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Essential Reading
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Wellington's Loddon - Arthur Wellesley, the 1st Duke of Wellington, returned to England a hero after defeating Napolean at Waterloo. As a gift for his service the state purchase...
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Totally unexpected discovery - Because I needed to get the ball rolling with the sale of Bev's car, plus a visit to the insurance brokers to sort out the situation, Bruno and I didn't ...
13 hours ago -
June - Yes, the month when all life bursts forth and it doesn't get dark until gone ten o clock. Magic. Along with fellow blogger and old mate Waaaak I've been...
1 day ago -
Never trust a man with egg on his face - "She pulled out a gun, I saw the sparks, messed up the suit he'd bought from Marks." It's a bit early in the year for countless 'my perfect cheese paste ...
1 day ago -
Too Keen - Date fished 6/6/2025 7am until 3pm A house warming, birthday and Anniversary party in London immediately got me thinking about fishing. Sadly the rivers...
2 days ago -
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I can't remember a sea fish doing that before? - Another week passed by slowly as they do when I have something fishy to look forward to, in this case a favourable early evening tide. I like these as I...
3 days ago -
07/06/25 - Harescombe - Match - *Weight - 31lb 7oz* *Catch - 11 Carp, 10 F1, 2 Skimmers* *Weather - Bright & sunny, breezy and cooler later* *Match - Open (16 fished) - 7th overall, 3rd in ...3 days ago
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Gravel Pit Tench - After a series of trials fishing for tench [here] on my previous blog, the time had come to put my rigs into practice for a really big tench. A Cotswold ...
3 days ago -
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VARIATION ON A THEME - It was broad daylight when I left home at 4.30 on Sunday morning. That's the best thing about canal fishing in June; four hours before the earliest bo...
4 days ago -
06/06/2025 - Briefly back down Bill's - Had a meeting with a new financial advisor down near Studley in Shakespeare country, so took the opportunity to use my Birmingham Anglers Association tic...
5 days ago -
Transient Towpath Trudging - Pt.136 (Canal Zander) - There comes a time, usually somewhere around the 73rd viewing of a YouTube carp rig tutorial or while daydreaming over a cup of lukewarm instant coffee, ...
5 days ago -
Normal Service Resumed - Most of this blog's very few 2025 posts have been about little more than the moths I've seen and the birds I haven't. Normally they attract a modest read...
6 days ago -
Tench Campaign Part 3. - Well, before I get to the trip I have just finished with I'll catch you up on a visit I paid last week Friday. I blanked... Well, that's been take...
1 week ago -
Viaduct Fishery Open Campbell Lake - Another chance to practice for my upcoming trip to Viaduct and to have another crack at the silvers. I was a bit tired Saturday morning after an evening w...
1 week ago -
Learning the Canal. - Wednesday My lad was fishing his new syndicate water for the first time. I was not jealous, I had after all, declined a ticket there myself. But, I did env...
1 week ago -
A silver thread in a ribbon of green. - Keen to catch a few more freshwater species, I popped out in the evening earlier this month to target a couple on the Water of Leith. The river which run...
2 weeks ago -
Old, but in good working order - Sadly our neighbour and farmer friend passed away earlier this year and He left me an air rifle to restore. Some would say a strange legacy but ...3 weeks ago
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SCREAMING FOR HELP - It’s early May and the swifts are back, scything noisily through our skies in celebration of completing their ten thousand mile non-stop round trip fro...
1 month ago -
First signs of summer and first on a dry - Last season this upland stream was new to me , it was great to fish during those first few weeks when the high waters everywhere meant that this little ...
1 month ago -
Upside Down and Round About - It's been a full 6 months since I last wrote, primarily because I didn't have anything useful to say, and when the time came to think about the annual MCX ...
2 months ago -
Blythe - River Blythe 4:50pm to 6:45pm. Overcast. Calm. 9C dropped to 5C. River normal. Fished 2 swims. 1 chub. 2lbs+. Worked from home so I could grab the...
2 months ago -
Blythe - River Blythe 4:50pm to 6:45pm. Overcast. Calm. 9C dropped to 5C. River normal. Fished 2 swims. 1 chub. 2lbs+. Worked from home so I could grab the...
2 months ago
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December 28, 2024 - After realizing I was close to achieving 500 Koi on fly (lifetime), I decided to get after them one more time this year. It was tough, fish weren't part...
5 months ago -
West Michigan Carp Fishing Social and Lighthouse Visit - We visited the beach and lighthouse recently in St. Joseph, Michigan. I love fishing but the guys out on the pier without railings, in gusty winds with wav...
