Amazing week for big barbel
It has been another fantastic week for the nation’s barbel anglers with some of the season’s biggest specimens gracing the bank from rivers at opposite ends of the country.
Darren Worton targeted a Christchurch Angling Club-controlled stretch of the Dorset Stour and set a new personal best for the species when a huge 16lb 9oz fish slid over the net.
After quietly creeping in to position he lowered a single boilie alongside a small mesh PVA bag of freebies over a marginal spot.
The rig had only been in position for a couple of minutes when line started stripping from his reel as the fish realised its mistake and made a bid for freedom.
“As soon as I made contact with it I knew it was a barbel – and a large one at that!” said the music promoter. “It tried to dive in to the weed but I managed to steer it clear and it wasn’t long before it was laying on the mat.
“I knew the river held fish of this size but they are few and far between and to beat my previous best by over 1lb was a special feeling,” added Darren, who used 30lb braided mainline to a 15lb hooklength and a size 12 hook.
Further north on the River Trent, Paddy Clampett experienced a similar level of elation after he banked a new pb barbel weighing 16lb 2oz.
Having gone almost three months without wetting a line, the Nottingham-based Stota Baits consultant headed to an overgrown and neglected spot on the middle reaches of the waterway and cast out a 14mm Foul Play boilie glugged in a new prototype additive.
“I was hoping I would land a double figure fish to get back in to the swing of things but I never expected to catch something as big as this within three hours of casting out,” said Paddy.
“Getting it in the net wasn’t plane sailing, though, as it found a couple of snags and it was a nerve-wracking 20 minutes before I finally got the upper hand.”
Radio plea saves carp
An angling club is celebrating a major victory after BBC Radio Two’s coverage of its protest against a planned fish culling operation helped save the lives of over 600lb of carp.
Listeners of the popular Jeremy Vine Show last Tuesday, heard the story of Bristol’s Henleaze AC, who faced the prospect of having fish killed at their Henleaze Lake, after the swimming club that share use of the venue gave the green light to the removal of carp to rectify issues raised by their members over stock management water clarity.
Health checks had previously revealed the lake’s fish had a grade two parasite which prevented them from being transferred to any other water. As such it was initially believed there was no other option than to humanely destroy the 58 carp that had been removed from the lake.
But after hearing the interview with passionate local angler Shaun Pine on BBC Radio 2 the owner of Mainstream Fisheries LTD came to the rescue, agreeing to take the carp to his Lincolnshire-based facility that specialises in treating fish infected with grade two parasites.
“I got straight onto the Environment Agency as I couldn’t let these carp die when I have the ability to treat them and give them new homes,” said company director Carl Francis.
“They put me in touch with the guys at Aquatic Environmental Solutions Europe who were carrying out the electrofishing work at Henleaze Lake and they were delighted to work with me.
“There’s no doubt that the protest and radio coverage saved the lives of those fish,” he added.
Shaun Pine who led the protest was delighted with the outcome.
“It’s been a hard road for the club and myself as this is a problem we’ve faced since 2009. Knowing that these fish don’t have to be killed is a dream come true,” he said.
“I’m so glad that the media coverage brought Mainstream Fisheries LTD to the rescue and the club is now looking forward to working with the Henleaze committee, the swimming club and AES Europe to ensure this fishery continues to thrive and give joy to so many people.”
To listen to the BBC Radio Two interview use this link http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b04jmh2f
The Fully is fooled at 26lb 2oz
This beautiful scaly mirror gave teenager Max Rippington a new personal best.
The Oxfordshire 16-year-old tackled a local stillwater to bank the 26lb 2oz mirror known as The Fully.
Max, who also banked commons of 21lb 6oz and 18lb 2oz from the tricky venue, said: “It was my best-ever session and the mirror was one of my target fish, so I was buzzing.”
The teenager used GS Crab boilies from Oxford Carp Baits and rigs made from Carper’s Arsenal components.
Pair of carp from The Avenue total 90lb
A 36-hour session at The Avenue yielded two fish for 80lb to Paul Thomas.
