South open match results - 7th April

Alders Farm
Oak Lake (17 pegs)
Result: 1 C Forsdyke, GOT Baits, 88-7-0; 2 M Grant, GOT Baits, 49-11-0; 3 G Thorpe, Chiltern/GOT Baits, 20-3-0; 4 M Quick, GOT Baits, 14-10-0; 5 J Welham, Alders Farm, 13-12-0; 6 M Talbot, GOT Baits, 10-15-0.

Coleman’s Cottage Fishery
Pathfield Lake (14 pegs)
Result: 1 B Fraser, Coleman’s, 83-0-0; 2 M Brown, Bowler’s, 64-8-0; 3 B Walker, Bills Tackle, 41-0-0; 4 D Sparrow, Ipswich, 38-8-0; 5 I Copeland, Bowler’s, 26-0-0; 6 R Pisano, Galleywood, 25-8-0.

Dynamite Baits Oakfield Fishery
Red Kite Lake (17 pegs)
Result: 1 N Bryan, Dynamite Oakfield, 53-0-0; 2 J Beesley, Drennan Banbury Gunsmiths, 42-14-0; 3 A Foulkes, Dynamite Oakfield, 18-10-0; 4 E Coverson, Dynamite Oakfield, 16-5-0; 5 B Eddy, Dynamite Oakfield, 13-0-0; 6 M Giles, RS Baits, 10-14-0.

Gillingham AA
Two Counties Lake (20 pegs)
Result: 1 K Crabbe, Blandford Buccanneers, 30-2-0; 2 M Fuller, Gillingham AA, 18-8-0; 3 M Harper, Preston Innovations Thatcher’s, 18-0-0; 4 D Anders, Gillingham AA, 12-4-0; jt5 K Harvey and R Webster, both Gillingham AA, both 6-8-0.

Hornchurch League (round one)
Monk Lakes, Lake 1 & 2 (42 pegs)
Result: 1 P Chambers, Browning Wickford Angling Blue, 96-8-0; 2 D Gladwin, Apollo Angling, 84-12-0; 3 L Edwards, Bowler’s, 64-0-0; 4 N Fleming, Match Pack/Angling Direct, 61-8-0; 5 S Colclough, Browning Wickford Angling Red, 53-4-0; 6 C Vandervleit, MFS All Stars, 48-14-0.
Teams: 1 MFS All Stars, 35pts; 2 Apollo Angling, 34; 3 Browning Wickford Angling Red, 22 (weight); 4 Browning Wickford Angling Blue, 22; 5 Matchpack/Angling Direct, 20; 6 Oakwood Angling/Ockendon Bait & Tackle, 19.

Iden Wood Fishery
Match Lake (30 pegs)
Result: 1 M Parsons, Iden Wood Fishery, 30-2-0; 2 G Clifford, Cinque Ports MG, 23-15-0; 3 C Pope, Tenterden AC, 20-15-0; 4 P Watts, Ashford AS, 20-6-0; 5 S Palmer, Maver Cardinals, 17-8-0; 6 B Postlethwaite, Moatrix Invicta, 15-12-0.

J&B Tackle Spring League (final round)
Lake John, Bottom Lake (12 pegs)
Result: 1 C Bartlett, Lake John/Quad Box, 20-8-0; 2 S Smith, J&B Tackle, 19-12-0; 3 M Parini, J&B Tackle, 17-0-0; 4 P Dunn, J&B Tackle, 16-12-0; 5 D Fells, J&B Tackle, 12-0-0; 6 R Martinelli, J&B Tackle, 9-12-0.

Kennet & Avon Teams of Four Spring Series (round one)
Kennet & Avon Canal, Potters – Little Bedwyn (64 pegs)
Result: 1 N Hawke, Maver Bathampton, 15-11-0; 2 G Smith, Garbolino Black Horse, 15-9-0; 3 M Phipps, Drennan Banbury Gunsmiths Blue, 14-4-0; 4 B Smith, Drennan Banbury Gunsmiths Red, 12-4-0; 5 P Passmore, Devizes MG, 11-1-0; 6 S Bryant, Daiwa Gordon League, 11-0-0.
Teams: 1 Garbolino Black Horse, 53pts; 2 Devizes MG, 52; 3 Drennan Banbury Gunsmiths Red, 41; 4 Maver Bathampton, 40; 5 Daiwa Gordon League, 39; 6 Garbolino Blackmore Vale MG Gold, 38.

Lake John
Top Lake (20 pegs)
Result: 1 M Amos, Angling Direct, 60-8-0; 2 K Farrell, Lea Valley Angling, 41-4-0; 3 P Solen, Lake John/Quad Box, 40-12-0; 4 P Hyde, Miracle Baits, 39-12-0; 5 C Fuller, Lake John/Quad Box, 37-8-0; 6 P Law, Angling Direct, 36-12-0.

