Revealed: plans for new ‘masters’ of matchfishing
A new ‘invitation-only’ event to discover the true king of Britain’s match anglers could be launched next summer.
Under the groundbreaking proposals, all of the winners of this year’s major events pitted against each other in a one-off match to discover the true ‘champion of champions’.
The event is the brainchild of a lifelong angler and Angling Times reader who, although wishing to remain anonymous at this stage, has outlined his plans for the exciting event and has said that he is willing to provide a hefty prize fund of around £40,000 from out of his own pocket.
Speaking ahead of formal meetings to thrash out the finer details of the proposed match, he said: “It struck me that both snooker and golf have ‘Masters-style’ tournaments where all the best players fight it out at the end of the season, yet fishing doesn’t.”
“I thought it would be great to see the winners of all the big-money matches to participate in an annual match to decide who is the true champion.
“I’m in my late 70s now and would love to make this happen. I’d like the event to operate on an ‘invitation-only’ basis, and I’m in talks with Angling Times to see how we could expand on this idea and turn it into reality. Watch this space!”
As well as inviting the winners of high-profile events such as Fish O’Mania and Maver Match This, the winners of ‘natural water’ competitions such as the Division 1 and 2 Nationals, as well as RiverFest, could also be included to give a true reflection of who the UK’s best matchman.
Angling Times will report on the event’s progress as it develops, but initial conversations with the cream of UK match anglers have received a resounding thumbs-up.
Jamie Hughes, winner of this year’s Maver Match This and Golden Reel Winner, said: “I think an all-star match sounds phenomenal! It would really take things to the next level and be another step towards true professionalism for fishing.
“It’s something I would love to get involved with, and I’m sure many of our best anglers would be too!”
Baiting in a slack pays off with 16lb 2oz river trent barbel
Baiting an area of slack water on the middle River Trent helped Stephen Hall bank this new personal best 16lb 2oz barbel.
The 3FootTwitch-backed angler arrived to his swim at 5:30pm and fed a large helping of hemp and crushed Redemption boilies, before casting out a single Redemption boilie over the top.
He said: “At 8:15pm I had a huge pull on the rod tip. I’d never felt a fish like that before – the strength, power, and stubbornness of this fish was incredible. When I got her in the net I was blown away.”
Monster eel falls to drop shot lure
A predator angler has boated one of the biggest eels ever taken in the UK – during a lure fishing expedition to a Midlands reservoir!
Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, rod James Knights was drifting his boat in search of perch when the 9lb 8oz monster nailed his drop-shotted Zman TRD lure in 27ft of water.
He said: “I’d already had a great day on the perch front, catching numerous fish to just over 4lb, when this giant eel made an appearance.
“The fight was absolutely immense – the fish felt very heavy from the off and I had no idea what I had hooked!
“There were lots of thumping head shakes which made me suspect it was a big perch, and it didn’t strip lots of line from the reel as a big pike would. I truly didn’t know what I’d hooked.”
Halfway through the fight the eel managed to wrap itself around a buoy, which gave James a nervy few minutes as he tried to free it.
“I had to drive the boat around the buoy multiple times, and on three or four occasions the eel swam backwards into the chain to try and break me off,” he added.
“Eventually I managed to drag it free, which is when I finally saw this gigantic eel.
It had taken my lure square in the mouth!
“On the scales it went 9lb 8oz and it was by far the biggest eel I have ever seen – if I’d lost it I would have thought it was a 20lb carp.”
Big fish of all species go on the feed
Specimen anglers have never had it better if recent catch reports are anything to go by – with monster barbel, chub, roach, perch and pike all making an appearance of late.
Here are three catch reports from the past week to get you in the mood for the weekend ahead…
Brett Longthorne | 16lb 6oz barbel
A large slack close to the bank on a rising River Trent provided Brett Longthorne with a new personal best barbel in the form of this sublime 16lb 6oz specimen.
Arriving to his chosen stretch on the tidal river early on a Saturday morning, Brett had been fishing for around two hours when he got the bite.
The big Trent fish fell to a Nutrabaits River Plus boilie presented on a rig made with a 6oz lead to hold bottom.
Alan Rio | 3lb 1oz roach
A drop-back bite saw Alan Rio strike into this stunning 3lb 1oz roach personal best.
The all-rounder baited a spot on an undisclosed gravel pit with a pint of maggots at 60 yards to gain a response.
“I quickly weighed the fish, which registered at 3lb 1oz on my scales – my first-ever 3lb roach!” he said.
