First trip of the season results in 200lb-plus bream catch

“I spent the morning of June 16 on the lower River Thames, but with it running low and clear with next to no flow I was expecting it to fish poorly. That said, if you’re going to catch a big weight in bad conditions, then the very first night of the season is probably your best bet!

“As the river was so lifeless, I decided to feed with a Spomb and introduced a few kilos of mixed pellets and groundbait just before dark.

“I started fishing at midnight, and although it took an hour to get my first bream, once I’d landed it I managed a bite most casts and finished the session at 5am with around 45 bream averaging 5lb apiece for a total weight of well over 200lb.

“It was a great first trip, but as soon as the sunshine began to peep through the trees, the bites slowed right down.”

Tony Curd with his 200lb-plus haul of bream