Last month (8th-10th November) was to take place the 2013 edition of the FishingShow, the largest Italian show dedicated to the sport fishing, which is usually housed at the exhibition halls in Bologna. 2013 edition of the FishingShow was not held, it is skipped and officially postponed to the next year in conjunction with the Eudishow, the diving exhibition (14th-17th March). Farsighted choice, even because it offers the opportunity to access to two events by paying only one ticket. A doubt remains: this year the Motor Show didn’t take place because of the crisis, and whether an event like the Motorshow is canceled…

Lo scorso mese di novembre si sarebbe dovuta svolgere l’edizione 2013 del FishingShow, la più grande fiera italica dedicata al mondo della pesca sportiva che si tiene di solito nei padiglioni espositivi della città di Bologna. L’edizione 2013 del FishingShow non si è tenuta. È letteralmente saltata, rinviata al marzo del prossimo anno in concomitanza con l’EudiShow, la fiera della subacquea. Scelta lungimirante, anche per il fatto di offrire ai visitatori la possibilità di accedere a due manifestazioni pagando un solo biglietto. Permane un dubbio: quest’anno non si è disputato nemmeno il Motorshow a causa della grande crisi, e se una manifestazione come il Motorshow viene annullata…

To those who wanted to visit the fair last month, I suggest this article about the 2012 edition. I must say that if this year’s edition of FishingShow had the ambition to follow the formula of 2012, then who tells you that its cancellation is bad? That one of 22 months ago was a fair so reduced in size that it has been placed in a pavilion placed somewhere else than the main entrance, so far away that you had to use the little train made available by the organizers.

A coloro che avrebbero voluto visitare la fiera lo scorso mese di novembre, propongo questo articolo relativo all’edizione 2012. Aggiungo anche che se il FishingShow di quest’anno aveva l’ambizione di ricalcare la formula del 2012, allora vale il detto secondo cui non tutto il male viene per nuocere. Quella di 22 mesi fa, infatti, è stata una fiera così sottotono da venire collocata in un padiglione posto da tutt’altra parte rispetto all’ingresso principale, talmente lontano che per raggiungerlo dovevate usufruire del trenino messo a disposizione degli organizzatori.

There were fewer exhibitors than in previous years, normal consequence of a fragile economy like the Italian one. But certainly not meet anyone along the route from the car park of BolognaFiere to the pavilion, well, it made a certain impression. And when I say no one…

Vi erano meno espositori rispetto alle edizioni precedenti, cosa scontata considerando che in un’economia fragile come quella italiana la grande crisi ha avuto gioco facile. Certo però che faceva una certa impressione non incontrare nessuno lungo tutto il tragitto che dal parcheggio di BolognaFiere portava fino al padiglione. E quando dico nessuno…

No one…

Nessuno…

No one…

Nessuno…

No one, not even a dog you would think. And you would think wrong, because a dog was there for real.

Nessuno, nemmeno un cane verrebbe da pensare. E si penserebbe male, perché un cane c’era per davvero.

Misty is the name of this wonderful female of American Pitt Bull Terrier remained out of the fair with her masters. The regulation prohibits her the access, and no matter if she’s cleaner and more educated than many bipeds: rules are rules, and they enforce the laws when it suits. Patience, even though I must admit that if she had not been excluded, perhaps I would never took this portraits.

Misty, così si chiama questa meravigliosa femmina di American Pitt Bull Terrier rimasta fuori dalla fiera assieme ai suoi padroni. Il regolamento le vieta l’accesso e poco importa se lei sia più pulita ed educata di tanti bipedi: le regole sono regole, e quando fa comodo si fanno rispettare. Pazienza, anche se devo ammettere che se non fosse stata esclusa, forse non sarei mai arrivato a scattarle dei ritratti.

The classic misleading photo. When she was still a puppy, Misty began to do an extraordinary thing: seeing his master laugh, she started to imitated them closing the eyes and lifting up the lips repeatedly. Silently, without barking or growling. And she does it every time that she’s happy, as when receives a pat by a stranger. If you not ever seen one before, this is a dog’s smile. Misty is unique!

La classica foto ingannevole. Quando era ancora una cucciolotta, Misty ha cominciato a fare una cosa straordinaria: vedendo i suoi padroni ridere, le li imitava socchiudendo gli occhi e sollevando ripetutamente le labbra. Silenziosamente, senza abbaiare o ringhiare. E lo fa ogni volta che è contenta, come quando riceve una carezza da parte di uno sconosciuto. Se non vi è mai capitato di vederne uno prima, questo è il sorriso di un cane. Misty è unica!

The first thing that you could see once inside: the exposure of a photographic competition, but don’t expect you spectacular or high quality images.

La prima cosa che potevate vedere una volta entrati: l’esposizione di un concorso fotografico. Non aspettatevi immagini spettacolari o di chissà quale qualità.

The first three classidied photos. The prizes were symbolic: in Italy there’s no photographic culture and amenities offered as prizes in competitions of all sorts are proofs about it. If you like to join in with a few pictures, then take a look at this link (but if you find it still empty, then I guess it’s not a good thing…)

Le prime tre foto classificate. I premi messi in palio sono poco più che simbolici: in Italia non esiste cultura fotografica e le amenità messe in palio nei concorsi di ogni sorta ne sono una prova. Se avete piacere di partecipare con qualche foto, allora date un’occhiata a questo link. A proposito: se a dicembre lo trovate ancora privo di informazioni, credo che la cosa vada interpretata come una pessima notizia…

It is the curiosity that pushes people to get up early in the morning, to refuel the car, to travel for many kilometers, to tackle the gypsies which infest the car park and to buy a ticket. Curiosity, but also the pleasure of discovering new things. And every time I feel like this kid eager to peep what’s going to happen.

É la curiosità che spinge ad alzarsi presto la mattina, a fare il pieno all’auto, a macinare chilometri su chilometri, ad affrontare gli zingari che infestano il parcheggio, e a pagare un biglietto d’ingresso. Curiosità, ma anche il piacere per la scoperta di cose nuove. E ogni volta confesso di sentirmi un po’ come questo ragazzino ansioso di sbirciare in punta di piedi quello che sta per succedere.

There are not only well-known brands and widely distributed industrial products, but also prototypes like theese seen at the edge of a pool.

Non ci sono solo marchi noti e prodotti industriali di larga diffusione, ma anche prototipi come questi visti a bordo di una delle vasche presenti.

I don’t know if they were hand made by an amateur or if they were prototypes of some company in the sport fishing industry, anyway these jointed minnow showed an excellent behavior in water.

Non so dire se fossero stati realizzati a mano da un appassionato o se fossero dei prototipi di qualche azienda del settore, sta di fatto che questi minnow snodati mostravano un eccellente comportamento in acqua.

