BRITAIN’S biggest tackle shop chain - Fishing Republic - has announced immediate plans for a further four superstores after opening their 14th shop last month.

Mighty Fishing Republic, who opened their first store in Barnsley, South Yorkshire, in 2005, have just opened a huge out-of-town store in Milton Kenyes, Buckinghamshire.

This will be swiftly followed by their 15th shop in Ipswich, Suffolk, in on Saturday, March 4, with at least three more confirmed for this year in Kings Lynn, Norfolk, Reading, Berkshire and Clavering, Essex.

Rotherham, South Yorkshire-based Fishing Republic is filling a niche left by many traditional shops closing down, hit by problems of parking and high rents.

Widest possible choice

Explaining the growing preference for the company’s US-style tackle supermarkets, CEO Steve Gross said: “We live in a ‘gimme now’ society; these days, customers expect the widest possible choice, instantly – both online and instore.

“As a result, traditional independent shops are simply unable to compete, whilst our stores may carry in excess of 25,000 product lines, smaller retailers do not have the physical space to hold this kind of inventory.

“Factor in escalating overheads and lack of parking and, sad though it is, it’s small wonder we’re seeing so many high street failures.”

By contrast, Fishing Republic’s superstores – all of which are open seven days a week – have gone from strength to strength. And Steve is confident the new Ipswich store will be a big hit – both with local anglers and those travelling from further afield.

Anglers ‘make a day of it’

Steve continued: “It’s quite common for our customers to drive an hour or more to visit our shops. And because we’re located on busy retail and business parks, they’ll often make a day of it, dropping the family off in the nearby shopping precinct, whilst they indulge in a little retail therapy of their own.

“Angling is especially popular throughout East Anglia, and in and around Ipswich in particular. Not only is the town situated on the coast; it’s also close to The Broads and numerous rivers, lakes and commercial fisheries.

“Our new store reflects this diversity, providing a one-stop ‘destination’ shop for anglers from the main branches of the sport – carp and coarse, match and sea.”

As with previous launches, the formal opening of Fishing Republic Ipswich will be marked with a one-day only sale, featuring savings of up to 50 per cent on leading brand tackle and accessories.

Fishing Republic changed to a Public Limited Company a couple of years ago, listing on the AIM stock market in London, and at the same time raised some of the capital that it needed for its expansion plans, via the issue of shares in the business.

GOT SOME NEWS OR CAUGHT A BIG FISH? Email photos and details exclusively to: anglersmail@timeinc.com

ONE of Britain’s most successful big pike anglers smashed his PB on exactly the same day nearly 30 years after his long-standing best.

Kev Shore, who stands tenth on Neville Fickling’s notable pike anglers list with 17 30 lb-plus predators, was boat fishing on Somerset’s Chew Valley.

It fell to a smelt deadbait at the end of Chew’s first pike week of 2017, that saw an astonishing 30 30 lb-plus pike caught.

The 57-year-old from Chester, Cheshire, explained: “My previous PB of 35 lb 12 oz fell on February 11 in 1989 and this fish 4 lb bigger came 28 years later to the day – a real crazy coincidence.

“She was caught at 9am in deep water during snow flurries and a cold north wind.

“During the fight she stayed deep and felt heavy but when I could see her a few feet down I could see she was just hooked on one treble in the corner of her mouth and new she was huge.

“My heart was in my mouth but luckily she was netted first time,” added Kev.

This is just a short version of the full story that appeared in Angler’s Mail printed magazine. Get the magazine every week for top tips, big news, best products, and venues that are in form.

CAUGHT A BIG FISH? Email photos and details exclusively to: anglersmail@timeinc.com – you could appear in the magazine.

THE biggest zander of the year has come out in a lure match on a canal.

Although it was only enough for third, Tom Watts from Doncaster found the long journey from South Yorkshire to the Gloucester and Sharpness Canal extremely worthwhile, as the 15 lb 12 oz beast smashed his PB by 10 lb!

The 31-year-old electrician explained: “The match was the last of the Leisure Lure Series league over six legs on a variety of venues.

“We had no chance of winning overall having missed four of them, but the winner of each stands a chance of fishing in the England bank trials so we gave it a go.

“The water was very coloured and the fishing slow but a number of anglers had congregated around Hempsted bridge so after a while we headed there.

“Initially I was convinced I’d hooked a decent pike and cranked it in, but when I saw its head the air turned blue.

“I couldn’t believe the size and the match is decided on lengths and it went 90 cm.”

High fiving on the bank

Tom continued: “It is one thing to catch a huge specimen on your own or with a mate but quite another to land one in front of 20 other top anglers, and there was plenty of high-fiving along the bank.

“I was fishing my favourite Z-Man TRD lure in pink bubblegum fished on a Ned rig which I’d highly recommend to anyone.

“It was my first double-figure zed but I’ve had pike up to 29 lb and perch to 3 lb on it.

“It’s not a record for the canal but I doubt whether many bigger lure caught zeds will come out anywhere this year,” he added.

