Dave, it's not often I don't find myself nodding at whatever you write but I'm not sure I understand your comment that "...its not the same as Walker's or Yates' moment in the sun but it's still a phenomenal achievement for those that follow that direction."
It's a new record and must have meant every bit as much to the captor as Clarissa did to Walker, The Bishop to Yates and Mary to Terry Hearn surely? I accept that there are so many huge carp around these days that the impact isn't as great perhaps.... Chris' record stood for well over a decade, yet when I caught my first fifty in 2006 there were four or five other fifties caught that same week! So I do accept that the carp scene is very different now.
I do agree with your comments though Shaun and I for one am delighted to see the record fall to a fish from a well managed water, where the carp reflects the nature and natural capacity of the environment in which it lives.... A true record at a time when I was certain the next claim would be from a carp stocked into a fishery at a big weight, which has little or no relationship with it's environment and which would have devalued to record completely in my view......
I'm celebrating the fact that the carp record still has some meaning and I'm delighted for the angler and the fishery management team.
On the issue of mouth damage, I don't think there is any doubt that fish care has come a long way in recent years but I do agree that ever more powerful rods used in the wrong circumstances are a problem. Every rod advert these days focuses on how far the rod can cast with little or no mention of playing action) and test curves are forever on an upward spiral. When playing large fish under the rod top on a small water this is a real issue and one the tackle trade should address in my view..... Interesting for example that ESP are bringing out a new version of the Terry Hearn rods but the lowest test curve is 3lb, even though Terry's favoured TC is the 2.75lb version because,as Terry told me, they don't think anglers will buy any rod of less than a 3lb TC.
All interesting stuff... Good debate chaps!
