A Northern Perspective

Travelling long distances to fish some of the busiest circuit waters in the country, on what many would regard as limited time, doesn’t sound ideal. How do you approach this kind of angling situation, and how do you maintain consistent results?
“Where I’m from, in Crewe, we’re not blessed with big carp. For many lads from the North West, I think it’s fair to say that heading south is seen as the holy grail in carp fishing. There’s something about travelling south to put your skills to the test against some of the most pressured fish in the country that is massively exciting. What is the ideal situation? Big carp on your doorstep, less travel, etc.? That would be great, but unfortunately we don’t live in an ideal world—certainly not in Crewe, that’s for sure! In this situation, every trip has to be worthwhile, given the time each one takes, the cost involved and the traffic… sometimes it feels like a right mission! This doesn’t always mean, though, that I adopt a catch-at-all-costs approach. As long as I take something away each time in the form of knowledge, friendships, memories, and at best, a fish under my belt, then it’s more than worth it.

“For me, to be consistent in any walk of life, you need to be confident and have trust in yourself. I call on past experiences and trust my approach, and when times are hard, I recall past trips and put faith in the reliability of my kit. All these things help me catch fish on any given session. Maintaining consistency isn’t a fluke, in my opinion; it comes down to having the will to do the extra things, like taking more care, and doing the basics well.

“Carp are masters of their environment. Right from the off, they have the upper hand, so taking care in my fishing is a huge priority. Opportunities present themselves all the time, and I believe that being patient and not rushing into things have caught me many bonus fish when things have become tricky. Again, I’ve learned from my previous experiences where I may have rushed into a situation and completely messed everything up.”  

Considering you’re not blessed with many big carp, the North West certainly seems to be a hot bed of angling talent. Why is that do you think?
“The North West has certainly produced some exceptional anglers; it’s our drive and determination to do well, and that also goes for life in general. I think most across the region, especially the area I’m from, which is very much working class, would agree that should anyone want anything out of life, then they have to graft for it. I believe that reflects in the angling of those who have done well after venturing south. Carrying these core values to do better is 100 per cent something people from the North West use in their daily life. They also have talent and are willing to travel, week in, week out, to get consistent results. I don’t necessarily believe that the lads from the region are any better than the successful lads from the South of England. Maybe it’s just a case that because the pool of anglers from the North West who’ve been successful and have done great things, is quite small by comparison, and so they stand out a little more.

“I think a lot of people recognise the sacrifices it takes to be successful when choosing to travel, too. But it’s not just about the travel and the money. It’s also about not being able to do things that the local lads do, like pre-baiting or seeing things change on a daily basis, and I think that’s why it might seem as though the lads from my neck of the woods put in that extra bit of effort when they do get the chance.

“It’s quite a tricky question to answer without me coming across as being really biased, but with an abundance of venues and large numbers of big fish on their doorstep, it’s little wonder you rarely hear of lads from the South travelling north to catch fish!” 

So at what point did you first start venturing south? 
“My very first trip was in the early 2000s, to Hardwick Lake and Smiths Pool on the Linear complex. I’d been inspired by a DVD, actually, with Steve Renyard and Ian Poole fishing Wellington—Welly Whackers, I believe it was called. I had it constantly on repeat, and hoped that one day I’d be able to travel down and have a go for the same fish. When it did happen it was more like a holiday. My dad didn’t have a van at the time, so he’d hire one. My two closest mates would stay at mine the night before and we’d hit the road early the next morning. We didn’t have a clue back then, and turned up armed with kilos of the old Richworth KG1 from the Bait & Feed Co. We launched our rods anywhere, just hoping for the best. We hoped to repeat the success of the DVD, but let’s be honest, that was never going to happen! [laughs]

“I had no experience of fishing clear gravel pits, all my local venues being silty meres. At that age, I knew very little about spot fishing on gravel. I read the magazines on a weekly basis, but it was still all completely new to me. Only in more recent times have I come to build on that knowledge. That was after going through a prolonged rough patch in my life, with gambling being my priority rather than fishing throughout that period, a period which lasted more than 10 years! Not only do I have huge personal regrets from that part of my life, but fishing-wise I felt like I’d been robbed of a huge personal passion, by an addiction that’s very misunderstood.”

You’re keen to raise awareness about gambling addiction; would you like to explain a little more?
“Yes, I’m very much at peace with my own story, so I have no issue speaking about it. Personally, I feel that it’s the forgotten addiction. With drugs and alcohol both being more impairing, physically, people can see the affect they have on the addict. The world of gambling, however, can be very silent and secretive, due to the shame it brings. Gambling is a very demanding and impulsive addiction, one that demands more than just having a daily bet. 

“For me—and this may sound really strange—it was never about winning money. It was that all-or-nothing high, and 99.9 per cent of the time, it was nothing! It’s a really complex and life-changing addiction. Your whole life revolves around that next high, and some of the depths I descended to to get that high were disgusting, and truly shocking. I’m keen to never forget those experiences, though, because I believe those dark times also serve as a reminder of how far I’ve come. Now, I can say that I’ve well and truly come out the other side, and I can’t express how happy I am just to lead a normal life again. For anyone reading this who has an addiction, a passion or a hobby, or interests in life can honestly provide a way out.

