Essex carp water’s offer to keen roach anglers

You can fill your net with fish like these at UK commercials right now!

Silverfish anglers have been offered the chance to fish for free at one of the UK’s leading carp fisheries. 

As commercials look set for their most profitable winter ever thanks to an explosion of stocks of roach, bream and ide, a match at Essex carp fishery Fryerning Fisheries saw winner Bob Fox bank 75lb of redfins.

Now venue boss Charlie Knowles has invited roach anglers to fish for nothing so that these fish can be removed and stocked elsewhere. 

Venue boss Charlie Knowles told Angling Times: “We have a huge head of roach and fish to over 2lb have been reported in the past.

“However, first and foremost we are a carp fishery, so although we don’t do day tickets, we’ll let people fish here for the giant roach for nothing in order to thin the stocks out. 

“We expected the latest  match to produce plenty of bites, but the results went well beyond what we thought was possible in such cold conditions.”

And it’s not just waters in the south that are producing. Further north, Dave Williams had two red-letter silverfish days at two different fisheries. 

The Bait-Tech and Maver-backed angler first set his stall out at Cheshire’s Rosemary Wood Fisheries and banked 50lb of quality roach using short pole and maggot on the hook.

Days later he switched to the nearby Greenwood Fisheries and enjoyed a similar level of success.

He said: “I’m not the sort of angler who enjoys waiting for just one or two bites all day, and the silverfish shoals at my local commercials are producing brilliant action.

“More often than not it is a bite every chuck from start to finish.” 

Shropshire’s Woodside Fishery has also attracted interest thanks to its unseasonal form. Venue official Ben Hughes banked 30lb of quality redfins and skimmers during a recent pleasure session and is convinced that the huge shoals present in commercials are helping keep more anglers on the banks during the winter.

He said: “Woodside is a great venue to target for silvers and like most venues, these species get overlooked for much of the year as anglers target carp.

“Our roach, skimmers and big perch are giving anglers lots of bites and convincing them that getting on the bank in winter is a much better option than putting your gear away until next year.”

- To book a free roach fishing session at Fryerning Fisheries call 01277 352245.

Rub the carp god for luck!

A granite carp god weighing 3.5 tonnes has already smiled on one angler after taking up residence at a popular venue.

The imposing statue, modelled on the famous Easter Island heads, was levered into position with help from bricklayer Carl Baxter, who then got his rods out and banked two fish for 87lb, including a 50lb 6oz common.

The 8ft-tall good-luck charm was placed on the dam wall at Fryerning Fisheries’ Main Lake in Essex by owner Chris Knowles, who believes anglers shouldn’t take themselves too seriously.

“As anglers we are always praying to the carp god,” he told Angling Times, “and if we don’t, we’re in trouble!”

Chris said the head, which cost £3,500 and took three months to create, reflects his outlook on fishing and life.

He said: “A mate of mine designed it and I got him to put a couple of scars in the back which anglers can rub for good luck as they go past.

“I honestly believe that if you go fishing with a positive attitude, then nine times out of 10 you will do well. I’d been in this game for 33 years when I dug the lake and this is just one of those silly things you do. It’s a bit of fun – I think people take life too seriously sometimes.”  

One of the carp god’s first duties was to look on as Carl Baxter, who had helped position the statue, caught Mommon at 50lb 6oz and then an elusive and old mirror known as Riddler at 36lb 12oz.

The 42-year-old from Ipswich in Suffolk said: “It’s my second UK fifty and a fish I dearly wanted after fishing the venue for 18 years. I fed heavily every night, only fishing the spot at night after resting it. 

“87lb of fish in two casts – wow!”

Over the course of his 72-hour session, Carl fed 8kg of Activ8 in mixed sizes with a throwing stick and fished matching pop-ups on chod rigs to a silt patch next to a lilybed on the far-bank margins 100 yards away. 

“It’s my first time using Mainline for several years after using other baits, and forgotten favourite Activ8 did me proud,” added Carl, who is also known by the nickname Bertie.

Venue boss Chris told Angling Times another lump of granite is waiting to be chiselled into a skull which may be placed on neighbouring Valley Lakes.

Huge weights ‘a step too far’

The owner of one of the UK’s top commercial fisheries may well ban a popular bagging tactic to reduce catches after weights sky-rocketed.

Countless colossal hauls have been landed this summer, including the biggest-ever match haul last week by an angler who took 1514lb in six hours from Arran’s Lake.

