A question which I hope will generate a little bit of debate - who do you rate as a carp angling writer?
I'll offer my view; the only carp angling writers worth reading are Tim Paisley, Rod Hutchinson, Jim Gibbinson and (at a stretch) Chris Yates - and Tim Paisley is head and shoulders above the rest. He's the only one who combines real carp fishing success with a genuine gift for writing. Chris Yates is an artist with the written word, but the tweed-and-cane approach doesn't resonate with me. Richard Walker's account of Clarissa's capture is magical - '...sat smoking and thinking till dawn...' - but it's a single story and he was more of a generalist. The vast majority of carp anglers with books to their name can certainly put the words down on the page, but the vast majority of carp books are pretty dull reads, if not just downright bad. I've just read the 'classic' Rob Maylin's Tiger Bay - and I struggled to finish it.
Who do you rate, and why?
I'll offer my view; the only carp angling writers worth reading are Tim Paisley, Rod Hutchinson, Jim Gibbinson and (at a stretch) Chris Yates - and Tim Paisley is head and shoulders above the rest. He's the only one who combines real carp fishing success with a genuine gift for writing. Chris Yates is an artist with the written word, but the tweed-and-cane approach doesn't resonate with me. Richard Walker's account of Clarissa's capture is magical - '...sat smoking and thinking till dawn...' - but it's a single story and he was more of a generalist. The vast majority of carp anglers with books to their name can certainly put the words down on the page, but the vast majority of carp books are pretty dull reads, if not just downright bad. I've just read the 'classic' Rob Maylin's Tiger Bay - and I struggled to finish it.
Who do you rate, and why?
That's easy mate..
For me it's BB or Denys Watkins Pitchford..as I feel transported back to a time of simplicity and wonderment and anticipation..
The other is Ken...as I can relate to those places and anglers mentioned..
For me it's BB or Denys Watkins Pitchford..as I feel transported back to a time of simplicity and wonderment and anticipation..
The other is Ken...as I can relate to those places and anglers mentioned..
In reply to Post #1
Rob Maylin's-fox pool
Redmire pool
Dave lane flick of a tail my favourite 3 books
Rob Maylin's-fox pool
Redmire pool
Dave lane flick of a tail my favourite 3 books
In reply to Post #1
I think Chris Yates is the best fishing writer in general whose work I have read. I don't find any other author encapsulates fishing in its innocence as well as he does. His writing clearly portrays his child-like wonder about fishing and engages my imagination better than any other. I think it's likely a result of his highly descriptive and loose writing style. Many other fishing authors are far too stiff and remind me of reading scientific journal articles at university.
In terms of a dedicated carp fishing writer then I would put Terry Hearn's name into the mix. However, I say this based upon his first book only which followed the story of his carp fishing "apprenticeship". I find the two subsequent books he has written to be more of an account of what he has caught from various lakes rather than a progression in learning the "trade". Saying that, I still think all three books are enjoyable reads. It may just be that I was learning carp fishing when I read the first book so it resonated much more with me.
I think Chris Yates is the best fishing writer in general whose work I have read. I don't find any other author encapsulates fishing in its innocence as well as he does. His writing clearly portrays his child-like wonder about fishing and engages my imagination better than any other. I think it's likely a result of his highly descriptive and loose writing style. Many other fishing authors are far too stiff and remind me of reading scientific journal articles at university.
In terms of a dedicated carp fishing writer then I would put Terry Hearn's name into the mix. However, I say this based upon his first book only which followed the story of his carp fishing "apprenticeship". I find the two subsequent books he has written to be more of an account of what he has caught from various lakes rather than a progression in learning the "trade". Saying that, I still think all three books are enjoyable reads. It may just be that I was learning carp fishing when I read the first book so it resonated much more with me.
Chris Ball.
Gaz Fareham.
Gaz Fareham.
In reply to Post #4
Agree with Yates & BB. Both fantastic masters of the English language and can transport the reader into another time & place and manage to evoke that sense of mystery and wonder we all felt (feel?) when we began to fish.
Hutchy deserves a mention - he was a master story teller and ‘Carp Strikes Back' is probably my most read book after Casting at the Sun & Confessions - he has to be considered as one of our finest angling writers both from his ability to tell a cracking story with lots of humour & his ability to write complex technical articles based upon his instinctive, creative and innovative approach to carp angling.
The one book of the relatively recent ones that I thoroughly enjoyed was Dempsey's book ‘The Urban Myth' - I never could put my finger on exactly why & what I enjoyed so much about it but maybe it's because he's a similar age to me and his angling exploits as a youngster were just incredible & about as far removed from my own as you could get. If you started carp fishing in the early ‘80's then this is a really good read. Completely different from Yates & BB but definitely up there in my top 10 angling books.
Plenty of other non-carp specific authors as well... most recent that I have read that comes to mind is John Aston's ‘A Dream of Jewelled Fishes' - just a lovely read. Too many to choose from but if I had to pick one author to take to that desert island it would have to be Yates.
Agree with Yates & BB. Both fantastic masters of the English language and can transport the reader into another time & place and manage to evoke that sense of mystery and wonder we all felt (feel?) when we began to fish.