The West Wales angler banked mirrors of 42lb and 38lb using just a handful of bait over each rod.
The builder fished Sticky Krill White Ones pop-ups on chod rigs at the Shropshire water and said: “The fish were caught tight to an island at about 40 yards.
“The first one arrived at 3.30am and the second fish came from the same spot, which I had topped up with a couple of handfuls of 20mm Krill boilies, at midnight.”
Click here for more angling news...
72lb common carp caught from Rainbow Lake
Rainbow Lake’s Perfect Common has been caught at 72lb.
The impressive fish fell to Dutch angler Dennis de Wilde on day three of a week-long session at the popular French venue.
Dennis, who banked a mid-twenty carp and a 1.45m-long sturgeon before the big common made an appearance, presented snowman rigs made up of Solar’s new Chilli Club bottom baits tipped with 11mm Dairy Cream pop-ups.
Click here for more angling news...
Brothers bank personal bests from Hampshire Avon
Two days on the Royalty stretch of the Hampshire Avon saw brothers Josh and Toby Searl both bank a personal best 13lb-plus barbel.
It was 31-year-old Josh who struck first with a stunning 13lb 7oz whisker, adding an 11lb 4oz fish just hours later. Touch ledgering paste with a PVA bag of micro pellets did the business for the Fordingbridge angler, who took advantage of the recent mild weather conditions to smash his personal best by over 6lb. The pair returned to the stretch the following day where not to be outdone, Toby (26) landed a fin-perfect 13lb 1oz barbel using identical tactics.
“It was two dream days fishing together really, our luck was in and we couldn’t have asked for anymore,” said Josh.
Click here for more angling news...
The Big One show set to be biggest and best so far
The 2015 Big One Show is shaping up to be the biggest in the event’s history.
With just under six months until the doors open exhibitors are flocking to what is set to be one of the highlights of the angling show calendar.
Tackle firms from all over Europe have been in talks to take part in the event which is being held on the weekend of March 21/22 at Farnborough Airport in Hampshire.
A record 17,500 people passed through the gates of the 2014 show and show bosses are hoping to surpass that figure this year.
Event organisers Vince Davies and Colin Rumney said: “The show earlier this year was a huge success and we had loads of great feedback from both visitors and exhibitors. With the line-up we’ve got in place for the 2015 show we’re confident it will be even better.”
Visitors will be able to see all the big coarse and carp brands that have attended in the past including Nash, Greys, Chub, Preston Innovations, Maver, Gardner, Korda, Pure Fishing, Fox, Matrix, Taska, Guru, Garbolino and Sensas as well as numerous new up and coming brands.
It has also been revealed that Italian tackle giants, Colmic, will be exhibiting for the first time at the Big One 2015, displaying their excellent match and sea fishing ranges, and northern bait giants Sticky will returning after missing last year’s show.
Angling Times’ regular columnists Des Taylor and Keith Arthur will be on hand to chat with visitors and guest speakers are due to be confirmed in the coming weeks.
Tickets are now on sale for £10 per adult and can be purchased online for early entry on the day. The £35 VIP tickets are also selling fast and include a gift bucket with a value of £80. Visit: www.fishfacepromotions.co.uk/thebigone for more info.
Six perch over 3lb for Paul Elt
Paul Elt proved how effective ‘dropshotting’ is when targeting big perch when he banked six fish over the 3lb barrier.
His biggest specimen weighed in at 3lb 5oz and was taken by the Cambridgeshire-based specialist during a session at Grafham Water.
The Drennan and Dynamite Baits-backed angler used the popular method to delicately work his Drennan Esox Jellignite shad that was attached to 8lb braid and a size 1 dropshotting hook.
“The flat-calm conditions enabled a really delicate presentation just off the bottom and I took fish from open water and around the snags,” said Paul.
One of Devon's biggest ever conger eels caught at 43lb
Losing a large conger from a popular Devon sea fishing mark did not deter Mark Frith who returned the following night and got his reward in the form of this 43lb specimen.
