Spider-web rod and WW1 fishing hero revealed on hit BBC show

A rod built by an angler whose fishing skills saved his life in the First World War has appeared on the BBC television series the Antiques Roadshow.

The 17ft ‘spider-web rod’, which uses mechanics similar to those of a crane to support the extra length that revolutionised fishing at longer distances, was built before the First World War by John Henry Hirst. It was valued at £3,000 during the latest episode of the BBC1 series.

But the spider-web rod was just one part of the incredible story of a man who was so good at fishing that he was pulled out of the trenches in 1915 to help feed his comrades.

The Yorkshireman, who died in 1963 aged 75, kept a highly detailed fishing diary between 1901 and 1948 that tells the incredible tale of how he took fishing tackle to the Western Front and braved machine gun fire to fish the rivers, canals and ponds of the Somme and around Ypres in Belgium in order to collect food.

The rod was presented to experts on the show by current owner Victor Bonutto, who has has been collecting and valuing vintage tackle for nearly 30 years and decided to buy it after hearing about it from Hirst’s daughter. 

He told Angling Times: “John was an incredibly brave man and a fantastic angler, hence the reason he was charged with catching fish to feed the troops. 

“I had no idea the rod existed until Hirst’s daughter approached me at an angling fair and told me the whole story, and it just blew me away. He patented its design and won countless events on his return. fom the war”

Hirst also ran a successful local newspaper and wrote angling reports, while his glittering match angling career saw him captain the famous Bradford team in the 1930s and win medals fishing in the All England Nationals. 

He was even quoted as saying that he was so good he would let his fellow competitors have a head start at the beginning of matches. 

The rod, that was partially made from bamboo, had been sitting in his daughter’s attic for 60 years until Victor and the family made contact. 

The Welshman then set to work on restoring it: “The rod was in really poor condition but it was well made,” he said.

 “It wasn’t just an ordinary rod with bits stuck on it, was actually designed and made from scratch – it’s an amazing piece of equipment, which I believe John wanted to commercialise for mass production, hence the reason for the patent he took out on the design.”

Antiques Roadshow’s Adam Schoon, who valued both the rod and two stuffed carp which John caught during the war, was equally amazed at the story. During the broadcast he said: “It’s not just the uniqueness and age of the items that make them incredible, it is the story behind it that’s so fascinating.” 

Would you like advice on a piece of antique tackle? Contact Victor on 07977 599218, email: tinca@gwlad.eclipse.co.uk

You can check out the episode of Antiques Roadshow featuring the rod on BBC iPlayer.

September heatwave promises a bonanza of personal bests

Fisheries across the UK have hit their best form of the year for big carp, following some of the hottest September temperatures since records began.

Traditionally, this time of year is deemed by some of the sport’s biggest names as the best for beating carp personal bests as the nights draw in and fish go on the feed in readiness for winter.

It’s a theory that’s being proved at some of the top big-carp waters. In addition, commercial fisheries that hold larger carp are also reporting a huge increase in the capture of high double-figure fish, with specimens reaching 20lb.

Now, with record-breaking temperatures bringing warm water conditions, experts and fishery owners are saying there’s never been a better time for anglers to get down to their local carp venue and reap the rewards.

“It’s the best time of the year to target big carp and you’d be foolish not to be out there, especially with the recent high temperatures,” said Andrew Ellis, owner of AE Fisheries

“Some very high-profile carp anglers are all saying that this is the best chance of a monster.

“The only thing on a carp’s mind at this time of the year is feeding up ready for the winter and building up its stores of fat. 

“I feed my carp more now than at any other time of year. This feeding behaviour is being mirrored at thousands of fisheries across the country.”

Iain Macmillan with a fine late summer common.

Respected Shimano-backed carper Iain Macmillan echoed Andrew’s sentiments: “There are often more big carp caught between now and Christmas than at any other time of the year.

“There’s every reason to get really excited as this is the time when it’s not just about catching the really huge fish, but also big hits are on the cards.”

It’s not just day-ticket venues such as Oxfordshire’s Linear Fisheries and Staffordshire’s Baden Hall that have continued their incredible summer form for big fish. 

‘Runs’ waters like Northamptonshire’s Drayton Reservoir, Stafford Moor in Devon and Barston Lakes in the West Midlands are also in top fettle.

“There are loads of big doubles coming out at the moment, as a recent match was won with many carp between 16lb and 20lb,” said Barston Lakes boss Nigel Harrhy.

“Guys who just come here for runs are regularly upping their personal bests, and this time of the year is always spot-on for the bigger fish to switch on to the feed,” he added.

Angling to star in the Olympics?

Angling has taken a step closer to being part of the Olympic Games – with the submission of an official application to be a part of the world’s biggest sporting spectacle.

