The Rough And The Smooth

So, where did it all begin for you Gav?
“It’s weird; because I was in care from such a young age, my childhood was a little distorted. My granddad, Bob Church, was a keen fisherman and during the years before I went into care, I remember spending many afternoons around his, flicking through his books and seeing these angling trophies. It wasn’t until a few years later that I began to even consider the thought of going fishing. I used to get a bit of pocket money and after saving for a few weeks, bought a telescopic set-up from Argos. I actually went down to the river one afternoon during the close season; I didn’t know it at the time and an Environment Agency officer pulled me up. He could clearly tell I had only just started, so after chatting for half-an-hour he gave me a few pointers before I had to leave and later that week, I pulled out every fishing book the school library had to offer.”

I guess you went back to the river weeks later when the season began, to give it another go?
“That’s right. I’d read so much material over those weeks, I’d learned the basics without even being there. I went back down to the stretch of river in Northampton around the end of June and I remember that evening catching a whole host of silvers: perch, bream and small chub… I just couldn’t get enough of it!”

Watching, waiting and learning: the important part…

So when and how did the carp fishing come about?
“Not long after to be fair. We used to holiday every year at a caravan site with a lake. Now armed with my fishing rod, I was more excited than ever to go as I knew there was a good chance that I could fish in the evenings. One night I saw this older bloke land something that, at the time blew me away; it was probably a 10lb fish and I simply didn’t realise they even existed up until that point. That really inspired me and got me thinking about maybe fishing for them in the coming years. I’d been round a few different foster families by that age, and one year I was looked after by one that was fishing mad. The guy I lived with, Doug his name was, had a friend who was a carp angler and one day he promised to take me out fishing properly. We went to a lake in the Lee Valley and I remember clear as day, seeing these fish crash out towards some reeds when we arrived. I introduced a few handfuls of strawberry boilies to the reed-line and moments after getting my rig in position, I was in… I just hadn’t experienced the power of a carp before! The fish turned out to be a common of 10lb 10oz and that’s where it all began.”

Did that spur you on later down the line to pursue bigger fish?
“I actually ended up back to Daventry; that was part of being a kid with no parents at that young age. Fortunately though, my next home was minutes from Billing Aquadrome. I was still young and well out of my depth, but a few of the older guys fishing there were keen to help out. I learned so much over those following years, heading off on a Friday night on my bike with rods and rucksack for the weekend ahead.”

Did you feel fishing helped you through your younger years?
“Definitely. A lot of the youngsters were there because they had problems with their behaviour and as a result, there was always stuff going on around me with the police and drugs. I avoided all of that and fishing was my escape; it helped me through some very hard times and I will always appreciate everything it has given back to me.”

How did things fare for you over at Billing?
“Growing up around the complex meant it was my first real carp water so to speak. It was actually one of the venues where Leneys were introduced and with four lakes to choose from it gave me a great deal of scope at the young, ripe age I was. I remember going to The Carp Society regional meetings at the Willow Pub nearby and showing Chris Ball the pictures of fish I’d been catching from the venue. A lot of the anglers were travelling long distances to fish there, so there were a whole host of ideas and tactics that I’d picked up from the anglers visiting the venue.”

You moved onto fishing the rivers in and around the Nene Valley; why was that?
“Money was the main reason if I am honest. I’d just started driving and was only doing bits here and there work-wise. By this point I was mad keen, but a lot of the tickets around the valley were exclusive and quite expensive. I turned my attention to the rivers and back then, otters weren’t a problem like they are now and there were a good number of big fish in these waterways. Then, you could go almost anywhere on the Nene between Peterborough and Northampton and wherever you could get to the water you had a good chance of catching a few as the river was just full of escapees from lakes. We used to fish at every junction along the river and you could guarantee action if you found them and fished wisely. I ended up catching a good number of 20lb fish and my first ‘30’ from the river. It’s completely different today; they just aren’t there in the numbers; which is a real shame.”

More watching, more learning, more waiting

You moved off the rivers after a few years and ventured over to Ecton; how did that compare to your previous years?
“It was daunting as it was the first big pit I’d been to in the years I’d been fishing. It’s probably around 40-acres in size, but at the time it felt much bigger. I fished on the small lake and every so often I would walk over to the big lake and look up at what seemed an expanse of water that went on for miles!”

You’ve been back to Ecton in recent years; was that like reliving your younger years again?
“I just fancied somewhere different and I was curious to see what had changed. I had a vague memory of the water, but there’s always something special about revisiting an old haunt just to see what it’s like. I did a few winters over there, a sort of break in between my main ‘year water’, and it gave me the chance to experience the place again, at a time when it was much quieter. In all honesty, the winters were very quiet over there, but during that last few weeks as we broke into spring I had a few stalking opportunities. One day I saw a number of fish milling about in the afternoon sun, drifting into a shallow bay and so I set my trap. I placed a few handfuls of bait in the area and it wasn’t long before I had a number of them feeding. One thing that I learned about fishing those bigger lakes compared to when I was younger, was that in reality, they can be broken down into manageable sized areas to make the fishing much more realistic. I quickly began to eradicate parts of the lake where the fish simply would not be in at any point in a 24hr period. This made things a lot easier when it came to watercraft and choosing areas when fishing quick sessions, or making the most of favourable weather changes.”