Alan used 50g feeders and 4lb Drennan Supplex tied to a Drennan Super Specialist size 18 hook baited with maggots.
Simon Baker | 7lb 4oz chub
A weeked trip in search of a huge chub couldn’t have gone any sweeter for Simon Baker when he slipped the net under a brace of fish for 14lb 6oz.
The larger of the two weighed 7lb 4oz and fell to maggots trotted along a stretch of the River Lea in Hertfordshire.
He said: “I had a fantastic two days of fishing and ended the trip with 15 chub, including the two sevens and a pair of sixes.”
four perch over 4lb in ressie haul!
An Essex reservoir has produced one of the best specimen perch hauls of the season so far.
The remarkable catch, made up of 11 fish over 3lb 2oz to a best of 4lb 4oz, fell to the rod of tattoo artist Charlie Coppolo, who has been fishing the Hanningfield venue since the start of autumn.
The 32-year-old featured in last week’s Angling Times with a pair of 3lb-plus perch, but he was determined to go one better... and returned to slip his net under a 4lb specimen.
He said: “Following on from last week’s big fish I didn’t think it could get much better – but, amazingly, it did!
“We managed to locate a shoal of baitfish with a Deeper Chirp+ fish-finder, and once again the perch were there in numbers.
“Overall I managed to catch 11 stripeys, all of them weighing over 3lb 2oz.
“The haul also included four incredible fish weighing 4lb 1oz, 4lb 2oz, 4lb 3oz and 4lb 4oz.
“I’ve been trying for years to break the 4lb barrier and this time I’ve managed it four times in a day! I guess a five-pounder is my next target.”
Charlie’s fish were boated on a variety of lures, but a Gunki LS Kiddy in ‘Vairon’ colour mounted on to a 15g jig proved to be the most productive.
Lures also proved effective in Lincolnshire rod Ash Costa’s approach when he drop shotted a black Senko worm to bank plump 4lb 9oz specimen (left).
Ash was being plagued by pike during the morning of his trip to a murky drain near Boston, but a switch to a different venue soon put him on the perch.
He said: “A small group of fry had scattered in open water so I cast just beyond them.
“As the lure was falling through the water I had a very hard take, which I knew from the off was from a big perch.
“A short while later this huge fish lay in my net and I was one very happy and relieved man, because the hook came out straight away.
“It was a stunning fish with a huge frame, and my second perch over 4lb this season.
“It just goes to show how good black lures can be in very coloured water.”
Matchman Ricky Young proved that you don’t need big baits to catch huge perch when he tempted this 4lb 2oz specimen on a double red maggot hookbait.
The Cheshunt, Herts angler was fishing a contest on the River Lea at Nazeing when he received a powerful take on his quivertip rod.
He said: “I had cast a small maggot feeder loaded with chopped worm alongside a double maggot hookbait to the far bank, and had a strong bite moments later.
“This fish was huge, and ultimately helped me win the match!”
Zombait - Bring your deadbaits back to life
AN INNOVATIVE fishing device which has taken America’s fishing scene by storm could provide an ethical alternative for anglers who use livebaits for predatory fish here in the UK.
Zombait – the product that brings your deadbaits ‘back to life’ – has been a resounding success for fishermen across America and eastern Europe since its conception in 2017, but now the brains behind the product believe it could make a huge difference to both sea and predator anglers on the British Isles.
Michael McNeil, who is the Chief Marketing Officer for Zombait, explained more about the product’s origin and success.
He said: “The idea came from a commercial tuna fisherman in Maine named Rink Varian, who needed a solution for when his live bait died and needed a way to make them look alive again.
“Through a mutual connection with family friends he teamed up with Jessy Cusack, a mechanical engineer, and Matthew Borowski, an electrical engineer, who designed and created the first prototype and brought the idea to life.
“Since the product’s launch we’ve received great feedback from people, especially pike fisherman, using Zombait both in North America and overseas.
“A huge highlight so far has been a fishing team using a Zombait to catch a 340lb Bluefin Tuna to help win a huge fishing tournament.
“It really has made a big difference to people’s fishing and of course it provides a great alternative to livebait.”
Despite Zombait’s success overseas there has been reason for concern with some members of the angling community in the UK amid fears the product could part with an angler’s mainline.
Predator expert Neville Fickling said: “My view is anything that makes pike fishing easier for pike anglers is a help, although you just have to be so careful that the device doesn’t end up inside a pike due to crack offs or breakages.”
