Did I say I was going to go Grayling fishing? Well on Friday evening my mate Mick informed me that the upper Aire valley had become a vast lake - putting paid to my plans for some long trotting. Hmm... Time for a rethink!

A call to Rivercall informed me that the Nidd and the Wharfe were my best option with the Wharfe being a mere 4ft above normal. Given...

I have decided to quit smoking, i have tried before in the past with some limited success, but, i am determined to give up forever, just so i can get myself fit again and enjoy myself more and spend more time doing things with my family.

I know it won't be easy, and i am under no illusions that the likely hood of failing is high, but, it is important that i try.

This is my first day of quitting, i haven't had a cigarette since 11pm Friday 27th of November.
...

Tuesday night. I'm lying in bed listening to the rain beat against the bedroom window. It feels hot in the bedroom so it must be mild outside. It's been over a week since I last fished and I'm starting to obsess about it.

I start to work through options in my head, factoring water temperatures and river levels with swim choice. The two trees, the rush bed, the tall trees, the goit - favourite swims dotted about Yorkshire. I can see each one in my mind's eye: brown swirling waters...

It's been a while but I've managed to finish tackle box pt2

I never go pike fishing alone ‘cos I’m soft and need help to get the hooks out! I went the other day to a well known carp lake in Norfolk; the three of us in one swim, Glen, Micky and myself; dead-baiting with mackerel and sardines. It was a pleasant day, if a bit cool. We were in a roomy swim, 15 – 20 yards wide and the water in front of us varied in depth from 4 ft to 12 ft from right to left.
At about ten-thirty Glen produced his food flask and served 3 steaming bowls of chili he’d...