In the unofficial hierarchy of rock-pooling, having ticked off shore crab, shrimp and then the butterfish (see Bits and Pieces Issue 6) the next target in the list is the shanny. Also known as the common blenny or seafrog, the shanny (Lipophrys pholis) is a fearsome looking fish with more than a passing resemblance to …
First produced in the 1930’s, the Wallis Wizard, or simply the Wizard, is one of the most successful fishing rods ever made. Built by Allcocks, the Wizard comprises of three sections – the butt being whole cane and the other two sections split cane. The ‘Wallis’ tag, which is not included on all models, came …
Yes, this might seem an odd choice for Things we Like, and something that Fishpool would never eat at home, but on the riverbank, around dinnertime, there is little better than a hot meal – even if it is slightly synthetic. The best varieties are the spicy ones. Though perhaps, rather like the misconceptions surrounding …
On the coast of Scotland, to the north west of Oban, between the mainland and the Isle of Mull, lies the Sound of Mull. This is a narrow, deep stretch of water, with strong tides and a wealth of marine life, making it popular with divers, naturalists and anglers. The fishermen mainly come here for …
Hampshire is renowned throughout the world for its chalkstreams. Fly anglers travel miles and pay extraordinary amounts of money to cast for the trout and salmon of the Test and Itchen, but to some, the real treasure flows a few miles further east. The River Meon is a little over twenty miles long and meanders …
Another fine offering, these are becoming what Fridays are all about… So what if he’s been featured before and is a contributor to FA3 – such a considered response to last week’s Bits and Pieces cannot be overlooked.
“I have just received your magazines. I am so impressed with their beauty, simplicity and quality. They have such a tactile feel, a good move not making them glossy. They are sure to become a much loved favourite. I cannot wait for my husband to see them as fishing for him is as much about …
For centuries, sailors and fishermen in the Belgian port of Antwerp would amuse themselves by playing around with the dead bodies of rays and skate (see Fish we Like). Though this might conjure up seedy and unwanted images, be assured that Fishpool would never stoop to discuss the popular tales of lonely fishermen ‘engaging’ with …
This talk of smelly rays and skates (see Back of the Shed) leads us neatly, if a little discriminatory, to the cuisine of Korea. Unlike most animals, all species of skate (see Fish we Like) do not urinate, but instead excrete uric acid through the skin. This acid, upon fermentation, turns into ammonia which then …
Even those who haven’t read Moby Dick, are likely to be familiar with the story or, at the very least, the great eponymous whale himself. The author of the novel, Herman Melville, was a man with great interest in the natural world. Though his knowledge of whaling came from first hand experience, Melville respected the …
Steve Roberts was born within casting distance of Old Father Thames, where he spent a halcyon boyhood catching perch from beneath wind ruffled willows. He evolved as an angler on the idyllic river Kennet, where he chased barbel among the thick, waving fronds of ranunculus. Having caught his fill of whoppers the lure of spring …
Prior to the turn of the century, the occasional appearance of the grey triggerfish (Balistes capriscus) in British waters was major news. Today, with the sea temperature rising year on year, there are areas along the south coast where triggerfish can now be targeted in great number. So named after their spiny dorsal fin which …
From the savagery of the bite, to the endless power of the fight, hooking a barbel (Barbus barbus) is an unforgettable experience. These are fish of fast flows and strong currents, using the weight and power of the water to hold station against the bottom – their stream-lined shape perfectly suited to life in the …
Many modern angling guides offer the chance to catch big fish with little fuss. Using modern techniques and baits and fishing venues with a proven pedigree. At River Days, things are a little different. Under the guidance of Steve Roberts (see People we Like) we can still expect a fish or two for our money, …
Now nearly twenty years old, The Wye and Usk Foundation is a charity created through concern of the ecology and, more specifically, restoring the habitat and water quality of the rivers Wye and Usk. The Foundation combats problems such as habitat degradation and pollution, while trying to reduce the barriers that might prevent successful movement …
In the Berkshire village of Aldermaston, is one the most well known day ticket river venues in the country. The Old Mill offers anglers the chance to fish the River Kennet, and it is likely that more people have caught their first ever barbel (see Fish we Like) here than anywhere else. There is a …
At the end of a terrace in the small market town of Usk, upon the river of the same name, sits the most extraordinary fishing tackle shop in Britain. Sweets Fishing Tackle has been trading on Porthycarne Street for nearly a century, and little has changed in that time. Originally founded by Harry Powell, inventor …
Just got one clue left to get in the crossword. Then I can start reading the articles. A man with sensible priorities from the forum The Path by the Water.
