WILLOW PITCH VI: CRUCIAN RENAISSANCE. Compiled and Edited by Chris Turnbull.

2021 1st edition. Large 8vo (174 x 246mm). Pp244. Colour photographs throughout, b/w illustrations by various artists. Gilt carp motif and titles to brown board, gilt titles to spine. Edition limited to 700 numbered copies.

"The crucian is a fish unrivalled in charm, but sadly in decline. They pond habitat they traditionally frequent has become neglected, built-over or filled-in. At the same time, the relentless stocking of king carp and brown goldfish into lakes that were formally its home, led to the purity of the species becoming diluted through hybridisation. In mainland Europe this situation has been further impacted through its breeding with an invasive species, the gibel Carp. Following a national campaign to reverse this situation in England, the angling community has responded by creating numerous new crucian fisheries. In doing so the status of the crucian has rapidly improved to the point that they have now become a vogue species. This book reflects the reanissance of interest in crucians. It gathers together avid crucian enthusiasts from England and Sweden and shares their stories." Chapters include: Introduction by Chris Turnbull; Still searching for that Crock of Gold; Crucians - when it all began to get serious; From forensics to Facebook, researching an enigma; The idiot's guide to identifying imposters; Witley Park near godalming; Godalming - the Marsh Farm story; Sutton crucians; Thinking outside the box; A special day in the land called 'somewhere'; The Norfolk Crucian Project; Two records; Burials to wasp stings - Mill Lodge Farm Fishery; Making memories; Holtwood Ponds; Estate Lake days and refining my ways; The Yaddlethorpe Ponds story; Pole fishing Diss Mere; Waggler fishing scenarios; Traditional values; Untraditional crucians; Golden memories; A crucian worth waiting for; Full circle - a return to my roots; The Moat; The crucians of Milton Abbas; Winter crucian jackpot; A record crucian; On Swedish crucians; Carassius gigatincus - Swedish gold; Gibel carp - a footnote. Contributors include: Chris Turnbull, Martin Salter, Peter Rolfe, Mark Wintle, Mike Holcombe, Ed Matthews, Trevor Harrop, Carl Sayer and Bernard Cooper, Phill Smith Boyce, Richie, Russell Shaw, Matthew Fernandez, Andy Bettiss, Steve Nunn, Hugh Miles, Mike Lyddo, Steve Frapwell, Gary Knowles, Richard Naylor, Tim Norman, Matt Wright, Julian Barnes, Max Loesche, Ken Wilkes.