The huge Essex catch has divided opinion, with many anglers and fishery owners claiming that match weights have spiralled out of control.

Lincolnshire’s Westwood Lakes has seen records fall many times since water temperatures reached summer levels, but while many are excited at the red hot form, boss Alan Coupland is less than impressed.

In a bid to bring weights more in line with his expectations he is now toying with the idea of banning the prolific big-weight tactic known as ‘slapping’.

 He told Angling Times: “I’d always liked the idea of having a fishery where maybe 170lb could be seen as a great weight, but we’ve reached the point where 300lb catches are becoming fairly common – in my book that’s going too far.

“My rule is that match anglers must split their catch between three nets, and while that is being abided by, I’m ending up with up to 100lb of fish in each keepnet. I don’t like that.

 “Most of the big weights are taken by anglers who slap the water with their pole rigs to imitate bait being fed. While it is extremely effective, I could well ban it in the future as it’s playing a big part in these huge weights we are seeing.

“Some anglers might look elsewhere if I did bring a ban in, and they are entitled to do that, but I have to think about the welfare of my fish stocks. Current weights are not what I envisaged at Westwood Lakes.”

If the ban on slapping is imposed, Westwood will join a growing list of fisheries that have taken the same stance. North Yorkshire’s Woodlands Lakes introduced the restriction last year, and boss Craig Kent has no regrets. He said: “People were catching 200lb on just their hookbait, and that presented a number of problems.

“First, the fish weren’t getting fed, which wouldn’t have done them any good. Second, a lot of skill was removed from catching big weights. Take away the need to feed and putting together a big weight becomes a lot easier.

“My attendances are now bigger than ever and that just goes to show I was right to ban the tactic.”

Further south in Milton Keynes, Alders Farm officials experienced a similar conundrum last year after weights rose over 500lb.

In a bid to draw back anglers who had looked elsewhere due to the ease of sport, thousands of pounds of carp were removed to make the fishing more challenging. Owner Lewis Monk believes the action has had the desired effect.

“Soon after taking over in October 2014, we realised that the match weights had got completely out of control,” explained Lewis.

“When we decided to net the lakes we did get a few negative comments – however, we felt confident we had done the best thing for the fishery and the anglers. 

“We now average winning summer weights around 200lb, which has attracted far more anglers back to Alders, and we certainly have no regrets about the action we took.”

‘Nets In The Sun’ is a huge success

Fisheries nationwide have thrown their support behind an Angling Times campaign to help protect commercial fish stocks.

Angling Times joined many UK waters in the fight to raise awareness about preventing the spread of the deadly Koi Herpes Virus (KHV), following recent outbreaks of the disease at several popular fisheries.

Research has suggested that it can be transferred on keepnets and landing nets that haven’t been exposed to sunlight and properly dried out before use.

This saw the launch of the Angling Times ‘Nets In The Sun’ campaign, and bosses at several top commercials have now introduced new rules to help eradicate the virus.

Devon’s Stafford Moor hasn’t experienced KHV and owner Joanne Coombes is determined to keep it that way. She said: “Anglers must now dip all nets and stink bags and once they get to their peg, lay them out to dry. These are proven methods of killing diseases that could otherwise wreak havoc.

“We have invested thousands of pounds into the venue and we aren’t prepared to take any risks with our fish stocks. Everybody understands the need to put these measures in place, and anyone caught on CCTV flouting the rules will be asked to leave.”

Anglers are also being asked to dry their nets at home, and Packington Somers chief John Burchell believes the message has got through loud and clear. He said: “We are stressing the need to arrive here with dry nets, and so far everybody has done so, which is great to see. We are considering a stink bag ban as well.”

