Anyone with Satellite Television will be aware of Henry Gilbey. He is the man behind Fishing on the Edge and Wild Fishing with Henry Gilbey, and Fishpool quite likes him. Henry started fishing at the age of seven, when his grandmother taught him how to cast a fly for brown trout. He turned his hand […]
Scott moved to the English Lake District seven years ago to be closer to the mountains, their tarns, their becks and the wild trout that swim there. A self-admitted trout bum, Scott is also a true lover of the wild, and enjoys nothing more than hiking into the fells with a light fly rod and
Having started out as a singles buyer for a Plymouth record shop in the early 1980’s, at the age of 23 Jeff Barrett was approached by Alan McGee to work alongside him at Creation Records. There, Jeff worked alongside bands such as Primal Scream and The Pastels, and tour managed The Jesus and Mary Chain
Born in London, but raised in Buckinghamshire, Will Burns was part way through an English Degree when he decided to forgo education for a career as a rock star. His band, Treecreeper, released two albums, the second of which, entitled Juniper, features a fly-fisherman on the cover and is still available through Rough Trade records.
Editor Fallon is an easy going sort. He rarely cracks the whip and is open minded regarding content – he’ll even let the odd swear word through. In fact, his only dictum is to never mention religion or politics. To be honest, that suits Fishpool well. Both are topics best avoided, as discussions on either
Vincent was only three years old when he first wet a line, and made his first casts on the canals in and around the centre of Manchester. His love of fishing swiftly blossomed, and he has gone on to catch some fabulous fish of many different species. Vinny writes a weekly blog (www.northwestfisherman.wordpress.com) and has
It is quite a claim to declare someone as ‘The World’s Greatest Fisherman’ – it is, after all, such a subjective statement. But in terms of fish caught, and in particular, game fish caught, then it is had to argue against the claims made on Zyg Gregorek’s behalf. Of Polish descent, Zyg made the decision
Vic Gent is a Lincolnshire lad now residing in Norfolk. Taught to fish as a young boy by his father and brother, Vic has never strayed far from the water, spending much of his youth ‘mucking about’ aboard the family boat on the River Nene. Vic makes his Fallon’s angler debut in Issue 5 with
Born in Monmouthshire in 1920, Oliver Kite packed a lot into a tragically short life. He joined the Royal Engineers in 1941 and served in India, Burma, Malaya and Singapore, ultimately attaining the rank of Major. Kite continued to serve abroad after the end of the Second World War. He was married to Norah in
Born in London in 1927, Geoffrey Palmer was drawn into acting by the lure of a woman. Having left the Royal Marines, a girlfriend suggested he join an amateur dramatics society and from there a career in Theatre, both on and behind the stage, burgeoned. In the 1970’s Palmer became a familiar face on television
Until a chance conversation with Kevin Parr, the name and deeds of Newton Tony meant absolutely nothing to Fishpool. Now, having heard a tale or two, it seems that Tony is just the sort of person to feature in Bits and Pieces –providing its okay with him, of course. Newton Tony was born in East
In 2002, a poll by the BBC to find the Greatest 100 Britons placed Isambard Kingdom Brunel at number 2 – with only Winston Churchill above him. Born in 1806, Brunel was a Mechanical and Structural Engineer and a leading figure in the Industrial Revolution. He was a pioneer of Shipping – building docks and
Isambard Kingdom Brunel Read More »
Having been born in the Channel port of Dover, it was perhaps inevitable that Alan Yates would have a lifelong affinity for the Sea. He spent much of his formative fishing days chasing bass from boat and shore before taking an interest in match fishing. He was rather good at it. Alan’s match fishing success
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
Anyone who is a regular viewer of fishing programmes on the satellite channels will know Matt Hayes almost as well as they know themselves. Having appeared in over 200 television programmes, Matt has recently become a familiar face on terrestrial television too – acting as a judge on BBC2’s Earth’s Wildest Waters – The Big
Anyone who is a regular viewer of fishing programmes on the satellite channels will know Mick Brown almost as well as they know Matt Hayes. Mick has appeared in more than 80 television programmes – the vast majority alongside Matt. As a duo, they brought us The Great (and Greater) Rod Race, Wet Nets, and
William Wyatt has fished for longer than he can remember. He grew up in East London, where he was driven to distraction by the wily chub of his local rivers the Lea and Roding. He had more success with crucians in the ponds of Epping Forest, and he still has an affinity for the species
It’s the 15th of January, three weeks past Christmas, and we should surely by now have christened that new rod that we found at the end of the bed or under the tree on Christmas morning. Few people can have contributed more to the advancement of young anglers than Santa Claus. He is not an
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
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
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
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
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,
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
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 »
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
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
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
Awarded an OBE in 1974 as recognition for a football career that included a World Cup win in 1966, Jack Charlton went on to gain even greater recognition across the Irish Sea. Having taken the Republic of Ireland to a World Cup quarter final in 1990, Charlton was awarded an Honorary Irish Citizenship, made a
Okay, so he’s only a fictional character and technically not a even person but Jeremy Fisher (no relation to Nick Fisher) is surely worthy of inclusion. The creation of Beatrix Potter, Jeremy Fisher is a frog who lives in a house among the buttercups at the side of a pond. One morning it begins to
It is nearly thirty years since this Norfolk tackle dealer was catapulted into our lives. Go Fishing would help to make John Wilson a household name, but he drove an interesting road to get there. A former hairdresser and Merchant seaman, Wilson was born in Enfield and first wet a line in the River Lea.
