The clues....

ACROSS

1 One who takes fish, etc. illegally ( 7)

5 Vulgar type of carp? ( 6)

9 A barbed pin used in hair- rig – pike’s a bit upset! ( 4,5)

10 See 25ac,

11 ___ are waterfalls ascended by salmon ( 5)

12 A pencil float is attached to line’s ___-__ ( 6- 3)

13 Small fish, regarded as a nuisance ( 6)

15 Winds back line to land a hooked fish ( 5,2)

18 A set- up with bait not directly mounted on hook ( 4- 3)

20 Term for a shoal of fish ( 6)

22 Able to detect the slightest movement ( 9)

24 Long- necked, fish- eating wader ( 5)

25/ 26/ 10 North of England artificial waterway, linking two major cities ( 5- 9,5)

27 Name given to a probably fictitious loch monster ( 6)

28 Protection such as a bivvy ( 7)

DOWN

1 A stone smoothed by water action ( 6)

2 Top speci angler, writer and TV presenter ( anag. of ‘ I- I had mail’) ( 3,6)

3 Protective coatings of seeds ( 5)

4 Colourful trout ( 7)

5 City on the Shropshire Union canal and the Dee ( 7)

6 Finely woven material used in keepnets etc ( 9)

7 The record weight for a ‘ Miller’s Thumb’ is only one ___ ( 5)

8 A ____ float moves freely up and the line ( 7)

14 The daffodil ( anag. of ‘ cuss rains’) ( 9)

16 Severnside town, 12 miles upstream of Worcester ( 9)

17 Prickly plant, Scottish emblem ( 7)

19 One who guides/ assists a game angler ( 7)

20 Underwater ledges ( 7)

21 You, most likely! ( 6)

23 Female relative ( 5)

24 ___ Bay, Kent resort on Thames estuary ( 5)