The Bishop

[Gary Bills]

Ahh. That fish! I read the chapter of this day 33 years ago 4 seasons this morning in the bath-puts me in the mood for fishing!
however, for me the most important fish that pool did was Bob Richards' 31 lb record. That fish lay the foundations for everyone else to jump on board and create the legends. As well as catching it being an amazing feat of angling achievement-he used a whole cane and greenheart roach rod (an allcocks Lancer I think) and I think 6lb line. Amazing.

Yep, St John, - I wouldn't argue with that..
Without Richards' achievement, Walker would probably have focussed on Dagenham and Woldale...and Clarissa would not have come out when she did..

[Woodytia]

Wouldn't it be nice if the UK Carp record was once again caught by an angler using a cane rod, a Mk IV for preference but one of the newer models would be ok. The use of a centrepin or another traditional reel and a traditional bait would be the icing on the cake. I wonder what the specialist carp magazines would make of such an event.

[Snape]

Wouldn't it be nice if the UK Carp record was once again caught by an angler using a cane rod, a Mk IV for preference but one of the newer models would be ok. The use of a centrepin or another traditional reel and a traditional bait would be the icing on the cake. I wonder what the specialist carp magazines would make of such an event.

There is a fish in Ashmead which may break the record in the next few years and Skeff may be the man to catch it and with a cane rod....

[Gary Bills]

Wouldn't it be nice if the UK Carp record was once again caught by an angler using a cane rod, a Mk IV for preference but one of the newer models would be ok. The use of a centrepin or another traditional reel and a traditional bait would be the icing on the cake. I wonder what the specialist carp magazines would make of such an event.

I think that, to some extent, it would re-align anglers' sensibilities, - much as the capture of the Bishop made quite a few anglers re-consider their positions, regarding the modern scene. The problem is, much more so than in 1980, there are these huge commercial interests now, all pushing boilies - the latest baits, the latest "must-have" gear, and I suspect there would be a profound element of hostility towards anyone saying, "hey, you don't really need all this..."

[Julian]

Wouldn't it be nice if the UK Carp record was once again caught by an angler using a cane rod, a Mk IV for preference but one of the newer models would be ok. The use of a centrepin or another traditional reel and a traditional bait would be the icing on the cake. I wonder what the specialist carp magazines would make of such an event.

There is a fish in Ashmead which may break the record in the next few years and Skeff may be the man to catch it and with a cane rod....

Yes I believe its quite likely that the record may be broken there in a few years, but as it is a syndicate it may get caught on carbon - but its still the most likely place for a future cane record.

[Shaun Harrison]

This is the spreader Block that 'The Bishop' saw.



John Carver, the man that rescued it for Chris after it became grounded in silt. Chris didn't have a landing net with him when he hooked 'The Bishop' thus John having to charge around Redmire with one of his nets.

[Dave Burr]

For me the Bishop was the very last record fish that counted for anything and even then it was refused for a long time. It was a fish that was angled for and caught by a deserving and determined angler of the old school. My heart died a little on the day that a new roach record was landed on carp gear and a boilie, roach should be caught on bread or maggots and on the float, rudd on a slow sinking bait and a tench should be caught from near a lilly bed, I could go on, its my age you know.

[Greentura]

I was nearly 14 then and taking my first steps into carp fishing, stalking them with floating bread crust, a 9' shakespeare spinning rod and Daiwa 1050 reel. It had taken a year before i actually caught one I remember the pic of that hippy looking guy with the floppy hat and huge carp on the front of angling times that morning i caught my first carp, not quite a double but the biggest fish i had caught by far then. Was that the inspiration i needed, or just coincidence

[MaggotDrowner]

For me the Bishop was the very last record fish that counted for anything and even then it was refused for a long time. It was a fish that was angled for and caught by a deserving and determined angler of the old school. My heart died a little on the day that a new roach record was landed on carp gear and a boilie, roach should be caught on bread or maggots and on the float, rudd on a slow sinking bait and a tench should be caught from near a lilly bed, I could go on, its my age you know.

Please, please tell me that roach was an accidental catch.

[Skeff]

Fear not! If Ashmead's finest ever gets close to record weight I'll close the water and make it available to cane and pin users only....

It's a hell of a way from 58 lb to 68lb though!