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THE SAVAY SESSIONS: Mark McKenna on the UK’s most famous syndicate

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ISSUE 282 MARCH 2014

ISSUE 282 / MARCH 2014 / MONTHLY £4.50

PECKY’S PROGRESS

BRITAIN’S BIGGEST CARP-ANGLING MAGAZINE

DAR R E L L PECK begi ns a new s e r i e s wi t h t he ca pt ure of this 4 6 l b+ co m mo n o n a Zig !

PLUS TERRY DEMPSEY ON WA L T H A M S T O W ‘ PA R K L I F E ’ W I T H D A R R E N B E LT O N T I M PA I S L E Y TA L K S A B O U T P R E D AT I O N B I L L C O T TA M ’ S C A R P I N G A L L E G E D LY SIMON CROW VISITS THE EBRO THE

c ar pwor ld maga z in e. co m

IAN CHILLCOTT

S T AY I N G O N T O P

Chilly explains w hy his mass-baiting tactics are so successful for him whatever the season

Dave Spr ingall looks at w hy small changes can make a massive difference to the number of car p you catch

ALSO INSIDE CARP NEWS AND FEATURES FROM AROUND THE GLOBE

MAGAZINE

Issue 125 March 2014

ECHOES AROUND THE WORLD P151 Our round -up of big-c ar p ca pture s from acros s the globe

FISHABIL THE N AND NOW

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FOR THE W ORLDWIDE ANGLER

GLOBETROTT

ER’S WORLD

LES QUIS IN FOCUS

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CONTENTS

The Carpworld Contents / Issue 282 /

March 2014

THE SAVAY SESSIONS: Mark McKenna on the UK’s most famous syndicate

carpworldmagazine.com

ISSUE 282 MARCH 2014

ISSUE 282 / MARCH 2014 / MONTHLY £4.50

PECKY’S PROGRESS

BRITAIN’S BIGGEST CARP-ANGLING MAGAZINE

DARRELL PECK begins a new ser ies with the ca pture of this 46lb+ common on a Zig!

PLUS TERRY DEMPSEY ON WA L T H A M S T O W ‘ PA R K L I F E ’ W I T H D A R R E N B E LT O N T I M PA I S L E Y TA L K S A B O U T P R E D AT I O N B I L L C O T TA M ’ S C A R P I N G A L L E G E D LY SIMON CROW VISITS THE EBRO THE

c a r p wo r l d m a ga z i n e . c o m

IAN CHILLCOTT

S T AY I N G O N T O P

Chilly explains w hy his mass-baiting tactics are so successful for him whatever the season

Dave Spr ingall looks at w hy small changes can make a massive difference to the number of car p you catch

ALSO INSIDE CARP NEWS AND FEATURES FROM AROUND THE GLOBE

MAGAZINE

FOR THE W ORLDWIDE ANGLER

Issue 125 March 2014

ECHOES AROUND THE WORLD P151 Our round-up of big-car p ca ptures from across the globe

FISHABIL THE N AND NOW

GLOBETROTT

ER’S WORLD

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LES QUIS IN FOCUS

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P158 How Fishabil became one of the top commercial fisheries in France

P166 Tony Davies-Patrick travels across the Channel to fish at High Mill Lake

O N T H E C OV E R : We welcome Darrell on board for a new series, so it seems only right to feature him with one of his latest captures.

Read more about Darrell’s exploits and the capture of this fish on page 30.

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P174 Bernie Stamp charts the history of one of the original

French holiday venues ALSO INSIDE: 164 A DETAILED LOOK BEHIND THE GATES AT LAC DU VERGER

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REGULARS

6

Editors’ Comments Broady’s getting all hot and bothered about otters, and Nigel’s getting blown away by the winter weather. What a pair, eh?

9

Gazette All the news and views from the carp-angling scene to keep you up to date with what’s going on.

55

Rig World Mike Kavanagh This month, Mike’s taken a close look at the superb range of Nash Zig Bugs and terminal tackle, and answers a reader’s question on hook patterns.

