Links
All the links below come highly recommended, from vital organisations to quality fishing venues and tackle.
CLUBS & ASSOCIATIONS:
www.westcountryangling.com
Brilliant value river fly and coarse fishing, as well as vital conservation work from this excellent scheme. At as little as £5 a day, the Westcountry Angling Passport really does make for accessible sport for all in some beautiful places.
www.pacgb.com
Bags of useful info on pike handling and conservation. Goings on such as meetings and matches at the reborn Devon branch, of which myself and fellow pikey reprobate Ian Nadin are joint R.O.s can be found at: http://devonpac.blogspot.com/
www.exeteranglingassociation.co.uk
Excellent value angling on still and running water for many species and a well run club. Control both Exeter Canal and the River Exe. Highly recommended- but don’t let me catch you out on the banks without your ticket!
www.wyeuskfoundation.org
Some of the most beautifully wild fly and coarse fishing on the planet- not to mention excellent conservation work from this forward thinking organisation.
www.anglingtrust.net/
For anyone who cares about the future of fishing, the Trust is the way forward, bringing together coarse, sea and game anglers into one powerful body. No excuses folks- just back them!
www.ukbass.com
The Bass Anglers’ Sportfishing Society is another vital group in the fight to protect recreational angling. As well as campaigning for bass anglers, they also provide a quarterly magazine and friendly info and contacts for all fans of this awesome species. Join up and add your support!
FISHERIES & FISHERY GUIDES
www.townparks.net/
Easy access sport at this well run fishery
with specimen carp and catfish the star attractions.
www.bellbrookfishery.co.uk
Scenic little water, with six lovely pools and great imitative sport.
www.northdevonflyfishery.com
The new home of Bratton Water. Another great day ticket haunt, with cracking browns as well as ‘bows.
www.anglers-paradise.co.uk
Quality fishing for almost any British species you care to name. The Trout, Specimen Catfish and other day ticket lakes are also full of surprises and well worth a visit for non residents.
For the more adventurous, who crave an escape from our own crowded shores, Finland offers terrific wilderness fishing. Try the following:
www.balticpiketours.com
Simon Graham is your best bet for an action packed trip in mid- western Finland after pike on lures or, best of all, fly tackle.
www.ollilanlomamajat.com
Affordable lodges, superb food and quality fishing and wilderness activities, slap bang on the crystal clear lakes of southern Lapland.
www.coarsefish-torbay.co.uk
Steve Lockett’s excellent guide to angling in the Westcountry, including his colourful blog and an exclusive e-zine.
Also check out www.v2vangling.co.uk for Steve’s quality angling DVDs and more.
www.arundellarms.com
For fantastic Devon fly fishing and accomodation, as well as a range of exclusive flies including sea trout and salmon specials try the Arundell Arms and its well stocked shop: www.arundellarmsshop.co.uk
www.staffordmoor.co.uk
Excellent quality and variety day ticket fishing lakes for various species, from crucians to catfish.
www.newtonfishing.com
Newton Abbot Angling Club offer a good selection of fishing for various species on lakes that are productive, but not overstocked “holes in the ground”. Well run and also very welcoming towards youngsters.
Tackle, Lures & Fly Tying:
www.greysfishing.com and www.hardyfishing.com
High quality fishing tackle, still meticulously developed in the UK, trusted by anglers world wide- enough said!
www.relaxsoftlures.co.uk
For info on these deadly soft lures, along
with tips and catch pics from expert jig angler “The Piking Pole” Seb Nowosiad,
look no further.
www.kuusamonuistin.fi
Still the best fishing spoons money can buy for all your pike fishing needs. Perhaps the best supplier of these lures outside Finland is the Friendly Fisherman, run by Andy Lush: www.thefriendlyfisherman.co.uk who also sell a good range of predator tackle and hard to find lures.
www.basslures.co.uk
For a wealth of hard to find, sexy lures chiefly aimed at bass look no further.
www.deercreek.co.uk
Innovative flies and fly tying materials from this excellent site. Their eyes and streamer components, in particular, are awesome quality.
www.lakelandflytying.com
An excellent source of all manner of materials and tools for fly tyers.
www.microbaits.co.uk
Brilliant, ultra small and super cute lures, as well as ultralight rods and reels from this excellent supplier.
www.cookshill-flytying.co.uk
The best source for those hard to find materials.
www.smallmouthbassflies.com
Some intriguing flies from across the pond.
www.zoota.co.uk
Zoota Lures are a homegrown phenomenon, producing a range of hand poured soft lures and jerkbaits with a reputation for taming big pike. Check out old favourites and new ideas alike on the site.
Books, Press, Authors & Artists:
Merlin Unwin: For a range of country sports books and the home of some of fishing’s best loved titles from superb volumes on fly tying to BB’s beautifully observed “Confessions of a Carp Fisher” visit: www.merlinunwin.co.uk
Ron P Swegman writes magical lines about fly fishing America, with forgotten species and unlikely settings such as New York City. Check out his work here: www.ronpswegman.com
Frazer McBain aka The Fishing Photographer! Having worked with Frazer for the past three seasons, I can vouch for his skills with a camera. Some great images & contact details on his new site: www.the-fishing-photographer.net
www.karensarkarart.com/angling.htm
Beautiful art works from angler and artist Karen Sarkar. As well as canvasses, you’ll also find an affordable range of prints at her site:
www.johndullaway.com
John Dullaway - Australian artist, who specialises in works inspired by aboriginal techniques. John is also an angler - hence his work with fish are stunning!