Trio of stillwater specimen perch landed

WITH the nation’s rivers closed, angling guide Kenny Parsons turned his attentions to commercial stillwater perch and landed a trio of specimens over 2lb from a popular South West venue – this superb 3lb 15oz fish the highlight.

Spraying maggots to help attract fish into his peg he cast a running leger rig tied with 6lb Drennan mainline and a 4lb 12oz hooklink attached to a size 8 hook baited with jumbo prawn over the top. It wasn’t long before the impressive predator found his offering and he then backed it up with two other stripeys weighing 2lb 10oz and 3lb 3oz.

An experienced angler, Kenny teaches those wanting to catch specimen fish and up their personal best. Anyone interested can visit his website at www.kpanglingguide.com

Famous syndicate turns day-ticket

SOME of the biggest carp in the north of the UK are going to available for all to fish for from the beginning of next month.

For the past decade the Eric’s Angling Willows Lake has been run on an exclusive syndicate basis with only a privileged few able to target its impressive stocks.

The 25-acre venue holds over 350 carp and is home to the Yorkshire carp record of 52lb 8oz. This is backed up with around 12 forties, 35 thirties and numerous twenties.

The majority of these fish were stocked as singles over 10 years ago and with a combination of careful fishery management and a rich natural food supply have flourished and grown to the current specimen sizes.

The change in access has come about in a bid to safeguard the future of the venue and its outstanding stock of fish against predation. A spokesperson for Eric’s Angling said: “Some people have been asking why we have changed from syndicate to day-ticket with reasons such as fish dying or we’re trying to cash in on the lake now that the carp have grown so big. The simple fact is, however, the water needs to be otter fenced and due to the size of the site doing this will be incredibly expensive. As a syndicate it just simply didn’t generate enough income for this to be financially viable. The decision was made to open the venue to a wider audience so the fencing can commence as soon as possible. It also gives many more people the opportunity to fish for by far the best stock of big carp in the area, which can’t be a bad thing.”

To fish the lake a one-off registration fee of £75 will be required, however, an introductory special offer of £50 is currently available for anyone who joins before May 1. Tickets will then be priced at £30 for 24 hours on weekends and £25 for 24 hours during the week. To prevent overcrowding the amount of anglers on the lake will be limited and all sessions will have to be booked in advance.

To register or for more information call Eric’s Angling on 01430 440034

Jersey Wood Fishery opens in style

The opening week at the brand new Jersey Wood Fishery was a memorable one for all concerned with a series of impressive catches recorded.

Visitors have flocked to the Warwickshire complex with local rod Andy Houghton enjoying a hectic debut session as he used popped up corn close to the island of Daisy’s Pool to net a 21lb mirror and a series of other specimens to 14lb.

Tamworth’s Alan Hemming’s used maggot on Kestrel Pool to take a great catch of quality roach, while Harry’s Pool threw up an 80lb net of carp to Gavin and Chris Phillips.

For more details visit www.jerseywoodfishery.co.uk

Huge canal chub landed

AN ANGLER has this week landed one of the biggest chub ever to come from a canal, smashing his personal best in the process.

Steven Brady, from Wolverhampton, made the impressive catch from his local stretch of the Shropshire Union Canal, where he adopted a stalking approach to tempt the impressive 7lb specimen.

The 29-year-old targeted a number of areas on the far bank towards a group of snags and after waiting almost an hour without a bite, his perseverance finally paid off when the fish took his freelined luncheon meat hookbait.

“I’d been watching a particular spot on the far bank for a while and had already seen some decent fish moving in and out of the snags when I saw this specific one. I cast towards it with a large piece of meat and it took the bait instantly – almost on the drop,” explained the carpet fitter.

“It charged straight towards some sunken branches on the left hand side of the swim and I thought I was going to lose it. Luckily I managed to turn the fish, which then charged towards me and safely into the net.”

Steven used 8lb ESP Mono mainline straight through to a size 6 Drennan Super Specialist hook to catch the fish on what was his first session targeting canal chub.

