Thames is the best bet for three new record fish - Keith Arthur
Those that know far more than I on the matter have been saying the perch record is under pressure for a few years now. In fact it could go before you read this but if it doesn’t, and if I was a bookie there would be very short odds on the stripey being replaced.
The 6lb 3oz current record has been challenged a few times in 2019, including by a Thames fish that weighed a genuine 6lb 1oz. Not many know where it was caught but if it is caught again before March it will be heavier. Whether the next (or same!) angler who nets it will divulge the details is a different matter. In fact, that could already be the case.
It could be from a section close to where I thought the record barbel would be captured and, indeed, still may be. There are a couple of potential record barbel and definitely several stripeys on course to conquer.
Similarly, a record chub from the Thames wouldn’t be a shock, and I think it may well come from the Thames. I have definite reports of fish within a few ounces of the old Fishers Green fish of 9lb 5oz. Thankfully at the moment it would seem like the threat of a carp angler catching a ‘nuisance’ double-figure chub from a carp syndicate seems to have died off, unless, of course it has already happened but the captor doesn’t care or the fishery has a no publicity rule. We live in weird times, not only politically but piscatorially too.
One of the biggest braces of zander ever recorded
LANDSCAPE Gardener Matthew Ward was left stunned when he banked one of the biggest braces of zander ever recorded in the UK.
The 35-year-old recorded specimens of 11lb 9oz and 17lb 9oz during a trip to Upton-on-Severn and both obliterated his previous personal best of around 6lb.
He said: “The larger zander gave me quite a strange bite – initially I just tightened up to my float, thought ‘this feels a bit heavy’, and I was into the fish.
“I soon realised just how big the zander was as I eased it towards the net, and I was praying that it didn't come off!”
Both of Matthew’s zander fell to chub livebait fished via a float-paternoster rig.
Surprise perch catches in matches
When Gary Hampshire’s tip pulled round he suspected a carp to be the culprit, so you can imagine shock when he realised he was connected to this immense perch, caught on would you believe it, the bomb and pellet!
The fish came during a tricky day fishing at Doncaster’s Lindholme Lakes, where his 6mm bait was picked up by the special fish.
“At first, I thought it was a carp,” Gary revealed, “but when it broke the surface, I was absolutely gob smacked! I’ve never seen anything like it.”
“Unfortunately, I didn't have any scales, but I ran back to van and got the tape measure.
“The fish was 48cm long, and I would guess it weighed over 4lb.”
Yorkshireman Darren Richards was also in for a shock when he banked this 4lb 3oz perch during a Christmas match with his local angling club.
Fishing the River Wharfe in Wetherby, West Yorkshire, Darren had been catching small dace, so he decided to change his hookbait in the hope of something larger.
“I thought I would try hemp and caster in the feeder with a small piece of worm on the hook for maybe a bigger dace or small perch,” Darren explained.
“I didn’t think for one minute I might catch a fish this size - it only just fit in my small landing net!
“I was and still am buzzing about catching a specimen fish and a new PB.”
The fish equals the Wetherby Angling Club’s record perch, and Darren went on to win the match with a weight of 4lb 7oz.
1000 Fish Donated by Veteran Angler
Lifelong angler John Vincent has selflessly donated 1000 fish to a park lake in memory of his mother, who played a pivotal role in getting him into fishing.
John, who is 68-years-old, wanted to commemorate his mother in a way that would last for years to come:
“If we got a park bench it would maybe have lasted for 10 or 15 years before the wood started to rot, but the fish are a bit more permanent. They’ll last for generations and hopefully they can set up a breeding
population.”
The fish comprised of 500 tench and 500 bream, and these have gone into South Norwood Lake in Croydon, which is one of the few day ticket lakes in South London.
Predators for the taking
PREDATOR anglers utilising lure and deadbait tactics have been enjoying unrivalled sport from giant pike of late.
Here are three monster pike reports to get you in the mood for a weekend of predator action!
Bailey Metcalfe 28lb 3oz pike
Bailey’s 28lb 3oz beast devoured a popped-up mackerel
After years of trying and miles of travelling for a monster pike, Bailey Metcalfe finally achieved his goal when he banked this sublime 28lb 3oz specimen just two minutes from his house!
