Catch a crucian winners revealed
The winners of the third annual Catch a Crucian Photographic Competition have been announced.
According to organisers, this year’s competition – run throughout the summer – saw its highest standard of entries so far, with Matt Minter taking the prize for the Best Crucian Picture with a classic shot of a 2lb 5oz fish.
Lying alongside traditional crucian tackle of a centrepin reel, split cane rod and a delicate waggler float, the fish on the picture is a perfect example of the species. Matt caught it from a southern stillwater using paste on float tackle.
The Best Junior Picture prize was awarded to eight-year-old Lauren Stevens, who posed proudly it with her first-ever crucian.
The stunning fish was caught in grim conditions, but Lauren’s beaming expression brightens the image. Her crucian was caught from Hinkshay Top Pool, and beats her father’s personal best!
Rhys Kolze Jones took the prize for the Best Scenic Picture with an idyllic image of dawn at Onslow Estate Long Pool in Shropshire. Using a low angle above some yellow water lilies, Rhys photographed the sun rising above the trees, capturing a traditional crucian angler’s morning scene.
The entries were judged by a panel of leading crucian experts including ‘A Passion for Angling’ film maker and crucian conservationist Hugh Miles.
He said: “I was honoured to be asked to judge this competition again this year, not just because crucians are such wonderful creatures, but because the quality of the photography was even better than last time.
“Interest and investment in these splendid fish has increased a lot recently, and we can thank the Angling Trust and Environment Agency for all they’ve done to make this happen.”
James Champkin, Angling Trust campaigns officer who manages entries into the Catch a Crucian competition, added: “I certainly believe that the competition has encouraged many more people to get out there and target this wonderful species. It’s particularly uplifting to see so many young anglers proudly holding their first crucian.
“Hopefully they will become motivated to join the efforts of the National Crucian Conservation Project to conserve this charismatic fish.”
Perch deadbait does the trick for 14lb zander
A FRESH perch deadbait helped Andrew Stacey put his new personal best zander in the back of the net.
It weighed 14lb 9oz and came from a stretch of the lower River Severn during a three-day session on the waterway.
The 39-year-old told Angling Times: “This fish is by far my best catch this year.
“It fell to a small freshly-killed perch which I fished at the bottom of the marginal shelf.
“The bite came at around 1am, and was followed by another three takes that brought me another couple of smaller zander.”
Avon roach project thriving with 3lb 2oz beauty
This year’s Avon Roach Project annual fundraising match has been a massive success, highlighted by the capture of a spectacular 3lb 2oz redfin.
The specimen was caught by Dr Mark Everard from a stretch at Winkton Fishery, on the Lower Hampshire Avon, and secured victory for the lifelong roach enthusiast in the ‘friendly’ match.
Mark said: “‘Match’ is perhaps too strong a word, as these much-anticipated occasions are really a meeting of old friends and roach ‘obsessives’.
“I was stood on an exposed bank trotting all day. The pain was worth it, both for a fantastic catch and to support the great cause.
“The big roach sank the float decisively and, like most good roach, rolled straight away. I had to navigate it through two weedbeds before finally bringing it to net. It looked enormous!”
Mark trotted breadflake under a 5g Avon float and fed liquidised bread, a tactic that accounted for a further seven roach to 1lb 1oz.
The fundraiser took in matches on other stretches of the Avon and raised £5,500 for the Avon Roach Project to help continue its work of replenishing roach stocks and habitats along the river.
The project’s Trevor Harrop said: “In the early years of the event roach never featured in catch returns. Now they are doing so in increasing numbers each year. Don’t you just love it when a plan comes together?”
Trevor also revealed how the project plans to build on its success. “As well as growing on roach, habitat improvement continues with the excavation of a huge fry bay at Sopley, on the lower Avon,” he said. “We’ll also be spearheading an initiative to increase the effectiveness of gravel spawning sites in the Avon in partnership with the EA.”
Don't panic rod licence sales may just be a statistical blip
Despite an apparent decline in the numbers of those who fish, it’s not all doom and gloom, Angling Times can reveal
The Environment Agency has revealed that during August there was a 14 per cent decline in licence sales compared to the same time last year.
However, according to an EA spokesman there are several important factors to be taken into account regarding the figures.
“These monthly comparison figures don’t take into account the popular introduction of the 365-day licence and three-rod licence.” he said.
“We know these licences have changed sales patterns and we will be able to make an accurate comparison next April. The Environment Agency produces figures for fishing licence sales each financial year. The new figures won’t be available until April 2019, when we can make accurate year-on-year comparions .”
