QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS WITH NICK BURRAGE
Introduction.....
Before we begin may I start by saying a big thank you to Nick for taking the time out from his busy schedule and allowing me to do this piece for www.carpmarathon.co.uk
let’s begin …………
Key
#MF - Matthew Fleet
#NB - Nick Burrage
( Question 1 )
MF: So then Nick when did your passion for angling begin?
NB: Well my passion for angling started along time ago, sometime in the 1970’s when I was 7 Years of age. At that moment in time there were not many cars about at all, so if we wanted to fish we had to walk, so a trip to a local pool or down the River Seven at Bridgnorth was the route we found ourselves forced down!. With it being a different time altogether, with eels In the bath at home and gaffing Pike, which seemed to be the norm, a Little barbaric really by today’s standards I must say! so as time went by and Christmas presents appeared, in the shape of fishing rods, my trips started with minnows down by the bridge to scary Eels at night in the cold with my Dad. All this was off putting really in the early days, well until I went maggot fishing and after two proper chub out of the fast flow of the river… I was hooked!
getting down to the River at any point I could was my goal, and after getting attached to a small barbel it was only ever going to go one way for me, bigger and bigger. The river was kind in those early years, with my watercraft improving at a huge rate of knots. I was soon trotting floats and bouncing meat down the river, catching many newly introduced barbel at any chance I could get! as for carp well we had a small pool we could fish near the town, the carp could be seen in two’s and three’s with large light and dark backs rocking the water up the shallow end of the lake, we lost more than we caught on the floating crust but the excitement was unbelievable, with a slurp, slurp and another slurp… the pads exploded with a hooked carp running for cover, many were lost on our light fibreglass rods and light line, but as time went on we soon learnt and tamed the monsters of the deep and a new passion was born.
after my eldest brother learnt to drive, we were able to fish out of town as it were, Worfield bog and striking at bow waves in the margins, but that’s another story altogether!
all this went on before the hair rig and boilies came about, having this start in my angling, gave me more than enough fuel to keep my passion alive for all those years, and many more years to come!
The Early Days.....
let’s begin …………
Key
#MF - Matthew Fleet
#NB - Nick Burrage
( Question 1 )
MF: So then Nick when did your passion for angling begin?
NB: Well my passion for angling started along time ago, sometime in the 1970’s when I was 7 Years of age. At that moment in time there were not many cars about at all, so if we wanted to fish we had to walk, so a trip to a local pool or down the River Seven at Bridgnorth was the route we found ourselves forced down!. With it being a different time altogether, with eels In the bath at home and gaffing Pike, which seemed to be the norm, a Little barbaric really by today’s standards I must say! so as time went by and Christmas presents appeared, in the shape of fishing rods, my trips started with minnows down by the bridge to scary Eels at night in the cold with my Dad. All this was off putting really in the early days, well until I went maggot fishing and after two proper chub out of the fast flow of the river… I was hooked!
getting down to the River at any point I could was my goal, and after getting attached to a small barbel it was only ever going to go one way for me, bigger and bigger. The river was kind in those early years, with my watercraft improving at a huge rate of knots. I was soon trotting floats and bouncing meat down the river, catching many newly introduced barbel at any chance I could get! as for carp well we had a small pool we could fish near the town, the carp could be seen in two’s and three’s with large light and dark backs rocking the water up the shallow end of the lake, we lost more than we caught on the floating crust but the excitement was unbelievable, with a slurp, slurp and another slurp… the pads exploded with a hooked carp running for cover, many were lost on our light fibreglass rods and light line, but as time went on we soon learnt and tamed the monsters of the deep and a new passion was born.
after my eldest brother learnt to drive, we were able to fish out of town as it were, Worfield bog and striking at bow waves in the margins, but that’s another story altogether!
all this went on before the hair rig and boilies came about, having this start in my angling, gave me more than enough fuel to keep my passion alive for all those years, and many more years to come!
The Early Days.....
( Question 2 )
MF: When did you begin to target big carp and start carp fishing?
