Not too late for bream!

The capture of one of the biggest bream of the year, along with many other huge fish, proves that it’s not too late to smash your personal best.

Temperatures might be dropping, but specialist Steve Stones banked a 17lb 6oz slab, his biggest-ever, on his only bite during a 48-hour session at a large Midlands stillwater.

The 45-year-old freelance journalist and Korum consultant from Stamford, Lincs, beat his previous personal best for the species by just over 2lb.

Fishing at 50yds, Steve did the damage using a double imitation corn hookbait, fished over particles, pellets, 10mm boilies, dead maggots and groundbait.

“Line bites started at 1.30am, with the bobbins on both rods rising right to the top before falling back down again, repeatedly, for 30 minutes,” said Steve. 

“It was driving me crazy, but after 30-odd nights on the water this year with just two bream and a carp to show for my efforts I didn’t want to risk striking a liner as there were clearly a few fish out there feeding on the spot.

“Finally, at 2am, one of the bobbins rose to the top and stayed there, and when the freespool on the reel clicked a couple of times,  I picked up the rod and lifted into a heavy, plodding weight which came to the net like a typical big bream. Looking into the mesh, I could see that it was in a different league to any bream I’d ever had before. It was ridiculously fat!

“I was beginning to think I’d missed my chance for the year, but this just shows there’s still time to catch a big one,” he added.

Mike Townsend proved that you don’t have be out all night to catch big bream when a couple of short day sessions produced 15 slabs topped by a 13lb 10oz fish from a Yorkshire water. A feeder containing chopped worm fished alongside a lobworm tail nicked on to a size 16 hook was the successful combination for Mike.

All his fish were beaten with a simple set-up made from 8lb line, a 5lb fluorocarbon hooklink and a size 16 hook.

Adopting the same tactics as Mike was Mark Doherty, who landed fish weighing 13lb 5oz,
12lb 10oz, 11lb 15oz and 10lb 12oz.

The Worcester Angling Centre-backed angler also added a 9lb fish to his tally during a session to remember on a Wiltshire stillwater.

The Swindon-based rod fished with his dad, Malcolm, who also netted a 10lb 12oz slab during the same session. 

All their fish were taken using a Method feeder topped with pellets and boilies. 

Laying down a big carpet of feed soon whipped the bream into a frenzy for Matthew Tann, who finished a recent session with a fine personal-best fish weighing 12lb 10oz.

Arriving at the venue close to his Hampshire home at first light, the Drennan-backed angler quickly put down a big bed of hemp, oats, casters and other particles to try to prompt a reaction from the lake’s resident bream.

A Method feeder baited with a double pop-up corn hookbait was dropped over the top of his loosefeed and the shoals responded almost instantly. As well as the big one, Matthew also banked specimens weighing 8lb 8oz, 9lb 3oz and 9lb 12oz.

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Freelined bait lures 1lb dace

A quick change of tactics to prevent a finicky shoal of silverfish being spooked worked a treat for Robin Woolnough when he fooled this 1lb dace from a River Thames tributary.

The professional angling artist started the session on the stick float but noticed that the commotion of the rig landing in the water was forcing the fish to back away.

To solve the problem, Robin decided to freeline his maggot hookbait with just a No8 shot on the line for casting weight – and the move gained an almost instant response from the specimen dace.

Spanish cat fiesta

This huge 238lb catfish was the highlight of a trip to Spain’s River Ebro enjoyed by fishing-mad friends from Cumbria.

It’s the biggest wels cat ever landed by the popular Monster Catfishing Tours, based in Mequinenza, and the giant sets a new personal best for lucky captor Andrew McCabe.

He battled with the mighty moggie for almost an hour after it took three legered 25mm halibut pellets. The rest of the group got in on the action too, landing many cats over the 100lb mark.

To find out more about Monster Catfishing Tours visit: www.monstercatfishing.co.uk or find them on Facebook.

‘Little-and-often’ baiting for 47lb 4oz Yateley common

A slow autumn campaign burst into life for Martin Gardener as he landed three Yateley fish, including this new personal best.

The 47lb 4oz common, known as Murray, came from the famous Hampshire complex’s North Lake.

