The 10 best coarse fish caught by anglers in 2017

For most of us, catching a 5lb perch, 4lb roach, 19lb barbel, 20lb bream, 40lb pike or 13lb tench is the stuff of dreams. 

But for a tiny band of anglers those dreams became a reality in 2017.  Here's our pick of the best specimen coarse fish landed over the past 12 months...

An epic 20lb 7oz bream for Gary Knowles, his first in four years fishing a North West mere. A 21lb 6oz bream for Robert Machin also came from the same area. 

An epic 20lb 7oz bream for Gary Knowles, his first in four years fishing a North West mere. A 21lb 6oz bream for Robert Machin also came from the same area. 

One of the biggest barbel of 2017 was Craig Lander's 18lb 14oz monster, from where else but the River Trent!  

One of the biggest barbel of 2017 was Craig Lander's 18lb 14oz monster, from where else but the River Trent!  

Scotland's Loch Lomond showed it still has the potential to throw up the pike of a lifetime as it did for Andrew Carson, at 40lb 5oz. 

Scotland's Loch Lomond showed it still has the potential to throw up the pike of a lifetime as it did for Andrew Carson, at 40lb 5oz. 

Two casts at a Cotswolds gravel pit produced perch of 5lb 2oz and 5lb 1oz in April for Dan Gale. Now that's what you call a brace! 

Two casts at a Cotswolds gravel pit produced perch of 5lb 2oz and 5lb 1oz in April for Dan Gale. Now that's what you call a brace! 

You're looking at 4lb 3oz of roach, just 1oz under the British record. Ken Fuller was the angler and the venue was a Norfolk lake. 

You're looking at 4lb 3oz of roach, just 1oz under the British record. Ken Fuller was the angler and the venue was a Norfolk lake. 

Check out the colours on this super 13lb 2oz tench. Rob Batters was all smiles after his capture on a Kent gravel pit.

Check out the colours on this super 13lb 2oz tench. Rob Batters was all smiles after his capture on a Kent gravel pit.

A mega chub of 8lb 2oz from the Hampshire Avon for Paul Allen, who sat and watched it take his bait.  

A mega chub of 8lb 2oz from the Hampshire Avon for Paul Allen, who sat and watched it take his bait.  

An absolutely perfect example of a roach in Matt Jackson's 3lb 5oz 8r specimen. A Southern chalk stream was the venue. 

An absolutely perfect example of a roach in Matt Jackson's 3lb 5oz 8r specimen. A Southern chalk stream was the venue. 

Eight nights on a Middlesex syndicate water gave Mark Salt an 8lb 2oz eel, by design. It fell to a bunch of lobworms. 

Eight nights on a Middlesex syndicate water gave Mark Salt an 8lb 2oz eel, by design. It fell to a bunch of lobworms. 

The River Thames record barbel went in November with this massive 19lb 1oz fish. Gary Teer had only been fishing half an hour when he had the take. 

The River Thames record barbel went in November with this massive 19lb 1oz fish. Gary Teer had only been fishing half an hour when he had the take. 

19lb 1oz barbel is a new River Thames fishing record

The River Thames barbel record has been broken with the capture of a giant 19lb 1oz specimen.

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The amazing catch was made by big fish angler Garry Teer from an undisclosed stretch of the Southern waterway and was part of a brace of whiskers, the other being a 12lb 8oz fish following an incredible double-hook up.

Both specimens were taken on a single 20mm Bankside Baits Team Barbel boilie fished in conjunction with a PVA bag of broken boilies. The largest of the two is believed to be the same specimen caught by the 51-year-old last month at the weight of 17lb 9oz, a fish which also featured within the pages of the Angling Times.

Northamptonshire man Garry told us: “I had only been at the river for a little over half an hour when my downstream rod screamed off and the 12lb'er soon made its way into the net. As I was just about to release the fish my other rod, which I'd cast onto the shelf of a deep hole in the middle of the river, also screamed off.

"I knew it was big as soon as I hooked it as it just wouldn’t budge from the bottom and when I saw it in the net after a good fight it just dwarfed the first. It had a 22 inch girth, the fattest barbel id ever seen,” he'd said.

The winning rig consisted of a 2oz lead with a 2ft hooklink of ESP Strip-Teaze tied to a size 8 hook with a small piece of tubing to act as an aligner and improve hook-ups.

The brace in the net, the one on the left being 12lb 8oz! 

The brace in the net, the one on the left being 12lb 8oz! 