Maver Lobby’s Tackle Spring League (round two)
Gloucester Canal (20 pegs)
Result: 1 T Weaver, Maver Lobby’s Tackle, 16-10-0; 2 J Wigget, Stroud AC, 12-8-0; 3 N Baker, Devizes MG, 10-14-0.
League: 1 M Hook, Maver Lobby’s Tackle, 15pts (78-2-0); 2 A Pollard, Daiwa Gordon League, 15 (72-12-0); 3 G Townsend, Maver Lobby’s Tackle, 15 (37-5-0).

Maver Match This Qualifier
Gold Valley Lakes, Gold, Middle & Syndicate Lakes (78 pegs)
Result: 1 M Goddard, Daiwa Dorking, 78-10-0; 2 S Sanders, Preston Innovations, 67-12-0; 3 L Carver, Norwich, 64-6-0; 4 A Power, Preston Innovations Thatcher’s, 64-3-0; 5 D Coulter, Springlakes, 44-14-0; jt6 D Locke, Garbolino Banstead and W Raison, Daiwa/Old Ghost, both 40-4-0.

Milemead Fisheries
Match Lake (20 pegs)
Result: 1 M Cullerton, Milemead, 72-6-0; 2 J Pearce, Tackle Trader, 55-15-0; 3 P Waters, Milemead, 52-3-0.
Top silverfish weight: A Wilkinson, Tackle Trader, 25-13-0.

Ockendon Bait & Tackle
Puddledock Farm, Snake Lake (51 pegs)
Result: 1 J Martin, Darenth, 187-6-0; 2 R Jones, Andy’s Mob, 120-4-0; 3 T Smith, Ockendon Bait & Tackle, 83-0-0; 4 R Bishop, MAP Ockendon, 72-8-0; 5 T Todd, Ockendon Bait & Tackle, 60-4-0; 6 J Penhaligan, Ockendon Bait & Tackle, 42-5-0.

Reading DAA Teams Of Four Championship
Kennet & Avon Canal, Froxfield (52 pegs)
Result: 1 P Leek, Prestcold Slapheads, 21-7-0; 2 S Whitely, Prestcold Slapheads, 7-5-0; 3 G Moss, Reading FC Bosher’s Boys, 6-15-0; 4 A Phillips, Courage AC, 6-7-0; jt5 T Littlewood, Reading FC Bosher’s Boys, 6-3-8; 6 A Hughes, Courage AC and A Chapman, RBL Tilehurst Muppets, both 6-2-0.
Teams: 1 Reading FC Bosher’s Boys, 45pts; 2 Courage AC, 41; 3 Prestcold Slapheads, 38; 4 Bracknell Avocets, 36; 5 Reading FC Tim’s Boys, 32.

Sonu Baits Passies
Match Lake (12 pegs)
Result: 1 J Grainger, Preston Innovations Delcac, 115-4-0; 2 S Gardener, Milo, 38-10-0; 3 J Clark, Apollo Angling, 30-4-0.

Stafford Moor
Tanner’s Lake (20 pegs)
Result: 1 C Brock, Avon Angling, 117-7-0; 2 D Williams, Avon Angling, 116-5-0; 3 M Simpson, Worksop, 98-13-0; 4 P Goulding, Leeds, 80-13-0; 5 S Sayers, Worksop, 66-8-0; 6 G Smith, Worksop, 57-4-0.

 

North open match results - 7th April

Bannister House Fisheries
New Match Canal Lake (33 pegs)
Result: 1 M Bullock, Ted Carter Preston, 137-6-0; 2 J Raby, Leigh Tackle & Bait, 129-8-0; 3 N Charnock, Bannister House, 70-0-0; 4 D Pimlott, Garbolino Elton, 62-0-0.

Blundell’s Fishery Rover
Ash, Pine, Oak & Trio Pools (36 pegs)
Result: 1 M Rollinson, Fishing Republic, 65-12-0; 2 G Scott, Rochdale Angling Centre, 64-8-0; 3 A Howarth, Leigh Tackle & Bait, 53-4-0; 4 J Kerwin, Fisherman’s Way Bury, 49-8-0; 5 S Oliver, Leigh Tackle & Bait, 43-12-0; 6 M Risby, Gilder’s Tackle, 39-14-0.

Bob-Co/Carp Vale Spring Series
Match & Cyprio Pools (36 pegs)
Result: 1 G Twohey, Elton Tackle, 35-1-0; 2 G Miller, Carp Vale, 31-4-0; 3 D Wright, Leeds DASA, 30-4-0; 4 S Sharples, Bob-Co, 29-8-0; 5 J Milnes, Carp Vale, 28-6-0; 6 M Addinall, Spectrum Autos, 27-0-0.

