What Really Matters
Luke Stevenson
Each issue we ask someone to order the following headings, in order of importance, and to tell us a bit about why they matter. This is big fish supremo Luke Stevenson's list of 'what really matters'. Enjoy
Quality/heritage of our quarry
With so many carp out there to fish for nowadays, picking the ones to angle for isn’t as easy as you might think. Actually choosing the ‘ones’ to target is massively important to me, and they’ve got to be unique – be it size, looks character or age, or a combination of those factors, sometimes just that something that particular carp exude. There are so many factors that make a carp that extra bit special, but ultimately, I suppose it’s the older carp with rounded features, clean over-slung mouths and a story to tell that really do it for me and get me obsessed. It’s those when it finally comes good and you part the mesh, and you and any onlookers are left speechless other than the odd expletive – they’re truly ‘the ones’!
'Actually choosing the ‘ones’ to target is massively important to me, and they’ve got to be unique – be it size, looks character or age, or a combination of those factors'
Observation
For me, everything starts with watching the water. It’s the singular, most important part of the puzzle and something I really love to do. The more I observe and immerse myself, the more I feel at one with the lake, and in turn, my quarry. I get a massive buzz from that first light vigil when often the game is given away with subtle shows and fizzing out in the pond. Then moving through to the autumn when activity is often nocturnal. Quite often, It’s the subtler signs that are key; slightly coloured water, broken weed drifting in on the wind and subtle bubbling are just a few of the key fundamentals in understanding what the carp are doing and where. Only once you’ve observed and built up a picture of the carp’s habits, can you formulate a plan then go on to execute. Basically, everything I’ve ever caught has been down to observation in one form or another.
'Basically, everything I’ve ever caught has been down to observation in one form or another'
Location
Location it’s absolutely paramount. I simply can’t settle or chill until I’m 100% happy that I’m where I need to be, and it’s something I’m always scrutinising. Last year, after walking a pit all afternoon with nothing to go on, the subtlest of head pokes just before dark gave the game away. I caught three the next morning off the back of that little nose poke, and went on to fish and work that area over the next six weeks, culminating in catching the lake’s big ‘un – a massive result off the back of the subtlest of signs. The importance of location at key times of the day is often overlooked; where they are in the afternoon sun, often isn’t where they will be, come bite time. I’ve lost count of the times when I’ve found fish at first light, let them get on with it, put rods out in the area for the next night and then got a bite the next morning.
'Location it’s absolutely paramount. I simply can’t settle or chill until I’m 100% happy that I’m where I need to be, and it’s something I’m always scrutinising'
Investment of time
There really is no substitute for time spent behind rods. My whole life revolves around making time, and I’m constantly rushing around, trying never to waste a minute – balancing a work, life, family life and a massive obsession with carp angling is never easy. In recent years, I’ve seen first-hand how precious our time on this planet really is, and it’s a conscious and deliberate decision to spend as much time doing the things I love. Often fishing lakes 70-plus miles from home doing the work nights isn’t a viable option. I much prefer it to squeeze in as much work and quality time at home into the start of the week, then do a 2-3 nighter at the end of the week. I’m self-employed and that enables me to be flexible at times when I really feel I need to up the ante, be that around some prime weather conditions and/or moon phase.
'I’m constantly rushing around, trying never to waste a minute – balancing a work, life, family life and a massive obsession with carp angling is never easy'
Motivation
I’m probably keener now than I’ve ever been. If I’m not actually fishing, I’m probably thinking about it, or preparing for my next trip. The thought of coming face-to-face, and holding up a special carp, one that I really want, is enough to get the old juices going. I find it really important to be fishing for carp that mean a lot to me, in lakes where I like spending my time. I’m lucky to have some really close mates who also fish, and a chat with one of them when I’m perhaps not feeling it, is often enough to get me back up for it. I have absolutely no time for being around negative people whilst on the bank, much preferring people with a positive outlook. I find it so infectious, infinitely enriching my time spent on the bank even when the chips are down.
'I find it really important to be fishing for carp that mean a lot to me, in lakes where I like spending my time'
Nature of surroundings
I’ve been lucky enough to fish in some beautiful parts of the country, on pits oozing atmosphere. Only the other day, I was watching a young barn owl out hunting its dinner, and last year, there was a particular swim I fished a lot where the bitterns would keep me awake at night. I love the the seasonal changes we get to see whilst by a lake, and the different smells; from the balmy, long summer days, through the damp autumnal evenings and the smell of decaying leaves, through to cold winter nights and sharp frost underfoot. As anglers, we are so lucky to experience all this, and if you step back to appreciate it, it will only enrich an already magical pastime.
'I love the the seasonal changes we get to see whilst by a lake, and the different smells; from the balmy, long summer days, through the damp autumnal evenings'
Preparation
A big part of my angling is done in my prior prep, from cleaning buckets and reloading with bait; boiling particles, or soaking boilies, sorting kit and keeping it as minimal as possible whilst having kit for every eventuality – food shop done the day before, and all my kit stacked at one end of the garage, ready for a super-quick turnaround after finishing work. Prep is a massive part of the buzz, and the idea of not being prepared fills me with dread. Ever since I can remember, I’ve been fascinated by fishing tackle, and tinkering with kit at home gives me my fix when it’s not viable just to be dropping in at the lake.