Targeting a slack bay on a bend on the River Aire in Yorkshire, Bailey tempted the specimen on a popped-up mackerel tail legered in 13ft of water.
He said: “Catching this pike is a moment I’ll never forget. It’s the fish of a lifetime and possibly the biggest ever to be caught from the Aire.
“After years of searching I’m absolutely made up to have landed the fish so close to home.”
Richard Miller 32lb 8oz pike
Richard’s pike ended his 25-year-quest for a Fenland ‘thirty’
Fenland pike don’t get much better than this immense 32lb 8oz specimen landed by Cambridgeshire angler Richard Miller.
The fish brought an end to a 25-year quest for a Fenland 30 which came during a very cold and frosty morning.
“I received a sequence of bleeps on the alarm and hit into the fish,” Richard said.
“During a very subdued fight the pike seemed to get bigger as the battle went on, and it was so big that it broke my landing net!
“I was over the moon to have landed it – it’s the pike of a lifetime and I don’t think I’m ever going to better it.”
Mariusz Blaszczyk 30lb 4oz pike
This 30lb 4oz esox broke Mariusz’ landing net!
A few final casts on the way back to the car paid off in style for Mariusz Blaszczyk who banked this immense 30lb 4oz pike from Leeds DASA’s stretch of the River Ouse.
The big predator came during a short four-hour lure session with his son Kacper, where other pike of 12lb and 16lb were also banked.
Mariusz said: “We stopped at a few fancied swims before heading home, and on my second cast I had a bang on the lure - it was fish on!
“A few seconds later I realised I was into something big as I couldn’t lift it from the bottom.
“When the fish surfaced, we both just said ‘wow, what a monster’.
Mariusz’ ‘thirty’ measured a length of 118cm and similarly to Richard’s catch had also broke his landing net!
Bristol Avon dace record equaled with 1lb 2oz 8dr specimen
MARK Everard’s decision to fish through howling 40mph winds, heavy rain and a rapidly falling temperatures paid-off superbly with the capture of this plump 1lb 2oz 8dr dace.
Undeterred by the less-than-ideal conditions the University Professor trotted breadflake over liquidised bread on his local Bristol Avon to hook into several roach and dace, but the 1lb 2oz 8dr fish proved to be the highlight of the session.
He said: “I set the Bristol Avon dace record back in 1996 with a 1lb 2oz 8dr fish, equalled it in 2009 and now I have equalled it again!”
“What is interesting is that this new fish, a female, has not yet put on much in the way of spawn and could be heavier come the new year.”
John Wilson's Legacy to live on through daughter's new project
THE DAUGHTER of the greatest angler to ever live is set to follow in her father’s footsteps thanks to an initiative which will see thousands of juniors introduced to fishing for the very first time.
The ‘John Wilson Fishing Enterprise’ is the brainchild of Lisa Wilson whose life’s passion has been to improve the lives of children and young adults currently under the social care umbrella.
Now the mother of four, who is a highly qualified Social Worker, believes there’s an opportunity for fishing to provide a pathway for these kids which will open doors that weren’t previously available to them.
Jo is looking to continue her father’s legacy through the ‘John Wilson Fishing Enterprise’
Lisa told Angling Times: “The John Wilson Fishing Enterprise will provide fishing opportunities that will give disadvantaged children and young adults the chance to connect with the outdoors and provide therapy through the art of fishing, as well as the additional option of ‘bush craft’ activity.
“There are so many ways that fishing can have a huge impact here.
“Interaction with coaches and other angling participants can help improve communication as well as the chance to learn through practical experience – not to mention the ultimate reward of landing a fish!
“My dad loved to pass on knowledge and was passionate about educating as many people as possible about fishing, so I’m very proud to be continuing his legacy and to be raising awareness for mental health at the same time.”
The John Wilson Fishing Enterprise will initially focus on Lisa’s home county of Norfolk where she is now working alongside local fisheries, authorities and government organisations to bring her initiative to life – although it’s clear she also has her eye on wider development.
“I’m really passionate about growing the JWFE and in the future I would like to see this running nationally – making this a part of social care for more young children,” she added.
“I also see this as beneficial to others such as adults with post-traumatic stress disorder as well as vulnerable people who are often isolated and lonely but are still able to take part in an activity like fishing.”
