Irish call for all to fish its big matches
Ireland is set to host more ‘open-to-all’ competitions than ever before as anglers describe the quality of fishing as being ‘back to its best’.
It’s been announced that there are already over 40 major events planned for next year, which will not only attract some of the biggest names in angling, but will also be open to travelling UK pleasure anglers looking to fill their nets at a host of iconic fisheries.
Famous waterways such as the Rivers Shannon and Erne along with stillwaters like the prolific Loch Muckno - that hosts the prestigious World Pairs Angling Championships - will ensure top quality sport for those targeting the ever-growing shoals of bream, roach and hybrids.
The timing of the announcement couldn’t have been better as not only is the emerald isle going to be staging more competitions since the ‘glory years’ of the seventies, but anglers like former World Champion Tommy Pickering say that the fishing in Ireland is now better than ever.
“Up until a couple of years ago I hadn’t been over to Ireland for two decades, but I’ve fallen in love with the place all over again,” Tommy told Angling Times.
“I competed in the World Pairs Angling Championship this year and my partner and I averaged 30lb-per-man on five different venues. Even that was only good enough for 22nd place, which just shows how good the fishing is.
“I’ve booked up for 7 weeks fishing next year. I think it’s great news that all of these competitions have been organised and that anyone can go over to not only compete in some of the best events on the match calendar, but also sample some of the best coarse fishing in the world.”
The competitions are being organised by Inland Fisheries Ireland, which is confident that the new host of open competitions will reinvigorate the interest of anglers who have previously experienced the Irish match scene as well as creating a whole new generation of travelling fishermen.
“There’s no doubt that the coarse fishing here has been up and down for one reason or another, but now it’s better than ever,” said Paul Bourke angling information officer for Inland Fisheries Ireland.
“The buzz about next year’s calendar is amazing and is something that UK anglers shouldn’t miss out on.”
3lb 4oz river perch for Angling Trust man
Angling Trust membership manager Will Smith has enjoyed a succession of cracking river perch over two sessions, the biggest being this 3lb 4oz specimen.
After spotting some perch attacking fry by some overhanging willows trees during a barbel session earlier in the week, he returned to the same spot with beefed up float tackle. He then presented lobworm hookbaits under a 6g bolognaise style float, with 6lb mainline straight through to a size 6 Kamasan hook. This accounted for several good fish to 2lb 14oz, but it wasn’t until the following day that the Leominster man latched into the biggest perch.
“I was on the river bank very early in the morning the next day and it was worth it when I hooked this beauty. She was a real solid ‘football’ shape. I fed chopped worms and chopped maggots in molehill soil flavoured with Dynamite Liquid Worm,” he said.
Barbel future boosted by fresh stock
A project has been launched to secure the future of some of the nation’s most prolific big barbel rivers.
Numerous waterways have seen an unprecedented number of specimen fish reported this season, with both the River Nene and Derbyshire Derwent producing several fish over the 16lb-barrier since June 16.
Despite the optimism over the form of these venues, concerns have been raised that very few small barbel have been landed, leading to the fears that the top class action could soon peter out once the current crop of big fish die off.
Efforts are now being made to eradicate those doubts, with Environment Agency staff stocking thousands of small barbel in to several rivers across the country.
Two locations on the Nene have welcomed new introductions, with stretches at Earls Barton and Irthlingborough both gaining 750 fish.
Several stretches of Derbyshire Derwent controlled by the Earl of Harrington’s Angling Club have also been earmarked for similar stockings.
Club treasurer Teresa Parr is confident this will provide a major boost to the waterway. She said: “It's going to help secure the barbel fishing for the future which is very important and this in-turn will attract more people to fish what is an up-and-coming waterway with huge potential.”
The EA have also shown their commitment to help the species flourish in venues that are not yet renowned for barbel, with Yorkshire’s River Aire receiving a top up of 3,000, and its neighbour the Dearne being stocked with the same quantity – its first introduction of the species for a decade.
Barbel Society chairman Steve Pope has welcomed the move and told Angling Times: “It’s really great news that the EA continue to stock barbel as not only does it help spread the species and bolster existing stocks, but also help revive venues that have suffered from predation.”
