Tag Archives: camping

Smallmouth bass, catfish, snakes & canoes! In 2003 I went over to America for the wedding of one of my oldest friends.  Gaz had met an American girl and was moving “across the pond” permanently.  I’ve since heard stories of the kind of lifestyle he lives over there and I must say that at times, I’m jealous!  Despite living in the “city” of Fairfax – just outside Washington DC – within half-an-hour’s drive he has access to several large National Parks and recreation areas (not like a “rec” over here; just a piece of grass and a swing!) which either contain well-stocked lakes or free-to-access rivers. I used to fish a lot with Gaz when we were kids, but in recent years he hadn’t really fished much.  The distance between us means that we don’t get chance to meet up often, so when I saw Gaz at Christmas and he told me he’d got the fishing bug again, I was delighted!  He and his current girlfriend (now wife! – Ed), Liana, had both bought fishing rods and they’d even invested in a canoe!  I’d had an open invitation to go back and visit since I was last there, and upon …

Read More »

Every now and again, a simple but truly innovative product falls through the letterbox for me to review. The concept is such a perfect solution to a recurring problem that it begs the question “Why didn’t I think of that?”! One such product is the SteadyRig, from Essex-based company, Rig Innovations. So what is the SteadyRig? Believe it or not, it’s a product designed for safe and easy positioning of a camp stove or lantern! How I wish this product had been around a few years ago, when I was spending regular night sessions on the drains fishing for zander. So many times I set up my Coleman stove on a frozen, lumpy bankside and managed to partially boil a kettle, only for it to topple and spill my much-needed hot water! The SteadyRig has been designed to fit all popular brands of portable stove. There are ridges machined into the base plate, into which the lip on the base of a stove will locate to prevent it from slipping. Attached to the lightweight base are three adjustable legs, with removable mud feet for use on soft ground. The locking screws the leg adjustment have large-diameter knurled heads, making adjustment …

Read More »