Lake with 25lb pike and huge perch will open this autumn

Day-ticket anglers could soon be targeting record-breaking fish at a venue that’s opening to coarse angling for the first time ever.
Angling Times can exclusively reveal that perch to almost 6lb and monster pike will be just some of the huge fish on offer at Lake Savage later this year.
The former trout fishing venue in Theale, Berkshire, has been taken over by game fishing retailer Sportfish, which immediately drew up a raft of plans for the gravel pit.
Additionally, the fishery is being sponsored by leading specialist predator tackle manufacturer Savage Gear.
The huge potential of the new lake has already been highlighted by Savage Gear-backed Chris Lowe, who was given exclusive one-off access for a test session. He not only netted a 25lb pike while drop shotting for perch, but also heard stories of other giants.
Chris believes Lake Savage is capable of making a reality of the promise it has already shown.
“The pike I caught had already spawned, so we already know there are fish over 25lb in here – and that is just the tip of the iceberg,” he said.
 “A huge perch was recently discovered, and although it was dead, it weighedwell over 5lb.
“Fly anglers in the past have caught specimen stripeys, so who knows what else the lake could throw up?” he added.
Sportfish is currently in the process of making improvements to the fishery, including restocking Lake Savage to improve sport still further at the company’s new Game Fishing Centre before it opens some time this autumn.
Ian Welch, who is overseeing the project, told Angling Times: “As well as improving swims we will be netting our on-site trout lake, taking out all the pike and big perch and introducing them into our new predator lake.”
“Lake Savage has bags of potential, and I’m hoping it will whet the appetite of lure anglers who want to come and fish it.”

Anglers flocking to famous carp reservoir after massive changes

One of the most prolific and iconic day-ticket fisheries in the UK has just got even better.
Venue bosses at Drayton Reservoir in Northants have announced the biggest revamp in the record-breaking stillwater’s history, and have announced that it’s busier than ever as anglers flock from miles around to target its huge stocks of carp.
Months of renovation work, which included the complete rebuilding of the most popular pegs and improved access and facilities, were completed ready for a sell-out weekend which saw some anglers bank 700lb of carp at a single sitting!
And with water temperatures on the rise, venue experts predict that the water, whose carp now average around 14lb, will enjoy its best year ever.
Mark and Angie Ryder have managed Drayton for the past nine years, and since the improvements have been made they say the buzz surrounding the fishery has been ‘incredible’.
“We opened some of the improved areas over the May Bank Holiday weekend and the days leading up to it were manic.
“The phone didn’t stop ringing day and night and there wasn’t a peg left,” said Mark.
“One angler banked 54 fish to well over 20lb in a 48-hour session, and it’s not uncommon for visitors to bank 1,000lb of carp in 24 hours. That’s what this place is capable of, and we are immensely proud because it’s immaculate and continues to play a massive part in showcasing what fishing should be all about.”
Drayton is owned by the Canal & River Trust, and National Fisheries and Angling Manager John Ellis said: “This fishery has been breaking records since we opened 22 years ago.
“The place looks incredible after all the work we’ve done, and the investment and improvements will mean that it’s only going to get better. In fact I’d say 2016 is set to be its best year ever!
“I know for a fact that well over a quarter-of-a-million have fished here since we opened, and it’s changed from being a match venue with weights well over 400lb to one of the country’s premium venues for large numbers of big carp.”
Top match angler Phil Ringer is a big fan of the place, and he said: “The changes made will make Drayton even more popular. There are few better lakes for anglers wanting to catch big carp.”

Pods hit the River Trent

River anglers will be able to night-fish in style on a stretch of one of our most popular rivers this summer, thanks to an ambitious project being set up on a newly opened day-ticket fishery.

In what is believed to be the first of its kind for a running water venue, 10 portable glamping pods will be available to book from June 16 on a prolific 600 yard stretch of the River Trent in Newark, Nottinghamshire.

The pods, which run on solar power and offer a charging point, a USB port and a socket for a kettle is the brainchild of fishery manager Joe Fox, who is building more of the pods for other fisheries to rent.

“River anglers don’t get the comfort of their stillwater counterparts so these will allow them to enjoy a night session in comfort,” said Joe. To book a session at the fishery or ask about renting pods, visit Joe’s Facebook page: Maltkiln Lane Trent Fishing.

Ticket sales ‘best yet’ on top fisheries

A host of the UK’s biggest fisheries reported record day-ticket sales as 2016 shapes up to be one to remember.

Thousands of anglers hit the bank over the Easter weekend and two of the biggest commercial fisheries in the land, South Yorkshire match complex Lindholme Lakes and Linear Fisheries in Oxfordshire, are among dozens of UK venues which saw day-ticket sales rocket.

On the eight-lake specimen complex, every one of Linear’s 250 day-ticket pegs were taken up for the first two days of the weekend as the fishery struggled to deal with demand.

Fishery manager Chris Blunt told Angling Times: “Easter has always seen our banks busy with anglers but this Easter has been our busiest ever.

“With 50-60 syndicate members also fishing we had more than 300 anglers on the venue at one point. It was incredible, and I’ve heard other fisheries also did very well during the same period.

