Big Carp News

I have always enjoyed fishing for all species and still do to this very day. I started out fishing for bluegill and other small fish like everyone else surely did. Growing up in Pennsylvania we are known for our trout waters and I have spent many of days wondering the streams in pursuit of trout.

My dad would take me carp fishing on the river in the summers and I was too little to really try due to the size being caught. I remember my first run on the river using 20lb test line resulting in a line snap that sounded like a gun shot going off. Due to people leaving trash those spots were now no trespassing so I pursued catfish as I got older along with bass. Right before my dad passed away we found a spot on the river that was public and we talked about going there for carp.

He died a few months later and as I was collecting my thoughts at the lake I felt a peace come over me and two birds flew right in front of me and that was follow by a large tail coming out of the water. At first I thought it was a catfish but realized it was a carp. Over winter I learned as much as I could and found myself in the spring going to the spot we had talked about on the river. I pulled in my first carp of 15lbs and it was an emotional experience on a lot of levels for me. I have enjoyed carp fishing ever since that moment.

After a few years went by I realized more people should give this a try for how fun it is and also how challenging carp can be to other species of fish. I started writing blogs, articles and most importantly YouTube videos. I feel I have reached a lot of new anglers who may not have someone to learn in person from and it is a truly great feeling knowing you helped someone whether it be a simple question or the fact you helped them land their first carp. I also have helped improved anglers catch results and some have really become addicted to the sport as a result.

Originally from the North West of England I’ve fished since the age of 8 for various species. However, I’ve always been drawn to the bigger specimens and the lure of monster fish. I currently live in Massachusetts.

I’m primarily a short session angler and you’ll find me mostly fishing night sessions. Over the last 5 years I’ve caught over one hundred 30lb+ carp with over a dozen over the 40lb mark. I’m currently a Fox International Consultant and have also been the Editor of North American Carp Angler for 2 years and a Big Carp News Editor for over 4 years.

Carp fishing has been one of the more paramount parts of my life since the age of 13. At the current age of 34 I would have figured the routine, fascination, and allure to this interest of mine would have diminished long ago. If it wasn’t for the fact that the sport has treated me so well it would have.

Whether it’s the spirited individuals I fish with to the sometimes quirky trends and ideas the sport emits I can say with certainty I am pleased to have been a part of it from early on. Seldom fishing short sessions I find my home on long sessions preferably fishing new and difficult waters allowing me to see all that can eventuate in my time spent fishing, I understand and appreciate the reliable and more familiar swims and locations; yet the flame is not there with the banal. Fortunately I have a small but likeminded group of carp fishermen to surround myself with these days. You can be the reclusive hermit who’s only known by word, or an extraverted social media personality but without a support system this sport can leave you high and dry.

Currently I am backed by Solar Tackle and Big Carp Tackle, while I have never believed carp fishing is a sport that entails you to have to fish with others, or have a company to back your pursuits; however I am grateful of the comradery Both Big Carp Tackle and Solar Tackle have provided me with over the last year or so.

Fishing has been my passion since I was two and I caught my first carp when I was eight. Now over twenty years later I am still fishing for carp and my passion for angling has lead me to an advanced degree in Fisheries Ecology and a career as a fisheries biologist.

This formal education in ecology has proven to be very useful in understanding aquatic ecosystems and ultimately understanding how carp behave and why. There is a wealth of information in scientific journals and some of it has direct application to carp fishing. I have been writing for Big Carp News since 2013 and have enjoyed taking this knowledge and turning it into articles that I hope help people to catch more fish and understand why things might (or might not) catch fish.

My own fishing is focused on the short session for two reasons: 1) I work full time (yes, being a fisheries biologist is still work!), and 2) I have a young family that requires my attention. Therefore, most of my sessions are overnights with the occasional weekend fishing trip with the family. My choice of tackle and tactics reflects this with the focus being getting on the fish as quickly as possible and getting them feeding as the clock is always ticking.