To bolster her fishing knowledge for the enterprise Lisa has begun training for her Level One coaching certificate and has even become an ambassador for the Angling Trust.
Her move has been widely welcomed by officials across the angling community and none-more-so than Jamie Cook – Incoming Chief Executive for the Angling Trust.
Lisa’s project was welcomed by Angling Trust CEO Jamie Cook
He said: “Angling is the gateway to the outdoors and can provide young people with so many skills and opportunities both on and off the bank.
“John Wilson was a huge influence on thousands of anglers, as well as myself as I grew up, and Lisa’s approach is a fantastic legacy for John, and I am hugely appreciative to Lisa for her work in this much needed area.”
Panel: What we know about the John Wilson Fishing Enterprise
Lisa is looking to officially launch the enterprise in March 2020
A JWFE website is currently in the pipeline
Juniors can be booked on to attend a John Wilson Fishing Enterprise session
Sessions will be held at fisheries within East Anglia but may be extended nationally in the future
Lisa and a team of licenced coaches will attend each session to provide fishing tuition
A ‘Fishing Passport’ will be given to the younger anglers – this is an educational booklet that will provide details about the environment they’ll be fishing in, including the fish, bird and plant species they may encounter.
Panel: How you can help Lisa
If you’re a fishery owner or licenced angling coach and would like to contribute to the John Wilson Fishing Enterprise, please email Lisa at lisa@jwfe.co.uk
TWO-HOUR DRIVE REWARDED WITH A 2LB 11OZ AVON ROACH
A TWO-hour drive to the Hampshire Avon was ‘more than worth it’ according to Roy Jones who banked a 2lb 11oz roach during his latest visit.
The Hertford-based artist float-fished maggots into an area of slack of water and enjoyed sport from small roach, dace and chublets throughout the day but struck into something much bigger near the end of the session.
Roy said: “I knew straight away that it was a big roach and it was panic stations when it approached the net and I saw just how big it was!”
2lb 11oz of prime Hampshire Avon roach for Roy Jones
Chew pike smashes personal best by more than 30lb!
FEW ANGLERS have held a 30lb pike so when Alyssa Williams’ second cast of the trip produced this immense 34lb 14oz specimen she couldn’t believe her luck!
The huge predator, which completely annihilated her previous pike best of 8oz, was tempted from Somerset’s Chew Valley Reservoir during a day session with her husband Sam Jones.
Speaking to Angling Times, Sam revealed that the tremendous catch would never have happened had he not let Alyssa have a go with one of his rods.
Alyssa’s pike weighed an incredible 34lb 14oz
He said: “Alyssa had been pestering me for ages to have a go but when I finally caved in I didn’t expect her to catch a monster!
“She did it all herself: mounted the small herring on two single hooks, drove the bait boat 80 yards out and dropped it before eventually landing the fish.”
Prior to hooking the pike Alyssa missed a take from a trout but wasted no time making sure her bait was back out on the spot.
“When she had the take from the trout I gave Alyssa a bit of advice on how to hit the bites,” Sam added.
“After the pike took the bait Alyssa picked up the rod, wound down and hit into the fish, and straight away it took off across the surface.
“The pike then began to kite behind a small tree so I waded out a bit to guide it away before slipping it into the net.
“I knew it was over 30lb, and when the scales spun round to 34lb 14oz we couldn’t believe it – Alyssa was over the moon!”
Alyssa’s pike is one of the largest caught from Chew this season and just one of a handful of fish caught by the American in the UK.
DID YOU KNOW?
In 2007 Newcastle-based Lynn Baker banked what’s believed to be one of the largest UK pike ever recorded by a female angler. It weighed 39lb 8oz and devoured a sardine deadbait during a trip to Scotland’s Lake Menteith.
Lynn Baker’s giant 39lb 8oz pike caught from Lake Menteith, Scotland
FIRST CHUB TRIP OF THE WINTER PAYS OFF WITH 7LB 2OZ SPECIMEN
A MAIDEN visit to a new river couldn’t have ended any sweeter for Kevin Sanders who left later that evening with a new chub personal best of 7lb 2oz.
