IN a landmark event for lovers of angling history, Dick Walker’s iconic British Record carp, Clarissa, is being sold at auction this summer.
The fish weighed 44lb when landed in September 1952, with its capture said to have kick-started a seismic change in angling, inspiring a new generation of carpers.
Given its significance, it’s unsurprising that the specimen has been given a staggering guide price of between £35-40K.
“We’ve had some interest in it already,” Ben Joes of Mullock Jones Auctioneers, who’ll be overseeing Clarissa’s sale, told us. “The auction will run from July 24-25th and will be done online, although we can accommodate telephone bids. It’s an important specimen, mounted in a glazed bow-fronted case with gilt writing and border, set in a naturalistic reed and gravel setting. It was restored in 2011 and, although there are five known cast replicas, this is the original specimen.”
Dick Walker landed the fish on a paste hookbait with some breadcrust added to create a balanced bait, not dissimilar to the wafters that are popular today.
After being caught, Clarissa lived out the rest of her days at London Zoo and stood as the British Record for 27 years before being beaten by Chris Yates’ 51lb 5oz ‘Bishop’, also from Redmire Pool.
GET THE EDGE OVER OTHER CARP ANGLERS BY GETTING YOUR HANDS ON THE MOST SUCCESSFUL BAITS ON THE MARKET!
This page is a free example of the amazing content Angling Times Members get every single week. Becoming an Angling Times Member gives you access to award-winning magazine content, member rewards, our back issue archives, bonus content and more! Join our fishing community and find out more today!