5lb chub on coaching session with Dave Harrell
The water temperatures may have dropped recently but one man who wasn't complaining was Robin Adcock who booked a day with Angling Times columnist Dave Harrell on the River Wye near Symonds Yat.
This stunning 5lb 3oz chub featured in a 60lb catch which also included some quality barbel. All the fish were caught using bunches of three or four maggots on a size 12 hook underneath a DH 4SSG No2 Truncheon Waggler, fished slightly overdepth.
"It was certainly a day to remember," said Robin. This is the second time I've been fishing with Dave and both days have been memorable with plenty of bent rod action! I'm alreasy looking forward to our next day out."
**For information about Dave's coaching days visit his website at: www.daveharrellangling.com**
Record water set to reopen
Angling Times can this week reveal that the venue which produced the current British pike record could re-open its doors to predator anglers next year.
Llandegfedd Reservoir in Pontypool, South Wales, first hit the headlines in 1988 when it allowed pike fishing for the first time and produced four fish over the magical 40lb-barrier. Over the next few years it produced two British records for the species - the first falling to Gareth Edwards in 1989 at 45lb 6oz, followed by the existing best of 46lb 13oz to Roy Lewis in 1992.
Catches of bigger fish started to drop off after the turn of the millennium and in 2009 venue officials made the decision to stop pike angling on the 434-acre water.
The fishery originally announced on their Facebook page that plans are in place to allow boat fishing for pike again in 2014, and this was confirmed by Richard Poole, site controller for the Welsh Water owned venue. “We decided to give it a rest for five years as the pike population had obviously declined and we felt that the fishing was not offering visitors good value for money,” he explained to Angling Times.
“That period has now passed and if the work which is currently being carried out on the visitor centre at the reservoir is completed on time then we are planning to open two days week throughout October 2014. If for some reason the work isn’t completed on time it will definitely be opened during the same months in 2015.
“Costs are yet to be decided, as is the method of booking, but I’m sure there will be a massive demand for boats,” he added.
One of the many anglers praying the work is finished by next autumn is seasoned specimen hunter and Angling Times’ Bait Doctor columnist Paul Garner.
“I would definitely be keen to fish there,” he said. “A lot of these big pike waters are cyclical so there is no reason why it shouldn’t produce fish of a similar size to what it did in its late eighties, early nighties hay day. The fishery has also been managed well, which is good to see, and keeping the pike free of pressure over the last few years certainly won’t have done them any harm.
Respected pike angler and former record holder for the species, Neville Fickling, is also excited to see what the former pike ‘mecca’ will produce. “Chew has been simply exceptional over the last few years, but it will be interesting to see what happens and what gets caught from Llandegfedd. Any fish in there that were around 10-12lb when it closed to pike fishing five years ago could quite easily be mid-thirties.
“When it first opened I spent over £2,000 on permits and fuel for two 19lb pike so I would love to get back on there to try and better that.”
**LLANDEGFEDD FORTIES**
- Roy Lewis, 46lb 13oz, Oct 1992 – (Current British record)
- Gareth Edwards, 45lb 6oz, March 1989
- Carl Garrett, 44lb 8oz, Oct 1988
- Stuart Gilham, 44lb, Oct 1988
- B. Ingram, 43lb 2oz, Oct 1988
- Pete Climo, 42lb 5oz, Oct 1988
- Martin Cooke, 40lb 8oz, Oct 1996
Big river perch on a lobworm
When the temperatures drop, big perch can still be relied on to put a bend in the rod – as proved by Josh Fisher when he banked a series of fish to 3lb 7oz from a Midlands river.
The Norfolk-based all-rounder had endured several fruitless sessions in search of chub and decided to switch his attentions to the predatory species in a bid to change his fortunes.
Fully aware that the cold conditions would affect the feeding habits of the fish, he used a simple yet extremely sensitive rig which would register even the shyest of bites.
“I wanted to spot the tiniest of plucks on the rod tip so I link legered a lobworm on the hook and sprayed red maggots over the top,” explained Josh, who used 4lb Drennan Supplex mainline straight through to a size 6 hook.
Targeting a well-known hotspot on the waterway, it wasn’t long before the professional tattoo artist hooked and landed a fish just over the 3lb-barrier and several others of a similar weight came to the net before the end of the session.
