Another tope
Graham and I carried on fishing for the bream at the time we were fishing berrington, we made some impressive catches from this small water we had perch to three pounds bream to over nine and some beautiful roach we had the water to ourselves for a few years, until I was asked to if we would like the water to run a syndicate I leaped at the chance I had a few well known anglers in the syndicate one was Dennis Kelly, known for his big bream exploits it was on this water that I fished with Jack Hylton and Bill quinlan I have told you about that in my first part of my stories . there was another small lake above Berrington pool that was strictly private I will tell you more about that latter.
 photo Image37.jpg

A Bream from berrington years ago
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   Old Thread  #542 23 Oct 2013 at 10.51am  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #541
I can well remember the hay making when I was a youngster we as boys we would roll and fight in it. The sun seemed to shine every day, in the holidays from school, we would be either swimming, in the river or birds nesting, or fishing, we had a camp beside the river in some rhododendron bushes it was well hidden from prying eyes we would catch the trout, and grill them over a fire made in a empty oil drum. We would call at mr prices farm and find some chicken eggs then boil them in the river water in a old tin. They were wonderful days our parents trusted us and we would be out all day walking the woods birds nesting or climbing the trees to the rooks nests we all carried a catapult we would have great fun shooting at old tins and such. I became quite a good shot I used to hang about with a lad called Jackie bounds he was not a bad shot until the one day he shot at a pigeon and missed and broke a bedroom window god we did run I can see this big chap chasing us now we used to call him dummy as he could not speak but he could run and he caught us and took both us to the police station we had our catapults confiscated but over the years I got to know this man very well and really got on with him.

We soon made another catapult it was part of growing up a rag arsed young lad with the catapult in full view sticking out of his back pocket we did shoot one or two of mr prices chickens he had hundreds free range god they were tough old birds, mum would boil them before roasting they were not much better I did not shoot any more talk about old boilers it put me off chicken and I have never liked it since. We learned to shoot the rabbits, before maxomatosis we would all gather when they cut the corn, the field would be full of rabbits we all waited until they came to the last bit of standing corn the rabbits, would bolt for safety us lads would chase them and knock them on the head, after they had cut the last bit of corn, there would be a pile of rabbits, at times over a hundred you would be given a couple by the farmer and the rest would be sold at market I would hide a couple and fetch them latter in those early years we lived on rabbit.

I fished with a lad called Ray Evans we fished a small pool at stokesay castle, the farmer would let us young lads go
we would float fish it I used a porcupine quill and used bread paste, or bread flake, as bait. The pool was covered in weed so you fished in the holes, between the weeds we caught rudd big fish you could not get you hands around them. We did not know the significance about the fish we were catching as we were only young lads some of those fish were over three pounds maybe four. It was not until years latter that we realized the potential in this very old pool.
It was soon snapped up by a gentleman called valentine he wrote in angling times about the pool and the fish in it but he did not last long I really wondered if it was the publicity but it became vacant and graham and I started to fish the pool with permission from the owner. I will tell you more latter
petethecrip
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   Old Thread  #541 16 Oct 2013 at 5.59pm  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #536
I really am pissed off we can't go fishing my mate is still not well and I was at the orthopaedic hospital yesterday to see a specialist about my ankle, it is worn out and they won't operate. So I have got to be fitted with some sort of boot that will help me walk, that's enough of that so lets get on with my stories about days long gone. Come with me into the hills of Shropshire and walk the paths of my ancestors, and catch the trout, from the hilltop streams, or catch the humble rabbit, or poach the wild pheasants, that have strayed from the estate down in the valley.
Or come with graham and I on a September night, and watch the ducks, come and feed off the grains of wheat left in the stubble field. The farmer had left some bales to make a hide we would snuggle up with the dog, between us, The bales kept the cold wind away, you could hear the wind whine and whistle as it went through the tree tops in the wood behind us. There was a small pool behind the wood the duck would come in their hundreds they would circle around before they came in to land , I watched them coming in the distance. As they circled over our heads up popped graham he took a right and left then it was my turn I managed one then the geese, gave away their presence we could see them in the distance skein after skein made its way towards us Canada, and greylag, I sent the dog to fetch those ducks, that had been shot and waited for the geese.

What a night we managed twelve geese, and ten duck, all mallard, graham got the landrover as we loaded the birds. We watched a fox traversing down the distance hedge row after a free meal no doubt We had to visit the farmer on the way home to drop him a couple of birds, he always asked us in and we usually sat before a roaring fire with a class full of malt whisky, in our hand we have gone from there many time worse for wear , they were wonderful days I would tickle the trout in the hilltop stream as it tumbled down to the distant valley, they were beautiful spotted brownies, none were over half a pound but lovely eating I would catch four or five then make my down to the valley and home. I loved the freedom of the hills, there was so much to see the buzzard, or the sparrow hawk, the fox,. the occasional grouse, what more could one ask but now I cannot walk those hills and I only have my memories from a time long ago. more latter
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   Old Thread  #540 13 Oct 2013 at 9.03pm  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #539
Thanks greg appreciate your remarks
gregrot
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   Old Thread  #539 10 Oct 2013 at 10.05pm  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #538
Good to see your still going Pete

Keep it up mate
petethecrip
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   Old Thread  #538 10 Oct 2013 at 9.02pm  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #537
Hi no I never fished fenemere a friend had pinky at forty pounds I was asked once about a membership but that was years ago
charlatan
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   Old Thread  #537 9 Oct 2013 at 0.24am  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #536
hi pete just wondering did you ever get to fish fennymere the home of pinky and perky what a water that once was an old fishing mate of mine from way back has told me it is know a syndicate and he is one of its members lucky fella i realise its not the water it was but what history thats one i wouldnt of minded guesting oh yes
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   Old Thread  #536 8 Oct 2013 at 10.51am  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #535
We have not been fishing as my mate graham has not been to well since his operation, so for now it is a no no I can't go by myself as my legs are quite bad at times and I do fall down. like I did last week I fell on concrete what a mess bruised from my hip to the knee.
 photo cef55a84-f3a9-4869-9bb8-328bf91aae80.jpg
one of the woods I poached and watched the wild life
I can't even go down my beloved woods, I spent most of my young life in the woods there is so much so much to see I can just sit and listen to the different birds or sit and watch the badger set I have been very lucky to have been able to see the wildlife its been a privilege to be allowed in some of the woods by the owners or gamekeepers a few years ago it would not of happened as I upset a few with my poaching, but that was years ago no need to poach these days as you can buy a pheasant or to quite cheaply from the market.

I now reminisce about those days that have long gone, when I was young I would be out fishing or down the woods getting the family a meal It was very hard after the war the wages, were not that much but one thing everyone did was to help each other as I mentioned earlier in my stories you could leave your back door open some time we came back from shopping to find a freshly baked loaf, had been left or maybe some homemade butter, We all helped one another. Before the myxomatosis came we lived on rabbit, I loved rabbit pie, we had that most sundays for our dinner. I soon learned how to get a rabbit or two I would be up early I knew where to go the keepers, would have set their rabbit snares I would take a few rabbits before he was around reset the snare and be away, i would bring six or seven back home I would gut and skin the rabbits then share them out with the neighbors sometimes they would give me sixpence god I thought I was rich it is surprising what you could buy with a sixpence.
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The hedge rows covered in gorse in summer
They were lovely days we would walk miles in the summer, as boys we all had a katty in our pockets we would shoot a few rabbits that cutched, in the big nettle patches, in early summer we would be away birds nesting there was more variety of birds in those days sadly missing today. Farming methods have not done our wild life any good. When I was a youngster you would see loads of Hares in the fields I have watched their mating ritual it realy made me laugh the males would fall out over the females it looked just like a boxing match, in our area today you are lucky to see one they seem to have vanished I have been on a few hare drives and have seen over fifty shot on one stand the estates made quite a bit of revenue the Hares would be sent by Train to the big cities or game dealers. A bit more latter

 photo 44e806bf-b25f-4b79-a30a-9c9ac7230ea3.jpg

The hedgerows we would birds nest in the spring
petethecrip
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   Old Thread  #535 1 Oct 2013 at 11.16am  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #534
November and October are my favourite time of the year I love the woods when all the leaves change colour winter is approaching fast I can stand in the wooded vale, and just listen to the birds and other wildlife fungus grows under the trees and some grow on the trees, there's been plenty of berries, to feed the birds, and some animals, it won't be long before the little dormouse,, will curl up in her nest and sleep the winter through. It does not matter where you look you will see the nut shells below the trees where the squirrel and others have had their fill you can smell the decay in the wood as leaves rot away .
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The fungus clings to the tree
Next month you will hear the yap of the dog fox as he looks for a mate I have listened to them from my house, you can hear their call on a calm night. They will couple within the next few weeks the cubs. will be born march or april, I have seen them in February. but that's when we had mild winters, as we walk across the fields and the evening closes in you will see old brock huddled up in the fields eating the many worms,he finds. The rabbit, runs for the hedge we have disturbed him feeding on the succulent grass it won't be long before the keeper and his lad will be here with his nets and ferrets, unless the poacher, had been around and caught them first.
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old brock would eat the worms

I have been out on a Novembers night, away I would go with my gun, wrapped in an old sack, with bag on my back I knew the keepers, would be in the pub, so it was a time to poach the pheasants, down the woods, It was an easy job I took a friend with me a lad called john ledington, he was a fair shot himself, we had shot the duck from the honey meadow, many times until one night we were discovered by the keeper. We were never caught but he found the ducks, where I had hidden them so we never ventured there again for a few weeks. No it was down the woods tonight john would shine the light I would do the shooting, we would move from the feed ride deeper into the wood. The trees were loaded with roosting birds we would be away before the keeper had gone to bed we used the sack that covered my gun to carry the birds. we made our way to my home and hung the pheasants along the beam how many john I have counted twenty. it was one in the morning when john made his way home with brace of birds, we would go again but for now we had enough, they would be shared with our neighbours and freinds those left would be sold. a little more latter
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The keeper will be out with his ferrets
petethecrip
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   Old Thread  #534 25 Sept 2013 at 11.23am  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #531
I met a chap in our local pub who owned a lovely lake, not very far from my home he gave us permission to fish the lake, he told me there was some good carp, in the water. It was before the bolt rig was invented. The lake was covered in weed there was few holes you could fish, through. We had a look and decided to have a go I had a word with dick walker, about the best way to fish the water, and what bait may work we started to fish the lake, using bread flake, bread paste, flavored with honey, and the humble maggot, cat, food made into paste mixed with bread, we started to catch some lovely chub, that had been stocked into the lake god, they were big seven pounds was about the biggest we caught. I can well remember graham catching seven chub, in one session not one was under six pounds I think the biggest was seven pounds.
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one of the first carp I caught there

Graham could no longer come fishing because of his work load. I had a friend that worked with me his name was George Kimberly, he was a nice chap so I took him along, i hooked my first carp in his company on floating crust he snagged me in the weed bed, I tried to extract him from the weeds it was hopeless so the next best thing was to wade to the weed bed. It was around four feet deep but you could not get you legs through the thick weed, I am afraid we lost him. We tried all day to catch another but failed we did manage to catch a few Tench, but not very big I think we will pull some of this weed, out I said to George, he was all for it we arranged to meet the following Saturday, we arrived armed with a rake head and some rope, we managed to clear quite a nice swim, we will give it a go tomorrow George, and we did and managed to catch our first carp, on floating crust he was seventeen pounds we were over the moon we never had another that day and packed up late in the evening.
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We were only young size did not matter

The only bite alarms I had were the ones dick walker, gave me. George had none and used a doe bobbin on his line between reel and but ring I did have my Mitchell 300 I would put them on the back wind, god i rapped my knuckles a few times but it was worth it we started to catch a few nice fish we were both young but we soon learned we found the average depth was around five ft, I think fishing that lake was the happiest time of my life it did not matter what size fish we caught we loved every minute fishing there. We never saw a soul only the gamekeeper who would come and have a chat the place was heaving with pheasants, and I never touched one. I will continue latter.
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Another from years ago
petethecrip
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   Old Thread  #533 23 Sept 2013 at 10.08pm  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #532
Thanks I really appreciate your remarks
charlatan
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   Old Thread  #532 23 Sept 2013 at 7.57pm  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #531
superb reading great articles by petethecrip proper fishin keep em coming fella couple of lads i know fished ellsmere for the bream early seventies had some really big fish out for that era to they were days
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   Old Thread  #531 22 Sept 2013 at 12.45pm  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #529
I am hoping we will be out after the barbell this next week I will have to see how my mate gets on after his operation.

