Paul Martin - Co-Owner

Paul is a member of the BCSG and a long time carp angler with 40 years of fishing under his belt.

Paul has written in Carpworld, Crafty Carper, Big Carp, Carpology, Carp Talk and Maximum Carp magazines as well as a number of books over the years including the softback 'Top 100 Day Ticket Carp Lakes of East Anglia' and the opening chapter of the 'Wraysbury Chronicles' which won the Angler's Mail book of the year award for 2012.

Paul has also worked for a range of iconic carp brands such as Hutchinson, Nash, Baitcraft and DT Baits.

Paul has fished a number of the countries historic waters including Redmire and Wraysbury and is also a proud member of Savay's Looney Rota.

Paul has always dreamed of developing a carp water and with Kirsty, his partner, they have done just that.

Paul with a big Savay common

Some of Paul's Favourite Captures

Whilst these aren't from Carper's Retreat we thought it would be fun to show you some of Paul's favourite captures and to show he's been doing this some time!

Not The Trophy - Savay Lake

Fishing a lake like Savay is a real shot of nostalgia. Following in the footsteps of Rod Hutchinson, John Harry and Roger Smith (to name but three) means they've been schooled by the very best...

Savay is a magnet for legendary characters, stories and carp and I feel privileged to be able to walk its banks. Every carp from Savay is special. "To me it is the mecca of carp fishing. Tom (the owner) laughs at me for having targets but as soon as saw 'Not The Trophy' I longed for it. To me it epitomises Savay - long may it continue!"

The Back Up - Braxted Back Lake

This fish took Paul 10 years to catch. For some she was easy but for others she was a nemesis - including Paul! "I didn't fish solidly for her over that period but every year I'd string some trips together and during that time I caught most of the stock, some a few times. Over that time she grew 10lb's so it wasn't all bad! But add into the mix it is days only fishing and an hour and 15 minutes from my house you can see it took some effort! But eventually one spring morning she turned up in my net - all 48lb of her. A legendary carp in Essex and one of the oldest around."

Black Scale - Private Norfolk Syndicate

"Sometimes you get lucky. If I told you I only did one night on the lake for the largest fish you'd get the wrong idea. Two of my close friends had schooled me on the place and I'd spent a lot of time watching, removing snags, waiting and trickling bait in before I decided the time was right for a day trip. How rarely do these things happen! 43lb 4oz of big crusty old kipper."

The Twin and Bobs - Norfolk Day Ticket

A very tricky lake made this brace all the more memorable. "I'd done 20+ blank nights for my first fish, the two in the photo being just my second and third. The Twin was the fish that drew me to the lake initially but I was overwhelmed to brace it with a then unknown 30 for the lake which is still known now as 'Bobs' - after me. Humbled."

Finlay - Little Easton Manor

"Another one of those lucky, lucky days.... A single hookbait in the right place for just an hour was enough for the second biggest in the pond. I know that without my good friend James I would never have caught it. He gave me both the hookbait and pointed out the area to cast to!

Apple Slice - Bawburgh Colney Lake

This is another fish that's long since gone. The otters in Norfolk were particularly bad during this period. This one was caught from the Baliff's Swim and was one of three that trip. Apple Slice was the second largest in the lake and turned the scales to 35lb 12oz.