Just days later he headed to a different stretch and adopting a roving approach to fish a number of swims he finally took the biggest perch from the two trips. He said: “A large fish kept picking the bait up and spitting it out so I cranked the reel a couple of times to pull the worm back. This got an instant reaction as the tip immediately flew round and the 3lb 7oz specimen was soon on the bank.”
Determined to continue to his run of form, he has now set his sights on a new winter target, and told Angling Times: “I’ve pinpointed a venue that has a big head of roach and I’m hoping to catch a fish over the 2lb-mark in the coming weeks.”
Best-ever roach for Andrew Childs of 2lb 3oz on bread
Andrew Childs used trotting tactics to catch this personal best roach of 2lb 3oz from the River Itchen.
The 65-year-old made the journey from his home in Essex to the Hampshire waterway and after walking along a stretch he’d fished in the past he settled on a ‘classic looking’ roach swim.
Offering a piece of breadflake on a size 12 hook and a 3lb hooklink in a crease next to the main flow he caught several chub to just over 4lb before connecting with the specimen redfin.
“It had rained a couple of days earlier and there was a tinge of colour in the water,” said Andrew. “The fish beat my previous best for the species of 2lb 1oz, which I caught from the same river two years ago.”
50lb Skimmer Nets At Wold Farm
Many anglers have labelled Wold Farm Fishery as a summer only bagging venue but this couldn’t be further from the truth. Yes like most venues winter sport is slower than it is in summer but there is one lake on the complex which is well worth a visit this winter.
The 25-peg Oaks Lake has been continually stocked with carp in the 2-6lb bracket over the autumn as the management reduce the numbers in other areas, and this has improved the fishery considerably. However, for consistent sport why not target the lakes huge stock of roach and skimmers. Nets to 50lb are easily achievable with skimmers averaging 2lb and roach to 1lb filling nets. Tactics are also simple.
Chopped worm and caster work well on here when fished in conjunction with the pole. Feed two lines one at around 10m and one in the margins and work between the two to keep bites coming. On milder days you can even fish maggot or caster over a little groundbait. For the carp typical commercial match tactics will work but now the water is clearing and cold, bread is working excellently. Use big punched discs on a hair rig to catch carp to double-figures.
The 20-peg Moat Lake is also another good water in winter. This lake has plenty of small tench, crucians as well as silverfish around the 1lb mark. There are also the odd larger barbell to 8lb. Our advice is to head to the deeper pegs from 12-18 and target the fish with small baits such as maggot or pinkie or even bread to catch a nice mixed net of around 20-40lb.
Location: Wold Farm Fisheries, Airfield Road, Podington, Wellingborough, Northants, NN29 7JQ
Prices: £8 including landing net hire, £10 with keepnet added. Wold price is £20 for two rods or £40 for 24 hours. All fishing is by appointment only so please call the fishery before turning up.
Rules: Groundbait, pellets and boilies fishery brought only, barbless only, fishery’s own nets only
Contact: 07974000230 or 01933 316630 www.woldfarmfisheries.co.uk
Facilities: Toilets, tackle shop, snack bar, tuition available
Huge perch from river and canal
Commercial fisheries have become synonymous with big perch but natural venues have proved their specimen fish potential yet again with both rivers and canals producing massive predators.
Agony soon turned to ecstasy for Paul Elt when he slipped the net under a pristine 4lb 4oz perch during a session on a tributary of the River Ouse.
After his hook pulled out of what he was convinced was a 4lb-plus fish earlier on in his stint, Paul, who comes from Cambridgeshire, didn’t let his misfortune get the better of him and half an hour later he netted one of the biggest river perch of 2013.
The Drennan and Dynamite Baits-backed all-rounder started his day by catching some small roach livebaits which he offered on a simple paternoster rig incorporating a size 4 Drennan Super Specialist hook.
“After a hectic morning with countless pike and a 1lb 12oz perch to show for my efforts I then hooked a huge fish which rolled on the surface and then unfortunately came off,” said Paul.
“I slumped down in my chair and was completely and utterly gutted because I could clearly see it was well over the 4lb mark.
“But I was determined to persevere because I thought that the fish would still be on the hunt for its missing meal and I was right.”
