10 reasons why Great Britain is so great at carp fishing
The proof as to why the UK is so darn marvellous. The ponds, the breeds, the tackle invention – it’s all here and more
1. Team England
Under the new leadership of CARPology’s resident diving pro, Rob Hughes, Team England, on the new squads’ first attempt, won Gold at last year’s World Carp Championships over in Spain. Nuff said.
2. Redmire Pool
When Redmire Pool (Bernithan Pool) was discovered around 1950, no man or woman could have ever predicted this tiny three-acre pool would become the most famous lake in carp fishing. Between 1951 and 1980 it produced three official records (Bob Richards in 1951, 31lb 4oz; Dick Walker in 1952, 44lb; and Chris Yates in 1981, 51lb 8oz) – and there were bigger fish seen…
3. Setting new trends
From the heavy knit carpy jumper, the kettle boiling shot and well-oiled beard right down to the Terry-Types. You know the ones: you couldn’t walk around a gravel pit in the 2000s without coming across at Terry-Type (Or Tel Tubby if he was overweight). Two rods, Nevs, full dupes, long hair, skate shoes, light bobbins, steaming kettle and an aggressive stirring habit. Yes, the UK residents can be very proud of all the outstanding “trends” they’ve started.
4. The best looking carp
Whilst many of our real best lookers are now deceased (The Black Mirror, Heather The Leather, Mary’s Mate, Bazil, and co.) you’ve only got to take a look at the likes of Sticky’s Baits’ Facebook feed to see this country is still producing some of the most unique and best looking carp. The Burghfield Common, The Woodcarving and The Big Plated.
5. Best fish breeders
And thankfully we’ve got some of the finest carp breeders in the world right here, on our fine shores. The likes of VS Fisheries, Lower Berryfield and Priory Fisheries are crossbreeding and refining to ensure the next generation and the generation after that continue this fine heritage.
6. The best magazine
Of course we’re referring to ourselves! Can you name another magazine – and we’re not just referring to the UK – where you get the likes of Hearn, Sharp, Scott, Fareham and co. all bound together on the nicest paper stock, with the slickest design, each month? Nope, you can’t. And this month we’re celebrating 150 issues of CARPology.
7. Tackle Invention
The Spomb, the bait boat, the pram-hood bivvy design, the retainer sling, artificial hookbaits, coated hooklink materials, funnel web PVA, the bite alarm – just a few of the many items which get used on every session – and they were all dreamt up or developed by the British.
8. Tackle Brands
Steve Neville and Cotswold Aquarius to Century and Solar: all are more English than the Queen moaning about the weather whilst wearing a St George’s flag onesie. Whilst virtually all of the biggest carp brands have started life here in the UK, there’s only a handful, such as Solar with their brand-new P1 collection, which are still producing it here. From Day Dot, Solar have been milling, drilling and constructing everything here, and this latest range of sticks, bars, pods and back rests, is just another example of why the UK is so darn awesome.
9. Rig Invention
It all starts and finishes with the original invention of the Hair rig. When the creators, Lenny Middleton and Kevin Maddocks had the idea of removing the bait from the hook and having it hanging two-inches below it, it seemed, at the time, totally mental. But, as we all know, there are hundreds of different variations, from the way we connect the hook (KD style for example) to the rig itself (the Chod Rig), but one key element has always remained the same: the hook and bait are detached and that thinking is all down to Lenny and Kevin – two UK anglers.
10. Tactic Invention
From the trout pellet-filled PVA bag days of Broadlands in the early 90s and the Nick Helleur Dynamite Stick of the early 00s to Frank Warwick’s fluoro pop-ups and the Zig Rig, the UK has always lead when it comes to developing tactics and techniques.