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the tuesday swim…

Tag Archives: steve

Mad dogs and an Irishman

30 Sunday Aug 2015

Posted by The tuesday swim in Barbel, Fallon's Angler quarterly

≈ 3 Comments

Tags

angler, barbel, days, fallon's, kennet, river, roberts, steve, thames

After my last post I was feeling a little sombre, fishing trips deemed to be put on the back burner for a while, but as it turns out the last fortnight has been blessed with a couple of fruitful and quite diverse experiences.

An editorial meeting for issue four of Fallon’s Angler took place in south London which ended with an impromptu visit to the Ravensbourne with a single rod and a few left- over maggots. Sharing a rod, myself and Garett the editor of Fallon’s we managed to winkle out some chub, rudd, roach, perch and gudgeon, larger chub were visible in the clear shallow water but they eluded us this time. As dusk fell we retreated to the safety of a couple of pints and discussed the final touches to issue four. For those who take the periodical it won’t be long now, and those who don’t shame on you. Personally I think Fallon’s is getting better and better, we are finding our feet with the look and editorial content becoming much stronger. Issue four sees new contributors such as John Andrews and Luke Jennings  and there are some exciting names coming up for the future from some angling legends.

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With some final amendments to issue four I required to get some extra images especially of our regular contributor Steve Roberts who is the River guide and face behind Rivers Days, stationed at Pangbourne on the Thames. With the Ashes in the bag we had a relaxed day drifting in his punt with an opportunity to catch some perch and pike, and to get some shots. By the time I had turned up (by train) ordered lunch and a couple of pints it was mid afternoon but there was no rush, the temperature was high and we were soon afloat on the Thames with a cool breeze to make it comfortable. While Steve fished I got in the Thames in my waders and started to get some shots. I stood on a old part of an island know as the cliff, “why the cliff Steve?” I said, “well if you step over another yard or so the waters drops off into eighteen feet of water!”

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A day on the Thames with Steve is a whole experience, the secret places that you visit, the fishing, the lunch, conversation and hopefully a fish or two. Our afternoon was a lazy one and I had a few perch but as the afternoon faded Steve offered to take me to a private stretch of water on the Kennet where the chance of a barbel was possible. As the light faded we turned up on the lawn of a private house and running along the side of the garden was the river Kennet, it was warm and the air quite still, there was a sniff of barbel in the air.

At the start of the year I bought an early Allcocks Wizard and it has sat in my basement, dormant awaiting a christening. I had heard a lot about the versatility of these rods and I was keen to catch a barbel on it and see if it was capable of handling such a fish in a fast flowing river. As the light faded I was lucky enough to do just that and soon had a nice Kennet barbel in the net of around 7lbs. The rod was exceptional and does have a wonderful sensitive top with a solid backbone, now my rod of choice! By ten I was heading back from Newbury on the train to Paddington, the contrast from an hour previously could not have been greater, people heading from Reading to London for a night out while I with my fishing bag and rod set off for home.

DSC_7902_72dpiSteve needs a little help with the camera on occasions!

Old friends…

01 Tuesday May 2012

Posted by The tuesday swim in General

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

Barbour, hand, international, jacket, macqueen, old, out, second, steve, waxed, worn

With all this rain at the moment it is good to have a good waterproof jacket, as an angler it is essential along with a wide-brimmed hat (the only way you can keep the rain off, still be able the hear your surroundings and keep you hands free to cast a rod and line).

The Barbour jacket has been the standard outdoor jacket for generations, it’s a true waterproof, breathable and  thorn-proof garment but it has one other added feature. Year after year a Barbour changes its personality normally reflecting on the previous seasons severity of weather, its a barometer of outdoor life.

My ‘regular’ Barbour is an International (that’s not me by the way) which I have owned for at least fifteen years, I have been flung off my motorbike in it, had the wettest Scottish days out in it and spent the hottest summer days lying on it. You can apply a revitalising dressing, Barbour supply a tin which reinstate the smell of a newly bought jacket but just like any beauty product, they never promise your youthful looks again, at best they may hold off the rigours of life…temporarilly. These dressings tend to trap any detritus in the preservation process and as these jackets can never be washed properly, years on year they get better as each page of weather is preserved literally into its fabric (this could be my imagination but I am sure they also get heavier?).

