Fishing has woven such an important thread through my life that I suspect it is something I will do for as long as I am able. That is not to say, however, that the desire to do so remains at a constant level. So far this year trips to the river have been infrequent and I am yet to meet a fish of any description.

I was jolted from my apathy by a very kind invitation to fish the River Naver in the middle of March – a river which was firmly on my wish list. My day on the river was characterised by savage winds, rain and snow. A rapidly rising river put paid to any chances of success, and yet the opportunity to fish famous pools that I had only read about is not one I would have missed.

We go fishing for a whole host of reasons above and beyond the obvious desire to make contact with, and ultimately land, a fish of one species or another.

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