THERE'S something to be said about being in the right place at the right time.
That can often be the case in the sport of angling, although the more experienced participants will choose a successful peg or mark based on good judgement rather than good luck.
But even then, as talented England women's international Helen Dagnall revealed in Warrington Guardian last week, a bad draw at the World Championships can leave you in a spot where the fish simply aren't feeding.
I have to be honest and say it was 'luck' from me when I enjoyed a successful catch during the rare opportunity of a couple of days of sea fishing off the north Wales coast recently.
Well, when I say successful, catching just one fish is better than nothing as I have found out as a novice on many occasions over the years.
On this particular adventure, after clumsily clambering over rocks I eventually reached a perch to park my rear and get stuck into some action with optimism, especially after hearing from the local tackle dealer that mackerel, bream and bass had all been feeding well.
Three hours later I had nothing but a numb bum and an aching arm from the constant casting and reeling action used when fishing with a shiny silver imitation fish rather than bait.
But the gilled-ones simply weren't attracted to my offerings as I'd also tried a second rod with a float and ragworm as well as a beachcaster rod that allowed me to fish with worm on the seabed at distance.
It was a frustrating session because from my rocky position I could see occasional schools of bass passing by in the clear shallows and fellow anglers, who were also having no success, made it worse when telling me that catches were being made by the bucket-load earlier in the week.
Undaunted, I returned to the same spot with friends Paul and George Shaw an hour before high tide the following day.
Action was again slow with just the one catch between us, my medium-sized plaice, but at least the Shaw family had four fillets for their Sunday dinner thanks to being in the right plaice at the right time!
* It's that time of the year again when journalists up and down the country are asked to put forward their nominations for the engage Super League Dream Team.
The selection of just three form players in each position in a particular season can be quite a headache and provokes much controversy.
The final team, to be announced at the end of the Super League season, will be formed on the basis of a points system from all the nominations.
Here are my selections, based on the matches that I have seen rather than on reputations.
Full back: 1, Motu Tony; 2, Brent Webb; 3, Michael Platt. Wing: 1, Henry Fa'afili; 2, Kevin Penny; 3, Ade Gardner. Centre: 1, Martin Gleeson; 2, Adam Mogg; 3, Ryan Atkins. Stand off: 1, Leon Pryce; 2, Casey McGuire; 3, Trent Barrett. Scrum half: 1, Lee Briers; 2, Ben Jeffries; 3, Paul Deacon. Prop: 1, Maurie Fa'asavalu; 2, Paul Wood; 3, Ewan Dowes. Hooker: 1, James Roby; 2, Mark Gleeson; 3, Jon Clarke. Second row: 1, Ben Westwood; 2, Willie Manu; 3, Jamie Jones-Buchanan. Loose forward: 1, Vinnie Anderson; 2, Jamie Langley; 3, Rob Purdham.
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