I chose to spend the past week of my half-term break wandering about some fields east of my grandfather’s old colliery. He didn’t fish but went rabbiting, instead; he died before I was born but I always liked to hear stories about him and the other old timers.
Lots of the local miners were Welsh, including my grandad. Due to a shortage of experienced workers in Kent, many South Valleys men moved here in the 30s and 40s. When fighting broke out in World War Two, my grandfather wanted to join the navy but was forced to stay digging coal, due to mining being an essential service. A couple of times, he went AWOL from the county; the legal records show that the law caught up with him in the hills of south Wales. He was fined and subsequently returned to Kent; he went straight back down the pits and that was how his war went.
Many old miners have told me they loved the countryside hereabouts. The local collieries, necessarily, were all situated in stunning marshlands. To a Kentish miner, the dawn after a late shift must have been quite something: black, subterranean nights giving way to to orange dawns and emerald fields. The Welsh brought their own lore with them; dogs were raced and they hunted too. Welsh cakes were cooked outdoors on traditional bakestones brought from the old country. One of my aunties still has my grandfather’s, I think.
The universal language of fun in the outdoors is less spoken today, but some of us still whisper it. The streams I fish traverse the old coalfields; I’ve taken school trips out to them and have wandered different stretches for years, piking, perching and occasionally going after the huge, wild tench that grow here.
The half-term break in February is the last chance to angle before the March-June close season. I decided to spend this holiday fly fishing for pike. My friend Josh tied me a bunch of flies a few seasons back; I’ve since mail ordered a tonne from different makers. Two have become firm favourites: one is a Tiger Fly I bought from Fulling Mill, which reminds me of Rousseau’s tiger in the painting ‘Surprised’. The other is a big, black and white fly that Josh tied for me. I’ve nicknamed the latter- the ‘Magpie’.
On my first morning out, last Monday, the marshes were full of magpies. I’m a touch superstitious, so I chose Josh’s fly. I tried a stream I know that winds through a very solitary part of the Stour valley- in fact, I’ve never seen another angler there. An old railway used to pass through here; and the site of a Roman colisseum stands on the other side of a great bund, that I use as part of my mental map. There are sheepfields on the other ‘Roman’ side, but I haven’t explored them too much. I’ve not caught many fish in this vicinity but I’ve discovered a couple of old ponds that I will check out in the spring time, with a view to Great Crested Newts.
I also enjoyed some good casting practice. It’s been a long time since I consistently fly fished; I used to go a lot on the Stour- to a fantastic mill pool where a giant sea trout once passed me by. It was within touching distance at one point; I was in waders, perching atop an old tyre, trying to get a better casting angle.
Throughout this week though, I visited another river, more known to me- and caught lots of pike, all on a fly.
But fun as it was, each time I caught a pike or two, I found myself yearning to be back at the less productive, frankly less pretty- but albeit more mysterious stream. I would then pack up and drive the few miles back to the secluded marsh where I started the week- only to catch nothing. All this is in spite of the fact that the more successful location is gorgeous- everything an angler could want: a very old dyke that flows away from another wild stream, all set in acres of beautiful, barn owl-laden landscape. I enjoyed both streams, but the heart wants what the heart wants.
In the summer, all these rivers and drains are transformed; you could never lose the mystery then, when each square metre becomes a separate thicket in a giant, jade jungle. Both these streams might as well have new names in the warmer months, and the mystery may well then be reversed. But before the lilies grow back, I still have time to catch something from my barren little stream.
It’s not far from my school and the light is returning now; it’s not dark until gone five. If I’m quick, I could fit an hour in after work. If I don’t catch a fish, then I can always catch the sun going down- and dream of Welsh cakes in other, unknown valleys.
Postcards from the English Outback 
As always, a beautifully written account of time spent in the East Kent flatlands. So pleased your efforts were not in vain, these Pike are still very scarce creatures within this particular ecosystem. Catch up soon, I hope?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hello Dylan-
Good to hear from you!