While acknowledging that now is not the best time to assess the data, the Angling Trust has called for all branches of the sport to pull together to reverse the situation. The Trust’s Chief Executive, Mark Lloyd, commented: “We need stronger engagement from the angling trade and from government if we are to make progress.
“We need to make angling part of young people’s everyday lives and we will campaign and build programmes to get angling into the school curriculum and part of the growing Scouts and Guides movement.
“With these stats in mind, it’s worth recognising that despite the many challenges facing angling it’s important to remain positive and fully support strategies aimed at bringing newcomers to the sport.”
He also mentioned cultural changes that have led to a decline in participation of other sports, including football and tennis.
Highlights of the Trust’s efforts to increase participation in angling include over 1,800 events held across the country which introduced over 47,000 adults and 30,000 juniors to
the sport.
In addition to these events, the Environment Agency is constantly working on developing a National Angling Strategy aimed at conveying the health and social benefits of angling, and how it can be used to help drive environmental improvements.
Incredible week for Autumn perch
The capture of a host of specimen perch this week proves that now is the perfect time to target these popular predators.
A superb 3lb 12oz stripey tops the list of big ‘threes’ reported to Angling Times this past week, and it was banked by Korum-backed ace Rob Thompson during a recent excursion to a Midlands river.
To help tempt a big perch into the swim Rob drip-fed maggots to attract shoals of bait fish – a tactic that didn’t take long to prove its effectiveness.
Rob told Angling Times: “I’d just nipped out for a quick session and fancied one particular swim where I’d had a big perch snatch a dace off the hook a month or two back. Unfortunately, someone was already there so I had to try somewhere completely new.
“The swim was fairly pacey, so I introduced the maggots and some chopped worm just off the main flow.
“I cast out my lobworm hookbait and soon after I received a powerful take.
“This was the biggest perch I’ve had for quite a few years, and probably the hardest-fighting example of the species I’ve ever caught.
“It shot straight across the river to the far bank and then kited upstream, just missing a tangle of branches.”
Rob’s perch-crunching tackle consisted of a Korum Neoteric tip rod, 6lb Xpert reel line to a 4lb 12oz hooklink and a size 6 Korum Xpert hook.
Further south, and just a week after banking a pair of perch weighing 3lb 5oz and 3lb 7oz,
Phil Askew returned to his favourite stretch of river in Suffolk to bank a 3lb 6oz beauty.
The perch fanatic used a bait dropper to introduce a bed of chopped worm into his swim, and started to receive regular bites 30 minutes later.
He said: “I caught this perch on my last cast of the morning, and thought at first that a jack pike had grabbed my lobworm hookbait.
“It wasn’t until I saw it on the surface that I realised it was another giant perch, so I was relieved to see it hit the landing net cord shortly afterwards.”
Meanwhile, on the Thames, a budget rod set-up enabled Brandon Rich to bag a 3lb perch.
Targeting his local stretch of river at Caversham Lock, the 18-year-old joiner from Reading worked a 7cm lure close to the bank to bring the take.
His tactic also produced other, smaller perch as well as a pike and a chub.
Similarly to Rob and Phil’s catches, avid Angling Times reader Robin Piper had worms to thank for the capture of a cracking 3lb 4oz perch.
The angler from Kent targeted a bed of lily pads on his local club water, and didn’t have to wait long for a take.
He said: “I cast next to the pads, thinking a perch would be lurking there, and my hunch paid off five minutes later when the tip arched over.”
Robin’s tactics, which incorporated a running leger rig and a size 12 hook tipped with four dendrobaena worms, also helped him hook an even bigger perch which was sadly lost in a tangle of lily tubers.
Disappointment for England at World Lure Champs
Team Estonia have won the prestigious World Lure Boat Championships after a gruelling two-day battle on Rutland Water.
In the competition’s 11th year of running it was the first time England had hosted the championships, although wet and windy conditions brought by Storm Callum did make fishing very difficult for the 16 competing nations.
The poor weather didn’t didn’t faze Estonia however after they took the first-place position with a catch of 24 fish, including mostly perch and big pike.
Czech Republic came second with an immense 66 fish haul, whereas Latvia took third place with the captures of 17 larger fish.
With the advantage of home soil team England hoped to compete with the Eastern European nations who have dominated in recent years, however after a valiant effort they could only muster a 14th placed-position.
James Dobie from team England told Angling Times: “We expected the zander to show in numbers, but we could only catch perch over the two days.
