From Scunthorpe to Belgium, to France, Cambridge and back to Scunthorpe. This man certainly puts the miles in to put himself in front of the most stunning of fish. You can only admire the drive and passion that Olly has to catch some of Europes most stunning off the beaten track leviathans.
What do you do for a living?
With only being a young lad ive only been working for the last 5-6 years, started as an electrical apprenticeship for packaging company now im a electrical maintenance engineer in the food industry, which is 4 on 4 off which is perfect for the fishing side off things. As well as zero commitments, I’m just lucky i suppose!
When did you start fishing and who was or still is your biggest influence?
I started pleasure fishing when i was around 5, and ever since I’ve absolutely loved it. Slowly progressing my way into carp fishing. Think i did my first ever night when i was about 14 years old. Now its an obsession, its more of a life style to me. I wouldn’t say im influenced by anyone really but the biggest the person what has helped me to love it as much as i do, has to be my grandad. He always did everything possible to make sure im out on the bank as much as I could be from the age of 5 all the way up untill i passed my driving test.
What style of angler are you? Do you set your sights on one particular target whether it be a specific fish or do you go to catch as many as possible in the time you have? What are your strengths and when are you out of your comfort zone?
My style of angling varies depending if im in the UK or over in Europe. In the UK I normally like to get bait going in regularly in quiet areas of the pond and flicker between them depending on the weather or what i have seen from observing the water. However in Europe on the publics im extremely mobile sometimes probably to mobile im willing to walk for days and days hunting down the best opportunity, even when ive found an opportunity i like to weigh up the options and try choose the best one. Sometimes nabbing a quick bite and moving onto somewhere else. I find it just a really enjoyable way of fishing, im not a fan off the sitting and waiting, the thrill off the chase gives me the buzz!
What are your personal bests and what was your most memorable capture?
My personal best has to be my UK PB from my Lincolnshire syndicate, i had put alot of time, effort and money into it. Baiting regularly being key, driving down after work to pre bait with bucket loads. It was just important to me i had to keep the bait going in on the spots and the bites would keep on coming. If you want something that much you’ll do what you can to achieve that dream!
Most memorable capture is my first 40+ from a Belgium canal, its a prime example off keeping the faith. Seeing very little for days on the end after hunting a number off stretches i just had to keep the faith and continue plodding along in hope something happens. To see a wide common in the mesh on a canal in Belgium all on my own is a moment I’ll never forget. Asking a randomer to do some photos which he absolutely nailed on the head made it everything abit more special haha!
What is your biggest bit of advice you can offer someone when it comes to the sport?
The best advice i can offer anyone coming into the game is to do your own thing, theres no better feeling catching carp on your own terms! You can never know everything listening to the lads who are willing to help is key, every percentage helps. Angling etiquette is a massive thing for me and it’s something what should aways be thought about when coming onto a lake. Last but not least, enjoy it, embrace every moment and always smell the roses along the way.
What is your go to rig / bait / method when you first start on a water?
Every water is different to the next, finding the feeding zones and baiting regularly is my favourite way of angling in the UK. However to start with getting around the pond learning the place, it’s important to feel comfortable while your there, the lake means just as much to me as the carp. Youve got to be happy where you are i feel like you fish alot more effective. Im a sucker for a hinge rig majority of the time however over the last year ive began to use D rigs alot more. Both rigs are nice and simple and theres no better way to present them then using a helicopter set up.
Just enjoy your angling and you’ll never go far wrong!
