Brace of thirties tops 26 fish haul
Martin Cox has enjoyed a good run of form on Diggerlakes’ Snail Lake, fishing two 48 hour sessions either side of Christmas and landing a total of 26 carp including two thirties of 33lb 10oz and 30lb 8oz.
The venue regular found success with Mainline Baits boilies and he topped his swim up with matching freebies on a little and often basis to keep the fish interested.
The smaller of Martin’s thirties is a new 30lb-plus fish for the Devon day-ticket water, and his haul also included four twenties with the rest being doubles up to 18lb 12oz.
Breaking news - unknown 41lb 8oz pike caught in Yorkshire
A massive 41lb 8oz pike has been taken from a notoriously tough Yorkshire trout water.
The previously unknown fish was caught by an angler who was fishing the venue for the first time, and incredibly came on just his third cast of the day, using a lure from the bank.
The fishery only allows only a few pike fishing days per winter and the biggest pike ever taken before was just 26lb. For the full story and pictures see next Tuesday’s Angling Times.
Supermarket bait scores big on Swale match scene
A tough northern waterway that is home to shoals of cagey chub has sprung to life after a group of anglers switched to using a rarely selected supermarket bait.
Regulars on Yorkshire’s River Swale have scored well throughout the year on offerings such as cheese paste, maggots and worms but have been forced to change since the cold snap hit home.
“I’ve been using it for years and it’s helped me fool 40lb bags, even in the snow! I wouldn’t leave home without it at this time of year as its cheap, effective and the chub love it,” explained one local.
For more details on the deadly bait, pick up a copy of next week’s Angling Times, on the shelves from Tuesday January 3 2012.
Richworth Linear Fisheries' Brasenose One on fire
Steve Cliff enjoyed some great winter carp action during a four night session on Richworth Linear Fisheries’ Brasenose One, landing no less than 33 fish topped by this 30lb 8oz specimen.
The Bedfordshire-based venue regular baited heavily with a mixture of hemp, pellet, corn and boilies and the action was so frantic at times, that on four occasions he had three carp in the net at once.
Top pike angler appears on the Weakest Link
Top angler Gord Burton proved he is more than just a prolific pike ace when he made an appearance in front of the TV cameras to take part in the Weakest Link!
The Merseyside-based rod made the journey to the studios to take part in the famous BBC show and got involved in a series of humorous moments with the notoriously stern Anne Robinson who presents the programme.
To find out how more about Gord’s exploits on the box and also how he fared in the competition, pick up a copy of this week’s Angling Times, on the shelves NOW!
Top match water receives stocking boost
Lincolnshire anglers can look forward to a more productive New Year on the famous Sibsey Trader Drain following the stocking of 4,000 fish into the Golf Course section of the waterway near Boston earlier this month.
The fish are part of the Environment Agency’s long term plan to boost stocks after a disastrous fish kill on the drain four years ago, with around 2,500 roach, 1,000 small tench and 500 rudd being introduced to supplement around 10,000 fish that have gone into the Trader in the last three years.
Free day tickets for everyone at Todber Manor!
Fancy a free days fishing at one of the country’s best day-ticket fisheries? If so, Todber Manor in Dorset is offering customers the chance to fish for nothing between now and January 8.
The complex consists of six well-stocked lakes, all of which are covered by the offer, providing excellent action from carp to over 30lb. Multiple hits of fish are regularly taken, even during the colder months, and for predator anglers there are also good numbers of quality pike to target.
To claim your free days fishing visit www.todbermanor.co.uk and print off the ticket on the news page of the website.
Korda Thinking Tackle season six out on DVD
Those of you who don’t have Sky will be delighted to know that Korda’s Thinking Tackle Season Six is being launched on DVD this week.
The blockbuster carp-angling show has been airing on Sky Sports this autumn to great acclaim. It seems that the show keeps on getting better and better and this day-ticket focused series sets a new benchmark for carp TV.
Season Six pits the cream of Korda’s carping talent against some of the most pressured carp in the country and those ingredients combine to give us some of the most compelling fishing footage ever filmed.
The nine shows contain some unbelievable hauling, and the personalities involved include Simon Scott, Darrell Peck, Adam Penning, Gaz Fareham, Ali Hamidi, Danny Fairbrass and Jake Wildbore.