To ensure the Zombait remains connected to your line Michael urges that anglers must take precautions when attaching the device to their rigs.
He added: “Certainly when pike fishing you must use a strong wire tippet, or some sort of wire that attaches to the hook and the designed tether point on the Zombait so you can protect against aggressive strikes.
“Strong mainlines and tight knots should always be used with this product too, and if you can do it right you will have no problem retrieving and reusing the Zombait over and over again.”
Zombait will soon be available to buy from the Amazon UK website here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07665HGJD/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=zombait&qid=1573034402&s=sports&sr=1-1
For more information on Zombait, please visit the website at www.revivefishing.com
Exclusive Angling Times interview
Angling Times constructed an extended interview with Zombait’s Chief Marketing Officer, Michael McNeil, to find out a little more about the product.
Here’s what he had to say:
Angling Times: Just how effective has Zombait been? Have you increased your catch rates tenfold? Did it work in your fishing pretty much straight away?
Michael McNeil: Whilst we have no hard stats on this, we have received great feedback from pike fisherman, and anglers using them for a variety of gamefish both in North America and overseas. A highlight would be team 'Duck Soup' winning the Blue Fin Blowout Fishing Tournament using a Zombait to catch a 340lb Bluefin Tuna!
AT: Do you make a smaller Zombait that’s ideal for smaller deadbaits? Or perhaps have a similar idea in the pipeline?
MM: We currently have the one size, which measures in at 6.9 inches (or 17.5cm) but we have a smaller version now in the works.
AT: When setting the Zombait up for predatory fish with sharp teeth, what precautions should anglers take? For example: use strong wire when tying the Zombait to your hook?
MM: Yes, we recommend using a wire tippet, or some sort of wire towards the end of your leader that attaches to the hook and the designed tether point on the Zombait, so you can protect against aggressive strikes and retrieve and reuse it over and over again.
AT: How easy is it to use the Zombait? Is there an instructional video people can watch?
MM: It’s as simple as charging the battery and placing the Zombait inside your favourite dead bait fish of choice. As for rigging, a lot of it is personal preference, but we definitely recommend tying on a tether from your Zombait device (from the designed loop) back to either the hook or you main line to secure it in the event of an aggressive strike, and to protect against toothy critters. You can check out instructional videos on our website, and YouTube Channel, at www.ReviveFishing.com and https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCybb_tHxl1Z7cPMbSkQy-Q
AT: Would you say that Zombait is better or equal-to a livebait? Have you found that the Zombait has been more effective than a livebait on a particular day?
MM: Live bait is great, and we wouldn't necessarily say it’s better, but it does provide a unique presentation and some great advantages. It offers more flexibility in hook placement on the bait, as well as the ability to fish a "live bait" presentation anytime, anywhere, if you don't have time to catch your own live bait or buy it. As well, the problem with live bait is that it often dies, even with expensive live wells, which not everyone has, and in some countries, where the use of live bait is illegal, Zombait gives you a great opportunity to give some action and movement to your dead bait that you otherwise wouldn't have.
Positives:
• Eliminates the use of a livebait
• Is easily attachable to your standard deadbait trace
• Comes with rechargeable batteries and a charging pack
Negatives:
• Requires very strong hooks, traces and mainline to use
• Is too big for smaller deadbaits, although a smaller Zombait is in the pipeline
• The battery is limited to a maximum of 3.5 hours of use on a single charge
Four perch to 4lb 6oz banked...
Perch fanatic Joe Royffe continued his impressive form for big stripeys again this week when he banked four specimens for nearly 16lb.
They weighed 4lb 6oz, 4lb 3oz, 3lb 15oz and 3lb 3oz and all fell to livebait tactics fished on his local stretch of the River Lee Navigation.
He said: “I landed the 4lb 6oz perch, but it was while unhooking this one that the other rod sprung into life and I soon had two big perch in the net at the same time, with the smaller one going 3lb 3oz.”
War declared on rubbish in rivers
Britain’s angling clubs are being urged to help clear the mountain of rubbish building up in many of our rivers and tributaries.
Tagged ‘Treasure Your River’, the charity initiative aims to remove 90 tonnes of litter from the Rivers Avon, Mersey, Thames, Severn and Forth, with plans to expand further.
The campaign is being run by the Coca-Cola Foundation-funded charity Hubbub, which is reaching out to clubs, organisations and companies to sign up and get involved.
Hubbub’s CEO Trewin Restorick said: “The vast majority of plastics that end up in the world’s oceans are carried there by rivers. Cleaning rivers is one thing, but preventing litter getting in there in the first place is crucial. Our research shows that 81 per cent of people believe businesses should be doing more to tackle the issue.
