Fishpool stumbled across a rather interesting book recently. Having himself been born near a Herring fishing port, the author and journalist Donald S Murray has penned Herring Tales – How the Silver Darlings Shaped Human Taste and History, in which he explores the impact that the herring has made upon industry and sociology through the …
Every morning in early spring, a gaggle of birders gather near the Cumbrian lake of Haweswater, clutching telescopes and gazing anxiously at the skyline. They are here to catch a glimpse of a male golden eagle displaying. Since 2004, when his 28 year old mate disappeared, England’s last golden eagle has displayed in vain for …
Every summer, a few thousand like-minded souls converge on the banks of the River Tiddy in East Cornwall, where they share the music, literature, comedy and the altogether laid back nature of the Port Eliot Festival. The 6,000 acre Port Eliot Estate is the ancestral seat of the Eliot family, whose present head Peregrine is the …
Founded in 1995, The Westcountry Rivers Trust (WRT) is a charity and waterway society created to further the protection and enhancement of the rivers of south-west England. One of its most prominent initiatives was the Cornwall Rivers Project (CRP) – which, with £2.6m funding from the European Union and DEFRA, was aimed at managing the …
Editor Fallon is an easy going sort. He rarely cracks the whip and is open minded with regard to content – he’ll even let the odd swear word through. In fact, his only dictum is to never mention religion or politics. With that in mind, Fishpool will make no mention of the underfunding of the …
Being only 21 (or thereabouts…), Fishpool only recently discovered that there was life before the 21st Century. Apparently, the was a time called ‘The 1960s’, when people drove round in yellow submarines powered by flowers, and everyone flew to the Isle of Wight on a Jefferson Aiplane where they rolled stones and reminisced about Snoopy’s …
While reading of Vic Gent’s First Casts in Issue 5 of Fallon’s angler, one particular sentiment struck a chord. Vic describes his early efforts on the River Nene upstream of Peterborough, and more specifically a small backwater that could only be fished from a boat. Such a place sounds heavenly, especially, Fishpool suspects, through the eyes …
Formed in 2001, The Little Egret Press was created to supply books of quality, not quantity. A writer himself, Tom O’Reilly founded the Little Egret Press in order to combine his love of writing, illustration, typographical design and bookbinding. With start-up assistance from The Prince’s Trust (HRH The Prince of Wales is a continued supporter …
Like most anglers, Fishpool has often benefitted when non-angling relations and acquaintances decide to clear some clutter. Rods, reels, a natty fishing jacket, nets, flies and rod bags have all found their way to me – gratis of course, and largely because the finder knew not what else to do with them. A recent arrival …
While flicking through the pages of the Anglers Annual (1963 edition), Fishpool was interested by just how much heavier certain species of fish seem to be today. Though there is little difference in the quality of roach, dace and perch, species such as the bream and tench are now growing far larger than they were …
Though Fishpool has of course made special mention of Izaak Walton in the past, his seminal work, The Compleat Angler, has only ever been referenced in passing. First published in 1653, with countless reprints (only The Bible has been printed in the English language more often), The Compleat Angler tells of Piscator and Viator (Venator …
Izaak Walton’s renowned work The Compleat Angler has inspired and guided anglers for more than 350 years. Along with the countless anglers who have followed in Walton’s wake are a multitude of books, blogs, pubs and television series that have drawn purpose from his words. One such television programme was The Compleat Angler, which first …
A succession of storms have caused devastation this winter. As low pressure system have rolled in off the Atlantic, bringing gales and heavy rain, rivers across the country have burst their banks and flooded homes, businesses and farmland. Many anglers have been forced to stay at home, and while coarse anglers do have the option …
Widely regarded as one of the finest angling writers of the 21st Century, for his third book Jon Berry also explored another great love – that of History. Having previously written of barbel and ferox (in A Can of Worms and Beneath the Blackwater respectively), in A Train to Catch Jon takes a very different …
Published in 1973, Cypry the Carp broke the mould by which much of angling writing is formed in that it was a work of fiction. Author Peter Mohan was a carp angler of great note, and though he also wrote numerous non-fiction titles on the subject, it is the tale of Cypry for which many …
This winter may not have been especially cold, but it remains hard to find motivation when the day is so short. If simply getting out of bed is tough enough, then pulling the curtains closed at tea-time is utterly depressing – the evening can become long and decidedly black. Fishpool is fortunate. A quick scout …
Of the 8 million or so different fishing series that have appeared on satellite channels over the past 20 years (as has been highlighted previously, Fishpool is an angler – and therefore prone to occasional bout of hyperbole), one of the very best has to be The Great Rod Race. The premise for the series …
