For those of you that remember we had a hugely successful series of interviews we thought it a good idea to grab hold of Kevthefish and get him to answer a few questions
Thanks to Kev for taking the time to answer, and I hope you all like the interview
1. How do you view the modern carp scene and where do you think it is going?
Carp fishing is a full on commercial enterprise, whether you are fishing day tickets or syndicate lakes. Lake owners have invested enormous amounts of cash in stock fish and need to recoup their investment, hence the push for bigger and bigger fish. I am not part of this and prefer my 'Marco Polo' approach. A few years ago I made a decision to fish waters that had low stock density, were out of the way or difficult to fish. It has meant that my chances of catching 30 plus fish have been drastically reduced - but for me, size is not everything. Some of the upper double figure torpedo shaped carp from the rivers would weigh thirty plus if they carried a 'gut bucket' in a pond, but they mean more to me than any stocked 30 or 40 plus fish, simply as some of these fish had never been caught before, giving 60 - 80 yard runs and 15 - 20 minute fights.
Where do I think carping is going? More of the same and more expensive. More lakes being stocked with instant 30's, 40's and 50'sand an ever increasing number of carp fishers that have no knowledge of the history of carping and sadly do not want to know. More anglers frantically trying to make it as 'full time anglers' and a general dumbing down with very little original thought being put into where to fish, what to use and why it's being used. The 'Pub Chuck PVA bag' seems to be the most popular method I see these days, quickly followed by the ' break out the booze and zip up the door' tactic. The internet has played a part in this and will continue to do so with more anglers taking up 'camping carping' and expecting to catch 20 plus fish every time they go out; simply as they know no better.
2. Have man made baits reached their peak? Or do you think there are further advancements to be made? If so how in your opinion, do you see the future of man made baits?
There is so much rubbish written about bait and what constitutes a good food source for carp. I have been making bait since 1978 and came very close to setting up my own bait company until I realised that it would effectively half my fishing time. Anyone can make bait that will be far more nutritionally beneficial than a large number of those being sold at the moment. However, it does mean sitting down, reading up on what a carp actually requires in its diet and how the internal mechanisms inside a carp go about processing that boilie into the most efficient food source.
However, as most carpers just want to go and buy a bag of boilies and cast them out with a reasonable chance of catching a fish, then the present bait market will stay exactly the same for years to come. There may be changes in ingredients and new 'sooper dooper' boilies will be marketed as the next bait revolution, but apart from the enzyme based baits from UCN recently, nothing different has hit the shelves for ages.
3. If you could bring something from fishing's past, into fishing today. What would it be and why?
Simple really. Common decency plus a respect for the environment and other anglers. I am constantly left open mouthed at the attitude of the 'chav carper' that treats carping as nothing more than a camping trip. Mallets, bright lights, noise, getting drunk, dumping in swims rather than use the toilets available … and rubbish. Anglers that leave rubbish should have their hands cut off.
However, to do this we would need to change the whole way that our present day society is structured from a 'me! Me! ME!!' society to one where people care about what they do, those around them and realise that getting everything at once is not necessarily a good thing. The best experiences in life generally have to be worked at and enjoyed after some effort has been made to achieve it.
Will it change for the better? Nope
4. What do you take into consideration when choosing a venue to fish?
Primarily, angler density. If it is rammed out, then I will stay away. I have a lake I am a member of that holds 40 plus fish just down the road, but it leaves me cold with the antics that go on. I would rather make a 250 mile round trip to fish a deserted reservoir than put up with the bait boats and the rush for the two 'going' swims.
5. When did you progress onto river carping? How is it different from lakes? Which do you prefer?
I started river fishing in the 80's when I moved to Somerset. With miles of drains and rivers and hardly and hardly an angler in sight, it was (and is) heaven for me. The other carp anglers that fish here are old school and many have left the stock ponds and like myself, just enjoy the peace and quiet. There are big fish to be taken; a 41 plus came out last week so they are there but you will not see many in the press. Location is the biggest problem, fish you see one day may be miles away the next. 19 blanks are the longest I have gone between fish and then landed 7 in one night.
Whilst I like river fishing, I also fish lakes and enjoy these equally. I am one of those anglers that would get bored if I had to sit on one lake and catch the same fish again and again (how do you manage to keep on doing it on Horseshoe Nick - don't you get bored catching the same fish again and again?)
6. The old carp society was set up by carp anglers for carp anglers. Do you think the present day carp society follows the same ethos?
