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JOHN VICKERS
The History of Carp
Fishing in Oxfordshire
Paul Harris and Geoff Adams
Carp fishing has a very rich history. In the early days of it
becoming popular, Kent and the Colne Valley were the hot beds
of our fledgling pastime and of course there was the legendary
Redmire Pool.
Into the new Millennium and one area above all others
exploded onto the scene, this was of course Oxfordshire. The
quality of the stock of carp in this county was incredible but
where did these beautiful scaly beasts come from? When did the
Leney’s get stocked? What were the origins of the famous Linch
Hill fish and what of the history of the now infamous Linear
Fisheries? Over the course of the pages of this book all will be
revealed as Paul and Geoff have put together the facts of how
these lakes were stocked and also banded together many
successful local anglers, some of which have never published any
of their catches, who tell their fishing tales on these stunning
lakes.
With more than 300 pictures of some of this country’s finest
ever carp and several full page maps, this huge volume tells the
story of Oxfordshire’s carp fishing history whilst still leaving a
little bit of mystery for your imagination!
Included within the pages of this book is the foreword written
by local legendary angler and former tackle dealer Joe Taylor. We
have chapters from Paul Kitchin on the legendary Vauxhall Lake.
David Brian Williams tells us the story of the lakes in the City of
Oxford itself! Chris Robinson has written an incredible chapter
on two of Dorchester’s lakes. Orchid and The Lagoon. The
history told in Chris’ chapter on these lakes is just incredible and
wait until you see the pictures!
Next door to The Lagoon is Dorchester’s Alliance Club Lake
and Joe Forrester tells his story of the incredible scaly carp that
inhabited this lake and how he outwitted them.
We have a real coup in the fact that brilliant all-round Oxford
angler John Everard agreed to be interviewed and he has an
incredible amount of historical information to share, as has Gerald
Stratford who is also included in this informative chapter.
No book about Oxfordshire’s carp fishing history would be
complete without the story of Oxford’s first forty and what a
story it is. Richard ‘Paddy’ Paradine has never written or
published any of his catches before and we have his interview here
for you of his historic catch which was kept under the radar for so
long.
Nick Stansfield is a brilliant young Oxford carper who doesn’t
shout about his catches. We have two incredible chapters from
him from two of the county’s most iconic lakes, The Leisure Park
and The Big S! Josh Chatfield has written a fantastic chapter
which really gives you an insight into how fishing on The Leisure
Park was back in the day when the Leney’s were still about and
culminates with his capture of The Big Leney at its biggest ever
weight, the iconic ‘Paddy’s Fish’.
We have brilliant chapters on Newlands from Ginger Robinson
and Milton Pools from Stuart Rothwell. Danny Aplin has written
about his time on Linch Hill which will just blow you away! His
pictures alone are worth purchasing this book.
Nick Franklin has written a lovely chapter on one of
Oxfordshire’s little known lakes and his account really hits home
that carp fishing isn’t always about the numbers game. Sometimes
it’s just you fishing for the unknown! There are superb chapters
on Manor Farm from Paul Hathaway and St Johns from Stewart
Roper.
If that wasn’t enough Paul and Geoff have wrote chapters
themselves which cover the stocking history of lakes, how the
gravel company ARC played such a big part in the early stockings
of Oxford’s lakes, the early days of Linch Hill and Linear
Fisheries and facts and stories regarding Oxford’s other lakes,
some very off the radar!
If you like your history, you like carp fishing and love stories
of beautiful scaly carp, there is only one book to purchase this
year. Here it is…
CARD: 01252 373658
PAYPAL: www.bigcarpmagazine.co.uk
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