Firstly, let me start by congratulating Simon for catching this awesome common. It still blows me away fish of this magnitude are being caught now from UK waters on a fairly regular basis. A world away from how things were when I was a boy starting out on my carp quest, some 40 odd years ago! But I guess everything has to move with the times… even carp.

Over the years of travelling back and forth from Oz to the UK I’ve been fortunate enough to get fishing on some cracking UK waters. Though most of them latterly have been day ticket venues, none of them had much in the way of big fish stock. With mid-twenties being the main stamp, and the odd thirty in the mix to keep you keen. Regretably, with time always short when visiting the homeland, I couldn’t spend the entirety it of chasing just one specimen lump. Which was the case when I had a temporary ticket for The Brook; though spending a solid six weeks on the water, as tempting as it was, wouldn’t have gone down to well with the family I supposed to be visiting! Besides, correct me if I’m wrong, but I think Two Tone was coming out as a mid-forty back in 1995 when my ticket was valid? In hindsight maybe I should’ve had a go, as little did I know then that it was going to become a British record?

That’s about as close as I’ve come to a big fish water in Britain; hopefully that’ll be something that changes in the future? Though my goals on home soil here in Oz are to ultimately land a previously uncaught total wild whacker, which I reckon would be hard to top! An Oz 50lb+ would be truly mind boggling!!! Though, realistically I’d be content with one quite a bit smaller. Anyhoo, here is Simon with Bill from Acton Burnell’s bottom lake. It’s a really inspiring clip he’s uploaded, with Steve Briggs as camerman…. quality!

Happy hippo hunting

Niblet

Technorati Tags: Acton Burnell, Acton Burnell's Bill, Simon Crow

I’m a huge fan of Danny Fairbrass; his enthusiasm for the sport is undeniably infectious, making him a truly enjoyable character to watch. I’m very happy for him to have nailed the big ‘un from Gigantica, it’s a magnificent looking fish from an equally awesome looking water, well done mate! I dunno what is about Mainline Cell, but I for one am sold on it, having bagged four PB’s on it since I first tried it a year ago. I’d love to know what it is about the bait that gets the carp going on it so hard???

Last year in the UK while fishing a Kent lake I saw first hand some amazing results from its application. Not only from my own PB’s but from my brothers two PB fish as well. In addition to this I witnessed the capture of half a dozen 30lb+ falling to Cell. The clincher was when I fished next to a bloke and his young son in the adjacent swim. Over a 24hr period they landed twenty-two fish on Cell between them, six of which were over twenty, while I boxed on like a proper numpty blanking on a different bait. By the second day of my 48hr sesh I’d had enough, I reeled in and legged it up to the shop and bought a kilo bag of Cell boilies. Shortly after changing baits I had four runs, which turned a completely crap session right around!

Anyhoo, without dribbling on about my meagre accomplishments I’ll let you see the YouTube clip for yourself…

Happy hippo hunting

Niblet

Technorati Tags: Danny Fairbrass, Gigantica, The Giant

I’ve featured underwater carp footage from the UK, Italy and even Russia, but it pleases me immensly to be able to post some film shot on my home soil. As well as it being filmed in a lake I’m familiar with, and have actually fished. I know it’s early days with this project from OzCarpCam, and I can appreciate the difficulty in filming on a massive water like this. Canberra’s man made Lake Burley Griffen is something like 36km in circumference I believe, its a huge water to take on as an angler or underwater photographer.

I, like many other Oz carpers no doubt will be watching the progression of his filming very closely. It’s renowned for being a prolific pastie water, its chocker’s with Dustbuster sized commons. But I’m convinced there are some monsters lurking out in its depths, though, I’m still waiting for someone to post a photo or YouTube clip of one, to finally dispell any doubts as to the potential of this lake.

Three mates and I flew over in 1994 for a ten-day session on the lake, which proved to be a lot harder than any of us had imagined. Access to the lake is not that easy, if you want to get away from seething masses of joggers, dog walkers, mad old ladies feeding ducks, cyclists and public spirited citizens offering an abundance of free advice! Once at the waters edge you then have to contend with the gazillions of dopey black swans, canoes, yachts and other watercraft, not to mention wading through a plethora of pasties first in order to catch a mere double!

