
Angling books you cut your teeth on....
-
- Roach
- Posts: 143
- Joined: Mon Sep 05 2011 05:00
- Location: Ontario, Canada
Angling books you cut your teeth on....
This is one of mine, circa 1960. Think I picked it up around 1963 when I wanted to move on from a pike bung, and a number six hook wrapped in a worm for perch. I was 15 or there abouts....

You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
-
- Chub
- Posts: 1647
- Joined: Mon Nov 06 2017 15:05
Re: Angling books you cut your teeth on....
Mac McPherson wrote: ↑First pike book, (and probably the first angling book) I got my hands on was this one.....one of the few angling books in my small local library. Bought this copy a while back for sentimental reasons....This is one of mine, circa 1960. Think I picked it up around 1963 when I wanted to move on from a pike bung, and a number six hook wrapped in a worm for perch. I was 15 or there abouts....![]()
ledgering book(1).jpg
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
- John Milford
- Zander
- Posts: 7207
- Joined: Sun Aug 28 2011 05:00
- Location: Cloud Cuckoo Land
Re: Angling books you cut your teeth on....
This little book was almost on permanent loan to me from my primary school library. I must have renewed it 10 times or more!
And this one I still read from time to time.
And this one I still read from time to time.

You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
"He's some sort of lure savant. Or just has an unhealthy addiction to old lures. We are not quite sure . . . . . "
- davelumb
- Forum Sponsor
- Posts: 29142
- Joined: Sat Aug 27 2011 05:00
- Location: On some faraway beach
- Contact:
Re: Angling books you cut your teeth on....
John Milford wrote: ↑That Ladybird book and this one.This little book was almost on permanent loan to me from my primary school library. I must have renewed it 10 times or more!
coarse-fishing-vintage-ladybird-book-hobbies-series-633-matte-hardback-1974-2442-p.png
And this one I still read from time to time.![]()
IMG_20200107_143836.jpg
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
- John Milford
- Zander
- Posts: 7207
- Joined: Sun Aug 28 2011 05:00
- Location: Cloud Cuckoo Land
Re: Angling books you cut your teeth on....
davelumb wrote: ↑John Milford wrote: ↑That Ladybird book and this one.This little book was almost on permanent loan to me from my primary school library. I must have renewed it 10 times or more!
coarse-fishing-vintage-ladybird-book-hobbies-series-633-matte-hardback-1974-2442-p.png
And this one I still read from time to time.![]()
IMG_20200107_143836.jpg
_1030868.jpg

"He's some sort of lure savant. Or just has an unhealthy addiction to old lures. We are not quite sure . . . . . "
- davelumb
- Forum Sponsor
- Posts: 29142
- Joined: Sat Aug 27 2011 05:00
- Location: On some faraway beach
- Contact:
Re: Angling books you cut your teeth on....
And this one.
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
- John Milford
- Zander
- Posts: 7207
- Joined: Sun Aug 28 2011 05:00
- Location: Cloud Cuckoo Land
Re: Angling books you cut your teeth on....
davelumb wrote: ↑That picture is just what I look like these days on my local carp lake. I'm trying to get hold of a John Smith's pub umbrella for this summer, so that I can continue to completely freak-out the local 'carp boys' who all take themselves very seriously!And this one.DL2_0980.jpg

"He's some sort of lure savant. Or just has an unhealthy addiction to old lures. We are not quite sure . . . . . "
- davelumb
- Forum Sponsor
- Posts: 29142
- Joined: Sat Aug 27 2011 05:00
- Location: On some faraway beach
- Contact:
Re: Angling books you cut your teeth on....
John Milford wrote: ↑I hope your chair is as stripey as the one in the photo. Make sure you use 'kiddies' bank sticks.

You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
- old_school
- Gudgeon
- Posts: 61
- Joined: Sat Nov 05 2016 18:26
- Location: Derby
Re: Angling books you cut your teeth on....
Another vote for that Ladybird bible!
I was extremely lucky in that my dad bought the entire fisherman’s handbook weekly series (Marshall cavendish?) The tule was I was allowed free access as long as they never leave the house and I put them back in order.
Can’t for the life of me remember what happened to them now.
I was extremely lucky in that my dad bought the entire fisherman’s handbook weekly series (Marshall cavendish?) The tule was I was allowed free access as long as they never leave the house and I put them back in order.
Can’t for the life of me remember what happened to them now.
If you always fish where others fish, you'll always catch what others catch.
-
- Jack Pike
- Posts: 378
- Joined: Fri Sep 23 2016 18:28
- Location: England
Re: Angling books you cut your teeth on....
This was mine , well my dads lol
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
Born to fish but forced to work
- Monts
- Barbel
- Posts: 4016
- Joined: Tue Nov 17 2015 18:52
- Location: Yat Rock
Re: Angling books you cut your teeth on....
Woolley bully wrote: ↑This was mine , well my dads lol
Jesus, I remember those, did not have that amount though. Nice one