Brookside Fisheries
Snake & Willow Lakes (30 pegs)
Result: 1 J Howarth, Maver Midlands, 82-8-0; 2 S Parry, Daiwa/Guru, 74-0-0; 3 N Butterworth, Cheshire Angling, 64-2-0; 4 C Ebbrell, Maver Midlands, 61-6-0; 5 T Barlow, Maver NW, 53-10-0; 6 S Knowles, Ted Carter Southport, 54-4-0.

Cudmore Fisheries
Arena Pool (20 pegs)
Result: 1 G Kirby, Stapeley Cudmore, 89-10-0; 2 A Nicklin, Stapeley Cudmore, 37-4-0; 3 A Wood, Hazel Grove Angling Centre, 24-8-0; 4 R Seaton, Stapeley Cudmore, 23-12-0; 5 S Boyd, Prescott Angling Centre, 23-8-0.

Garbolino Lindholme Lakes
Laurels Lake (27 pegs)
Result: 1 G Hanysz, Big Bash, 68-3-0; 2 N Fisher, Dynamite Baits/Matchman Supplies, 63-11-0; 3 K Smith, Barnsley Juniors, 61-1-0; 4 J Harris, Garbolino Lindholme, 58-12-0.

Heronbrook Fisheries
Canal, Bridge & Meadow Pools (53 pegs)
Result: 1 I Sullivan, Leigh Tackle & Bait, 126-4-0; 2 A Shepherd, Stoke-on-Trent, 121-10-0; 3 P Mellor, Heronbrook, 103-14-0; 4 C Willett, Stoke-on-Trent, 99-0-0; 5 M Lucas, Mosella, 97-12-0; 6 J Brogden, Ted Carter, Southport, 70-6-0.

Highfield Fisheries
Beech Pool (24 pegs)
Result: 1 G Carter, Ted Carter Preston, 102-10-0; 2 I Waddington, Ted Carter Preston, 59-12-0; 3 B Emmett, Mack’s Tackle, 25-6-0.

Meadow View Fisheries
Lark Pool (24 pegs)
Result: 1 P Barwell, Widnes Angling Centre, 93-2-0; 2 C Loose, Ryder Brow AC, 54-0-0; 3 L Cooper, Meadow View, 44-8-0; 4 D Hancox, Cheshire Angling, 18-8-0.

Mirfield AC
Huddersfield Broad Canal (50 pegs)
Result: 1 S Messenger, Leeds Angling Centre, 9-0-0; 2 M Helliwell, Trabucco Halifax, 8-13-0; 3 S Campbell, Trabucco Halifax, 8-2-0; 4 D White, Maver/Ultimate Barnsley Blacks, 5-7-8; 5 S Haigh, Angler’s World Holidays, 5-4-0.

None Go Bye Farm Fishery Spring Silverfish Series
Middle Lake (22 pegs)
Result: 1 C Kendall, Middy, 40-0-0; 2 P Wilson, Tri-Cast Calder, 27-15-0; 3 T Peters, Bradford, 25-14-0; 4 K Grainger, Leeds, 25-5-0; 5 T Bishop, Wakefield AC, 24-2-0; 6 G Bateman, Tri-Cast Calder, 23-15-0.

Oaks Lakes
Ash, Beech & Sycamore Lakes (54 pegs)
Result: 1 A Richards, Browning, 114-1-0; 2 D Scott, Garbolino, 100-13-0; 3 W Nolan, The Oaks, 85-3-0; 4 M Bailey, Garbolino Elton, 76-1-0; 5 R Singh, Garbolino Elton, 75-11-0; 6 C Watson, The Oaks, 70-14-0.

Partridge Lakes
Covey Canal Lakes (65 pegs)
Result: 1 J Turner, Ray’s Tackle, 80-4-0; 2 M Rogerson, Drennan NW, 77-0-0; 3 A Bridge, Garbolino Elton, 70-2-0; 4 P Balmforth, Maver NW, 66-0-0; 5 D Coward, Leigh Tackle & Bait, 66-0-0; 6 G Clark, Partridge Lakes, 66-0-0.

Rosemary Wood Fishery
Moss Lake (29 pegs)
Result: 1 D Howarth, Leigh Tackle & Bait, 15-11-0; jt2 J Hughes Maver/Bag ‘Em Baits and K Rothwell, Rosemary Wood, both 14-2-0; 4 M Woolvine, Ted Carter Preston, 7-12-0; 5 N Townsend, Rosemary Wood, 7-10-0; 6 M Higgins, Liverpool AS, 6-11-0.

St Helen’s AA
Carr Mill Dam (21 pegs)
Result: 1 B Smith, St Helen’s, 1-10-0; 2 J Fletcher, St Helen’s, 1-5-0; 3 S Stott, Leigh Tackle & Bait, 1-4-0; 4 M Burkhill, Leigh, Tackle & Bait, 0-14-0.

Woodland Lakes
Kestrel & Wagtail Lakes (34 pegs)
Result: 1 P Close, Browning Quaker, 50-2-0; 2 J Maddison, Browning Quaker, 46-10-0; 3 P Rambow Jnr, Darlington Angling Centre, 40-14-0; 4 M Lovelass, Browning Quaker, 34-11-0.