Mine turned up yesterday but Mrs Burr grabbed it first….. she was impressed. A man who married well from The Traditional Anglers Forum
Not many flies have a story quite like the dogsbody… Legend has it that a fishing farmer local to Usk in Monmouthshire, was sent a new pattern that he couldn’t replicate. He took it into the local barber, Harry Powell, who was also a fly-tier, rod-builder and founder of Sweets Fishing Tackle (see Places we …
One, oft quoted statistic, tells us that we are more likely to be killed by a falling coconut than a shark. This is of little consolation to a Galeophobic however, and frankly, most of us would rather take our chances lying in the shade of a coconut tree than go paddling with a great white. …
It is fair to say that Hugh Falkus lived a fairly incident packed life. By the age of 6 he was already shooting and fishing, and soon after learned to sail and fly. He married his first wife in 1939, but a year later was shot down over France (reputedly flying his Spitfire in his …
Though not Jamaican born (his first moments came in Germany where his father was serving in the British Army), Guy Harvey is truly Jamaican bred. A fascination of the sea is perhaps an inevitability when growing up in the Caribbean, and Harvey’s interest became rooted deep within his soul. He came to Scotland to gain …
Few fish capture the imagination like the Atlantic blue marlin (Makaira nigricans). For many, these are the ultimate game fish. Not only do they grow huge—the rod caught record is over 1400lb—they fight like no other fish. Blue marlin are built for speed—with slim, streamlined bodies, great fan like pectorals that can fold into grooves …
One upon a time a little brown trout decided that river life wasn’t all it was cracked up to be. There had to be more to life than crunching caddis larvae or splashing through a grannum hatch. The salmon had the right idea— they’d bugger off downstream and not come back for years. And what …
As every fisherman constantly reminds himself – size isn’t everything…..Take the novel—not every classic contains the wordcount of War and Peace or Lord of the Rings. In fact, some of the very best are not an awful lot longer than a short story. Think of The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe, The War of …
In a former guise, Fishpool spent a fair bit of time touring the country and sampling the delights of roadside snack vans. His favourite, and there was a lot of competition, was tucked away on an Industrial Estate in Stockport. The menu, rather like that well known Monty Python sketch, was extensive – as long …
In north Ceredigion, in the Cambrian Mountains, lie a series of glacially carved ponds. Known as the Teifi Pools, these provide the source for the longest river to be found wholly in Wales. Afon Teifi is 76 miles from source to sea and is oft regarded as one of the most beautiful river courses in …
The Hampshire Avon slips through some of the most stunning and historic land in the country. Sprung from the chalk aquifers of Salisbury Plain, the upper river sparkles through archaeological heaven. Stonehenge, Woodhenge, the ancient metropolis of Durrington Walls, then, of course, through Salisbury whereafter it is alternatively named. Having watered Ringwood and skirted the …
Fallon’s angler reminds me of times past that gets me back out on the bank…
A terrific piece, we all know rivers like that, I drove over one for years before stopping last year and looking, rather than just seeing, and what a delight I found! – referring to Stuart Harris’ article in Issue 3.