1 year ago -
Mine Shafts, Floods and The Harwood Arms - Happy New Year everybody, Covid for Christmas, which is not what we asked for and resulted in a funny forty eight hours of sleep, sweating and unusual d...
1 year ago -
I,m back - As a lot of you will be aware, i had my van stolen back in mid july, with over £4000 worth of tackle in the back, i got up on that sunday morning , looked ...
1 year ago -
Differing days on the Wye - *June 26th & 27th 2023* • River Wye at Ashford on the water EA measuring gauge at .29 water crystal clear • Weather partly sunny short shower late after...
1 year ago -
The first post of 2023...... - I have not fished many matches this year hence the lack of activity on this Blog. I did fish a match on the Gloucester Canal back in early January but I ...
2 years ago -
Grindr - Variety is indeed the spice of life and my lack of update here is principally due to the fact I've been doing the same thing over and over again for some...
2 years ago -
After work chub - I usually try and fit in a short session after work at least once during my 5 days on, usually arriving at the chosen river after 22:00hrs and setting off ...5 years ago
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Dichtbij, maar toch ver weg... - Ik ben voor een korte middag sessie aan het water. Het weer is al dagen erg grijs, geen wind en nachttemperaturen net onder nul en overdag een graadje erb...
5 years ago -
The Pre and Post Christmas Rush - PRE-CHRISTMAS Sinking into the marsh, subsequent steps no deeper than before but each consistently sucked in by the peat-like soil, slowed the walk but...
5 years ago -
Time to start updating again! - Six months since I last looked on this blog, with available time and fishing motivation failing me somewhat. I have been fishing, but often seemed to be fi...
5 years ago -
DYCKERS FIBRE BAITFISH ,step by step - *BIG BAITFISH* WITH DYCKERS FIBRE ive mentioned a lot lately about with dyckers fibre , the stuff is really amazing and has outclassed the traditional E...
5 years ago -
Canal Fishing - Another Great Session - 31/8/19 (Video 126) - The video of my lastest session is now available to watch by clicking the link below. *Canal Fishing - Another Great Session - 31/8/19 (Video 126)*
5 years ago -
1st Day of Fall - Well its officially the 1st day of fall in the northern hemisphere, and what better way to spend it than on the river. Down by around 2ft on last week's l...
5 years ago -
Romanian Angling Club UK spring predator race - Hawksbury junction - I was really looking forward to this match being put on by the Romanian Angling Club. Along with the Polish anglers I see regularly on the local lure ci...
6 years ago -
EXCITING NEWS FOR 2019 FROM EXOTIC FISHING THAILAND - A lot of people have been asking why we don't do our regular blog/catch reports any more. The main reason is that our focus has been more on Facebook, Tw...
6 years ago -
Taff Grayling and Trout - I'm not sure the advertising gurus at Starbucks had thought this one through!? It did amuse us though when we called in for a coffee on our way to South ...
6 years ago -
Simple Float ledger Rig For Pike Fishing - Hello and a warm welcome to this weeks angling blog i hope i find you all well and your nets wet. The first frosts have arrived and for some on social med...
6 years ago -
Swansong - Opening day of the 2018 trout fishing season and a first blog post in almost 18 months. It is also the last, a swansong of sorts as I admit defeat and unde...
7 years ago -
Unfinished Business - Numbskulls - I have a great deal of never-published-material in the IQ archive. This article was probably worth putting your way at the time of writing. But I started, ...
7 years ago -
Looking Back and Looking Forward - Well its time for a round up of last year and it was eventful for the first 6 months of the year then it all sort of went down hill. I decided early on ...
7 years ago -
New Rods – Making Moves - I expect most keen coarse anglers own a rod or two dedicated to fairly specialist tasks – perhaps a crisp, fast action float rod, designed solely with long...7 years ago
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I'm Back - The clanging of agricultural gates and rutted roadways. The dodging of the cow pat and nervously passing my bovine companions. Pigeons arguing among the...
7 years ago -
Canal Tench - Something Green, Somewhere New - In spite of living within relatively close proximity to the Grand Western Canal for a decade now, there are still parts of it that I have not fished proper...
8 years ago -
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A Suriname Adventure. - Each January for the past several years I have travelled to South America along with Joe Taylor and other likeminded anglers. Joe is the linchpin having ...
8 years ago -
Fish Leather Books, New Website & Blog! - Greetings to everyone. You may or may not have noticed a few changes afoot with my site and blog. There is also some rather exciting news to share, which I...8 years ago
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Back with a Whimper - A whole year without blogging, what's that all about? Well last year my confidence was shaken, I have to admit it. Pike fishing is going in directions I do...