Venues also covered include Walthamstow, Manor Farm, Farlows, Sandhurst, The Blue Pool and Yateley Pads Lake.
As usual, all the tactics that the lads used to bank a succession of whackers are faithfully recorded and presented for all to see.
See below for a show-by-show rundown:
Show One: Danny Fairbrass is joined by Gareth Fareham as they tackle Sandhurst Lake on the CEMEX Yateley complex. Can Danny and Gareth produce the goods using their armoury of tips and tricks?
Show Two: The day-ticket focus continues as Ali Hamidi joins Jake and Dan Wildbore on the banks of Thorpe Lea in Surrey to see how the two England Internationals approach the prolific venue.
Show Three: Winters Lake on Manor Farm Fishing, Biggleswade plays host to Ali Hamidi and Jake Wildbore. Can they tempt a bite from fish that have spawning on their minds?
Show Four: Adam Penning is joined by special guest Simon Scott as they tackle the renowned day-ticket venue, Farlows. These two have seen it all, so how will they cope with tackling the pressured Farlows carp?
Show Five: Ali Hamidi is joined our own Tom Dove as they visit St Johns on the Linear Fisheries complex. With scorching hot weather on the cards, what methods will they employ to tempt these tricky day ticket carp into the net?
Show Six: The Thinking Tackle day-ticket crusade on Linear Fisheries continues as Adam Penning is joined by Darrell Peck at Manor Farm. The hot spring conditions are tough, so will the guys overcome it?
Show Seven: Ali Hamidi and his old mate Gareth Fareham visit the Pads Lake on the CEMEX Yateley complex. The intimate, weedy water, is bound to test Gaz and Ali, so what methods have they got up their sleeves to lure a big Yateley carp?
Show Eight: Adam Penning meets up with Tom Dove and James Armstrong at Walthamstow reservoirs in London. The day-only venue is bound to test Tom and James to the max.
Show Nine: Adam Penning is joined once again by special guest Simon Scott as they visit the Blue Pool on the CEMEX portfolio of venues. The two margin-fishing experts are sure to be pushed to their limits by the pressured Blue Pool carp. Who will win the battle of wits, man or carp?
Venue hits top form in freezing cold conditions
“The colder it gets the more bites you’ll get.” That’s the bold statement from a group of anglers who have been bagging up on silverfish in torrid conditions at a small stillwater.
While many venues have slowed down for the winter slump, action at the northern pit has stepped up a gear with hauls of roach, skimmers, perch and chublets breaking the 20lb barrier on a daily basis.
“The fishing has been brilliant here all year but we’ve been amazed at how good it has been since the ice, snow and sleet came. It’s a bite a chuck stuff all day long and it’s hard to guess what is going to take the bait next,” explained one local rod.
To find out more about the nation’s most in-form venue, pick up a copy of next week’s Angling Times, on the shelves from Tuesday December 27.
Chod rig fools rare visitor to the bank
This chunky 33lb 12oz mirror had avoided capture since 2008, until it slipped up to the rods of Neil Mitchell during a short six hour session on the Milton Abbas syndicate in Dorset.
The 37-year-old self-employed builder targeted a spot just 10yds from the bank and presented a Richworth KG1 pop-up on chod rig over 0.5kg of freebies.
Neil told Angling Times: “I was delighted when I recognised which fish it was because it hasn’t been caught for over three years and this was the first time it has broken the 30lb-barrier.”
He got his prize to the bank with a Rigmarole Camh20 hooklink and a size 6 Drennan Continental Boilie hook.
Monster barbel on the float!
Big fish angler Keith Speer has banked a monster barbel of 17lb 10oz - on the float!
It topped an incredible list of fish he has recorded in recent months from the Great Ouse, including specimens of 15lb 5oz, 14lb 9oz, 14lb 7oz and 13lb 9oz.
Keith has also revealed that the biggest two fish were taken within nine days of each other from Verulam Angling Club stretches, and fell to his unique way of fishing for barbel using a centrepin reel.
Read the full story of Keith’s exploits, including all his tips and tactics, in this week’s Angling Times!
Massive haul of carp taken from Richworth Linear Fisheries
One of the biggest winter carp catches of all time has been taken by a pair of anglers who received an astonishing 90 ‘runs’ in a manic session at a prolific day-ticket fishery.
