Innholdsfortegnelse for 9th September 2015 i Angling Times

AN EPIC four-and-a-half-hour battle has ended with the capture of a 500lb tuna off the coast of Wales. The monster fish was taken by Somerset angler Chris Bett during a shark-fishing trip on Andrew Alsop’s Milford Haven-based charter vessel ‘White Water II’. Nothing could have prepared Chris and his friend John Beck for what was about to happen as the tuna made off with a hookbait suspended just yards from the boat. The fish stripped line from Chris’s reel at such a rate that the anglers were forced to pursue it for over four miles before finally setting eyes on it. “I’ve been all over the globe catching great white sharks, marlin and other big-game fish, but this is without doubt my most amazing capture and the greatest fight I’ve…

THE capture of a string of huge perch has proved why there couldn’t be a better time to bag a new personal best. The glut of perch was topped by a season-best 4lb 11oz fish taken on a lure by 25-year-old Laurence Mason. Fishing a small tributary of the River Lea in Ware, the Essex-based specialist cast his favourite diving plug towards a small bridge – and it wasn’t long before a violent take ended in the capture of his new personal best. “It hit the lure hard and my heart started to race when I saw it was a perch as it emerged through the murky water,” said Laurence. “My dad came running down the river to see the fish. Neither of us could believe how big it was…

A CONTROVERSIAL peg draw system for next year’s Fish O’ Mania final has been scrapped following widespread criticism. Officials from tournament owner Matchroom Sport originally announced that the top 16 in the new semi-final would get involved in a ‘rover draw’ for the big final, with anglers choosing their peg for the final in order of how they fared in the semi. Following feedback, a standard draw will take place the night before the final, with anglers picking a peg from the bag in the order of where they finished in the semi-final.…

A THAMES Weir Permit is great value. For less than £30 a year you can fish 20 weirs (19 at the moment, as Shepperton is suspended), and they all provide awesome action (see page 18). They all hold wild brownies, with even the chance of a salmon or sea trout, although you will need a migratory fish licence to target them. There are far more catfish present than you’d think, too, but only in recent times has tackle capable of landing them been used. The pike and perch fishing is superb. At the start of the season, Sam Edmonds and dad Gary had 41 perch, 13 pike and a decent chub, all on lures! I saw a photo last week of a catfish, claimed as 13lb but looking bigger, caught…

IF YOU’VE GOT A CATCH TO REPORT CALL OUR HOTLINE ON 01733 395103 STRIP POND (8 PEGS) Strip is the smallest lake on the complex, and also the newest. It’s stocked with a good mixture of small carp, F1s and silverfish to ensure bites throughout the year. The best action can be had on the pole by fishing tight to the far bank with a range of baits – 6mm expander pellets will sort out the carp and bream, although sweetcorn, maggot and caster are favoured for everything else. HORSESHOE LAKE (42 PEGS) This two-acre match and pleasure pool offers 42 pegs of feature-filled fishing. The design of the lake allows anglers to cast towards a central island. With this in mind, the Method feeder cast tight to the island’s…

MOST anglers will probably never even have heard of the Environment Agency Lock & Weir Scheme. But if you like river fishing and yearn for the excitement of casting your bait into a fish-filled weir pool it could be just the thing for you. Run by the Environment Agency, the scheme allows anglers to fish on dozens of locks and weirs located on the River Thames from the upper stretches at Buscot in the Cotswolds all the way down to Molesey in Surrey. Part with just two bob more than the price of your rod licence and you’ll have the opportunity to fish mostly untapped pegs for virtually every coarse species that swims – pegs that would otherwise be out of bounds. Locks and weir pools, with their combination of…

1 Use a through-actioned rod that bends right to the butt, so you can put pressure on while steering chub away from snags. Paul likes the 13ft Shakespeare Superteam Match for waggler work. 2 Hook a 6mm cube like this and always leave the point showing. If not, you could easily bump a chub, especially if you don’t strike quickly! Chub often spit baits out in an instant, so you need to be on your toes. 3 Use a small bomb later in the session – ½oz or ¾oz is perfect if it’s enough to hold bottom, and will cause minimal disturbance and fewer spooked fish. Use a 2ft 6ins to 3ft hooklength with a straight-hooked cube. 4 Paul uses Shakespeare Mach XT line as a hooklength in 0.14mm (4.2lb)…

