The New Year inevitably brings with it a tinge of regret when those extra pounds (or kilos) around the belly first show themselves on the scales. But gluttony is thankfully a mainstay of our festive season, and resolutions are quickly made (and broken). It is popularly believed that it was Henry VIII’s fondness for turkey on Christmas Day […]
Born in Kent in 1937, Martin James was just 4 years old when he caught his first fish – a stunted rudd from a local pool which he hooked during a German Air Raid. He subsequently developed a love for all forms of fishing, with a particular love of fishing overseas. A favourite venue is
Nestled between the hills of South Wales and the eastern shore of Swansea Bay is the town of Port Talbot – home to a once bustling Steelworks and also to angling writer Simon Smith. As soon as he discovered the great outdoors, Simon became something of a stranger to his parents, and when his grandfather
For many anglers, the humble bleak (Alburnus alburnus) is looked upon with little fondness. It is a small fish, the British record is around 4 ½ ounces, that tends to congregate on large shoals and will snatch a bait intended for a quarry far larger. Found predominantly in flowing water, the bleak a long, slim,
Richard Walker once described the perch (Perca fluviatili) as the biggest fish of all. Not in the literal sense, of course – that would be silly – but anyone fortunate enough to see a fish of 3lb or more in the flesh will understand his sentiment. In Africa, however, there swims a perch that would
Fishpool has long been a fan of Channel 4. Aside from giving a massive shot in the arm to the British Film Industry and offering the viewer a diverse and sometimes controversial selection of programming, Channel 4 has also catered for us anglers. Go Fishing, Catching the Impossible and Screaming Reels have all featured in
Many of our coarse species drift into torpor as the cold of winter takes a grip. Fish such as tench, crucians and carp respond to a dip in water temperature by slowing down – often becoming inactive and uncatchable. Other species are more responsive when the thermometer plummets. Grayling will feed with ice in the
Walk a well-fished stretch of river and the popular swims are soon evident. Bare, muddy banks along with a noticeable lack of marginal vegetation. It is rare that the water itself will not hold a clue or two, while the proximity of the car park is also a factor, but generally, anglers are happier retreading
On the southern curve of Torbay in Devon sits the fishing town of Brixham. Mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086 there is evidence to suggest that a settlement existed here many centuries earlier. Its situation, being protected from the prevailing south westerly winds, made it an ideal spot for a harbour, and while Brixham
1656 was a bleak year in the history of the bleak. For it was then, in Paris, that Francois Jaquin successfully extracted crystalline guanine from the fish’s scales. Known to many in the cosmetics industry as ‘pearl essence’, this substance was wisely used in the manufacture of imitation pearls, and suddenly, the bleak, who up
We in Britain are often quick to guffaw at the apparent silliness of our American cousins across the pond. Oh how we laughed when we heard that more than a quarter of Americans surveyed believe that the Sun orbits the Earth, or that the same amount are unaware that the United States has declared independence
Born in Manchester, John Bailey’s early years were dominated by fishing and football. He was rather useful at both, and came close to a career in professional football before academic pressures nudged him off that path. A family move to East Anglia allowed John to focus more deeply as an angler, and as he embarked
Despite spending his first ever fishing trip trying in vain to tempt a sunken branch with a worm, Mike Pope persevered, and having caught his first roach from Roath Park Lake he spent the 1970’s exploring other waters around the Vale of Glamorgan. Having caught a 3lb 8oz bream and a 6lb 6oz carp in
Fishpool recently wrote of the bronze bream, and how many anglers regard the mature adult fish as a separate species to the smaller, juvenile ‘skimmers’. A similar moniker could be levelled at the roach (Rutlius rutlius) – a species that might not change too much in colour and all round appearance as it ages, but
Certain species of fish seem to represent perfectly the landscape of their environment. The taimen in the vast plains of Central Asia; the blue marlin in the deep azure of the open ocean; and the golden mahseer (Tor putitora) in the mythical and spiritual waters within the foothills of the Himalaya. The golden mahseer is one
There was a time when the float was a river angler’s principle tool. With it he could cover every depth and every line; he could slow the bait down or let it run through at the pace of the current; and he could see the gentle dips from shy biting fish such as big roach.