Tom’s rig comprised a 6 lb Knot2kinky wire trace, 12.5 lb fluorocarbon leader, 13 lb braid main line, with a 1/5 oz Zman Shroomz jig head for the lure.

The next LL Series series will start again in September although there is also a LL Series 30 Challenge planned for June this year.

CAUGHT A BIG FISH? Email photos and details exclusively to: anglersmail@timeinc.com – you could appear in Angler’s Mail magazine.

WANT to be an angling journalist or angling blogger? You could win an exciting expenses-paid multi-media role with the makers of the forthcoming Pursuit series, coming to Freeview’s Quest TV channel.

If being a blogger and more is something that flicks your switch, the producers of TV’s Crabtree and Pursuit shows have a fantastic competition for you. Read on – and enter ASAP!

This competition is for Angler’s Mail fans and viewers of the TV shows on Freeview’s Quest channel.

One person – maybe YOU – will become the official ‘on location’ reporter/blogger with your name in lights and chance to be angling’s next big journalist. This is a unique chance.

We want to see (or hear – you don’t have to appear on screen and you could talk over a piece) how well you can present your report, blog or story. Keep it concise and interesting.

What the winner will win…

Our winner will attend a film shoot for the exciting new series of Pursuit and be the Angler’s Mail online correspondent on location.

The winner will get to interview John Bailey – one of the finest angling writers. Plus you’ll talk to co-presenters, guests and the crew.

You could be the one taking the official photos that will appear across social media platforms, TV sites and AM itself. And you’d be the official blogger to do a weekly preview of each of the episodes online.

You could be the one winning some of the new tackle from the Pursuit range which you can review.

Plus you will receive a limited edition, one-off box-set of the Crabtree and Pursuit DVDs signed by John, the angling guests and the crew.

All of your expenses, subsistence, accommodation and travel will be paid and as a part of the production staff you will eat, hang out and stay with the crew and be a full part of the team.

On location you will be accompanied by highly experienced production crew who will share their expertise.

HOW TO ENTER THIS GREAT COMPETITION

YOU need to upload a short piece on YouTube providing your report. It can be about an angling experience of your own, a review of tackle, a venue or an article/news story you have read.

Then we want you to upload a short report onto YouTube of no more than two minutes.

When you have done that tweet your video’s URL with the #Pursuitreporter

The Angler’s Mail and Pursuit team will view the various entries and come up with a short list of six.

Because it’s viral we want to hear the views of our readers and the TV audience to help us in this search. Lobby us, get your friends and families to support your entry.

We will announce the winner in Angler’s Mail print magazine early in April.

The closing date for entries is midnight, April 4, 2017. SO DO NOT DELAY!

THAMES WATER has been hit with a record penalty for a water pollution of £20.3 million – ten times higher than the previous highest fine.

In the biggest case of its kind ever brought by the Environment Agency, Aylesbury Crown Court imposed a massive fine of £19.7 million plus over £600,000 costs.

The bloated privatised utilities company allowed 1.4 billion litres of raw sewage to flow into six sites on the River Thames and tributaries in 2013-14.

Judge Sheridan condemned Thames Water’s conduct as ‘disgraceful’ and ‘entirely foreseeable and preventable’.

Sheridan remarked: “It was a very dark period in the history of Thames Water who demonstrated scant regard for the law, with dreadful results.”

The two worse sites were the sewage treatment plants at Aylesbury and Little Marlow both in Buckinghamshire where TW were fined £9 and £8 million respectively. Smaller fines were imposed for discharges at Henley, Didcot, Littlemore and Arborfield.

A Thames West EA spokesman said: “Large numbers of fish were killed at individual sites – collectively across the six sites many hundreds of dead fish were observed by EA officers and by witnesses.

“Many of the fish killed, in the case of Aylesbury were mature adult chub up to 15 years of age and there were also dead perch and pike and invasive signal crayfish.

“The aquatic insect life in the river was also impacted with observed declines in invertebrate numbers in the river, and one witness describing a sudden decline in dragonflies and damsel flies. This sort of impact has a knock on effect on the ecosystem as a whole.

“We are talking about sustained and chronic pollution over a long time period so many fish may have been killed outside the period of incident attendance and observation,” he added.

More legal action to come?

THE whole of the £19.7 million fine goes straight to the Government treasury, but TW might face more legal challenges and compensation claims.

Angling Trust and Fish Legal chief executive Mark Lloyd remarked: “We believe the EA should be able to recover more of the costs of its investigations from polluters in cases such as this, to provide it with the resources necessary to carry out more prosecutions of those causing damage to the environment and other people’s livelihoods.

“Fish Legal will be discussing with its member angling clubs the need for compensation and restocking costs above and beyond the voluntary payments which have already been made by TW.”

Club suffers through fish losses

Barry Mullins, chairman of Thame AC, who has seen members drop from 300 to 100 since the pollution, explained: “The whole thing has been a disaster for the river, our own club and others along the river.

“The Thame was once a pristine river full of fish but the fish stocks have declined by 10 per cent year on year according to EA testing and now it is much harder to catch.

