BRITISH record holder Simon Ashton moved lakes at an Oxford complex and was delighted to nab this 9 lb 8 oz tench in a big haul.
The 41-year-old, from Durham, added another tench of the same weight plus eight others and a 22 lb carp.
All were taken on feeder fished worm over a bed of Sonubaits hemp and mixed micro pellet in Sonubaits F1 clear liquid.
It was back in August 2002 that Simon shot to fame with a record-beating dace, which still stands at the top of the official British record list today.
The previous winter he’d actually told Angler’s Mail that he was going to do it. But the way in which his 1 lb 5 oz 2 dr monster dace came certainly was a surprise to him, as at the start of the session they weren’t his target.
Simon Ashton is still the dace record holder.
Simon explained: ‘I’d been catching some very good dace with several over a pound up to 1 lb 3 oz previously, but on this occasion I was actually after the chub.
‘Catching that record dace was what really got me into specimen angling, and I went on to beat the Scottish bream and tench records that same year.’
CAUGHT A BIG FISH? Email photos and details exclusively to: anglersmail@timeinc.com – you could star in the brilliant weekly print magazine.
MANY stars are lined up to fish in the fifth Professional Darts Invitational Fishing Championship on Tuesday, June 27, at Manor Farm in Biggleswade, Bedfordshire. And YOU can be there!
Nationally televised, this year as part of ITV4’s impressive darts coverage schedule, the PDC Invitational Fishing Championship is run by JBD Events since 2013.
Angler’s Mail has been amongst the main supporters.
The event grows ever more popular each year and raises awareness and vital funds for charities throughout the UK.
June 27 is the date – tickets are FREE
This year’s championship will be held on June 27th at the impressive Manor Farm Fishing complex. Doors open 11am.
The competition is made up of 24 men and woman from the world of sport, TV and celebrity.
All of them are keen to get their hands on the coveted trophy. It was won in 2016 by Dean Macey, the former decathlete champ known in recent years for TV shows like Fishing Gurus and Big Fish Off.
The prestigious PDC event raises thousands of pounds to help ensure chosen charities can continue their marvellous work.
The line-up will include PDC darts chief Barry Hearn, also famed for his promotion of snooker and boxing. ‘Bazza’ could be a dark horse as he has his very own fishing lake… and he helps promote angling’s massively popular Fish’O’Mania matches.
He’ll be alongside the likes of David Seaman (Arsenal and England goalkeeper), Darren Gough (cricket), Steve Davis (snooker, pictured below), Mark Williams (snooker), Adrian Lewis (darts), Dean Macey (athletics).
Angler’s Mail magazine’s exclusive columnist Steve Collett, the winner in 2015, will be there too.
And some popular celebs including Eastenders’ Max Branning (actor Jake Wood) will be on the banks of this attractive fishery.
Watch the 2016 event video below for a feel for this unique day…
£5,000 charity prize for special fish
This year, title sponsor SunBets have put up a very special bonus to help the chosen charity, Parkinson’s UK.
Organiser Jess Harding said: “We are delighted to announce that our title sponsor SunBets have kindly donated £5,000 to our chosen charity Parkinson’s UK if any of our anglers manage to catch any of the four koi carp in the lake.
“This is a magnificent gesture and we are sure that our fishermen will be going all out to catch the elusive fish.
“This will be the fifth time the event has been staged and looks like being the biggest and best yet.”
Why not put this date in your diary and get yourself along to Manor Farm? For free admissions tickets, email: info@jbdsportsagents.co.uk
CAUGHT A BIG FISH OR GOT SOME NEWS? Email photos and details exclusively to: anglersmail@timeinc.com – you could star in the must-read Angler’s Mail print magazine.
ANGLER'S MAIL print magazine is out now. It's an absolute must-read this week, with the full story of the BIGGEST TENCH of the year.... plus TOP TENCH TIPS with John Bailey.
