Oh Bullocks

We were having a pretty good day picking up fish on dry flies amid a moderate hatch of grannom.  After a while we felt the fish had become cautious in the section of river we were on so we decided to move downstream a mile or so.  After stopping on a high section of bank for a sandwich and a warming coffee we headed for some pools and runs that we’d done well in previously.  However, between our picnic spot and the fishing area was a herd of cattle.  These looked docile enough, spread out in the field some standing eating and some lying down – nothing unusual apart from normally the field contains cows but these were bullocks obviously being fattened up for market.

We decided that we’d keep to the worn path that was right next to the river, walk slowly, calmly and try not to alarm any of the beasts.  Initially this was uneventful, the cattle in the middle of the field continued doing what they were doing and the ones nearer our path either moved slightly out of our way or just stood and watched us.  When we were halfway through the herd we noticed a few of them starting to follow us, then one in the middle of the field started bucking like a rodeo bull.  As it did this it made a beeline for Tracy and myself stopping abruptly in a cloud of dry soil only a rod length from us.  It proceeded to keep its head down giving us the occasional snort.  This seemed to trigger others and they copied its high-kicking antics and soon we had four or five sizeable animals staring and snorting at us from close range.

Obviously at this point we were aware that we were in a spot of bother, however we decided we’d push on as it we were halfway through them already.  We were now in the river itself paddling along the edge.  Unfortunately our progress was curtailed by an undercut bank which meant there was deep water, probably 4 or 5 foot, immediately in front of us.  As such, we had to come out of the river and we were immediately met by five animals stood shoulder to shoulder, unequivocally blocking our path downstream.  We were now in danger of getting completely surrounded on the land side and having a very deep bit of river on our other side, we therefore decided we needed to arm ourselves.  Thinking about things after the event, we don’t know why we didn’t unfold Tracy’s collapsible wading stick that she carries with her on the Dee, however luckily there were plenty of hefty tree branches that we could pick up.

Now brandishing dried out sticks, we u-turned and made our way through the cattle that had been coming up behind us.  Fortunately these had not gone into formation like the ones in front of us thus they could be frightened off one at a time.  I remember having to replace my stick after breaking it by slamming it into the ground in front of one stubborn bullock.  Thankfully this threat of violence (we didn’t actually have to hit any animals) and us making a lot of noise and being as threatening as possible got us out of the situation.

We subsequently went upstream where the scariest beasts we encountered were sheep tending to their lambs – much less intimidating than a couple of hundred kilos of four legged steak.  We also managed to add a few more fish, although at this time the grannom hatch had completely dried up.

I shall enjoy my streak tonight, I will imagine it’s from one of the bovine thugs that stopped us from getting where we wanted to fish.  

Have a great week and I hope your access to the water you fish is uneventful.

James.