I was reminiscing yesterday with a good friend about the lake I poached all those years ago. As I have said myself and graham had the syndicate on the Lake for many years Bernard, our other mate was also member as well infact it was Bernard and my self that caught the first carp, out of the water, I had seen what looked like carp feeding in the lily beds so I decided to feed a clear spot not far from the bed of lilies, we had already built some swims out of pallets so it was bern and myself who fished this swim for the first time although there was room for graham he unfortunately had to work on the saturday morning so could not make it I suppose it was around two in the morning when the carp, started to show in our swim and it looked if they were on our bait it was not long before Berns indicator shot up to the but ring, he lifted the rod and he was in i can still remember landing that fish, and the excitement it caused as we peered into the big landing net we could not believe our eyes it was a beautifully marked mirror, it weighed in at Twenty seven pound plus we just sat there we had proved there were carp in the lake, it was the only one that night but there was more to follow.
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The first common I caught from the lake on the white pop up this was years ago

The next sessions was done by Graham, and Bernard in the same swim I was away on holiday and unfortunately the both blanked but graham, was nearly eaten alive by mozzies, and ended up in Bernards kitchen having calamine lotion rubbed all over his back and arms I don't think I had ever seen such a mess and that was a week later, and it put graham, off fishing the lake for a week or two. The next session was further up the lake I baited with hemp and maize three times a week a little bit often not huge quantities. Bern, set up in the swim next to me, I fished one rod just two feet out dropping it in the margin I used a white chocolate homemade pop up and fed a handful of hemp, around the hook bait the other hook bait was maize. I suppose it was about two thirty when the rod with my pop up on was away it took about ten minutes to subdue the fish I shouted for Bern but he was fast asleep so I weighed it at twenty two pounds plus it was a lovely looking common I did not want to sack it so I took a photo and returned it to the water.
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The first mirror I had from the lake you can tell it was years ago by the photo

Bern blanked that night but the following week we both caught he had a nice common, twenty plus I had a big mirror, that was also twenty three plus god we were doing well I did wonder how long it would be before others found out where we were fishing and what we were catching. I can remember the first thirty I had we never publicized any that we caught, but it soon got around the grapevine that we were catching some good fish and it was not long before the offers came to fish the water we could not compete but I was bailiff and could still fish the lake I will tell you more about the lake latter, more to come
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   Old Thread  #530 21 Sept 2013 at 9.29pm  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #529
I feel I must mention our friend the bailiff Rodger he is a fantastic angler and catches some huge specimens the latest big fish are worth a mention I have known rodg for a number of years most of his fish come from short evening sessions he is a very knowledgeable angler I have mentioned him before in my stories so here is his latest big Barbel
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A wonderfull fish caught by Rodger

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Another biggie two of his biggest fish this year

He really deserves these fish as he realy suffers with his illness and never complains well done rodg keep them coming

More stories to come latter
petethecrip
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   Old Thread  #529 18 Sept 2013 at 10.02am  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #523
We will have to leave the barbel for the time being, as my mate has an operation, today he will soon get over it and maybe next week we will continue our fishing, with all this rain it should flush the river, improving our chance to catch one of the biggies, I know they are there as I have peronaly caught one which weighed twelve and a quarter pounds I had three doubles that morning so it is a matter of time before we put one on the bank. what we like about the swim its not far to walk and we park the car on the road above the swim and graham hands the rods and such down to me we are up and fishing within ten minutes.
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Another big barbell caught at night

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A lovely barbell caught at night

When I was a young man there were no barbel in the river only roach chub bream and pike and of course dace when dace fishing the pike, would scythe through the shoals, at times we would put a live bait out under a big pike, bung it would not be there for long before the float was towed across the surface before vanishing beneath the water the fish would be on and i would play him to the side they were mostly around ten to fifteen pounds, and were great fun to catch, another way was to use dead baits and ledger them I have had a fair bit of success using that method there was some big pike, caught up to thirty odd pounds but I was never lucky enough to catch one that size. When I did a bit of poaching I have had big pike strike while I was roach, fishing and have ,lost a few big pike, So I would take another rod with me and used it to fish a live bait, you would hook one and they would tail walk across the surface, leaving a trail of silver spray. I would land it then put it back you were always on edge incase
the game keeper, caught me it was not nice fishing it was many years later when I eventually got permission to fish the lake, graham and I were over the moon and had some fantastic weekends fishing for the pike we used dead baits and would catch at least ten pike, in a morning they were beautifully marked fish the biggest would be around twenty pounds but we lost a lot bigger fish.
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A nice coloured pike
Thinking back that was in the middle sixties I was eventually offered the lease and formed a syndicate which graham, and myself ran for a number of years it was fantastic fishing and I caught fish I did not know existed in the lake and that was Tench, I caught them to nine pounds plus the roach, fishing was something else graham and myself caught eight in one evening all over the magical two pounds this was in the sixties we did not own a good camera we did not have the money to buy one our scales, were the spring balance type they seemed quite accurate i know friends that fish the same lake it does not seem to fish like it did the tench, seemed to have vanished there are plenty of bream and I believe a roach was caught over three pounds the pike do get caught but not like the biggies we managed to catch all those years ago well that's another story. more later
Brian_Woolsey
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   Old Thread  #528 17 Sept 2013 at 5.25pm  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #527
with the rain we're getting, it should get that flush through pretty soon!!
petethecrip
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   Old Thread  #527 17 Sept 2013 at 5.15pm  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #524
Hi Brian yes same swim its realy hard at the moment it could do with a good flush I haven't landed one of the biggies as yet but I will before long thanks brian appreciated .
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   Old Thread  #524 17 Sept 2013 at 4.44pm  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #523
nice fish pete, well done.

same swim as before??
petethecrip
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   Old Thread  #523 17 Sept 2013 at 4.37pm  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #522
We have been barbel fishing once again what a day it absolutely poured with rain it was very hard fishing we came home early as graham has to go into hospital in the morning for a small operation I did manage to winckle one out not big but it gave me some satisfaction as no one else caught and there was a few fishing today. more stories latter

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petethecrip
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   Old Thread  #522 16 Sept 2013 at 12.32pm  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #519
It has been busy week end graham and myself went barbel fishing on Friday we never expected much as the river was to low it wants a bit of fresh water. After sitting there for a number of hours we were just deciding what to do ie go home or stay when the top of my rod hooped over, I just managed to grab the rod before it was dragged in I had taken my eyes of it momentarily the fish took off down stream I managed to get it back towards the net, but it was having none of it. The fish took line from my reel I tightened the clutch as far as I dared and it still took line it was making for the weir that was upstream from where I was standing. I said to graham this is a good fish I did wonder if I had hooked a salmon as the bait was halibut pellets a friend of ours caught one that weighed eighteen pounds on the same bait the fish, stayed very deep and never showed once I did manage to get him towards the net and thought we had won the day but it was not to be he took off into the middle of the river the line went slack and he was gone behind me was an audience I think they were more disappointed than myself looking at the line after it was a clean break not at the hook but further up the hook link well that's fishing.
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A good barbel from the weir

Saturday we went to the game fair it was not a bad day I took my mobility scooter, I spent a few quid I bought a new landing net for my barbel ,fishing and a new coat and a few odds and ends, a good day was had by all and it managed to stay dry but unfortunately graham was not to well he goes into hospital Wednesday for a small operation I will take him and fetch him back I realy think he did to much walking as he is seventy seven and it took its toll, but he now feels a lot better so weather permitting we will be away fishing tomorrow, it was nice to meet a few friends at the show that we had not seen for a number of years we all did a bit of reminiscing about the past we all fished and shot together a number of years ago so it was nice to share a few stories some good and some not

I had some wonderful times with these friends but that was many years ago I was young and the world was my oyster nothing worried me I would be away fishing most weekends that was with graham we fished for the big Bream that inhabited the big meres at ellesmere Shropshire as I have said before in part one of my stories we caught some truly big bream for that era that led to our friendship with Dick walker who really inspired my fishing. well that's it for now more latter.

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A big bream from ellesmere
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   Old Thread  #521 12 Sept 2013 at 9.31pm  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #519
Thanks Rob shame you wont be there thanks for writing to keith ken has also had a word with him we will catch up some time
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   Old Thread  #520 12 Sept 2013 at 8.02pm  0  Login    Register
good to speak to you today pete, keep up the good work
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   Old Thread  #519 10 Sept 2013 at 6.47pm  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #518
Well we have been after the barbel once again its been very hard with the river so low, but I did manage one don't look at my mouth its caused by smoking a pipe for forty five years they thought I had suffered a stroke I have had numerous tests but thank god all negative i'll write more stories latter so here is the photo.

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Barbel caught today been very hard river very low

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The swim only using one rod I mostly use two
petethecrip
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   Old Thread  #518 7 Sept 2013 at 11.02am  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #517
Autumn is nearly on us once again I suppose i was around twelve years old when I met my old friend Sam, he was a gamekeeper who lived in a cottage deep in the woods with his dear old wife. They were both so kind to me over the period I knew them it was quite by chance I met old Sam, i was up the woods trying to get a pheasant or two he was watching every move I made he was hidden behind a big tree, the first thing I heard was his voice you like a bit of shooting, do you young man, it was to late to run he had me, not my pheasants, I hope he had a big grin on his face no sir I answered. He had a very kindly face but you could see that life had been hard for him he had worked as a keeper most of his life.

