Blankety blank.

[barbelblanker]

Last saturday.

Quick trip to the Stuour covered in some kind of unpleasant scum AND the fact that I thought that the banks of the severn were no place for my somewhat trip happy 8 year old , led us to try a lake near Nordley. Really only went there as it was too blowy elsewhere and I haven't cast into a lake in too long.

Thought there was an outside chance the fish might turn on but it stayed outside and we blanked.

Ah well , I couldn't not go could I.

Molly got a bit cold and I was worried I'd blown it and she wouldn't want to go again.

Thankfully she's got the Lewis stubborn streak and although she said she has had more fun (than that particular days freezing), she wants to go again. The littlest one does not appear to be interested at the moment so that's fine with me. I am not forcing my kids to go fishing, you cannot be forced to genuinely love anything.

Assuming it all doesn't go pear shape then I'm probably going to have a go for Grayling on the Teme and as there are barbel and chub there too, it could knock a few goals off the list.

I don't want anyone running away with the idea this goal thing is taking the fun out of my fishing, it isn't. I just get so much satisfaction out of both the days when you catch what comes along and also the days YOU got it right and the result was as planned. To me there are few things more satisfying than knowing that you did it, and if I can help my daughter catch a few too even better.

Tight lines (and I hope it's not a passing , used, tissue).

Pete.

[BaggieRich]

Unlucky at the lake Pete, at least you got out, and if the little lady managed to sit through a blank session and still wanted to go again, that's got to be a good sign. I'm desperate for my lad (He's 4 at the moment, so a bit too young really) to love fishing as much as I do, but like you say, you can't force someone to love somehthing, so I'm going to have to play it very cagey to begin with and hope he gets bitten by the same bug we have.

Best of luck chasing the Grayling. I'm sure you'll do fine.

[barbelblanker]

Well I reckon the Teme is a non-starter with all the rain we've been getting and a young un in tow.

So we are going to have another crack at the Stour or failing that a few hours on the staffs worcester canal. This time I think we might just try a different section though, now we've got the run of miles of the place we may as well try somewhere new.