There's an old saying, "It's better to travel than arrive" that my Father always used to quote to me when I got too enthusiastic about a new fishing season.
In my youth I was always champing at the bit from January onwards, longing for opening day with fishing permanently in every waking thought from dawn till dusk. Dad used to temper it all and try to persuade me that the actual process of looking forward to something can actually be better than the real thing. It was one of the few things he was ever wrong about: nothing, but nothing compares with the anticipation of opening day on a new fishing season!
I suppose that with age there comes a little more steadying. Enthusiasm is curbed with a touch of reality and you tend to take things a little easier. But I for one really hope that I never lose the feeling that I get every January, when the excitement of a new year starts to turn thoughts towards fishing. The build-up to a new season remains something special, totally unique and something to be truly savoured.
So, the year has turned. The excess and over-indulgence of Christmas is a fading memory and we can now get down to the serious business of planning for 2012 fishing. I make a lot of resolutions each year and most get broken at some stage, but these will not! Here is my resolution list for 2012:
Lots more days out at sea
I've treated myself to a new boat over the winter and I'm going to spend a lot more time out on the ocean this year. Last years sea trips were dogged by poor weather, but even so there were times when I became a ‘fair weather angler' and stayed ashore, using the weather as an excuse. There were times when I should have been out at sea, times when others would have stayed ashore and I'd have had the islands to myself.
The ‘new' boat isn't new at all. She's six years old and needs some TLC to bring her back into ship-shape fettle. The work is all part of the anticipation process as you can let the mind wander and dream of big Bass as you stroke the hull with a paint brush. I'm going to re-do the anti-foul (in Cornish black, of course!) and renew the gel coat and non-slip deck paint. Then if budget permits I'll add in a new plotter and fish-finder to complete the package. With that done, I'll have absolutely no excuse for not going to sea whatever the weather!
Lots more ‘quiet days' on the upper river
With the best of the River Camel sport being in the lower reaches, certainly for Salmon, it's all too easy to neglect the wild part of the river up on the moors. Whilst I enjoy the Salmon and Sea Trout fishing, nothing quite compares with having the upper river and its tributaries to yourself for the day. With a seven foot, three weight rod for company you can walk all day without seeing another soul and it's an absolute paradise up there. The tiny brownies are amazing sport and as we're talking moorland fishing here, well above the tree line with no shelter to screen you from the fish, watercraft is everything. The ultimate challenge, away from the maddening crowd.
Lots more Salmon spinning days
Like so many dyed-in-the-wool fly fishermen, I tend to neglect the spinning rod. I know I did in 2011 and it's not going to happen again this year. Fly fishing is great when you can do it, but so much of my home river has a bankside that is overgrown or simply inaccessible that the only option is to spin.
A light spinning rod such as the Hardy Exalta TE makes a perfect companion on a small river. It's got more than enough backbone for a Salmon but retains the subtlety and delicacy to enable you to enjoy the sea trout as well. Even a decent brownie of no more than a pound can still give you some fun on a rod such as this.
Lots more fly tying, before the season starts
There's no excuse here - I've been lazy over the last few years! It's been much easier to reach for the tried and tested patterns rather than to get inventive and try out some new ones.
This is especially true on the beach where I've had the nagging feeling that the Bass are getting used to my flies! I know it can't be true, but I still can't escape the fact that I'm using pretty much the same sand-eel patterns that I was using three years ago. There's also a bit of Catch 22 here in that the more you use a fly the more you catch on it, so the more you use it! I WILL exercise more discipline this year and try some new designs, particularly larger sizes that represent the Launce (giant Sandeel) working on the proven idea of ‘big fly, big fish'!
And finally...
Lots more time out in the Salt Marshes
The top of my home estuary has a wonderful stretch of salt marsh and the sport it provides can be brilliant. The reason I don't spend as much time there as I should is that it's hard to get to it. A long walk or kayak trip is needed and then when you arrive it's a mix of tough wading, muddy inlets, and areas of samphire that you fish on the flooding tide. The latter means that you have limited time there, but when the Bass come in searching for small crabs and fry in July the fishing is second to none.
Those are my resolutions for 2012. I might even be honest enough to let you know in later issues how many I keep!
Chris Ogborne
Chris Ogborne has been a Consultant for Hardy & Greys for over twenty years. He offers guided fishing for Bass, Salmon and wild Trout in the West Country. Visit his website.
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