Phil Smith is a familiar face to anyone with more than a passing interest in the big fish scene and since his early days with the Coventry Specimen Group, along with anglers such as Merv Wilkinson, Tony Miles and Trefor West, he has been at the very forefront of specimen angling in the UK.
Phil’s latest book follows on from ‘Magic Moments’, published in 2004, and brings the reader up to date with Phil’s exploits with every major species since that time – and as you can guess with Phil’s dedication and enthusiasm for big fish angling an awful lot has happened in the interim!
To start off I must mention the man himself. Phil sometimes comes in for a bit of criticism for his time-centred, target-focused style of fishing and there is no doubt that serious specialist angling places enormous mental, physical and indeed fiscal pressures on the angler. Total dedication to any branch of any sport calls for a single-minded determination which can often be interpreted as ruthlessness or selfishness but once you know the character involved it is rarely justified.
I have fished with Phil, albeit rarely, but I was fishing with him for one of the stand out captures related in this book and I would happily share a session with him anytime. Phil exhibits a dedication which I could never match (even in my really serious big fish days) and puts in hours I would never dream of matching but remains a down to earth, good humoured and thoroughly likeable angler – who catches a LOT of seriously big fish.
The book kicks off with Phil’s remarkable challenge to see how many different rivers he could catch a double figure barbel from in one season and his exploits on a variety of venues take up a large proportion of the book – and rightly so; his extraordinary total of doubles from 20 rivers is one which will enthral any barbel angler.
From the infamous Great Ouse at Adam’s Mill to Burghfield Weir on the Kennet, from the Wessex rivers to the mighty Trent, Thames and Severn it’s a delightful journey and the agony is there as well as the ecstasy – 14 nights on the Thames without a bite for starters!
After barbel we join Phil as he crosses the country in pursuit of bream, cats, carp, chub, crucians, grayling, sturgeon, roach, perch and tench and for each species we get an insight into Phil’s methods and thought processes which, invariably, produce a result. The book finishes with zander and, unlike the rest of the species, not a target achieved but a target set as Phil outlines his ideas and thoughts for coming seasons – a nice touch.
I’m hope Phil will not mind me saying but in the past some of the photographs he has used have not been brilliant and I was worried that might be the case in this book but clearly Mr Smith has been giving the camera to the right people these days as the images which illustrate every chapter are top notch!
It’s a fascinating and entertaining read for anyone with an interest in the big fish scene and barbel anglers in particular will enjoy reading the river challenge.
Targets Set And Achieved is published by Travelling Man Publications in a first run of 1000 standard editions at £26 + £5 P&P plus a limited run of 40 leather bound copies at £175 + £5 P&P. Copies are available directly from the man himself at: phlpsmith9@aol.com
