Keith Arthur is a regular on our TV screens hosting Tight Lines on a Friday night on the Sky Sports channel. He also has a regular column in Angler's Mail and can be heard over the air waves on Talksport's "Fisherman's Blues" Although probably primarily regarded as a coarse angler he is no stranger to casting a fly rod and so we felt we'd like to find out some more.
You have been on Tight Lines since 1995, are you enjoying it as much as ever?
Absolutely. It’s an invigorating environment and every guest brings their own special brand of angling genius with them.
You seem incredibly relaxed on live TV. Was taking over the presenting duties in 2003 seamless or were the nerves jangling on your first show as presenter?
‘Nerves’ are a very positive thing as far as I am concerned although I prefer to describe it as excitement. Until that moment when the floor manager says ‘go’ it is impossible to predict what will happen. How great is that?
Did you have a say in the idea of the bothy and did you design how it would look?
Oddly no! The set was the idea of senior Sky production executive Andy Melvin, himself a keen fly angler, who had never forgotten Jack Hargreaves’ “Out of Town” on STV all those years ago. The sourcing of some of the items was very difficult but I added a few of my own bits; little trophies and stuff from my office. The ‘pickled people’ in the jar behind the guest provoke MANY questions and, just to put the record straight, a gift from the girls at Tackle Up in Bury St Edmunds several years ago.
Are you still involved in the tackle trade and if not, do you miss it?
I’m not and yes, hugely! Trade shows when I worked for Daiwa were always very enjoyable as were public exhibitions, such as Tom Pickering’s National Angling Exhibitions and the NEC ‘Go Fishing’ shows.
Do you prefer to talk about fishing or write about it?
Talk, without question, even if it means I can have my (always correct) opinions challenged. The conversation element always leaves the learning door wide open and I’m happy to accept every concept that other anglers throw at me.
I guess you would be more associated with coarse fishing but on the show you really seem to know your stuff when it comes to fly fishing and when the camera cuts away for the break the questions you ask your guests confirm this. Is fly angling something you do when you can’t coarse fish or does it run deeper than that?
I really enjoy fly fishing and, like the pickled people, is something I have to thank Tackle Up for. Rick Nunn, the owner, got me on one of the shop days he ran at Rutland back in 1992 and I loved it from the off. Advice from the late John Rolfe at Walkers of Trowell gave me some clue as to timing casts and Charles Jardine’s clues about ‘hammer-tap’ got me casting well enough to get the flies out there, occasionally in a straight line...
Do you like to tie your own flies?
Not a chance! I am dexterously inept, although I am a knot fetishist and tie them for fun!
What is the one fly you tie on with the utmost confidence?
I suggested a theme for some Tight Lines films along the lines of “Which damsel shall I tie on today?” The idea was for me to take just damsels, in varying weights and small variations, such as the blue flash, and compete against the venue expert who could use anything but, then keep score around the country. I think it would have been close...I’d just win. Haha
Do you like to catch coarse fish on the fly?
Not particularly. I don’t think cyprinids have the right mouth structure for the pressure imparted by the drag of a fly line. No problems with pike or perch though and I adore catching bass on fly - not to mention permit, bonefish and blackfin tuna on my regular Florida excursions. I’ve not had a tarpon - yet - but I’ve been mighty close. Maybe this year...
Having worked in the tackle industry does it seem as though it is advancing at an almighty rate in recent times?
Actually no! The fly rods I mostly use are original Daiwa Altmors - my old rep samples but don’t tell them - although I also have one of their new Wilderness series for my reservoir fishing. My sea/predator rod is a 10ft Redbone I bought in K-Mart in Key West for $120 several years ago and can’t justify replacing it. It’s hauled blackfin to 30lb up from 90ft and will shoot a whole line with some ease. And I can’t break it!
Do you think there is an argument for back to basics fishing?
I think that’s mostly what I do...although I don’t really appreciate what the question means. I use modern baits and tackle but fish because I love it, as basic as that! if I don’t fancy it, I don’t go!
In the US, fishing still appears a family based activity. Despite some excellent schemes to get youngsters fishing do you think the family element still exists here or are the Mr Crabtree days a thing of the past in the UK?
I honestly don’t think angling in Britain has ever been a family activity, like it is in the USA. When I drive down the Overseas Highway from Key Largo to Key West every fishing bridge and roadside area has family groups - generational groups at that - fishing together, with Afro-Caribbean, Hispanic and Caucasian families fishing side by side. Every culture seems to adopt ‘the American Dream’ whereas in the UK assimilation isn’t as great. But back to my original statement, angling, especially coarse and sea fishing, is a ‘working-class’ based sport, with Dad fishing on Sunday to get away from the family, having worked ‘down t’pit’ or in the factory all week and helped Mum with the shopping on Saturday. It’s a rare thing to see a family fishing together, although the advent of commercial fisheries, fly and coarse, with cafes and toilets has made it slightly less unusual. It’s a great wish of mine for angling to be ultra-inclusive and I know it’s achievable. It’s just when.
When you go pleasure fishing and there are other anglers about, do you feel a certain amount of pressure because of who you are, or do you just go and out and enjoy it?
I really enjoy being ‘who I am’ and if anglers want to say hello and ask, or give, advice I could not be happier. If they catch more than me, or bigger fish than me, fair play but often they credit Tight Lines, or Fisherman’s Blues for inspiring them and that is an amazing feeling.
Who would you really like to get on your show from either the past or present?
Hugh Falkus - he could tell a tale, Arthur Oglesby - so could he and L Mitchell-Henry, to talk about his tuna exploits. Billy Lane would also be a must, as would Richard Walker - more theories than me, that one! Ivan Marks would be a given but I know how uncomfortable he was in the presence of cameras, despite his astonishing rapport with a ‘live’ audience.
I’m afraid it is our ESF stock question – one last day of fly fishing where would it be?
Erm...too easy! Poling along a flat off Islamorada, checking the edges for tarpon and the flat itself for permit and bonefish. I might even get to cast!
Catch Keith on Sky Sports Tight Lines on Friday nights.