I shall not say much about Sam as I have already told you about him in part one of my stories one thing I can say he taught me so much about life, and nature. He taught me about the birds. and the animals that roam our countryside, I have never been afraid of the dark. Sam would say theres nowt to hurt you in those woods and fields only another human, and he was right I have always felt comfortable when in the woods, by myself it was a regular thing to be out at night poaching the pheasants, or catching the brown trout, I never saw any one worse than myself I did see the keepers. If I had been discovered and then the chase was on I was young and could run, I was not a bad climer, and hid up a few trees ,i was never caught, I can well remember one night I was after the trout, from the river which ran through the woods, and fields, belonging to the estate, when I heard the dogs in the distance as they came nearer I knew it was old Bell, the keeper, and his helpers I had caught a few trout and put them in the bag on my back and I was away rod in hand I waded through the water, to the other side them made for the grounds that surrounded the blind school. I could hear a bit of shouting and looking back across the river I saw a flashing blue light it was the police land rover, I thought now were to, I ran through the grounds which belonged to the hall over the wall, then over the road and ended up in a big garden, with a number of greenhouses, over the garden I went and dived head first into a big greenhouse, it had not been used for years, and was quite overgrown inside, so I got down and crawled through what felt like old raspberry bushes and there I stayed.
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bells river all over grown today

As my eyes became used to the darkness I could see another door at the other end. So if i was discovered I could be away through that door I heard the landrover, door being shut and I bit of talking I just lay there I could not see who it was but they were searching the grounds I thought oh bugger I have had it, then this big old lab, nearly walked over me god was I scared there must of been at least six looking for me I thought this dog will surely give me away but he did not after about half an hour they moved away. I was out the other side found my bike I had hid up the fields and I was away I dared not cycle on the road so went across the field arriving home at 3 30am I was scratched all over and had made a bit of a hole in my trousers but I was home I put the trout in the shed and went to bed we were awoken at six thirty with a knock on the door it was the police wheres peter, said the sgt in bed said my mother and away he went he knew it was me but could not prove it mother used to get frightened I would get caught I would say I can run faster than them. well a bit more latter

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Bells wood looking across the feilds
petethecrip
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   Old Thread  #517 4 Sept 2013 at 11.13am  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #516
What a most beautiful morning it's now September I hope it carries on for a bit longer. I can remember when I was a lad fishing a small lake not far from my home we would cycle there our rods, would be tied to the cross bar of our bikes, the lake held some carp but not huge although I did manage a ten pounder that was around 1954, I can remember all these strange men in their big hats coming to have a look at my prize, and giving me advice on how to hold it and have it photographed, I did not have a camera but I needn't of worried along they came with their box cameras, I really felt like a star a gentleman called peter finch, had taken me under his wing he was a dedicated carp man and told me it was the biggest carp, to come out of the lake, it rolled off my back like water to me it was a fish, any fish, was a good one for a youngen like me.

I absolutely loved that lake and spent most of my summer holidays fishing, there I can remember night fishing two young lads huddled together under the stars, anticipating a bite and we did catch fish, we had no landing net then so its was into the water which was not deep, and pick the fish up with our hands, most only grew to around five pounds but they were fish, and we caught them night fishing, it was a wonderful feeling after returning the fish we would still be shaking with excitement, the owner off the lake would come down and see us in the morning he never once charged us and would bring us big bottles of homemade ginger beer.

I learned how to catch the carp, with bread crust, casting it out into the weed beds, there would be a big swirl and the crust would vanish up with the rod and I would be in. It took some doing to extract them from the weeds at times we had an audience watching us, my mate was a lad called Ray Evans it was nothing to catch half a dozen fish using bread flake, or crust. We both had our fair share of carp with floating crust, we also found we could catch them using a big float and a big bunch of worms they were positive bites that would tow the float along the top of the water before vanishing under the surface it was wonderful fishing and we were lucky to even be there the farmer trusted us both we loved this old man and his family and fished the lake for many years.
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Bunches of little red worms caught the carp
There was one other lake that held carp, it belonged to a man who was high sheriff of Shropshire, the locals said You will not get permission I went up to the big hall and banged this big knocker on the door, eventually someone came it was one of the maids, can I see sir you best come in, he seemed a nice old man how can I help you youngman I was wondering if I can fish your lake sir, he thought for a bit you're that lad who comes beating with old Sam the keeper yes sir I answered, I don't see why not but not in the shooting, season thank you sir I was shaking with excitement over the months I got to know him realy well I caught some very nice fish from his water and did they fight they were true wildies.. well a bit more latter

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wildies like these held by graham and Bernard
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More wildies from years ago
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   Old Thread  #516 31 Aug 2013 at 10.08am  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #515
As I sit here writing on this sunny day, I think back when graham and I were young and poached a lake well more of a pool really it had an old boat house at the one end but it was a route march to get there it was some time in the sixties I know we had A35 vans and had plenty of room in the back for our Tackle.

THIS pool was in south Shropshire, I had only fished there once that was in the late fifties, I fished it with a lad called jones. I would cycle to his dad's farm which was at a place called Branden hill Clungunford, although I had not been to the pool for years, I could still remember the way or so I thought I can still remember us parking the car on the road side and walking across the fields, loaded with our tackle, to the big wood. over the fence we got and were in ferns, over our heads. Which way do we go said graham straight on said I after a good hour we still could not find the pool it reminded me of another pool nearly the same which I mentioned in part one of my stories It was also deep in the woods, and took some finding we just had to sit down what with the ferns, and the midges, we were well and truly lost.

After a breather we decided to carry on god it was hot the sweat ran down my back like a river, we eventually found the pool it was a beautiful place it had an island and boat house,at the one end there was a dam the water trickled through a big pipe, and then ran down a stream into another smaller pool we could not believe our eyes wallowing in this small pool no more than two feet deep were four carp, and they were a fair size, those were the ones we could see they must of got in through the pipe, from the top pool, when there was to much water coming into the lake from the stream that flowed into it. It never took us long out went a piece of bread crust on a size four hook they were not interested and would not even take free offerings.

So we decided to fish the top lake we float fished bread flake tipped with maggot we just could not go wrong it was a Rudd, a cast with fish between a pound and two pounds. I wonder who owns the pool said Graham I had no idea what if someone comes said Graham, we will hide in the ferns but to be honest it looked if no one had been there for years we could hear dogs, barking from deep in the woods but we never took much notice it was not until we heard someone calling his dogs, that we realized whoever it may be was coming our way we grabbed our tackle, and hid in the ferns we could just about see the pool if we stood up and we could see there were two men who looked like Gamekeepers, they had buckets and carried guns, and had four springer spaniels, with them we will feed the big ride Bert, said the one man, they crossed the dam and vanished into the woods, the other side and were gone it was late afternoon by this time and we decided to give it best one thing that was a bit off putting was the number of snakes, we saw in and around the water, I myself saw at least seven and Graham saw a few they were mostly grass snakes but there must be adders, as it was ideal ground for breeding. We would be back again next week as we came to the field we could see the car, in the distance onto the road we got it did not take us long to load the car with our tackle I noticed something stuck on our windscreen, it was a note please report to the police station, as soon as possible bloody hell what police station, there was only two Craven arms, or Ludlow, what are you going to do pete nothing and I never heard any more. I think maybe it was a farmer, next time we hid the car up a lane we fished it loads of times and caught some impressive Rudd, but not once did we catch a carp, I often wonder if the pool is still there it was a most beautiful place deep within the woods an idyllic place to dream and spend your time.. Well a bit more latter

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   Old Thread  #515 29 Aug 2013 at 8.00pm  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #513
hi jacko hope your well yes i'm still here not passed away as yet nice to hear from you not been up to the lake as yet


Thanks nick very much appreciated
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   Old Thread  #514 29 Aug 2013 at 3.47pm  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #513
great story keep it up
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   Old Thread  #513 29 Aug 2013 at 0.15am  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #2
not been on for a bit m8 I see your still ok
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   Old Thread  #512 26 Aug 2013 at 11.43am  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #510
We are going barbel, fishing again later this week to many will be out over the holiday weekend so we will give it a miss for the next few days.
Thinking back to when I was a youngster I started my fishing, at a very young age I think I was about three years old I soon learned I lost my father in the war. My mother married again my stepfather, was a brilliant man who encouraged me to carry on fishing, in those days you could not go fishing, where you liked as most rivers, and lakes, were strictly private, so there was only one way to fish, and that was to poach the lakes, and rivers.

It was a chancy thing to do as most waters were under the care of water bailiffs, and Gamekeepers, you were always on edge fishing the waters, I poached the big estates, and got away with it. There was one such lake, not far from my home I don't think it had ever been fished, so one autumn day saw me away on my bike, on arriving I hid my bike then got over the wall that surrounded the estate, the lake was around twenty acres where do I start I was only a young slip of a lad.

I had took plenty of bait bread, was my favourite plus a few red worms, that I got from the farmers dung heap, I did manage to get a few maggots, from mr Tays abattoir but collecting them made you stink a bit which did not go down well with my parents.

I started to float fish this water it was situated in front of the big hall, belonging to a member of parliament, I will not mention names as not to embarrass his family he has long gone but his family still own the estate, I started to catch Rudd, they were lovely deep bodied fish, they were not small and averaged over two pounds in weight I was using worm this one day I watched as the float, vanished I struck and away it went it felt quite heavy I had no landing net, in those days so you can imagine my surprised when I dragged a lovely trout to the side god the owner must have stocked the water with trout, I shook with excitement what a beautiful looking fish. This fish was not going back to cut a long story short I had another six on worm I was about to cast out again when I heard a shout he is over there keeper he,s bloody well catching my trout bring him back to the house i'll get the police.

God he must of spotted me from the big house, I was away through the undergrowth, I fell over a couple of times I would not be able to get to the wall, it was to far away there was a big old horse chestnut tree, so I hid my tackle, and up I climbed it had still got plenty of leaves, on i lay across one of the top most branches by now there was two other chaps, looking for me as well. I just hoped they would not find my bike then the police arrived I recognized the one he was a constable, from our village, the sgt I did not know I think he came from Ludlow, well they never once looked up in the trees, I was shaking a bit god i think I am going to get caught everything goes through your mind I was only thirteen, but I need not worry as they moved away when the owner arrived, we can't find him sir said the keeper, bloody poachers, the owner said they wan't shooting what do you think sgt we will get him sir, and then they were away I stayed where I was for another hour before I moved.

I had seven trout, in my bag I would have to be very careful on the road going home I decided to go through the woods instead I would have to push my bike but it was safer, although it would take longer I eventually arrived home a bit worse for wear and very tired the biggest trout, was over four pounds in weight my family were well pleased plenty to share out with our neighbours. I thought that was that until I arrived at school ,on Monday we were in assembly when the headmaster said the police wanted to give us a talk, bloody hell it was the sgt that had been looking for me, he gave us a talk on poaching especially fish and if we knew any one doing it report them to the police station, he had no prove who it was but did know it was a youngster. well that was that I did fish the lake again and never had anymore trouble. well a bit more latter
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   Old Thread  #511 26 Aug 2013 at 11.43am  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #510
We are going barbel, fishing again later this week to many will be out over the holiday weekend so we will give it a miss for the next few days.
Thinking back to when I was a youngster I started my fishing, at a very young age I think I was about three years old I soon learned I lost my father in the war. My mother married again my stepfather, was a brilliant man who encouraged me to carry on fishing, in those days you could not go fishing, where you liked as most rivers, and lakes, were strictly private, so there was only one way to fish, and that was to poach the lakes, and rivers, on those big estates.

It was a chancy thing to do as most waters were under the care of water bailiffs, and Gamekeepers, you were always on edge fishing the waters, I poached the big estates, and got away with it. There was one such lake, not far from my home I don't think it had ever been fished, so one autumn day saw me away on my bike, on arriving I hid my bike then got over the wall that surrounded the estate, the lake was around twenty acres where do I start I was only a young slip of a lad.

I had took plenty of bait bread, was my favourite plus a few red worms, that I got from the farmers dung heap, I did manage to get a few maggots, from mr Tays abattoir but collecting them made you stink a bit which did not go down well with my parents.

I started to float fish this water it was situated in front of the big hall, belonging to a member of parliament, I will not mention names as not to embarrass his family he has long gone but his family still own the estate, I started to catch Rudd, they were lovely deep bodied fish, they were not small and averaged over two pounds in weight I was using worm this one day I watched as the float, vanished I struck and away it went it felt quite heavy I had no landing net, in those days so you can imagine my surprised when I dragged a lovely trout to the side god the owner must have stocked the water with trout, I shook with excitement what a beautiful looking fish. This fish was not going back to cut a long story short I had another six on worm I was about to cast out again when I heard a shout he is over there keeper he,s bloody well catching my trout bring him back to the house i'll get the police.

