This is not a new book (1996), but I got a cheap copy from Amazon (marketplace).
Brian Clarke is a superb writer, his original book being a renowned classic ? mainly written around stockies ? but written in the days when stocked fisheries were somewhat more wholesome places than they are today.
Anyway, this book is a collection of short pieces from his various newspaper columns and they are superbly written. The sign of a good writer, in my view, is one who can write intelligently and in a captivating manner, using everyday English. In short, a book you can enjoy without the need for constant referral to the Oxford English dictionary. At this Clarke excels.
One chapter is very relevant to us all. He discusses the threat to angling and quite rightly points out that the real threat does not come from ?antis? but from alienating public opinion, which, fortunately is still with us to a large extent. He discusses modern day commercial fisheries and some of the less savoury practices ?forced? upon them by competition for the anglers business. If you think some stocked rainbow fisheries leave a bit to be desired, you should read what goes on in stocked course fisheries.
Quote : ? Right now, excesses within angling are gradually inclining us in one direction when public opinion is gradually moving in the other. Only by resisting all excesses will we avoid a premature collision ???.?
Quote from: SandflyNever heard of that one Fred but I agree about the original , The Pursuit Of Stillwater Trout is well worth reading .
The Trout and The Fly co-written with John Goddard was also a great thought provoking book .
Davy .
You can pick it up on Amazon for under a fiver + P&P. My copy was about 7 quid in total. A new, unread copy and damned good buy.