Most people, including myself, associate Hoseasons with Boating Holidays on places like the Norfolk Broads or on the River Thames,  which I should point out also make fantastic fishing holidays as well. I was pleasantly surprised to find they also have a large range of static holidays in the UK, Channel Islands and some in France. Hoseasons also have a selection of holiday parks on the website which are mainly Caravan types sites – which also have some interesting looking holidays with fishing thrown in.

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You can search the Hoseasons website in several ways. Firstly you can do a quick search by country and region – England, Scotland, Wales, Channel Islands then by region North, South, East etc. Secondly you can search by types (Parks, Lodges, Cottages, Boats). Unfortunately you cannot search for holidays with fishing. To find the fishing facilities you need to go to the location and click on the Accommodation Info tab to see if fishing is an Accommodation Feature. To see all the sites that have fishing on-site click here. Some of the other locations claim to have fishing nearby, which in some cases is several miles away (which to me defeats the object of a relaxing fishing holiday). Some of the locations indicate fishing with a + sign, which evidently is an extra charge for fishing, which in most cases is no more than £5 per day.

One venue that caught my eye was Woodlakes in Stowbridge, Norfolk which hosts 4 wooden lodges for up to 6 people per lodge. It is situated on 66 acres of beautiful and peaceful countryside around 5 fishing lakes. One of the lakes is a 12 acre Championship lake, which I assume is for match fishing. The lakes are evidently stocked with Carp (up to 40lbs in weight), Roach, Tench, Bream, Rudd, Perch, Pike and Eels (the eels are probably not stocked, as they generally find there own way into lakes). The lodges are named: Cedar Lodge, Cedar Deluxe Lodge, Spruce Lodge and Willow Lodge. They all have TV, Kitchen, Fridge, Microwave, Bath/Shower, Bed Linen, Central Heating facilities.

What I like the look of is the lodges are very close to the lakes, so you can fish virtually from your lodge landing stage. The prices for the lodges range from £272 to £747 depending on the time of year and which lodge you require. As well as fishing Woodlakes is an excellent base for exploring the quaint market towns of King’s Lynn, Downham Market, Swaffham and Wisbech. For those of you that like me, need to entertain the family then the famous golden beaches and harbours of the North Norfolk coast, a host of pretty villages, bird sanctuaries and nature reserves are also close at hand.

The Lodges and Cottages on the Hoseasons site also offer great 3 and 4 day deals. If you can go from Monday to Thursday for example you will find the prices reduced quite a bit. Also they do late deals, so if you can wait until the last minute you may get a bargain.

If you are looking for a coarse fishing holiday in the uk where you can go with friends or family and relax, fish and explore in wonderful surroundings, then take a look at the fishing lodges, fishing cottages, caravans and parks that hoseasons have to offer.

At the time of writing this I am in the process of booking a holiday in May at Cedar Lodge for a 4 night break which totals to about £270. I will let you know how I get on.

Summary of “Fishing Holidays in the UK – Cottages and Lodges”Fishing Boots – How To Choose The Perfect Boot

These boots were made for fishing!

Angling has come quite a way over the last decade or two. I remember when the only real choice for footwear when going fishing was a pair of Wellingtons, Doc’s, or something ex military. Nowadays, you can’t move for ankle boots, low boots, high boots, field boots, high boots, walled boots and even moon boots!

Lots to choose from then, but what points do you need to think about before making your purchase? The main point for consideration should be the type of angling you intend to be doing, and also a crucial factor, the length of your sessions, as this will dictate how long you’ll have them on for at a time.

To start off with, let’s take a look at what types of footwear are best suited to which types of angling. If you’re a stalking, roving or mobile type of angler, you will be better off looking at some of the low cut boots for the majority of your fishing. These will be comfortable for long periods spent walking, and being more like a trainer in design will be much better suited to climbing trees and scrambling down riverbanks. Most low cut boots are waterproof and breathable, but if it’s likely you are going to be coming into contact with the water on a regular basis, a slightly higher cut might be more suitable – especially if you won’t be doing much climbing.