“Whether you’re a sailing club, a school, a local business, a charity or a resident, we want to hear from you!”
The move has already been welcomed by many authorities, including Mark Barrow of Beneath British Waters – who spends lots of his time diving and filming in waterways all over the country.
He said: “I think anything that can be done to try and improve the situation will be brilliant.
“It’s amazing how little the public knows about the rubbish in our rivers, and it’s crucial to educate people.
“The problem can only be solved with a long-term programme. It only takes a few weeks for litter to come back after it’s been cleared up.
“Angling clubs have to get involved, and if they do it will make a huge difference.”
How you can help to find out more and sign up to the campaign, visit www.treasureyourriver.co.uk
dutch treat with a 50lb 7oz pike
A new potential Dutch record pike has been boated at a colossal 50lb 7oz (23kg).
The fish fell to the rod of Westin Fishing-backed predator enthusiast Siegfried Schön, who was trolling a lure on a large undisclosed water in the Netherlands when he received a powerful take.
After a fight of around five minutes, the pike was netted and measured at an incredible 138cm long.
To see a video of Siegfried battling the pike, visit the Westin-Fishing page on Facebook.
the 71lb NEW record carp that won’t be claimed...
A carp eclipsing the current UK record of 68lb 1oz has been banked, but its captor will not be submitting a claim, Angling Times can reveal.
Martyn Lowe (46) slipped his net under the huge mirror weighing 71lb during a two-day session at Cambridgeshire’s Holme Fen Fishery.
However, he revealed that he has been deterred from potentially taking his place in the record books following the rejection last year of another huge Holme Fen mirror by the British Record Fish Committee (BRFC) on the grounds that it was stocked into the lake at too high a weight.
Although Martyn’s fish was stocked at a much lower weight, and would stand a strong chance of being accepted as the new bona fide record, he has chosen to stay out of the limelight.
Martyn said: “For me, catching a UK 70lb-plus carp is more than enough, and it’s just great to see that fish of this calibre can be caught in the UK.
“I know other ‘British record-beating’ fish have been banked from Holme Fen in the past but rejected, so I just thought it wasn’t worth going through the rigmarole of submitting a claim with the possibility of the same happening again.”
Martyn was alluding to the BRFC’s decision in late 2018 to reject the credentials of the Holme Fen mirror known as Captain Jack, which was caught by Vinny Parker at 69lb 10oz in September 2018.
One of the contributing factors to the rejection was the fact that the fish was imported from Israel and stocked into the fishery at a weight of 41lb. The case is different with Martyn’s catch however, as he explained…
“Martin Dawson, who is the owner of Holme Fen, informed me that my fish was stocked into the fishery at a weight of 15lb 8oz in 2013, so I guess there is a chance it could been accepted, but I’ve still decided it’s not worth it. I’ve had a British 70 and I’m just really pleased with that.”
In November 2018 the BRFC released a statement highlighting all of the factors that are considered when judging a record carp. These include the weight of the fish when stocked into the water from which it was caught, the length of time the fish has been in the water of capture since its stocking and whether the fish reached the weight with the help of supplementary feeding by the fishery owner.
Nick Simmonds, Secretary of the BRFC, said: “Any captor wishing to submit a claim for a potential record carp may do so and the committee will consider each claim on its own merit under certain factors.
“Martyn has chosen not to submit a claim this time, but if he was to change his mind then the fish will be judged fairly and on its own merits.”
As things stand, Dean Fletcher’s 2016 capture of The Parrot from Cranwell Lake on the Wasing estate at 68lb 1oz remains the official British record.
The Unofficial British record carp list
83lb 4oz | Unknown | Wingham, Kent Nov 2017
71lb 4oz | Rob Harrison | The Avenue Oct 2016
71lb | Martyn Lowe | Holme Fen Oct 2019
69lb 10oz | Vinny Parker | Holme Fen Sept 2018
69lb 3oz | Tom Doherty | The Avenue Sept 2016
68lb 5oz | Unknown | Holme Fen Sept 2017
68lb 4oz | Nigel Ludbrook | Holme Fen Oct 2017
68lb 1oz* | Dean Fletcher | Wasing Estate Jan 2016*
67lb 14oz | Oz Holness |Conningbrook Aug 2008
67lb 4oz | Dave Smedley | Holme Fen Nov 2017
The BRFC’s judging criteria
The weight of the fish when stocked into the water from which it was caught.
