The Gambling Angler Reviews 

My guided fishing experience with Jansen actually dates from a few years ago, summer 2018. I had recently moved to the Bristol region without much shore fishing experience in the UK and I didn't really know where to start with local marks, techniques appropriate to local conditions and species etc.

I found Jansen's Gambling Angler information and went ahead with a booking (very straightforward). Jansen was happy to adjust timings at late notice to deal with some typical British summer weather :)

Jansen spent the entire evening teaching, with so much information I wish I had recorded the session for reference (luckily he has a YouTube channel to help with that!) He was great company and eager to share whatever knowledge he could - locations and tides, equipment and tackle, trace tying, baits, and more.

And his instruction is relevant well beyond the Bristol Channel. I still use many of his recommendations having recently moved to New Zealand, starting to explore fishing here for very different species from the beach.

Overall I highly recommend Jansen's guided fishing sessions. Anyone in the Bristol area is lucky to have access to such a great fishing guide. An enjoyable experience and a great foundation for anyone wanting to learn more about fishing from the shore.

I’ve been guided by Jansen on 4 occasions now targeting different species on the Bristol Channel and each time he hasn’t failed to put me in the right place for what I’ve been after Jansen is very knowledgable about fishing and explains everything in great detail down to the finest detail….the best thing though being guided by Jansen is that he makes you feel comfortable as if you was fishing with a friend not a guide 😁

Jansen has guided me on two occasions and they were both first rate experiences. Excellent tuition and instruction and some good fish caught, particularly the 5.5 pound bass caught in close on peeler crab.
I can recommend Jansen without hesitation.

Jansen was a fantastic guide. His knowledge is 2nd to none and he’s really great company. I learnt so much from Jenson on our first lesson and have gone on to do an awful lot of beach fishing on my own, but I’m looking forward to go back to him for a recap and perhaps to fish are different venue.
I recommend you book a lesson with Jensen if you’re experienced or not. Even the most experienced angler will have something to learn from him. It truly is a fantastic experience and great value for money.

Always a great day fishing with Jansen.
Knows his stuff. Good company too.

I was after a fantastic fishing experience for a friend and his lads. We'll, what can I say it was not fishing it was catching ! They were over the moon, and I was so impressed with Jansen's knowledge, experience and teaching. Highy recommended and will be coming back again. Cheers Grant.

I had an amazing trip with Jansen. He really knows his stuff and is great company. The trip expanded my fishing skills and understanding of the local area. Catching a few fish also helps! Great. Thank you!

Jansen was so knowledgeable smart and friendly. He game me so very valuable tools to make my fishing more productive. I loved the few hours I spent learning. Amazing evening!!!

I’ve been out fishing twice with Jansen and on both occasions I’ve had a fantastic time. Jansen is a hugely experienced angler whose knowledge of the unique challenges of fishing the Bristol Channel mean that he is excellent guide. From the basics of rigs, bait and baiting techniques, to when and where to target certain species and the influence of weather and particularly the infamous tides, all will be covered. Jansen is a really good communicator who will tailor the day to suit your interests, experience and abilities. You will learn a huge amount from a session with Jansen and to cap it all off he’s great company and I always enjoy a day out with him.

Back in May last year I had a guided bass session on the Bristol Channel. I had a fantastic evenings fishing and landed a personal best bass as well as my first conger eel. Jansen is an excellent fishing guide and I learnt a lot from my guided session with him. I would highly recommend The Gambling Angler!

Jansen's a great guy and a brilliant guide. My wife Becci and I had a lovely evening catching chunky congers from a local shore mark.

Jansen fulfilled my request to guide me around what potentially could be a difficult venue to navigate without the benefit of local knowledge.
I was shown the two main access points to and from the mark and several places to fish from with fish catching potential and more importantly safety in mind.
Jansen is very knowledgeable and this becomes apparent with his ability to answer questions eloquently straight off the bat.
I would highly recommend his guiding service to anyone wanting to become better acquainted with the Bristol Channel.

