Venues
We're fortunate to have a wealth of fine waters across the south east of England, here's the pick of the best.
- Wasing Estate Fisheries
- Bury Hill Fisheries
- Twynersh Fisheries Complex, near Thorpe Park
- Marsh Farm Fishery near Godalming
- Willinghurst Fishery
- Willow Park Fishery, Aldershot
- Taywood Angling Society
- New Farm Fisheries
- The Environment Agency has produced 3 comprehensive guides to fishing venues in the Thames region.
My favourite fishery - a mixed coarse fishery situated in the Kennet valley, including 3.5 miles of the River Kennet and several lakes.
David DeVere's well-managed group of lakes set in beautiful countryside near Dorking.
An excellent mixed fishery that we use for most of our beginners' courses.
A newly created fishery on the Godalming Angling Society ticket, famous for its large crucian carp and much publicised in the angliing press.
A 9 lake complex in Surrey, perfect for carp anglers.
An excellent mixed fishery.
A Surrey angling club with 3 lakes and a stretch of the Thames.
I'm looking forward to trying out these purpose built match and carp lakes set in the quiet of the countryside close to the M4 corridor at Hawthorn Hill, near Maidenhead.
Tackle companies
Tackle suppliers and manufacturers who have had a detrimental effect on my bank balance:
- Dynamite Baits
- Flavour'em
Purveyors of first class baits, my favourite product is their Frenzied Feeder Hempseed.
Mostly catering to the carp angler, but the solu-ties are very good for holding on dead baits (see this article).
More to be added in the near future.
Tackle suppliers
We're picky about where we shop and how much we pay. Here are a few of the tackle shops we use on a regular basis and can recommend.
- Davies Angling, Staines
- BB Angling
- Percy Chapman, Twickenham
- Weybridge Guns & Tackle.
Phone 01932 842675. - Thames Angling, Ashford. Phone 01784 243185.
- Fishing Unlimited, East Molesey (near Hampton Court). Phone 0181 941 6633.
- The Tackle Exchange, Walton-on-Thames.
Phone 01932 242377. - Marsh Farm Tackle & Bait
- Roger's Cove
A well run tackle shop with helpful and knowledgeable staff. Best bait in the area.
Bob and Brian run market stalls at Kempton Park Racecourse (Thursdays);
North Weald Market (Saturdays and Bank Holiday Mondays) and
Wimbledon Stadium Market and New Covent Garden Market (Sundays).
Great prices, friendly and knowledgeable service, if you're a market go-er their stalls are always worth a look.
Excellent for the specialist angler, cheapest pellets and particles in the area. You can order online and they offer a daily deilvery service within a 10 mile radius of the (Twickenham) shop with free delivery on orders over £40.
An excellent tackle shop run by the friendly and helpful Ian and Mary, both with special expertise in game fishing.
Well-stocked and well managed local tackle shop.
Now under new management, a well-stocked tackle shop with helpful staff.
The place for bargains on larger pieces of tackle. Beware of spending more than you intend to, Martin's a very persuasive salesman, he's cost me a fortune over the years!
A well-stocked on-site tackle shop located at Marsh Farm Fisheries. Staff are very knowledgeable about the fishery and have been most helpful.
I've bought a number of items from Roger via Ebay and have been impressed by the way he does business. [For example, see this article on the Rapala digital scales.]
Organisations
- All Things Piscatorial
- Barbel Society
- Anglers Conservation Association (ACA)
- The Environment Agency
- Specialist Anglers' Alliance
- Professional Anglers Association (PAA)
- National Federation of Anglers (NFA)
- UK Fisherman.com
Steve Grey established the excellent All Things Piscatorial
in 2005 and it's already a popular site with coaches and anglers alike.
Full of information for both coaches and anglers, including
a friendly forum.
The national organisation for all barbel anglers, established to promote and protect barbel fishing & fisheries.
The only non-government organisation to prosecute polluters of our waterways and totally funded by anglers.
Widespread government organsiation aiming to "make the environment a better place".
Represents the interests of specialist anglers and angling groups ranging from ECHO and the Pike Anglers Club of Great Britain to the Tenchfishers and the Eel groups, as well as member clubs and societies and individual angling members.
Governing body of professional angling coaches.
Representing anglers, particularly those who fish matches.
Useful links and articles on coarse fishing, carp fishing, game fishing and predator fishing in the UK
Fellow anglers
- Bruno Broughton
- Martin James
- Paul Whiteing
Fisheries Management Consultant and one of the best raconteurs I've ever met.
Angling journalist and broadcaster, fellow Barbel Society member and all-round good guy.
Fellow angler and centrepin enthusiast.
