TOP ALL-ROUNDER, MARTIN BOWLER, REVIEWS THE MOST CHALLENGING YEAR FOR ANGLING WE HAVE EVER SEEN IN OUR LIFETIME.
TOP ALL-ROUNDER, MARTIN BOWLER, REVIEWS THE MOST CHALLENGING YEAR FOR ANGLING WE HAVE EVER SEEN IN OUR LIFETIME.
I had left civilisation far behind and the gibbons calling from the steaming jungle canopy were my early morning alarm call. The shower was now the very lake I fished and for the previous few days the Cambodia/Thai border was my home with 2 dear friends, Eddy and Phil. A storm for humanity was on the horizon but for now the ridgeline that towered above our island camp shielded us from the first whispers of a virus.
Our boys’ own adventure was precious but as reflection takes place at the end of a troubled year it holds a special place in my memory and more so than I could ever imagine.
I had left civilisation far behind and the gibbons calling from the steaming jungle canopy were my early morning alarm call. The shower was now the very lake I fished and for the previous few days the Cambodia/Thai border was my home with 2 dear friends, Eddy and Phil. A storm for humanity was on the horizon but for now the ridgeline that towered above our island camp shielded us from the first whispers of a virus.
Our boys’ own adventure was precious but as reflection takes place at the end of a troubled year it holds a special place in my memory and more so than I could ever imagine.
“Chasing snakeheads, foraging for coconuts and being stalked at night by an unseen creature (probably a dog!) – great memories to say the least before the world became a troubled place.”
“Chasing snakeheads, foraging for coconuts and being stalked at night by an unseen creature (probably a dog!) – great memories to say the least before the world became a troubled place.”
Alas we had to leave but swapped jungle for the wonderful Jurassic resort near Cha Am where I would rendezvous with my family. Jo, my wife, and stepdaughter Natalie along with her friend Rune arrived back from volunteering at an elephant sanctuary while my son Ryan and his girlfriend Cassidy flew in for some welcome winter sun. A lake full of monster fish and a five-star resort guaranteed more wonderful memories with the highlight being Ryan’s first arapaima. All good things however come to an end and an English winter needed to be faced. Thailand was the first country to face Covid outside China but even with a departure lounge filled with face masks I wrongly felt it was more due to Asian paranoia than a life-threatening situation.
Alas we had to leave but swapped jungle for the wonderful Jurassic resort near Cha Am where I would rendezvous with my family. Jo, my wife, and stepdaughter Natalie along with her friend Rune arrived back from volunteering at an elephant sanctuary while my son Ryan and his girlfriend Cassidy flew in for some welcome winter sun. A lake full of monster fish and a five-star resort guaranteed more wonderful memories with the highlight being Ryan’s first arapaima. All good things however come to an end and an English winter needed to be faced. Thailand was the first country to face Covid outside China but even with a departure lounge filled with face masks I wrongly felt it was more due to Asian paranoia than a life-threatening situation.
“A LAKE FULL OF MONSTER FISH AND A FIVE-STAR RESORT GUARANTEED MORE WONDERFUL MEMORIES.”
“A LAKE FULL OF MONSTER FISH AND A FIVE-STAR RESORT GUARANTEED MORE WONDERFUL MEMORIES.”
The rain clouds I had been glad to leave behind were waiting for my return and the angry climatic conditions that wouldn’t leave the British Isles alone were matching the anguish that was now sweeping across Europe and heading to our doorstep in a matter of weeks. Covid had been slower but it had matched the exact flight path I had taken out of Thailand. I’m fortunate that my life is away from humanity for a large part so I continued to enjoy myself wading through a flooded Avon in search of big barbel. Perch plans were limited to one trip given the swollen, stained river, so I replaced a striped flank for one with polka dots – that proved to be a good move. A series of trips meant numerous 20lb-plus pike were certainly highlights of a challenging winter. I got within ounces of the dream; a tenth 30lb Esox but that challenge still remains. In a way, that is a good thing because I never want the addiction to end.
The rain clouds I had been glad to leave behind were waiting for my return and the angry climatic conditions that wouldn’t leave the British Isles alone were matching the anguish that was now sweeping across Europe and heading to our doorstep in a matter of weeks. Covid had been slower but it had matched the exact flight path I had taken out of Thailand. I’m fortunate that my life is away from humanity for a large part so I continued to enjoy myself wading through a flooded Avon in search of big barbel. Perch plans were limited to one trip given the swollen, stained river, so I replaced a striped flank for one with polka dots – that proved to be a good move. A series of trips meant numerous 20lb-plus pike were certainly highlights of a challenging winter. I got within ounces of the dream; a tenth 30lb Esox but that challenge still remains. In a way, that is a good thing because I never want the addiction to end.
"A SERIES OF TRIPS MEANT NUMEROUS 20LB-PLUS PIKE WERE CERTAINLY HIGHLIGHTS OF A CHALLENGING WINTER."
"A SERIES OF TRIPS MEANT NUMEROUS 20LB-PLUS PIKE WERE CERTAINLY HIGHLIGHTS OF A CHALLENGING WINTER."
I love spring and next on the agenda was carp, tench and salmon caught from a canvas of blossom and bluebells. Life however was more fragile than I realised and suddenly spring was defined by the word ‘lockdown’. I was still able to go to work if I couldn’t work from home and that clearly couldn’t be done with fishing. The mainstream media however continuously inserted the words ‘critical’ and ‘key workers’ to the government statement manipulating the population. For me to behave normally would have been a PR disaster and at the time I had the overriding sense of responsibility to demonstrate angling could comply and we were all in it together.