Occasionally there comes an angling book that delves that little bit deeper beneath the surface. The narrative picks its way through the well trodden banks of a typical tale – stories of fish and how they were caught – but also explores and exposes the mind and psyche of the angler himself. Published in 1992,
Somewhere down the Crazy River Read More »
Rising near the village of Evershot in the Dorset Downs, the Frome flows for thirty miles before emptying into Poole harbour below Wareham. A chalkstream, the Frome is rich in invertebrate life and supports a large population of brown trout, along with a migrant population of sea trout and salmon. For many years, the fish
I once found myself in Brecon, deep within the Mountains of South Wales, when I got knocked of my feet by the most perfectly intense smell. It was a warm, autumn day and I was on an urgent search for supplies when I passed the doorway of an otherwise non-descript shop. Wham! The glorious must
One of the curious aspects of a fish is its ability to grow in relation to subtle changes in its environment. Put a thousand young rudd into a tiny pond and they will remain stunted, but put the same amount in a 10 acre lake and they will grow much larger – provided there is
Bob the Giant Goldfish Read More »
A story in the national press recently caught Fishpool’s eye – it related to a goldfish called Bob and was mentioned just a few lines ago. One question that Bob’s owner, Anne from Scarborough, asked was how long her giant goldfish might live for. It’s an interesting point. Most goldfish will live for less than
The oldest of fish Read More »
Born in Altrincham, Cheshire in 1925, William Hamilton Canaway schooled locally and having attended University in Bangor, North Wales, served in the latter stages of Second World War. Canaway was an avid writer, and having returned to Education after his Military Service, then decided to focus full time upon his pen. His first novel, The
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania’s second largest city, is famed for its Steel manufacture, its sports teams – The Steelers, The Pirates and The Penguins – and for bringing us such famous names as Gene Kelly, Dean Martin and ron P. swegman. Ron’s literary career began during his time at Penn State University where he wrote for and
When we consider British migratory fish, many of us will think of salmon and sea trout. There are eels too, of course, and also lamprey, but two species that are often altogether overlooked are the shad. The allis shad (Alosa alosa) and twaite shad (Alosa fallax) are both members of the herring family and are
Before anyone leaps up and thumbs back through their leatherbound Bits and Pieces archives (that is what everyone does with these words each week – isn’t it?), Fishpool is well aware that the barbel (barbus barbus) featured in Issue 14. Sometimes though, rules are made to be broken – and besides, in the world of
A point Fishpool has already laboured in this Issue, is that we live in a world where too many species are in decline or endangered – often at the hand of Man. So let us celebrate a success story of the past twenty years. The red kite (milvus milvus) was once widespread in Britain, and
Anyone yet to enjoy the splendours of the River Wye and its awesome barbel and who might be pondering a visit, could do worse than looking up Angling Dreams. Founded by Adam Fisher, who has spent most of his life living on or near the river, Angling Dreams offer the chance to fish some of the
It could be argued that the Wye currently offers better fishing than any other river in the British Isles. Measuring 134 miles, the Wye is the fifth longest river in the UK, and flows from its source at Plynlimon, high in the Cambrian Mountains, through towns such as Builth Wells, Rhayader, Ross, Hay and Monnow
Formed in the 1940’s and officially opened by Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother, in 1953, Blithfield Reservoir covers nearly 800 acres and nestles neatly into the Staffordshire landscape. It was built as a source of freshwater, but also offers opportunities for anglers, walkers and birders. Some of the shoreline and surrounding woodland are only accessible
Blithfield Reservoir Read More »
In the summer of 2014, broadcaster Claire Balding was recording part of her Ramblings series for Radio 4 when she was stopped, rather abruptly, in her tracks. ‘Gosh,’ she was heard to say, ‘We’ve walked out on to the road and turned left, and sitting in the middle of the road ahead of us was
The Beast of the Doward Read More »
