Near-record crucian landed!

Making the most of a small window of opportunity helped Ken Brown bank a crucian just 3oz shy of the British record.

The specimen weighed
4lb 7oz, and was landed just days before renowned crucian hotspot Johnsons Lake was set to start its closed season. 

But while Hertfordshire-based Ken was elated with the catch, he  not surprised to have caught it. He reckoned it was only a matter of time before he netted a big crucian from the Surrey venue.

He told Angling Times: “I made the most of a small window of opportunity just before the start of the lake’s closed season – even though the weather was bad, it was still worth a shot.

“I’ve fished Johnsons Lake for a couple of seasons now, visiting once a month or so, and finally I’ve landed one of the better ones in there! In the past I’ve had a few ‘threes’, but like everybody else I was waiting for the special one. 

“This session was hard going. I’d landed some tench and roach to 1lb 8oz, and at first I thought this fish was a tench too. 

“I was due to stay down for another night, but I went home as I knew I wouldn’t top that!”

Ken used leger tactics on an 11ft 1.25lb test curve rod to help beat his personal best. 

He added: “I used a leadcore leader with a 1oz inline lead which was attached to a short 4ins hooklink. On the hook was a piece of artificial corn. 

“On to the hook I nicked a PVA stick of liquidised bread and a few grains of corn. 

“To draw the fish to my swim I Spombed out liquidised corn and some Dynamite Swimstim Betaine Green groundbait laced with 3mm pellets.

 “I can’t complain, but in an ideal world I’d have caught that crucian on the float!”