The First Time My Wife Came Fishing
Back in 1989 it was our 2nd date...! So I was keen to impress the new girlfriend.
Take her to dinner, a show, the cinema! Nope, I was to take my girlfriend fishing. Fly fishing in fact.
Now let's face it folks, most of the anglers back in 1989 were blokes. Not wishing to be sexist, it's just a fact. I'm happy to say that there are more and more lady anglers out there now than ever before.
Anyway, we (I) decided that Dever Springs, near Winchester, was the best place to go at the time. Karen had NEVER been fishing before but was very keen to come along.
It was a quite cold and a little bit frosty April morning. We arrived at about 9am and had a good walk around as I like to 'suss out what's happening'.
Dever Springs consists of two lakes (Spring & Willow) and a short stretch of the River Dever.
Although cold, it was a clear day and as usual, you could see plenty of excellent trout. Dever Springs is a superb stalking venue offering the specimen trout angler a seriously good chance of a 'Big Double'.
We fished for about an hour on Willow Lake (the larger of the two lakes) and then elected to stalk a while on Spring Lake. About halfway up the straight back of the lake which runs parallel to the River Dever, I cast to a fairly large trout about 20 yards out. As with the first hour it was having nothing to do with anything I cared to offer it.
So, after about another hour and much muttering under the breath at the trout's obstinate refusal to chomp in one of my flies, I spotted a fish of about 15lb a little off to my right. It was right in the margin and appeared to be skimming snails or similar off the steep sloping bank.
I quickly retrieved my fly and switched it for a size 16 black and peacock spider that I'd tied myself.
Now, all this time, Karen had been watching and occasionally having a go. It was very early days for Karen and fly casting seemed to frustrate her somewhat... I mentioned that I'd spotted the fish off to my right and she came a little closer to watch.
On the 2nd cast, the trout, much to my surprise, took the fly enthusiastically. I lifted the rod up and slightly to the left, given that the fish was only about 5 yards away, I didn't want to crack off on the strike so 'gently does it' was foremost on my mind.
With the hook set, the trout realised the deception and took off at a great pace for the middle of the lake. 'Excellent, I can take my time with it in mid water' I thought... Meanwhile, Karen stepped in for a closer look. Now, remember that I'd been fishing out in the water and had been casting approx 25 yards of fly line. Most of this was now coiled loosely at my feet but disappearing at quite a rate of knots as the trout sped away.
Karen stepped on a coil of fly line which, a second or two later, then caused the line to stop dead. The trout barely on for more than 7 or 8 seconds suddenly met tight line. It, of course, had no intentions of stopping and very quickly straightened out my black and peacock's fine hook bend and got away...!
The language was, shall I say, a little colourful as I realised what had caused the 'tight line' and escape of the hefty fish.
Karen stomped off after my outburst and went and 'sulked' in the car.
Not a good way to behave towards my new girlfriend I thought, so I went to 'Kiss and make up'.
Fortunately, Karen has a forgiving nature and presumably assumed that such caustic behaviour was inherent in ALL anglers and was likely to something to put up with...
Fortune smiled upon us, and we landed a nice brace of rainbows. Sadly not up to the size of 'the one that got away' but a nice day was had by us both eventually...
