The Carp Fishing Podcast

Mark Bryant & Mike Holly - The carp fishing podcast

A carp fishing podcast, recorded by two passionate anglers.

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21 episodes
Updated Tuesday

Episodes21

Newest first

Tuesday · 2 hr 45 min
The Carp Fishing Podcast - Jake "The Heron" Hughes - A New Direction
Sorry for the delay! We hit a few technical gremlins this month, so we're a few days behind schedule, but we're back with another instalment of Carpy Ramblings. Spoiler alert: Mark doesn't drop any tackle boxes, lose any fish, or cause any lakeside disasters this time. In fact, for a change, he doesn't even cast out. Instead, we settle in by the lake and chat about the recent heatwave and its impact on fisheries, catch up on Mark's ADHD journey, and look back at The Wild Goose Chase—the latest film from Gaz and me. We also discuss how some of our bait photos mysteriously found their way onto another brand's social media in what can only be described as a rather questionable attempt to sell products. The Panther returns with another slice of sermon magic, there's your chance to win a bait bundle, and, last but certainly not least, Jake "The Heron" joins us once again to talk about a huge change in his life. After leaving his full-time role at Prolite Explorer, he's taking the plunge into some exciting new ventures — and we find out exactly what's next. Enjoy.
July 2 · 2 hr 53 min
95. The Carp Fishing Podcast - Luke Kennard - Welsh Mountain Carp Adventures
This month Mark had a nightmare on the bank. We kicked off our usual podcast ramblings live in session. We only had a few hours to try and get a bite live on the podcast mic but lets just say it didn't go to plan. Mark hasn't been fishing for ages, he was rusty to say the least and everything he touched seemingly went wrong. That aside we eventually got to settle down and discuss our movements over the last four weeks, a trip to Holland in 38c sun, carp care and the recent paper that seems to point to it's lack of impact on the fish, we also discuss the benefits of handling carp in the water and how using Ai carp in bait adverts has begun! The Panther is back in full Sermon flow and our special guest this month is our good pal, the Welsh Choir Boy himself, Luke Kennard. I've been wanting to get Luke on for some time as he recently embarked on an adventure to track down and catch two carp that lived in a remote, Welsh mountain lake. This adventure was captured on his cameras on his YouTube channel - Kennards Reel Adventures, it's a must watch. Enjoy.
June 2 · 2 hr 58 min
94. The Carp Fishing Podcast - Louis "Berny" Bernthal - FAIL to Prepare, Prepare to FAIL
It's great to be back recording this month's podcast. Me and Mark haven't crossed paths much over the last four weeks for various reasons but as always we soon start discussing plenty of relevant topics that may just help put an extra carp or two on the bank.This time round we cover ammonia spikes in lakes, the cycle of dissolved oxygen and how this relates to bite times, rancid bait and how this can completely ruin a spot plus our usual dose of life's trials and tribulations. Then we have the much loved Panthers sermon back as Tim's global "In Pursuit of the Largest" pilgrimage comes to an end before we roll into our guest chapter. This month it's Mr Big Carp Buzz himself, Louis Bernthal aka Berny or berny_tighlines on insta. Now Berney is someone that lives and breathes his fishing however due to family commitments his angling is extremely limited. Despite him struggling to find time to wet a line he's always on hand to congratulate his mates on captures without an ounce of jealousy. His buzz for carp fishing is infectious and when he does get to wet a line, let's just say he makes the most of every single minute of his slice of freedom. Berny is partial to living like a shipwreck survivor in pursuit of big, wild carp and his never give up attitude is an asset that has driven him to extremes to ensure his public lake dreams become reality. Enjoy.