If you happen to find yourself in the southern United States beside a river that is heaving with 40lb flathead catfish, only to find, rather like finding yourself naked in a dream, that you have left all your fishing gear at home – fear not. It’s time to noodle.. Catfish noodling is a method of …
Hallelujah! – Its raining fish! …and so on – it sounds crazy, yet this is a very real phenomenon. In 2004, villagers in Knighton, Shropshire, were pelted with minnows during a particularly heavy downpour, while in 2000 Great Yarmouth was peppered with sprats. It may not be an everyday occurrence, but there are similar examples …
In 1951, beside a lake deep in the Lincolnshire Wolds, three anglers finding themselves hopelessly addicted to carp, decided it was time to further their obsession. The Carp Catcher’s Club was born, and those three anglers went on to become some of the most influential fishermen of the 20th Century. Together with Richard Walker and …
Once described as a polymath – or as Chris himself prefers, ‘Jack of all and master of none’ – Chris is a keen all-round angler who has written for a variety of general interest and business publications in both a freelance and ghost writing capacity. His account of a stunning river capture on the Dorset …
As we edge ever nearer to Opening Day (see Things we Like), one species that will be swimming strongly through our dreams is the tench. For stillwater anglers, the tench (Tinca tinca) is surely the early season fish of choice. Lovers of old pools and slow moving rivers and canals, the tench is a solid, …
Long before the King Carp made it to our shores, a Danubian strain of Cyprinus carpio was finding its way into our lakes and rivers. Imported as a food source, these ‘wild’ carp were stocked into pools across the country by Medieval Monks looking for an easy to maintain food source. These fish were slim …
Christmas Eve? Pah! Nothing – nothing! – comes close to the excitement of June 15th. Digging out your tackle bag from the chicken coop or washing basket (see Back of the Shed), baits tubbed, sandwiches wrapped, alarm set for silly o’clock. Somehow, somehow, you have to sleep. Many coarse anglers fish on through the spring …
It is always exciting in spring to see the first of the pads appearing on our favourite pool. They seem to pop up the moment we turn our heads, lovely, round reminders of the approaching new season – a damp, green Advent Calendar – of sorts.. Our most common water-lily is the white (Nymphaea alba), …
A place of refuge needn’t always be real. Much as we dream and find peace within our subconscious, so there are those special spots that exist symbolically yet where we are never alone. Fennel’s Priory (www.fennelspriory.com) is a ‘quiet place for those seeking to escape the pressures of modern living. It’s where time moves slowly …
In an era of Commercial Fisheries, there are one or two places that break the mould of a typical ‘hole-in-the-ground’. One such fishery is Old Bury Hill, near Dorking in Surrey, where the Old lake is one of the most stunning day ticket waters in the country. Created 200 years ago , the main lake …
4.40 pm…The post has just arrived, late as usual. through the letter box arrives a brown jiffy bag…joy of joys , 2 copies of Fallons Angler !!.Issues 2 and 3. that’s taken care of the close season blues. Member of the Chris Yates (Angling) group on Facebook.
@fallonsangler fishing, tea, birdsong, bliss…. via Twitter
Dawn on the Opening Day (see Things we Like) of the season. You’ve put up a rod, thrown in a handful of enticement, and the light is creeping. As you ponder a dozen or so metaphors and a liberal sprinkle of hyperbole, you notice bubbles kissing the surface beside the lilies (see Things we Like). …
Regular readers of Bits and Pieces will be familiar with this, occasional series. Back in mid March Fishpool attempted with absolute minimal effort, to clean his tackle bag out after another grime laden season. His attempts failed. So here we are now, on the cusp of a new season, and the issue has yet to …
The city of Oxford has blessed us with many famous offspring. Radiohead, Ride, erm, Inspector Morse – but none could wield a rod as well as Peter Stone. Author of a dozen books, including Fishing for Chub, Coarse Fishing and Along the Way, Stone was one of the most respected anglers of his generation. His association …
By his own admission, Les Darlington is best regarded for being the husband of Cheryl – maker of some of the finest fruitcake in the land. And Fishpool can vouch for the quality of said cake. God, it’s good…really, really good.. Back to Les though, and he’s a man who knows a thing or two …
Every year breaks a fresh tale of sea monsters with a familiar culprit at the centre. The giant oarfish (Regalecus glesne) is a species of deepwater that is rarely encountered in its natural environment. Occasionally, specimens are found inshore, either dead or seemingly moribund, and their peculiar shape and great size always cause interest. Growing …
Anyone watching the current series of Springwatch on BBC2 may have been rapt by the trials of Spineless Si – the stickleback looking for love. Alternatively you may have been left cold by the excess sentiment or irritated at the need to anthropomorphize every bloody living thing. Of course, the most important thing is that …
It seems as though there are a gazillion different lines on the market for us to choose from. Braids, monofilaments, fluorocarbons, pre-stretched, Dacron, string,…..the list goes on, and then there are all the different brands and thicknesses and colours…if only there were a reasonably priced, hard-wearing line that isn’t meddled with or rebranded every spring. …
It is amazing how close anglers get to nature, and how often we encounter species that are otherwise rarely seen. Kingfishers, water voles, otters and, of course, grass snakes. The grass snake (Natrix natrix) is never far from water. With a largely amphibian diet, they are able swimmers and are even known to catch small …
Rising at Thames Head, near the Cotswold village of Kemble, the Thames meanders across southern England for 215 miles, providing anglers with an array of angling opportunity. Some of our most revered anglers have cut their teeth on the Thames (such as Peter Stone – People we Like) and every season some extraordinary fish are …
For those of us uninspired by local ‘commercial’ fisheries, there is a lake in Wales that is as far removed from a typical day ticket water than could be considered possible. Currently run by the Wye and Usk Foundation, Pant y Llyn is a weed choked, 8 acre lake, 1400 feet above sea level in …
Ordered!!! My favorite publication for years, they can’t come round quick enough! – from the pages of Facebook.