Pike fans will be impressed by a huge fish reported inside the magazine – and Steve Collett is showing the safe way to success with predators now.
There’s a FREE rod licence voucher too – use it soon. Terms and conditions are explained in the mag.
Also inside the must-read Angler’s Mail magazine this week:
Exclusive full story: No.1 tackle dealer Roger Surgay is back!
Giant carp brace – from different venues!
True death toll at top venue
Andy Browne explains the stop knot
Dave Coster’s guide to a special kind of float
Learn the Ned Rig lure technique
Surface carp masterclass
PLUS LOTS MORE!
The must-read Angler’s Mail print magazine is out now and just £1.99. Accept no substitute. It’s also available digitally.
Get yourself a subscription to Angler’s Mail print magazine at a great price – click HERE to subscribe and SAVE!
TV star and comedian Jim Davidson took part in the annual carp match organized by Carp After Combat.
Jim Davidson was at the event held at Kent’s Medway Valley Fisheries, and he was alongside renowned carp anglers like Jerry Hammond, Carp Team England boss Rob Hughes, and former UK record holder Lee Jackson. Lee had a 27 lb 10 0z leather, near to the end of play.
The event raised the impressive tally of over £25,000 in support of Care After Combat.
It’s a charity that life-time carp angler Jim holds dear, that assists ex-servicemen in the prison system, making sure that they stay out when released by supplying mentoring and support.
Click below to watch Jim talk candidly at length about his fishing, and other matters. You’ll hear from some other top anglers at the event. They were talking to Adam Rayner on the banks of Medway Valley Fisheries.
CARPER Rob Adams was chuffed to obliterate his bream best with this 16 lb 12 oz beast.
Bream, even beasts like this, were not front of mind for Birstsall, Leicestershire-based Rob. He was after carp at a Midlands syndicate lake when the big bream took his legered boilie at extreme range.
The 43-year-old self-employed window fitter told Angler’s Mail: “I was fishing at 140 yards on a baited area with about 20 Spombs of boilies.
“At 4.30am I had a bleep looked out and there was a branch on my line so I cleared my lines and it was all slack so I tightened up and felt something on the end.
“Next thing I know I’m looking in my landing net at the biggest bream I’ve ever seen in 38 years of fishing.
“My previous PB bream was 12 lb 12 oz which I caught a couple of weeks ago.”
CAUGHT A BIG FISH OR GOT SOME NEWS? Email photos and details exclusively to: anglersmail@timeinc.com – you could star in the must-read Angler’s Mail print magazine.
MARK SALT finished off a gruelling eight-night eel campaign with the biggest snake of the season at 8 lb 1 oz.
The environment officer for eel group, the National Anguilla Club, was on a Middlesex syndicate water and thought his chances would improve with a change in the weather.
Mark told the Mail: “The big eel came on the last of an eight night effort, just fishing at night and packing up each day.
“I had caught two eels of 4 lb 8 oz and 4 lb 10 oz in previous nights, and suffered a few blanks, and cold ones at that,” added Mark, who is retired and comes from High Cross, Hertfordshire.
Conditions turn spot-on for big eels
Mark continued: “The last night was perfect to my mind; rapidly falling pressure from a sustained high pressure period, overcast, dark and, thankfully, warm at last and my first night without thermal underwear!
“After hooking two pike in the small hours I had started to doubt my instincts, and then, between 2am and 3 am had two short dropped takes on different rods.
“The third take, at 4 am, was a little more positive, taking about 6 inches of line, and I allowed the fish to hook itself against the rod as usual as I use a circle hook, so no strike required.
“At 48 inches long and a 10.25 inch girth this is the longest eel I have caught.
“This is my second 8 lb eel from this water, my previous weighed 8 lb 2 oz, and my PB.
“The 8 lb 1 oz eel is a different fish, as it is considerably longer with very distinct markings and a split tail,” added Mark.
