Early Carp Fishing
The pioneering anglers, remarkable catches and fish rescues that helped establish carp fishing in East Yorkshire.
Carp fishing was a very different pursuit during the 1960s. Double-figure fish were uncommon across much of northern England, and the gravel pits around Brandesburton were among the early waters attracting specialist carp anglers.
These photographs capture the pioneering days of carp fishing on Association waters and the people who helped develop the sport locally.
Early Brandesburton Carp Fishing
13lb Carp on Sausage Meat
Stamps’ First Known 20lb Carp
Carp Rescued in 1983
The Pioneers of Brandesburton
Some of the earliest carp fishing photographs from H&DAA waters feature members of the East Hull Specimen Group, fishing the Brandesburton pits during the mid-1960s.
At the time, even relatively modest carp were noteworthy captures. These anglers were helping establish a style of fishing that would become increasingly popular over the following decades.
Early Fishery Management
Protecting Carp Stocks
When Coneygarth Extension was reworked in 1972, two carp weighing 14¼lb and 8½lb were rescued and moved to Thompson’s Pond. A similar operation at Fosshill in 1976 saved approximately 18 large carp, weighing up to 17lb.
The Rise of Stamps Pond
Deliberate carp stocking at Brandesburton appears to have begun in the late 1950s and early 1960s. By 1968, carp between 6lb and 10lb were being caught from Stamps Pond by a small group of dedicated anglers.
By the mid-1970s, Stamps had developed a reputation that extended well beyond East Yorkshire. Anglers travelled from York and occasionally as far as London, attracted by the prospect of double-figure carp — still uncommon in northern waters.
The Great Stamps Pond Rescue — 1983
In 1983, Stamps Pond was drained and reworked by its owners, Hoveringham Gravel/Tarmac. On 30 April and 1 May, Yorkshire Water fisheries staff, led by Alan Mullinger, worked alongside Association volunteers to rescue the carp.
58 Carp Rescued
Fish weighing between 8lb and 20lb were transferred to Tilery Lake at Broomfleet, with an estimated average weight of around 15lb.
The move proved remarkably successful. In Tilery Lake’s rich waters, many of the rescued carp later grew beyond 30lb, with the largest approaching 40lb.
Photographs from the 1983 Fish Rescue
Help Preserve Our Angling History
Do you have old photographs, catch records or memories of fishing H&DAA waters? We’d love to hear from you and help preserve them for future generations.