The 42-year-old from Cambridgeshire pinned his hopes on the River Lea for a few bites but had to wait until dusk for some action.
He said: “I tried several swims through the day with only a couple of knocks for my efforts but when I went back to my first swim for the evening my tip pulled round into something very heavy!
An absolute chunk of a chub for Kevin - and a new PB!
“It was a strong fish making several runs but eventually I coaxed this huge fish into the net.
“At 7lb 2oz it beat my previous PB of 6lb 7oz.”
Kevin’s fine chub fell to a wafter hookbait wrapped in paste.
8lb 1oz chub is one of season's best
ROBIN Cave has slipped his net under one of the biggest chub of the year weighing an incredible 8lb 1oz.
The specimen ace was itching to get back on his favourite stretch of the River Thames after recent floodwater rendered it unfishable, but had no idea his first outing would yield a new personal best.
He said: “I know there are some big chub in this stretch so to draw them in I baited a small amount of pellet and crushed boilie, before fishing a 22mm Oxford Carp Baits GS Crab boilie over the top.
“As the light faded my tip shot over and after scrappy ten minute fight I finally landed my prize – a chub weighing 3oz bigger than my previous pb!”
Robin’s 8lb 1oz giant beat his previous PB by 3oz
Matchman turned speci-ace banks 3lb 7oz roach!
A MATCH angler trying his hand at specimen fishing has hit the jackpot with the capture of a 3lb 7oz roach from a venue without previous history for the species.
35-year-old Tim Dabrowa had his mind set on catching a huge redfin from his home county of Cambridgeshire and believed a carp syndicate would give him the best chance of achieving his goal.
He told Angling Times: “I joined an angling club earlier this year which has a carp water under its control and I just thought there would be a chance of it holding some roach.
“I’d fished it on and off since August and managed to catch them to 1lb 14oz which was fantastic, but I’d always knew there’d be a bigger fish.
In a mad half-an-hour, Tim banked roach of 1lb 12oz and 3lb 7oz
“During my latest session I arrived at the lake for 7:30am but it was freezing cold, so it was no surprise that after two hours I’d not had a bite!”
Tim was close to calling it a day when he saw a big roach top 40 yards out and quickly positioned his helicopter maggot feeder rigs on the spot.
It was a move that proved to be successful just moments later…
“The bobbin started pulling upwards and I struck into what I knew was a big roach by the classic heavy plodding and headshakes,” Tim added.
“My heart started thumping as this giant silverfish made its way into my net.
“I quickly cast back out and added a 1lb 12oz fish before losing another on the next cast – it was a mental half-hour of fishing!
“I just have to go back and target a bigger one – I fell I’ve only just scratched the surface on this lake.”
Tim’s new personal best devoured red and white maggots dipped in Geranium oil.
Anglers unite for homeless
Help the homeless by donating your unused clothing to CC Moore
ANGLERS are being urged to donate their unwanted warm clothing to a homeless appeal now in its second year.
Bait company CC Moore started the project last winter and, after receiving around 200 items in 2018, are looking to take the initiative to another level over this festive period.
The Homeless Clothing Appeal has drawn support from many of the trade’s top brands, including Korda, Nash and E-S-P, and this year Angling Times is also throwing its weight behind the appeal by donating dozens of items of clothing collected by staff.
According to the latest figures, there are around 320,000 homeless people in the UK – one in every 200 people – and it’s a figure that is rising at around 5% every year.
The appeal is looking for hoodies, sweaters, waterproofs, thermal jackets or trousers, socks, hats, gloves, and sleeping bags.
Even just a few items of clothing will go a long way
CC Moore Sales Manager Mike Brown told Angling Times: ““Homelessness could happen to anybody and the quality of clothing available to anglers is phenomenal – so it could really make a huge difference to those in this unfortunate situation.
“We have received some staggering items already from the trade and anglers, so its looking like its going to be another good year. It’s easier for people to donate this year too as a number of tackle shops have signed up to be drop-off points for donations.
“All the collected garments are passed onto charities who support homeless people, with our two leading choices being Street Support Network, SSAFA (Armed Forces Support Charity) and St Mungo’s – who help rough sleepers from all walks of life.”