As a freelance journalist, Nick Fisher was noted for tackling the more sensitive subjects of growing up and did so with with candour and honesty. He was the agony uncle for Just Seventeen magazine and wrote books including Living with a Willy and Your Pocket Guide to Sex – the latter of which was considered
Born in 1844, Frederic Halford’s first forays into angling were made in the parks of London where his family moved while he was a young boy. When in his early twenties, Halford was offered a chance to fish the River Wandle in South London, and here he began to learn the art of fly fishing. He
Back in the early 1970’s, despite the success of anglers such as Dick Walker and Maurice Ingham, the King carp (see Fish we Like) was still widely considered to be an enigma not worth trifling with. To single out and catch these great fish required skill, patience and improvisation – as it transpired, Rod Hutchinson
Born on St Valentine’s Day 1907, in Catford, south-east London, Bernard Venables was just 6 when he began fishing. His first forays were made on the network of drains and ditches on Romney Marsh, though his early career formed around his other great passion, art. Having studied at Croydon School of Art, Venables subsequently worked
Bernard Venables MBE Read More »
Carlos Baz does not remember the first fish he ever caught. Though it must have made an impression. A lifelong fisherman, he now spends his time on the water with fly rod in hand hunting across shallow flats in search of saltwater gamefish. When he’s not fishing, thinking about fishing, or planning his next trip,
John Aston got away with pretending to be a lawyer but since retiring in 2012 he’s reverted to being a stranger to fashion who spends most of his time outdoors in his beloved North Yorkshire. He listens to loud music and enjoys reading people who can write, like Hemingway and Gierach. He loves fly fishing
James Gilbraith published his first book Terminal Chancer Silver Seasons Atlantic Salmon in 2014. Originally from Blackburn, he currently lives in Clitheroe, Lancashire. He is a 47-year-old husband, father, music lover, geriatric footballer and small-time tennis hack. He can generally be found lurking somewhere on the river Ribble, where he reluctantly became secretary of Ribblesdale
Peter Brown followed a spell in advertising with a postgrad in illustration at Central St Martin’s in London. He has illustrated a weekly column about birdlife in Britain—The Feather Report—for The Times newspaper since 1992. Working mainly in wood engraving and Japanese woodblock, he also teaches classes and workshops in both media. www.littlebrownbirds.co.uk
Daniel Davidson is an illustrator who works with a variety of clients including Virgin Records, Saatchi Art and Music Magazine and Creative Review. He is currently working on illustrations for the as-yet-untitled sequel, to the alternative salmon fishing book, Terminal Chancer, which he also illustrated. www.danieldavidson.co.uk
Marc Harris was born in Cardiff where he works with homeless and disadvantaged people. Marc has had one book of nature poetry published by Little Egret Press, and a second book of nature and travel writing awaiting publication by the same press. Marc has written many short stories, poems and articles, and has been published
Though his family roots were in Yorkshire, Jack Hargreaves was born and raised further south, near Aylesbury in Buckinghamshire. An interest in radio led to him building a reputation in the world of broadcasting, and in the Second World War he was recruited to the staff of General Montgomery—charged to set up radio communication between
Born Edward James in 1930, Ted Hughes is regarded as one of the greatest poets of the 20th Century. He was raised in the West Riding of Yorkshire, among the folds of farmland that make up the Calder Valley and beneath the moors of the southern Pennines. Here he learned to hunt and to fish,
October 7th 1922 was somewhat productive for Miss Georgina Ballantine. Fishing the River Tay (see Places we Like) near the village of Caputh in Perth and Kinross, she had already taken salmon of 25lbs, 21lbs and 17lbs when her silver minnow lure was taken once more. Safely hooked, the salmon took off on a ferocious
Georgina Ballantine Read More »
One day, when Bits and Pieces has earned him wealth beyond his wildest dreams, Fishpool is going to take a trip to Berkshire and buy himself the finest piece of wood he’ll ever likely own. A piece of Barder. Edward Barder was always likely to be an angler. His father Richard was a fly-angler of
Many anglers are aware of Georgina Ballintine (see next week’s Bit and Pieces) and her capture of Britain’s biggest salmon in 1922. Fewer people, however, know the name Clementina Morison—yet many who do consider her more deserving of note than Miss Ballintine. In October 1924, Clementina (known to many as ‘Tiny’ due to her slight
