bluelabel

Last night (well... early hours of this morning actually) I finished Bernard Venables' "The Gentle Art Of Angling". I mentioned in another thread that I had obtained a copy (1st edition) and was asked to give a review.... (Here is as good a place as any) Having mentioned on first glance, that it appeared very "wordy", almost verbose, I can conclude that on completion of the book, my original premise was correct... There were words I have never even heard of let alone understood (and I am quite well read, with an excellent vocabulary) I made a point to keep my phone handy to look up some of the words used in his musings... The chapters that describe the psychological makeup of an angler (and his choice of Mate) were bordering upon hilarious, but were not meant to be... You have to understand that this tome is of a period, published in 1955 (3 years before I was born) and as such the style of writing has an almost comedic feel given today's attitudes... Almost as if one were watching "The Fast Show's" Miles Cholmondley Warner sketches... (I have my good lady to thank for that somewhat concise analogy after she read a page) All in all, not a book to take seriously, it has a passing interest to those of a certain age and one of the things that tickled mightily was the reference to the "Un-named" "Prophet/High Priest of Carp Angling" who holds (held) the British record Carp of 44lbs and his "Disciples of The Carp Catchers Club" The emphasis is definitely on Game fishing and I have to say, it didn't really hold me for very long at any time, jauntily (but unintentionally) humorous and very easy to dip in and out of....

Met Rod a few times, lovely bloke but not a great writer, although the stories were often funny as... I wouldn't put him down as one of the literary greats and neither did he... I finished "Before I Forget" a few weeks ago and it was a laugh, but not a great book... (would have been nice if someone had finished it for him... RIP Rod

So.... not being contentious here... but he's sold a lot of books, a lot of folks love his books and writing style, and he's been a British Carp record holder... and your qualifications are.....? Fine to say you don't like his style, but to dismiss his work out of hand smacks of narrow mindedness...

I think his book sales would say otherwise... we'll agree to differ...

If you haven't already... have a read of "How To Fish" by Chris Yates... its not about carp fishing... but its superbly written and has a captivating quality, that draws the reader into his world of fishing, scrapes, fun, and almost spiritual enjoyment of the sport...

I can forgive poor writing if it gets the story across... we all have something in us that can compensate for a questionable writing technique... it's called an imagination... sometimes you gotta use it....

Lots of good anglers about... they don't all make good writers though

Have a look (if you haven't already) at "All Ways Carping" by Graham Kent ( father of Jed) its a compilation of chapters and quite good... If you can find a copy, "Favourite Swims" By Fred J Taylor And "The Lost Diary" by Chris Yates is nice... charting his last season on Redmire...

Chilly's a top bloke... brave, tough lad... caring husband and good angler, coming back from a major illness and getting back to his catching ways... shows class, loved Light My Fire good book...👍

Try some of Yates's books... awesome writer

Read most of em... but then I'm an old gimmer who loves in the past apparently

If you can get a copy "The Horton Chronicles (The Banned Edition)" is a cracking read... I can heartily recommend Keith Jenkins "The Keeper" and "The Myth" also Paul Cook's "Lost in a Quiet World" Rob Maylin's "Fox Pool", "Basil's Bush" and "Tiger Bay" Tery Hearn's "In Pursuit if the Largest" and "Still Searching" Jack Hilton's "Quest for Carp" There's enough to be going on with

Nearly all my reels are spooled up with Sensor or Hyper-Sensor... in various poundages.... can't knock it... does what they say on the tin...

One of my old mates covered nearly all his gear in cammo tape... he got so much grief he decided to peel it all off... sadly the tape left adhesive residue over everything and he spent ages getting it all off.... the tape rolls went into the bin after that... not a happy bunny

the evening pitch was slightly off to the left, opposite... but although I saw nothing, one night I had an uneasy feeling and didn't sleep well... my buddy, who was fishing up on the shallows said the same thing in the morning

The old Willow is sadly gone,but there's still a bit of the old magic there

Me shop... at Redmire in Walker's Pitch (the Dam wall is in the distance )

My barrow is a converted XL Match Platform made by RCT Rigger... it has two front wheels... it doesn't tip over, even when loaded to the gunwhales... (not that I do everload it)

Travelling light...

Strewth... I had less than that for a week on Redmire...😳😎

I don't normally... but if I think it may edge over 20' I do...

Lobworms...👍

All very well Yonny, but for "going bush" a 12 footer can be a bit unwieldy... those tight swims where you have low branches above and either side...?

This is one of my pet hates... for stalking I use a split cane 8' Sharpes of Aberdeen rod with test curve of about 1.5lbs... there really is no need to go heavier than 2lbs for stalking with a ahort rod... my normal go to carbon carp rods are Nash Dwarf 2.75lb 9 footers and my vintage rods are again Sharpes of Aberdeens 9' 3" maybe the same poundage probably less Tackle shops are always trying to sell you what they want you to have rather than what you want... a good stalking rod can be had from NGT its a 2lb tc composite of 8' a through action and lovely to use... £20 to you sir.... (Go Outdoors also sell them)

Have a look at the Sonik Xtractor 6' and 2lb tc only about £50 or £60 quid