NB: ( BIG CARP ) I’ve always had a bug for big carp really, OK big carp, pike, barbel, chub, roach all sorts really. The carp days started early for me really, all mixed Into and around other species
it’s funny how things have changed over the years, even with in my own angling, I had fished for carp in the summer off the top as a rule, barbel in the autumn leaving roach, chub, pike for the winter! not forgetting tench early summer after a close season of eel fishing and fluff chucking for trout!
So going back to the question of when did I start properly carping? your guess is as good as mine really. But carping in the public eye, it must of been just before i started fishing Patshull Parks Church Pool at Ashton near Leominster. Having a big thrust for learning, this was where my carping turned right round for me, and the road began to where I am now.
learning more about fish behaviour on that little pool in one year, this in turn made getting bites easier, then the more bites I had, the more I learnt and so on
so I would say that was the point my carping really started for me, with my years of watercraft under my belt, from fishing else where and catching other species, I soon found I had tricks and approaches that worked in my carping what I learnt from well, everything I had ever caught really!
The Historic Church Pool.....
MF: When did you begin to target big carp and start carp fishing?
NB: ( BIG CARP ) I’ve always had a bug for big carp really, OK big carp, pike, barbel, chub, roach all sorts really. The carp days started early for me really, all mixed Into and around other species
it’s funny how things have changed over the years, even with in my own angling, I had fished for carp in the summer off the top as a rule, barbel in the autumn leaving roach, chub, pike for the winter! not forgetting tench early summer after a close season of eel fishing and fluff chucking for trout!
So going back to the question of when did I start properly carping? your guess is as good as mine really. But carping in the public eye, it must of been just before i started fishing Patshull Parks Church Pool at Ashton near Leominster. Having a big thrust for learning, this was where my carping turned right round for me, and the road began to where I am now.
learning more about fish behaviour on that little pool in one year, this in turn made getting bites easier, then the more bites I had, the more I learnt and so on
so I would say that was the point my carping really started for me, with my years of watercraft under my belt, from fishing else where and catching other species, I soon found I had tricks and approaches that worked in my carping what I learnt from well, everything I had ever caught really!
The Historic Church Pool.....
( Question 3 )
MF: Where’s your favourite venue / water?
NB: My favourite venue must be the Mangrove every time. The fishing is different to any lake I have fished before, being able to use the boats to bait up with, and go out to the secluded pegs with my gear is a treat everyone should try at least once in there carping life. With the pads and overhanging trees hidden away in the depths of Shropshire, it’s a place i find so relaxing OK until a monster comes along anyway!! Ha Ha!
but on the flip side of the question, if you said lake I would have to say Patshull's Church Pool, if a pool had everything that would be the place. Over hanging trees, deep margins, gravel spots, silt, bars, pads, reeds, small channels and the list really goes on. I remember setting up on the boards swim, and it was a case of what feature do I want to fish on? I found it a joy to fish for many years and i'm sure many still do?
( Question 4 )
MF: What’s your most memorable capture?
NB: Memorable capture? Well this one is easy for me really, I’m going back to a cold winter session at Bomere
I had been baiting a deep water un fished area for a couple of months or so?, the swim was called little grassy
turning up and seeing a guy in a swim i'd caught from the week before, I made the long walk up the lake to a small un fished swim, Un fished because it was about a mile up the lake?
on the very cold winter’s day, I walked into the swim really quietly, only to see a carp blowing straight up through the middle of the swim, after nearly wetting myself with excitement! I tried calmly to get my gear from the van
as I returned with my gear, I set about getting my rods out, the first rig was a simple snowman rig with a three bait stringer, this was cast to the area I first saw the blow!! then the rod was placed in the rest, to let the line sink a little. The Second rod was set up for the deep water, a snowman again well it was winter, but this time a slightly brighter pop up was placed on top
to help them find it in the 34 foot deep area, as I cast It and feathered It down, Just as It hit the bottom a great big plume of bubbles hit the surface!! ever dropped a rig straight on a fish? after the disturbance I thought I might as well pepper that rod with ten or so baits, and let it stay out for a day or so
I just set the bobbin on the first rod, and then picked up the third one to cast, and then err? BeeeeeeeeeeeeeP!! I thought a pike had swum into my line? no it was the rod going into meltdown!! I picked up the rod a bit confused on how and what was going on? sure enough there was a lovely winter Carp swimming about on the end of my line!
making it’s best effort to escape the invisible force that was pulling it in towards the bank!! after a few minutes she rolled a yard or two in front of the net, a couple of gulps of air later a mint winter common was safely in my net!