Specimen all-rounder Dan Sales adopted a mobile approach on the Grand Union Canal and banked no less than 14 perch all over the 2lb-mark with the biggest fish weighing 3lb.
The Fox-backed rod was fishing with his friend Gavin Mooney and the duo walked over 4 miles of the waterway armed with ‘jigging’ outfits and braided mainlines.
They targeted areas above and below lock gates with Gavin banking a new personal best weighing 2lb 10oz and both anglers used Fox Warrior Mini Fry jigs.
RiverFest expands
Keen to strike while the iron is hot, Angling Trust RiverFest creator Dave Harrell is already planning the 2014 event and is appealing for interested parties to come forward and put their local waterways into the melting pot for next summer’s qualifiers.
Basking in the glow of what was unanimously voted a hit, Dave has exclusively revealed to Angling Times that a number of new rivers will host eliminators in 2014 including the River Don, Warwickshire Avon and River Weaver as well as the likes of the Thames that hosted matches this year being lined up for another heat elsewhere on its length.
However, nothing has been finalised and Dave is all ears to any venue as he strives to achieve the right demographic to allow as many anglers around the UK as possible to take part.
“The event surpassed even my expectations so I want to get next year’s competition underway and that means appealing to match organisers and clubs that control rivers to put their waters forward,” Dave explained. “While I was happy with most of the venues used in 2013 there are some I’d like to replace simply to provide anglers with better fishing and to spread the matches around a bit more. I’ve already had enquiries but with so many rivers to consider I think we can make next year’s River Fest brilliant.”
Dave is also hoping to secure more sponsorship for the final, upping the prize for the winner from an already substantial £10,000 and putting the match on a par with Fish O’Mania and Maver Match This in terms of money on offer.
“I’m sure we can secure more sponsorship as RiverFest goes from strength to strength but from talking to a lot of the finalists last weekend, they were more than happy to see river fishing get the same big match treatment that commercial carp waters get. The cash was secondary really.”
**Any organisations or water owners interested in running a qualifier on their stretch of river should email: info@daveharrellangling.com**
Fish For Free On The River Hull
Great redfin sport on the tidal Hull
The tidal River Hull Isn’t often the first running water venue which springs to mind when choosing a river to fish in Yorkshire but this under-rated fishery offers a great days sport and will barely cost you a penny.
The recent River Hull Championship match saw some terrific roach nets over 30lb being caught from the shipyard area with individual fish to 1lb being landed. With the river being tidal and with a pacey flow, many local anglers like to opt for stick float and maggot tactics. Set your rig, which should be as light as you can get away with to just off bottom and trot it down, loose-feeding 10 maggots or more every cast for redfins averaging around 6oz.
Generally the venue doesn’t respond to the balling-in approach but the pole is still a deadly tactic on the right day as you can attack the far-side boats at around 14-16m more accurately. Here you will find quality fish including bream to 4lb and skimmers which average around 1lb. There are also some nice perch over 3lb lurking amongst the steel of the small ships that dock here and these can be caught fishing large pieces of worm or maggot.
The whole stretch fishes well but the hot pegs are generally the 3-4 pegs immediately above the bridge.
Prices: Free fishing
Location: River Hull, Beverley, E Yorks, HU17 0HQ
Contact: Hull Angling Centre, 01482 374201
Rules: No fires, no litter, no carp in sacks
England net bronze in World Feeder Champs in South Africa
The Preston Innovations England Feeder team’s African quest to be crowned world champions fell just short on the sprawling Bloemhof Dam as Tommy Pickering’s men had to settle for the bronze medal after trying with Hungary on points and missing out on second place by aggregate weight.
“Frustrated and disappointed” were two of the words used by Tommy as he reflected on a job that was so near yet so far, host nation South Africa cruising to the gold on both team and individual fronts as their vast knowledge of the dam came into play to trounce all-comers.
At the halfway point however, it was looking good for England as they were just a point behind South Africa and looking good to mount a serious challenge as the side got to grips with the long range feeder work needed and the carp that unlike UK fish had very soft mouths meaning lost fish, not to mention lots of snags from lost tackle over the practice week.
