Warwickshire Avon - Thaumaturgy and Taphophobia

Now a sensory deprivation tank, also called an isolation tank or flotation tank, is used for restricted environmental stimulation therapy (REST). It is a dark, soundproof tank that is filled with a foot or less of salt water.

The first tank was designed in 1954 by John C. Lilly, an American physician and neuroscientist. He designed the tank to study the origins of consciousness by cutting off all external stimuli.

His research took a controversial turn in the 1960s. 

That’s when he began experimenting with sensory deprivation while under the effects of LSD, a hallucinogenic, and ketamine, a fast-acting anaesthetic that is known for its ability to sedate and create a trance-like state.

In the 1970s, commercial float tanks were created and began being studied for possible health benefits. 

These days, finding a sensory deprivation tank is easy, with float centres and spas offering float therapy all over the world. And as of today post lockdown many health spas and the like are open, fill your boots !!!

Their increase in popularity may be due in part to the scientific evidence. Studies suggest time spent floating in a sensory deprivation tank may have some benefits in healthy people, such as muscle relaxation, better sleep, decrease in pain, and decreased stress and anxiety.

It's one of those things you need to try first to see if you will get one with it. Probably not suitable for the claustrophobia suffers amongst us.  

Or worse still those that suffer with taphophobia, yeah that means being buried alive, maybe not for you.

The water in a sensory deprivation tank is heated to skin temperature and nearly saturated with Epsom salts (magnesium sulfate), providing buoyancy so you float more easily. 

You enter the tank butt naked and are cut off from all outside stimulation, including sound, sight, and gravity when the tank’s lid or door is closed. As you float weightless in the silence and darkness, the brain is supposed to enter into a deeply relaxed state.

Sensory deprivation tank therapy is said to produce several effects on the brain, ranging from hallucinations to enhanced creativity. 

Many people have reported having hallucinations in a sensory deprivation tank. Over the years, studies have shown that sensory deprivation does induce psychosis-like experiences.

Benefits ? yeah plenty

There are many claims about flotation-REST causing feelings of overwhelming happiness and euphoria. 

People have reported experiencing mild euphoria, increased well-being, and feeling more optimistic following therapy using a sensory deprivation tank.

Others have reported spiritual experiences, deep inner peace, sudden spiritual insight, and feeling as if they were born anew.It has also been found to be effective in reducing anxiety and helping with pain. 

It's a great way to get away from it all, it really is. So anyway back to the session, Sam wanted to catch a few small fish down the bleak swim and gonk hole, so after a visit to one of the local pubs where the landlord knows how to keep a decent pint and a slap up Sunday roast we were off to catch a few fish.

God knows what had gone on at the match here 24 hours before, the official parking churned up something chronic. I can only assume some of the white vans here had traction problems trying to get out. 

Not only that but we had to remove litter in a few swims we fished. Anglers get a bad wrap because of the minority of angling idiots who basically couldn't care less. Sam was shocked as was I, he's been brought up to care for the environment and litter especially is a no no. 

You could tell it was fresh litter too, what is up with some people, spoiling it for the good anglers out there. The carp park is now out of bounds for most vehicles now I'd imagine, luckily some of the rubbish bagged up and now in my bin at home, not exactly hard is it.  

The problem is the culprits won't change now, it would need a miracle. 

Now I'd not seen the river so low in all the years I'd been fishing it. There has always been extraction here to water the crops but I can only assume it's also because of the lack of rain. 

We had a drop a few days back nothing to write home about so the levels are very low indeed. It's very clear too but still some of the swims have the odd deep hole so there are still fish to be caught especially when using maggots.

 

And what fish doesn't like a maggot. Sam manned the float rod throughout the short session and managed a variety of tiddlers which to be honest was the purpose of this trip. Gudgeon, perch, roach, bleak, dace and tiny chub.

Sam can often get distracted with motionless floats and bob less bobbins so this sort of fishing on small rivers is ideal to keep his attention. 

He is also taking more notice of the environment and added a lapwing to his growing bird spotting list. Ok he likes Minecraft and Fortnite like his peers but luckily for him I've taken him fishing with me since he was 4 years old. 

I've been asked by friends to take their kids fishing. I'm happy with that and will get something sorted, but fishing for me is often an escape to solitude. 

