Back Story - probably should have been the first entry

 

Getting to know me.


Probably in the grand scheme of things this should have been the first one I posted. but hindsight is a wonderful thing. but to be honest I was not looking to blog anything until after the first session.

so who am I? I am currently 31 years of age, married with 2 children 1 aged 6 and 1 Aged 4. The 6 year old is my Daughter and 4 year old is my son, who will appear in the blog as he comes fishing with me.

my fishing back ground

When I was young i got into fishing probably a little older than my son is now. I use to go occasionally with my grandfather (gramp) in used to float fish as he thought it would keep me interested and not get board waiting for the rod to bend over. oh he was 100% spot on as you get to know me i struggle with ADHD traits and focusing for long periods of time is not my strong point. 

As I got older I started to go a bit on my own with friends, still float fish for little fish such as minnows, roach, dace, gudgeon and occasionally catching a few perch. As i went a lot more often with my friends down to what is know as the free stretch of the river Avon in Chippenham. We started to notice people catching some lovely looking fish and bigger ones too. so armed with an anglers mail and episodes of total fishing with Matt Hayes. we set out to catch these bigger fish. 

so naturally I moved on to bigger baits and different methods. one of my favourite methods to this day feeder fishing. I remember very well that my first session targeting these bigger fish i used and open end feeder, with breadcrumb and corn in and corn hook bait. (also how i caught my first fish back see entry one on the blog) armed with my new match rod (well taken from my gramps shed) the rod went over early in the session. after putting up a little fight i land a small chub. over the moon with my new PB probably only about a pound just over. But to me i just caught the best fish ever. as this session went i had some roach and more chub. until the 'last cast' probably several. rod went over more than the rest. bang. "guys this feels massive" after a short while i landed a new PB this time it was bream probably 2-2 1/2 pound. quickly getting my mates to take a photo on the camera. i rushed back home. hoping my gramp was home from work. he was i was so excited to tell him i couldn't get my words out. when i finally did i showed him the pictures. (oh i acted like an excited toddler, i was 9 or 10 at this point)



(I am on the right)


as the years went on i started fish for bigger fish targeting barbel on the Avon travelling around with friends made from fishing and now secondary school targeting carp on various lakes around such as shearwater, wyatts, silverlands & pockeridge. i also slowly started getting into targeting pike and perch. by the time i was at the end of year 7, i read anglers mail every week only watch fishing shows and cricket on TV. i would rush home from school just to go fishing. fishing had consumed my live and it did for the next 5 or 6 years. 

Then it all come to a sudden stop. i had started college and my studies took up more of my time. and naturally after school friends slowly find new friendship groups. so i no long had a person to fish with regularly either and with gramps health not the best he did come at all. So i would go on my own but kinda forgot what it was like as i had got used to a fishing buddy. the final nail was when i injured my knee that would require surgery. being on crutches i could really go fishing so the stuff stayed in the shed for a few years before it was sold on. and that was that.................



The return

After coming across videos and ads on social media, i found myself watching more and more of them. when we used to go out on family walks i would be looking for fish and good swims. Also now having a son and remembered all the great memories i had with gramps fishing. i wanted to experience the other side of it by sharing the memories with my son. So started to do some research and thinking about going back to fishing for several months with persuasion from work colleagues. I decided maybe it was time to stop thinking and start doing. Then One May morning  about 0440 I had a phone call that nobody ever wants to take, it was my mum on the other end of the phone crying. My gramps had passed away a few hours earlier. Gutted as you can imagine, he was my hero all those memories of fishing is all i had now. after the funeral and we started to adapt to life without him. i though i am doing bought so kit, bought my rod license joined the chippenham angling club. (See entry one for the result of this)


Why do i enjoy it

why do i go fishing? its simple when you strip it back. memories with my kids. i play a sport that is physically and mentally demanding, work stress and life stress. goes away when you have a few hours outside to sit and relax watching the world go by. not to mention the pure joy i feel through my body when my boy caught his first fish. and every time i land a fish no matter how big or small. getting out there enjoying the sound of the birds water. just allows me to have clear and mental rehab if you will. when i landed my first fish back the joy i experienced was amazing. i even let out a little cheer. 


if you wish follow me on my return to angling journey then i welcome you. 


i will report back on every session good bad and the blank. 


Tight lines and wet nets

Kieron

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