Monday Monday

Mondays are strange things.

As far back as I can recall, Mondays have always been a bane to people. I think that the main reason for this is the fact that Mondays are those days that just remind us that we had a weekend, it was a nice quiet time with friends and family, and now its all over for a while again.

In my case however, its not about going back to work or the weekend being over. Its about fishing. Strange combination possibly, but not really.

You see, when you are an avid fisherman, weekends are the times when you are able to get onto the water. You spend the week preceding the weekend making plans, calling mates who you think would want to join you, clearing schedules with your wife or partner so as to have the free time. Surprising just how much goes into arranging a day on the water when you forget to buy a loaf of bread on the way home ☹ You spend a few minutes each day going over the catch reports from those lucky enough to be out during the week, watching the weather reports, basically tormenting yourself before you get out there. Along comes Wednesday, catch reports are looking wonderful, water is like glass, temperatures are good. But there is a chance that the weekend will be slightly different. More winds then is nice, slightly higher chance of rain. Thursday, Friday and things are still the same, good reports from those out there fishing, but the weekends reports are looking dimmer.

Non the less, the weekend arrives, FINALLY! Up before dawn, packing the kit and the boat and off to pick up mates. Sky is dark, but looks clear, very little wind about. Make it to the water, launch the boat and things turn pear shaped. Wind picks up, 40cm waves. Sky is overcast and temperatures are dropping. Still you persist, always a chance that it may turn around. Finally you give in. Maybe you got lucky and landed something, more likely you were hit and lost the fish just to rub it in. You chat to the mates and decide to try again tomorrow, reports were better for the Sunday anyways.

Sunday arrives and it’s a carbon copy of Saturdays. This time however, the water is better, wind is slightly calmer, warmer out, clearer skies. Everything is looking positive now! Except there is no one else to be seen around you on the water. Trudging along, following all the information you received in the week on best lures, colours, deths…but the sonar stays clear….Midday, bored, tired, uncomfortable, you turn to social media to be bombarded by MORE reports…not catch reports, but people who are all staying off the water because the day before messed things up for a bit, no point going out. Home you go. Drop the mates off, get home, have a drink, check the reports from elsewhere to see pretty much the same as you experienced. Slightly more crestfallen, you call it a day.

The Mamas and the Papas – Monday Monday
“Monday, Monday. So good to me”
“Monday mornin’, it was all I hoped it would be”

Definitely not how you feel when you wake up on Monday morning. Beautiful blue skies. Perfect winds. Fishing reports that bring a slight tear to your eye.

This is where you realise that, as a fisherman, there is the Monday curse. Somehow, as soon as you start planning a trip on a weekend, the Monday will curse the weekend for you. Monday gets the blame here because its that day after the crap. It’s the one that rubs it in. The one that shows you what it should have been.