Widely regarded as one of the finest angling writers of his generation, Dominic Garnett must have felt a little directionless of late. The publication of Fallon’s Angler Issue 5 sees Garnett reaching the pinnacle of his career. As contributor to five consecutive issues of Mighty Mr Fallon’s meteoric manuscripts (Fishpool is still angling for that …
Anyone fortunate enough, and sensible enough, to be a regular reader of Fallon’s Angler will be familiar with the brilliantly left-field scribblings of Dexter Petley. This is a man who writes quite unlike any other, and he is clearly inspired by those who also follow literary paths of their own. In 2009, The Raven Press …
Now that the New Year is well and truly upon us, Fishpool can look back on the festive season with a tinge of regret that he or she didn’t manage to cast a line on Christmas day. Back when Fishpool was still little more than a sprat, he or she woke one Christmas morning to …
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 …
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, …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
Okay, so maybe Fishpool is desperately trying to put a positive spin on a really damp summer, but we fishermen (and women) love the rain… Don’t we? A dank, wet day is accompanied by low light levels which may prompt species such as plaice to feed more happily in shallow water. The salmon and sea …
Where do we start with worms? They come in all sorts of shapes and sizes, they catch just about everything that swims and if we put a tiny bit of effort in, they’re free! In our gardens and on our lawns (particularly on damp nights) we find lobworms – perfect for perch, champion for chub …
Way back in 1986, when Chris De Burgh was singing of his Lady in Red and Spitting Image topped the charts with The Chicken Song, a television show was born on Channel 4 (itself only 4 years old) that would keep fishermen rapt for years. Go Fishing was a simple format – the first series …
Ahhhh, who can forget 1993? The FA Cup Final went to a replay for the final time, Take That had their first number 1 single, Whitney Houston said she would always love us and Meatloaf said he do anything for love, but not ‘that’ – (nor would we want you to Mr Loaf). Meanwhile a …
Fishpool is going to be honest from the outset. He or she does not like using sweetcorn as a bait and has struggled when using it. Yes, I’ve caught plenty of fish with the stuff, but not enough to convince me that it will ever catch more than bread, maggots, top secret pastes or elderberries. …
Much has been made about the poor state of many of our rivers, with chalk streams especially in decline. It seems that the aquifers that for millennia have purified the water of rivers such as the Kennet and Itchen, can no longer cope. Government research suggests that the levels of agricultural fertilizers within our water …
In 1946 the Daily Mirror signed to its ranks an artist by the name of Bernard Venables (see People we Like), who created a gardening cartoon featuring ‘Mr Crabtree’. OF course, as any sensible person knows, angling is a far more productive use of time than gardening, and within a year Mr Crabtree was going …
Before you think that Fishpool has been sniffing hongeohoe (see Bits and Pieces Issue 15) or has had one too many bottles of Barbus Barbus (see Bits and Pieces Issue 6), the aspect of pike gaffs and jaw spreaders that he likes, is the fact that their use has been all but consigned to history. …
Composed by Francisco Tarrega in 1896, Recuerdos de la Alhambra (Memories of the Alhambra) is regarded by many musicians as an iconic and landmark piece of classical guitar composition. Incorporating the tremolo technique, Tarrega wanted to capture in music the beauty of the Alhambra—an ancient Palace complex (and UNESCO World Heritage Site) in the mountains …
The school holidays are here, and for young anglers everywhere this means it’s time to go night fishing. Grown up anglers tend to take after dark fishing far too seriously. They go off to Welsh rivers to cast flies at sea trout, or cosy up in bivvies with bite alarms set to wake them should …
There’s nothing quite like a pint beside the river. Or maybe two. To hell with it, if the barbel and chub are feeding you might as well have a gallon! I’m talking about maggots, of course. Probably the best all-round bait there is. They will catch every species of freshwater fish that swims, and have …
Back in 1980, on the Opening Day of the season, Chris Yates famously caught the biggest carp ever. At 51 and a half pounds it added more than 7 pounds to Dick Walker’s existing record and sent shockwaves through angling. Yates had caught the fish before, and in keeping with the chess-piece themed naming of …
Not to be confused with the rather brilliant contemporary poet of the same name, the Jock Scott is possibly the most famous salmon fly of all. In 1845, it’s creator (it is named eponymously) was travelling by boat to Norway, which was and still is one of the finest places in the world to catch …
There are few moments in angling as fine as watching tiny tench bubbles prickle the surface around a red-topped float—your red-topped float. Add to that a patch of lilies and a slightly sultry summer evening and life is almost perfect. The next moment, should it happen at all, is the one that may divide opinion. …
In the early 1950’s, a small group of anglers were revolutionising the notion of carp fishing. Deemed by many as uncatchable, these men discovered that not only could they be fooled, but thanks in part to the actions of Donald Leney (see People we Like) they could grow massive. One of these men was Dick …
