Lucky "Bloke"

The above title is reference to Ian (“Bloke”) Pulsford. Ian earned his nick name through him referring to everyone he first met as “Bloke”. Bloke had retired from work in his early forties to fish full time. Bloke had built a reputation as the only angler in the South West that fished every day of the week. However, his match fishing with Bathampton is limited for financial reasons. Bloke is a close friend of England International Des Shipp. Bloke will tell you that he taught Des all he knows – there may be some small amount of truth in this – Des always appears to know how venues that Bloke fishes are responding.

Bloke fishes regularly at Bitterwell Lake – particularly Tuesdays. So it was no surprise that I met up with him whilst out walking the Lake.

I exchanged the usual “how’s it fishing” stuff, and for some reason the discussions got around to dropping pole sections in to water! Bloke then went on to explain this amazing story:

It was one day in 2005, when Bloke decided to go pleasure fishing on the Bristol Avon at Keynsham, electing (for reasons only known to himself) to fish the swim just below the Donkey field, behind Keynsham Marina (photograph right shows the swim, but subsequent to the following events the swim had a “Kissing Gate” erected right on it). This section of the river is rarely fished and used mainly during winter league matches, particularly when the river is running high. This is due to it being just above Keynsham Weir and is between twelve and fourteen foot deep, with the summer water level having a slow steady flow. It’s also unpopular because of the narrow foot path and the overgrown trees each side of the swims (see photograph lower right). It’s not somewhere you would select the pole as first choice. Feeder is the most popular choice. During the session Bloke lost a number six section from his new pole, into the murky depths. He tried all the usual landing net business to recover the section, but to no avail. So, being cheesed-off Bloke packed up and went home.

On his arrival home, his wife Margaret, known as Marge noticed that Bloke looked a bit down hearted. Marge enquired for the reason. Bloke explained what had happened to his pole section and the £200 cost for replacement. Marge asked why he didn’t get in to the water to recover it. He explained that the swim he was fishing was 13 foot deep and he was concerned about debris from the trees, etc… which may cause injury; in any case Bloke admitted that he is not a particularly strong swimmer.
His Wife then volunteered to go and try and recover it for him as she was a much strong swimmer. Bloke tried to dissuade her, but she was now set on trying.

So the next day Bloke and Marge, duly attired in swim wear, arrived at the river. Marge stripped down to her swim suit and dived in the river – YES DIVED IN! Marge made repeated dives only to return to the surface with bits of wood, branches etc…Bloke finally persuade her to give up and return home without the section.

I discussed the whole event with Marge, explaining how the first dive down, was the most important, as initially the body if full of oxygen. Repeat dives would last less and less time due, to the depletion of body oxygen. On the first dive Marge made it to the bottom but could only see "stones in the murky, green water". Marge did find and retrieve some sticks and branches. Marge also explained that at the time, the flow of the river was quite strong, hampering her staying in position over where the pole entered the water. Marge, thought afterwards - "what if, she had drowned, how would Ian explain it to the Police". Marge thought this scenario hilarious.

Have a look again at the top photo – would you dive in to this swim to retrieve a £200 pole section – not likely! Marge did at the age of 58. Well done Marge.

Below, middle, is a picture of hero Margaret and Ian celebrating their 40th (Ruby) wedding anniversary.

The only way to describe someone who is the position to go fishing every day and have a Wife prepared to dive in to a river to retrieve your tackle is:

Lucky Bloke