Numerous high-profile stars from within the sport have campaigned for years to see one of the world’s biggest participant sports included in the global event, and following this latest development the dream could finally become a reality.

Bosses from international match angling’s governing body CIPS have put together a huge dossier in a bid to convince the Olympic Committee that fishing should officially be recognised as a sport.

If the move is given the green light, it could then be considered for inclusion in future Olympics. 

TV personality and former Olympic athlete Dean Macey believes angling would be a worthy inclusion. He said: “Millions of people across the world go fishing, so why shouldn’t it form part of the biggest sporting event on the planet?

“It would be a huge boost for angling, and for those that compete it would be the pinnacle of their career. Forget Fish O’Mania and the World Championships, the Olympics has over a billion people tuning in. It would dwarf any other angling tournament.”

Given the nation’s huge array of talent, the chances of achieving success would be high and Dean added: “No matter what form the competition took, we would be in the medals. Be it feeder fishing, floatfishing or accuracy casting, Team GB would have the best in the world in their ranks.”

Current England international Des Shipp, who has won countless tournaments in an illustrious career, says that taking part in the Olympics would top the lot. 

He said: “It would be an honour to get selected if it ever came about, and I can’t even begin to imagine how amazing it would feel to win a gold medal.

“More and more sports are being included in the Olympics and angling deserves a chance to showcase itself on the giant stage.”

Former England boss and CIPS official Dick Clegg believes that a successful bid could have numerous benefits, and he told Angling Times: “It would be great to think that angling could one day be part of the Olympic Gamesin some format, whether that is accuracy or distance casting or something else.

“In the short term, being recognised as a sport by the Olympic Committee could lead to more funding for our national teams, which would play a huge part in maintaining our current high levels of success.”

Drive to get more clubs on canals

A major drive is underway to get more anglers to fish canals by offering clubs the chance to take over dozens of untapped stretches.

Hundreds of miles of waterway are currently without tenants, and the Canal & River Trust wants angling clubs to take advantage of the situation by boosting its portfolio of waters.

C&RT National Fisheries and Angling Manager, John Ellis, is leading the charge. He believes clubs are missing out on what is some fantastic fishing. He told Angling Times: “There are literally miles of canal which are barely fished but offer superb sport with a huge variety of species. 

“We prefer to work with clubs rather than just leaving stretches to be fished by individual anglers – it’s a win win situation. 

“Clubs help us to fight poaching and antisocial behaviour, while the members get a great venue to fish at the same time. Clubs who can’t afford to rent waters can still enjoy the canals, as most of our stretches are available to book for matches on our Waterways Wanderers Scheme for less than the price of a day ticket. 

“We want more and more anglers to discover the magic of fishing canals.”

One club to recently take advantage of the push is Little Britain Anglers. The North West outfit took over an extensive stretch of the Bolton & Bury Canal last year. Speaking at the time, club secretary Eric Owen said: “Our main aim was to bring back fishing to as much as the canal as possible so that it could be enjoyed by the area’s anglers. The canal was a somewhat forgotten venue and we wanted to change that. 

“Taking over stretches like this is a great way for clubs to offer their members places to fish other than just your typical ponds or stretches of river – you’d be surprised what lurks in canals.”

Winning crucian pics are revealed

THE WINNERS

Crucian – Richie Martin
Specimen Crucian – Andy Lewis
Scenic Crucian Waters – John Spilsbury
Junior Crucian Anglers – Michael Ewing

Each winner was given a £100 tackle voucher, a £35 crucian-themed bucket of products from Bait-Tech and a copy of Peter Rolfe’s book about the species, ‘Crock of Gold’.

There were eight runners-up who each received the Bait-Tech bucket.

Here are the results of a competition aimed at raising the profile of one of the UK’s most iconic fish!

The photographic contest was run in conjunction with ‘Catch a Crucian Month’ – an initiative aimed at raising awareness of the troubled species – and attracted hundreds of entries.

After hours of deliberation by a panel of species experts, a stunning shot of four fish in the net caught from Surrey’s Marsh Farm by Ringwood’s Richie Martin scooped the ‘Crucian Picture’ award, while seven-year-old Michael Ewing, of Godalming, was handed the ‘Junior Crucian Anglers’ accolade.

Stockport angler John Spilsbury’s inspiring image of a traditional float next to the lily pads won the ‘Scenic Waters’ category, while Andy Lewis from Warwickshire bagged the ‘Specimen Crucian’ silverware for a 2lb 5oz fish. He said: “I think it is a brilliant idea and I entered to try to help raise awareness of true crucians. I never expected to win, but I am delighted I have.

“Unless something is done, crucians could be extinct in a decade. I think this campaign is just what is needed to provide a bright future for the species.”