Martin also managed mirrors of 33lb 14oz and 19lb 8oz in the same evening of his 48-hour session.

The 51-year-old from Flackwell Heath in Buckinghamshire fished just 20 yards out in a small bay and baited little and often.

He said: “After a very slow September on the North Lake I had three fish on Tuesday evening, including a recapture of Murray, but this time at a best-ever autumn weight of 47lb 4oz!

“She gave an epic scrap at close range in a snaggy bay with the line caught round a tree. As she came back round I could see from the white tail tip that I was almost certainly connected to a new personal best, and fortunately the carp gods were with me – the line and the tree parted company with no problem.”

Two fish for 75lb-plus on test bait

A new test boilie due for release next year provided Ian Hirst with two fish for more than 75lb and a new personal best.

Fishing at Grenville Lake in Cambridgeshire, the Bait-Tech sales and brand manager spotted fish at long range and baited heavily to tempt a 41lb 3oz mirror and another of 36lb shortly afterwards.

He said: “After seeing fish show at distance I started the session at long range and introduced 5kg of the new boilie in 15mm and 18mm sizes. It’s currently under test and due for release early in 2017.”

He added: “Conditions looked bang on as a new southerly wind had kicked up. 

“The 41lb 3oz mirror came a few hours after introducing the bait and the 36lb mirror followed after I had topped up the swim later the same day with another 5kg of the freezer boilie.

“The 41lb 3oz fish is my new UK personal best.”

Barbel scores high on looks and weight

Pictures of big barbel don’t come much better than this cracking 14lb 3oz fish from the in-form River Severn.

The river was carrying a touch of colour and a little extra water, and under these favourable conditions Ashley Burton decided to trundle a piece of meat along the riverbed.

A rig made from 20lb braided mainline and a size 4 Drennan Specialist Barbel hook saw the specialist from Leicestershire win the battle with another Severn double weighing 10lb 5oz.

“It was simplicity itself – I just pinched a couple of shot on the line to keep it all down and it worked a treat,” said Ashley.

Three-day shoot-out on the Ure

Ripon Piscatorials Ure Festival

River Ure (36 pegs)

Weight was needed to decide the outcome of this three-day clash.

 Fred Prudham and Jim Taylor finished on four points apiece, Fred’s 37-11-0 giving him the nod over Jim on 21-2-0. 

Day one began with top spot for Martin Hope, who took 21-0-0 of roach, dace and chublets on stick float and waggler with maggot. Graham Skirrey took day two on 17-4-0 of chub to waggler and maggot before Chris Smith rounded things off by bagging the best weight of the week – 44-14-0 of chub and dace on waggler and bomb with maggot.

Day one result: 1 M Hope, Northern Angling Ripon, 21-0-0; 2 F Prudham, Medlock Bridge, 20-1-0; 3 S Newns, KL Tackle, 11-10-0.

Day two result: 1 G Skirrey, Mary’s Tackle, 17-4-0; 2 C Foyle, Ripon, 12-4-0; 3 F Prudham, Medlock Bridge, 10-8-0.

Day three result: 1 C Smith, Leeds, 44-14-0; 2 J Taylor, RSPS, 10-2-0; 3 R Pickles, KL Tackle, 7-12-0.

Overall: 1 F Prudham, Medlock Bridge, 4pts (37-11-0); 2 J Taylor, RSPS, 4 (21-2-0); 3 S Newns, KL Tackle, 5; 4 M Hope, Northern Angling Ripon, 6 (31-2-0); 5 G Skirrey, Mary’s Tackle, 6 (21-14-0); 6 S Taylor, RSPS, 6 (11-14-0).

Day session treat brings son 45lb 5oz reservoir common

Day-ticket carp don’t get much bigger or better-looking than this stunning 45lb 5oz common landed by Michael Monk.

The 32-year-old was targeting his local Walthamstow No.3 Reservoir for a 12-hour session with his father when he landed the new pb from his only bite of the day.

It marked a welcome upturn in fortunes for Michael, who was made redundant recently.

He said: “My dad very kindly treated me to a day session up the ’Stow… and what a treat it was! This massive common is one of the two biggest carp in the lake, the other being a 45lb-plus mirror, which I would dearly love to catch.  