“Nonetheless, I think we have fished very well considering our opposition are world class anglers and the fact that we are a fairly new team.
“We’ll certainly come back fighting in next year’s championships.”
For a full report and scores of the 2018 World Lure Boat Championships, please visit the Angling Trust Competitions Facebook page.
The Big One Show gets bigger!
The UK’s largest fishing show – The Big One – is set to be even bigger in 2019 as plans were unveiled for a huge second hall packed with new tackle and visitor entertainment at the Farnborough location.
And in a double delight for the nation’s fishermen, Angling Times can also exclusively reveal there will be a SECOND BIG ONE SHOW in 2019 as organisers launch a new Midlands event at Stoneleigh Park in Warwickshire!
The news comes as tickets for both two-day shows have been announced to go on sale Tuesday the 23rd of October, and anglers are being urged to get in quick to take advantage of brilliant early-bird offers and special VIP packages.
Over 3,000 square metres of covered exhibition space has been added to the Farnborough event on Saturday and Sunday March 23 and 24 to fit in more exhibitors and allow the world’s biggest tackle brands and retailers to expand their stands to show off more new gear and bargains.
The 2019 Farnborough event will also showcase two new additions, including a huge, interactive ‘Lure Live’ area dedicated to lure fishing fans and the unveiling of a new Super Demo Arena.
Complete with an indoor fishing lake, this demo area will ensure visitors can get first hand advice from Britain’s top anglers, and meet some celebrity guests too.
Big One show director, Vince Davies, told Angling Times: “So many exciting things are happening this year, and this is mostly accredited to the 3,000m2 of additional space we now have.
“The new lake area and theatre is certainly going to be a big hit, and will be used for coaching sessions, tackle demos, games, as well as great talks by top anglers.
“There’ll also be more exhibitors at the 2019 show and we’re still taking bookings for places.
“Lengthy negotiations are also being carried out to ensure this year’s parking issues don’t happen again in 2019.
“2018’s VIP tickets, which were linked to preferential parking spaces, sold out very quickly so we’ve also increased this for 2019’s show – make sure you grab yours before they run out!”
Vince also believes that Midlands-based anglers have been missing out on big events in their area and has worked hard to create a new show – The Big One Stoneleigh in April.
This new show – the biggest in the Midlands – will take place inside the two flagship halls at the easy-access location and will see a host of big manufacturers, retailers, and anglers in attendance.
It will be a unique opportunity for all coarse and carp anglers to see the best new gear for the 2019 season, and get buying advice from the experts who created it.
With the UK’s top retailers there too, you’ll be able to not only try new tackle, but get your hands on it at bargain prices with many show exclusives to take advantage of. “The Midlands show is something that’s been in demand for a while and is now gaining an enormous amount of attraction from exhibitors,” Vince added.
“We found the perfect venue at Stoneleigh as it met our requirements for access and parking.
“This show will reach out to a large part of the country who perhaps couldn’t have made the previous Farnborough shows.
“Anyone who wants to keep up with updates on the shows should check out the Big One website at www.thebigoneshow.co.uk.”
The two shows
Farnborough airfield Sat Nav GU14 6AZ
• More space! Additional 3,000m2 of show space for the 2019 event
• 200-plus stands! All the UK’s biggest tackle manufacturers and retailers will be there
• More gear – see the best new gear and buy it at bargain prices at the UK’s biggest show
• NEW Lure Live area packed with stands and demos for lure anglers
• NEW Super Demo Arena for expert tips and celebrity guests
• NEW Shop and Drop facility for you to leave bulky items
Opening times: Advance Ticket holders can get in at 8.30am on both days. Tickets on the door from 9am. The event closes at 5pm Saturday, 4.30pm Sunday.
Stoneleigh park, kenilworth, warks Sat Nav CV8 2LG
• Huge indoor event taking over the two main halls at Stoneleigh
• The UK’s biggest tackle manufacturers and retailers
• More gear - see the best new gear for 2019
• Hot deals! Kit yourself out for the season with tackle and bait at bargain prices
• Super Theatre – watch top anglers deliver great demos and meet celebrity guests
• FREE parking on site
Opening times: Advance Ticket holders can get in at 9am Saturday and 9.30am on Sunday. Tickets can be purchased on the door from 9:30am. The event closes at 5pm Saturday, 4.30pm Sunday.
Barbel record set to fall this winter!
The capture of two 20lb-plus barbel from the River Thames has led many experts to predict that the national record is set to be smashed out of sight this winter.
