Chalk & Cheese

Flyfishing on my French chalkstream

Many flyfishers dream of casting into the gently swaying weed of a crystal-clear chalkstream in the early summer months.

But how many of us have the opportunity to do so on a French chalkstream, alive with beautiful wild brown trout?

Such was the opportunity that arose for avid fisherman Charles Hamer, and this idyll turned into paradise when he was later given the chance to actually buy his beloved beat.

Here is his delightful tale of falling in love with a stretch of the Andelle, of then owning it, of seeking the co-operation of his delightful and sometimes eccentric French neighbours, and of gradually improving the fishing there and restoring a rambling fishing home on the banks. It is the stuff of dreams and he knew it.

Multi pescari zboara viseaza sa se arunce in buruienile usor leganate ale unui cret clar, la inceputul lunii de vara. Dar cati dintre noi avem ocazia sa facem acest lucru intr-un chalk francez, in viata cu pastrav brun frumos? a fost ocazia care i-a aparut pescarului avid Charles Hamer, iar aceasta idila s-a transformat in paradis atunci cand i s-a dat mai tarziu sansa de a-si cumpara beatul iubit. aceasta, de a cauta cooperarea incantatorilor si uneori excentrici vecini francezi si de a imbunatati treptat pescuitul acolo si de a restabili o casa de pescuit pe maluri.