Thanks Tom & Dave - stuck in the house on yet another weekend where the rivers are unfishable, it was fantastic to listen to your stories. We need to remember and respect just how influential the traditional media was in shaping who we are today as anglers. I think Dave's proposal for a venue specific lifting of the close season is one we should all campaign for. There has been no scientific or evidence based data presented in the debate about the close season - only the status quo. I support the angling trust and appreciate the work they do via fish legal. However, they could do more to make it clear to supporters where they stand on the close season? What do they think?
It maybe very strange to have a hero, who is of the same age! I spent many hours watching Dave on the mid week opens at twyford and littleton water at stourport- on- severn, learning the wagg and mag. Never having more than two runs down the swim, with out changing something, even if he had a fish on. Always trying to catch bigger or higher up the swim. He always had time to chat and do his very best to pass on little tips. Long may it last, and his fishing brain bring more anglers to the joy of running line, and natural venues 👍👏👏
Had the privilege to be coached by Dave on the River Wye such a long pleasurable day was had never caught so much Dace I’m my life on the float. Top Top Angler
I always knew he was a great match angler and behind great products, but I never knew he was such a great bloke and, listening between the lines, his ability to learn new things and move on is really impressive.
What a lovely conversation to hear on a horrible Sunday; could listen to Dave all day long.......although certainly thinks he underestimates himself when he says ' yeah I won a few matches circa 1985-95' without doubt the Jamie Hughes / Steve Ringer rolled into one of that period and sum !; also big shout out for Tom on answering the questions in such a relaxed manner !!
To me Dave is an absolute Legend. When I started fishing almost 30 years ago I didn't have a family member to guide me, however reading Dave's articles in the angling press and more recently in videos and online, he has inspired my love for river fishing. He even answered my question in "Ask the Experts" in Improve your coarse fishing magazine back in the 90's which won me first prize for best question that month!!! Thanks Dave.......Loving the DH Floats.
Still have my original MAP clothing from Fosters in the 90s, always fished the middle Severn and regard this man as the No 1, different times now on the rivers but still no better place to enjoy our sport...cheers Mr Harrell
Fascinating discussion, particularly enjoyed the reminisces of the Walsall scene and suitable employment. The DHP era was also very interesting. Best river angler? Clive Smith.
Another great interview, really enjoyed listening to the conversation. Just wish there was some good or reasonable river fishing for coarse fish up here in North west Cumbria
Dave what a brilliant angler and tackle ambassador . I used to use Fosters tackle shop on Kingstanding road brilliant shop . Also watching all your videos on float fishing and buying map floats . And watching the John Smith finals at Evesham . But the river at Evesham was over fished and the weights fell away so people moved to comercials . I agree the close season needs to change . And the small tackle shops are closing being taken over by the likes of Angling direct and Fishing republic .
Great interview and a fascinating array of subjects. Agree with everything Dave talks about, the river close season in particular, what a silly situation this is. On a personal basis, shouldn't bother me that river angling will die along with our generation, why should it I will be 6 ft under. But i do think that it is desperately sad that anglers will just be left as " hook a duck " merchants. What a different world that will be to the Mr Crabtree and Jack Hargreaves world that I was so lucky to have been brought up in.
The England team at Kilbirnie Loch in 1987 was K.Ashurst, I.Heaps, D.White, T.Pickering, S.Gardener, B.Nudd, D.Roper, D.Harrell, S.Piecha and as I've just heard here Ivan. I think Denis White won with about 35lbs of roach. Philip Arthur won the youth event with 18lbs. Ivan won it there four years earlier with 50 lb plus.
its a shame to say but I am 52 and have always fished natural venues. In the 5 winter matches I have fished this year i have been the youngest at every match!
One of the best river/ natural anglers ever ,and a true gent, also an innovative angler always looking outside the box,t with a wicked streak especially snide rumours and dirty rotten lies 😂😂😂😂, whatever happened to Did Huggins tho???, Dave you are a true inspiration to up and coming anglers 👍👍👍👍👍
I do agree about the lack of fore thought over the closed season. But if one takes a look at a lot of the smaller river sections around Hampshire and Surrey, you'll find a great many stretches to uneccessable where they are ridiculously overgrown with trees, huge wild blackberry bushed, 10' banks of nettles that are up to 50 meters thick, and just as many stretches of neglected water where weed is so OTT, you could cross from one bank to the other and not get wet feet. All are un fishable. yet only a few years ago, I ysed to frequent these places and have great sport. I don't know who is responsible for the up keep of these rivers, but the job simple NOT being done. I effect, we have a 12 month closed season.