103

Think Tank Is it really worth sharpening hooks, and is it best to chop and change, or just stick to a tried and tested pattern?

Find out what our panel of experts thinks on page 103.

110

Bait World Featuring Joe Turnbull Joe’s been on a trip round the Solar Bait factory this month and, along with a look at some very good bait deals from RG Baits and products from Pallatrax, it’s another packed Bait World.

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Ask The Experts Brad Greening, Jim Wilson and Mick Tuck answer questions from readers on prebaiting, tackling the margins, and how to tackle a new venue.

FEATURES

Savay… The Meaning Of Life – Part 2 Mark McKenna Do you think fishing at Savay is easy? Well, if Mark’s opinions are anything to go by, we wonder about the sanity of the anglers who fish there.

Staying On Top Of The Game Dave Springall Never turn your back completely on the things that have brought you success is a good motto, so Dave looks at how he’s going to fine-tune his tactics for the coming year.

Pecky’s Progress Darrell Peck Welcome to the first in a monthly series by Darrell Peck, who will be writing about his angling exploits as they happen. One feature you won’t want to miss!

Diary Of A Carpaholic Simon Crow Simon’s been to the River Ebro, one of the best places to catch winter carp. With biting winds and reluctant fish, it certainly wasn’t easy, but it all paid off in the end.

Park Life Darren Belton Down in the Kent countryside lies an 18-acre pit that’s right at the heart of a busy country park. It’s a water which hides some real monster carp that Darren aims to catch.

F Word Paul Forward Never one to give up, Paul’s been out and about in all the recent storms. It’s been a bleak time for him, but you can’t catch carp sitting in front of the telly!

Historic Carp Waters Chris Ball Fletchers Pond is a long-time carp water in Derbyshire that first drew the attention of a small number of dedicated anglers in the early-1960s.

The Satisfaction Of Winter Carping Ian Chillcott From the comfort of his bivvy, Ian looks back on winters past and his thoughts turn to how his winter carping has changed over the years.

Carping Allegedly Bill Cottam Our tame Rotherham bait baron is back with a mixed bag of life’s little observations and dilemmas that are of vital importance to every carp angler. The man is a true connoisseur of taste!

Carpworld International Championships There’s a first prize of £10,000 to be won, and you’ll have a great holiday as well, if you join us for the inaugural Carpworld International Championship at Fishabil.

An Oasis In The City Terry Dempsey Terry looks at how things have changed at the Walthamstow complex over the years, and rekindles his love affair with this haven of innercity tranquility.

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F: facebook.com/CarpworldMagazine / T: @CarpworldMag

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carpworldmagazine.com

ISSUE 282 / MARCH 2014 / MONTHLY £4.50

PECKY’S PROGRESS DA R R E L L P E C K b e g i n s a n ew s e r i e s w i t h t h e c a p t u re o f t h i s 46lb+ common on a Zig!

PLUS TERRY DEMPSEY ON WA L T H A M S T O W ‘ PA R K L I F E ’ W I T H D A R R E N B E LT O N T I M PA I S L E Y TA L K S A B O U T P R E D AT I O N B I L L C O T TA M ’ S C A R P I N G A L L E G E D LY SIMON CROW VISITS THE EBRO THE

car pwor ldmagazine.com

Tackle World Trakker bedchairs, the Fox Supa Bivvy, and JRC unhooking mats and chairs take pride of place this month, along with Taska’s new products. But that’s not all – we’ve 10 pages of goodies for you to drool over, including gear from Gardner, Cygnet, Korda, JAG, and more.

BRITAIN’S BIGGEST CARP-ANGLING MAGAZINE

TACKLE WORLD

THE SAVAY SESSIONS: Mark McKenna on the UK’s most famous syndicate

ISSUE 282 MARCH 2014

141

Still Carping On Tim Paisley The politics of carp angling come under Tim’s watchful gaze this month, along with a look at carp shows, more on the issue of predation, and angler apathy.

