White Springs
   Fishery

When I tracked down Alan Horton (58) he was actually for a change on the Specimen Lake going after the Silvers which is unusual for him so I am told as he is normally on the Canals. Today he was after one of the ultimate challenges, fishing for Silvers on the Speciman Lake.
I say you are a brave man m8.

 Alan is a retired caretaker from Wolverhampton who regulary comes down to White Springs to fish for the specimen Perch especially in the winter. Perch being of course are one of the fish that White Springs are so well known for. He primarily fishes for silver fish using a pole and a method feeder but still enjoys a little rod action with his favourite Grey which he invited me to hold and I have to say was a fantastically light rod and very well balanced, and as he elegantly put it
 "The same rod as a Hardy but a sight cheaper than the Hardy!" 
Alan enjoys fishing for Rudd, Roach, Tench and Bream with the Perch being his favourite fish. With a personal best of a 3 1/2lb Perch and 17lb carp both on the pole which I might add is no mean feat, especially as he explained he wasn't actually fishing for the carp and a combined weight of 188lb 8oz on the match lake he has in his fishing career taken to fishing like a duck takes to water. He started his fishing career about 10 years ago just after he retired and was looking for something to do to keep himself occupied when a friend of his suggested that he take up the sport.

He jokingly remarked that at that time in his life 

"I thought that people who spent all their time fishing or spent all their money on their fishing kit like my mate were idiots, was I wrong!!" he laughs and points to his kit

"now look at me, when i first started, I started off with a carrier bag and a mates rod and now I have got all the best kit and rods just like my mate and I spend as much time as I can".

I asked him what it was that started his love of fishing and he replied ......

"It was that first fish, that feeling of excitement and adrenalin as it came to the surface, it was only a small one but it was that feeling that I got"

Alan I think it is safe to say that we certainly know what you mean

Asking Alan what his best bit of tackle was caused him to chortle and to hold up his quick pellet bander tool, I have to agree with him a marvelous bit of kit, I have one myself. Invaluable bit of kit for the serious matcher.

He mentioned on a subject which I agree with about fishing and that too many people are forgetting the art of fishing and rely on too much technology to do the work for him, He jokingly said that if you dont have a float in your tackle box or you cant cast your rod out without using a bait boat then you can't really call yourself a fisherman, even though he was joking I personally think that there is a lot of truth in that statement and I also agree with Alan that the art of fishing is something that shouldnt be forgotton, we all should get the float out once in a while.

During our conversation he remarked that he came to the Springs about 6 times a year to fish for the Perch on the old Canal especially in the winter so I asked him what kept him coming back to White Springs so often.

"Its not only the fish" he said "its the people here, people are so friendly and ready to help you here at White Springs, especially Vince and Eileen, they are such nice people and if you have a problem in any way Vince isn't slow in sorting it out for you. Vince and Eileen are like having family friends they will do anything they can to make your stay more comfortable for you "

Alan has told me he has met some characters whilst he has been down here including Brian and Tony from Bristol with whom shared many a laugh and even managed to get Tony to use the pole. Tony has sadly passed away recently and both Vince and Alan would like to give their condolonces to the family and to say that they

"Will always remember his cracking sense of humour and that he is missed but never forgotton. "

I asked Alan what his most memorable fishing experiance was and he explained to me that he was down here earlier on in the year, in the spring and he had broken a section of his pole when he was fishing due to the wind being a bit high.

 "I can imagine you were devastated Alan" as I looked over his very good quality kit he had with him. Alan couldnt find a replacement section anywhere here locally so he must have thought that his planned fishing holiday would be ruined with not having his favourite pole. Well it turns out that there was a knight in shining armour in the shape of Vince, who had only gone and tracked down a replacement section and ordered it for Alan without him knowing, he even got the section expressed delivered for him from London, so that it was in the next day so he wouldnt miss out on fishing. Now seriously that is what you call service and going above and beyond the call of duty. As Alan explains this is just one of the many reason he loves White Springs and as he said "Vince is a star".

The other reason of course is the fish and Alan was very happy here last Feb when he broke his personal best with Perch and landed a three and a half pound Perch from the Old Canal here at White Springs.

"Just seeing that size of Perch and seeing the fin break the water it is the best feeling in the world, they are fin perfect here, absolutely gorgeous!!."

and frankly I couldn't agree more with what he says and thats why White Springs Fishery attracts fishermen from all over the country who will come down especially for the Specimen Perch including big names like Matt Hayes.

Alan we wish you all the best in the future it was a pleasure talking to you today and we hope to see you down here more often.

Tight Lines m8.