So as the years pass and your jacket gets patched and waxed there comes a time when the rain just can’t be held off anymore and a replacement is inevitable, so a new jacket comes on board but what of the old? Ebay, charity shop, no! My Barbour’s of past (also including a Hardy’s wading waxed jacket) remain hung up in the hallway like books all with stories to tell and all with tattered covers.

One such story was a shabby old Eskdale that I obtained after a  close friend had died almost ten years ago now. Les worked for an architectural salvage company at St Leonard’s Church, Shoreditch in the East end, when requested, reluctantly (like any good architectural salvage type) Les would put on the trusty old Barbour to protect his more dapper wear underneath (the jacket was ripped and three sizes too big) and go in search of old dirty cast iron radiators or sift through Victorian railings out in the rain. I sometimes wear it as an homage, its way to big for me too but it has memories and in the top left pocket is his business card.

Now one thing that I have noticed living in between the fashion hotspots of Dalston, Shoreditch, London Fields and dare I now say Lower Clapton, every skinny jean wearing wot-sit is kitted out in a Barbour International! Why? It seems a recent campaign has made everyone want to be Steve McQueen, well it could be worse but now I have the dilemma of looking like an East London fashionista, the other issue is the price and availability a  good second-hand one is bloody expensive and as scarce as hens teeth…damm you McQueen!

So, for one more year, the needle and thread has come out, some more wax dressing applied and my International shall be embalmed in one more season and take on the new season, hopefully with a new chapter…and hopefully on the Lea.

Fly fishing in Leonard Street, EC2!

07 Friday Oct 2011

Posted by The tuesday swim in General fishing

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Tags

edge, fashion, fish, fisherman, fishing, fly, hard, london, steve, work

For ten years the tuesday swim lived in Leonard Street, EC2 living the life of a young hipster/fashion photographer but never once considered casting a fly until now!

Now retired to the leafy land known as Victoria Park I shall tie an appropriate fly and take a chauffeured trip to the city.

Coming soon, another fly fishing tip from Steve Edge, next time in the vale of Mile End Park.

If you wish to don the river bank dressed appropriately then these guys maybe able to help you out…www.workhardfishhard.com 

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Off to the marshes #hackneymarshes
I’ve been here before but this is reassuringly familiar, an antidote to the boutique homogenous lifestyle that is rife in our city. Once it’s gone, it’s gone.
Watersmeet- Our current winter film set on the Hampshire Avon with @adamchetwood @kgparr link in my bio. Where to next? #anglingfilms #chubfishing
Watersmeet - Chub fishing on the Hampshire Avon, our new film for winter #hampshireavon #hampshireavonfishing #chub #fallonsangler #fishingfilms #winterfishing link in bio
A reunion on the Hampshire Avon. Our new film for Fallons Angler ready to view in time for Christmas. Friends, pints, and fishing #chubfishing #chub #fishingfilms #fallonsangler #hampshireavon
Surely it’s time for a perch?
Epping forest #eppingforest
The fading light plays a strong roll on us at this time of year. The Witching Hour film available to view, link in bio. #embracethedarkness
Next week I travel to France and begin filming a life in Normandy over one year. A man whos footprint on the planet has the lightest touch, where his life and the natural world sit side by side. #dustthefilm …
The Witching Hour our new film launching at midday today 15th October link in bio #fishingfilms #fallonsangler
Last week we spread my parents ashes on the South Downs. In life they were inseparable, so we did the honourable thing and mixed their ashes with our own hands, returned them to the chalk on the Sussex Downs at a geographical point between birth, life and death.
The Prince of Peace is dead, thank you for the musical and spiritual journey of my life. 1940-2022 #pharoahsanders
A quick over nighter by the river and under the stars with @fallonsangler_magazine for a new film. Packing light - bedroll, camera, drone and a Katsu Curry Pot Noodle or two. Film out in a fortnight. In the meantime please order our new issue of Fallons Angler capturing the bewitching hour. #autumnequinox #fallonsangler #fishingfilms #canonuk
Norway, reassuringly boring with some hidden surprises #norway #oslo #snorway

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