Real Life Struggles
Our Pro Team member Alan Brown shares the struggles that he has faced over the past year.
As most of you know, I have been struggling with a few issues over the past year with my mental state over my fishing. It felt like I was just trying to please others and not for myself, therefore not putting my heart and sole into my fishing.
It even got to the point I was finding excuses not to go and/or packing up early. Also, staying on my door step most of time rather than travelling around like I normally do. Last night, a bit of a last minute thing, good friend of mine Carl Golding managed to get me to travel for a low water session on the rays down Shoreham way for a bit of a relaxed social.
The weather forecast was not the best with a northernly wind and heavy rain until late evening. I got there about 6.30pm, got my self sorted and a bit of a play as got some new Penn casting specials that I got 3 months ago and had not used, so needed setting up.
Armed with bluey, prawn, squid and sandeel for bait and my ever faithful 3 foot pulley made with Cox & Rawle rig components, on the business end 3/0 specimen extra and 3/0 specimen extra short. I started to fish around 8pm and was straight into a undulate ray on prawn/squid wrap at range, bring the scales round to 9lb3ozs just before Carl and Barry turned up.
Weather was awful for most of the ebb, glad I brought my shelter which rarely comes out with me. Next cast saw a 9lb5oz again on prawn /squid wrap. Then another of about 5lbs, then another one of about 2lbs followed by a 10lb9ozs all on squid/bluey wraps at range. Just as it got dark it went dead with just a bass about a pound and a small hound pup. Around a hour into the flood the rays came back.
I had another then Barry had a pb undie ? Carl was still not on the score sheet. I then had another followed by a 3lb hound and with that I was knackered so home time for me. The other 2 stayed on with Barry finding another one and Carl finding 1. I ended up with 7 undies to 10lb9ozs.
It has to be said me coming out about my struggles with mental issues over my fishing, has made a huge difference to my mind set and for the 1st time in a long time I felt I was fishing for me. So if you struggling, speak out please.
Handy tip.
A lot of hooks now a days come offset, but if they don’t I offset them myself, this does two things, it makes it difficult for the Fish to spit out the hook and it also will show if there’s a weakness in the hook.
I would rather the hook snap at home than in a good fish. If you don’t do this, try it you will be surprised what a difference it makes to your hook ups compared to if you don’t do it.