Mark hair-rigged five broken lobworms with a 45 lb Quicksilver Gold trace. This was suspended 12 inch off bottom using a Dyson rig over dead maggots and chopped lobworm. He used Barry McConnell’s Rollovers bite indicators.
CAUGHT A BIG FISH OR GOT SOME NEWS? Email photos and details exclusively to: anglersmail@timeinc.com – you could star in the must-read Angler’s Mail print magazine.
JAMES CRAMERI recorded the biggest bream of the season with this 19 lb 3 oz giant.
The massive bream – just below James’s personal best of 20 lb 15 oz – came in a superb catch from a secret lake that included other mid double-figure specimens.
Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk-based James told Angler’s Mail: “I started fishing Friday afternoon having prepared my two different areas to fish with a mixture of maggots, casters, pellets and sweetcorn.
“One spot was at 80 yards on a gravel bar, the other at over 100 yards featuring gravel and clay,” added the 46-year-old who works for Greater Anglia trains.
Big bream from both spots
James continued: “The first fish came that afternoon to the long range spot weighing 13 lb 14 oz.
“After dark, the closer rod produced a 14 lb 8 oz bream, and the next morning the long range mark yielded the last two bream of 19 lb 3 oz and 14 lb 2 oz.
“The weather had turned warm after a period of cold winds and the conditions seemed perfect. Needless to say it helped being in the right place at the right time!
“I think I could get a bigger fish from the venue but I’d rather not say a great deal more about the water other than it’s ultra tough.”
James used either fake maggot/caster cocktail or Mainline Pineapple dumbell pop-up boilies. These were fished over 6 mm pellets, sweetcorn, dead red maggots and casters. He boated out six pints of them throughout the trip.
CAUGHT A BIG FISH OR GOT SOME NEWS? Email photos and details exclusively to: anglersmail@timeinc.com – you could star in the must-read Angler’s Mail print magazine.
YET another brilliant well-stocked tackle shop is opening as Fishing Republic surges forward after a year of growth.
Fishing Republic’s store network reached 12 outlets at the end of 2016.
Milton Keynes (Buckinghamshire), Ipswich (Suffolk) and Reading (Berkshire) have since been added, with three to open over the coming months.
They include Fishing Republic’s first Essex megastore on Saturday, June 10 – and for the first time the chain will be on the banks of a major fishery.
Clavering Lakes – a popular, three-lake complex – will host the huge new shop (pictured above) with all coarse fishing kit.
Area manager Steve Calder said: “Make no mistake, you’ll need your sat nav for your first visit, which is why we’re planning to launch this particular store in grand style – with a Family Fishing Day featuring free coaching sessions, celebrity guests and our biggest tackle sale to date.
“Because the store is ‘off the beaten track’, we’ve been able to keep our costs down in what is otherwise a very expensive area, which means we’re able to continue doing what we do best – saving our customers money,” he added.
Fishing Republic’s annual report reveals all
Fishing Republic, which went to public limited company in 2015, has produced its first whole year annual report for the year 2016.
It reveals revenue up by 41 per cent to £5,799,000 and profit before tax and exceptional items up by 32 per cent to £403,000 (2015: £305,000).
Fishing Republic website sales rose by 132 per cent to £662,000 and accounted for 40% of total online sales (2015: 16 per cent).
Steve Gross, chief executive for the tackle chain, summed it all up: “It has been another encouraging year of progress.
“The new funds we raised in late June 2016 helped to support the continuing development and expansion of our store network and have also enabled us to accelerate our plans to develop the Group’s online platform and digital strategy.”
CAUGHT A BIG FISH OR GOT SOME NEWS? Email photos and details exclusively to: anglersmail@timeinc.com – you could star in the must-read Angler’s Mail print magazine.
ANGLER'S MAIL print magazine is the place to start the new river fishing season... with a special guide on 'where to fish from June 16'. It's a must-read.
Running waters are in prime condition as we head into the first few days of the river fishing season.
