"There are so many aspects to fishing: watercraft, interpreting fish behaviour, the skills of casting and the adrenaline-pumping excitement of playing a big fish.

And there’s the art to what we do. The exquisite skills of the fly tyer, perhaps. And then Andrew Field’s quite sensational handmade floats. I enjoyed a lovely day with Andrew; we even caught a chub. And, of course, it fell to maggots fished under one of his own red-tipped stick floats.

The detailing on these floats is unbelievable. The thread. The whipping. The painting. The varnishing. Even the beautifully displayed feathers that adorn each and every one.

These floats take you back to the age of the craftsman, before the dubious benefits of mass production. Are they better than modern plastic floats? Well, I think so because each float can be made individually for the job that you want it to do. And is it nicer to fish with one of Andrew’s gorgeous creations? Well, what do you think?!"