The length of time the fish has been in the water since it was stocked.
The origin of the fish and its history prior to stocking.
Whether the fish reached the weight claimed by feeding on natural food and anglers’ baits only, without supplementary feeding or other treatments.
Evidence of the growth rate of the fish.
Consideration of whether the fish would be able to naturally sustain its weight in the fishery concerned.
Rob Hughes says:
“There is every chance Martyn’s fish could be acknowledged as a new British Record, and in my eyes, the catch certainly passes the BRFC’s considering factors.
“The fish was caught on rod and line, stocked into Holme Fen at a weight of 15lb-odd in 2013, and has reached that weight over the last six years in that lake.
“The BRFC have raised the point of carp waters being excessively fed in the past, but this is happening at every other fishery in the country. Fishery owners feed their fish, and it’s no different at Holme Fen.”
MOST WANTED! CARP WITH A PRICE ON THEIR HEADS…
The owner of one of the country’s biggest fisheries is offering visiting anglers the chance to pocket £10,000 if they can bank all five of the venue’s most sought-after carp.
The massive prize fund has been provided by Todber Manor Fisheries owner John Candy who, since 2018, has been creating incentives to get more people out fishing in the winter.
The £10k reward will run alongside Todber’s already successful ‘Most Wanted’ competition in which competing anglers are awarded points for catching the biggest and best carp on the complex. The angler with the most points at the end of the competition walks away with a £500 Todber Manor Fisheries gift voucher.
John said: “This is our second year running the ‘Most Wanted’ competition. The £500 voucher is already a superb prize, but catching our five biggest carp is now the ultimate challenge. I’m a gambling man, and if someone can pull it off I will be proud to hand over the money.”
Todber isn’t the only fishery offering cash rewards for catching prized carp. Aiden Hodge proved that by pocketing £1,000 after banking Lakeside View Carp Fisheries’ first-ever 40lb-plus specimen.
He said: “I’m blown away – to not only catch my first UK 40 but to win the prize pot. Pete at Lakeside is making dreams possible and I think other fisheries should follow suit.”
The cash incentive has been a massive hit with anglers visiting the Devon fishery, according to owner Peter Grandfield.
He added: “Our prize pots are very popular with visiting anglers and pay out between £3,000 and £4,000 a year.
“I would say 90 per cent of visitors pay into it, but we have had an occasion where one of the target fish was landed without the captor paying into the pot – an expensive mistake to make!
“The competition is all funded by anglers – we may start the pot off with £50 to get it going, but then anglers pay £1 from their ticket to enter the prize pool, and if they catch one of the targets they take home the pot.
“We cap the pots at £1,000 and then start another, so there’s always something to go for.
“This most recent pot ran for 12 months. We pick challenging targets for our anglers, so the pot grows to a high sum.
“If anyone feels like they’ve got what it takes to catch our biggest carp, I urge them to come down and participate!”
Our campaign for Wilson memorial
Angling Times is launching a campaign for a memorial blue plaque in honour of John Wilson to be erected where his Norwich tackle shop once stood.
John, who was voted ‘The Greatest Angler of All Time’ by AT readers, died just under a year ago, leaving behind an unparalleled legacy of TV programmes and books that inspired generations.
Plans are afoot for a memorial bench to be installed at one of his favourite fishing spots, Lenwade Mill, but we believe that John deserves to be immortalised further in the form of a blue plaque being placed on the wall at the former site of ‘John’s Tackle Den’ in Bridewell Alley.
Blue plaques typically commemorate a link between locations and famous people, and those already present in Norwich form part of a programme to promote the city’s cultural heritage, of which John is undoubtedly a part following a prolific career that spanned 160 TV programmes over 20 years, dozens of books and long-standing columns for Angling Times and the Sunday Express.
Initial conversations with Norwich City Council have been positive, with a spokesperson saying: “A memorial plaque for John is certainly something we could do. He was a very popular figure here in Norfolk, so I’m sure it would be well received. It would no doubt bring tourists into the city as well.”
Memorial plaques of sorts exist for several famous anglers, notably Peter Stone and Ivan Marks, at their favourite fishing locations, but no official blue plaques.
Steve Fitzpatrick, editor of AT, believes that if anybody deserves to be the first, it’s Wilson. He said: “Through his shop and then all of his writing and filming achievements, nobody has done more to promote coarse fishing in this country than John. It would be a fitting tribute to have him remembered in this way.”
Angling Times has made an official application to Norwich City Council for the plaque to be erected. Watch this space for updates!