You can trust the magazine’s exclusive Where To Fish This Week experts, plus Steve Collett and Andy Browne, to get you set to tackle the top river fishing hotspots.
This issue has a very special front cover that all river fishing fans will love… a barbel underwater, brilliantly painted by top angling artist Chris Turnbull.
There’s a FREE rod licence voucher too – use it soon, it’s worth £6. Use it soon to take a friend fishing.
Terms and conditions for this great deal are explained in the mag, where you’ll find money-saving day ticket deals too.
Also inside the must-read Angler’s Mail magazine this week:
World’s first motorized lure!
John Bailey’s free bait harvest
Dave Coster’s guide to silver fish hooks
Secret Lives examines magnetic fields, with Dr Ian Welch
Brilliant bag-up margin tips with Steve Gregory
Colin Davidson shares his tactics for small waters
Plus match star Darren Cox, carp ace Billy Flowers and more!
DON’T MISS IT!
The must-read Angler’s Mail print magazine is out now and just £1.99. Accept no substitute. It’s also available digitally.
BIG TENCH fans look this way.... here's the heaviest tench to be reported so far in 2017.
Big tench waters abound in Kent, but the secret 15 acre pit that produced this 13 lb 2 oz cracker is truly special.
Robert Batters smashed his PB by 4 lb with the monster 13 lb 2 oz tinca in the 48-hour session.
The Rainham, Kent-based tiler told Angler’s Mail: “I spent an hour on afternoon arrival leading around to find a suitable spot to fish due to heavy weed growth and then baited up with 4 kg of hemp and corn.
“Hookbait was a 15 mm whittled down Proper Carp Baits garlic and blue cheese wafter with a small yellow topper.
Rob used a wafter for his awesome big tench.
“I started to see a couple of good fish roll over the baited spot, then the take came at four the next morning.
“After a good fight I slipped the net under it and I couldn’t believe my eyes when I parted the mesh to see this special old fish.”
Big tench water’s hidden rewards
Robert continued: “It truly is the fish of a lifetime and one of the nicest tench I’ve ever seen.
“There are actually bigger tench in the venue as the record is 14 lb-plus, and it holds big carp and bream as the water is very weedy and rich.
“My previous PB tench was 9 lb, and I have had carp to 32 lb 4 oz and bream to 14 lb 8 oz.
“I’m just starting now on a new venue of around 50 acres that is very snaggy and weedy with some very big tench and carp, very low stocked with only around 25 carp present,” he added.
Rob’s rig was 5 ins of ESP Tungsten Loaded green soft knotless knot to a size 8 Korda wide gape hook.
CAUGHT A BIG TENCH or any big fish? Email photos and details exclusively to: anglersmail@timeinc.com – you could star in Angler’s Mail magazine.
KAYAK fishing fan Dane Wood caught this stunning pike of 32 lb 14 oz while afloat at Pitsford Water in Northamptonshire.
Kayak fishing has caught on in recent years, and some impressive fish are being reported by enthusiasts like Dane.
The 31-year-old arboricultural instructor at Brampton Valley Training Ltd was kayak fishing at one the noted trout reservoirs in the east midlands that allows limited coarse fishing.
He explained: “Anglian Water is very supportive of kayak fishing and has opened up all it’s waters for us, albeit with tight regulations.”
Kayak fishing action at Pitsford.
Dane continued: “I hooked the fish whilst working the margins with a Rapala crank bait (lure), and at first I thought I was snagged, then the fish took a 50-yard run.
“I managed to get the first glimpse of the fish after about 20 minutes, and soon netted her after another run.
“Fish welfare is a huge topic at the moment so I was very keen to ensure the fish was on the bank for minimal time, and further rested prior to the strong release,” added Northampton-based Dan.
Dane is a member the Ocean Kayak UK Fishing Team and organises the Pitsford Kayak Grand Slam, a two-day event held on August 5 and 6.
