Life behind the lens: Chris Douce

There’s a good chance you won’t recognise the name Chris Douce - and it’s for good reason. He doesn’t like publicity, he doesn’t crave column inches… he just likes to go fishing with his twin girls, soaking up nature and the true enjoyment of angling. Here he talks to Dan Wildbore about the amount of prep work for a session with his daughters(!), his time on The Car Park Lake, photography and the social side of angling

Chris, I know a lot of people know you for your adorable twins angling exploits, but the man behind the lens has been in front of it a lot. Being based in Devon, the fishing is sparse, but have you done much carp fishing your way?
“Oh yes, for sure mate. Going back 20 years I used to fish various farm ponds, estate lakes and moorland pits locally for carp. They formed the majority of my limited options down this way. There were plenty of good options for those types of venue, and these helped shape me as a coarse angler first, and then later on, a carp angler. I think the variety of different types of venue helped me progress with my fishing relatively quickly.

“Going back ten years, we actually used to have a couple very good options down here in the South-West for venues that held the sort of carp I like to angle for. The unique Argal Reservoir down in Cornwall: a 69-acre deep, uninviting pit, festooned with flooded field boundary walls and old tree stumps. This water contained some fantastic, old scaly history fish, and they were in their prime when I fished there between 2006 and 2008. These were the fish that originally resided in the historic College Reservoir. Also, we had The Park Lake which had some very old, long dark special commons, which were also in their prime during the time I fished there. So yes, I’ve done a bit down here, but it doesn’t take long to run out of options when you have an acquired taste for the type of carp you like to fish for!”

When did you first decide to take the twins fishing?
“That was back in 2013. Anyone who has had children will know just how demanding it is in the early years, especially with twins, and I was absolutely gagging to get the rods out after a few years of focusing on being the best father I could be. The trouble was that my missus worked night shifts, so I was hardly fair to ask her to watch the kids for a day, after a night shift, whilst I went and got the rods out! I needed my fishing fix, but couldn’t get the time. So I considered the possibility of taking the girls with me, it was going to be a tall order as they were only three, and I doubted that I’d be able to fish with any real conviction whatsoever, but I felt it was worth a go. Well, we had an absolute blast on that first trip, it was brilliant! Way better than I thought it would be. Yes, it was very demanding, but it was more than worth it. It’s progressed from there in a big way, and even now, I still find it hard to believe what I’m seeing, when the girls are doing what they do!”

What is it that makes a carp appealing you to you enough to make you want to angle for it?
“So many factors mate! The primary ones for me being age, history and appearance I guess. The more I know about the fish I’m angling for, the bigger the buzz if I’m lucky enough to catch it. The Yateley fish for example. I’d read about those carp when I was still at school as a teenager! I used to read Carp-Talk every week and be nothing short of inspired by the anglers of that day and age. Of course the carp they caught, such as the Wraysbury originals, the Longfield fish, Savay’s incredible stock, and probably the ones that had the most impact on me as a youngster, the Yateley originals, became engrained on my mind. They were the pinnacle, the best of the best, and I wasn’t sure I would ever be worthy of angling for such creatures.

“When I’m angling for a carp that has been on this planet longer than I have, when I know of the trials and tribulations it has been through, when I’ve read about its cunning, and how it has avoided capture to some of the best anglers the country has ever produced… it all builds to create a huge respect for t, which of course, all adds to the buzz if I get lucky enough to catch it.”

In the past you have been happy to travel to lakes such as The Car Park, has that changed now the twins enjoy fishing so much?
“No it hasn’t mate. I still travel for my fishing. I’m very fortunate to be a member of a couple of special non-publicity waters that are a two and a half hour drive from my house, and I often travel similar distances for the socials that I organise. The trouble I find these days is that I can rarely get a night, let alone two nights, which, being a family man, is really what’s needed to justify travelling those kind of distances. It’s always been that way though, my first season on Yateley’s Car Park for example only consisted of seven weekends, and the second season just five, so although it does do my head in sometimes, not being able to fish ‘seriously’ very often, it is something that I’m reluctantly used to.”

