I have fished since 1954, starting of almost straight away as a Specimen Hunter. The Warren Pond in Chingford was within a 10 minutes walk of my home. There I met up with a group of lads, who were deciples of the God " Walker " regarded by us, as a Hero. Fishing by the season's and I recieved a good all round apprenticeship in different types of fishing. In 1956 I caught my first Carp from the Mint Sauce pond in Loughton, it weighed about 2lbs.
Then the capture of a carp of any size was something of an achivement.
As a group we would fish the Forest Ponds in the summer, in the autumn we fished the Old Lee at Fisher Green then run be the Waveley Angling Club for Chub and Barbel.
Winter meant Pike Fishing and the North Met Gravel Pit, having plundered the big groups of Tench it held in the summer.
Trips to Wades Mill by Push bike and the River Rib for Dace, Roach and Trout.
Interupted by visits to the King George Reservior, just a few miles from home, where huge Pike lurked in it's depths.
That water also held massive shoals of Perch, Roach and Bream which thinking back they were not that difficult to catch.
Anyway that was the early days ! !
Since then, I have followed just about every change in coarse angling up to the present day.
I still fish for lots of different species, having no particular favourite.
I'm also one of the founding members and Chairman of the Osprey Specimen Group and very proud to hold that position.
Bob

Retired

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