I believe that the lead wire inserted into the rings would serve to balance the bait in the water, simulating the presence of the hooks. A safty factor for the spectators around there.

Credo che il filo di piombo inserito negli anelli servisse a bilanciare l’assetto dell’esca in acqua, simulando nel contempo la presenza delle ancorette. Un fattore di sicurezza considerando gli spettatori tutt’attorno.

Lures are very photogenic, but sometimes I suspect that some colors will serve more to catch the angler than the fish.

Le esche artificiali sono davvero molto fotogeniche, ma a volte mi viene il sospetto che certe colorazioni servano più a catturare il pescatore che il pesce.

Such as this one…

Come ad esempio questa…

… to which fish may be destined a such bat-lure?

… a quali pesci potrebbe essere mai destinata una bat-esca come questa?

This may seem like an interesting image: interesting for the light, interesting for the subject and interesting because shooted from below. Unfortunately, it is a picture with a defect.

Questa potrebbe sembrare un’immagine interessate: interessante per la luce, interessante per il soggetto e interessante anche per la ripresa dal basso. Purtroppo è una foto affetta da un difetto.

The extreme close-ups shots are characterized from a limited depth of field, or the area in which the image is perfectly sharp. Even if it’s foregone, the focus point must agree with the subject’s eyes, otherwise it will be a photo to declare. Unfortunately this is the case of the squid jig you see: the focus is slightly set back from the red eye. National Geographic would never have published it.

Le inquadrature ravvicinate impongono una limitata profondità di campo, ovvero dell’area in cui l’immagine è perfettamente nitida. Anche se sembra inutile doverlo spiegare, il punto di fuoco deve coincidere con gli occhi del soggetto; diversamente sarà una foto da scartare. Purtroppo questo è il caso della totanara che vedete: la messa a fuoco è leggermente arretrata rispetto al bulbo rosso. National Geographic non me l’avrebbe mai pubblicata.

I took this photo of the poster at the entrance of a stand. A very good image, except for the fact that it’s not a real photograph: is a montage as you can see from the point where the hooks’ tips emerge from the mouth. Anyway, the effect is guaranteed.

Ho scattato questa fotografia al manifesto posto all’ingresso di uno degli stand. Un’immagine d’impatto, nulla da dire, se non fosse che non si tratta di una vera fotografia: è un fotomontaggio come potete notare dal punto in cui le punte dell’ancoretta emergono dalla bocca del luccio. Ad ogni modo, l’effetto è garantito.

The added value in this image is in the discreet smile, which saves it from the limbo of the trivial shots. However, like the previous one also this image is affected by a focus error: to be focused is the closest subject, or the wrong one. Not even this picture will be published on the National Geographic magazine. By the way, the reels they are handling are American war machines by ZeeBaaS.

Il valore aggiunto in questa immagine sta nel sorriso discreto del soggetto in secondo piano, che la salva dal limbo degli scatti banali. Tuttavia, come la precedente, anche questa è affetta da un errore di messa a fuoco: a essere nitido è il soggetto in primo piano, ovvero quello sbagliato. Non dovevo essere in gran forma quel giorno… nemmeno questa finirà su National Geographic. A proposito, i mulinelli che stanno maneggiando sono macchine da guerra prodotte da ZeeBaaS.

American things.

Americanate.

I took these photos in the stand of a company which import plastic models of animals; the more interesting ones were hanging on the walls. The attention to detail was pretty good, although with some trimming. They’re ideal for those who want to take home a trophy without sacrificing the animal.

Ho scattato queste foto nello stand di un’azienda che importava modelli di animali in plastica di ogni dimensioni; quelli che interessavano di più ai pescatori erano appesi alle pareti. La cura dei particolari era abbastanza buona, anche se con qualche sbavatura. Rappresentano la soluzione ideale per coloro che vogliono portarsi a casa un trofeo senza sacrificare l’animale.

Horrible! Some model wasn’t so good like the others and only with a lot of imagination you can see a brown trout in this piece of molded plastic. The worst thing is the livery: Ray Charles would have painted it better.

Orrenda! Qualche modello non era all’altezza degli altri e solo con molta fantasia si può vedere una brown trout in questo pezzo di plastica stampata. La cosa peggiore è la livrea: Ray Charles l’avrebbe dipinta meglio.

Not only fish. Some models seemed very good, but never all the way: mammals have hair and also whiskers, that in certain animals are important sense organs.

Non solo pesci. Per quanto curati possono essere certi modelli, non lo sono mai fino in fondo: i mammiferi hanno peli, e pure i baffi che in certi animali sono organi di senso importanti.

Reptiles, like fish, don’t have hair or whiskers, and are easier to imitate. These models were really well done.

I rettili, come i pesci, non hanno peli né baffi e sono più semplici da imitare. Questi modellini erano davvero ben fatti.

An European tortoise and a Greek tortoise. Modern cameras are very advanced, but are not able to understand where focusing a subject at close range. Even with all the technology they contain, are basically very stupid objects and you can only capture photos like these respecting two rules: using a reflex camera and set it to manual focus. My photos are always taken respecting these two dogmas, which give also another great advantage: if a picture is not perfeclty clear, I always know who to blame.

Una testuggine europea e una testuggine greca. Per quanto avanzate siano le macchine fotografiche moderne, esse non sono in grado di comprendere in quale punto focheggiare un soggetto ravvicinato. Pur con tutta la tecnologia che contengono, sono fondamentalmente degli oggetti molto sciocchi e foto come queste potete scattarle solo rispettando due regole: usare una reflex, e impostarla in manual focus. Le mie foto sono sempre scattate rispettando questi due dogmi, che in più danno anche un altro grande vantaggio: se una foto non è perfettamente nitida, so sempre a chi dare la colpa.

This gentleman is Moreno Calzavara, owner of the largest sport fishing store around the north east, as well as importer of P-Line’s products for the north Italy. Even before to realize what he was doing, I told him that he had made a serious strategic error. Then he asked me: ‘What mistake?’ Surely you understand it looking at this picture: an operation like this, apart from any technical reason, had to be make by a young lady in a miniskirt, that in a fair like this with a strong male presence would have had a devastating success. Then Moreno replied with a smile: ‘Actually, you’re not the first one that tell me about it…’

Questo signore è Moreno Calzavara, titolare del più grande negozio di pesca sportiva di tutto il nord east, oltre che importatore per la penisola dei prodotti P-Line. Prima ancora di capire cosa stesse facendo, gli dissi che aveva commesso un grave errore strategico. Lui allora sorpreso mi chiese: ‘Quale errore?’ Sicuramente lo avrete capito anche voi guardando questa foto: un’operazione come questa, a prescindere da qualsiasi considerazione tecnica, andava fatta fare a una signorina in minigonna, cosa che in una fiera a forte presenza maschile avrebbe avuto un successo devastante. Allora Moreno mi rispose sorridendo: ‘In effetti non sei il primo che me lo fa presente…’

I will not explain in details the operation you see in these pictures, because you will find lots of interesting information in the Web. Here I only say that the Stop Glue (take a look also to the orizontal menù) is not a crystallizing glue, but a real sealing system that allows to combine wires of different nature and diameters leaving unchanged the breaking strenght (each knot in a line is a point of weakness). A knot-free system so innovative that obtained an official prize to the Efttex Awards 2011.