110

IAN CHILLCOTT

S T AY I N G O N T O P

Chilly explains w hy his mass-baiting tactics are so successful for him whatever the season

Dave Spr ingall looks at w hy small changes can make a massive difference to the number of car p you catch

PAGE

ALSO INSIDE CARP NEWS AND FEATURES FROM AROUND THE GLOBE

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MAGAZINE

FOR THE W ORLDWIDE ANGLER

Issue 125 March 2014

ECHOES AROUND THE WORLD P151 Our round-up of big-car p ca ptures from across the globe

FISHABIL THE N AND NOW

GLOBETROTT

ER’S WORLD

LES QUIS IN FOCUS

21/02/2014 12:37

P 1 5 8 How Fishabil became one of the top commercial fisheries in France

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P166 Tony Davies-Patrick travels across the Channel to fish at High Mill Lake

P174 Bernie Stamp charts the history of one of the original French

holiday venues ALSO INSIDE: 164 A DETAILED LOOK BEHIND THE GATES AT LAC DU VERGER

21/02/2014 09:23

CHECK OUT OUR SUBS OF F ER ON PAGE 99

UP FOR GRABS

138

Ask The Experts There’s £250’ worth of bait or tackle vouchers if your question is chosen in our Ask The Experts feature.

90

Carpworld International Championship What could you do with £10,000? That’s the first prize on offer to the winning team of the Carpworld International Championship.

If you fancy a holiday in France with the chance to win big money, turn to page 90.

IN INTERNATIONAL CARPER

THE

MAGAZINE

FOR THE WORLDWIDE ANGLER

There’s a rundown of the major

ISSUE 124 February 2014

worldwide carp captures in Echoes Around The World, a look at how Fishabil was built and all the work that went into it, and Tony Davies-Patrick puts a very bad year behind him and gets back to fishing for carp.

THE MIGHTY SHOULDERS P145 Max Cottis’ ca pture of Abbey Lakes’ larges t resident at 94lb PLUS more catch repor ts in Echoes Around the Wor ld THE ORIENT EXPERIENCE

THE FRENCH REDMIRE

GLOBETROTTER’S WORLD

P1 5 8 Seasoned big-water angler Andy Chambers shares the highs and lows of his latest session

P164 Nick Burrage fishes a gem of a water where days-only angling produces carp to over 50lb

P170 Tony Davies-Patrick is back with a tale of an incredible journey across Europe

It’s all in International Carper this month and, along with a look at one of the original

ALSO INSIDE: 152 WIN A RETREAT LAKE BREAK WOR TH £895 • 156 FISHERY FOCUS: CASTLE LAKES 143_ICCover_CW281.indd 1

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big-carp holiday venues, Les Quis, and two pages of listings for holiday venues, that’s another packed International Carper again this month.

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FEATURE

M A R K

T H E

M E A N I N G

O F

L I F E !

–

M c K E N N A

PA R T

2

Savay is reputedly a very, very difficult water and, once again, Mark’s attempts to catch from the water seem destined to fail. No matter what he tries, the Savay carp just seem to be too sharp to slip up. However, when all else fails, watercraft pays dividends.

T

here was a footnote at the end of last month’s piece, which someone who obviously doesn’t know me very well, inserted regarding this month’s piece, which went something along the lines of: Join us again next month when Mark reveals some of his hints and tips on catching Savay carp, or words to that effect. I remember thinking, ‘Oh, really?’ I nearly choked on my toast!

One thing I personally learned to enjoy about Savay during my time on the lake is that nobody tells you anything in the early days! It’s proper old school, hard core old school. I mean, you are fishing with guys who fished with the Hair Rig, who were sitting beside their best mates for 18 months,

catching all that swam, without letting on. We’re talking about men who are fully time-served apprentices of Albert Romp’s ‘school of hard knocks and swerving for proper carp anglers’. If you ask a sensible question DO NOT expect a sensible answer; in fact if you asked my mate Matt anything, he’d probably just lie down on his bed, pull the covers over his head, and leave you standing there like a complete idiot.

