Before I tell you about what’s been happening this week I’d like to say a big thankyou to all the people who have contacted me to tell me how much they enjoyed reading the float fishing and pole fishing series over the last few weeks. Judging by the kind comments I reckon there will be…

In his own words Barrie preferred to pre-bait when the pike were off feed (presumably hoping it may bring them on to feeding). Writing on the same subject, this time in 1985 (Big Pike, Rickards, A&C Black 1986) and with the benefit of 15 years further experience Barrie was in no doubt of the value…

Each morning is greeted by a freshness in the air which stings the face and makes you feel good to be alive. The banks are green again after months of gloom and the margins are alive with life. The days are warm and the evenings long, giving plenty of time for a few hours by…

For reasons best not gone into here I will not be pursuing the carp at my planned new pit any longer this spring or summer, it’s hard enough pitting ones wits against the carp without having to second guess the other anglers antics. Still, before my departure a 34lb leather was caught. Good angling, well…

When you first start to make up pole rigs you will find you will need to buy a lot of small component parts to enable you to do the job easily. There is nothing worse than sitting down to make up some rigs only to find you are short of something like silicone rubber or…

Go into any good tackle shop these days and you will be confronted with a huge array of pole floats in all sorts of shapes, sizes and colours. Some designs it has to be said leave a lot to be desired but several companies now produce really good quality floats designed specifically for today’s pole…

Until this week I was Secretary of Walton Angling Society and like many other clubs they have a work party schedule that costs the members money if they do not attend one. This is great in theory but how are the small clubs ever going to turn members away when they do not bother to…

Madness ensued as the final items of importance were packed ready for this, my sixth trip to India in search of the legendary Golden Mahseer. My well laid plan of bed at 10pm of course went unnoticed as I was still looking for hooks and split rings strong enough to hold the world’s strongest fighting…

Unfortunately though, long stay fishing means that many anglers miss out on the joys of watching a bite develop on a delicately weighted piece of quill or plastic. Make no mistake though, in the right hands float fishing can be one of the most effective ways of dealing with heavily weeded stillwaters. Like all methods,…

I was full of hope on a new water that I had started to fish but after several sessions I still have to hook a carp, well in the mouth anyway. I had the horrid happening of foulhooking a big mirror in a pelvic fin as it browsed over my baits strategically placed on a…