 

Midlands open match results - 7th April

Bishops Bowl Fishery
Marshes 1 & Walworth Lakes (18 pegs)
Result: 1 J King, Miracle Baits, 46-6-0; 2 D Ashby, Bishops Bowl, 32-12-0; 3 C Campling, Chiltern Baits, 27-12-0; 4 R Savage, Lane’s Bait, 25-6-0; 5 K Green, Chiltern Baits, 25-4-0.

Cross Drove Fishery
Hockwold (26 pegs)
Result: 1 B Gibson, Stanjay Tackle, 76-4-0; 2 R Bond, Bury St Edmund’s, 73-2-0; 3 N Parkinson, Dynamite Baits, 48-8-0; 4 M Pollard, Shimano/Stanjay Tackle, 46-9-0; 5 G Binks, Cross Drove, 39-6-0; 6 D Parsons, Hooked Newmarket, 37-5-0.

Daiwa Hallcroft Fishery
Bridge Pool (17 pegs)
Result: 1 C Greensides, Dunlop Worksop, 41-12-0; 2 J Broughton, Sheffield, 36-12-0; 3 L Hardwick, Dunlop Worksop, 32-12-0; 4 J Thomas, Mansfield, 29-10-0; 5 S Clark, Mansfield, 28-12-0.

Decoy Lakes
Willows Lake (19 pegs)
Result: 1 S Godfrey, Sensas Mark One, 91-2-0; 2 T Cole, Decoy, 87-5-0; 3 A Leathers, Browning Hot Rods, 86-7-0; 4 C Cole, Decoy, 70-14-0.

Lakeview Fishery
Canal & Serpent Pools (18 pegs)
Result: 1 J Sahall, Lakeview Select, 66-4-0; 2 G Cox, Sensas, 54-5-0; 3 B Arme, Lakeview Select, 52-0-0; 4 S Draper, Lakeview Select, 49-1-0; 5 S Porter, Marukyu, 44-12-0; 6 D Higgins, Subfish, 37-8-0.

Longford Winter League (final round)
Lily Pool (24 pegs)
Result: 1 N Smith, ATM, 20-3-0; 2 D Bonser, Mill Tackle, 17-7-0; 3 G Parker, Nathan’s of Derby, 17-6-0; 4 P Beard, Mill Tackle, 14-13-0.
Final league: 1 P Carnwell, Garbolino/Bait-Tech, 63pts (243-1-0); 2 N Smith, ATM, 63 (144-6-0); 3 D Bonser, Mill Tackle, 61; 4 P Beard, Mill Tackle, 53.

Manor Farm Leisure
Island & Boundary Pools (31 pegs)
Result: 1 A Grimes, Arthur’s Angling Supplies, 87-8-0; 2 P Bennett, Banbury Gunsmiths, 65-12-0; 3 N McKinnon, Preston Innovations, 58-8-0; 4 P Ward, Banbury Gunsmiths, 46-8-0; 5 S Partington, Arthur’s Angling Supplies, 45-4-0.

MAP Leegem/Marukyu League (round five)
Daiwa Hallcroft Fishery, Moat Pool (60 pegs)
Result: 1 A Gaunt, MAP Leegem, 89-0-0; 2 B Holmes, Matrix Trentmen, 54-12-0; 3 D Robbins, MAP Leegem, 39-10-0; 4 P Elliott, MAP Leegem, 26-13-0; 5 L Wright, MAP Leegem, 25-11-0.

Moorlands Farm
Bank, Moors & Island Pools (31 pegs)
Result: 1 I Mills, Robin’s Timber, 76-2-0; 2 M Watson, Daiwa Gordon League, 36-2-0; 3 C Pace, Colin Pace Angling Academy, 35-15-0; 4 D Johnson, Club 2000, 35-13-0.

Mosella Black Country Spring League (round one)
Soho Loop Canal (45 pegs)
Result: 1 S Dudley, Browning Lifestyle No 2, 5-2-8; 2 T Eagles, Team GB Four Ashes Eagles, 2-9-4; 3 D Kneller, Angler’s Peg, 1-13-0; 4 P Murrin, Browning Lifestyle No 1, 1-6-0; 5 S Cope, Team GB Four Ashes Ospreys, 1-2-8; 6 M Hardman, Mosella Black Country, 1-0-0.
Teams: 1 Browning Lifestyle No 2, 6pts; 2 Team GB Four Ashes Eagles, 11; 3 Browning Lifestyle No 3, 14; 4 Shakespeare, 18; 5 Mosella Black Country, 20; 6 Browning Lifestyle No 1, 23.

Packington Somers
Molands Mere Pool (21 pegs)
Result: 1 S Smith, Kobra, 32-6-0; 2 B Evans, Packington, 21-0-0; 3 D Hartshorn, Swan Baits, 19-3-0.

