THIS week’s update to the Covid guidelines has changed the landscape yet again.
Thankfully, we’ve still got access to our rivers, lochs and coastlines, with all the social distance that offers.
I think it means car shares for longer trips are out but given some of my friends’ taste in music, I think that might even be a bit of a silver lining.
You might head to a venue with a smooth jazz soundtrack while the group is already counting up fish you haven’t caught yet, or listen to some 90s classics on the way back, debating in-depth what you’re going to have for dinner.
Fishing is always a time for optimism and brightsiding.
I may well contemplate sticking my gear up on eBay after hours in the rain without a bite but every time I go, there’s a hope it’s going to be a good day.
It’s a fairly inexpensive way to get away from it all and a great excuse to stay out of the way. Through the spring, we had free time and no access, so I’ll definitely be making the most of it as safely as I can.
The fisheries and tackle shops remain open and providing we follow some simple rules, there’s no need to pack away the fishing stuff just yet.
Keep an eye out at your local venues for winter competitions, end-of-season work parties and angling activities to keep us together.
Some things will have to change but there’s no reason for the community side to disappear just because we’re not stood shoulder to shoulder.
There is an inevitability to the doom and gloom of flu season approaching and the grim thought of getting through a distant Christmas but there’s also life to get on with.
We might need to stay at a rod’s length apart from each other but winter cod are coming, autumn is prime time for perch, grayling are there to be caught and pike know nothing of virus strains, so there’s plenty of chance for us to wrap up and keep catching.