In a country so closely associated with modern technology, it may be a surprise to some that one of the most popular fishing methods in Japan, is also one of the most straightforward. Meaning ‘from heaven’ or ‘from the skies’, Tenkara is a method of fly fishing in which the angler forgoes a reel to
Born in 1938, Barrie Rickards took to angling at an early age, and learned to fish in the waters around his childhood homes in Leeds and Goole. The rivers Ouse and Derwent were favourite venues though he also had a love of Stillwater fishing, particularly for tench. Barrie was renowned internationally as a Palaeontologist and
Professor Richard Barrie Rickards Read More »
Having grown up in an environment influenced by the rigours of religion and army-life, John Andrews’ subsequent career in the music industry must have made for quite a contrast. As marketing manager for Creation Records, John lived life at 1000mph – his daily dealings involving bands such as Oasis and Primal Scream. His was a
Few ‘British’ fish divide opinion quite as much as the zander (Sander lucioperca). A fish non-native to the British Isles but common across mainland Europe, the zander was first introduced into Woburn Abbey Lakes in 1878 by the Duke of Bedford. Though movements of fish were made subsequently, it was not until 1963, when 97
The autumn may have been absurdly mild, with record breaking temperatures and weeks without rain, but as winter nibbles deeper into the tail of the year, so the saltwater anglers prepare for the arrival of cod. The Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) has long been sought by Man. The white flesh makes for excellent eating, whether
Anyone who should find themselves near Spitalfields Market on a Thursday could do worse than visit the stall of John Andrews. Having traded in vintage fishing tackle for nearly a decade, John’s inspiration is borne from a fascination with angling history and he specialises in tackle items from the Georgian era through to the mid
Andrews of Arcadia Read More »
Let us be honest for a moment, if any of us get a boot full of grimness from the bowels of a mudflat, we do not, for a single moment, consider anything but the cold, wet, stinking oomska attached to our feet. Should we keep ourselves stench-free however, we can marvel at one of the
The etymology of our rivers is a fascinating subject. The names of many of our waterways recur across the country, and the ‘Ouse’ is no exception. There is the Great Ouse (see Bits and Pieces Issue 26) of course, alongside rivers suffixed by Sussex, Little and this Issue’s focus, the Yorkshire Ouse. This particular stream
The Yorkshire Ouse Read More »
Measuring over 38 miles from east to west, the Humber Estuary is the second largest coastal plain estuary in the United Kingdom (After the Severn Estuary). Around 20% of England’s landmass drains into the North Sea through the estuary, via rivers such as the Trent (see Bits and Pieces Issue 16) and the Yorkshire Ouse
Ever wondered why the Severn is so called? Or why there are so many rivers called Avon and Stour? The Etymology of our rivers has confused and intrigued for centuries. Some names are self-explanatory. The ‘Blackwater’, which is a name shared by at least a dozen water courses in the British Isles, relates to the
The Atlantic cod is a fish renowned for keeping a somewhat catholic diet. Being a huge mouthed predator, they tend to chomp first and digest later, and will pick up almost anything they come across if it vaguely resembles food. The natural diet of a cod will feature smaller fish, crabs, lobsters, starfish, prawns and
Were there to exist a list of the Most Influential Anglers of the 20th Century, somewhere very near the top would sit Fred J Taylor. Along with brother Ken and cousin Joe, Fred caught some extraordinary fish and wrote extensively of his exploits, and all the while he did so with a wry smile and
Having grown up in East London, Matthew Minter escaped the fug of the city and today enjoys the bracing air of the Kent Coast where he lives with wife Alison and son Jacob. Though he makes an occasional local cast into the North Sea, Matthew’s fishing interest spreads across a variety of disciplines and methods,
There comes a time each year, when the air thins and leaves flutter from the branches without any breeze to prompt them, that we anglers begin to see stripes. If the salmon is a fish of spring and the tench of early summer, then now, at autumn’s end, is the time for perch. The
I feel your publication is well worth the money and more. Secondly ‘another fishing magazine’ does not correctly describe Fallon’s Angler. A journal, compendium, almanac. None of these are quite enough either. Simply a joyous read. I will not hesitate to recommend you to my fishing brothers. Well done and thank you.