Mike Loftus and Andy Bailey admitted to ‘not being able to keep three rods in the water’ during an amazing two-day session at Richworth Linear Fishery, where they landed over 70 carp with the biggest fish topping the scales at 31lb 5oz.
The pair were tackling Brasenose One at the Oxfordshire fishery and decided to keep their tactics simple by putting their faith in the classic combination of corn and pellets.
Such was the ferocity of the action, the two friends told fishery staff that they didn’t even get time to put their bivvies up at the beginning of the session!
Head baliff Roy Parsons has revealed that it is without doubt the biggest haul of winter carp, estimated at 1,200lb in total, ever taken from the complex.
“We’ve had some really big catches on this lake before, but to get that many runs at this time of the year is exceptional and shows why you shouldn’t put the rods away once the colder weather arrives because you’re missing out on some great opportunities.”
“There was nothing complicated about what the guys were doing as they were using corn on the hook, which just goes to show that even the cheapest baits can often get the same results as spending a fortune on boilies.”
To find out more about the fishery visit: www.linear-fisheries.co.uk or call: 01908 588043.
New Series of Extreme Carp on Sky Sports
If you are struggling to get out on the bank over the Christmas period you’ll still be able to get your carp fishing fix thanks to the new series of the Extreme Carp Show which starts on Sky Sports tomorrow.
The series sees the team travel around a variety of lakes in both the UK and abroad featuring anglers such as Ian ‘Chilly’ Chillcott, Leon Bartropp, Tom Maker, Steve Spurgeon and John Kneebone.
In addition, the show’s presenter Rob Hughes don’s his diving kit to let the viewers in on a wealth of underwater knowledge.
Each episode has a prime time Wednesday evening slot, and is also repeated later on the same night and the next day so there’s no excuse to miss it.
Episode 1
December 21
18.30 Sky Sports 4
First in the new series. Rob Hughes takes a step back in time to visit the historic Patching Pond in West Sussex, one of the oldest man-made lakes in the country. It’s a venue that holds some historic fish and his guest is reigning World Champion Ian “Chilly” Chilcott, a man that knows a thing or two about history and also catching carp. The big question is, “does size really matter?”
Episode 2
December 28
18.30 Sky Sports 3
Top competition angler Steve Spurgeon joins Rob Hughes in tough conditions at Chigborough Fishery in Essex where the lads have a friendly match between them to see who can catch the most carp. One catches loads of carp, the other gets bothered by bream but comes up with a cunning plan to get round the problem.
Episode 3
January 4
18.30 Sky Sports 4
England International Tom Maker is Rob Hughes guest this week as the lads look at tackling busy day ticket waters. The popular Brasenose 1 fishery in Oxford is the venue and spodding / bags are the tactics the lads adopt for a highly successful session.
Episode 4
January 11
17.30 Sky Sports 4
There’s a continental theme to this week’s show as Rob Hughes heads overseas to the Abbey Lakes complex in France and is joined by a whole host of anglers, Both British and foreign, to take a look at how to approach continental carping and big fish success.
Episode 5
January 18
19.00 Sky Sports 3
Big Fish are the target this week as Rob Hughes sets big fish hunter Leon Bartropp the task of catching a 30lb carp for the cameras from a UK day ticket water in 24 hours but is he man enough for the job? The lads also take a look at top tips for day ticket fishing at Fenland Fisheries in Cambridge.
Episode 6
January 25
18.30 Sky Sports 4
Last in the series. The Extreme Team head down to Viaduct Fisheries in Somerset where the fish are clearly on the feed. Surface expert Julian Chidgey joins presenter Rob Hughes where the lads literally bag up off the surface and stalking in the edge.
Huge 87lb 8oz mirror caught from Rainbow Lake
One of the world’s biggest carp has been landed by Dean Wood, this 87lb 8oz mirror, from the former world record venue Rainbow Lake in France.
The huge specimen was the highlight of an eight fish haul for the Derbyshire-based joiner who fished from swim five and targeted a set of snags at 50yds range.
“I was fishing locked up and the only indication I had was a single bleep on the alarm,” said the 47-year-old. “I picked up the rod and walked backwards to get the fish away from the snags, and then it just plodded around out in front of me. As soon as it came over the net I recognised it as the massive mirror called the Ken Dodd fish and it smashed my old pb of 49lb.”
