CARP legend Harry Haskell sadly passed away last week and left behind a legacy of inventions – and wind-ups!
Harry Haskell was a genuine all-rounder who fell in love with carp fishing and was one of the leading writers in the carp boom in the 1980s, and a tackle inventor.
Harry, who was in his mid 70s and lived near Haywards Heath in West Sussex, invented the combi rig, many products for Kryston like their original tungsten putty and found the vital floating ingredient for Richworth pop-up boilies.
Carp historian Chris Ball said: “He wrote a great book called Reeling In The Years that went through his fishing life.
“But in the latter years he became a bit more secretive and I know he caught some massive unknown carp. He asked me at the time what the record was, which was about 65 lb, so we’re talking about some amazing fish which I believe are still alive.
“He was very highly intelligent, clever, thinking angler and he was at the forefront of not moving carp because of the disease threat and wrote some emotive article in the late 1980s on it,” added Chris.
RIP Harry Haskell – tributes to a carp great
All-rounder Neil Wayte said: “Very sorry to hear that Harry has passed away. I met Harry when I took over the Sussex region of the BCSG and Harry attended our group meetings.
“He was a cantankerous old sod who would throw something controversial into the discussions around the table and then just sit back and watch the rest argue over it.
“One of the best evenings we had was when Harry brought a hook testing machine along so we could test all our favourite hook patterns to destruction. RIP Harry and I’m honoured to have called you a mate.”
And Paul Selman added: “RIP Harry. One of carp angling’s most inventive minds and a great character. We crossed swords in the magazines a few times in the past but it was with mutual respect.
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