Grilling The Team - Kenny Dorset

I took Ken along to Gaunts Lake, part of the Guys syndicate at Linear, Oxford to see how he would get on and to see what makes him so successful.

The conditions were not very good for the feature as it was still very cold and clear and the marginal cover was yet to bloom.

Ken ended up with 7 takes in less than 48-hours using his close-in approach with a few nice fish to mid-twenties.  

When and where started carp fishing?
South Weald I reckon is where I started proper Carp fishing and that was about '79 / '80. Might even have been '78, that is where I started proper Carp fishing and that was 10' rods, unheard of test curves, they weren't even thought off then, rods 3' in the air.

Had you done the natural progression from like other fishing?
Oh yes, I used to float fish anywhere and every where. I used to go over Hainault and Lakewell Park and wherever, I just loved fishing.

Was it a carp by mistake that got you into it?
No, what happened was, I'd done all that float fishing and then I got into women as you do, and the fishing takes a back seat. Then I got married and settled down. Then one of my mates, who was into trout fishing, took me with him and that was it. I started going over Hanningfield, caught a few trout, and started tying me own flies and got proper back into it again and thoroughly enjoyed it. And of cause, I was bored now. I was married, done all the decorating and all that; everything was hunky-dory so I could do what I wanted now. Then a mate said to me, because of the season that he had had, “why don't you come Carp fishing with me” and that's when it all started.

I got it all back again then. I had no gear, nothing at all, I only had trout gear. I went with him once to South Weald and that was it, he had twenty, I couldn't believe, I just could not believe and the bailiff who was walking around at the time said let him have a go (meaning me) and of course he wouldn't because it was that secret, you just didn't do that.

The following season I bought myself two rods and two reels, 2 Mitchell's and away I went. I had to fish to the top lake because you had to be a member of that lake for so long and I was a complete and utter novice, I knew nothing, no one told you nothing and I did the whole season on the top lake and blanked, but I thoroughly enjoyed it and I learned a hell of a lot, from other people, and people that I met.

And then the next season I got on the bottom lake, Jeff Kemp was fishing there and that was the year he had 20 twenties. It was just awesome watching the bloke and I thought this is me, I thought I've got to do this, this is what I want to do and that year I had two 20's a couple of doubles. The doubles came first, the twenties came later, then I had my personal best at 26 lb, which in 1980/1 was a big fish you know, it was one of the biggest fish in the bottom lake.

So I take it by then that the other fishing went out the window.
The trout fishing stopped, I couldn't afford to do both, it was too expensive and it was costing me a fortune. I got so much into it then I just sold all my trout gear, never kept none of it, sold all the fly tying gear the lot of it, all gone and I just completely turned and went into carp fishing. Then you're talking about making your own bank sticks, making your own buzz bars because they were too dear for me to buy. A Foxy bed chair had just come out, and Kevin Ellis was the first one to ever have one and I looked at that and thought yeah you're having a laugh. I think it was about £70 at the time and that was like £200 now. A lot of money and I thought no I ain't having one of them and they weighed a tonne and there we are with our little sunloungers and all that, but, we got by and we enjoyed it, we had some fish, some good fishing.

From then I fished the top lake, fished there for a few years thoroughly enjoyed it and it just got better and better and meet more people, as well as catching more fish. I thoroughly enjoyed my time over there, it's a pity its shut now.

I decided that I'd caught quite a few fish out of the bottom lake; I'd had enough of that. I went up to the top lake and had some nice fish out of there. The only lake that I knew off that had a thirty in it was a club water and it was a job to get in. I was on the waiting list for about 3 years before I got in it, in between time just fishing South Weald because I did'nt have anywhere else to go. Tell a lie I went and fished another water, Ongar and District club water, I went and fished there for a little while and a I had a little dabble like you do on Waverley Valley lakes and I'd visit up there and caught a couple of doubles, but nothing to talk about and met some different people, different ideas and different baits. That was the year of the Black Magic, it was the first boilie that came along, it was fascinating and then we joined the Carp Catchers Club. It was unbelievable times really and to have been like Hutchies and the Ritchie MacDonalds and Springates of the time was just phenomenal. You heard about Staines water and places like that and they were just dreams, just 30's and 40's, then it made me even more determined. Then I had to go and get onto a lake with a thirty in it because that's what I wanted to do. I wanted to get a few bigger fish under my belt and I joined Thurrock Angling and that was where I had my first thirty from at 32 lb.

That's the Linear isn't it? I've got the photo of that.
That was the only 30, as far as I know, that was about at that time and I was just over the moon, absolutely over the moon and I went on from there and caught a few more fish. Then I started going over the Chase and had loads more fish out of there, it was like a learning curve.

Had you made any of the friends then that like you've got now?
No.