Non vi spiegherò nei dettagli le operazioni che vedete in queste foto, anche perché trovate molte informazioni sul Web. Qui vi dico solo che lo Stop Glue non è un è un collante cianoacrilico, ma un vero e proprio sistema saldante che permette di unire senza nodi filati di varia natura lasciandone invariati i carichi di rottura (i nodi rappresentano punti di criticità), un sistema talmente innovativo da ottenere un riconoscimento ufficiale agli Efftex Awards del 2011.

Excellent work. Is to be hoped that the serious strategic mistake will not be repeated during the next edition in mid-March.

Ottimo lavoro. C’è da sperare che per la prossima edizione di metà marzo si ponga rimedio al grave errore strategico.

If you have not guessed it, then I tell you that this is the Shimano stand.

Se non lo avete intuito, allora vi dico che questo è lo stand Shimano.

Just one year before (during the 2011 edition) you could meet here the strongest match angler ever: Alan Scotthorne. The difference between this two photos is, to use a single adjective, sidereal.

Nell’edizione di un anno prima (quella del 2011) potevate incontrare il più forte garista di sempre: Alan Scotthorne. Anche se è trascorso un solo anno, la differenza tra le due foto è, per usare un solo aggettivo, siderale.

Instead Daiwa was held tight his most representative man: Will Raison, here in ‘Man in Black’ version while handling the Airity Super Slim, and behind him… a little fan?

Daiwa invece si è tenuta ben stretta il suo uomo più rappresentativo: Will Raison, qui in versione ‘Man in Black’ mentre impugna la Airity Super Slim e dietro a lui… forse una piccola fan?

If you’re curious to know which models were in front of him, then here they are: a Team Daiwa and three Airity versions.

Se siete curiosi di sapere quali modelli aveva di fronte, allora eccoli: una Team Daiwa e tre versioni della Airity.

MIB version also for Steve Ringer. I had always seen him on the pages of Shimano’s catalogs, and when I met him personally as Daiwa testimonial, well, it gave me a certain effect. Here we see him with the Tournament Pro, top feeder rod produced in the Scottish factory in Wishaw.

Versione MIB anche per Steve Ringer. Lo avevo sempre visto nei cataloghi Shimano e quando per la prima volta l’ho incontrato personalmente da uomo immagine di Daiwa, beh, la cosa mi ha fatto un certo effetto. Il mondo cambia così rapidamente che a volte si fa fatica a stargli dietro. Qui lo vediamo con la Tournament Pro, canna da feeder top di gamma prodotta nella fabbrica scozzeze di Wishaw.

Steve is one of the best anglers in this style. The next feeder world championship will be held in Ireland, where in September he was runner up in the World Pairs Championship both in the individual and in the pairs ranking with his brother Phil. Considering also that it will be beld in the garden of Cathal Hughes and Francis McGoldrick, well, it’s not difficult to predict that the next World Feeder Championship will be an affair between two teams.

Steve è uno dei migliori in questo stile, e il prossimo mondiale a feeder si disputerà proprio vicino a casa sua, in Irlanda, dove a settembre si è classificato secondo nel World Pairs Championship sia nella classifica individuale che in quella a coppie con il fratello Phil. Considerando anche che si pescherà in casa di Cathal Hughes e Francis McGoldrick, beh, non è difficile pronosticare che la prossima edizione del mondiale feeder sarà affare tra due team.

I confess I was surprised to see a stand with Preston Innovations’ products, as I cannot hide some perplexity. My personal opinion is that the Italian market is armoured, or no much receptive and extremely difficult for those foreign players who wish to deal it in theese years. Not only because of the crisis (and the Italiot ruling class) that has literally sunk the country, but also for another factor even more difficult. Nationalism has nothing to do. Italians are not nationalists, on the contrary: considering the independence movements that developed in the north, south and in each of the two main islands, I would say that they are diametrically opposed to the French. From this point of view, Italic market is much easier than the French one. The situation is another: Italy is surrounded by a wonderful sea, as there are many rivers flowing on its territory, so it was inevitable that were founded lots of companies in the area, firms often started by the opening of a store or a simple laboratory in the sixties and seventies, and then developed at the international level. Anyway, best wishes to Preston and to those who are believing in this business.

Non nascondo di essere stato sorpreso nel vedere per la prima volta uno stand con i prodotti di Preston Innovations, così come non posso nascondere una certa perplessità. Mia personale opinione è che il mercato italiano sia blindato, ovvero poco recettivo e tremendamente difficile per quei player esteri che intendano affrontarlo in questi anni. Non solo per l’effetto devastante derivato dal mix di una classe dirigente infima e della grande crisi che han affossato la penisola, ma sopratutto per un altro fattore ancora più ostico. Il nazionalismo non centra nulla: gli italiani non sono nazionalisti, anzi, considerando i movimenti indipendentisti che si sono sviluppati a nord, a sud e in ciascuna delle due isole maggiori, direi proprio che sono agli antipodi rispetto ai francesi. Da questo punto di vista, il mercato italico è molto più facile di quello transalpino. La questione è un’altra: l’Italia è circondata da un mare meraviglioso, così come molti sono in fiumi che vi scorrono; era inevitabile che in un territorio con queste caratteristiche sorgessero numerose aziende del settore (come del resto in quello nautico e della subacquea), realtà spesso partite dall’apertura da un negozio o di un semplice laboratorio negli anni cinquanta-sessanta, per poi svilupparsi a livello internazionale nelle decadi successive. A ogni modo, auguri a Preston e a coloro che ci stanno credendo.

Aqua, a Latin word…

Aqua, una parola latina…

I have a great admiration for the fly fishing and for those who practice it, and in recent years I tried many times to get interested in this fishing style. I have never been able, too bad.

Provo una grande ammirazione per la pesca a mosca e per coloro che la praticano, al punto che in passato più volte ho cercato a di appassionarmi a questo stile di pesca, senza però mai riuscirci. Peccato.

Being able to create something alive starting from inert matter is simply fascinating. These are only two wonders that can be seen in the stands dedicated to fly fishing.

Riuscire a creare qualcosa di vivo partendo da materia inerte è semplicemente affascinante. Queste sono solo due delle realizzazioni che si possono ammirare negli stand dedicati al fly fishing.

