WHAT WE WERE DOING 20 YEARS AGO
To celebrate the future, we look back at the past…
2024 marks CARPology’s 20th anniversary. In figures, that’s between 245 and 258 issues (by December 2024). In words, it would run into the millions, and printed images must be six figures. We’ll also be celebrating our 250th issue in June, so there’s plenty to look forward to. But, in the meantime, we’ll do the opposite and look back at what we were printing, saying and doing in 2004…
Branded hoodies
It’s hard to believe now, but it was around this time that branded hoodies and T-shirts only just started to emerge onto the market. Back then, it was just us and maybe Nash. In 2024 we’re one of 1,435 companies rolling them off the screen printing presses!
Fitty of the Month
It seems incredible to say it now, but back in 2004, there was talk of a Page 3 girl in the magazine…
It still makes us laugh!
Hands up who remembers when mobile contacts had a set amount of free minutes to matching networks between 7 p.m. and 8 a.m.? If you do, this quote from Pete Regan will make more sense…
“I phoned Lockie the other day. He said I’ve got 200 minutes; I’ll call you back. The next minute my phone rings. I answered and said, “Oh, by the way, I’ve got 600 minutes!”
Another classic (and please forgive us, we have run this a few times, but it’s still so funny) is: John answers the phone to Pete [Regan]… “John, are you on Vodaphone?” “No, mate.” Click… Brrrr…
Tongue-in-cheek ‘Essential Mix’
In issue 7 (September 2004), Adam Penning really took our questions at face value… Here’s a small selection of his rather amusing answers...
Rods?
“Definitely. As many as possible. Plus floater rod, spod rod, 9’ stalker and 6’ snider.”
Reels?
“Without a doubt, pole fishing for carp is just sooo last season. Mine are Shakespeare Omnis.”
Line?
“Vodafone.”
Buzzers?
“Seen a few lately. Magnificent. They’ve just released a colony along the M40 corridor.”
Rod Set Up?
“Depends. If I’m using them, then yes, definitely. The 6’ is one piece, so he is always set up.”
Tackle Box?
In my opinion the best shop in Kent.”
Slack or tight?
“Like knickers with no elastic: slack and low wherever possible.”
Damo, in print?!
Back in February 2004, Korda’s Damian Clarke not only had time to write an article for CARPology, but he even came out to the bank to do the pics! To give that some context as to how things have changed, getting Damo to do Korda’s own podcast is like pulling hen’s teeth!
Weedy-coloured bags
Who remembers those Army-green solid PVA bags Nash Tackle used to sell?
Ahead of the times…
It would appear Lee Jackson was well ahead of the curve when it came to using drones in carp fishing, as in issue 6 (August 2004), in our ‘A Dip Into Lee Jackson’ interview, Jacko supplied the following image!
The smallest spool of hooklink material?
Carp ’R’ Us might have just won the award for the world’s smallest spool of coated hooklink. That spool is only slightly larger than those 3oz in-line leads and it’s holding 20 metres!
Everyone was using Stealth Skin
2004 was an era when 90% of carp anglers used either Kord’s Hybrid, Armaled’s Kik-Bak, or, as pictured here, Sufix’s Stealth Skin. Tel, Nick H, Cash (remember that name?), Ian Russell and co. all used it until every end tackle manufacturer started producing their own.
It was OFFICIAL…
The camo craze went overboard…
4X4
The Les Quis 4x4 was the year’s biggest carp fishing match. Fairbrass, Clarke, Locke, Paisley, and Jackson were fixtures for the event, which was narrowly won by Team Solar.
Nigel Vs. Burghfield
In issue 5 (July 2004), we began a new series which would run until May 2006, when Nige landed the ultimate prize: the Burghfield Common. Here’s an extract from the first interview where he describes the ‘big common’.
CARPOLOGY: Tell me about this big common—when did you first hear about it?
NIGEL SHARP: “I have friends who fished here in the early ’90s, and they talked of a big common carp—but then every lake seems to have rumours of a big common. It was when I went to buy some buzzers from Steve Neville, and he was going on about it. He told me he’d followed the big common around part of the lake once. There was also a picture in the Angling Times once. The water wasn’t named, but we all knew where it was from.
“Originally, I didn’t come here to catch the big common—I always heard of a fish called Cut Tail, a big mirror with a tatty tail. That was a known fish for years and more of a target to catch. It was after I’d caught that, I started to think, ‘Maybe I should focus on this common now’. Once you see that fish in the water, it has to become your target.”