Fishing on Ilfracombe Pier, The Barnstaple based angler cast a side of mackerel to the spot where he had lost the eel the previous night and didn’t have to wait long before his bait was taken by the huge specimen. The fish, which is one of the biggest conger’s ever to be landed from the region, gave Mark an epic struggle before eventually succumbing to his 30lb main line and 60lb leader. Following some quick snaps of the camera it was then returned safely to the sea.
New rig fools Apple Slice at 42lb 2oz
Jack Keating trialled a new rig at the challenging Dinton Pastures venue and banked Apple Slice at 42lb 2oz.
The 24-year-old from nearby Thatcham caught the big mirror from White Swan Lake on his first session using a ‘slip D’ rig – a variation on the stand D rig.
He said: “After checking the weather forecast on my arrival and noticing a south-westerly wind was coming in at 6am the following morning, I had a feeling the fish would follow. I set up at the top end and decided to get the rods in position before the fish turned up to avoid spooking anything.
“After the first night the wind turned and it wasn’t long before I could see a few fish. So far the plan was coming along nicely but with no action coming I decided to try something brighter to catch their attention. I opted for the slip D pop-up rig, popped up one inch, and decided a Sticky White Chocolate boilie would help do this.
“At 9am on Friday morning the left-hand rod went into meltdown. Once the rod was struck it went mental, the fish powered off, dropping the lead on the bite and you could see the bow waves on the surface. After an epic battle I slide the net under him with a big sigh of relief.”
Jack fished over a kilo of Krill freebies and made his rigs from 15lb Gardner Disruption and a size 6 Covert Mugga hook.
Buckland rudd of 3lb falls to a plastic boilie
Mike Lyddon was the latest angler to sample the fantastic sport on offer at big rudd mecca, Buckland Lake Reserve Fishery, this 3lb 8dr specimen the highlight of his session.
The Gardner Tackle sales rep landed the fish just two rod lengths out on an Enterprise 10mm Immortal plastic boilie over a bed of sweetcorn.
He told Angling Times: “I had to use an artificial hookbait to get round the hordes of small fish which kept stripping off conventional baits.”
His winning presentation comprised 6lb Gardner Hydro Flo mainline and a size 14 Target hook.
Two 15lb river barbel banked
Low and clear conditions on many rivers hasn’t hampered the nation’s barbel anglers with Iain McDonald leading the way with this cracking 15lb 6oz fish.
The Canterbury, Kent-based all-rounder travelled to a Thames tributary where he presented a 10mm Hookbait Company pellet over a clear gravel run.
The first two hours of the trip passed without event, but just as the light was starting to fade his rod tip hooped over.
“It was an explosive fight, with the fish making several powerful runs before eventually giving up and dropping in to the net,” said the 42-year-old.
“I was delighted to land such a big barbel in the conditions and I packed up straight after as I knew the chances of getting a bigger one that evening were extremely unlikely,” added Iain, who used 10lb mainline to a size 12 Korum Power hook.
Further north, first time barbel angler Michael Brian opened his account with a 15lb specimen from the Derbyshire Derwent.
The local rod rekindled his love for the sport two months ago but despite fishing an Earl of Harrington’s AC controlled stretch of the waterway on a weekly basis he only had a small chub to show for his efforts.
That all changed on his latest outing, however, when he baited a deep hole with hemp and presented a Dynamite Baits The Source boilie over the top.
“I knew there were some massive barbel in the area but I never expected my first ever one to be this big,” said Michael.
“As soon as I hooked it I could feel the weight of it and once it was in the net I knew it was something special. All the blanks have been worthwhile and I’m more than willing to go through all that again to find an even bigger Derwent barbel,” he added.
Stunning 32lb 8oz linear carp from southern syndicate
Paul Codman hailed this linear as “the best looking carp I have ever landed”, and it’s easier to see why.
The pretty linear tipped the scales at 32lb 8oz during a three-night stay on a southern syndicate water.
He said: “At 32lb 8oz it's my second biggest UK carp and certainly the best looking carp I have ever landed, with plenty of character to boot.