YOU could be forgiven for thinking there is only one bait you can use to catch a big fish – and that is a boilie. It is worth remembering, though, that many venues up and down the country still frown on the ‘little round balls’. Even on big-fish venues I am convinced that carp, barbel and other species can wise-up to seeing the same old baits time and again, so very often it is the enterprising angler who tries something different that scores big time. But what are these different baits, and when should you use them? Here are my favourite boilie alternatives… 1 BIG PARTICLES THERE was a time when seeds, beans and pulses, commonly lumped together under the banner of ‘particle baits’, were at the cutting edge of…

1 LEARN THE SKILLS Read this guide – it has all the rigs, baits and tips to help you complete your challenge... 2 CATCH A FISH Pick a suitable fishery near you and then get out there and catch your target fish... 3 CLAIM YOUR PRIZE Take a pic of your catch and email it to us – we’ll send you a special certificate to show your mates! COMPLETE THE CHALLENGE AND GET AN EXCLUSIVE CERTIFICATE EMAIL CHALLENGE@ANGLINGTIMES.CO.UK  WITH YOUR PICTURES “MY CHALLENGE TO YOU IS TO CATCH A BIG NET OF MIXED SILVERFISH FROM A COMMERCIAL FISHERY!” Darren Cox, England international…

CHOD SAFE THE Chod Safe rig holder will safely house up to 28 short and long Choddy hooklinks, and a pop-out handle allows you to steam sections to achieve the perfect curve, as well as doubling up as a compartment for rig pins. There’s also a section that takes up to three leadcore (or similar) leaders. Price: £18.99 KURV SHANK XX HOOKS KURV Shank XX hooks are two wire gauges above the standard model, for use in the most demanding fishing situations. The super strong forged pattern features a durable PTFE coating, ultra-sharp straight point, downturned eye and micro-barb. In sizes 1, 2, 4, 6 and 8. Price: £3.99 WIDE GAPE XX HOOKS LIKE the Kurv Shank, Korda’s Wide Gape hooks will soon be available in a heavier XX wire…

ONE of the country’s most historic carp waters threw up this 42lb 8oz mirror for experienced big-fish man Brian Hankins. The fish came from Savay, a tricky water in Buckinghamshire’s Colne Valley which has hosted many of angling’s famous names through the years. “This is my new personal best,” said Brian, who is the longest-serving syndicate member and began fishing the venue in 1981. “My previous best was also a Savay mirror of 40lb, caught in 1997.” The 61-year-old added: “My original plan was to fish on the Colne bank for eels at night, then carp fish during daylight. “But heavy rain on the Sunday saw me set up near the car park to avoid being drowned!” said Brian. “Also, a few carp were showing in Cottage Bay, so the…

WHEN Bruce Head set off for his maiden trip to France he had his sights set on a 20-pounder, but his first Gallic carp turned out to be one of the biggest in the world. On his first day of fishing, the 34-year-old banked the Scar Fish – a huge mirror which once held the world record at 99lb. This time it was down in weight, but still pulled the scales round to 87lb. “I went thinking ‘if I catch a twenty I’ll be happy’,” said Bruce. “I could only have dreamed of catching the legendary Scar Fish, but I did! Everyone I tell thinks it’s incredible – my first French fish is 87lb!” The Norfolk angler arrived on Saturday, but after baiting a selection of spots he didn’t get…

DES TAYLOR’S DIARY OF A COUNTRYMAN THIS WEEK’S CATCHES IN KINGFISHER CLUB QUIZ OF THIS WEEK’S NEWS AND CROSSWORD IT’S UP TO CLUB MEMBERS TO HELP CLEAR THE BANKS THERE are a number of complex reasons why traditional river venues seem to be fairly universally neglected. First, anglers used to the standards set at man-made commercial venues often expect those same standards to be available everywhere. Second, many river venues do not attract their earlier volume of anglers, so that some pegs near access points are cleared, some are established and disappear, and some are lost in the wilderness. The answer to the problem of access on rivers requires a shift in angler expectation and attitude. When we join a club or association we are not customers. We are members.…

DURING the 1990s my wife’s gran, Marian McKay, was a very keen angler, often fishing club matches with friends and late husband Horace around the Stourport area. Unfortunately, problems with her knees put a stop to her fishing trips but whenever I’m home – I’m serving with the British army in Germany – we visit Marian and talk fishing. She swore by the use of boiled pearl barley and had told us in the past she wanted her ashes scattered on her favourite peg at Woodland View – peg 11 behind the café. Anyway, last year she had a knee replacement and now has her mobility back. Last week we headed off to Woodland View – to peg 11, of course! She made her first cast, placed the rod on…