“Over the winter period I’d been concentrating on the canal’s big carp. I caught a 26lb 12oz pb just a few weeks ago, so I’m absolutely blown away to have landed another pb so soon - my previous best chub was only 4lb 6oz. I’ll be going back soon to try for an even bigger fish as I’m sure they’re in there,” he added.

Other canal venues to try for a big chub:
Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal, Monmouthshire
Bridge 106 Ffynnon-Yr-Eirin to Bridge 107 Dan-Y-Graig; Bridge 110 Pen-Pedair-Heol to Ashford Tunnel; Bridge 96 Govilon turn to Bridge 102 Ty-Gwynn.
Tickets: Part of the £20 a year Waterways Scheme (See Canal & River Trust website.)
Kennet & Avon Canal, Reading
Padworth Rota and East Towney sections.
Tickets: Reading & District AA; go to www.wordpress.rdaa.co.uk for details.
Staffordshire/Worcestershire Canal, Wombourne
Botterham Lock to Awbridge Lock
Tickets: £15 a year or £2.50 day ticket; Wolverhampton AA - 01922 413491.
Grand Union Canal, Watford
Park Pound stretch
Tickets: £4.50 on the bank; Watford Piscators - 07956 385241
Coventry Canal, between Nuneaton and Bedworth
Bridges 10a to 34 (particularly good between bridges 17 and 18)
Tickets: £10 a season for permit; Royal Leamington Spa AA - 01926 312319

Zig hauling at Sandhurst

ENGLAND International Mark Bartlett had to contend with less than favourable conditions during a four night session on Yateley Sandhurst Lake but still managed to land no less than 15 carp to just over 28lb.

The majority of Bristol-based rod’s fish were taken on zig rigs incorporating the newly released Fox Zig Alignas.

“I started off the session fishing with Mainline Baits Milky Toffee pop-ups on a rig I have been experimenting with of late and banked a couple of fish during the first day,” Mark told Angling Times. “I wasn’t convinced that the action was as good as it should be, however, so I swapped a rod for a 3ft zig utilising a yellow Zig Aligna and a piece of matching yellow foam.”

After receiving a bite pretty much instantly he wasted no time swapping his other two rods over to the tactic. “I never really looked back from then on. I was fishing my zig over heavy weed and a pretty savage bar so I had to tackle up accordingly and that meant using the new Edges Armadillo braided leader with a 15lb Zig + Floater hooklink with a size 5 Arma Point SSBP hook. In total I finished with 13 carp on the zigs plus the two off the bottom. I was really chuffed as we had bitterly cold North Easterly winds with snow flurries and temperatures maxing out at 3 degrees out of the wind!”

England team announced for World Champs in Poland

Drennan Team England’s quest to be crowned World Champions this September will be aided by a new face as Steve Hemingray earns a call up at the expense of Stuart Conroy.

Joining team regulars Alan Scotthorne, William Raison, Steve Gardener, Des Shipp and current World Champ Sean Ashby, former European individual champion Steve makes the step-up from the England Euro team for the match, held near the Polish capital Warsaw over the weekend of September 14-15 where bleak and small fish are once again expected to play a big part in what looks like being a tough match.

“Stuart has performed fantastically for the team since his debut in Paris back in 2001 but this venue, being a small fish one, will I feel suit Steve Hemingray better, and Steve thoroughly deserves his chance to take part at the top level,” said England Co-Manager Mark Addy. “Knowing him as I do though, I’m sure Stuart will be back in contention for his place next year.”

Looking at the fishing, fellow boss Mark Downes has his concerns about a venue that was the second choice of organisers and given the poor fishing at recent World and European events, is hoping the authorities take measures to ensure a decent match is in wait for the cream of world match fishing.

“We’re taking a strong team that will be tackling a very difficult venue,” he revealed. “The small 35m wide canal is just on the outskirts of Warsaw but does not have a great head of fish at present, and unless there is some form of stocking I can see it developing into a small fish extremely low weight event.”

Gareth Goldson wins the Drennan Cup

GARETH Goldson has been crowned Drennan Cup champion following the closest-fought contest in the competition’s history.