Times have changed and the Carp Society is nothing more than the 'Horseshoe Angling Club'. It is not a National Angling Body and never will be again
7. Do you think ECHO's cause is worth fighting for and do they have a chance of succeeding?
I found the original founders of Echo really annoying with their attitude that if it is not a carp with 30 years of traceable background then it does not count. The average carp angler does not give a toss about that and just want to catch carp - be they fat pig-like Simmo's or whatever. They have done some good work recently re carp diseases but let's see what happens over the next year or two. I would like to see the major angling companies dig deep into their pockets as if there were no carp, they would have to do proper work again!
8. Otters/Mink, vermin or just a wild animal trying to survive?
The only good otter is a dead otter
9. The internet, do you think it's had a positive or negative effect on carping?
One of the reasons carping has become so popular is due to the internet. This, plus the increased number of magazines has ensured that any newcomer to our sport can be tackled up and fishing with the chance of catching the biggest fish in the lake a couple of days. Whether this is a positive or negative effect depends totally upon the waters that you fish!
10. What are your opinions upon the subject of poaching/guesting? And do you think it is acceptable to "name and shame" upon forums for participating in this practice?
No opinion really. Like all aspects of the law, if you go around breaking society's rules and get caught then you must be prepared to pay the price.
11. Do you think that the availability of equipment and baits today has stifled thought?
Yes
12. What's the best meal you've ever cooked on the bank side?
As I live on Pot Noodles/shortbread biscuits/mars bars and coffee when I am on the bank, I am not really in a position to answer this question……
13. Imports, often talked about with a passion on forums, what's your view on it?
No real view really as we all have the gift of being able to make choices based on what we want. If you don't like imports, don't fish the waters that hold them.
14. What do you think of the rapid rise of the UK record, even though it is the same fish?
Again pretty much meaningless to me.
15. Do you personally think that "simmos" are the way forward in carping stocks?
When I am old and my joints have seized up, I too may have to fish for fat, short lived 'pigs with no legs' carp, and sit beside a muddy hole in the ground, but at the moment can choose what I fish for.
NON FISHING
1. Is allowing the pubs to open 24 hours a day a good or bad idea? Why?
Do not drink so am not bothered.
2. When was the last time you were scared? When was the last time you scared someone else? Who was it?
In my youth I have woken up beside some real ugly bird lying across me and was so scared that I nearly chose to chew my arm off to get away… One of my angling friends is paranoid about rats. He will not fish if he thinks there are any about. A few years ago we were fishing a short session on a new water and he fell asleep in his chair. I crept around and sprinkled 2 bags of broken up crisps and boilies around him, gave it 20 minutes so there were 15 or so rats swarming around his swim and woke him up. Never seen a fully grown man scream like a girl before and run away at 40mph!
3. Should our troops still be in Iraq?
Condemn the War, Respect the Warrior, Honour the Covenant
The Government has committed our armed forces to more foreign engagements than any administration in recent history and this has inevitably placed immense strain upon the Military Covenant, the duty of care the nation owes to its soldiers, sailors and airmen.
Fighting harder than at any time since the Korean War, our troops have in recent years endured inadequate equipment overseas and frequently unacceptable medical treatment in this country, while their families have had to endure accommodation that is often sub-standard.
Last year the Royal British Legion launched its "Honour The Covenant" campaign and earlier this year David Cameron set up a commission under Frederick Forsyth to look at ways of repairing a Covenant he claimed was "well and truly broken".
Its interim report has a number of eminently sensible suggestions which look likely to be picked up by the Government when it produces its own proposals for strengthening the Covenant later in the summer.
They include up-grading service accommodation, maintaining military families' places on NHS waiting lists when they move round the country, guaranteeing them access to a NHS dentists and help with schooling.
This is a practical and worthwhile approach. Our forces don't want special treatment, they want fair treatment, and these measures seek to ameliorate the many inconveniences that are part and parcel of the military way of life. However, what is most in need of repair is the general public's attitude to the armed forces
British Legion
4. What's your favourite film?
Spaghetti westerns; can happily watch them all day.
5. If you could be transported into a different era, what/when would it be and why?
I consider myself to be so lucky to have been born when I was. I live in a society where I can do just about what I want, have good health and enough to eat, with a life expectancy far longer than even my grand parents. The grass is not always greener on the other bank.
6. Should this Country bring back the death penalty? If so, for what crimes?
If you are involved in pre-meditated murder then you lose the right to live yourself
I am one of those people that sound my horn and do 'tosser' signs at people that refuse to use indicators on roundabouts .....