FOLLOW Angling Times on Twitter at @angling_timesand Angling Times Editor Steve Fitzpatrick on @AnglingTimesEdfor all the latest news and competitions. ‘Like’ our Facebook page www.facebook.com/anglingtimesfor weekly competitions, news, a first look at new products and much, much more. Fishing on the box River Monsters: Untold Stories Tuesday, Sept 8, 1pm Extreme angler Jeremy Wade relives some of his most frightening encounters with the world’s deadliest catfish, and reveals what makes this type of river monster so supremely dominant. Fishing Gurus Wednesday, Sept 9, 4:30pm Alex Bones and Mick Bull are fishing the pellet waggler at Boddington Reservoir. What are the best floats to use? Hooked on Fishing Thursday, Sept 10, 5pm Paul Young journeys to Alaska in search of spectacular chum salmon. Will his choice of flies help him land…

‘SEE who’s our biggest fan!’ screamed the headline on the front cover of Angling Times on January 8, 1986. Alongside it was a photograph of comedian Jim ‘Nick Nick’ Davidson, then at the height of his cabaret and pantomime career. Inside, there was an interview with the man itself. It all came about after Jim had been quoted in a national newspaper as saying: “Angling Times is a bigger turn on than Playboy.” That was all we needed to embark on a mission to speak to him, something we finally managed during a rehearsal lunch break for Cinderella, in which he was appearing at Oxford’s Apollo Theatre. “It’s getting stupid now,” he said about his love for fishing at the time. “It’s cost me thousands because I turn down bookings.…

BIG weights of bream, carp and even ide have featured this week, with Neil Greenfield of Notts-based Gladstone AC weighing in 81-10-0 of slabs from Hackett’s Lake to win. Feeder and worm did the damage again. Best of the carp weights around the UK was Dave Norris’s 363-6-0. He led the CESAS match at Framfield Fishery, catching on pole and bread. Ide made the running for Bramley Social’s Glynn Colley, who took a massive 124-6-0 of fish to 4lb on caster shallow from Clearwater Fishery. He was well clear of runner-up Lenny Webb. At Hayton Fishery, small chub saw Reece Atkin win the Hucknall Town visit with 28-2-0, a net made up of more than 120 fish. Orchard Place Farm continued to produce the huge catches of F1s for which…

END peg 124 on the road bank of the Main Lake has been in prime form for weeks, with Mick Bull breaking the venue record from it in the recent Barston Bowl event a fortnight ago. This year’s final saw Greenside AS man Mick Phillips turn in a pulsating performance to take victory with 131-10-0. He left it late, the Dartford rod having only half-a-dozen carp and a few skimmers to show with an hour to go. Then the big fish turned up down the edge, a dozen being landed in a whirlwind final 60 minutes, including a massive 22lb specimen common to see him home with plenty to spare. “I knew all about the peg – I think everyone wanted to draw it!” Mick said. “I decided to start…

RiverFest qualifier River Severn, Bewdley (60 pegs) THERE was a full house for this heat and Rick Rogers claimed his spot in the big final after his 35-7-0 first place haul. A decision to target the resident barbel from peg 9 paid off in style for the Barford angler, with fish to over 6lb going in to the net. Ian Ward and Trevor Fuller were the other section winners on the day, with the duo joining Rick in the final this coming winter. Result:1 R Rogers, Barford, 35-7-0; 2 S Williams, Shakespeare, 23-8-0; 3 T Fuller, Tidal Angling, 16-2-0; 4 A Bruton, Sensas Clarkes, 11-13-0; 5 I Ward, Frenzee, 11-6-0.…