I learned very quickly, through my mate Cabbie’s misfortune, not to ask questions. As an example, we were sitting there on the canal bank one evening; I wasn’t even fishing, just keeping him company, or avoiding real life, as you do, and he got this little knock on his right-hand rod. We looked at each other

RIGHT Sitting behind banks of rods is not always the way. One rod where I know the fish to be is a better bet in my mnd.

A midNovember session a few years ago.

Fishing in the winter months just made things a lot harder.

BELOW

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S a v a y – T h e M e a n in g O f Lif e ! Ma r k McKenna

’em you have to stay on ’em for as long as and both reached the same conclusion. possible. Watercraft is top of the skill set Hit it! Sure enough, the man was into charts on Savay, the ability to read what’s his first Savay carp – things were looking going on in front of you will put fish good. So, he was playing this fish that on the bank, or tell you you’ve put out was hooked a long way out but he’d got too much hemp, so you have to hone it it moving in our direction, when behind until you can rely on it totally and know us, like a couple of ghosts, appeared instinctively whether you’re in with a The Baby Strangler and The Howler. shout or not. There are always signs, and “Are you in?” they no signs is a sign too. For instance, did whispered in unison… that fish show because it was about to “No, his knees shake like that do the off ? Was it indicating to others all the time,” I think I quipped. that there is alien activity in the area, Anyway, after getting it most of the or that there’s a free lunch, or that ‘this way back, this fish started making a bloody argulus is drivng me insane’? beeline for the right-hand margin and I like to see a barrel roll or a big blue Cabbie turned round to the other two nut breach the surface and slide back and asked, “Anything down there I need down silently, accompanied by the to worry about, or can I let it go?” patches of fizz, which can only be huge A reasonable question, to which any Savay carp sifting through detritus. right-thinking angler would want to Every successful Savay angler I know has know the answer, and the result was equipped himself with a higha resounding “No! Nothing quality, high-powered, to worry about,” so the set of binoculars – Cabbie relaxed a bit, “Savay seemingly a thing looking forward to of yesteryear in his first fish – just requires today’s carp as there was a mental market, except horrid grating toughness, you for the odd sensation feeding get a ticket set of Hinge back up his line and Bracket and everything and that’s (remember them?) went slack! your lot” ‘hang round your neck “Good lord,” at the races-types’. The said The Baby right set of bins will enable Strangler. “I lost one like you to know what’s happening out there that there last week – unlucky, old in no-man’s-land where the naked eye chap, we’ll leave you to it, eh!” (mine especially) is about as much use Cabbie looked at me, I looked as the proverbial chocolate fireguard. at him, neither of us knew what to The right set of bins will also enable you say, except – “Welcome to Savay.” to do the same on a moonlit night, very Savay requires mental toughness, you well in fact. OK, you won’t be able to see get a ticket and that’s your lot; no DVD them fizz at 140yds+ but you will be able charting the underwater topography of to see them ‘nut out’ – a huge advantage. every swim, no club hut with flushing There is much more to fishing hard toilet and shower and a list of what’s pits with other keenies than you can been caught and from where. You can’t glean from magazines; you need to park behind your swim. If you want all develop your mindset. Free DVDs, the that, Grenvile is 70 miles up the road in ‘how to’ books and a bit of practice, a northeasterly direction. If you want will get you to a point where you can to catch a Savay carp, it’s down to you. catch from a lot of waters, but start I’m not a rude guy, so to tell you thinking like an apex predator if you work it all out for yourselves isn’t my really want success on hard pits. Be as style and wouldn’t be in keeping with cunning and as ruthless as a fox; catch Carpworld, being the informative read and don’t get caught. No one ever really that it is, so I am going to give up some talks about how to compete in the of my biggest secrets that don’t just sport, it’s seen as some sort of dark art, work on Savay, they work on all the but it is a sport, so learn how to feint hard lakes I’ve fished, and the biggest and keep your operation dark when and best of them all is – spend time you need to, which is an exercise in on finding, and staying on, fish!

