This page is dedicated to providing brief introductions to some of the famous faces that have been closely associated with Woldale over the years. The page is a work in progress, and will be further expanded over time.
Richard (Dick) Walker
Dick Walker is known as the ‘godfather of carp fishing’. His scientific mind, attention to detail and sheer ingenuity meant that when he set his mind to solving the quandry of how to catch big carp, it was inevitable that he would… and how! In 1951 he smashed the British Record by catching Clarissa at 44lb.
Dick was a regular visitor to Woldale and many of his inventions were field-tested there. Walker was a prolific writer, initially as a columnist for the Angling Gazette, and later writing a series of angling books on the various subjects, from rod building, carp fishing, to fly tying. For more information see dickwalker.co.uk
Maurice Ingham
In love with Woldale, obsessed with catching large carp, Maurice Ingham was a pioneer of early carp fishing. He and Dick Walker laid the groundwork for modern carp fishing as a discipline with their early exploits and in forming the Carp Catchers’ Club. Ingham was also instrumental in Woldale becoming a member-run fishery and was an active Woldale member for many years thereafter.
He wrote the books Woldale (1996) and The Carp Catchers’ Club (1998) and co-authored Drop Me a Line (1953) with Dick Walker.
George Sharman
George Sharman devoted his life to carp fishing and was a long time member of the British Carp Study Group. He visited Woldale a number of times, including in 1974 when he fished with his friend, and Woldale member Bob Ford. he recounted this trip and his love affair with Woldale in his book; Carp And The Carp Angler (1980), with the whole of chapter 5 devoted to Woldale.
Sharman also visited more recently in 2009, again as a guest, during which he caught the lake record carp at that time.
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