If you wanna go fishing go fishing.- John Gierach
- WSBeattie
- Roach
- Posts: 210
- Joined: Tue Sep 01 2015 21:20
- Location: Essex
Re: Angling books you cut your teeth on....
I had the Ladybird book when young and bought a copy on eBay a few years back. Probably the best couple of quid I've ever spent on fishing related stuff. Really brought back memories. Loved each page on different species and how to go after them.
The other two for me were the Know the Game Coarse Fishing (50p paperback) and the Observer's book of Coarse Fishing. Was amazed when discovered the cover pic for the former was of a localish weir pool I did some of my first pike fishing on. Happy days...

The other two for me were the Know the Game Coarse Fishing (50p paperback) and the Observer's book of Coarse Fishing. Was amazed when discovered the cover pic for the former was of a localish weir pool I did some of my first pike fishing on. Happy days...

-
- Barbel
- Posts: 2806
- Joined: Sun Aug 28 2011 05:00
- Location: Snods Edge, Northumberland
Re: Angling books you cut your teeth on....
Woolley bully wrote: ↑Still have mine, my Mam paid for them for me.This was mine , well my dads lol
Will.
-
- Perch
- Posts: 688
- Joined: Fri Feb 09 2018 15:15
- Location: S.W.Scotland
Re: Angling books you cut your teeth on....
Still got all my fishermans handbooks , used to be so excited each time one arrived through the letter box.Felt the same when carpworld first came out.
First books i had was one from woolies and one by john wilson.
First books i had was one from woolies and one by john wilson.
-
- Jack Pike
- Posts: 378
- Joined: Fri Sep 23 2016 18:28
- Location: England
Re: Angling books you cut your teeth on....
Monts wrote: ↑Yeah my dad was a really keen fisherman.Woolley bully wrote: ↑This was mine , well my dads lol
Jesus, I remember those, did not have that amount though. Nice one![]()
I Loved reading these books(more so looking at the pictures) lol
Born to fish but forced to work
- lochhopper
- Roach
- Posts: 209
- Joined: Wed Nov 14 2012 06:00
- Location: Bavaria, southern Germany
Re: Angling books you cut your teeth on....
After I got my beginner's fishing set (early 1980s), my father went into an antiquarian bookseller and came out with Fishing for Beginners by Maurice Wiggin, pub. 1953. I am guessing now that even at the time of its publication, and for the waters which I suppose the author must have expected his readers to want to fish in (the ponds and lowland rivers of the Midlands and southern England?), this book must have seemed somewhat eccentric, for example with its recommendations for learning to float fish for roach with a greenheart fly rod in order to train the reflexes to strike more quickly. Very few of its recommendations could be applied, however, to my attempts thirty years later at getting a few broonies oot the burn. No picture, but the last time I looked it was still sitting on its bookshelf, not all that far from said burn.
-
- Jack Pike
- Posts: 387
- Joined: Mon Feb 03 2020 05:30
Re: Angling books you cut your teeth on....
Fishing for pike with Mr Cherry and Jim. An Angling Times publication by Bernard Venables.
Perfection.
Perfection.
- Mercman
- Chub
- Posts: 2485
- Joined: Sat Sep 10 2016 13:25
- Location: Essex PAC 102
Re: Angling books you cut your teeth on....
John Milford wrote: ↑The Mr Crabtree one that John has put up was also my first book, long gone unfortunatelyThis little book was almost on permanent loan to me from my primary school library. I must have renewed it 10 times or more!
coarse-fishing-vintage-ladybird-book-hobbies-series-633-matte-hardback-1974-2442-p.png
And this one I still read from time to time.![]()
IMG_20200107_143836.jpg
Delboy is actually now 66 years old.
- John Milford
- Zander
- Posts: 7207
- Joined: Sun Aug 28 2011 05:00
- Location: Cloud Cuckoo Land
Re: Angling books you cut your teeth on....
Mercman wrote: ↑The great thing about all these popular old books Ray, is that they aren't difficult to find on eBay and (apart from 1st editions sometimes) not that expensive.John Milford wrote: ↑The Mr Crabtree one that John has put up was also my first book, long gone unfortunatelyThis little book was almost on permanent loan to me from my primary school library. I must have renewed it 10 times or more!
coarse-fishing-vintage-ladybird-book-hobbies-series-633-matte-hardback-1974-2442-p.png
And this one I still read from time to time.![]()
IMG_20200107_143836.jpg
I'm sure Delboy would let you read his - under close supervision!