After some years of scratching about and catching a few fish from the BC I asked Jansen Teakle to help me catch more bass. He took me to a suitable venue, explained the theory and helped me set up. Result was 3 bass to 6lbs. I've applied what he showed me since then catching some more nice bass. Great job! He knows his stuff. Thoroughly recommended.

If you are looking at fishing the Bristol Channel Jansen is the man to go to, he has tons of experience and knowledge how to fish it and what marks fish better on certain tides and winds. I have had two guided session with him over the last 6 months one was fishing for smooth hounds where I landed 3 over 10lb. And then had a recent one in the winter where I was looking for a bigger conger eel which again he put me on the fish, the eel was just shy of the 20lb mark. 100% would recommend!

I was really pleased with Jansen and his whole approach to the fishing he put me on the fish and 2 new species from showing me the correct way to bait up rigs to use, and he put right road catching more fish and different species, as the following year's was able to have a cracking Plaice and smoothhounds in the same year following, almost like he gave me better confidence in the way to fish instead of like I was (ah well chuck it out and see what happens 🙈) great bloke and always willing to give tips and advice over the years, lovely friendly chap, gladly call him a friend

Summer Smoothound and Ray fishing, Bristol Channel, August 2021. David Craig.

My pal Pete and I had been planning a session for months, but realised that we had no knowledge of the marks that we’d need to fish to target the species we wanted to, hounds and rays. With me being a Geordie and Pete fishing the upper reaches of the Bristol Channel around Portishead and such places we needed some local and specialist knowledge.

Having been hooked on a YouTube channel I’d recently discovered the lightbulb moment occurred - I’ll contact The Gambling Angler!

The date and venue was soon set and we were very excited about what was in store for us. We met Jansen on a particular warm summers day, tide ebbing and the Channel reefs slowly showing themselves as the water level dropped.

It was clear from the off that not only was Jansen an extremely friendly and welcoming guy, but also that his knowledge of the terrain, venue, conditions and fish species was second to none.

Jansen set us away and within minutes Pete was in to a strap conger, a first for him which he was very pleased with.

I quickly hit onto a thornie and as the tide dropped further Jansen guided us safely onto the prime spot which would hopefully produce the hounds.

As we waited for a bite Jansen explained tactics, rigs, baits and fish feeding behaviour and when we were most likely to get hooked up. Almost like clockwork the tide turned and as predicted by Jansen, the hounds came on!

Both Pete and I managed our PB hounds, only made possible through Jansen’s exceptional knowledge of both venue and fish behaviour.

Jansen’s attentiveness and dedication to making sure we succeeded was as intense by the time we finished as it was when we first started. He is truly a highly motivated and dedicated angling guide, as well as being a top bloke!

We’ll definitely be booking up again very very soon!

The Gambling Angler comes highly recommended!

David Craig.

I’ve had a few guided sessions with Jansen over the years my first being back in 2015. Thornback Ray was the target that day and I managed a lovely looking fish at 8lb.
The other session was for a Dover Sole and although only small we managed a couple.
Jansen certainly knows his biscuits when it comes to fishing the Bristol Channel.
Highly recommended if just starting out in the sport or if you want to brush up on what fishing knowledge you have he’s definitely worth a guided session.. 👍

I recently took a guided session with Jansen. He's a fantastic guide. Prior to the session, communication was excellent and detailed. When the day (evening) came around, we had an excellent session that was thoroughly enjoyable. Jansen is really easy to get along with, patient and great at explaining what's going on. Basically, he's an encyclopaedia when it comes to the Bristol Channel and sea angling in general. Whether you are a beginner or an expert, you can't go wrong booking a session with The Gambling Angler!

Excellent guide who focuses on giving you the skills to take forward and catch fish on your own in the future.

Went out with Jansen off Brean Down Somerset
Amazing evening learnt lots of new techniques.
Great communication from the initial booking right through to the actual evening.
Great fun thoroughly enjoyed the time in Jansens company.
10 out of 10 👍👍👍👍👍🐬