On the last day of the season, Lee and I had a day out at a
former childhood haunt. Dr John Tate who helped with the exhibition at Hereford Museum invited m for a day out pike
fishing with my son Lee.
I travelled to Bittell reservoir to fish at the club water
formed by Milwards many years ago.
There had been a heavy frost the night before and the fog
hung over the water as we rowed out. As we got half way out, I lost my bearings
as I tend to have one arm stronger than the other, I don’t row in a straight
line.
We drifted and lure fished until the sun rose enough to
decide where east was and the went to our target area. We fished all day
without a run until Lee decided to cut open a sardine, fill it with strips of
spam and the tied it up. This was the only bait which yielded a slow run
although the fish dropped the bait.
However, this was a fabulous day out for me. Reliving
childhood dreams with great company and the best part was that the water hasn’t
changed a bit. The club realised that some of the plants around the water were
special and the site became an SSSI which has prevented buildings encroaching
on the water although you do have to row as outboards are banned too. How
wonderful to see a club that manages the water really well and cares for the
environment.
I hope to be invited back again as I enjoyed it so much