I have been ‘called out’ for promoting poaching on the River Hiz.

That’s OK, but it is from people who do not know me. And the very same people have failed to demonstrate any sense of enquiry, to understand more, before penning accusatory notes to me. But that’s social media for you.

I have a rod on three syndicates on precious chalk streams and in addition I, am a member of two angling clubs. I spend several £000’s every year for the privilege of this fishing. And, also, I commit bids to charity auctions to find fishing for wild trout in interesting places.

I once have accidentally strayed, but only once, and to see how I felt about this, just read –https://afishermansjourneythroughwales.wordpress.com/category/cardiff/

When I discovered that what I was told by local folk was ‘free fishing’ on the common land at Ickleford, I was upset to discover that it is not. So, to those who I have offended, I offer my apologies.

One correspondent, actually sent me a copy of the Minutes of a Parish Council meeting in June 2013, when it was decided that signs would be placed on the Common indicating that fishing was prohibited. Such was the Parish Council’s determination on this point, that there were no signs on the occasion of my visit to this Common land two years later in 2015, and as of today, SEVEN years after the decision to install such signs, I gather that there still are none!!!

PLEASE, dear Reader, if you think you can fish this once beautiful chalk stream, now overgrown and in desperate need of some tender and loving care, you cannot.

Shame, because there are some stunning wild brown trout there.