This season has been a mixed bag of adventures, from the tranquil landscapes of the Outer Hebrides and Caithness to my day trips in the rugged Highlands and pleasurable afternoons on the River Clyde. However, when it came to my angling club's water at Hillend, a sense of disillusionment cast a shadow over my enthusiasm to fish there.
Hillend, just a ten-minute drive from home, has been my angling sanctuary for the past 30 years. I've had many memorable days and nights at Hillend with my friends and the many likeable club characters courtesy of my membership with the Airdrie and District Angling Club. This year, though, something felt different, something that made me question the direction the club is heading. The familiar excitement and eagerness to visit Hillend has waned with each passing month, and I might well have made my last ever cast on its water.
Considering giving up my membership is not a decision I take lightly. It's as if the season has marked the end of an era, signaling the need for a change in my angling journey. While change can be unsettling, it's an inevitable part of life. Just as seasons come and go, so do our interests and priorities. Perhaps it's time to explore, to join a new fishing club and embrace fresh challenges and the experiences that lie ahead.
As I bid farewell to Hillend, I can't help but look forward to what the future holds. Winter, with its crisp air and cold waters, offers the perfect opportunity to seek out grayling along the upper Clyde. The prospect of pursuing this lady of the stream fills me with anticipation, and I hope that the weather will be on my side.
Moreover, the upcoming fly-tying season promises to be a time of creativity and preparation. Tying flies is an art in itself, and as I sit at my fly-tying desk, I am reminded that angling is not just about catching fish but also about the craftsmanship and artistry that goes into every aspect of the sport.
In the weeks and months ahead, there is much to look forward to. The changing seasons bring new opportunities, and the optimism of what lies ahead is a source of inspiration. Though it's difficult to bid farewell to Hillend, I know that the journey of an angler is one filled with twists and turns, and the next chapter promises to be just as exciting, if not more so, than the last.