You don't get that taking kids fishing believe you me, but we need the next generation of anglers to be like-minded, otherwise angling will fizzle out. 

Warwickshire Avon - Spectroheliokinematographs and Slip-upperers

You know me, ones fishing sessions are planned well ahead of when they happen. Those short sessions I cram in, it's the only way to maximise fishing . Tackle and bait sorted, rods made up, all I've got to do is drive to the venue.

Yesterdays planned session a rather large spanner in the works !!!!

You see, initially I thought the vans parked inside the closed road signs were actually workmen themselves but after venturing past the 'access to frontages only sign' the official venue carpark was full to the rafters with the dreaded white van matchmen with no doubt enough tackle to support GB's falling GDP if need be.

I should have checked the club card I suppose, one of the very few matches on this stretch sadly was the evening I chose to fish for Barbel.

The problem now is where to go what to do? a recent three day festival on another local river that has some Barbel in residence finished 24 hours earlier and the fish are always off feeding for a good while. And who can blame them, would you like to be contained in a keepnet again with other unfortunate slip-upperers.

No of cause not....

The syndicate stretch ain't far from here though and that's where I'd chose to fish for this short session. It's been tough down here of late, the larger fish in hiding the other members like me finding it though when it's as clear as this.

Still with the Gudgeon set-up still strapped to the car and a handful of maggots I'm sure a few bites would be forthcoming before I'd put some big lumps of meat out for Barbel in to dusk and beyond.

Fishing isn't all about catching fish though it. Well for some it is I suppose, the seat box frequenters, pole slappers and elastic stretcherers. With an environment like this, what's not to like, the bird life is ridiculous, the insects and butterflies active as ever.

It puts the mind in a good place, a couple of hours of relative solitude on ones own terms.

Ok nothing big was caught on the light quiver set-up but still it nice to catch some of the eager small feeders when the adults where somewhere, where do they go I wonder, I'd love to know?

A few small roach, lots of small perch and a few fat minnows, at least the quiver had a quiver'ing.

Early doors one of the syndicate members had already banked a 12lb 10oz Barbel from here so there are fish about but ones suspicion is that much of the Avon I fish there are some lone lunkers rather than Barbel in numbers.

But there are other fish here too that would like a big bait, the second time I fished here I banked a double figure carp and beat my bream PB. One big difference though, plenty of colour in the water.

Now this Dynamite Baits luncheon meat certain stinks, it's got a nice consistency too. The krill flavour I decided to fish with a sort of cheap fish sandwich paste smell to to it. The fish have to be there though and as dusk came and went without even a couple of chub pulls to rattle the rods, it was another big fish blank.

What a sunset though and with the wind non-existent the session was a much needed tonic, cannot ask for more than that can I.

Well a Barbel would be nice, I'd move on to my preferred species then...

Warwickshire Avon - Gonk-Holes and Gynotikolobomassophiles

One of the many surprising things in the sport of angling is the seemingly disproportionate delight that anglers of all ages in all ages have taken in catching gudgeon, fish whose average weight is a little more than a gnats nadger.

Now young angler Sam was disappointed when I told him that we'd not be able to visit the 'bleak' swim and the 'gonk hole' because I didn't plan to renew the club book. But then after thinking about it, why the heck not ? It's one of my favourite stretches I fish, especially in the winter when there are some rod bending Chevin to be caught.

"Sam, I'm just popping to Martyn's, I've changed my mind on renewing"

"Gudgeon fishing, yeay!!!"

The Greek and Roman writers gave them their due. The advice given by the author of The Treatyse (1496) can hardly be bettered: "The gogen is a good fysshe, of the mochenes (for its size); and he biteth wel at the grounde. And his baytes for all the yere ben thyse: ye red worme: codworme (caddis): and maggdes (maggots)."

Later angling authors continued to extol the pleasures of gudgeon fishing and in the 19th century it became a fashionable pastime on the Thames. Many people who never fished for anything else organised or took part in gudgeon-fishing expeditions on that river, hiring a punt and boatman for the purpose. 

Amply supplied with food and drink, and with the professional Thames fisherman seeing to such practical matters as propelling the punt, adjusting the ryepecks, raking the bottom and baiting the hooks, the anglers, male and female, enjoyed in comfort the sport of gudgeon fishing.

