1. The Breakaway Impact Lead.For me this is the most significant advance in terminal tackle in a long time. Not only does the Impact lead have a streamlined shape, aiding casting, and excellent holding properties but more importantly it provides a near failsafe release of the hook every time. I have been using these leads…

To start with, there have been many worrying reports in the newspapers and on the radio regarding cutbacks in the water industry. The chances are that these won’t necessarily affect us directly, but I have a horrible feeling that changes will sneak up on us in covert ways. The shareholders of the big water companies…

Over the past couple of years, Pete has become a self confessed “nut” about boat fishing, especially on Rutland, but he steers away from competitions. He pointed out to me that most of the flies, tactics and tackle that he uses were developed by the modern competition angler. Yet, he feels that he is not…

For those of you who are keen ‘pleasure’ anglers the next step could be to try your hand at match fishing. Initially I would suggest fishing club competitions as opposed to jumping in at the deep end and entering highly competitive open competitions. I’ll now give you a few tips on how to get started.The…

THE 2ND FIPS-MOUCHE WORLD YOUTH FLY-FISHING CHAMPIONSHIPS 1999 DONEGAL, IRELAND AUGUST 18TH – 20TH.The five-man team and travelling reserve met at Stansted Airport with the three management team members at 5.30am on Tuesday 17th August. Checking in and an obligatory cup of strong coffee preceded our Ryanair Flight to Londonderry departing at 7.30am. Our short…

Most of my gear has been designed by either Mr Heath, or Mr Robinson, and looks it too, but if it does the job, then you won’t find me complaining. The trouble is, that seminal item of floater fishing, the controller float always seems to be letting me down. Just about every carp fishing company…

About now is the time to start checking out that winter trotting gear and looking at the collection of floats.One float that appears in many angler’s float armoury is the wire stemmed stick float as it so useful for trotting in fairly turbulent conditions that cause problems for more traditional wood stemmed models. The heavy…

Looking at the finished float many anglers confuse it with the “drift beater” but a closer look will reveal that it is entirely a different float. It is first and foremost a reversed balsa wood waggler. If you cut of the sight tip, you are left with a perfect reversed taper balsa waggler.The sight tip…

Not so very long ago I was told by the females of my family, that they really would not have minded if I had enjoyed a half day or even a whole day aboard one of the many charter boats that abound where ever the sun shines with any degree of regularity. Sometimes the logic…

The depth of water was varying between 70 and 80 metres and most of us were fishing superbraid lines because in this depth of water the use of braid with its ultra thin diameter enables sinkers half the weight of those used with comparable breaking strain nylon monofilament lines to be employed. Which naturally means…