It’s been a lovely week. I’m looking forward to bass now, from the spring- but also to doing some tenching come June 16th.
Hell Yes, to a beer soon- I’ve not had one since the end of April last year. I’ll explain why, when we meet for one! There were a couple of reasons- all noble- but I’m not going to continue it past the end of April. Let’s definitely make time for a beer in the closed season. We’ll break the map out and talk wild fishing…
Be in touch soon, Gazza
LikeLike
As always an absolute treat. After all the cancer treatment I’ve been suffering from a lack of confidence but next week is the week. I’ve gone through the Zen tackle tidying and now my mind is ordered too. Prepare for a post! ATB, John
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hello, John- I look forward to it, mate!
Crikey, what trials you’ve had to face. It must feel like coming back from a conflict zone. But it’s getting warmer. Fish are stirring- I think we’re due a good spring. I’m so glad you’ve got your tackle sorted for this ‘back-end’ of the season, as Mr Crabree used to call it. A good perch or pike would be just about as restorative as a nice ale, I’m sure.
On that note, I’ve been on a ‘health’ kick- no beer for a year, come April. So I’m going to be christening the new season with a few ciders- and hopefully, a monster bass, or three.
God Bless, pal – and Stay on the Mend- May all your fish be big ones- Gazza
LikeLike
Excellent read as ever Gareth.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Smashing, Thanks, mate- Glad you enjoyed it- It’ll be bass soon, but I’m still going to do some marsh fishing in the warmer months- The perching and wild carping can be excellent in June/July time.
Have a good end to this season!
Gazza
LikeLike
As usual a lovely tale Gareth. I thoroughly enjoyed it! Unfortunately due to circumstances my piking has been on the back burner recently.
I did manage a short session a few weeks ago on a channel that flows into the Rother which produced 3 doubles, the biggest was a 15 pounder so well pleased with that.
It’ll be perch time for me soon and really looking forward to it. Hope you have a successful bass fishing campaign. Enjoy!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hello Mal!
Good to hear from you. That sounds like some very happy piking- three up to fifteen pounds? Yes, that’s one to remember.
I just walked up Ramsgate pier- it’s blue skies and sunshine down here in Kent. I checked ahead and March is forecast to begin with low double figure temperatures, so perhaps the bass will come in early. I started in mid-April last year and there were already a lot of them. Just a few days in, I pulled in a fish that was at least 60cm/5lbs at a local mark- it had grabbed a whiting I was reeling in. Unfortunately, the bass had gripped the whiting but not the hook- it dropped off as I was about to land it. It was the only fish I lost all season.
So, fingers crossed for an early start this year…
Sorry to hear you can’t fish right now, mate- but good luck with the upcoming perch hunt!
Gazza
LikeLike
ron speaking another craddock beauty methinks i’m late again on the blog 50 lines coming my way ? plans for getting back on the water have to be amended as allegedly ‘slow’ cataracts appear to have speeded up and first op due tomorrow in another development nhs refuse further steroid jabs in long term damaged shoulder so awaiting operation date. i’m determined to get out fishing this year so shoulder prehab is being linked with ongoing hip re – hab the joys of of mis spent sporting youth what ! tight lines ron
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ron! Good to hear from you, mate!
I hope your eyes sort themselves out more quickly, fella. While we’re swapping war stories, I’m getting deafer. Mainly my left ear- I can’t get used to the hearing aid! Not sure I ever will.
I’m glad you’ve made it your aim to get out fishing once you’re better, Ron. I plan my seasons around it- spring and summer is really all bassing now, but I’m going to take a week or two in the summer to fish for marsh tench. Take the rake and practially live out there. Can’t wait. Take a gas stove and eat outdoors etc. Will camp for some of it, I think.
I want to learn to paint next; I suppose it’ll take me a few seasons to produce something reasonable (if I ever do) but I’d like to paint the local coast/marsh streams – and perhaps some of the birds. This will be mainly a winter thing…
And I need a new camera! And new binoculars…
Speak soon and don’t leave it so long next time,
God Bless, Gazza
LikeLike