Savay is vast, so location has to be your both stealth and diplomacy, because nothing will cost you more number one priority, and once you’re on March 2 014 C a r pwor l d 15

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FEATURE

D A R R E L L

P E C K

NEW SER IES

PECKY’S PROGRESS Prolific big-carp-catcher, Darrell Peck, has just come on board with Carpworld and is going to write a monthly series on his angling exploits as they happen. Essential reading, we think.

A

s this is the first instalment in a new series, I’d like to take this opportunity to introduce myself, so here goes. My name is Darrell Peck, I’m 32, from Chelmsford in Essex, and I have been an obsessed carp angler for as long as I can remember. In my younger days I worked in my local tackle shop, Bevan Carp Tackle, and fished locally. Then I moved into the print trade, which enabled me to travel further afield in pursuit of some of the country’s biggest and best-known carp. Since then I’ve had another brief spell back in the tackle shop, before working for Korda as a representative at open days, and as an angling tutor. My role has just changed again to more of a consultancy role, which, hopefully, over the next six months should free up more of my time to enable me to get out there, doing what we all love best – actually fishing.

Now, those of you who have read any of my writing before will know that I am not the most gifted writer; I am not the type to use long words to describe things that are not relevant to the actual fishing.

I try to think with clarity about what is going on below and above the surface, but, most importantly, why things are happening, and this is how I try to pitch my writing. My rigs may often be described as simple, but to me it’s about reliability, and taking something called doubt out of the equation.

In these pieces I will cover my own fishing, the venues, the captures, and the thinking behind them. So, without further ado, I’ll kick off with January 2014 on the VERY DEEP Bundy’s Pit. Bundy’s is in Cambridgeshire, and is a beautiful little syndicate water of around 8 acres. It has a stock of around 200 fish, with three of these consistently going over 45lb. I was quite lucky in the fact that I knew a few of its members,

enabling me to get the nod for a winter ticket at the beginning of December 2013. So firstly, thanks to Jim Wilson for putting me forward, and secondly, to Ben Band, who owns the lake, for letting me on. Any of you who keep an eye on the magazines will have seen the numerous big commons that swim in its depths and you may be aware that it has a bit of a reputation for producing them until very late into the year. So why is that? Well, Bundy’s is, without doubt, the deepest lake I have ever fished, almost twice as deep, in fact 55ft is the general depth in the middle, but I’m told it goes down to 65ft in places.

Over the years I have noticed that throughout autumn the carp in any given lake start getting caught from the deeper areas, which throughout the warmer months may have been unproductive.

This is only my opinion, but I would suggest that this is because the water is cooling from the surface and the deeper areas are still warm enough for the carp to feed and are the most comfortable for them. I’ve also noticed that the deeper the lake, the later in the year it tends to still produce, which would support this theory. On the flipside, once these deeper lakes have shut up it seems they take an age to finally kick off in spring, when comparatively shallower lakes are already throwing them out to anything bright slung in front of them. I have another little theory about this; I think the only reason these deep lakes are not fishing is simply because the fish are midwater, miles from anglers’ rigs. To support this theory I’ll mention now that I’ve just

ABOVE Dawn in The

Winter Swim, before I moved into The Hazels.

BELOW The first fish from a new water is always special.

taken one of the big three on a Zig Rig 40ft off the bottom in 55ft!

Bundy’s is at the extreme end of the deep scale and to say they are still active in December would be an understatement. On my first trip I arrived just before first light and began my walk around, and it took all of two minutes before I’d seen half a dozen bosh just 30yds out. That session I didn’t catch, but I heard so many crashes throughout the night it was ridiculous.

The weather during December was very mild and this activity continued past Christmas and into the new year.

Fish were steadily coming out from very deep water, and in early January I got my first piece of action after losing my first couple of bites.

I arrived one Sunday in early January around 11.00 a.m. and made my way around to The

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P e c ky ’ s P ro g ress Da rrell Peck

Middle Hazel Swim, the most consistent swim since the start of the winter ticket.