Dean offered double tiger nut hookbaits on 35lb Kryston Quicksilver Gold hooklinks and size 2 Fox XSC hooks with 10oz leads on a safety clips. These were fished over 1kg of hemp and crushed tigers.
Short session success for Ronnie Buss
Ronnie Buss proved that you don’t need to spend days on end camped out on the bank to catch specimen carp with this 34lb 12oz mirror taken on a quick eight hour day trip on Woking and District AA’s Langmans Lake.
Targeting a patch of silt at 40yds, the 66-year-old Richworth consultant offered a snowman presentation consisting of a 14mm Ultraplex bottom bait and a White Chocolate pop-up with six boilies on a PVA stringer.
He told Angling Times: “I was really pleased to have such a good result from a hard water on a short day session.”
Ronnie got his prize to the bank with a 15lb Gardner Sink Skin hooklink and a size 6 Gamakatsu G-Hard hook.
First twenty is 27lb 14oz specimen
John Ashurst caught his first-ever 20lb-plus pike, this cracking 27lb 14oz specimen, from Esthwaite Water Trout Fishery in the Lake District.
The impressive predator was the best of three fish which the Wigan-based joiner landed during the day, with pike of 18lb and 14lb also gracing his net.
All of his fish were hooked on trolled Spro BBZ lures, and the biggest of the trio was taken from an area of water 9ft deep with deeper holes on either side.
He said: “The water is still fairly warm and the fish fought like an absolute demon. As soon as I saw it I knew it was going to be a new pb and I was delighted to get a twenty under my belt.”
The pike season on Esthwaite is open until the end of March and for up-to-date information call 01539 436541
100,000 fish introduced to Midlands rivers
The Environment Agency has revealed that almost 100,000 fish have been stocked into Midlands rivers during 2011.
Huge shoals of barbel, chub, roach, grayling and dace were reared at the governing bodies Calverton Fish Farm before being released into venues such as the Trent and Tame throughout the year.
Several other future introductions are also planned and EA Fisheries Technical Officer Mick Buxton said: “Our rivers are the healthiest they have been for 20 years and these moves are important for the future of fish stocks in our waterways.”
Four personal bests in one session
Adam Spokes enjoyed his ‘best ever session,’ breaking his personal best no less than four times during a 48 hour stint on Monk Lake’s Mallard Lake.
The Kent-based rod landed fish of 30lb 10oz, 30lb 12oz, 30lb 14oz and 31lb 6oz all of which beat his previous pb of 28lb 2oz.
Fishing from one of the swims on the River Bank of the popular day-ticket water, Adam used washed out Mainline Baits Cell hookbaits with a small PVA stringer of boilies over a spread of free offerings.
“I’ve only been fishing for 18 months so I’m obviously chuffed to bits with this session and I probably won’t have one like it again for a while,” he said. “This was also the first time I’d tried tying my own rigs, so I will definitely be doing that from now on.”
Cod fishing sport hits top form
The cod fishing season has arrived and a number of the nation’s best marks have finally hit top form.
Fish to over 30lb have been caught at various areas, with marks in the South East corner of England currently topping the bill, with impressive shore and boat catches being taken.
Venues that have been almost devoid of the species in recent years have also made a major revival, with the Bristol Channel amongst the fisheries in this category.
“The cod have finally arrived and this could be one of the best years for the species in a long time. Double figure fish are common, cod over 20lb are a possibility and even a 30lb plus beast could be taken from various spots across the country,” explained an insider.
For more details on the latest catches and best marks, pick up next week’s edition of the Angling Times, on the shelves from Tuesday December 20.
Heaps seals Holgan Farm festival win
Former England international Ian Heaps proved he is still amongst the best anglers in the country by taking victory during the Holgan Farm Christmas Festival.
The Pembrokeshire-based fishery boss decided to use long pole and caster on the Match Lake and was able to take quality carp and roach at regular intervals for a winning 125lb 11oz.
Wolverhampton’s Clive Wright also broke the triple figure barrier with 101lb 8oz and second place while Swansea’s John Charlesworth completed the frame with 82lb 4oz.
