Greg Ellis takes the crown!
The highly dedicated, big carp catcher Greg Ellis has been announced as Mainline Carp Angler of the Year 2017/18. The 29-year-old roofer from Corringham, Essex, has spent his year targeting RK Leisure’s Kingsmead Island Lake, the notorious North Met Pit and Cleverley Mere.
Over on the Island Lake Greg managed to land the lake’s largest resident Roids at an impressive 54lb 6oz. With one target ticked off his list he then went onto the North Met Pit where he landed Baby Basil at 47lb along with multiple backup thirty-pounders. He then followed it up with his most treasured of 2017 in the shape of Cleverley Mere’s Hendrix, a fish that had been on his wish list for several years.
When we asked Greg how it felt to be this year’s winner, he revealed: “In my eyes the Mainline Carp Angler of the Year competition stands as the most prestigious of all the carp angler of the year comps that run today. For me it’s the ultimate title and has been something I have always dreamed of winning.
“I’ve been lucky enough to be in the running for Carp Angler of the Year for the past three years. Last year saw me come close to taking the title when I was Runner-up to my good friend Dave Levy. Having come so close to winning I went all out this year and knowing that all my hard work and determination has paid off is a great feeling. Most people will say that you don’t go fishing to win prizes but this year I knew what I wanted and that was to win CAOTY. I am truly honoured to be this year’s winner and cannot thank Mainline and Carp-Talk enough.”
In second place was Hampshire carper Chris Cox who also spent a lot of time on the Horton complex. The 28-year-old gas engineer was one of the most successful anglers on RK Leisure’s Church Lake, where he banked the king of the pond Fingers at 50lb 6oz as well as many of the lake’s most sought after residents. After finishing on Church Lake he took to Kingsmead 1 where he quickly got amongst the fish, catching numerous thirty-pounders before catching the Posh Sutton at 43¾lb.
Chris told Carp-Talk “I was absolutely chuffed to hear that I was in the running for Mainline Carp Angler of the Year so to have achieved second place is absolutely brilliant. I have really enjoyed my fishing this year and achieved most of the targets I set myself. Congratulations to Greg and George on their placements, both have had some cracking captures during 2017. Greg truly deserves first place, his dedication and skill is exceptional!”
Third place was taken by George Loughlin from Watford who was the captor of multiple big fish throughout the year, including a brace of forties back in August and a cracking 43½lb mirror in October. The 47-year-old concentrated his time on RK Leisure’s Kingsmead 1 where he also caught an abundance of thirty-pounders too.
Commenting on his third place, he told Carp-Talk: “It was a hugely proud moment for me when I was told I had won third prize. I honestly cannot thank Mainline and Carp-Talk enough. After seeing the successes of anglers like Greg Ellis and Dave Levy on the Horton Complex throughout 2016/17, I couldn’t ignore how devastating Mainline Bait was. I can honestly say it has provided me with the best season’s angling of my life, unrivalled consistency and big fish captures that all boiled down to the bait.”
All three winners were presented with their prizes at the annual Carpin’On show at Five Lakes in Essex. Here at Carp-Talk we would like to thank each and every one of you that submitted your catch reports for the competition throughout the year, but above all, a big shout-out goes to Kev Knight and the guys at Mainline Baits, Free Spirit and Spomb for their great prizes. We now look forward to seeing all of your entries for the next Carp Angler of the Year competition which is already underway!
Mainline Carp Angler of the Year prizes
1st: £1000 cash, £1000 worth of Mainline Bait, £1500 Dreamlakes package holiday for two, plus bait; £1215 worth of Free Spirit Hi ‘S’s ive ER rods with ‘Carp Angler of the Year’ imprinted on them; and £70 worth of ‘Carp Angler of the Year’ Spombs. Total prize value £4785
2nd: Four nights exclusive fishing on the Quarry, Essex, worth £1500, £500 cash, £500 worth of Mainline Bait, three Free Spirit CTX rods worth £390; and £70 worth of ‘Carp Angler of the Year’ Spombs. Total prize value £2960
3rd: £250 cash, £250 worth of Mainline Bait, £140 Free Spirit Spomb Rod, and £70 worth of ‘Carp Angler of the Year’ Spombs. Total prize value £710