God he must of spotted me from the big house, I was away through the undergrowth, I was away I fell over a couple of time I would not be able to get to the wall, it was to far away there was a big old horse chestnut tree, so I hid my tackle, and up I climbed it had still got plenty of leaves, on i lay across one of the top most branches by now there was two other chaps, looking for me as well. I just hoped they would not find my bike then the police arrived I recognized the one he was a constable, from our village, the sgt I did not know I think he came from Ludlow, well they never once looked up in the trees, I was shaking a bit god i think I am going to get caught everything goes through your mind I was only thirteen, but I need not worry as they moved away when the owner arrived, we can't find him sir said the keeper, bloody poachers, the owner said they wan't shooting what do you think sgt we will get him sir, and then they were away I stayed where I was for another hour before I moved.

I had seven trout, in my bag I would have to be very careful on the road going home I decided to go through the woods I would have to push my bike but it was safer, although it would take longer I eventually arrived home a bit worse for wear and very tired the biggest trout, was over four pounds in weight my family were well pleased plenty to share out with our neighbours. I thought that was that until I arrived at school ,on Monday we were in assembly when the headmaster said the police wanted to give us a talk, bloody hell it was the sgt that had been looking for me, he gave us a talk on poaching especially fish and if we knew any one doing it report them to the police station, he had no prove who it was but did know it was a youngster. well that was that I did fish the lake again and never had anymore trouble. well a bit more latter
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   Old Thread  #510 23 Aug 2013 at 10.04am  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #509
As I said graham and myself went Barbel fishing on the Severn yesterday we did not know what to expect as everyone we talk to says its not fishing that well although our bailiff friend Roger has done quite well since the season started.
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The stretch we fished
We did not get onto the water until 9 30 am and there was no other anglers fishing the stretch which is quite unusual a few years ago it would've been packed so it looks if what anglers say may be true and another thing we never saw a bailiff all day this was a prime stretch to fish for the barbel nevertheless we would not be put off.
We set up on the stretch of water where I had the big catch years ago which was thirty five fish but those days of big bags is over. Rather than fish two rods we chose one each it did not take graham long to hook into a fish it was not huge but very welcome I hour later he was in a gain but this was no small fish it started to swim upstream against the current putting a good bend in his rod after what seemed a long time he eventually got it near the net but it was away again this was a good fish we never even caught sight of it. The fished stayed down deep you could tell it was big the way it fought, once again he brought it to the net and the hook link parted company all I could say was bloody hell graham I am sorry mate over the last fifty years of friendship I had said that many times.
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Graham with his first fish

I could not catch so I changed to a three ft hook link of fluorocarbon this made the difference although I waited some time. I was feeding the ducks when my rod tip slammed around causing a good bend in the top of the rod I had no need to strike and within minutes I had a nice fish in the net it was not a biggie but very welcome Graham was catching on big halibut and aniseed pellets so i was due for a change the next cast saw me into a much bigger fish which in the current gave

a good account of itself we were just below the weir so the current always runs a bit fast. I usually use a big three oz feeder stuffed with small halibut pellets and fish meal which once again proved successful for both of us.
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My first Barbel

My next fish was a big old chub not really big but a nice fish all the same we fished on until tea time without another bite we are both getting on a bit so called it a day i suppose we should of stayed and fished the evening but we were both tired and were both pleased we had caught well I have some photos so I will now put them up cant wait to have ago next week it will be to busy this weekend as its bank holiday. well a bit more latter
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The biggest barbel of the day a very nice fish

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The last fish of the day the chub
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   Old Thread  #509 21 Aug 2013 at 11.09am  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #508
Going for the barbell tomorrow lets hope we catch a couple the river has been up and its running a dirty colour just how I like it. When I left school I became a butcher boy I really hated it the wages were only two pounds ten shilling a week. I could make more poaching the local lakes and woods, my boss was really a bit of a bugger his name was Mr Roberts if I did anything wrong he would give me a punch I thought to myself carry on old cock you will see a different side to me if you keep on using me as a punch bag.
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Me with a big Barbell

I was in the shop this one day and a lady came in who knew me hi Pete she said can you get me a brace of pheasants, well the old bugger, hears what she said after she went he said you can't sell game here especially poached game. I explained I had no intention of selling it in the shop I would take the pheasants to her house if you don't stop poaching, i'll tell the police he said well that was that I told him what to do with the job you can't do that he said but I did and never looked back. It did not take me long to get another job that was really well paid the year was 1958 I was earning sixteen pounds per week and only sixteen, i worked with lots of Irish navies they were great men and treated me very well the foreman got to know I did a bit of poaching, and word soon spread I had that many orders that I found it a bit hard to cope, the only thing I did not like most wanted them dressed and ready for the oven, well I mentioned it to Mr Donnelly the foreman bring them to work he said you can dress them in the shed and that is what I did I really had a good relationship with them all I still see some of the men, they are a lot older than myself and now live in Shrewsbury they were great days.
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Another barbell caught in the dark
I found I could not poach just one estate, as I would get caught my orders reached over twenty some weeks so I started to go abroad what I mean I visited other shoots in my area, one was old bells shoot at Condover he was a good keeper and never missed much I was warned about him from the locals on our village but it never stopped me. I would be out with my trusted air gun I would leave home before dark hide my bike and then walk the rest of the way across the fields, the one wood was mostly fir the others oak in season they put thousands of Pheasents, down the one pen was huge it took nearly a whole wood this one pen held over seven thousand birds the problem was the keepers, were out at night watching their birds, it was big business for the estates and the syndicates paid huge sums of money for the privilege to shoot.

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Bell cottage hidden in the woods he has long gone

I was chased on a few occasions but I knew the woods, and the lay of the land I got wet a few time fording the river, I fell off the waterfall, a couple of times trying to get to the other side but they were grand days I loved it and if chased it was part of the game it certainly put my adrenaline up I have hid up trees, even lay in the water, I had the dogs walk over me this once I was hidden in a ditch covered over with undergrowth the dogs walked over me and never even smelt a thing, I really thought I would be caught I could hear the keepers and police talking my name was mentioned I did not know what to do laugh or cry but I got away i sat on a stile beside the railway and really had a laugh about it all, The Sgt did visit my house the very next day but good old mum said I was in bed. well theres a bit more. more to come latter.
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One of old bells woods I used to poach
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   Old Thread  #508 16 Aug 2013 at 11.04am  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #507
I was standing beneath the overhanging hedge I could see clearly across the woodland floor it was a fox, shoot i could hear the hounds, in the distance these foxes, had caused considerable damage to the local farmers the wood bottom was mostly fern and brambles then I saw him in the distance he was beautiful in his rustic coat he stopped and sniffed the air, he knew he was being hunted this was his territory I was one of twenty guns.
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Looking back to the woods where the fox came forward

I watched as he made his way forward he criss crossed the woodland path, he would stop and look around then continue forward to where I stood. I made no sound I waited patiently I knew where he was heading I knew this fox he was magnificent animal, he was big the white of his throat, stood out it was like a lions mane. I watched as he moved closer not a noise did he make before I knew it we faced each other there was no more than a meter between us he looked at me with those beautiful eyes I put my gun, to my shoulder I could not pull the trigger, I knew him well we had crossed paths so many times. I said aloud i'll meet with you another day , I could hear the hounds coming closer I watched as he passed me by he went through the water to my left stopped looked back and he was gone he will live for another day.
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The big wood where the foxes ran beside the water to hide their scent

As I faced the wood in front I could see the hounds, a shot rang out deep within the wood, the hounds still came forward they were heading my way and were on the scent of my old friend the dog fox, no he would be well away by now they had picked up his scent, but could not get a line on him, as he had ran throught the water course, that was beside the big hedge. The huntsman arrived have you seen him pete yes says I, where did he go way over there I said I could not shoot he was to far away . Then away they went down through the wood it was not long before the dogs were in full cry they were onto another fox, five more minutes past me by then the sound rang out bang, bang, and then another bang, then silence I made my way forward to the guns, and dogs, have you got any I shouted no said the nearest gun they both got away the undergrowth, was to thick where did they go I asked with a grin on my face under the fence and down the field the old chap over there had a go and missed, never mind there is next week can we follow on down the field the huntsman asked they were very lucky they had got their dogs back no said I the farmer, is very anti and would call the police and that was that for today. This is a bit more about a day in my life. more latter.
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   Old Thread  #507 15 Aug 2013 at 10.19am  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #506
As I walked across the fields the sharp wind stung my face it was October, and I was going to do my rounds, I was bailiff, and looked after the woods and the lakes, in the distance I could hear dogs barking, as I got nearer to the woods I could also smell someone smoking a pipe, I got over the barbed wire fence that surrounded this part of the wood I got into the undergrowth that grew around the side of the lake and made way forward to where I could hear the dogs barking .

As I approached I could see four men the dogs, were terriers, they were literally going mad to get into the hole, the men were digging, I could see they were after the badgers, it was quite away to fetch any help from the owners, and my phone, would not work I could get a signal, bloody hell I said to myself fours to many to approach. I had my gun with me i'll try and frighten them I put two cartridges in the chambers bang bang over their heads bringing down a shower of twigs, the one man fell down in his haste to get away they were shouting to one another bring the nets and tongs they managed to get their dogs, over the fence, I gave them another just for luck bang well I nearly fell down laughing if you could of seen the way they went down the field they were loaded with spades dogs bags I looked at the badger, set they had not succeeded to kill any I made my way to the owners house and managed to call the police they were here within minutes including the helicopter, which way did they go I was asked towards the A49 I said it was quite away across the fields to the main road so they may just catch them.
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The badger

But it was not to be they had gone we had no colour of their car or make so it was hopeless I was bloody mad they had got away, I had known these badgers for years infact Graham, Bernard and I used to see them worming when we were out at night shooting the rabbits. I can't stand cruelty I was quite upset most of the next week but three weeks later we got good news they had caught them we had not heard but they had arrested them the same day I saw them. Apparently they were followed to a house in stoke they must have had them on record I was told their equipment, was confiscated and they appeared in court I think two of the men got prison the other two a fine and community service from that day on we have never had any more trouble I kept a close eye on the set but it was never disturbed again. well a bit more latter

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The woods I caught the men in
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   Old Thread  #506 10 Aug 2013 at 11.03am  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #505
Yesterday I went to a dear friends funeral he was a member of my syndicate for a number of years, he only went into hospital for an operation to put a stent, in and never came out he was only sixty five, and had just retired it really got me thinking how fragile our bodies,are I try and live my life to the full and enjoy every day my friend had everything to live for a wonderful family his fishing and shooting,life is so short I really feel for his family but time will heal .

I myself has had a wonderful life and many of my generation called me a jack the lad I was I would roam the woods,the fields,any where I could get a free meal I was given an air gun one xmas it really changed my life it was nothing like today's air guns but I became quite a good shot using it. My friend the keeper whose name was Sam, put a new spring in the gun, he used it to shoot the rooks, which he ate in a big pie, god it was a powerful Sam told me to be careful as it was now very powerful I could shoot a hole through a big tin bucket that gun went everywhere I went even thought I was only about ten years old it was the early fifties and things were very hard it was only about five years since the war finished. the keepers that came home after the war had a lot to contend with clearing the vermin,and building new pens,they put hundreds of pheasants, down for the gentry to shoot, they were daft birds, the woods and field were full of them so it was only a matter of going up the fields hiding in a ditch it was not long before I had shot one or two birds for the table they were always appreciated by my parents and our neighbours in those days we helped one another which is sadly lacking today.