“Fishing has grown massively since those early days. I believe there’s a place in the industry for people suffering from an addiction but who also have a keen interest in fishing. The help is there for anyone with mental health issues, or an addiction, and I would like to play my part in bringing that into fishing.”

You mentioned that your gambling lasted for more than 10 years; what changed?
“From a personal point of view, I had gone through so much, and enough was enough. I’m a dad and I’d ruined Christmases and birthdays, and yet none of this was sufficient to swing me back round. I was just so selfish. My life consisted of me, and it revolved around how I would get that next high. I’ve always had a good job, and to this day I continue to work at the same place and with the same wage, so it was never about my level of earnings and the need for more money; it was literally just me living with an addiction.

“Fishing aside, it was the moment of someone else’s downfall that helped change everything, the person I treasure the most: my mum. She had become really poorly, and following a conversation I had with her at the time, I just knew I had to try and sort my life out. It’s pretty sad that it took something so bad for me to realise that life is short, but that’s how it went.

“On the fishing front, it was really all down to Scott Lloyd. He encouraged me a lot. He told me stories of how he’d caught certain carp, or just recounted tales of fishing in general. This all helped too. He’s been a good mate of mine since school. We worked together, so it was pretty hard to get away from his stories. To be honest, at times I listened with envy, just wishing that I might one day be able to afford some kit, and start going again. I have to say, he’s gone out of his way to help me at times, and I’m grateful for that.

“I started a savings account. It was torture at first as I’d never saved anything in my life. I got there in the end, though, and I got my kit. As soon as I had everything I needed, Scott kept his word and took me fishing. It had been a long time since I’d last fished, obviously, and I wanted to be left alone to do my own thing. Scott totally respected this, and honestly, it was like I had never stopped. It was genuinely such a buzz to be back. It was just so surreal, considering how I’d been not so long before, to now be sitting on my own bed, behind my new rods, fishing. That’s why I value fishing totally differently now. It’s not just a hobby, or even a passion, it’s much more. It gives me perspective, and makes me focus on wanting to win for me, not for an addiction. I feel that it’s also one of the reasons I’ve been successful after venturing south. I put everything into it, like I used to with gambling, and for the biggest rewards. Now, though, I’m searching for a high that doesn’t harm the people I love, and that’s priceless.”  

Major respect to you for sharing. Hopefully, others in a similar position who read this will realise that they can change their own situation for the better. Did you catch anything on that first trip back?
“Yes, 100 per cent. You can plummet to the deepest depths of despair, but believe me, there’s always a way out. Sharing my story isn’t about me. Genuinely, hand on heart, I can’t tell you how much other people’s encouragement can help, even if someone feels at their worst. So hopefully, someone reading this can take something from it and better their own situation. 

“On the fishing front, the fire was well and truly lit. I was just so buzzed to go. I didn’t go back to it the easy way either, which was also very rewarding. My first trip was a huge learning curve. Those Christchurch fish can be really cute at times, and they’ve read the textbook a million times. I just leaned on all the stuff I used to do, but fished in a much more refined way. I think it was around the third trip when I finally managed to get amongst them. “Scott had gone over to Stoneacres and I jumped on ‘Church’. Struggling to find a swim, I had to slot in an unfancied area and join the mad circus of placing a bucket to get a swim for the following day. That trip, I managed two fish. I had a 32lb common and a 34lb mirror. I’d seen big fish before when fishing Shropshire way, but these carp were in a different class. I had never experienced so many people popping into your swim whilst pictures were being taken. I was nervous just picking them up. It was such a mad morning, but not too different to what the regular lads see on a day-to-day basis. I didn’t want to leave, but at the same time, I wanted to go and tell my family everything. That particular day will always be a real highlight for me, for as long as I fish.” 

Mega! You say your approach was more refined, so during your absence, how much had changed?
“I’m still relatively young, by the way. [laughs] From the days when I’d spend every weekend or term break by a lake or river, I’d say it had changed massively. Not only has social media sculpted fishing over recent years, terminal tackle has advanced, as has bait and all the kit. I would say there’s a huge difference compared to what I was used to. There wasn’t a large array of companies around then as there is now. Personally, for someone new coming into the sport, I think it must be a headbanger these days; there’s just so much on offer. 

“As I got back into it, the things I used to use were still available, so I just went back to what I knew, only to realise quickly that, for a start, fishing crystal-clear waters was massively different to anything I’d experienced previously. How I went about my fishing would have to change, and I had to make that a priority. I used to use tubing, mono and lead clips, and nothing but. Fluorocarbon leaders were new to me, but as I’ve already mentioned, that’s more of a geographical difference, and not to do with time, as such. Braid was something I’d never really used in my fishing back then, and I’d not had to consider rig concealment a great deal when fishing those coloured waters up my way. 

