With the lift of lockdown and recreational fishing being allowed it felt like I had a little bit of life returning to me. During the days of being quarantined inside I realised that what I longed for was the immersion of myself in nature and fresh air. Sitting in the sunshine waiting for the screaming of my alarms. I was having withdrawal from fishing (and I think this should become an official affliction from the NICD).
The first day that we were allowed, I got up at 5 am and made my way to the Magaliesburg to one of my favourite places, with one of my favourite people and enjoyed a crisp winter day session. I managed to get a mirror PB, and I took an icy bucket like a champ (albeit with a lot of swearing). It seemed that the return to fishing was foreshadowing something amazing.
Then mother nature decided to slap me back into reality. She sent some of the coldest weather Joburg has experienced for 7 years. I desperately wanted to fish but I also desperately wanted to keep all my fingers and toes from frostbite. The scales were very balanced until the foreshadowing of rain and then my fingers won the battle.
My peg mate decided to brave the cold on his own. I stayed nice and toasty on the couch. I will be honest and say that I was a little green even though I was warm. When I got the picture of the pretty common he caught I decided that I am not going to be such a girl and face the weather next time.
As an angler we are often told how crazy we are as we are willing to brave some of the harshest conditions in the hunt for the lumps, but I realised that I needed to have better preparedness for the extreme cold. I have done my shopping and am now prepared to face a July session in whatever mother nature decides to throw my way, but I will still hold thumbs that she decides to be a little nicer.
Carpy Dreams 