the avon in the 80s i remeber our team getting an invite to the holts brewery invetation at evesham and being told by my captain i realy want you to fish but only if you prepaerd to turn up with 2 gallon of maggots and 4 pints of hemp that would last you 2 seasons at evesham now
beast river floats i have used are dave,s stick floats ,a brilliant river angler,total respect,,,,,the closed season question is a hard one none anglers are saying birds nesting and other wild life would be disturbed ,and just so men can fish all year round, i could not argue with what they say,,,,,i fear the anti angling nuts will rear its ugly head,,,nature is under threat people are becoming more nature minded its not fish spawning they talk about its birds animals insects wild plants all under the risk of extinction and we anglers treading down swims hacking out ares to fish and we do ,,,do that ...,the young today are into gaming sitting on sofas ,fishing will die out ,so enjoy it why we can ,but be careful what you wish for regarding the close season ,,we may just ruin what we have left .got tight lines,,
You can sit by many man made, commercial fisheries and see all sorts of wildlife. From kingfishers and herons to snakes, deer and foxes and everything in between. To say that the tiny amount of anglers that bother fishing rivers these days are causing enough damage to have a detrimental effect on wildlife when busy commercials prove that anglers and nature can perfectly co-exist is nonsense.
Anglers make the same kind of disturbance as dog walkers, joggers, canoists, boaters, and everyone else who 'uses' the waterway. The difference is that anglers then settle down in one position, become quiet, and fish. The argument that we cause excessive bankside disturbance to breeding birds is tosh. (I am over sixty yrs old and a lifelong member of the RSPB.) My experience with Kingfishers, for example, is that I almost always see them when fishing. They fly by as they are disturbed by walkers. I have a birdwatching acquaintance who once told me how rarely she sees kingfishers. It is because she walks along pushing them in front of her. She creates far more disturbance than an angler. If commercial fishery owners are happy to allow anglers to try to catch spawning fish, knowing that it makes no cost effective difference to their business, and that the fish will not be caught anyway, then that is good enough for me. The EA does not want to lift the Close Season for reasons that are not apparent. It is clear it is not for protecting wildlife or protecting fish. Chris S
@@Crustysmith we do not we sit in a peg for hours if a birds nest is close by the bird will not return look i am an angler have been for over 40 years ,but our wild life is on the edge fact,,,,,, none anglers millions leave us alone for now ,if we start to say sod you lot and the wild life i wont to fish where i like when i like it will bring us into conflict with a massive army of nature lovers ,and when we do its to late,,the anti hunt will be drawn to us ,and we our cars and tackle will be a risk its not worth it ,we are about 40 years to late on this one ,we have to be honest not sit with fingers crossed from one angler to another i wish you well and tight lines,,ps dog walkers walk past ,we sit for hours ,lets not ruin what we have our numbers are going down theirs are going up...fact,
stephen isom Hi Stephen, how wrong can you be? Anglers do not sit close to birds nests. Pegs almost always occupy a clear area of the bankside. Birds will only nest when they feel safe, in the vegetation a few feet away. I have had wrens, nuthatches, kingfishers, wagtails and of course robins spend most of the day with me in my peg. Once I even had a water rail feed for hours within twenty feet of me. Please don't make comments that are just not true. We do not sit by nests, we do not cause the bird to abandon nests and birds will happily tolerate human proximity as long as they feel safe. I have a blackbird that nests within a couple of feet of my backdoor. It has the whole garden available yet it opted to go right by the door that we throw open and regularly pass by. Your argument has passion and emotion and it panders to the politically correct namby pamby brigade but it has no basis in fact. And just putting the word FACT at the end of a few sentences does not make it true. FACT!
The close season was so the toffs could go salmon fishing with out the likes of use so called riff raff,strange you can ledger with worm in the close season which is the best bait to catch salmon as we all know the salmon are not in the rivers like they used to be so ban the close season so us proper river fisherman and women can monitor the rivers better as we are on the banks more than anyone .
Paul, spot on ! I included the same reason in one of the sections of the closed season questionnaire. Which as mentioned was way to long, as most of these consultations are ( made that way to get fewer responses !! ). Its such a daft situation. And im not a river angler!
Thanks Tom & Dave - stuck in the house on yet another weekend where the rivers are unfishable, it was fantastic to listen to your stories. We need to remember and respect just how influential the traditional media was in shaping who we are today as anglers. I think Dave's proposal for a venue specific lifting of the close season is one we should all campaign for. There has been no scientific or evidence based data presented in the debate about the close season - only the status quo. I support the angling trust and appreciate the work they do via fish legal. However, they could do more to make it clear to supporters where they stand on the close season? What do they think?