CAUGHT A BIG FISH? Email photos and details exclusively to: anglersmail@timeinc.com – you could star in the weekly Angler’s Mail magazine
BIG carp fan Sam Walker is 78... and had the fish of his life with this huge mirror.
Big carp mecca, Essex’s Fryerning Fisheries, was the scene for his mega catch, known as ‘Gurm’, at a PB weight of 55 lb 4 oz.
The 78-year-old from Broxbourne, Hertfordshire, scattered 2 kg of ready-made Mainline Hybrid boilies over a hard clay spot amongst silt at 40 yards.
Sam said: “It is easily my PB. What a stunning fish. I was so pleased after being a member for some time at this wonderful safe and secure venue.”
Charlie Knowles, who manages the big carp water, added: “Obvious Sam and everyone else are absolutely delighted with the capture considering his age and what a gentleman Sam is.”
A giant stone statue (above) graces the banks of Fryerning and made national news last summer when it was unveiled. Big carp fans have been paying homage… and some say it’s brought them luck!
Charlie Knowles told Angler’s Mail at the time: “My dad Chris’s pal Alistair Smith is an artist and sculptor so we decided to commission the ‘carp god’ for a bit of a laugh.
“It took him six months the create and is 8 ft high with carp scales on the back and weighs 3.5 tonnes so took a bit of work to get in.
“It looks nice looking across the main lake and is £3,500 well spent,” he added.
CAUGHT A BIG FISH? Email photos and details exclusively to: anglersmail@timeinc.com – you could star in the magazine.
MANY stars are lined up to fish in the fifth Professional Darts Invitational Fishing Championship on Tuesday, June 27, at Manor Farm in Biggleswade, Bedfordshire. And YOU can be there!
Nationally televised, this year as part of ITV4’s impressive darts coverage schedule, the PDC Invitational Fishing Championship is run by JBD Events since 2013.
Angler’s Mail has been amongst the main supporters.
The event grows ever more popular each year and raises awareness and vital funds for charities throughout the UK.
June 27 is the date – tickets are FREE
This year’s championship will be held on this Tuesday, June 27th at the impressive Manor Farm Fishing complex. Doors open 11am.
The competition is made up of 24 men and woman from the world of sport, TV and celebrity.
All of them are keen to get their hands on the coveted trophy. It was won in 2016 by Dean Macey, the former decathlete champ known in recent years for TV shows like Fishing Gurus and Big Fish Off.
The prestigious PDC event raises thousands of pounds to help ensure chosen charities can continue their marvellous work.
The line-up will include PDC darts chief Barry Hearn, also famed for his promotion of snooker and boxing. ‘Bazza’ could be a dark horse as he has his very own fishing lake… and he helps promote angling’s massively popular Fish’O’Mania matches.
He’ll be alongside the likes of David Seaman (Arsenal and England goalkeeper), Darren Gough (cricket), Steve Davis (snooker, pictured below), Mark Williams (snooker), Adrian Lewis (darts), Dean Macey (athletics).
Angler’s Mail magazine’s exclusive columnist Steve Collett, the winner in 2015, will be there too.
From darts, the field is likely to include Bobby ‘Dazzler’ George, Ian ‘Diamond’ White, Scott ‘Scotty Dog’ Mitchell, Rod Harrington and Darren Webster. Walk-on girls Daniella Alfree and Charlotte Wood will be there again.
Boxing faces will feature the likes of Dereck Chisora and Spencer Oliver.
And some popular celebs including Eastenders’ Max Branning (actor Jake Wood) will be on the banks of this attractive fishery.
Watch the 2016 event video below for a feel for this unique day…
£5,000 charity prize for special fish
This year, title sponsor SunBets have put up a very special bonus to help the chosen charity, Parkinson’s UK.
Organiser Jess Harding said: “We are delighted to announce that our title sponsor SunBets have kindly donated £5,000 to our chosen charity Parkinson’s UK if any of our anglers manage to catch any of the four koi carp in the lake.