Simon Cook banked a fish weighing 20lb 2oz from a stretch of the river while targeting carp – a fish believed to be the second-largest barbel ever caught from the waterway.
It is a different fish to the 20lb 9oz giant exclusively reported by Angling Times when it was caught by Rob Phillips in March.
However, this week camera phone pictures of what could be an even bigger fish have emerged, with some believing that it could be the new record-in-waiting.
It was caught by Paul Buckley, and despite the poor quality of the image, clearly shows a barbel of truly immense proportions.
Paul’s brother Steven confirmed that the fish went unweighed at the time, as the pair were not targeting barbel, and were in fact legering maggots with 4lb line off the back of a friend’s boat in the Walton Bridge area when they latched into the giant.
Steven told Angling Times: “We didn’t weigh it and wanted to get the fish back into the water quickly – it took a long time to land because of our undergunned tackle. We just took a quick shot and returned it to the landing net to rest in the flow. If I were to estimate its weight I would say somewhere around 20lb.”
The Thames is forecast to be the most likely candidate to break the record, and rumours of fish over the 21lb 1oz British best have circulated for several years.
In 2017 a 21lb 10oz fish was caught by a carp angler who decided not to report the catch to the press or circulate the photos.
But while the Thames remains many people’s banker bet to wrestle the title from the Great Ouse, it faces stiff competition from the River Trent, which has produced a staggering array of monster barbel to almost 20lb over the past year. And there are other rivers that rank as contenders too, with some anglers citing tidal southern rivers such as the Arun and Rother as more than capable of causing an upset.
So why are Britain’s rivers experiencing such a surge in the numbers of outsize barbel?
Many believe that it’s down to the vast amounts of high-protein baits such as pellets and boilies being introduced into rivers, along with other food sources such as mitten crabs and crayfish. However, Dr Paul Garner gave an alternative explanation.
He said: “Barbel from rivers in all four corners of the country have got markedly bigger over the past two decades, and not just those in the Trent and Thames. It’s a boom time for the species, unlike anything we’ve ever witnessed before. But the reason can’t just be down to anglers’ baits, because our rivers receive vastly different amounts of pressure.
“While some rivers hold crays and crabs, many don’t – yet their barbel have still put on huge growth. It has to be climate-related. If, in the space of a year, the water temperaturer rises by one degree, it can make a huge difference to their growth potential.
“Barbel only really ‘grow’ in water above about 12°C . Below that they just maintain their weight. Small changes in temperature can have a profound effect on a barbel’s metabolism and, therefore, its growth.”
what the experts say...
Adrian Eves
“For me it’s a two-way fight between the Thames and the Trent, and I’d marginally favour the former. There seem to be a number of different big, back-up fish and there are many stretches of the Thames that don’t see any pressure at all, so big fish can turn up anywhere.”
Paul Garner
“I think the Thames is the most likely to beat the record. It’s slower flowing, and is further south, so is slightly warmer. I’ve heard of big fish from the Henley area for years, and there are plenty of stretches that get little angling pressure where big fish could tuck themselves away. As for ‘dark horses’, I’d say that one of the tidal Sussex rivers, such as the Arun or Rother, could produce a real surprise. They get carp-fished these days, so more bait is going in, and it only takes a big fish to disappear down into the tidal reaches for a few years and then come back much bigger.”
Bob Roberts
“For me the next record has to come from either the Thames or the Trent. I’d probably favour the Thames, as it has a better record for producing fish over 18lb. But the Trent is a magnificent river, with plenty of anglers fishing it, so If we have a mild winter, who knows? I can’t see any other river throwing up a surprise to contend with these two. Many overlook stillwaters, of course, which have thrown up some very big barbel.”
Shock roach tops 2lb mark
After landing two nice perch, Frank Partington was ‘over the moon’ when he realised he was connected to this stunning 2lb 10oz roach.
The fish was caught from a Leigh and District AA water, and is a new personal best for Frank, who fished a groundbait feeder with a bunch of maggots on the hook.
Biggest fish ever to be caught on a pole?
GIGANTIC 200lb-plus catfish has been caught – on the pole!
This is the eye-opening image of possibly the biggest fish caught on the tactic – it certainly sets a new personal best for captor Sebastian Nash.
The 36-year-old from Parcieux, France, hooked into the beast, along with a string of giant sturgeon to 190lb and koi to 40lb, during an adrenaline-fuelled seven-day trip at a private lake in Italy.
