I’m Leigh – but everyone calls me Deno. Born and raised in Stoke in the West Midlands, dad to a teenage lad who’s just starting to get hooked on carp fishing and the buzz of a proper bite. I’ve been on the bank on and off for about 20 years, but the last 10 have been all about chasing bigger, older, proper character fish.
For me, fishing’s always been the reset button. Open space, peace, headspace, and time with good people. I fish with a solid crew of lads and hit a few socials throughout the year – plus plenty of sessions with my son. I’ve represented the Ex-Military team at Carping for Heroes, and most recently secured a place on the Forces Carp Classics at Abbey Lakes in France, fishing once again for the veteran lads.
My go-to setup’s simple: a solid bag with my own self-made QD rig. A 5” Korda Supernatural hooklink, a Kamakura Wide Gape or Lock Hook, a bag full of mixed pellets and a 12mm wafter on top. If I need a bit more pulling power, I’ll add a dash of liquid for that extra hit. I don’t overcomplicate rigs – confidence and consistency beat fancy every time.
The work Baits by A.K.I. have been putting in, and what’s coming next, fits my style of fishing perfectly. The ingredients, the blends, the results – it all adds something extra, something that gives any angler a new edge on the bank.
In my younger years I served in the British Army with the Royal Engineers. I competed in Biathlon across Europe – Norway, Sweden, all over – and completed tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. Being a veteran is something I’m genuinely proud of. That experience shaped me, and it’s helped me push through more than a few challenges in life.
I live by the motto: “Everything happens for a reason.” Simple, but it’s never steered me wrong.
I spent years chasing my first UK 30, losing a few that felt like proper lumps along the way. But during a social with two close mates – the same two who pushed me towards targeting bigger fish – everything finally came together. I landed my new UK PB at 33.3lb. Fitting really, because it was the first time in a long time we’d all been back on the bank together.