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.”

Dream dace falls from Hampshire stream

WINCHESTER-based angler Aidan Bordiuk was left shaking with excitement when he netted this dream 1lb 1oz dace during a trip to a Hampshire chalk stream.

After spotting a shoal of silverfish in clear water Aidan fed his chosen swim for half an hour to gain their confidence and received a strong take on the very first cast.

He said: “Amazingly a pike lunged as I brought it to the surface, so it was a lucky escape for this very special dace.

“Once I got it in and realised its size the feeling was great – it was something I’ve not had for a long time whilst fishing.”

Aidan’s dream dace fell to maggots fished on a size 18 hook, 3lb line and an Avon style float.

Is this the new British Record dace?

A RIVER angler thought he’d hit the jackpot when he slipped his net under a suspected 1lb 10oz British Record dace, but EA scientists have now confirmed his catch is in fact…an ide.

The pristine silverfish fell to the rod of 47-year-old John Stembridge who hooked into something entirely different whilst trotting maggots for roach on a stretch of the River Itchen.

He said: “I thought it was one of the big roach but when I netted it I instantly thought it was a record dace!

“It had all the characteristics although I must admit the head looked unusual.”

After John reported his catch to Angling Times a picture of the fish was sent to Nigel Hewlett and Alan Henshaw of the Environment Agency for confirmation.

Alan said: “Unfortunately the lateral line scale count of this fish is between 60 and 61, which puts it firmly in the ide camp. Dace typically have between 48 and 51 (Bagenal system) or between 45 and 55 scales (Maitland and Campbell system), depending on your source.”

John Stenbridge’s giant ‘dace’ sadly turned out to be an ide