The Colmic-backed angler told Angling Times what it was like to catch monsters on a method usually associated with taming fish under 20lb.
He said: “It’s absolutely exhilarating – for me there isn’t a bigger adrenaline rush than playing a big fish on the pole.
“The fight of the biggest sturgeon (190lb) was mental, as it took me 90 minutes to tire out and bring to the bank.
“It nearly snapped me off twice as it swam round a big rock in the water!”
To cope with the powerful surges from every giant hooked, Seb had to step up his gear, and fitted his 13m Colmic Karper pole with 5mm solid latex elastic – which he quadrupled in his top kit to help fight against the power-packed predators.
His mainline was braid with a breaking strain of more than 165lb, and this was attached to a large hook carrying herring, sardine or anchovy deadbaits.
“I caught steadily throughout the week, but found that mornings were the most productive, so I planned to be up extra-early for the last couple of days,” Seb added.
“That next morning I had a very positive take, followed by a mad 30-minute fight when the fish took me all over the swim and stayed deep.
“When I finally got it to the bank I had to call my friend over to help me hoist this monster on to two large unhooking mats – a monster that turned out to be a new personal-best catfish measuring nearly three meters in length.
“I couldn’t believe it.
“Later that day I hooked a smaller catfish which eventually broke my pole!
“I think that was a clear sign that I’d caught too many big fish that week,” he added.
Pristine pair of river perch
Phil Askew took advantage of favourable conditions to land these two beautiful perch weighing 3lb 7oz and 3lb 5oz from a Suffolk river.
He told Angling Times: “It was a good session which saw me catch fish right from the start. Normally it takes a bit more feeding to draw the fish in.”
The cracking stripeys were caught on quivertipped lobworm presented on a size 6 Drennan Specialist wide gape hook.
Old barbel rod stands the test
A 12-year old rod was put to the test when Wayne Nunn latched into this 14lb 12oz barbel.
Wayne caught the cracking fish while fishing a swim on the River Colne he had been prebaiting for two weeks.
The painter and decorator from Hillingdon told Angling Times: “I didn’t even have to wait till dark as the rod tore off after just 15 minutes. As a result I went home early and celebrated with a glass of wine!
“I bought the rod more than 12 years ago so I thought I’d give it a dust off. It was obviously a good luck charm.”
Wayne used an 8mm pellet wrapped in Sticky Krill paste to induce the bite from the big bertie.
Crucian gold among the silvers
John Lewis was left shaking after putting this colossal 3lb 12oz crucian in the net.
John was fishing a southern club water with his son, and was catching plenty of bream and roach before the large bar of gold put in an appearance.
He told Angling Times: “It was the biggest crucian I’ve ever caught – I’m still shaking now at the thought of it!”
The fish was lured on three red maggots fished on a size 14 hook over a bed of bloodworm groundbait.
Redmire pool is drained
Britain’s most famous carp lake has been drained as work begins to restore it to its former glory.
Photographs have emerged on social media of an almost empty Redmire Pool after Angling Times revealed plans for its rejuvenation earlier this year.
The work is being managed by fisheries scientist and Ashmead Fishery owner Mark Walsingham, who said: “After two exceptionally hard days’ work by the netting team, we have successfully removed all the fish in good health.”
Talking exclusively to Angling Times, Mark added: “I will let everyone know what’s happening as each stage of the project is completed.
Before work began, Mark confirmed the intended plan for Redmire, stating that de-silting is a major aspect of the work.
He continued: “It’s an invasive process and care must be taken, as there’s always a risk to the fish.
“To prevent future silt build-up, silt traps will be installed, and the agricultural ground surrounding the lake will be used for grazing as opposed to farming.
“We will also inspect the dam to make sure it’s sound and secure, and we plan to otter-fence the fishery to protect the stock.
“All this is as much about preserving the fish as it is the lake. As such, the rogue ghost carp that ended up in the water will be removed, as will any fish not in photographs from 14 years ago.
“This will ensure that the remaining stock will be from the true Galician carp bloodline of Donald Leney’s stocking all those years ago. We also have to sustain the element of mystery at Redmire, so only a select few will know what remains.”
In the past, Redmire Pool has produced British record carp for Dick Walker and Chris Yates.
Go after big chub after species has an incredible week
The season’s best chub of 8lb 5oz tops a bumper list of fish caught in a fantastic week for the species.
Backing-up the mid-8lb fish were a pair of seven-pounders alongside several more of 6lb-plus to round off a tremendous run of form on southern rivers.
