Frank Warwick: Big Carp Catcher

Who was, or still is your angling mentor? 
“I never had a mentor, and everything I learnt about carp fishing came from my own research. I read the very few books that were available on the subject at the time, and also gleaned information when chatting to fellow carp anglers on the bank. I guess my main influences back then were Rod Hutchinson, Jerry Savage, Jim Gibbinson and Dick Walker. You never stop learning, though, and only an idiot would say otherwise. I absolutely love it when I see other carp anglers doing things I have not seen before and that are successful.

“Recently, I’ve spent a fair bit of time fishing with my very good friend, Pete Holehouse. He was Carp Team England’s coach before Rob Hughes took over. Pete is an absolute master at solid-bag fishing. His attention to detail and his sheer, relentless work rate have been inspirational. Nothing is as simple as it looks when you consider the minor details, and how Pete has refined his approach to improve his results on ‘solids’ is quite eye-opening.”

What do you think are an angler’s greatest assets? 
“Ha ha. Besides the ability to locate carp well, watercraft, I think, and a smart, analytical mind that enables them to short-circuit the waiting game. This can make an angler who has very little spare time still look good results-wise. I also think that determination goes a long way. Most successful carp anglers have a combination of these three attributes.”

What fishing-related item that you don’t currently possess, would you like to own?
“I know you will think I am a lazy so-and-so, but I would really love one of those electric barrows. When I was younger, I treated pushing a barrow loaded with tons of gear like a workout, and I made the most of that aspect. As I’ve got older, though, and especially during the winter, I’ve wanted to take plenty of gear to make everything as comfortable for me as possible. I don’t enjoy having to hone everything down to the bare minimum to save weight, or sacrifice gear that might see me compromised. I’ve seen anglers with electric barrows, fully laden, tear-arse around after moving on the drop of a hat several times, at a speed which, if you were to do so under your own steam, would see your lungs explode at a fraction of the speed!”

What was the last thing you bought and loved? 
“My lad, Guy, bought me two pairs of merino wool socks for Christmas, and I have to say, I have never had such warm feet as I had on my winter sessions this year. They’re incredible!”

Anything specific you would do with time on your hands? 
“During lockdown, when we couldn’t go fishing, I got into two things I have always enjoyed. I’ve never really had the time for them, however, as work and carp fishing have always got in the way. One was art, drawing in particular… I love drawing carp. I also love gardening and have always had a nice garden. Recently, though, I’ve taken things to another level. Passers-by will film and photograph my garden, which is lovely. They’re creative hobbies and I am passionate about both.”

Rewinding time, what lake were you happiest at, and in which swim? 
“I absolutely loved fishing the Front Swim on the Surf lake in Belgium. I have so many fond memories of not only amazing captures there, but also of filming with my Belgian friends, and my dear old mate, Len Gurd, being on the cameras. I also took my eldest son Guy there on our first European trip together. He was 12, and on our very first night he beat his PB twice. I also had the biggest mirror in the lake, a stunning monster mirror known as Zeus.”

What would we always find in your bait box? 
“Enterprise Imitation Sweetcorn. I take it everywhere! I can think of no venue in the world where this stuff wouldn’t work. It’s a game changer, it’s as simple as that. I use both the N-butyric acid and pineapple, and the Tutti Frutti. Both are equally good, whether used to tip a boilie with, or as the main hookbait. It’s a good edge.”

The game-changing moment which altered everything for you…?
“Without a doubt, that was way back in 1982 when I had the sudden brainwave to fish a single bright, high-attraction hookbait, out on its own at long range in a previously untouched part of Redesmere, a water where you could go weeks without any action. It was ridiculous… I had my first bite before I had even got back to the bank after I’d waded out to make the cast! I quickly realised it would work on every water I fished, without exception. I suspected that its effectiveness would slow eventually, which it did. Forty years later, though, the method is still a valid option, and it can be extremely productive.”

Who’s the one angler you’d love to fish with, dead or alive? 
“Strangely enough, I fished with the person I most wanted to fish with and we became good friends: the enigmatic Rod Hutchinson. What a guy he was! I would have liked to have fished with Richard Walker. He was inspirational and I actually used to correspond with him when I was young. Sadly, I never met him in person. Bernard Venables was quite a character, and the artist who illustrated Mr Crabtree Goes Fishing. Then there was ‘BB’, another artist and writer, and an angler of great skill.”

What do you find most irritating about other anglers? 
“I hate the lazy ones who talk a good story but who are parasites. They’ll sit and wait whilst others graft, especially in winter. Then, as soon as they know that fish are coming out, they’ll turn up to gatecrash and will happily capitalise on others’ hard work, behaving as though that’s acceptable.”

Which tackle items that you no longer have, do you wish you still possessed? 
“I had a set of four Daiwa SS9000 reels with a dozen spare spools. They were mint, and looking back to when I sold them 25 years ago, I let them go for peanuts, but I was skint. They’re so rare and so collectable now. If only…”

If you weren’t doing what you do, what would you be doing? 
“As I alluded to earlier, I would be painting and drawing. I’m not saying that I am super gifted or anything, but what I have is my own style of drawing. It’s quite unique, and it’s different to any other, so I am told. It’s instantly recognisable, which in art terms is good.”