Brew’s up!

You’ve done a lot of stalking and watching fish over the years; does this influence your stance on fishing open-water spots?
“Without a doubt. What you witness in the edge: fish dealing with rigs and getting away with certain lead arrangements time and time again can’t help but make you think about what happens out in the pond. Learning and watching how the fish approach the spot, what bait items they pick out first and on what type of lakebed they feed more confidently over can all play an important role when choosing target areas. I’d much prefer to fish for them in the edge all of the time, but that just isn’t possible when they are showing in open water or when weather conditions simply do not facilitate it. Your fishing can be much more controlled when watching fish and when getting a rig in position, you can lower it exactly where you think a bite will come from, and that’s the exciting part about it. Out in the lake, a lot of it is hit and miss, as you never know where precisely where the rig will be landing unless you are lowering in from a boat.”

Among other baits, I know tigers are a firm favourite of yours for close-in work; why is this?
“It’s hard for me to explain exactly why. There’s no doubt the fish love to eat them, but it also comes down to a confidence thing for me. Going back years, I’ve had countless occasions where I’ve been watching fish feed, not manage to get a bite on conventional boilie tactics, have switched to a tiger and then have it to rip off just moments later. I guess it’s the fact that they are quite natural in colour and shape and for some reason or other, the fish just seem to accept them much more readily over boilies or bright baits. You don’t need a lot of them to provoke a response either; a jar will easily last me a few weeks, as I generally introduce only a small handful of crushed tigers and odd whole ones at a time.”

Bright ones in the spring have been key within my approach

As a contrast to the fishing you’ve experienced around the valley, quieter waters and reserves, you decided to fish Kingfisher at Bluebell last year; why was that?
“The previous occasion I actually went over to Bluebell before last year was 20 years ago when I’d first passed my driving test. You have a preconceived idea of these types of venue before you even go to see them for yourself. Someone I knew had been having a go, visiting on a Sunday afternoon and stalking them in the clear water. It sounded like my kind of thing to be honest. So I went there with an open mind in the hope that I could stumble across some fish.

“I took the short journey over on a Sunday afternoon and as I was going in, all the cars were flooding out. I walked over to Kingfisher and the first swim I looked into was lined with reeds. Fish were moving in and out of the trees, their backs were out the water and they were drifting by not too far from the bank and I thought that this was a bit of me! It seemed as though the anglers who were left on the lake were so preoccupied with Spombing bait out as far as they could get it, but actually, there were so many fish skirting the margins and hiding in the undergrowth, that with a little observation they’d have seen that there simply was no need to do so.”

The Chod has been my go-to for many years

On the deck

How did you go about outwitting them in the edge, as they are notoriously pressured, wary fish?
“I did a few laps and earmarked where the fish were moving in a couple of different areas of the lake, close in with an abundance of snags and lilies. I knew I was coming back on the Sunday night, so just making note of those small spots was important information that I could use when I returned. I got into an area and straight away I clocked a number of fish milling about close in, so I lowered a few of my favourite rigs in at close quarters before introducing a couple of handfuls of broken Odyssey XXX over the spot. I managed a lovely common that following morning and that was it; I just wanted to experience more of what Kingfisher had to offer.”

You went on to catch a few more through the coming weeks; what was the biggest learning curve about fishing such a pressured venue?
“Without doubt how spooky and cagey those fish are in the edge. I would often wake up in the morning, go and check the spot in the edge and the hookbait would be the only bait left. Sometimes, the rig may have been moved slightly to the side, yet I would have endured a sleepless night. I really had to step it up in the end, with big 5oz leads, fluorocarbon leaders with putty up the line… everything I could do to turn the odds in my favour as those fish had seen it all over the years.”

A busy work life outside of fishing limits your free time, but you still manage to fit quick nights in here and there…
“I could be anywhere in the country on any day… next week I’m working in Scotland! If I’m working near a venue and can pop in for a night, then I will. I could be staying in a hotel, but just to get my fix and be out on the bank during the week is much more important to me. If the rewards are there to be had, then that’s what gives me the drive. Nothing beats waking up and having a fish in the sling an hour before work; you feel like you’ve earned it after making quick decisions when you arrive and giving yourself the best possible chance of catching. When you have short windows of opportunity, those are what make you a better angler in my opinion. You also have to have an understanding missus when it’s kicking off down at the lake!” (Laughs)

Does pre-baiting help when doing the quick sessions between work?
“Yeah, but not overly - just small amounts here and there, just to get their interest and keep them occupied and feeding in an area. If I can get down later after work, drop onto an area that has been pre-baited regularly over the course of a few weeks, then I can sit back confidently, knowing that I’ve a good chance of a fish in the short time I’m at the lake. It doesn’t by any means have to be a lot of bait; I’ve always paid more attention to introducing it regularly rather than in large quantities. Another thing that I always try to do at times when I am fishing less, is scatter the bait in a few different areas of the lake, just so they are coming into contact with the bait at some point during the days I’m not there. I also like to boost the small amounts of bait I introduce, this can certainly help when fishing the quick nights as you’re getting more attraction into the swim quickly.”