A good design to look at in such circumstances would be a field boot. A field boot offers a rubberised lower part of the boot, so it’s totally waterproof and easy to clean, whilst the upper wall is made of fabric to ensure comfy walking. One thing to look out for, though, is whether the lining is fixed, i.e. stitched in and part of the boot, or removable in that it can be taken out of the boot altogether. Whilst those with a removable liner are great for session fishing, or as a winter boot to keep your feet nice and warm, they aren’t too good for trying to walk long distances as the liners – which are often very thick – tend to move around within the boot itself.

An ankle, low, trail or high boot will usually have a fully stitched in liner, so they give you the best of both worlds, good comfort with good traction. It’s probably the case that in time you’ll get a few different types of footwear to suit the season. My preference for summer is usually a skate type trainer which is quite well protected but allows me to climb trees and stalk comfortably. In the winter I’ll tend to be night fishing so will go with a pair of field type fishing boots with a removable liner. In the day, I’ll wear them all the time but when in the sleeping bag at night, I’ll whip them off and take out the liners. This way I can get them on is a second if the rods go.

For the angler who wants the benefit of comfort, needs to be able to walk good distances, and who will also come into contact with the water quite a bit, you then have the extreme type boot which rides quite a way up the shin. They will be much the same design as the low or ankle boot but, basically, allows you to go into much deeper water without getting your feet wet. Obviously, they are quite big and cumbersome and take quite a bit of lacing up, so they wouldn’t be suited to night fishing, but would be ideal for the roving angler in the winter.

It’s worth bearing in mind that most angling manufacturers who now offer boots are only taking their lead from the hiking and trail boot industry, and as such, in many cases, you can get just as much bang for your buck – if not more – by purchasing a good hiking or trekking boot from any number of long established brands who have been designing very similar boots for much longer!

Whilst comfort and warmth are usually the main factors people consider, for the session angler, ease of use has to come into it as well. If you’re bivvied up on a session the boots are going to be on and off quite a bit, so in such circumstances you might wish to take a look at some of the moon boot styles, which offer good insulating comfort, but have no laces so are much easier to take on and off during the session and during the night.

As a final note, it’s worth getting some decent socks at the same time. Good boots are nothing without a good pair of socks to go with them!

Adventurous Holiday Gift Ideas

Christmas time has come around again, which means another round of gift ideas for all of the important people in your life. If you’ve exhausted all of the traditional shirts, books, jewelry, and jumpers, try out some of these exciting alternatives. No one will expect these ‘experience’ gifts from you–they are the perfect surprise. No matter the person or people you need to buy for, the right experience is out there. Make a list of your recipients’ interests and you’ll be sure to hit on the ideal voucher for each.

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- Hot air balloon ride

A hot air balloon ride is the perfect romantic gift for two. There is nothing more stunning than England from the air, any time of the year. There are many launch locations within easy reach of London. Champagne is a traditional part of ballooning, so for an excellent presentation of your gift buy some bubbly to give along with the voucher.

- Sailing and fishing charters

A chartered sailing or fishing trip to southern climates is the perfect winter escape for the sporting person on your list. Consider the islands off the coast of Africa, or perhaps the coast of South Australia, among other equally appealing options. This gift is sure to be a hit no matter the location chosen. For a fun presentation buy a pair of sunglasses to gift along with a description of their trip.

- Horse riding

There are many horse riding vacations of all sorts offered in the UK and in Europe. Horse riding is a relaxing and fun way to see the scenery in places such as the coast of Iceland, Spain’s Andalusia, and Italy’s Tuscany. Ride from vineyard to chateau in France’s Loire Valley. In the UK the Scottish highlands provide treks among castles and ruins. The ideal location is available to fit the tastes of any equestrian or aspiring equestrian on your list. Try giving them a pair of riding gloves when you announce