The Caerphilly Castle Moat is an iconic Welsh carp venue, this now holds plentiful 20’s and several fish over the magical 30lb mark, to a record 31lb 2oz. Thanks for that Goose - I think of Redmire these days as being like a National Trust property (I worked for NT for fifteen years). It's a pastiche in many ways these days of times gone by and the impacts of that time are painfully evident, from the built swims to the new otter fence and the changes in landscape management around the pool that made the restoration work necessary.... But there is still an underlying magic there and that sense of history.

I’m rambling! I agree with you, the progeny have often not lived up to the original. The chance was missed. Yes. The reason we have the fish we have today is purely through unnatural selection. Left alone all lakes would be full of long skinny 12lb Wildie commons. Chris Ball doesn't have the Leney records. They belong to Chris Yates and are currently here at home, on loan to me...

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Llyn Cae-Tŷ-Nant Syndicate Fishery near Tregaron has made a name for itself in just a couple of years. This stunning, natural upland lake has some very distinctive large carp, with fish to 45lb 11oz. Below a 35 6oz mirror from Llyn Cae-Tŷ-Nant. Wales may not be world renowned for its carp fishing, but a plethora of options do exist, with hundreds of venues offering great fishing even in winter.

I have a poignant picture of a perfect zip I caught it on a weekend,the next weekend I went,I found it in three separate parts,near the dead tree swim,on the high bank,I remember the body part regeneration on its tail as if it was yesterday.. There is also a small water down Kernow,which was reptuted to have wildies,not ferals but proper wildies,the ones with the prominent notch,like welsh wildies...I have caught one of these too... If you are planning on targeting carp from a commercial fishery, where the carp are likely to be smaller in size, but present in greater numbers, one of the most effective tactics is to fish a method feeder. There are numerous pellets and groundbaits designed to mold around a feeder, plus as many hookbaits. The most effective are pellets, mini boilies, dead maggots, corn or luncheon meat. There's a saying ,where there is a hole in the ground you'll find a Cornish man,not forgetting the Cambourne school of mines, and the world famous blue slate quarry, which members of my family worked down,including Prince of Wales, quarry nr Tintagel.. Zig rigs fished higher up the water are another winter method, as carp sometimes suspend themselves in the mid levels over the deepest waters in a lake, almost in a form of suspended animation. A zig is worth a try should bottom methods fail.The lakes,were terribly ottered and a Alfa slurry tank disaster did for the lakes health,sadly its now shut as a fishery,and used purely for aesthetic hot tub holidays...urrrrrrhhhhhh.. If you’re new to the method, your best bet is to buy a method feeder, complete with mold, from Preston Innovations, Drennan or Guru. Likewise, you can also buy ready-tied hair-rigged hooks to-nylon in 3-4 inch versions. Bury the hookbait in the groundbait, cast regularly to the same spot and wait for the rod to be dragged in! In my eyes probably less than 10%, there are loads of 40+ fish out there now, many if they were human would be classed as obese. I remember a conversation with Roger Smith in the mid 80s where he recounted tales of sml carp coming from Redmire and some of the lakes that they ended up in. I'm meant to be fishing there soon,again..but not now,due to this awful virus....my heart and prayers to everyone, at this time,I'm still gutted I won't be going now..