Garry’s catch, which beats the official waterway best for the species, an 18lb 2oz specimen caught by Guy Robb in 2007, came during the same week that rumours circulated of a UK record 21lb 10oz specimen on the same river. If true the catch would beat the current British record for the species, held by Graeme King, by a mere 9oz.

It’s a capture that wouldn't surprise many Thames regulars, including Garry: “The Thames has the possibility to throw up some really special fish not just barbel and being such a large river with a high food source, fish like barbel could easily grow to record proportions” he said.

 

The UK's most famous pike is landed at 41lb 12oz

A FIVE year campaign to catch one of the UK’s biggest known pike finally ended in success for Chris Darke when he slipped the net under a 41lb 12oz specimen.

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The giant predator was taken on a free-lined, dead ide hookbait from renowned Northern pike fishing venue Wykeham Lakes near Scarborough, North Yorkshire.

Chris’ fish is reported to be the same specimen which has made the headlines several times, including back in 2014 when his fishing partner Wyndon Coole landed it for the second time at the record shaking weight of 46lb 11oz – the biggest pike ever caught in England.

It was Wyndon’s first effort however, which really inspired Chris, an engineer from Scarborough, to try and catch the huge predator.

“I've been trying to catch this fish ever since I netted it for Wyndon back in 2012 at the weight of 45lb 14oz” he said.  “I have come so close to getting it in the past few years, including once when I watched it take my hookbait and drop it before I had the chance to strike."  

"We hadn’t seen it for over 18 months before this week I started to wonder if I had missed my chance until it finally came along.”

THE BIG WYKEHAM PIKE'S TIMELINE
The fish first hit the headlines in November 2010 when schoolboy Jake Finnigan landed it at 40lb 11oz on a 7ft spinning rod...

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Then in March 2011 it sent shockwaves through the predator world when Wyndon Coole put it on the bank at a much heavier 45lb 14oz... 

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Shortly afterwards Terry Knight caught the fish at a reduced 43lb 13oz, famously on film. The video has now had over 2.5 million views... 

Then in 2012 Andy O' Connor raised the bar to 46lb with the fish, before Wyndon Coole caught it for his second time, at its biggest ever weight of 46lb 11oz. This was just 2oz under the British record...

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Fast forward to January 2016 and the fish hit the bank again at 46lb 8oz to Darren Clark, quashing rumours it was dead. Now the famous pike has made its latest appearance, evidence it's still going strong after seven years of capture at weights over 40lb.  

Big perch is caught on a surface fishing lure

Martyn Welch banked this super 3lb 14oz perch on a surface lure! 

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He said: “An early alarm saw me on the Trent at first light, and arriving at my spot I could see fry already jumping and knew it could be worth a shot on surface lures. 

“On my first cast something big hit my popper – it was this beautiful perch.” 

Martyn went on to catch two more perch in two casts, the bigger fish measuring 40cm.

TOP TIP
“If you want to give surface lure fishing a go make sure you use a wire trace, as pike will also snap up these lures.”

Huge 16lb 5oz River Trent barbel

Krzysztof Barczak had to wait just 40 minutes before his new personal best barbel of 16lb 5oz devoured his hookbait.

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He’d planned to fish a night on his usual stretch of the River Trent, but found other anglers were in his swim. 

Finding another, vacant spot, Krzysztof was unfazed as a powerful fish picked up his luncheon meat hookbait shortly after casting out. 

He told Angling Times: “After a long battle I landed my new personal best at 16lb 5oz. 

“This beautiful fish gave me the fight of my life and the opportunity to test my new Shimano Baitrunner reel too!” 

Krzysztof used 12lb reel line attached to a 8lb hooklink to land the barbel. 

TOP TIP
“On a pressured stretch of river, try a swim that isn’t often fished. You might find the warier barbel have moved there.” 

Your complete guide to the 2017 Fish O' Mania final + free tickets!

WHERE AND WHEN?
This Saturday July 8, the Sky TV cameras and crowds descend on Cudmore Fisheries for the Fish O’Mania XXIV final, to see who will depart £50,000 richer.
Twenty-five qualifiers will line up on Arena Pool at the Staffordshire fishery for five hours in what will be a new look final. More anglers are competing than ever before and you’d be hard-pushed to pick a winner.

