Innholdsfortegnelse for Issue 3672 i Angling Times

GET READY WITH DAI GRIBBLE WHEN it comes to catching specimen carp, boilies and pellets are often the only baits that get a look in. But on pressured lakes, where the fish have seen it all before, there can be a much better alternative. I’ve caught many big carp on worms, and they’re one of the first things I pack when going in search of the species. My first captures on them were purely accidental, as I was fishing for tench and bream, but it became apparent that I was getting far more runs from carp than the carp boys were! As with any style of fishing , there are certain edges that you can apply to give yourself the best possible chance of getting off to a great start…

EVERY generation of anglers seems to have its own big-fish superstars, driven by an obsession to catch something that will rewrite the record lists. Dick Walker, Alan Wilson and Terry Lampard all dedicated much of their life to the pursuit of this goal, and the trend continues to this day, two-time Drennan Cup winner Simon Daley having joined the ranks of the happily obsessed. I’d never met the man before I interviewed him for Fishflix, and I’d wrongfully suspected him to be concerned only with pounds and ounces gained by casting out a bolt rig. Nothing wrong with that but, as an angler drawn to style rather than substance, I immediately connected with Simon. The twinkle in his eye and the smile on his face when he spoke about long…

THE DOMINANCE of carp can lead to other commercial species not getting a look in at this time of year, but that’s far from the case at Springvale Lakes in Nottinghamshire. Seven lakes have been dug at the complex, which has been stocked with a huge array of species to provide a proper mixed bag for visitors. Ide, chub, tench, bream and barbel live among the mirrors and commons in all the pools, and 100lb-plus silverfish hauls are possible right through the year. There are more than 200 swims to have a crack at, and there’s easy parking available behind most of them. Landing nets are provided for all pleasure anglers (as well as keepnets for match anglers), while a well-stocked on-site bait shop sells fishery pellets, maggots and corn…

(* indicates an anagram) ACROSS 1 e.g. John Wilson's Tenpin float for surface fishing (10)7 The ruffe – Church head! (4)9 Lure a fish with bait, say (5)10 Tear-shaped pole float, buoyant at the base (4-4)11 River of Cumbria, Durham, North Yorkshire and Cleveland (4) 12 Part of a flower... in tope, Talybont (5)13 Channel Island where cars are prohibited (4) 14 ___ cast throws float and reel line at same speed (*as will) (6) 16 Simple device for stacking spare top kits (3,5)18 Thick-tipped floats for shallow fishing; ninepins (8)21 Iconic stretch of Oxfordshire Thames – musical assortment (6)22 Soft, fine material for keepnets (4)24 As line is coiled on to spool (5)25 Chub relative with concave anal fin (4)26 Avoid ____ cast beneath power lines! (8)28 Scottish loch…

EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW FROM THE WORLD OF FISHING THE DIRECT impact of sewage spills on angling was laid bare this week, as data revealed a 400 per cent increase in deaths of English fish stocks over the previous year. Environment Agency (EA) figures show they rocketed from 42,070 in 2022/23 to 216,135 in 2023/24. The escalation has been linked directly to sewage pollution, and Southern Water and Thames Water stand out as being responsible for the majority of the spills. What’s more, it’s likely that these figures paint an overly positive image, as studies by Fish Legal show that investigation reports are not provided for more than half of these incidents. “These figures are likely to underestimate the true impact of sewage pollution on wildlife,” said Penny Gane,…

“I COULDN’T BELIEVE MY LUCK!” Dan Foster – 9lb male tench “GIVEN better conditions following the recent hot weather, not to mention a couple of blanks, and I was hopeful (and somewhat desperate!) that my tench fortunes might change. “I was targeting a clear strip behind some weed on a southern stillwater, using worm kebab hookbaits tipped with brightly-coloured foam that made the hookbait sink slowly to the bottom. “It wasn’t long before I had several liners, and an hour into the session I got my first proper bite. Sadly, that fish managed to shake the hook, but 20 minutes after recasting I had a 9lb male in the folds of the net. I couldn’t believe my luck! “The bites continued throughout the day, finally coming to an end after…

WHEN choosing pole rollers, a lot of thought needs to go into the design you need to match the venues and – importantly – the banks of the venues that you fish. For general shipping , a flatbed roller presents a nice wide target to push your pole across, and is pretty good in the wind, too. The difficult decision involves its height. For a flat bank, 50cm to 70cm is normally about right, as it allows you to ship back comfortably without stooping down and hurting your back. It also keeps the pole-tip low to the water to avoid tangles or lost fish. If you are sat particularly high off the water, there are obstacles behind you, or the bank drops away, you might need a much taller roller…