“The EA did a fish count on one of our tributaries last August and not a single fish was found in a 200 yard stretch.

“As a result we have drastically lost members and income, therefore we have had to give up renting some of the stretches – it’s a vicious circle.

“Other clubs have been similarly affected and one even had to close.

“We are pleased with the huge penalty but nobody at Thames Water has been held to account and the money itself goes straight to the Treasury.

“We have yet to receive any compensation from Thames Water and there has been no restocking from the EA,” he concluded.

TW has voluntarily added £1.5 million to its community fund which is available for grants to local environmental groups, and paid out over £300,000 in compensation.

GOT SOME NEWS, VIEWS OR CAUGHT A BIG FISH? Email photos and details exclusively to: anglersmail@timeinc.com

ANDY BIRCH notched his second biggest chub ever with this 8 lb 2 oz specimen from the River Lea system.

The 46-year-old sign maker used home-made cheese paste in a roving session and the chevin falls just below his 8 lb 12 oz PB from March, 2014.

Harlow, Essex-based Andy said: “I quivertip the paste on a size 4 Drennan Boilie hook – I like this pattern so much for chub I purchased a lifetime supply a few years back.

“It was my second trip to the undisclosed venue that I normally fish towards the back end of the season in the hope of connecting with something special before the season ends.

“Last year the venue produced a brace of 7 lb chub in the final weeks. Not many fish there but most times they are big.

“I introduce half a dozen pieces of cheese paste before I start fishing a spot and follow it up with my hookbait, no pre-baiting. “I usually search for the fish by working my way along a stretch and sometimes fish up to 6-8 spots in a session giving each spot half an hour or so.”

This is a short version of the story that appeared in Angler’s Mail printed magazine. Get the magazine every week for top tips, big news, best products, and venues that are in form.

CAUGHT A BIG FISH? Email photos and details exclusively to: anglersmail@timeinc.com – you could star in the magazine.

LAST gasp talks by the Angling Trust to Sport England might have saved their big money funding, an Angler’s Mail investigation has revealed.

New Government rules being introduced for April 1 means all bodies receiving Sport England dosh must have 30 per cent non-executive director roles filled by women.

The Angling Trust were joint second bottom alongside The Football Association with only 7 per cent of females at board level. Only taekwondo was lower with zero percent.

Director of sport at Sport England, Phil Smith, said: “Organisations have to draw up an action plan by April 1 of how they will reach the 30 per cent target – they have enough time to write an action plan.”

The Angling Trust receives £340,000 per year from Sports England which represents 13.6 per cent of its funding. This follows a massive £1.8 million given to the Angling Trust from 2013-2017.

‘We need to recruit women into management’

Angling Trust chief executive Mark Lloyd explained: “This money is for very specific purposes and all has to be spent on activities agreed in advance and in great detail with Sport England.

“We have performance targets relating to running and facilitating events to get more people going fishing more often, and to support our talent pathway for young anglers to be supported to fish for England.

“Clearly there are a lot more men than women currently involved in angling, but if we are to change that we need to recruit more women into management roles throughout angling to ensure that the sport isn’t designed by men for men.

“There are tens of thousands of women who go fishing and many of these women will have the skills and experience necessary to serve as a director on the board of a national governing body.”

Mark Lloyd (right) of the Angling Trust knows angling needs to get more women involved. He explained what’s being done.

Mark added: “We have brought in the requirement for board members to retire after two terms of three years and this will create vacancies which will enable us to ensure that our directors better reflect the angling community that we serve, and also the community of potential anglers we would like to recruit to the sport.

“We’ve a plan in place to advertise vacancies on our board over the next few weeks not only to our members but also in specific media outlets which are more likely to reach women, black and minority ethnic people and those with disabilities.

“We have discussed our plans with Sport England and with Tracey Crouch the Sports Minister, who we met last week, to discuss the new governance code amongst other things.

“We are confident that the Angling Trust is meeting all the governance conditions set out in the new code, or has a clear plan in place to meet those aspects with which we are not yet compliant. We have recently had confirmation of funding for the next two years.

“Our main funding from the Environment Agency is not affected by this new requirement,” he added.

CAUGHT A NEW STORY OR CAUGHT A BIG FISH? Email photos and details exclusively to: anglersmail@timeinc.com

MARK CASPER followed up an amazing spell of big River Thames pike following a big pre-baiting campaign that included particle plus chopped fish, with this near venue best 18 lb barbel.

The Specialized Hook Baits boss had to play the giant barbel for 40 minutes after hooking it on one of his own 10 mm GLM boilies to a size 8 Gardner Wide Gape Talon Tip hook and 12 lb main line.

Reading, Berkshire-based Mark said: “I was absolutely blown away. It fought so well, as ‘old Father’ was flowing pretty hard and she ragged me all over the river.

I’d prebaited in the early afternoon and returned at 7pm and the bite came within ten minutes.

“Unbelievably, this is my first ever Thames barbel by design. I’ve had some very big ones in the past, whilst carping the river, but never actually by design.”

