THE UK’s oldest angler is still enjoying his fishing and bagging up even at the ripe old age of 102.
Super-veteran angler Bob Teers is taken every year by his 70-year-old son David to Ian Heaps Fishing Resort in Pembrokeshire, South Wales, for a week’s fishing holiday.
And apart from a bit of help with the fiddly bit of putting a pellet on a band, the Stockport, Greater Manchester-based angler fishes totally independently.
Fishery owner’s son Scott Heaps explained: “They’ve been coming here for over a decade and when he was in his late 90s my dad told him if he reached a 100 he could fish for free so we reckon he kept going that long to make dad keep his promise.
“The family has been going fishing together for 50 years, and we had five generations here this time.
“Bob can only cast out a couple of rod lengths now but thoroughly enjoys what he is doing, he is still learning – every year dad gives him a free tip which helped to give him nine carp in one session here this time.
“His biggest ever fish was caught here a few years back which was a lovely common of 15 lb 4 oz.
“Bob started fishing relatively late around the age of 35 back in about 1950, but that still means he has been fishing for 67 consecutive years.
“He used to work as a machine grinder in Bredbury Steel Works but had to take time off work through an industrial injury to his hand.
“His grandad gave him a couple of old split cane rods and he went out and bought two cheap centre pin reels for 1 shilling and 6 pence each which is 7.5p in today’s money, and he went off to fish a local pond near Offerton Girls School but can’t recall what he first caught apart from the fishing bug.
“Like my Dad at one time he got into match fishing and was a member of Hayfield Club in Derbyshire. He regards his best fishing achievement as going with his club to the Yorkshire Ouse and catching only seven tiny roach for 6 oz but this was enough to win – and they say today’s river fishing is tough!
“Quite a difference from my dad Ian winning the world championships – Ian is now 72 and still loves his fishing but contents himself with only fishing matches on his own fishery here, one of which he won last week with 147 lb of carp.
“Coming here with the family is the only time Bob actually gets to fish these days and my dad, who comes from the same area, has now joked that if he comes back again next year he can have free bait as well but he will have to bring his parents with him to qualify,” he concluded.
GOT A NEWS STORY OR CAUGHT A BIG FISH? Email photos and details exclusively to: anglersmail@timeinc.com – you could appear in the brilliant weekly print magazine.