You were still doing a lot of it on your own were you?
Yes a lot of it. I just bumped into a couple of people at work and a couple of people that I'd met over South Weald and even then you know, a couple of people would tell you a few things then, they knew you was there, they knew that you was keen and as much as you told them then you got the same back. If you didn't say anything you didn't get anything back and that's how I learnt and people did sort of spread the word a little bit and get onto this, this is the going bait and this is the going thing to do and you do it. And that's what I did and that was the start of the tiger nuts, and no-one had dreamed of using tiger nuts as a fishing bait, it was incredible.

Then I went back over South Weald again for a couple of years. I had a session over there and I had some real nice fish out of there. The biggest was 37 lb out of there; I had 3 or 4 thirties out of there. I done that for a couple of seasons, then I went back on the ‘Essex Club water' again and caught some more thirties because the fish that were in there had grown since I'd last fished it. The fish that I was after the big one that went 40 well it went 50 in the end, it was the Essex record, and I had that the first time at 30 that was 4 or 5 years later. My mate had it, at its first time at 40, which was the year we joined Mainline. Got loads and loads of bait in, you've never seen bait like it, it was incredible. That was something we'd never dreamt of doing, 10 kg of bait, phenomenal bait, and they was eating everything. He had it at 40 and then he went and caught again it at 41 and I thought that's it I've lost me chance. I'm not going to catch that fish this year, not on the same bait again, its not going to come out three times in the same year on the same bait and then in the same year in the September, it must have been late 1980's and that was a big, big fish and I was over the moon with that. I had me first 30 lb common, the first 30 lb common to ever have come out of there. Then I went on to do the Manor, fished over there, same again on the Mainline baits with a few lads.

Had you by now got a taste for catching bigger fish?
It's the only thing I wanted to do. The only thing I wanted to do, I didn't want to go anywhere and catch small fish. There were loads of club waters I could go to and catch loads of small fish. I didn't want to do that, I wanted to go somewhere and catch a big fish over 30 lb if possible. The only place to do it was to go and fish waters with 30's in. I made my mind up to go and do that, and yes all the fish you catch along the way are very nice but I wanted the big ones. I wouldn't leave anywhere until I caught ‘em.

When did you start to hear about places like the Cons and all the big waters that you're fishing now?
You heard about all the time but never ever dreamt of getting a ticket on them.

Had you met some of the people along the way that was fishing on them, like some of the mates you know now?
Oh yeah they talked about and you'd think I'm not even going to bother because I have got a chance of getting a ticket and a couple of them said, well if you don't put your name down you're never going to get a ticket. And that's exactly what I did do and luckily enough I put my name down, I was on the list for 4 or 5 years and eventually my time come and I got in. I never cheated, I never down anything untoward, and I got in the right way. So then obviously from then on, I went over the Manor, had quite a few fish out of there, thoroughly enjoyed that. I had my personal best Common out of there, 34 lb; I shall never forget that, that was an incredible fish. I had to go out in a boat to get that fish in because of all of the weed. That was what you had to do then.

So when did you get your ‘North Herts. water' ticket?
North Herts. Club Lake was about 10 years ago now. I never fished it for 2 years.

Why? Was it a bit daunting?
That's exactly it, that's the words, when you realise that you've got people like, people I'd never met, Lee Jackson, Paul Forward, Peter Regan, all them sort of names, you're thinking, they're far better than me, I can't do what they can do and I went up there a couple of times and like I was fishing opposite them and you got the feeling at the time, that they were watching you and all the eyes were on you and you really shouldn't really be there because you're not the quality of angler that they are, putting myself down if you like, it's my own fault and I don't like that sort of thing. I just like to get on and do my fishing, they more than likely weren't taking any notice of me, I know now that they weren't because I speak to them. They're all alright; they're no different to me or you.

No that's right, but they're names that you've read about for years.
You were frightened to approach them about things, it was like that, it's not like that now you can approach anybody and it's superb the way it's gone, I love all parts of it.

So now, it's like that challenge, we all know it's not easy there.
Oh no, definitely it ain't, any fish from there now to me, I mean I know there are loads of big fish there, any of the waters you fish, I don't fish a water without a big fish in it, but any fish that you catch today from anywhere, especially out of waters like that, if it's a 10 lb, 20 lb or 40 lb I'm pleased to catch it. Obviously, you're always fishing for your next personal best but you've got to come to a point like, my personal best Common is 38-8, my personal best Mirrors is 49-8, where do you go? You can't keep on going for your personal best unless you do the numbers thing and I'm not like that.

Would you say that your approach to these new, big-fish waters, is that you want to do it on your own terms?
Oh yes, definitely.

