Stewart Bloor, Montgomery Canal
For most anglers, when they refer to a favourite peg, it’s invariably one that brings lots of memories in terms of big fish or special match catches. However, for me, at the moment, my top spot is such for very different reasons.
Anglers name: Stewart Bloor
Current club, team or sponsor: SBS Baits
How old were you when you started fishing?: It was back in the 1960s when I was a child
Which was the first canal you ever fished? At which location?: Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal, Bratch at Wombourne). I caught first fish there, a gudgeon
Which is your favourite species of fish?: Perch
If you had to choose just one, which would be your favourite fishing bait?: Maggots
What do you consider your greatest fisheries or angling achievement?: Current barbel record holder for the River Sow
What is your remaining biggest single ambition in fisheries/angling?: I have the same passion for fishing today as I had as a child, I want to keep it that way
Who is your all time fisheries or angling hero and why?: None.
Yards away from the hustle and bustle of modern day life and I'm enjoying the tranquillity of the great outdoors.
Stuart Bloor
Work-Life balance
Rather than highlighting something special it's a reminder, that even in the midst of a very busy life, I can still find time to cast a line and catch a few fish in the process.
My life went through a big change a few years ago (this is my fifth full season) when I started working for The New Saints FC, the champion football team of Wales. As a football fan, it's a great job to have. One potential downside was that it seriously challenged my main passion, which is angling, as free time became very limited.
Travelling light
However, not only is it important to think outside the box in life but also as anglers we need to apply that line of thinking to our fishing as well. Thus, the purchase of a mini-rod and reel set-up that can fit in the boot when needs be without drawing attention to expensive gear on display, was the first step.
Fishery on route to the office
Secondly, I needed somewhere that was convenient enough to allow me fishing time without having to make too much of a detour. Travelling to Park Hall, the home of The New Saints, on the A5, I pass over the Montgomery Canal. I can turn off the main road and within a couple of minutes, due to my rod and reel already set up, I am fishing. Even if it's just 20 minutes or so, at least I've been out. The spot is right next to the road bridge (76a) that passes over the canal.
Peace and quiet
Yards away from the hustle and bustle of modern day life and I'm enjoying the tranquillity of the great outdoors. In terms of specimen fish, I've drawn a blank but with chub, perch, roach, pike and roach bream hybrids (all small) there's plenty of action to satisfy my piscatorial hunger.
The stretch is leased by Prince Albert Angling Society, contact: [email protected] and they do issue a canal only permit to cover the Monty for just £15 per year.
Follow my angling (and more) adventures: www.TheAnglingRev.com