Do you get to go out fishing for yourself often?
“In a word: no! Ha, ha. Well… not nearly as much as I’d like to anyway. On average about seven or eight trips a year are spent angling for me if you like. Half of these are socials, so, although they are spent on some top quality venues, it’s always about the social first and foremost, so you could say I’m not exactly 100% on it! I have pretty much run out of local options for my own fishing, so if I want to fish for myself, I need a couple of nights, which is often very hard to come by.”

Friends always surround you and everyone warms to you from the off. You host a few socials, is this an important side of angling to you?
“That’s very kind of you mate! Well, I always thought it was a real shame that I lost touch with good friends when either they, or I, moved onto pastures new. I was talking about this to my best mate Phil years ago, and he suggested I start a Facebook group so that we could all stay in touch that way. To cut a long story short, this group really has turned into something special now. It’s a brilliant collection of anglers, old (although there are a couple in denial! Lol) and young, that share the same ethos for their angling, and when we all get together, wherever that may be, at whatever time of year, we really do have some special times. Many of us don’t see each other for years at a time because we live so far away from each other. Often we celebrate a friend’s recent special capture, or great season and so on, there is always a big buzz just to be there. We sort an obscene amount of meat through a butcher friend, get a big barbecue, plenty of drinks and even sometimes decks and a sound system, and we just let go for a few days. They are always so memorable, and yes, they have definitely become an important side of angling for me.”

As you’ve just said, you don’t have much time in the way of fishing in general, so is prep important to you?
“Ah man, the prep… I’m forever up until the early hours in my garage sorting everything out for a trip! Yes mate, preparation is hugely important to me. Working long hours, five days a week, in a demanding job means I really want to make the fishing time count as much as possible for me and the girls. We have to get to the venue prepared as best as we can possibly be. Rigs ready, baits on the Hairs, bait prepped, conditions considered… you know the score, it’s a seemingly endless list.

“You know, the funny thing is, that it requires just as much prep taking the girls fishing as it does the fishing itself! Breakfast laid out ready for a quick munch, their clothes all ready, sandwiches or pasta sorted for lunch, jam sandwiches for the girls on the way home, drinks, snacks, spare clothes, colouring books… I could go on! It’s always worth it though. One thing’s for sure, I’ve never found myself over prepared, and I know I’ve caught more fish over the years by putting in those long hours of preparation in the garage.”

Are you a perfectionist, in the way that everything has to be absolutely bang-on?
“Yes mate, to the point where I often do my own head in! Again, it’s a result of fishing on limited time. But if there is one thing that has taught me to be this way, it is margin fishing on clear water venues. Fishing spots in the edge where you can see how the fish are reacting to the scenario you’ve created. It is incredible the amount of lessons there are to be learned from doing this.

“I believe the fish are at their most cautious when feeding in the edge. That’s not saying they are super intelligent, the behaviour I’m on about, I’m sure, is based on instinct. When they are close to the bank, and therefore us, they seem to be aware that they are at their most vulnerable, and as a result, everything is often scrutinised. Any sign of potential danger, or suspicion of something being unusual, or out of place, will not normally be tolerated. Experience has taught me that camouflage is very important, even on the easier venues. Hooklinks, leads, leaders, even beads are chosen specifically for the spot, and I paint my hooks, swivels, and the wire loop of my leads with paint that I buy from a modelling shop. Sad I know! But without a doubt, it has caught me bonus fish doing this.

“Of course, the curse of being a perfectionist means that I have to stick to this principle for my fishing out in the pond too. The casts, hitting the clips and the drops all have to be the ones that make me mutter, “That’s a bite”. One of the reasons I really like edge fishing is that I can get it all set exactly as I want, down to the very last detail. Line angles, hookbait placement, pressing the leader into the substrate, coating the leads in clay, the way I can lay out the freebies so that they come in on the right angles without sussing the trap, there are too many factors to run through here, but going to these lengths always does me proud.

“To sum it up, I play the percentages game.”

A lot of anglers jump from one bait company to another, but you have never searched for the attention that comes with it all, and remained loyal. Do you think using a good bait is key in catching big carp?
“I think the trick is to keep out of the spotlight mate, that way no-one gives a monkeys what bait you’re using!