4lb 10oz perch is best of six for 22lb!
An all-round angler has proved that now is the time to target a perch personal best... by banking six stripeys for more than 22lb, topped by this giant weighing in at 4lb 10oz 8dr.
Jim Mathews has been targeting a variety of species over the spring and summer, but with the arrival of October the 35-year-old switched his attentions to perch.
Fishing new waterways on the Hertfordshire/Essex border, it took Jim a few sessions to locate the fish, as he explained: “I find there is often a period of readjustment when switching species and starting at new venues, but once I’d narrowed down the key areas and feeding times things started to come together,” he said.
“Perch started to figure quite regularly and over the last nine days, in six trips, I managed to bank a brace of 3lb 2oz fish followed by others at 3lb 10oz, 4lb 1oz, 4lb 4oz and the big’un at 4lb 10oz 8dr.”
Jim’s last trip further proved the effectiveness of lobworm hookbaits fished over red maggots with the capture of the biggest in the haul, but not before a jittery fight.
“The light was fading fast and I had just returned the 3lb 10oz fish when I received a fast bite on my left-hand rod cast along a margin,” he said.
“I was met with a solid weight but the fish tried to shed the hook in a big snag.
“After 30 seconds I was contemplating going in after it when one of the snag’s branches snapped, the line held firm and the perch came free.
“Soon enough she was in the net, and I was one lucky and relieved angler.”
High water turns on the Trent barbel
October’s impeccable form for monster barbel continues, with three notable fish banked by anglers targeting flooded rivers.
Large parts of the UK have experienced intense rainfall since the turn of autumn, but this has been music to the ears of many barbel enthusiasts searching for a personal best.
Among these was Gary Manders, from Walsall. He fished an area of slack water on the tidal River Trent to bank a stunning 16lb 9oz example.
Gary told Angling Times: “The river was carrying a fair bit of floodwater but I knew it was a great area for barbel.
“I spodded a mix of chilli hemp, maize, tares, broken boilies and pellets into the swim and fished an 8oz running rig over the top, with two 18mm Madbaits Asbo boilies wrapped in matching paste as hookbait.
“It turned out to be the trip of a lifetime as I smashed my pb three times with fish of 14lb 3oz, 14lb 9oz and 16lb 9oz – when the scales registered the big one I was gobsmacked.”
Andrew Waddingham also reaped the rewards of fishing a flooded river for specimen barbel by slipping the net under a 16lb 3oz beauty.
Targeting a middle section of the River Trent, the angler from Rotherham cast his feeder rig into the main flow for his prize.
He said: “The fish felt really heavy in a very flooded river and I couldn’t do anything with it at first because the flow was really pushing through.
“After several minutes, however, I began to make some headway, pulled her into the shallow water and shouted ‘Yes!’ when she went into the net first time of asking.
“When the scales registered 16lb 3oz I couldn’t control myself and was jumping around on the bank!”
Andrew’s new barbel best, alongside others of 7lb 11oz, 12lb 13oz and 13lb 8oz, fell to an 18mm glugged 3 Foot Twitch SG1 boilie over a bed of matching boilies and pellets.
No better time for a specimen barbel
It’s a superb time to be a barbel angler, and personal bests are being banked from rivers all over the country.
Here are the reports of three 16-pounders from the past week of fishing to inspire you for the weekend’s sport ahead…
Alfie Naylor – 16lb 14oz barbel
Newark rod Alfie Naylor proved the effectiveness of fishing big baits in flooded rivers for barbel when he slipped the net under this 16lb 14oz specimen.
He said: “The River Trent was rising and very coloured-up, and with this in mind I changed my approach and hair-rigged five Nutrabaits River Plus boilies on to a big size 4 curve shank hook, to which I attached a PVA bag of matching boilies.”
It was a new personal best for Alfie, who targeted a middle stretch of the river.
Mike Staines - 15lb 12oz barbel
The famous Kings Weir Fishery has lived up to its reputation for big barbel in the shape of this stunning 15lb 12oz fish, landed by venue regular Mike Staines.
A simple piece of hair-rigged meat proved too much for the specimen to resist, as Mike explained:
“I was fishing in the weir pool using a hair rigged piece of meat on a size 10 hook when I had a bite around mid-afternoon. “It was my first bite of the day, and I’m really pleased with the fish.”