Angling Times columnist Steve Ringer was England’s leading man, recording a section second and fifth to end up in the top ten but well away from a medal, although drawing two pegs that in his own words were absolute ‘snag pits’ didn’t help the cause, the appearance of small carp on day two also throwing England a curve ball and stealing a few valuable points from their final tally.
World Feeder Angling Championships
Bloemhof Dam, South Africa (16 teams)
Mixed emotions were no doubt coursing through the minds of the Preston Innovations Englanf Feeder team after they signed off their marathon trek to South Africa for the feeder world championships with a team bronze medal - but it could all have been so much more.
Scoring 48 points, England were eight off the pace set by host nation South Africa but tied with Hungary only to see aggregate weight deny them a silver, not that the team would deep down have been happy with that as they headed south of the equator with gold medals firmly on the menu.
However, South Africa and their wealth of experience and knowledge of the massive Bloemhof Dam proved just too strong for the other 15 competing teams, England included and they proved their mastery of the event by winning the individual gold too to send England back home with plenty of questions to answer as to why a great position after day one slipped away.
“We had a chance to win but weren’t able to take it,” admitted boss Tommy Pickering. “We were excellent on Saturday and then fell apart on day two but that’s life and I’ve seen it happen in match fishing plenty of times. It doesn’t soften the blow and we’ve had two fantastic weeks fishing an awesome venue with brilliant fishing and when you reflect on it, you think ‘well we could have been fourth and have no medal’. I know I always say we go to win gold and we do and of course, we should think that way but I think when we get home we’ll be pleased with a medal.”
Practice has seen England catch plenty of carp, aided by a local angler and friend of
Tommy’s who sorted the side out with local groundbaits and flavourings, these additives proving key to catching the wild carp of Bloemhof and Tommy acknowledges that without them, England’s challenge may well have been scuppered before it go going.
Sticking to the same team for both days of Tommy, Mick Vials, Adam Wakelin and Phil and Steve Ringer, with Grant Albutt the man to sit out the weekend’s action, England soon learnt that fishing one main line at around 40m or 50m depending on the depth and then casting around that immediate area was the key to catching.
“We used big cage and open end feeders with 50cm hooklengths and fed the local groundbait mix that looks like ground popcorn,” Tommy explained. “Those flavours were added to this – one was a strong banana flavour and the other a secret blend. God only knows what was in that but they seemed to work over a plain mix. To the crumb we added corn and lots of hemp fishing a single piece of corn on size 12 or 14 hooks.”
“The carp in the dam were wild and had never been caught before to we used pretty crude tackle with 0.19mm to 0.125mm hooklengths and big hooks but it didn’t seem to matter,” he added. “Being patient was also vital and in practice we set a target for the opening day of 10 carp but we actually needed nearer 20! What did upset the cart a little was the appearance of small carp on day two and some teams seemed to have these sussed and knew how to catch them whereas we didn’t.”
“We came to South Africa confident because the style of fishing and the target fish aren’t alien to us but we always knew we had to beat South Africa to win. They even had maps of the lake showing the depths and where the snags were plus flavourings and additives galore. It’s always difficult to beat the home team but I’m proud of the performance yet brassed off to have missed out after being so well-placed after day one. We can soul search for months to come about what went wrong but I don’t think any of us will be able to say for definite – you just put it down to experience.”
Commercials respond to silvers boom
Millions of silverfish are set to be stocked into a host of the UK’s biggest commercials in a bid to keep anglers catching this winter.
Huge catches of carp dominated the headlines during the summer and several venue bosses have now shown their commitment to keep the prolific action going by intoducing large quantities of roach, bream, tench and perch.
Officials at Woodlands Lakes in Thirsk, North Yorkshire, were among the first to alter their stocking policy after calls from match and pleasure rods to bring in more silverfish. Fishery manager Jimmy Kent told Angling Times: “It’s all about keeping anglers busy and it’s not uncommon for visitors to take 30lb nets – even on the coldest days.
“We have regulars that used to put their tackle away for winter but the abundance of roach and skimmers in our waters means they now fish all-year round.”
Further south, Oxfordshire specimen complex Linear Fisheries has placed hundreds of quality tench and perch into Hunts Corner Pond, with Devon’s Stafford Moor undertaking a similar process on Tanners Lake.