The all-rounder from Norfolk lifts specimen fishing’s top prize after securing fractionally more votes from his peers than big eel supremo Steve Ricketts, with the pair finishing well clear of their nearest pursuers.

In an exhaustive campaign that saw him travel thousands of miles to venues as far afield as Loch Naw in Scotland and the Great Ouse in Bedfordshire, Gareth secured five weekly awards for catching big roach, rudd, eels, perch and chub. His main rival, Steve Ricketts only secured two, but one of those was for the biggest brace of eels in angling history weighing 9lb 13oz and 9lb 1oz.

In the end however, it was the wider spread of species caught that saw Gareth pip Steve at the finishing line and get his name etched on the sport’s most prestigious trophy, as well as picking up a cheque for £2,000.

Gareth said: “Ever since I saw a picture of Matt Hayes lifting the Drennan Cup back in 1998 it has been an ambition of mine to have a serious go for the title. I gave it my all this season, and dread to think how much I’ve spent on fuel – I feel like I’ve been to the moon and back!”

“I felt sure that Steve Ricketts’ would win – his incredible brace captured the imagination of many anglers –and I’m a little surprised to have beaten him. All I can say is thanks to everybody who voted for me – it’s the ultimate honour.”

Steve Ricketts, meanwhile, was ever the gentleman in defeat, saying: “I’m delighted to be crowned runner-up - it’s the icing on the cake of what’s been a great 12 months for me. I thought I may have been in with a squeak, but fair play to Gareth, he put in the effort, and I’ve always thought the competition was to find the best all-rounder. I’ll be back for another go next year.”

Although Gareth and Steve finished well clear of their nearest rivals, the battle for third spot on the podium was an equally tight affair. In the end Sussex-based specimen hunter Simon Buckman (three awards for big barbel and perch) pipped Peterborough rod Nigel Bryans (Nene barbel of 16lb 8oz, 16lb 8oz and 16lb in a session) by a single point.

The Top Four
Gareth Goldson  £2,000
Steve Ricketts  £1,000
Simon Buckman  £500
Nigel Bryans  £250

Long range spot produces 36lb mirror

MARK Baker couldn’t have asked for a better first session on Suffolk Water Park’s Big Lake, landing one of the venue’s most sought after fish in the form of this 36lb 6oz mirror.

The 28-year-old engineer spent an hour walking around the water on his arrival and it soon became apparent the fish were held up at range in the open water.

With temperature hovering just above freezing he didn’t expect the carp to be too active so decided to start off by just fishing singles.

He said: “I fished two rods with Chod rigs and the third with a new rig I designed which is kind of a cross between a 360 rig and a hinged-stiff rig using a Solar Weed Effect hooklink. This was baited with a Frank Warwick Baits Pineapple pop-up. After five hours I received a single bleep and the bobbin was held up tight but no line was being taken. I decided to lift into it and straight away I could feel a heavy weight on the end of the line which was kiting to my left. The fight was a fairly unspectacular and it went in the net on the first attempt.”

First season perch success

THIS huge 4lb 13oz perch was the ‘jewel in the crown’ of Lee Amass’ first season targeting the species.

Over the last few months the 34-year-old IT worker has focused his attentions on a commercial stillwater in Sussex, breaking his personal best three times in total with other specimens of 2lb 14oz and 3lb 5oz during that period.

After spotting some small fish topping on the surface in a different area of the lake at the end of a day session, he returned the next day and headed straight to the spot, believing that perch could be responsible.

“I flicked out a hair-rigged king prawn hookbait under an overhanging willow tree,” Lee told Angling Times. “Every hour or so I fed 10 smaller peeled prawns as well as keeping a steady trickle of red maggots going in to attract the prey fish.

“Two and a half hours later I had a strange take - normally the perch in there scream off but on this occasion the bobbin pulled up slightly and then dropped back. When it twitched again slightly I decided to hit it. At first I thought it was a small carp because it just stayed deep and plodded around in front of me. When I got it to the surface, though, my legs went to jelly. I caught a 3lb 5oz perch a few weeks earlier and could tell straight away this one was in a different league. The lake has done 5lb-plus fish in the past and I knew this one would be close.”