Now I have just finished reading issue 1, I would just like to say how much I enjoyed reading each and every article . The contributors capture the very essence of angling – the anticipation , the frustration , the expectation and the jubilation. So much so , its like armchair fishing , taking me …
As the new fishing season approaches, so our woods and hedgerows are becoming flecked with fragrant, creamy crowns. June is the month for elderflower, and though some use it to flavour wine or cordial, an angler need know only one recipe to ensure the perfect accompaniment for an early season foray. To a gallon of …
In this modern age, technology is playing an ever increasing role in our angling. Bait boats are regularly used by carpers looking to feed a tight bed of bait at range, while drones are even rumoured to be appearing over lakes as anglers rush to get an edge. Is it any wonder then that a …
There are few, if any, anglers who will be remembered as fondly as Bernard Venables. His very name conjures a sense of warmth and a source of considered, patient instruction. For many, Venables was Mr Crabtree. The man and the character he created smudging as one. Mr Crabtree Goes Fishing was published in 1949 with …
Alongside a life as a marine biologist and conservation officer for the National Trust, Mark Walsingham has caught some truly monstrous fish. His is a name well known in carp circles, and he is a regular contributor to Carpworld magazine, but Mark casts for all sorts of species. He has caught some very big river …
If the crucian (see last week’s Fish we Like) maddens a freshwater angler with his shy-biting ways, a similar infuriation will be found on various piers and harbour walls this summer. Floats will dive and rod tips rattle but a strike will only connect with thin air. The culprits are garfish (Belone belone), and the …
The greatest treasures to be unearthed by explorers of a past age were surely ecological. Horses wearing pyjamas, bald grey mammoths, talking birds and fish that live on land. ‘Gadzooks!’ the Royal Court may have cried at such absurdity, ‘a fish that can breathe?’ The mudskippers are members of the family Oxudercinae, a subspecies of …
Synonymous with that master tackle builder B. James, the Avocet is, for many, the perfect all round river rod. Typically eleven feet in length, the rod has a lovely through action that can tame big chub and barbel, and though a little stiff, is still soft enough to contend with the headshakes of perch and …
Should you be planning an early season barbel fishing trip with your recently acquired split cane rod, then make sure you pack the right avocet in your holdall. Those drowsy early hours can cause confusion but finding an avocet (Recurvirostra avosetta) in your bag when you get to the riverbank will likely lessen your chances …
Deep in the wetlands of Somerset sits fourteen acres of angling paradise. Since 2006, Ashmead Fishery has been under the ownership of Mark and Shona Walsingham (see People we Like) – a poignant homecoming for Mark who had fished the lake since childhood. The site has been developed to embrace the stunning habitat that surrounds …
Some 80 miles north-west of Glasgow sits Scotland’s longest freshwater loch. Awe is aptly named – the scenery here, though perhaps not as dramatic as in the Great Glen, remains jaw-droppingly beautiful. And the fishing, though popular, is largely untapped. Loch Awe is twenty five miles long, and holds a good head of trout, perch, …
Flicking through the issue, I feel that this will almost certainly be a magazine that I will read completely, cover to cover. Member of The Path by the Water Forum
If you have not got a copy, get one. Each and every section is well written and more importantly to the Mole Mind, such as it is, entertaining. Also from ‘The Path’
Every year, in the Gulf of California, hundreds of rays congregate to take parting in a spot of jumping. The fish, some measuring more than ten feet across, will leap clear of the water before belly-slapping back into the sea – and no-one really knows why. It is a behaviour trait shared by all members …
Every spring sea anglers begin to gather around our coast in anticipation of the summer migration. Mackerel, garfish (see Fish we Like), mullet, sea bream and bass all move inshore as the weather warms to either breed or feed. Then, just as the fishing looks set to be spectacular, the May water comes and spoils …
