Isn’t it great when the things you love best come full circle? In a world lurching around like a drunk who’s lost his car keys, there’s something comforting about an old favourite fishing spot. Angling, after all, is so often that doorway back to a more innocent world. It’s a portal where grown-ups can feel… Read more
“Hope for the best, but prepare to get filthy” probably sums up recent angling. I’d have loved a final crack at grayling or river pike on the fly before the season ended, but it has been mud soup everywhere. Such is angling in the early 21st century- not only do we get more concentrated rainfall… Read more
I’ve said it before that die-hard anglers thrive on adversity, but this January I mean it more than ever. Conditions have been yo-yoing dramatically, with hard frosts one week, gales and temperatures into the mid-teens the next. This can make it much harder to catch, but let’s face it, if we were to sit tight… Read more
After a soaking wet end to summer, it’s been more of the same for autumn with rivers bursting their banks and several cancelled trips. Not that we should be too surprised, because this seems to be the pattern every year now. As an angler, you have to pick your battles with care! Having canal fishing… Read more
At this stage of a decidedly cool, wet British summer I must be one of a small minority thanking the weather gods. “British summer? What is that?” was the summary of the bloke who cut my hair yesterday. But boy did we need some rain after a freakishly dry spring. The other happy fact for… Read more
What a difference just a few days, and degrees, make. It feels like we’ve finally turned the corner to brighter times and “proper spring”. This is never a strict calendar date but more of a transitional phase or gut feeling. It’s also my favourite time of year of all, I have to say. Even if… Read more