When I was fourteen we moved back to my village where I was born its name was Bayston hill, this is were a lot of my poaching was done I went to school in condover,it was surrounded with rivers and woods some I got to know very well there were a number of keepers, one was old Frank bell,he was old school and knew his job he looked after the river as well as his pheasants the small river was stocked with trout it was for the wealthy friends of the landowners I watched them fly fish and some were very good. I used the humble worm,or spin with a minnow, mounted on a flight it was so easy I only fished at night it was nothing to catch twenty beautifully spotted brownies I never took all only the bigger fish, those around a pound I well remember my mother doing them for breakfast she was so frightened I would get caught but I never did I had the keepers and police,chase me on a few occasions and i always got away I knew the area well as it was the place of my birth I will tell you more later about old Frank bell,and his under keepers. well a bit more latter
petethecrip
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   Old Thread  #505 5 Aug 2013 at 11.26am  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #504
Raining again but we really need it the ground is so hard it will take a bit to soak in. It should do the fishing some good, graham and I are going to have a try for the barbell, next week we have been fishing for the carp, we have caught a few but no size and it has been far to hot, Thursday really got to me and graham I felt sick and giddy from the extreme heat I was a bit wobbly on my pins as well we should have really put our umbrellas, up. And should have known better at our age I ended up having a cold shower when I got home which made me feel alot better then I started to shiver which went on for a couple of days I think we were not to far from having sunstroke.

I have been trying to remember when I last did a bit of poaching I know graham was with me we had been out with the rifle rabbiting this one hedge that ran throught the property consisted of big hawthorn trees I shone the light up into the hedge what a surprise we got I counted at least twenty Pheasents, that had gone up to roost. It was all to much and we had six of them I suppose that must have been in the sixties we did not like the farmer the other side of the hedge, it was the boundary between the two farms he was an awkward old cuss who reared a few birds for his own shoot he ran a syndicate the members were mostly farmer friends he was always asking us to clear his rabbits he was a big church man and had his own bench in the church with his name on it, because we cleared his rabbits, he also thought we should go to church and thank god, for all we had no way and we told him so after that he was never the same man but as I have said we had a few of his birds we had no trouble getting rid of them and with the rabbits we made quite a bit of money.

There was many ways to make a bit of money in those days Christmas, was 0ne such time we would cut the holy, and sell it to the local shop, the occasional Christmas tree, went missing from the woods, that had been planted with fir. The forestry commission, would cut them down in there hundreds and send them all over the country to Birmingham, London, and all the major cities, it was big business we had a few when they cut them down but you would really have to watch yourselves as they kept an eye open and watched the trees, night and day right up until Christmas, the ones we took we had orders for and sold them to the locals, another way was to shoot the Pheasents, that would mean going out at night. We had no trouble getting rid of the birds, as most of the locals, would buy them it was hard going in those days and this was how we made our pocket money. well a bit more latter

petethecrip
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   Old Thread  #504 1 Aug 2013 at 10.17pm  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #502
It was so hot today we came back early from fishing we could not stand the heat we did catch but nothing big we keep trying as we have seen one or two big fish in the lake, I had a moorhen, and her chicks, to keep me company most of the day I took one or two photo she has done well to rear six chicks, one thing that has delighted me was to see a water vole, it looks if the owner has one or two of these lovely little animals he was quite chuffed when I told him I do hope he has no trouble with mink, in the future as they will kill them they are becoming quite scarce in our countryside when I was a youngster they were quite common but the arrival of the mink was their demise.
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The young moor hens
I was talking to my mate graham about the wildlife, when we were young there was an abundance of birds and animals, that we don't see so much today I personally put that down to farming methods that has forced a lot of our wildlife to disappear. One bird I did see today was a curlew, we don't see so many in our county now the hay field have disappeared that the bird, favoured for its nest, when I was young I would watch the bird land in the hay field and find its nest it had four eggs, beautifully marked to blend in with the surrounding ground you could easily walk over the nest if you were not careful. They were lovely days I would also lie down at the side of a plowed field and watch the peewit commonly known as the lapwing it would land on the plow then run to its nest I could find at least three nest in a field we did eat them in the forties and fifties my mother would pickle them in those days but it is another bird that I has nearly vanished from our county.



I loved birds nesting when I was a young boy I was quite a good climber I could shin up most trees I used to collect the eggs until I met Sam the gamekeeper he taught me to look but not take write down where the nest was and how many eggs or chicks the nest held. It was funny really as Sam had a huge collection from the days of his youth and his job helped but as he got older he got more into conservation although he was a gamekeeper he had a soft touch when it came to wildlife, I always remember a badger, getting caught in a snare he took some wire cutters held him down with a pikle it had really cut into his flesh so he got the animal into a sack and took it home for his wife to look after and she did and it survived a few weeks latter Sam took me along to release it back into the wild it was Sam who learned me so much about wild life and to do a bit of poaching oh yes he would poach the trout and grayling. well a bit more latter
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Picking the food for the chicks

billybaltic
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   Old Thread  #503 30 Jul 2013 at 8.26pm  0  Login    Register
petethecrip
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   Old Thread  #502 29 Jul 2013 at 10.48am  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #500
When I lived at craven arms that was in the late forties and early fifties all the lakes, and streams, were private the only way you could fish was to poach and I did my fair share of that there was a farmer whose name was price, he had a stretch of the Onny he kept it for his own use, I would watch him fly fish, he was very good and always caught a few I poached it many times using little red worms from prices, farmyard he would have blown a fuse if he thought I was using them to catch his trout.

He was a nice old boy he would say to yours truly go and collect the eggs, if you have the time, he had hundreds of chickens all free range to be honest I don't think he knew how many he had he would give me a bucket to put the eggs, in they would lay there eggs, any where in the woods, under the rhododendron bushes, in the haystack, it really kept me busy it would take all Saturday morning i would fill the bucket to the top he would always give me a dozen and some crisps for helping out I always kept an extra dozen for family and friends what he didn't see never hurt this was in late forties, I was only around eight years old we had to survive the best way we could as it was just after the war.

A neighbour gave me a big hob ferret, I carried him everywhere I went even school,with him he slept curled up in my shirt I was in a miss juckes, class she blurted out whatever smells I got into rather a lot of trouble with that ferret of course it was me I took the ferret, out of my shirt miss juckes, gave a big shriek and shouted take that thing home which I did I was sent to see the headmaster whose name was kennedy he could see the funny side and let me off with a few strict words my mother was always saying take that ferret, out of your shirt it makes you smell but I did not I always carried him there to my mother's disgust, he caught us a good many rabbits, over the years until myxomatosis reared it ugly head that really hit us badly we lived on rabbit, some of the estates also suffered they made a lot of revenue from the humble rabbit.

With the rabbits, dead due to the disease, I started to catch the pheasant, there were hundreds put down for shooting they were quite easy to catch but you had to watch the game keepers, I learned fast I had a few with my catapult but I also did well lying in the undergrowth using a fishing line a hook and sultanas, they would take them greedily it was easy to catch half a dozen and it was always appreciated by my parents and neighbors mum worried that I might get caught I told her not to worry I can run faster than them I never did get caught but I had a few near misses over the years. well more latter
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   Old Thread  #501 27 Jul 2013 at 5.22pm  0  Login    Register
petethecrip
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   Old Thread  #500 26 Jul 2013 at 10.39pm  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #499
If i was asked what do I miss most I would answer not being able to walk my beloved hill country its been a big part of my life I loved to be out on a windy night when the moon was full and I could watch the shadows from the clouds dance across the fields or the call of the fox from the distant woods or watch a family of badgers worming in the valleys, or to poach the trout from the babbling stream this is what I miss most.

one such stream was full of brown trout the owner would never let anyone near he gave no one permission in fact he was grumpy old bugger but I did not heed his warning he had signs nailed on trees poachers will be prosecuted, sod his signs I said to my friend Dougie, I will have some of those fish, and I did I would creep into the woods , the stream ran through the woods, all I took was a spinning rod, I mounted minnows,I had caught that morning on a flight, into the water I went it was only up to my knees I would cast to the far bank let it swing around in the current the rod tip would hoop over and I was into a fish they were lovely trout beautiful bronze flanks and covered in spots
they were lovely for eating they were only about half a pound the biggest a pound but we needed them to eat as our life was quite hard wages were not that good. Dougie would not believe I had fished that water he knew the owner who he said was a bit of a nasty man if he caught you would be in court, or even get a hiding, his got to catch me first I said with a smile and a wink you coming with me next time I go Dougie you must be joking he said ill go most place but not there the mans off his head not only that he has those big Alsatians, if they grab you they will do some damage yes but they have to catch me first.

I was there one night when I heard barking in the distance I never took much notice until they came closer oh it was him the mad hatter and his dogs, I was already in the water so I moved across the stream and kept to the far bank still in the water, it was not that deep there was a bridge downstream that's where I was heading I could hear the dogs they were quite near it was dark the far side where I was and there was no scent, I stayed under some overhanging branches I heard the owner call his dogs, back. Good job the water was warm I made my way forward half swimming half walking it was a bit awkward with my rod still in my hand but I made the bridge and lay on the ledge above the water I could hear talking I wondered who was with him whoever it was said no ones here tonight sir, I pushed my head up craning my neck to see who it was but it was to dark, I had got sixteen trout in my bag that was also wet through, they stayed taking for over one hour then I heard Cyril, ring me at the station if you get any trouble, thanks sgt I was away to my bike and up the field I went getting home around two thirty in the morning I laid the fish out on a big plate my family would certainly enjoy them and some would go to our neighbors and friends. more latter
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   Old Thread  #499 22 Jul 2013 at 8.49pm  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #498
Well I am back from holiday god has it been hot, just like when I was a small boy the hedgerows have been ablaze with flowers, all sorts the foxgloves, have been absolutely stunning I can well remember walking the lanes of Shropshire when I was a lad the hedge rows would be alive with wildlife, and covered in flowers, the fields were not sprayed and the meadows, were also full of flowers,, I would lie down in the tall grass and listen to the grasshoppers, chirping away and watch the skylark, high up in the blue sky.

I would also listen for the mew of the buzzard, or the call of the curlew, they were wonderful days I played truant from school on more than one occasion I would go fishing, all day or birds, nesting I loved the countryside I learned how to set a snare for the rabbits, I learned that from the rabbit, catcher they were the days of my youth that will never return. My schoolmistress was a miss Thomas she called me out of class this one day I thought what have I done now, peter, she said I hear you catch a few rabbits, and the odd pheasant, what could I say other than yes miss I nearly fell over when she said can you get me a couple of rabbits, and maybe a brace of pheasants, when in season yes miss I said in a trembling voice. I walked away with a big grin my face and to be honest I did take her a few I would take them to her bungalow and she always gave me a couple of bob which was an awful lot of money I could buy fishing hooks, sweets, or a comic, or two the eagle, was one such comic the dandy, was another they were wonderful days.