“I count myself extremely lucky to have caught this amazing creature and to be able to share it all with my dad. It was amazing to be able to fish next to one another all day – and to see him slip the net under this lump will always be a great memory for me.”

Michael used the simplest of tactics to tempt the mighty common from the 12-acre venue. His standard bottom bait rig comprised a 10ins Nash Armourlink hooklink, a size 6 Nash Fang X hook and a 16mm boilie on a long hair. 

“I spread 1kg of Sticky Baits Manilla boilies over two rods, spaced a rod length apart, at 60 yards range close to an island. I kept the boilies going in all day, catapulting a small handful over each rod every 20 minutes or so.

“Carp fishing is my passion, so to have caught this whacking 45-pounder is a dream come true, especially as it’s from my home town!” concluded Michael. 

Stunning silverfish in battle on Broads

Mead Sports & Leisure Broads Championships

Rivers Bure & Thurne (98 pegs)

A sell-out on the Broads saw some stunning silverfish sport with 20lb finishing nowhere. 

Winner Robert Hubbard bagged 57-12-0 and was crowned champion. 

The Daiwa Angling Direct man drew peg 10 on the Thurne at Potter Heigham. He fished chopped worm, caster and groundbait on the long pole to take around 40lb of roach, backed by half a dozen skimmers. 

Dave Rowe, on peg 4 at Martham also on the Thurne, came second with 32-3-0. He also fished worm and caster on the long pole for an equal split of roach and big skimmers.

Result: 1 R Hubbard, Daiwa Angling Direct, 57-12-0; 2 D Rowe, Daiwa Angling Direct, 32-3-0; 3 B Weavers, Sportsman’s, 30-4-0; 4 M Runacres, Deben, 28-12-0;
5 D Richardson, Daiwa Angling Direct, 28-0-0;
6 T Watling, Browning Hot Rods, 27-2-0.

IMPORTANT: Price error on this week's Angling Times

Owing to a printing error, the wrong price has been printed on the front cover this week’s Angling Times, October 25th 2016 issue. The correct price is £1.99. If you have been charged £2.99 please call 01733 395107 or email mary-ann.payne@bauermedia.co.uk immediately. Thank you.

New campaign to help save predator stocks

Angling Times readers are being called to back a campaign to help protect one of the UK’s most sought-after species.

‘Stop the persecution of Zander in British waters’ is a campaign which has been created to try to bring about a change in the law which currently prohibits the species being returned to our waterways once caught.

The online petition, which has already received hundreds of signatures, was created by Buckingham-based angler James Aris.

He not only wants to see the species given more protection, but a radical change in attitude towards these fish. 

 “Zander have been in England since 1878 and should be more universally accepted,” he told Angling Times.

“An ever-growing number of lure anglers spend a lot of money on all the accoutrements needed to successfully target the species. Despite this, thousands are destroyed in netting or electro-fishing operations each year. 

“There are hundreds of venues which have licences to stock the species and miles of unfished canal – those fish could be returned to these areas instead,” he said.

Currently there are grey areas regarding the law about not returning zander to the water from which they are caught. 

English law currently allows individuals to return zander when they catch one from a water where the species is ‘already established’, but doesn’t allow netting operators on man-made venues like canals to do the same.  

The Canal & River Trust oversees dozens of such operations on its waterways each year. 

However, the charity says its hands are tied when it comes to keeping anglers happy while remaining within the law.

 A CRT spokesperson said: “We have not been granted permission to keep zander on canals and so we believe that we could inadvertently be breaking the law if we told an angler that it was okay to return a non-native fish species to the cut.

“In our day-to-day fisheries work, when we encounter a non-native species we are bound by the Keeping and Introduction of Fish (KIPF) Regulations not to return the fish in question to the water. We can only restock fish we find if the new venue has a licence to stock the species.”

It is this law which a growing number of predator anglers like James Aris wants to see changed.

Recently a Facebook page called ‘Save the Zander’ appeared online and some of the sport’s top names have also voiced their concerns, including Zander Anglers’ Club member Dilip Sarkar. 

He told Angling Times “Zander are here, fact. They do not decimate fish populations as was once feared.

