The first video of 2024 was a successful session, float fishing with a recently purchased 12' Milbro Prefect, paired with an Intrepid Extra reel.

I thought I'd start the year with a bit of Derbyshire dialect! In the last few years, I haven't done much fishing in the colder months, and as I write this, I'm watching the long-term weather forecast. Spending time in my shed with the heater on sounds more appealing than being on the bank. When the days are short and temperatures are below 7 or 8 degrees centigrade during the day, being warmer is much more appealing. We're in January and a new year, so it won't be long befor

Well, it's that time of year again, piscators. When we look back, look forward, and overindulge. I think the older you get, the faster time goes, and this year has gone very fast. It doesn't seem that long ago I was thinking about making plans for 2023. This wintry canal scene is a card from an old work friend and one of my favourite cards this year. This time last year I was hoping to catch a 20lb Carp, which remains elusive, and I didn't get around to Carp fishing on the c

This month I'm back on the banks of the Trent & Mersey Canal with my first vintage rod and reel, a Match 13, hollow fibreglass rod, and a Mitchell 300 reel. Also, I went to the National Vintage Fishing Tackle Fair at Redditch. It was great to see the twice-yearly fair busy, with lots of stalls and visitors all looking for something special. I had my usual look around to see if anything caught my eye before reaching for my wallet. Not looking for anything in particular, apart

My brother works for an auctioneer and occasionally comes across lots of old fishing tackle. This 10’ whole cane rod has snake-style line rings and a tip ring suggesting it may have been used as a fly rod originally. On this session at Woodrow’s Pond, I paired the rod with an Ambidex 2 reel, float-fishing red maggots and worms. A westerly breeze was keeping me cool in the unseasonably warm October weather. It wasn’t long before I was into the Perch as the early autumn sun mov

I took a punt on this job lot of rods, and once I'd gone through and mixed and matched the different sections, there were some complete rods, rods without top sections, and several top sections. I put the complete rods together, paired up the rods without top sections, and sold them as individual lots. The top sections were all put together as one lot and sold. Several of the lots went to buyers who restore old rods. I kept a few rods without line rings to restore myself. Thi

Here's a video of me float fishing with an 11' Avon rod and Daiwa 1600X reel at the Derwent Valley Fishery, which is one of the Earl of Harrington Angling Club's waters.

It's always nice to fish somewhere new, and this month I visited Moira Furnace in South Derbyshire. The canal was originally used to transport raw materials but is now enjoyed by visitors and open to anglers. I also had another great weekend camping at Black Brook Campsite with some steady fishing. Then a session at Birch House Fishery. I caught several silvers, including Gudgeon. This video is of a session this month on the Trent & Mersey Canal at Willington.

This video is of our holiday in Norfolk and includes my first Eels and Pike.

It finally feels like summer is here... My quest for another Heatherton Carp continues... There's still time for some course fishing...