“Within the depths of winter I found there was, within me, an invincible appetite for fatty food, alcohol and fishing”. I think it was Albert Camus who said these immortal lines? Or was it Ken Dodd? Actually, scrub all of that, because it’s nearly Christmas and in spite of the silly cost of living and England being dumped out of the World Cup, there are still reasons to be cheerful.
The fishing has been a bit… well, mixed. My sole trip this week was a mere 90 minutes, having chickened out of an early start for pike. Experience told me to give the cold a few days to settle, rather than fish right on the “snap”. My cowardice was probably sensible. As it turned out, the fish were just about waking up at 11am-ish and I had a beautifully marked five-pounder from a very public spot, while also missing a real “unit” of ten pounds plus. In the meantime, though, I’ve been biding my time by replenishing fly and lure boxes.
In particular, I’ve been refurbishing some of my knackered spinnerbaits. These lures have fallen right out of favour it seems, but I just love replacing the decaying rubber skirts with fresh dressing from the fly tying kit. Some of the results like the above would probably get me chucked out of the Fly Dressers Guild- but I really fancy them to bother some pike on icy rivers. Filthy!
Even if you decide to stay indoors and warm for a while, there are some other great treats to enjoy. Not least of all, some great reading material. First up, two regulars that blog followers will know about are Angling Times and Fallon’s Angler. Each has a timely edition out this week to cheer your spirits even if the canal is frozen over.
The Christmas double issue of Angling Times is always a great one- and this year features more of my writing than usual, with a special report on emerging trends for 2023, a pike-themed column, not to mention our 2023 awards. I don’t want to spill every bean here, but it was a thrill to speak to the likes of heroic campaigner Feargal Sharkey, hilarious and original content creator Amie Battams and some true unsung heroes of the sport, such as Jay Clayton, an angler who has gone from layman to fisheries expert and saviour of several lakes in the space of a few short years.
Meanwhile, Fallon’s Angler is still alive and keeping a host of talented writers in print with another strong issue. Aside from enjoyable pieces from Chris Yates, Will Millard and a hatful of others… and what a joy to see emerging talents like Ben Bassett, who is now writing regularly. The general theme this time is companionship- hence you can read about the highs and lows of fishing with my older brother, who is both a kindred spirit and a piece of cheese to my chalk! Grab a copy today at fallonsangler.net
Angling books for 2022/2023
For some further reading, there are also some great titles just out in the shape of the new Harper Angling Books Collection, Fantastic Fishes, along with Dr Paul Gaskell’s The Nature of Fly Fishing and a trio of titles on cult small fish species from Professor Mark Everard. Not that these are the only titles out there- but for a wider roundup, you’ll have to grab the Christmas special Angling Times.
FANTASTIC FISHES, various / ed. Mick Cutler (Harper £35)
I don’t know how to sum up the first of these volumes better than “eclectic”! Mick Cutler has asked a staggering variety of angling names for their stories, and even more remarkable is how many said yes, from Neville Fickling to Charles Jardine and even the likes of Ian Botham and Chris Tarrant. It’s not necessarily the theme of “size rules”, but fish that are special for personal reasons that holds such a disparate band of anglers together, but that makes the book all the more interesting. A modern take on the classic Red Letter Days collection isn’t the worst description.
In fact, it’s precisely the unexpected details and personal stories from the contributors that lifts this from being another die-hard book all about big fish. You know the kind: fanatics who are masters of gravel pits and the bane of dinner parties. But what a treasury we have here with 50-odd anglers. Suffice to say, a ridiculous amount of work and care have gone into this book. There are mahseer and bream; mullet, salmon, pike, crucians and everything in between There’s even some bloke called Dom Garnett writing about his decade-long search for a giant canal rudd.
Particular highlights for me included Gareth Thomas’ record pike, stupendous Nile perch encounters and a lovely tribute to Avon Roach Project hero Budgie Price. The production is also excellent, too, with cracking illustrations making this a highly collectable book as well as several weeks of happy “dipping”. Treat yourself at Harper Angling Books.
