divingtec

Good, innit? We aint spoken for two years and hitherto the only place the hatchet was likely to be buried was in each other's backs! I think now that said hatchet shoukd be buried - and the location well forgotten. What say you, Salty Frog?!

Salty Frog/Dog - I take back my last: I agree wholeheartedly re sheep culture, which is entirely why I have completely avoided the scene for many years and pioneered my own thing on the rivers. So, we are really cut from the same carp sack, you and I!

Looks like Salty Frog can shove it up his jaxy, Sarkar Brothers unite! You coming to Bradley's next week or what?

Yep... my first 20 in 1979.... and Langers' first zed Oct 90!

Oh dear. You have to realise that not everyone wants to publicize everything! We live and grew up in Worcester with the Severn on our doorstep.... need I say more.... been catching big fish of all spec from said river since the mid-70s, as have my brother, son and pals..... believe me, in Worcester we were pioneers - suggest you get the next issue of Pikelines.... anyway, can't understand why on earth you have got the hump!!

Never followed a crowd in my life, Salty Dog! Carp fishing is a joke these days, which is why we fish for em on the rivers. But I hate being judgemental - each to their own, I say. By the way, we were catching zeds on the Severn in tne early 90s, which doesn't get any earlier than that, and as for 'unknowns'..... laugh out extremely loud and hearty!!

You are right: we wouldn't be following the pioneers on the Severn - we are the pioneers!! With all due respect, of course, to our old mates the late Chris Binyon and John Sidley, not to mention the early work afloat by Ray Armstrong.

I was an oriiginal member of the Pike Anglers' Club in 1977, and for the record, amongst the first members of the Carp Society and authors in Carp Fisher, so been around a while and, frankly, seen it all. I once saw carping as something to aspire to, but no longer do: too much information available, not to merntion tackle, guides, bait and waters. I have only recently returned to piking, due to my new wife's enthusiasm, which I still see as a pionerring last frontier in a way that carp fishing no longer is. The MBE was unconnected with fishing, was for services to history in 2003 - seeing as you asked.

Well nowhere for a while, really. Life went tits up, resumed better than ever before over the past couple of years, and now able to get back out there. For many years my fishing has been compromised due to work, kids (single parent for a long while), so have fished local venues - rivers, mainly. Problem is that you compromise size of fish for tranquility, but what the hell, at least you can go fishing! But my wife is piking mad, bought a boat and all sorts, and a very old and close friend caught the 2nd biggest UK zander last Feb, on our doorstep, so here's hoping! But carping always very, very special to me, and as the Rotty is so into it tis off to Bradley's we are on Tuesday next!

Oh yes!!! She is, in fact, a pike angler - no interest in carp, more's the pity! See www.dilipsarkarmbe.co.uk and shortly www.karensarkarart.co.uk. Her pikey paintings soon to be featured in the PAC mag 'Pikelines', and endeavour supported by our old mate and piking inspiration Neville Fickling. So, the power behind the throne, that I, a complete nod by comparison, have to kow tow to!!

Wotcha Salty Frog - re the original post my wife - a calming influence - insisted that I removed it!!! Haven't fished Bradley's for two years, but pike fished it a few times back in the early 90s. Was inspirational then. But I take on board what you say about it being part of the scene now - which would make it not my scene. The problem is that my son - not really a Rotty, by the way! - is a fishery student at Sparsholt and absolutely obsessed with the whole deal. So whilst I have him home for half-term Bradley's is somewhere we can go and hopefully fish next to each other, or at least close-by. As you know, some of the waters in that area are even busier and a pitch not guaranteed - let alone two together! Hopefully we can squeeze in to some quiet corner and find a bit of peace for 24 hours... the catching aint that important but it would, of course, be nice!!

Fished it a lot back in the early 80s, when the late Albert Brewer owned the place. Was only open for the summer in those days but still rammed every day. Then fished it in the first couple of years of the Higgins family ownership, by which time my patience with the place was exhausted and I had had my fill. But to be fair it served a purpose, met some good anglers there in those days and had some cracking fish - it was one of the only waters in the country back then that provided the chance of a 20 on a day ticket. Made the mistake of re-visiting the place several years ago, though, and wished I hadn't: litter in pegs (unheard of when I fished there previously), anglers leaving swims unattended and going on social walkabouts (a hanging offence), and - incredible this - scaffolding posts stuck in every swim as markers to prevent over-casting - now that just aint proper carp fishing. But its all about individual choice, I suppose, and if its your bag thats great - but no longer for me and with so many excellent waters available to all these days I would strongly recommend finding somewhere else.

Bradley's.... an inspirational venue, great atmosphere and fished by some decent chaps....