Howard A. Bell

Conrad Voss Bark, BBC political correspondent and angling historian, had these words to say about him, "Dr Bell of Blagdon had the greatest formative influence of any man on the development of reservoir fishing in the first half of this century".

[2] Howard Alexander Bell was born at Bletchingley, near Reigate, Surrey and studied to become a General Practitioner at Cambridge and St Bartholomew's Hospital in London.

It could well be that his wartime experiences led to his desire to live in idyllic surroundings and pursue the gentle art of fly fishing with such single-minded dedication.

A biography entitled Dr Bell of Wrington: Pioneer of Reservoir Fly Fishing written by Adrian Freer was published in 2019.

In its formative years Blagdon anglers would normally employ large sea trout or low water salmon flies during the daytime, very often using tandem and multi-hook arrangements; or alternatively lures at night.

Recent research (in 2018) has led to the publication of a number of previously undocumented flies designed by Dr Bell including the Stickle Fry,[17] Green & Yellow Damsel Nymph[18] and several other patterns.

[20] Dr Bell eventually retired from medical practice in 1963 and carried on fishing for a few more years until, as a result of advancing age, he was unable to continue.