"Going afloat got me among the big bream" - Trevor Pole

“The Cambridgeshire gravel pit I’d pinned my hopes on can be daunting owing to its sheer size. But it has an incredible potential for producing specimen bream over 20lb, so I planned a few sessions in spring 2019 to try and catch them.
“I had my work cut out, as the lake is choked with weed, and clear patches seemed to be
non-existent. Despite numerous casts with the marker rod I couldn’t find an area within range I was happy about, and suffered several blanks.
“Over winter I thought hard about what I could do and remembered I had an old 10ft Sniper boat in my garage with a mini electric outboard. Small vessels are allowed on this water for baiting up so I didn’t think twice about bringing it down for a 48-hour session around a fortnight ago.

“After arriving at lunchtime, I settled in a swim that looked promising, with plenty of open water to go at. I set out in my boat with a prodding stick to search the lakebed for gravel spots. After five minutes and travelling probably 120 yards, I discovered a big clearing and a 7ft-deep gravel plateau. I marked the spot with H blocks and baited it generously with casters, maggots, chopped worm, corn and groundbait.
“I then motored back to the bank to collect my rigs – which were heli-rigged fake casters popped up with rig foam – and ferried them back to the spot.
“As night fell I was confident of getting a bite, knowing my rigs were on clear ground, and this was confirmed at 2am when I had a screaming run resulting in a 10lb tench. At least now I knew my rigs were working.
“After slipping it back I motored back out to the spot at 4am to rebait and reposition the rods. I got back to the swim and sat watching the water for signs of fish through the mist.
“My dreams of big bream eventually came true between 10am and 1pm, when I received three bites – each from specimen bream that weighed in at 15b 2oz, 14lb 11oz and 16lb 13oz.

The biggest of Trevor’s haul at 16lb 13oz

“All that hard work paid off, but I couldn’t have done it without the use of that boat. I know boating out your baits isn’t everybody’s cup of tea, but for me it was the difference between catching and blanking.”