HOW CAN I WATCH?
LOCATION: Cudmore Fishery, Pleck Lane, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire ST5 5HW
T: +44 (0)1782 680919 W: www.cudmorefisheries.co.uk
Get your FREE final entry tickets HERE

To watch from home, tune in to Sky Sports 3 from 12pm

WHO SHOULD I PUT MY MONEY ON? 
Check out the current best odds HERE 
The finalists, in the order they qualified... 

Steve Jackson
Qualified at: Bait-TechViaduct Fishery
We say: A former champion and a veteran of the competition with several finals under his belt. Steve likes fishing for big carp but will the mixed small fish stock of Arena suit him? 

Steve Openshaw
Qualified at: Heronbrook Fisheries
We say: Steve is a prolific open match winner in the North West and is very good at fishing worms and casters, which are likely to be the dominant baits. Could be dangerous. 

Paul Blinkhorn
Qualified at: Tunnel Barn Farm
We say: Another North West angler who likes to fish with natural baits. Has been close to qualifying several times before and will be keen to put the 'blinkers' on and do well.

Richard Chapman
Qualified at: Coleman’s Cottage Fishery
We say: Richard is by his own admission an outside bet who is usually behind a camera photographing Jamie Hughes or Andy May at the event. Can he cause a major upset? 

Bob Giles
Qualified at: Bait-Tech Viaduct Fishery
We say: Bob was the most relieved angler in Fish O' history when he qualified as one of his keepnets was disqualified, with 90lb of carp in it. He won by 1lb! Can his luck last at Cudmore? 

Andy Power
Qualified at: Preston Woodland View
We say: Andy is one of the best young anglers in the UK and no stranger to this match. He'll be keen to use his experience to make a serious impression this year, definitely one to watch. 

Tony Curd
Qualified at: Monk Lakes
We say: This is Tony's third final, a very aggressive big-weight angler who could do well if the lake fishes well. Sources tell us that Tony has been catching plenty of fish in practice. 

Andy Adams
Qualified at: Barford Lakes
We say: This is Andy's first big final and another outside bet. Will the East Midlands man be in the mix with past champions and England internationals?

Colin Scott
Qualified at: Partridge Lakes
We say: Colin is an angler who is very good at fishing with light tackle and negative feeding so the fishing on Arena should suit him. A dark horse who is definitely worth keeping an eye on.

Jason Redgrave
Qualified at: Guru Makins
We say: Jason does well on carp lakes in the Midlands but can he fine down his tactics enough to pose a threat on Arena? The Maver Gold man will certainly be going for it.

Adam Richards
Qualified at: Tunnel Barn Farm
We say: Now in his third final, Adam is a very quick angler when he's on fish and has been a bank runner here too. A recent neck injury may cause a problem so he'll be hoping to fully recover in time. 

Ross Harold
Qualified at: Monk Lakes
We say: A very underrated angler, Ross was third in last year's final and was a front runner all match. He definitely had the method sorted and with similar fishing expected, is well worth a punt

Jamie Hughes
Qualified at: Lakeview Fishery
We say: The twice Fish O' champion is always a major threat and knows exactly what the score is on Arena. It's a question of whether you can find him at odds high enough to warrant your hard-earned! 

Steve Barraclough
Qualified at: Daiwa Hallcroft Fishery
We say: Steve is back on the big match scene again and is a very capable angler on a mixed fishery like this, where silver fish and F1s are expected. Worth a shout.

Lee Kerry
Qualified at: Garbolino Lindholme Lakes
We say: Lee has been in exceptional form this year in England and Ireland, in our opinion one of the finest all-rounders going. The fishing will suit him down to the ground, definitely worth a few quid. 

Steve Cooke: 
Qualified at: Messingham Sands
We say: Veteran Steve just cannot stop qualifying for the final. He's hoping to do better than his last appearance here however, when he blanked. Plenty of experience of the big occasion.  

Jason Collins
Qualified at: Coleman’s Cottage Fishery
We say: Jason was a finalist in 2016 and did well. He'll be formulating a similar plan together with good friend and fellow finalist Ross Harold. One to keep an eye on.

Lee Bennett
Qualified at: Oaks Lakes
We say: Lee will be hoping to keep his cool in his first major final. He'll have good support in the form of his brother, top matchman Andy, who was bank runner for last year's winner Andy May. 

Ben Sharp
Qualified at: Bag ‘Em Baits Larford Lakes
We say: A former Maver Match This finalist too, Ben definitely knows how to win matches. Will he have enough in the can to conquer Cudmore?