Winter Whacker.....
MF: Where’s your favourite venue / water?
NB: My favourite venue must be the Mangrove every time. The fishing is different to any lake I have fished before, being able to use the boats to bait up with, and go out to the secluded pegs with my gear is a treat everyone should try at least once in there carping life. With the pads and overhanging trees hidden away in the depths of Shropshire, it’s a place i find so relaxing OK until a monster comes along anyway!! Ha Ha!
but on the flip side of the question, if you said lake I would have to say Patshull's Church Pool, if a pool had everything that would be the place. Over hanging trees, deep margins, gravel spots, silt, bars, pads, reeds, small channels and the list really goes on. I remember setting up on the boards swim, and it was a case of what feature do I want to fish on? I found it a joy to fish for many years and i'm sure many still do?
( Question 4 )
MF: What’s your most memorable capture?
NB: Memorable capture? Well this one is easy for me really, I’m going back to a cold winter session at Bomere
I had been baiting a deep water un fished area for a couple of months or so?, the swim was called little grassy
turning up and seeing a guy in a swim i'd caught from the week before, I made the long walk up the lake to a small un fished swim, Un fished because it was about a mile up the lake?
on the very cold winter’s day, I walked into the swim really quietly, only to see a carp blowing straight up through the middle of the swim, after nearly wetting myself with excitement! I tried calmly to get my gear from the van
as I returned with my gear, I set about getting my rods out, the first rig was a simple snowman rig with a three bait stringer, this was cast to the area I first saw the blow!! then the rod was placed in the rest, to let the line sink a little. The Second rod was set up for the deep water, a snowman again well it was winter, but this time a slightly brighter pop up was placed on top
to help them find it in the 34 foot deep area, as I cast It and feathered It down, Just as It hit the bottom a great big plume of bubbles hit the surface!! ever dropped a rig straight on a fish? after the disturbance I thought I might as well pepper that rod with ten or so baits, and let it stay out for a day or so
I just set the bobbin on the first rod, and then picked up the third one to cast, and then err? BeeeeeeeeeeeeeP!! I thought a pike had swum into my line? no it was the rod going into meltdown!! I picked up the rod a bit confused on how and what was going on? sure enough there was a lovely winter Carp swimming about on the end of my line!
making it’s best effort to escape the invisible force that was pulling it in towards the bank!! after a few minutes she rolled a yard or two in front of the net, a couple of gulps of air later a mint winter common was safely in my net!
Winter Whacker.....
( Question 5 )
MF: What is the best piece of angling you have witnessed by another angler?
NB: I have a couple here really, the first is a person I didn't really know from Adam, stalking a carp and watching bread flake sink through the water, the carp sucked it in an he landed a lovely 20lb specimen, that was top draw angling in my book!
the next was watching an old departed friend of mine on the river severn, as he took a match apart waggler fishing for barbel, he sure showed all the other guys on the match feeder fishing how to catch them on the float
Good on you Nick Gretton R I P fella
( Question 6 )
MF: Who is your angling hero?
NB: This Iis a tricky one, I have loads of respect for all the older guys, many still get out there and fish and enjoy it for what it is in carp fishing Lenny Middleton, Kevin Maddocks, Richard Walker, Kevin Nash, Tim Paisley, Richie McDonald, Terry Hearn and big Jim Shelley
all for very different reasons
( Question 7 )
MF: Who is your biggest inspiration outside of angling?
NB: Well if I didn’t say the wife i’d get strung up!
but joking apart my wife is a massive part of everything I do, and supports me in everything even carping
i’m an all or nothing sort of guy, so I bet that takes some living with, when I’m not lake side anyway!!
( Question 8 )
MF: You have met Tim Paisley through your time on the Mangrove, in your own words can you tell me more about the iconic
Tim Paisley?
NB: You would not find a nicer man who runs a lake in the UK, and has done so for many years, his waters are second to none,I hold him in very high regard. As you know he does a top notch job with the magazine Carpworld, even with such a busy life he always has time for a laugh and a joke, Tim’s a credit to what's good in today's carping and I'm sure all that know him will agree
( Question 9 )
MF: Like myself you fish overseas in France As well as in the UK is catching the monsters over the channel as bigger reward as catching big carp in the UK?
