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.
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 …
