It was the second session of the week. The first session I had got a result landing a 21lb 12oz common on a single hookbait. If you recall on the next session I fished from the other side of the lake but still put a bait on the spot from where the common had fallen….

Now, we all stretch the truth a little at times, but this got me thinking, that if such a well recognised company could come out with a statement like that (and a magazine publish it!) then perhaps people don’t understand how water works. Anyway, it put the idea in my head, so I thought I…

Gravel pits that have been excavated in the traditional fashion are relatively easy to ‘read’. Plateaux, bars and islands, flooded trees and gullies all attract fish and fish attract pike. However, locating pike is not all about finding feeding pike and I would go as far as to suggest that you’ll do much better if…

For many years I have fished fast flowing rivers with float approaches. It’s a style of fishing I really enjoy as it’s challenging and very rewarding when you get it right. My apprenticeship saw me on rivers like the Derbyshire Derwent, the Upper Trent, the upper Avon, the Wye and, of course, the Severn. Whenever…

However the weather plotted against me and as the rain fell in buckets, I stayed in the pub. As daylight began to fade I arrived at the lake in a drier patch of weather, enough time to ponder and then get round to a swim that I had done well from when all else was…

Last Saturday I fished the match at Bewdley and when I drew peg 115, the pipe swim, I really fancied my chances of a big weight. I won off this peg on the first midweek match of the season with sixty-one pounds of barbel; I’ve had a successful magazine feature off it and done some…

If you haven’t located your chosen species you might just as well sit at home for all the fish you’ll catch. The most modern tackle, the sharpest of hooks and the very freshest bait will contribute nothing unless you find fish willing to feed. And yet, judged by the actions of many anglers at their…

I turned up on a pleasant September day, a light westerly breeze with hazy sunshine. One of the guys had decided to take time out for the whole of September to spend his life at the lake. This I knew was a sure way to get the best from the lake and success was guaranteed…

Although the swim hasn’t really thrown up many big weights recently I fancied my chances. Unfortunately the turnout was the lowest we’ve had so far for a Bewdley open but I think this was largely due to the fact that most people were worried about the fuel crisis. I can’t believe how quickly this country…

My favourite cluster of gravel pits is an interesting microcosm of the world at large. Although the lakes are roughly the same age, they differ somewhat in their appearance and fish stocks. One lake in particular has fished surprisingly well this year. Most of the fish have been caught at least once, a rare state…