Born in Devon during the Second World War, it was, perhaps, inevitable that Mike Winter would become an angler. After all, his father worked with none other than Richard Walker, one of the most influential anglers of his (or any other) generation. Mike caught his first fish at the age of five – a small …
Angling, and carp fishing in particular, lost another advocate shortly before Christmas. Peter Mohan was born in Berkshire in 1930 before growing up on the Channel coast at Bogner Regis. He began fishing at the age of twelve, and, at a time when the species was deemed by many to be uncatchable, developed a special …
Having featured a few fearsome fish in recent Issues, Fishpool felt it only right to make mention of one of the most famously toothy predators in the sea. The great barracuda (Sphyraena barracuda) is one of 28 species of the Sphyraena genus and is the largest and most revered. They are found in the subtropical …
Among the less absurd practices of the Golden Scale Club was the annual gudgeon fishing trip. The humble gudgeon (Gobio gobio) has long been held with a regard that is not in keeping with its size. With a specimen weighing somewhere in the region of 2 ounces (smaller still on some waters) and the record …
Published in 1973, Cypry the Carp broke the mould by which much of angling writing is formed in that it was a work of fiction. Author Peter Mohan was a carp angler of great note, and though he also wrote numerous non-fiction titles on the subject, it is the tale of Cypry for which many …
This winter may not have been especially cold, but it remains hard to find motivation when the day is so short. If simply getting out of bed is tough enough, then pulling the curtains closed at tea-time is utterly depressing – the evening can become long and decidedly black. Fishpool is fortunate. A quick scout …
The very best pools are those with a touch of mystery about them. Pieces of water that are tucked deep within the folds of the landscape – with no passing traffic and no paths to bring dog walkers or walkers. Instead, they are shrouded by trees and bulge with enigmatic possibility – and no-one knows …
Fishpool was struck with indignation recently when asked his or her opinion as to which is the world’s greatest batholith. Having rolled my eyes, I snorted my answer – it is the Cornubian, obviously, how could it be any other? Some 300 million years ago a vast granite intrusion formed in the area that is …
Back in the late 1970’s a small group of anglers, sharing a fondness for carp fishing and split cane rods, founded The Golden Scale Club, an organisation which excels at disorganisation. For more than thirty-five years, The GSC have drifted very lazily around the eddy at the back of the weirpool, meeting, in some number …
The late 1970’s – in Britain Punk still ruled, though the Ska sounds of bands such as The Piranhas were becoming increasingly influential. Meanwhile, in the US and Canada, Heavy Metal was giving way to Rock. Bands like Survivor, Rainbow, and Chicago were adding harmonies and soaring guitar solos to hard-edged bass riffs, and among …