“This is a magnificent gesture and we are sure that our fishermen will be going all out to catch the elusive fish.
“This will be the fifth time the event has been staged and looks like being the biggest and best yet.”
Why not put this date in your diary and get yourself along to Manor Farm? For free admissions tickets, email: info@jbdsportsagents.co.uk
Full line-up on eve of the big match
CAUGHT A BIG FISH OR GOT SOME NEWS? Email photos and details exclusively to: anglersmail@timeinc.com – you could star in the must-read Angler’s Mail print magazine.
THE cause of the major fish kill at London’s renowned Walthamstow Reservoir complex, has been revealed as Carp Edema Virus.
Walthamstow saw 600 prime carp die, mostly on day ticket No.1 Reservoir, and many locals feared it could have been the far-worse Koi Herpes Virus.
The complex, run by Thames Water, has just reopened to fishing after a closure to anglers for over a month.
It’s not known how catches will be affected across the site. Walthamstow No.1 will undergo restocking to get it back to its best.
Will Barnard, fisheries manager for Thames Water, explained: “Initial reports back from the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science found Carp Edema Virus present in samples of dead fish.
“CEV, commonly known in the ornamental pet carp trade as Koi Sleepy Disease, is still being researched throughout Europe and CEFAS will carry out additional tests on the Walthamstow fish in order to aid further research.”
Wathamstow No.1, also noted for giant bream, saw the worst of the carp casualties,
A CEFAS a spokesman said: “Infections with CEV, a pox virus, have been known from Japanese koi populations since 1974.
“The characteristic clinical sign associated with the infection is a lethargic behaviour and therefore the disease is called ‘koi sleepy disease’.
“Mortality rates up to 80 per cent are described and diseased koi show swollen gills, sunken eyes and skin alterations.
“For a long period of time, disease outbreaks seemed to be restricted to Japan, but during recent years clinical outbreaks of Koi Sleepy Disease occurred also in the UK and in the Netherlands,” he concluded.
CAUGHT A BIG FISH? Email photos and details exclusively to: anglersmail@timeinc.com – you could star in the magazine and win great prizes.
IMAGINE a fishing lure that behaves just like a real bait fish, but without you having to constantly jig it or retrieve it to keep it moving.... and now check out eMinnow.
eMinnow is a preprogrammed fully motorized fishing lure that mimics the swimming movements and patterns of real bait fish. That includes pauses, speeding up, slowing down and a ‘regular live action’.
A spokesperson for Canadian-based eMinnow revealed: “The lures are perfectly balanced and designed to attract predator fish not only by the realistic swimming action, but also by the vibration and harmonic frequency of the constantly moving motor.
“Predators like pike, perch, trout and salmon simply can’t resist it.
“The lure makes a modulated harmonic clicking sound that predator fish simply can’t ignore, and keeps a realistic movement to lure the target fish in.
“In fact, livebait fish often expire or stop moving after 10 or 15 minutes, but eMinnow keeps going.”
How eMinnow works
“You simply attach it to your line instead of a regular lure or bait,” said the spokesman.
“As soon as the eMinnow hits the water, it begins to swim and make a unique clicking sound that catches the attention of the target fish.
“Once you retrieve your catch and remove it from the water, eMinnow automatically stops moving within a few seconds and allows for easy removal of the fish.”
They don’t come cheap – eMinnow are advertising a pack of two with a battery pack for $45 dollars, about £35.
There’s no UK distribution yet so you’ve have to buy online direct to North America.
“eMinnow not allowed” say EA
The Environment Agency believe the lure could be illegal for freshwater fishing in England.
An EA spokesman said: “The use of electrical devices to take salmon, trout, freshwater fish and eels is illegal under the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Act 1975.
“We take illegal fishing very seriously and anyone fishing illegally can expect to be prosecuted and face a substantial fine.”
GOT A VIEW ON THIS STORY? OR CAUGHT A BIG FISH? Email to: anglersmail@timeinc.com – you could star in the magazine.
