LPA | SINCE 1987
The Story | So Far
The Journey
It wasn't long before I'd set up, plumbed the depth & soon had my waggler cast out to a marginal tree line. As I sat there taking everything in, the float slowly dipped away & I was into something like I had never hooked before. The fish kited left and right, staying deep & giving some large lunges. The old float rod started creeking, while the line was singing in the breeze, with me shaking like an MFI wardrobe on the end of the rod.
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After what felt like a life time, this big orange tail hit the surface! with the water erupting & boiling, the landing net was out & I quickly slipped it underneath her! It was mine, my first carp, all of about three pound of it!! But I was absolutely made up.
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From that point on, something changed & I knew this was a species that I wanted to target, hunt & outwit. I'm not sure if it was the fight, the size or the adrenaline but I knew this was just the beginning of my journey.
After these uneventful outings I soon sharpened up to watching the fishes behavior, reactions & overall body language to anything unnatural.
It was only a matter of time before I was outwitting those small Roach & Dace from the crystal clear waters. As years went by I was fishing more larger Rivers, cutting my teeth on the Thames & starting to explore some still waters. I was slowly learning the trade.
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I spent several years fishing matches on the Rivers, gaining a wealth of knowledge from some of the best match anglers on the upper Thames & I'm sure to this day, that this has made me a better carp angler.
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The first carp.
This one particular Sunday morning in spring we had headed of to a small set of lakes near Warwickshire, as it was close season on the Rivers. We arrived at the venue, the mist was rolling along the top of the water & by the time I had walked up to the edge of the lake, I had already spotted a few fish breaking the surface with plenty of bubbling & fizzing going on.
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" Shaking like an MFI
wardrobe "
As the years past I fished up & down the Country, putting my skills & knowledge to good use, regulary catching & getting featured in the main stream publications. At this time I picked up several sponsors along the way in return for tackle & bait which helped massively.
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I also managed a regular spot in Carp Talk which I went on to do for many many years. In the same time period I qualified as a Level Two Angling Coach which meant I could pass on my experience from years of learning on to other like minded people.
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With this under my belt I started to run lessons, trips & holidays in the UK & over Europe which in years later become Angling Quests.
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Along with these different ventures, I also spent a lot of time involved in the BCAC when it was in its hay day, making it to the semi finals & finals on several different occasions.
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After a short spell of running a tackle shop I then became one of the fishery managers at the stunning Horcott Lakes.
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I knew of several venues locally to me that held double figure Carp, with the exception of the odd Twenty here & there. If these fish were going to be my target I would need some proper Carp gear. So the decision was made & I sold all my match gear which gave me enough money at the time to buy just two second hand Delkims.
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After a couple of Birthdays, Christmas's & my Mum scrimping & saving I finally had a couple of mismatched rods & reels, but I was angling & that's all that mattered.
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As I grew up in Lechlade, Gloucestershire, I was lucky enough to have a step up onto the ladder with help from Richard Stangroom who was heavily involved with Horseshoe Lake at the Carp Society. Rich soon had my first article in Carp World published & he was kind enough to get me a sponsor from Angling Publications to pay for me to attend the Carp Schools & Fish Ins. This was around 1992 & what a chance to learn & improve from some of the best anglers in the Country at the time.
For that I will always be truly greatful.
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" Aim High "
I'm still running the lakes, a angling consultant, along with Angling Quests & my photography & video work within the angling industry.
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After all this time from starting my Angling journey & carp fishing career over Thirty years ago, I've still got the bug, the excitement & the drive to keep searching for the carp that make all this possible.
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