Address: Dever Springs Trout Fishery, Barton Stacey, Nr Winchester, Hampshire, S021 3NP.Directions: From London travel down the M3 and leave on the A303 turn off. Follow the A303 for about 7 miles and take the turn off on the left hand side marked Barton Stacey. Follow the road until the T junction. Turn left at…

On one day they can be the most obliging fish that swims, taking baits like they are going out of fashion, another day – that to all intents and purposes is exactly the same as far as conditions are concerned – and you can’t buy a bite. Yes, I know that applies to all species…

I can’t even remember the name of the pub on Achill Island, in County Mayo, where I heard a phrase in Irish : ‘Ronnoch mor’ but I’m sure it was uttered by a big, red-faced, 60-ish commercial fisherman called Mangan. I asked him what it meant and he said, “The great mackerel”. Now at the…

This fly does not appear to be at its best when it is pulled fairly quickly; rather fish it static or slowly.The main problem is obtaining the distinctively marked silver pheasant flank feathers as they are not stocked by the majority of tackle shops. To obtain these you will need to approach a specialist fly…

Most tope fishing is done either by casting baits uptide away from the boat, or deep dropping baits in areas of fast tides and deep water. But thereís a new technique, originally pioneered in mid Wales, that proves far more effective and gives the tope the full freedom to fight, and itís fast catching on…

It’s just over six hours flying time from Gatwick. There are flights in and out every Friday to Banjul, fares are relatively cheap, as is accommodation, and you’re pretty much guaranteed good weather outside the main rainy season through August and September. More to the point the fishing can be awesome with not just a…

I won the individual title back in 1988 and since then have managed top spot in the Sunday team event and two firsts in the bank holiday Monday Wychavon event. In addition I’ve managed to get many more high placings over the past few seasons – so you can see how much I look forward…

Catching Mackerel for bait is an enjoyable start to a days fishing. Thread up your rod and attach a set of feathers and within seconds you are fishing. If the mackerel are there in profusion it is not unusual to catch stringfull after stringfull of these vigorous little fish, soon filling a fishbox with enough…

Unless we’ve been given a super-duper new trout rod for Christmas it’s likely most of us will be using a tackle set up similar to previous years. There’s something almost comforting about handling that familiar rod and line again, it’s rather like meeting up with old friends from whom you have been separated and are…

In the relative cool of the early morning Arno and I waded silently across the glassy shallows of the lagoon, eyes peeled for sting rays under our feet, and bones shadowing into range. Away from the surf on the outer reef, it was deathly quiet. Anything more than a whisper would have been quite out…