However, if some hard evidence were to surface of say a 50lb+ LBG carp being captured, I wouldn’t be that surprised. During our short day we all got smashed up more than once, on unstoppable runs. This could be attributed to big Murray cod picking up our baits, I really don’t know? But I’d like to think these occurrences were not all due to takes from cod? Hopefully, future filming underwater may reveal some of the lakes secrets???

Happy hippo hunting

Niblet

Technorati Tags: Aussie Underwater Carp Footage, Australian Carp Filmed Underwater, Underwater Carp Fishing In Australia

Yet more self indulgence I know, but its not everyday you get to fish with your brother, when we live on opposite sides of the globe. What was even more remarkable was that we both upped our UK PB’s for a common and a mirror on a water that neither of us had fished before. So we were understandably pretty chuffed about it. I really don’t know when I’ll make it back to the UK, so its nice to reflect on what happened when were last together on the rods.

I have previously written posts about these sessions, before, and after our trip to France, so there’s no need to repeat myself. Finally sorting out and editing the footage is something I’ve only managed to motivate myself to do this week, after many other distractions. I hope you enjoy watching our antics on the bank?

I really hope I'll get to fish this swim again one day???

Happy hippo hunting

Niblet

Technorati Tags: Carp near Canterbury, Carping in the UK, Cottington Lakes, Kent Carp Venues, Kent Carping

Being a bit of a Numpty and having taken a year to work out how to get some HD video footage from a memory stick to my iMovie projects, I have finally sussed it out! Here is a reflection of what my mate Ben and I were doing this time last year, as we both went into overdrive for the lead up to the 2010 World Carp Classic in France.

Being in the UK during some nice weather and catching a few nice kippers, both before and after our French flop was something I’ll never forget. Anyway, without dribbling on too long here is the first video from the cutting room floor of our time in the heart of my home county…..

Happy hippo hunting

Niblet

Technorati Tags: CC Moore, CC Moore AUS, World Carp Classic, World Carp Classic 2010

~ A Blue Plaque Has Been Unveiled At His Birthplace ~

I’ve previously made tribute to Dick Walker (“Richard Walker Tribute” refers), so, understandably I’m very pleased to hear that this honour has been bestowed upon him. Though I do feel if any sportsman was deserved of a knighthood, it was Dick. Many celebrities who have contributed far less in their careers have been knighted due to their standing in the media, and little else.

Walker's birthplace at 32 Fishponds Lane in Hitchin

The genius that was Biggleswade angling legend Dick Walker has been officially recognised in the form of a prestigious blue plaque on the house in which he was born on May 29, 1918.

The inscription on the plaque on No.32 Fishponds Road in Hitchin reads: ‘Richard Stuart Walker, Celebrated Angler, Author, Journalist, Broadcaster was born here.’

Universally acknowledged as the greatest angler and angling writer of all times, Dick Walker lived by the river in Ivel Gardens, Biggleswade from 1978 until his death in 1985. Walker’s Pitch, the fishing tackle shop in Biggleswade High Street, was named in his honour by owner Simon Carr.

Family and fishing friends attended a special unveiling ceremony at which Dick’s son Simon, a keen local historian, paid thanks to the support of the Hitchin Historical Society and former Hitchin resident Ben Wiseman, who first suggested the commemorative plaque.

Dick’s widow, Pat Marston Walker (who still lives in Ivel Gardens), said: “It’s a very proud day for all of the Walker family and I’m sure that anglers all over the country will be pleased to hear that his memory will live on through this blue plaque.”

Copies of Dick’s latest book, Be My Guest, which celebrates the silver anniversary of his untimely death, are still available at Walker’s Pitch.