The fish falls just 5 oz below the official river record, run by the Thames Anglers’ Conservancy, held jointly by Chris Whapshott and Chris Wylot.

CAUGHT A BIG FISH? Email photos and details exclusively to: anglersmail@timeinc.com – you could star in the magazine.

BIG CARP carp ace David Gaskin followed up his amazing 102 lb brace of a 59 lb 8 oz mirror and 42 lb 8 oz common with another stunning haul.

Returning to the same £1,500-a-year Berkshire big carp mecca, Wellington Country Park, David had simultaneous takes this time from mirrors of 43 lb 4 oz and 50 lb 8 oz.

And the following day he added a 48 lb giant.

Littlehampton, West Sussex-based David said: “I arrived to see the sight of one of the big ghosties leaping out tight to the island. This greeted me no less than five times in about ten seconds.

“I was more than happy to be fishing in the same swim on the same spots as I was a few weeks previous when I had a session of a lifetime. Understandably, my confidence was high.

“I got the rods out to island as well as they could be and sticked out around a kilo of CC Moore Odyssey XXX over the two spots.

“There was a slight frost that night, which hampered my confidence a little.

Two big carp switch on together

David continued: “As the temperatures peaked I received a bite.

“The fish stripped line immediately and just as I managed to turn it at all of about 160 yards, my other island rod registered an absolute ripper! A double take on Welly is as rare as rocking horse doo-doo.

“Eventually, I towed the first in and grabbed the second rod. This fish felt a lot heavier, almost too heavy.

“The remainder of the battle felt weird and the cause for this was revealed when the tips of a large branch the fish must have picked up broke the waters surface. It was a heart in mouth moment because as the branch rose up out of the water I thought it was all over.

“The size 6 Gardner Mugga held firm! I bundled the beast, branch and tangled line in the net with a wry smile knowing it was a good ‘un!”

The big carp rush didn’t end at two fish – David Gaskin completed a hat-trick with this 48-pounder.

David added: “Next day I decided to move onto the showing fish. I swapped the leads over to lighter, more discreet 2 oz distance pears and flicked out some Northern Specials on Munnie rigs once again.

“I was certainly on fish and within minutes the move had been justified, I was attached to another angry carp.

“At 48 lb it topped off an already perfect session, three carp for over 141 lb.

“Welly never ceases to amaze me!” he added.

CAUGHT A BIG CARP? Email photos and details exclusively to: anglersmail@timeinc.com – you could star in the magazine.

ENVIRONMENT AGENCY fishing rod licence prices and many more things have just changed - and all versions are available now. Angler's Mail explains all here...

A brand new three-rod fishing rod licence (pictured above) has been created for 2017. It’s amongst a licence system overhaul that took effect on the usual rod licence renewal date – April 1.

Widely-admired artist David Miller has painted the new three-rod licence featuring a scale-perfect linear mirror investigating a zig rigged bait. It’s an impressive piece of work!

This new fishing rod licence option has been applauded by specialist carp anglers who often use three rods at one time.

There’s a brown trout image (pictured below) for the standard two-rod non-migratory trout and coarse fishing rod licence.

And a salmon is the face for salmon and sea trout fishing rod licence. These too are the work of David Miller.

New annual fishing rod licence gives 12 months

The rod licence renewal date will become a thing of the past as annual licences can now run from the date you choose when buying it. That’s instead of being fixed at April 1 to March 31 as has been the case. You will get a full 12 months’ fishing now.

There’s also a new website – www.gov.uk/get-a-fishing-licence – so you can buy your fishing rod licence easier online.

Never ever use other sites as they can add on a ‘handling’ surcharge. Licences can still be bought by phoning 0344 800 5386 or at the Post Office.

The new coarse and non-migratory trout fishing rod licence.

Artist delighted with new fishing rod licence

Artist David said: “I’m delighted to have provided the images for the fishing licences again this year. Not only has it given me the opportunity to paint three species for the first time but also because all the money raised goes back into supporting fisheries.

“Of the three I was particularly pleased with the brown trout, my favourite UK game fish, and one I love to fish for on small rivers and streams.”

The new salmon fishing rod licence.

NEW FISHING ROD LICENCE – WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

• The biggest change is the annual licence will now last for exactly 12 months from when you buy it, or wish it to start when you pay for it. This brings the fishing licence in line with other Government tariffs like the TV licence.
• The three-rod licence has been called upon for years by spessy anglers and is now on sale. It will cost £45.
• The standard two-rod coarse licence is now £30, an 1 percent but this is the first rise for seven years.
• If you want to use four rods you will still have to buy two standard licences.
• The one-day licence is going up by a whopping 60 per cent to £6 from the current £3.75.
• The eight-day licence designed for holiday anglers remains good value at £12 from the current £10.
• Over 65s or disabled pay £20 (two rods) £30 (three rods) or £54 for a salmon and sea trout licence.
• The £5 charge junior licence for 12-16-year-olds has been scrapped to encourage new blood, but they still have to register for their free licence. Under-12s can be unregistered.
• Salmon and sea trout licences for adults are £12 (one day), £27 (eight-day) and £82 (12-month).