Julian Barnes – 16lb 7oz barbel
Three trips to a flooded tidal River Trent helped Julian Barnes bank numerous double-figure barbel to a 16lb 7oz best. Targeting an area of slack water, he fished two 18mm Madbaits Pandemic boilies with a PVA bag of broken boilies and small pellets.
He said: “I love fishing in flood conditions, and once you find the right areas to present a bait the rewards can be great. During my three trips I caught lots of doubles with numerous to 13lb-plus, along with the 16-pounder.”
What a great start to the pike season!
The pike fishing season has got off to a flying start with three 30lb-plus specimens landed in the space of a few days.
Somerset’s prolific Chew Valley Reservoir produced two of the three monstes, boated by mates Ray Brown and John Chester during a weekend visit.
They enjoyed a fantastic Saturday and Sunday of predator fishing on the 1,200-acre venue and hooked no fewer than 10 pike between them on floatfishing mackerel deadbaits.
It was garden centre owner Ray who hooked the first big pike, a 24-pounder, following it up with a 30lb 14oz beauty on the very next cast.
He said: “We were floatfishing mackerel just off the lakebed and when the float sailed away I struck and set the hook.
“The fish came in slowly to the boat and to be honest I first thought it was a jack.
“It was a good job I had my clutch set light, as when it reached the boat it shot off at the speed of light!
“I gave up fishing for around 30 years but I’m very thankful to John, who persuaded me to take it up again and enjoy pike like this one.”
After a quick move to another area the baits were recast, and it didn’t take long before John’s float was away with a slightly bigger fish.
Ray added: “As it approached the net we could tell it was a slightly bigger fish, which the scaled acknowledged with a weight of 31lb 4oz.
“We have been Chew regulars for at least 10 years and have caught numerous fish over 20lb, including an incredible seven over 30lb between us – but never two thirties on the same trip!”
Scottish Loch giant
Predator fanatic Luke Reed proved that Scottish lochs are still prolific for huge pike when he slipped his net under this 30lb 4oz beast of a predator.
Fishing an undisclosed water, the 29-year-old from Middlesbrough hooked into his new personal best when something huge grabbed his joey mackerel deadbait close to the bank.
He said: “It put up an incredible fight and I knew it was a big fish as soon as I struck into it. Almost instantly it tail-walked across the surface. I have fished for pike every winter for the last 10 years and I’m so happy that I’ve finally been rewarded with this monster of a fish.”
Is this the end of day-ticket fishing?
A growing number of UK day-ticket venues are turning their backs on day-ticket anglers in favour of members-only tickets.
Already this year some of the country’s best fisheries, including Barford Lakes, Colemans Cottage, Shatterford Lakes and Welham Lakes have decide to make the switch, with various reasons given behind the decision to say ‘no’ to day-ticket visitors.
For some, the change to members-only makes managing the waters far easier, as Shatterford Lakes manager Daven Percival explained: “Converting to a syndicate is a lot easier for us to control. We have had some bad experiences with day-ticket anglers stealing and damaging things.
“We realise we aren’t going to make as much money by adopting this approach but for us it’s about creating a nice and safe environment for our members.
“Members will only get access via fingerprint or keypad and we have lots of cameras to monitor things. This allows me time to focus on developing the site and making everything better for members.”
Management was also a key factor in popular Essex match venue, Colemans Cottage, converting to members-only.
They said: “As age, aches and pains catch up with all of us, we have had to try and work out an idea on how we can keep the standard up here and carry on running the fishery – this is what we have come up with.”
But is having a venue open only to members the best way to go?
Roy Marlow, owner of the Glebe Fishery near Leicester, certainly thinks so.
“For me, owning a fishery that is ‘members-only’ has and always will be the only way I’d ever want to run it.
“I can control who comes in and out of the fishery and there’s now a lot of respect and an understanding between myself and the anglers.
“At the Glebe I also feel that what I offer is niche in as much as the fishery is set in a very natural environment – which you don’t see too often with other commercial fisheries.
“Litter can be a problem on many day-ticket venues, but you won’t find a single litter bin at my fishery. My members always take their litter home with them without fail”, he said.
Some fisheries, however, remain undecided, with Surrey’s popular Bury Hill only gradually making the change. Owner David De Vere explained: “We are slowly moving towards a members-only water but at the moment we are offering the best of both – with anglers still able to fish on a day ticket.
“A lot of money can be made from day tickets but if you don’t manage this properly it can cause problems, like fish damage. We’re not prepared to risk damage to our stocks just for extra cash.”
