Pike best smashed by a whopping 17lb

A decision to go fishing with a professional angling guide paid off handsomely for Kevin Meggison when he smashed his personal best pike by a massive 17lb.
The Kent angler contacted predator ace Rikki Cooper as he wanted to improve his best weight of 12lb and Rikki duly obliged as the pair headed to one of Kevin’s local stillwaters. A few hours later Kevin had achieved his goal by slipping the net under three fish weighing 29lb 10oz, 26lb 2oz and 19lb. All the fish were taken on legered smelt deadbaits.

Scottish loch springs surprise with a 35lb 8oz pike

Here’s proof that you don’t have to fish the popular UK trout reservoirs to catch monster pike. Dave Turley slipped the net under this 35lb 8oz predator – from a loch in Scotland.
The 52-year-old Scottish Pike Anglers Club member latched into the huge fish while fishing with his friend Stewart Mcmath during a pike fishing trial on Lake Menteith, near Stirling.
The pike, which was tempted on a small Bluey deadbait cast close to one of the 750-acre venue’s islands, set a new personal best for the Chapelhall-based rod, who caught a 27lb specimen from the same loch last year.
As well as raising eyebrows, the catch will no doubt raise questions as to the coarse fishing potential of the fly fishing venue, which only opens to pike anglers two days a year. Said Dave: “You just don’t know what’s in the lake as we only get to fish it twice, and one of those days is lure-only.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if there was something much bigger lurking down in its depths.”

3lb 4oz roach found dead at pike water Chew Valley

This is the picture of a 3lb 4oz roach that was found at the UK’s finest specimen pike water.
The dead roach was discovered by former British pike record-holder Neville Fickling and Angling Times columnist Paul Garner when the pair fished from the deck of a boat on the famous Chew Valley Reservoir.
It’s a venue that’s already produced two pike over 40lb and numerous 30lb-plus specimens so far this season, but the roach proved why many experts believe that the next British record pike isn’t the only history-making coarse fish that is lurking in the depths of the vast Somerset venue.
“As soon as I saw the fish I shouted ‘hang on a minute, that is absolutely huge’ so we sped over to investigate,” Neville told Angling Times.
“It doesn’t surprise me at all that there are roach like this in this place because everything seems to grow to such huge proportions. But all that said, I didn’t think I’d be having my picture taken with a 3lb 4oz roach during a day at Chew.”
Along with pike to 44lb 6oz and perch to just under the 5lb mark, respected specimen all-rounder and fisheries scientist Paul Garner also believes that Chew and many of the other vast trout fishing reservoirs in the UK could contain coarse fish of massive proportions.
“This roach is further proof of just what could be in these lakes, because many of them are perfect breeding grounds for specimen fish,” said Paul.
“Chew is such healthy water that’s rich in food and nutrients, so it’s no wonder why it’s not only home to huge pike.
“I’ve seen huge coarse fish rolling while fishing this type of venue and if you do a bit of research you’ll find out about a 20lb 2oz bream that was found dead at Thames Water’s Farmoor Reservoir some years ago – just one of many examples of what lurks beneath the surface of these waters.”

Three twenties mark piker’s return to rivers

Dilip Sarkar showed no signs of rustiness after a seven-month break from angling when two sessions resulted in three 20lb-plus pike topped by this superb 22lb 8oz specimen.
The Angling Trust fisheries enforcement manager waited until October to make his first cast of the season on a local river, where he banked the biggest of his three fish on a  paternostered deadbait.
Things got even better a week later when a trip to the River Severn resulted in the capture of a stunning pair weighing 20lb and 21lb 7oz.
Dilip’s book, River Pike, is still available to buy from Harper Angling Books.
Visit: www.harperanglingbooks.co.uk/RiverPike

Sardine served to big Fen pike

Mark Whitaker proved why Fenland drains are so popular with pike anglers when he slipped the net under this monster 29lb 12oz fish.
The 49-year-old from London made the long journey to a Boston & District Angling Association-controlled stretch where he cast out two rods with legered sardine deadbaits.
After missing a take early on in the session he thought his chance had gone, then his rod bent over once more as the huge predator was hooked. Mark’s set-up included 20lb Fox Steel camo line tied to a home-made wire trace.