“It’s all changed 100 per cent for the better in my opinion, though. Fish care has come to the fore much more, there’s equipment for every fishing scenario, and there isn’t a tackle shop that doesn’t sell quality bait. Again, there’s so much on offer, and I think fishing has benefited from that hugely. Angling in general is just booming in this country, and I’m loving being a part of that!” 

That brace must’ve cemented the fact that you had made all the right refinements. I bet you were keen to get back down…
“I was, yes! After coming back into it and going on a venue that’s notoriously pressured, those fish gave me huge confidence that I could catch them, and after that trip, I gave myself goals, personal targets in my head. These weren’t just about how many carp I could catch, but other things as well. It was like a tick list.

“I started to consider things, like weather systems that the carp preferred. I’d map out as many swims as I could, gathering as much information as possible to help me on any given trip. All this was a huge help. My success rate improved and I went from strength to strength, each time I was able to get down.

“There are a few reasons why I believe I clicked with Church, things I’ve mentioned in previous questions. But I felt almost from the start that I had to work harder than everyone else. My time was limited due to me not driving, so I was never in control of my sessions. As such, I would almost treat each trip as though it were my last. I’d be full tilt from turning up to leaving.

“On one trip, I’d set up in an area where there was actually no one fishing. The wind was due to swing that way. It had become apparent from early on that the carp really loved a fresh wind, especially one from the south. I decided to almost waste one of my nights in an effort to get set up and be in pole position for when the wind changed. I waited longer than expected, but eventually they turned up and I managed to catch a few nice ones: a 37lb common, a 38lb mirror and a small one of around 20lb.

“That night, I checked the weather app. The wind was due to change in the early hours, and even though I had just had a couple nice ones, I packed up and headed for the area where a fresh easterly was due to blow. I must admit, I was questioning my sanity as I pushed my kit around the pond. I was thinking Why are you moving when you’ve just had fish? I went with my instincts, though, and someone then jumped straight in the swim I’d just left… even though it was gone midnight! As I set up in the new area, my confidence grew. By morning I’d had another mid-thirty mirror, and the area I had left hadn’t done a carp across all the swims! I now make decisions such as this and do the extra things wherever I go.” 

Those Linch Hill carp are something else. Were there any particular fish on your wish list, and if so, how did you go about targeting them on such a busy circuit water?
“Yes, there were loads that I sort of bookmarked, and during my time on there, I’ve been able to put a good number of them in the album. My first notable capture was a fish called the Perch, which was also my first forty from Christchurch. It’s an old carp with plenty of history, one of the originals from way back, probably around the time I was just starting out. Lots of fish caught my eye, ones that would hang around the mid-thirty mark but wouldn’t get caught as regularly as the others, or wouldn’t really be spoken about too much due to the water having so many named big fish. I’ve been lucky enough to catch a lot of the bigger ones—commons, linears and scaly mirrors, all up to and above the forty-mark. One of the real buzzes about Christchurch is that although it’s relatively small in size, fish do go on the missing list and then just show up years later. Generally, most of them get caught once, twice maybe more each season, but there are carp that go uncaught for years. It just shows how smart those fish really are.

“In terms of catching the ones I wanted, I noticed very quickly that a good majority of the anglers would fish very similarly—even when it was day ticket. You would notice the same carp getting caught, and in my opinion, if you fish the same, you catch the same. My approach would need to be different, therefore, if I wanted to catch the rarer ones.

“One of my first approaches was to fish two rods on the gravel and one off the side. I would bait the two on the gravel, and fish the one off the side as a single—or at least I’d try to, anyway. [laughs] It soon became apparent that I was on the right tracks for the carp I wanted to catch, as the rod off the bait would almost always be the one to do the better fish. I would still catch from the gravel, but it would be the single off the side that would trip up the better ones. Targeting individual fish, though, is actually quite a task, unless you see them in the edge and can just drop on them. Sure, you can go by past captures and fish the appropriate zones with certain baits, perhaps, and you might be successful, but I just decided that fishing spots differently might be the key, and that proved to be what worked.”

You now have an impressive tally of Church captures, so you’re surely at a point where you’re considering your options. What’s next on the agenda?
“I’m definitely at that point, yes. There are still some carp I would dearly love to add to the album, one in particular, but you can’t catch them all. This is my last year on Christchurch. My ticket’s up in April and I have plans for next year which I’m excited about. I don’t think I’d ever give up my ticket, purely because of my love for the place, but for the next few years I’m going to do some other things.

“Stoneacres would be a natural progression if I was to continue on Linch, but I can’t justify the time that lake demands to fish it well, what with work and a busy family life. There are some incredible carp in that place and I would definitely love to give it a go at some point, but family and work have to take priority. I’ve fished Willow and have had some good results, but for the most part it’s been Christchurch. It’s given me a good platform ahead of moving elsewhere, and I’ve been successful.

“I have my name down for a few venues for the future, and some may take years to come around. That’s out of my control, obviously, so for now I’ll forget about them and focus on what’s already sorted. I now feel that I’m in a good position, and I’m confident enough to test myself anywhere, should the opportunity arise, so it’s just about taking what I’ve learnt over the last few years and applying myself. I’m excited to see where the next few years take me.”