Clementina Morison Read More »
One half of German pop group JaKönigJa (alongside wife Ebba—see Issue 16 of Bits and Pieces) Jakobus Durstewitz is a man of many talents. He is an artist—self-taught—and has exhibited in Germany since 1994. More recently his artwork has featured in the hallowed pages of Fallon’s angler (Issue 3). JaKönigJa have been wowing critics for
Jakobus Durstewitz Read More »
In carp fishing circles, the name Donald Leney reverberates like the ripples from the crash of a fifty pounder – yet he himself was no angler. Instead, Leney was a fish farmer, working for a Surrey trout farm, when he travelled to the Netherlands and hand picked a strain of Galician carp to bring back
Writer, musician, literary scholar and ‘conceptioner’, Ebba Durstewitz spends her life mixing art, music and science. She holds a PhD in Portuguese Studies and works as a freelance teacher at the Department of Romance Languages and Literatures at Hamburg University. Ebba is also a freelance writer, contributing to a variety of German magazines and newspapers.
Back in the beginning (of Fallon’s Angler) there came an apology to Izaak Walton. In the chaos of production the first issue went to press with a spelling mistake. I’m sure he won’t mind. To many he is the forefather of angling – and to some he altogether transcends this great passion of ours. With
Regarded by his peers as one of the finest wildlife filmmakers ever, Hugh Miles has had an extraordinary career that has taken him from filming condors in the Andes to polar bears in the arctic and snow leopards in the Himalayas. He has come within inches of tigers and jaguars in the search for the
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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,
Few, if any, people have influenced angling quite as much as Richard Walker. He was a pioneer, matching science with extraordinary watercraft in order to catch the uncatchable. His capture of a 44lb carp in 1952 created shockwaves that still ripple through the angling world today. Clarissa, as the fish was later named, added 18lb
Known to many as ‘The Sweetcorn Kid’, Stuart has been scribbling about his angling exploits for many years. He has a sharp eye for a photograph, as the images on his blog testify, and a knack for catching big fish. Carp dominate his angling, but he can also be found chasing perch, tench, crucians and
So good they named him twice. Or at least he named himself twice. Francis devoted his life to angling – he was angling editor of The Field; a passionate supporter and protector of the Thames; helped bring the brown trout to Australasia; landed a foul-hooked 6 pound barbel on a single (horse) hair; and was
Forget Newsnight, University Challenge, and that beard, Paxo’s true identity can be found on the river bank. He is an avid fly-fisher, and a vice President of the Wild Trout Trust. In between his journalism, broadcasting and Spey-casting, Paxman has also written books on subjects as diverse as Chemical Warfare and Volcanoes. We anglers know
Dennis Watkins Pitchford was an illustrator and naturalist of great note, but is more familiar by his nom-de-plume. As BB, he was a prolific writer of children’s fiction and countryside pursuits. His Bedside books are still great favourites – not least the Fisherman’s selection, whereas his Confessions of a Carp Fisher captures the psyche of
Successful writing is all about creating rhythm and the majority of angling writing reflects in rhythm the water being described. On this basis, John Gierach must spend his life beside a tumult. Gierach is one of the most loved and prolific angling writers of the last 50 years, and when he isn’t bouncing along like
Even eighty-five years after its first publication, Swallows and Amazons casts a magical spell. Sailing, exploring, battles with bows and arrows and even drowning duffers – Ransome’s book had it all. But best of all was the fishing, and young Roger’s encounter with a monster pike. The author clearly knew his subject matter, as well
Matthew Tanner grew up on a hill farm in the Welsh mountains. After being struck by an incurable addiction to fishing at the age of 8, he now spends his time fishing for wild carp in the Welsh mountains as well as chub or barbel in the river Wye. He now documents his fishing adventures
Too modest to have included himself here, but Fishpool is happy to make him blush. Words are in his blood, and he tells a story rather well. He can spot a good story too though, and then present it quite beautifully….long may it continue. He is pictured below with an Angler Unknown.