Anglers of wider experience did not despise such expeditions, and many of the really famous fishermen of the day Francis, Foster and Buckland among the described the pleasure they gained from such convivial outings. This picnic version of gudgeon fishing lost its popularity soon after the turn of the century and disappeared with many other pleasing idiocyn-cracies of the nineties.

Real anglers pursued larger quarry and the little gudgeon was left to the young, the match fisherman, and the seeker after live bait. Gudgeon have always been regarded as the simplest of fish to catch, and the verb "to gudgeon" crept into the English language in the 18th century, meaning roughly, "to make a fool of by deception."

Although gudgeon can be caught on some occasions by the dozen without much trouble they are not always so gullible, and it is sensible to follow certain well proven tactics when fishing for them.Though it has declined in popularity, gudgeon fishing is good fun and sometimes a welcome relief from more serious and perhaps less productive fishing.

To be honest I wanted to sneak in a session first before the tangleator and verbal diarrhoea suffer accompanied me because I'd not get a look in. So a short session this my little link ledgered stream set-up with maggots on the hook to try and winkle out a Gudgeon or two. Then after baiting up with a pellet and hemp Smörgåsbord, I'd fish in to dusk with a Barbel set-up to try and catch an early season fish that have remained very elusive thus far.

Chub reside here and it's one of the reasons why I like it, but again a long hair would be utilised for a poka-yoke effect to try and stop them disturbing the swim. It was a Barbus I fancied not a Chevin. Those can wait when I've more balanced tackle not this Harrison 1.75TC broom handle. 

So anyway, to the fishing !!!!

To be honest I was in two minds whether to actually go or not but actively encouraged by the Wife as I'd been stuck behind the CAD machine for a couple of days getting properly stuck in to some work.  I'm one of the lucky ones in automotive upfront design at the minute, I'm actively working. Very busy as well.

It was the rain you see, it had been more or less raining on or off much of the day and I'm not one for sitting under and umbrella. I had a small window of opportunity though and with the tackle already sorted I'd finished ones dinner and was bankside. Only 2.5 hour before dusk though when I'd have to be off so I'd get stuck in to the gudgeon straight way.

At first I was pestered by bleak taking the maggot on the drop, pesky small perch and some small roach. I also had a tiny jack pike that bit through the line on the retrieve.

I persevered though and by adding an additional shot to get the maggots down to the bed quicker I had my first bold biting gudgeon, yipeeeeeeeee.

The link ledger set-up I've devised (more luck than judgement ) worked perfectly. By anchoring the running head on the line stop it acted like a mini bot rig for these barblet impostors. I'd ignore the tiny plucks and small pulls as they were minnow or bleak but wait till the quiver properly went round. Some of the bites were ridiculous the rod , pencil thin Darent Valley 8ft specialist quiver and sensitive tips  ideal for the intended quarry.

About 20 or so Gudgeon down within an hour or so and a bit it was time to get some bait down with the baitdropper. The Gudgeon were all of a similar size, no Gonks sadly but they are here so hopefully me and Sam can track a few down. I'll float fish next time though there are other swims with less flow where that method would probably be better.

So with the Barbel rod out and the unhooking mat covering the shoulder bag from the rain it was fingers crossed time. Still it was mild and the rain not that heavy so I'd stick it out. The bats came out when it was still light which was odd, but as expected nothing materialised on the tip till the light was starting to go when I had the first indication from a chub. A foot sharp pull, at least there were fish in the swim.

I air dry the small boilies so they are tougher, I find that a standard out of the bag boilie a chubs persistence can strip the bait from the hair without much trouble, I want to know the bait is still on when I fish for Barbel.

Dusk now ready to pack up and after a few more good pulls a fish hooked itself. Lift rod, yeap a Chevin, a scraper three pounder and with the rain getting worse it was time to go. Another angler I bumped in to when I was packing the rods in to my car was finding the same thing.

He like others has been struggling for the barbel because the numbers are definitely down in the areas locally we fish. The bigger ones are still around though, so I'm hoping now with a little rain to provide some much needed colour one may slip up soon. I'd also have a go for the Chub how I like to fish for them, I've not had a proper one in a while.