A wonderful story from Peter Simonds who found fly fishing as a saviour during dark and difficult times
I grew up in Devon and started fishing at an early age. My dad, Tom Simonds (Mjr - Rmc) taught me how to cast a fly rod when I was about eight. I caught my first trout from the River Otter (upstream dry fly) and that’s how I started fly fishing for trout in the rivers and lakes in the Southwest and at Chew and Blagdon.
I am sure that most anglers will agree that “Fishing isn’t just about catching fish.”
When I was young arrogant, ignorant, impatient and impulsive, fishing was just a challenge and I had to succeed and catch fish, blinkers on head down fish- fish- fish.
Not catching fish would get me all frustrated, tangled up and stroppy and my dad would tell me,
“Fishing isn’t just about catching fish, the sun's out, it’s a wonderful beautiful place, enjoy the day!”
I just thought that was something you said to someone who was having a bad day catching nothing, to try and cheer them up and stop them from moaning.
In May 1984, I had a RTA and suffered a complete spinal lesion resulting in paraplegia at T4 level.
While I was recovering trying to deal with the pain and the overwhelmingly daunting prospect of spending my life constricted to a wheelchair, and I was asking myself the question, a nurse (John) saw my grief and torment and he sat down and gave me four pearls of wisdom,
“Don’t forget who you are, your still the same guy you were before (RTA).
Don’t dwell upon the things you can`t do anymore, or won`t be able to do because of you injury/disability.
Concentrate and focus on all the things you are able to do despite your disability, and be thankful and grateful that you can still do them.”
And last but not least- “Have cheer in the face of adversity”.
I realized then what he had said was so true, (*) and so of course and naturally I spent my first day out of hospital fly fishing with my dad.
I caught a nice rainbow trout at some clear water chalk ponds, near the Spinal Injuries Unit at Odstock, Salisbury in Wiltshire and I loved it. Happy Again!
And most importantly, It wasn’t all about catching fish, it was a day out with my dad, having fun and being happy.
(*I still hold those word close to my heart, and when things get hard and everything is a struggle and all the joy has gone from life, I remind myself of that moment and what he taught me to help me turn it all around, how to see the light and carry on regardless of how daunting the task may be, the light will only shine in the darkest moment)
Fishing was one of the things I loved to do, and thankfully can still do.
I continued to go fishing, fly fishing predominantly and I love it as much as I ever did.
My dad and I went to Andros Island in The Bahamas and stayed at “Cargill Creek Bonefish Club” in 1992 for a week. I caught my first batch of bones and had my first trip to the Westside. An experience you can never forget!
In 1994 I started Offshore Sports Fishing on Andros Island, where we caught a lot of good fish; 50lb Wahoo, Kingfish and Dorado up to 25/30lb and, some Dorado on a fly rod.
In 2014 I took a good friend of mine with me (who I taught to fish a few years ago), where he caught his first bonefish with Glister Wallace. I went on my own in 2015 April and May and 2016 from May to June and I caught my “best” bonefish (7-8lb) with Captain Eddie Rolle from the Middle Bight. I got some good Westside bones too while looking for those big Westside tarpon.
I still enjoy stillwater trout fishing in the Southwest at Kennick, Wimbleball, Clatworthy and Chew.
Fishing inspires me and enthuses me, it`s kind of the light in the darkest moment, as long as I can still go fishing, (and do the other things) I will be alright. That may seem crass but it`s true.
Or quite simply-
When I am down out, and I can`t go fishing, I plan and think about fishing, and when I can, I just go fishing!”
It`s not the start and end to everything, I think what I am saying is hardship and despair is easy to deal with if you have something to crave for and to pursue with a dogged determination, a passion a love, a desire a need, if you want something, and you want it enough, you can put up with anything in order to get it.
When I`m on the Westside with some good friends, catching bonefish, it makes everything seem worthwhile, life is good, I`m back in the light and I`m happy again.
It’s a good thing to crave and pursue…
I have become more, after learning.
“The way of the peaceful angler and the Zen of casting a fly with rod and line.”
Contact Peter via his website HERE