I don’t know who’s this gentleman, but judging by the G-Loomis jersey he wore, was to be an important one.

Non so chi fosse questo signore, ma a giudicare dalla maglia della G-Loomis che indossava doveva essere un tipo importante.

Mr Francesco Palù is instead one of those men that have made the history of fishing in the peninsula, and is known even by those who don’t ever handled a fly rod in their lives. He lives in Friuli, in the north east, where in he founded a company specialized in very high quality fly fishing products.

Palù invece è uno di quei personaggi che hanno fatto la storia della pesca in Italia, ed è conosciuto anche da coloro che una canna a mosca non l’anno mai maneggiata in vita loro. Vive in Friuli dove ha fondato una sua azienda specializzata in prodotti di altissima qualità.

Two historical Palù’s rods made in fibreglass. If you pay attention, you can see his embossed logo on the leather handle.

Due storiche canne di Palù realizzate in fibra di vetro. Se fate attenzione, sull’impugnatura rivestita di cuoio potete scorgere il logo in rilievo della sua azienda.

What you see now are handcrafted wooden cases realized for each single rod.

Quelle che vedete sono custodie in legno realizzate artigianalmente per ogni signola canna.

Of course, also fly rods are handmade by skilled artisans, an art form excluded by modern production cycles in the assembly line. Italian rodmakers has formed an association called IBRA and have published one of the most interesting sites that can be found on the Web.

Canne da mosca anch’esse realizzate a mano da abili artigiani, una forma d’arte esclusa dai moderni cicli produttivi a catena di montaggio. Gli artigiani italiani sono riuniti in un’associazione chiamata IBRA, che ha pubblicato uno dei siti più interessanti rinvenibili sul web.

Rod preparation: the gentleman in the foreground is sliding the fly line among the rings.

Preparazione della canna: il signore in primo piano sta facendo scorrere la coda di topo tra i passanti.

Practical test in pool. Every single aspect of this discipline is encoded by precise rules, and the launch is not an exception.

Test pratico in vasca. Non vi è un solo aspetto di questa disciplina che non sia codificato da regole precise, e la tecnica di lancio non fa eccezione.

Reels can also be made by the hands of skilled craftsmen, like these models made of briarwood and bamboo. As for the rods, this form of handicraft is pure art.

Anche i mulinelli sono oggetto di realizzazioni artigianali, come questi modelli realizzati in radica e in bamboo. Come per le canne, questa forma di artigianato è arte allo stato puro.

The gentleman who created this travel kit is long dead. What you see is unique in the world, as often happens in high quality handicraft.

Colui che realizzò questo kit da viaggio è morto da tempo. Quello che vedete è un pezzo unico al mondo, come spesso accade nell’artigianato di alto livello.

Another interesting part in every FishingShow, and believe me when I tell you that it’s much more than many business stand: stalls dedicated to the old fishing equipment. In the picture there are three collectors of antique reels: Renzo Di Paolo (top left), Silvano Baraldi(top right) and Lino Galeotti. If you have old reels, objects of all kinds, magazines or catalogs that you want to assign, then I suggest you talk together.

Altro angolo molto interessante presente a ogni FishingShow, e credetemi quando vi dico che lo è molto più di tanti stand aziendali: le bancherelle dedicate alle vecchie attrezzature da pesca. Nella foto compaiono tre appassionati collezionisti di antichi mulinelli: Renzo Di Paolo (in alto a sinistra), Silvano Baraldi (in alto a destra) e naturalmente Lino Galeotti. Se avete vecchi mulinelli, oggetti di ogni tipo, riviste o cataloghi che volete cedere, allora vi consiglio di parlarci assieme.

“I look for old reels, even not working, no Japan, no Korea” (and no China, of course). For the benefit of those who have not guessed it, this photo was taken at the Renzo Di Paolo’s stall; he’s a big reel collector who created the website ANTIPES. Spend a little time to visit it: it’s a little jewel. We spoke on the phone a few days ago and he told me that there are strong doubts that the FishingShow can take place next March: is higher the probability that the event jump again. If it will, then you just have to console themselves with fewer and more specialized fairs like the Carpitaly and the Hunting and Pescare Show. If that is indeed the case, it seems that you should have enough FishingShow this report on the Bologna also for the years to come … a real shame!

‘Cerco vecchi mulinelli anche non funzionanti, no Japan, no Korea’ (e no China, ovviamente); a beneficio di chi non l’avesse intuito, questa foto è stata scattata alla bancarella di Renzo Di Paolo, grandissimo appassionato di collezionismo alla cui iniziativa si deve la nascita del sito ANTIPES. Investiteci un pò di tempo per visitarlo: ne vale la pena! Mi sono sentito al telefono con lui qualche giorno fa, e mi ha detto che sussistono dei forti dubbi sul fatto che possa svolgersi il FishingShow del prossimo marzo: è alta la probabilità che l’evento salti ancora. Se così sarà, allora non resta che consolarsi con fiere minori e più specializzate come il Carpitaly e l’Hunting e Pescare Show. Se le cose stanno davvero così, quello che state leggendo potrebbe già essere un articolo storico: l’ultimo dedicato a un FishingShow svolto in un paese che si chiamava Italia…

Some Italian reels made by a firm extinct for many years. Some time ago, was founded a company which use the name Alcedo, but of course all its production has oriental origins, and I think that has nothing to do with the historic brand.

Alcuni esemplari di produzione italiana realizzati da un’azienda che non esiste più da molti anni. Tempo fa è stata fondata una ditta commerciale che usa lo storico nome Alcedo, ma ovviamente tutta la sua produzione ha origini orientali, e credo che non abbia nulla a che spartire con lo storico marchio.

The models that you can buy from these gentlemen are fully functional, as this fast Mitchell 810 loaded with sinking line for English style (note the 6:1 gear ratio on the handle). They may also be used in high-level competitions, such as in the river Mincio at Peschiera del Garda, where is still practice a refined Bolognese style.

I modelli che potete comprare da questi signori sono perfettamente funzionanti e adoperabili in pesca, come questo veloce Mitchell 810 caricato con filo affondante per la pesca all’inglese (notate la scritta 6:1 sulla manovella). Possono ancora trovare impiego in gare di alto livello, come nel fiume Mincio a Peschiera del Garda, dove viene svolta una pesca raffinata in bolognese.

Wonderful! It doesn’t need add more.

Meraviglioso! Non serve aggiungere altro.

The result of another art form: the ones you see are whips made of natural cane by a famous craftsman who had his own workshop here in Bologna. The sixties and seventies of the last century was the heyday of sport fishing in Italy, and in this city there were almost two hundred fishing shops.