Zander record holder gets Severn pike twenty

Trout fishing reservoirs might be stealing all the headlines when it comes to big pike at the moment, but James Benfield proved how good our rivers are when he netted this 26lb 5oz personal best.
The current British zander record holder with a fish weighing 21lb 5oz was tackling a stretch of the River Severn when he set his hooks into the specimen that fell for a small chub livebait.
Predators weighing 19lb 10oz and
11lb 12oz also fell to the 28-year-old, from Malvern in Worcester, who used 18lb mainline and size 6 trebles to make his impressive catch.
“This is the first time this season that I’ve targeted this area and it means a lot to bank my first ‘twenty’,” James told Angling Times.

Biggest pike of season from Chew Valley

Pike-fishing fanatic Steve Whitehead realised a dream when he netted the biggest predator of the season.
The fish topped the scales at 40lb 8oz and was boated during a prolific session at the famous Chew Valley Reservoir in Somerset – a venue that he’s fished for 15 years.
It smashes his previous personal best for the species that previously stood at 34lb 1oz and took a float legered herring that was mounted on size 6 Drennan trebles and presented in around 14ft of water in an area near the fishing lodge.
“The fish were really having it, so as soon as the float disappeared I struck. The pike came to the side of the boat without putting up much of a fight, which gave me a chance to see what I’d hooked,” said Steve.
“Then it disappeared and I didn’t see it again for over 15 minutes as it gave me the biggest fight of my life. I’ve always dreamed of catching a pike like this, but they are so rare.”
It topped a seven-fish catch that the Bristol angler shared with his boat partner, Matt Freake, which also featured a 26lb 8oz fish.
The huge fish came in a week that produced nine other predators over 30lb and it adds yet another specimen to the venue’s ever-growing list of pike weighing more than 40lb, with the current record of 44lb 6oz. 
Chew Valley ranger Jake Belgium was on duty when the fish was caught.
“It was a superb fish and absolutely huge. Every year this venue keeps producing massive fish. It’s a breeding ground for big predators – the number of perch over 4lb that have been banked this year has also been incredible,” he added.

Promising start for pike on Lake District venue

The predator season got off to a flying start at Esthwaite Water with Paul Varcoe’s 21lb 8oz pike.
The predator specialist moored in a likely looking spot and it wasn’t long before his lure was hit aggressively.
Several other 20lb-plus fish have also been netted this week, with venue bosses expecting the first thirty very soon now.
Professional guiding and coaching is available on Esthwaite Water throughout the winter.
Find out more by calling 01539 436541.

Quiet day shattered as sardine tempts 20lb pike

A quiet day on the Leeds & Liverpool Canal perked up when Gordon Cash netted this 20lb 8oz pike.
The Wigan angler had set his sights on the venue’s stocks of predators and used a slice of sardine to try to lure them in during the day on a local stretch of the water.
Early signs suggested that he was in for a day to forget, but those fears were soon allayed when the fish mouthed the bait.
A short battle ensued, before Gordon slipped the net under his prize.

25lb-plus pike really takes the biscuit!

IT’S been a week of shock captures, and none more so than that of schoolboy Harvey Booth, who banked a 25lb-plus pike on a floating dog biscuit!

The 12-year-old from Worksop, Notts, had been fishing seriously only for a few months, but he left thousands of dedicated predator anglers envious when he won the battle with his first-ever pike during a session at the SYPAC-controlled Westwoodside Lakes.

Relying on a surface fishing attack, he was soon getting plenty of action from the resident carp, but then the day took an unexpected twist.

Harvey’s dad, Andy, was on hand to witness the lad bank the unlikely personal best.