There are nearly 200 species of dragonet in the world, but in British waters we are most likely to encounter the common dragonet (Callionymus lyra). A member of the perciformes, which makes up two fifths of all fish (including the freshwater perch), the dragonet is a small species that takes its name from it’s spiny
Back in the dreamy days of childhood, Fishpool recalls a family holiday in South Devon, pushing a shrimp net between the rocks on a flooding tide, and lifting it triumphantly as a great big prawn flicked about inside. It didn’t make much of a meal – in fact, it provided barely a mouthful, but that
Unfortunately, another week has passed in which Fishpool has failed to make his or her fortune. When it happens – when – Fishpool will celebrate with the purchase of a split cane rod crafted by Edward Barder and a Richard Carter Dragonfly reel. Richard began making reels in the early 1990’s, when he engineered six copies of the
There is an awful lot of tripe and waffle on the internet, but every now and again we stumble our way into a quiet, dignified little corner. Sadly, Fishpool will never know the joy of discovering Bits and Pieces for the first time, but he or she does have a special place or two to
The Path by the Water Read More »
Many people suggest that the popularity if Commercial Fisheries – waters carefully managed and stocked specifically for angling – is a sad reflection of our modern Society. We are impatient, and have gotten too used to convenience. We don’t want to work hard and wait – to be forced to creep through dense undergrowth or
Commercial Fisheries Read More »
Among the almost endless benefits of angling, is the access we are given into the natural world. We get blasé about kingfishers and herons, and will regularly spy swimming grass snakes in the summer months. Water voles will gnaw the stems beneath our feet and otters seem to be popping up wherever we cast. As
Autumn is a prime time for fishing. As the water temperatures begin to drop, many fish feed hard in order to pack on weight for the winter ahead. Weed dies back and river flows increase, while around the coasts now is the best time to find a big bass or two. Regardless of the season,
Among the slightly less irritating Car Insurance commercials on television, is a series featuring Paul Whitehouse – and in a couple of them we see his character fishing. Whitehouse is a very good actor (though under-rated as many comedy actors are) but even so it is pretty obvious that he is used to wielding a
Luke Jennings is an author and the dance critic for The Observer. Having grown up in Sussex, he trained at the Rambert School of Ballet and Contemporary Dance (established by Marie Rambert in 1920) and worked for ten years as a dancer and choreographer before a back injury forced him to look elsewhere for a
While Fishpool recently discovered that some sharks are utterly Pathetic, one species for which such an adjective could not be less accurate, is the blue. The blue shark (Prionace glauca) is a fish of temperate and tropical waters, occurring in all but the coldest seas. It is a slender bodied shark, with large pectorals and
Ever since Issue 27 of Bits and Pieces, Fishpool has struggled to get the skimmer bream out of his or her mind. And having threatened as much, this time the bronze bream (Abramis brama) gets a well deserved mention. This is a fish maligned by many anglers, so let us recap the negative aspects first.