 Over time, they have become an accepted part of the aquatic environment they now live in. 

“In waters where they are established, nature has balanced itself out. Take the Severn, for example… the river is in fine fettle, full of fish, and produces pike to 30lb and zander to 20lb-plus. 

“Were there not sufficient food, that would not be the case. 

“The canals where culling is ongoing are actually full of silvefish, so there really isn’t a problem. 

“Even if there were, it would be physically and practically impossible to eradicate zander, whether or not they remain on the invasive species list.”

THE LAW ASIT STANDS

When asked by Angling Times what the law is regarding zander, an Environment Agency spokesperson said: “The keeping or releasing of zander in your fishery (unless it’s a totally enclosed stillwater) is an offence under the Import of Live Fish Act unless the Fishery concerned has an official licence to hold the species. 

“If an angler catches a zander from a water where they are already established they can decide whether to return it or, making sure they have the fishery owner’s permission, to take it.”

To sign the petition visit: www.petition.parliament.uk/petitions/167921 or look for ‘save the Zander’ on Facebook.

White Acres clash is a five-day nail-biter

Winner James Dent kept them guessing right up to the final day.

The festival season at White Acres is over for another year. 

The closing Preston Innovations event sported a full house, all chasing a top 24 finish and a shot at winning the £25,000 Parkdean Masters.

Cleveland ace James Dent bagged first dibs by winning the five-day clash by virtue of a better dropped score after finishing in a three-way tie for top spot on 31 points. 

Joining him with a final tally of three section wins and a second were Rob Wootton and Lee Edwards, but MAP-backed James disposed of a section second while Rob could only bin a third and Lee a last to hand the prize to the Yarm angler.

Unusually, it didn’t take a score of four section wins to take the title, and that made the final result a whole lot closer. 

Any one of half-a-dozen anglers were in with a chance. James opened up on day one with a second in section, taking 80-11-0 from the split section of Trewaters, Acorn and Canal Lakes. 

Tuesday was much better, as the trip to Porth Reservoir saw him return with a maximum after winning the whole lake with 18-2-0 of roach and skimmers on long pole and chopped worm from peg 76.

James kept that momentum going on day three as Bolingey Lake peg 45 saw him miss out on winning the lake by 6oz. Luke Sorokin did that by the narrowest of margins. However, the section was safely in the bag thanks to 169-4-0 of carp taken by James on short pole and meat. 

On to Pollawyn Lake for day four, and James was now motoring, 61-6-0 of carp and skimmers on the pole seeing him win the section to sit on 31 points. A section win on the final day would give him a great chance but another split section on Twin Oaks and Trelawney saw him take second to make things nervy. Dropping only two points over the week, however, saw his consistency rewarded!

Overall result: 1 J Dent, MAP/Sensas, 31pts (dropping seven points); 2 R Wootton, Shimano/Dynamite Baits, 31 (dropping six points); 3 L Edwards, Garbolino/ABC Baits, 31 (dropping one point); 4 A Power, Preston Innovations, 30 (dropping seven points); 5 P Canning, Frenzee, 30 (dropping six points); 6 A Leathers, Browning Hot Rods, 30 (dropping three points).

UK’s rivers alive with huge roach

Experts are predicting a red-hot autumn of river roach sport following a flurry of stunning catches across the country.

Silverfish have made an incredible comeback on running waterways, and venue insiders are now claiming that sport will soon be better than ever before.

Several successful breeding seasons, Environment Agency stockings and localised restoration projects have all played a role in the transformation, and a positive weather forecast suggests the shoals are all set to feed in force.

Lancashire rod Alan Barnes included a 2lb 8oz roach in his latest haul from the River Ribble, pole fishing hemp for a new personal best.

The former Angling Times journalist has banked five roach over 2lb in the last 18 months, and is convinced the action will now step up another gear. He said: “I am certain we will have great roach sport this autumn. Several factors are helping roach stocks flourish, and one of them is the huge boom in barbel fishing. All the pellets going into our rivers are helping make roach bigger.

“I commonly hear of barbel anglers catching 2lb-plus roach after dark on 8mm and 12mm pellets. I think they have thrived on neglect and the shoals have regrouped while anglers have ignored them in favour of other species.”