“As soon as the fish took the bait we knew it was a lot bigger than anything we had landed that day, but when a huge pike came to the surface 20 minutes after hooking it we were both gobsmacked,” he told Angling Times.

“It was Harvey’s first-ever pike and by far the biggest fish of any species he has ever landed.

“He has only started taking fishing seriously this year, but this unbelievable catch has really whetted his appetite to get on the bank a lot more often,” he added.

He wasn’t the only angler to record a surprise personal best – Craig Allington landed a 15lb salmon while targeting pike and perch on a day-ticket stretch of the Dorset Stour.

Helping a friend catch his first predator was the objective of the day, but the limelight was soon on Craig, who said: “The lure fishing set-up I used was really undergunned for a fish of this size, but it was just one of those days when everything went my way.

“It only took five minutes to land and it is a catch I will never forget for the rest of my angling career.”

Last but certainly not least, River Trent enthusiast Lee Chapman got a lot more than he bargained for when he banked a 21lb 8oz pike from Cromwell Weir on the River Trent.

The predator swallowed a legered 12mm halibut pellet that was intended for barbel.

Record pike venue opens doors again

The venue that holds the British current pike record has opened its doors to predator anglers for the first time in six years.
Anglers from across the country descended on the famous Llandegfedd Reservoir in South Wales – and it certainly didn’t disappoint. The first two days of pike trials resulted in 11 predators over 20lb, with the biggest fish coming in at 27lb 7oz.
The 430-acre trout fishing reservoir first hit the headlines in 1988 when it allowed pike fishing for the first time.
It produced four fish over 40lb, then two British record pike. The first was caught by Gareth Edwards in 1989 at 45lb 6oz, followed by the existing best of 46lb 13oz taken by Roy Lewis in 1992.
And last week, following six years of closure to predator anglers, some of pikefishing’s biggest names set out in search of monsters.
One of those was well-known piker Nige Williams, who not only landed a 22lb 7oz fish, but was accompanied by Dean Mastouras, who boated the biggest fish of the first two days weighing 27lb 7oz. He took it on a lure, and it’s a personal best he’s been chasing for more than 30 years.
“The atmosphere when Nige and I arrived at the venue was absolutely electric. Everyone was buzzing because it hadn’t been pike fished for so many years,” said Dean.
“Every time we got a run I thought ‘could this be the one?’ as no water is more of a magnet to pike anglers than this one.
“I’ve travelled all over the UK and Ireland in search of big pike, and to smash my personal best by 7lb 7oz at Llandegfedd is incredible.”
The second-biggest fish of the two-day trial, at 26lb 8oz, also fell to a lure and was taken by leading predator angler Dave Kelbrick, who backed it up with a 20lb 14oz fish and shared a boat with his son Luke, who also got among the big fish with a 22lb 2oz specimen.
“This venue is capable of throwing up a real monster. I had a fish that was in the low 30lb bracket follow my lure right to the edge of the boat, but it turned away, which was a real gutter,” Dave told Angling Times.
Respected all-rounder and Korum-backed specialist Gary Knowles echoed the sentiments of Dave. After making the seven-hour drive from his Cheshire home, Gary not only boated a pike weighing 21lb 10oz, but was left telling the tale of ‘the one that got away’ after his day on the record-breaking water drew to a close.
“You look out across this water thinking of what it might hold and it really sends a shiver down your spine,” he said.
“I hooked a fish that stripped 20 yards of line off the multiplier on the first run, but then it was gone.
“That was just one of a couple of big fish that I bumped off. I don’t mind losing a fish on my local canal, but when it’s on Llandegfedd and your next run could be a fish-of-a-lifetime it’s a different story!”
The incredible venue is now open to pike anglers fishing from both the bank and boats every Monday and Tuesday until the end of October.
Venue bosses have been pleased with the results of the first two days and share the excitement and enthusiasm of the anglers who now look forward to discovering what Llandegfedd has in store over the coming weeks.
“There have been many stories coming back from the guys on the boats of the loss and sightings of really big fish, which is great after the water being closed for six years and it being so early in the pike fishing season,” said area land manager Richard Poole.
“This venue covers 430 acres, with depths that run to 130 feet in some places, so the possibilities are limitless.
“One of our rangers who was fishing on Monday and Tuesday saw some really big pike on the fishfinder that he had on the boat.
“These are exciting times.”

