Winter rudd brace
BIG RUDD are more often associated with balmy summer days, but Adrian Eves proved that they can still be caught in the depths of winter when compiled an astonishing haul of 19 fish, including eight over 2lb, topped by a brace weighing 2lb 8oz apiece.
Following the onset of a period of warm and windy weather last week, the Dynamite Baits-backed angler spent a few days before his session introducing garlic hemp, krill groundbait, 10mm white chocolate boilies and dead maggots into a swim on a stillwater not far from his Surrey home.
The preparation paid off handsomely, as Adrian explained.
“Float fishing was going to be difficult due to the strong side wind and undertow, so I set up two rods with Fox open-end feeders filled with groundbait and maggots, coupled with short hooklinks and size 18 hooks. It was a little while before the rudd arrived in the swim, but once they did the action was hectic. I even had a bonus tench of 6lb 8oz – so I was extremely pleased with such a great result in mid-winter"
Angling Trust aim to build relationship with sea anglers
The Angling Trust has moved to meet with sea anglers to gain their views on how the governing body can improve their sport.
Marine Campaigns Manager David Mitchell will meet will members in Littlehampton, West Sussex to hear the views of fishermen who are keen to help the Trust develop their relationship with shore and boat fishing enthusiasts.
The meeting will be staged on January 24 at Littlehampton DAC’s base at Fisherman’s Quay and will get underway at 7.30pm.
To reserve your spot email events@anglingtrustsussexmarine.net
Day ticket water produces stunning 35lb mirror
This distinctive 35lb mirror was caught by Matt Holland during a session at Emperor Lakes in Devon.
The Plymouth-based rod set up his stall in a swim known as the Middle Dam on the Top Lake at the popular big fish complex.
He used a boilie from Essex Baits to tempt the impressive specimen known as the Birthmark Mirror which he beat after a slow and heavy fight.
“This is one of the lake’s known big fish which has been steadily piling on the pounds,” he told Angling Times. “I don’t think it’ll be long before its approaching the magical 40lb-barrier.”
Dates revealed for Larford Lakes festival
An annual silverfish festival which draws anglers from all over the country is set to run again and organisers are currently on the hunt for competitors.
Worcestershire’s Maver Larford Lakes will host the four-day extravaganza between February 25 and 28, with the Specimen Lake set to be used for the tournament.
The overall winner will be decided on points, with weight being used in the event of a tie.
Tickets cost £130 and you can book your spot by calling 07774 703067.
Unique approach fools 3lb 2oz perch
A pungent groundbait mix helped Martin Florin net this 3lb 2oz perch from a club water.
The Bedfordshire-based rod settled on a peg that had a history of producing big fish and introduced plenty of maggots and chopped worm over a bed of mussel flavoured groundbait.
Despite gaining very little action in the opening stages, his luck changed late in the afternoon when the specimen fell for a half lobworm and red maggot cocktail.
“I knew it was a good fish as soon as I hooked it and when it went over the net I had a feeling it could be over 3lb. Thankfully it was and it made my efforts more than worthwhile,” explained Martin.
Bullard bags silver victory at Sumners
Former professional footballer Jimmy Bullard kept up his impressive run of form since his retirement by taking victory in the latest Sumners Ponds match with 48lb 10oz of silverfish.
The Daiwa Dorking ace has been polishing his angling skills up since he hung up his boots last year and he blew the opposition away at the West Sussex complex, netting skimmers to 2lb on long pole and pellet.
His team mate Mark Goddard came close to topping the pile but fell into second spot with 40lb 2oz.
Birthday snow carp
KEV Hewitt received an early birthday present in the form of this 36lb 6oz mirror caught in the snow from Orchid Lake.
The specimen, known as Big Ron, came during a three night session on the popular Oxfordshire day-ticket water.
Kev, who manages Cotswold Angling in Swindon, had to shake a layer of snow from his rod and reel as the fish tore off at first light.
It was his first 30lb-plus carp to be caught in the month of January and arrived just a day before his 29th birthday.
He said: “I turned up after work on Saturday just on dark and on Sunday morning I moved into a swim where my mate had blanked but where I’d seen a fish show.
“I plumbed the swim quite extensively and found a shallower area on gravel at about 80 yards’ range.”