This club record 46 lb 13 oz common carp was reward to moving swims to get on the fish.
The mighty common carp came after Jason Partlow moved three times in three days until he got the swim he wanted on an 80 acre Buckinghamshire boating lake.
The 46-year-old groundworker from Milton Keynes, who blanked 20 times previously, used Sticky Baits Vortex boilies and added a 24 lb mirror and three big doubles..
Jason said: “I arrived at the lake Tuesday morning and I couldn’t get in the swim I wanted. So straight away things didn’t start to well.
“But after three moves in three days I managed to get the swim. I managed two high doubles that evening. Followed the following morning by a stunning 24 lb mirror.
“Shortly after that a lost what felt like a good fish on snag. So I decided to drop the rod 6 ft short on the spot.
“An hour or so later I hooked in to a very powerful fish. After ten minutes of hard battle there lay in the bottom of my net for the second time in just over a year the golden common. This time she just looked immense.
“I deffo enjoyed it more this time as I had my partner, son and freinds there to cherish the moment with me. So after 20 blanks I was rewarded with my old friend. Dreams do come true. Hard work pays off,” he added.
CAUGHT A BIG FISH? Email photos and details exclusively to: anglersmail@timeinc.com – you could star in the magazine.
THE new river season is well underway, and Angler's Mail magazine is the place to look for catches, tips and inform venues - but which British record fish are at risk?
Barbel Society chairman Steve Pope believes the British record fish signs for this season are very encouraging… even a new record barbel.
Steve thinks there could be a British record fish caught to overtake the long-standing No.1 weight for barbel of 21 lb 1 oz.
That super heavyweight was caught by Grahame King way back in 2006 from the Great Ouse in Bedfordshire (pictured above).
Steve Pope told Angler’s Mail: “On most rivers, barbel will have spawned and will feed avariciously.”
Steve Pope says big barbel prospects are good this season.
Steve added: “I reckon we could go close to the barbel record going this season, with one of the big rivers in the south favourite to hold a giant whisker.
“On the large waters like the Thames big nomadic fish can roam and feed heavily and generally avoid capture and predation.
“On the smaller waters like the Ivel they are easier to locate and heavy specimens come under great angling pressure,” concluded Steve, who gave his top River Severn barbel bait tip to this website.
The prospects of a record zander are fair too according to top predator angler Neville Fickling. He rates the Severn and the Fens rather than his local Trent as the best bets.
Neville Fickling says there’s a fair chance the zander record could fall from a river this term.
The zander record stands at 21 lb 5 oz from the River Severn at Upper Lode by James Benfield in 2007.
Loads of mid to upper double-figure fish, even pushing 20 lb, have been caught since from the powerful west midlands river.
Neville, who has caught many impressive river zander himself, said: “The number of zander in the Trent are relatively small with 20 fish in a season a good haul, whereas they are far more prolific elsewhere.
“And the Severn is more likely to produce both large numbers and a potential record,” he added.
CAUGHT A BIG FISH? Email photos and details exclusively to: anglersmail@timeinc.com – you could star in the magazine.
BEST baits for catfish include some of the most unlikely offerings - including what caught this giant.
A huge lump of pig’s liver the ‘size of a man’s head’ produced the 100 lb moggie for catfish novice Paul Sadler.
Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex-based Paul had never fished for catfish before but decided to try for a big one at local Chigboro Fisheries.
Pig’s liver was used as bait.
He bought a ready-made Cat Pro rig with a size 6 hook and hair-rig on which he freelined the outsized bait.
The 38-year-old, on the right-hand side of picture above along with Steve Rouse who helped net the massive wels, played it for 40 minutes on 12 lb Gardner Insight line.
CAUGHT A BIG FISH? Email photos and details exclusively to: anglersmail@timeinc.com – you could star in the weekly magazine.
GEORGE BENOS had a week he will never forget when he caught giant carp in two different venues for a combined 121 lb, just stopping off at home for a quick shower in-between.
