In a life that rarely slows down, the bankside is where I find stillness.
My love affair with fishing started as a boy, sitting beside my dad on the banks of the River Severn, rods out for barbel, not saying much — just watching the water. That silence, the kind you only find at the water's edge, is something I have been chasing ever since.
Over the past 20-plus years I have fished lakes, rivers, reservoirs, and coastlines the length and breadth of the British Isles. I have landed a 25lb catfish, more double-figure carp than I can count, and spent more nights in a bivvy than my family would probably like to admit.
My most treasured rod is a Masterline John Wilson Avon/Quiver — bought with my dad for that first Severn trip and still going strong today. My dad and I bought our original John Wilson rods more than 20 years ago for a trip to the Severn for barbel. Since then I have used mine on countless lakes and rivers, adopting every conceivable tactic. It holds so much history, and reminds me of so many great fishing trips. I even had it featured in Angling Times as a "Used & Abused" reader test — rated priceless and irreplaceable, just like the memories attached to it.
"For me, fishing has never just been about the catch. It is about the peace. The early morning mist lifting off a still lake. The sound of a reel singing. The moment before a bite when the whole world goes quiet."
Why Angler Isles?
I wanted to build the resource I always wished existed — a single place where any angler, whether they are planning a weekend trip to a local carp lake or a week-long salmon expedition in the Scottish Highlands, could find the right water, read honest reports, and sort out somewhere decent to stay nearby. No paywalls, no fuss. Just good information for people who love fishing as much as I do.
Angler Isles covers over 660 fisheries across England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, and Ireland — from wild Highland lochs and chalk streams to commercial carp lakes and sea fishing marks. Every listing includes accommodation options nearby, because a good fishing trip deserves a good night's sleep too.
I hope Angler Isles helps you find your next favourite spot — and maybe a little of that peace too.