The fella in there was already packing up, and although he hadn’t caught during this 48-hour trip he had still been hearing them show at night. He also informed me that the swim had done quite a few since Christmas, right up until the start of his session. That was good enough for me and I was soon excitedly loading my barrow.

I had fished this swim on my second trip and had spent a lengthy time plumbing it in the hunt for some nice spots. Word amongst the regulars is that the depth to be in at this time of year is 38-42ft and in this particular swim you can find this depth a little further out than in most. Plumbing in this depth takes absolutely ages, so I’d spent the time doing it properly the first time in order that I wouldn’t have to do it again. I’d also calculated how

BELOW I figured that Zigs would be the best way to approach this mega-deep pit through the winter months.

the spot because of the swing back effect.

Basically, when you plumb you have a direct line to the spot, but when you make the next cast it has a big arc in it, created by the swing back caused by the depth, which can leave you way off the mark. To get round this I let out roughly 15ft of line before I clipped it, purely as a starting point of reference. I then cast it to the same tree on the horizon, feeling it down onto the bottom with the rod tip held low, almost touching a fixed point, in this case a reed stem. The lead lands softly in the debris behind the spot. I then gently dislodge it, nudging it along the bottom until it begins to slide. Then it’s just a case of working out how far I have moved the lead, adjusting the clip accordingly and recasting to check. I know when it’s perfect by the drop; if it cracks down and doesn’t need dislodging before it skates, then it’s bang on. Anything less isn’t good enough. Once this is achieved I then mark the line by the clip with elastic and measure the exact distance around my Cygnet Distance Sticks, let’s say it was 13 wraps. From here in it’s pretty simple.

I attach the marker float to braided line that’s clipped, and cast it back out onto the spot. I then unclip it, working it up “Throughout to the surface. Once the night I it is visible I cast out could hear them a water-filled spod showing not a few times until I have it clipped to too far beyond land 3ft behind the my baits” float, which happens to be 18ft short of where far the lead was swinging the float was clipped. back in this depth. I’ll explain All I had to do then was clip up the how I do this because, trust me, it’s rods at the right range, then flick them more complicated than you may think.

I cast out a bare lead on braid, drawing out the short distance to the premarked spots, making sure to get that special, it along the bottom until I felt it skate. crack-down drop. On the end of each By this, I mean the resistance on the rod I had a cored out, corked 10mm rod tip becomes almost non-existent Milky Toffee pop-up mounted on Stiff as the lead comes free from the leafy Hinge Rigs. I then baited with half a debris, and slides/skates over the clean/ kilo of roughly crumbed Hybrid boilies, exposed clay. The obvious thing is that which were spodded over the top. It was you simply stick it straight in the clip, all very pleasant, short and sweet, three but the trouble is, when you make your rods on the money in double-quick next cast it will be considerably short of time. Everything had gone perfectly, the weather was mild, and if they were up for a feed I was cocked and ready.

Throughout the night I could hear them showing not too far beyond my baits and I was surprised it took as long as it did for the first bite to come. The light had just turned from blue to grey as the March 2 014 C a r pwor l d 31

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FEATURE

I A N

C H I L L C O T T

THE SATISFACTION OF WINTER CARPING It’s December 2013 and Ian is sitting by Hollybush Lakes in Hampshire, trying to tempt a carp, into sampling his hookbait, when his thoughts turn to how his winter carping has changed over the years.

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T h e S a t is f a c t io n o f W in t e r Ca r ping I a n C hillco tt

I

had arrived the day before, it was cold, horribly cold to be honest, but I had been quietly baiting a couple of spots in the weed over the past few days.

Range wasn’t an issue, therefore it was 10 and 15mm boilies at catapult range, just the way I like it. There were two things about this particular mission that surprised me, however. The plethora of birds, mainly coots and tufties, had not for one second looked like they wanted to feed on the spots. It was strange, because by the beginning of December the birds are normally making life a misery for the winter carper. The other thing was how vibrant the weed was, it looked remarkably similar to the way it would in the summer months. One thing of which I was certain though, the dense weed would hold the carp.