'Prep is a massive part of the buzz, and the idea of not being prepared fills me with dread'
Timing
I don’t have the luxury of being able to get out at the drop of a hat in prime weather conditions or moon phases. Ultimately, work comes first, but I do keep a keen eye on the weather forecast and always know when the better moon phases are. I like to be as flexible and as efficient as possible with my work schedule, often starting earlier and finishing later in the day than I would usually like, in order to allow me more time on the bank at key times. Experience has taught me when, and when not, to go hard. Knowing exactly when to make the extra effort to be at the lake, in relation to what is going on there is key, and when I feel it’s really on, I’ll be hard at it and giving it my all. On the flip side, if I feel it’s not happening, I’m more than happy to wrap and head for home and spend my time gaining brownie points for next time!
'Experience has taught me when, and when not, to go hard. Knowing exactly when to make the extra effort to be at the lake, in relation to what is going on there is key'
Bait application
Knowing what, when and how much can be the holy grail. There are so many things to take into consideration that I’m often left sitting behind the rods after they’ve been done wondering if I’ve overdone it; have I made too much disruption? Is there enough out there? – and so on. I love nothing more than getting rods out with a few handfuls of bait catapulted, it’s often a very discreet way to angle and those big ‘uns often like a boilie! I can’t emphasise enough how critical pre-baiting is; it’s not something that can always be done because some lakes are really busy, but I always make an effort to get a few of what I consider to be prime areas baited, even if that means fishing the areas for a short while in order to get a bait out there. Something I also like to do is to keep tabs on how clean the areas become and I’m careful not to get spots too big and bare. This is when baiting with bigger baits, like boilies and nuts, comes into its own.
'I love nothing more than getting rods out with a few handfuls of bait catapulted, it’s often a very discreet way to angle and those big ‘uns often like a boilie'
Bait
I’m predominantly a boilie angler, and a quality fishmeal really takes some beating, in my eyes. They’re definitely big-fish selective, of that I’m sure! Breaking them up, washing them out and mixing sizes are just a few things I like to do with them, to differentiate myself from the masses. I also add tigers and maize to my approach, both of which I boil up at home in the old Burco boiler ahead of trips. I like to use bigger food items and generally don’t use an awful lot of seed, mainly because I always feel carp are easier to hook whilst feeding on bigger food items. It suits the types of spots I like to present on, too. They are usually on the soft side or slightly dirty, and not rock hard and clean, which is ideal for the seed. I tend to move on to smaller bits and pieces when it becomes a bit trickier, often toward the back end of autumn/winter.
'I’m predominantly a boilie angler, and a quality fishmeal really takes some beating, in my eyes. They’re definitely big-fish selective, of that I’m sure'
Enjoyment
I seem to be more in love with carp angling year on year, obviously catching big carp really fuels that enjoyment, but I also get a real buzz out of sharing in the enjoyment of other people’s success. Ultimately, we all have our day at some point, and I know from experience how much better the the buzz is when others share it. I suppose I’m at my most content when I’ve just got the rods out into an already prepped and rocking area, knowing that I’ve got my part of the deal right, and it’s then just a case of waiting for whatever to unfold, crack a beer open, or flick the kettle on and soak it up.
'I seem to be more in love with carp angling year on year, obviously catching big carp really fuels that enjoyment, but I also get a real buzz out of sharing in the enjoyment of other people’s success'
Etiquette
Something that I feel is a little lost nowadays, but I’ve witnessed, and been on the receiving end of some good etiquette these last few years. In the most part, I’ve been left alone to get on with working particular areas, often quieter areas that see less footfall, which is refreshing in the modern-day scene, where lakes are busier, and it sometimes seems like every man for himself. I’m sure that’s mainly down to the old-school-style syndicates lakes I’ve been fishing with some great guys and a real sense of camaraderie.
'Something that I feel is a little lost nowadays, but I’ve witnessed, and been on the receiving end of some good etiquette these last few years'
Social scene
I’ve always loved how angling brings all walks of life together, often chewing the fat over a tea or beer, mulling over ideas and scenarios, and reliving tales of the past. Groups of lads drinking cold beers and eating barbecued meat of a summer evening, toasting someone’s special capture, or indeed just because! I’ve made some lifelong friendships in fishing, often forged over a few beers and like-mindedness in the love of our magical pastime. Only last summer, I was in the pub one afternoon celebrating catching a big ‘un, with a pipe-fitter, solicitor and a scientist – proof that angling forges some unlikely friendships through the mutual love of it!
'I’ve always loved how angling brings all walks of life together, often chewing the fat over a tea or beer, mulling over ideas and scenarios, and reliving tales of the past'