TIPS & TACTICS MOST reservoirs are predominantly trout fisheries where targeting predators with lure and/or deadbaiting tactics is allowed during the winter months. But pick up a fly rod and you can stay on these captivating waters much further into the year! In fact, on many venues, anglers are allowed to fly fish for pike, perch and zander from the start of May onwards. You may think fly fishing is expensive and a loaf of faff. While you can splash out on expensive kit (just as you can with coarse tackle), there’s some great value stuff on the market these days. Learning to cast takes a bit of time, but the effort is well worthwhile. Catching predators on fly tackle is not only fantastic fun, but it also allows you…

SPOTLIGHT ON GIANNA’S, COBBLEACRE LAKES IF YOU’RE after a venue that combines the ambiance of a tranquil estate lake with the convenience of a modern commercial, then Gianna’s at Cobbleacre Lakes is almost certain to tickle your fancy. The five-lake complex is located to the north of Norwich, where the stunning scenery and a plethora of features makes Gianna’s a real favourite with visitors. A series of islands run down the middle of the 1.5-acre pool, with weed beds, lily pads and reeds also plentiful to keep you on your toes. Float and feeder anglers alike are catered for – a mix of silverfish and carp is stocked to keep you guessing what will take the bait next. HOW TO FISH IT A SMALL Method feeder packed with a mixture…

WHEN I look at the dates of these archives I am often completely taken aback. How on Earth can this be from almost 40 years ago? While I didn’t fish the match (my team simply didn’t qualify), I remember reading about it and listening to some of the winning team, even up to just a couple of weeks ago. It was one of the less-than-brilliant AT Winter League Finals: not for the event but for the catches, and the weather played one of its frequent tricks on the competitors. Early season bream are rarely reliable, and the massive shoals that inhabited the famed Attenborough Gravels just didn’t feed. What happened was that this great Dorking team – in my opinion the best incarnation of a squad that has evolved many…

THIS WEEK FANS of one of Britain’s favourite coarse fish species enjoyed a weekend to remember at the 2024 National Tench Championships, with many PBs being beaten and specimen-sized fish banked. Hosted by The Tenchfishers, the event is a celebration of the species and follows on from last season’s successful inaugural championships. It was held on Oxlease Lake at the popular Linear Fisheries, and 29 anglers from across the country competed over the weekend. Wyn Jones took first place with an excellent four-tench totalling 31lb 8oz. He and Mark Davies shared the biggest fish prize, both of them ending with a 9lb 12oz tinca to their name. A special mention must also go out to fifth-placed Dean Bradshaw, who caught three fish on the float, including one of 9lb…

LESS than a decade ago, it would’ve been easy to feel bleak about so few young people breaking into angling. But, since 2017, one drive has given the fishing community hope of a brighter future. The Let’s Fish campaign is fronted by John Ellis, Fisheries and Angling Manager of the Canal and Rivers Trust (CRT). Concerned about the sharp decline in young people entering the sport, seven years ago decided to try to do something to reverse the trend, through his role at the CRT. Having run junior sessions at local club level for many years, he wondered if a similar model could be rolled out nationally, and developed the Let’s Fish initiative to work with local angling clubs and offer taster sessions to youngsters. To date, 1,451 events have…

Daiwa Spring Classic, Westwood Lakes: Skylark, Hawk, Falcon & Swallow Lakes (104 pegs) THREE anglers were tied on a perfect points tally at the end of the Daiwa Spring Classic, meaning total weight came into play before one of the hottest talents on the commercial match scene was crowned champion. A field of 104 anglers descended upon Lincolnshire’s Westwood Lakes to take part in the three-day tournament, after which 25-year-old Kristian Jones was handed the £1,000 winner’s cheque along with the silverware. The former Fish O’Mania champion was among the favourites, but victory was never going to be easy with the likes of Andy Bennett and Paul Holland involved. Three section wins in three days put Kristian in pole position but, with two other anglers also achieving that feat, the…

CLOSE your eyes and imagine an old-school tench fishing session – images of a peacock waggler pinned tight to the lily pads, with tiny pinprick bubbles nearby telling you fish aren’t far away. These days, bolt rigs have turned many heads, but some have stayed loyal to their roots and continue to floatfish at short range for their ‘tincas’. Korum-backed big-fish expert Mark Dunwell is one of these anglers, and his results in recent years have validated his decision to stick with the traditional ‘Crabtree-style’ way of catching tench. “There are still plenty of occasions when I prefer to use a waggler instead of a lead or a feeder, and that’s down to its tactical benefits, rather than just mere nostalgia,” explained Mark. “It offers a different style of presentation…

PEOPLE often associate floater fishing with really hot, windless days, when the sun is high in a cloudless blue sky. These conditions can be productive, but carp will often just as likely be up in the water and on the mooch in rainy conditions as well. First light can also be a great time for surface fishing. This is because the light levels are far less harsh, allied with the fact that the carp are often feeding at that time anyway. Setting the alarm for just before dawn, grabbing your kit and heading off around the lake towards those early-morning swirls on the surface can certainly be a rewarding experience… not least because nobody else will be doing it! LOOSEFEED SIZES Once you have done the groundwork and found a…