Preston Innovations Boldings Pools
Larch, Ash, Beech, Sycamore & Chestnut Pools (55 pegs)
Result: 1 K Emlyn, Oakengates Angling Centre, 113-11-0; 2 S Owen, Mid-Leisure, 106-8-0; 3 M Djukic, Shimano, 87-8-0; 4 R Duke, Bridgenorth AS, 82-0-0; 5 W Mellings, Maver Midlands/Bag ‘Em Baits, 69-8-0; 6 C Goldstraw, Maver Midlands/Bag ‘Em Baits, 69-7-0.

Sherwood Forest Fishery
Holmedale Lake (24 pegs) 
Result: 1 J Woodland, Sherwood Forest Fishery, 55-3-0; 2 C Brown, Sherwood Forest Fishery, 51-10-0; 3 M Langton, Sherwood Forest Fishery, 50-8-0; 4 A Lakey, Worksop Angling Supplies, 47-7-0; 5 D Richmond, Sherwood Forest Fishery, 41-15-0; 6 M Malia, Wickersley Angling Centre, 40-12-0.

Tunnel Barn Farm
House & New Pools (52 pegs)
Result: 1 P Caton, Banbury Gunsmiths, 83-8-0; 2 A Mansfield, Shakespeare, 80-4-0; 3 S Little, MAP/Marukyu, 69-0-0; 4 S Palser, Middy, 56-12-0; 5 L Capewell, Tunnel Barn Farm, 66-11-0; 6 J Murfitt, Tunnel Barn Farm, 64-2-0.

Woodhouse Angling Centre Spring League (round one)
Sherwood Forest Fishery, Sherwood Lake (20 pegs)
Result: 1 I Boyd, Woodhouse Angling Centre, 43-12-0; 2 F Bispham, Peg One Angling Centre, 22-10-0; 3 G Hiley, Woodhouse Angling Centre, 20-8-0; 4 S Richards, Woodhouse Angling Centre, 18-4-0; jt5 K Baxter, Mosborough Tackle Box and D Round, Woodhouse Angling Centre, both 16 -10-0.

 

 

 

Quest for a 4lb perch ends in success

ANDY Loble’s quest for a 4lb-plus perch came to a triumphant conclusion with the capture of this 4lb 4oz fish from a Sussex stillwater.

The Shoreham-by-Sea-based rod has banked 50 twos and eight over 3lb, but a specimen topping the magical 4lb barrier had previously eluded him. That changed, however, when he legered a prawn hookbait soaked in a CC Moore liquid flavouring.

“I must have spent a fortune on maggots, worms and additives, not to mention the hours I’ve put in through the snow, rain and howling winds,” said Andy. “But I can breathe a huge sigh of relief now that I’ve finally banked my dream perch.”

Andy beat his prize with a running rig comprising 6lb mainline, a 4.4lb fluorocarbon hooklink and a size 6 barbless hook.


Emperor Lakes thirty for former Olympic wrestler

A 77-year-old former Olympic wrestler had no difficulty getting the better of this 31lb 8oz mirror.

Peter Amey took the specimen from the Carp Lake at Devon’s Emperor Lakes on a Nutrabaits pop-up over a PVA bag of crumbled free offerings.

The Plymouth-based rod, who represented Great Britain in the 1960 Olympic Games in Rome, has been fishing the venue since it opened as a carp lake in the late 1980s.

“I’ve never known the lake to fish as well during a winter,” said Peter, “I’ve been looking through my diaries and it’s the best it’s been.”

He added: “I was fishing a nine-hour day session in terrible conditions. It wasn’t too crowded and the area I wanted was free.

“I used a small white pop-up surrounded by crumbled Ener-vite Gold and Blue Oyster boilies in a mesh PVA bag.

“At about 11.30am I had a screaming take and the fish put up a brilliant fight, stripping 40 yards of line on its first run. I instantly knew it was a decent fish and Dave, the owner of the lake, saw me playing it and quickly came round to help net it.”

Peter, who was once a bailiff on Kent’s famous Darenth complex, presented his baits on a silty area next to gravel about 60yrds out.


KD rig fools Elphicks forty

DANNY Arnold only received one bite during his five day session on Elphick Fisheries’ Pullen’s Lake, but he certainly wasn’t complaining as it resulted in this new personal best 41lb 6oz mirror.

With a freezing cold easterly wind blowing across the water, the 33-year-old builder positioned his rigs in the only area of the lake which was sheltered from the wind with a hunch that this is where the fish would be held up.

A couple of liners during the first night boosted his confidence but things then went quiet until the fourth day of his trip.

“I had seen nothing the whole time I’d been there and the take came completely out of the blue,” said the Kent-based rod.

“I could tell it was a good fish by the way it was plodding around. It came in relatively easily at first but when I got it closer it was like someone had given it a steroid injection – it powered off and there was nothing I could really do to stop it. After 25 minutes or so I eventually got the better of it and guided it into the net.

