Fen Peter

For all those looking for their hour lost you are directed to Caught by the River where you may see a short film about Peter Carter the last working eel man on the Fen and friend of the artist Bible John Richardson.

The Maggot Vending Machine of Tollington Park

All those of you who still indulge in  the old-fashioned modernist habit of reading a newspaper on a Sunday may have noticed the piece on Page 7 of yesterday's Observer New Review by Mr. Stewart Lee about a Maggot Vending Machine which was situated on Tollington Park not far from where the poet Mr. Will Burns currently resides.  If you would like to read more about the Maggot Vending Machine might I be so bold as to direct you towards a letter that I wrote to Mr. Jeff Barrett of Caught by the River when it was in its infancy.  Those of you who read the site regularly may also be aware of the existence of my Maggot Vending Machine Map of Great Britain and Northern Ireland which was published in Issue 2 of the Caught by the River Fanzine 'An Antidote to Indifference'.  This issue is now sold out but the legend of the Maggot Vending Machine lives on.

Author Unknown: 1920's Salmon & Trout Scrapbook

Found yesterday in a carrier bag bought at the stall from a well known old school book dealer a splendid scrapbook dating to the 1920's mainly concerning the life of the salmon and the eel and featuring a season's worth of entries about loch fishing in Scotland.  The author is unknown.

Way Beyond the Outskirts of Pandemonium

A late return from a few days on the road seeing in the end of the season with the artist known as John Richardson and buying treasures in far flung auction houses for the stall tomorrow.

Last Knockings

As is sometimes customary on this day I am off via the ancient-modernist route known as the A10 Tea Van Triangle to spend the final hours of the season in the company of the artist John Richardson fishing for pike, perch and putting to bed our forthcoming collaboration for St Jude's 'Random Spectacular' over a couple of bottles of late winter ale.

Frank and Robert (London) Ltd

Once upon a time in Arcadia in the years immediately Post-War, ladies and gentlemen abroad on the streets of London and in search of that which was known as 'Marvella Fishing Tackle' would travel east to Quebec Wharf on the Kingsland Road in the district of London known as E.8.  There, they could talk to Frank and Robert the manufacturers and exporters of Marvella Fishing Tackle about the pros and cons of the 'Riverman' Pike Rod, the 'Mercedes' Salmon Spinning Rod or the 'Herna' Whole Cane Sea Rod.

Today in this the Year of Our Lord and Other Seasons Ends 2014 if you are a lady or a gentlemen abroad on the streets of London and in search of what is known as Marvellous Fishing Tackle you are advised to visit me at my stall in Spitalfields Antiques Market  on Commercial Street in the district of London known as E.1. where every Thursday between the hours of 8am and 3pm I sell Vintage Fishing Tackle for the Soul.  You might even see Gilbert and George who are market regulars.  Buses leave Kingsland Road for the market every ten minutes throughout the day. Thank-you.

Last Week Blessings

The remaining days of the season are dwindling to nought, wherever and with whomever you will fish before the midnight hour on Friday may the blessings of all of the anglers who have gone before you go with you.

A Paper Bag For The Soul

Presented to me at Romsey Tackle Fair on Sunday by a gentleman of distinction a waxed paper bag for the soul advertising The Gryphon, which it is believed was once a Public House to be found in the district of London known as N.21.

Largest Maggots in London

Once upon a time in Arcadia in the Year of Our Lord and Other Rationing 1948, ladies and gentlemen abroad in London in the final two weeks of the coarse fishing season could telephone Harrow 0119 and request a pint or two of 'The Largest Maggots in London'.  Such was the claim made of their stock by F.J Young of Station Road, latterly more widely known as Youngs of Harrow.

Should you be a lady or a gentleman abroad on the streets of London or nearby Subtopia and be in search of The Largest Maggots in London with which to fish in these the final two weeks/week of the coarse season you are kindly advised to call me on Field Telephone 07980 274 383 where I might inform you of the location of dealers who even in this the Year of Our Lord and Other Ordeals 2014 will sell you 'The Largest Maggots in London'. You may also like to know that on occasion, and today is such, I sell containers for maggots in the classic form of the post-war aluminium or the old fashioned modern Efgeeco plastic tub and that you may buy either from my stall at Spitalfields Antiques Market where on Thursdays only between the hours of 8am and 3pm I sell Vintage Fishing Tackle for the Soul.  Thank-you.

Gravity Minnow

Found in a box bought at auction very recently an 'Improved Form of Spinning Bait for Pike Salmon or other Fish' patented by Leonard Crossle of Gorst Road, Wandsworth Common in the Year 1905 and subsequently marketed by Milwards of Redditch as The "Gravity" Minnow.  The Gravity Minnow was made of hollow metal and could be filled with water to give it weight to cast greater distances than other more conventional spinning baits.

Will Burns - Faber New Poet

Across kitchens of distinction in all of Arcadia, dogs and cats are thrown in the air and kissed, jugs of gin and tanks of ale are downed, kettles are boiled dry, Elgar himself dances on the table and the devil is locked in the pantry as news comes in that our good friend and fellow Partisan the poet Will Burns has been announced as one of the four Faber New Poets of 2014 alongside Rachael Allen, Zaffar Kunial and Declan Ryan.  The four were chosen from a list of over 850 submissions and will be on tour across the country later this year.  A pamphlet will be published by Faber to coincide with the tour but in the meantime for all those hungry for Will's words here is a link to 'A High Garden'' published on Caught by the River where he is poet in residence.