Lee used a low-resistance running rig comprising a 0.25oz bomb with a 5lb fluorocarbon hooklink attached to a size 8 Kamasan B983 hook.

Records tumble at Bank End Fishery

The fish at Bank End Fishery have clearly switched on to the feed after Steve Cawston broke the match record with 226lb 15oz.

After drawing peg 15 on the Match Lake at the Doncaster complex the R&R Sports rod decided to use the waggler and pellet at various depths and kept carp to 5lb coming to the net throughout the day.

Weights then dropped off drastically, with Dean Foster securing second place with 81lb 4oz of mirrors and commons.

Tench campaign off to a flyer

DESPITE the freezing temperatures, former Drennan Cup holder Ted Bryan has already got his 2013 tench campaign underway with the capture of this 9lb 10oz specimen.

The Sydenham, London-based big fish hunter spent two days on a southern stillwater and kicked off his session by introducing 10 spods of maggots, pellets and boilies at 60 yards.

All of his rods were baited with 10mm Nash boilies and it didn’t take long for the resident tench to find his carpet of feed as he banked four fish to 8lb before hooking into the biggest of the trip.

“Although it’s been a bit too cold for targeting this species it just goes to show that if you’re willing to put the effort in, it’s still possible to overcome the conditions and come up with the goods,” said Ted.

Decade wait for a pb ends with 45lb 10oz mirror

A DECADE long wait to break his personal best came to a triumphant end for Martin Pick with the capture of this impressive 45lb 10oz mirror from Wellington Country Park.

The Leicestershire-based Korda and Trakker-backed rod has been targeting the Berkshire venue since last June and up until now the closest he’d come to breaking his old pb of 45lb – Linch Hill’s famous Petals - was a stunning linear of 43lb 8oz last November.

This all changed on his latest session, though, when he dropped into a popular swim called The Hole in the Bush which commands a wide channel between the bank and an island at 130 yards range.

“I started off fishing close in as this is where the lake’s biggest resident, The Turtle, had been caught from the previous week,” Martin said. “However, a fish showed later in the day further out so I repositioned a couple of hinged-stiff rigs there for the night, along with five spods of 10mm DT Cold Water Mix boilies.

A hesitant take on one of the recast rods saw Martin out of his sleeping back at 3am and despite initially thinking he’d hooked a coot went on to net what looked like a low thirty.

“I’d just secured it in the sling and taken my waders off when the other rod fished in the same area ripped off. I go to pieces when I hook one in here, because it could be anything!

“I was able to lead the fish in easily, while trying to get back into the waders and when I had it close in I could tell that it was a big one. I ran out into the lake and slipped the net under it at the first opportunity. I then secured this fish, which I estimated at upper thirties, in another sling next to the first one.”

Both rods were then cast back out to the spot and within an hour he was in again – this time a smaller upper twenty the culprit.

“By now it was light so I went to wake Shaun Young to help with the photos and weighing. The first fish, an orange mirror weighed in at 34lb 6oz and the second fish, which I had thought was an upper-thirty turned out to weigh a thumping 45lb 10oz – a new PB!”

Sheltered swim comes up trumps

AN AREA off the back of the wind proved to be the killing zone for Jed Kent who caught this cracking 31lb mirror during a session on a tricky syndicate water.

The Norfolk-based Nash consultant had a feeling the fish would be sheltering from the freezing cold easterly which had been blowing across the lake for the last few days.

He said: “Although the temperature was minus 1, it actually felt quite mild once I was out of the wind. I got the rods out by late afternoon and the next morning my left hand rod was away. After a 15 minute scrap I landed a 31lb 6oz linear and the following morning I backed it up with a 15lb mirror.”

Both fish were taken on rigs tied with size 6 Nash Fang Twister hooks and a new chod material on test in conjunction with a Monster Squid pop-up.

Milemead Fisheries record broken

SIMON Humphries broke the Milemead Fisheries Specimen Lake record with the capture of this 30lb 3oz mirror.

