River Meon
- Moley
- Brown Trout
- Posts: 1453
- Joined: Mon Jul 16, 2012 11:57 am
- 11
- Location: The Mole Fortress, near the South Coast
- Contact:
River Meon
Livivng in the Meon Valley it would be rude for Fatty not to fish it. At least that was the gist of the tall tale presented to Matron who gave her grudging consent with a nod of her head.
The next problem facing Fatty was to get the essential provisions in order and on time. Phew so much to do, so little time.
The day arrived soon enough but Mole and pies were established, as was enough slurping tea.
Tackle for such a small river was a 3wt Fibatube rod only 6ft long, Hardy Perfect and two boxes of flies. Leaky waders were to be worn as wet wading is frowned upon in Chalk Stream Country with Fatty practising his Boris Johnson Accent should he see anyone in authority lurking about by repeating 'don't you know who I am?' at any given opportunity
With the prospect of just under a mile of water to tilt at Fatty believed he would catch inspite of the Sun lighting up the river, giving the Trout the sight advantage.....oh well at least the rain had stopped.
Trout scattering in all directions whilst Fatty splashed about in the river meant catching them could be a challenge. However they being trout one or two woulld make an error and visit the bankside!
So :
A good start, with the trick to getting at least a superfast hit, was to find any deeper holes and run a nymph through. Pulls galore but few fish on the bank until this slightly slower chap dropped by:
Problem solved.....not really as the bites were mostly just that bit too quick resulting in missed bites or the fish hanging on just enough to bend the rod then letting go. This lot appeared to be well educated Spotty 'Erberts with Fatty having to up his game or just spend the rest of the day scoffing pies and slurping tea in an impromtu picnic and a splendid siesta to follow.
Sophie Loren in her prime was talking sexily to Fatty whilst whispering sweet nothings in his ear, then licking the side of his face......hang on lad what's going on here. Waking with a start, as a cow licked the side of his face again was a bit of a let down; eeeeh that Italian Minx had cast her spell yet again but don'ttell Matron .
Shooing the small herd away took a little time but they lost interest soon enough, trotting over to the shade of some trees to watch procedings in a bemused manor.
Fatty had finally made it to a largish pool, near the bridge
Sitting on the bank, casting was easy to the sighted fish. A huge monster Brownie estimated at 3lbs created havoc, smashing the leader, leaving Fatty a gibbering wreck and jumping several times to emphasise its victory.....a select choice of words followed the fish out of the pool
Setting up new leader and fly selection, scoffing a concilatory pie and slurping nice tea took enough time to make the world seem a better place again and at least the size of that fish made it a veritable Gulliver in the land of Lilliput.
With loins girded to re-enter the fray, Fatty dropped fish after fish, soon once again Descending into the Vale of Despond. However, by keeping going all became right again when this chap came along:
Happy days.
As the sun dropped below the horizon another brownie came to see The Mole but slid back in to the Meon before any portrait could be taken. It didn't matter though as this was a good point to end the day, with Fatty singing badly on the walk home
As ever,....
Moley
The next problem facing Fatty was to get the essential provisions in order and on time. Phew so much to do, so little time.
The day arrived soon enough but Mole and pies were established, as was enough slurping tea.
Tackle for such a small river was a 3wt Fibatube rod only 6ft long, Hardy Perfect and two boxes of flies. Leaky waders were to be worn as wet wading is frowned upon in Chalk Stream Country with Fatty practising his Boris Johnson Accent should he see anyone in authority lurking about by repeating 'don't you know who I am?' at any given opportunity
With the prospect of just under a mile of water to tilt at Fatty believed he would catch inspite of the Sun lighting up the river, giving the Trout the sight advantage.....oh well at least the rain had stopped.
Trout scattering in all directions whilst Fatty splashed about in the river meant catching them could be a challenge. However they being trout one or two woulld make an error and visit the bankside!
So :
A good start, with the trick to getting at least a superfast hit, was to find any deeper holes and run a nymph through. Pulls galore but few fish on the bank until this slightly slower chap dropped by:
Problem solved.....not really as the bites were mostly just that bit too quick resulting in missed bites or the fish hanging on just enough to bend the rod then letting go. This lot appeared to be well educated Spotty 'Erberts with Fatty having to up his game or just spend the rest of the day scoffing pies and slurping tea in an impromtu picnic and a splendid siesta to follow.
Sophie Loren in her prime was talking sexily to Fatty whilst whispering sweet nothings in his ear, then licking the side of his face......hang on lad what's going on here. Waking with a start, as a cow licked the side of his face again was a bit of a let down; eeeeh that Italian Minx had cast her spell yet again but don'ttell Matron .
Shooing the small herd away took a little time but they lost interest soon enough, trotting over to the shade of some trees to watch procedings in a bemused manor.
Fatty had finally made it to a largish pool, near the bridge
Sitting on the bank, casting was easy to the sighted fish. A huge monster Brownie estimated at 3lbs created havoc, smashing the leader, leaving Fatty a gibbering wreck and jumping several times to emphasise its victory.....a select choice of words followed the fish out of the pool
Setting up new leader and fly selection, scoffing a concilatory pie and slurping nice tea took enough time to make the world seem a better place again and at least the size of that fish made it a veritable Gulliver in the land of Lilliput.
