In the U.K., Major Oliver Kite (1920 – 1968) was a British master flyfisher, writer, broadcaster, naturalist and television personality of the 1960s, but I doubt he ever fished this method despite his last name.
Details of Colin M Jarman's talk on Charles Cotton the Father of Fly Fishing
Colin M Jarman standing in front of a projection screen showing Charles Cotton's Anglers Ballad poem.
Table display for Colin M Jarman's trilogy of Compleat Angler Books.
Golden ticket for the fly-fishing Spring Gathering in Devon.
Fabulous fly-fishing weekend - giving a "Compleat Angler" book talk on "Charles Cotton: the Father of Fly-Fishing" - at the Trout & Salmon Spring Gathering in Devon (UK). #flyfishing #trout #salmon #rivers #books
Discount offer on The Compleat Angler trilogy reimagined and written by Colin M Jarman
Happy World Book Day ... which coincides with the first chance to pre-order all three books in our "Compleat Angler" trilogy* - at a discount - ahead of publication in May.
Pls DM us for more details.
*
Part 1 by Izaak Walton (1653)
Part 2 by Charles Cotton (1676)
Part 3 by Colin M Jarman (2026)
Table top display of Compleat Angler books and paraphenalia.
Excellent few days at the British Fly Fair International (BFFI) in Stafford - coincidentally the birthplace of Izaak Walton [the writer of Part One of "The Compleat Angler"].
Enjoyable time meeting hundreds of fly anglers, expert fly-tyers & casters - chatting about our trilogy boxset of books.
The Compleat Angler trilogy of books featuring cover artwork from the 18th century of two anglers fishing a river and hooking a fish.
This weekend we are showcasing our forthcoming trilogy of "Compleat Angler" books & Izaak Walton / Charles Cotton related items at the British Fly Fair International in the Staffordshire Show Ground.
Always interested to hear your thoughts on "The Compleat Angler" ...
#fly-fishing #books #rivers
A Robin Redbreast perched on a fishing rod.
One of the great non-angling joys of winter fishing in the UK. An ultra-friendly Robin - who helped himself to this perilous perch as well as repeatedly digging into my bait box. #Robin #Fishing #CompleatAngler
Family fishing on a lake in Malawi, Africa.
As kids growing up in Africa (Malawi) in the 1960s, I fished with a 12 foot, one-piece greenheart rod, while my younger brother used my dad's broken driver (sans clubhead) as his rod... and no reel ! Seem to recall he caught his share of fish.
Have been nominated for a photo comp by Farlows (fly-fishing outfitters to King Charles III)
Any votes/likes welcomed for my pic of a Mayfly in front of Charles Cotton's iconic Fishing house on the river Dove in the Peak District #flyfishing #photos #river #fishing
www.facebook.com/farlowsuk/po...
A large mayfly sitting on an old stone bench with Charles Cotton's iconic River Dove fishing house in the background.
A River Dove mayfly sitting on the ancient stone bench opposite Charles Cotton's iconic Fishing Temple - as featured in his Part Two of "The Compleat Angler."
#flyfishing #mayfly #compleatangler #fishinghouse #riverdove
www.thecompleatangler.net
Wild brown trout in a fishing net in the river
Jay, very true. I spent 45 mins in the same spot covering a large white unidentifiable fish with wet & dry flies to no avail but definitely not 45 mins wasted. Was as interested in IDing the fish as hooking it - in the end I managed neither. Although I did net a smaller trout in the same spot.
Have always believed it is not about the time elapsed or distance travelled forward but the memories left behind that really counts in fly-fishing.
Wild brown trout
Clear chalkstream river with weed and trees.
Large mayfly perched on my hand.
Early morning wild brown #trout caught (on a Grey Drake) within a few miles of Canterbury Cathedral in Kent, on an idyllic stretch of the #River Stour #chalkstream - where the Mayflies are living up to their name. #FlyFishing at its best?
Segmented tray with river flies and nymphs segregated into mayflies, olives, caddis flies, shrimps, and other aquatic life forms.
My first RiverFly* sample on my local Kent chalkstream: olives, mayfly, caseless & cased caddis, shrimps + other aquatic life inc tiny tadpole-like fish fry from a 3 min kick sample across the river.
*RMI @riverflies.bsky.social scheme
#flyfishing #river #insects #chalkstream #flies #conservation
A rare day #fishing a local lake. An invasion of #swans took over the water for 30 mins. Never seen so many 🦢 in one go. Sadly, their presence did not improve my catch rate but did increase my heart rate 💓
Who else has had a similar #angling / #bird experience?
#nature
youtube.com/shorts/2s1zC...