"He's some sort of lure savant. Or just has an unhealthy addiction to old lures. We are not quite sure . . . . . "
- davelumb
- Forum Sponsor
- Posts: 29142
- Joined: Sat Aug 27 2011 05:00
- Location: On some faraway beach
- Contact:
Re: Angling books you cut your teeth on....
I have never understood the appeal of Mr Crabtree. I think the illustration style (or lack of style!) put me off, and they seemed old fashioned.
- Monts
- Barbel
- Posts: 4016
- Joined: Tue Nov 17 2015 18:52
- Location: Yat Rock
Re: Angling books you cut your teeth on....
davelumb wrote: ↑I have never understood the appeal of Mr Crabtree. I think the illustration style (or lack of style!) put me off, and they seemed old fashioned.
What ever you do don't pic up BVs Biography A Stream of Life. A really tedious and difficult read IMO. And I'm sad to say I never made it to the end.
If you wanna go fishing go fishing.- John Gierach
- davelumb
- Forum Sponsor
- Posts: 29142
- Joined: Sat Aug 27 2011 05:00
- Location: On some faraway beach
- Contact:
Re: Angling books you cut your teeth on....
Monts wrote: ↑Thanks for the warning.davelumb wrote: ↑I have never understood the appeal of Mr Crabtree. I think the illustration style (or lack of style!) put me off, and they seemed old fashioned.
What ever you do don't pic up BVs Biography A Stream of Life. A really tedious and difficult read IMO. And I'm sad to say I never made it to the end.
I've been googling BV and found a lovely clip of him plugging for pike. Smart use of the gaff too.

I'd post the vid if it didn't name the loch!

- Monts
- Barbel
- Posts: 4016
- Joined: Tue Nov 17 2015 18:52
- Location: Yat Rock
Re: Angling books you cut your teeth on....
davelumb wrote: ↑Monts wrote: ↑Thanks for the warning.davelumb wrote: ↑I have never understood the appeal of Mr Crabtree. I think the illustration style (or lack of style!) put me off, and they seemed old fashioned.
What ever you do don't pic up BVs Biography A Stream of Life. A really tedious and difficult read IMO. And I'm sad to say I never made it to the end.
I've been googling BV and found a lovely clip of him plugging for pike. Smart use of the gaff too.![]()
I'd post the vid if it didn't name the loch!![]()
Lots of stuff on Youtube, BV fishing all over, Jack Hargreaves, Ivan Marks etc. All bring a smile to my face.

If you wanna go fishing go fishing.- John Gierach
- davelumb
- Forum Sponsor
- Posts: 29142
- Joined: Sat Aug 27 2011 05:00
- Location: On some faraway beach
- Contact:
Re: Angling books you cut your teeth on....
Monts wrote: ↑I've been watching Jack Hargreaves stuff.davelumb wrote: ↑Monts wrote: ↑Thanks for the warning.davelumb wrote: ↑I have never understood the appeal of Mr Crabtree. I think the illustration style (or lack of style!) put me off, and they seemed old fashioned.
What ever you do don't pic up BVs Biography A Stream of Life. A really tedious and difficult read IMO. And I'm sad to say I never made it to the end.
I've been googling BV and found a lovely clip of him plugging for pike. Smart use of the gaff too.![]()
I'd post the vid if it didn't name the loch!![]()
Lots of stuff on Youtube, BV fishing all over, Jack Hargreaves, Ivan Marks etc. All bring a smile to my face.![]()