April 30 · 3 hr 15 min
The Carp Fishing Podcast - Liam McCartney - A.B.G Adventures
Another month of life has gone past in a blur. Time goes so fast and I must admit I'm not sure what I've achieved apart from chasing my tail like a headless chicken. That said, one date in the diary that I always enjoy is our podcast chats and this month me and Mark kicked off our chat covering a post Gaz popped up on his socials recently about time. How much do we get, are we sometimes camping rather than carping due to slotting into busy lakes, the stark difference between UK and European space and freedom and generally how much do each of us get to actually angle compared to juggling life. Our chat covers content also, what can feel aspirational v's what is often totally unrelatable. We also delve briefly into a trip that me and Gaz recently did in Europe (film pending) that ended in me nearly giving poor Gaz a heart attack. Sadly we have no Panthers Sermon this month. His good friend Jamie tells us that Tim " Panther" Harris has been on a Pilgrimage - Spreading the written word of our lord T.Hearn through his cult classic "In Pursuit" to the natives of the South Indian Ocean. Yateley angling Center has reported already seeing an uptake in Neville stainless orders..... Alongside our usual ramblings we have a great guest on, Liam Maccartney or in social slag 140_DPM aka one half of the team behind the brand - A.B.G - AntiBreamGang. Liam does things his way, his honest account about life and how his fishing has changed over the years was refreshing to hear. Starting a brand from scratch is tough but Liam is a creative wizard and it shows in his video edits, his content and his constant drive to push himself to the utter limits with his fishing adventures. To coin his own phase and one his life mantras the sums him up pefectly - "Search & Distroy" enjoy, he's one of lifes good guys!
April 5 · 3 hr 18 min
The Carp Fishing Podcast - Jody Bourton - Real River Monsters
We recorded this one in the van while heading back from a tough trip to France last week. As usual the conversation flowed as we discussed alternative baiting approaches and how not rushing into getting the rods out might work better in the long run. We also delve in Mark's recent ADHD diagnosis and how this has transformed his life. Men in general aren't the best at opening up on personal matters but if Mark's experience over the last few months helps just one person listening to our podcast it was worth it. We also have our resident sermon reading from the Swedish leney, Mr Tim "Panther" Harris, can he make it three months on the trott that no one has guessed his passage? Our special guest this month is a lovely chap called Jody Bourton. Now you'd have to have lived under a rock to have never come across the highly successful River Monsters series. Jody was part of the production team so as you can imagine has some epic stories of monster fish, adventures, risks and ultimate rewards. In addition Jody is a carp angler who loves to travel. It's a great chat with one of life's good guys. Enjoy!
March 2 · 2 hr 53 min
91. The Carp Fishing Podcast - Tim Rowland - Chasing Dreams
Tim Rowland is someone I've wanted to get on the podcast for a while. Carp fishing's biggest asset is time, if used wisely but that isn't a currency Tim deals in. To help put Tim's carp fishing into context, it's usually one trip a month, after work on a Friday, once all the family demands and other life duties are in order. Over the last few years his angling adventures have been solely focussed around the Linch Hill complex, mainly Stoneacres. Many would think it just isn't worth even attempting to tame such a water without the luxury of time but Tim did it in style, fishing his own way and catching some of the best carp on the complex. In addition I caught up with Mark while he was fishing to discuss the joys of spring, the rise of Ai catch reports and some spring tips based on the carps body clock. Enjoy and as always we appreciate all your support, reviews and comments. You can find us on Spotify, I-tunes and all other podcast apps.
February 5 · 3 hr 6 min
90. The Carp Fishing Podcast - Terry Barrett - The Art of Stealth
We're back with another great guest this month, Terry Barrett. Now like many of us, Terry is a working man, with a family, has limited time but walks the path of no mercy.... chasing old, big carp from demanding venues. What I enjoyed about this chat was Tel was brought up fishing in the competitive match scene before making the transition to carp fishing later than most. Despite a late start he hit the ground running and immediately got stuck into some of the best carp in the valley. It was fascinating to talk about his approach to angling, how stealth plays a vital role and how his match days have taught him the importance of correct bait application and how reading a swim before you start will often be the difference between success or failure. We're pleased to have the Panther aka Tim Harris back with another Sermon reading and we also chew the fat and cover what's been happening in our world since the last podcast. Last but not least, as always Mark has a rather embarrassing story to tell that saw him with his pants down in the pantry. Enjoy!
