10 THINGS I LOVE BY JOE MORGAN
Carp Angles' main man reveals his top 10 favourite things in life, from summer dawns and winter escapes to solid bags and Kamakura hooks
1. Summer dawns
Being up 30 minutes before the sun rises in the summer requires a super early start, but for me, it’s the most majestic time of the day. Those pre-sun rise colours can be incredible, but more importantly, it’s when the fish are most likely to give their game away and, therefore, when you can learn the most.
2. Winter escapes
After fishing throughout many winters in my life, I discovered a much more beneficial, satisfying and enjoyable way of spending some of the colder months. Even if it’s just one month away, it allows me to switch off from fishing fully. Life is super precious and can be very short, so I don’t think it’s healthy to be fishing 12 months a year—there’s much more to be discovered and enjoyed on our amazing planet.
3. Music and parties
Again, it’s good to have some balance in life. I’ve been DJ’ing for nearly twenty years now and have run my own events for 13 years. This year we have four weekender mini fests booked in for our tribe, so it’s going to be a very good summer!
4. Running leads
I think it’s time we started using leads more consciously. Can you imagine how many there are littering the lake beds of the busiest waters? It’s actually quite scary. People say they want to preserve fishing for the future, but then sell leads and condone dropping them as much as possible—it’s simply madness.
5. Fluorocarbon main line
I use 12lb Korda Kontour and have done so since it was a prototype. For me, it ticks every box apart from range fishing, but anything up to 100 yards is fine. Although it’s rated as 12lb, I class it as 15—if you tie a Five-Turn Grinner, it will break in your hands, but if I use a Four-Turn Grinner, then I can’t break it.
6. Kamakura hooks
Before these came about, I would always hand-sharpen my Wide Gapes, but I have to admit the Kamakuras made me a little lazy. Unparalleled out-of-the-packet sharpness.
7. Solid bags
A ridiculously neat little parcel that enables me to use a 3.5-inch hooklink which nails them every time. As a single, it’s a little spot on its own and over bait, it adds an extra strong food signal to your hookbaits vicinity, which can get you quicker bites over a lot of bait.
8. Single hookbaits
Still a massively underrated tactic. Out of all of the 40s I’ve caught, I’d say more than half of them were on singles. Ignore them at your peril!
9. Sunsets
As anglers, we often get front-row seats to some incredible light and colour therapy from the universe. When I’m on my travels, it’s a daily ritual to watch the sun setting. If someone told you how many more sunsets you had left in your life, how many would you go and watch?
10. Gratitude for Life
Love life, and life will love you back! We face some rocky old roads at times which can test us massively, but it’s all part of the process. I try to be thankful for what I have rather than what I don’t have. Gratitude is one of the most important keys to happiness. What if you awoke tomorrow with only what you were thankful for today? We have a lot to be grateful for, the list is endless.
