On August 25th 2024 we lost an incredible genius angler , friend , family man and friends to many.
His name is Shaun Huggins and i first met the man back in the 90's when he was introduced to Greenhill AC through his best friend Stewart Dalby. I had heard he was a Carp specimen angler and wanted to try his arm match fishing , well ! , the rest is history as he elevated himself into the match scene gaining victory after victory on local Greenhill AC waters , Holly Farm , Lakeview fishery , Meadowlands , White Acres , Moorlands , and taking major titles like UK POLE CHAMPS in 2006 , Fish for 4K and making appearances at major matches.
He like Ivan Marks , i think will never be matched as he was one of a kind , a great inventor like up in the water fishing which he taught me at Groby Pick your own farm where he plundered many a match . His inventions i believe started the 'jigger' method as he had doctored floats for that back in the early 2000's and before.
His accolades extend to the MAKINS's Winter League when our team fished together with the likes of Dave Colkin (RIP) , Trev Reynolds (RIP) , Keith Hudson , Rob Wootton , Clark brothers , John Hall , Keith Bonser , Brian Envis and me. On one occasion that sticks in my mind is the time he won the 'day' with 42 lb Roach from lake 1 using 4 pints of casters - incredible catch fishing at 14m in a difficult wind.
On another occasion he won the last match of the WL on Phase 3 when there was severe frost causing cat-ice . Shaun had prior to the match took a sufficient amount of water from the fishery, he then used it by filling up several flasks of hot water and at the start of the match cupping in hot water to the far side of a pool and this created a thermal barrier that induced the fish to feed , consequently he won the match with incredible thinking and nothing in the rule book to stop it .........genius !
On another occasion there was the World Rugby Union final that England appeared in (i cannot remember the opposition) . It was televised to start early in the morning in another world time zone but on this day there was a match at Holly Farm . So Shaun drew his peg , set up his gear and went back into the breakfast room (or was it in a pub?) and watched the match . England won so he returned to his peg for the last 2 hours of the match ........and won it ! I believe Stan Piecha mentioned this in the SUN newspaper on his fishing section .
On another occasion Shaun , Andy Ditchfield and myself fished a match at Bishops Bowl . We actually were three in a line as the draw was made . Andy started to bag up using the float/maggot feeder and Shaun was on his pole . Andy was surging ahead then disaster for Shaun as he hooked a carp of size and his top 4 came off . Now the carp was on the far side of the lake so Shaun walked to the other side jumped in the water and grabbed his T4 (with carp) . He then proceeded to swim about 25m to his peg with Carp in tow , got on his box and landed the carp but destroying Andy's peg for an hour but he was easily forgiven and everyone had a great laugh over it. Shaun eventually won the match ......thats typical Shaun !
On many trips to White Acres we had great laughs with Gas Sadler bringing about 5 gallons of Linda Marks casters (Ivans wife) and setting up an extra fridge for them in large black poly bags . Always a great laugh with Shaun's great long time friend Stewart Dalby the real Joker in the Pack . Sometimes we had Rob Wootton and Keith Bonser staying with us .........huge crack of fun in the caravan , red wine and beer .....magical memories. Another funny was when all the worms escaped in Lou's van and they were crawling on the inside of the van windows , Shaun was crying with laughter .
Holly Farm evening match ............and another win
Mill on Soar and he was explaining his float design .......incredible inventive mind
