Alan Blair: One Of Life's Good Guys

The last things I bought and loved were tickets for Chloe and I to see The History of Drum & Bass: Performed Live by an Orchestra at XOYO in London. I knew it would be good, but we were completely mind-blown. It was a mature crowd and a sick venue, with vibes from start to finish. To top it all off, we were home before midnight—loved it! 

Time on my hands would certainly be something very new to me! If that were the case, though, at number one, it would be spending more time at home with Chloe and the girls. Then, more time spent fishing and with friends. I would learn to use a camera and wouldn’t shoot only on Auto, learn as many languages as I could to save huge embarrassment and to show some respect to the people of the various places I visit, teach myself to play the guitar… I might even try doing nothing, and just chill and read a book! Aargh! Just the thought of it makes me realise what I actually need to do. Right, back to work…

I have a collection of not a lot, really. Yeah, lots of fishing tackle (a stupid amount), hundreds of vinyl LPs, trainers… but none of these are prized possessions, or amount to a collection in the proper sense. A cliché it may be, but my most prized collection would be my memories, and my photos and videos, which are irreplaceable.

I’ve recently discovered old age! I’m 38, and after kneeling down I struggle to get up again without using both hands. Feeding light hooklinks back through the eye of a small hook isn’t that easy anymore. I have had periods of back ache of late, and unlike before, I can’t survive on minimal sleep. Everything is just slowly starting to work less, and less well compared to years gone by. Man, if I’m moaning about it now, what will I be like in another ten years? 

My favourite lake and swim goes back to that question about having more time on my hands, and I need longer for this question. I’ve sat here for ages and racked my brain, but I genuinely can’t answer it… there have been so many swims and lakes. I suppose, after much reflection, it would be a lake where I’ve had total freedom (no-one else fishing), and a swim I’ve constructed myself. These haven’t always been the most successful in terms of captures, but they’ve brought me the most fulfillment. 

In my bait bag you’ll always find quite some selection: maggots, corn, bread, worms, Citruz to lure them, and Scopex Squid if I’m giving them some grub. I’ll also have Cultured Hookbaits, soaked Zig foam, pellets, hemp, tigers, floaters—I don’t like being left short in a specific situation!

I don’t think I’ve had a game-changing moment that has altered everything for me. There have been so many pivotal moments in my life, and my fishing, that I have taken major lessons from, that none seem more or less important than any other; they were all crucial in their own way. I’m not actually sure there will ever be one particular moment, either.

I’m currently halfway through Jim Shelley’s second Nash Off The Hook Podcast. It’s really good, and I can’t wait to finish it—I’ve got to the bit where he is banging on about how amazing Europe is, which really makes me smile. I just need a half-decent drive, as that’s when I manage to really take on board what is being said.

If I try and think of a lake I can’t wait to go back to, I come up with a similar answer to the one above: I can’t really. Tonight, I’m going to an absolutely enormous sheet of water with a couple of good friends. It’ll be in and out, and I literally cannot wait. In fact, as I write, it’s just gone six in the morning, and Dave—one of the lads I’m going with—and I are messaging each other. Neither of us are sure if we are going to make it through the day without bursting with excitement! That’s the power of fishing.

The one angler I’d love to fish with (dead or alive) if I could, is John Wilson; hands down; no competition! I was blessed to meet him on a few occasions and went to his house a couple of times. Sadly, though, I never got the opportunity to fish with him. Martin Bowler had it all lined up for us to spend some time together on the bank, and then tragically, he passed away. What a guy! It’s quite likely that I wouldn’t be sitting here now writing this, if it wasn’t for Wilson, his inspiration, and the huge desire I had to be like him.  

The tech I couldn’t do without is my phone, simply because Nashy would lose his head if he couldn’t get hold of me! Other than that, not a great deal really. I’m just not a techie, and whilst it’s very simple to operate, I would be absolutely broken if I got to a venue, could use a boat and I didn’t have my underwater camera; it’s such a huge edge.

An indulgence I would never forgo is a bloody good party, with friends, good food, good music, dancing, sunshine(!)… and with no expense spared. Every once in a while, I simply need it to break away from reality and reset. Then I’m ready to go again.  

A recent find, so to speak, was how much I enjoyed taking some time off and not doing any work. I took a good few days off over Christmas and New Year. I’d not done that before—not to the same extent, anyway. Wow! It was so good. Not only did I come back to work ‘brand new’, I also can’t wait until the next festive period to do it all again—I might even try it this summer!

The tackle items I would never part with are my Scope Sawn Off rod, GT4000 reel, 10lb Zig Flo Mono, Scope Black Ops net, Utility pouch, glasses, Mega Lite head torch, unhooking mat, baiting pouch and a pack of size 8 Flota Claw hooks… you can take anything else, but not these!  

My favourite apps? I don’t have or use any, really, I guess with the exception of online banking which, if necessary, I use to transfer funds to Chloe when I’m away, but it’s hardly a favourite. If you class Instagram as an app, then that also, and maybe surprisingly. Again, it’s not a favourite, as such. 

If I wasn’t doing what I do, I would be playing music to tens of thousands of people, with the sun setting behind me and everyone smiling, creating the ultimate feel-good moment that the crowd will cherish. And back in the room… No idea. Fishing has been my entire life and I can’t really imagine doing anything else; I wouldn’t change it, even if I could.