CREEL

In an age where knocking a fish on the head has thankfully fallen out of fashion, anglers are often looking for other ways to celebrate the capture of a specimen fish. Without a body the taxidermist's skill is no longer required - step in Edward Barrett a skilled fish sculptor from Dorset. 
 
Using his skills as a modelmaker Edward crafts beautiful reproductions of the fish, setting them within glass-fronted, wooden cases, to accurately reproduce the style of the classic  'stuffed fish' that we see in pubs, fishing huts, and tackle shops around the country.
 
Painstakingly matched to the original dimensions, individual scales, hand-built eyes, and wonderful translucent fins are created by Edward in his workshop where the fish is finished in a case adorned with traditional gilded lettering. 
 
In this episode of CREELpodcast Edward talks to Joff about the fishing on his doorstep and his love of vintage tackle. His reels include a Hardy Altex, little 3 inch aerial and an Aerial T6. His rod a Wallis Wizard.
 
Light the fire, sit back and enjoy 40 minutes of inspiring angling talk.

THE BIGGEST TENCH OF THE YEAR! - float caught giant tops mega spell for fans of the species.  
This was the headline in Angling Times that threw Chris Netto into the angling limelight. Attending as a steward at the Tenchfishers  2025 Tench Championships held at Linear Fisheries Chris stayed on for a few extra days. After a fruitless 24 hours bar a tiny Jack pike Chris nearly packed up and went home, but after chatting to fellow tenchfishers decided to persevere and stay on overnight. The rest as they say is history with Chris catching the largest float caught tench on record. 
Listen to Chris tell Joff of his early days in angling and how he progressed through meeting the right people to become a multi species angler who is equally at home in salt water, modern LLF fishing or with a fly rod in his hand. 
 
Plenty of other anglers get a name-check in this episode:
Tony King

Chris Turnbull

Tom Critchel

Peter Rolfe

Gary Boyce

Mike Simmons

Dean Bradshaw

Graham Elliot

Ben Kennedy

John Fox

Stuart Stevens

Adam Bojar

Les Bamford

Steve Chambers

Graham Elliot

John Fox

Stuart Stevens

Paul (a friend from Farnham angling)

Ian Roper

For more episodes head over to EFGEECO.COM
Keen on tench? Listen to episode #6 where I speak to Phil Jackson of The tenchfishers.

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.

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.

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.