I loved to walk the river side I would take my rod, with me may was wonderful month I would watch the big hatch of mayflies, the river would be covered in spent flies I would use the smallest hook I could get I would stick a hook through a dead may fly, and float it down the side of the river god they would take it greedily causing a shower of silver spray they were beautiful fish, with their golden flanks covered in spots, they only weighed about a pound a good size for eating any moor hens eggs, found would be taken home to eat , we would also see the water vole, they were not rare like today but were a common sight i would also see the otter, in those days they were a shy animal and kept out of your way they were hunted by the otter hounds and were kept to a manageable level as I have said before the river ran red with the blood of this animal. I loved all the wildlife and could not stand and watch this brutality but looking back it was a necessity to control this predator from taking the trout and grayling this river held. well a little more latter



petethecrip
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   Old Thread  #498 19 Jul 2013 at 7.43pm  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #497
Thanks paul and William really appreciate your remarks just got back from holidays more stories to come
mitchell300
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   Old Thread  #497 18 Jul 2013 at 11.33pm  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #496
great story that pete
billybaltic
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   Old Thread  #496 16 Jul 2013 at 8.22pm  0  Login    Register
Great stuff.
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   Old Thread  #495 12 Jul 2013 at 4.35am  0  Login    Register
Message Suppressed by Forum Moderator.
petethecrip
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   Old Thread  #494 10 Jul 2013 at 10.18pm  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #493
Thanks pete appreciated
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   Old Thread  #493 10 Jul 2013 at 11.09am  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #492
Lovely story there Pete. Makes you wonder if we really need our ipads and games consoles! How lifestyles have chenged eh!
petethecrip
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   Old Thread  #492 10 Jul 2013 at 11.00am  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #490
These wonderfull days of summer really remind me of my childhood as young lads and living in the countryside we would be out from early morning, until late evening, our parents knew we were safe I spent a lot of my time in the big woods, that surrounded my home. I would be away birds, nesting or just watching the wildlife, I loved bird watching the woods, lanes,and fields, were full of the different species of birds, more than we see today a lot of our bird, life is vanishing mainly due to farming methods, there habitat, has gone one bird that we are not seeing any more is the curlew, when I was a youngster I would lie in the hay fields and watch where they landed the nest never took much finding there were lots of these bird around. Where I used to see eight or nine we now see two the bullfinch, is another they were quite common we don't see any in our area they have long gone its a real shame as they were a beautiful bird.

I loved those woods and I would be away all day I always carried a catapult I was brought up with one in my pocket and became quite a good shot with it. I made my own amo out of lead which I collected from the railway sidings it was used on the pigeon, crates they let go thousands of these birds every week they came by train from all over the country mostly on a Saturdays. So I collected the lead seals and melted them down making some lead chunks for my catapult I got quite good I would shoot the rabbits that couched in the big nettle beds or in the hedgerows although I was young I could still get in serious trouble if I got caught as the rabbits, were owned by the big farms and estates they made quite a lot of revenue from of the rabbits, they would be sent by train to the big cities and sold to the game dealers I think they got about sixpence apiece for them but this all stopped in nineteen fifty two when myxomatosis arrived killing most but not all how some survived I cannot say but a few did in small pockets around the country we relied on the rabbit for our dinners we even had it at school, so it was a disaster.

I turned my attention to the pheasant they were stupid birds and were so easy to catch where I lived there were thousands all I needed was a length of fishing line a hook a few sultanas and you were sure of a few they loved sultanas and currants I could catch half a dozen within half an hour they were really appreciated back home and became our Sunday dinner we always shared with our neighbors and friends we never locked our back doors and we would arrive home to find and someone had left some potatoes, and maybe, some onions, or carrots, that's how we got by in those years they were hard food was still rationed cheese butter tea but we got by with help from our neighbours we shared and helped one another sadly lacking today. I poached the brown trout in the rivers and streams a change in diet I could catch up to twenty every time I went out so we never starved I would have to watch out for the river bailiffs, and keepers, we had at least three bailiffs, they were in charge of different sections of the rivers I never got caught I would watch what time they did there rounds. I even supplied a few to miss Thomas our school teacher but that's another story. well a little bit more latter.

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the pheasents stupid birds so easy to catch
billybaltic
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   Old Thread  #491 8 Jul 2013 at 8.31am  0  Login    Register
petethecrip
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   Old Thread  #490 5 Jul 2013 at 5.58pm  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #488
God it was hot fishing, yesterday I got burned but the day before we got rather wet packing up. We have caught one or two but no real big fish but plenty from ten to fifteen pounds god do they fight on light tackle there are a number of biggies in the water I have seen a few myself. The owner has been really good to us both and allows myself and graham to take the car down to the lake which helps a lot no lugging tackle around to our swim we are going to carry on fishing, there to see what we come up with. The wildlife is amazing which also keeps us occupied , I really have never seen so many dragonflies in my life yesterday I saw a complete black one with a big black spots on both wings, I did try to get a photo but it proved impossible I have loved wild life and have never seen a black dragonfly before maybe others have but this was my first time it was certainly a beautiful sight.

On the lake are a pair of Canada geese they have reared six young ones, they have done really well to rear them all they are very near flying and are trying to take of from the water but as yet they have not managed it god the male, is so protective of his brood, he even attacked my car when we past them on the way home. They had been grazing on the grass around the lake he tried to peck the tyres on my car we both found it quite amusing . well we have really enjoyed fishing this lake but would really like to try a few days after the barbell but the reports have not been good around Shrewsbury it has been awful although Rodger my friend the bailiff did very well last week fishing a short session from four pm until nine he caught fifteen barbell one roach and a chub biggest barbell ten pound eight oz a good fish he went back the next evening same swim and blanked funny really but that's how it is fishing there one day gone the next.
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A big barbell caught by me six years ago
When i was a youngster the rivers were full of fish from Dace, to salmon, there was no barbell, then the dominant fish were roach, Dace, and chub, I loved to fish for the roach you always had a chance of catching a two pounder most were around half pound to around a pound we would ledger with bread paste, we would catch good bags but those days have sadly gone to many predators the smaller fish, don't stand a chance with goose sanders, they take everything in their path we also have the mink and cormorants the fish really don't stand a chance so catching large bags like we did is only a memory, Really sad I can't see it improving if we don't have some sort of control before long the rivers will be void of small fish. The big bags of dace, have vanished so have the big shoals of minnows, and roach, all gone we don't have the big runs of salmon, like we used to a lot of the anglers I know have packed in your lucky to catch one fish, a season most anglers catch nowt when I was young you could catch two or three salmon, per session but those days are over I think the older anglers like myself have seen the good times I hope they will return, but I doubt it will not be in my lifetime, but it remains to be seen I sometimes think man is destroying himself I really hope not but looking at the wildlife when I was youngster the woods and fields were full of different species of birds not any more a lot have vanished I blame a lot on farming methods but not all I sometime think man is destroying him self. I really hope not as the future of all wild life is in our hands . A little more latter

. A little more latter.
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A nice chub
billybaltic
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   Old Thread  #489 1 Jul 2013 at 4.20pm  0  Login    Register
petethecrip
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   Old Thread  #488 29 Jun 2013 at 8.44pm  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #487
I lived in the woods and fields when I was young my parents knew where I would be I loved the wildlife. Fishing and shooting was my life but it was a necessity in the late fifties for our food most of the rabbits, had died out through Myxomatosis, so it was other game that kept us in food my first real gun was a webley, four ten there was no finesse or skill in my shooting, in those days I shot so we could survive I learned early on in life how to poach the pheasant, duck, and trout, I would wait for the ducks, to come into the flight pool I would lie in the reed beds and when the duck, came within range I would shoot them on the water I have shot two birds, with one shot the water was a bit cold in October but in I got and fetched the birds, or pulled them in with a long stick, it was not only duck, the one pool was no more than acre it held some wonderful trout, the keeper would come down to the pool every evening to feed his ducks, after he would be away to the pub I would watch from a distance he would ride his old bike to the three fishes public house, and would not go back home until chucking out time which in those days was ten thirty or by the discretion of the landlord could go on until midnight, by this time the keeper, would be well and truly drunk, he would ride his bike back through the woods falling off a few times before he got to his cottage.
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The woods I poached
This was the time I poached the trout, I would set night lines with a big bunch of worms cover the line over with soil and peg it down the old keeper, was not interested he was to busy snoring in his bed, I was I usually set around ten lines I would be back before first light there would be eight or nine trout, caught I would then reset the lines and away home I would go. It was to easy I should have known it would come to a sudden end I went this one night to have a look at the lines, I had reset that morning. I had caught around five trout, when I noticed a car lights coming up the road towards the pool I nearly left it to late to get away it was no car but the police landrover ,it was the Sgt and two police constables, then I heard a shout it was the keepers stay where you are, if he thought I would he was severly mistaken I hid my bag and the trout, and away I went god they had dogs I was over the fence into the field there was a drainage ditch further down the field full of water, I was in up to my knees I ran down the ditch and came out by the quarry up I climbed into the nearest tree it was an old oak covered in ivy I lay across the highest branch and covered myself up I stayed there for at least two hours the dogs lost my scent when I went into the water I did hear them shouting in the distance but I was safe before I got home I retrieved my bag and fish, on arriving home my mother said the police had called and wanted to know where I was in bed she said good job he never looked they had got my parents out of bed, mother used to get scared I would get caught don't worry mum I would say I can run faster than them and I could but I also knew the lay off the land which helped greatly it was now 3am and time for bed I had many incidents with the keepers they knew it was me but could not prove it and I can tell you all they never did well theres a bit more about my life as a poacher and its all true. a bit more latter
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More water I poached or the brown trout
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More woods that I poached














petethecrip
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   Old Thread  #487 25 Jun 2013 at 11.03am  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #485
I am going fishing tomorrow and Thursday so I will carry on with my stories the weather seems to have picked up so its out with the rods I can not wait I have fished with graham for over fifty years its been a fantastic friendship and I hope it continues for a few more years. We have both fished most of the lakes and rivers in our area and its not always been legal one such lake is not far from my home its a beautiful place with a few nice Tench, and eels, its set in beautiful gardens, the lawns reach down to the lake side we would hide the car and walk across the fields to the water we did not take a chair but would sit in the sun house that was built beside the lake we could open the doors and just sit there it was wonderful and all the times we fished it we never got caught once. It was alive with wildlife, we used the sun loungers to fish from and we caught some beautiful eels, a friend of mine caught one weighing seven pounds the place was alive with them the water was covered in lilies, pinks and whites some one in the past had spent a lot of time looking after the place we also caught some very nice Tench, not huge they averaged around for pounds but did they fight before leaving we would put everything back as it should be and close the doors not once were we discovered.

Long before I met graham I poached another lake not many people knew it existed only a few friends and they would never take the chance because it was to close to the farmhouse but I fished it at night it was a mixed fishery and I started to catch trout, big ones three pounds plus there were rainbows, and browns, the owner was a grumpy old bugger he must of stocked them he was known as a bit of nasty kind of a chap and if he caught you on his land
would not hesitate to give you a slap and fetch the police,and you would be put in court not many people liked him and kept away I was fishing on the lake this one night when I heard this tractor, coming up the field towards me it was him how on earth he knew I was there I don't know but it was closely followed by a land rover,
you could see the light flashing blue just behind me was a wood so over the fence I got I hid the rod and up the nearest tree, I went I could hear them talking it was the sgt from my village with another pc apparently they were not after me but someone had seen some men with dogs, on his land he said they were lamping funny really I had seen nothing it could've been old jack the gypsy, and his friends they were out most night catching the Hares, I had been with him a few times when I went down to his camp he always had a few hanging behind the caravan.