Overlooking the River Torridge in North Devon is the small market town of Great Torrington. This was the final stronghold in the West Country for the Royalist army during the Civil War and home, since 1967, to the skilled glass-blowers of Dartington Crystal. A mile or two to the north you will find Great Darracott,
Not content with the running of one of Britain’s premier angling bookshops River Reads, in 2009 Sandra Armishaw launched Angling Heritage – a not-for-profit charitable trust created to preserve angling literature, sound recordings, imagery and letters. With fishing writer and historian Fred Buller MBE as Patron, and Chris Yates, Des Taylor and Reg Talbot active
Rising on the Woolley Moors near Bradworthy (not far from the source of the River Tamar), the River Torridge spends much of the first half of its existence flowing east. Then, having picked up a handful of tributaries including the Rivers Lew and Okement, the Torridge veers north, cutting a path deep into the bedrock
Tucked away on the south-east coast of Cornwall, straddling the estuary of the river with which it shares a name, is the picturesque town of Looe. A derivation of the Cornish word Logh – meaning deep water inlet – Looe is renowned for the quality of its fish and the boisterousness of its New Year’s
The otter (Lutra lutra) has seen a dramatic shift of fortune in Britain over the past few decades. Previously persecuted, their range was limited, and away from the coasts and more remote river habitats, the mammals were largely absent. In 1927, Henry Williamson published his novel Tarka the Otter: His Joyful Water-Life and Death in
It is a rare book indeed that can relate the subject of angling to non-anglers, but Blood knots, by Luke Jennings, succeeds as well as any. The memoir is a deep, often harrowing, insight into Jennings’ life as an angler, and has richly deserved the plaudits it has gained, though few non-anglers will see the
There was a time – a dark, dark, time – when Fishpool was merely a leaf floating on the breeze and Mr Fallon, our hallowed master, was forced to conjure up Bits and Pieces for himself. One of the first entries in ‘Things we Like’ was The Domesday Book of Mammoth Pike – and Fishpool
Formerly a teacher, Charles Rangeley-Wilson’s love of travel, fishing and writing inevitably converged with the publication in 2004 of Somewhere Else. He has since written extensively, and contributes to Gray’s Sporting Journal and is Angling Correspondent to The Field, though he is familiar to many as The Accidental Angler. Rangeley-Wilson is a keen conservationist, with
Charles Rangeley-Wilson Read More »
Regular readers of Bits and Pieces may have noticed recent issues have been dotted with the dorsals of sharks. But having dabbled with great whites and six-gilleds, Fishpool feels it is about time to pay heed to the most extraordinary group of sharks in existence. The Pathetic Sharks (Carcharodon Patheticus). Readers of Viz magazine will
The Pathetic Sharks Read More »
Bream aren’t the most popular of freshwater fish. They are slimy, smelly and fight with the enthusiasm of Fishpool with a hangover. They pick up baits set cunningly for chub and barbel, and seem to take pleasure in keeping carpers awake all night. Yet Fishpool feels they deserve a bit more respect. In fact, so
An accusation that has been quite reasonably aimed at Fishpool, is that he or she can, on occasion, be a little bit…pedantic. This is particularly true when watching a film or television programme. For example, even during that scene in episode three of This is England 90, Fishpool couldn’t help but notice that Milky was
Saturday Night and Sunday Morning Read More »
It is tough to get a fishing programme commissioned on terrestrial television – particularly the BBC. Just ask Hugh Miles, (see Bits and Pieces Issue 15), who, despite the millions who tuned in to watch A Passion for Angling, could not persuade the BBC to take a chance on a follow-up (Their loss was Channel
The Accidental Angler Read More »
The Grand Union really is the daddy of Britain’s canal network. Created to link London and Birmingham, its main body measures 137 miles and it has various arms linking it to towns that it does not visit for itself. As its name suggests, the Grand Union was not built as a single body but instead
Anyone who watched (or read) Charles Rangeley-Wilson’s The Accidental Angler may have been inspired to look for fish in places where they really shouldn’t be. As Rangeley-Wilson demonstrated, even in a City such as London, there are small streams and waterways tucked and tidied away in spots where we simply walk past without knowing their
The Coppermill Stream Read More »
