Steve Pope
Chairman

stevepope@btinternet.com

Age: Arrived in 1950 another Baby boomer, believe it or not on the first day of the fishing season so you could say I was born to fish!

Hometown: Grew up in North London then moved out to Essex but have recently moved to the Welsh Marches. Surrounded by rolling hills and sheep!

Occupation: Retired now but will be taking people out for days fishing, more writing and generally taking life far more easily.

Married: Married with three daughters. My eldest lives in Sydney Australia and has established a thriving business and I like to get over there as often as I can. The middle one is an Insurance Broker and lives in Essex and my youngest is a lawyer living and working in Central London. I am intensely proud of them all.

Apart from fishing I enjoy music, going to concerts and festivals, totally into Bruce Springsteen! Will hopefully be enjoying a lot more gardening and walking over the hills where I live now.

Most memorable day: Have had many memorable days with regard to fishing, the day we actually formed the Barbel Society will always live in my memory as will the time I caught a huge Severn barbel while fishing with Fred Crouch fifteen years or so ago, at the time and in all the excitement for a moment we thought the record had gone!
Also being presented with an engraved cut glass goblet at the BS conference from the members and handed to me by Fred.

Achievements in regards to barbel fishing: I suppose it would have to be the success of the Barbel Society that has given so many people so much pleasure not only from the fishing point of view but all the friendships that have been forged.
Fishing wise, twice capturing the second biggest Severn barbel with different fish.

On a personal note, managing to maintain a life balance where family always comes first, this means my daughters are now my best friends.

Favourite Method: In the summer months you can't beat casters for barbel, trounces every other bait hands down! In the autumn and winter I usually stick with boilies.

Favourite Venue/ river: The Severn has to be my favourite river, it has been so kind over the years and I can now get to the bank in ten minutes, so I must have been sub consciously drawn to it.

What's The future for you and barbel fishing?: For the future I just want to enjoy my fishing, my friends, my family and see the Barbel Society flourish and prosper so that the next generation can gain as much pleasure from it as I and many others have.

All the best and good fishing.

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