You have to be in it to win it

 (Roach. Published January 3 2010)

On New Year's Day I arrived about lunchtime as the afternoon is when the river will be at its highest temperature-wise. So many anglers are oblivious to the fact that at this time of the year the few hours before dark - and after - give the best chance of catching a fish. Just because the sun starts to set and it's cold for us, it doesn't mean to say that the water is following the same trend. And even though the conditions were what you might call polar, the water rose by 0.2C in the time I was there. And that's a step in the right direction........ click here for more 

Even the tackle shop owners think I'm mad

  (Roach. Published January 15 2010)

Apart from the roach I caught a big dace. It was the first time my scales have been brought out this year and even though the fish was spawned out (dace spawn very early although I was surprised at this fish due to the recent bitter weather) and very hollow, it still took the digital readout to 10oz. A great fish! On the nature front this session I saw a female teal on the river. The frozen stillwaters are bringing a lot more birds to the rivers at this time. I looked in vain for the more brightly coloured male, but the bird was alone. And although I didn't capture the muntjac on film I did manage to get the duck, complete with green speculum showing well against a drab dusk background....... click here for more

Every cloud has a silver lining

 (Roach. Published January 22 2010)

I had no knowledge at all of the venue and in a way that was exciting. Although I was going to set my stall out for roach as I figured they would be in there, that was about it. Running at four feet, the brook was well up and with the water coloured I was confident that any resident roach would be targetable. I started getting bites from the off and was very pleased to catch a fish early on. It's a confidence booster when you know that there's at least one fish in front of you! ....... click here for more

Honesty and realism

(Perch. Published February 19 2010)

Due to the weather I wasn't intending to do any perch fishing until the conditions improved, but when Steve Collett asked me if I fancied visiting a lake where some big fish had come out recently, how could I resist. So on a very cold morning we met up on the car park and eyed up the pegs where we were due to spend the rest of the day. Unfortunately there was a mix-up and the spots that we thought were kept for us (Steve's the Director at Harris Sportsmail and so through contacts had arranged for us to have reservations) were occupied by other anglers. But no worries, we set up camp a little further along the bank....... click here for more

It comes good in the end

(Pike. Published February 25 2010)

The only downside is that it is a bit of a walk, but assuming you are reasonably fit and don't mind that, the rewards are worth it. I love it in the early part of the year, fishing a deadbait for pike. Cast the rods out, sit back and take in the wider package that the venue has to offer. Already this year I have seen a female smew and a firecrest and this time round I managed a lunchtime barn owl in flight as well....... click here for more

Plodding along after pike

(Pike. Published March 7 2010)

I did two sessions at Dudmaston on the Kinver Freeliners ticket and three on the middle reaches of the River Severn. The odds were that the river would have produced the goods, instead it was the lake that handed over the fish. The Severn looked good with water clarity, temperature and overall conditions pointing to at least a few pike. But I had absolutely nothing at all. On the other hand it was the average looking lake where I caught my fish. That's angling for you eh!....... click here for more

Picking up where I left off

(Perch. Published March 13 2010)

It all came together so quickly. I was pike fishing on the River Severn and had a call from Steve Collett, who when he realised I was in his area, decided to bring his rods and fish (At my suggestion by the way!). A telephone call that Steve then had from the bank with angling cameraman Ian Chapman had me being asked the question 'Are you free tomorrow?', as an opportunity had arisen to fish a water in North Wales that had turned up some big perch for the bailiff. With lots of flexibility in my schedule, the next day and I was up nice and early; and before the cock had even crowed I was on the road, eventually heading into the Principality with Mr Collett........ click here for more

Keeping it local

(Perch. Published March 27 2010)

For several years I have been very much aware of the cost of fuel. The days when I used to disappear down the M5 for a few hours lower Severn barbel fishing on a summer's evening are long gone. With a tank of petrol costing £50, it's not miserly to think about your fishing in terms of financial efficiency, but rather a necessity. And with the garage forecourts almost competing with each other to see who can get the highest price, it's time now more than ever for anglers to think local....... click here for more

There's always time for a new first

(Perch. Published April 10 2010)

