20 Things To Do Before I Die...

01 Fly-on-the-wall DVD

How do you ‘out Korda, Korda? Answer? You can’t. The quality of fishing DVD’s that you can get or see on television is fantastic but the one I will bring out is different on the concept basis. It’s a fly-on-the-wall of my life based around carp fishing but covering carp shows, concerts, work, slide shows, tuitions, carp media work, backstage at concerts, the lot. Just need to get down to doing it and finding the right company.

02 Autobiography book

The books that flood the market place today are all very well produced and full of great stories and big fish but I intend to release one on a ‘there’s more to life than carp fishing theme’. Based around carp fishing like the DVD but covering the ups and downs of my life and the lessons that it has taught me. From growing up as an outcast to life in the fast line with the famous carp anglers and rock royalty, I hope to motivate people to believe dreams can come true.

03 Retire from work

Having worked full time since 1980 I think I have done my bit and it really has hurt my carp fishing at times. Most of my fishing, March to November, is on an overnighter basis so if the carp feed between 7am and 5pm I miss out. Not long to go now and the thought of being able to fish mid-week and midday… heaven! Of course I could fish weekends but there just ain’t enough hours in the day.

04 Run my own water

Not to make money but to be able to take friends to and to allow me to live out my dreams. It wouldn’t need to be full of monsters, just a water where I could give back to those that have given me happiness. The dream isn’t that far away, as there are waters available and it only takes the right break.

05 Find a local water with decent sized fish for winter

Crikey, do I wish I lived nearer to Drayton or Thorpe Lea for the wonderful winter carp fishing they provide. There are waters nearby but hold mainly carp around 7-15lbs which are great but there is something about carp 15-25lb that really do pull my string. If anyone knows, just let me know…

06 Find a local water for big fish for summer

When I had a ticket for Drax I had the opportunity to fish for around four over forty-pounds but the no publicity rules that were brought in to deter ‘profile’ anglers meant I didn’t renew my permit after being a member since 1976. So it meant my targets had to be adjusted rather than compromise my principles. So if I can find that water…

07 Start a tuition service

And none of this ‘ego boosting, let-me-take-you-to-Thorpe-Lea-or-Brasenose-and-prove-how-good-the-‘celebrity’-is… yawn… zzzzz… My tuition will be going to that person’s lake, helping them with their gear, not fishing myself but giving them the confidence in what they are doing and where they are doing it… IT’S NOT ABOUT MASSAGING THE PROFESSIONAL ANGLER’S EGO.

08 Set my own website up

When I set my Facebook page up six-months-ago nearly 5,000 people added themselves, so the website will allow anyone who wants to interact with me in whatever way they want. It will be giving loads of advice, tuition days, freebies, meet and greets, the lot.

09 Resolve the otter issue

John Wilson did a stunning talk last week on the otter problem and it truly is frightening. Somehow this has to be resolved and if we don’t do it now, 20 years from now there won’t be a carp fishing trade in this country… Be it fencing, legislation or otherwise, we must sort it out.

10 Carp fishing interviews

Having been involved in the Carp Fisher Interviews in the eighties and nineties, I do love the old style interviews Tim and myself did. Not an excuse to plug the latest book but a proper look at what makes them tick. The best interviews were with anglers like Ian Booker, Peter Springate and co. and there are many more, I know I could do that far better than the clap, trap, flakey stuff I see trundled out.

11 Organise a carp conference

Much as I love the carp shows there are today, they can tend to be a bit ‘samey’ and I’d love to organise a ‘themed’ one in the manner of say the ‘Dick Walker’ one we had at Dunstable in 1988. Find a theme, organise proper talks (not just based around who has a stand) and really make it something a bit out of the ordinary. It wouldn’t mean it was better, just that it was different.

12 Do a bit more magazine work

Carp fishing tends to be seen as a somewhat ‘odd’ pursuit by the mainstream and I’d love to do a bit for ‘non-fishing’ magazines about the sport. How it really is a great hobby, can shape lives and its benefits. Out of the bubble we live in, we are viewed as odd-bods. I spent some time a few days ago talking to Scott Gorham from Thin Lizzy and he thinks that carp are just big goldfish. He is not alone.

13 Take less gear with me

Even in winter I still seem to using a barrow to lug my gear around on. Two bags, seat bag, bait bag and rod holdall… How do I shrink it under that? I just don’t seem to be able to do it. I guess if I had to, and maybe one day I will, but it’s something I do need to do.

14 Learn to cast a long way

Having seen the daft distances that both Frank Warwick and Mark Hutchinson can cast, I really do need to up my game in that area. I have the tackle to do it with the Nash NRD rods and the Daiwa Basia reels so it really does come down to technique. I almost cringe when I see the pressure the boys put on the rods and reels so I need to up my game for when I need to.

15 Cut the crap out of my head

When I go carp fishing, I do tend to have a million and one other things buzzing round my head due to the hectic and fun-filled life I lead. If I could put that to one side (I think it is called compartmentalising) I am sure that I would be a better carp angler. Mind you, from what I have seen of people who ONLY carp fish it would make me one boring b******d!

16 Fish singles with confidence

I am paranoid about tangles so when I fish a single hookbait I tend to add something to avoid tangles… in my head that is. It might be a bit of dissolvable foam, small PVA mesh bag, stringer or whatever but it can work against me. I have seen Brian Skoyles do it to great effect and I really need to get my head around it.

17 Take a member of Kiss or Bon Jovi fishing

Yes, I do know that Adrian Smith from Iron Maiden and Dappy from N-Dubz are carp anglers but if I have a dream, it’s to take one of my rock hero’s fishing. Well, we can all dream can’t we? Maybe when they slow down from touring they may well think, ‘You know what, that carp fishing seems a cool thing to do’… or not…

18 Release a range of instructional books

It’s all well and good releasing books on what you have caught but getting to that place in the first place is not quite that simple. By releasing a small set of books on ‘how to’ you can compliment what is out there already. A bit like the ones Angling Publications released some time ago (Carp in Depth).

19 Catch a big pike and catfish by design

I have caught thirty-pound catfish and pike by accident but if I had the time I’d love to catch them by design. I love carp and carp fishing but to target and put a monster one of those two species on the bank would be really cool. Soon as I retire I intend to. It might be a bit too much for me when I get a ‘lot’ older – ha, ha!

20 To have kept enjoying it

To have kept enjoying my carp fishing from the early eighties until the day I pop my clogs must be my number one wish I guess. So many come and so many go but to still enjoy it just as much as day one (I promise you I still do) would be something.