I’d had this confirmed the previous week with the capture of four fish, the biggest two being a 27lb mirror and 31lb common. It had been a great way to start my winter campaign on this venue, a venue that means a great deal to me for a whole host of reasons. It wasn’t just because I was close to home that I felt comfortable about fishing here, and as I settled down for the night I reflected on the past for a while, especially how this complex had taught me so much about winter carp angling.

The night was quiet; I didn’t hear a single thing that indicated the carp were up and about. As always, I was awake very early, in fact it was 4.30 a.m., and as I sparked up the kettle for the first brew of the day, I gazed across

OPPOSITE Winter carping has become the ultimate challenge for me. The banks are quiet because very few anglers venture out.

A historic 40, and at 40lb 10oz, the capture made me think about the changes in carp fishing over the last 20 years.

BELOW

10oz it was the Holy Grail of winter carp the lake in the bright moonlight. It fishing, but as an added extra it was the seemed even colder than the previous famous Hollybush Lakes’ first-ever 40. morning, which only encouraged me With the pictures done, and the to put the kettle on once again. photographers gone, I repositioned the It was probably during the third cup rod and made a brew. I had been fishing of the morning when one of the rods hard for over 20 years during the indicated a strange take that harshest of winters, and I didn’t even get the line out couldn’t help thinking of the clip. Be that as it how many things had may, I was sure a fish “A l t h o u g h i t changed over that was responsible, went against period of time. and launched ever ything I The most myself towards hectic of military the relevant rod. had read, the schedules through As I took the first car p were still the ’80s meant that stride I couldn’t catchable” I never really had help noticing that time to go fishing, let each step was breaking alone set my stall out for the cat ice in the puddles a winter carp. And let’s face it, that separated me from my even through that decade of incredible target. I lifted into the fish, which I was innovation and change, carp were still convinced would be a little stock fish, considered an impossible target once and the small headshakes I felt down a touch of frost had gripped the land. the line, along with a mass of weed, only strengthened my initial thoughts. And so During the early-’90s, however, things were starting to change for me. For I concentrated on getting the whole lot one, the army was starved of money, moving towards me, at which point the meaning I didn’t go away so much, thus weed fell off the line, and all of a sudden allowing me more time to go fishing.

I was playing a bit of an animal. It was Every cloud has a silver lining and all obviously a big fish; its heavy, almost that! There were also personal issues unstoppable runs had my heart in my at home that would dictate the time I mouth for most of the battle. I kept spent travelling. This, in a roundabout myself together, and eventually a way, enabled me to thoroughly explore massive fish slid over the net cord. the delights of winter carp fishing.

In an instant, the cold, miserable It didn’t take too long for me to weather was forgotten, in fact discover that this was my favourite I was sweating just a little as I time of year. The lakes were infinitely peered down on the biggest quieter and, although it went against carp in the lake. At 40lb everything I had read, the carp were still catchable. It didn’t start out too well to be honest, because basically, I did what everyone said you should do – use very little bait, only fish in the day because it’s warmer, use much lighter tackle, check yourself in with a psychologist because you must be mad, and life is just too short to go winter carping… Yeah, right!!

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T O N Y

D A V I E S - P A T R I C K

The Road to

High Mill

2 0 1 3 p r o v e d t o b e a n a n n u s h o r r i b i l i s f o r To n y ; life was jus t beginning to retur n to nor mal w hen y e t a n o t h e r d i s a s t e r s t r u c k . H o w e v e r, To n y f i n a l l y managed to restore some semblance of order t o h i s l i f e a n d h e s e t o f f f o r p a s t u r e s n e w.

ABOVE The first views of High Mill took my breath away. This photo was taken from the dam looking across to the distant shallows.

T

he end to the short English summer of 2013 brought with it change. Not only in temperatures, but also in my future. I had a job offer from the owner of a group of lakes situated in northern France. The owner was French, and it transpired that he’d opened the main lake for carp fishing earlier in 2013, but immediately ran into a host of serious problems. By September his business was at crisis point, inflamed by the fact that he wasn’t a carp angler but a commercial fisherman, so his ideas on how to run a venue smoothly were totally wide of the mark.