The 8lb 5oz fish was landed by southern specimen angler Matthew Hartshorne, who connected with his prize on a night fishing session.
At the time of Angling Times going to press, Matthew was unavailable to provide additional details of his catch, although it was banked from a section of the River Thames in Maidenhead.
This massive fish was followed by a thumping 7lb 2oz chub caught by Leighton McDonnell.
Targeting the River Great Ouse, Leighton fished with paste wrapped around a cork ball suspended 18ins off the bottom.
Speaking of his capture, Leighton said: “I fed 50 pieces of paste across two swims after hearing the fish splashing as it searched for fry in the margins.
“It was on my third cast when I hooked this very fat chub that spewed out fry in the net!”
Stewart Barnes also had a sensational session, landing a 7lb 6oz chub alongside a 10lb 1oz barbel. Targeting a gravelly spot behind streamer weed on the River Great Ouse above Bedford, Stuart legered two 10mm boilies wrapped in paste alongside just four boilies fed in a PVA bag.
The third ‘seven’ fell to Paul Restall in the shape of a 7lb beauty. He hooked into the fish from a stretch of the Hampshire Avon, but Paul believes there were even bigger fish in his peg.
“I spotted a shoal of large chub, and I’m sure some of these were even bigger than the fish I landed!” he said. He legered an 8mm halibut pellet over 4mm and 6mm feed alongside crushed hemp and halibut groundbait to tempt the impressive specimen.
Patience was key for Andrew Tredgett, who landed a cracking 6lb 13oz River Lea chub on his latest outing.
He said: “I located a shoal of big chub and barbel under a bush and fed them pellets for a week before casting a 15mm boilie on a short hooklink to nail the fish.”
To round off a sensational week, Derren Burr scooped a stunning pair of chub including a monster of 6lb 15oz and a smaller one of 5lb 10oz. Fishing the River Great Ouse, the angler from Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire made the most of a quick evening session and landed his fish in consecutive casts using 8mm halibut pellets alongside PVA bags filled with 3mm samples.
Five minutes with Sarah Thompson
IN 2018 the Angling Trade Association’s National Fishing Month campaign introduced nearly 10,000 new people to the world of fishing.
More than 275 special National Fishing Month events held across six weeks during July, August and September gave thousands of people the opportunity to fish for the very first time, and a large percentage of those who attended were children.
One fishery that dedicated a lot of its time to helping kids get into the sport over NFM was Norfolk’s Barford Lakes, who received a lot of interest in their free coaching sessions held at the complex.
Angling Times spoke to the fishery’s owner Sarah Thompson to pick her brains on the fishery’s contribution to helping more people take up fishing…
AT: It’s fantastic to see a fishery that’s so passionate about introducing new people to fishing. What sparked the decision to help out? When did this happen?
ST: The passion has always been there, I'm lucky to have the support of my family business – even luckier with the excellent group of people gravitated to our coaching team. Angling's not the easy, entry level sport it used to be with less free fishing suitable for juniors. We ran junior matches in the late 90’s, got a team in the Junior National and had an individual 2nd and 6th. Ivan Marks and his son also came and helped us in practise. I found that without an abundant coaching team the good got better, but the ‘not-so’ didn't go so much. 5 years ago the Angling Trust had a Volunteer Champion scheme which helped us start to form the core of the coaching team. With a free coaching day a year leading to the last 2 years we've run 20 free sessions each year - half for National Fishing Month and half for Angling Trust's Free Family fishing schemes. It’s the future and we’re playing the long game.
AT: How many licenced fishing coaches do you now have on-site?
ST: We have 2 Level 2 coaches and 2x Level 1 coaches and a bank of about 8 tremendously awesome volunteers - 4 of which are under 18, which is great as some youngsters relate better to young people nearer their own age. We feel blessed by the team that has grown.
AT: We understand you’ve been hosting free coaching sessions. How popular have these been?
ST: Very popular, this year it's been filling up two weeks in advance. We had about 300 people through and the same again this year. About 50:50 returning from last year and new people. It's a younger starting age now due to distractions of life, phones and social media - we're trying to make it affordable and accessible for young families, that’s why we try and keep the sessions free.
AT: Are the coaching sessions more popular with kids or adults? Or are the results equal?
ST: Fairly equal but probably younger families. The parents with a child who has an interest in fishing but no-one in their family fishes. Returning anglers. Parents who have fished as a child who want their child to experience fishing - but their knowledge is limited to when they were a kid too.