Back near the beginning of all things, soon after the esteemed editor of Fallon’s angler, Garrett himself, realised the folly of tackling Bits and Pieces by himself, his saviour, Fishpool, highlighted the life of ‘BB’ – one of our most loved and lyrical angling writers. Of course, ‘BB’ was but a pen name for Denys
It would be wrong for an Issue of Bits and Pieces to have featured The Pathetic Sharks without finding room for Viz magazine’s greatest ever fish. The tale of Billy Thompson is quite extraordinary. Born half man half fish, his life was without purpose until he was talent spotted while playing football in the local
Here is a list of all articles featured in issue four, in the order in which they appear, with the first paragraph of each feature to give you an idea of its content. Fallon’s Angler is only available in print, so if you want to read the whole article, please purchase a copy. Thank you. [hr] The
Sir Edward Grey, Viscount Grey of Fallodon, holds the record for the longest serving Foreign Secretary in British Political History. Keeping office from 1905 to 1916, Grey was part of the Liberal Government that was in power at the outbreak of the First World War – making the statement by which he is often remembered,
It is an oft quoted suggestion from non-anglers that fishermen and women are wholly reliant upon luck. While it is undeniable that some of us seem to benefit from luck more than others, it may also be said that there are very few able to cultivate their luck quite as well as Martin Bowler. Martin
The graying (Thymallus thymallus) is an often overlooked fish. The presence of an adipose fin places the species (taxonomically at least) with the Salmonidae, but the grayling has not been looked upon favourably in many rivers, such as the Itchen, where it swims beside the more desirable trout and salmon. Most coarse anglers, meanwhile, are
Perhaps it is its similarity in appearance to a sprat or bleak, but the tarpon is a fish that really doesn’t look as if it should grow as big as it does. The closely related Atlantic and Indo-Pacific tarpon (Megalops atlanticus and Megalops cyprinoides respectively) are fish that require warm water in which to breed,
Following the beautifully filmed A Passion for Angling and Caught in Time, Hugh Miles decided to turn his skilled hand to another angling series. This time, his old Arriflex would stay in its case as he utilised a smaller, more versatile camera that would enable underwater photography and hopefully capture the capture of some seriously
Catching the Impossible Read More »
Perhaps the most key attribute required to be a successful angler is the ability to adapt. Tradition, and in many cases fashion, dictate the methods by which we target fish, but often such practices seem dour and repetitive. Trying something altogether different, even off the wall, will not only spark fresh enthusiasm, but will often
Saltwater fly-fishing Read More »
Rising at Syresham, in Northamptonshire, and flowing for 143 miles before entering the sea at Kings Lynn on The Wash, the Great Ouse is the fourth longest river in the United Kingdom. The upper reaches are narrow and twisting and despite the lack of size, home to some monster fish. Though not present in the
Hampshire is renowned for its chalk-streams and one of the finest, and most famous, is the Itchen. Rising near the village of Cheriton (scene of a battle in the Civil War) the river skirts the market town of Alresford where it is fed by tributaries the Arle and the Candover Stream, before heading west to
Despite having absolutely no statistical evidence to prove it, Fishpool is willing to bet a pint of maggots on the fact that more facial hair is sported by male anglers than men of any other sporting or leisure activity. Consider the beards that have graced the pages of Bits and Pieces – Yates, Wilson, Botham,
An anglers greatest asset is luck. We can learn the subtleties of the water beside which we sit. We can teach ourselves the patterns of the current, the vagaries of fish and the impact of weather and light levels. We can put ourselves into the perfect position to catch but still we must rely up
Hugh Tempest Sheringham was, quite simply, one of the greatest angling writers to have ever put pen to paper. Born in Tewkesbury in 1879, on the confluence of the River Severn and Warwickshire Avon, most of Sheringham’s casts were actually made further to the south-east in the Kennet valley. Here he developed an attitude that
Who could forget those wonderful moments in the Passion for Angling series? Quotes from the likes of Sheringham and Ted Hughes read so perfectly by the silky-voiced Chris Sandford. Sandford spent many years as an actor before realising that his voice was his meal ticket. Stage performances and a two year stint on Coronation Street