What do you think of the changes? Drop a letter with your views to the No.1 weekly fishing magazine, Angler’s Mail. Email to: anglersmail@timeinc.com

A CARP angler has been found guilty in court of sneaking out extra rods – SIX at once.

Carp angler Ryan Hughes was apprehended at Pavyotts Mill in Somerset with two more rods in the water than the Environment Agency legal limit.

The prolific day ticket fishery has swims where carp anglers can use huts – available for £150 for 48 hours.

Fishery regular Hughes, of Newport, South Wales was fined £440 at Yeovil Magistrates for fishing with an unlicensed instrument and fishing with more than four rods. Hughes was convicted in his absence.

In addition costs of £170 and a victim surcharge of £30 were imposed, making a total penalty of £640.

Carp angler Ryan Hughes was caught using six rods.

Martin Salter, campaigns manager at the Angling Trust, commented: “I’ve never heard of anyone caught fishing with six rods before. It is highly unusual, possibly unique.

“I’ve heard of anglers being fined for having an extra rod or two more than that is covered with a standard two rod licence, but never heard of six.”

EA spokesman Richard Dearnley said: “Rod licence cheats risk a criminal conviction, a significant fine and could lose their fishing equipment.”

As Angler’s Mail revealed, the EA totally revamped the rod licence system from April 1 this year.

A three-rod option is now available which has proved popular with carp anglers.

Big fish fans can still buy two rod licences to cover themselves for four rods.

Other changes include a free licence for 12-15-year-olds and all licences now running for a year from date bought.

STOP PRESS! EXCLUSIVE NEWS ON THE ISSUING OF 2017 ROD LICENCES.

Full story on this development is only in Angler’s Mail print magazine, out now (the front cover is pictured below).

The print magazine also includes a FREE 1-day rod licence voucher to use over the Easter period and just beyond.

GOT A VIEW ON THIS STORY OR ON ROD LICENCES? Email to: amletters@timeinc.com – and your view could appear in Angler’s Mail print magazine.

BILL “BARBEL BOB” BRISTOW had a 200 mile round trip to Surrey’s Newdigate Fishery for this personal best 6 lb 6 oz golden orfe.

The 74-year-old from Lyneham, Wiltshire, feedered maggot and added a 4 lb 9 oz golden orfe at the brilliant day ticket complex.

Orfe are a derivative of the ide, a European river fish. Golden – and indeed blue – colouration are naturally occurring colour variants that have been bred over a number of years.

The British orfe record was set back in 2000, scaling 8 lb 5 oz and caught by Michael Wilkinson at Lymm Vale, Cheshire.

CAUGHT A BIG FISH? Email photos and details exclusively to: anglersmail@timeinc.com – you could star in the magazine.

SIMON HARBOTTLE had his first session back on Erics Angling’s Willows Lake - and what a result he notched up!

The 46-year-old’s giant mirror scaled 49 lb 8 oz and he added three others in a prolific trip at Willows Lake, a day ticket venue in West Yorkshire.

It was the from Stockton-on-Tees, County Durham, angler’s first session there since his winter ticket ran out.

Simon said: “The fish were all caught on a clear spot amongst dead Canadian weed on a Key Bait Solutions 12 mm pink twisted peach pop-up over crumbed All Season Mix boilies.”

CAUGHT A BIG FISH? Email photos and details exclusively to: anglersmail@timeinc.com – you could star in the magazine.

JEREMY WADE’S mega popular TV series, River Monsters, is ending.

River Monsters’  ninth series will be its last. It  starts on Sunday, April 23, at 9 pm on the Animal Planet channel.

The River Monsters series first started in 2008 and has had millions of fans on ITV and the Animal Planet channel .

River Monsters star Jeremy said: “Some shows can run forever, but our subject matter is finite.

“Ten years ago, I had a list in my head, which seemed impossibly ambitious at the time, but everything has now been ticked off – and then some.

“I have seen things beyond my wildest dreams, and sharing those moments has made them doubly special.”

River Monsters has produced some truly epic adventures and many huge specimens.

Preview: River Monsters Series 9

Ice Cold Killer: Travelling from London to Greenland and on to Norway, Wade follows the trail of an unknown sea monster. Fishing through ice to extraordinary depths, he attempts to reel in this monster before the full fury of an Arctic storm hits.

Coral Reef Killers: On the tropical island of Sulawesi, Indonesia, a tourist snorkeler and several local fishermen have been killed and injured by a mysterious sea creature that impales its victims. Wade travels to the scene to investigate, risking life and limb to solve the mystery before anyone else falls victim.

Return of the Killer Catfish: On his first River Monsters investigation, Wade was propelled into a mountain river by a goonch catfish as big as himself. 10 years on, he fears such fish are now extinct until he hears a report from Nepal that sounds strangely familiar. Could the original river monster be back from the brink and back in business?