We all know about you under trees, up trees and all that, but I mean when you went there did you struggle for a little while?
Oh yes, I was trying to do what everybody else was doing. I was casting to distance and I wasn't happy casting any sort of distance. I was getting to the point even at South Weald where I was fishing at distances of 70 yards that I could not get my freebies out or get my presentation absolutely perfect. When you are fishing close in, presentation is so much easier to do, as you know, you can see what's going on, you can bait, you can do what you like. I just fished it totally wrong for the first two years I was in there.

Were you frightened to do your way?
Definitely. I've had you and other people say to me, why are you doing what you're doing. You just do what you're better at and see what happens and I did and it worked and I've done it ever since. The first big fish I ever caught out of there was 2 foot from the bank, it was 42 lb.
People wonder why I call you dodgy!

Ken can you tell us a bit about your rigs and approach please
I would be the first to admit that I am not a ‘riggy' person. I use quite basic rigs that I have complete confidence and trust in and ones that have proved themselves time after time. I will adapt my rigs to suit any conditions or waters but I'll look at the bait first before changing rigs. It is all part of the bigger picture and this starts with finding the fish first.
This is where you are one of the best and so many people miss out.

You have a pattern you go through, even on a water you don't know.
I don't know what it is, it's hard to explain. When we got here and had a walk around, when I left you I went back up to my initial choice of swim. The spot I was looking at along the margins looked very nice where the snaggy bits were and I don't know, Iwasn't 100% happy. I went out on the tree and I could see it wasn't what I was looking for, it wasn't deep enough for a start, it was very shallow, weather conditions weren't quite right for it and I thought no I don't want to be here. I looked at the long chuck and thought that ain't me. Then when we came down this end and I saw the margin along the causeway, I thought yeah that's me.

You just get that feeling that you should be doing something else and I can't explain it, I don't know what it is, you've just got to do it.

But you're definitely happier where you can see where you are fishing.
Definitely.

People say that can't work on all lakes, but like you said you even doubted it would work on the ‘North Herts club water' and now look.
There were areas over there that I fished and I honestly thought they would hold fish, margins and swims and I honestly thought they would hold fish. 2 or 3 swims that I fished just didn't hold fish. They weren't going in there, they weren't prepared to go in there, I don't know.

But you soon know when you've got it right because you'll have ‘em in your face.

There's places where people are going into a snag in the edge of the margin like only 6 foot out and they're walking back like 20 yards into the middle of the snag and they'll be going oh, there's so and so, and there's that 40, that's a 20, that's a 30 and they're walking away from it and I'm thinking well hold on a minute, they're going to fish down the other end of the lake, and all the fish are in the snag, and there's like a nice little path into the snag where everybody's going on there's such and such.

But then that's a challenge to you to get them out.
Yeah, too right it is.

Perhaps too many people think oh well they're in the snag you ain't going to get them out.
I've proved you can do it.

What sort of waters and Why?
I now tend to fish the waters that have bigger carp in them as I have said earlier.

What are the main factors for catching? i.e. homework / research / looking etc.
If you do a good job well and the end results are good, then you've done something to achieve that end.

You put an awful lot of time into your fishing and that's why you get fish.
I am thinking about it every minute of the day. When I'm at working I'm thinking about what I'm doing, why I'm doing it and what I'm doing it for.

Someone said to me, a good friend of mine who I fished with years ago, “I tell you what, you ought to change and go and do something like barble fishing” because he said “I'm telling you now, the way you go about your fishing you will have some brilliant sessions. It's just the way you fish.” He said “I can tell, by all the creeping about. He said you will absolutely slaughter it, you'll love it”. But I've never done it.

You've still got that passion for carping though.
Yeah definitely, I absolutely love it. I'd sooner do that than anything else. If it meant me going out in the water and catching doubles then I'm up to it. I'd sooner do that than anything else.

I'm the same. A lot of people go and do a bit of' piking' or that in the winter but I'd rather sit there blanking, fishing for carp .
So would I.

Best advice to others
Stick at it. Just keep on keeping at it because eventually you know if you keep on at it all the time, you'll get there, you will definitely get there. Think for yourself and be as vigilant as possible at all times. Keep looking and learning and most importantly-enjoy it.

Do you think too many people chop and change too easily?
Without a doubt. When someone says to someone who's just starting, “use this” and they look at it and it's a bog standard set-up – the hair, the hook, the link, if they start like that then progress its far better than going straight into one of these ‘do all wonder rigs' with this bit and that bit added on.

If you can a catch a fish on a rig then you should have enough confidence to go out and use it time and time again.