"FISHING OVER THE PERIOD OF THE HUNTER'S MOON, ON SUCH A MAGNIFICENT LAKE WAS SOMETHING TO REMEMBER!"
"FISHING OVER THE PERIOD OF THE HUNTER'S MOON, ON SUCH A MAGNIFICENT LAKE WAS SOMETHING TO REMEMBER!"
So I worked as hard as I could to entertain anglers via my social media alongside the launch of a second film with Chris Yates in collaboration with the Sticky Baits Reflections series. My wife Jo and I also gave away hundreds of book and DVDs to NHS and key-workers who were doing so much to keep us safe to say thank you. I was never bored once and if I am honest, lockdown was actually good for my health. Regular sleep and good food showed just how much I abuse myself to catch fish and maybe, although I’m not promising, I’ll find more of a balance to life from now on.
So I worked as hard as I could to entertain anglers via my social media alongside the launch of a second film with Chris Yates in collaboration with the Sticky Baits Reflections series. My wife Jo and I also gave away hundreds of book and DVDs to NHS and key-workers who were doing so much to keep us safe to say thank you. I was never bored once and if I am honest, lockdown was actually good for my health. Regular sleep and good food showed just how much I abuse myself to catch fish and maybe, although I’m not promising, I’ll find more of a balance to life from now on.
Eventually the first storm clouds parted but what I witnessed in the countryside meant me voluntarily suspending my angling in a bid to show unity with every one will not happen again. The feral behaviour as green space and blue strips on the map were ransacked by totally ignorant people left me wondering if I’d been an idiot to avoid sitting in the middle of nowhere on my own for the last few months. Added to this the continuous stream of people responsible for implementing lockdown breaking their own rules alongside protests and marches, with no repercussions left a bad taste in my mouth. I suppose the mood wasn’t improved by Jo and I falling through the cracks when our fishing holiday business temporarily ceased whilst money was given away like confetti everywhere else. My role in this paper is to give a positive message but I feel I have to tell the tale of 2020 warts and all or this article is a pointless exercise.
Lockdown however did have a silver lining for fishing with an incredible uptake for angling in its wake. Doomed tackle shops suddenly struggled to cope with all the customers and it was a joy to see. It also saw the rise of the Angling Trust that I think was previously sitting in the embers of apathy and disconnection. I’m still uncomfortable paying both the EA and the Angling Trust to protect the sport I love but after the magnificent work the Trust did at getting fishing out of the grip of lockdown first, which benefitted our industry immensely, I couldn’t justify my stance of not being a member any longer. The new CEO arrived and if ever there was the right moment for the right man this was it and I had the pleasure of his company during the summer on the Wye. Put aside what Jamie Cook achieved, his passion for angling and ability to communicate in the sport’s language impressed me most – just being one of us with the same concerns goes a long way.
Personally I never really got back into my stride during the summer but that’s not to say I didn’t collect more memories. Top of the list was a day with my stepdaughter Natalie as part of the ’Take a Friend Fishing’ scheme. Watching her catch barbel not only made me proud but brought an immense amount of joy.
Personally I never really got back into my stride during the summer but that’s not to say I didn’t collect more memories. Top of the list was a day with my stepdaughter Natalie as part of the ’Take a Friend Fishing’ scheme. Watching her catch barbel not only made me proud but brought an immense amount of joy.
The quest for a 6lb eel and mullet came oh so close with ounces keeping me from achieving it. A humid night and a cricket score of big snigs was probably the highlight of my specimen calendar. Next year I must do more as I will with shore fishing in my never-ending quest to be a complete all round angler.
"I CAN'T WAIT TO CATCH MORE UNDULATE RAYS FROM THE JURASSIC COAST, ALONGSIDE A HOST OF NEW CHALLENGES."
"I CAN'T WAIT TO CATCH MORE UNDULATE RAYS FROM THE JURASSIC COAST, ALONGSIDE A HOST OF NEW CHALLENGES."
Autumn came and I started to think big again starting with me making up for missing the spring salmon run and as the cocks got snappy when water temperatures dropped the fly line pulled tight giving me immense pleasure. A stunning zip linear was the highlight of a traditional period for carp fishing and I also became involved with Russell Wilmott and the Great Somerford lakes. Stocking a fresh population of carp with him started a new exciting chapter because whilst I’ve done most things angling wise running a UK fishery isn’t one of them.
Autumn came and I started to think big again starting with me making up for missing the spring salmon run and as the cocks got snappy when water temperatures dropped the fly line pulled tight giving me immense pleasure. A stunning zip linear was the highlight of a traditional period for carp fishing and I also became involved with Russell Wilmott and the Great Somerford lakes. Stocking a fresh population of carp with him started a new exciting chapter because whilst I’ve done most things angling wise running a UK fishery isn’t one of them.
Finally big river roach have come back on the radar which if you’d asked me 10 years ago I’d have said it was an impossibility. I’m back targeting and catching 2lb specimens, which seems the perfect positive place to leave my round up of a turbulent year. The horizon is full of hope and new adventures, which I’ll treasure more than ever. Valuing the life you have is never a bad thing and Covid has certainly done that.
