stevetheangler

Sunday, 13th September 2026, Liz and myself set off to the Baden Hall Fishery, the venue for the Big Fish N Show and had a great day there….

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61587967576958

And this was my response on their Facebook page following the event (with a few grammatical errors, etc dealt with and bit extra tucked in…)…

“WHAT A CRACKER IT WAS!!!

We used to love Bauer Media’s (later run under someone else’s flag) “Big Fish Show” at Stoneleigh – and they also ran a sister event at Farnborough but they lost the faith and packed the Stoneleigh venue in after 2021/22 although still did the Farnborough version (bah hoo sucks to you !) but this was even better… a fantastic day out!

A great talk/video set by Jack Perks … and the talk by Matt (where was Mick!! LOL :)), Jamie, Scott and Rob was perfect – spot on guys!! AND the show itself mirrored that with the participation subject within that talk – we’ve certainly NEVER seen so many families at a fishing show and even better the number of ‘kids/youths’ walking around with newly acquired kit!!! The very best thing possible that could be the result of the show! And hopefully creates new Angling Trust members!

One sadness was that we had to leave early due to my having bad feet and the walking around was making them play up … and thus missed Jeremy Wade’s talk … and having been at several talks by Jeremy before I was really sorry not to have been there as they have always been enlightening and special.

Fantastic …. must meet up again!!! ”

And possibly that increase has also been fueled by Paul Whitehouse and Bob Mortimer’s (and let’s not forget Ted (RIP buddy) who’s drawn in a large fan club from inside and outside of the fishing community) ‘Gone Fishing’ TV programme pulling in non-anglers and drawing their attention – and that of their young family. Noticeably, to me anyway) there has also been a far greater TV presence in the form of angling as the ‘background presence’ in mainstream advertising.

I don’t know if The Big Fish N Show itself will be repeated in 2027 – I hope so!

Possibly, this event, the Hooked National Fishing Festival scheduled for September 18-19 2027 and also in Stafford has gained our interest and we’ll most certainly try to attend it…. could be that the Big Fish N Show was serving as a taster for this?

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1298636282279305/user/61585314534906

Anyway back to my world, its unlikely, but not impossible, that I’ll fish again now until we are at Burnham as I’ve an hospital appointment next week and then need to sort out the usual holiday packing plus sort out tackle and bait to take. However, I *MAY* get time to sort out a lure rod and some lures for a walk along a local canal in the meantime. :)

On the pike bait front I had a delivery from Online Baits UK this morning so I’m in a happy place now :)

Best wishes to all!! :)