He was sure that my decades of knowledge gained through fishing thousands of venues, and my hands on the pulse of the ever-changing world of carp, would help spearhead the company to a rosy future. He asked if I would be able to begin work as bailiff and general

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T h e R o a d t o H ig h M ill To ny Da vies -Pa tr ick

“Within days, I

manager of publicity in the around the lake to get a better found out from the 2014 season onwards, as feel for a place that might grapevine about the owners well as possibly helping become my home for a to run some of the other large part of the year, and of another venue in west lakes that he owned. The also for my partner Ayleen.

France who were looking lake would be shutting The meeting with the down at the end of October lake owner went ahead as for a bailiff to work for the winter period, so planned, although by the end during 2014” now, in mid-September, of the discussion a large number was a good time to view the of questions remained unanswered. waters and facilities, plus to meet I wasn’t happy with the situation, and the owner for serious discussions. my head was in turmoil, so I decided TOP RIGHT A stunning kingfisher at High Mill There was a lot going on at home at to leave early, said my farewells, then Lake. The whole area this time, but I took some days off and headed back towards the Channel ferry. surrounding the lake is filled with wildlife. drove to the ferry at Dover, and then It was good to be home in England and across Belgium to arrive in northern over the following days I had a rain check France in time to meet the owner of on the situation. Trying to turn around the lake. My joy, however, plummeted the massive heap of problems that the a notch when I first sighted a glimmer venue still had, and the many promises of water on the horizon. The main lake that the owner had left unfulfilled was not only far smaller than I’d been regarding updates to facilities, would led to believe, but in addition it wasn’t be a major headache. Did I really want particularly beautiful. I took a long walk to take on something that the owner

himself didn’t really believe in? Would I be laying my reputation on the line and heading for a future of negativity? I talked it over with Ayleen and we came to the same conclusion, to drop the idea and to spread my feelers for better options.

Within days, I found out from the grapevine about the owners of another venue in west France who were looking for a bailiff to work during 2014. I took a quick look at their website and it all seemed a world away from the venue I’d been at in northern France. Unlike the previous large, muddy ‘puddle’ that had only recently been dug out, the High Mill Lake was much larger at 25 acres, with a long history going back hundreds of years. In fact, it was first dug during the 1750s! ‘This was more like it’, I thought to myself, and as I drooled over the photos of the lake and facilities, my enthusiasm was raised several bars. Not only would it be nice to work there during the summer, but it would be a good place to fish myself during the quieter winter period. It would also give me a chance to explore other rivers and lakes in the region between November and March.

I made a quick phone call to Andy and Tracey, owners of High Mill Lake (Etang de Brigueuil), to enquire about the work and what it entailed. They seemed ecstatic to hear from me, and following a few more long emails and chats on Facebook, I was offered the job! I would begin in March 2014, but would be able to stay at High Mill during the winter and use it as a base to explore other waters, and it would be a wonderful place to do my writing, filming and photography.

I made plans to drive out to the village of Brigueuil, near Limoges in west France, at the end of September, to meet up with Andy and Tracey to view the lake at High Mill, and hopefully dispel any doubts lingering from the previous venue I March 20 14 C a r pwor l d 167

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P U B L I S H E D B Y A N G L I N G P U B L I C AT I O N S

K C BA MAND

BY DReEprinted

14

for 20

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y Misspent Youth is the story of a young lad who dreamt of catching big carp above all else. The story charts Darrell’s carpangling life so far, from early beginnings at the little-known Essex Quarry aged 17, to holding his own amongst some of his idols at some of the UK’s toughest circuit

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waters. Read how Darrell catches some of the UK’s best-known carp, including the incredible Two-Tone from Conningbrook, Yateley Car Park’s Arfur, Heather and pals, and the Fat Lady from St. Ives. Darrell’s determination to succeed, along with his obvious natural gift for catching carp, shines through in this deliberately honest tale.

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