Volcanic Island Terror: On a volcanic Pacific island, an ancient fishing community is being terrorized by something unknown in the water that’s been leaving behind mysterious puncture wounds on its victims. Can Wade uncover the identity of this fanged assailant?

Malaysian Lake Monster: When two men mysteriously vanish on a remote lake in Malaysia, Wade sets out to track down the possible killer. Amid rumors of a giant fish on the loose, he follows the evidence into the last stronghold of an old adversary: the one river monster that he’s failed to catch.

Killers from the Abyss: Wade takes on the biggest investigation of his career; to unravel what happened to over one thousand passengers of the RMS Laconia, torpedoed in the mid-Atlantic. To discover the culprits, he travels the globe, battling extraordinary fish, massive sharks and a deep-sea monster.

River Monsters Series 9 is to be the final run for Jeremy Wade’s famous angling adventures series. What will he do next? Watch this space!

CAUGHT A BIG FISH? Email photos and details exclusively to: anglersmail@timeinc.com – you could star in the magazine.

STEVE SCOLTOCK came within 1 oz of the crucian carp record with this 4 lb 9 oz monster.

The huge crucian fell to 58-year-old Steve when was fishing Godalming AS record water Johnsons Lake.

Michael James and Stephen Frapwell jointly hold the record with 4 lb 10 oz fish from the 21 acre venue in May 2015. But then the club introduced a Close Season to stop record-chasers catching overly spawn-bound fish. This break now runs from April 15 th to June 15 th inclusive.

But the big fish have grown in the last two years and a record could be on the cards in April either this year or next before they start to carry too much spawn.

Steve, from Binfield, Berkshire, said: “The fact that this fish is not full of spawn makes the weight even more remarkable and, if caught again before the lake closes then it could well beat the British record.”

Feeder tactics fooled crucian

Feeder tactics, usually with  Method feeder, have become popular by specialist anglers targeting crucians, and this worked for Steve’s giant.

He explained: “It was caught using a 45 g Drennan in-line flat Method feeder packed with my own mix of groundbait and feed pellets plus crushed casters.

“The fish was hooked on a size 14 Drennan Wide Gape Specialist hook with a short braid hair and a fake caster.

“The photos were taken by another GAS member, Roy Whitwell who also confirmed the weight.”

Godalming AS’s Johnsons – where crucian-record hunters enjoy some memorable action.

Steve continued: “I fished a day session from 9.30 am until 7.30 pm catching just three fish, all crucians with others of 2 lb 13 oz and 3 lb 8 oz.

“Another angler in the swim next said that he had caught a 4 lb 7 oz crucian the day before. I never imagined when told this that I would equal or even better it myself.

“My previous PB was a 3 lb 14 oz fish in 2014. As I did in 2014, I checked my Reuben Heaton digital scales when I got home and, as far as I can judge, found them to be accurate,” he added.

Club latest: www.godalminganglingsociety.co.uk

This is a short version of the story that appeared in Angler’s Mail printed magazine. Get the magazine every week for top tips, big news, best products, and venues that are in form.

CAUGHT A BIG FISH? Email photos and details exclusively to: anglersmail@timeinc.com – you could star in the magazine.

THE Avon Roach Project has stocked thousands more redfins following their annual harvesting of stocks in their fish farms.

Avon Roach Project co-founder Trevor Harrop (pictured above) said: “This year we made five deposits – some to the main river and some into protected side streams.

“We are also continuing to get increasing numbers of reports of multiple catches of roach from throughout the river with many up to a dozen fish in a session, with folks telling us how they are once again enjoying their roach fishing on the Hampshire Avon.”

As Angler’s Mail has reported, techniques developed by the Avon Roach Project are now helping the Environment Agency replenish dwindling river stocks.

The EA’s Anglian Region were the first to tap into the expertise of the Hampshire-based group in their attempts to restock Norfolk’s River Wensum using the same techniques from the Hampshire Avon.

Roach stocks are improving in the rivers where the Avon Roach Project’s techniques are being deployed.

The Avon Roach Project was created in 2004 by Trevor Harrop and Budgie who were determined to do something to turn things around after decades of decline.

The Avon Roach Project is now being used as a role model by projects on a number of other rivers and now the EA are taping into their knowledge.

Trevor revealed venues from as far afield as Berkshire’s River Kennet, Bristol Avon, Great Ouse, the mighty Severn and the Taff in Wales have been using the methods they pioneered.

Artificial spawning stations are placed in the river, then the eggs are collected and grown

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PURSUIT - a TV fishing series we know many Angler's Mail fans will love - comes to Freeview channel, Quest, for spring/summer 2017.

Pursuit’s series 1 has six one-hour shows. It follows Angler’s Mail magazine columnist John Bailey and guests around Europe in search of their favourite fish at their best loved locations.

Waters seen during Pursuit include:

• the famous Broadlands complex
• stunning rivers Test and the Wensum
•  great loughs of Ireland
• superb venues in France

A second series is already in the making, as Mail readers will be aware. This  is due to come to screens this summer – also for free, via Quest and Quest+1.

Quest is part of the Discovery network, and has given angling great support in recent years.

