As we come to the end of the year, I just want to take a moment to say a genuine thank you to everyone who has supported the channel, followed my sessions, and taken the time to engage with what I share.
Your comments, messages, and encouragement mean more than you might realise, and they are a big part of why I continue to document my time on the bank and share the journey—good sessions and tough ones alike.
I’d also like to thank the brands I work with and support throughout the year. Their backing, trust, and shared values make it possible for me to keep doing what I do in an honest and authentic way, and I’m genuinely grateful for that support.
I hope you all have a very Merry Christmas, enjoy some well-earned time with family and friends, and manage to sneak in a few hours by the water if conditions allow.
Thank you again for your continued support. Here’s to a healthy, happy, and productive New Year—hopefully with plenty of carp on the mats.
All the very best,
Richard
About richardhandel
I would like to give a brief snap shot of my life and introduce myself;
My name is Richard Handel and was born in 1965 in Suffolk. I have worked as a UK Operation & Intermodule Manager for a shipping company. I live in Hampshire now and am married with 2 young children, both girls so I am a bit outnumbered even the cat is a girl!
I have been fishing since I was about 7 years old. I started on small local rivers in Suffolk, then moved onto gravel pits and then carp fishing. My personal best is a 39.08 mirror, over recent years I have started river fishing again, on the Hampshire Avon, this is a nice break from the carp lakes.
My life has turned a big corner this year, the company I was working for relocated their Operation centre to Estonia. I was offered a job at the head office in London. This would have meant a 5 day commute and working in Stratford. As a family, we did not fancy this, as I would hardly spend any time with the children (and the Mrs). So after 22.5 years, I was given a nice redundancy package and with my wife is working full time. I became the house husband.
This has meant a complete turn around in my fishing, as I can pick and choose when I go. I have found a splendid new syndicate to fish this year, which includes 5 lakes and some 8 miles of river with only 150 members. It's an amazing change to the way I am able to fish.
I am now trying to start my own tackle business and make a bit of a name for myself in the world of fishing, as I have retired from real work.
Richard
UK Carp & Coarse Fishing 