HOW YOU CAN HELP
To do your bit for the Homeless Clothing Appeal, you can send any unwanted (clean) fishing clothing to the following address:
CC Moore & Co Ltd
West Mill Lane
Stalbridge
Dorset
DT10 2RU
Alternatively, items can be dropped off at the following tackle shops:
Angling Direct Swindon
Browns Angling (Leighton Buzzard/Haddenham)
CarpScene (Somercotes)
CarpStore (Sutton Coldfield)
Fatfish Tackle (Canterbury)
Fish On Tackleshop (Tonbridge)
The Tackle Box (Dartford)
Yateley Angling Centre (Yateley)
HF Angling (Crewe)
Arun Angling (Littlehampton).
For more info, please contact: general.enquiries@ccmoore.com
British record barbel - the full story...
THE BRITISH barbel record has been beaten following the capture of a 21lb 2oz giant.
Self-confessed pleasure angler Colin Smithson, who banked the fish from an undisclosed river in Sussex, revealed that he ‘almost drove into a ditch’ when a friend told him that he had just beaten the national best for the species.
The fish beats the old record, set by Grahame King with a fish from the Great Ouse in 2006, by just 1oz, and was taken during a short afternoon session on a club-owned stretch of river.
Colin (60), who retired last year, revealed how the capture was just reward for the countless blank hours he had spent on the tricky, low-stock waterway over the past 15 years.
“It’s a difficult river. You could go every day for three months and not catch a fish, so this one has been a long time coming,” said Colin, who caught the fish on November 7.
“On the afternoon that I caught it, the conditions were brilliant. The river was 3ft up and coloured, and still rising steadily. I fished the swim for an hour then introduced some sticky groundbait on the crease line of a marginal slack to put down a scent trail.
“After an hour or so a big mirror carp rolled in front of me and sent up a sheet of bubbles from my spot. After a while I called my daughter and said ‘I’m going to give it another 25 minutes as I think something might happen’… and it certainly did!”
When he got the bite, Colin presumed he was playing the big carp he’d seen roll earlier, and it wasn’t until the back-end of the fight that his opinion changed.
He said: “The tip went knock, knock, bang! And my first thought was ‘I’ve got that carp on’. The fish it was doing big loops around the swim, making really strong runs. When I finally got it to the surface I could only see its back, and at first I thought ‘Wow, it’s actually a common carp!”
“Things then got scary when it snagged me under the bank. I got it moving again, and when it hit the surface a second time I could see it was a barbel. My heart started pounding as it again dived for the same snag, but it all came good in the end!”
Colin’s catch was photographed and weighed in the presence of other club members, before being released. But it wasn’t until he was on his way home that Colin learned the significance of his capture.
“I thought that I had smashed the club record. When I told my friend Bradley Hughes the weight, he replied: ‘That’s not just a club record!’ At that point I almost put my car in the ditch! The next day I contacted the British Record Fish Committee and got the process going.”
The remarkable catch also evoked poignant emotions for Colin, as he revealed.
“I want to dedicate this catch to my brother Roy, who died a couple months ago aged 63. He lived for fishing and was a National disabled fishing champion. When I got the fish in the net I looked up at the sky and said: ‘I don’t know if that was you, but thanks Roy’. He would have loved to see this fish. It’s an incredible creature and I’m a very happy man – my Mount Everest has been climbed.”
The fish fell to a hair rigged pellet on a size 10 hook on an 8lb hooklink attached to a Banjo feeder, a pattern which Colin believes holds bottom well on rivers. He beat it using a 1.75lb Shimano Vengeance rod and a 6000-sized reel loaded with 15lb mainline.
Line Recycling Scheme scoops John Wilson Award
LAST year we announced the creation of the John Wilson Award for ‘Outstanding Contribution to Angling’, and in 2019 there can be no more worthy recipient of the inaugural gong than the Anglers National Line Recycling Scheme.
Launched just 18 months ago, the ANLRS has gone from strength to strength, collecting a staggering five million metres of old fishing line, half of which has already been recycled into boards to be made into other products.
Tackle shops have been quick to embrace the scheme, with nearly 300 of them across Britain already having bins into which customers can deposit their old line.
Back in March the ANLRS had a stand at the largest fishing show in Britain, The Big One Show at Farnborough, and its stall was inundated with anglers keen to get involved and keep the momentum going.
