Fishing ‘Old Albert’

Sorry but it’s another fishing memory from the time when I may have just been a teenager or I was approaching that ‘life changing’ point. Fishing was an obsession, even if I wasn’t allowed to venture too far afield so it was, for the main part, the local park lake. The lake had a head of Roach and Rudd and some Carp and Bream too just to increase your hopes and ambitions. There was a roller skating rink next to the lake and the sounds of the Everly Brothers and other Pop Stars of the era serenaded you as you were absorbed by the lake and its surroundings. Paradise it was not and the Hampshire Avon and even the River Tees and River Swale would have to wait a little longer. Sadly the lake also had motor boats and rowing boats for hire too so early morning was best and this entailed getting into the Park and in position before the Park Keeper opened up and of course this obviously included not being seen. So small boys Roach fishing is the subject continuing the current theme. Rose tinted specs are needed for the view back in time I suppose and we’ve all used them on occasions. As an aside I remember when I was about eleven being give a copy of the book ‘Mr Crabtree goes fishing’ and becoming obsessed with Tench and I was convinced that there were Tench in the lake. There never were any Tench swimming in those murky depths and obviously I never caught one but that trivial matter didn’t stop me fishing for them in The Albert Park Lake.