Huge 4lb 4oz crucian landed

The UK’s longest heatwave for years hasn’t stopped crucians from enjoying a feeding spree with numerous specimens banked topped by a 4lb 4oz monster.

While many of the country’s anglers have been struggling to catch during in the hot weather, those who have been fishing for crucians have been enjoying red-hot sport.

One of them is 26-year-old Scott Walker, who hooked into a rare 4lb 4oz beauty during a recent session at Lizard Fisheries in West Drayton, London. 

He told Angling Times: “I’m a carp angler at heart but when the lakes were busy on this particular day I decided to switch to targeting perch on the float instead.

“I’m a bailiff for this water, so I know there’s a good head of perch in here, but I also know that there’s a stock of big crucians – although they very rarely show.”

Fishing the margins using his 13ft Drennan Float rod, centrepin and pole-float rig with two red maggots on the hook, it wasn’t long before Scott received a number of dips on the float.

“I’d been feeding maggots and 2mm Mad Baits pellets over the top and started to catch quickly,” added Scott.

“Within a short space of time I’d caught a number of bream, plus by two proper carp to 23lb 8oz, but my next bite was altogether different. 

“The fight felt somewhere between a small carp and a bream, so when the fish rolled on the surface and I saw it was a big, proper crucian, I was ecstatic. 

“It was my first-ever crucian and one that I don’t think I’ll beat for a while – it was the perfect session.

“I didn’t bother recasting after I’d slipped her back, I just sat back in my chair in shock.”