When told of the unanimous decision by Angling Times readers to make the ANLRS the first recipient of the new award, co-founder Viv Shears said: “It’s an incredible honour to receive an award named after John Wilson.
“All we really are is a group of passionate anglers who want the sport perceived in the right light.
“Besides Steve Tapp (the other co-founder) and me, there are loads of other volunteers and supporters behind the scenes making things happen. I must also thank Steve Carrie of The Maltings Organic Treatment Ltd and ReWorked, who are recycling the materials into new products.”
It’s not only the angling industry getting behind the ANLRS either, Viv revealed. “The RSPCA has now put reclycling bins at its wildlife centres, so we are beginning to move outside of angling, he said. “Several groups, including the Marine Conservation Society and Torbay Cleaner Coasts Initiative, that carry out beach cleans and similar activities, have made contact as we now have a viable route for these general plastics to be recycled properly.”
Never one to rest on his laurels, Viv is keen to keep furthering the cause, at home and abroad. He said: “We’re hoping to start working more closely with angling clubs and fisheries. There is lot more work still to be done.
“The initiative is already beginning to gain a presence in Europe, with Belgium and Ireland creating mirror image schemes.”
Above all else perhaps, it is the many long hours of selfless, unpaid work that has been put into the scheme by passionate individuals that makes the ANLRS such a worthy winner of the John Wilson award.
Viv said: “As the scheme grows, we are becoming increasingly aware of what we could do with more time. Steve and I work 15-20 hours a week on the ANLRS outside of our normal day jobs, and we have 10 fantastic volunteers helping us out too.
“Funding is our biggest problem, and this is becoming more noticeable as the scheme grows. We don’t have the money for storage yet, so the spare room of my house has to do for now – it probably holds around two million metres of line, and there are a few boxes behind the sofa too!”
Viv also revealed the importance of the help he has received from within the industry.
“Linear Fisheries has been a great sponsor for us, and Gardner tackle reps have collected line from shops which I can then pick up from its warehouse – it is all so important.
“Nash has also taken an interest and is keen to add the logo to its packaging, as well as providing prizes for competitions to help us raise funds.”
But why is recycling your old fishing line so important? Viv made clear that the main goal of the ANLRS is to make the process the norm among the angling community.
He said: “Our primary aim is to protect the image of angling. With increasing focus falling on sports such as hunting and fishing, it’s so important that we have our own houses in order and show we are taking every step necessary to protect our environment.”
More pegs in Preston’s premier 2020 feeder series
Dates and venues for the 2020 Preston Innovations FeederMasters event are out – and there’s a slightly different look to next year’s qualifiers, with some of the 20 matches having their peg numbers increased to 66, meaning 22-peg as opposed to 20-peg zones.
Tickets (£35) go on sale on Wednesday, January 15, 2020 at 10am and, as last year, will only be available via a link that appears on the FeederMasters Facebook page on that day.
The event culminates in the two-day final at Tamar Lakes in the South West over the weekend of September 26/27.
FeederMasters 2020 dates and venues
Saturday, April 4 - Decoy Lakes
Sunday, April 19 - Barston Lakes
Saturday, April 25 - JCB Lakes
Sunday, May 3 - Daiwa Hallcroft Fishery
Sunday, May 10 - Barston Lakes
Sunday, May 17 - Southfield Reservoirs
Saturday, May 23 - Gold Valley Lakes
Saturday, May 30 - Larford Lakes
Sunday, May 31 - Ferry Meadows Lakes
Sunday ,June 14 - Tamar Lakes
Sunday, June 21 - Gloucester Canal
Sunday, June 28 - River Yare
Sunday, July 5 - Ferry Meadows Lakes
Sunday, July 12 - Carr Mill Dam
Sunday, July 19 - Patshull Park
Sunday, July 26 - Nicholls Pit
Sunday, August 2 - Tamar Lakes
Sunday, August 9 - River Trent
Sunday, August 16 - Carr Mill Dam
Sunday, August 23 - Southfield Reservoirs
Let's Fish! Campaign brings in 7,000 new anglers
THE FUTURE of fishing is brighter than ever after a recruitment campaign introduced more than 7,000 youngsters to the sport in 2019.