Kev fished CC Moore Live System corkball pop-ups on hinged-stiff rigs and had action at all hours of the day to land three twenties, a double and the thirty. Each capture was followed by the introduction of 200 free offerings.
“When I was planning the session I saw the forecast and hoped for a thirty in the snow on my birthday, and it all came together a day early,” said Kev, “I love photography and I don’t think anything comes close to a big carp in these conditions.”
Shock winter tench
FORMER Drennan Cup champion Ted Bryan took the unusual step of fishing for tench in the middle of winter - and it proved to be a worthwhile move when he netted this 9lb 12oz specimen from a southern stillwater.
The Sydenham-based all-rounder was forced to abandon his river campaign due to severe flooding and instead turned his attentions to targeting the unseasonal species.
Several large balls of Nash Bait Fish Frenzy Monster Crab and Shellfish groundbait laced with maggots, boilies, pellet and sweetcorn were catapulted to a deep spot close to an island before all three rods were cast over the top.
The first bite came in the form of a 7lb 12oz tench which picked up a 10mm Amber Strawberry pop-up mounted on a size 10 Fang X hook. The highlight of the outing came shortly afterwards, though, with the big male fish falling to the same approach.
“I knew it was going to be hard but I thought there would be a chance because of the mild temperatures,” Ted told Angling Times.
Benyon hails cod quota decision
Discussions to decide quotas for trawlermen for the coming year have been hailed a success by Fisheries Minister Richard Benyon after they were kept at the same level.
Commercial fishermen faced the prospect of a 20 per cent cut on the amount of cod they could catch in the North Sea but that threat has now been removed.
In a further boost for the industry, trawlers will now be able to catch 15 per cent more haddock in the area.
The 'Pretty One' hits the net at 39lb 8oz
On his first ever session at Farlows Lake, Alex Collins caught one of the venue’s most sought after residents in the form of this 39lb 8oz mirror known as The Pretty One.
The all-important bite came just 30 minutes in to the 16-year-old Feltham-based rod’s session at the Buckinghamshire venue.
He put his faith in a trimmed-down Dynamite Baits Tiger Nut boilie tipped with a corn hair stop. This was offered alongside a PVA stick coated in Kiana Goo on a size 7 Nash Fang Twister hook.
Fish O'Mania loyalty scheme revamped
The Fish O’Mania loyalty scheme which guarantees former winners a certain amount of tickets each year has been altered to cope with the demand for places in the qualifiers.
Officials at Matchroom Sport created the Veterans Club to reward former winners and other long-term supporters with at least six tickets each year but that has now been cut to five.
A spokesperson for the company – who are responsible for arranging the tournament – said: “With each passing year, the demand for pegs in the 16 qualifiers gets bigger and with this in mind we believe it was only fair to reduce the number.”
Big River Waveney chub netted by carp angler
A few hours chub fishing ended with Rich Wilbey netting this big specimen from the River Waveney but its true size will never be known as his scales broke moments before he was about to weigh it!
The Airfield Lakes boss took time out from his carp fishing exploits to target the scenic Norfolk venue and decided to ignore the usual hookbaits and use a whole mussel.
“The rod was bent double for at least 20 seconds but I eventually turned it around and coaxed it into the net,” explained Rich.
“I managed to land a 4lb 12oz chub a couple of days before but this was much bigger. It had a head like a cod and I was distraught when I realised my scales had clonked out,” he added.
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Canals on form for big perch
TWO anglers proved the rich spoils on offer from the nation’s canal network during the winter months when they banked an incredible haul of 120 big perch to a best of 4lb 4oz.
After finding their local rivers still running ‘up and coloured’, pioneering big fish hunter Dan Sales and his fishing companion Paul Goldsmith decided to discover what the Grand Union Canal had to offer.
By staying mobile and fishing small rubber jigs in and around a series of locks and marinas, the Hertfordshire-based duo covered more than 40 miles of the canal over three gruelling sessions to make their outstanding catch, which also featured 20 perch between 2lb and 3lb 10oz.
Travelling light was vital to their success, with both anglers carrying little more than a landing net and mat, plus a selection of 2in to 4in-long soft baits, which were fished in conjunction with 6ft rods and 5lb mainline.
“With the river being in such bad condition and the fact that neither of us fancied fishing a ‘commercial’ we got the map out and found a few areas of the Grand Union Canal that we liked the look of - it was as simple as that,” Dan told Angling Times.
