A PASSION FOR ANGLING

It’s difficult to believe that our series ‘A Passion for Angling’ was first shown in September 1993 on BBC 2, so this year is our 25th Anniversary. Given the ephemeral nature of television, it's remarkable that it was shown so many times by the BBC, followed by years of transmission on Discovery. I rarely watch it now but when I do, I feel it would still be enjoyed by big audiences, especially given the success of the Mortimer and Whitehouse series on the Beeb which had less substance and fishing. I'll have to write to the BBC and see if they'll consider it.

Chris Yates on the dam at Redmire 

We actually started filming at Redmire on June 12^th 1989 – no, we didn’t cast in until dawn on the 16^th! – so it’s been a while. Some of Chris’s children hadn’t even been born and now they are all grown up … and as for us, we have grown old but are certainly no wiser. Let’s face it, we haven’t even got the good sense to go fishing enough these days. The book of the series that sold out years ago might still be available on eBay.

There is cause for celebration because the series of six fifty minute films are totally unchanged with the passing of time, depicting a peaceful world when there were lots of fish in our rivers and seemingly more time to catch them ... and it still helps our wives understand why we have to go fishing!

Happy Days with Bob and Chris + 2lb roach of course

Ten 2lb roach - not a bad day!

The DVD is still available – and always will be – and is still considered by many to be the best fishing series ever made. Sales remain strong year after year, with new generations of anglers discovering that there is a whole world of fishing out there that doesn’t have to revolve entirely around carp, bolt-rigs and boilies.

Sadly, production costs of the DVD and several postage increases mean the price for the complete set of six films is now £38.50 [incl. UK p&p and VAT]. This is the first increase in ten years and we regret having to do so but ex. Fisheries Minister Richard Benyon thinks it’s worth it!

Richard Benyon - a keen angler

Chris Yates film on carp fishing ‘Caught in Time’ is still £20 [incl. UK p&p and VAT]. We might add to this series one day, but book writing and film making mean we don’t have time at present.

Both are available on our website – www.passionforangling.info

When you order the DVD you can also order a fee copy of the book about the making of our Ch 4 series "Catching the Impossible". All you pay is £4 for p&p. 

It's a beautiful big book, 370 pages, over 400 pics taken during the filming, photos of wildlife, film strips taken direct from the movies and last but not least, beautiful illustrations by renowned artist and angler, Rodger McPhail. We printed too many so prefer to give copies away instead of burning them!

Martin Bowler caught some remarkable fish and his co-star Bernard Cribbins almost matched him. This is his 22lb beauty

Rodger McPhail's beautiful illustrations are true works of art

Martin caught some amazing 'impossible' sized fish like this brace of big rudd

Close friends Martin and Jo Bowler have the 'Catching the Impossible' series for sale in their on-line shop and have added the PFA series because they have PayPal set up too. [Sue and I don’t have enough turn-over to justify the expense]. www.martinbowler.co.uk

Sue and I hope you continue to enjoy the films. Here we are with flags – well it was the Year of the Olympics and we did win ‘everything’!