Il risultato di un’altra forma d’arte: quelle che vedete sono canne fisse realizzate in canna naturale da un celebre artigiano che aveva il suo laboratorio proprio qui, a Bologna. Gli anni cinquanta, sessanta e settanta dello scorso secolo furono il periodo d’oro della pesca in Italia e solo qui, in questa città, c’erano oltre duecento negozi di pesca.

‘Vig-Pao’ is part of the surnames of Gino Vigarani and Gianfranco Paolucci. Vigarani was the first individual world champion in the history of the World Freshwater Angling Championship and you can find his name at the top of this list (or of this one), while Paolucci is the joiner who during the fifties was converted to fishing and from whose hands were born the jewels you see above. To them we owe the birth of the fishing technique which takes its name from the city of Bologna.

Vig-Pao, ovvero parte dei cognomi di Gino Vigarani e Gianfranco Paolucci. Vigarani è stato il primo campione del mondo individuale nella storia dell’agonismo (il suo nome lo trovate in cima a questa lista), mentre Paolucci è il falegname che durante gli anni cinquanta si convertì alla pesca e dalle cui mani nacquero i gioielli che vedete. A loro si deve la nascita della tecnica di pesca che prende il nome dalla città di Bologna.

Something much more prosaic (and cheaper): Mr Maurizio Vivarelli shows a set of bleak rods made in fibreglass.

Qualcosa di molto più prosaico (ed economico da aggiudicarsi): Maurizio Vivarelli mostra un set di canne da alborella realizzate in fibra di vetro.

Instead, these antique objects come from the fly fishing museum entitled to Stanislao Kuckiewicz, which is located in Castel di Sangro, central Italy.

Questi oggetti antichi invece vengono da un museo della pesca a mosca Stanislao Kuckiewicz che si trova a Castel di Sangro, in Italia centrale.

Inside one of the display cases there were also these two very special minnows: when it say that the best bait have to capture before the angler than the fish… This was also the last picture I took that day inside the fair, and I hope not the last one ever in the FishingShow in Bologna. We’ll see.

In una delle teche vi erano anche questi due minnows molto speciali: quando si dice che l’esca migliore è quella che riesce a catturare prima il pescatore del pesce… È stata anche l’ultima foto che scattai quel giorno, e spero non l’ultima in assoluto al FishingShow di Bologna. Staremo a vedere.

Now we are outside. You have to pay €8 to leave the car in the BolognaFiere’s park, a car park without fences nor guardians, in which anyone can freely access. Anyone. And when you tell to the box-office attendant about strange creatures circulating among the parked cars, he will answer you that you can park somewhere else. About the picture above, the first thing I have to say is: don’t be fooled by appearances. She’s not an innocent granny, just as he’s not a tender child; and don’t you be even soften by the swaddled newborn in her arms. It’s all part of a deliberate strategy to arrive at a precise objective: you.

Siamo di nuovo fuori. Bisogna pagare 8 euro per lasciare l’auto nel parcheggio di BolognaFiere, un luogo senza recinzioni né guardiani nel quale chiunque può accedere liberamente. Chiunque. E quando fate presente al bigliettaro il fatto per cui circolano strani personaggi tra le auto in sosta, vi risponderà che se volete potete andare a parcheggiare da un’altra parte. Riguardo a ciò che state vedendo nella foto sopra, la prima cosa che ho da dirvi è: non lasciatevi ingannare dalle apparenze. Non si tratta di un’innocente nonnina, così come non è un tenero bambino quello che sta portando a spasso; e non fatevi nemmeno intenerire dal neonato in fasce tra le sue braccia. Fa tutto parte di una precisa strategia per arrivare a un preciso obbiettivo: voi.

Last May in Milan an illegal immigrant with a criminal record as long as a nineteenth-century novel (but free) entered into a construction site and stole a pickaxe, with which he began to kill all those he met on his way. A scene you usually see in horror splatter films, the ones where are zombies that shoot with picks. And speaking about zombies, want you know the reason for that gesture? He was angry because was hungry. ‘Hungry man, angry man‘ said James Joyce, and this was just the first thing I thought listening the news on the radio. Italy is not just a country full of problems, but also very dangerous, and especially not a place for unwary tourists. Are you wondering which is the relationship of that hungry criminal mind who heard strage voices and James Joyce with these pictures?

Lo scorso maggio a Milano un clandestino con una fedina penale lunga come un romanzo ottocentesco, e nonostante questo rilasciato a piede libero, entrò in un cantiere edile dove rubò un piccone col quale iniziò a uccidere chiunque incontrava sulla sua strada. Una scena da horror splatter di quart’ordine, di quelli in cui sono gli zombie a girare con i picconi. La motivazione per tanto orrore? Era arrabbiato perché aveva fame. ‘Uomo affamato, uomo arrabbiato’ diceva James Joyce, e questa è stata proprio la prima cosa che ho pensato sentendo la notizia per radio. L’Italia non è solo un paese pieno di problemi, ma anche molto pericoloso, e sopratutto non è un posto per turisti sprovveduti. Vi state chiedendo cosa centrino il folle criminale affamato e James Joyce con queste foto?

She will approach you asking for some money to get milk for her little and very hungry baby and you, driven by your big heart, you will begin to hurt yourself with your own hands: you’ll give her one euro. She’ll look disgusted it as if you had given her a piece of sh#t, and will tell you that it’s not enough to buy milk, and that the baby is very very hungry and… and you’ll give her a second coin, perhaps two euros. To thank you she’ll bless you in the name of the Virgin Mary, then offer to read your hand: now she starts to scroll through the palm with her dirty phalanx and… the rest is a sad story that always brings big smiles, never, however, by those who have suffered. If you are curious to know how the story ends, then wait out into the BolognaFiere’s car park and let yourself approach.

Vi si avvicinerà chiedendovi qualche soldo per prendere il latte al bambino che ha tanta, ma proprio tanta fame e voi, spinti dal vostro gran cuore, inizierete a farvi del male con le vostre stesse mani: le darete un euro. Lei però lo guarderà schifata come se le aveste dato un pezzo di mer#a e vi risponderà che è troppo poco per comprare il latte, che il bambino ha tanta, ma proprio tanta fame, e voi ci cascherete di nuovo allungandole una seconda moneta, magari da due euro. Per ringraziarvi vi benedirà nel nome della Vergine Maria, quindi si offrirà di leggervi la mano: inizierà a scorrervi il palmo con la sua falange incrostata di… il resto è una storia tristissima che quando racconto suscita sempre grandi sorrisi, mai comunque da parte di chi l’ha subita. Se siete curiosi di sapere come quella storia sia finita, allora recatevi nel parcheggio di BolognaFiera e lasciatevi avvicinare.

If you want to spend the rest of your live without going through traumatic experiences, then you will have to prove resolute: any response other than a ‘NO!’ will be interpreted as weakness and will make you look like a prey in the eyes of the predator.