Editor-in-Chief Steve Fitzpatrick – 01733 395097 steve.fitzpatrick@bauermedia.co.uk Deputy Editor Kevin Wilmot – 01733 395098 kevin.wilmot@bauermedia.co.uk Deputy Editor James Furness – 01733 395104 james.furness@bauermedia.co.uk Editorial Secretary Mary-Ann Payne – 01733 395105 mary-ann.payne@bauermedia.co.uk Tackle Editor Mark Sawyer – 01733 395107 mark.sawyer@bauermedia.co.uk Features Editor Richard Grange – 01733 395109 richard.grange@bauermedia.co.uk Features Editor Mark Parker – 01733 395140 mark.parker@bauermedia.co.uk Senior Feature Writer Ben Fisk – 01733 395101 ben.fisk@bauermedia.co.uk News Editor Ben Miles – 01733 395102 ben.miles@bauermedia.co.uk Senior Reporter Thom Airs – 01733 395106 thom.airs@bauermedia.co.uk Senior Reporter Tony Grigorjevs – 01733 395100 tony.grigorjevs@bauermedia.co.uk Senior Reporter Mark Peck – 01733 395103 mark.peck@bauermedia.co.uk News Reporter Ian Jones – 01733 395111 ian.jones@bauermedia.co.uk Digital Media Manager Rose Lloyd – 01733 395108 rose.lloyd@bauermedia.co.uk Head of photography Mick Rouse mick.rouse@bauermedia.co.uk Staff photographer Lloyd Rogers lloyd.rogers@bauermedia.co.uk Studio photographer Jacques Portal jacques.portal@bauermedia.co.uk Join…

THE final months of day-ticket sport at Bury Hill Fisheries are providing plenty of memorable moments as Nick Stunt proved when he banked 111lb 4oz of bream during a recent match. Drawn on peg 32 on the Old Lake at the Surrey complex, the Hackbridge AS man won the event when he used pellet and corn for fish to 5lb. He wasn’t the only angler to take triple figures of bream from the venue this week, with pleasure angler Simon White netting 34 fish from peg 29. The complex is set to become a members-only fishery next year . Fnd out more about the changes by visiting www.buryhillfisheries.co.uk…

RIVER fishing fanatic Jonathan Spaulding set a new barbel personal best with this mint-conditioned 17lb specimen. After banking two double-figure fish to a best of 13lb in a swim on the River Trent close to his home, the Stotabaits field tester decided on an area that had recently produced for him and it proved to be a master stroke. At 10.15pm his bite alarm screamed out and, after a 20-minute battle, the new personal best was in the net. “I ended last season with my biggest ever chub and now I’ve beaten my barbel personal best,” he said.…

SEPTEMBER has seen countless huge catfish hit the bank and Phil Buckingham took a break from his usual river haunts to visit his local commercial fishery, where he was rewarded with three huge specimens topped by a 90lb monster. Fishing on Essex’s Slough House Lake, the Chub Study Group member started the session by banking a specimen of 23lb using meat. The real action began, however, when Phil switched to squid hookbait to bank a specimen weighing 85lb followed shortly after by his new personal best.…

THIS could be a great winter for perch. Fry survival seems to have been pretty good over the summer, even if most of them came a touch later than usual. I’ve been spying on my fry hotspots on the Thames and there are plenty from last spring too, so it won’t be long before I get my lure rod out. As far as my local tidal river is concerned I think it is now past its best as far as big perch are concerned, but I’m convinced that sections further upstream could provide some massive fish, even potential records. I think we are some way yet from a seven-pounder, but even that could happen from a trout reservoir where the coarse fish fry grow unchecked. I don’t think this will…

YOU might well think there is little mystery beneath the surface of a typical commercial fishery. Rivers and canals are often praised for the element of surprise they can provide, but man-made lakes are rarely seen in the same light. That’s a shame, because not all commercials are dominated by carp. Dig a little deeper and you’ll often find there is much more to these places than meets the eye. Some are home to specimen perch, others have giant crucians and tench gliding beneath the surface, but at Moreton Fisheries it is an explosion of bream and skimmers that has attracted a new audience. The Cheshire fishery is regularly praised for the large carp that swim in Main Lake, but in recent months anglers who have scaled down their tackle…

JUST a stone’s throw away from the River Don in Rotherham is Elm Tree Farm Fishery – a three-lake complex brimming with character. If you’re after carp and silverfish sport then this is the venue for you, where 20lb bags of roach are just as common as the immaculate double-figure carp that also live here. With Wednesday match weights averaging 50lb and individual carp to 30lb now coming out regularly, there is a very good chance you’ll bag up or achieve a new personal best at this fishery. VENUE FACT FILE ELM TREE FARM FISHERY, ROTHERHAM, SOUTH YORKS PRICES: £5 a day, concessions £4, £3 after 4pm CONTACT: 01709 855219 or Mark on 07944 505798 LOCATION: Elm Tree Farm Fisheries, Elm Tree Farm Court, Hooton Roberts, Rotherham, South Yorkshire, S65…