Original article curtesy of: www.biggleswadetoday.co.uk

Happy hippo hunting

Niblet

Technorati Tags: Angling Legend Dick Walker, Dick Walker, Richard Walker

~ How Far Away Are GM Carp ? ~

I’m all for embrasing technologogy when it is for the betterment of mankind, such as certain GM crops to help feed our ever increasing population. But I, like many other’s, have some concerns about altering genetics when it comes to animals. This is an interesting article about the genetically engineered AquAdvantage salmon:

http://tinyurl.com/3gqkcnt

According to this article GM salmon are not far away from our dinner plate, once this legislation has been approved; which no doubt it will be… if it hasn’t been already? Some questions that come to my mind from all this are: “what other species with we see this happen to? Will this gene-altering extend to recreational species? And most of all, what is the likelihood, if any, of fish genes mutating?” They say in this article that the salmon stop growing when they’ve reached maturity… will this always be the case I wonder?

If we see in the future GM sportfish, such as carp being introduced into carp fisheries, will they be accepted by the hard-core carpers? Importing foreign carp in to British waterways is still controversial, despite being an accepted practice for many years by fishery owners to boost stock and breed bigger, faster growing specimens to meet current angling demands.

Imagine a super-sized model of this freshwater man eater!!!

It is going to be very interesting to see if we’ll end up catching gene-altered carp in our home waters one day? From my own fishing exploits I’ve seen some amazing deformity’s and hybridization of fish. Once other genes are introduced into the equation, what will some of the possible outcomes be?

As a small kid I vividly remember an episode, (don’t laugh) of Thunderbirds. Where some scientists had developed a growth hormone, which was spilt into a sink, eventually ending up up in a Florida swamp full of aligators. The aligators then miracuously grew into Godzilla sized giants, who terrorised the scientists, which ultimately led them to call for assistance from International Rescue. Even back then, over forty years ago, the fanciful prospect of artificially growing monster creatures had been conceived. Now it seems we are stepping a little closer to the reality of some gene-tweaked monster freshwater fish!

Check out the gnashers on this Goliath Tiger Fish, one of the worlds most dangerous bitey freshwater inhabitants, next to crocodiles and aligators. I wouldn’t ever want to see a giant GM version of him!!!

Happy (non-GM) hippo hunting

Niblet

Technorati Tags: Gene-Altered Carp, Gene-Altered Fish, Genetically Modified Carp, Genetically Modified Fish, GM Carp, GM Fish, Goliath Tiger Fish

~ A Bit Of Visibility And Buoyancy? ~

Its been a long while since I’ve found the inclination to add anything to my carp fishing blog. I wish I could say I’ve been on an epic carp trip somewhere, but I haven’t, though in the meantime I have been back to the UK for a couple of weeks. Sadly this was to attend my Mums funeral, so you can understand my lack of enthusiasm to write anything recently. But life goes on, and I’ve got to jump back on the horse and get on with things as best as I can, and what better way to start back than with another great UnderWaterSecrets video.

This is a method I’ve used on and off for a few years, but am still not completely confident in it, having had very mixed results. I have caught fish with this set up, sometimes with flavoured bouyant corn, sometimes with just plain. But these captures haven’t been consistent enough for me to advocate the technique in as many angling situations as some do. Like for instance: Ian ‘Chilly‘ Chillcott does. Small PVA bags of boilies and a single boilie tipped with a piece of fake corn, “to offset the weight of the hook, and give the bait a bit of viz,” says Chilly, is one of his favoured setups for many applications.

I wish I could be as confident with my setups as he is, but fishing down here for predominantly wild carp that have seen neither boilies, or corn before, their reactions to the baits are not always what you’d anticipate. But if you can imagine for a moment starting with a clean slate on an un-fished water, then you’ve really got to tempt them away from their day-to-day natural diet first, haven’t you? Obviously some baits will work instantly, and others will be treated with suspicion at first, necessitating a pre-baiting phase to get them going. Though here in Oz even that approach doesn’t always provide any guarantees either, and can often leave you plagued with pasties in the swim instead of attracting larger specimens, especially if you’ve pre-baited with a lot of particles.

Anyhoo, have a watch of David Edward’s lastest video and see what you think?

If you have any comments/suggestion in relation to the video please log into www.underwatersecrets.co.uk and write them under the respective video clip? Ta

Happy hippo hunting

Niblet

Technorati Tags: David Edwards, Ian 'Chilly' Chillcott, Under Water Secrets, Underwater Carp Video, UnderWaterSecrets