The 37-year-old Devon-based builder cast a trimmed down Sticky 20mm boilie tipped with a piece of artificial corn tight to a reed bed in a small bay to his left in 4ft of water and flicked out 10 free offerings over the top.

He received the all-important bite 10 minutes after landing a small common and after a powerful 10 minute fight he had the new venue best beaten.

His winning presentation consisted of a 9ins fluorocarbon hooklink tied to a size 8 Gardner Tackle size 8 Mugga hook.

Startops throws up 28lb 2oz mirror

Laurence Butters received a welcome wake up call from this cracking 28lb 2oz mirror from the 25-acre Startops Reservoir on the Tring complex in Hertfordshire.

Despite the freezing cold conditions the Buckinghamshire-based carper decided to put a bit of bait out and offered a white Baitcraft UK Tactical Super K pop-up over 2kg of Super K and Super Tutti 18mm freezer baits on a spot at 80 yards range.

He said: “There was still a bit of snow on the ground so I was delighted with this result.”

Big chub catch wins Shropshire Union match

Bonus fish were key during the latest match on the Shropshire Union Canal and Richard Buxton included several chub to 5lb in his winning 29lb catch.

The Willenhall Angling man drew peg 11 during the Wolverhampton AA contest at Brewood in Staffordshire and used a bold worm and caster attack to take seven big specimens.

Maver Tipton Van Den Eynde ace Jamie Edgerton was also kept busy but had to settle for second place with a 17lb 5oz mixed net.

EA rod licence blitz results revealed

The Environment Agency have revealed that a rod licence blitz staged over the Easter weekend ended with just over six per cent of those checked unable to produce the necessary paperwork.

Bailiffs from the government body made spot checks at venues across four counties including Cambridgeshire and Norfolk and managed to confront over 450 fishermen.

While the vast majority of them were playing by the rules, 28 were breaking the law, with half of these in Essex.

On the flip side of the coin, no evaders were found in Northamptonshire.

New tackle shop opens in the Midlands

The tackle trade has been given a timely boost after it was announced that a brand shop has opened in Leicestershire.

Dozens of outlets have closed over the last year as a result of the poor economic climate but bosses at HTS Fishing has given the industry a shred of positive news by  opening in Oakham.

Equipment for match, pleasure and specimen anglers will be available and you can find out more details by calling 01572 768353 or visiting their Facebook page.

Quarmby bags festival win at Rolfs Lake

Top bagging water Rolfs Lake produced its biggest weight of the year when Andy Quarmby hauled out a colossal 214lb 5oz of carp.

The Middy-backed ace drew peg 14 at the Oxfordshire fishery and caught from the starting whistle with mirrors and commons to double figures falling to maggots presented on the long pole line.

To add extra shine to the achievement, he also recorded a perfect score in the three day tournament and was crowned overall champion.

For more details on the venue visit www.rolfslake.com

Mega 'Match This' Opening Qualifier Results - 6th & 7th April

Woodland View, Droitwich, 6th April 2013

Angler's Name	Weight (lbs/oz)	Peg # / Lake
Ray Lamb (Maver)	55-09-00	4 (High)
Lee Thornton (Middy / Bag 'Em Baits)	54-13-00	38 (Arles)
Wayne Mellings (Maver Midlands / Dynamite Baits)	43-13-00	8 (Arles)
Jason Brown (Maver Midlands)	34-04-00	10 (Deans)
Jamie Hughes (Maver / Bag 'Em Baits)	34-00-00	33 (High)
Richie Hull (Garbolino)	29-00-00	11 (Deans)
Andrew Musgrove (Edgeley Sports)	25-15-00	28 (High)
Scott Doodson (Preston Innovations)	24-12-00	26 (High)

Sixty eight anglers attended the first Mega 'Match This' qualifier of the 2013 campaign. A hard frost the night before and the persistent cold weather leading up to the qualifier resulted in a difficult days fishing for most. However, despite the conditions, carp were still caught shallow and in the margins.

Winner on the day, and the first angler to guarantee his place in the 2013 Mega 'Match This' final was Maver's own Ray Lamb. Ray drew peg 4 on High pool and fished pole and long down the inside at 14m and short at 6m to finish the match with 55-09-00.