NB: With only just wetting my frogs legs, i’m quite knew to overseas carping, only having gone a few times myself. but each time I go I just can’t wait to get back again, effort does equal results in my book. So if someone makes the effort to go fishing for whatever who am I to say anything about their catch?
a few years ago I would of said I only fish for carp in the UK after returning from a recent French trip I was fortunate to capture a monster of a Carp weighing in at over 60lb, the chances or me capturing fish of this size in the UK are slim? if you get the chance to go? I say do It!
I can’t wait for my next trip!!
( Question 10 )
MF: Do you set targets in your fishing?
NB: Interesting question this one, no I don't set targets as a rule. OK maybe to odd winter target? to keep me going when it's cold. I join waters with only a small glimpse of what is in their if I can, that way I can fish for bites without knowing what I am likely to catch?
” oh it’s only that one and not the big girl!”
I play the numbers game getting as many bites as I can, with plenty of effort soon enough the lumps turn up
tight lines and happy angling
Nick
that concludes the session folks, for even more hints and tips and all things carpy from Mr Burrage, why not visit his youtube channel?
MF: What is the best piece of angling you have witnessed by another angler?
NB: I have a couple here really, the first is a person I didn't really know from Adam, stalking a carp and watching bread flake sink through the water, the carp sucked it in an he landed a lovely 20lb specimen, that was top draw angling in my book!
the next was watching an old departed friend of mine on the river severn, as he took a match apart waggler fishing for barbel, he sure showed all the other guys on the match feeder fishing how to catch them on the float
Good on you Nick Gretton R I P fella
( Question 6 )
MF: Who is your angling hero?
NB: This Iis a tricky one, I have loads of respect for all the older guys, many still get out there and fish and enjoy it for what it is in carp fishing Lenny Middleton, Kevin Maddocks, Richard Walker, Kevin Nash, Tim Paisley, Richie McDonald, Terry Hearn and big Jim Shelley
all for very different reasons
( Question 7 )
MF: Who is your biggest inspiration outside of angling?
NB: Well if I didn’t say the wife i’d get strung up!
but joking apart my wife is a massive part of everything I do, and supports me in everything even carping
i’m an all or nothing sort of guy, so I bet that takes some living with, when I’m not lake side anyway!!
( Question 8 )
MF: You have met Tim Paisley through your time on the Mangrove, in your own words can you tell me more about the iconic
Tim Paisley?
NB: You would not find a nicer man who runs a lake in the UK, and has done so for many years, his waters are second to none,I hold him in very high regard. As you know he does a top notch job with the magazine Carpworld, even with such a busy life he always has time for a laugh and a joke, Tim’s a credit to what's good in today's carping and I'm sure all that know him will agree
( Question 9 )
MF: Like myself you fish overseas in France As well as in the UK is catching the monsters over the channel as bigger reward as catching big carp in the UK?
NB: With only just wetting my frogs legs, i’m quite knew to overseas carping, only having gone a few times myself. but each time I go I just can’t wait to get back again, effort does equal results in my book. So if someone makes the effort to go fishing for whatever who am I to say anything about their catch?
a few years ago I would of said I only fish for carp in the UK after returning from a recent French trip I was fortunate to capture a monster of a Carp weighing in at over 60lb, the chances or me capturing fish of this size in the UK are slim? if you get the chance to go? I say do It!
I can’t wait for my next trip!!
( Question 10 )
MF: Do you set targets in your fishing?
NB: Interesting question this one, no I don't set targets as a rule. OK maybe to odd winter target? to keep me going when it's cold. I join waters with only a small glimpse of what is in their if I can, that way I can fish for bites without knowing what I am likely to catch?
” oh it’s only that one and not the big girl!”
I play the numbers game getting as many bites as I can, with plenty of effort soon enough the lumps turn up
tight lines and happy angling
Nick
that concludes the session folks, for even more hints and tips and all things carpy from Mr Burrage, why not visit his youtube channel?
Nick Burrage's YouTube Channel.....
