Des Taylor's Life in Angling

If you penetrate the brusque Black Country exterior you'll discover a very different Des Taylor from the 'big man with the big opinions' tag that's dogged him for decades.

True, even at 61 the big-fish man from Worcestershire is more passionate than ever about his sport but, he claims, he has never deliberately courted controversy. In our latest Life in Angling interview, he reveals his softer side…

 

 


Mick Brown's Life in Angling

He's the country's most well-known predator angler, star of countless television programmes including Wet Nets, The Great Rod Race and Record Breaking Fish.

Mick Brown is also an author and angling coach and has a staggering 23 pike over 30lb to his name. But, as he'll tell you, he's very much an ordinary bloke and finds fame 'very strange'.

Welcome to the world of 'The Duke'...

 


Denis White's Life in Angling

During his illustrious career Denis White has helped form one of the most famous match teams ever, played a key role in the success of the England national squad and shared his expertise with thousands of youngsters to help bring new blood into the sport. Not bad for a man who spent much of his life down the pit.

Angling Times caught up with the man known as 'Fatha' to get the lowdown on an action-packed career which shows no signs of coming to an end just yet.

 

 


Neville Fickling's Life in Angling

Some people in angling acquire near legendary status. Neville Fickling is one of them.

With a British record pike to his name, the King's Lynn-born predator specialist is now just as happy catching twenties from the Trent near to his tackle shop.

Here he tells us how he is unlikely to ever fish his beloved Broads again, and why an Irish pike means more to him than his 41lb 6oz River Thurne British record.

 


Dick Clegg's Life in Angling

Dick Clegg is the most successful international fishing team manager ever, having led England to six world team gold medals and nine individual victories between 1985 and 2000.

The straight-talking Yorkshireman has arguably done more for competition fishing in this country than any other, but he was also a tidy angler in his day. This is the life of Dick Clegg...

 

 PART 1

 

PART 2


Jan Porter's Life in Angling

Jan Porter has done it all. In a successful career spanning several decades, he has run his own tackle shop, been one of the most noticeable figures on the match angling scene and even put together an impressive personal-best list of specimen fish. We met up with the man himself to rack his brains for the highlights of a very colourful adventure.

Scroll down to watch part 1 and part 2 of his interview.

 

PART 1

PART 2


9lb 3oz chub caught on film

A huge chub of 9lb 3oz – just two ounces short of the current British record – has been caught from the River Thames by specimen angler Carl Welch.

After finding the massive fish in an overgrown swim, the 35-year-old used his camcorder to meticulously record its feeding habits and study its behaviour in the week’s prior to its capture.

“I’ve never seen such a spooky fish that fed so cautiously,” said Carl. “Being able to record it and then analyse its behaviour was a massive help as I was able to work out the route it was taking and which baits it preferred. There’s no doubt this fish will be a British record come winter,” he added.

Click the play button below to see the exclusive footage of Carl’s chub.