It maybe very strange to have a hero, who is of the same age! I spent many hours watching Dave on the mid week opens at twyford and littleton water at stourport- on- severn, learning the wagg and mag. Never having more than two runs down the swim, with out changing something, even if he had a fish on. Always trying to catch bigger or higher up the swim. He always had time to chat and do his very best to pass on little tips.
Long may it last, and his fishing brain bring more anglers to the joy of running line, and natural venues 👍👏👏
Had the privilege to be coached by Dave on the River Wye such a long pleasurable day was had never caught so much Dace I’m my life on the float. Top Top Angler
Great interview Tom, Dave has always been one of my River heroes 👍👍👍
Nice interview Tom, Dave is great at telling a story 👍
I always knew he was a great match angler and behind great products, but I never knew he was such a great bloke and, listening between the lines, his ability to learn new things and move on is really impressive.
Awesome angler and one of my heroes well done Tom great vid.
What a lovely conversation to hear on a horrible Sunday; could listen to Dave all day long.......although certainly thinks he underestimates himself when he says ' yeah I won a few matches circa 1985-95' without doubt the Jamie Hughes / Steve Ringer rolled into one of that period and sum !; also big shout out for Tom on answering the questions in such a relaxed manner !!
To me Dave is an absolute Legend. When I started fishing almost 30 years ago I didn't have a family member to guide me, however reading Dave's articles in the angling press and more recently in videos and online, he has inspired my love for river fishing. He even answered my question in "Ask the Experts" in Improve your coarse fishing magazine back in the 90's which won me first prize for best question that month!!!
Thanks Dave.......Loving the DH Floats.
An absolutely brilliant interview, with a brilliant river angler. Well done Tom.
He inspired me to go out and buy a hook tyer back in the day , after demonstrating how to use one . 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻🎣🎣🎣🎣🎣
Brilliant video, really enjoyed that. Thanks a lot Dave and Tom.
I use loads of Dave's floats and they really are top notch.
innovative float designer, I use his floats here in Ireland on the Big Rivers.
This is my favourite CMM vid so far. Great interview
A really interesting interview, giving a balanced reasonable insight into the future of river fishing.
Still have my original MAP clothing from Fosters in the 90s, always fished the middle Severn and regard this man as the No 1, different times now on the rivers but still no better place to enjoy our sport...cheers Mr Harrell
Brilliant that and what an angler in Dave.
Fascinating discussion, particularly enjoyed the reminisces of the Walsall scene and suitable employment. The DHP era was also very interesting.
Best river angler? Clive Smith.
Another great interview, really enjoyed listening to the conversation.
Just wish there was some good or reasonable river fishing for coarse fish up here in North west Cumbria
Eden , caldew were full of dace and chub in the 80s , dont know what happened
Caldew used to be brilliant along with peteral I believe it was. Both very small and neither any good at all now.
Really enjoyed this.
Used to love watching Dave in the Birmingham park festivals .
My hero!!
Dave what a brilliant angler and tackle ambassador . I used to use Fosters tackle shop on Kingstanding road brilliant shop . Also watching all your videos on float fishing and buying map floats . And watching the John Smith finals at Evesham . But the river at Evesham was over fished and the weights fell away so people moved to comercials . I agree the close season needs to change . And the small tackle shops are closing being taken over by the likes of Angling direct and Fishing republic .
one of my heroes along with Ivan marks .... so calm.....
Great vid, great man!!
Great interview and a fascinating array of subjects. Agree with everything Dave talks about, the river close season in particular, what a silly situation this is. On a personal basis, shouldn't bother me that river angling will die along with our generation, why should it I will be 6 ft under. But i do think that it is desperately sad that anglers will just be left as " hook a duck " merchants. What a different world that will be to the Mr Crabtree and Jack Hargreaves world that I was so lucky to have been brought up in.
The England team at Kilbirnie Loch in 1987 was K.Ashurst, I.Heaps, D.White, T.Pickering, S.Gardener, B.Nudd, D.Roper, D.Harrell, S.Piecha and as I've just heard here Ivan. I think Denis White won with about 35lbs of roach. Philip Arthur won the youth event with 18lbs. Ivan won it there four years earlier with 50 lb plus.
its a shame to say but I am 52 and have always fished natural venues. In the 5 winter matches I have fished this year i have been the youngest at every match!
