Meet the team
Run by anglers, for anglers
WILL DRAPER
HEAD OF FISHPAL
Will has fished since he was too young to remember having been taught by his dad, not quite with a bent pin but not far off. He loves all forms of angling and has fished in many places around the world, but has a particular passion for dry fly fishing. Will owns a fishery with holiday accommodation in Suffolk so is well versed in the needs of both owners and anglers alike. He joins FishPal to lead its expansion, building on his experience in financial services and hospitality.
Favourite fish to catch: Wild brown trout.
Favourite fishery: River Test in its middle reaches.
Bucket list: Montana (and why not, after seeing River Runs Through It!).
SAM CARLISLE
HEAD OF STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS
Sam caught his first fish at the age of 5 on the Isle of Lewis. It was a tiny brown trout, taken on a worm. From that moment, angling has played a central role in his life. His undergraduate dissertation was on Izaak Walton’s ‘The Compleat Angler’, and after his degree he completed a diploma in sustainable aquaculture. His main love is Atlantic Salmon, and he is fortunate to have pursued them in most countries where they swim. Prior to joining FishPal he worked as a lobbyist for the Countryside Alliance, campaigning on behalf of shooting and conservation.
Favourite fish to catch: Atlantic salmon.
Favourite fishery: Middle Mertoun on the river Tweed.
Bucket list: The river Alta in Norway.
ALISDAIR KER
HEAD OF SCOTLAND & N ENGLAND
Alisdair works from his home in the north east close to the banks of the River Dee. The north east has multiple first class rivers synonymous with Atlantic salmon & sea trout which he enjoys exploring whenever possible. As well as fishing for salmon Alisdair spends endless hours tying flies during the off season, it is a great feeling catching fish on your own concoctions!
Favourite fish to catch: Atlantic salmon (I really enjoy early spring fishing in particular).
Favourite fishery: The river Findhorn, amazing scenery up and down the river.
Bucket list: Helmsdale or Oykel, around June time and in spate! Would also love to get a big un’ on the Alta.
GAIL TUNNAH
BUSNESS ANALYST
Like many children, Gail was first fascinated by fish when catching minnows and sticklebacks with a “baggy net” and a jar from the local river, or crabbing and catching flatties at the nearest beach. She was lucky enough to spend her formative years at Makerstoun on Tweed. Gail has been with the original company since the 1980’s and has seen the introduction of the original dial up remote computers run in house which were strategically placed in hotels and tackle shops to serve Tweed River anglers. Right through as FishTweed grew to be franchised to other Scottish rivers and therefore changed into FishScotland. Then FishSalmon, FishTrout and FishGrayling were born when the first English rivers joined and needed a more encompassing name. FishBritain came when other home country rivers signed up and finally after all the changes, it was decided on the FishPal name and the current FishPal website which is now global in its coverage. Throughout it all, the basic principle has remained the same, trying to bring available angling within the reach of everyone and getting the next generation excited to be out in our rivers and lochs too, they after all are our sports future.
Favourite fish to catch: Hard fighting fresh Hebridean sea trout.
Favourite fishery: Where I live on the Isle of Harris, I’m surrounded by the sea, sea pools and hill lochs, where else would I want to be?
Bucket list: Got a couple which I’d like to return to; The Coquet at Felton and Upper Makerstoun on Tweed. But Bucket list, got to be Fly fishing in New Zealand, they have some beautiful looking rivers.
STEVIE MUNN
COUNTRY MANAGER: IRELAND
Stevie Munn is from County Antrim. He first started fly fishing at 7 years of age when his father George Munn, who was a fanatical and tremendous fly fisher, started teaching him how to cast and pursue wild trout and salmon on rivers and loughs. He has been a professional guide in many countries for wild trout and salmon, and also for grayling in Norway. That said, he will fish for any fish that will take a fly and loves the rich history of fly fishing and angling. In his mid-20s he began working in the angling sector at game and country fairs throughout UK and Ireland, giving him the opportunity to fish many new rivers in England, Scotland and Wales. Stevie is now an ambassador and designer with Cadence Fly Rods, working with his old friend Ian Gordon. He regularly gives fly tying and fly casting demonstrations and is an APGAI master casting instructor. Stevie is enthusiastic about conservation and was a founder member of The Lough Neagh Dollaghan Trust, and a member of the NSN conservation group, which lobbied the Irish and Northern Irish Governments on drift netting.
Favourite fish to catch: Wild Trout on dry flies. The eyes have gone so fishing mostly by smell - thank God for varifocals!
Favourite fishery: So many good memories from a lot of places and would like to return too many…
Bucket list: I have been lucky and fished a lot of places, but i would have loved to try New Zealand. That said, I’d probably stay in Ireland for a 10lb brownie on the dry on Sheelin.
Contact the team
