Angling Times recently caught up with Korda boss Danny Fairbrass, our first choice in the 'Top 50 Most Influential People in Fishing in 2023'.
A huge player in angling’s biggest sector, Danny Fairbrass needs little introduction to carp anglers. Over three decades after founding Korda, he shows no sign of slowing down. 2023 was an amazing year for Danny and his brand, driving everything from innovative films to fisheries, tackle developments and charity work.
Many congratulations on an amazing year, Danny. What keeps you going after all these years in the game? You could retire tomorrow, after all...
I have no plans whatsoever for retirement! I’d drop dead in my bivvy first... on my way to creating that next new lake or product. I still absolutely love what I do – carp fishing is my purpose.
It’s been a big year for film making, and we know viewers loved the latest Thinking Tackle and Underwater episodes. Does anything still surprise you when filming? What drives you?
The whole point is to try to inspire and educate anglers. We always keep it as real as possible, and honesty is key to us.
I’m not sure anything surprises me massively, but I am still a student of carp fishing – I think you have to be for life.
Where we’re filming right now, in Hungary, is a great example. It’s very tough fishing, sometimes boating baits 300 yards out. The lake manager here is a master at this! Rather than make out you are the expert, it’s much better to show the learning process and ask for help – as a result we’ve had three fish so far!
Sometimes in films, though, you feel the full circumstances are not communicated. It’s very easy to edit to make things look better than they are but we’d much rather show the journey.
Of course, it will look good if you crunch a week’s fishing into 45 minutes, but it’s vital to show the process. Sometimes the carp make fools of us, but that’s how you learn! The whole point is to help the viewer catch more fish so they can emulate what we do.
You’ve also had no issue handing the limelight to others, with the likes of Dove and Spooner now big stars. Are you just as happy behind the scenes these days?
Absolutely. I want others to come through and for them to get as much respect as me. Nothing is forever, and I want to leave a legacy. I’m really proud of our guys and the way they show the right values in carp fishing, inspiring people and making them want to get out there and fish.
You entered the rod market for the first time in 2023. What was your aim and what’s your favourite of the new blanks?
We always said we wouldn’t do it unless we could make the best rod with the best materials on the market. The biggest challenge has been supply. The rods sold quickly, and sometimes people find it hard to understand it takes six to nine months to get a high-spec product in stock. Plus, by the time the customer uses our rods, the prototypes get at least two years’ punishment from me.
I’m really pleased how they’ve come out, and the 12ft 6ins model is a particular favourite. It’s a nice compromise between a 12- and a 13-footer – a great all-rounder that’ll give you extra casting distance, but without feeling like a completely different beast to people’s usual rods, which tend to be 12-footers.
You’ve also been advancing in the fisheries game, with Embryo developing in Europe.
We already have two lakes in Italy, and there’s more to come. Next year we’re taking on Carp Arena in Belgium, which is just an hour from Calais. It had got completely overgrown, so there’s been a lot of work involved de-snagging it, while leaving in some classic features.
We’re also taking on Carplantis in Holland. These lakes are about EU anglers as well as Brits abroad. Just as with Embryo UK, we wanted to expand that concept of top-class fisheries and show the average working guy that if you’re willing to invest some extra, you can have amazing lakes and amazing fish. You can have those places where the best swims aren’t always taken, and your tackle and your vehicle are perfectly safe.
The lakes follow the ethos for everything else we do. We’re not going into every facet of carp angling just to get bigger profits or market share. I want to make fishing better and the world a better place for anglers.
And you’re also still active with charity work on skin cancer, with Melanoma Focus?
One hundred per cent. I’m connected to it for life and I still have regular check-ups and scans.
Every time I go to the oncology unit, it brings home how many people suffer. Anglers can’t take it for granted. Back when I got it, there was very little dialogue.
Perhaps if influential people in angling had spoken out earlier, it might have been taken more seriously? The more we can bang the drum and raise money for Melanoma Focus, the better.
What are you looking forward to most in 2024?
We’re filming at Lake Gigantica in January, and there’ll be another Underwater episode to come.
We’ve also got more rods coming with our Kaizen range, which will still be high-spec but in a slightly more affordable bracket, which should do really well.
I also hope to do more personal fishing, because I’ve done very little lately. When a professional shoot goes well, it’s great fun, but there’s always that pressure and responsibility to perform.
Your own fishing is different – you can relax, rather than having to be here, there and everywhere!
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