There is gold at the end of the rainbow

Do you fish and bait spots out in the lake as you would in the edge?
“No, it just doesn’t suit my style of fishing in all honesty. I’m a big fan of spreading baits, generally fishing areas out in the lake where the fish have been cruising. With me doing only the nights, I have limited time when I do get to the lake and the last thing I want to do is thrash the water to a foam leading around trying to find a hard spot. I fish the Chods most of the time, with light leads and balanced baits that sit on pretty much anything. I always feel for a drop, but I am happy fishing over most lakebeds as the scattered baits will sit on low lying weed and thin strands coming up off the bottom. So many anglers now are narrow-minded when it comes to spotting and having to find the hardest ‘dinner plate’ they can. I don’t think this is always the way. The weed is full of naturals and if you can present effectively over the top, the fish will feed with confidence as they graze over an area.”

The last few years you’ve been fishing over on the exclusive Roman syndicate; how have your captures materialised on there while doing the overnighters?
“Most of the them over the last few years have come off the back of sightings: those opportunities that arise after having had a good scout about the lake. Quite often, if I haven’t actually seen anything to go on, I’ll just prime a few areas and leave the lake for a good night’s sleep at home. In fact, a few of my good captures have come during short two- or three-hour sessions after work when the conditions are prime. If you can get on the fish, keep disturbance to a minimum and introduce a small amount of bait in the area, there are results to be had. A couple of the really notable captures I’ve had have been off the back of sightings after leaving an area undisturbed for a week or so while trickling in a bit of bait to build their confidence. I’ve gone into the area after a few days’ baiting and have caught pretty quickly. This clearly shows how important it is to build their confidence before rushing in and fishing an area.”

Does the weather play a big part in when you decide to get out?
“Yes and no to be honest. I can often only go when I get the opportunity and when I’m not working away. If I’m working close to home, I’ll check the weather for the best times. If we have a big low pressure coming in and it’s looking prime for a bite, I might head down to the lake and prep a few areas before the front moves in, keeping one step ahead where I can. Like all carp fishing, the weather is one of the biggest factors: during hot days I might not fish, but rather use that time to investigate spots and bait areas ready for times of more favourable conditions. I base a lot of my fishing around watching fish from trees, trying to work out where they move in and out of the bays and at what times. These pieces of information are vital when targeting areas, as you can fish according to what you’ve seen and therefore much more effectively.”

Your first 40lber from Roman, The Bishop, was from the edge; what was the lead-up to that capture?
“It was early into my ticket and that spring I’d clocked a few fish patrolling a marginal shelf regularly. It’s quite overlooked along that margin to be honest, so when I first saw them using it I knew I was on to a winner. I baited close in with some crumb and maggots, watching from a tree every few days to see if they were visiting. One day I turned up there was a big common over the spot, troughing away and clouding the water. I nipped back to the van, grabbed the short rod and when I got the chance, managed to get the rig in prime position. It wasn’t long before they returned and this time, a few others had joined the party. The Bishop was still there and I was praying it would take the bait ahead of the others and before I knew it, I was watching the fish shaking its head with the rig hanging out its mouth… a truly memorable occasion!”

Does research play a part in your approach on new venues?
“Not specifically; my fishing is really based around being adaptable and watching through my own eyes. There are so many short cuts now to gaining information that will help you, but I’ve always liked to get things going myself and do the graft so to speak. Many of my captures have been during short trips, from little nooks that I’ve baited and where I’ve watched them and that makes me happy. Each one is a little story in itself and I feel like I earn them, even though I don’t catch numbers off spots week in and week out.”

Your style of angling certainly suits certain venues. You had a little dabble on an un-fished pit in the valley last year; how did that come about?
“It got to summer last year and I just felt like I needed a change from the lake I’d been fishing. I’d heard of a few venues off the beaten track so to speak, and not too far away, so I went for an investigation. I ended up finding fish on the recce and decided to do a few baiting trips over there. It was exciting stuff: sleeping on the unhooking mat at night, the takes were just out of this world and I was holding on for dear life as they charged off into the abyss. It was hard work but thoroughly enjoyable!”

Finally, I just want to touch on staying mobile. I notice your kit is pretty stripped back; how does this benefit your approach?
“It has to be. The easier it is to set-up and tackle down before and after work, the more you’re inclined to want to get out there and do it… although I never need an excuse to go fishing!”