And the members-only move hasn’t gone down well with many Angling Times readers – see below for their views
Ian Fisk said: “It’s a good idea if it works. The fishery can control who gets to fish the place, keep a check on what they are doing and protect fish stocks. Can’t see it happening to more than a handful.”
Dave Cheetham: “Another example of the few spoiling it for the many! Why people can’t follow fishery rules, take litter home and behave appropriately is beyond me. Fisheries wouldn’t then have to do this.”
John Neville: “So anyone from outside the area wanting to fish there now can’t – I think it’s bonkers.”
Rick Clark: “If this becomes reality, how do we get new people/kids into the sport? I’m sure that people/parents won’t want to pay a hefty joining fee.”
Steve Porter: “The Glebe has been members-only for years and is one of the best fisheries in the country. You can’t stock and look after a complex of that size based on the odd angler turning up when they feel like it.”
Stewart Wilson: “Places have been built on day-ticket anglers’ money. Now they are doing well they are turning away the people that got them where they are. This will lead to more people fishing fewer places as they need special memberships for each lake at costs that are unsustainable. Now I’ve said that, if I had my own lake it would be membership-only. It’s much easier to manage, leads to having much better anglers, less fish damage, and better water quality.”
Joe Taylor: “It would be sad for many match and pleasure anglers who like to travel and fish different waters all the time. I’ve fished at least 15 different venues this year.”
Chris Telling: “Maybe a good move for a lot of anglers, as people will feel a sense of belonging, and therefore look after the fishery more.”
Season’s heaviest bream falls to a shocked carp angler
Bream are a nuisance to some carp anglers, but Carl Sheppard was left scrambling for the net when he saw the biggest slab of the season on the end of his line.
Carl, who hails from Congleton, Cheshire, landed this 18lb 6oz specimen from a local mere on a two-night session.
Carl had taken fish to 17lb 10oz from the same water a few months earlier, but when he saw that this fish was even bigger he was in complete shock:
He tempted the big slab on a wafter hookbait presented on a blowback rig.
3lb 3oz roach tops hants avon match
A fundraising match on the Hampshire Avon has seen no fewer than SIX roach over 2lb landed topped by a 3lb 3oz beauty.
The friendly contest, which takes place every year to help raise funds for the Avon Roach Project, was fished in perfect conditions by 77 anglers.
And while this year hundreds of pristine roach found their way into nets, it was Paul Gurton’s float and maggot-tempted 3lb 3oz fish which stole the show.
He said: “It fought well in the current and once beaten was impossible for me to bring back against the flow. Fortunately a fellow angler managed to net the fish for me.
“This roach is by far the highlight of my fishing career and came during my quest for a 2lb-plus fish – as my previous PB was 1lb 12oz.”
The fundraiser was also a celebration of the ARP’s 10th year and its creator Trevor Harrop has admitted he is delighted by how much progress the scheme has made since 2009.
He said: “When we first started the fundraising events very few roach were caught but we’re now seeing huge fish landed alongside plenty of fry – which are far too young to be roach introduced via the project.
“This proves that they’re now starting to spawn on their own, which has always been our goal.”
Did you know?
More than £5,000 was raised for the Avon Roach Project during the fundraiser through the sale of match entry fees, a tackle auction and raffle.
Are we looking at a world record pike?
An angler from the Czech Republic is claiming to have smashed the world pike record with a 26.7kg specimen.
The monster predator was caught by Lukáš Matějka, measuring a 133cm and weighing in at 58lb 14oz – that’s 3lb 13oz heavier than the official record caught in Germany in 1986.
Currently there is limited information on the fish but it has already caused fierce debate among predator anglers on social media – with some sceptical of the fish’s weight.
Angling Times spoke to big pike ace Neville Fickling for his thoughts on the fish. “It’s a very tricky one to call with the way photographs are presented on social media these days,” he said.
“Certainly its looks like a colossal pike, but it would be nice to see and know the width of the fish, to make an accurate judgement.”
Eastern Europe has a long history of producing monster pike, so the capture of such a large fish from the area was not a surprise to some – as Angling Times columnist Paul Garner explained: “The Czech Republic, Germany and Poland are known to have some very rare giants in their waters.
“This certainly looks to be a big pike, and the length indicates a big, barrel-shaped fish typical of the type of fish that would come from our own trout waters.”
Will the UK ever see a pike break the 50lb barrier? Paul believes it’s only a matter of time…
“Sooner or later we will see a UK fifty,” he said.
“In my opinion the stocking polices on some of our trout waters make this inevitable. The new record will likely come from a water that surprises everyone too!” he said mysteriously...