IF YOU’VE GOT A CATCH TO REPORT CALL OUR HOTLINE ON 01733 395103 RIVERS AND CANALS RIVER STOUR, STURMINSTER, DORSET THE mill pool at Sturminster Mill is a productive area with bream, chub, roach and pike the main quarry. For chub try downstream of the Bull Inn. Contact: 01258 269546, Sturminster & Hinton AA Prices: £6 a day or £40 a year, Sturminster & Hinton AA BUDE CANAL, BUDE, CORNWALL The basins and bird hide are producing hand-sized skimmers to groundbait and maggot. Prices: £5 a day from the Crescent Post Office, Bude Canal AA, Contact: Waterfront Tackle, 01288 359606 RIVER AVON, THE ROYALTY, HANTS The Great Weir is producing barbel to just over 10lb on rolling meat. Contact: Davis Angling, 01202 485169 Prices: £12.50 from Davis Angling RIVER GREAT…

1 BUSCOT LOCK, BUSCOT, OXFORDSHIRE Sat Nav: SN7 8DA Contact: 01367 252434 2 GRAFTON LOCK, CLANFIELD, OXFORDSHIRE Sat Nav: OX18 2RY Contact: 01367 810251 3 RUSHEY LOCK, BUCKLAND MARSH, OXFORDSHIRE Sat Nav: SH7 8RF Contact: 01367 870218 4 SHIFFORD LOCK, NEAR ASTON, OXFORDSHIRE Sat Nav: OX18 2EJ Contact: 01367 870247 5 PINKHILLLOCK,NEAREYNSHAM, OXFORDSHIRE Sat Nav: OX8 1JH Contact: 01865 881452 6 EYNSHAMLOCK,EYNSHAM,OXFORDSHIRE Sat Nav: OX8 1BY Contact: 01865 881324 7 SANDFORDLOCK,SANDFORD-ON-THAMES, OXFORDSHIRE Sat Nav: OX4 4YD Contact: 01865 775889 8 CULHAMLOCK,CULHAM, NEARABINGDON,OXFORDSHIRE Sat Nav: OX14 4NE Contact: 01235 522061 9 CLIFTONLOCK,CLIFTONHAMPDEN, OXFORDSHIRE Sat Nav: OX14 3EH Contact: 01865 407821 10 DAY’S LOCK, LITTLE WITTENHAM, OXFORDSHIRE Sat Nav: OX14 4RD Contact: 01865 407768 11 BENSON LOCK, PRESTON CROWMARSH, OXFORDSHIRE Sat Nav: OX10 6SL Contact: 01491 835255 12 GORING LOCK, GORING, OXFORDSHIRE…

WHEN there’s a decent flow in a river and a depth of 8ft-15ft, a bulk-shotted Bolo is hard to beat for bait presentation. Over the past 12 months I’ve been giving a lot of thought to this style of fishing, and come to the conclusion that I needed some smaller, lighter versions for days when I wanted a bulk- shotted rig in slow-moving or low level rivers. I also wanted the floats to be suitable for shallower rivers between 6ft and 12ft deep. So the No4 Bolo was born. These floats range from 1g up to 3g and feature a 2.5mm hollow bristle and a long, thin carbon stem. Not only is this float good for use with a running line, it’s also a brilliant pattern to use with long…

THE Method feeder is the number one approach on many commercial lakes, but even this brilliant tactic needs to be constantly adapted to keep fish coming consistently to the net. When it first appeared on the scene more than 20 years ago, it’s fair to say that the Method transformed sport on commercials almost overnight, with huge hauls of carp, tench and bream falling to it regularly. But as the years have gone by fish stocks have wised up to the ‘traditional’ Method feeder and it is only those who have been prepared to change their approach who have reaped consistent rewards. There have been many refinements, from feeder shape and size, to different baits and feeds, hooks, hooklengths and even the rods used to cast them to the spot.…

LUNCHEON meat is one of the staple baits of late summer, and It’s especially good on the pole because there’s no risk of it dropping off the hook as you lower it into the water. It can be used as a hookbait in cube or cylinder form, or as pieces roughly torn from a bigger chunk. One of the best and easiest ways to prepare meat is to invest in a meat cutter. This will rapidly convert an entire tin into uniform-sized cubes or, if you want a finer ‘meat mush’, just push the cubes through twice. Here’s how... 1 Cutting meat with a knife is easy, but an MAP meat cutter (RRP £29.99) is much quicker and allows you to produce uniform-sized cubes. Plumrose is the brand favoured by…

