The Traditional Fisherman's Forum

I was surprised on my research of the Arlesey Bomb to find that Richard Walker had caught so many big fish. Remarkeable list for the age. I guess there may have been more big river Roach around, but then I don`t know. Very impressive :

Chub to 6lb 14oz, masses of 2lb roach including one of 3lb 4oz, rudd 3lb 3oz, 12lb 12oz barbel, rainbow trout 18lb (which would have been a British record at the time if Walker had bothered to claim), brown trout 12lb, seven dace over 1lb, the best 1lb 5oz, perch to 4lb 13oz and even a 4oz gudgeon (from Redmire).

I would have liked to have seen the big trout especially. He lived in Biggleswade, so almost the midlands.

I have yet to read any of his books. I should indulge.

You haven’t mentioned ‘Clarissa’, probably the most famous carp ever which was the British record when he caught it at 44Lbs....and lived out it’s life in London Zoo

Flathead wrote: ↑Sun Nov 15, 2020 6:12 pm You haven’t mentioned ‘Clarissa’, probably the most famous carp ever which was the British record when he caught it at 44Lbs....and lived out it’s life in London Zoo

I was waiting for that one ^^. He must have travelled about a fair bit?

He also caught a golden orfe that would have been a record of the time but, as they were 'so easy' to catch, he didn't bother claiming it.

I've read a couple of his books, Catching Fish (knowing their feeding habits) and Still-Water Angling along time ago and
his thoughts on the way fish feed and the thermocline and the way the wind can move it was quit advanced for the 50s.

Thoughts on Richard Walker: my teenage days, long ago, were in North London and my tackle purchases and many, many fishing queries were answered by Don Neish and Pete Grundle etc at Don's of Edmonton. Don often used to say he was constantly "pestered" by Richard Walker with questions like "how fast did an SSG shot sink, etc". So much for the greatest angling developer ever, the Father of Specialist Angling. May he RIP.

A word of caution here I feel.

Mr Marmalade joined the Forum, inundated it with posts often of a contentious nature designed to ruffle feathers. He then vanished after a very short time. Fell or pushed?? Who knows or really cares.

I feel his posts left on here are better viewed in this light, divisive rather than informative. Re-read the opening passage in this post in this light and take it from there