Chi invece vuole trascorrere il resto della propria esistenza senza passare attraverso esperienze traumatizzanti, allora dovrà dimostrarsi risoluto: qualsiasi risposta diversa da un ‘NO!’ deciso verrà interpretata come debolezza e vi farà apparire al pari di una preda agli occhi del predatore.

This is the old pussycat who cheated the blackbird, I remember well her, and what a discomfort I felt in seeing me inidcated by the small creature. Don’t be fooled by the young age: they already know how to cheat you even before they learn to walk. If any of you are thinking that maybe I hate that kind of people, well, you face disappear doubt: after that experience my ideas became very clear in this regard. I know, these aren’t beautiful images and above all is an inelegant way to conclude an article. So don’t waste any more time and go beyond.

Questa è proprio la vecchia gatta che fregò il merlo, me la ricordo bene, e che disagio ho provato nel vedermi puntare da quell’altra creatura. Non lasciatevi ingannare dalla giovane età: sanno già come fregarvi ancora prima di imparare a camminare. Se in questo momento qualcuno sta pensando che forse io non ami un certo genere di umanità, beh, si faccia sparire il dubbio: dopo quell’esperienza le mie idee si sono fatte molto limpide a riguardo. Lo so, non sono belle immagini e sopratutto è un modo poco elegante di concludere un articolo. Allora non perdete altro tempo e passate oltre.

If misfortune will take you to be alone and surrounded in the BolognaFiere’s car park, then remember the smile of Misty and try to imitate him: you will save yourself with style.

Se la sventura vi porterà a essere soli e circondati nel parcheggio di BolognaFiere, allora ricordatevi del sorriso di Misty e mettevi a imitarlo: vi salverete con stile.

7,418.590 kg of hybrids, roach, perch and skimmers weighed in over the week: that’s what has been experienced in the 2013 Lakelands and Inland Waterways World Pairs Angling Championships (64 pairs, 128 anglers, 11.591 kg to each one every day for five days). Friday, 13^th September, day 5: let’s see what appened during the last day of the event thanks to pictures and press release send me by Steve Lockett (you can have further information by the organizers’ official site and their Facebook page).

Dave ‘Mossy’ Moss is well known around the south of England for his home-made motorised trolley. He said: “When I retired, I decided to spend some money on getting myself kitted out to make the fishing easier. My van has ramps to get my trolley in and out, and even has a winch for if the battery goes flat.” Equipped with indicators, lights, a hooter, mobile phone charger and even refrigerated buckets for bait, is great for use on commercial fisheries, but most venues in Ireland require the old fashioned of carryin everything over slightly uneven terrain. During the World Pairs event, there was a blind teams of four drawn: Mossy lined up alongside Daiwa Cup front runner Rod Scott,Mark Pollard and eventual Daiwa Cup winner, Cathal Hughes. They finished with a total weight of 315.270 kg and Mossy was quick to point out his part in the success. He also said: “I had to put them all right several days. No, not really, I think they carried me and may not have needed my 35 kg at all. I blame fishing on commercials, it has badly affected the way I fish on natural venues.”

Ballyconnell, County Cavan,Willie Wheeler’s Angling Centre. Finding enough bait and emergency supplies of tackle is taken care of thanks to a network of shops and dealers around the Lakelands region. Former world individual silver medallist Willie Wheeler was keen to fish the event, but has to run his new tackle shop in Ballyconnell to cater for the daily draws at the Angler’s Rest Hotel. For anglers in Enniskillen, Fishing Tackle and Bait was on hand despite owner David Burleigh being in Poland on international duty for Ireland at the World Championships.

In Ballinamore, County Leitrim, local legend Gabriel Owen left wife Dee to look after those who came to The Forge for supplies. This shop is an institution in angling circles, with its haphazard displays and curious mix of floats and plumbing suppies. Usually in the same boxes. Dee and Gabriel insiste they know exacly where everything is, so once you have taken a look, it’s probably best to ask for what you want.

A message perfectly sharp, although slighty out of focus.

This is a scene that you’ll never see in Italic waters, simply because there’s no environmental culture in Italy.

Philip Jackson: drawing time.

Day one, Monday 9^th: morning rain, turned warm and sunny, 18°-19°, light winds. Day two, Tuesday 10^th: started bright, became overcast, 15°-16°, moderate breeze. Day three, Wednesday 11^th: morning rain, cleared in afternoon, 17°-18°, moderate wind. Day four, Thursday 12^th: misty morning, overcast skies gave heavy rain later, 17°-18°, strong winds in afternoon. Day five, Friday 13^th: generally clear and bright, 18°-19°, light breezes. The weather over the winter and into this summer played a big part in the fabulous fishing.

Even during the week competition, the weather stayed quite mid for the time of year. Many local people thought the sport has been much better this year thanks to a cold winter and warm, dry summer.

Gabriel Owens, who has guided anglers to the Lakelands region for more than twenty years, spends time out in boats filming underwater, and had this to say: “The water clarity has lead to an explosion of roach/bream hybrids, which makes for consistent angling. The big bream are still in the lakes, but they tend to feed at night now. The dry weather certainly made the fishing better than in 2012, when the rain kept the water temperatures down. We can see fish moving all the time when we’re out on the lakes. A few more anglers coming here and throwing bait in would keep them feeding and growing and help those catches that we all want to see.”

Rain and wind: no problem for northern anglers.

Rudigen Hansen in action

Rudigen with a nice hybrid. He was the top finisher of the German visitors: his 63.330 kg left him in 44^th place at the end. Other German angler Markus Billen finished strongly in 64^th place with 57.410 kg thanks to a last day 16.560 of quality pole caught fish next to Cathal Hughes.

Kevin Leach’s feeders, the same used by many competitors.

Not only feeder fishing: to be competitive you have to fish well also with the pole.

Steve Ringer at Bunerky Lake. He said: “Cathal had told us that Bunerky Lake would be a pole job if the skimmers and the hybrids weren’t feeding, but Brackley would be out and out feeder fishing. Phil isn’t the best on the pole, so we had to have me draw on Bunerky and Phil at Brackley.” Drawing exactly that order helped Steve win his section with an astounding 18 kg of tiny roach on the pole at 13 m.

The other half of Ringer pair: Phil was drawn 4 on Brackley Lake and fished the feeder at short range all day. He said: “In the first two hours of the match I had 80 fish. They were mostly perch, but good little weight builders.”

Phil swings a little perch. “I began to get a few hybrids as well, but I was maily fishing for the perch cup!” he said. When the final whistle blew on the 2013 competition, Phil’s 18 kg net was also enough for a section win, but the combined 36 kg was never enough to overhaul Cathal and Jacko’s 48 kg addition. It was, however, just enough to lift the Ringer Brothers from 7^th to 2^nd, with a different of €7,000 in prize money.