I spend a lot of time when I can’t fish on research of potential swims using all available information to figure out as much as I can ahead of time. I also enjoy taking my children fishing and teaching others about fishing, particularly carp fishing. What it boils down to is this: I’m obsessed with fishing. I am currently lucky enough to be backed by Gardner Tackle, Century, and Rod Hutchinson.

Hello everyone! My name is Joel I was born in the UK and now I am living and fishing in the USA. Thank you for taking the time to stop off here at Big Carp News! Over the years my passion for carp angling has grown and with that so has my love of creating content geared towards the growth of catch and release carp angling. while on this journey, I found that I also really do have just as much passion for showing others and helping them to learn about the sport, offering educational awareness on all things carp!

I have been fishing for carp since the age of 8. I grew up in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania where my passion began. I became attracted to carp ever since my first run and remember that same weekend losing a fishing pole in the pond I was at. The fight and size of these fish drew me even closer to the carping scene. Ever since then I have been dedicated in the pursuit of these great fish and my passion grows every day!

I moved to Houston, Texas in the summer of 2005 and met Richard Somerville who had that very same passion. Richard was one of my influences in pursuit of Carp in the wild waters and introduced me to the EURO style of carping and giving me many tips. He also introduced me to tournament fishing and we spent many days and weekends on the bank together fishing large waters in Texas in pursuit of Carp & Buffalo. Sadly Richard passed in 2013 and he will always be remembered as a top angler and great friend. I continue to pursue these great fish and dedicate my future catches to him!

These days I really enjoy just spending time on the bank with friends and relaxing after a long week of work. I am getting into the tournament scene more often and first started at the Texas Carp Challenge hosted by American Carp Society (Dave Moore) back in March of 2006 where I first met Dave. Since then I have met many great anglers who have help guide me along the way. I fished many tournaments since then and enjoy the challenge of these and meeting anglers from all over the world.

I look forward to working with Rod Hutchinson and promoting the great products throughout the US market. I have been using the flavors since Richard Somerville first introduced me to them back in 2006.

After growing up fishing in Great Britain Iain now lives in Avon, CT and mostly targets the local lakes and rivers throughout New England. A renowned short session angler Iain is recognized for the capture of hundreds of twenty and thirty pound carp. While he rarely carp fishes more than 200 hours a year he still manages to bank an enviable number of big fish.

A focus on preparation, observation and well planned baiting campaigns has allowed Iain to target the optimum feeding times to maximum effect. The result being that most of his carp are caught in incredibly intense 6 hour sessions. His largest carp in the USA to date include a 43.04 from the St Lawrence River in 2011 and a 46.04 Mirror in 2013

I am originally from Hertfordshire in England and began fishing for carp in the late 70s on local day ticket lakes. After a decade in the pursuit of my passion I took a 25 year hiatus, moving to Colorado in 2001. In early 2012 my carp fishing addiction was rekindled, not only with rod & reel but with a video camera to capture all my endeavours on the bank side.

I am a passionate advocate that carp fishing can be affordable and available for all to enjoy, be they young or old, whether an experienced angler or someone just taking up the sport. I enjoy chatting about carp fishing, tackle and tactics and sharing all the information and experience I can to assist others in achieving their own carp fishing goals.

For the past 6 years I have chronicled my adventures in over 100 carp fishing related videos on my YouTube channel, “CarpQuest”. I am very active on social media and work hard to promoting catch & release carp fishing here in the USA. I have written articles for FishExplorer, Big Carp News, Born to Fish Media and North American Carp Angler.

I am honored to be a member of the Deeper Sonar Heroes team in North America. I am currently testing a range of tackle and baits from Nash and the Trokar Magnum hooks from Eagleclaw.

Zach has been an angler since before he can remember. One of the earliest photos of him is when he was 18 months old, holding a rod and bluegill. As a multi species angler for the first half of his life Zach became a dedicated and slightly obssesed Carp angler in the early 90’s.

In helping with the formation of The Carp Anglers Group alongside his grandfather, Bud Yancey, Zach has continued to focus on Carp angling before it was popular in the US. As a 10 year combat veteran of the United States Marine Corps he was offered a position to work at Big Carp Tackle and has been following his passion since transitioning from active duty in 2015.