Dream comes true with giant grayling - Matthew Fernandez
“My 25-year-long dream of catching a monster grayling was finally realised. With conditions looking spot-on I headed to the River Frome and began baiting up with maggots.
“My first four trots with the float produced four big trout, so I was worried the swim would now be devoid of fish, but I knew grayling can get pushed back so I decided to persevere.
“I was right, as on the very next trot down the swim my float slid under and all hell broke loose!
“From start to finish I was praying this fish wouldn’t drop off. Thankfully, luck was on my side and this magnificent Lady of the Stream graced my net. Never before in my life have I been in awe of a fish, but this has got to be my favourite capture of all time.”
Matthew Fernandez and his dream 2lb 15oz grayling
Hectic crucian session ends with stunning brace - Matt Fernandez
“Arriving at the lake I saw it was very busy, but there were a few swims free on a bank that I fancied. After a run of crucians to 3lb 9oz, the big fish turned up!
“I had a few anglers in the swim for a bit of socially-distanced banter when one of the rods ripped off, resulting in a 3lb 15oz fish. Shortly after, the other rod buckled and a stunning crucian of 4lb exactly was soon in the net. Then, while doing the brace shot, I had another take, this time from a fish of 3lb 15oz!
“The lads were as amazed as I was, and I was so overwhelmed by it that I packed up early and went home to the wife and kids.”
Matt Fernandez and his stunning brace. A 4lb crucian and a 3lb 15oz fish
Chaotic session topped by 10lb tinca - Matt Fernandez
“My fourth tench trip since fishing returned couldn’t have gone much better! I arrived at the lake at 4.30am after prebaiting a good-looking spot the evening before with hemp, halibut pellets, and 14mm crushed and whole dumbbell boilies coated in salmon oil and worm extract.
“There was no need to put any additional bait out other than what was in my helicopter-rigged feeders baited with single dumbell hookbaits.
“My rods were in the water at 5am, and by 6am the tench bites were coming thick and fast! The fishing was chaotic all morning and bites and runs only died down around 2pm. I landed a total of 24 tench, the biggest of which went 10lb.”
A 10lb tench, the highlight of an incredible morning’s fishing