Staff at Surrey’s Bury Hill Fisheries have stocked large numbers of roach to 2lb and owner David deVere said: “There is a bigger demand from anglers for quality silverfish now than ever before. Only last week a visitor had a brace of 2lb-plus roach and the more word gets out about such catches, the more people want to have a go for them.”
Other venues have taken even bigger steps to promote silverfish action, with Staffordshire’s Baden Hall and Berkshire’s New Farm Fisheries both opening new lakes where carp will barely feature.
The increase in demand has seen numerous fish farms struggle to keep up with the sudden surge of interest and Quiet Sports chief Steve Barnes claims he and his staff are working at their limit.
“Quality bream and roach are as popular as ever and last year we ran out of fish,” he said. “We anticipate the same problem this year and urge people to get their orders in quickly to avoid disappointment.”
34lb 10oz pike tops week of bumper hauls
There has never been a better time of year to catch a big river pike after a string of specimens to 34lb 10oz were reported.
The predator fishing headlines have recently been dominated by trout reservoir fish but this week it was the turn of their running water counterparts as they pack on weight ready for the onset of winter.
Pick of the catches was this 34lb 10oz monster to Nathan Edgell from an undisclosed southern river, but there were also several impressive 20lb-plus fish from both the Hampshire and Bristol Avon.
Nathan banked his new personal best just days after landing a 22lb fish from the same waterway. The Dorset man described his capture as ‘a dream’ after spending five years trying to better his river best pike. The specimen came during one of the 30 Plus-backed rod’s trademark roving sessions, from an area of slack water behind a willow tree.
“Things had not gone to plan and I’d had nothing all morning except for one lost fish,” he told Angling Times. “I’d told my wife I would be home for 1pm but it was 2.30pm when I returned to a swim I’ve always had a good feeling about despite having never caught a pike from it. I dropped my float as close to the edge of the submerged branches as I dared and by the time it reappeared from the cast I suddenly saw a flash and it shot under. I struck hard, there was a huge boil, and I could tell straight away that it was a big pike.
“She went straight towards the tree but with plenty of side strain and 50lb braid mainline, I was able to stop her. If I had been on 15lb monofilament I don’t think I would have stood a chance. Slowly I managed to gain line but she scrapped and protested all the way in and at one point she came tail walking right out of the water. My heart was in my mouth and I can remember thinking ‘she’s a thirty!’
“Panic set in and suddenly all those rod hours, heartbreaks and cold frosty mornings came down to this one moment. What a fish, strong spirited and wild. Finally I slipped her over the net. River thirties are as rare as the proverbial rocking horse poo these days and she has the potential to become an upper-thirty at the back end of the river season,” he said.
Nathan emphasised the importance of not being under gunned for large pike. He fished a strong wire trace, a single pair of trebles and a rudd bait, together with a 2.75lb test curve 30 Plus V3 Big Fish rod and 50lb braid.
Elsewhere, the famous Royalty Fishery on the Hampshire Avon has been on top form with a 28lb pike reported, although the captor wished to remain anonymous, plus a 25lb 2oz specimen to Ron Brooke from ‘The Piles’ swim on a smelt bait. Local man Terry Findlay managed to catch a 23lb 9oz fish on a dead roach from this prolific stretch too.
Mark Squire equalled his biggest pike with a 21lb 12oz predator, also from the Hampshire Avon, which was part of a four fish catch over two days.
And the Bristol Avon produced a 22lb 7oz predator for Carl Marchant as he smashed his personal best twice in the same session, following a 16lb 8oz pike earlier that day. Baiting up with a mush of mackerel and cod liver oil tablets, Bath angler Carl took the impressive brace from the Bathampton AA stretch at Newbridge on a smelt, having only started pike fishing a few months ago.
Tenth UK Forty for Mark Munson
Navitas Apparel boss Mark Munson has caught his tenth UK forty in the shape of this 44lb 9oz common from a local syndicate lake.
The Essex-based rod targeted an area of thick weed and cast solid PVA bags filled with crushed boilies and Hinders Elips pellets over a small clear area at 50 yards range.
