Friday 30^th August 2024.

I left the house slightly later than intended yesterday, having to take care of one or two items before my departure which meant that I turned the ignition on the car around 13:00.

The journey to Wessex is long; I always forget just how long it is every time I make it. Leaving the A34 onto the A303 always gives me a feeling of warmth and a feeling of arriving ‘home’. Approaching the henge, a feint mist was in the air and the sun was a blood orange ball of fire just about to set for the day. As I drove past the henge, the sun was going down behind it; how appropriate for this particular trip I thought, I could not have timed it better. Amazing, and what a sight it was. Quite clearly an omen!

Following this journey, which took in all seven hours! I had a very lazy morning, consuming at leisure numerous cups of tea, and a light breakfast of poached eggs on toast. Around lunchtime I felt back in the world and ready to head off to the pond. Meandering down the tiny lanes once again to angle for one of the final times at this very special place.

Before heading south this time, I was faced with a bit of a dilemma. I am certainly not a collector by any means, but over time I have accumulated a number of lovely thiings. I found myself thinking about what rod and reel to bring with me for this final trip? The reel was quite an easy choice. Although I own a number of lovely expensive ventilated aerials, as well as some lovely fixed spool reels, my choice was a very unassuming 3” Aerial Popular that I had Garry Mills from “The Mill Tackle Company, Redditch” carry out a light repair for me many years ago. It is never used and Garry had said to look after it as it was a particular special one. It also has a great sounding check.

I would be able to fish for three days. The Friday 30^th August, Saturday 31^st August, and on my way home on the Sunday 1^st September, so three rods were to be chosen, one for each day. Again, I have some lovely rods but ignored my normal choices. Instead, I picked the first cane rod I owned which was purchased for me by my wife from one of our previous members; a un-restored original B. James Mark IV. The second rod chosen was a Wallis Wizard (the basic one, not the “Super”) and finally perhaps one of the cheapest rods I own, an Edgar Sealey “Floatcaster”. I actually own a number of Floatcaster’s, including the “Deluxe” but this is a rod which I learnt to Wallis Cast correctly with, it has a lovely action and I have managed to land everything from Perch to Pike.

I put this dilemma to one of our former members. He immediately replied, do not think about the fact it is the final time you will fish there. I will try and get down to say hello, but just go, and enjoy. Well, the car was already packed by then, but I did attend the pond with this frame of mind.

Parking on the main road and walking down the stone track, I approached the pond which looked as glorious as ever. I walked round to my favourite swim, which I think is “Duncan’s”? It is the one immediately opposite “Lands End”. The Lilly beds really have developed in recent years, and it is possible to get my creel sat perfectly and a rod out between a number of reeds. Sitting quietly, this is where I had the Kingfisher land on the rod while I was holding it.

Roach were immediately obliging. Nothing of any size, but the float rarely sat still for more than a few minutes at a time and great sport was had. I even managed a small Tench. I took a break near tea time and made a brew from the Kelly on the opposite bank. No sooner had the kettle boiled and the manager turned up, must have seen my smoke signals. Great to meet up again after so long.

I have never dared to look at the bottom pond for maybe three years, not wanting to know what it was turning into. However, on this trip I had requested permission to angle at this place which I was to do on the Saturday. As I had never been in so many years, the manager took me round and showed where we can fish from now. We discussed the works to the pond and although I was shocked at the changes, I was not offended at what has been done there. It is clear nature is coming returning, and although it is different to what I remember, it is still a very lovely place and I actually was pleasantly surprised. I bade farewell to the manager and fished-on until dusk landing numerous Roach and the odd Perch, but no Crucian at all. As soon as the light faded “so called witching hour” the pond seemed to die. No bites were had what-so-ever. As soon as the first Owl call was heard, I packed up and said farewell for this grand day. I did not count how many fish I managed to catch in the end, but it would be fair to say it was in excess of 30!