Hutchy deserves a mention - he was a master story teller and ‘Carp Strikes Back' is probably my most read book after Casting at the Sun & Confessions - he has to be considered as one of our finest angling writers both from his ability to tell a cracking story with lots of humour & his ability to write complex technical articles based upon his instinctive, creative and innovative approach to carp angling.
The one book of the relatively recent ones that I thoroughly enjoyed was Dempsey's book ‘The Urban Myth' - I never could put my finger on exactly why & what I enjoyed so much about it but maybe it's because he's a similar age to me and his angling exploits as a youngster were just incredible & about as far removed from my own as you could get. If you started carp fishing in the early ‘80's then this is a really good read. Completely different from Yates & BB but definitely up there in my top 10 angling books.
Plenty of other non-carp specific authors as well... most recent that I have read that comes to mind is John Aston's ‘A Dream of Jewelled Fishes' - just a lovely read. Too many to choose from but if I had to pick one author to take to that desert island it would have to be Yates.
I prefer a modern writer within reason but for you guys who clearly prefer the more classic artistic writings you cannot forget about Skeff. His book is a work of art imo.
In reply to Post #7
modern writers (that ive read) spoil everything when they start going on about "products", i find it rather tedious.
Yates carp books are brilliant, i enjoyed TP's books and Maddocks books
Modern day, i only rate Terry H.
I will agree, "A fool and his eel" is an exceptional bit of work, but i would say that as he's a mate of mine
modern writers (that ive read) spoil everything when they start going on about "products", i find it rather tedious.
Yates carp books are brilliant, i enjoyed TP's books and Maddocks books
Modern day, i only rate Terry H.
I will agree, "A fool and his eel" is an exceptional bit of work, but i would say that as he's a mate of mine
In reply to Post #6
"Plenty of other non-carp specific authors as well... most recent that I have read that comes to mind is John Aston's ‘A Dream of Jewelled Fishes' - just a lovely read."
If you didn't know there's a follow up to ‘A Dream of Jewelled Fishes' , called 'The glorious uncertainty'. And he's written a book on motorsport and motoring, if that's your thing.
"Plenty of other non-carp specific authors as well... most recent that I have read that comes to mind is John Aston's ‘A Dream of Jewelled Fishes' - just a lovely read."
If you didn't know there's a follow up to ‘A Dream of Jewelled Fishes' , called 'The glorious uncertainty'. And he's written a book on motorsport and motoring, if that's your thing.
In reply to Post #8
I did say within reason Joss. I cant think of a single book I've read that mentions any product. I agree that would put me off straight away
I did say within reason Joss. I cant think of a single book I've read that mentions any product. I agree that would put me off straight away
Interesting views. I really want to put Yates and BB on a pedestal, but they're 'period pieces' and, while great craftsmen, not reflective of modern carp fishing.
Too many of those who orbited around Rod Hutchinson are of what Jim Gibbinson (another gifted writer with a wonderfully dry turn of phrase!) described as the 'beer and curry brigade'. Reading that stuff gets very old, very quickly.
Follow up question: most cliched phrase in a carp book. My money's on 'the rod was almost torn from my grasp...
Too many of those who orbited around Rod Hutchinson are of what Jim Gibbinson (another gifted writer with a wonderfully dry turn of phrase!) described as the 'beer and curry brigade'. Reading that stuff gets very old, very quickly.
Follow up question: most cliched phrase in a carp book. My money's on 'the rod was almost torn from my grasp...
Jim Shelley's “Waters I've been banned from” volumes 1-6 are an exceptional read.
His latest book “Bait companies like wot I av worked for” is set to to serialised on Netflix.
On a serious note the best modern book it's my opinion are
Tels first book
Willmotts first book
Micky Greys first book.
His latest book “Bait companies like wot I av worked for” is set to to serialised on Netflix.
On a serious note the best modern book it's my opinion are
Tels first book
Willmotts first book
Micky Greys first book.
In reply to Post #1
Tim paisley's, various like from the bivy, carp amid the storm, and enything he's done on bait, he gets me thinking, and Micky greys books because you can feel the pasion,
Tim paisley's, various like from the bivy, carp amid the storm, and enything he's done on bait, he gets me thinking, and Micky greys books because you can feel the pasion,
For me it has to be the three carp fishing books in my bookcase that I've picked up to start reading and finished them the same day, most take me a bit of time to read from a week to a month sometimes picking them up and putting them back down.
My three are Terry Hearn's first book in pursuit, Mike Willmottt's first book carp life and Chris Yates casting at the sun.
My three are Terry Hearn's first book in pursuit, Mike Willmottt's first book carp life and Chris Yates casting at the sun.
In reply to Post #14
Great books but as another poster said about certain books as period pieces I fear these will be veiwed the same way soon. Thicky's first is a classic but there are many I enjoyed at the time, John Harry's savay was a great read for anyone that wanted to fish there. Chris Ball the history of brilliant reference book.
Great books but as another poster said about certain books as period pieces I fear these will be veiwed the same way soon. Thicky's first is a classic but there are many I enjoyed at the time, John Harry's savay was a great read for anyone that wanted to fish there. Chris Ball the history of brilliant reference book.