One of the best river/ natural anglers ever ,and a true gent, also an innovative angler always looking outside the box,t with a wicked streak especially snide rumours and dirty rotten lies 😂😂😂😂, whatever happened to Did Huggins tho???, Dave you are a true inspiration to up and coming anglers 👍👍👍👍👍
I do agree about the lack of fore thought over the closed season. But if one takes a look at a lot of the smaller river sections around Hampshire and Surrey, you'll find a great many stretches to uneccessable where they are ridiculously overgrown with trees, huge wild blackberry bushed, 10' banks of nettles that are up to 50 meters thick, and just as many stretches of neglected water where weed is so OTT, you could cross from one bank to the other and not get wet feet. All are un fishable. yet only a few years ago, I ysed to frequent these places and have great sport. I don't know who is responsible for the up keep of these rivers, but the job simple NOT being done. I effect, we have a 12 month closed season.
the avon in the 80s i remeber our team getting an invite to the holts brewery invetation at evesham and being told by my captain i realy want you to fish but only if you prepaerd to turn up with 2 gallon of maggots and 4 pints of hemp that would last you 2 seasons at evesham now
The best 'victim' you've had so far(lol).Top bloke.
beast river floats i have used are dave,s stick floats ,a brilliant river angler,total respect,,,,,the closed season question is a hard one none anglers are saying birds nesting and other wild life would be disturbed ,and just so men can fish all year round, i could not argue with what they say,,,,,i fear the anti angling nuts will rear its ugly head,,,nature is under threat people are becoming more nature minded its not fish spawning they talk about its birds animals insects wild plants all under the risk of extinction and we anglers treading down swims hacking out ares to fish and we do ,,,do that ...,the young today are into gaming sitting on sofas ,fishing will die out ,so enjoy it why we can ,but be careful what you wish for regarding the close season ,,we may just ruin what we have left .got tight lines,,
You can sit by many man made, commercial fisheries and see all sorts of wildlife. From kingfishers and herons to snakes, deer and foxes and everything in between. To say that the tiny amount of anglers that bother fishing rivers these days are causing enough damage to have a detrimental effect on wildlife when busy commercials prove that anglers and nature can perfectly co-exist is nonsense.
Anglers make the same kind of disturbance as dog walkers, joggers, canoists, boaters, and everyone else who 'uses' the waterway. The difference is that anglers then settle down in one position, become quiet, and fish. The argument that we cause excessive bankside disturbance to breeding birds is tosh. (I am over sixty yrs old and a lifelong member of the RSPB.)
My experience with Kingfishers, for example, is that I almost always see them when fishing. They fly by as they are disturbed by walkers. I have a birdwatching acquaintance who once told me how rarely she sees kingfishers. It is because she walks along pushing them in front of her. She creates far more disturbance than an angler.
If commercial fishery owners are happy to allow anglers to try to catch spawning fish, knowing that it makes no cost effective difference to their business, and that the fish will not be caught anyway, then that is good enough for me. The EA does not want to lift the Close Season for reasons that are not apparent. It is clear it is not for protecting wildlife or protecting fish.
Chris S
@@Crustysmith we do not we sit in a peg for hours if a birds nest is close by the bird will not return look i am an angler have been for over 40 years ,but our wild life is on the edge fact,,,,,, none anglers millions leave us alone for now ,if we start to say sod you lot and the wild life i wont to fish where i like when i like it will bring us into conflict with a massive army of nature lovers ,and when we do its to late,,the anti hunt will be drawn to us ,and we our cars and tackle will be a risk its not worth it ,we are about 40 years to late on this one ,we have to be honest not sit with fingers crossed from one angler to another i wish you well and tight lines,,ps dog walkers walk past ,we sit for hours ,lets not ruin what we have our numbers are going down theirs are going up...fact,
@@robertcourt8593 see answer below,
stephen isom
Hi Stephen, how wrong can you be? Anglers do not sit close to birds nests. Pegs almost always occupy a clear area of the bankside. Birds will only nest when they feel safe, in the vegetation a few feet away. I have had wrens, nuthatches, kingfishers, wagtails and of course robins spend most of the day with me in my peg. Once I even had a water rail feed for hours within twenty feet of me. Please don't make comments that are just not true. We do not sit by nests, we do not cause the bird to abandon nests and birds will happily tolerate human proximity as long as they feel safe. I have a blackbird that nests within a couple of feet of my backdoor. It has the whole garden available yet it opted to go right by the door that we throw open and regularly pass by.
Your argument has passion and emotion and it panders to the politically correct namby pamby brigade but it has no basis in fact. And just putting the word FACT at the end of a few sentences does not make it true. FACT!
The close season was so the toffs could go salmon fishing with out the likes of use so called riff raff,strange you can ledger with worm in the close season which is the best bait to catch salmon as we all know the salmon are not in the rivers like they used to be so ban the close season so us proper river fisherman and women can monitor the rivers better as we are on the banks more than anyone .
Paul, spot on ! I included the same reason in one of the sections of the closed season questionnaire. Which as mentioned was way to long, as most of these consultations are ( made that way to get fewer responses !! ). Its such a daft situation. And im not a river angler!
What a stupid and ignorant statement to make. A reflection of yourself?