Tenkara Update: After the much appreciated advice from the Tenkara tribe on here I've ordered a 12' rod/kit.
To be mainly used on the more mature #rivers & #chalkstreams in/around my native Kent (UK) - a typical example shown in the video.
Any more thoughts of #Tenkara #fishing such rivers?
TIA
Nick Faldo quote about golf and marriage.
Front cover of the Guinness Book of Humorous Quotes compiled by Colin Jarman
First time I heard this "old chestnut" was a version from golf legend Nick Faldo (back in 1995) which featured in my "Book of Humorous Sports Quotes."
Any other known variants of this quote/joke out there?
Silhouette of me fishing in Tampa Bay at sunrise.
Silhouette of me fishing in Tampa Bay at sunrise.
#Fishing #Tampa #Sunrise #Photography #StormHour
Authors, post something related to your last publication or WIP without context.
Ben, agree on the heavy 17th century angling dress code.
One of the chapters in my Compleat Angler books discusses how they fished in such garb. Especially wading!
As Cervantes pointed out: "There's no taking trout with dry breeches." Clearly, no chest waders.
#flyfishing #trout #angler #fishing
Jay, thanks for the replies & link. Very interesting/informative place to start.
My #Tenkara interest is two-fold:
1. Experience how Walton/Cotton may have fly-fished 300 years ago as part of my TCA book research.
2. As an option for #flyfishing smaller, less accessible streams in the UK.
Arigatō
Old school fly angler (wearing a top hat) dapping for trout in river while hiding behind a large tree.
Okay, any suggestions for a neophyte #Tenkara angler who wants to embrace this form of #flyfishing.
Having been researching & writing about Izaak Walton & Charles Cotton for a few years, figure it's time I followed in their footsteps and tried the no #fishing reel method.
Any tips or advice? TIA
Lemon Nugget Apache Trout Fishing Fly
Oh well, when life gives you lemons then what better than to make a batch of Lemon Nugget Apache Trout Fishing Flies ? Good luck wherever your future guides you. #HappyTying
Macedonian fly fishing mural from 2000 years ago
Ancient angler catching a fish in a hand held net.
Jay, 2000 years ago the Macedonians (Ancient Greece) fly-fished a Hippūrus: a bumble-bee sized fly made of red wool & two cock's feathers. This is from Aelianus in ‘De Natura Animalium’ (c 300 AD). It's not clear if this was 'dapping' but from these images it looks like the method used. #flyfishing
The hirsute orange angler is very well attired to be as one with nature: Budgie smugglers, Crocs (on his feet) sporting a Mullet cut (on his head) - bird, reptile & fish kingdoms all covered. Top job! #fishing #angler
Cover artwork for three fishing "Compleat Angler" books - Parts One & Two by Izaak Walton & Charles Cotton, and Part Three by Colin M Jarman.
Publishing three connected books this year, but they're not quite a trilogy. First two are my reimaginations of 17th century Eng Lit classics; the third is my novel inspired by the originals, which in turn rewrites the history & mythology of the first two #BookSky #Fishing www.TheCompleatAngler.net
Arthur Rackham's painting of Piscator and Viator from The Compleat Angler sitting under a tree having lunch besides a river after a successful session of fishing.
Agree, there is something about Rackham's ethereal style that suits Walton's dream-like vision of a day spent #fishing (and lunching) besides a river in good company.
Admittedly, the #rainbow is a little over the top 🤔
Jay, would be interested in how finding out how close Walton & Charles Cotton (who was the true dry #flyfishing expert of the two TCA authors) came to a #Tenkara style of #fishing (or not)?
Promo cover art for Colin M Jarman's 2025 game fishing novel "The Compleat Angler - Part Three: Fly- Fishing the River Frome" ... along with covers for his reimagined versions of the original 17th century fishing manuals written by Izaak Walton & Charles Cotton.
Three new #books I am publishing later this year: my re-edited / reimagained versions of the original "Compleat Angler" #fishing manuals cum travelogues by Izaak Walton (1653) & Charles Cotton (1676), plus my #novel "TCA3: #Fly-Fishing the #River Frome."
More details at: www.TheCompleatAngler.net
Excellent map!
Although not buried, the River Lea has been straightened over the years to be more navigable.
I'll be #fishing it at the end of this month, when I follow in Izaak Walton's footsteps - as he angled for chub and trout in the Lea in the late 1600s in the original 'Compleat Angler.'
Aha, that'll explain it; some images were likely bait fishing.
As well as artists drawing guides, two of my images show anglers tugging the line with fish on (a no-no in Walton's book) rather than play the fish on the rod. Walton would likely throw his rod in after the fish rather than tug the line!