Shortly after the publication of The Compleat Angler, Izaak Walton met fellow brother of the angle, Charles Cotton. Cotton had grown up in the Peak District, where he tested himself against the trout and grayling of the River Dove. He and Walton had enormous respect for one another, and a deep bond of friendship rapidly …
As the crucian (see Fish we Like) evokes memories of first casts in small, overgrown pools, so the name Peter Rolfe becomes ever more synonymous with it. He is a reluctant ‘expert’, but anyone with such a deep affection and understanding of a species cannot deny the association. A retired schoolmaster, Peter’s interest in freshwater …
The crucian (Carassius carassius) is an oft overlooked species. Falsely labelled by many as a carp, this fish of still and slow moving lowland waterways is actually a species in its own right. Sadly, a tendency to hybridise with goldfish and common carp have led to a massive dilution of population, and true crucians are …
(Spondyliosom cantharus) Few British sea fish have benefitted from the rise in sea temperature and restrictions on inshore fishing more than the black bream. Lovers of rough ground, the bream arrive back from their deep sea winter haunts in April and May and do so in number. They are hard fighting – perhaps because they …
Though a couple of poor breeding seasons have checked their number, the recent success of the buzzard (Buteo buteo) is a true feather in the cap of tolerance and conservation. Now our most common raptor, the buzzard breeds in every British county, meaning any fishing trip (other than on the open sea) may be blessed …
When fishing for the shy-biting crucian (see Fish we Like) one issue facing the angler is finding a float sensitive enough to register the tiniest of plucks. With the spread of the buzzard across the country (see Things we Like part 1 (above)), a walk in the woods can throw up the perfect quill. A …
Anyone trundling west along the A303 will have seen the signs for The Hawk Conservancy Trust. A few miles west of Andover, the Trust is now over 50 years old, and also supports the National Bird of Prey Hospital. The daily flying displays have to be seen to be believed, and the Trust’s support and …
They may not have been the best of historical friends, but even when disagreeing about the colour of a rose, the folk of Lancashire and Yorkshire had to share the River Ribble. Rising in the Yorkshire Dales, the Ribble is the only river sourced in Yorkshire that does not empty into the North Sea. Instead …
I found it very enjoyable and a complete breath of fresh air compared to most publications that come out these days Member of the fine minded Traditional Fisherman’s Forum – www.traditionalfisherman.com
Excellent read. Hoping for some more please – Dave@ Hastings Member of the fine minded Traditional Fisherman’s Forum – www.traditionalfisherman.com
The poor old mole is a much maligned mammal. He spends almost all of his life underground, where specially developed blood cells allows him to survive very low oxygen levels. Their underground tunnels act like traps and any worm that happens to drop in is swiftly sniffed out and given a paralytic nip. The saliva …
There are many ways to charm a worm. The recent International Festival of Wormcharming in Blackawton, South Devon, saw the three person teams using any method they wished – providing there was no digging or forking. Though the result of this year’s contest are still under collation (in other words, FishPool can’t find them) it …
Many angling names are familiar to us through literature – particularly those from previous generations. Wallis, however, was not a writer, though his legacy lives on through his record breaking captures and his extraordinary ability with a centre-pin reel. Wallis was a renowned river angler, cutting his teeth on the Trent before bewitching the barbel …
Having spent a decade working as a journalist in London and the Middle East, Chris Berry decided he needed a change of pace. He opted for teaching, as a means of inspiring young minds and finding more time to fish. He is handy with a rod in hand, and has caught pike to well over …
(Thunnus thynnus) In the years either side of World War II, some of the finest fishermen in Britain discovered a new bluefin tuna Mecca. The North Sea. In 1929 noted angler R. F. Stapleton-Cotton hooked and lost two enormous tuna while fishing off Scarborough. The following year, and with more suitable tackle, the fishing got …