Steve Ringer nets a hybrid.

And now while swings a roach. With some of the best of Europe’s anglers taking part this year, it was always going to be diffucult to win either the pairs or the Daiwa Cup. Steve Ringer knew he and Phil still had things to learn about Irish festival fishing. «I had bad day on the Mud Flats. I knew there were some bream around and just tried too hard to catch them. Instead, I should have got my head down and scraped some small fish togheter» he said. His 2.060 kg final weight in day two was made up of a single bream from peg 12A, while Phil managed to put 12 kg on the scales in section B. «The problem was, we didn’t know what would be target weights for the week. I was going all out for a big weight, when there were always going to be areas where 7 or 8 kg was the best you could ever hope for» he said again.

Steve Ringer was one of the big names drawn to fish the Lakelands and Inland Waterways World Pairs Angling Championships. With brother Phil as his partner, he came to take on some of the best match anglers in Europe on venues and in a country he had never fished before. Unluckily, he fell just short of both pairs’ and individual wins, picking up second place in both.

Steve spoke about his visit: “It’s been fantastic. Phil and me have definitely learnt that the fishing here rewards anglers that work hard. There have been just a couple of poor pegs, but still a good day’s fishing with 10 kg or more on offer at over 90% of the pegs. We never imagined the fishing would be so consistent.”

Cathal Hughes in action with his long pole, peg 10 in section 5A at Garadice lake. Going in to the last day, not only were the pairs’ results on the line, but the battle for the Daiwa Cup was finely balanced. Steve Ringer began the day just over 4 kg ahead of his Irish rival. But the County Galway bagger was heading for a section that had given better weights all week, although not by much. Cathal found himself right here, on Garadice Lake, in Haughton’s Shore, at peg ten: 15 kg was the best weight from the peg before the arrival of the 2010 World Champ silver medallist. After balling in at 13 meters with a groundbait mix lightly laced with chopped worm and casters, his first three casts saw three hybrids in the net before five minutes were up. «You have to just point the rod and crank them. When you hear the shockleader come into the tip ring, give it five more turns and lift» he said.

The Irishman while netting a nice breme. He won the section with 27.6 kg outdistancing of 10 kilos Lee Klimczuk, second with 17.7 kg (peg 7).

The best section all week was on the Crom Estate on Upper Lough Erne in Fermanagh (Wednesday, day 3). Both the River and Turfhouse sections gave always decent nets, but the day Cathal arrived was the day for the top weight of the week: the feeder and pole routine worked a treat on peg 12 on the Crom River and 40.180 kg was the end result of five hours of frantic fishing. He said: «It was the day I realized you need to rest the feeder line to keep the hybrids coming.» By swapping to the pole after three or four hybrids, he ensured the shoal never got spooked. A few roach on the pole line would come very fast and then he could go back on the feeder for another burst of hybrids. Also speed has had its importance, as you can read from this report by Simon Young.

Bunches of red maggots proved to be the most successful bait for both Cathal and Jacko. These enabled the pair to pick off both hybrids and roach on either the pole or feeder (not this time: the bait seems to be an earthworm).

Another nice bream for the World Champs silver medallist (Merida, Spain 2010). Although being Irish residents, neither of them fish the venues used in this event. It was a first time visit to the Mud Flats section at Carrick on Shannon, but Cathal still pulled out one of his now customary section-destroying performances. «Look, we fish in Ireland all the time and we have a way of fishing that suits lots of these venues,» said Cathal, «Jacko is a bit more intense than I am, so gets to thinking about how and why things are happening and what could happen, but I just take it one day at a time.» Starting on the feeder and then resting it by swapping to the pole was a key part of their success. Cathal went on to say: «Understanding the way hybrids want to feed is a big part of it. You can’t keep dropping a feeder on their heads. By resting the feeder line, you can keep going back out and add a few more quick fish.»

Philip ‘Jacko’ Jackson, the other half of the winning pair with his catch.

Jackson said: «It has been a brilliant week, but to be honest my best day was last Saturday: during the small practise match on Bunerky Lake, I had 35 kg in cold, horrible weather. It was a real good day and helped me get my teeth into what we had to do.» Over the course of the week there were twelve weights in excess of 30 kg (picture taken on Saturday 7^th).

Ron Van Den Voort and his amazing catch. From Holland, he was the best placed angler from outside the UK and Ireland: his 34^th place with 66.430 kg was helped by a nice catch of bream on day one on the river Shannon. Ron has been coming to Ireland to fish two festivals every day for 15 years and the World Pairs Angling Competition is firmly fixed in his diary now.

Friday evening: relax time for the living legend Kevin Ashurst. With 59.480 kg in five days Mr Ashurst has obtained the 53^rd position in Daiwa Cup, anyway better than achieved by another living legend: Bob Nudd, 63^rd with 57.430 kg.

Robin Morley, Sales and Marketing Director of Daiwa Sports, gave an address in which he expressed thanks for the sponsorship that Lakelands and Inland Waterways put into the World Pairs event. By putting £8500 worth of tackle prizes and the Daiwa Cup into the individual event, the Scottish-based company continue to follow up on Robin’s pledge in 2012 to support the event for at least five years. Mr Morley, who had a very successful career as a match angler for Daiwa Dorking, acknowledged the standard of angling on display at the 2013 event. He said: «It’s great for fishing in Ireland that anglers of this calibre are coming to fish the World Pairs Angling Championships. Everyone fishing, and myself on behalf of Daiwa Sorts, want to thank Lakelands and Inland Waterways for the incredible sponsorship they are putting in to this event. Long may it continue.»

To answer the congratulations and thanks from the various dignitaries at the closing ceremony, Kevin Locke called on 1989 individual World Champion Tommy Pickering to address the audience on behalf of the anglers. The presence of a large number of the competitors is down to Tommy’s promotion of the event on fisheries and matches in the UK and Europe. In his typical proud, patriotic way, he spoke at lenght about his feelings for the Lakelands and Inland Waterways World Pairs Championships. He said: «It was good last year, this year it’s fantastic. One of the biggest changes is in the strength of angler fishing. Every day, at my peg, I looked down the line of anglers and saw quality. We had two of the three best match anglers ever fishing this event in Bob Nudd and Kevin Ashurst. Although it was a serious match, we had a great laugh every day. We met wonderful people in the towns and villages where we stayed. The class of angler here this week is the true test and makes this event very special. Without Lakelands and Inland Waterways support, these anglers wouldn’t be here. Between them and Daiwa, one of the biggest tackle companies in the world, we anglers need to promote the event and spread the word about the welcome, the quality of sport and the standard of match that we have.»

