Discover the Thrills, Spills and Ramblings of Fishing Adventures with me!
Dive into my blog for ‘ex-spurt’ tips and inspiring stories.
Hello All
Hello dear reader, thanks for stopping by. As I write this, it is 2025, I’m in my 63rd year, and I know fuck-all about writing a blog (apologies, I should warn you that I do sometimes swear)! Anyway, to stop friends banging on about me writing stuff, I’ve decided to give it a go so I suppose I should start with a brief bit about myself, so here goes.
My name is Peter and I was born on the Isle of Sheppey in 1962 to a Maltese mother (who was a wonderful person) and an English father (who was a bit of a twat)! Up till now, I’ve lived all my life in Southern England, first in Kent, then Sussex and now Somerset where I reside with my partner Helen, stepdaughter Charlie and mother-outlaw Daphne. Soon though we will all be moving to Argyll and Bute in Western Scotland. My working career was in Local Government where I became a Director of Governance and Monitoring Officer. Accordingly, good politicians respected me, fellow officers liked me (mostly) and bad politicians were terrified of me!
I started fishing at the tender age of 4, both sea and freshwater, and took up fly fishing and fly tying at age 13. Thus, this year is my 50th anniversary of my life as a fly-fisher…..fuck, that makes me feel old! Whilst the latter is my passion, I still indulge in all forms of fishing so, rest assured that, as well as fluff-chucking, there will be plenty of lure and bait stuff on this blog too. I have been fortunate to travel the world on my fishing adventures so if destination trips are your thing, I have much wisdom to impart! So, whether your into fly flicking, fly tying, jigging and jerking, or tossing meat, hopefully you may find some of my knowledge and experience, albeit sometimes imparted in an acerbic manner, useful and perhaps entertaining.
In summary, I should emphasise that I’m not currently sponsored or associated with any fishing company or fishery by choice. This allows me to pretty much say whatever I think in my reviews and observations. I shall try to keep this blog relevant and as regular as possible and hope you enjoy my content.
Cheers my dears!
50 Not Out! (April 2025)
I first picked up a fly rod in anger on 1st April 1975. I’d already been fishing for 7 or 8 years by then, but this was a big deal as fly fishing was something I always aspired to. So, today is exactly 50 years to that seminal day….well bugger me!
These were heady days indeed, long before goretex, high modulus carbon, blobs, fluorocarbon, wiggly marabou tails, and much more. A time when waters were stocked only with small trout twice a year rather than monsters twice a week. But were they better times? Were they fuck! We may have fewer waters today (I’m talking specifically about stocked stillwaters here) than during the 80s boom but, mostly, the quality ‘wheat’ has improved and the worst of the ‘chaff’ has gone. We have better gear, better flies and better fish than ever before. Of course, not all is rosy in the garden. High prices, primitive put and take mentality and, frankly, poor average skill levels are all still with us. And because of this, the sport is in decline. Even at 62, I’m often the youngest bloke on the water surrounded by mummified octagenarians in old creaking Barbour coats and pvc thigh boots! Not a young thruster in sight.
But the biggest change I’ve seen in 50 years is in me! I’ve self-analysed three distinct stages in my fly fishing life. So, stage 1. When I started, I could barely afford the price of a day ticket. This meant I developed a ‘must get my money’s worth’ mentality. I became an aggressive cockwomble! Catching a limit was the goal, anything less was a crushing failure. I became super competitive and brutally efficient. I was kitted out with heavy shooting heads, self taught double hauling (at one point I could reach nearly 50 yards) and was fit enough to fish the banks of a reservoir for 10 hour days non stop. In only my second season on Arlington reservoir I made 30 trips and caught 30 limits….crikey, was I the dog’s doodahs, or so I thought!!
Onto stage 2. Gradually, with age came experience, increased maturity and a certain level of fiscal stability. It became more about the quality of the aesthetics. I embraced light tackle, imitative flies and a contemplative outlook. Unfortunately, this went alongside becoming a judgemental cockwomble! I would condemn those who, in my eyes, used inferior and crude methods along with flies of questionable ethics and dodgy casting ability. I was a ‘proper’ fly fisher….I was the best, or so I thought!!