“I did have another one which dropped off not 6ft from the bank, which was gutting. Fortunately the photos of the linear soon put the smile back on my face.”
The fish fell to a hinged stiff rig fished over a bed of boilies on a clear area in 7ft of water.
Click here for more angling news...
7lb 1oz chub from Derbyshire Derwent
The Derbyshire Derwent has built up a reputation for its big barbel but Dan Dakin proved it has large examples of other species when he netted this 7lb 1oz chub.
Wetting a line in a noted hotspot during darkness, the Derby-based angler shunned more traditional chub baits such as pellets and maggots in favour of a large piece of garlic Spam.
His hookbait was taken within seconds of hitting the water and after a spirited fight he netted his new personal best for the species.
New predator section inside this week's Angling Times
This week sees the launch of Angling Times’ brilliant new weekly predator section packed with all the latest tips and tactics to help you catch species such as pike and perch.
Fox’s Julian Chidgey will be one of the regular columnists and he proved why there are few better when it comes to catching predatory fish with this 3lb 1oz perch. The impressive specimen was the highlight of a 15 fish haul from Chew Valley Reservoir in Somerset which included another large stripey of 2lb 15oz.
The former Drennan Cup Champion used fly fishing tactics and opted for a fast-sinking line to get his fly down to the bottom where the bigger perch were sitting and took all the fish in a manic three hour period.
“There’s very limited access to target these huge fish using conventional methods, so I had to switch to fly tackle and this just proves that sometimes thinking outside the box and using alternative methods really pays off,” Julian told Angling Times.
Brand new predator section inside Angling Times
Inside Angling Times out tomorrow, we launch a new weekly section dedicated to helping you catch more pike, perch and zander.
Andy Crossley reveals the basics of drop shopping and how to get the most out of this very simple tactic.
Martin Bowler shows how to catch big perch on cooked prawns.
Read the full report from the UK's first Fox Rage Lure Championships plus there's your chance to enter the Angling Times/Fox Rage National Drop Shot Championships 2014.
Plus we reveal essential tips for this week and win some drop shot tackle in our predator question and answer section.
49lb 14oz mirror carp after three week break for Lewis Read
Lewis Read returned to his syndicate after a three-week break and upped his personal best with a fish just two ounces under the 50lb barrier.
The experienced carper, who is Gardner Tackle’s media manager, tempted the mirror known as Little Big Head during a weekend session at Wellington Country Park in Berkshire.
He said: “‘God, I love it here!’ just about summed up my feelings. It’s not every day you catch a whacker!”
Lewis added: “Friday evening saw me rush home eager to get to the lake after missing a few weeks due to other commitments. I have been ‘on it’ this year so a three-week break was a killer!
“As I drove there I had that wonderful knotted stomach – the excitement and anticipation twisting my insides into a ball.”
Having been told about some fish sightings, Lewis rushed to his swim and baited along the margins with Carp Company Nut Mix boilies before darkness.
“I struggled to sleep,” he said, “the excitement I felt was elevated by the occasional fish showing nearby – and when a beast came out over the top of the middle rod I got out of the bag and sat in the darkness waiting for a bite. At 3.15am it came. The middle rod ripped off and the old adrenalin rush kicked in.”
Having banked the 29lb mirror, Lewis stayed up and became convinced the fish were leaving the area he was fishing in.
“The bay looked too quiet and I was becoming quite fidgety. Then the right-hand rod bleeped a few times and, as I picked it up, all hell broke loose as a decent fish stripped 40 yards of line off the spool.
“The fish swept in on a tight line and pulled hard trying to get under the trees to my left. I was surprised how much time it took to bring her out and round, but with that done the fish still surged powerfully around for another few minutes before bobbing up and displaying a back that was beast-like in width.”
The fish was eventually subdued and a weight of 49lb 14oz was agreed, despite the needle of the scales bouncing over the 50lb a couple of times.
“No complaints there,” said Lewis, who fished a clone rig made up of Gardner Trick Link and a size 6 Incizor.