Netting survey finds ‘hidden’ giant pike

Bailiffs on a top stretch of river were left surprised when a netting survey revealed a giant predator that has never been caught.

The Kings Weir stretch of Hertfordshire’s River Lea was given a stock analysis by the Environment Agency, and officials were shocked when a near-30lb pike that is yet to be banked was found.

Fishery boss Andre Tredgett said: “We knew the stretch had some quality predators in it but we never expected to find a pike of this size.

“It has plenty of room to grow and once winter comes there is every chance this fish could
be well over the 30lb mark,” he added.

Several big chub were also recorded, with numerous fish over 6lb coming to light.

For more details on Kings Weir call 01992 468394.

Alan Stagg lifts the Drennan Cup

“I’ve dreamed of this moment since I first started targeting big fish and to think that my name will now sit alongside some of the greatest anglers of all time just blows my mind.”

These are the emotional words of Alan Stagg, who has this week been crowned Drennan Cup Champion.

The Basingstoke based fishing fanatic took the most coveted prize in specimen angling after votes cast by specimen fishing’s elite put him well ahead of the rest of the field in this year’s competition.

At the end of the 2014/15 season Alan had amassed an impressive five weekly awards in his quest for the famous Drennan Cup and ultimately it was the Gardner tackle employee’s versatility and ability to catch some of the biggest specimens from both still and running water that saw him secure the prestigious title.

“It was my birthday and I was in my garden having a celebratory drink and I got the phone call telling me that I’d won and my jaw hit the floor. I could hardly speak as it was the best present I could have ever wished for,” a delighted Alan told Angling Times.

”I’ve had the Drennan Cup in my sights ever since I started targeting big fish and many all of my fishing heroes have their names on the cup and I’ve been close in the past, but words can’t describe what this means to me. It’s such a huge honour because the unique aspect of this competition is that the winner is decided by votes from your fellow anglers and there’s no bigger accolade than that.

Alan’s campaign began last May when he ended a seven-year quest to beat his bream personal best when he slipped the net under a huge 17lb 3oz that was backed up by another fish weighing 16lb 12oz during a session at a southern gravel pit.

His incredible run of form continued on the same venue a few weeks later after netting one of the biggest braces of all time with a combined weight of 34lb 11oz.

The first trip to a new water saw him gain with his third weekly award when he adopted a float-fishing approach to achieve a long-time ambition of catching a rudd over the magical 3lb barrier.

It took him hours to locate the fish but when he found them he landed specimens weighing 3lb 5oz, 2lb 7oz and 2lb 5oz.

He then switched his attentions to running water and proved why he’s regarded as one of the most gifted all-rounders in the sport when his second river session of 2014 on a tributary of the River Thames produced a 15lb 8oz barbel.

It was only fitting that his fifth and final Drennan weekly award saw him join an elite group of anglers who have banked 3lb-plus roach from both still and running water.

The 3lb 3oz 8 dram fish was the first ‘proper’ roach he’d ever banked  from a river and came from a southern chalk stream caught on feeder fished maggots.

“It really was a dream season for me as I achieved so much and banked fish that I’ve been after for so many years,” Alan continued.

“To have come out on top of a field of anglers that’s made up of such well-respected and genuinely inspiring people is a huge honour, but to have my name on the famous Drennan really is as good as it gets.”

Leading the chasing pack in the 2014/15 Drennan Cup competition was Angling Times columnist and Peg One consultant Paul Garner.

He finished his campaign with a total of three weekly awards for impressive specimens such as a huge 12lb 10oz tench, a 3lb 11oz 8 dram rudd and a 4lb 2oz 8 dram personal best rudd.
The remaining places in the top four were filled by well-respected big fish anglers Brian Ingram and Mike Lyddon.