However, not everything went right: something serious has happened during day two when Mark Williams had a heart attack on the bank at Kiltybarden. The ambulance arrived within ten minutes. All the IFI stewards are first aid trained and speed really was of the essence in saving Mark’s life.

Cheers rang around the closing ceremony when Mark walked in the room, accompanied by paramedic Patrick McGreevy. Mark’s two close friends Stephen and Fiona Beeby were on hand to keep make sure he wasn’t overwhelmed by the occasion. Mark finished by saying: «My partner and four boys all wanted to fly over, but I said I was fine and not to bother. I was amongst good friends and with a new friend in Patrick. He tells me the air ambulance is threatened with closure due to budget cuts. Without that, and people like Patrick and Shane, I would not be here to tell this story and would not be fishing this great event next year.»

Third pair (with a total weight of 164.580kg): Paul Keeley and Lee Addy with Damian McWheeny (Waterways Ireland) and Eddie McGovern (Fermanagh District Council). Lee is Mark Addy’s song, England Team Manager, in those days engaged in the world championship in Poland.

Ringer brothers, Steve and Phil, collect trophies from Michael Fitzsimons (Failtre Ireland), Eddie McGovern (Fermanagh District Council) and Damian McWheeny (Waterways Ireland). Steve and Phil had a great week despite not getting their hands on the main prize. On they first ever visit to fish in Ireland, they gradually crept through the field to claim the €7,500 for second-place (total weight 167.100 kg). «We have both really enjoyed our week here,» Phil said, «Getting to the venues each day was very easy, the fishing was incredible apart for one poor day for me on Airport and we’ve had help everywhere from the locals.»

Colm Breheny (Failtre Ireland), Philip Jackson, Robin Morley (Daiwa Sports), Cathal Huges, Eddie McGovern (Fermanagh District Council) and Damian McWheeny (Waterways Ireland). «We will fish to win, but without going stupid,» Jackson said on day one, «We know that there will be some pegs where 5 or 6 kg will be a good weight. There’s no point trying to do too much, the better pegs will come and then we’ll take advantage.» And take advantage they certainly did: 185.280 kg for them.

“They say that lighting doesn’t strike twice, but talented Irish anglers Philip ‘Jacko’ Jackson and Cathal Hughes proved that wrong and walked off with the €16,000 winners cheque and Irish crystal vases. Defending their 2012 title, the lads from either side of the border came togheter again to defeat a stronger field in this, the second year of the event. With a massive 185.280 kg over the five days fishing, they comfortably held off second-placed Steve and Phil Ringer.” With these words begins the match report of this 2013 event.

Northern Ireland/Republic of Ireland pair, Philip Jackson and Cathal Hughes, retained their crown as Lakelands and Inland Waterways World Pairs Angling Championship. Congratulations.

The three best pairs of the 2013 edition.

Cathal Hughes also won the individual title, and of course the second edition of Daiwa Cup (107.430 kg for him). Second place for Steve Ringer with 102.140 kg and third Peter Jones with 96.430. I don’t know why Cathal wasn’t in Poland with the Irish team, however I guess that satisfactions are not missed to him.

Sorry for the low quality of this picture, but it’s just an enlargement of the previous one. An interesting particular: on the basis of the Daiwa Cup can be read: “2012 F. McGoldrick”, Irish like Cathal. This means that on it will be inscribed the individual winner’s name of every edition, just as happens to the individual Men’s World Championship cup. This was not a brilliant edition for Frances: 12^nd in the individual ranking with 81.640 kg and just 9^th in pair with Dave Brettell (155.470 kg pair weight).

Robin Morley congratulates Daiwa Cup champ Cathal Hughes, and also gives him another welcome prize.

Cathal shares the glory whit his wife Yvonne.

A great event, no doubt, only I wonder why it was chosen the same week of the senior men’s World Championship. There were famous names and living legends, but many others would be able to come if they were free from engagements with Irish and British teams. We hope that next year there will be no more this overlap. A special mention goes to some people who have worked hard day and night, on the field and in front of a computer monitor, to ensure that everything was going well for the anglers: Michael Fitzpatrick, Helen Rainsford and Steve Lockett.

I started getting the photos of Steve Lockett related to the 2013 Lakelands and Inland Waterways World Pairs Angling Championship. What you see in this article are related to the weekend and the first day of competition. Let’s see them.

Ho iniziato a ricevere da Steve Lockett le immagini relative al 2013 Lakelands and Inland Waterways World Pairs Angling Championship. Quelle che vedete in questo articolo sono relative al weekend e al primo giorno di gara. Vediamole.

Ballinamore, county Leitrim, Ireland.

Event sponsors and ambassadors: Norma Herron, Bob Nudd, Kevin Locke (organizer), Steve Ringer and Colm Breheny.

Steve Ringer is casting his feeder on Garadice lake. This and the next four photos were taken Sunday, the last day before the start of the tournament.

Simon Fry with two hybrids.

A little roach for Mark Pollard.

Phil Jackson (last year’s winner in pair with Cathal Hughes) with Bunerky net.

Steve Ringer catch.

Sunday evening, 8^thSeptember: the draw held in the Standing Stone Hotel in Ballinamore with a lot of new faces over than last year’s event. From this moment the going gets tough

The road signs are very clear: impossible to fail

Also serve these for a good communication work

Leitrim. Mud Flats at Carrick-on-Shannon.

Philip Jackson (winner of the 2012 pairs edition with Cathal Hughes) casts for Shannon skimmers near the marina; he will win his section with 9.400 grams.

Jacko’s maggots: a little secret.

Rudiger Hansen nets a hybrid.

Simon Young of talkangling was end peg on A section. He got Shannon hybrids late on a short feeder line.

Mr Hughes with a nice hybrid. Well, when I saw this picture for the first time I thought: Alan Scottorne! You have to admit: there is an undeniable similarity.

The other half of the 2012 winner pair won his section with a display of perfect feeder fishing (16.300 kg). His strategy: bunches of red maggots on the hook and a very dark groundbait mix with just a few casters and a pinch of chopped worms added.

Cathal shows to Colm Breheney how hold a fish.

Ron Van De Voort is playing a nice bream

Ron with the classic Shannon breams, dark backed and with a love for worms. “I like to catch them” said the olandese, “so today was very nice for me. My 9 kg net was second in the section, so it was very close to winning but Philip beat me by 500 grams.” Ron’s favourite venue is Garadice, where he’ll be on the last day.

End of day one. 2012 Pairs Champion Cathal Hughes and Philip Jackson, with more than 26 kg in the bag, are not the lead yet. The best pair today: Frances McGoldrick and Dave Brettell with 46.540 kg, and Mr McGoldrick (individual last year’s winner) is also the leader of the Daiwa Cup with 30.640 kg.