A trip to Richmond on Thames to bring back memories
Posted: Sun Nov 11, 2018 10:39 am
I was lucky enough to be invited to the rugby yesterday at Twickenham, which included a very nice lunch overlooking the Thames at Richmond. This was a wonderful opportunity to revisit a childhood memory; getting the Motor Gear AC coach in darkness and arriving to unload in lamplight. Back in those days, it was full of dace and roach and any spot on the 'steps' would get you into double figures, with a winning weight often above 20lbs. Great big lightning-biting dace and hulking roach; the latter I remember in a wonderful net of fish to 'Tony', who was wise enough to take elderberry (the first time I'd ever seen that as bait).
It would be a full on race for the 'steps'. If that didn't work then you'd stand on the ledge and hope for the best, sometimes tying yourself to a bush or a park bench (if there was one behind you). Oh my goodness how dangerous. One of the members went in the river on a snowy day, opposite the rowing club, and they pulled him out by the boat slip at the bridge (very nearly the end for him).
I once fished in the little slack below the bridge, as a Junior, and beat 'Pheasant Plucker' off the next peg (one of the grown-ups) and he wasn't happy! So named for taking a dead pheasant home after the coach hit it on the way to the Suffolk Stour (and which subsequently came around - it was only stunned - and caused mayhem flapping inside the coach!).
Other times, we'd get on the District Line at Elm Park and do the full 27 stops (I recall) to Richmond Station at the other end of the line. So yesterday I revisited for the first time in thirty plus years to bring back memories. The cars are newer over the bridge, and the boats moored by it, but nothing else seems to have changed, in looks at least.
I have long thought about another train trip there, you can now get the over-ground, with just one change at Stratford, and I think it would be hilarious to be sat there in the carriage amongst the iPhones and headphones, with the old Aspindale perched upright, and then march down the High Street again with rod rests jangling and a trail of gentles behind me. I have also wondered about similarly entering the TideFest competition, just for a giggle!
Does anyone know if there is still good fishing at Richmond? It was sad to see no-one angling yesterday (although perhaps they too were getting ready for the rugby)?
The slack where I beat the Pheasant!
The boat slip where Alan was pulled out!
The steps opposite the rowing club
It would be a full on race for the 'steps'. If that didn't work then you'd stand on the ledge and hope for the best, sometimes tying yourself to a bush or a park bench (if there was one behind you). Oh my goodness how dangerous. One of the members went in the river on a snowy day, opposite the rowing club, and they pulled him out by the boat slip at the bridge (very nearly the end for him).
I once fished in the little slack below the bridge, as a Junior, and beat 'Pheasant Plucker' off the next peg (one of the grown-ups) and he wasn't happy! So named for taking a dead pheasant home after the coach hit it on the way to the Suffolk Stour (and which subsequently came around - it was only stunned - and caused mayhem flapping inside the coach!).
Other times, we'd get on the District Line at Elm Park and do the full 27 stops (I recall) to Richmond Station at the other end of the line. So yesterday I revisited for the first time in thirty plus years to bring back memories. The cars are newer over the bridge, and the boats moored by it, but nothing else seems to have changed, in looks at least.
I have long thought about another train trip there, you can now get the over-ground, with just one change at Stratford, and I think it would be hilarious to be sat there in the carriage amongst the iPhones and headphones, with the old Aspindale perched upright, and then march down the High Street again with rod rests jangling and a trail of gentles behind me. I have also wondered about similarly entering the TideFest competition, just for a giggle!
Does anyone know if there is still good fishing at Richmond? It was sad to see no-one angling yesterday (although perhaps they too were getting ready for the rugby)?
The slack where I beat the Pheasant!
The boat slip where Alan was pulled out!
The steps opposite the rowing club