Drennan Cup sponsor Drennan International have again been delighted with the continued popularity of the competition and congratulated Alan on his victory.

“Congratulations to Alan on a richly deserved win.  In all sport, rewards are generally directly proportionate to the amount of effort & practice invested, and I know first-hand how much time Alan puts into his fishing, Said Stewart Moss of Drennan International.

“I’ve personally bumped into him several times on various venues banks over the years and he really is an expert specimen angler and will be an exceptionally popular Drennan Cup champion.”

What they win:
1 Alan Stagg, £2,000
2 Paul Garner, £1,000
3 Brian Ingram, £500
4 Mike Lyddon, £250

Click here for more angling news...

Massive pike taken on fly

John Crampton had the surprise of his life when his tiny fly intended for trout was taken by this enormous predator.

Experts estimate that the shock specimen weighs between 35lb and 40lb as unfortunately John didn’t have any scales with him during a session at a trout water in Yorkshire.

It’s believed to be one of three big pike that are known to local anglers that are part of the private trout fishing syndicate that’s in operation at the 27-acre venue and it’s a fish that smashes the Rotherham-based all- rounders previous best that stood at 20lb.

“It absolutely blew me away as all I could compare it to size wise was a Labrador,” John told Angling Times.

“By the time I’d got the better of the fish a crowd of local anglers had built up behind me and as soon as it came up into the clear water in the shallows they all gasped and I couldn’t repeat some of the things that were said because that’s the sort of impact it had.

“It’s such a shame that I didn’t have any scales with me, but to be honest my main concern was to get her back as quickly as possible because the female fish that was four feet in length, was clearly carrying spawn.”

John beat the fish with a 7-weight rod, a 5lb leader and a size 14 Fritz fly and it’s a capture that further proves the big pike potential of trout waters across the UK.

“This is clearly a huge fish and just goes to show there must be dozens of other venues like this around the country that hold massive pike that so many people don’t even know about,” said AT columnist Paul Garner.

Angling Times head of photography Mick Rouse has not only photographed more big pike than most but he’s also banked his fair share of huge pike and he was blown away by John’s surprise capture.

“There’s no doubt that this fish should be in the upper 30lb range if not touch touching 40lb with a girth like that,” said Mick.

Click here for more angling news...

Double-figure zander increases personal best by 10lb!

A last minute change of venue proved to be a masterstroke for Jacob Stone when he slipped the net under his first ever double-figure zander.

After spending two hours without a bite, the Bedfordshire youngster upped sticks and headed to a lake in St Neots, Cambridgeshire, where he cast a legered popped-up roach deadbait into snaggy swim.

Within 15 minutes his float lifted and the giant predator was soon on its way to the net and it’s 10lb heavier than Jacob’s previous best and only his second ever capture of the species.
“I only decided to change venues when my friend Jon Burton arrived and persuaded me to move, he said.”

“It was a total godsend that he paid me a visit as to catch a fish this size is totally beyond words.”

Click here for more angling news...

30lb pike after 50 year wait

Predator fishing fan John Tipper reached a memorable landmark in his career when he banked his first ever 30lb pike.

The Gloucester-based angler had spent all winter targeting various club waters in the region and finally netted the huge specimen he had dreamed of since he first started pike fishing over 50 years ago.

A large half mackerel deadbait presented around 60 yards out did the trick, with the fish finding bait just after midday.

“The fish stormed off as soon as it found the bait and when it finally gave up we struggled to get it in the net!” explained John, whose previous best stood at 22lb.

His winning rig was made up of a 17lb X-Line, a Drennan trace and size 6 semi treble hooks.

Click here for more angling news...

Thames record zander as season comes to end

This is the picture of one of the biggest zander ever landed weighing 20lb 2oz.

The River Thames produced the shock specimen, which smashes the official record that stands at 13lb 9oz, in the closing stages of the river season when Warwick Salzer spent an evening session casting lures from his boat.