“The mild winter and good spring weather has seen carp stay on the feed. This meant catches have improved on previous years, and this in turn has attracted more anglers to our venue.

“We have also been proactive on the internet and social media to keep our customers in the know and encourage more visits.”

Just a week after announcing plans to increase the size of the venue by building new lakes and holiday lodges, Lindholme boss Neil Grantham also enjoyed a bumper weekend at the Doncaster fishery.

“Match bookings, festival and winter league numbers have gone up this year and the number of pleasure anglers we got over Easter alone was better than ever. Low fuel prices and mild weather have helped dramatically with numbers” he said.

The news will come as a massive boost to organisations and charities attempting to get more people into fishing, and with a number of fisheries and clubs working on improvements over the winter period, angling looks set to enjoy a bumper summer ahead.

Win free fishing for a year at Lindholme Lakes!

One of the UK’s top commercial fisheries is celebrating a £1 million revamp by offering Angling Times readers the chance to win a year’s free fishing.

Neil Grantham, owner of Garbolino Lindholme Lakes in South Yorkshire, is calling on Angling Times readers to suggest suitable names for one of three possible new waters being built at the complex as part of a bid to turn it into ‘the White Acres of the North’.

The winner, chosen by the 52-year-old, will be given free fishing for a year at the popular venue.

Neil, who has run the fishery for more than a decade, told Angling Times: “The new waters will add around 200 pegs to the complex, supplementing the 500-plus pegs we already have to make it one of the largest commercial match fisheries in the UK. I have extended the site to house the new lakes and will increase the amount of holiday lodges on the site as well as building a larger tackle shop, function room, restaurant and bar. The new lakes will be mixed in stock and aimed at match anglers, so it will be interesting to see what names people can come up with,” he said.

Neil believes the improvements, which could also feature the building of tennis courts and a football pitch, are required to deal with the ever growing demand for holiday and match style waters: “We are having our busiest year for matches with some huge opens and tournaments taking place here,” he said. “Requests for fishing and accommodation in one package has also increased, so we are currently in talks with a leading holiday home company to sponsor some events and match the likes of Parkdean at White Acres.”

Come and grab a record fish!

A host of the UK’s best specimen carp waters have launched a campaign to get more anglers targeting the huge shoals of bream and tench that reside in their award-winning fisheries.

Many big-fish enthusiasts will be on the hunt for a new personal best in the coming weeks, and the owners of some of the country’s finest big carp complexes have revealed their stocks offer the perfect solution.

High volumes of bait have helped the bream and tench in such fisheries reach record-shaking proportions, although their true size is often only highlighted following accidental captures by carp anglers.

Linear Fisheries in Oxfordshire is among those determined to attract more passionate big-fish enthusiasts to unlock the true bream and tench potential of their waters.

Head bailiff Ian Roper, who has been at the forefront of the scheme at the Oxfordshire venue, said:

“Our lakes are about so much more than just carp and we are making a huge push this year to get anglers fishing for the big tench and bream that largely get ignored.

“This is the perfect time of year to fish for them, as some of our bailiffs have already been doing. For example, one of our lakes, Hardwick and Smiths, holds big shoals with bream well into double figures, along with huge tench.

“I know that this is the case at so many other fisheries and it would be great for the sport if more anglers set their sights on carp waters and helped to reveal the true potential for other species because there’s a chance that there are a few record-breakers out there.”

Northants’ Bluebell Lakes has produced numerous carp over 50lb in the past, but bosses are now keen to attract anglers that have a different species in mind, to help boost the complex’s growing reputation among bream and tench anglers.

A fishery spokesperson said: “We’ve had tench to double figures and bream to 19lb in the past, and there are not many places where you can catch fish of that calibre!”

