25/04/26, Coaching Session, Trendals Lake, Revels...

It didn’t take long for the moaning to start. But not about what you’d think…

Look, I knew that it would be ok and that all the fretting was for nothing.

But, when you plough your heart and soul into something, you just want it to succeed.

I’m fairly confident that we would have had only one participant if we had not have moved it closer…

But all’s well that ends well, and we did have a very good session.

I’m sure that Sgt Bracey was beginning to wonder what he had let himself in for when I told him to pick up stuff from Luckfield that I had forgotten on TWO visits during the week. Jerry now does the thinking for several people, and I’m beginning to see an opening for an experiment. How many people can Jerry think for before his head implodes?

Of course, he was very gracious and no backlash or mickey taking is expected after the first 5 to 10-years has passed by.

At the risk of repeating myself, I love the bit just before the chaos starts…

I wandered round the lake a couple of times, and the sounds of the early morning chorus was just bliss. Woodpeckers, Finches, Robins, Blackbirds, and the early morning farts and bronchial clear out in the toilet block, are sounds that you just let wash over you…so to speak.

I stood, eyes closed just taking it all in. I felt glad to be alive…

The aim of today’s coaching session was to get the juniors present across the line with the gold level of the Get Fishing certificates. It would have been easy to just stick the stickers on the certificates and call the job done. But we did it properly and went through each section thoroughly and methodically.

The whole Shebang started with a chat about ground bait after the waffle about staying dry and un-electrocuted had been vomited into the ether.

Ground bait? I hear you cry?

Wow, Mr Coach, you really know how to show these kids the sport in all its glory!

Yeah, well, it can’t always be catapults and shotting patterns can it?

I showed those gathered the alchemy of adding more and more water to ground bait to change the texture and the use of a single mix. Therefore, rending everything pointless outside of a single bag of ground bait. If the bait industry collapses in ten years-time, then there is a good chance it may have been my fault.

Sorry…

The point was that you could change the mix to suit your situation, even with limited bait options.

Harriet was the first to break with a jaw splitting yawn that told me that my time was nearly up. Any junior that opens their mouth wide enough to show me what they ate for breakfast, is enough to bring things to a swift close.

With the hint taken, I released the feral creatures back to their positions and the thrashing of the water to a foam began in earnest.

Princess Mee-Moo was the in the much favoured ‘Carpy Corner’ of Trendals lake. A fact that she exploited to the minimum by catching just one little Mud-Pig.

Mia was amongst the first gripe about the strange sensation that we were all experiencing.

After being freeze dried and feeling rather ‘Mossy’ for most of the year so far, it was a bit odd to feel…oh what’s the word now?

HOT! That’s the one…

It was rather warm, and Mia was wilting. She was wearing about 8-layers of clothing which was eventually reduced to one making her feel better.

With one side of the small lake to herself, the Carp were treated to a terrifying bombardment as she practiced her casting skills. If you can’t catch ‘em, then turn to BlitzKrieg!

Uncle John-Bob had promised her £5,000 if she reached a certain tree that was positioned too far away for her rod to reach. This amount reduced dramatically as she crept the feeder closer and closer to the target tree.

The Squirrels moved out..

I stepped in with helpful tips for Mia’s casting, but disastrous hinderance to Bob’s bank account.

Eventually with a mix of Dorset side spin, a bit of a shimmy, and some psychotically brutal power, she made the 40-odd yard chuck successfully. Hooray!!

Sadly, the elation of the achievement was tempered by ‘the comma being in the wrong place’ and the winnings were reduced to a measly £5.00. Boooo!

Small feed for such an effort in my opinion….

Next to Mia was Sgt Bracey’s house of learning. Set up, as he was, for todays Taster Sessions. The peg looked resplendent festooned in brand spanking new equipment for the most part. New box, side tray, and accessories, everything look very swanky. This was offset by an old pole, old rollers, and old coaches…

First to the podium was a proper newbie, James Powell. A very nice lad with a powerful handshake. (Take note kids. If you want to make an impression, get a good handshake sorted). I’ve always appreciated a firm handshake. It imprints a lasting image in the mind. One that reminds that this person should never be left alone close to Kittens, glass, or un-fired clay ware…

A genuine fishing novice, James and dad, James (yup, even I would struggle to forget their names. But, as Jerry will confirm, I’ll give it a fair crack), would both get one the score board with a few decent fishes.