January 5 · 3 hr 34 min
89. The Carp Fishing Podcast - Pioneering Spirit - Simon Hartop
We're back, a few days later than normal due to the festive break but we have a fantastic podcast to kick start 2026. This month we have two great guests, first up is Jake Davoile, a Fisheries Management Advisor who works for the Angling Trust on a variety of predation projects including the one I really wanted to discuss, seal predation. Yes you read that right, it's a far bigger issue than many even know and Jake plus others have been working tirelessly to re-home seals that ended up in the river Nene with devastating impacts to fish populations. This really is a must-listen as seals in our freshwater systems are on the rise and sadly seal predation has decimated many freshwater river sections in recent years, including a section of the Thames that I was fishing only last year. We follow that with a thoroughly enjoyable chat with Simon Hartop. Now in my opinion Simon once caught a carp that rocked the angling world, almost unknown at the time but equally as impactful as the Black Mirror but this one was even harder to catch. We get an insight into that incredible campaign, as well as his time on the Thames and how fishing for odd uns, carp with very few captures has consumed him over the years. It's not all carp, it was wonderful to touch on Si's editorial work with the BCSG magazine and his involvement with Gaz's Subsurface journals too. To add a little slice of nostalgia to the mix I got to record this chat on Si's old Thames boat, the "Griffin" as by some strange turn of fate my good friend Liam now owns it and it's taken on a new chapter in it's angling life. Hope you enjoy it and Happy New Year to all our listeners.
Dec 1, 2025 · 4 hr 6 min
88. The Carp Fishing Podcast - Redmire Myths and Legends - John Carver
We have a whopper of a podcast this month for you to enjoy. We recorded this live "in session" over at Embryo's Baulking lake in Oxford. Me and Mark had already caught a couple each so we discussed our approach, especially in depths of over 35 feet. This certainly added a few new challenges to think about. Another topic of conversation was bait application, the art of stealth and we ask ourselves can you ruin a session before you've even really started. This is also a special episode as we have carp fishing royalty on as our special guest, Mr John Carver. John is a man who was present when Chris Yates caught his iconic Redmire record, fished with Jack Hilton, caught his first Redmire carp on a slice of ginger and even went on to run the syndicate. This one really is a trip down memory lane....
Nov 1, 2025 · 3 hr 13 min
87. The Carp Fishing Podcast - Role Models - Jon Miller & Jake Bromley
It's great to be back behind the mic once again with a new episode of The Carp Fishing Podcast. Our special guests this month are a carp fishing comedy duo, in fact trying to get the pair of them to be serious for an hour or so wasn't easy but it worked. Jon Miller aka The Swedish Godfather and Jake Bromley aka The Housewife's favourite join me for a good old natter, just like the ones most of us have while sat round a kettle on the bank. Jon especially would have never agreed to come on if it wasn't for Jake's gentle encouragement but I am glad he did as Mr Miller has been around the block. His album is bursting at the seams with big carp yet most of them rarely see the light of day. Jake is also a ninja when it comes to catching big uns so I tried my best to extract some pearls of wisdom along the way. Their humour was infectious but sadly some of the Essex slang was lost on me, they call each other potato, what is that about? We also have the usual dose of mine and Marks ramblings and this month we touch on the subject of content over exposure. Specifically if you're making content without awareness of these issues. We discuss the impact content can have on venues, locations, the fish and discuss a recent film that dropped called "Bon Sens" from the guys at Brakass. This film hit hard recently and without spoiling the discussions it's one to check yourself. Lastly, we have our resident Scandinavian Leney aka The Panther reading his monthly sermon. Get your answers quickly to win a Baitworks prize. Enjoy.
Oct 1, 2025 · 3 hr 21 min
86. The Carp Fishing Podcast - Hampshire Avon River Giants - Pete Orchard
What a treat to have Pete Orchard as our guest this month. Pete's been the river keeper at the famous Longford Estate for decades. The Hampsire Avon runs through his soul and so does some pretty crazy punk music. Pete has been known to sport a mohawk and a cravat on the same day, he's a really colourful character with endless stories to tell but it was the discovery of giant carp in this crystal clear river that became our talking point. Pete's tales of uncaught giants gliding between the streamer weed were wonderful but like many things in life you have to make hay while the sun shines, as nothing lasts forever. In addition Mike and Mark talk in depth about watercraft, the changing of the seasons and how this impacts tactics and of course we have another sermon drop from the Panther aka Tim Harris and if you're the first to get it right, you'll win a Baitworks bait bundle! Enjoy.
