Battle to Dreams

               Battles to Dreams

I was born June 20th 1963 in hampstead London. Unfortunately it wasn't the best start to life as I was born with 2 club feet. I was taken to gosh (great ormond street hospital ) to under go 15 years of operations on my feet. When I was about 6 after à operation  leg in plaster my next door neighbour  asked me if I wanted to go fishing yes please I said not noting what to expect.  So of we went to oakmere  mark in potters bar Hertfordshire where I was now living. When we got there he showed me these horrible things they were called maggots lol. After setting up my new rod from woolworths we started fishing my float was a match stick it went under and there was my first ever fish a gudgeon  it was huge so I thought. That's it was Hooked on fishing after a few trips and progressing for a few year I then got into carp fishing. With my mates still in and out of gosh for operations I started reading the angling times and soon found out about Bob Nudd and Mr crabtree. And learning I then joined my first club potters bar angling club with a nice bunch of lads. I was there for 3 years never won anything but enjoyed it. Then came girls and work at the time seemed better lol so I gave up fishing the operations were as successful  as they could be I could walk. I owe gosh so much. Then I was diagnosed  with cancer in the back passage. At the same time my marriage ended so back to hospital had yet another operation for the tumour to be removed and under go radio therapy and chemo therapy this was in 1994. I started fishing again this was just pleasure fishing  then as the saying goes things come in 3s it happend I was diagnosed with a brain tumour back into hospital I'd hit rock bottom this time. I lost a lot of sight in one eye and alot of memory loss so to get back fishing was going to be hard as it took me months to remember silly things like tying hook seven how to put line on a reel. But I persevered with it I then met my partner jackie she encouraged me to join another fishing club 9 years ago. Then 4 years ago I decided to do open matches wow this was another level. I was never going to be good enough at this level but the banter was good then you think I'm I to old for the dream to get sponserd and maybe one day do an article for a magazine dreams kept me going. I then decided wanted to fish a really big match so I went to do The Big Bash at lindholm lakes I'd never seen a fishery this big with so many people but I was a part of it. Could I compete against so many big name anglers the end of the match the answer was no but did I enjoy it the answer was yes so applied to do it again this year. I also decided to try and get a ticket for fish o mania thinking I had no hope but another big match. I got 2 reserve tickets the first was barford lakes which I went to but drew badly. Then my 2nd was at colemans cottage  Essex again so many top anglers I drew peg 38 on wood lake I started on the tip first cast tip went round 2nd cast tip went round and this carried on through out the day did I think I had a chance not a hope. Then the scales got to me I was told I think it was 119lb  was winning it with 3 left to weigh in didn't think I had any where near that. So out came my first net 71lb but nocked back to 71lb the i was asked what did I have in second net my reply I don't no so lifted it out and was told I'd won it before weighing. I started shaking then fish on scales 68lb every one started congratulating  me me I was in shock. I then faced a 90 min drive home still shaking thinking what have I done. I got home after a few to many to drink I woke up on the sunday and thought I'd dreamt it I turn my phone on it went mad with messages and face book friends requests from all congratulations 

It then sunk in I was now in the final. No it was time to go to cudmore fishery and practice  were I met the likes of jammie Hughes Andy Geldart Steve Cook 12 other great anglers and they all said hello then you meet people like Andy May  kieth Arthur  the draw for the final didn't go my way. I drew peg 10 through practice we knew it wasn't good but the only thing I didn't want to do was blank. Which I didn't I came 15th I was over the moon. I  stated to watch the internantional match on the sunday then Joe Roberts asked me to go for trials for England disabled team this doesn't get no better.  Since this people say I was the peoples favorite who me I said I'm just me but I was now being asked to do coaching attend charity matches all over the place for which I  done my best to attend. But only the public will no the true awnser to this one. So for me this has been  the best year of my life. If any one thinks they are not good enough believe me don't give up on dreams I still have 2 dreams which might happen one day I will post on here how trials go next year I also want to thank everyone that have supported me through out this year it mean so much to me.on the last note I'm now running a yearly match called North v South  this is a fund raiser to support England's ladies and disabled teams  as this is self funding you can join my group by going to this link facebook.com/groups/632203120229042 

Marsh Trail Lakes Suffolk

Today I fished a open match 5 minuets from home.
The day started badly as I left my phone at home lol
We fished C lake which consists of carp skimmers
Tench and silvers. I drew peg 2 this is a hard peg so choose to have 3 pole lines the first was 14.5 meters the second was 8 meters and finally my right hand margin i also had a straight led rod. At the I started on the deck with a 6m banded.pellet feeding micro through a toss pot as after a really cold night I new it was going to be hard after 20 minuets I had my first bite it was a small skimmer the next put after a wait had a carp of about 2 lb so decided to try my 8m line there was nothing on this line. So went back to the 14.5m line then I had a couple more carp after trying different baits with no success. I decided to sit it out on the long line and back to banded pellet had to wait for bites. In the end I had 3 skimmers and some roach and 9 carp for 34lb. I was happy with the way it went and was surprised to find out I was 4th overall and had enough to win my section. But unfortunately no camera for picture

