Secret Carp Hardcover – Illustrated, April 30, 2000

If you are familiar with other books by Chris Yates or have enjoyed his passionate descriptions in ‘A Passion for Angling’, then this is definitely a book for your collection. If you are a match pole angler or a fisherman who relies on alarms, bait boats and fish finders, then this is almost certainly not for you.The poetic descriptions are of the natural habitat and observations of, not just catching, but more about just being there, submersed in the natural world. The use of senses to describe the search for the perfect pond is one which builds suspense and takes me back to my fishing experience. And I hope it does the same for you.

Beautifully written by one of the most lyrical of angling scribes. Gentle, self deprecating humour with a few acerbic digs at the modern carp scene. It was originally penned a good few years ago so what Mr Yates would say about the mad world of 2019 is beyond me. If you love the sport and great writing you'll enjoy the book enormously. If you want technobabble about rigs and bait you won't find it here.

One of my favourite angling writers, I thought I had read all of Chris's books, but obviously missed this one. I have fished for over 40 years and this book, with its gently humorous, understated style, sums up everything that really matters about angling. Where Chris Yates betters every other writer is conveying the concept of mystery and how central it is to fishing, whether it be in the local pond or the untouched carp lakes featured in this book. Through fishing we have the chance of connecting and perhaps having a glimpse of what lies beneath.The Secret Carp is full of beautiful descriptions of the natural, timeless rhythms of nature combined with the roller coaster emotions of fishing - the child-like excitement and anticipation on approaching the water, breath held,fingers trembling before casting, the sense of being enfolded in nature, in a dream-world as time passes with apparently nothing happening...then the sudden electric jolt to the senses as the line flickers, tightens and slices through the water, followed by the heart-thumping fight and the sense of calm when the fish has been landed - all so reflective of my own life-long experiences.

This is evidently Chris Yate's homage to BB's "Conessions of a Carp Fisher" where he attempts to create a similar dreamlike and mystical aura around the lake he is fishing through his ongoing internal musings. On the whole I liked it, and while some of Chris's yearning for the "good old days" can be a little waring the book is so short that there simply isn't enough time for this to get on your nerves. The descriptive writing is as good and as evocative as ever and I fully identify with the author's quest to find the perfect secluded carp lake - though I suspect Chris is much more likely to achieve this than I am!Don't even think about buying this book if you're hoping to learn any new skills, techniques or rigs. This certainly isn't Chris Yate's best book, but if you just fancy reminiscing about yesteryear or taking yourself back to the world if Mr Crabtree for a few hours then it's fine.

Brilliant read. Almost couldn't put the book down.