A Bit of Retro Fishing on the Dorset Stour

I've revisited a stretch of the Dorset Stour near Bournemouth Airport and fished with similar tackle to that I used back in 1974. The river was being dredged back then and had no trees at all, with 45 degree backs. Nature has reclaimed the banks with where I fished in 1974 now dry land and the spot I actually fish on the video having done the opposite due to bank erosion. I use a mid 70s ABU Mark 6 rod and an old ABU 506 reel that used to belong to a fishing mate, with an Ivan Marks Pacemaker float.
Back in 1974 I had a single good roach as it was hard fishing. We won the team event that day for the first time. On this revisit I started on maggots and had lots of bleak and small dace before switching to tares for some roach and dace.
My two latest books, 'Big Roach 2' and 'Ivan Marks and the Likely Lads' are available from calmproductions.com

[@garymason8978]

A nice venture back in time Mark.. I still have some of my retro tackle from back in the late 70s,when I started fishing..I may dig them out of the loft and give them a session on my local canal or river just for a nostalgic trip back in time to my youth..lovely way to reminise..Tight lines! 😊🎣

[@MarkWintleFishing]

It's good fun and reminds us that the old gear is just as capable of catching fish.

[@robshaw3655]

I still use an old hollow glass milbro carpmaster (with a few repairs) to stalk carp on my local pond, has such a lovely action with carp up to 10lb.

[@MarkWintleFishing]

I must have a go soon with some of the old glass rods I've got. That ABU Mark 6 is heavy but nothing wrong with the action although it is slower than modern carbon rods.

[@jbea99]

I have a 13' Shakespeare Match International rod and reel. A thing of beauty. Gave the rod an outing last year. Yes the old stuff does have a different feel! Still use the reel & my ABU closed face. I also got on Ebay for a great price an as new Ivan Marks Persuader 13' to collect. Did give it a try on a local silvers pond. Now that was a heavy bit of kit by comparison and quite softy on the strike etc. Just nice to own them though.

[@shaunpenford5305]

As I remember back in 78? on the Frome that rod was caked in groundbait, Great videos Mark cheers Shaun

[@MarkWintleFishing]

That year sounds about right. If I had glasses then 78 onwards.

[@maxinesmyth3183]

Hi there Mark Thanks for another lovely video. I have a little collection of old tackle the old bracket, wooden tackle box and a couple of split cane rods and old reels I love fishing with it and find I am using it more and more..........carbon is nice but there is something about the old stuff it kind of slows you down.

[@garynicholson2855]

I remember all to well using fibreglass and even cane rods. I would not won't to go back to them TBH.

[@andrewrapley2881]

I still have my old Abu Counterstrike I love it with my 501.

[@adriangosbell7736]

Still using MK1 Abu reels for most of my float fishing.

[@MarkWintleFishing]

I actually bought an ABU 505 in 1973 so would have used that in 1974 with this particular reel used by a good mate who sold it on to me. I sold the 505 about 40 years ago as I'd moved on to Mitchells. I do remember wearing out parts of the 505 fairly regularly.

[@stuartroyle1402]

remember,,,we only go fishing for bites!

[@richardbarrett7544]

Its a blooming pole you fool? Ha! Nice one again Mark, are you still on that format with the camera?