ANGLING WRITES

I spotted your organisation in the Anglers Mail '50 Great Clubs to join' article, (yours jumping out at me as I'm a Northampton lad who spent many a day on the Nene/Ouse around the county!) and am contacting you to see if you would be kind enough to forward the attached flier to your members?
In return I am offering a 10% reduction on any booking for all Northampton Nene AC members.
We have had a number of visitors from your area so it may also be worth us looking at a website link each?
We are just 2 hours drive from Caen & 3 hours from Cherbourg / Le Havre - all from Portsmouth.

Introducing you to Reels-on-wheels.

This is a website dedicated to all anglers with a passion for angling. The idea was born from an initial chat between Nick Rowe (reels-on-wheels creator) and Frank Warwick about the frustrations faced by disabled anglers who don’t appear in articles, news or television programmes about fishing... and it grew, after talking to Matt Hayes, whose advice was invaluable.

Many people with mobility issues give up their outdoor hobbies and activities without encouragement and support, and this mustn’t be allowed to happen. Angling is the most wonderful recreational pursuit and has been one of Nick’s greatest passions for over 50 years now!

Reels on Wheels is not a charity. It is a ’self-funded’ organisation which Nick & Rosie, the owners of reels-on-wheels, hope will become a Foundation in the not too distant future. It is dependent on the generosity of like-minded people who support the Buddy System concept.

This is where you come in Reels-on-wheels are asking able bodied anglers to sign up with the website to become "buddies" for anglers who are disabled and, who, for one reason or another need help and assistance to go fishing. Whether it is transport, help carrying kit to pegs or just someone in need of company while they fish.

It’s as simple as that. Also reels-on-wheels need disabled anglers to sign up asking for a buddy to help them.

Please visit our website at www.reelsonwheels.org have a look round and sign up on our forum and volunteer as a buddy for your part of the country, who knows you may make new friends and help to bring a little light and happiness back into someone’s life.

Steve Robinson for and on behalf of Nick and Rosie Rowe.

Wanton Destruction

Angling, a sport for all. A sport with no expectations of fitness, strength or agility. All that is required is a modest amount of tackle, some bait and of course the legal bits, a rod licence and permission from the water owners. It is a unique sport in that a newcomer with only a few hours experience and the minimum of kit has the same chance of catching the “bigun” as the person with years of experience and a cart load of kit.

The look of joy, respect and satisfaction on the course anglers face when the fight is over and the fish lies safe in the net. The long lingering look at the fish, drinking in each scale and colour shade. Then the safe delivery back to the water, the fish being handled like a newborn child. Seeing the fish swim defiantly away and having the belief that it will grow, reproduce and sometime be caught again.

It is our basic instinct and right to hunt. It is the fish’s basic instinct to avoid capture and its right to be treated with respect and care till returned back to the water.

The above is my belief and my code of conduct while fishing. To day I was deeply shocked and saddened to see the pictures of the netted fish on our website. This is the sort of disgusting incident that the anti bloodsport brigade would love to cite as a reason to ban fishing.

The taking of ANY fresh water fish with out payment or permission is theft. We as anglers must do whatever we can to make the authorities act and prosecute the offenders.

So-called “Ignorance of the law” is not an excuse.

It would take only one successful prosecution to set the precedent.

M Grace

FISHERMANS PRAYER

I pray that I may live to fish
Until my dying day.
And when it comes to my last cast,
I then most humbly pray:
When in the Lord's great landing net
And peacefully asleep
That in His mercy I be judged
Big enough to keep.

THE BARBEL

I held my breath as I cast,
Releasing it as the bait hit the water.
I waited with anticipation,
For nothing else at the moment mattered.

The line tightened upon the water,
As the current pulled it downstream.
To catch a solitary fish today
Was my only dream.

I felt a tug, and then another...
I waited for the perfect time,
To set my hook and catch my prize.
The moment was sublime.

The barbel fought with all her might
To free herself from my line,
But I was determined and held my rod high.
This long awaited moment mine.

My heart was racing, I grinned with pride
As I watched the big girl fight.
She lept from the water, a flash of gold
As try to escape she might.

I smiled as I lifted my lady fair
And admired her natural beauty.
I then returned her to the river,

For this,

It is my duty.