‘Next Redmire’ to open doors to the public

Carp legend Kevin Nash is to allow public access to two monster-producing lakes as his company moves into fishery development.
The Copse and Church lakes hold more than 10 fifties between them, including at least one 60-pounder.
“There are more fifties in the Copse today than there are in most counties,” said Kevin, who is opening up the pair of Essex venues to help fund his company’s foray into the fisheries market.
He added: “In terms of desirability the Copse has got to be the next Redmire.”
A new Nash venue is being developed in Royston, Cambs, and another Essex lake is being dug at a total cost of £400,000.
“To help continue to procure and develop fisheries, the Church and Copse will be a revenue stream towards future acquisitions,” explained Kevin. “I’ve always considered the lakes as my place to study and research carp growth in fisheries, which is one of my passions, and I think we’ve made our point down there.
“What has changed is my recognition that quality carp fisheries are not being developed in significant numbers, and a lot of the ones out there are poorly run with no ability to create the right environment for carp or carp anglers – so we have started a Nash Fisheries portfolio.”
Having dug, stocked and fished both lakes, Kevin knows exactly how much potential they have.
In 2011 he took a brace of fifties – a 52lb 2oz common and a 51lb 2oz mirror – on Riser Pellets just 10 minutes apart.
The lakes’ development began at the turn of the century, although disaster struck in the summer of 2012 when two 50-pounders were found dead in Church Lake as an oxygen crash killed half-a-dozen carp. The venue has since been restocked and has bounced back stronger than ever.
Until this week’s announcement, fishing on both waters had always been by invitation only to friends of Nash Tackle. Star names such as Julian Cundiff, Simon Crow and Alan Blair have all bagged giants from the lakes.
Although open access will now be allowed, tickets will be limited. Sessions will all last five days and run from Monday to Friday, as on a holiday venue.
The first sessions will take place in April and these will be auctioned off, but after a two-month break for spawning in May and June, the lakes will re-open between July and November on a fixed-price booking system.
Precise details are expected to be announced in May.

Fishery reveals ‘in swim’ cameras

A fishery in Yorkshire is offering anglers the unique opportunity to watch their hookbaits while they fish – thanks to underwater cameras.

In what is the first exercise of its kind, Welham Lake in Malton, North Yorkshire, is giving visitors the chance to improve their angling skills by allowing them to watch live underwater footage of their tackle while they target the fishery’s specimen carp and tench.

The idea is the brainchild of fishery boss Gary Howard, who was inspired to create the project called ‘The Welham Underwater Carp Academy’ after he posted a video on social media, only to receive an overwhelming amount of feedback.

He told Angling Times: “I came up with the idea when I took an underwater video of my lake using my phone and posted it on Facebook.

“Within a few hours hundreds of people were sharing it, which made me realise how popular this sort of thing can be.

“I also run carp fishing schools at Welham, so I then thought, why not combine the two? The lake here is spring-fed and shallow, so it is ultra-clear, and therefore ideal for underwater filming,” he said.

Gary is planning to open the lake to anglers on March 1, when a maximum of four visitors at any one time will be able to target carp to 26lb and tench to 10lb-plus while receiving live footage of their rigs after casting out.

“Anglers will fish for 24 hours, of which eight will be under the guidance of our staff, showing them how the system works,” Gary said.

“They will be able to go out on a boat to see their rig up close, as well as fish in a filmed swim with a permanent camera installed.

“We are currently altering the water, so that it will have various different types of lakebed including silt, weed and gravel, imitating what the anglers might find on their own local venues,” he said.

Stillwaters set for £1m investment

A major overhaul at some of the nation’s most popular stillwaters is set to go ahead, Angling Times can reveal.
Fishery bosses will invest over £1m in a number of ground-breaking projects designed to reinvigorate their waters.
The popularity of commercial fisheries continues to grow and officials have signalled their intention to repay visitors by spending huge sums raised from day-ticket fees on major upgrades.
Work has already got under way to create new lakes, pegs and facilities, with venue owners setting their sights on completing the improvements in the coming months.
Devon’s Stafford Moor is among those that are currently working on the biggest transformation in their history.
“We have completely redesigned Pines Lake to give anglers something different and improved access across the fishery,” said owner Jo Coombes.
“Endless hours have also been spent removing snags and rubbish to create an even more pleasant environment.
“We are so grateful for the support that anglers have given us and we felt it only right to invest in the fishery and make it even better than it previously was.”
Big efforts to accommodate more anglers have also started at Staffordshire’s Cudmore Fisheries, with a new lake being developed to cater for the spiralling demand.
Fishery manager Vic Spooner said: “We had a number of occasions last summer when we struggled to fit everyone on to
the complex and we wanted to avoid that happening again.
“Lake One has been redeveloped into a 40-peg pleasure water that will be stocked with F1s, carp and big silverfish. Lots of other modifications are also going on across the complex to make sure that we continue to provide our customers with the best possible experience.”
Others improvements planned include new accommodation at Somerset’s Viaduct Fisheries, while Lancashire’s Bradshaw Fisheries and Lincolnshire’s Westwood Lakes have dipped into their wallets to install new catering facilities.

