This must have been in the 1980's - Dick was now Secretary of the fishing club...And a Pike Match had been arranged for this particular Sunday morning. They all meet up at the Dog Public House - to have a snifter before they started their match (A nice Whisky helped them to warm up for the day ahead - well that is what they told me !!).....
This particular Sunday morning was in winter and snowflakes were gently falling.... Before I go on any further I will give you a rough idea of the men in their team, they were such characters all having their own nicknames...Blue eyes, for obvious reasons - FFFreddie (who stammered) Rasher because his name was Bacon...and I could go on, but there were so many of them...
Now back to my story.....They all loaded their gear into the boats (two men per boat).....Started up their Evinrude engines, and off they went, All bundled up in winter gear, Woolie Hats - Scarves - the lot to keep warm.
After an hour or so, "Great Excitement" Big Billy (and he had his nickname for obvious reasons} had a Run...it was a Pike and a big one at that, he struck and reeled it in, got it to the side of the boat a couple of times but in the pandemonium and anxious to land his catch - he fell into the water.. He went under ,and as he bobbed up to the surface his woolie hat was down over his nose, it probably would have slipped further, but his pipe which was still in his mouth prevented it covering his face totally....
His trousers had slipped down and his coat and sweaters had come adrift - showing his bare Belly....onto which the snowflakes were gently settling - much to the amusement of the other anglers.. but having said that they all started their engines and came to his rescue.. And just guess where they all ended up - you've got it - "The Dog Public House".....This time a snifter to keep them warm after the match...
Being concerned about big Billy who was so cold that he shook - Luckily Dick always had spare clothing in the car, So these were loaned to Big Billy - but bare in mind Dick was a couple sizes smaller than him, but at least they were dry and warm...
They hooked Big Billy's Boat to his car and sent him on his way home.....
Dick was concerned about him - and later that evening went to see how hewas....Maidie his wife came to the door and Dick went inside - First words Billy spoke before Dick could say a thing was " Did you manage to get my Engine out of the water"....Dick was bemused, Billy had told his wife that the engine had fell off his boat and that he had dived in to retrieve it....... Dick went along with this story, as obviously Big Billy hadn't told her the exact truth....But that's fishermen for you....
And as for the Pike - Who know's....Never heard another word about it....But Big Billy's story was the talk of the fishermen for quite a while.....
Ally......
8 comments:
Oh what a lovely story ,are there any real characters like that anymore I wonder!and the wifes name Maidie ,wonderful. Jan xx
I thought the same as Jan, loved all the nick names, and Maidie made me smile, how lovely :o) Hilarious Ally! I can almost picture Big Billy with his hat down over his nose and his pipe in his mouth! He he, I'll bet they never let him live that down ;o)
Sara x
Lol In stitches reading that one Ally. I see the old whisky to warm the cockles was first on the menu. Fun characters to be with. Rache xx
Great entry Ally, I`ll bet Big Billy was frozen in that water...lol! :-)
Sandra xxxx
LOL a fisherman's Tale
Oh I'm shivering just reading this. But for a pike? Worth it all!
ROFL
~~ jennifer
Hilarious images ... he could have been snorkling through his pipe!
Kath
What a great story Ally ,I laughed at Big Billys Bare Belly and his pipe still in his mouth. Where we lived as children all the men had nick names like your names some were so funny, its only now when you look back,.... then we just took it for granted......Jeanx
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