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Presenter of talkSPORT's Fisherman's Blues each Saturday and Sunday morning, North Londoner Keith Arthur cuts his angling teeth on Hampstead Heath and River Lea Navigation, both bike-rides from his Holloway birthplace and also his excuse for being a dyed-in-the-wool Arsenal supporter.
In his mid-teens Keith started to fish competitively and by the late sixties he was beginning to make his presence felt at the prize table. At one time his reputation was as a bit of a bridesmaid, as he took second place in several major tournaments including the 1000-angler Division One National Championships on the River Trent. Eventually Keith got his major wins and is current John Smith's Bitter Champion and has also won other top events such as the Wychavon Championships and ACA Celebrity Masters.
Keith gained his almost encyclopaedic knowledge of matters angling by a long involvement in the fishing tackle industry, working for retailers and manufacturers from 1978 to 1995. This led him first to fly fishing for trout then to the Florida Keys, where he spends some time in the spring of each year pursuing tarpon, bonefish, permit and snook. He describes it as the ultimate angling experience. His best tarpon is an estimated 150 lbs on 12 lb test, bonefish 8 lb 4 oz, permit 28 lb and snook 14 lb 4 oz, all released.
Since signing a management agreement with Matchroom Sport in 1997 Keith has since been involved with Fish O'Mania, an event he would dearly love to fish, and the Marlin World Cup in Mauritius. His catches in the Marlin World Cup include Blue Marlin of 183 lb and a Hammerhead shark of 317 lbs.
His first love is river fishing for roach, barbel and chub but the decline in sport on many of the premier rivers has swayed him towards stillwaters and his competition record on these is enviable, despite media commitments restricting his match angling activities.
As well as presenting talkSPORT's angling programme Fisherman's Blues, incidentally named after his favourite Waterboys track, Keith co-hosts Tight Lines with Bruno Brookes on Sky Sports, and has written for Angling Times since 1990. |