How important is the bait?
Very! I'd start to look at my bait before rigs if I wasn't catching. I'm convinced that fish are picking your baits up all the time. I know rigs are going to help, but if you can change your baits like flat on one side instead of being round, put 2 together and use a pop-up and a bottom bait or using ½ and ½ whatever, 99% of the time it will work. I have watched big fish very close up for many, many hours and seen how they react to baits and rigs. A very slight change to the bait is normally enough to get a take. If the fish want to eat that bait in the first place, rigs are not too important.

What is it that you enjoy most about carp fishing?
Everything.

Do you still get excited the night before you're going?
I get excited before I'm going, when I'm going, whilst I'm there. I don't know, you have to take everything in as well – people say to you, small the roses along the way. You've got to, just got to – the bird life, the natural light, the more you see going on. The birds out on the lake are a pain but they can tell you a lot.

Is there one bit that gives you a rush?
I think it's definitely the take to me; I still get a rush when that buzzer sounds and the bobbin flies.

What plans do you have for the future?
Just to continue to enjoy myself and my fishing. If my future is as good as my past, I'll be a happy man. I don't set targets or make serious plans for each year as it comes, preferring to see how things go and more importantly, enjoying it all.

Have you got a target for this coming year?
No I never ever set myself up. I did it once and I'll never do it again.
I set myself a target of catching a 30 out of every where I went to – ridiculous!! Absolutely ridiculous!!

Did it take your life over?
It's crazy.

If you catch a 30 out of a lake you're pulling off of there to catch another 30 out of another lake and to me you've had a result in the first lake, why not stay there and enjoy what you've just done.

Don't go somewhere else and try and do it again because the chances are you are not going to.

This year I've sort of set myself a little target to have a 20 out of everywhere I fished and so far I have.

I've said now, if I can have a fish every time I go out I'm happy.
That's exactly right. Like I've been fortunate enough that I've had a 20 out of each water I've been to.

I hated it when I set myself a target. You put yourself under pressure and that's not fishing/

No plans to target any fish or any particular water the?
No just carry on fishing and enjoying it.

Summary:
As I said earlier, Ken is not one of those people that change rigs every trip or is always looking for rigs to change to. He is happy with his basic but proven rigs and will only look to change when he has exhausted every possibility with bait. He will try smaller baits, chopped baits, halve baits in fact any combination of what he is using. He is always looking to be different from the next person and this is reflected in the baits and how he presents them. Critically balanced baits play a big part in Ken's approach and he will spend hours at home making hookbaits using a mixture of Polaris pop-up mix and his chosen base mix until he has a bait that will only just sink with the weight of the hook.

Looking at Ken's more ‘advanced' rigs that he has tied up in his rig wallet, we can see that these all have similarities to rigs that have been published and shown by others in the past. The stiff boom with the braid section, the big hook mounted on a swivel with stops on the shank, the silt rig? Let me make the point here that Ken is not making any claim to being the mind behind these as some of them have been shown to him by other anglers in the past. The point that I will make though is that Ken has been using these rigs for many years now, as have others. Perhaps not the same, and perhaps without some of the latest modifications, but nether the less with the same mechanics in mind. These rigs are a last resort for Ken and are only used if he has watched fish clearing the freebies and has not had any action after working through the different hookbaits that he will try.

‘You get out what you put in' is exactly true in the case of Ken and his approach will help many other anglers not only to catch more fish, but also to be more aware of our surroundings rather than sit in a bivvy for days on end. It is worth noting that during a past trip out with Ken, all the static anglers on the lake blanked whilst we were there, and there was quite a few of them on and off. Ken used his very mobile approach to bank 5 fish including 2-30's whilst those on the lake just watched and put it down to luck? I have no doubt that their approach has its day and that they are all very capable anglers, but what it showed me was that when you think that it is hard and the fish are not having it, a walk around can change all that. It must work as Ken has proved to be the top rod on his local Essex water the years that he has fished it regularly and yet I was amazed that so many people watch what he does and yet very few actually try to copy this approach.

All in all, a very educational and enjoyable couple of trips with a very good angler and a very good friend. Someone who is happy to help others and pass on his knowledge and still fishes with such passion and vigour after so long carp fishing. We can all take something from this and I know that I certainly will. ‘They don't get in the margins in here mate'. Heard that before? But can you be sure?

Age: 57.
Family status: Married for 28 years with 2 children.
Home town: Hornchurch, Essex.

Photos:

•  The fish that changed Ken's fishing forever. He had heard about watching fish close up but could never find the venue to do it until he joint the Essex club water. He stalked this fish known as ‘the big Linear' at just over 25lbs and things would never be the same again for Ken. He could now watch fish up close and see how they fed, where they went and build up a picture of their behaviour patterns, something that you cannot teach others.

•  The one time Essex county record at 49-4, this fish is now sadly dead but brought a great deal of pleasure to many people including Ken.

•  And here she is again at 33-12 and the first time out at 30+ when Ken caught her back in 1999.