SMALL FISHES TRILOGY: RUFFE, GUDGEON & SILVER BREAM, Professor Mark Everard (Routledge, from £7.99)
Books about carp, pike and other leviathans are available by the dozen, these three volumes from Mark Everard offer a welcome nod to other much-loved if smaller fish species. The strength, as always, with Mark’s take on the material, is that he is both an exceptional fish scientist but also, endearingly, a big kid. Every time I fish with him or pick his brains for Angling Times readers, I lift out a new set of surprising and entertaining nuggets that expand my understanding- and his books are just the same.
Having just finished the third of this trilogy, Silver Bream, the author’s knowledge is about as thorough as it comes. Definitive and then some, there is no stone unturned here. Not that it’s all about diet, distribution and the rest, though, because there are plenty of surprising facts and some excellent fine detail on angling methods.
I can vouch from experience that these work a treat, too, having spent an enthralling session with Mark on the Bridgwater to Taunton Canal, where we shared a cracking net of fish- and while I might have had the numbers, it was the prof who singled out some proper net fish!
Indeed, while these books won’t sell silly quantities, they’re a must for anyone who would enjoy an absorbing and complete guide to these species. You’ll find out a whole lot about these smaller fishes you didn’t know- from old-fashioned names and myths, to their joys and quirks. Or, as Mark puts it:
“All species have their virtues and fans… and all can inspire and have inspired angling interest”.
Amen to that. Track the set down at Routledge Books HERE.
THE NATURE OF FLY FISHING – Dr Paul Gaskell (£14.99)
Now here’s a rude truth: fishing is full of vital questions too few of us bother to ask. Have you ever wondered why on earth a fish would take a dressed hook? Or why fish can feed selectively on certain prey? Perhaps you’ve even pondered how and why creatures like trout and grayling evolved the way we find them?
The science behind angling is often fascinating. The fact that so few books delve into this in any great detail is a testament to the tricky balance this requires. As the son of a science teacher, I can vouch that there’s a fine line between grabbing someone’s interest and spoiling a perfectly good walk with the Latin names of plants.
Paul Gaskell’s gift as a writer is to unpack big ideas in a way that is not only enlightening but (dry academics shudder all you like) good fun. And if big concepts like evolutionary biology scare you, there is plenty of humour and clarity to defuse the subject matter here. The result is something hugely thought-provoking that also allows you to chuckle about people and the sport of fishing.
As for angling lessons, this book takes us right to the very fundamentals of the sport and that is no bad thing. Why, for example, do fish refuse certain flies? Why is it that we still believe the fallacy that fish can have a human-like “intelligence” or decision-making processes, when that’s about as logical as Elvis still being alive? Where is the line between tricking a fish to eat something and sending it packing? And why are certain bits of river more productive than others, even when there are similar numbers of fish?
It’s one of the neglected truths of angling that the fundamentals are also its most important lessons. The irony is that the more we fish, the more we can take the simplest building blocks for granted. This book strips things back and gets us to re-examine a lot of these building blocks in a way that is enjoyable, rather than preachy or academic. That in itself is a real skill and the reason this isn’t your average fishing book.
It’s not Janet and John level science, I’ll grant you that. Real case studies and quite high level concepts crop up. It does need effort and engagement. However, there are plenty of lessons for your fishing here- and while no book has all the answers, there are lots of springboards to further investigation here. And even if some of it feels like revisiting the fundamentals, that’s never a bad thing- because this is a work that’s sure to activate your brain and look at your favourite stream with fresh eyes.
Before signing off here, I should also add that this book also has added value with some bonus digital content. A kind of clever merging of old and new tech, you just scan the codes in the book to get exclusive videos and extras. Another great reason to check out the book!
Find the book on Amazon HERE. And if you enjoy any of the above works, be sure to leave them a friendly review and recommend to your fellow anglers.