It all seems to have gone a bit quiet on the old blogosphere as of late. And I have hardly helped things myself, what with my intermittent postings and the temporary removal of my blog from the public domain. Anyway, after some tidying up of my site (which you may or may not notice), it is back, and hopefully for good.
I won't bother with a round-up of 2013 as it was by no means spectacular, and besides, most of the better fish I caught I couldn't publish for one reason or other. Anyway, I will try and update it now as regularly as I can, which may mean less writing, but hopefully a little something new on a regular basis for the perusal of those who do drop by. I still struggle with trying to find the balance between keeping the blog readable, and putting in all the little bits of info I may want to check back on in time. Then there are the complications that arise from making it public knowledge what you are catching and from precisely where. Recently, a page was started on facebook regarding piking in my local area, and within no time half a dozen pike anglers were pitched up on a short section of the Grand Western Canal in pursuit of a 15lber which had been posted on there. A shame really, and I see no joy in trying to catch a particular fish you know has been caught already by someone else, even if it is from a canal or river.
Moving on, I have made a long list of targets, but I won't go into them all now as it would take too long, but the ones I would like to revisit at the end of 2014 are as follows.
3lb Perch - If I can get this from a canal, even better, but I have stillwaters, canal venues and drains all to target in the first quarter of the year.
1lb 8oz Silver Bream - This will probably be a case of playing the numbers game, and I would be happy with anything over 1lb really and worth weighing. This will be a target for the early spring after my perch exploits are over.
2lb Rudd - Another target for April/May time, and the perfect way to spend some warm evenings on the canals.
7lb Tench - I realise some of these are ambitious but I've decided to aim high this year, and if I fall just short, I will still be very happy.
20lb Common Carp & Mirror Carp - Don't care when, where or how.
Wels Catfish - Not after a monster but to tick off my first night fishing trip would be great too.
Mullet - Any size! If my tally exceeds five by the end of the year I will be chuffed, but sometimes I wonder if I'll ever catch another one at all...
Other ambitions include pike and carp of decent size from canals and a decent dace catch from the tidal River Exe (I've stated 15lb+ on my checklist), a water I just haven't got to grips with during my few attempts there over the years.
Who knows what the year ahead will bring; I'm sure there will be periods again where I don't get out for weeks on end, but then there are always fascinating diversions and one off trips along the way. Thanks to all those people who bumped into me on the bank over recent months and told me to get my act together and make the blog available to read again - this one's for you!