(Albula vulpes) The vast majority of prize saltwater fish grow to substantial size. Fish such as marlin, tarpon and tuna have the potential to grow as big as a man – and some many times the size. Catching such powerful fish is a war of attrition, with the stamina and fitness of the captor as …
More than 140 years have passed since the Hardy Brothers set up shop in Alnwick, a picturesque market town in eastern Northumberland. Initially gunsmiths, the Hardys made the sensible expansion into fishing and by the early 20th Century were developing a fine reputation for fly and coarse tackle production. The Conquest was designed with long …
A nice crusty loaf, still warm with a fluffy middle and a nutty nice. Few things are finer. It’s surely the best thing since sliced bread. As a bait, bread is extraordinarily versatile, and only hard-nosed predators will turn down a chunk. As the days begin to warm, most anglers are looking to use the …
Never drink sea water. This is the first rule of survival when shipwrecked or cast adrift. Unless, that is, you happen to be in the Baltic. Here, the salinity level here is so low that it can actually rehydrate. And though it might not taste too pleasant, it must be a reassurance to those living …
Anyone watching BBC4’s recent Slow TV season may have spent two very pleasant hours floating along the Kennet and Avon Canal. With a fixed camera and shot in real time, All Aboard! The Canal Trip was engrossing, and yet also a little infuriating. We anglers wanted to stop here and there and have a quick …
It (Fallon’s angler Issue 3) will provide a great antidote to all of this election nonsense. – wise words from the pages of Facebook.
Thank goodness for magazines like yours and a rallying cry against the onslaught of the “norm” – Master twittering from a master fly-angler.
The sun is high, the sky clear and every chub in the river is skulking under that far bank raft – thirty yards away. If you had brought a fixed spool reel then you’d have a five pounder on the bank within minutes, but you’re using a centrepin and you’ve yet to dance with the …
Research on Winterwatch earlier this year, revealed an alarming presence in otter spraints. 40% of the poo dissected was found to contain little plastic beads. These beads are found in cosmetics – particularly facial scrubs – and find their way through our sewage systems and into our rivers. Here they are swallowed by fish and …
Any angler worth his salt knows never to allow probability to detract from possibility – no matter how overwhelming. To this end, John Bickerdyke was something of a 19th Century Jeremy Wade. He was far from gullible, and more often intent to disprove rather than corroborate, but his angling travels provided a wealth of extraordinary …
President of The Barbel Society and author of The Fighting Barbel, it is the bewhiskered ‘River Prince’ that Peter Wheat is most often associated. In truth though, he is rather adept at all forms of fishing and has a back catalogue to prove it. With The Observer, he penned books covering coarse, sea and fly, …
The poor old minnow (Phoxinus phoxinus) has an unenviable life. Everywhere he swims he finds something that wants to eat him. Even when fully grown he’ll make a meal for a ruffe, and pike a thousand times his size will make a tic-tac size snack out of him. There is danger from above, with kingfishers, …
Imagine the picture of Miss Ballantyne with her record 64lb salmon. Now consider a fish twice as big – that hasn’t nipped off downstream to get fat on a seafood diet. Surely no such Salmonidae exists? Well, maybe not in the Tay but in the rivers of Russia and Mongolia swims a true giant. The …
It is May, and for many a trout angler a time to wait for the evening sky to fill with clouds. A mayfly hatch is not only a stunning spectacle, it represents a time when even the crappiest caster can catch a fish. The mayfly (Ephemera danica) has an extraordinary lifecycle. The naiad, or nymph, …
As the mayfly clouds billow, particularly across the southern streams, and the swallows and martins fill their beaks, the sharper eyed angler might notice a larger bird swooping among them. The hobby (Falco subbuteo) is our most graceful falcon. It winters in Africa and follows the hirundine migration north, and over the last half century …
Probably the most famous trout stream in the world, the Test is also surely the most exclusive. From its source in Ashe, just east of Overton, the Test curves a forty mile route through Hampshire, sparkling across the chalk and gravel. The natural stock of brown trout, salmon and sea trout are supplemented by reared …