The Let’s Fish! project, run by the Angling Trust and the Canal & River Trust (CRT), was designed to encourage families to give angling a try through 250 free fishing events held across the country.
John Ellis, the CRT’s National Fisheries and Angling Manager, said: “These events have proven incredibly popular since we first went into partnership with the Angling Trust in the spring of 2018.
“You never forget catching your first fish and these events have got a really important role to play in developing the next generation of anglers.
“Let’s Fish! provides the opportunity to discover the health and wellbeing benefits of fishing, while enjoying some quality family time and having a go at something different.”
In addition to the success of the Let’s Fish! initiative, some angling clubs have also been implementing their own coaching schemes.
Bryan Dray, who is a licensed level two coach for Lets Fish! and Wellingborough and District Nene AC, said: “We’ve established an angling development team with three Level 2 and three Level 1 coaches, and as a result we’ve managed to boost our junior membership numbers from around 50 to 176. Plus, at least one parent from each child has joined the club.
“Our in-house junior matches are attended by 20 to 25 anglers per match, and this was only limited by the size of the lake we could use! We see our jobs as not creating future world champions, but shaping anglers that will hopefully support their local clubs in the years to come.”
Get involved
If you would like to become an angling coach or want to find out more information about Let’s Fish events in 2020, visit www.canalrivertrust.org.uk/enjoy-the-waterways/fishing/lets-fish
5 minutes with John Edwards - The man who recreates anglers’ memorable fish
WE all love a good fish photo to remember our best catches – but what about having that fish perfectly replicated as a physical trophy?
Years ago, of course, this was the norm, with memorable fish killed and framed by a taxidermist. Such trophies can be seen in fishermen’s huts and riverside pubs across the country.
But what if a brilliant replica could be made from just a photo? This week 60-year-old John Edwards, of Fish Recreations. shares with us how he puts together some fantastic pieces of fish art, including the record Wykeham pike…
Why fish replicas?
JOHN EDWARDS: Well, I have always enjoyed art and I like fish. I’m a self-taught artist and have drawn and painted in many mediums ever since I can remember. I mainly did shore fishing and spent many winters on cold North East beaches. Six years ago I got into fly fishing and am really enjoying this along with a renewed interest in sea fishing from boat and shore.
I get real satisfaction from creating a fish replica for someone, knowing that it is a special fish for many reasons to that individual. I would not supply a replica unless I would be happy with it myself – this has always been my philosophy. After all, why should someone pay for something they don’t like?
How did it start?
JE: I started doing replicas full time nine or 10 years ago. I had grown tired of my ‘flat art’ and had been toying with fish taxidermy, but then I saw some replicas on a USA website and said to myself ‘I could do that!’
My first attempt was not a pretty sight! After realising that it was not as easy as it looked I started to teach myself the ropes, and spent a lot of time and money experimenting to get the desired results. Even now I continue to move forward and try to better myself with each commission.
My big break came after I’d been doing a few replicas here and there for a couple of years. I spent a year preparing enough fish and then took a stand at Scone Palace Game Fair in 2012, where I met Gary Wingate from Glasgow Angling Centre. I was kindly invited to take a table at their open weekend, and thanks to Gary and GAC owner Paul Devlin my work was seen by hundreds of people at that first weekend show, and several more shows after that.
What goes into producing a fish replica?
JE: I can either make a mould from a dead fish, or simply work from photographs, which I mostly do these days. When I work from photos I can source a ‘cast’ to match the client’s fish. These can come from my own mould collection, or from colleges in Europe and the USA or Canada. I then work and alter the cast to match the customer’s fish.
If I can’t get a good match I won’t take the commission on. The fish are made from various resins, mostly polyester/fibreglass but also polyurethanes and others. Fins proved to be difficult until I eventually found a way of making them somewhat flexible.
I hand-paint all my own fish eyes – all are different and my replicas have to match a specific fish. I use a mixture of hand colouring and airbrushing to achieve the colouring.
It is done in layers, built up with gloss layers in between to achieve the depth of colour found in real fish. One individual scale can have as many as 14 layers on it! I have counted up to 4,000 individual scales painted on one side of a fish, times this by an average of, say, 10 layers and you get some idea of the work involved.”