Furnace Mill fires up to be big perch paradise

The boss of a popular commercial fishery has stocked vast numbers of huge perch in order to turn his venue into a stripeys superwater.
Ed Brown, who runs Furnace Mill Fishery, near Kidderminster has stocked more than 60 fish to 4lb 12oz to cater for the UK’s growing number of predator fishing fans.
The prolific complex already boasts a thriving stock of perch to over 4lb, and the new fish have an average size of 3lb.
They have been introduced into two of the four lakes at the Worcestershire hotspot.
With further introductions planned for the future, the move comes as an increasing number of commercial fisheries have started allowing lure fishing on their waters in a bid to attract more visitors during the colder months – a trend that Ed has followed.
“Perch have become an extremely fashionable species, with more and more anglers wanting to catch specimen sized stripeys – especially during the winter,” Ed told Angling Times.
“Most fisheries in my area like to stock carp into their lakes at this time of year, but I wanted to offer something different as well as give those anglers who can’t afford expensive syndicate memberships the chance to catch the fish of a lifetime.”
Ed, who is also a fish-farmer, discovered the huge perch when he netted one of his stock ponds, and immediately made the decision to introduce them into his lakes instead of selling them on.
“They had been in the pond for around five years, but I never expected them to have grown so quickly – some of these fish will be over 5lb by the end of the year and they are in absolutely pristine condition,” he said.
Miraculously, all the fish he discovered were over 2lb 10oz with numerous others over 4lb, including a 4lb 12oz giant which Ed personally weighed to confirm its size.
The fish have been split equally between the fishery’s Mucky Meadow and Furnace Pools, making a mouth-watering prospect for big fish fans and pleasure anglers alike.
“These lakes have already produced perch to over 4lb, and match anglers regularly catch them over 2lb during the winter, so they obviously thrive in there – but I would love to see more people come and fish for them,” he added.
Former Wales International angler, Ian Ward, is a regular at Furnace Mill and has first-hand experience of catching huge perch at the venue, having bagged a pair of fish weighing 4lb 6oz and 3lb 2oz during a match back in 2014.
Ian, like many of the venue’s regulars, is excited at the prospect of even more big perch being caught. The Frenzee-backed matchman told Angling Times: “Furnace has always had plenty of huge perch. We always catch them in matches and pleasure sessions, and the day I caught the four-pounder and the three I lost an even bigger one.
“Who knows how big they go to in there? With these additional monsters going in, Furnace will be well worth visiting for the perch alone,” he said.

40lb pike tops a massive opening week at Chew

A huge 40lb 4oz pike caught on a homemade rod tops an incredible week at the famous Chew Valley Reservoir, which also saw a record-breaking brace of predators landed.
It was the first time that Guy Elson had ever fished at the Somerset venue, and he christened his new hand-built rod with the specimen that smashed his personal best by more than 25lb during the latest pike fishing trials. It also saw an incredible venue record brace of fish weighing 37lb and 35lb taken from Picnic Area 2 off the North Shore.
Guy was fishing with boat partner and close friend Craig Holiehead, and the fish-of-a-lifetime provided the only pike of the day for the duo at the Bristol Water-controlled venue, which produced a total of 19 predators reported over the 30lb barrier, as well as the 40lb 4oz fish.
“We turned up with a bucket and a couple of rods each at this vast venue, surrounded by other anglers who were obviously super serious about their piking. That was a little daunting, to say the least,” said Guy, who’s based in Kent.
“The weather turned nasty, so we headed around the back of an island and cast float-legered mackerel baits into a hole about 18ft deep.
“I had a slow, ponderous take, and when the fish began to take line off a tight clutch I knew this was no ordinary pike.
“This was the first fish on my new rod, my first visit to Chew and probably the biggest pike I’ll ever catch. It just goes to show what an incredible venue this is. Anyone with a bait in the water has a chance of a dream fish like this.”
It proved yet again why ‘Chew’ is regarded as the UK’s finest and most consistent big-pike venue after producing many fish over the 35lb mark, one of them topping the scales at 35lb 12oz and landed by Somerset’s Andy Berwick.
Angling Times columnists Martin Bowler and Steve Rowley were among the many visitors who banked pike over the 30lb barrier.
“Chew is a factory for producing huge pike, and there’s nowhere else that comes close,” said Martin.
“If I’d caught a fish of 34lb 12oz at any other venue it would be a safe bet that it would be the best of the day, but I think the day I was fishing it was the third biggest, which really puts into perspective how amazing this venue is.
Steve Rowley joined Martin for his two-day session and also got among the seemingly endless stock of huge predators when he won the battle with this 34lb 2oz (above) with size 4 Drennan semi barbless trebles.
His fish fell to a sardine hookbait just as the light began to fade on their final day’s fishing.
“Though social media and the press may give people the impression that Chew is an easy water, this is far from the truth,” said Steve.
“The fact that most anglers’ expectations are high when they fish Chew makes it twice as tough if they fail here. But the truth is that anyone can apply for a ticket and have a shot at a huge pike.”
There’s always a special buzz among the dedicated staff at Chew when pike anglers from all over the country descend on the venue for the highly anticipated pike fishing trials.
And with eight days left of the winter trials, and a venue record that stands at 44lb 6oz, many believe there’s no other venue in the country that’s got a better chance of producing over the current 46lb 13oz British best.
“It’s always really exciting for everyone at this incredible fishery,” said fisheries manager John Harris.
“The sheer number of huge pike caught on a daily basis never ceases to amaze us. I’m sure that the remaining days of fishing in February are going to produce the goods... something really special is always a possibility.”

