Quick Questions With... Mark Hogg

Prologic's Mark Hogg quietly goes about catching some of the country's biggest and best. This time he's here to answer Total Carp's quick-fire questions!

Three words to describe yourself?
Dedicated, determined, helpful.

Who have been your biggest influences in carp fishing?
My father, Derek, and my two uncles Brian and Albert. We spent a lot of holidays angling.

Scariest moment on the bank?
After taking a photo in darkness to check my flash was working should a night-time bite occur, upon checking the camera it appeared there was a face looking at me from around the brolly… it was mid-winter and only me on the lake.

How long have you been carp fishing?
24 years.

How did you start carp fishing?
A progression from general coarse angling into carp angling… the way it should be.

Other sporting interests?
None.

One day left to go fishing, where would you go?
Throop on the Dorset Stour; it holds memories that would hopefully come flooding back from my youth.

Worst fishing-related injury?
A bad back from dodgy bedchairs.

Best three anglers you’ve ever worked with?
Mark ‘Chuck’ Backhouse, Lee Birch and Kyle Stainton; all for different reasons – company, ability and commitment.

Your favourite moment in your carp angling career?
Catching a special fish called The Warrior four years after losing it at the net… it became personal for me and everyone on the syndicate.

Favourite capture?
The big common from The Folly that was thought to be dead for nearly three years.

Three things you’d never go fishing without
Bait, phone and passion.

Any regrets?
Not starting on Willington earlier… the Starburst Mirror got ottered just after I started.

Biggest character you have met through fishing?
Greg Myles (owner of RG Baits) – he’s crackers.

What are your favourite bits about carping?
Being there with nature, regardless of catching.

Your least favourite bits?
The jealousy that surrounds carp angling. It’s only fishing.

Who do you most admire in carp fishing?
Winter anglers – sorts the men from the boys… or the nutters from the sane.

Tell us a secret?
I honestly don’t have any – I’ve told everyone them already.

Tea or coffee?
Coffee.

Favourite biscuit?
Fox’s Classic.

Favourite takeaway?
Chinese.

Funniest moment on the bank?
When a mate and I were fishing side by side in winter, he received a bite to which I woke up, thinking it was my receiver. I ran to the rods and couldn’t stop due to an incline – it was either smash the rods to bits or jump them… I ended up swimming while my mate was playing his fish, looking at me gone out.

One fish you would have loved to have caught, past or present?
Blackjack from St Ives.

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