I became obsessed with bass as a teenager. But at the age of 19 I had to leave the UK to work in Western Australia and didn’t return until late 1979. As soon as I got back my intention was to specialise on bass and I immediately started to read everything I possibly could to reacquaint myself with the new thinking and innovative techniques originated by the foremost writers of that time.

One of the names at the forefront then was Derek Townsend and I remember reading his privately published book in the early 80’s Bass Fishing From The Shore In Southeast Wales avidly as, quite frankly, it was obviously written by a real angler who was writing down, for the benefit of others, lessons he’d learnt the hard way by putting the time in.

He was also a rod builder and designer with a range of rods under the Literods name, his business based on an industrial estate in Bridgend, plus he was the instigator of the Bones Bass Rod Mk3 based I remember on a Conoflex blank that he himself designed and it set the standard at that time. He was also an accomplished pendulum caster which then, was a rare skill.

Derek has rewritten and revised his original book and its now back on the market.

ABOUT THE BOOK
The revised and updated edition is a paperback in A4 size. The work is divided in to 17 chapters spread over 82 pages. There are chapters on light tackle fishing in the Bristol Channel, climate sea temperature and sea clarity, identification and facts of life, feeding, breeding and growth, then great down to earth chapters on how to locate bass, surf fishing and rough ground fishing. There’s other chapters on fishing the Ogmore Estuary in South Wales, unwinding at the end of the day with reference to line care and a line winder, a chapter on tides and forward planning, and a thoughtful chapter on the kitchen sink syndrome which sings the praises, and rightly so, of carrying minimal tackle.

My favourite chapter, but then I guess it would be, is the forward which pretty much spells out where angling and the tackle we use today originated from. Even if you’re a relative newcomer to sea fishing you’ll bridge the gap between then and now. Just how forward thinking were these guys in the 60’s and 70’s? Well take a look at the photo at the top of page 12 shot (I’d guess) in the 70’s. The two guys either side of John Darling (middle) are wearing huge headlights. What do we use nowadays, Tiga’s and Samalite’s that look remarkably similar!

Many of the photos used for illustration are Derek’s original black and white’s showing the author as a young man with some outstanding fish caught on the tackle and techniques contained within the pages. The book also uses descriptive watercolour artwork for additional illustration.

The pages mingle references to the past via quotes and experiences with factual information, tips and hints that will catch you fish. It’s both entertaining and educational, not an easy mix to achieve, but Derek has done it well!  I also really like the way Derek combined the baits within the relevant Surf Fishing and Rough Ground Fishing chapters. Much better than having a separate chapter on baits.

CONCLUSION
I guess you can tell I look at this book with nostalgic affection, for as Derek writes on page 8 under the header Real Freedom “Like many anglers of my age group, or there about, we are metaphorically the “children” of the 1960’s, 70’s and 80’s when sea fishing, whilst coming of age through the dramatic and rapid developments in tackle and techniques, still hung on to that feeling of real freedom to roam”.

These were the decades that produced great writers like Darling, Gillespie, Gammon, Derrington and Brennan. I to am a child of those same informative years, taught threw the written knowledge supplied by those and other great names, so many of them now no longer with us.

Derek’s quote about being a child of the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s rings true and is interesting as I once wrote myself that I felt I was “a child of Angling Magazine”, the periodical from the 60’s and 70’s that carried the works of the great angling writers named above and was the portal for their knowledge, inspiration and foresight that brings us to where angling is now. My own youth was spent reading Angling magazine and its pages massively influenced my future path in life.

This is a great book! Anyone that wants to learn, and learn the right way from someone with the history to back up his words needs to get a copy! You’ll learn lots from it, and I think for some anglers blessed with a more enquiring mind just waiting to be unlocked, it will change the way you think about your fishing!

AVAILABILITY
Bass Fishing From The Shore In Southeast Wales, And More by Derek Townsend is distributed by:

Keens Tackle & Guns,
117/119 Bridgend Road,
Aberkenfig,
Bridgend
CF32 9AP.
Tel: 01656 722448.
E-mail: sales@keenstackleandguns.co.uk .

It costs £14.99 plus £2.50 post and packing.