“When I booked the session  10 weeks ago I thought I would be fishing in lovely spring like conditions.

Danny’s winning presentation consisted of two pieces of fake corn mounted on a KD Rig tied with 20lb Fox Coretex and a size 8 Arma Point hook. This was offered over a couple of handfuls of mixed particles.

“My previous personal best was 28lb 5oz and I’ve been trying for the last four years to catch my


The world's biggest roach?

Is this the picture of the biggest ever roach landed on rod and line anywhere in the world?

Specimen angler and fishing guide Dan Sales banked the huge 4lb 7oz fish from the River Ebro in Spain.

The Herts-based rod caught the specimen, which is 3oz bigger than the current British record, during a two-day session on the river, where he kicked things off by introducing 20kg of groundbait, laced with particles.

After moulding the mix into 120 large balls, Dan and his fishing partner Paul Goldsmith formed a huge bed of feed, which pulled in the venue’s vast shoals of big roach.

By the end of the first day their feederfished sweetcorn hookbaits had accounted for around 60 fish to a best of 2lb 13oz, but nothing could have prepared Dan for what happened the following morning when he banked roach weighing 3lb 9oz and 3lb 11oz followed by the potential record breaker.

“This roach was like nothing I’ve ever seen before - the tip of its tail nestled in the crease of my elbow with the rest of it stretched all the way to the tip of my middle finger,” said Dan.

“All of my biggest fish came in one manic spell, when I’m sure that a shoal of really big roach just moved in over the feed and pushed the smaller fish out of the swim.

Dan’s roach, which was caught using 6lb Drennan Supplex mainline and a size 12 hook, beats his previous biggest from the River Ebro by 4oz. Big as it is, he reckons it could be just the tip of the iceberg. 

“I’ve fished the Ebro for 15 years and have seen some truly huge fish that have been caught in nets and used as deadbaits for the catfish that could have easily been over 5lb. I’ve also seen fish topping at first light that have really blown my mind,” he added.

“To catch a fish that looked so young, healthy and with so much more room to grow is a perfect proof that this fish is just a glimpse of what is swimming around in this river. I wouldn’t be at all surprised if it holds a 6lb roach.”

*Dan runs a roach fishing guiding service on the River Ebro. To enquire about trips, email him at: ebro_angler@hotmail.co.uk

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In

31lb 4oz common best of nine

MICKY French landed this cracking 31lb 4oz common as part of a nine fish haul during a four night session at Yateley Sandhurst Lake.

The Diem-backed rod took all of his fish during a 28 hour feeding spell before the weather took a turn for the worse with heavy snow bringing an end to the action.

Micky told Angling Times: “This was the first time I have ever fish Sandhurst. I caught all nine carp on Carp Company OCM boilie hookbaits which were mounted on rigs comprising Rig Marole Skinfull hooklinks and 4oz leads.”


Buy your own peg for a year

THE DAYS of worrying about somebody else being in your favourite peg before you get to a fishery could be a thing of the past if a scheme being introduced at a popular venue in Lincolnshire proves a success.

Anglers at Langtoft Lakes, in Market Deeping, which is run by predator fishing ace Mick Brown, can now ‘buy their own swim’ for the whole year. Mick has introduced the initiative on the venue’s Pads Lake, which contains carp, tench and silvers, to give his customers their own private 12-month fishing spot, at a cost of £495 for two anglers.

It’s believed to be the first fishery in the UK to do a season permit on individual pegs, three of which have been sold already, revealed TV angling star Mick.

“By having your own piece of water, you know for sure that nobody else will have fished it or potentially spoilt it by putting loads of bait in - it’s like your own little piece of heaven,” he said.

“We’re encouraging people to personalise their own swim for the year, and they can have a guest along as long as one of the swim ‘owners’ is present.

People who buy into it will also have other privileges such as a shower and toilet block, night fishing and parking beside your peg,” he said.

One of the first to snap up a swim at Langtoft was local angler Dan Searby, who told Angling Times he thought that it was well worth the money.

“I’m very lucky that my girlfriend loves fishing and we go together about once a week. We were spending £20 a week on tickets, which works out at £1,000 a year, but the peg permit at Langtoft is half that so it’s a no brainer really. I’m not sure if we’ll get bored fishing the same swim all year but we’ve also got the use of two other lakes with the ticket,” he said.

The concept evoked mixed reaction on the Angling Times’ Facebook page. “You would soon get cheesed off seeing fish down the other end of the lake and not be able to fish there because you didn't have the right to,” said Lee Smith, from Norwich, while Staffs-based carper Jonny Bannister reckoned “If it was the best peg on the lake it would be a great idea!” 


Change of venue pays off for Kev Hewitt

THE continued winter conditions haven’t been enough to stop Kev Hewitt from catching, and on his first ever session on Sandhurst Lake he took an incredible hit of 14 fish – the highlight being this stunning 35lb 12oz mirror.