The Browning xitan z14

Good morning everyone I had a great day at Tunnel Barn with some great people from Browning looking at 2 of their flagship poles, the Xitan Z14-1 and the Champions Choice Silverlite. My day started at getting up at 2am for the 4 hour drive to Tunnel Barn and arriving there just before 7am and having a great breakfast. The day started by meeting some of the people from Browning, one of Browning sponsored anglers James Hall (Jim to his mates) agreed he was going to help me, so after getting set up I sat on the Browning box and was handed the Z14-1 at 11 meters this was very light and stiff and felt great, then I was handed the short pole protector it looked strange as the end that goes in the was round the other end was square but what a difference this made as having your arm on a square section gave more control and stopped the pole rolling so is handy if your using a catapult for feeding. The Z14 come with 3 of these that fit the 13m 14.5m and 16m sections and with the pro

package you also get a standard reversible protector for the 9 & 11.5m. At 14.5m the normal length I can fish comfortable all day at I was surprised how light this was compared to other brand poles, the final test was the 16m section. only one word explained this for me and that was WOW I feel I could fish this length all day but unfortunately they wouldn't lend it to me for the day, the graphics and finish are superb too. Browning do 4 sizes of standard top kits called Single Length Kits (SLK) in 3.0mm, 3.9mm, 4.5mm, and a 5.5mm then you can have thepuller topkits these come in 3 bore sizes of 3.9mm, 4.5mm and 5.5mm their is also a choice of the uprated power kit Single Length Kit Power (SLKP) and an all new top kit which is a one piece with a 4.5mm bore this is ideal for up in the water and for F1 fishing. Then I saw the pole holdall another great idea the holdall has 2 pockets on the out side for the pole protectors so your not struggling at the bottom of the bag trying to find them. This is a great pole and one that will be on the bank with me soon and hopefully will be helping me with my England disabled team trials and hopefully if I can make the team will be in Portugal next year. 

I just want to thank a few people for a great day firstly thanks James Hall for all your time and help also Bob Nudd the face we all know and to Frerk Petersen European manager for Zebco Browning and lastly all the other guys from Browning I met it was a great day with great products with great people. To see more please go to www.browning-fishing.com 


THANK YOU EVERYONE 

Bloodworm & Joker Lesson

Good morning everyone,

After my experience at this year's Fish'O' Mania Final I was asked if I would be interested in going for England disabled team trial in readiness for next year's events, this is a dream come true and have jumped at the chance, the down side was I'd never seen bloodworm and joker before never mind fished with it. So after an initial panic a really good friend Carl Shepherdson spoke to me and offered to help me to achieve a dream. 

It was a 4 hour drive from my home in Suffolk but luckily I was heading north to fish the Hooked for Heroes match at Lindholme Lakes and I wasn't going to turn the opportunity down I needed to see if I could do this. We had a chat and after some ringing around and sending emails we found the best place to go was the Aire and Calder canal.

When we got there we started the day by going through groundbait choices and mixes, we also decided to add leam to the mix to ensure it reached the bottom in the the deep water, we also took a look at different floats for this venue ranging from a 1.5g to a 3g and the varying patterns. Now it was time to set up, after the info we was given I decided to plumb up 2 lines one at 14.5m and one at 8m. Once we started to fish and it wasn't long before I had my first fish and once they arrived they kept coming. By the end of the day I had about 30lb of roach, perch and skimmers. 

What a great day and one I really enjoyed, and I think I can get used to this style of fishing and can't wait to go again.

I also have to thank Carl Shepherdson for his time and patience and making it so enjoyable

The Aire & Calder Navigation - Pollington Stretch was the venue for the session

All the equipment and 

For someone who has never prepared bait like this 

Talking about measuring bait quantities out (left) - Hooking 

It's amazing how even just a couple of hours you get the bug back for canals again - amazing session

A fantastic first ever session - 30lb net of silvers all taken on Bloodworm & Joker

Welcome Everyone

Hi all and welcome to my blog the next several months are going to be a whirlwind but filled full of excitement and I will be writing several articles of what I have been up to, I hope you enjoy the read and please feel free to follow me, ask questions or if your on the bank come and say hello.

Tight lines, Gary