OFF THE BEATEN TRACK. By Rob Maylin and friends. In the "OFF THE BEATEN TRACK" series.

# 2014 1st edition. 8vo (151 x 216mm). Pp304. Colour and b/w photographs, b/w illustration by Gareth Fareham. Green boards, spine titled in gilt.

# "Some would say that all the mystery in carp fishing has long gone. These days the carp all have names, and we know all there is to know about them: weight, age even their shoe size. But what if I were to tell you that there is another side of fishing where 'mystery' is still a key factor? I am of course talking about waters 'Off the Beaten Track'. Don't jump to conclusions that I am merely talking about 'guesting' on estate lakes and the sort. No, there are a lot of venues that are quite legal to fish, which contain unknown, unpublished and uncaught carp, such as rivers, canals, village ponds, London parks, wharves, castle moats, golf courses, pheasant farms and duck shooting ponds. These too are venues not normally associated with carp fishing, but waters that a few people have taken advantage of over the years with incredible results. This is a book of those captures, a little bit of guesting and also from venues where publicity is not allowed - the mystery of the unknown, unpublished monsters from undisclosed waters; secluded secret venues where covert operations are carried out under cover of darkness, true cloak and dagger carping. The chapters are for the most part factual; however there is a sprinkling of fictional articles here too... It is for the reader to decide what is fact and what is fiction. One thing for certain is that these fish were all hard earned, caught by anglers generally turning their backs on the rat race that carp fishing has become on some waters. ...These waters are the paradises of those who dare to fish outside the box and walk that path that is 'Off the Beaten Track'." Chapters include: Over the wall, by Rob Maylin; Off the beaten track, Venue 1, by Jamie the Explorer; Off the beaten track, Venue 2, by Jamie the Explorer; A walk around The Mere with Jamie the Explorer, by Emily Damment; The Mere, the last capture of the Black Mirror, by Steve Briggs; Eggington's Secrets Part 1, by Jason Wheat; Eggington's Secrets Part 2, by Jason Wheat; Beasts of the Country Park, by Lee Brooks; Mystery of the uncaught, by Ed Betteridge; A dream fulfilled, by Tony Atkins; Me, my rod and a pocketful of bits, by Mark Webster; The Park, by Paul Rudd; A forgotten lake, by Nick Helleur; Startops, by Alan Gale; The London Park, by Mike Scott; The secrets of the RSPB Lake, by Mark Johnson; Unusual venues; The intimate venue, by Mike Madley; The One, by Aaron Isherwood; The Neglected Pool, by Scott Tippett; Jewels in the crown, by Mike Scott; Private House Pond, by Toby Nathan; In search of the alleged monsters, by Connor Acciaccarelli; The Forgotten Garden, by Rupert Torp; Secrets of the Village Pond, by Rob Nunn.