My personal approach to angling is such that I don't catch many fish but the ones I do end up with tend to be better than average for the water, and that suits me perfectly. This perch, like the one in the previous visit, was caught on worm. Whilst the first one was one the float though, I caught this one on the leger rod. My approach was quite simple - worm fished over dead maggots, with brown crumb as the carrier. And it came just in time before the sailors hit the water and the bank holiday armada started!....... click here for more

Went perch fishing, caught a carp

(Perch. Published April 17 2010)

My second and final visit to the canal this week was an early start, which after a busy day beforehand is a struggle. Well, relatively speaking; after all going fishing can hardly be considered a hardship can it! I'm not really a morning person though and it wasn't until I actually put my gear down by the side of the water that I actually felt as if I had woken up properly. Not that I was in a zombie-like state beforehand, after all I wouldn't like to give the impression I am irresponsible by driving when I'm half-asleep. But if you're not an early bird, then I'm sure you'll appreciate what I'm saying....... click here for more

Groundhog day on the canal

(Perch. Published May 1 2010)

The next morning it was another 5.00am start and back on the canal. I identified another nesting bird, this time a grey wagtail that was occupying a very safe and secure position in a small crevice on vertical 'cliff' on the far bank. Even the deadly mink would have had trouble scaling that. Fishing-wise, within half an hour I was into a suspected carp (or big chub) that I lost. These things happen and there's nothing that you can do about it........ click here for more

Carping around on the canal

(Carp. Published May 8 2010)

After a short but very spirited fight I found myself netting a common carp. It wasn't a big fish, maybe a scraper double, but I was over the moon with its capture. To venture onto a stretch where I had no prior knowledge or history of carp being present, and then to catch one, brought a sense of real satisfaction. It reminded me of the campaign I had a number of years ago, well before I launched my Angling Journal. I did the same thing then, targeting an area that was virgin territory. And when I did connect with some fish I was ecstatic. When you walk the towpath and can see quite clearly by the vegetation growth that no-one fishes there, it doesn't half bring a sense of achievement when you catch........ click here for more

Carp, badgers, tawny owls and an otter

(Carp. Published May 15 2010)

And to round the day off (well, technically the next as it was pushing 1.00am) I saw my first canal otter. As a naturalist and an angler I have feet in both camps and so have mixed feelings regarding otters. I tend to sit on the fence a lot on some issues, not having strong convictions either way.; or at least understanding both sides of the argument. The otter came right through my swim only diving a few feet in front of me once it spotted me. At least I've got something to blame when I blank....... click here for more

Or maybe just a right Charlie

(Perch. Published May 22 2010)

For me ‘variety is the spice of life’ is more than just a nice catchphrase, it is the essence of my angling. Not that I get bored or my fishing ever becomes mundane – far from it – but the variety of species, venues and tactics keeps my enthusiasm and drive at boiling point. So much so, that as I drove to the canal after perch instead of the previous carp visits, the switch had me in the ‘kid on Christmas Eve’ mode. You meet people regularly who tell you that the passion wears off as you get older. Well speak for yourself mate!....... click here for more

Canal carp and playing for Leeds United

(Carp. Published May 29 2010)

But the main star of the show is the common carp that I landed an hour or so into dark. On the left-hand rod, it went tearing along the canal, the piscatorial equivalent of Usain Bolt. Even as I lifted into it and applied pressure it continued to power on, its undoing coming as it turned against the force of the rod and came back towards me. Prior to that moment I was just about to follow it down the canal, expecting to net it 100 metres on! ...... click here for more

Once, twice, but not three times a blanker

(Carp. Published June 5 2010)

With lots of carp crashing and topping all over the place it was a busy night with liners and small fish picking up the bait (there are other species in there), as well as the captures themselves. None of them were big but after a couple of blanks it was nice to get a bend in the rod. And they certainly did put up a fight. With the hangers smashing against the rod, and line peeling off at speed, until the strike they could have been 20’s racing away across the water. And although they weren’t big, you can only catch what’s in front of you. Plus it meant I didn’t get the sack from Des. After all, three consecutive blanks are hardly a good advertisement for a bait company are they!....... click here for more

