In this episode Joff heads south to meet up with wild carp fanatic Dan Rudgley. Dan, has become well known in recent years for his dedication to tracking down hidden pools in his hunt for wild carp - carp that are descended from ancient fish stocked into stew ponds, moats, and lakes, as a food source for 14th century monasteries, farmers, and well off landowners. Dan writes for the quarterly magazine Fallons Angler and is the star of two of their short films Wildie II, and Desert Tench both of which can be viewed on the website fallonsangler.net Garret Fallon, founder of the magazine, was the guest on episode #9 of this podcast. Local information, folklore, pub tales, and a sixth sense will often find Dan pushing through long wet grass, past crumbling boat houses and onto the banks of pools where these prussian blue shapes glide between snaking stems of lilies in the dappled shade of willows and scum filled corners. While stalking surface feeding carp Dan shares his journey from childhood on the Romney Marsh, fishing ancient drainage ditches, to his current passion for tracking down waters, sometimes tiny, that contain this elusive fish. Aided by OS maps and Google Earth, he discovers potential waters, securing permission in one instance for just a five-hour fishing window. Dan discusses his seasonal approach to other species - wild carp in summer, tench, then chub and perch in winter. Press play and transport yourself to the bankside to enjoy the excitement punctuated by a backdrop of glorious May birdsong.
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#9 GARRETT FALLON - Fallon's Angler Magazine
Welcome to episode nine where Joff delves into the world of angling through the lens of Garrett Fallon, creator of Fallon's Angler magazine. Born in County Meath, Ireland, Garrett's passion for fishing began at just five years old, watching salmon jump in the river near his family home. Following in his father's footsteps - a journalist, author, and passionate angler who wrote "Fly Fishing for Irish Trout" - Garrett has created more than just a magazine; he's crafted a celebration of fishing culture. Fallon's Angler isn't just about catching fish, but about the stories, landscapes, and experiences that make angling special. With a beautifully designed print publication, a compelling YouTube channel featuring over 30 videos with 600,000 views, and a stable of talented writers such as Chris Yates, Garrett has built a platform that captures the very soul of angling.
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#8 JEAN WILLIAMS - Sweets tackle Shop, Usk.
Jean Williams shares her lifelong connection to Usk, having been born and raised in the town. She worked at Sweets Fishing Shop for 60 years, starting in the early 1960s, and became an integral part of the local fishing community. The shop, originally owned by Harry Powell and later run by Lionel and Molly Sweet, was an important hub for game fishing enthusiasts. In this episode Jean talks to Joff and recalls working closely with Lionel Sweet, who was not just a shop owner but also an accomplished fly-tier and casting instructor. The shop developed several notable fly patterns, including the Scrub and Amber Nymph. They served many famous customers, including celebrities like Jeremy Paxman and Vanessa Redgrave, who appreciated the shop's discretion and tranquil atmosphere. A significant part of Jean's life was her involvement with the Brownies, where she was known as 'Brown Owl' for over 55 years. She loved watching generations of children grow up and become interested in fishing and outdoor activities. The shop specialised in game fishing equipment, offering expert advice and local river information. When Jean finally closed the shop in 2022, it marked the end of a significant era in Usk's fishing history. She continues to sell fishing tickets and maintain connections with the local fishing community. We mention that the shop is for sale. I believe it is now sold.
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#7 JOF HICKS - Scillonian Lobster Fisherman by sail and oar.
In this episode Joff Elphick is up at 2:30 in the morning to travel the 250 miles through Somerset, and Devon before and passing through Cornwall to its southern tip and Penzance. From here a 28 mile journey by ferry, plane, or helicopter gets me to the Isles of Scilly an archipelago of over 200 islands lying 28 miles off Cornwall's coast. The Islands have been part of the Duchy of Cornwall since the 14th century with the Duchy owning most of the land and approximately one-third of residential buildings across the islands, of which only five are inhabited: St Mary's, Tresco, St Martin's, St Agnes, and Bryher. Joff is here to meet Jof Hicks a Designer/maker from St Agnes who fishes commercially for lobsters without the help of internal combustion engines, rowing or when possible using wind power to get his zero plastic lobster pots and gear to the most productive locations around the Island. Any angler who enjoys using traditional tackle such as cane rods or centrepin reels should enjoy the ingenuity Jof employs with his methods and materials to get his hand-crafted pots amongst the rocks and reefs that surround these beautiful islands. We discuss Pilot Gigs. Inkwell Lobster pots and their construction. Manilla rope and cork buoys. And Bait. You can hear the storm raging outside Jof’s workshop. Tourism dominates the local economy, accounting for 85 percent of economic activity and employing 70 percent of the population. Flower farming, particularly the cultivation of scented narcissi, has been significant since the 1860s. At its peak in the early 1900s, over 40 tonnes of flowers were shipped weekly to London markets. The islands' mild climate, characterized by rare frost and snow, creates ideal growing conditions in the sheltered, small square fields. Designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in 1975, the islands feature pristine beaches, granite headlands, white sandy coves, and rugged moorland. The Isles of Scilly Wildlife Trust manages 60 percent of the area, including uninhabited islands, paying a symbolic annual rent to the Duchy of one daffodil. And yes. That's two Jof/Joffs!
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#6 THE TENCHFISHERS with Phil Jackson
In this episode of CREEL podcast from EFGEECO.COM Joff talks to Phil Jackson from The Tenchfishers. We get visits from Hugh Tempest Sheringham. Mr Crabtree and Peter, Izaak Walton and The Rev William Houghton. Phil tells us where the fishing bug started for him. How he thought he may have been 'a bit of an annoying little prat' in Ted Oliver's shop Olivers of Knebworth. He was at school with Dick Walker's sons and to this day regrets failing to take up the offer of a visit to Dick's house to get some cutting edge carp fishing advice. He discusses the start of The Tenchfishers, it's demise, and its resurrection in the late sixties. Phil remembers well his first visit to The Tenchfishers AGM where he got to waggle a rod with Len Head. Other names from the world of tench fishing get a mention too. Pete Jackson. Barrie Rickards, John Ellis, Harry Green, Les Millington, Tony Marris, Dai Gribble, Jack Walpole, Kenny Parsons, and Pete Davis. The Tenchfishers book TINCA TINCA gets discussed as does Tenchfishers TV which along with the website is a shop front for the group. We discuss the bulletin, The national Tench Heritage Alliance, and Sywell Resevoir. Many thanks to Phil for taking time out to discuss his fishing life and the group. To find out more go to www.tenchfishers.com
Hello and welcome to 'CREEL' podcast from Efgeeco.com. CREEL is for the traditional angler, someone who might use a cane rod, maybe a centre pin reel, and someone who still gets a raised eyebrow in the tackle shop when they ask for a pint of gentles or a quill float. You might use a glass rod with your favourite childhood Intrepid reel, Perhaps you’ve grown up and now own your dream rod, a split cane Richard Walker MKIV carp rod twinned with a Mitchell 300 from the same era. The one mantra you live by is that your fishing should be fun.You angle to enjoy yourself - a shared morning with friends, a few hours after tea casting a spinner for perch, or maybe a classic June dawn alone, hunkered down quietly between the stands of reedmace as the quill flickers and wavers in response to unseen activity hidden below the water’s surface. Collectors, builders, craftsmen, artists, single species groups, writers and experts are 'CREELS' quarry. We’ll bring our discussions to you over the coming months. Follow us to keep up to date with recording schedules and future plans. You can listen to each episode by visiting efgeeco.co. the home of CREEL podcast or you can follow and subscribe from your smart phone using your favourite app. I’m Joff Elphick and I look forward to seeing you there.
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