The 41-year-old started his giant carp double at Wasing Estate’s Cranwell Lake, Berkshire, landing the famous ‘Parrot’ at 62 lb 8 oz (pictured above).
George then moved onto Wingham Fishery in Kent, where on his first-ever session he caught ‘Black Spot’ at 58 lb 6 oz.
The AA patrolman from Broxbourne, Hertfordshire explained: “It’s my first season on Cranwells, and I had been fishing the lake hard recently, as I always take leave in May, and this particular session was one week long.
“The swim I wanted to fish was taken, but I knew the chap fishing it was off the next day around lunch time, so I decided to get up really early and move my kit around there to ensure I got there first.”
Weed gives giant carp reward after an hour
George continued: “I fished to a weedy area, just at the base of a sandy plateau, using a hinged stiff link with a Proper Carp Baits 12 mm Yellow Pineapple and N-butyric Acid pop-up, with around about 10 crumbed up Black Seal boilies.
“About an hour later the right hand rod was away and for the first half of the fight I thought I was just dragging in a weed bed before, as the fish got closer, I realised I was attached to something very special.
“After a tense five minutes plodding up and down the deeper gully in front of me, thankfully my Gardner Covert size 5 chod hook held firm and I slid my net under my prize, giving it the big shout.
“The Parrot was my 30th fish landed from the lake, having caught some lovely looking scalies previously, including the awesome Floppy Tail Linear at 41 lb 2 oz.”
Second giant carp was in store for George…
George added: “After having the Parrot following an intense campaign, to have Black Spot on the first day of my first ever trip to Wingham (in Kent) is amazing.
“Never in my wildest dreams did I expect my first Wingham fish to be the biggest!” he concluded.
Arriving there in the afternoon, George spotted a few fish near a reedbed and cast 35 yards into 3 ft of water.
He used a single Proper Carp Baits 15 mm Black Seal boilies plus their 12 mm White Pineapple pop-up on a snowman rig over a half a kilo of boilies.
TENCHFISHERS members enjoyed a special day at Sywell Reservoir as a double-figure tench starred in their fish-in to help raise funds for vital new stocks.
As many Angler’s Mail fans – and all the Tenchfishers guys know – Sywell was the most noted tench venue in the UK in the 1990s.
The Northamptonshire water’s former heady days could be set for a return thanks to the Tenchfishers.
Some 30 anglers took part in the David Watson Memorial Project at the £8 a day, 67 acre venue.
Sywell gave some fine rewards including a top fish of 10 lb 3 oz (pictured above). The beauty, seen by the venue’s iconic tower, fell to Ade Holmes from top shop Fosters of Birmingham, a sponsor of the tench anglers’ organisation.
Other notably successful anglers were Mark Simmonds with four fish to 8 lb 11 oz (pictured below). And Rich Hall landed three tench to 8 lb 8 oz.
Working to boost Sywell stocks
Tenchfishers press officer Phil Jackson said: “The fish-in was to commemorate David, a well-respected group member.
“David had recognised the rapidly declining tench stocks in the Edwardian reservoir from around the turn of the millennium. He had taken the initiative to work with the EA in 2012.
“This was the first anniversary of his death on June 9, 2016. Profits from the day are to finance further stocking of the reservoir.
The 8lb 11oz tench to Mark Simmonds at the Tenchfishers event.
Phil added: “In February 2017, around 2,000 tench averaging 6 oz were stocked.
“More tench larger fish in the 1 lb bracket are scheduled for early 2018 sourced from Arron Standing – a well-known tench breeder.”
Aim to reach Reservoir’s former glory
Tenchfishers chairman Ian Peacock added: “The hope is to bring Sywell back to something approaching its former glory.
“There is no telling how successful we will be but we are determined to try.”
In the 1990s, Sywell was also famous for having a legering ban. Heavy weed made the technique unviable on the fish but the ban has since been lifted.
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