Exploring the River Wye: Angling, Conservation, and Controversies with Dave Roberts

Join Keith Arthur in this episode of the Strange Boat Podcast as he chats with versatile angling star Dave Roberts. They delve into Dave's journey from his early fishing experiences influenced by his father to becoming a renowned figure in match fishing. The discussion covers a variety of topics including the evolution of fishing on the River Wye, the challenges posed by changing environmental conditions, and the controversies surrounding river conservation efforts. Dave shares insights into his love for salmon fishing, the emotional connection it brings, and how rivers have adapted over time. Reflecting on both personal experiences and broader environmental issues, this episode offers a deep look at the intersection of angling, nature, and advocacy.

00:00 Introduction to the Strange Boat Podcast

00:09 Meet David Roberts: The Versatile Angler

00:35 Clearing Up Misconceptions: David's Welsh Identity

02:30 Early Fishing Memories: David's Childhood

05:15 The Journey into Match Fishing

17:42 Transition to Commercial Fisheries

24:33 Balancing Family and Fishing

31:37 The Emotional Connection to Salmon Fishing

34:12 The Emotional Connection to Salmon Fishing

35:49 Challenges and Realities of Salmon Fishing

38:33 Reflections on Match Fishing

42:00 Changes in River Ecosystems

49:48 The Impact of Climate and Human Activity

53:41 Controversies and Misconceptions about River Pollution

01:09:05 Concluding Thoughts and Reflections

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Angling Adventures with Steve Collett: International Success and the Future of Lure Fishing |

In this episode of the Strange Boat Podcast, host Keith Arthur invites angler Steve Collett to discuss his journey over the past three and a half years. Steve shares his experiences in the world of international lure fishing, detailing the challenges and successes he's encountered. They delve into the passion and commitment required in the sport, the differences in angling cultures worldwide, and the rise of lure fishing in the UK. The pair also discuss the importance of adapting to new techniques, the state of tackle shops, and Steve's innovative ideas for promoting angling. Join them for an engaging conversation that highlights the evolving landscape of competitive fishing.

00:00 Welcome to the Strange Boat Podcast

00:27 Steve Collett's Journey in Lure Fishing

01:01 Challenges and Passion in International Fishing

01:36 The Role of Media and Public Perception

02:13 The Importance of Teamwork and Commitment

07:12 The Evolution of Match Fishing

12:26 The Rise of Lure Fishing Competitions

17:00 Challenges in Boat Fishing

31:30 Street Fishing and Urban Angling

39:51 A Great Way of Fishing

39:56 Fishing Stories and Big Catches

41:10 Economic Value and Stewardship

41:30 The Elite League and Lure Fishing

42:32 Challenges and Passion in Fishing

48:09 Women in Angling

50:17 Lure Fishing Techniques and Tips

01:03:07 Concluding Thoughts and Future Plans

01:03:45 Social Media and Fishing

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After a little break Keith has pushed out the Strange Boat once more to welcome angling legend Bob Roberts on board. The guys cover a whole ranging of fishing topics, old and new. You very rarely get this much angling experience and expertise in one place so listen in. Keith has a new book out called The Mighty Trent - from Little Egret Press. Read all about it and Bob right here.

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Doyen of the West Midlands, Jim Burton talks match fishing, reels. rods, big barble and importantly, prostate cancer too. Back to the start, at a very early age Jim found that he was quite often "ill" on a Monday and couldn't go to school. So what else could he do, he went off to join his dad at the Birmingham Smithfield Market Fishing Club! Jim is prolific on Facebook check him out, there's always interesting stuff on there. He's an Aston Villa fan but we won't hold that against him!

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From Barrow-in-Furness, Joe Jagger met Keith after he phoned in to the Tight Lines tv show some years ago. He’s widely recognised as both a top carp and match angler, a former Young Angler of the Year, he’s fished for England too. During his chat confesses to having beaten Bruno. Not sure we'd boast about that one!

Joe's fished in lots of big competitions on the domestic scene, having qualified for the Feedermasters final and won the two day JCB Classic. Now he's excited to be competing abroad.

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Keith Arthur introduces us to the remarkable May Potter. May, from West Yorkshire started her fishing career at the age of 4, yes four! Some years later she has achieved so much, even after having a break from the sport, in 2023 she was selected for England Ladies for the World Championships. In this Strange Boat episode, May reveals some of her tricks and tactics.

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In a first for Strange Boat - the fishing podcast, #KeithArthur is joined by someone who is actually fishing as he chats to Keith. Andy Ford presenter of TNT Sports' "On The Bank" show actually catches some barbel as he talks through his fishing life, including his time representing England. Andy was a journalist working at SKY Sports, liked Keith's "Tight Lines" show and got involved. When the series came to an end, Andy moved to BT Sport - now TNT Sports and "On The Bank" emerged. Both Keith and Andy lament some of the biggest ones that got away along with their finest catches.

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Shaun Harrison: All of my life I have had a fascination of water and the world that lives within. A world many never get to see or to be part of and this I find strange as I have always seen it as a totally fascinating place.

For as long as I can remember I kept fish, I had tanks everywhere, anything that would hold water would have a stickleback or two in it. Even my paddling pool was stocked with fish at one stage!

Now this fascination of our watery world soon moved on from me trying to catch creatures from the local river with my bamboo cane and net to the discovery of my Fathers old fishing tackle buried deep at the back of shed. I opened the old wooden seat box and the gems I found inside sparked a fire that was soon to turn into an inferno that has burned so strongly since that day. Little did I realise at the time but the opening of that box was to totally shape the rest of my life.

No-one in my family was interested in angling, I was self taught with the aid of library books and a simple sheer determination to succeed. My angling life moved on at a rapid rate from simply trying to get a bite from anything to realising that larger fish were no harder to catch than smaller fish so I started to use baits that the smaller fish didn’t attack all of the time. I have always had a rebellious streak in me and back in the 70’s the ‘specimen hunters’ as we were known were very few and far between compared to the general coarse and match anglers of the day and this very much suited my stubborn nature.

Here I am many sunrises and sunsets later since I started my ‘targeting big fish’ career back in 1977 and so many incredible memories, many dreams become reality and hopefully many more still to come from both my home waters and those I have to cross the water to visit.

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Ian Russell started his angling obsession more than fifty years ago in the lakes and rivers around his home in the Colne Valley where he still enjoys most of his fishing. He's an expert on modern carp baits and founded Heathrow Bait Services before becoming a consultant for Dynamite Baits, for whom he is currently developing a brand new range of boilies, pellets and hookbaits that will include one of his old favourite flavours, Super Stench.

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Joe Roberts is a fine match angler in his own right, winning some big events on a wide variety of methods and venues, from his local River Nene in Northants, through canals and big rivers. He now devotes much of his time to helping younger anglers via the Tackle Guru Angling Trust Talent Pathway and managing the England junior squads in World Championships. Having helped Dick Clegg OBE with the initial ‘Masters’ World Champs, Joe qualified the following year for the Veterans team and brought back an individual and team gold medal. Several more have followed in a glittering career and, to be honest, it couldn’t happen to a nicer bloke.

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