The Trout

Surprisingly for some I spent a few hours again on the weekend chasing trout. Off into the borders of Gloucestershire and Oxfordshire, unfortunately no double figure fish, best fish was 7lb2oz. All fish stalked, even though a bit overcast and cold, we could see the fish, some were hidden mainly under over hanging trees but with a bit of patience, drop a hare’s ear fly in front of them and generally we got a hook up. Between me and my brother in 2 or 3 hours fishing we caught for 4 trout, one of which we took to the smokery, the others given away to friends.
On the way home we stopped at a couple of pubs, ….. Rose and Crown at Wick (Moorhouse Pendle Witches Brew was the beer of choice, one to have again a nice dark strong ale), the Griffin at Oldland Common for a Blackthorn and best of all a quick one at the Trout in Keynsham. The Trout has always been a favourite, a haunt for a few characters and identities of local rugby. Known for strong ciders and live bands – a lot of local and international rugby and football memorabilia adorn the walls, possibly too many Arsenal shirts, no surprise the landlord told us he was a Gunners fan. I had one of the favourite ciders, a Thatchers draught, the real deal, with a unique taste, flat, cloudy with slight yellowish tinge and very strong. The best cider of this trip, I wish a few of the boys in Oz could partake in a few of these.
This was the start of big weekend with a few mates we were off to the Concorde pub in Stockwood for a couple of Butcombe’s best bitters to be followed by many more beers at the Yeoman in Whitchurch where beers (Bass for me, I think has already been reviewed) where cheap at £1.50 a pint. Needless to say a double round between the four of us resulted in being a bit dazed the following day.
I have included a rogue’s gallery, all of who do the BOTF (UK) proud.