Monday 23 May 2022

Pre-Season 2022/23


Over 2 months without a blog post! But I have got an excuse - unfortunately just after the river season closed I was diagnosed with cancer - which instantly changed my year!

Lots of hospital visits, scans and tests - but we now have a plan. It's a fishing blog so I won't go into details - but; surgery followed by radiotherapy and a long recovery time will probably wipe out my summer season - hopefully I'll be fit by pike time.

I might be able to get out during breaks in my treatment - I'll see how I feel. In the meantime I'll be glued to the blogs for a bit of vicarious fishing - best of luck this season (and keep blogging).

That's a bit heavy, so in lighter news... I have been out bothering the butterflies, with three new species added to my list; Wall Brown, Pearl-Boardered Fritillary and the very rare Small Pearl-Boardered Fritillary (first photo). Butterfly count now 47 of 59.

Small Pearl-Bordered Fritillary Pearl-Bordered Fritillary
Orange Tip (Male) Green Hairstreak
Wall Brown Speckled Wood

28 comments:

  1. Hope to read all about the pike fishing in due course! Best of luck with treatment Brian, I will be sure to give you some reading material.

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    1. Cheers Adam, I’ll look forward to reading about your fishing adventures - and to a bit of pike fishing!

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  2. Hope endless bream posts are not to off putting for your recovery

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    1. I really struggle with bream - everyone has that one fish they can’t master - so catch away, I’ll be reading every word…

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  3. @Keith.J said: All fish I catch hence forth will be christened Brian. Word will spread amongst the fishes that Brian is actually a cool name. By the time your line is next wet they'll be crawling up it for their audience with the deity Brian (that's you). You cannot and will not fail.

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    1. p.s. Your poor excuse will not wash here. Go fishing. :)

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    2. And we’ll make a film; A Fish Called Brian

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    3. Those local barbel will have an easy time of it this summer - but if anything can drag me out - they will. If I’m half able I’ll be on the riverbank!

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  4. I'm shocked and very sorry to hear of your setback Brian. Keep positive and fish whenever you can.
    My enforced hiatus is hopefully coming to a close and I've already had a tench blank. Blog land here I come.... soon.

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    1. Thanks Dave, it is just a setback - I’ll get through it and be back chasing those fish as fast as is humanly possible. Look forward to your first post in nearly a year - let’s hope it is littered with monster fish.

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  5. Stay strong and Pike season will be here before you know it. Wishing you all the best with your medical procedures, our NHS staff are the envy of the world.

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    1. Cheers Dylan, the thought of those pike will carry me through. And the NHS staff have been absolutely brilliant. As have the MacMillan Nurses.

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  6. Brian sorry to hear, best wishes and hope you're sorted quickly and make a speedy recovery as we all need you back on the bank !!

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    1. Thanks Mick, everything is moving quickly - still going to be weird to miss opening day and the sunny months - but I’ll be back on the bank as soon as I can!

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  7. Wishing you all the best Brian. Suspect you will still catch more than me despite your curtailed season!

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    1. Cheers, think everyone is going to catch more than me this summer - I’ll have to make up for it in predator season - tight lines.

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    1. Thanks Monty - might need a bit of luck with this one…

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  9. 'Been out of the loop a bit Brian, but Mick told me of your diagnosis.
    I'm really so sorry to hear that and I hope things go well for you.
    We moan about the NHS (usually with good reason!) but when things get serious it's unbeatable.
    All the best mate.

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    1. Cheers George, The NHS have been fantastic so far - let’s hope they can sort me out and get me back on the riverbank soon. Also, come back to blogland :-)

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  10. Blimey Brian - very best of luck with it all mate. That first cast is going to feel special. Tight lines. (Ben Hennessy)

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    1. Thanks Ben - I might have to have a quick cast before I go under the knife… But that first cast afterwards is something to very much look forward to!

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  11. Sorry to hear your news Brian. Fingers crossed for a full recovery as soon as possible. Stay positive and hopefully those fish will only have a brief respite from you.

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    1. Cheers Sean, the news nobody wants to hear. Think those fish deserve an extended break from me - but I’ll be back!

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  12. Good luck Bri, I’ll look forward to those pike updates !

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    1. Thanks Darren - And I’ll look forward to your summer blog posts.

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  13. So sorry to hear your news Brian, all the best in your recovery. You'll be back chasing wye pike in no time!

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    1. Cheers Jack, really looking forward to a few more Wye pike this season..!

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