Finally then we have stage 3. Wisdom really does come with age you know. Belatedly, I realised that only 3 things matter when you are fishing. Are you fishing within the rules of the fishery? Are you treating the fish and the environment in a responsible manner? Are you enjoying the experience? Answer ‘yes’ to all 3 and you’re there. That’s where I think I am today. I’ll happily fish anything from the tiniest dry fly to the most dastardly huge streamer, and I’ll enjoy both equally. I fish briefer sessions and take time out to enjoy the scenery, I have evolved and am no longer any kind of cockwomble, at least not when I’m fishing! I have to accept that I’m not as effective today, I can’t cast as far or fish as long as I used to, but that’s OK. Some of that old energy has been replaced with greater guile. I can still cut the mustard when I want to!
Finally then to mark this important milestone, a little gift to mark the occasion. In all my years of fly-tying (also 50 years), I’ve created a fair few deadly flies. In my fish-hungry days, I was a big fan of muddlers. I came up with my own version to more specifically imitate a baitfish. It’s lethal. Strip it, twitch it or just let it drift, it is still probably the most deadly fly I’ve ever designed and, like my fly fishing career, it’s 50 years old this year. I called it the ‘Fred’ as I didn’t want it to be specifically identified in the catch return book at Arlington! I’m now rebranding it the ‘Fred-5-0’ and making it public here for the first time. You’ll find the detailed dressing on the Fishing Tips page. Tie it, fish it, catch with it, and bless me!
The Conundrum of the Fishing Car (April 2025)
Like, I suspect a number of my readers, when buying a new car, one eye is very much focused on my fishing needs more than anything else. It is a much more complex process than appears at first. A fisher often travels long distances at unearthly hours so needs something comfortable and relaxing. A fisher needs to be able to get all the gear needed in the boot. Reliability is important, nobody wants to be stuck at the roadside awaiting rescue at 4am on a freezing winters morning in some godforsaken place. A decent level of ruggedness and all-terrain ability is vital when travelling in wild, hostile places like the Yukon, or Leeds! Fuel economy may also be a thing to consider.
Then there are the more left-field considerations. I insist on a boot that is the right height for me to sit on whilst contorting myself into my waders. As well as heated and ventilated seats to give TLC to my nether regions, a heated steering wheel is a godsend on a cold morning. An app with a remote pre-start and heat function is a luxury I’ve learned to rely on too. Oh, and don’t forget a decent sound system to while away the long driving hours by head banging to Rammstein! Finally, I do like a car upholstered in peeled cows! As things currently stand, I have no interest in getting an EV. The thought of desperately trying to find a public charger at midnight on the A303 is the stuff of nightmares.
I think I’ve chosen my last few cars quite well, albeit with some issues. So here is a brief rundown. Firstly my beloved Land Rover Discovery Series 4. Lots of good points to that car. A big lusty V6 diesel engine, enough offroad ability to get most of the way up the North face of the Eiger, lovely smooth air suspension, and more space than you’d find in an average shipping container. On the downside, bit of a large beast to park and, like most JLR products, would occasionally go on strike!
I decided to stick with JLR for my next car and I wanted to downsize so, feeling a bit more urban Middle class at the time, I opted for a Range Rover Evoque. Mine was a cancelled order and came with every conceivable extra loaded on it. Very swanky looking but, on balance, not a good choice. The ride quality was poor, the boot was inadequate, and the air con unit packed up after a couple of months leaving me without heating in the middle of winter for 6 weeks whilst waiting for JLR to send the part. Finally, the only people who liked the car were urban yummy mummies. I’ve yet to locate my feminine side so it had to go.
Time for a change next and, after much deliberation, I went for a Volvo V90 Cross-Country. Now this was a good car. Very spacious, supremely comfortable, surprisingly good offroad, and bulletproof reliability. The only problem with it was that it was crushingly boring. Imagine having dinner with a retired accountant whose hobby is collecting buttons, you get my drift.
Finally, my current car. Staying with Volvo, I decided on the XC40. I was underwhelmed at first but, rather like having a seemingly dull friend but who, as you learn more about them, you discover used to be a casting director for porn films, you gradually warm to the relationship. This car is just as comfy as the V90 but is faster, handles better, is just as good offroad and, I think, looks quite cool. Could do with being a bit more spacious though.
So what next? Well, I’ll soon be moving to the Scottish Highlands were I suspect I’ll need something a bit more rugged to reach some of the more remote places and cope with winter conditions. Maybe a military Half-Track with optional gun fixings for occasional trips to Glasgow! Actually, I’ve always harboured a boyhood yearning for a Pick-Up so there’s a thought. Now, if your fishing simply involves travelling to your local stillwater and using a tarmac car park, you’ll need none of these considerations. Save yourself a load of cash and get a nice little hatchback from VW, Toyota, Hyundai or, if preserving your dignity isn’t a priority, Renault!