Angling features and news

This page will be dedicated to angling related questions and answers and to kick off the series Angling Features asked Tight Lines and Fishermans Blues presenter Keith Arthur a set of six questions and below are his answers.

Over the coming weeks the site will be featuring other well known anglers to see how they view their sport of angling.

Russ Evans with a nice Roach caught during a IYCF feature, pic by Kev Green.

Russ Evans asked Keith Arthur a series of questions:

        Angling Features       What do you consider to be the best three baits to take fishing and why?

      Keith Arthur   Assuming I'm coarse fishing, sweetcorn, bread and worms. I am confident that those 3 will catch any fish that swims.

 AF     What is your favourite species and why? plus PB

 K KA     Again, assuming it's coarse fish, probably crucian carp, followed by dace. PBs unknown and couldn't care less to be truthful on those species.

 AF     If you could only fish one venue where would it be?

 KA    Once more I will assume coarse fishing. Well, let's say I can walk to my two favourite swims in under 10 minutes from my front door,  carrying my gear, and I live between Teddington Lock and Richmond Bridge.

 AF    Do you think the Fish O Mania final should be alternated between venues? Depending on answer Why so or why not?

 KA     There are possibly only three or four venues that can host the final logistically, maybe less. The massive amount of work that goes into the final, up to a month before the event site preparations commence and actual planning is already well in hand as I write, and there hasn't been a ticket sold yet! I would love to see the final in a permanent home. Whether it has found that home yet is a matter of opinion.

 AF     Why do you think the Northern Open match scene attendances are higher than the Southern match scene?

 KA     That's easy! There are less venues further north where anglers can pretend to be carp fishing so more go match fishing.

 AF     What do you consider to be your best angling result or match achievement and why was it so special or memorable?

 KA     There's a couple. Obviously winning the John Smiths comes high on the list, 2nd on a Trent Div 1 National, on the stick, is another; far better from my point of view than winning it on the feeder. 54lb-odd of bream and barbel from a draw on the Thames that made everyone laugh when I drew it was quite good. I was between the late Ivan Marks and the very much alive Alan Scotthorne, who was reigning World Champion too. The peg looked unfishable: it wasn't!

February 2008