Post by tweedsider on Jul 3, 2008 17:22:23 GMT
A few years I read that more anglers in Scotland died in pursuit of their sport than did mountaineers, Scottish Sports Council I think. Never mind I have tried both and had as many hair raisers at angling as ever I had on the hills. Fast forward to the present day, Tweedhill on the lower Tweed on Monday past 30th June was it? Two weeks ago I had fished there, and scored, waded over to Horncliff Island fished the far side waded back nae bother, just as I had done a dozen times before. Now the river was a foot higher on the 30th, but across to the Island, nae bother, taking careful note of the markers for safe passage. Fished through for a blank, whats'new you may ask made a circuit of the iIsland disturbing the resident feral goose population and the herd of old fashioned horned coos into the bargain. Wild west stampede through to the north bank they went, a sight worth seeing, spray flying frantic bellowing, where's John Wayne then? Being a cowboy at heart, very interesting started to wade back across to the north bank taking note of the markers from two weeks ago. Yes but the river was low then, of course it was suddenly there came a realization that all was not well, over waist deep and the current pressing downstream all the time. No going back thats for sure. Now water is filling the hand warmer pockets of the wading jacket, definately no going back thats for sure. Then the first trickle over the top of the waders, shirt pockets filling- absolute blind panic- getting deeper. Swim? Whew a couple of bounces and its getting shallower, and shallower, hope its only water that has the waders half filled! Stagger ashore drenched, another drowned phone in the chest pocket but more or less in one piece and thanks to a strong fou fou valve only water in the waders.
Moral of the story dont be complacent when deep wading even in familiar waters.
From a very relieved tweedsider
Moral of the story dont be complacent when deep wading even in familiar waters.
From a very relieved tweedsider