The 38-year-old used a Fishing Addicts segmented roach lure with a rattle to enable fish to find it in the dark, with a single strand of trace wire and an 18lb braided mainline.

The fish falls just 1lb 3oz short of the current British record that was caught from the River Severn by James Benfield in 2007 and took Warwick’s lure early on in his session.

 “I’ve been saying that there were some really big zander in the Thames for years and now I’ve finally proved it,” said a delighted Warwick.

The experienced  London angler runs guided fishing trips on the Thames and the big ‘zed’ capped an incredible final week of the 2014/15 season for Warwick and his customers, which also saw pike to 25lb and perch to 3lb 8oz boated.

But this capture is the highlight of his time working on the famous waterway.

“I was just starting to retrieve the lure when whack, I had a really aggressive take and I wasn’t even sure it was a zander at first,” Warwick continued.

“I didn’t think it was a real monster, but as I’d lost two fish early on I took it really steady just in case. “When we netted it was nothing like I expected or have ever seen before as the belly on it was truly enormous,

“The Thames is full of suprises and I can’t wait until next season.” he said.

For more information on Fling Your Hook charters please visit www.flingyourhook.com.

Click here for more angling news...

Biggest pike ever on a fly caught at 40lb 8oz

The last cast of a session on the UK’s finest big pike water produced an immense 40lb 8oz predator.

Somerset’s Chew Valley Lake delivered visiting pike anglers with countless huge predators to 42lb lb 8oz during last winters’ pike trials, but now it’s the turn of the fly fishermen and resident guide John Horsey proved why he’s one of the best in the business.

He’s been at the helm at the vast Bristol Water venue for over 22 years and he produced the goods yet again when he spent a day with an Italian film crew, who were shooting a segment that will be included in a forthcoming TV show in their home country.

The team had only a few jack pike to show for their efforts until Enrico Pini cast out his red and white lure as the light began to fade.

“It had been a tough day until we had a follow from a huge fish late in the afternoon, so I decided to rest the area and return just before we had to get off the reservoir,” said John.

“We got back to the swim and the big girl took the lure pretty much straight away it was incredible as we wouldn’t have had time for one more cast.

“I’ve seen some big fish in my years at this fishery, but I still find myself totally in awe of big pike like this.

It’s a catch that equals the biggest fly-caught pike ever landed in the UK as Mike Green also banked a fish of 40lb 8oz in 2009.

“These guys have been here a few times before and only managed to land small fish so it was great to finally get one of the really big ones for the cameras,” Mike continued.

“This also just goes to show how effective fly fishing tactics can be for targeting big pike.
 You can find out more about Chew Valley Lake at: www.bristolwater.co.uk and to contact John about his services visit: www.johnhorsey.co.uk

Click here for more angling news...

Give the Grand Union Canal at Rowington a try this weekend

As the river season comes to an end the country’s canal systems take over for many anglers who are still clinging to the natural venue.

There is a vast number of good canals to fish although it can be difficult to choose where to start, but Leamington AA’s recent occupation of a stretch of the Grand Union Canal may just bring you a net-full of fish this weekend.

The club is sharing the four mile stretch with Stoneleigh AC to increase fishing on a canal system that has produced some big weights in the past.

Roach, perch, skimmers and bream to 4lbs will make up the bulk of your catch to those fishing the waggler, pole or feeder down the track at 8m. Alternatively, fishing a large worm to the overhanging trees on the far bank may produce a big perch or chub.

Carp to 30lb also reside here, with boilies and halibut pellets proving good baits for the species. A moored canal boat is a perfect place to target them at this time of year due to their sheltering properties.

Predator experts can also have a red letter day thanks to the abundant shoals of perch, pike and zander. Drop shotting and roving works well around the bridge areas however a floatfished deadbait will be hard to beat for a bigger fish. So if you don’t fancy a commercial outing this weekend, get yourself a membership here as the fishing is great no matter what your style is.

