The
dog wasn't there
Contributed by Donald Walker (copyright)
Rummaging in my tackle box I found a tale of yesteryear that bears
a mention. This a tale from my match fishing days in the 1960s. Its
Friday evening the day before the match and I'm just arriving at Rose
Farm, a fishing venue on the Nidd, to peg it out for the following
day. The parking was roadside and the entrance to the fishery was
through a large gate past the farmhouse, across the farmyard. Past
a barn and a stable, then beyond two fields was the river. As I entered
the farmyard I looked out for the farmers dog. A ferocious mongrel.
It usually lived in a kennel, to which it was fastened with a very
heavy chain. Now I knew how long this chain was, and where to walk
to be safe. Well there was the dog crouched in its kennel, it was
just starting to growl. I knew it would do its usual so I was giving
it a wide berth. With a vicious snarl, the dog hurled out of its kennel
straight for me, to be brought to violent halt at the end of its chain.
I swear the kennel moved six inches, a frightening experience for
the unwary. The farmer appeared and assured me I was safe but to be
off the farm by 9pm which was the arrangement he had with the fishing
association.
Next morning we met at the parking for the match, where I warned the
lads about the dog, and off we went down to the river. It was a lovely
day, everybody caught fish. At the weigh in at 4pm I was placed third,
well I didn't win them all. I'd had such a good day's fishing though,
I decided to stay and fish on. Off went the lads leaving me to fish
the whole match length on my own. As the evening progressed the fishing
got even better, and I started thinking in terms of larger fish. So
I changed to a larger hook and baited it with a big worm. Just two
minutes later I hooked a larger fish and five minutes later I had
it in my net. As I unhooked it I realised there was something strange
about it; there was a large tongue sticking out of its mouth. On closer
inspection I saw that it was a tail, belonging to a fish that was
bigger than anything I had caught in the match. The fish I had caught
was a pike, but how it managed to eat my worm whilst it had that tail
in its mouth I just cannot imagine.
I looked at my watch. Oh my goodness it was 8.45pm, the farmer let
his dog loose at nine. I would never make it through the farmyard
in time. I packed up as quickly as I could, I had to try. It was ten
past nine as I approached the farmyard. I looked in the kennel, the
dog wasn't there, I knew I had a problem! I'd picked up a stick on
the way and it looked like I was going to need it. Looking round the
yard I suddenly spotted the dog, it was sat in the stable doorway
with its back to me. The farmer must be in there I thought, so I quickly
crossed the yard, keeping my eyes on the dog the whole time. When
I got to the gate it was difficult to work the latch without looking
at it. As soon as I took my eyes off the dog it ran across the yard
and sank its teeth into my leg. The farmer running after the dog grabbed
it round the throat and choked it to make it release me. He managed
to re-chain the dog and took me into the farmhouse to be bandaged.
It was my own fault I know, he had warned me. However, I took no chances,
and called at a hospital on my way home, who gave me two stitches
and a jab for my trouble.
Copyright protected, reproduction without the authors permission strictly
forbidden
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