Chris Weeder Junior
Qualified at: Preston Boldings Pools
We say: Chris isn't actually a junior. He shares the same name as his dad who also goes fishing! Makes his debut in the final and could do well if the fish come up-in-the-water. 

Keith Pentland
Qualified at: Woodland Lakes
We say: Another debutant, Keith likes to catch mirror and common carp at Woodland Lakes, Thirsk. If big fish feed he could cause an upset but it's likely to be small fish match. 

Steve Hamilton
Qualified at: Partridge Lakes
We say: Steve is made up just to get to the final and his family have 'Team Hammy' clothing and hats made up, ready for the day. He has the support but will he have the tactics? 

William Raison
Qualified at: Gold Valley Lakes
We say: The England star and former world champ is a master tactician who has done well on this lake before in the international Fish O' event here. Will is the bookie's favourite and rightly so.  

Dave Roberts
Qualified at: Garbolino Lindholme
We say: A former finalist with plenty of pedigree, Dave has a habit of delivering in qualifiers but can he go a stage further and win? Definitely has the potential. 

Markus Billen
Qualified at: Germany
We say: The German angler is a long shot but stranger things have happened. Last year the Dutch angler who won the international event would have won the main thing too with his catch! 
 

EXPERT'S VIEW
2016 Champion Andy May
“It’ll be hard fishing. Five or six pegs will be brilliant and the rest will struggle in terms of an outright win, although there will be bites for everyone because the stocking of the lake hasn’t altered from last year. That means small F1s, ide, skimmers and tench and the odd big carp. I’d say pegs 1-10 on the day will be good.

"However, eight pegs are not in use so I don’t know how these will balance themselves out. If there aren’t blockers fishing then the end pegs could well be brilliant!  There will be a lot of technical work to keep several lines on the go with light lines and small hooks. I think chopped worm and caster will be the baits most in evidence on the day.

“In terms of who will win it, I’d have a few quid on William Raison. Not only is he an excellent angler, but he’s also got knowledge of fishing the lake and the fishing will suit him. That said, Jamie Hughes, Lee Kerry, Adam Richards and Andy Power are all outstanding as well! So much will depend on who draws where, and also what the weather is like."

 

EXCLUSIVE! 4lb 3oz roach rocks the British Record fish

This morning a monster 4lb 3oz roach was caught from a syndicate lake in Suffolk, a fish which is just 1oz under the current British Record. 

The redfin was caught by design by Ken Fuller and it's believed to be the joint second largest authenticated roach in the UK. It joins the likes of the current best by Keith Berry at 4lb 4oz from Northern Ireland in 2006 and the iconic 4lb 3oz record by Ray Clarke from the Dorset Stour. 

The full story and pictures will be in next week's Angling Times.  

Groundbreaking new hook pattern launched, first pictures (APRIL FOOLS)

A unique new style of hook is being launched in the UK after 'groundbreaking' field test results.

The Hexa-G hook has been manufactured in China and involves a radical new hexagon-shaped gape which leading tackle designers in the country found results in zero fish losses from hook pulls. Made from a top secret form of carbon wire, a Hexa-G X Strong version is also set to be launched for bigger fish too. Sizes are to range from size 2 for specimen carp right down to a 22 for roach. 

An artist's impression of the new Hexa-G beside one of the new £1 coins

An artist's impression of the new Hexa-G beside one of the new £1 coins

Chief designer of the Hexa-G, Dr Zhang Wei-Weng, said that the pattern was discovered by accident by a malfunction in a part of an existing hook-making machine.
"The machine broke, it bent the hook-shank five times. Usually it makes a continuous circular shank. My assistant Lei went to throw the offending hook away but I told him 'No! Give me it please'. I inspected it and I decided to tie it to line and try it in our test tank. We have lots of fish in it, big fish. They go mad when you hook them.
"Normal result is for 4 out of 10 fish to throw a standard hook in the tank. With the Hexa-G out of 72 hook ups every fish was landed. We could not believe our eyes. It looks all wrong, the gape is very narrow. But we know this hook will be very big. I predict it will change the way we do fishing forever!'

Stocks of the Hexa-G are currently being exported and it's expected to be available in UK tackle shops in Mid-April. Given the success in testing, we reckon you'd be a fool not to try them out...   
 

Terry Hearn catches British record carp, fishing at Wasing

Terry Hearn has banked 'The Parrot', the current official British record-holding carp.