AT: How valuable have the Angling Trust and angling bursaries been in helping you achieve your goal at Barford?
ST: Hugely. The Angling Trust and Active Norfolk have been great with bursaries and our Angling Participation officer has helped with additional bespoke volunteer training. The Angling Trust's Volunteer Champion scheme 5 years ago was a starting block for forming our team. It gave training on risk assessing, safe guarding and positive public image giving volunteers more confidence and some clothing which added pride and identity. The participation officers are a valued arm of the Angling Trust. The ATA's National Fishing Month scheme has been awesome too for help with tackle from the trade.
AT: Can you explain more about your Tackle Bank Scheme? Have any big-named anglers donated their old tackle to the cause?
ST: The more coaching we do the more our customers wanted to help put something back to the sport too. We had their unused poles, rods, luggage and even boxes donated to us. We now have a small area with donated tackle we've started to donate back out to young anglers. Giving some a more professional set up, replacing broken rods to get them fishing again, quiver tip rods to juniors fishing the method on a waggler rod. Julian Watson from Drennan gave us his very first Drennan Macthbox box – which the young grandson of one of our coaches now uses. 100 words
AT: The Norfolk School Games Angling Final was held at your fishery again this year. Can you tell us more about what happens during this event?
ST: It’s run by Active Norfolk, with 18 other sports involved. Young anglers are from 11-15 years old. 6 of the 8 Norfolk School Sports Partnership qualifiers are held at our lakes where we also coach at the same time as competing. The 48 peg final (each SSP sends 2 teams of 3) is supported well by the trade. Finalists get a goodie bag with at least a plummet, disgorger and decent hook length, along with other goodies we can find. There are team and top individual tackle prizes too.
AT: We’ve now come to the end of National Fishing Month. How has Barford contributed to the cause this year?
ST: Every week we held a session over NFM linked to this brilliant initiative. We support all the trade's participation schemes as we all work for the same common cause. Plus I'm an associate director of the Angling Trades Association who run the scheme (not the most well attended director as we're always so busy at the fishery!). They've helped with publicity, tackle and participant goodies and a great log book and fish ID booklet.
AT: What would you urge other fisheries to do to help get people near them to take up fishing? Is there a way they can apply for funding?
ST: There's lots of help out there. Contact angling coaches (AT or PAA). Run one event next year - imagine what new opportunities we'd all create for people to join our sport. Get in touch with your Angling Trust Participation officer (they'll help you find funding and ideas to gain volunteers), National Fishing Month, PAA. Get involved and enthused - it's rewarding - challenging and frustrating sometimes but rewarding all the same. Build a team of volunteers - they're key to our sport's future.
AT: What do you think the biggest challenge is in terms of getting kids into fishing, or any other sport for that matter?
ST: Opportunity, availability and cost. There's always been the distraction of computer games but now we've got social media we have to introduce angling to kids when they’re younger, before they own a phone which means getting families involved. Families don't have a lot of spare cash nowadays so keeping the costs down helps. If you've experienced angling as a child you will want your child to do the same – we'll not see a customer for 7 years and they'll turn up with their 7 year old to teach them to fish.
AT: What’s next in-line for Barford? Do you have any further plans or ideas to get more people into fishing?
ST: Where do I start! First we’d like to start a junior angling club at the fishery. We’d also like to make more links with other junior sections in clubs and hope to get them competing against each other. Using social media more is also a plan – Instagram ups the 'cool' of anything to do with youngsters nowadays so we'll be signing up soon. We’ll also be advancing the Tackle Bank so we get more tackle in and out to families who will use it. Personally I want to redevelop the Starter Lake here so we can have a solid double peg for electric wheelchair users and work more with the BDAA and local special needs schools we have links with. It’s certainly going to be a busy task!
FIVE record sharks... one amazing trip
These images depict one of the greatest shark catches in UK history, when four anglers boated six record-breaking six-gilled sharks in just 48 hours.
One remained unweighed, but the other five giants scaled 204lb, 237lb, 242lb, 320lb and 512lb – all of these eclipsing the official British record that was taken way back in 1976.
Adrenaline junkies Phil Riley and John Owen, along with Sea Angler magazine’s Dave Lewis, had boarded Liverpool charter boat ‘Size Matters’ in search of the record-breaking sharks.
The trip was conceived months ago by skipper Kevin McKie after a local commercial fisherman told him of a mark where giant six-gills had been spotted.
Kevin said: “It was fantastic to witness history being made and prove beyond doubt that there’s a healthy population of six-gills in British waters.
