stevetheangler

Tuesday 25th August at 0545 I was on my way on a planned trip back to the River Severn on the BAA stretch at Blackstone near Bewdley where I have a ‘special’ swim – special in that I CAN access the water to fish! Most of the Middle Severn (and seemingly Lower too) I find hard (sometimes impossible) to fish due to steep banks which my neuropathic feet cannot deal with – as was said of fighter pilots ‘they fly by the seat of their pants’ and that was experimentally proven, I (and others but they unlikely realise that) depend a lot on the ‘feel’ for balance more so that ears… ear infections can cause dizziness that causes balance problems but the feel of the feet on the ground is a major part too .. no dizziness but no sense of there being solid ground under you…

Anyway, ‘my’ swim is perfect for my access – basically you can get a wheelchair down to a large flat piece of land about 6’ above the water (with current river level) which means that a 3m landing net pole is fine too … and the amount of flat bank allows plenty room for seat tackle and rod rests, so need for long rests out into the water…

So, as per usual, I set up my 12’ Ron Thompson Evo2 feeder rod – 8lb mainline, 40g square feeder, size 10 hook – using a tail of around 30” twixt feeder stop and hook.

First cast was made around 0700 with worm as bait … and nibbles/knocks from the start … I tried bread, cheese and prawn over time but worm was definitely getting the most interest … and at 1115 a bream of around 1lb or so hit the net … and an hour later a small perch (2-3oz) came to hand… but despite further knocks nothing else was caught. But, two fish! Good for me recently!!!

1430 was time to pack in just as the sun was creeping around the tree to my left and the temps in my area rising…

AND NOW THE SOB STORY OF THE DAY …

All until that point had gone exceedingly well – no stuck padlocks, easy water access AND fish landed… but seems, and only discovered on return home I dropped my fishing cap on the way to the car or when I got out to open/close gate to leave….

When I realised when unloading the car at home I did go on the BAA website to ask if found to take into care and contact me so that I could arrange a reunion … one chap reported that on another FB group there was a report of a found cap and I also posted on that page…

However, I’ve had no response so looks like its gone for good. Not so bothered about the cap itself, more so the badges which included a Carp Society one, and a NASA (National Association of Specialist Anglers) one and several ‘species’ badges I received from the now defunct ‘Improve Your Coarse Fishing’ magazine all none replaceable :(

AND THEN THE SOB STORY OF THE FOLLOWING DAY…

Tuesday, just after Liz left for an hairdressing appointment I decided to email my buddy and to write this blog… so I put my mug of coffee that had been standing and gone tepid into the microwave for several minutes and once done took it up to my computer room … put it on my desk … and decided a couple of cables were too dangly and decided to tidy them … next thing scaldingly hot coffee mug gets pulled off the desk into my chest, belly, lap and down legs … fast dash to shower which I jump into fully clothed and start stripping under the flow… however the temp control is jammed at won’t go below 38’C which is still enough to start cooling but not good enough … fast jump into bath which has a tap/shower head switch and start spraying actual cold water and lie there for 5 mins or so when phone goes – suspecting its Liz (wasn’t) I get out to answer – and I decide to take phone to bath and actually call her whilst submerged in the cold water. Liz hadn’t actually had her hair started and so came home. I lay in the cold water for probably 40 mins all-in but when I climbed out and although belly and top of thighs were just red and tingly the rear of my right calf had two big blisters come out. So it was off to A&E for a couple of hours .. nurse said chest and top of thighs ok and to just take painkillers but calf needed dressing which she did …. and then told I’d need to contact GP surgery to dressing changed on Friday. So I had a lot of pain from calf and painkillers to counteract and also smaller blisters came up on belly… Friday went for dressing change, done with added cream, plus I was given some extra cream to put on belly … and now booked in for a further three dressing changes. Belly improving ok until I rub it (ok so I wont! LOL) but calf still painful after painkillers wear off… SO looks like no fishing for a while again as leg bending is not easy…. :(

Also coffee in keyboard done it in and required replacement of it …

GOOD NEWS OF TODAY … Liz fixed shower temp control so now there is suitably cold water! :)