I heard the farmer say sorry I called you out no problem replied the sgt and away they went I was back on the lake in minutes I caught some nice Rudd, and Tench, with a few trout, thrown in which I kept I looked at my watch it was two thirty in the morning I must make for home before first light as I walked past the quarry I stopped I could hear talking as I got a bit closer I could see it was the sgt and constable, they were waiting to see if any one appeared across the adjacent field so over the hedge I got and crossed the railway line and into the lane that led to our village I got home around three thirty what a night I had five nice trout, were in my bag the one was about four pounds so my parents would be pleased well that's another story about my life it would be around 1959 and theres more stories to follow. more a little latter
billybaltic
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billybaltic
   Old Thread  #486 23 Jun 2013 at 3.40pm  0  Login    Register
Keep them coming mate, that ferret reminded me of a few good mornings, i haven't smelt one for years now.
petethecrip
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petethecrip
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   Old Thread  #485 21 Jun 2013 at 11.28pm  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #483
I loved to walk in the high country over the bogs and ditches with my trusty old gun in my hands we shot for food and we would walk miles in search for a rabbit or two they were black rabbits, that's all we saw in this ruff hill country . It was hard going we had a trusty terrier that would find them and drive them out for us to shoot the land was covered in broom and gorse we would retire at dinner time and went to the minors arms any rabbits we had shot we would sell to the land lord I would sit in front of a roaring fire with a pint and a pork pie they were lovely days we poached the streams the woods belonging to the lord I will mention no names as he was a member of parliament as his son is now I would shoot the duck, on the pools that bordered the estate the woods were keepered they also shot the grouse, from buts on the hill tops I would watch from afar they would shoot quite a few. We walked the mountain tops in search of a grouse, or two but did not have any success.
 photo DSC00155.jpg
The hills and bogs we used to walk and poach

The pheasants were obliging and shot a few when our dog, flushed them out of the broom and gorse Dougie my friend was quite a good shot but he worried me his gun stock was held together with wire he would say dust thou worry about my old gun it be good for a few years yet bloody hell he could certainly use it he worried me he shot this lamb, lets get it home Pete I said you will get us put away no I have had them before how many only about ten over the years god he was a real poacher, he got his grandad to fetch it latter that night he took me to see his father he was a road man and lived in one of the road houses, it was on wheels so it was moved to where he was working he had a bed and one chair but it was very comfortable with the coke fire burning in the big stove in the corner he had a few rabbits, hanging out side he did a bit of poaching him self he kept the ferrets, in a cadge in the same room he was a hard man and lived a ruff life, but got by with the money from his job and the bit of poaching it was sad really they found him one morning on the moor he had been to the pub and had a heart attack but he died in the country side he loved so much

 photo DSC00152.jpg
looking back to my beloved hill country the minors arms in the distance


We got by but it was hard when the snow came it hindered us quite a bit but we took our chances and poached the keepers coverts we did not take many birds, just enough to survive on the same estate was a small lake it was stocked with rainbow trout, for the owners and his friends pleasure we both would set a few night lines it was a bit dodgy as the lake was in front of the hall but we would cast a line out with worms on the hook then cover the line with soil and peg it down we would set half a dozen come back in the evening just as it was going dark we would catch half a dozen, recast and cover with soil, then we would be away we had to live they gave us a change to our diet but we were treading on dangerous ground it was heavily keeper but they were great days if some one said would you do it again my answer would be yes but you don't get another bite of the cherry but I have my memories there are not many of us left now but I loved every minute of it. more a bit latter

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Another from hill country


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the dog flushed the rabbits from the beautiful gorse





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Dougie dad kept the ferrets in the road side hut were he slept

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WHERE I LIVED
billybaltic
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billybaltic
   Old Thread  #484 21 Jun 2013 at 4.14pm  0  Login    Register
Watching the wildlife has always been a big part of my fishing.
petethecrip
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petethecrip
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   Old Thread  #483 20 Jun 2013 at 9.35am  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #482
What a morning absolutely pouring with rain I was off fishing once again looks if I will have to unload the car and put the tackle back in the house, its not that I don't like wet weather but I don't like getting wet setting up so we will go and have a look at another water that we are both thinking of fishing. I always remember one night graham and I went fishing I suppose it was in the late sixties . we never bothered much about rain but this was something much different and I could have been killed we set up on a local Mere it was not to bad a warm humid night when it started to thunder the lightning was absolutely spectacular we were under our umbrellas they were not very good in those days heavy and cumbersome and not entirely water proof I have peronaly I have never
seen rain ,or lightning,like it with every flash you could see the other side of the mere I got up out of my chair to talk to graham when there was an almighty crash the tree behind where I was fishing was hit and it crashed down onto my bed chair god was I lucky it smashed the chair to smithereens it certainly would have killed or injured me badly there was only one thing for it to pack our rods and head for home It never stopped raining all night I was never so glad to see home we both said never again.
 photo Image1.jpg
Home to shrewsbury
When I was youngster I would be out in all weather one lake I poached was full of eels there was no shortage in those days I would be away before dark all I took was one rod and a tin full of lob worms I would put a big bunch of these big riddlers ,on the hook out I would cast it was not long before my silver paper indicator shot up as the eel took line from the spool on the reel you never knew what size you would catch it could be anything from two to four pounds this would be in the early sixties they were wonderful to eat I used to get orders from the locals but I soon stopped this and put them back they were wonderful days although you didn't have much money I loved my fishing and the countryside I would watch the foxes, and all wild animals the little door mouse used to amaze me I would pick it up it would be curled up in its nest it never stirred from its sleep they seem quite rare today they were lovely days no one bothered me I was a jack the lad I never liked taking any one with me as I was responsible for myself and not others I loved the freedom and walked the country side and poached the lakes and the keepers coverts I was not a thief I poached so we could live I loved the chase and I got a thrill from it. well a more latter
 photo recentchanges.jpg
The eel
petethecrip
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petethecrip
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   Old Thread  #482 19 Jun 2013 at 10.01am  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #479
what a wonderful day yesterday I even got sun burnt on a serous note Graham and I went to fish a new lake one we had not fished before. I suppose we are really lucky as grahams son in law has got a tackle shop on site and the owner told us we could take our car down to the water a great help as we are both a bit long in the tooth old age never comes without its problems my first cast produced a small mirror then graham had a long common we never caught any over ten pounds but they are certainly in the water I think the carp, had there minds on other things and had started to spawn it was follow the leader we saw some really good fish I tried on a floater to no avail graham suffered a bad back most of the day so we packed early but we will be back it is a most beautiful place peaceful and very quiet there were a few others fishing the place but all blanked we were the only ones to catch .
 photo 5c0dec67-f125-4b89-89c8-1b26a04b1780.jpg
the beautiful lake
As I sat there I reminisced about the past god when I was young I could walk great distances and run, most of the lakes I fished were poached you could not get permission for love or money one such lake was in the middle of a big wood right behind the keepers cottage it was surrounded by a big reed bed I caught some wonderful bream from the water not huge but in the six to seven pound mark I also caught some big eels, on ledgered worm they averaged three to five pounds in those days eels were eaten I loved them covered in batter and fried but I put most back the keeper would come down to the water to feed his ducks, there were hundreds on the lake I hid in the reed beds he never saw me once but it was a bit dodgy his dogs would bark all day which put me off a bit but I continued and never once got caught.

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Another of the lake
When they started to shoot the water for its ducks I would hide and watch the proceeding there were around sixteen guns they shot hundreds any that came down by me I would collect and put them into my bag the locals said you will be caught, they would come no where near the place there were signs on the trees you will be shot on sight if caught in these woods, I must admit I had a few shots over my head to frighten me the keepers were old school hard men who would stand no messing. Back to the ducks some times I got to greedy and found I could not carry them all home so I would hide some and fetch them latter there was so many shot a few would not be missed we always shared them out with friends and neighbors no one refused a free meal in those days. well a bit more latter
petethecrip
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   Old Thread  #481 18 Jun 2013 at 8.26pm  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #480
Thanks ken appreciated
KenTownley
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KenTownley
   Old Thread  #480 18 Jun 2013 at 8.06am  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #479
Have a good day, Pete. Catch a biggie. We are privileged to have you on here with your wealth of countryman's knowledge, experience and tales.
petethecrip
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petethecrip
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   Old Thread  #479 18 Jun 2013 at 8.00am  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #478
Thanks William more stories latter gone fishing
billybaltic
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   Old Thread  #478 12 Jun 2013 at 9.37pm  0  Login    Register
petethecrip
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petethecrip
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   Old Thread  #477 12 Jun 2013 at 8.06pm  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #474
I loved the quietness of the night I could just stand in a wood and listen to the creatures of the night when I poached the pheasants, I was never frightened by the dark old SAM the keeper always said to me there's nowt out there that will hurt he only another human, and he was right I learned at a very young age to distinguish the different animal and bird, calls the fox, the owl, the badger, when by your self and a vixen, screams it will freeze your blood I have seen grown men shudder when hearing that call but it never really scared me old SAM taught me well as I have said before in part one of my stories SAM to me was a wonderful man he taught me all I have learned about nature, I have tried to pass it all on to my grandson and to grahams grandson we I are a dying breed no one really poaches these days there's no need you can buy game and fish from the big supermarkets things have really altered.
In the late forties and early fifties it was hard money, was hard to come by and what you earned was a pittance but we got by with a bit of help I started my poaching taking one or two rabbits, out of the keepers snares, well actually more than one or two I learned to reset the snare, I would be around before the keeper or rabbit, catcher did his rounds I would carry them back home, then I would skin and gut them which I had learned at old Sam house you will get caught he would say in broad Shropshire dialect but I never did I never touched old sam's pheasant or rabbits as he had been so good to me and my family.

Then it was the trout, I poached the rivers that surrounded my home my mother would worry that I would be caught dunna worry mum I would say I would Bring home as many as twenty trout at times and would catch them to order we always shared with our neighbors, I turned my hand to the pheasants, in the war years the estates got run down but after the owners employed new keepers if the old ones never returned they caught all the vermin they could and really stocked the estates with thousands of birds I loved to watch the posh nobs shooting i would hide in the under growth there was hundreds of birds shot it was no trouble picking a few birds, for my self they would not miss them I would pop them into my bag when I had got enough I would be away seven or eight birds were quite heavy for a youngster I would laugh when i heard one of the guns shout bird down over there keeper must be a runner sir as the dogs could ,not find the birds, no I had already picked them old SAM would say ya will get caught you wanna listen lad will you yer bone headed it goes through one and out the other he would say in broad Shropshire dialect I would laugh but I loved every bone in his body how many did yer get he would say five or six dunna you take mine he would answer with a big grin on his face and I never did. a bit more latter
ralph69
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ralph69
   Old Thread  #476 10 Jun 2013 at 10.41pm  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #474
bloody hell pete , didnt realise you was a gangster aswell
billybaltic
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billybaltic
   Old Thread  #475 10 Jun 2013 at 1.48pm  0  Login    Register
Good job you were only giving them a fright, would not like to hear what you would of done if you were trying to catch them, leg shots maybe to slow them down i'm glad i didn't poach around your area, i mainly wandered onto private river stretches, got a bit spooky sometimes, but not in your league, it's like a trip down memory lane, i never netted or nothing too extreme just a bit of flyfishing where i shouldn't of been, and was just for the sport, i did sometimes take one or two for my dad, as he said i was too soft returning them for someone else to enjoy, he didn't believe in returning trout, he wasn't to keen on using the small ones for pike baits, he said a couple of them make a meal, i always said he was a caveman. Keep them coming mate.
petethecrip
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petethecrip
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   Old Thread  #474 10 Jun 2013 at 10.34am  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #469
I have had a wonderful life I have done most things I loved nature I have fished and shot and would not of changed it for the world the trout,pools I poached all those years ago were in a valley with fir trees both sides of the pools,latter in my life I was asked by a local businessman, if I could stop the poachers taking his fish I had a look as I already knew the lay of the land it was not an easy place to catch the culprits, the syndicate where really fed up with individuals taking the fish.