Trio of rare Mandarin catfish landed from the River Ebro
To catch one Mandarin catfish is a feat in itself, but to land three is unheard of - yet this is exactly what a pair of anglers on the River Ebro achieved.
The trio of rare specimens – measuring 212cm, 210cm and 180cm - were caught by Team Black Cat guides Stefan Seub and Lee Franchetti who were fishing just one swim away from each other on the famous Spanish waterway.
Stefan said: “I have never known of such a catch of three of these rare white and gold catfish on the same night. Just days earlier, one of my guests, Robert Baumann, managed to land a completely white catfish which could have been an albino. So, if you are looking for ‘Spanish gold’, you can find it on the Ebro.”
For more info visit: www.team-black-cat.com
353lb of bream from a free river stretch
A free stretch of river has produced one of the UK’s biggest running water catches of all time after one angler took a massive 353lb of bream.
Mike Farrar arrived at the stretch of the River Nene in middle of Peterborough Town Centre at 2.00am after seeing bream rolling when he visited the venue on his bike the evening before his session.
With several 100lb-plus nets from the area already under his belt, the local rod fancied his chances of a big catch so after transporting all of his tackle to the bank on his bike put out 70 large feeders filled with groundbait and pellets into his swim, but nothing could have prepared him for the session he was about to experience.
During an incredible eight-hour stint he banked no less than 90 bream averaging 5lb – and lost an estimated further 100lb of fish in the weed.
“It was the most incredible days fishing I’ve ever had – at one point I had a crowd of around 20 people behind me!” Mike told Angling Times.
“Once I’d fed the swim and used the feeder to clear out some of the weed over my spot, the first bite didn’t come until 8.00am. After that it just went mad and there were so many fish in the swim that I couldn’t get my rod in the rest before the tip was going around.”
All of Mike’s bream fell to either maggot or pellet hookbaits fished in conjunction with a 0.15mm hooklink and size 14 hook attached to a 6lb mainline.
“I reckon I could have had almost 500lb if I hadn’t have lost loads of fish in the weed, but there was no way I could get round it as this is where the fish were and you have to take the rough with the smooth,” Mike continued.
“The fish were still coming thick and fast when I decided to pack up at 4.00pm, but to be honest I think the river and the shoal had given me enough pleasure for one day.”
And just to prove how good the fishing is on the River Nene at the moment he returned three days later and used the same tactics to land over 286lb of fish.
Over the years there have been many huge river catches taken by solitary anglers including a 316lb net of chub from the River Wye by Welsh International Lee Edwards in 2007, and more recently 200-plus nets have been reported from rivers such as the Thames and the Trent.
Venues to try for big bags of bream
- River Nene, town embankment, Peterborough
Contact: F Wade & Son, 01733 565159
Prices: Free fishing
- River Thames, Kingston, London
Contact: Gerry’s of Wimbledon 02085 427792
Prices: Free fishing
- Bristol Avon, Barton Farm Country Park, Bradford on Avon, Wilts
Contact: West's Tackle, 01225 755472
Prices: £3 a day from Wests Tackle Trowbridge, Airsprung AA
- River Wensum, Norwich, Norfolk
Contact: Latham’s Tackle, 08432 891368
Prices: Free fishing
- River Severn, Upton Upon Severn, Worcs
Contact: G. Shin Tackle, 01684 592102
Prices: £3 a day in advance from G. Shin Tackle,
- River Trent, Holme Marsh, Newark, Notts
Contact: Worksop DAA, 01909 486350
Prices: £4 a day on the bank, Worksop DAA
Click here for more angling news...
Target banked at 38lb from Essex syndicate
Gary Patterson caught his target fish from an Essex syndicate water in the shape of this 38lb 11oz mirror.
The fish, known as Shy, fell to a Mainline Hybrid dumbbell pop-up fished over 20 matching baits on a margin spot next to some lily pads.
The Kingston-on-Thames angler used a hinged stiff rig made with 25lb Fox Trans Khaki Rigidity and a size 7 SR hook.
