Leon Bartropp- on Big carp and never giving up

With big carp hunting on his mind at all times we are over the moon that Leon has spared some time to answer some questions for us. With a knowledge spanning 20+ years and a heart for travel and adventure Leon has caught some incredible carp from a huge variety of waters. this is what he had to say to Team Catch and Release

How did you get into carp fishing?

Probably like most anglers from my age group in that I started off fishing for roach and perch, then moved upto bream and chub and then after competing on the match circuit for a number of years as a junior I discovered Carp and the rest is history as they say…

Describe your fishing style in 3 words

NEVER GIVE UP

Being a top angler what would you say is your biggest tip you have learned to give you that edge over the wary carp?

Observation is the best tip I can give and this not only applies to finding the carp on your chosen venue, it also applies to what other anglers on your lake are doing also, you will find that the majority of anglers will be fishing a certain way, for instance all using popups, the fish will get used to this over a period of time, so ill purposely go the other way and fish a bottom bait, it has served me well combined with finding the fish first…

What would you say has been your best capture?

Best Capture, that is a difficult one as all have been unique and meant as much as the other captures in their certain ways, but if I had to be Pushed it would have to be the “Woodcarving” from Horton, it was the fish I just really wanted to catch at the time from there and was fortunate enough to land her/him, it made it that much sweeter that is was on a 50mm bait !!!!

Obviously not all rigs are all purpose but what rig would you use as your banker?,

I don’t really have a banker rig as each rig I have used or use is a banker for that specific lake or fish im targeting, I like bottom bait rigs, popups, chods, hinged stiff links, pva bags, really I use all and everyone of them if it’s the way to keep my net wet and smiling for the camera….

When would you start to look to introduce your spring bait and what are you using this season?

Im in the fortunate position that I have designed a bait with Alan Parbery at Mistral that is a true “4Season” bait, ive been using it for the past year since I was really hapoy with it and haven’t looked back catch fish all over Europe including a new PB Common of 49lb 12oz from here in the UK….

Have you set yourself any targets this year?

Im going to enjoy my fishing a lot more, not that I haven’t or don’t, but the lakes ill be fishing are not as busy as some I have been on in recent years and im gonna enjoy the peace and quiet at least for as long as it lasts, im also going to be fishing in Germany a couple of times this year in search of some monsters so to catch my first German 50lb+ would be great to go along with my Dutch and French ones from the lats couple of years

If you could get rid of one thing from carping what would it be? 

Probably all the hatred , egos and jealousy,  i just cant be doing with all the backbiting and slagging off that goes on amongst some of our so called top anglers, all they are doing is making themselves look bad and showing the people who look upto those anglers there tre colours, its human nature I suppose but I just don’t buy into it, I believe in Karma particularly in my carpfishing and “What goes around comes around”, the Carp Gods don’t forget and are always looking…..LOL

With spring  around the corner what are your steps to prepare for the warming weather?

I fish all year round so I don’t really prepare any differently any time of the year, of course kit and clothes will be dfferent, but for spring I like to keep the bait I use to a minimum and use bright ones as singles or over a scattering of bait, ill also start to introduce some oil like hemp oil or salmon oil as the water temp rises to drag them fish down onto my baits, this may sound strange but ive personally always done just as good in the winter months as in the spring so its just another season for me to get my head around the fish and hopefully keep on catching them….