Perhaps the most famous advocate of the Transcendentalist movement during the 1820’s and 30’s, Thoreau was a thinker whose beliefs echo within every angler. In his book Walden, he immerses himself fully into the natural world, learning lessons that are ever more relevant today: “We need the tonic of wildness…At the same time that we
Henry David Thoreau Read More »
Jack’s interest in fishing is founded on fond childhood memories of spinning from the rocky Purbeck and Norwegian coasts and float fishing midgey rivers with his pa on holiday. An occasional Caught by the River contributor, he makes a living through the translation industry and spends it all collecting records and taking trips out of
He was an actor, playwright and prolific novelist, but we like Applin best of all for his Philandering Angler. Published in 1948, just a year before his death, and illustrated by BB, this memoir nudges and winks through some wonderful tales and includes the best ‘forced off the river’ excuse ever. Having found a stream
Writer, journalist, editor and author Jim Burns is on the staff of Occidental College in Los Angeles. His popular blog, lariverflyfishing.com, covers the fishing, politics and science of that waterway’s billion-dollar recovery effort. A career fly fisherman, he and his son, Will, have slapped water on most of Southern California’s streams, rivers and trickles. He
Chris Turnbull is perhaps best known for his angling artwork and illustrations which have adorned the covers of a large number of angling books over the past 30 years. As a specialist angler he is perhaps best known for his catches of big tench and barbel but he is in fact in love with catching
For Alex Norgate, fishing isn’t just about catching fish, it is a chance to reconnect with his surroundings and plumb the depths of the mind. Since March 2014 he has travelled around France in a converted Luton van, composing music, taking photos and fishing, and writing about it on his blog: carpwatercraft.wordpress.com
Gary Crossley retired as the Principal of Central School of Speech and Drama, University of London a few years ago. His background in Fine Art translated over time into a career as an academic in Higher Education. After he retired he sought and achieved a complete change in direction by buying a small house in
Danny Adcock started fishing for eels with his dad in the Essex backwaters, and with his grandad in the Thames at Shoeburyness for anything that swam past. This regularly included plaice which later his nan would serve with mash, peas and a dollop of butter that slid down the fishes back oh-so-juicily. He moved to
For John Stephens, serious fishing began shortly before exclusion from the 11+. First outings were to the River Chew at Keynsham, the Avon at Saltford and Claverton, where, on the weed-choked Kennet and Avon Canal he caught his first pike, on a lovely silver Colorado Spoon. His romance with the fly rod began 1996, during
Dexter Petley was born in the Weald of Kent. Novelist, translator, angling writer, he lives in a yurt in Normandy.
Nigel Ling has fished since early childhood, maybe too often, or perhaps not often enough. He certainly spends too much time thinking about fishing and occasionally writes about it. After growing weary of coarse fishing he started fly fishing, then sea fishing, and now seeks stillness in all three, especially if the weather is fine.
Jon Berry has fished for 40 years without ever achieving competence. This hasn’t stopped him enjoying it. He regards fishing as his real life, but spends an inordinate amount of time in a false one where he is an Assistant Headteacher at a large Wiltshire secondary school. He has written three books on angling and
Greg Freestone received a magnetic fishing game for his fifth birthday and, aged six, made a toy rod from a garden cane with paperclips for guides, threaded with hairy string. At seven, with a proper rod and his father’s help, he began catching real fish from rivers and lakes. Forty years later he’s still hooked.
Maurice Neill was born in Belfast in 1959, of Ulster-Scots descent, and lives in the seaside town of Bangor in Co Down. He had salmon anglers for grandfathers, a trout fisherman for a father and three cousins with webbed feet. He has fished since he was five and is a member of Downpatrick and District