Living life in the fast lane with an M1 boilie

(Carp. Published June 12 2010)

This time I had two fish and they were both at the opposite ends of the scale. First off was a small chub that until I lifted into it may well have been a 20lb carp the way it tore off. Being so tiny though I was able to get it out quickly and cause minimum disruption to the swim. I couldn’t say that for the next fish though, which was a good common that took a lot more time to subdue. But eventually I won the battle and lifted an immaculate looking fish out of the water and on the bank. To say that I was over the moon was an understatement. After three canal carp blanks my dedication had won through in the end....... click here for more

Not as elusive as Scotland's World Cup chances though

(Crucian Carp. Published June 19 2010)

It took a while for the bites to come, but my trickle of sweetcorn grains soon got the fish going and the bites started to come. But sadly for me, nothing that could be described as a slab of gold or a bar of butter. As the evening wore on, in one way I became hopeful that the crucians would come on the feed but in an another I could see the time – and therefore opportunity - slipping away. And eager to get back to the business I had with the bigger carp on the top pool, when I told myself it was one last cast, I stuck to my word....... click here for more

Amongst the carp at Gyrn Castle

(Carp. Published June 26 2010)

Both rods out, I put the kettle on to make a cup of tea. Before the steam had even started to show through the spout though, the tree rod was off. Having clear space to my right meant that not only was I able to drop the hook bait under the tree easily enough, I could also walk round and net the fish in a clear spot away from the margin weed. It was a good fish and as always with the initial one I photographed it and you can see it above. The second carp came not long after that and by now I was wondering when the other rod would see some action........ click here for more

Definitely needles in a haystack

(Barbel. Published July 3 2010)

But that wasn’t the case this time either, as although it wasn’t third time lucky for the barbel, the chub played ball and so I didn’t go home with a dry net. What would happen on my fourth and final visit to the river though? I ventured to a new spot, one that had some reasonably fast water flowing through it. The head of barbel is not big in this section and as they won’t be spaced out in nice even intervals, it’s going to take plenty of adventuring to find them....... click here for more

Not feeling too ruffe about my mixed bag

(Perch. Published July 10 2010)

If you read my Angling Journal regularly you will know that while exploring a new section of the local canal recently and testing the perch potential, I caught a few ruffe. I was recently described in the angling media as a ‘big fish hunter’ and while that’s very true, size is very open-ended when it comes to fishing. For example a 1oz ruffe in terms of record percentage is equivalent to a 12lb carp. And a 2oz fish has the same value as a 10lb barbel. So when you look at it like that, what might be a tiny little insignificant fish actually has value based on its weight alone....... click here for more

As accurate as me when it comes to predicting

(Eel. Published July 17 2010)

It was such a grand night I slept under the stars. Well under a pedunculate oak tree actually, as I was reminded when a dusk bird deposited its bowels over me. As for the fishing, apart from an obvious enquiry on one rod that didn’t develop, it was quiet. But then again, so it was for the other dozen or so anglers out on the pool as not one single eel put in an appearance as far as I was aware. Not that we ever delight in other’s misfortunes – far from it – but when everyone else has also blanked it helps you to see the big picture....... click here for more

Back on the canal, back after perch

(Perch. Published July 24 2010)

Love on the rocks

Ballan wrasse and corkwing wrasse off Anglesey. Published August 14 2010

One even came over and asked me what the secret was. It's obvious a lot of holiday makers give fishing 'a go' without really knowing what they are doing, but when I talked him through location (the fish are under your feet, there's no need to cast to the horizon), presentation (you won't catch with a bait six inches below the surface in twenty feet of water) and bait (bacon rind is good for Jack Spratt's wife but not wrasse) then you can see the 'penny begins to drop' as we say....... click here for more

Man v Wife

Ballan wrasse and corkwing wrasse off Anglesey. Published August 21 2010

Our fishing took place at Trearddur Bay, which is the village that we stayed in. We had a lovely bungalow for the holiday that was just a few minutes walk from the coast. I certainly travelled light so with just a shoulder bag and a rod it was the weight equivalent of coarse angling's stalking. And as for Debby you can't get much lighter than her gear. Take the lead away and most of the fish she caught were heavier than her tackle! ........ click here for more