How are they presented?
JE: I didn’t like the idea of the old fashioned ‘half a fish on a board’, so all my replicas are whole fish with wall mounts painted on their show side. But I also wanted something different, and started my ‘table-style’ fish, viewable all round and usually moulded in dynamic positions to add all-important movement to my work.
I try to be as artistic as I can with my wall mounts and 3D mount bases. Each piece is designed carefully to look as aesthetically pleasing as possible. I usually work with clients very closely at times to achieve the look they might want, or what I think would look right. I have also experimented with copper work for reeds and such.
How long does the process take?
JE: On average, with my current workload, a replica would take anywhere from 13-15 months from payment of a deposit to completion.
What fish have you replicated?
JE: I have been lucky enough to have done a number of fish species, and I always like working on fish that are a little different from the norm. Most of my work is with game fish, trout and salmon in particular, but also popular are pike and perch.
I am now starting to get quite a few exotic big-game fish such as tuna, permit and giant trevally. This year the former British record pike died at Wykeham Lake, and I was lucky enough to have the fish donated– not easy, moulding a 46lb pike, let me tell you! I’m in the process of completing the first of a few casts for this fish.”
What should people do if they want a fish replicated?
JE: If anyone is thinking of getting a replica done, you can either freeze the fish if you decide to ‘take it’ or it simply fails to ‘go back’ for whatever reason. I can then arrange a courier to collect it at your convenience.
Try to take as many pictures as reasonably possible on capture. If you release the fish, simply take as many pictures as you can before release, and measure the length. The weight is not really necessary as the length and shape of the fish are most important to achieve a good match.
I do struggle with many species for casts, especially coarse fish such as carp. As such I rely heavily on people donating dead fish for me to mould. Any fish found dead in good condition may be suitable but it would mean it has to be frozen by the finder. I get fish from fish farms, fisheries and anglers. All fish die at some point and at least I can work with them and put them to use after their death.”
More information
Visit: www.fishrecreations.co.uk
Tel: 07930 586100
Email: john@fishrecreations.co.uk
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England will host the world champs!
ENGLAND is set to host its first major fishing world championships for more than 25 years, Angling Times can reveal.
Not since Bob Nudd’s memorable 1994 triumph at Nottingham’s Holme Pierrepont has a truly Blue Riband fishing event been held on home soil – but that’s all set to change next summer after England won the right to hold the first-ever Ladies World Carp Angling Championships.
Although the finer details of the ground-breaking event have yet to be decided, it is likely to be fished next September.
Even at this early stage, teams from as far afield as Russia, the US and South Africa have expressed a desire to be involved, and once the final line-up is settled, a venue will be chosen. Discussions are already being held with TV companies about broadcasting options for the championships.
Carp Team England manager Rob Hughes played a central role in formulating the bid and the ratification process. Both were submitted to FIPS Ed, the governing body of sport fishing, by the Angling Trust.
Rob said: “This is a significant step forward for women’s competitive carp fishing, and I’m over the moon that FIPS has endorsed the proposals and that we have won the honour of hosting the inaugural event.
Participation in competitive women’s carp fishing has risen rapidly since the first female international was held between England and Wales in 2016. That evolved into a Tri-Nations event and then an exhibition World Cup competition hosted by France last year.
Bev Clifford, manageress of the women’s team, said her charges would be entering the highly-anticipated match with bold expectations. “We’re really pleased that FIPS has recognised the importance of ladies’ carp angling as an international sport. We are really looking forward to competing and we will be doing our utmost to win historic gold on home ground,” she said.
More records tumble...
ALONGSIDE the ratification of Colin Smithson’s British barbel best, the BRFC also announced that records have been broken for four other species.
Among those granted were three sea fish, with the first being a colossal shore-caught tope weighing 77lb 3oz – taken by Ryan Wingfield at a Pembrokeshire mark.
Ben Wallis’ boat-caught streaked gurnard record of 1lb 7oz 15dr also made the list, alongside a shore-caught thin-lipped grey mullet of 8lb 8oz 13dr, caught by Gary Marquis from Guernsey.
Mat Faulkner’s three-spined stickleback of 8g and taken from Lower Beauvale Ponds near Nottingham completed the line-up.
