麻豆约拍

TRADITIONAL FISHERMAN

Dan is the traditionalist of the group. He is from South Wales and uses a coracle to fish from; a traditional, lightweight hand-made boat and net which have been used for hundreds of years in Wales. Dan has done some sea fishing with rod and line too and describes himself as a jack of all trades, but he is predominantly a fisherman that is comfortable with a net.

Dan volunteers for the RNLI. He lives with his wife Michelle and their two children, Codie and Abigail.

Aside from fishing, Dan supports Wales in the rugby and likes anything sporty.

FLY FISHERWOMAN

Emma is predominantly a fly fisherwoman and adores the outdoors. She is from a long line of fishing enthusiasts and her father was her fishing idol. Emma has been fishing since she was a young girl, and has always used fishing as an excuse to escape the house work.

She is an active fisherwoman and can’t bear being in one spot so continually moves to stalk her fish, which she likens to bringing out her inner cave woman! She says that fishing ‘makes her grin from ear to ear!’

Emma lives with her sons, Jake and Harry, and her ‘two scruffy dogs’ Purdy and Fly. When not fishing and cheering her sons at their various sports matches, Emma volunteers in a local charity shop.

FRESHWATER FISHERMAN

Geoff is a Londoner through and through. He’s run a market stall since he was 13 years old and, on retirement, moved to a stretch of the river on Hay on Wye, where he now lives with his wife Maggi and their dog, fulfilling a lifetime dream.

Geoff has been fishing since he was a little boy and was largely inspired by his fishing hero, Cousin Reg. Geoff's introduction to fishing was hand-lining for mackerel. Although he was accompanied by his dad, who knew a little about fishing from days in the Navy, Geoff is self-taught.

When not writing about fishing, trying to catch salmon, or working on his Covent Garden market stall; Geoff volunteers for a fishing charity which takes troubled young people on fishing trips.

FLY FISHERMAN

James is a football fanatic, but thinks landing a fish beats the feeling of scoring a goal.

Both a car salesman and a clothes salesman, James is driven by targets; at work, in the gym and on the river. He wants to do well in the competition to prove to himself and to others that he hasn’t been wasting his time on the river bank all these years!

When James was 17 he got a job in his village tackle shop and now, living next to the Tyne, James mainly fishes for Salmon on the fly. So that he can go fishing at the drop of a hat, James keeps his tackle in the car and thinks of it as his mobile tackle box. If he goes on holiday he packs a telescopic rod with him just in case… James lives with his girlfriend Victoria who he runs his business with. When he’s not working James plays on his local football team every Sunday.

FLY AND SPINNING FISHERWOMAN

Jo loves all kinds of animals, and has worked as a veterinary nurse for the last 10 years. She sees fishing as a way to get close to the fish to inspect these beautiful creatures.

Jo originally started fishing at the age of 17 as it was the only way she could spend some time with her now husband Jonny, and has since become a fully-fledged fishing fanatic in her own right. They live with their two Labradors, Steller and Eider, who Jo loves training and taking for walks along the beach.

Jo started with lure fishing but has become more interested in fly-fishing because she enjoys tying her own flies. Jo likes to try all the different fishing disciplines and, at the moment, she is focussing on fly fishing from a kayak using flies she has tied herself. Jo also reached black belt level in her martial arts discipline so inherently has the focus, concentration and drive to succeed.

FLY AND SPINNING FISHERMAN

Phil is a dedicated fisherman who specialises in catching salmon and trout. He is known to plan his life around the salmon season...

Phil’s garden shed is a proper ‘Man Cave’; he has tool stations for making his own fishing lures plus everything he’d need for his other love, DIY. His wife, Ellen, puts up with the fact that any home DIY projects are put off during the salmon season.

Phil’s been fishing since he was 12 years old. As a lover of all things outdoors, fishing was a natural progression for him and his friends. With over forty-five years of experience, Phil believes his enthusiasm for fishing will never die as there’s always something bigger or better to aspire to.

COARSE FISHERMAN

A keen river coarse fisherman, Ripon always keeps tackle in his car boot in case an impromptu fishing opportunity arises. He’s such a regular at his favourite river spot, the locals have dubbed it ‘Ripon’s Run’. Even out of season he visits the fish to make sure they are fed. The first fish that he ever caught was a Gudgeon in the local river he still fishes in. Ripon and his brother stole some thread from his mum’s sewing kit and some leftover sweetcorn and got lucky…

Ripon has been fishing since he was about three years old and claims he understands the river. The youngest of the anglers, Ripon lives at home with his mum and siblings. He was taught to fish by his father who had learned to fish as a child in Bangladesh. Ripon’s love of fishing is connected to his family’s roots in Bangladesh where being able to fish meant being able to eat.

Ripon’s idea of an ideal evening involves hours on the riverbank with a kebab and the prospect of catching a barbel!

THE ALL-ROUNDER

Sam is a walking encyclopaedia of fishing theory; from knots to rigs to species behaviour, believing research is the key to success.

Sam’s been intrigued by fishing since he spotted his granddad’s tackle shed as a child but was not allowed to go in. He has been fishing since he was about six years old, spurred on by his grandparents who were both keen fishermen. Sam lives with his wife, Leila, and grandmother, Freda, and he tries to take Freda on a fishing holiday every year.

He may have changed careers and passions throughout his life but he says that his fishing has been the only constant throughout. He now runs his own painting and decorating business which works alongside his brother’s building company.

Sam is a true all-rounder; fishing off the pier and in lakes and rivers. He is least confident in fly fishing and so has been practising in his local park using paint pot lids as targets!