Born in 1880, Arthur Bale came from a long line of Ostlers and Cartwright's in Lynmouth North Devon. In his spare time he enjoyed fishing and shooting, becoming very well known and consulted often on fishing matters. Being a keen all-round sportsman, he played a lot of rugby and it was during a trial for Cardiff in 1898 that his back was severely damaged; leaving him unable to walk. He lay in bed and not content to accept a life without purpose, started making a small living tying flies and repairing rods.

One day a surgeon from Harley Street in London, who was staying in Cardiff, came to see Arthur for some advice and to buy some flies. On seeing him lying in bed he enquired about his injuries. Sometime later, the surgeon sent him a design for a leather harness which he thought would support him enough to allow him to walk. Arthur’s relatives, still working as ostlers, soon made him the harness and he was fishing again. His new found energy was then put into the business of supplying what local fishermen needed.

In 1906 he rented three shops in Cardiff city centre and opened up as Arthur Bale Fishing Tackle Manufacturer and Retailer. By 1932 one of his sons had joined him and the company was thriving in their hands. Before recycling became a trend, Arthur and his son were making Greenhart rods from the old mooring baulks in the busy docks and tying flies from hackles that Arthur had specially bred.

Today’s range of goods for the fisherman offers everything a keen angler could want, from bait, to rods to clothing. We cover all types of fishing; coarse, game and sea and with our extensie experience, are well placed to offer advice. The range of baits available include maggots, dendrobaena, lobworms many groundbaits , pellets and boilies . Sea baits including live rag frozen lug, squid, sandeels, crab and mackerel. Game and pike anglers are catered for with lobworms, shrimp and many frozen baits such as pilchard, sardine and various coarse fish.

Clothing too is another addition to our stock and of course, caters well for the fisherman. Waterproof clothing and flotation suits as well as a broad range of waterproof boots and waders is now available for our customers.