With loins girded to re-enter the fray, Fatty dropped fish after fish, soon once again Descending into the Vale of Despond. However, by keeping going all became right again when this chap came along:
Happy days.
As the sun dropped below the horizon another brownie came to see The Mole but slid back in to the Meon before any portrait could be taken. It didn't matter though as this was a good point to end the day, with Fatty singing badly on the walk home
As ever,....
Moley
Say aye tae'a pie!
- MGs
- Pike
- Posts: 6430
- Joined: Wed Nov 02, 2011 2:24 pm
- 12
- Location: Cornwall
Re: River Meon
Well done. I do like the Meon Valley. Sadly, I never got to fish it, when we lived up that way. Fond memories though, we got married in East Meon Church
Old car owners never die....they just rust away
- Wallyboy Rob
- Chub
- Posts: 1127
- Joined: Mon Feb 09, 2015 10:30 pm
- 9
- Location: On the Wally as often as possible ( Portsmouth area)
Re: River Meon
Well played Mr Mole, a very special river the Meon, underated in comparison to the Itchen and Test
going with the flow - You gotta luv them gonks
"There's no way you're going to get a quote from us to use on your book cover" Metropolitan Police spokesperson
from the back cover of Wall and piece - Banksy
"There's no way you're going to get a quote from us to use on your book cover" Metropolitan Police spokesperson
from the back cover of Wall and piece - Banksy
- Grumpy
- Arctic Char
- Posts: 1849
- Joined: Fri Jun 25, 2021 5:09 pm
- 2
- Location: Westcliff,Essex.
Re: River Meon
A lovely tale.Sophia in her prime...wonderful.
- Coral Maestro
- Chub
- Posts: 1057
- Joined: Sun Feb 02, 2020 2:58 pm
- 4
- Location: Correze, France
Re: River Meon
Beautiful trout. Well done!
What do they know of fishing who know only one fish and one way to fish for him?
- Jack Hargreaves.
- Jack Hargreaves.
- GarryProcter
- Arctic Char
- Posts: 1898
- Joined: Sun Apr 29, 2012 12:48 pm
- 12
- Location: Wilt Shire
Re: River Meon
I hope your bovine paramour wasn't just after your pies, Moley. Well done on all those spotty herberts, but it would have been much easier baiting with a nice fat worm . Or a bit of pie
- Lea Dweller
- Pike
- Posts: 6086
- Joined: Thu Nov 07, 2013 1:58 am
- 10
Re: River Meon
Entertaining and enjoyable as always, well done Moley!
Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall!
Confucius
Confucius
- Moley
- Brown Trout
- Posts: 1453
- Joined: Mon Jul 16, 2012 11:57 am
- 11
- Location: The Mole Fortress, near the South Coast
- Contact:
Re: River Meon
Thanks for the kind words LD....fishing this type of stream is always about the beauty of the place and the madness that Fatty brings to such select areas. Hence invitations to such areas are few and far betweenLea Dweller wrote: ↑Sun Jul 18, 2021 10:15 am Entertaining and enjoyable as always, well done Moley!
Very likely Garry but as rules dictate upstream dry fly or nymph on pain of death if not adhered to Fatty always errs on the side caution.....it's a self preservation thing really.GarryProcter wrote: ↑Sat Jul 17, 2021 8:39 pm I hope your bovine paramour wasn't just after your pies, Moley. Well done on all those spotty herberts, but it would have been much easier baiting with a nice fat worm . Or a bit of pie
They are beautiful trout CM and always a delight to catch.
Ms Loren in her prime was a truly iconic human being....and not too shaby even now!
A Mole can dream.....just so long as Matron remains unaware.
It's why Fatty moved here....the Meon is far less commercial than the Itchen or Test and all the better for it!Wallyboy Rob wrote: ↑Sat Jul 17, 2021 6:50 pm Well played Mr Mole, a very special river the Meon, underated in comparison to the Itchen and Test
You missed a treat MGs as the river is a delight. East Meon is not far from me and worth a visit as the pubs are not bad
No doubt Fatty shall return for another tilt at the monster that got away.
As ever,......
Moley
Say aye tae'a pie!
- Liphook
- Barbel
- Posts: 4801
- Joined: Mon Sep 03, 2018 6:21 pm
- 5
Re: River Meon
Another very enjoyable chapter Moley It's a very beautiful stream and one I'd like to visit again some day
- CraigM
- Grayling
- Posts: 685
- Joined: Wed Feb 29, 2012 5:41 pm
- 12
- Location: Hampshire
Re: River Meon
Thank you Moley.
Living in Four Marks & close to the A32 & therefore the Meon I've often stopped to peer into this lovely little stream. The Shoe pub is nicely positioned next to it as is Wickham Village. A 3lb trout would be a monster !
Living in Four Marks & close to the A32 & therefore the Meon I've often stopped to peer into this lovely little stream. The Shoe pub is nicely positioned next to it as is Wickham Village. A 3lb trout would be a monster !