Choughed to bits

Specimen ballan wrasse off Anglesey. Published August 28 2010

Although I had enjoyed my short evening trips on the Trearddur rocks, I am a specimen angler, and the prospect of of landing a really big fish was one that I couldn't pass by. So with my wife and daughters spending a day on the beach back at base, I put the gear in the car and set off in pursuit of something that would give me a real bend in my rod....... click here for more

Spreading my wings on the Dove

Perch fishing on the River Dove. Published September 4 2010

In spite of just one perch - and 'millions' of minnows - I thoroughly enjoyed myself. The sense of adventure exploring a virgin stretch where you have no idea what’s lurking beneath the surface of the water is definitely my style. The area itself is very rural and pleasant and I saw my first common sandpiper of the year, in flight along the river....... click here for more

From one extreme to the other

Barbel fishing on the lower Severn and a small river. Published September 11 2010

As a keen naturalist I always have one eye on what's going on around me. But when barbel fishing you also need to keep the other on the rod and watch what's going on there. So when I had a savage take just into dark I not only knew what was on the other end, but I was also into it immediately. Dropping down the bank to net the fish, I think you need to be an angler from the same mould to fully appreciate how I felt. I was absolutely ecstatic!....... click here for more

Rumours, don't you just love them

Carp fishing for uncaught monsters on a brand new venue. Published September 18 2010

My advice to people is to listen to what others say but then find out for yourself. Sometimes people give misleading information because they want to do exactly that - put other anglers off the scent. Other times it's just stuff that gets repeated and passed on to the extent when one man's blank becomes a world-wide declaration that there are no fish in there or whatever. There are times when there is good counsel in numbers but others when we have to find out for ourselves........ click here for more

No slowing down as I get older!

Perch fishing on a new venue and finding the fish. Published September 25 2010

It's a place where I have fished for specimen carp before, and of course have seen other carpers on there, but never anyone after perch. In fact when I arrived and another angler came over to talk and I told him what I was after (he asked), he replied that he didn't think there were any in there. And he wasn't trying to put me off either as I don't think he was interested in them in the slightest, so he wasn't trying to protect his patch. But that just merely spurred me on as I love a challenge. And there is something really exciting about casting out into the unknown. A feeling that is only bettered when it all comes together....... click here for more

The one that got away!

I'm after perch again and I lose the fish of a lifetime. Published October 2 2010

I had to give it line but unfortunately it took me into a snag. I suspect it was a branch as I felt movement and bubbles rose to the surface as I gently tugged. But the pulling eventually saw me bringing in a rig minus hook. A break had occurred. It's not very often I feel gutted when losing a fish, I'm usually so positive I say I'll just return and catch it again. In fact the last time I felt like this was when I lifted into something enormous on a carp lake in France that held fish to 70lb. But after my initial disappointment I was back to the 'I'll get you next time' way of thinking!....... click here for more

Fishing: More important than life or death

I begin my pike campaign and catch a few small ones, but better than blanking. Published October 9 2010

You can just about make out on the photograph above that I have blood on my left fingers. Some people would say 'The pike bit me'. But no, pike don't bite. Dogs bite, lions bite, mosquitos bite. But not pike. What happens is that a pike may thrash while on the unhooking mat and the sudden jerk of its head may cause a cut, but that's all. We need to educate people, pike don't bite! When we do end up with blood being drawn it is not because of an conscious decision on the part of the pike to attack us....... click here for more

I'm Stewart Bloor not Stephen Baldwin

After a week of pursuing pike I'm back on the perch trail. Published October 16 2010

To finish my perch exploits off for the week I did a short late afternoon session on the local canal. It seems like ages since I have been on there, and that's the problem I have with my angling: there are so many venues and species competing for my time. It's a nice problem to have though, I can certainly live with that one....... click here for more

Struggling for barbel, but the chub are obliging

The title says it all, but at least I didn't blank!  Published October 23 2010

And what a bend it was. In fact it was a classic barbel bite as the rod lurched over and right until the end I thought it was my first one of the week. It was certainly a good fish for the middle reaches of the river and it reminded of the days, some years ago, when I would venture to the upper Severn in pursuit of big winter chub. And here I was, catching one on my doorstep....... click here for more

It's a fine line between a hobby and a mental illness!