He said: “I’ve been really busy with work and not had much time for fishing recently. But with the weather looking so good I felt sure one of the bigg’uns was due out so squeezed in a few overnighters. The first night produced a 29lb 10oz common then I had a 30lb 12oz mirror before catching the forty just before I had to fly to China.”
Mark used snowman style hookbaits consisting of 18mm Exel Baits Mulberry Shellfish bottom baits tipped with 10mm CC Moore Northern Special pop-ups.
10lb zander banked after just a few minutes in to session
Mark Simmonds’ zander fishing campaign got off to a flying start when he banked this 10lb 11oz specimen.
The St Neots, Cambs-based rod hooked the fish just a few minutes after casting out a legered mackerel head into the middle of the Great River Ouse.
His free-running rig, consisting of a Drennan wire trace and size 8 trebles, also attracted the attention of an 11lb pike and a 3lb eel.
“I was in two minds whether to fish because the river was still heavily coloured from the recent rains, but thank god that I did,” said Mark.
Surprise 14lb barbel from Great Ouse when carp fishing
A session targeting carp on the River Great Ouse produced a worthwhile surprise for angler Paul Andrew when he landed this fine 14lb 11oz barbel on a boilie.
The Olney & Clifton Fishing Association member, was fishing a wide deep stretch at Olney in Buckinghamshire when the huge fish tore off with his hookbait during an early morning session on the waterway. Witness, Dave Partridge said: “It was a shock because he caught it in an area which is not known for barbel while targeting carp but I’m sure he will be happy with this capture.”
20th catfish over 220lb for 'Black Cat' catfish guiding tours
German angler Sven Weide celebrated a special milestone for the popular ‘Black Cat’ catfish guiding tours by landing the company’s 20th specimen over the 220lb-barrier.
The huge predator was caught on a deadbait with the help of tour employees Stefan Seuß and Benjamin Gründer during a session on the middle reaches of the River Po in northern Italy. Weide said: "Just after we started to play it from the dinghy, the fish planted itself under a sunken tree and wouldn't move. Heavy mist added to the difficulty of attempting to land the fish. Finally, with the help of a second boat, Benjamin and I worked the fish free.”
The River Po is well known among specimen anglers for its massive wels catfish and produced the current IGFA record for the species of 297lb 9oz in March 2010.
Third visit to Chew Valley and new personal best
It was a case of third time lucky for Gavin Young, after landing this superb 34lb 8oz pike during a session at Chew Valley Reservoir.
The 33-year-old from Midsomer Norton in Somerset, was visiting the predator haven for the third time this year when he banked this fish, his new personal best: “I was fishing with my dad, who also landed a 27lb 9oz fish, and we decided to head to a section of open water which other anglers seem to avoid and it paid off for us,” he said. Gavin used a float ledger set-up incorporating 15lb mainline, a 40lb titanium trace and a herring deadbait on a pair of size 4 trebles.
Lone hookbait tempts 16lb 14oz Nene barbel
A single hookbait was all that Nigel Bryans needed to tempt this huge 16lb 14oz barbel from the River Nene.
The 50-year-old from Peterborough hit the headlines 12 months ago when he caught three 16lb-plus fish in a week, followed by the capture of the current river best of 17lb 8oz. And now he has taken his second ever biggest barbel from an undisclosed stretch of the east midlands waterway.
With a warm front and a bit of rain forecast, Nigel aimed to take advantage of the ideal conditions and after arriving at the waterway late in the afternoon he received his one and only bite of the trip two hours later.
“I had spent a short time walking the banks before deciding which swim to fish for the evening,” Nigel told Angling Times.
“When it’s dark I fish my hookbait on its own without any free offerings. This is because I want the barbel to home in on my hookbait as the main attractor and not be grubbing around on the bottom.
My favourite bait is a 1ins piece of luncheon meat which I flavour with a bit of garlic.”
Fishing 12lb mainline, a 15lb braided hooklink and a size 10 Nash Fang hook on a running leger rig, Nigel flicked his bait a third of the way across the river to a spot where he had a feeling the fish would be.
“I was sat under my brolly, trying to hold it in place in the strong winds, when I saw my rod tip going mad. I picked it up and the fish took me 20 – 30 yards downstream before turning around and heading the same distance upstream. It then tried to dive into the inside weeds but I managed to stop her and she was mine,” he added.