Would you pay £880 for just one day ticket?

Is this the UK’s most expensive day ticket?

That’s the question being asked after a single day’s boat fishing on Somerset’s Chew Valley Lake fetched £880 on eBay.

A fierce bidding war broke out on the popular online auction site as pike anglers fought for the notoriously-difficult chance to get a fishing permit for the famous water.

The Bristol Water-run fishery has grown a reputation for its population of pike to 44lb 6oz. Limited tickets go on sale each January via a first-come, first-served basis over the phone. 

However this year the water put a small number of boat-fishing tickets on the website, which prompted a bidding war. The anonymous winner secured the date for February 1. At face value the tickets for two anglers would cost between £100 and £120.

So would you pay almost £900 for a day’s fishing? Top piker and venue regular Neville Fickling said that he wouldn’t.

“I couldn’t afford it. There are some things in life money can’t buy, but there are an awful lot it can! And to people who can pay this, I say good luck. My view on Chew is that those who try very hard on the phone do eventually get tickets to fish there. Those that do it half-heartedly don’t!” he said.

And Angling Times columnist Des Taylor said that although he wouldn’t pay such an amount either, he could see why people would.

“Chew is an incredible place to fish and there is always the chance of a potential record pike,” he added.

John Harris, acting fisheries officer for Chew Valley, said that the February 1 ticket had proved so popular because it will be the first day pike anglers get on the water since November 2015. The first few weeks of each set of trials are traditionally the most productive as the fish have had a rest from pressure.

“We weren’t expecting a ticket to go for this much and the bidding got a bit silly! People may not have realised that there were other tickets up for auction for that day – this was the first one to go on. The introduction of the eBay tickets is an alternative way to get access to the water, because lots of anglers are left disappointed initially due to the massive demand. The extra revenue raised will go back into improving the fishery,” he said.

Now comes a 35lb barbel!

There aren’t many people out there who wouldn’t like to swap places with this angler and his huge 35lb barbel.
Spain is famous for producing monster catfish and big carp, but Justo Ramos proved that it’s capable of much more when he won the battle with this impressive comizo barbel from Extremadura.
This fish, which is recognisable by its elongated head, measured over a metre long and was taken by the guide for holiday company Extrema Fishing Spain when he fished a Savage Gear lure, which also fooled 15 pike during his session.
If you’d like to catch a fish like this visit: www.extremafishingspain.com