Kent specimen angler Scott Cordingley has caught countless quality roach but hit a career highlight during his latest session with a personal-best 2lb 2oz fish from his local River Stour.

With limited time to wet a line, Scott made the short trip to the bank and legered breadflake in a deep hole – and soon got a lot more than he bargained for. He said: “The river is packed with roach but I’ve only had a few over 1lb to a best of 1lb 14oz. I never expected a fish this big.

“I’ve been trying for years to land one over 2lb and it’s great to finally make that mark. This is proof that it is definitely time to head out if a pb roach is on your agenda.”

Not just specimen anglers, but matchmen too have cashed in on the latest roach action.

A two-day festival on The Norfolk Broads system saw 68 anglers share over 2,100lb of silvers between them, with 36lb of roach the top individual catch.

Organiser Tony Gibbons told Angling Times: “The system is absolutely teeming with roach, and the sport we experienced during the tournament was absolutely incredible.

“We had 26 weights over 20lb, of mainly roach, on day two. I can see the action getting even better in the coming weeks.”

Similar levels of success have been achieved on both the Thames and Trent, with numerous 25lb-plus nets of roach being taken by both club and open match competitors.

Mike Lyddon's mighty mixture

Mike Lyddon enjoyed a red letter day when he banked his season’s greatest mixed bag... made up of crucians to almost 4lb, roach, tench and a personal-best carp.

The Gardner Tackle-backed rod spodded out a bed of groundbait at 50 yards and dropped a Method feeder over the top.

Then, in a breathtaking 48-hour stint, he netted an amazing 29 crucians over 3lb, the best of them going 3lb 15oz.

That was only part of the tale, though. Half-a-dozen tench to 6lb, stacks of quality rudd to almost 2lb, roach to 1lb 8oz and a UK personal-best carp of 34lb also muscled in on the act.

All Mike’s fish were beaten on a rig made up with 6lb Gardner Hydroflo mainline to a 4lb Mirage fluorocarbon hooklength and a size 16 Target hook.

Another Trent pb barbel for James

One week after landing a new personal-best barbel, James Thomson upped the ante with the capture of this 16lb 9oz fish.

The 32-year-old operations administrator from Lincoln followed up a 14lb 9oz fish in his previous session by slipping the net under the latest giant, which he tempted on a Jason Haywood MPX boilie from the River Trent. 

James, who also banked five other barbel to over 14lb during the same session, is enjoying what he called ‘his best-ever season’ after netting eel, rudd and zander personal bests.

Licence cheats pay £500,00 in crackdown on illegal fishing

The Environment Agency has revealed that more than £500,000 worth of fines were issued to rod licence cheats during 2015 and 2016 – the most successful crackdown on illegal fishing ever.  

Enforcement has been given a huge boost this year with the national roll-out of the Voluntary Bailiff Service. Additionally, countless police forces have pledged their support to battling angling crime.

More than 62,000 licences were checked in the last two years, resulting in 1,987 prosecution cases being filed for those caught without one. 

Dilip Sarkar, the Angling Trust’s National Enforcement Manager, said: “The team effort by the EA, police, fishery owners and anglers from all over the country has been immensely effective.

“We have been able to empower anglers via the Voluntary Bailiff Service, train the police and courts, address the migrant angler issue and initiate multi-agency operations which have increased intelligence and support available to the EA.

“As a result, angling has never been in a stronger position to protect fish and fisheries and crack down on licence cheats.”

Among the most effective forces on the ground in 2015 and 2016 were the Environment Agency patrol teams, deployed weekly to check that anglers are obeying the law. 

Angling Times was invited to join an enforcement patrol day at Bedfordshire’s Manor Farm Fisheries to witness what happens during a routine sweep of a fishery. 

Of the 30-plus anglers checked on the day, all had valid rod licences – although EA Fisheries and Biodiversity Team Leader Kye Jerrom warns that it’s not always plain sailing. 

He said:  “Today’s result came back 100 per cent positive but this isn’t always the case. Some days we’ll issue fines into double figures, so it’s important we conduct patrols like this.