Sep 1, 2025 · 3 hr 11 min
85. The Carp Fishing Podcast - James Parry - British Records & Iconic Carp
This month we have a great guest and one angler we've been longing to get on the podcast for some time, James Parry. James first came on my radar when a picture surfaced of a giant carp, one that had a stature like the iconic Black Mirror. This fish was as good as it gets and became etched in carp fishing history as one of the best we've ever seen. James recounts his adventure that ended with his dream carp in the folds of his net, a story that won't fail to get you buzzed up for an adventure. James also tells of his discovery of a record sized carp back when big carp were rarer than hen's teeth, proper pioneering stuff. That aside, me and Mr Bryant discuss rigs, water levels, low oxygen issues and touch on a recent trip that had us both paddling our own canoe down a river for 6 hours in 37c heat........ enjoy!
Aug 1, 2025 · 2 hr 51 min
84. The Carp Fishing Podcast - Simon Scott - Carp Behaviour and life after Burghfield
Simon Scott returns to the mic this month as we delve into what's happened since his capture of the incredible Burghfield common. We also delve into years of carp behaviour and touch on how Simon's observations have shaped his own angling approach. Si never fails to drop pearls of his wisdom during these chats and I'm sure you'll enjoy this one as me and Mark pick his brain on a variety of topics we've never really discussed with him before. As well as Simon's interview we have our usual ramblings this month that touch on rig camo, rig mechanics, the importance of bait palatability and taste and how this plays a vital role when it comes to rig mechanics. The panthers sermon competition is thrown in for good measure as it gathers more cult status so don't forget to throw your answer in to be in with a chance of winning a Baitworks prize. Enjoy.
Jul 1, 2025 · 2 hr 53 min
83. The Carp Fishing Podcast - Marks Operation & Otto's 5 week adventure
Sit tight, cross your legs and brace yourself for a typical Mark Bryant story about a subject many would keep under wraps, but not Mr Bryant. Having recently had the "chop" Mark recalls his time on the operating table with some hilarious moments mixed in. Mark pecker aside we recorded this one in session and got to discuss our tactics while the buzzers scream for help on numerous occasions. Light leads, oily boilies, a carp's desire for fat and protein post spawning are just a few topics covered. I also catch up with Otto Reade and get to delve into his recent 5 week solo trip to France. A trip that tested his mental and physical resilience to the max. He very nearly came home after the first week having hit many challenging obstacles but through gritted teeth it worked through the pain and turned his session into a trip of a lifetime. Otto's account is both honest, raw and relatable. Enjoy.
Jun 4, 2025 · 3 hr 2 min
82. The Carp Fishing Podcast - Gaz Fareham & Mike Holly - Public Lakes & Carp Protectors
As promised, we're back with the second part of mine and Gaz's podcast. This time around we delve into the realities of public, days only fishing as experienced during our recent "40 Autumns" film. These days only venues are hard graft, rules are strict, fines are harsh and they're not everyones cup of tea. Also in certain areas, these lakes usually have a dark, shady vibe as darkness arrives and the venue in question ticked all those boxes, including the local dogging hotspot. We jokingly called all these things "carp protectors" as fishing them is not for the faint hearted but what an adventure we had. As usual you'll also get your monthly dose of Mike and Mark ramblings, included is a funny story of how I managed to make Gaz's hair look like a giant afro on a recent road trip capture shot. Last but not least, our monthly sermon returns as Panther Harris delivers his latest reading. The first person to simply guess the author, book and chapter name wins a prize. Enjoy.