Pursuit exec producer and director Lester Holcombe told Angler’s Mail: “Discovery were the first channel to really bring angling back to our TV screens. We are very excited that these great shows will now be available to the greatest possible audience base.

“Our aim has always been to take the wider message about all the great and positive things angling has to offer. And with Discovery we have a great opportunity here in the UK to do that.”

Pursuit shows are to be shown on each Sunday mornings, starting April 30. There are repeats the following Saturday mornings. Keep an eye on the TV Pick listing in Angler’s Mail magazine.

Pursuit episode guide

This show-by-show guide was provided to Angler’s Mail exclusively by the Pursuit team…

Episode 1 –  Boyhood memories at Broadlands   

We visit the stunning lakes and rivers of Broadlands near the south coast.

John hooks up with Crabtree fishing protege James and father and son anglers, Heath and Ethan.

It’s an angling trip reminiscent of his own boyhood fishing memories, fishing for a variety of species on river and lake.

Episode 2 – Paradise Found (Puyravaud)    

This episode is the first on a French road trip to France in the summer. John and the team head over to Etang Du Puyruvaud for a carp  session with  good friends.

A carp angler’s Eden it offers exciting action with big fish galore, lots of action and beautiful scenery.

Episode 3 – Our Carpman in Paris (Les Quis)

Continuing the French quest we arrive at Les Quis just south of Paris.

Le Quis was one of the first Carp destinations in France and has seen many of the top carp anglers grace its lakes.

Brimming with hard fighting large fish we see some innovative ways of catching with some frantic action.

Episode 4 – Pressure and Time (Peupliers & Planchette)

The final part of the French road trip and the heatwave shows no sign of letting up.

John and the team face their first big challenge as the weather is really against them and they are going to have to work for their supper.

See how they overcome these challenges at two stunning intimate venues with a few surprises.

Episode 5 – Through Irish Mists (Ireland)

In this episode we visit another of the great angling destinations, fishing the great loughs and lakes of Ireland.

A contrast from the summer heat of France we see the breathtaking vastness and scope of what Ireland offers the angler.

John again fishes with some great mates with once again challenges from the weather and we get to see a very rare fish seldom caught on camera.

Episode 6 – Last days of Summer (Norfolk)

We end our journey back in the UK with John getting in some Autumn fishing with two good friends on two of his favourite waters.

With the last rays of summer sun, John, Nash and Urban Banx star Alan Blair and top float-maker Andrew Field go after some late season tench. They got what they were seeking – see the picture of Alan and Andrew below.

Then John has a river chub fishing day to remember on one of the most beautiful stretches of the Wensum.

• For more on Pursuit, visit its website pursuitfishing.co.uk and  Facebook page and follow them on Twitter as @pursuit2017

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EVER been angered by excessive work being done on rivers? The Angling Trust is taking up anglers' complaints and launched an investigation into the continued habitat destruction carried out by the Environment Agency.

The Trust has uncovered loads of evidence from anglers of the destruction of habitat for fish and other wildlife. They say its caused by EA contractors carrying out flood defence works on rivers in six English counties.

In one particularly perverse example, the Royal Tunbridge Wells AS had received a grant of £2,000 from the EA for habitat improvements including tree planting on the River Medway in Kent. But anglers were shocked in December 2016 to find another department destroying habitat just downstream.

THE RIVER MEDWAY BEFORE…

…THE RIVER MEDWAY AFTER.

Other rivers hit with tree clearance this winter include

• Trent around Holme Pierrepont, Notts.
•  Lea at Fishers Green, Essex.
• Idle in Retford, Notts.
• South Yorkshire’s Don and Dearne
• Mole in Surrey
• Wensum in Norfolk

And the Trust had received further information from anglers in Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, Hampshire, Warwickshire, Surrey and Kent in response to an appeal.

Their Facebook post reached over 68,000 anglers and almost 10,000 engaged with the thread, demonstrating the scale of the issue.

Evidence of river destruction

Evidence compiled by the Trust to demonstrate the impact of the works has been sent to the EA.

In response to these complaints, Judy Proctor, deputy director for Fisheries at the EA has written to the Trust. She confirmed that the Agency has reviewed their existing guidance around channel maintenance works.

Clive Rainger, chairman of Royal Tunbridge Wells AS, explained: “The EA have been extremely professional and very helpful in assisting us to improve the habitat and fish stocks on this stretch of the Medway, but the flood prevention department have clearly not been working in unison.

“Although we managed to stop the damaging work by the contractors before it was completed, they had already undone some of our hard work.”

‘Waste of scarce public resources’

Mark Lloyd, chief executive of the Trust, said: “The removal of trees and in-river debris is particularly perverse because the EA also funds work to plant riverside trees to shade the water and other projects to install flow-deflectors to create fishery habitat.

“It constitutes both a scandalous waste of scarce public resources and a disregard for the sensitivity of the water environment,” he added.

This river stretch was one of a number reported in recent months to have been stripped of its trees.