His trip actually started on Richworth Linear’s St Johns Lake but with heavy snow falling and cat ice forming in the margins he felt his chances of putting a fish on the bank were slim and decided to pack up and make the one hour drive to Hampshire’s Yateley complex.

He said: “I had always wanted to fish Sandhurst but had never got round to it and this seemed the perfect opportunity to get down there and get a feel for the place if nothing else.”

After a quick walk round the 12-acre venue he settled on a far bank swim away from the angling
pressure and wasted no time casting out two zig rigs and a third rod with a Chod presentation to an open water spot at 70yds range.

“That evening I landed a 23lb 12oz common and then lost one after darkness. The rest of the night was quiet but I was woken by a one toner the next morning. I picked up the rod and then 15 seconds later my middle rod burst into life as well! Taking it in turns to wind in each rod I eventually had fish of 23lb and 28lb 12oz in the net.

“All hell then broke loose and in a mad two hour spell I landed six carp all over the 20lb barrier and lost three. It then went quiet until late afternoon when I had another mad hour landing two double and three twenties.”

Once again the night passed without event but the following morning he received another double take which produced the biggest fish of the 48 hour session and a mid-twenty. “Once I got the mirror on the mat I realised what a special fish it as – the flanks were pristine, scale-perfect and chestnut in colour. I have been fortunate enough to have caught some stunning carp in my time but this had to be up there with the best of them.”


Win £10k at the CLA Game Fair

Visitors to this year’s CLA Game Fair will be given the chance to enter a competition which could see them walk away with £10,000.

The big event, which is set to be staged at Warwickshire’s Ragley Hall between July 19 and 21, will include a number of angling activities but the most anticipated of them all is the Fish for a Fortune feature.

Entrants will be given a short period to wet a line on a water which is home to a tagged fish and the angler who lands it will walk away with the big cash prize.

For more details visit www.gamefair.co.uk or call 0844 7767777.


Bury Hill Fisheries throws up 34lb 7oz specimen

Sport hit top gear at Bury Hill Fisheries when Terry Beveridge banked a 34lb 7oz mirror during his latest session.

After selecting to fish peg 13 on Temple Lake at the Surrey complex, the venue regular decided to fish a single Mainline Cell boilie tipped with buoyant fake corn and managed to attract the all-important bite by presenting the offering into open water.

Several other big fish have also been banked from the water, with Croydon’s Shane McDonnagh using a hi-viz Mainline Milky Toffee boilie from peg 9 to tempt a 30lb 5oz specimen.

For more details on the complex visit www.buryhillfisheries.co.uk


An evening with Bob Nudd

Four times world champion Bob Nudd is set to recall some of his most entertaining tales during an evening with a packed audience on April 9.

The Browning backed rod is set to appear at the Albert Halls in Bolton to talk about his achievements during a career which has spanned over several decades.

A question and answer session will also be held, with comedian Steve Shanyaski playing host for the special event.

Tickets are currently available at £12.50 and you can book yours by calling 01204 334400.


Huge 270lb 7oz catfish caught from Italy

THIS is a picture of one of the biggest catfish ever caught using rod and line, anywhere in the world.

Weighing in at a colossal 270lb 7oz, it was caught from Italy’s River Po by German anglers David Otto and Mark Potschka, who were fishing with Black Cat guides Stefan Seuss and Benjamin Grunder.

With the venue running a couple of metres above its normal level and still rising, the group decided to position their bait in a ditch that ran alongside the main river, because they correctly forecast that the biggest  predators  would seek the sanctuary out of the main flow.

 “In these conditions the catfish are drawn to the land and even lay up in the shallowest flooded grassy areas, so we cast into a ditch that was being filled by the floodwater” said Stefan.

“After the guys hooked the fish they tried to subdue it from the bank, but we ended up having to follow it in the dinghy because it was just so powerful!”


Stunning Colne Valley carp brace

Observation paid off for Wes Coggeshall as he landed this pretty brace of Colne Valley carp.

The Kent rod cast single pop-ups at showing fish after a change of swims during a 48-hour session and was rewarded with a 29lb 2oz mirror and a 27lb 4oz common.

“I arrived at a Colne Valley pit early on Friday for a 48-hour session,” said the Sticky consultant. “I had a good walk around, but didn't see any fish, and decided to fish a swim that looked over the main bulk of the lake so I could watch for showing fish.”

“I was up at first light the next morning watching the water. A cold wind had started blowing into my face and I thought it was time for a move. To the right of the swim there was an out-of-bounds area that had a couple of overgrown islands. As I walked past I could see that there were fish present so I went to the nearest swim to get a better look. Once in the swim a carp jumped right out next to the island and that was it, a move was in order. 