May 1, 2025 · 3 hr 1 min
81. The Carp Fishing Podcast - Gaz Fareham - Work-Life Balance
We're back again with another episode of the Carp Fishing Podcast and what a difference four weeks can make. In fact in this episode we've gone from frosts to Mark floater fishing live on the bank as he tries to outwit a cotswold carp on a freelined floater. While the events unfold we discuss a recent Baitworks staff social, the importance of a stealthy approach and we also touch on a guest session with a lovely chap called Graham who donated money to the Angling Trust through an auction to fish with me and Mark for 24 hours. The Panthers sermon is back after last month's popularity with the chance to win a Baitworks prize. We finish off with a great guest, my recent right hand man on our Forty Autumns film, Gaz Fareham. This time I got a chance to chat through his work life balance, how things have changed, the demands of work overnighters, keeping it fun and in perspective and we finish off with a tale of a big un caught between a busy work schedule. Enjoy.
Apr 1, 2025 · 2 hr 57 min
80. The Carp Fishing Podcast - Jack Barrett - Urban Giants
Welcome back to another episode of The Carp Fishing Podcast. This month we have a new feature, in fact it's a competition so keep your ears primed for the Panthers Sermon and be in with a chance of winning a Baitworks bundle. That aside, we touch on a great trip we just experienced in Europe, Mark's deep sleep patterns, the importance of water depth in the spring before we have a great chat with this month's guest, Jack Barrett. Jack is no stranger to big carp and his passion and obsession with being outdoors was plain to see. We got to delve into a tale that saw Jack land a 50lb plus urban mirror, one that came with many challenges before Jack managed to get his moment. Also, we discuss the issue of money moves in the industry and how at times that doesn't always align with authenticity and integrity. Enjoy.
Mar 4, 2025 · 3 hr 5 min
79. The Carp Fishing Podcast - Dan Kilgour - Particle Prep & Passion
We kick off this month's podcast with a deep dive into Mark's measurements, make what you will of that but be warned it caught me off guard. Topics of discussion this time round also include a deeper dive into the functionality of a carps gut governed by water temperatures. Do you think about the carp's cold water digestion process when you apply bait, maybe it's not front of mind but considering a carp's gut operates differently in cold water it's a topic that's worth exploring. We also have the second installment of Dan Kilgour's story. The first episode went down a storm, Dan's passion was infectious and the drive and determination he puts into his fishing, his particles and his profession was incredible. I really enjoyed recording these two episodes and I hope you get a real insight into the life of a working man, one juggling family life and carp fishing while growing his side hustle, the highly regarded Big Dogs Nuts. Enjoy.
Feb 2, 2025 · 3 hr 9 min
78. The Carp Fishing Podcast - Dan Kilgour - Targets & Tigers
We've been looking forward to this one dropping. This is the first part of a really honest chat with Mr Big Dogs himself, The Iceman, Dan Kilgour. We delve into the sort of big carp hunting that runs deep in Dan's DNA and discuss how demanding it has been over the years, but as you'll get to hear, he wouldn't change it for the world. We also delve into mine and Marks winter tactics that have recently helped us catch some lovely winter carp. We also touch on what carp are looking for in the winter, how they digest food and how our approach shoud be tailored to cold water carp, to keep the bites coming. Enjoy!
Jan 7, 2025 · 3 hr 25 min
77. The Carp Fishing Podcast - Henry Lennon - Globe-Trotting
We're back, it's 2025 already and we kick off this year with another long, format podcast. Once again we discussed a wide variety of topics, including a recent health scare, how our relationship with carp fishing has changed with age, we also delved into the fantastic "Fox Fish Fund" a new initiative inspired in some part by our Cotswold Carp events. Lewis Porter and the guys at Fox have recently donated 25 carp to open access fisheries up and down the country so it was only right that they feature on this month as seen on screen. We also have a special guest, in the form of Mr Globe-Trotter himself and all round nice guy Henry Lennon. It was great to pop up to Nash HQ for a good catch up with Henry, he's caught some absolute monster carp from all over Europe in recent years, all of which have come off the back of serious graft and dedication. I got to delve into his rather unusual introduction into carp fishing while growing up in Europe and discuss how that's shaped his desire to travel the globe in search of adventures. I also got to pick his brains on his recent underwater films, what he'd learnt and what he'd change in the future. Last but not least we end with a friendly game of Top Trumps, against his brother in arms, Jacob Worth. Who's the strongest........? Enjoy.