“To be perfectly honest with you, I can’t help but think a lot of perspective has been lost in carp fishing these days. I go fishing because I absolutely love it. It’s an addiction that I honestly can’t control, and I have no desire to try and control it either. It’s a pastime that is very special to me personally, I actually feel that I owe it a lot.

“To explain it further, it’s the purest form of my angling that really does it for me. When I arrive on those early mornings, the sun breaching the horizon, with mist dancing on the surface, when I’m becoming part of the glorious British countryside, blending into my surroundings, appreciating that I am a guest, not a VIP, leaving nothing but footprints… that’s what it’s all about for me. Therefore the thought of basing my angling around pleasing a bait company, or a tackle company for that matter, seems utterly ridiculous to me. The thought of me wearing fishing clothes with garish company logos plastered all over them makes me wince! Equally, the thought of making a concerted effort to up my ‘profile’ or push products to embarrassing levels on social media, just seems so far removed from the reasons that I go angling. I know it’s a very old fashioned view in modern times, and I’m not criticising others, but doing it this way keeps it meaningful for me personally. Angling provides so many positives, so many great life skills, such good friendships, such huge feelings of achievement and elation, such a great social scene, and so on. To me, commercialism counteracts all of these positives, it detracts from what makes it special.

“I sourced my bait from a chap that I consider a good friend for 15 years. I knew I was using a great bait, and I had confidence applying it. It’s as simple as that. When Sticky approached me, I initially said thanks very much, but no thanks. To be honest, I really didn’t think I was the type of person that they wanted on board! I’m never going to be one for punishing the life out of catch reports in magazines, or pushing products on social media, so therefore, in theory, I’m not exactly sponsored angler material. They then came back to me with an offer that, as a family man first and foremost, financially, I’d have been silly not to consider it. They also told me there would be no pressure with regards to commitments. I deliberated on it for weeks. I actually gave it more thought than many more important things in my life! I had already used the pellets and liquids for a number of years and had a whole lot of confidence in those, and I knew the boilies were very high quality too. So I went for it. Having made the move, I now realise that I’m in very good company using their products, and I couldn’t be happier with how it has panned out.

“Without a doubt a good bait is key in catching big carp. It’s just not up for debate is it? I think all experienced anglers know that nutritional recognition is no myth. Sure, you’ll catch carp on low quality baits, but your results will soon tail off. To be consistent, and ultimately confident in my angling I have to use a top end bait. It’s also very important to me that I feed the carp something which really does them good. Morally, I have to give them something that I know will benefit their health. It keeps me, the carp, and the Gods of carp happy, which keeps those bites coming!”

Where are you doing your own fishing at the moment?
“Well, I’ve just done two nights on the fantastic Ashmead, again that was primarily a social event, but I got some fishing in. Those hoofing great carp in there love a bit of bait, and I managed to get a lovely margin spot ticking over. I had three big commons visiting the spot and feeding, and I also had the beast that is Single Scale, the epic common ‘JC’, and the beautiful fully scaled that is ‘Patch’ cruising the area. Sadly I ran out of time before the bite came, but what a buzz that was! Other than that it’s been on a couple of non-publicity waters mate. And as I’m sure you can gather, I can’t really elaborate much on those!”

I do enjoy playing around with my photograph

If you could be allocated two nights a week to your own fishing and could pick anywhere to go and fish now, where would it be?
“Good question! Blimey that’s a hard one to answer. I’d have to say venues such as my syndicate, Frampton, Savay, Ashmead, Stoneacres and Burghfield would be right up there. Also Yateley’s Match Lake for those few remaining special ones, and Yateley Split Lake for those Redmire commons. But that’s a distant dream I’m afraid, I’ll have to keep trying to make it happen on much more limited time.”