“I tied up two chod rigs with 12mm pineapple and n-butyric pop-ups and out they went.
“By the time I was putting the second bobbin on the first rod was away, with a 29lb 2oz mirror on the end.  The rod was put back out on the spot and at 11pm it was away again, this time with a 27.4 common.”



In

New rig is yet to blank

THIS stunning upper 20 fell to Mike Hamer on a new rig that has yet to blank in 2013.

The Woking rod tricked the 28lb 4oz mirror at Bean Lake on the Newdigate Farms Estate in Surrey during a short day session.

Mike used a combi rig with an Ace Camo Core hooklength attached to a stiff RigaMortis section at the hook end. Instead of being curved like a chod rig, the stiff material is bent into a right angle, and instead of a hair the bait is tied directly to the bend of the hook.

“It’s effectively a choddy but instead of the curve it’s set at right angle,” said Mike, who baited regularly with a fairly dry mix of Dynamite White Chocolate groundbait and the matching liquid attractant, and fished a White Chocolate boilie over the top.

“It was raining all morning and the lake doesn’t fish very well in the rain, but I kept feeding to try to concentrate the fish in the swim, and then just as the rain was easing off at about 11.30am I got the take. I instantly knew it was a distant fish because it hugged the bottom and didn’t surface for about five or 10 minutes.”

Mike fished just 10yrds out in a channel between two weed beds.


Monster perch caught from commercial fishery

KIT JACKSON proved that you don’t have to know a venue inside out to be able to fool its biggest residents by banking this huge 5lb 8dr perch on his first ever visit to a commercial day-ticket water.

The 22-year-old’s memorable session began when his brother Matthew invited him along for a trip to a small two-acre fishery not far from his Wiltshire home, which he believed would offer a great chance of beating his personal best perch of just 1lb 8oz.

Armed with a simple inline feeder packed with red maggots, Kit, from Salisbury, slipped a prawn flavoured with CC Moore Worm Protein Extract onto a size 6 hook and cast it towards a group of snags 20yds along the margins.

He slowly built up his swim with small pieces of broken prawn and it wasn’t long before he’d equalled his personal best. Little did he know that his very next bite would produce a fish more than three times as big!

“I hadn’t even seen the venue before, but my brother assured me that it held some huge perch so I found the likeliest-looking spot that I could and tried to get my rig close to the snags,” said Kit, who used a rig constructed from 4lb mainline and a 3lb hooklink.

“When I received another bite and the fish took off, taking line, to begin with I thought that I was connected to one of the small carp in the lake. However, then I saw it break the surface and I physically jumped because I’d never seen a perch anything like as big before. I safely landed it, and when my brother saw the fish in my net, he threatened to throw me in for being so lucky!”

“Many anglers get frustrated during the closed season, but there are countless other day ticket waters across the country with the potential to produce massive perch like mine. It’s just a case of getting out there and giving it a go,” he added.


40-year quest ends with 31lb 5oz pike

A DEDICATED 40-year quest to catch a huge pike ended in glory for Ian Farlows this week when he slipped his net under a stunning 31lb 5oz predator from a tough northern venue.

Over the last decade alone Ian has travelled more than 50,000 miles and braved every kind of weather thrown at him in search of his first UK ‘thirty’.

He finally struck gold on his latest session, where he and his fishing companion Jon Kynaston float legered sea deadbaits in 38ft of water at the undisclosed venue, which is a hefty 250-mile round trip from their hometown of Crewe, in Cheshire.

Having caught pike to a best of 29lb from the water way back in 2005, Ian knew that perseverance and hard work would be the key to his eventual success, and the 55-year-old’s efforts were certainly vindicated when he netted the specimen following his only bite of the day. The impressive fish falls just short of Ian’s personal best, a 33lb pike caught in Ireland.

“I’d hate to think how much money I’ve spent on petrol getting to this place over the years, but I’ve never lost faith, which is something you can’t afford to when you’re after rare creatures like this,” said Ian.

“As soon as I saw the girth of this fish both me and Jon knew it was well over 30lb. I’ve been travelling to this venue almost every weekend for the last nine winters, all the while dreaming of catching a fish like this. To have finally caught it proves that fishing dreams can come true if you put the work in.”

Ian beat the fish with the help of 18lb mainline, a trace made from 30lb Drennan wire and a pair of size 4 trebles.

 


Bag'em Matchbaits Team News

The whole Bag'em team get together once a year to brain storm new products and ideas. This year was no exception and last week some fantastic innovative ideas were planned for the future.

Caroline Reed marketing manager at Bag'em matchbaits explained 'we are one of the few British bait companies left that manufacture bait ourselves, we take notice of what actual anglers want and only make top quality products.'

The team have produced a new 2013 brochure that is more of a 'hints and tips' of how they mix up and prepare Bag'em products and how best to use them.

You can get this FREE brochure by calling 0845  881 1234 or emailing info@bagem.co.uk

You can also get more information about Bag'em by going online:  www.bagem.co.uk