Piscatorial Quagswagging

...the diary of a specialist angler in around the Warwickshire Avon and its tributaries.

Saturday 25 April 2020

The Close Season Zander Quest Pt.*** - Paedotrophy and Pathognomics

Solitude is not the same as loneliness. Lonely people feel the need for company, while solitary types seek to escape it. Another difference between the two groups is that hermits, anglers, Trappist monks and Romantic poets choose to be alone, whereas nobody chooses to feel abandoned and bereft.

Calling yourself “self-partnering”, meaning that you sit in the cinema (should they be open) holding your own hand, may be either a genuine desire for solitude or a way of rationalising the stigma of isolation.


The greatest difference of all, however, is that solitude has rarely killed anyone, whereas loneliness can drive you to the grave. As the coronavirus rampages, some of us might now face a choice between physical infection and mental breakdown.

My ramblings over the years you know that fishing gives me the solitude that I need to function effectively after all modern life can be very challenging indeed, there needs to be an escape for me.


Now Sam has been coming fishing with me since he was 4 years old, he's showed an interest, but not only that, he has embraced my style of fishing where I'd rather fish a small river and stream than a bigger river despite the fish nothing to write home about.

Who would go out to target bullheads, not many anglers I would imagine, we do.


The location is everything, solitude and fishing on my terms a must. So my solitude has gone, now a kid with verbal diarrhoea to appease, still I love taking him and will continue to do so.

What to do then ? well increase my fishing sessions, it's that simple and you only have to look at my blog to see that, 3 or 4 times a week now the norm. It's killing me not being able to go, 5 weeks in, that's probably 20 sessions I'd have had chasing the elusive canal 10lb Zander.


Still in these testing times of social distancing, fishing and golf will probably be the first pastimes to be phased in.

Anyway this week has been nice hasn't it, so we've had some nice walks out, one to collect some eggs left for us by one of my Wife's friends, luckily walking distance from our house. Her house an ideal house to be under lock-down, 7 acres, a swimming pool, feral animals and the biggest greenhouse I've ever seen.

The Webber has been used in anger too, a slow cooked beef brisket with homemade BBQ sauce, some tandoori chicken and adana kebabs being the main highlight.

Life's simple pleasures, which can get that mind back to a good place again.

Even the visual distraction of smoke well received.

A slug or two of a good rum, one or two Mad Goose's and Miss Monique on the decks on the bluetooth speaker, life is good.

Sadly as you would expect domestic violence is on the increase and I'd imagine many are suffering and struggling with their mental health.

One of our favourite pubs to visit in good weather the doors shut, the car-park empty, the table and chairs overturned very surreal indeed. Will they and many come out of this unscathed ? well let's hope so, because we need them all back stronger than ever.


The first pint, the first meal out, never to be taken for granted again. I bet the fish have wondered what the hell is going on as well with hardly any boat traffic and bait going in.

Well maybe not in the swim I've still been feeding, hopefully a big Zander with a belly to burst harbouring there still loving the free lunches, and sadly more to come for the foreseeable future.


The water seemingly quieter this week, no carp spotted, roach shoals sparse, the highlight some spawning bream ( I think )

A busy WFH week next week, a complicated cabin bed to build for Sam's 9th birthday 🤯 also a canvas print I've been hiding ready for his newly painted wall.

Sam's hero, Jeremy Wade, sadly not me !!!


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