Author and presenter John Bailey is a lifelong angler, an original ‘Crabtree Kid’, and one of today’s most internationally renowned fishermen and guides. With a publishing and presenting career spanning 4 decades, John is the perfect presenter for Fishing in the footsteps of Mr. Crabtree and his knowledge and obvious passion for angling shines through in every episode. On leaving Red Tag he returned to working on a freelance basis and he has his own studio from which he does his design and illustration commissions. It is from here that he also runs an online gallery of his limited edition fishing prints under the name of The fine art of fishing. I think they need to learn the trade from the basics. A lot of young anglers want to go for Carp fishing and catch a 30lb’er straight away. They should learn about all the aspects of fishing before deciding that carp fishing is the one for them. This is what was great about Mr Crabtree, he taught Peter about all aspects of fishing. I know that, along with being a passionate all round angler, he was very involved in helping and getting youngsters and new people into the sport he loved so much.

It kept me and my mates’ enthusiasm high, especially through the closed season … how much more influential could anything be? I don’t know about angling heroes, but I do have a few people I admire a great deal who have remained nice people as well as becoming famous. One here in your interview list, Jan Porter, a great allrounder and a very nice guy – he always has time for people and especially kids.

I met him, he was a really nice guy. He was clearly very passionate about fishing and he signed all my books for me. I had lunch at the same table with him and a few professors and lecturers, and at every opportunity the talk turned to fishing so I could be included in conversation. I still use “Crabtree” methods to this day, you can’t beat “keeping it simple” A float, a couple of shot and a hook, with a worm on the end, will always get you a good tench or a nice perch and surprise, surprise even a good carp ! I fish on average 3-4 times per week throughout the entire season, normally in pursuit of the river species, predominantly Barbel and Chub. My favourite place is the Royalty fishery on the Hampshire Avon where to catch a 16lb plus Barbel would be the highlight of my fishing career.

Exec produced by Lester Holcombe, fans of Mr. Crabtree saw series one of our new TV series on Quest when the first run aired from January 24th 2013. A repeat run is starting very soon and watch this space for news of series two. MR. CRABTREE GOES FISHING: A GUIDE IN PICTURES TO FISHING ROUND THE YEAR. By Bernard Venables. 1958 fifth impression. In 2013 ‘Fishing in the Footsteps of Mr. Crabtree’, the TV series, was produced by Toast Entertainment Group for Mr. Crabtree Ltd. It was aired in the UK on Quest during January and February 2013. [3] MR. CRABTREE GOES FISHING: A GUIDE IN PICTURES TO FISHING ROUND THE YEAR. By Bernard Venables. 1952 second impression. Hayter, Tony (27 April 2001). "Bernard Venables". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077 . Retrieved 14 August 2023.Angling isn’t in my family – apart from a Great Grandfather I never met because he died before I was born. I learned with my fellow ‘Baby Boomer’ mates. We just all went fishing and some of them are still in touch and still go. Hampstead Ponds on the 611 trolleybus, Finsbury Park lake and the Lea at Northumberland Park behind the factory my late Father worked in. I wasn’t very old – 6 or 7 maybe. Fishing cost me some time from school too but they have now forgiven me… Sometimes too much and my work suffers. Sometimes not enough because I’ve got too much work. In an average week I will get out for some kind of fishing at least a couple of times. I will fish for ANYTHING – literally anything … coarse, sea, game – they all excite me and my preferred method whatever the species is when I can watch them take the bait, strike – BOSH! And in recent years the young Alfie Russell who is a massive inspiration to me. Keep an eye out for this lad . . . some people just have a gift. Forgotten the title or the author of a book? Our BookSleuth is specially designed for you. Visit BookSleuth

Above all “Keep it simple”. Simple means carrying less, simple is cheaper when you loose it, simple still works! The River Wey is a beautiful river with rabbits and pheasants running over the meadows. It’s a peaceful river that holds a good amount of large dace, big chub and barbel, pike, roach, trout and grayling.A few years ago we became convinced that it was high time that someone brought the Crabtree heritage to the small screen. As dedicated anglers and Mr. Crabtree enthusiasts with a wealth of knowledge in production, publishing, and communications, we started talking with the Mirror, the original commissioners of Mr. Crabtree, about how best to proceed. Very much a passion project, it’s taken until now to evolve to where we wanted it, but we are now finally able see the results of these efforts.