No fish commands such fear and awe, or is perhaps so misunderstood as the great white shark (Carcharodon carcharias). This is a truly massive fish – specimens approaching 20 feet in length have been reliably reported, while many believe the great white can grow significantly larger. They are found throughout the world – though require
Only one fish can follow a shark that grows to 20 feet in length, and that is a shark that doesn’t grow more than twenty centimetres…. The dwarf lanternshark (Etmopterus perryi) is widely regarded as the smallest shark species in the world. It is also one of the least known, with a small population only
Dwarf lanternshark Read More »
Based upon Peter Benchleys’s 1974 novel of the same name, Jaws celebrates its fortieth birthday this year. Winning three Academy Awards, the film was an enormous success, but despite being commercially and critically acclaimed, the depiction of the great white shark as a man-eating monster has not helped the species’ true identity. Director Steven Spielberg
It is 21 years since Hugh Miles first astonished us with what is surely the finest angling series ever made. Featuring Chris Yates and Bob James, A Passion for Angling was exquisitely shot and brought a richness of tone and sentiment never before captured on film. Hugh’s camera work had earned him plenty of awards
A Passion for Angling Read More »
For many years South Africa was regarded as one of the premier spots in the world for shark fishing, with anglers coming from across the globe, many hoping to hook a great white shark. As the great white became increasingly threatened throughout its range, many countries, South Africa included, banned the fishing for them. This
Way back in Issue 13 of Bits and Pieces, Fishpool sang the praises of the Royalty Fishery – but there is more to the Hampshire Avon than those hallowed banks. The river around Ringwood is renowned for barbel and chub, while a little further upstream, at Ibsley, huge roach used to ghost across the gravel
The Hampshire Avon Read More »
Every summer, with Parliament out and news stories slow, someone will spot a shark off The Needles or the Cornish Coast and the papers will explode with tales of Jaws prowling around our beaches. Invariably, the sighting proves to be a basking shark, an enormous, but utterly harmless plankton eater. Just occasionally though, these stories
British great whites? Read More »
One of the greatest moments of an angler’s day is, having been caught by a sudden storm, to happen upon a little hut beside the river. It will be unlocked and built for no other reason than to shelter anglers such as he or she who has just stumbled damp through the door. Largely built
Who could forget Beefy Botham striding out to bat? His arms windmilling that enormous bat as if it were made from balsa. The bars would rapidly empty and the buzz of expectation would resonate. Few cricketers have had such an impact upon the sport, and even after this dramatic Ashes summer, still people hark back
There are few anglers who have ever cast that can match the ability of Terry Lampard. Having cut his teeth catching small brown trout from the Itchen and its carriers around his Winchester home, Lampard was taken fishing by a local carp angler and an obsession grew. Having moved to Dorset, Lampard began to explore
Autumn is coming and with it our rivers are beginning to wake up. The weed is beginning to thin, and the water levels are rising. Soon, those stretches that have slept all summer will be sparkle with every shower and thicken with fish. The chub (Squalius cephalus) is surely the epitome of a river fish.
Autumn is coming, and for many of us living in older properties this means the arrival of all sorts of extra bodies for the winter months. House spiders are creeping into corners, queen wasps will soon be curling into the creases of curtains, and best of all, the cold early mornings might turn up a
Autumn is coming and with it the hedgerows and woods begin to quieten. Most songbirds will keep their beaks shut until spring, though one exception is the robin, whose voice we hear all through the darker months. Unlike many species, the robin (Erithacus rubecula) remains fiercely territorial throughout the year. They will normally keep different
The Robin’s Lament Read More »
Autumn is coming and with it our hedgerows are beginning to bulge. This is the time to fill our baskets with blackberries, bottle up some sloes with gin and sugar, and knock up a potful of rosehip tea. Also, of course, this is the time to fill our bait tubs with free plunder – and
In 1752, the buildings that made up Milton Abbey came into the possession of the Damer family, who had great visions for this part of North Dorset. Joseph Damer, (head of the family and 1st Earl of Dorchester) rebuilt much of the Abbey but still wasn’t content. He disliked the view, especially the small market