“I hadn’t bothered to fish a canal since I was a kid and didn’t expect to find so many huge fish. But that’s not to say that it was easy fishing, because we’d often walk for two or three miles at a time without a bite.
“But when we did find a pocket of perch it was possible to catch up to 10 fish in a sitting - and they were all huge. It was really exhausting and both of us were absolutely shattered at the end, but to catch a perch of 4lb 4oz just blew our minds and really proves the potential of this venue, as well as many other canals across the country.”
Another perch angler to have got his New Year off to a bang was Gareth Evans, who had Angling Times to thank after he used a catch report published recently in the paper to pinpoint a stillwater in Sussex that produced a new personal best stripey of 4lb 10oz.
Gareth, from West Sussex, who is also the current silver bream record holder, laid a bed of loosefed chopped prawns and red maggots and then flicked a simple running leger rig over the top carrying a whole prawn to fool the specimen.
“I saw a catch picture of a big perch that was published in Angling Times and I recognised the venue, which played a big part in my capture because location is the most important key to catching big fish like this,” he said.
“In the last few trips to the venue I’d tried a softly, softly approach to try to avoid the large number of carp in the lake, which didn’t work. So on my last visit I fed really heavily and just waded my way through the carp with the hope of getting through to the low stock of perch. It worked a treat!”
Fishery owner sues Environment Agency
A FISHERY boss whose carp stock was wiped out by otters before it could open to anglers is suing the Environment Agency for what could be millions of pounds in lost earnings.
Brian Dodson claims the organisation created an otter haven close to his Waen Wen Fishery near Bangor, North Wales, without warning him of potential problems.
The businessman says he lost almost £250,000 worth of carp and had to walk away from the venture before it could open to the public.
Brian, who now lives on benefits, said his legal battle could be a landmark case for fishery owners who feel they were not given sufficient warning about the rising otter population.
“I’m financially devastated by the whole situation, I’m living in abject poverty, but this case could open the floodgates for the rest of the country,” he said.
“I’m not a greedy man and I haven’t put an exact figure on the lost earnings but I just want to be able to retire and put it behind me.”
Brian told Angling Times his battle stems from a 2003 EA initiative to clean up and install otter holts on the River Cegin near the lakes he was creating.
While the agency was advising him on stocking and managing his fishery, Brian claims it breached the Environment Act by failing to warn him about the likelihood of otters settling in the vicinity.
He said: “This work was carried out without prior notice or consultation. The outfall of water from the lakes flowed into the River Cegin not more than three quarters of a mile from Waen Wen Fishery.”
EA Wales spokesman Curig Jones said: “We are preparing to challenge this claim robustly on all counts.”
The issue will be decided at the High Court in Cardiff on February 25.
Farnham AS get Yateley complex
EIGHT of the lakes on the famous Yateley complex have been snapped up by an angling club following Cemex’s decision to pull out of the sport.
Farnham Angling Society has purchased the South Lake, Pumphouse Lake, Horsehoe Lake and the Tree Lake on the south side of the venue.
It has also bought the Summer Pit, Match Lake, Copse Lake, Nursery Lake and a stretch of the River Blackwater to the east of the complex.
Club members will be able to fish the South Lake from February 1 and the rest of the waters from April 1.
The society currently has 3,000 members who last year paid £76 plus a £25 joining fee. The 2013/14 ticket is expected to cost £86 and membership will be limited to 3,500 anglers.
Honorary secretary Ian Gray said: “These famous lakes will provide a wide range of fishing opportunities for all our members. The larger Match, South, Nursery and Copse lakes offer varied carp fishing, with catfish also present in the largest lake.
“In addition, the four smaller lakes — Summer Pit, Pumphouse, Horseshoe and Tree —give plenty of opportunities for tench, crucians and other pleasure fishing. We have also secured over 1,000m of the River Blackwater that runs through the complex, which has loads of roach, dace and chub and a few barbel as well.
“There is truly something for everyone here.”
Cemex put the the Yateley complex on the market for £2.5m last summer and the rest of the waters, comprising the North, Car Park, Pads and Split lakes, have been taken over by Yateley West Fishery.
Single hookbait fools 43lb 8oz common
WAYNE Dunn ended 2012 on a high by bagging the big common known as Ellie from the Avenue.
The 43lb 8oz specimen fell at noon during a short session on the final day of the year at the Shropshire big-fish water.