Internet forums can be fractious places. Keyboard warriors hiding behind self given aliases (one of Fishpool’s particular gripes) – all bitching and moaning and throwing mud. The angling world is as bad as any, save a couple of peaceful, well mannered sanctuaries. The Traditional Fisherman’s Forum is one such place. Mark Sarul has bailiffed the …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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), …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
Some chap called ‘Yates’ once suggested that the Kelly Kettle be the greatest steam engine since Stephenson’s ‘Rocket’. It’s a bold statement, but in truth an accurate one. A bankside cup of tea is essential on a cold winter’s day. Or a warm summer day come to think about it. In fact, an autumn cuppa …
A true antidote to indifference, Caught by the River has been soothing and smoothing us for over seven years. With daily online sermons from an array of anglers, naturalists, musicians and ne’er-do-wells, CBTR offers online sanity amid an onslaught of material madness. There are books – the anthologies Words on Water and On Nature – …
A sidestream of the Salmon and Trout Association, the Riverfly Partnership represents almost 100 partner organisations. A mixed shoal of anglers, entomologists, conservationists, scientists and regional authorities, all working together to protect the water quality of our rivers. This is achieved by furthering the understanding of riverfly populations through monitoring and research, and seeking the …
Anglers will curse at cormorants, shout ‘Oi!’ at an obstinate otter and even hurl hatred at herons, but we are always kind to the kingfisher. It might be their small size – we certainly don’t begrudge them the minnows – or their quite absurd beauty, but that piped whistle and electric flash is only ever …
Each winter, a mysterious figure creeps among the trees of the Kent Weald, loitering near the hazel coppices as he searches for the perfect fork. RB Traditional (Rob) fettles his rod rests for fun and friends, though bidders at auctions in aid of The Avon Roach Project and the Barbel Society may be fortunate enough …
At some point in every car owner’s life comes a vehicle that is indestructible. It starts on the coldest of mornings; sails through every MOT; has tyres that last forever and fits a rod bag snugly in the boot. If such a car were a fishing reel, then it could only ever be a Mitchell …
More than just a home for grass cuttings and vegetable peelings. This is a place for amphibians to survive the winter, where grass snakes lay their eggs, and where an angler can fill a tub with worms in about ten minutes. All hail the compost!
Forget the bloomin’ daffs, you need to look closer to the ground to find true spring gold. The lesser celandine (Ranunculus ficaria) is a jewel of early spring covering our verges with warmth in beauty, but to an angler its appearance is bittersweet. Winter may be nearly over, but so too is the river fishing …
Admittedly, if you get within ten yards of a singing nightingale then the hairs on the back of your neck do actually stand on end, but no song lifts the soul quite like a blackbirds’. The notes are lazy and yet so rich in tone, and they’re not so rare that you have to escape …
Our prevailing wind has been rather scarce this year, with a steady string of northerlies bringing cold air from the Arctic. As a result, many of our migrants have been backing up around the Mediterranean, waiting for an incentive to carry on to our shores. Come on wind – sort it out – we want …
It’s just a quill with a painted red tip and a coat of varnish. Isn’t it? Of course not. A favourite float has more memories and adventures attached to it than any diary. This one was lost twice in the final week of the season, the second time to a far bank tree in the …
Spanning only two or three feet and a good distance from any path or deer run, this bridge can only have been built by pixies, desperate to reach the prime bullhead swims on the other bank.
I first met Alan in Canada, on the shores of Hottah Lake. We were fishing for Lake Trout and he was to be our guide. Nearly ten years later we’re still firm friends, sharing our passion for all things piscatorial. Alan is now the presenter of Fish Talk TV , an online, one-hour angling chat show, …
Fishing and beer go together like strawberries and cream. And what better way is there to drink your favourite tipple and toast to the gods of water, than with your own tankard, with the additional bonus of a fine representation of old Esox herself, as we all know the big pike are always female, right? This …
The Wandle Piscators, and angling club in London of which I am a member, has launched it’s own club e-zine, The Piscators’ Chronicle In my experience, the best angling clubs have a strong sense of conservation. In fact, I’d go so far as to say a good angling club MUST have a strong sense of …
I had a very strange driving instructor once (bear with me please). He was an odd chap, to say the least. He never shut up, always talked about his conquests (that gets boring after a while, believe me) and had a nervousness about him that made me think he had a dead body hidden in …
By Fred Buller, Stanley Paul, 1979 I first discovered this book when I was in short trousers, and it makes me feel that way even now. How can these fish be real? Of course, some may not be, but the accounts are there, and as a young boy I always returned to this book every …
By Bernard Venables George Allen & Unwin LTD, London 1958 Described as “The modern counterpart to Izaak Walton’s The Compleat Angler, this beautifully illustrated book from one of angling’s great fishermen and authors “combines in one volume the whole practice and delight of angling”. It was bought in a bookshop in Kinsale, Ireland, by my …
