Arnold Patefield

An interview by Stan and Paula

Arnold is a veteran angler with more fishing experience than most of us will amass in ten lifetimes. With more than 50 years of fishing experience he has not lost any of the enthusiasm for angling that has characterised his life. How many of us have enjoyed the privilege of our own boat on Loch Lomond, Loch Awe and Ullswater? Following a successful career in teaching Arnold took early retirement and moved to Scotland, where for 10 years, he pursued his passion for angling fishing Loch Lomond on an almost daily basis, punctuating this ritual only by fishing Loch Awe on Wednesdays. Wow!

Arnold was called up for National Service and served as a paratrooper. He has served his country well and is now enjoying a well-earned retirement. Born in Bury, Lancashire he now lives in Maulds Meaburn which serves as a base near to Bessybeck. He was only persuaded to give up his home on the shores of Loch Lomond to be closer to his family, particularly his grand children.

If you follow the monthly reports on this website you cannot fail to notice how often Arnold features. He repeatedly lands a catch big enough to justify a mention. His biggest fish is around 14lb and the most he has caught in half a day is 30. He is worth listening to.

Our day began with Arnold, in his distinctive white hat, explaining to me how to construct a cast of 3 buzzers. A red and orange on the drop, a blood worm on the middle and a Diawl Bach on the point, all spaced equidistantly on a 12-15 feet cast. He then advised me how to fish the cast, casting slightly down-wind and allowing a bow to develop in my floating line to let the wind bring the buzzers up through the depths. A fish-enticing ploy!

Bessybeck is very well stocked. If you are not catching fish you should change your approach, confident that fish will have seen your flies and rejected them. After a short blank spell with buzzers Arnold changed to a lure and immediately began to catch fish. If you fish Bessybeck you will be well advised to adopt this tactic.

Arnold and I fished Island Lake on a cold overcast afternoon in October. It wasn't just cold, it rained. I began to shiver and was grateful when Paula turned up to take me back to Ravenstonedale. As we left the fishery I looked back to see Arnold landing another hard fighting rainbow. Together we caught 12 fish of which Arnold caught 12. Arnold is good. Say nor more!