Was your time on The Car Park Lake as you expected it to be?
“I knew it would be an immense experience, but it was so much more besides. I took that ticket because I wanted to fish that historic lake, and to fish for those carp that I had read so many inspiring stories about. It would have been bloody cheeky of me to expect to catch such cute old carp on just a few weekends a season! I took it to immerse myself in carp angling history, with an outside chance of achieving the ‘unachievable’. I’m so glad I did, because the people I met, the times I had, and the sights I saw, will live with me for the rest of my days. The social scene up there was absolutely first class, I met and fished alongside some real top lads. Besides that, I got to see, and pit my wits against fish that I considered my Everest. I got to see good friends catch the Baby Orange and The Big Orange, and the buzz of seeing them in the flesh was just immense. Helping out with the fish care, and just generally being a part of a moment that meant so much to the captor was very special indeed. I was also fortunate enough to have my own magical moment in time with the ‘unachievable’.

“One summer’s morning, whilst cooking my breakfast, my left-hander signalled a bite from the number one target, Arfur. It’s a story in itself, but to be cradling that amazing old carp, whilst all around me smiled, and soaked up the moment, was just on another level to anything I’ve ever experienced. I struggle to describe the feeling to be honest, absolutely mind-blowing doesn’t come close.”

You are in to your photography, has this always been the case?
“To be perfectly honest with you, I’m no photography expert. In fact I’m a keen amateur at best. But I think I know what makes a good shot. The composition of a shot is something I think I have an eye for. A long time ago I felt that the fish I was catching really deserved to be captured through the lense to a high quality. So I began to take time to consider the positioning, framing and lighting of a shot, I started to use half-decent equipment, and I’ve managed to capture some photographs that I’m pleased with over the years. I find all those factors mentioned above are personal though. I’ll find myself laying the mat in a shady dark corner with a decent background, and those who know more about their photography will be telling me the light is crap, and dragging me out into the sunlight! I like a shot to show the subjects being a part of their surroundings, blending in, enjoying the moment, caring for their adversary’s, and their surroundings if you like.”

What have been your angling highlights?
“Blimey, I bet many anglers will agree, it’s hard to pick just a few! Standing in the surf on a Cornish beach at 2am with my Dad, touch ledgering peeler crab baits for big bass; sneaking onto the pontoons of a local harbour at 4am and fishing for big mullet before we got thrown off; walking the Hampshire Avon looking for big barbel, trotting for roach and grayling on the Itchen; fishing for barbel, chub, and pike with Bob James on the Wye; fishing for ray, bull huss and plaice from my friend’s little boat; catching some very special old carp from the big Cornish reservoir; catching my first real target fish from the park lake, which was a 55-year-old epic common; stalking a big common from the margins of Christchurch on the Linch Hill complex; the whole Yateley episode with me being fortunate enough to catch Arfur, the Big Common and a few others; and I could mention 20 socials that I would definitely class as highlights!

“But I tell you what, literally every trip with my girls is a highlight. Watching them take to fishing with a 6ft length of bamboo and a float in the early days, to seeing them catch their first twenty on free-lined bread flake, to hearing them tell me the names of all the species of birds and other wildlife around the venues, to seeing them just absolutely loving being outdoors, telling me how beautiful the scenery is, having barbecues at sunset, getting filthy dirty, soaking wet and stinking of fish slime, and just loving it all! That really does make me a happy man these days.”

We have lots of fun

Wonderful. Finally then, from that list, I take it you enjoy fishing for other species besides just carp?
“Oh I love fishing for other species as well as carp. Carp have the main hold on me, because I still find them so fascinating. Even in this day and age we are far from knowing it all, and that’s how I’d like it to stay. But I really do enjoy my sea fishing, that’s one thing we are quite fortunate to have down here in the South-West. All sorts of species and methods are there to be tried.

“Besides that, I really do enjoy trotting a float for roach or grayling. There is something unique about fishing a river with a centrepin; I use my Dad’s old swallow pin. Reading a river, discovering the areas, glides, eddies and fast runs that your target species will be holding up in, and then choosing the right approach to present a bait to them in a natural way, is an art form in itself, and just like when I’m targeting big carp, when you get it right, and the results come, it’s an awesome feeling.

“I also really enjoy my pike and perch fishing in the winter. I think that fishing for other species has helped my carp angling massively, and can’t recommend it enough to anyone reading this.”