Prices: £36 a year, £18 juniors
Contact:  Leamington AA, 01926 312319, www.leamington-angling.co.uk
Location: Rowington Bridge 62 – Lapworth Bridge 67, Rowington, Warwickshire, CV35 7AB
Rules: No uncoated, braided hooklinks, no fires, no litter.

Click here for more angling news...

The river season goes out with a bang!

One of the most prolific closing weeks of the river season ever proved why more anglers are returning to UK rivers as countless huge specimens and record-breaking catches hit the bank.

Match angler Andy Sharp became the envy of the specimen fishing world when he trotted maggots on 3lb line to bank the biggest chub of the season that tipped the scales at 8lb 4oz.

He was happily catching small dace and roach under the far bank vegetation on the famous King’s Weir stretch of the River Lea in Hertfordshire when the huge fish took his double maggot mounted on a size 18 hook.

“The river started to come up and that’s when all hell broke loose as I lost a big chub and then soon after I hooked another monster that turned out to be this 8lb 4oz fish,” said Andy.

“I don’t think I’ve ever played a fish so carefully in my life because I was using such light gear in a very snaggy swim. I was shocked when I saw how big this fish was.

There were no surprise specimens in store for Ray Ravenhall during a session on the Warwickshire Avon, but he made history when he took a record-breaking 198lb 6oz net of bream.

The Chairman of Worcester and District United Anglers Association fished the feeder filled with groundbait, casters and chopped worms to land 49lb bream averaging 4lb apiece at the clubs stretch at Pensham during a five-hour contest.

It’s a catch that beats the previous best for the stretch that stood at 135lb and was caught 10 years ago.

“This was an amazing end to the season and if I hadn’t lost a fish on the final whistle I would have caught made a ‘double ton’, but who can complain after a day’s fishing like this,” said Ray.

“It’s been an incredible year for the rivers as more and more anglers are have been making a return to running water.”

The last cast of Paul Elt’s river campaign saw him smash his barbel personal best when he won the battle with a superb 16lb 3oz specimen during a session on a tributary of the River Ouse.

The Dynamite Baits and Drennan-backed specialist from St Neots, Cambs, hair-rigged a small piece of legered meat that was flavoured with ‘The Crave’ and fished in conjunction with a pva bag filled with finely chopped pieces of the same bait.

“I looked over my shoulder as the sun began to set and thought to myself this is the time for a bite and I looked back at the rod, the tip twitched and I was in. I couldn’t have written it any better,” said Paul.

Moving north and the little-known River Goyt in the North West produced only its second fish to ever top the 14lb mark, which was banked by local specialist Jerry Gleeson.

He kicked off his session with a 10lb 5oz fish and then a switch from a straight lead to a feeder filled with pellets saw him land the impressive fish with an imitation piece of bread from The Hook Bait Company.

The 2014/15 season will be remembered by many as one of the best ever for big perch and Watford’s Stuart Court proved why when he landed his best ever haul of the species.

The Watford-based specialist netted a brace of fish that weighed 4lb exactly and two other perch at 3lb 13 oz and 3lb 10 oz after he baited a swim on the River Lea with chopped worms and alternated a feeder and straight lead tactics with a worm hookbait.

Sticking with the predator theme and the River Thames further proved its pike fishing credentials when Martin House smashed his personal best with a huge 28lb fish.

Fish weighing 21lb and 13lb also fell to the Surrey angler when he fished a sardine on size 8 trebles.

Two days fishing on the famous River Wye gave Adam Fisher the perfect end to the season when he was rewarded with a trio of 20lb-plus pike.

The 36-year-old fished float-legered sardines to take fish of 22lb 8oz, 22lb 3oz and 21lb 12oz, plus another of 17lb 8oz, from the margins of the river and slacks behind bushes.

Angling Dreams fishing guide Adam, used Esox trace wire with size 4 and 6 hooks and 50lb braid and admitted to the loss of a monster which said ‘felt like a sunken canoe’.

Click here for more angling news...