Started match fishing about 20 years ago, on rivers winning and framing on venues like the Ouse, Cam and the Thames.

I changed to canals when river fishing went iffy and was fortunate enough to join with Image Blackhorse when they were beginning to take places apart on the waggler and squatt. I have picked up prize money on most canals from the Regents/G.U.C. in London to the staffs Worcester in the midlands. I won a silver team medal on the Tidal Trent finishing 5th in the section. I have fished 6 nationals so far finishing only once with less than 50pts. I was a total team angler sometimes of which I think went against me as I blew a few good pegs over the years by being too negative.

Mick Basset from M.B. floats taught me to be a more positive angler when I left Image and joined Milton Keynes. I eventually joined M.B. floats where I certainly won more matches. Thanks Mick I have been fishing commercials for 3yrs after catching 5oz on perfect canal in a Milton Keynes winter league 60peg match and coming 5th overall enough was enough. I love carp fishing on any method but long pole up in the water with pellet takes some beating. I also enjoy a bit of feeder fishing especially in the winter. Some favourite venues include Alders, Chestnut, Rolfs and Tingrith. Best match weight is 225lb at Alders.

I have had a few sponsors over the years and I am very grateful to them all. The present sponsors (I think I speak for all the G.O.T. anglers) try more than anyone to help their anglers achieve success with their sponsorship and with the very high quality of their products so thanks to Trevor Price and the rest of the sponsors.

Favourite Method - Pellet up in the Water

Quick Guide

A quick guide to how I fish up in the water.

3in to 18in Drennan carp 4 Dibber .1gr
18in to 4ft Deep Garbolino D.C.3 .2gr.

I shot the dibber with a single no10 shot at half depth.

The D.C.3 rig I shot with a bulk of 4 no10 shot at three quarter depth.

Both rigs are .16 stroft line to a 16 B911 hook. Elastic is red or black hydro Black being used more when the fish are below 2lb. For hook bait I use banded pellets from 4mm to 8mm for most of my fishing G.O.T of course with 6mm soft hookers and punched or cubed meat as back up baits.

I normally fish 13mtrs for comfort and catapult accuracy. I start on the deep rig set 3-4ft feeding fairly heavy 30/50 pellets every 6-10 sec and take it from there when I get indications or bites. I start to shallow up as the fish move higher when there shallow (surface to 18 in) I feed 10-15 pellets every 6-10 sec to keep the carp searching for food.

I feed 4mm sinking pellets and can use anywhere from 6-12 pts per 5hr match. I will normally feed less bait If the fish are visible on the surface or just under. I don’t strike at bites just lift when the float goes under so as not to make the fish bolt then gently ship back and net. I think the art to up in the water fishing is getting the fish feeding at a depth where you get positive bites and not liners. So you need to experiment after each feed and all the time when bites are not positive or you are getting liners or foul hooking fish just keep working at it.

Tight Lines

Gary