About Us - Alex Ledbrooke
I’m Alex Ledbrooke, and I started fishing when I was just four years old. I grew up on the coast where my fascination and love of the outdoors and all things fishy developed. Over the years my fishing interests have grown and if it’s got fins I’ve probably tried to catch it. I started sea fishing on the south coast of Devon on the sea walls at Dawlish. I was soon tackling the Exeter Canal with a 3 meter fishing rod my parents bought me whilst on holiday in France. That little rod caught literally thousands of fish! I was fortunate to receive coaching when I was getting started and it was then that things really took off.
At 11 years old I joined a fishing Club near Exeter and was lucky to be coached by some really experienced and enthusiastic guys. My parents didn’t fish so any help was a bonus for all of us. From there I learned about different species of fish and rather than just casting and hoping, I was able to refine my approach so I could target specific fish from different waters.
Over the years I’ve been very fortunate and caught some truly memorable fish in some incredible places. I’ve also met some of my best friends through fishing.
Fishing in Cornwall is more than just catching fish, I simply love being outdoors. Just being on the bank I’ve been lucky to witness some of the very best the British countryside. And being outside means I’ve experienced some awesome weather. There’s no such thing as bad weather, just the wrong clothes. I get huge satisfaction from a successful catch but just as much I love to see others be successful following my coaching. I hope I can share some of that with you at one of my fishing lessons in Cornwall.
Alex Ledbrooke - Fishing Biography
- Experience – Fishing since 1987 in freshwater, sea and game fishing
- Qualifications – Angling Trust Level 2 Coach, Post Graduate Certificate in Education, BSc Hons Envornmental Resource Management
- Favourite Fishing Destination – Redmire Pool and, the big blue sea in my little boat.
- Biggest ever fish – A Blue Fin Tuna, about twice the size of me!
Fishing Life
- First fish – A Gar Fish caught age 4 from Dawlish seawall in South Devon.
- First competition – Devon Schools competition. 11 years old, 120 kids and I won!
- Fishing Heros – Chris Yates, a former British record holder, fantasic English eccentric and also my favourite author.
- Most memorable catch – Too many to pick a favourite! Battling a huge Cat Fish one night is up there as is the first Blue Shark I caught from my 14ft boat.
- Proud moment – Aside from getting married and becoming a Dad, an article published in the international magazine Carp World was pretty cool. I do love watching my kids grow up and enjoy fishing with me.
- Scariest moment when fishing – Out on the boat with a mate and getting hit by a Minki Whale. If I hadn’t been there, I wouldn’t have belived it!
- Funniest moment – Definitely catching a shoe! You couldn’t make it up, I had quite an audience too.
- Weirdest moment – Can I say the shoe again?
- Ambitions still to acheive – So many! Catch a really big Bass, a bigger boat, my own lake, and to encourage more young people and women into this wonderful sport.
Fishing Tips and News
March, and awaaaay
In the clear water we spotted a very large fish rise off the bottom and start twisting. When you’re used to catching fish of a few ounces from the water, spotting something that would be weighed in pounds and not ounces, that’s exciting! But as quickly as the excitement rose, it was dashed again. The hooked pulled and we were left with unhealthy heart beats and knocking knees.
Fun, in February, with my reputation…
I love float fishing in all forms and it’s how I like to fish for pike. A bait drifted around a couple of feet off the bait the comes to rest against a marginal shelf is very effective. It covers lots of water quickly, and if there’s a pike there that’s hungry, they will often take quickly.