Bait Masters and Masterbaiters...

Dear Readers,

If I got an euro for every "Master Baiter"-related joke, I think I wouldn't have to work anymore. Carp angling related jokes aside, the season for me is really about to start. I have been way too busy with other matters to go angling. I think that's a lame excuse, but it's an excuse anyway!

My article just appeared on a Finnish magazine called "Metsästys & Kalastus" (Issue 6/2012). The magazine itself has around 40 000 subscribers and about 400 000 readers. So it's really nice to have a bigger public once in a while. My article was about barbel fishing with Martin Bowler on the Wye. Even being critical to my own work, I liked the article. Hopefully I will get to write more articles... 

Barbel fishing is something I wish to do also in the future. It's such a beautiful fish, and the rivers are really enchanting. I have seen the laid-back approach for barbel (see my earlier Waterlog Weekend blog entry), so I must reveal you my best kept secret - the floodwater rod rest...

The utterly cunning idea of a floodwater rod rest! Behold! I caught a 10 cm dace from that swim!

Anyway, I will keep this blog entry short (and quite pointless), because I am too busy going carp fishing. I just air dried another 2,5 kg of boilies... Does all that fiddling with bait make me a Bait Master or a Masterbaiter?

Some gift ideas for true anglers

Hi all!

Christmas / The holiday season is coming, and some of you might be wondering what to buy (for yourself, of course). A true angler appreciates soft packages, but here's a few ideas for the harder packages.

1) Martin Bowler - A Fish for All Seasons DVD+book. You can buy it on http://www.calmproductions.com/
2) Hugh Miles & Martin Bowler - Catching the Impossible DVD-series+book. Also from Calm Productions.
3) Medlar Press books - You can find real gems there. True angling literature with the right ethics. Just go to www.medlarpress.com and choose a book to your liking! For example, Chris Yates' "Casting at The Sun"... Pure classic.
4) Order the Waterlog magazine. Like I did. Completely useless what comes to enhancing your catches, but enjoyable reading by the bedside or the bank! http://www.waterlogmagazine.com/

Well, I can't say no more. That's what you need, and I think you will be happy with them. And by the way, this wasn't a paid commercial. I just really like to share something I have enjoyed.

Waterlog weekend

I (and my brother) had the honor and pleasure to attend this years prestigious Waterlog Midsummer Madness angling weekend. The weekend of angling took place on the Severn at Waterlog Angling Club stretch. We were accommodated at The Grange at Ellesmere, which is also the headquarters of Medlar Press.

To cut the story in short, the people were more than hospitable and the weekend was just about the best midsummer ever. And no MOSQUITOES! Although I was bitten by a dung beetle, no serious harm was made. We had a good weekend with good company, good food and ale & wine. What can you ask more? Well - I asked for some cricket, and we got some. It was about 30 Celsius and sunny, but we Finns wanted to have some batting. Good hosts, didn't let us down.

We did catch some good fish. In total there were 3 barbel caught in the weekend, one by me (6 lbs) and one by my brother (A DOUBLE FIGURE).... I have to admit that the fish were caught on dodgy tackle (carbon rods) and some magic pellets (embraced by the man Martin Bowler himself). I also caught a minnow, a dace and a chub. The photo is of the minnow (looking like a chub)...

A grumpy ol' chub.