Summerhayes – Open – 25th January 2026
Only nine of us fishing today and when Pete announced the draw, I was fourth on the list and well happy when I pulled out 32 which is an absolute bunghole. For company I had Steve Collins and Oscar on …
River Isle – IBC Winter League 3 – 12th November 2017
With more rain and the temperature definitely dropping a few notches during the week, winter is certainly on its way. With Rob still away and Hurf unable to fish, it was down to me and Steve P to organise this one and I have to say a big thanks to Frank and Jake who went down and checked out Hambridge yesterday (still too …
The Archives – Part 3 – New venues and a big goldfish! (1983)
So at the end of Part 2, I’d won my first match and thanks to mum and dad at Xmas I was the proud owner of my first carbon fibre rod. I was still super keen and getting on the bank as often as possible, if I wasn’t fishing myself, I was watching other anglers and asking questions. I was also buying all the …
River Isle – V.E.S. Precision League 3 – 5th November 2017
With Rob and Hurf both away, it was down to me and Steve P to arrange this weeks match and I was hoping to get us all down the lower end after last week when everybody at Coxes struggled. Also we had the first few frosts in the week and the river desperately needed some rain. I woke up nice and early and it …
Billy Makin Interview
Hi Billy, thank you so much for agreeing to do an interview, after reading your book earlier in the year (read the review here – Fishing and Testicles) and enjoying it very much, I wanted to find out a little more about what makes you tick! Firstly, how did you get into fishing and what was your first fish? Dad was a …
River Isle – V.E.S. Precision League 2 – 29th October 2017
We were back on the river this week for the rescheduled V.E.S. match and I was hoping I might finally draw a peg at Isle Brewers or Redbridge but with fifteen anglers booked in for this one, Rob had to put some pegs in at Upper and Lower Coxes. After we’d all finished eating breakfast and paid our pools, it was nearly …
Summerhayes – Champion of Champions Silvers Final – 27th October 2017
I’d been looking forward to this match since I qualified way back in April and thankfully when I woke up, my back didn’t feel too bad. I stopped in the Little Chef for brekkie on the way and arrived in good time. As I went to pay my pools, it was lovely to see the legend that is Charlie Barnes had come along to …
Dillington Pond – 22nd October 2017
We were supposed to be on the river for this match but the arrival of Storm Brian and a fair bit of rain on Saturday night saw the decision made to switch it to the pond, if I’m honest, I felt it was a little premature as these days the river rises very quickly but by the same token it drops equally …
Summerhayes – Open – 20th October 2017
I’d booked the Friday off work for a little practice before the Champion of Champions Final next week and after not fishing last Sunday, I was gagging to get back on the bank. My back was still not 100% but a lot better than it was so I decided to give it a go as I was climbing the walls at home! The …
The Archives – Part 2 – Influences and my first match win (1981-82)
So Part 1 detailed my introduction into fishing and my first tentative steps onto the junior match scene in 1980, Part 2 takes up the story on June 17th 1981. There was still a close season in place and I can only describe the countdown to June 16th as something akin to the excitement of waiting for Xmas day. I can’t remember why I didn’t …
The Archives – Part 1 – Where It All Began (1980)
A few people have said they’d be interested in reading some stuff from the memory banks and I’ve been meaning to do something for a while now, so with my recent incapacitation due to doing my back in and in a bid to stave off boredom, here is the first instalment. As ever, I’d love to hear your thoughts and any constructive …