“I’m especially proud I’ve pioneered the fishing for them, as no-one has done that before.
“My boat is twice the size of your average charter vessel and one just of a handful in the UK with a deck big enough to bring a big shark aboard. It’s fitted with a harness to assist this, as some of these sharks can weigh over 1,000lb.
“It was the only way we could accurately measure them all to determine their weight.
“The trip demanded a lot of dedication. The mark was in the region of 60 miles west of the Isles of Scilly near the Continental Shelf, more than 100 miles from the port of Plymouth.
“It was a long steam out but it was certainly worth the wait.”
Once on location it was a matter of whose rod would be in action first – and the four anglers didn’t have long to wait as conger eels, blue sharks, blue whiting, cod and the rare blue skate were pulled from the depths.
But six huge six-gilled sharks also found the party’s mackerel hookbaits irresistible. The first, at 204lb, fell to Phil, followed by a fish of 242lb for John, and then a 237-pounder for Dave.
Kevin was next to score with a six-gill that went unweighed, before Phil smashed the record with a 512lb fish.
John ended the proceedings with a 320lb shark.
“Every six-gill we caught was a new record, but we just seemed to better it every time the rod went off,” an elated Phil told Angling Times.
“I’ve caught 1,000lb six-gill sharks off the Ascension Islands before, but nothing beats the feeling of knowing you’ve caught a British record.
“You’re playing a big shark in around 400ft of water with nothing but a belt harness and your rod, so the experience is incredible.
“At that depth the fight is fairly subdued, but once they can see the lights of the boat they begin to scrap in a more dogged manner.
“I’ve usually only caught them at night, but we’ve had them during the day here – maybe it has something to do with the fact these sharks are juveniles?
“Our waters are getting warmer each year, so I wouldn’t be surprised if we start seeing bill fish soon - that will be my next challenge!” added Phil.
Carp angler sees the light with bream pb
A change of target species paid off for Brett Longthorne when on a recent session he landed this monster personal-best bream of 15lb 6oz.
Brett was fishing a large North West stillwater for carp, but after seeing bream rolling he decided to change tactics and target them.
The big slab was caught on a 10mm yellow Redemption pop-up fished over a tight bed of 4-6mm pellets and some boilies. James presented this attractive hookbait on a size 10 Bank Tackle hook tied to a 15lb Kryston Mantis hooklink.
Three 4lb perch in single session!
The capture of three huge perch totalling 12lb 8oz this week proves that there’s no better time to target one of autumn’s most prolific species.
The three big stripeys weighed 4lb, 4lb 3oz and 4lb 5oz, and were banked by predator fanatic Trevor Gunning during a session afloat on a lake near his Swindon home.
Trevor located the venue’s perch shoals by first casting a chatterbait lure. Once he had found them he switched to drop shot and jig tactics to winkle out the bigger specimens.
He said: “I had a fish of around 2lb, then changed to a drop shot rig and got done by a much bigger fish in the weed. I must admit that I thought I had blown my chance, but I decided to give it a bit more time and my reward was another hard hit on the lure that resulted in a real old warrior of 4lb 3oz.
“Amazingly, I had another fish of 4lb a few minutes later. A 4lb perch is special, and to catch two in one session is something I had never done before.”
Trevor then moved swims, a decision that would lead to him crowning his remarkable day.
“I had a hit that pulled the rod round in my hand. The fish weighed 4lb 5oz, meaning my best three fish together weighed 12lb 8oz. It really was a day to remember,” he said.
Trevor wasn’t the only angler to enjoy success with big early-autumn perch this week. Nathan Morse got in on the action too by banking a 3lb 12oz fish from an undisclosed quarry. Targeting a swim with overhanging bushes, Nathan floatfished a prawn soaked in squid and orange glug to tempt the new personal best.
Hold on tight for double figure barbel!
James Champkin’s phone call to his girlfriend came to an abrupt end when his rod lurched round to the savage bite of this 14lb 8oz barbel.
James bagged the big bertie while fishing tight to an overhanging tree on a picturesque stretch of the Hampshire Avon.
He told Angling Times: “I half stumbled, half rolled down the steep bank while trying to slip on my chest waders. That proved impossible after I’d picked up the rod, so I ditched the waders and walked out into the shallow margins in just my shorts and socks!
“The fight was absolutely mental, but with steady pressure and a tight clutch I managed to scoop up my new pb,” he said.
James’s rig consisted of a 10ins braided hooklength and a double 10mm boilie hookbait.
