#10 DAN RUDGLEY - heritage carp at dawn

In this episode Joff heads south to meet up with wild carp fanatic Dan Rudgley. Dan, has become well known in recent years for his dedication to tracking down hidden pools in his hunt for wild carp - carp that are descended from ancient fish stocked into stew ponds, moats, and lakes, as a food source for 14th century monasteries, farmers, and well off landowners.

Dan writes for the quarterly magazine Fallons Angler and is the star of two of their short films Wildie II, and Desert Tench both of which can be viewed on the website fallonsangler.net Garret Fallon, founder of the magazine, was the guest on episode #9 of this podcast.

Local information, folklore, pub tales, and a sixth sense will often find Dan pushing through long wet grass, past crumbling boat houses and onto the banks of pools where these prussian blue shapes glide between snaking stems of lilies in the dappled shade of willows and scum filled corners.

While stalking surface feeding carp Dan shares his journey from childhood on the Romney Marsh, fishing ancient drainage ditches, to his current passion for tracking down waters, sometimes tiny, that contain this elusive fish. Aided by OS maps and Google Earth, he discovers potential waters, securing permission in one instance for just a five-hour fishing window.

Dan discusses his seasonal approach to other species - wild carp in summer, tench, then chub and perch in winter.

Press play and transport yourself to the bankside to enjoy the excitement punctuated by a backdrop of glorious May birdsong.