To be honest I was lacking in motivation for this post work afternoon session but it would keep me out the pub where they have a decent selection on at the minute, and I'd not managed to get out sadly this week with the weather being pants and obviously work and life getting in the way.  So it was needs must really, I only had a few hours though but the diary makers would get involved but more than enough to try and winkle out a canal Zander. It wasn't the best conditions for fishing really as it was very windy and with blue skies and often some warming suns rays, however because of the ..read more

With the bread not doing the business yesterday morning I decided to venture over to a stretch of the Grand Union a short drive away to see what I could catch using simple tactics. So groundbait to kick it off and maggots or bread on the size 16 KKH Preston hook. A nippy morning around 7 degrees where I rocked up a little later than usual. I was fishing by 6.00am though and the walk down to the swim there were plenty of fish topping and fishy activity so I was hoping for a bite or two.  The groundbait consisted of Supercrush Green from Sonubaits with a few micro pellets and a handful of ..read more

To be honest I was in two minds to actually go for this session because I didn't have long but I fancied a gander at the Alne because it will receive some attention going forward, when the river hopefully will be in decent fettle to try and catch a trout.  Not any old trout either because I I have my eyes on an Alne trout >3lb in weight. Now I know they are there because I've hooked and lost a few that would provide that tick in the box I'm sure. I only had an hour and a half to fish and it didn't get to a very good start because a new Range Rover probably 100k plus was blocking the g ..read more

A new bulk roach order turned up thankfully as I was down to the smelly and soft smelt that had been in and out of the freezer more times than I can count.  Anyway luckily the thai dish I was knocking up at the same time whilst sorting and bagging the roach masked the rather pungent roach smell, the Wife was none the wiser ? Now it is speculated that phat kaphrao was first introduced to Thailand during the reign of King Rama VII when Chinese immigrants carried the spice to be sold in Thailand local market. Eventually, stir-fried basil likely gained popularity around 1957, having been a ..read more

Those windows of piscatorial pleasantries must be grasped with both hands especially when you lead a busy life like I do. I only had a couple of hours after work but luckily a stretch I have been fishing was 'almost' on the way home. So rods and landing net on the roof 'ski holders', gear and deadbaits in the boot (for nearly 9 hours) I'm all ready to go. I hotfooted it to the canal after CAD bashing and Buffalo Si from River Masters was there with a mate of his, one of the managers of a local Angling Direct. They had been there for a good while and were struggling for bites with only on ..read more

Some Good News and some Bad News. The Good News is that angling makes you look younger and live longer. Several surveys have confirmed that fishing helps towards relaxation and mental health, peace of mind, and all that. Findings such as these always come as a surprise to those of us who at the end of the day are twitching wrecks and who finish the season totally bonkers, but that's the official verdict. The Bad News, from the Office of Population Census and Surveys, is that angling can seriously damage your health by rendering you dead. Their latest report announces that, in 1982, angling kil ..read more

I've been looking through the Guinness Book of Records to see I whether I'm in it yet. (The Writing Rubbish for 14 Years and Getting Away With It Record.) Not a mention. Obviously a typographical error or a total lack of taste and no susceptibility to bribery on the part of the editors. They've got some funny records in that book. Piano smashing, standing on one leg, being buried alive, walking backwards, walking on hands, welly throwing and long-distance spitting. But it has its omissions, apart from the lack of reference to one of Britain's most talented, distinguished and handsome anglers ..read more

As we munch down a nice roast pork dinner April is a funny month isn't it !!!, like oh FFS, better make the gravy I forgot about that.  The fly fisherman is happy enough as the season settles into some kind of pattern for him, and his trusty wrist action is getting the fly where he wants it. More or less. The fly hatches may be still not too predictable or plentiful, but they're happening. And if he's really not having the luck, he can always try for a few tame trout at the newly-stocked waters just to keep his hand in. For the coarse fisherman, it's unsettling. He's either doing nothing ..read more

The change of clocks was a bit of a shock to the system I must admit, and I'm not quite feeling the canal fishing at the minute because well, I'm finding it a little tough. I've bought some new hiking boots though so fancied running them in so a roving session for Zander it was. The towpaths are very muddy and damp however wellies are a little overkill, well the ones I have anyway. They are far too warm and cumbersome. I hotfooted it to the canal and got fishing with my usual overdepth float set-ups with a small roach as bait. It didn't take long to get the first bite either when the left hand ..read more

Now the Livens Large Gallery Flame Projector was a 60 foot behemoth buried undeground and hidden from view that could engulf targets 300 feet away in flames. The terrifying weapon was deployed at the Battle of the Somme, one of the bloodiest battles of the First World War. It was invented by William Livens, an officer in the Royal Engineers determined to create something even larger than the individual flame-thrower something large enough to destroy an entire trench system. The final product was an impressive 56 feet long, 14 inches wide, 2.5 tons and needed a crew of seven men to be used ..read more