RiverFest Final shows the Trent's a silverfish Mecca!

SILVERFISH sport on the River Trent scaled new heights last week when dozens of anglers put together double-figure nets of roach, dace and perch during the RiverFest final.

The prestigious event, which was held on the Burton Joyce stretch in Nottinghamshire, had competitors and match officials comparing the venue’s impressive current form to that of the river’s match fishing heyday of the mid-1980s, when bumper weights were common.

The Trent fished really well in the RiverFest final

One of them was RiverFest’s chief organiser Dave Harrell, who reluctantly moved the final from the River Severn to the Trent for 2020 – a decision that ultimately proved fruitful.

Dave told us:

“I was a little apprehensive with the venue switch, but the results hammer home just how well the river is fishing for silvers at the moment.

“Roach and dace were caught by pretty much everyone competing, with bream, specimen perch and barbel also making an appearance.

“It reminded me of how prolific the Trent was in the 1980s when the power stations pumped warm water through the river. There then followed a spell in the doldrums when the stations were shut down in the 1990s, but it now looks as though the stocks have well and truly returned to the level of 30 or 40 years ago.

“To sustain a healthy head of fish you need good water quality, so I don’t think the Trent is in as bad a condition as some people seem to think.”

One angler who can vouch for the Trent’s current red-hot form is Nottingham lad Tom Noton, who angled his way into fourth place in the RiverFest final with an overall weight of 39lb 12oz.

He said:

“I’ve match fished the Trent for the past eight years and it’s been absolutely solid. The fish tend to shoal up in certain areas, but if you find them you’re in for a real red-letter day.

“Slightly milder winters over recent years have encouraged silverfish to thrive, which could be another reason why the sport has been so electric.” 

Tom Norton’s 20lb 9oz bag of roach, dace and perch on day two