From landing hulking catfish on the Zambezi to talking tackle with Ted Hughes, COUNTRY LIFE’s fishing correspondent looks back on seven colourful decades

THE ADVICE YOU NEED TO GET THE BEST FROM YOUR FISHING

All told, this week has been a bit of a roller coaster of emotions

With a season of winter storms approaching James Batty explains how to make the most of the great bass fishing that comes during or after a big blow

Our experts solve your fishing problems

There are few wilder and more exciting ways to catch a bass, waist deep in the surf, casting lures into the fizzing water and crashing breakers. To help choose some essentials for this style of fishing we spoke to Newquay-based surf bass angling specialist, Marc Haiselden