![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFVd-HGBgyBevoAgBRlr4OrPM4SKdSuvbgDcrCcUmeG3DQBCOCKfareOokUr5SvZDIxmYfuLfaHOcZRGOueDFj1UNga0zFdJMs4VPmemLGh4_jl0RolnJ7dhmsOj0Lnjc_8jigsr0YqII/s400/5%253A13+tench.jpg) |
classic estate lake tench |
Wow, summer has arrived at
last and what a sizzler it’s been … so not surprisingly, instead of writing
blogs I’ve been out fishing! |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFH_fCwkZ2ogeKC9H-C288Zj-hq93bc3WYM2Z799HqyWgtCylij1QmP51Nt7geWhxwWfdChS1p85smWcsrW8jSJmo0ZqDo0MgwN0QxYABlkabCAUaKxqhCwR3ujTtDsPZIodL-XsHgv3c/s320/double+swim.jpg) |
tench swim to die for |
A tench of just under six
pounds from a small estate lake was most welcome, especially as it was the best
of five, with three others getting the better of my pole tackle … I wish I
went tench fishing more often …
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtrJIb4FNooH6mJc-56oyEvUhpYZDfx6W4ehRhatETF9hgp3nULWQwCp9cMbKOsRcisKwkuxbI4T7O3zJH5ARmd5NrxO1bxhAdC6nsKp-xqv7kTo_D_UDBaVjFCXWBURcByMMOfqpJlpw/s320/Chris+roach+action.jpg) |
Chris netting a big roach |
and having joined me for a long overdue
session, my computer guru Chris Wild enjoyed success with several big roach and
a PB golden tench of over five pounds. I caught more than a dozen big roach too
so we were both smiling.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivt6JvkCRsGUD7G3-VtFfmQAk6P9ZBd5BMzqQFsMEZTP6s4nqQarFeV_SMnSiLq6WeokctUcmdvLoz256_V9jrgO2VElzLcP_5SgUI6FMl7VrdcyU0b5dlIpZf8vrqrYRyr53tgdcE7nE/s400/Chris%2527s+PB+Golden+Tench.jpg) |
5+ PB tench for Chris |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgefd2YalhgiAr46j0vG9PMLeiho6ldOdR_deV2pVa3SXKyqlGstTyRJBPeHEw7wrRWZwEt8wzyqdCC8xVBrU_luxQ4WQM305971mauLMh4UIloGRCtqBdG6g9Czimw3RyhT_OqUnGv7D0/s400/scenic+of+broken+willow+swim.jpg) |
do crucian swims get any better than this? |
It’s such a lovely place on a
summer’s day, so the crucian lake on the complex was the perfect spot to show
my Man.U. friend Gerry how to use a pole … and on his first go he had ten
lovely crucians to a best of 2/8, some on soft pellet and several on little
worms.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEqF5aj6pU0ED-AdETSK86azS13YiNiZldDV35a9JZc4VlBaATkmZcuXd1L8QWQqrDlzPOwm7FECSIboZQpF8nr5wOm2-RCj5h1T32n7869lI_EJe70phwgfFXLab_8J5KZItcYtqroeo/s320/crucian+coming+to+net.jpg) |
2/8 heading for Gerry's net |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzIx-xcKFPD7PnqHgJ-kfuYDltwXPLCqIbKTmFQtrlDOcK2Huk0n4lqrjAAeAcqxA22DAYTZnp6WkjLy96JiZwgICzwJVuFH0wY4FYDlXbio-npnvpsTTvrFFudFoP9QYDn0U6Kk-VWqg/s400/Gerry+with+2%253A8+crucian.jpg) |
Gerry's first go on the pole - didn't he do well! |
I fished the top lake in the morning and had a two pound crucian too, along with several more big roach to a best of 1/11 using half a lob on the pole, so we both left feeling happy with our summer sport.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6qBbSB28UrdW9kr-KdCvmPCEiaBC1tZ0DV6soBp11zfrfFuA60WqCfPADphtWe8SjindYzqLJz6_Vx6k_jUwGXCSigkVdNVVF7gFnzc0aKE5p623pXoG58N_U7e94xVlQ90GlhJg_W08/s320/1%253A11+Bratch+roach.jpg) |
