I was fishing the River Dee in Scotland a few weeks ago when the ghillie came to see how I was getting on.  I asked him why I had not caught a fish that morning even though there were plenty about.  He intimated that no fish would be caught that day due to the atmospherics.  He was wrong - my wife caught one!

Atmospherics

It has to be said that Mrs H is becoming rather a good fisherwoman.  I call her the ‘Legend of The Dee' because she seems to catch more fish than anyone else - well more than me anyway! 

We were both fishing recently and I was hoping that a fish would take hold of my fly.  It did but, unfortunately for me, my fly (the one I had tied earlier) was attached to the end of Mrs. H's line, and she played and landed a fourteen pounder!

She received a copy of her Seniors School Magazine the other day.  This normally includes old girls achievements since leaving school - the usual things like winning major sporting events, hitching up with well known celebs and having large successful families.  But who was featured on the back page proudly holding up a large salmon? - Yes you've guessed it - Mrs H!

People say that women catch the biggest fish due to pheromones being attractive to the large male salmon.  In my view that is utter bosh and a scurrilous rumour put about by men to devalue the many female achievements over the years.  The real reason women catch fish is because they listen to what they are told by the experts and fish with a grim determination not to be beaten.  Most men thrash away beating the water to a lather, giving up quickly if the going is slow and heading back to the lunch hut for a wee dram or two.

Now, this is supposed to be a forestry related article, so do atmospherics have any effect on trees or tree growth? - I have no idea!

Stephen Habershon is Forestry Consultant to Balfours and can be contacted through Balfours' Offices in Craven Arms on 01588 673314.