28/10/2025 - Paul's First Days Fishing
Back in the summer my daughters Gardner Paul Merriott asked me about fishing, during the conversation Paul said “At a recent meeting with my friends a question was asked “Why don’t we try fishing”
Recently Paul got in touch with me to ask if a couple could come fishing, I said no problem just give me a date. A few days later we agreed on a date, sadly the other friend couldn’t make it, so it was just Paul and myself.
Having given it, some thought of where to take him and the fish to catch. I believe a beginner has to catch something, otherwise the interest has gone in most cases.
I chose a small pool where I could get Paul a permit for the day, also it was a mixed fishery. I must admit I thought it was a tough challenge, as the weather had turned very cold with a strong, often gale force wind from the NW. I then thought of switching to a river venue, then reckoned this could be a tougher test as the local river was extremely low.
Arriving at the pool, I found the car park empty; it was just a short walk across a field with a few sheep. At the waterside we walked along the bank to look at a few swims, I found one with a bit shelter from the wind.
I had a light carbon rod, with a Mitchell fixed spool reel, I also had a centre pin in my tackle bag, but thought Paul might be better with the Mitchell; after threading the line through the guides, I attached a red tipped Porcupine quill float then a size 12 hook, baits were sweetcorn and bread.
Having got everything sorted out, the baited hook in the water, I put the Jetboiler on for a brew. As we sat talking, a wren was flying to and fro, between two bushes, in the sky above was a Buzzard working the thermals, no doubt also looking for a rabbit or some other food. Twice we spotted a kingfisher, also a Great Crested Grebe along with a Moorhen. I reckon we were into our second brew.
I then spotted a carp cruising alongside the water lilies, which were in profusion. The ground around the big Horse Chestnut tree we were sitting under, was covered in Conkers, when I was a boy along with all my mates, we would collect loads Conkers to sell onto boys at school, who lived in the town.
An hour or so later, the carp appeared again, I threw in a bit of bread to see what would happen, ten minutes or so, the carp was nudging the bread, suddenly in a swirl he sucked the bread down, it sounded like the bath being emptying.
I then put together a cane rod with a centre pin reel tying on a size 4 hook, that carp was for catching. I would certainly give Paul an idea of the power of a fish at the same time get him excited.
Hal an hour Paul had a well bent cane rod and gripping it at all cost, at the same time he had to keep switching direction to keep the carp out of the lilies and some three branches in the water. Eventually I was able to net a nice common.
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