Big Carp Magazine – September 2018

Old School Carping 2
This is the second of our Old School Carping Issues of Big Carp. I was quite astounded by the reaction to the first one three months ago. We had our best sales figures for over five years, and it just went to show the amount of interest there was in stories associated to the good old days. Everyone asked for more, so I began contacting many of my old friends who had not written in the first one, and a few that had, but I knew they had lots more great tales to tell, and thankfully everyone said yes.
However, just as the first few stories came in, Rod Hutchinson sadly passed away in June. I knew he had not been well for a while but had no idea it was so serious. My thoughts immediately went out to his family and friends, as I knew he had grandchildren, as do I, and how devastated they would be. I decided at this point to dedicate Old School 2 to my old fishing buddy Rod and to write a piece myself about our friendship.
The social networks flooded with tributes the night he died and for many days after, and I have selected a few posts for this tribute to Rod. I’m sure no one will mind, as Rod was one of the most well respected and popular guys I have ever met. I have honestly never heard a bad word said about him in the 40 years I have known him, and you can’t say that about many people!