Numbers of ‘true’ crucians have declined at an alarming rate in recent years due to hybridisation with other species. This is the reason the Angling Trust has teamed up with the Association of Crucian Anglers to launch the National Crucian Conservation Project (NCCP).

One of the project’s many objectives is to encourage fishery owners and clubsto stock more true examples of the species while also persuading anglers to target them regularly.

Trust Campaign Coordinator Martin Salter played a big part in the process, and he said: “We have been delighted with the response to ‘Catch a Crucian Month’ and the accompanying photo competition. 

“Many entries encapsulated the charm and beauty of crucians and the delightful and intimate waters that they inhabit.

“There is no doubt that the project has inspired many clubs and fishery owners to create bespoke fisheries and think more carefully about how stocks are managed. 

“I’m sure this competition will go from strength to strength in future years.”

Renowned big-fish angler Chris Turnbull has a series of big crucians to his name and is an ambassador for various schemes dedicated to their protection. He said: “They are one of the UK’s most loved summer species, but within a short space of time they have become highly endangered.

“It is really important that we work to prevent their demise, and the first step must be the education of anglers.

“This competition is a great step forward in that process.”

To find out more about the National Crucian Conservation Project (NCCP) visit www.anglingtrust.net.

‘Nets In The Sun’ is a huge success

Fisheries nationwide have thrown their support behind an Angling Times campaign to help protect commercial fish stocks.

Angling Times joined many UK waters in the fight to raise awareness about preventing the spread of the deadly Koi Herpes Virus (KHV), following recent outbreaks of the disease at several popular fisheries.

Research has suggested that it can be transferred on keepnets and landing nets that haven’t been exposed to sunlight and properly dried out before use.

This saw the launch of the Angling Times ‘Nets In The Sun’ campaign, and bosses at several top commercials have now introduced new rules to help eradicate the virus.

Devon’s Stafford Moor hasn’t experienced KHV and owner Joanne Coombes is determined to keep it that way. She said: “Anglers must now dip all nets and stink bags and once they get to their peg, lay them out to dry. These are proven methods of killing diseases that could otherwise wreak havoc.

“We have invested thousands of pounds into the venue and we aren’t prepared to take any risks with our fish stocks. Everybody understands the need to put these measures in place, and anyone caught on CCTV flouting the rules will be asked to leave.”

Anglers are also being asked to dry their nets at home, and Packington Somers chief John Burchell believes the message has got through loud and clear. He said: “We are stressing the need to arrive here with dry nets, and so far everybody has done so, which is great to see. We are considering a stink bag ban as well.”

Boom time for river fishing

It's shaping up to be a record year for anglers returning to running water venues.

Sales of traditional river tackle have risen by 200 per cent, and clubs are having to print more books to meet the demand. 

With many of the nation’s top waterways now offering some of the best sport seen in decades, more and more are joining clubs and celebrating the variety of sport to be had there.

The trend has seen a welcome spike in demand for floatfishing tackle, and one manufacturer is reporting a huge increase in sales of its centrepin reels. 

TF Gear’s direct marketing manager, Alan Crawford-Plane, has revealed that sales of reels of this type have doubled since the company began selling them back in 2012. 

He told Angling Times: “Over the last couple of years we have noticed a big hike in sales of river fishing gear, and none more so than our range of ’pins. 

“We started with just one model but as demand rose we’ve had to increase that to four, to offer anglers of all pockets a choice. 

“The increase isn’t just because anglers are choosing traditional tackle, but because more people are back on the rivers. This has been reflected in strong sales of items like barbel rods too.”

It’s not just running water fishing tackle that has experienced a huge rise in sales. 

Dozens of angling clubs who offer stretches of river are seeing new members flocking to join. 

One such club is Nottingham Federation of Anglers. 

The club is going through one of its biggest recruitment drives in recent history, and club secretary Ian McLaughlin said: “We have sold more books this year than at any time in the last decade… so much so that we needed a reprint this season. 

“We run several sections of the River Trent and because our venues are fishing well and we’ve spent money improving access to them there’s been a noticeable increase in numbers. I think that’s true of many other clubs too. It’s great for us and the sport.”

These sentiments were echoed by river specialist and Angling Times columnist Dave Harrell.

 “It’s great to see more anglers coming back to the rivers,” he said.

“We’ve had a few good spawning years recently and this has seen sport improve dramatically on UK rivers.

“This, along with the high cost of fishing commercials, is helping to encourage anglers back to running water. 

“Because of this there has been a noticeable increase in the number of matches held on rivers in the last couple of seasons, and Riverfest has sold out again this year. It’s been so popular I have decided to begin planning a second pairs-style competition for 2017.

“It’s an exciting time to be a river angler, and fishing this year is just going to get better and better.”