I have wanted to do a few interviews to improve my article work and penmanship and spied Mark Watson from Nash Tackle on Facebook and asked him if we could do a short interview. He agreed and I suggested we carry out the interview online as Mark works full time as do I and schedules can clash.
I thought I would start asking him about his fishing roots and how he got started carping. So with brew in hand and slippers on I had a quick chat with the 36 year old taxi driver.
Me - So how long have you been fishing for and was carp the first species you targeted? Can you remember landing your first carp?
Mark - I've been fishing since I was about 9 or 10.
I started off trying to catch anything that swims and targeted just about everything before carp. Mainly chub on the river Don or south Yorkshires Navigation canal and tench on a club water called the long pond. A few mates had started carp fishing and I followed them.
My first carp came in a match my grandad had entered me in with his local pub and it came from Elvington Lake near York. Towards the end of the match I'd only had a few perch so I crammed as many maggots as I could on a size 16 hook and cast as far as I could with my 9 foot quiver rod. It whacked round just before the end of the match and after a good fight a monster mirror of 2lb 2oz was netted giving me 3rd place in the match. I still have the trophy I won today
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| Mark with a gorgeous 38lb Common, slightly bigger than his first. |
Mark - The Nash thing started almost 10 years ago when Gary Bayes took me on as a field tester for the bait. Things progressed from there to being a consultant. Balancing full time employment with them is easy. They've never put any pressure on me to do anything and I'm lucky in that I find writing easy. I'd do more if I had more time.
Me – Sounds great mate. How much time to do you get on the bank? Do you mainly do days or 24hr sessions or longer?
Mark - The max I fish is a 48 session every week. I work Thursday to Sunday so can fish Monday to Wednesday. Being there midweek is a massive edge. Obviously other things in life pop up in life that get in the way but 2 nights a week is what I like to do. I'll do more day sessions through the winter.
Me - Obviously being a Nash consultant you must get a good look at their range of tackle, what would be the item you would never leave home without?
Mark - Twister hooks, I've even adapted rigs to incorporate them. The long straight point, wide gape and strength are what make them a bit special.
Me - I have read loads about them, Julian Cundiff can’t rate them high enough. So do you prefer a bivvy or a brolly? And are you a door open or closed kinda guy? Which of the Nash Bivvies or brollies would you use till the end of your fishing days? (may they be long and fruitful)
Mark - I currently have a Titan and a brolly dome and it depends on the weather as to which one gets used. The brolly dome is lightweight and perfect for summer sessions and I also use it for days in winter. It gives more protection than a normal brolly and has a mozzy mesh which is essential. The Titan is rock solid and is what I use when the weather gets a bit rough. I'm almost 6 and a half foot tall and both bivvies are high enough for me to be comfy in. I've been in bivvies in the past that must be made for midgets!!
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| Mark in his bivvy watching the water. |
Mark - I used century SPs for years then switched over to the NRXDs and the difference is unbelievable. The SPs were good rods but the NRXDs are in a different league. Everything from their casting, playing fish to being so light for their strength makes them the best rod I've ever used by a long way. That may sound like a consultant blatant plug but I'll back it up. If you or anyone sees me on the bank I'll let you have a play with them and see for yourself!
Me - I have just got a pair of Enitity rods through earning some Nash vouchers and I think they are pretty bloody awesome. I was talking to Lee at Broadlands and he was saying the NRXDs are something special too. I know a lot of anglers are keen on carp care, which of Nash's mats or cradles do you use?
Mark - All anglers should be keen on carp care mate. I've had the carp cradle for a few years and it's perfect for the job. Not having to lift the fish too high for the pictures and not having to find dead flat ground are a couple of advantages. A lot of my pictures are self takes and having the cradle makes framing the shot a doddle.
Me – True, all anglers should be but not all are. With the cradles being so good and not too badly priced most should be able to afford one. My Peg 1 multi mat is looking a bit tired now. What are your views on the Peg 1 series? Do you think the budget end of the tackle is worth it or do you recommend that people should buy the best they can afford at the time? (Generally speaking)
Mark - The peg 1 range is quality kit and is aimed at the specialist angler. Nash do the Hooligan gear for a budget range and there's good gear in there that doesn't cost the earth. I've just done my level 2 coaching course and will have a set up from the hooligan range for beginners to use. I also know of UK carp up to 54lb that have been landed on the hooligan rods.
Spending money on fishing always has to be a balance. It’s better to have mid or low range gear then still be able to afford bait and tickets. There's no point have top of the range kit and nowhere to go!
Me – Thank you so much for this mate.
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| A stunning 45lb 6oz Mirror... |
So a short and sweet interview about a few items of the Nash range that Mark likes to use. As Mark has mentioned he has passed his level 2 coaching course and we be doing tuition next year so if you are interested I would give him a message.
Thank you again to Mark and I look forward to testing out those NRXDs!
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