Carr Mill bids to rival UK top silvers waters

A legendary fishery is to undergo a huge makeover in a bid to turn it into a competition fishing venue capable of producing 200lb nets of bream.
Officials at St Helens Angling Association have drawn up ambitious plans to turn Merseyside’s, Carr Mill Dam into a venue which will rival some of the best silverfish waters in the land.
The club has earmarked tens of thousands of pounds for the project, which will see the stocking of £20,000 worth of fish and dozens of new platforms built on the 55-acre fishery in a bid to attract match anglers from all over the UK.
With the popularity of natural venues back on the rise, club committee member Andy Burrows believes now is the right time to breathe new life into the venue.
“We want to improve sport on the lake to get it back to the glory days, when we had 100 anglers in every match catching three-figure nets of bream on the feeder,” said Andy.
“Anglers travel down to places like Ferry Meadows in Cambridgeshire, but we have this fantastic venue on our doorstep which we believe has the potential to hold some big events and even international competitions.
“Natural venues are becoming more and more popular again, especially with the rise of outfits like the England International feeder team.
“We want to emulate that, and so by improving Carr Mill we are giving them exactly what they want,” he added.
The project will be kick started next month with the stocking of £20,000 worth of bream, and officials are already organising festivals to be held on the lake this coming summer to run alongside a round of the UK Feeder Championship, which is taking place at the venue later in the year.
England International joint team manager Mark Addy, a regular at Carr Mill, is made up by the prospect.
“The project is great for anglers like myself who fish the venue quite often, and hopefully it will also attract more pleasure anglers back,” he told Angling Times.
“There’s a growing number of people returning to natural venues, which is great for the sport and the future of the England team, and projects like this will only encourage it further.”

Come and catch a monster roach

One of the nation’s favourite fisheries is calling for specimen anglers to come and catch its massive roach, claiming some huge fish are being ‘ignored’.
Just two weeks after being voted ‘Stillwater of the Year’ in the Angling Times 2015 National Angling Awards, the famous Linear Fisheries in Oxfordshire is eager to shake off its reputation of being a carp-only complex.
Venue bosses have also revealed that 2015 has been its best-ever year for catches of specimen redfins.
The biggest fish banked so far this year was a 3lb 2oz specimen recently taken by a carp angler fishing Brasenose 2, and many other specimens over 2lb have also been caught from its other popular venues Oxlease, Hardwick and Brasenose 1.
“Most people think our waters are just about carp, but they all hold really big roach and it’s such a shame that no one comes and fishes for them,” said Linear Fisheries’ head bailiff Ian Roper.
“Fish over 3lb are caught every year and one of the biggest I’ve heard of is a 3lb 12oz specimen out of B1. That is a massive roach and a possible record breaker now.
“Anglers who want to target big roach are welcome to come down and fish any of our day-ticket waters for the species, and they must not be intimidated by squeezing in between bivvies.
“Not only do we want more general coarse anglers fishing here, we also wish to find out how big the roach actually grow, because I wouldn’t be surprised if there are a few real monsters.”
One UK specialist who already loves to target other species at Linear is big-fish legend Dai Gribble, who not only catches its resident tench, but is well aware of the roach fishing potential.
He’s already been in contact with Ian to organise a roach fishing session and is extremely excited at the prospect.
“Linear is the most welcoming big-fish complex in the UK, and if you like fishing for big roach you’d be mad not to go and have a go for them,” Dai told Angling Times.
“It’s getting towards the best time of year to target the species and all the waters at Linear have really great potential.”
Despite 2015 already seeing several big roach reported to Ian and his team, Dai claims this is only the tip of the iceberg, since many more  big roach get caught by accident by carpers and get slipped back unreported.
This is a common theme that runs throughout commercial fisheries across the land.
Countless waters that many favour for specimen carp also have a growing reputation for producing huge roach, which are now a viable target for anglers looking to set a new personal best.
Leading fisheries consultant, fish farmer and owner of the highly-respected AE Fisheries, Andrew Ellis, has not only personally netted huge roach from many well-known carp waters such as Horseshoe Lake in Gloucestershire, but he also prides himself on nurturing and growing on big stillwater redfins.
“There are many factors that contribute to the growth of huge roach in carp waters,” said Andrew.
“The first is that it’s common to have really big roach and then fry because those in between are often thinned out through predation.
“At venues like Linear spodding with particles is very popular and I’ve seen the water exploding with roach and rudd while working at places like this. This abundance of food, and the fact that carp waters tend to be larger venues, mean that roach have space to thrive….especially the really big ones.
“Ian has already mentioned that big roach at Linear are widely neglected and this is another reason why they grow so big – they don’t take kindly to being put in and out of keepnets all of their lives, as they tend to be in smaller commercially run waters.”

Name: Linear Fisheries
Location: Stanton Harcourt, Oxfordshire
Number of lakes: 11
Day-ticket venues: Brasenose 1, Brasenose 2, Hardwick Lake and Smiths Pool, Hunts Corner Lake, Hunts Corner Pond, Manor Farm Lake, Oxlease Lake, St Johns Lake
Contact: www.linear-fisheries.co.uk or 01908 588043