So one saturday night I received a phone call telling me they were there on arriving half of there syndicate had turned up to many have you been down the lane I asked no said the gentleman who wanted the poaching stopped I could see they were there they where using lights,and it really showed on a dark night, I popped down the lane adjacent to the fishery and had a look I could see at least five fishing on two of the pools,they must have a car hidden some where do you want them frightened or caught ill leave it to you he said I had a friend with me his name was Ron what you going to do Pete said Ron,in my car I had a six shot Beretta automatic I filled it with shells and made my way across the field I arrived at the side of the fir trees that surrounded the pools up went the gun bang bang bang bang bang god what a noise it made it really echo in the valley all I heard was shouting the lights went out instantly and they were away I put another two in and gave it some more bloody hell the noise they made in there haste to get away I fell about laughing I put the gun away and took the syndicate leader down the pool for a look around the far end of the lake was a barbed wire fence one of the poachers had got stuck and had ripped his trousers badly in his haste to get away leaving part of his trouser leg on the fence he had dropped his rod as well.

We also found a net they had also been trying to net the pools they had left a couple of trout,behind I don't think they will come back I said to Walter who owned the pools he also ran the syndicate,I wonder how many fish they have had over the weeks Pete not many Walter they were not very professional using lights like that they are opportunists I said can you have a look next week Pete,I did and never saw any one else fishing the place so it was job well done I did the same to another similar pool which was in the first part of my stories if you cant catch them frighten them it certainly works . well a bit more latter
ralph69
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ralph69
   Old Thread  #473 8 Jun 2013 at 10.16pm  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #472
its quality isnt it , he was a right rascal .
keep it up pete
billybaltic
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billybaltic
   Old Thread  #472 8 Jun 2013 at 9.18pm  0  Login    Register
Love it.
petethecrip
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petethecrip
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   Old Thread  #471 7 Jun 2013 at 9.47pm  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #470
They certainly did many years after I was asked by a local businessman to try and catch the poachers funny really on the same pools, I did shift them but in there haste one of the offenders left part of his trouser on the barb wire fence also dropping his rod in his haste to get away.
billybaltic
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billybaltic
   Old Thread  #470 5 Jun 2013 at 6.41pm  0  Login    Register
I bet them trout tasted even better once you found out who run the place, also make it a bit more exciting when fishing the place.
petethecrip
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petethecrip
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   Old Thread  #469 5 Jun 2013 at 12.04pm  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #464
I really feel sad with the killing of Badgers, i think there are better methods than shooting when I was a youngster you never saw that many but since protecting them they have really thrived but that does not give the government the rights to annihilate this beautiful animal, there own scientists say they are going down the wrong road and it would be better to find a cure in my own opinion they will move to other areas that have escaped the disease.
I have mentioned before how I love hill country its a place of beauty,and piece, when up in those hills at night its a spectacular sight I would just sit there and look up at the stars but I was not here for the stars I was there to poach the rainbow,and brown trout,from a lovely water three lakes the water would cascade from the top pool into the second then into the third it was a wonderful sight and so easy to fish it was situated in a big fir wood there were no houses only the occasional farm it was so quite you could hear a pin drop but it held some wonderful fish, I would use maggots or worm for bait just flick it out under the far bank sit back and wait I would hold the rod in my hand and feel for bites but I need not as when the bite came it was a violent take they would hook there selves I caught rainbows,to five pounds plus and browns,to three pounds I never took all I caught only a few who owned the pools I did not know but they must have been stocked maybe from some farm for his own pleasure or for his friends I fished it for years and never saw a soul so I was bit shocked this one night I had been there for about an hour when I heard talking god it was one in the morning who could it be I soon found out I hid the rod,and reel,in the under growth and up the nearest tree I went.

It wasn't long before I found out it was the police four of them and the local farmer and his son as I listened I heard the old farmer say check that gateway across them fields see if they have a car hidden there they were shining there torches up the bank and into the trees,i just lay across the big branch and never made a sound how did they know I was there or was it some one else they were after.
I heard the farmer say to the Sgt Albert I apologize for getting you up here at this unearthly hour no trouble said the Sgt we need to stop this poaching ill get some of the syndicate to check it more often did I hear right I nearly started to laugh I had been poaching a police syndicate for weeks I waited for them to go before I climbed down I collected my bag and rods, I had got half a dozen fish, it did not take me long to get my bike I had hidden in the ditch and I was away home another near escape I fished those pools many times after but that's another story. more latter.
billybaltic
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billybaltic
   Old Thread  #468 4 Jun 2013 at 9.08pm  0  Login    Register
Sounded like a crazy day,
petethecrip
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   Old Thread  #467 4 Jun 2013 at 7.18pm  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #466
I think your in the wrong section Kyc 2008
kyc2008
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   Old Thread  #466 4 Jun 2013 at 10.04am  0  Login    Register
Message Suppressed by Forum Moderator.
billybaltic
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   Old Thread  #465 1 Jun 2013 at 9.32pm  0  Login    Register
petethecrip
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petethecrip
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   Old Thread  #464 29 May 2013 at 11.07am  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #463
There was another lake about eight miles from my home it was stuffed with fish, or that's what they told me i never took much notice when the old men talked about the water, until I went for a look it was quite big I saw one or two fish showing on the surface, i did not know the area very well SO I had a good look around I walked the woods and fields surrounding the lake and saw one or two places I could hide if necessary I had tried to get permission it was useless the owner only shouted at me if yer don't get off my property ill shoot you with a ball of your own muck what a charming man that really revved me up I was determined I would fish his lake

So a week latter saw me on my bike with the rod tied to the cross bar it took me a while to get there but I eventually arrived on hiding my bike I made for a big clump of rhododendron bushes I managed to get to the water edge it was clear of bushes for about three feet so if disturbed I would be able to vanish into the rhododendrons I really hoped that would not happen. I set up and out I cast I was using bread flake, for bait. Putting a piece of doe on the line between reel and butt ring for my indicator, I switched on my bike torch it glowed a nice red I strapped it to a bank stick it showed up my bobbin, well as I watched the doe bobbin, flew up and hit the rod butt I picked the rod up and struck I felt the resistance from a good fish, few minutes latter I had it on the bank it was a slab of bronze what a beauty I had no scales or camera as in those days we had no money to buy such things but it was a bream, my first big one I shook with excitement I slipped it back and cast out once more I had hardly sat down on my bag when the indicator shot up once more I was in once again god this was some sort of fishing it was identical to the first fish, followed by five more I was on a high I had forgot about the lake being private in my excitement, until I heard some talking I could smell pipe smoke was it the keepers, or some one like me poaching.
 photo recentlychanged2.jpg
A big bream from years ago
I moved back to the bushes I broke my rod down and listened I heard the one say john there not around to night I heard the bark of a dog it sounded like an Alsatian the only way to get to me was through the bushes by now I was shaking with fear I did not like those big dogs but I need not worried they moved on I decided enough was enough
I was packing the rod up when I heard a shout it was further around the lake they were chasing some one I crawled under the bush I lay there until it quietened down I heard them pass me on there way back the shouting I had heard
was poachers and it sounded like they had caught two, I think the police were there as well i made my way to my bike, and was glad to be on my way home it was four thirty by the time I got to my bed those big bream had really wet my appetite it would not be long before I was back. well a bit more latter
 photo Image37.jpg

Another from years ago
petethecrip
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petethecrip
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   Old Thread  #463 27 May 2013 at 11.40am  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #462
Thanks paddy very much appreciated
carppad
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carppad
   Old Thread  #462 27 May 2013 at 5.52am  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #459
Hi Pete,
you really were a little bugger !! i got into some scrapes when i was younger with poaching and scrumping.
Your escapades bring back some happy memories mate. keep the stories coming Pete.
Cheers,
Paddy.
petethecrip
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   Old Thread  #461 23 May 2013 at 8.13pm  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #460
Thanks appreciated
billybaltic
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   Old Thread  #460 23 May 2013 at 4.20pm  0  Login    Register
petethecrip
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   Old Thread  #459 23 May 2013 at 10.05am  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #457
They used to say on our village you will get caught one day but I never did I fished Acton burnell when I was around twelve years old I would hide in the under growth if I heard any one about I would go with a lad called Robert wilocks we would cycle there and hide our bikes, we caught very little in those days a few roach it was a big shooting estate and it had two keepers one was Bert owlet, the other Peter Jackson, they were both old school keepers and very good at there job it was when I got to fifteen years old that I really fished it hard I would fish it at night and be away before any keepers were around I managed to catch some lovely Tench, and roach,
Image4 photo Image4.jpg
Couple of Tench from acton years ago

I eventually got to know the owner who gave me permission to fish both lakes, he gave me a card saying I could fish but not on shooting days I never once poached his pheasants although I had the opportunity you don't bite the hand that feeds you the owner took me under his wing and would come and talk with me when I was on the lakes. not so far away a few miles from Acton was another lake reputed to hold carp, I really tried to get permission but I was refused I was determined to fish this old lake it was in the grounds of a big black and white Tudor hall, it also had a keeper, not a very nice chap the lake was behind the hall so I had to be very careful I would go in the evening just before dark I ledgered using maggot and bread flake as bait I really caught some very nice carp, not huge around about five pounds the place was over run with Pheasants, I made my mind up I would have some of these I knocked around with a lad called billy he wanted to come with me he was a handy chap with his fists so I relented I never usually took any one I would only be responsible for myself and not others.
secretpool3 photo secretpool3.jpg
A carp from Acton years ago

Over the few weeks I fished the lake I got to know the lay of the land where to hide if chased I took my trusted gun and billy, held the lamp we would go fishing first then hide the rods then have a few pheasants, and such I suppose it had to come one dark night we had shot a few when we heard a shout it was the keeper, and the police, they must of realized some one was having the birds, away and were waiting follow me billy we ran across the big lawn behind the big house I hid my gun with rods under some rhododendron bushes over the field we went and up this big fir tree it was huge with plenty of cover. We watched as a Land Rover came up the field I could see the blue light it was the Sgt from our village with another constable, who I knew very well it was not long before they were joined by the keeper, and his under keeper, we have lost them he shouted I am going to check the road said the Sgt they wont be far away billy and i never got out of that tree for about two hours it eventually quietened down we picked up the gun and rods. We had half a dozen pheasants in the bag and made our way to our bikes we dare not use the roads so we made our way back over the fields most of the time pushing our bikes we arrived back home at three thirty in the morning are you coming again billy his reply was no way its to dangerous when i awoke in the morning mother said the police have been here i told them you were still in bed it was not the last time i fished that lake,. but that's another story. more latter
billybaltic
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   Old Thread  #458 21 May 2013 at 9.29am  0  Login    Register
petethecrip
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   Old Thread  #457 17 May 2013 at 4.28pm  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #454
In those days I had continues hassle from the keepers and the police they knew I poached but never caught me I fished most lakes, with out permission the one lake, I poached was on quite a big estate I will not mention any names for I do not want to embarrass any one as some of the owners are still alive. I had caught some wonderful Tench from the water there was at least six keepers with one head keeper there were pheasants, where ever you looked I was really tempted to have a few birds, away but friends said keep away you will get caught.

It was all to much for me I was determined to have ago so one dark and windy night saw myself hiding my