Lee Thornton finished runner-up on the day from peg 38 on Arles pool. Lee opted to fish pellet and corn at 16m to weigh in 54-13-00, qualifying for the British Pole Championships.

Maver Midlands Captain Wayne Mellings took third place with 43-13-00 from from peg 8 on Arles pool. Wayne caught shallow fishing a pellet waggler to return 43-13-00.

Fellow Maver Midlands team mate Jason Brown finished in fourth place from peg 10 on Deans pool. Like Wayne, Jason fished a pellet waggler to end the match with 34-04-00 and earn his place in the British Pole Championships.

The last of the Maver British Pole Championship placings went to Jamie Hughes (Maver / Bag 'Em Baits). Jamie drew peg 33 on High pool and finished the match with 34lbs exactly fishing corn and pellet long at 16m.

Qualifier for Grand Final: Ray Lamb (Maver)

Qualifiers for Maver Pole Championships: Ray Lamb (Maver), Lee Thornton (Middy / Bag 'Em Baits), Wayne Mellings (Maver Midlands), Jason Brown (Maver Midlands) & Jamie Hughes (Maver / Bag 'Em Baits)

Gold Valley Lakes, Aldershot, 7th April 2013

Angler's Name	Weight (lbs/oz)	Peg # / Lake
Mark Goddard (Daiwa Dorking)	78-10-00	119 (Syndicate)
Stephen Sanders (Daiwa Dorking)	67-12-00	63 (Middle)
Lee Carver	64-06-00	77 (Middle)
Andy Power (Preston Innovations)	64-03-00	142 (Syndicate)
David Coulton (Gold Valley)	44-14-00	54 (Middle)
Eddie Green	43-00-00	75 (Middle)
Will Raison (Daiwa)	40-04-00	117 (Syndicate)
Dean Lock	40-04-00	118 (Syndicate)

Seventy eight anglers attended the 2013 Gold Valley lakes Mega 'Match This' qualifier. Conditions leading up to the qualifier were far from ideal with temperatures most nights of the week dropping below freezing coupled with bitterly cold easterly winds during the days. However, there was a slight improvement for this Sunday qualifier with periods of sunshine making things feel slightly warmer.

Winner on the day, and booking his place in the 2013 Mega 'Match This' final was Mark Goddard (Daiwa Dorking). Mark drew end peg 119 on Syndicate lake and opted to fish a small method feeder at approx. twenty metres alternating between a variety of small hook baits to keep fish coming to the net. Mark finished the match with sixteen carp giving him a weight of 78-10-00 and a comfortable win.

Second place was taken by Daiwa Dorking team Captain, Stephen Sanders. Steve drew peg 63 on Middle lake and fished a straight bomb with corn on the hook to land nine quality carp for a weight of 67-12-00.

Lee Carver finishing in third place from peg 77, also on Middle lake. Lee alternated between a method feeder and straight lead. Lee struggled to find the fish at first, but caught late on to finish the match with 64-06-00.

Preston Innovations rod and former Mega 'Match This' Champion Andy Power took fourth place on the day from peg 142 on Syndicate lake. Andy was looking likely to qualify for the big money again with many anglers on the day being of the opinion he was winning the match during the opening stages. However, despite finding some truly huge carp (his first three fish weighed 40lbs between them!), Andy was unable to topple Mark's winning weight finishing with seven carp for 64-03-00.

Gold Valley Lakes sponsored David Coulton finished in fifth place on the day, thus securing a place in the Maver British Pole Championships, from peg 54 on Middle lake. Dave fished a straight lead to finish the match with 44-14-00 narrowly beating venue expert Will Raison, who finished tied with Dean Lock on 40-04-00 from peg 117 on Syndicate lake.

Qualifier for Grand Final: Mark Goddard (Daiwa Dorking)

Qualifiers for Maver Pole Championships: Mark Goddard (Daiwa Dorking), Stephen Sanders (Daiwa Dorking), Lee Carver, Andy Power (Preston Innovations) & David Coulton (Gold Valley)