Llanddwynn Island Day 2 – July 26th

Conditions were ideal to spend the day fishing, as bass are about and it was warm, overcast with barely any wind. A plan formulated on the back of the warden mentioning yesterday, that an 11lb Bass had been caught nearby just days earlier.
    Bass there weren’t, but mackerel, there were. Before setting off however, a decision was made to move Equinox closer to the shore and into calmer water. Once anchored and in the tender, I rowed around for no more than 10 minutes before 4 fell on the hooks – and t’boot all at once on a string of 5 flies! I let them all go bar one – selected for being a perfect fit under the grill!
   A change of tactics to lure a bass failed miserably, just more mackerel – all released; so gave up at lunchtime and decided to go for a swim; having got rather hot and sweaty fly fishing. Once dried and settled back on Equinox, I started to put the two rods and tackle away, when I realised I was ‘Touching Bottom!’ - a nautical term! The gravelly thump.. thump.. thump, quickly had me in the tender, with kedge anchor and 20 metres of rope and rowing out to deeper water. Back on Equinox and pulling furiously, I failed miserably to make any impression, so gave up.... or, was about to. Suddenly three very beautiful girls in bikinis and their equally yummy mummy and a young man appeared at the water’s edge! As they were already wadding in for a swim nearby, I asked whether a push might be possible. All four put their backs into the task and to help matters, had the engine running on full throttle too; with me heaving the kedge from the bow. Move.....no not an inch! Thanking them for trying, I found out that one of  the girls was celebrating a 27th birthday and that Llanddwynn Island has a special significance, as family ashes have been sprinkled nearby. What a close fun family they were too - two teachers – one art, one PE and an aspiring actress! I never did find out what the young man did. Their Mum ran a B&B in the Pennines. As Equinox settled far off the vertical, I did the only chivalrous thing, any man would do in my predicament... abandon ship with a bottle of prosecco and glasses and make for the shore and have a party! A fun hour or so later, the family left for the long two mile walk back to the car park. I sat forlornly for another hour watching Equinox slowly come upright; before moving her back into deeper water.
    I write this having burnt the mackerel. The smell was so awful that I threw the whole lot over the side and had bacon and eggs instead, washed down, with a speckled Hen or two, to try and try make amends. It didn't. Somehow, the bacon had acquired a taste of burnt fish; so didn’t enjoy supper one little bit. Where’s Mr Oliver, when you need him?
   A Famous Grouse then bed, I think.