“However, our job isn’t all about taking people to court – it’s about securing as much money as possible for fisheries by encouraging people to buy licences, working closely with fisheries and partners to spread the word. We’re now reaping the rewards for our efforts.”

Sarah Chare, Head of Fisheries at the Environment Agency, was equally positive about the new face of enforcement.

“Through working with our partners and taking an intelligence-led approach we are clamping down hard on those who are cheating the sport.

“The vast majority of anglers who fish legally deserve to see those who flout the law brought to account. 

“To that criminal minority, our message is clear – we won’t hesitate to take action to stop illegal fishing.”

45lb 12oz Box Common comes quietly on social session

The Box Common, one of the most sought-after day-ticket carp in the country, has been banked at 45lb 12oz.

Luke Thornett caught the fish during a three-night session at St John’s, on the Linear Fisheries complex in Oxfordshire.

The 30-year-old from Oxford also snared two 20lb mirrors during his session in the Point swim at the popular gravel pit.

He told Angling Times: “When I arrived it was flat calm and the fish were fizzing like mad – there were pinprick bubbles all over so I knew the fish were there.”

The electrician fished to a gravel bar just 30 yards out and baited with boilies and hemp.

He said: “On the first night the bar was covered with floating weed that had been cut by the weed-cutting boat and had anchored on the bar. But by the second night the wind had picked up and cleared it.”

The Box Common appeared at 6.30am on Luke’s final day. He said. “It was an absolute one-toner, but when I hit into it it just kited straight into the weed, which wasn’t attached to anything, so it covered its eyes and the fish just came straight in.

“When I got it in the net I expected it to be a little pasty, but when I pulled the weed away I knew it was a big common.

“I don’t usually fish these sorts of waters – I prefer low-stock pits where I can be left alone – so it’s mad that I only went down for a social and had this one!”

Monster perch from underfished canal stretch

Targeting overhanging vegetation on his local section of canal worked a treat for Matthew Perring when he netted this 3lb 3oz perch.

The Banbury based, Marukyu and Deeper sponsored angler roved a relatively under-fished section of the Oxford Canal using white coloured, three inch Ecogear Bug Ant lures. 

In just a few hours he had netted a total of six perch and one zander including a 2lb 6oz stripey. All the fish were caught using a 3-12gram Tronix Rockfish Pro jig rod with 10lb braided mainline and 8lb Berkley flourocarbon hooklink and a size two, five gram jig head.

Andy Power takes All-Winners Final title

Andy Power triumphed at Viaduct Fishery.

It’s been another golden summer for the aptly-named Somerset bagger Andy Power.

Old Ghost UK Angling Champs glory was swiftly followed up with another £1,000 being added to his bank balance when the Preston Innovations star took the annual All-Winners Final event at Bait-Tech Viaduct Fishery.

Fished by winners of open matches throughout the spring and summer at the Somerton complex, 68 anglers turned out for the straight shoot-out.

And Andy, who lives in Wells but has an enviable big match record around the UK, tipped a double ton on to the scales to take the cash.

From peg 105 on Cary Lake, Andy went down the meat route, fishing it on the long pole on the deck to pick off 23 carp well into double figures to finish with 226-11-0.

That gave him a winning margin of over 33lb from Steve Shaw’s 193-6-0 of carp off peg 115 on Campbell Lake.

Twenty four hours later it was the turn of the silverfish anglers to see what the fishery could produce with the opening round of the Silverfish Winter League. Sport was just as good from the roach and skimmers, Bobby Gullick opening up with 40-14-0 off peg 124 for victory on Campbell Lake.

That was a net of big skimmers plus roach on chopped worm and caster with groundbait at 14.5m. The same tactics gave Frenzee man Dan Squires second on 38-14-0 and frame weights were good too, with 32-10-0 needed to make the top six.

Elsewhere, the RiverFest bandwagon rolled on as the Trent at Burton hosted another big match, won by Bait-Tech’s Richie Reynolds with 19-5-0.

Two bream backed by roach on polefished maggot booked him a place in next month’s final. 

Second in the frame was England boss Mark Downes with 10-12-0 of small roach although, unfortunately for him, he was in the same zone as Richie and so missed out on the final!