An EA spokesperson said: “We carry out vital flood defence work along rivers in order to protect people’s lives and property – that is our top priority but we are also committed to protecting wildlife and improving habitats.

“We consult with local groups to agree our programme of flood maintenance and carefully consider the work we undertake to ensure that any impact on wildlife or to anglers and other river users is kept to a minimum.”

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WORLD record carp lake - the mega prolific Euro-Aqua – has also proven it is mecca for specimens of other fish species.

Hungary’s mega prolific Euro-Aqua is of of best known for its World record carp, twice setting the record and currently No.1 with a fish of 105 lb 13 oz.

But the awesome lake has other impressive coarse fish, which rarely make the news.

Like nearly all visitors, Luke Vanes went over to the 1,500 Euros-a-week 28 acre lake for the carp….

But he ended up with a 41 lb 4 oz grass carp (pictured above) and a 20 lb 10 oz zander. He also landed  16 big carp.

Monster zander and grass carp

Walsall, West Midlands-based Luke believes his zander is a venue record for Euro-Aqua.

The 34-year-old shop fitter explained: “It was amazing to catch a PB zander of 20 lb 12 oz as I was just after the carp.

“It was caught using a fishery–own boilie at 130 yards and my reel went into meltdown on the take and I just thought it was another carp.”

Luke went to Euro-Aqua for its big carp… but was chuffed with this huge zander.

“I was shocked when I got it nearer the bank and it turned out to be this huge zander.

“They said they didn’t know how big they grow there as they have not been fished for properly.

“It was a great trip and the grass carp was pretty special too,” he concluded.

World record carp ‘fed up’

The World carp record fell at Euro-Aqua to Tomas Krist from the Czech Republic with a 105 lb 13 oz monster.

And the biggest carp by an English angler also fell at Euro-Aqua to Portsmouth’s Stephen Weir at 104 lb 2 oz.

Thomas Krist and the World record carp at 105 lb 13 oz.

The high cost to fish there also includes all bait, food and beer plus the huge stocks that included 5,000 carp with 226 over 66 lb and 18 over 80 lb and possibly up to four fish over 100 lb.

Venue owner Alexander Horvath keeps the huge stocks fed by feeding up to four ton of maize and 400 kilos of high protein boilies per week for most part of the year.

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FISHING fanatic Fred Healey won the 2016 Angler’s Mail Specimen Cup for an unprecedented third time – but has revealed how he’s lucky to still be alive.

Even last year,  70-year-old Fred Healey was fishing a three-night stint every fortnight even in the bitter winter. But he only recently got out of hospital following a long, major health scare.

Fred was in intensive care for ten weeks and 13 weeks in hospital in total. He had severe pneumonia and septicaemia.

Now Fred doubts he will fish this year at all – but hopes to be back on the bank for 2018.

Fred Healey in ‘coma-like state’

Uckfield, East Sussex-based Fred said: “I’ve lost two stone and get out of breath very easily. This follows on from prostate trouble a few years back.

“I’ve never been much of a drinker but I have always smoked. And when you fishing all night and getting bites you put the kettle on and have a cigarette. Maybe that’s contributed to my ill health.

“I was in a coma-like state for about six weeks. I had my eyes open but it was a total blank. Eventually I heard ‘Fred, squeeze my hand if you can hear me’ but there had been weeks off that with no response.

“I was beginning to feel weak last year. On some of my longer walks with the barrow I was getting out of breath and I’d never felt that before.

“I’d like to fish again but I can’t say I can at the moment. My plan is to go and watch a few of my friends fish this year but there’s no way I could cast out, let alone carry my kit around. I’d like to fish again next year.”

Fred Healey’s fabulous fishing

Fred  won a £3,000 cheque from Korum plus the famous silver trophy, the Specimen Cup, for yet another superb season. His catches in 2016 included a 7 lb 8 oz chub, numerous perch to 4 lb 8 oz, rudd to 3 lb 2 oz, eels to 6 lb 9 oz, tench to 10 lb 13 oz and double-figure bream.

After getting well enough to accept his prizes at his home, Fred told Angler’s Mail: “Thanks so much to Korum for voting for me and it as so nice to hear I’d won when I came out of hospital. The money will be handy.

“Me and my brother made a lot of money under Thatcher doing up and selling houses and flats and then lost it all under her too. But I’m still a conservative.

“Tench and perch are my favourite species although one of my most memorable sessions was catching the big rudd at Buckland in Kent as it basically put the venue on the big fish map.

“In fact I was still fishing it and the owner must have put something on the internet about my 3 lb rudd and Paul Garner came down,” he concluded.

Four runner-up all won £250 cheques from Korum: Mike Davidson for chub to 7 lb 10 oz and a stunning 3 lb 3 oz river roach; Carl Garratt with the biggest pike of the year at 41 lb from Chew; Nene barbel ace Gary Johnson; and Dan Woolcott who had the biggest roach at 3 lb 11 oz from Highbridge Fisheries in Norfolk.

CAUGHT A BIG FISH? Email photos and details exclusively to: anglersmail@timeinc.com – you could star in the magazine.