Wayne, from Staffordshire, baited the swim the day before the trip with about two kilos of his homemade bait and then fished single hookbaits over the top.
The 46-year-old, who has previously banked a 50lb common from Acton Burnell, which is also part of the RH Fisheries portfolio of waters, said: “I was fishing at about 55 to 60 yards to a gap in the islands, which is a well-known spot. I had the fish on one of my own baits that I’ve started producing called Marine One.
“I’ve been baiting the water all winter and have had several other fish as I’ve been trickling the bait in.
“Not many fish come out during the night time so I base my sessions around daylight hours. It was a good take and the fish looked clean and leech-free on the mat — it had clearly been active.”
The fish, which was the only one of the session, took a bottom bait presented on a fluorocarbon hooklink connected to a 1.5oz lead.
Wayne added: “I had prebaited the swim the day before and was fairly confident turning up the following day and fishing single hookbaits over very little bait. Ellie is one of the biggest commons in the lake and although it’s not a new personal best it was a fantastic result and a great way to celebrate the new year a few hours early.”
30lb common tops nine fish haul
PROLIFIC carp angler Tom Maker has been hauling again, landing nine carp in a short seven-hour day session on London’s Walthamstow 1 Reservoir.
The hectic session featured two twenties and was topped by this 30lb 15oz common.
The Kent-based Fox International-backed rod said: “It was my first session of 2013 having arrived back from France on New Year’s Eve. As well as the big common I also had fish of 20lb 10oz and 21lb 2oz.
“It was a day session because you’re only allowed to fish between 8am and 5pm, but by the time I’d set up I probably didn’t actually start fishing until about 10am.
“I caught most of the fish in a bit of a mad burst between 11.30am and 3pm, and I got through two and a half buckets of bait, so it was more than 10kg in total.
“When I had the take from the big common I already had a twenty in the net and was also playing another fish - so it was basically a triple take!”
He added: “It’s a great start to the new year as there aren’t many thirties in there.”
The Fox and Mainline consultant’s rig incorporated a size four SSBP Arma Point hook tied to a prototype Fox hooklink. The hookbait was a Mainline Cell boilie tipped with a piece of plastic corn, accompanied by a tiny PVA bag of Hinders Little Gemz pellets. This was cast, in conjunction with a 4oz lead, tight to an island at 90 yards range over a bed of pellets, hemp and boilies.
Lake record at Four Season Fishery
PETE Hollis took advantage of a free-fishing offer to secure a new lake record on his first visit to the Lodge Lake at Four Seasons Fisheries.
The Royal Marine Commando landed the fish known as the Big Lin from the Blackpool venue last Wednesday at an all-time high of 32lb 3oz.
“I got a fairly slow take at about 8.45am and I knew that all the carp in Lodge are a decent size so I expected it to be a twenty,” said the 23-year-old Manchester-based rod. “But after about five minutes of playing it its head came out of the water and I thought ‘flipping heck, this is a decent fish’.
“I played it for another five minutes before getting it in the net and I was just praying the hook didn’t pull.”
The fish was weighed and witnessed by two bailiffs using two pairs of scales and declared a new record for the three-lake complex.
Pete added: “Four Seasons were doing this offer where if you signed up for their newsletter you’d get a free 24-hour session, so I went down and handed my voucher over and I was going to fish the Mill Lake, which is the easier carp water, but two lads were pulling off Lodge so I had the chance to have it all to myself.
“The two lads said they’d seen fish showing between two islands so I went round to that spot and cast out two rods on single pop ups.
“At about 1am I got up to go to the toilet and heard a fish crashing in the margins to my right so I recast one rod and it that was the one that went off in the morning.”
Pete fished a Mainline Cell boilie on a naked Chod rig tied with a 1.5oz lead, a size-eight hook and ESP Stiff Rig Bristle Filament.
Big perch dominate in Kennet and Avon Canal match
Big perch ruled supreme during the latest contest on the Kennet and Avon Canal with Justin McBere putting together 29lb 9oz of them to top the pile.
The Tubertini South rod used a simple worm and caster attack on the long pole line from his peg at Froxfield and netted numerous fish over the 2lb mark during the memorable session.
That was more than double of the nearest chaser, with Drennan Banbury Gunsmiths man Matt Herbert landing second place with 14lb 1oz.