Next up was young Ben from Plush and his delightful mum, Caroline.

Ben reminded me of our very own Kenzie Toulson who has rapid fire questions locked and loaded well in advance. But I don’t mind that at all. Questions are good. Questions are fun. Questions, questions, questions…

It is widely known that the only dumb question is the one you never ask, and I feel we answered them all very well.

Like James, Ben is a nice kid, and I think they enjoyed their time with us today. We certainly enjoyed having them and they were both rewarded with shiny new certificates care of the Angling Trust to take home with them. I look forward to seeing them both again very soon.

Alexander so very nearly made it through the whole day. But I think that the elation of achieving his gold level badge was just too much for him. Obviously, the only course of action open to someone who finds themselves overwhelmed by their own success, is to grip your certificate in both hands, place two recently soiled landing nets over your head, and walk in ever tightening circles until you spin on the spot and then collapse. All the time dragging your mum’s fleece pullover along the ground behind you.

Alexander is a professional at all the above and executed the ritual with passion and precision.

Mum Charly fell foul of a spiky Perch which drew blood on her hand. I offered to fill out an accident form, but she declined. I will fill out an accident form one day, even if I have to fabricate the incident!! (Please note, I won’t fabricate an incident just to fill out a form).

Harriet was leading a sheltered life, covered as she was, by a large brolly. She was catching fish quite happily under the guidance of Uncle John-Bob, something which did not go unnoticed. Sadly, it wasn’t all beer and skittles because an incompetent member of the coaching team had only brought one pole roller from the store. Maybe not that strange until you remember that there were THREE poles on site and only one set of rollers…

Food for thought, perhaps. We are always preaching balanced tackle to our juniors, which is ironic considering the unbalanced nature of the Head Coach (sometimes).

Harriet managed to bag probably one of the largest fish of the day, a nice little Carp of around 3lbs, as well as a smattering of smaller fish.

Lastly, and still looking like he had fallen out of bed at the end of the day, was a returning Harry Cryer with dad, Paul. Looking that tired at the end of the day is a truly impressive feat it must be said. I had forgotten that Harry has the most laid-back approach to his fishing. Almost as if he doesn’t want to be there? I’ve given him a warning signal to use if he is fishing under duress which is to wave his arms violently above his head whilst shouting ‘Kak-Kah!’ at the top of his voice. We can then come to his rescue.

Despite being a young teenager (Jerry’s favourite animal), Harry has three- or four-years’ experience under his belt already. He fairly flew through the coaching certificates, gaining his gold badge with ease. He also caught the most fish today (as I would have expected) with more than 11Carp at the last count.

Well, I'm a bit pink today (Sunday), but I think we all survived the summer of 2026.

I feel that the Get Fishing program is starting to make sense now we are getting some new, less experienced juniors into our new club. I would like to personally thank the loyal few who have stuck with us to do this program. Although it is aimed well below the experience of most of our juniors, those that have attended these first few sessions have not only helped us to gain access to much needed funds, but they have also helped us to understand the program in real time. Something which will improve the delivery in the future.

Big thanks to Jason at Revels for giving us a lake at very short notice. It is very much appreciated.

Thank you to our intrepid group of coaches, Jerry, Jon, Chris, John, and Neil.

Next up for Jurassic Juniors is our first official match at Orchard Lakes near New Milton on the 9th of May (May already!) Not only our first match, but also our furthest. But don't let the miles and the staggering price of fuel put you off. It is a stunning fishery and well worth the effort. With a tackle shop, cafe, stuffed full of fish, and parking behind pegs, what more could you ask for? Be there....or be somewhere else...

You have been punched! TBP...