Sitting by a cold, dark and dreary river, the title says it all doesn't it!  Published October 30 2010

My second visit to the Severn saw me fishing a new swim. In fact as I eyed the area up I thought to myself that this is either 'all or nothing'. It was the sort of place that looked like it could have a monster lurking somewhere - or it could be devoid of barbel. I was definitely prepared to take a chance on it. One thing I am not afraid of is blanks. Sometimes venturing outside the box pays off and other times it doesn't. On this occasion it was the latter. But as Delboy says, 'He who dares wins Rodney, He who dares wins!' and although I may not have 'won' this time if you never try anywhere or anything new then you will never move on....... click here for more

The Magnificent Severn!

I lose one big fish and hook another in the next cast that I go on to net  Published November 6 2010

Or perhaps it's just the prospect of doing business with big middle Severn pike that sets me all a-quiver. Anyway, although this one was pushing '20' it didn't make the magical mark. But nevertheless I was more than happy to pose with such a marvellous river fish instead of watching it slink away before we had time to get acquainted properly. After the commotion I headed back to the first swim. By now it had time to settle and this was confirmed as I again had a run first cast........ click here for more

The legend. And the secret spot.

I'm off for a day's fishing with a friend and what a day we have!  Published November 13 2010

I know a red letter day when I experience one, that's for sure. And they don't come any more scarlet than what we had first time round. And finally, I make no apologies for the fact that all five photographs in this week's article feature perch. As my favourite species, the indulgence of such quality fish adorning the written word is the icing on the cake, as far as I'm concerned....... click here for more

A dab hand at Talacre

A rare sea fishing expedition, and I'm setting my stall for dabs from the Dee estuary in Wales. Published November 20 2010

The second outing saw the whiting in an even wilder feeding frenzy and I caught 31, but the pride and joy of the session was my first dab, that you can see pictured left. Such a small fish compared to the monster cod, bass, tope etc that most anglers target. But just like my favourite coarse fish (perch) is not one of the biggest then my best-loved sea fish aren't ones that grow to enormous weights either....... click here for more

My own personal Autumnwatch

Continuing with pursuing perch. It's a hard life! Published December 4 2010

They were small ones to start with, the sort of fish that you can swing to hand without the need for the landing net. Then, as so often happens, the size of the perch increased as the session wore on. The extremely greedy little ones are in there like a shot as soon as they know food is on the agenda, these are then followed by the slightly more cautious bigger fish. And although they were still good perch to catch, I really wanted a special fish to net....... click here for more

Snow way will it stop me fishing

Switching to roach as the conditions deteriorate. Published December 11 2010

If anything, the weather conditions intensified over the remainder of the week. Although the snow itself wasn't as bad (as you can see from the photograph on the left it was bearable) the ice and cold weather became the major problems. With a couple of late afternoon sessions into dark, I recorded a blank on one and a few small roach (pictured left) on the other. On the night I caught the roach the air temperature plunged to minus 11. Now that's cold!....... click here for more

A window of roach opportunity

Sandwiched in between the harsh weather I manged to grab a session on the local river. Published December 18 2010

The Stour was normal winter level and as I had selected a deeper section, had minimal flow. It had a nice tinge of colour to it, and although there are conditions when the Stour is preferable (fining down after a flood is brilliant) nevertheless I was very confident. And the water temperature was holding up quite well. The Stour consistently runs at a couple of degrees or more higher than the Severn in the winter, which is why it's my river of choice when the going gets really tough....... click here for more

Snow way will it stop me fishing (part 2)

I end the year with a visit to the River Teme. Published December 29 2010

However after a few seconds I found myself lifting everything from the river minus the hook. A closer examination revealed that there had been a clean break. I had been thinking chub or pike, but on reflection I decided to go with the latter as it's much easier to come to terms with losing a 6lb pike than a 6lb chub....... click here for more