https://www.youtube.com/user/MrDsKitchen/videos
- Monts
- Barbel
- Posts: 4016
- Joined: Tue Nov 17 2015 18:52
- Location: Yat Rock
Re: Angling books you cut your teeth on....
davelumb wrote: ↑They are all good, no matter how dated. If YouTube gets a glitch over the next few weeks. I expect large scale disorder on the streetsMonts wrote: ↑I've been watching Jack Hargreaves stuff.davelumb wrote: ↑Monts wrote: ↑Thanks for the warning.davelumb wrote: ↑I have never understood the appeal of Mr Crabtree. I think the illustration style (or lack of style!) put me off, and they seemed old fashioned.
What ever you do don't pic up BVs Biography A Stream of Life. A really tedious and difficult read IMO. And I'm sad to say I never made it to the end.
I've been googling BV and found a lovely clip of him plugging for pike. Smart use of the gaff too.![]()
I'd post the vid if it didn't name the loch!![]()
Lots of stuff on Youtube, BV fishing all over, Jack Hargreaves, Ivan Marks etc. All bring a smile to my face.![]()
https://www.youtube.com/user/MrDsKitchen/videos
If you wanna go fishing go fishing.- John Gierach
- davelumb
- Forum Sponsor
- Posts: 29142
- Joined: Sat Aug 27 2011 05:00
- Location: On some faraway beach
- Contact:
Re: Angling books you cut your teeth on....
Monts wrote: ↑davelumb wrote: ↑They are all good, no matter how dated. If YouTube gets a glitch over the next few weeks. I expect large scale disorder on the streetsMonts wrote: ↑I've been watching Jack Hargreaves stuff.davelumb wrote: ↑Monts wrote: ↑Thanks for the warning.davelumb wrote: ↑I have never understood the appeal of Mr Crabtree. I think the illustration style (or lack of style!) put me off, and they seemed old fashioned.
What ever you do don't pic up BVs Biography A Stream of Life. A really tedious and difficult read IMO. And I'm sad to say I never made it to the end.
I've been googling BV and found a lovely clip of him plugging for pike. Smart use of the gaff too.![]()
I'd post the vid if it didn't name the loch!![]()
Lots of stuff on Youtube, BV fishing all over, Jack Hargreaves, Ivan Marks etc. All bring a smile to my face.![]()
https://www.youtube.com/user/MrDsKitchen/videos

- davelumb
- Forum Sponsor
- Posts: 29142
- Joined: Sat Aug 27 2011 05:00
- Location: On some faraway beach
- Contact:
- John Milford
- Zander
- Posts: 7207
- Joined: Sun Aug 28 2011 05:00
- Location: Cloud Cuckoo Land
Re: Angling books you cut your teeth on....
davelumb wrote: ↑I thought the Mr Crabtree' books were old fashioned, even when I read them in the 1960s! However, I found they captured the essence of fishing, if not the substance.I have never understood the appeal of Mr Crabtree. I think the illustration style (or lack of style!) put me off, and they seemed old fashioned.
(Simple drawings, with their sometimes dodgy perspective, and all!).
This one is a howler, but perhaps the most evocative of them for me.

You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
"He's some sort of lure savant. Or just has an unhealthy addiction to old lures. We are not quite sure . . . . . "
- davelumb
- Forum Sponsor
- Posts: 29142
- Joined: Sat Aug 27 2011 05:00
- Location: On some faraway beach
- Contact:
Re: Angling books you cut your teeth on....
John Milford wrote: ↑They just look crap to me.davelumb wrote: ↑I thought the Mr Crabtree' books were old fashioned, even when I read them in the 1960s! However, I found they captured the essence of fishing, if not the substance.I have never understood the appeal of Mr Crabtree. I think the illustration style (or lack of style!) put me off, and they seemed old fashioned.
(Simple drawings, with their sometimes dodgy perspective, and all!).
This one is a howler, but perhaps the most evocative of them for me.![]()
Crabtree run~2.JPG

- John Milford
- Zander
- Posts: 7207
- Joined: Sun Aug 28 2011 05:00
- Location: Cloud Cuckoo Land
Re: Angling books you cut your teeth on....
davelumb wrote: ↑It's not that Venables couldn't draw, or was a poor draughtsman - he was simply using artistic licence to capture the moment.John Milford wrote: ↑They just look crap to me.davelumb wrote: ↑I thought the Mr Crabtree' books were old fashioned, even when I read them in the 1960s! However, I found they captured the essence of fishing, if not the substance.I have never understood the appeal of Mr Crabtree. I think the illustration style (or lack of style!) put me off, and they seemed old fashioned.
(Simple drawings, with their sometimes dodgy perspective, and all!).
This one is a howler, but perhaps the most evocative of them for me.![]()
Crabtree run~2.JPG![]()
Do you dislike 'graphic novel' type art in general, or just his Dave?
"He's some sort of lure savant. Or just has an unhealthy addiction to old lures. We are not quite sure . . . . . "