A Passion for Angling

Author's product rating:   

How good are the presenters?	Outstanding
How good is the content?	Outstanding
How does it compare to similar programmes?	Outstanding
How good is the concept?	Outstanding
How do you rate the overall style and design?	Outstanding

Advantages:	A beautiful program  -  simply beautiful
Disadvantages:	None

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

There is so much more to this show than the title would suggest.

Yes it's about two vaguely eccentric chaps who have a Passion For Angling, but it has some of the best camera shots with simply delicious music in accompaniament, and the warm, comforting and very soothing tones of the wonderful Bernard Cribbens as narrator.

This is a series to just drift along with. It's atmospheric, nostalgic, humourous, nicely quaint and a masterpiece of production.

The two main presenters are Bob James and Chris Yates. Spookily similar but not related, these two flat-capped, bearded wonder-fisherman show off their Angling knowledge and skills in a charming, if naive, fashion. Not for them the brassy approach so beloved by Rex Hunt, nor the chap-down-the-road style used by Matt Hayes, they are quite happy to bumble along in their nicely spoken and well-mannered ways, recreating the aura of a gentle and gentlemanly sport.

They are no lightweights in the fishing world, and Chris holds (unless beaten in the last few years) the record for Britain's largest stillwater fish, a monster 51 1/2lb mirror carp, caught in the beautiful setting of Redmire Pool. Bob meanwhile has been described as the "best all-round angler in Britain". Both of them have held other jobs in their past, photgrapher and lecturer respectively, but fishing is their passion and since this program, their claim to real fame.

Hugh Miles is this series' professional film maker and has had quite a few award-winning films to his credit, for example, Flight Of The Condor, Kingdom Of The Ice Bear and The Great Wood of Caledon. This is in addition to being nominated 6 times for British Academy Awards. No wonder this was such a stunner in terms of the photography and mood.

Originally broadcast on BBC2, there were 7 episodes (all available on video, plus there is a book that accompanied the series) and each and everyone of them is a gem.

I was converted to the delights of the show after the very first episode. My husband is a keen Angler and was delighted at the way I was totally absorbed by the program, and for the first time I understood WHY men get up at ungodly hours to sit by a frozen lake or stream. Not that I would do it myself, but I no longer take the mickey when hubby does.

The titles for each episode are:

First Casts
Redmire Legends
Childhood Dreams
In Search Of Salmon
Autumn Glory
Midwinter Madness
Monster Myths

The additional magic of Bernard Cribbens' voice for commentary was a stroke of genius. Familiar, easy on the ear and charming, he blends totally into the scenes, creating that extra special touch which sets this classy piece apart from the other programs of it's type.

This surfaces every once in a while on Discovery Home & Leisure, so be sure to tape each instalment, because this is a beautiful study of a popular sport in an unmissable way. Especially for the time when they are trying out different techniques in catching large carp - including fishing from a tree, placing a scarecrow figure in the water till the fish get used to it then replacing it with Chris (little visual difference, trust me) and the competition between the two of them becomes more than just friendly rivalry. And years later, it returned in a more destructive form.

Apparently the two of them had a major falling out just recently, and now won't even speak to each other. Catch this show to remember them as they were - please!