1/11 of perfect roach |
Isn’t fishing with friends enjoyable, particularly if you all remember that they are only fish that you are trying to catch and that it’s just a bit of fun.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4OJeABTZCbCkjKmCNRd8Npyc-qww27eF8CbRTNtYCt7F4yLsjpJv0_DLQIhMDepJkGHE57q4lEu0kF7Ps-GbfvDRH7EdHATND-thAzpmGFxz0ozw5RuVQ46eSJIqubvObxp-8Rraml8M/s400/Chris+and+Dan+in+double+swim.jpg) |
Dan and Chris try the double swim |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAlOSgay5MYMhuBQgu6yct4og8f_azoiARTSYebjKRI8LvWbjiWPk9YC6rhjOv2pGBCVj9NfRIHGfK4T1PSwVh3uibfHKAQOU0lo5AulvYmO8xKuusl1SJdkIeLYfWSNd0J5iijv_1ZO8/s320/Chris+on+the+right+swim.jpg) |
shady character |
Chris Yates and radio
producer Dan also tried the upper lake … along with sharing Sue’s lovely Victoria
sponge, washed down with lots of tea … and wine once their floats had
disappeared into the night sky.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOuN2vuHN-xw86KmI7rBR-q09qjKNA7UAaGkobbU_uC-KG6z1oMY7SgtqXnTzjXxbpKj177rmQWmzIigZb7dxZ_PLX0qLbwDJKduP8V4EYAp-MEYhQ9m5Fn8a7uRPAjvdl6dTAbEFdvIs/s320/Yates+at+Redmire.jpg) |
Chris on Redmire's famous dam in 1989 |
We sat reminiscing in the VW van that I bought
in 1989 to be our location base during the making of ‘A Passion for
Angling’.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOsKUq4XcrDf7UlTlTupuTvgQ3xDDl8aRByKFNxoMzAj_SYhxy7gW0aPPE5ImSe7YloIvnqiDj2nRvWe8cJ_TveESAhfu6knLPRi4Aru3RxXTlgK4X2Asr_ls21RoG9SGXVG9_VzyZcgk/s320/passion_crew.jpg) |
the Passion gang with two of Bob's big roach |
The old van is held together
with lots of welding now but the series of six films live on, having been first
shown on BBC 2 in September 1993 … so we’re coming up for our 20th anniversary
and despite that, it’s still selling well from our website to a tireless list
of enthusiasts … so we must have hit the spot! www.passionforangling.info
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoE1ToRJvZ6JFSEUP6HGhOv3zn0Gj_y6_L79WGVYWTEvuDUiqBmHVyhiOM9ZGmGVEPgKomaE5g_ozHXRlg3rcNrYURt4uAco8bhRNQHjqgQQ4VPhnrU6AApHJGYIkLYwj5d068Fi_XvBQ/s320/PFA+Stuart+Pics+-+17.jpg) |
still selling after twenty years |
As ‘Passion’ tried to show,
there’s more to fishing than catching fish.Yes, it’s good to make contact once
in a while but taking in the surrounding wildlife can prove just as rewarding,
especially when you have to seek shade because of the cracking weather we’ve been
enjoying this summer.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCLf_hFUyxIcyTuPcZ7_vM0iMH-xEcBZhWIJTW9wByhvJE7-CTN8f00bTwc_Em092eiCx33t2p7d2wpBCO78zXGAETefMLriOwDBabEC_WTMh7ylQhVzjgV0k0YH7IUytsItrIVYNECqU/s400/Scarlet+Tiger+moth.jpg) |
scarlet tiger moth on lake-side vegetation |
Now the rain has arrived the
rivers will be flushed and refreshed, so maybe it’s time to look for a barbel
or two ... or maybe I should try for some more manic mullet? So many choices, so little time ... but ain't life good when the sun shines.