Iconic carper Terry was fishing the Wasing Estate in Berkshire when he captured the fish at a weight of 63lb last week, on the back of Storm Doris. He was the talk of the carp angling world once again, following a long campaign on the venue which started in September 2015.  

He has taken a staggering 176 carp from the lake in that time, before he finally struck gold with his target fish when he returned to the water after a prolonged winter break. 

"I was in bits, I knew 100% what I had on and it was thrashing about on the surface, shaking it’s head from side to side. It was proper heart in the mouth stuff, but the next time it settled down I took another step or two out into the lake, pushed the net deep down beneath it and lifted…YES, YES, he was mine!" said Terry.

'The Parrot' holds the current British record of 68lb 1oz, taken by Dean Fletcher in January 2016. 

For the full story of Terry's capture of the famous specimen and more pictures, see the March 7 edition of Angling Times. 

FANCY A SMART NEW CARP REEL AT A GREAT-VALUE PRICE...

Big UK pike fishing catches roundup

It’s been an incredible week for big pike with stillwaters, rivers and canals producing their biggest fish of the winter.

The incredible Chew Valley Reservoir delivered a new personal best for experienced predator hunter Kevin Shore from Chester, when he boated an impressive 39lb 12oz giant that took his bait as he floatfished in 24 feet of water (below).

Julian Chidgey also had a session to remember at ‘Chew’ after slipping the net under a 33lb 5oz (below), his 6th pike over the 30lb mark, specimen that was coupled with another fish weighing 26lb 13oz.

Angling Times Columnist Paul Garner also had every reason to smile when he headed to an area of the lake that’s produced the goods in the past and a floatfished smelt was picked up by his 12th 30lb pike in the shape of a 31lb 8oz predator.

“This is the most productive week for big fish that we’ve ever had at the venue…it’s been incredible,” said John Harris, fisheries and recreation manager at the venue that’s run by Bristol Water.

“We still have another run of dates fishing left so who knows what the tally of big fish is going to be by the end of this year’s pike trials.

It is not just Chew where anglers have been enjoying incredible pike action as big fish man Sean Palmer enjoyed the session of-a-lifetime on a Fen Drain when he slipped his net under a colossal 31lb 2oz specimen (below).



Roving an unknown waterway, The Leicester based, 30-year-old, tempted the giant beast using a whole mackerel hookbait and the fish gave Sean a new personal best for the species during a session which also saw him land two other pike to 19lb 6oz along with a surprise 4lb 4oz chub.

All-round specimen angler Simon Ashton also smashed his personal best with this stunning 27lb 3oz fish from a large northern water.

Using a large legered mackerel deadbait that had been well soaked in Sonubaits Code Red Oil, he presented it at long range and left it out for over 30 hours before he received the all-important bite (below).


 

Another predator of 15lb was also taken during the session, with the brace falling to a rig made up of 18lb Drennan ESP Syncro XT mainline to a 40lb trace and size 4 trebles.



 

16lb barbel falls to angler fishing the River Ouse

Alan Lawrence had homemade boilies and paste to thank for this pristine 16lb 2oz barbel taken on his latest trip to the Great Ouse. 

The Vauxhall Angling Club regular fished a popular stretch of the river in Northamptonshire and fed just five boilies each into several likely-looking swims before circling back round to fish them. 

After the first few spots failed to produce, Alan settled next to a high reed bed, cast his paste-wrapped boilie into a crease in the flow and the fish was on.

Carp angler catches huge 17lb 1oz bream fishing a Bedford lake

A bream of 17lb 1oz has topped an incredible haul of big slabs from a stillwater, for a carp angler. 

And just days before Scott Rowson banked his giant haul from Dovecote Lake in Bedford,  another angler landed a 20lb 4oz bream from the same lake. Carper Scott, whose final tally was 13 double-figure bream, told Angling Times: 

“The start of February is hardly the ideal time for catching bream, so I couldn’t really believe it when double after double kept coming to the net. I may have been fishing for carp but when the slabs are that big, it is a real pleasure to catch them.

“When it warms up I’ll definitely be returning with tactics more suited to the species to see if I can catch an even bigger specimen.”

 In just 48-hours on the syndicated water, the local rod amassed the haul while fishing a home-made boilie hookbait presented 90 yards out, with three carp to 37lb capping off the session. Incredibly, an even bigger bream was landed just days before from the venue, with Terry Atkins fooling a 20lb 4oz lake record beast that was returned without being photographed.