8 years ago -
Ouch..... - Popped down to the river for a couple of hours last Saturday morning and conditions were pretty un-inspiring as they have been in general this season. To ...
8 years ago -
2016 Diary - The End - *Date:* Sunday 13th March 2016 *Venue:* River Tone, Somerset It might not be final day until tomorrow, but today was my last chance to cast a line on runni...
9 years ago -
I'll be back…(again) - Well the last couple of years have been a blur. Lots of time on the beach fortunately with many memorable catches, with spring fast approaching I find mys...
9 years ago -
Popped up herring tail does the business again - Dawn was breaking when I arrived and a pike swirled on the surface in front of the first swim I stopped at. A wind was blowing across the lake and this w...
9 years ago -
Pike don't like Mondays - or do they..? - This one hit the lure and threw it in a tailwalk, before it chased it half way across the drain and nailed it under my feet. Not the biggest pike I've ...
9 years ago -
Blimey I’ve not posted here for a while! - I’ve been fishing a fair bit, but in my opinion badly. Blanking for tench, carp barbel and big bream seem to have taken up most of my summer. It’s been h...
9 years ago -
Check it.. - I post a bit on face book these days and have a "This Angling Life" face book page. It's far easier to use than blogger especially on a mobile or tablet...
9 years ago -
Seriously!? - The bloggers challenge is working it's magic... More spare time, more opportunity for reconnecting with our glorious English countryside and the motivation...
9 years ago -
Back on the perch - It seemed to be over in a flash. The river season is well and truly closed now and it's time to look elsewhere. I've had a little dabble on the canal and ...
10 years ago -
Early morning double - My last session was again on the wonderful Wye, I arrived just before dawn with a plan of fishing as the first rays of light for the day were popping over ...
10 years ago -
Mayfly Reflection - There hasn't been much time for fishing recently - my degree has taken priority over the last year and subsequently hobbies have taken a back seat. I did h...
10 years ago -
Suspenders! - Now that the rivers are forbidden, we have to turn our attentions to lakes, pools and canals. There's a very small pool 5 minutes drive away which, despite...
11 years ago -
The land that time forgot - You could be forgiven if you know nothing about Ashton-under-Lyne. I live just three miles from this quite large town and until a cruel illness rendered m...11 years ago
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How to combine two hobbies - Here is how to combine two hobbies - I created a drying machine for my tube flies out of the LEGO Technic blocks. The machine is remotely controlled, it ha...
11 years ago -
"Lean fourteen" to avoid a blank. - After catching my very respectable 24.5lb pike yesterday in trying conditions...i knew my window of opportunity was diminishing by the hour (as is on the W...
11 years ago -
Another Deer hair diver. - A different color setup, The black gives a good contrast against the light colors. A good silhouette for Northern Pike to follow and als...
11 years ago -
Tuesday 19th February 2013 - Weather -3c Start Brightening up later I've managed to temp my son Dean out today for a rare midweek trip. As usual we start the day with a full cooked brea...
12 years ago -
04/03 Trent - Recovery day following mates stag weekend...played 9 holes of golf then off to the river. Was looking forward to a good days fishing with the weather a bit...12 years ago
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Peter Green PAC Lifetime Achievement Award - The PAC would like to congratulate Peter Green on his Lifetime achievement award, which was awarded for his commitment and dedication to the PAC. Peter h...
13 years ago -
Barbel on the float! - I was intending on posting sooner than this, however after a few disappointing sessions this has led to me have little enthusiasm for blogging. A day trot...
13 years ago -
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Records & Challenges
Updated: 17/02/2024
Total: 60 Barbel (to 9lb 4oz)
Total: 13 Pike (to 19lb 10oz)
Archives & Stats
Total: 27 Challenges
Previous Seasons: 16 Reviews
Winning: 40 Posts
Man & Fish: 77 Photos
17 Seasons: 342 Pike
15 Seasons: 1,841 Barbel
Side Quest: 48 Species
Personal Bests
Pike Blog: Links
Visitors: Last 30 Days
"There are two types of fish: Pike and Bait"
Ha ha! I went down to the river on my dinner break for a chill out. I was watching a ghost carp cruising up and down then right under my feet a giant torpedo of a huge pike slid past. Seriously, why is it always perfect when you can't fish it?!
ReplyDeleteThey know! I haven't done a great deal of peering into rivers yet this closed season but when I have I always see fish. They can't get out so they'll be there in the season - just much more difficult to find...
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