Friday, 27 January 2012

But what have we got here?



Click the image of the book to see the text more clearly.  Check it out carefully.  Charles Cotton explains that Pike Pool gets its name not from the rock springing up in the middle of the river but from the "Pike" that you see standing up there distant from the rock.

Here is the Pike Pool, on the map it is clearly marked.  It is still there and you can catch fish from it to this day if you are there at the right time.  Right there where Izaak Walton lost "a great fish"!




Here is what it looks like today.  The trees have partly concealed the "Pike" but you can make it out.  Even in this coloured water during this winter's rain it still looks mysteriously fishy...

Pike Pool from Charles Cotton's Path


Kneeling down there, in years gone by, your faithful correspondent has managed a few trout and grayling.  This summer I'm "Going Back" and will be trying to repeat the pleasure!


I'll show you another landmark from the Complete Angler in the next blogpost.  On it you can trace one or two of the footsteps, not of our great angling ancestor Charles Cotton but of one of his humble maidservants...


Regular Rod



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8 comments:

  1. e.m.b.27 January 2012 at 05:03

    Ah! A 24 of my own to read! ;-) I love history like this...can't wait for the next installment!

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    1. Regular Rod27 January 2012 at 10:03

      Well I'd better get on with the retracing of Piscator's and Viator's steps then!

      The best bit (I hope) will be the sequel, when I hope to fish here...

      Regular Rod

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  2. Brk Trt27 January 2012 at 14:48

    Keep the history coming.
    You must get a sense of angling ghosts when you cast on those waters.

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    1. Regular Rod27 January 2012 at 16:32

      That is EXACTLY the feeling. It is almost as though they are away on business but have sent word through to the keeper that you have permission to fish there for the day...

      Regular Rod

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  3. Witham Piscator27 January 2012 at 17:46

    I sense were all enjoying this out here, but maybe we're more than a little jealous! Keep up the posts.

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  4. Anonymous29 January 2012 at 16:06

    Nice one RR.
    By Flyfishermanrichard at 14:01

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    1. Regular Rod29 January 2012 at 16:08

      Thank you Flyfishermanrichard. I'm certainly hoping to fish here at least once this summer. Andy the keeper has been doing very good things here to improve the habitat.

      Regular Rod

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