HOOKBAIT choice can be broken down into two distinct areas – basically, small fish and big fish! Most silverfish that you’ll catch on commercials will be roach, rudd and perch, and that means taking casters, red maggots and perhaps a few worms for the hook. The head of a worm is also a super bait when fishing shallow – it looks like a caster but stays on the hook well, allowing you to catch up to half-a-dozen fish on one piece before it needs changing. For big fish such as bream, skimmers, tench and barbel, something bigger on the hook almost always gets results. Expander pellets are brilliant for bream and skimmers but can are selective, producing fewer bites and upping the chances of a carp finding them. If I…

GOLD VALLEY LAKES, ALDERSHOT, HANTS Get on Gold Lake for lots of roach and some old and wily crucians! Five or six sections of pole or the waggler will suffice, with loosefed casters or a little groundbait with chopped worm and caster. Fancied pegs are the early ones near the clubhouse on the canal bank or midway along the causeway bank near the small island. CONTACT: 01252 336333 POSTCODE: GU11 2PT DECOY LAKES, WHITTLESEY, CAMBS Every lake holds silvers but the pick is Beastie Lake, with thousands of chunky roach and some big ide that can be caught shallow on pole and caster, plus lots of big skimmers that love pellets. Barbel a key feature on certain pegs in the margins. CONTACT: 01733 202230 POSTCODE: PE7 2AD BAIT-TECH VIADUCT FISHERY,…

TO OBTAIN a good matching pair of barbel rods you can either have them custom built or buy them ‘off the peg’. With the first option you can specify the test curve and action, which could be sharply progressive for fast, deep water and long casts, or more forgiving for use on smaller rivers. You can also choose the exact fittings and finish you want. If you prefer to be kinder on your wallet, though, there are some quite lovely branded barbel rods in all manner of specifications to be had out there at keen prices. The challenge for the barbel enthusiast is posed by different tactics and water conditions, but you don’t have to put up with inferior rods which are either too stiff or too soft, can’t handle…

THE 19th annual Stoney & Friends charity fish-in raised more than £7,000, pushing the event total close to £500,000. The long-running event once again took place at Yateley West Fishery in Hampshire and saw 70 anglers take part. Since its inception in the mid-1990s, the event has raised £490,690.31 for Macmillan Cancer Support. The money has come from the collection of sponsorship by individual anglers and through a yearly raffl e. On the fishing side of this year’s event, Keith Fox had one of the more successful weekends as he banked mirrors of 29lb and 33lb from the Pads Lake. Joel Pritchard managed a thirty from the same lake, while Simon Thompson netted a 27lb 8oz mirror from the North Lake. For more details about the event, which is led…

IF I was to let you into a secret about a venue which has more fish than any other – massive carp and pike, big tench, and shoals of roach, bream, and skimmers like you’d never believe – you’d probably want to know a bit more about it. What if I told you it is a water where you’re guaranteed to get a peg on every day of the week, and fish in total comfort on flat banks with easy access? I’m talking canals. Our national network, effectively the UK’s biggest coarse fishery, offers all the above, so where are the anglers? As our exclusive news special reveals this week, the Canal & River Trust’s new CEO, Richard Parry, has a bold plan to get anglers back on the towpaths.…

1 WELSH RECORD SHARK Five hours after hooking a new Welsh record thresher shark, David Thomas eventually managed to get it to the boat of Phatcat charters. It was 12ft long and weighed 271lb! 2 MATCHMAN’S CATFISH The Embassy Pairs final on Spain’s Riba Roja reservoir saw Dorking angler Paul Hiller attached to something substantial on feeder gear intended for carp. A few hours later he managed to land a 45lb catfish. 3 ADRENALINE JUNKIE Last year a fishing adrenaline junkie had an 11-hour battle with an estimated 400lb-500lb blue marlin from a kayak! Matt Eckert was towed for 30 miles in the Bahamas after unexpectedly hooking the beast – he managed to touch the leader and get the fish under control, but as he headed to shore his braid…

COMMON SANDPIPER ON THE Severn the other day two of these little waders came flying low to the river straight past me – a lovely sight. PHEASANT THESE are everywhere at the moment, with more to come ready for the shooting season that starts soon. COMMON TOAD I SAW one of these the other evening. In a few weeks’ time they will be finding a deep bed of leaves in which to hibernate for winter. LEARN MORE DISCOVER more about a day’s fishing with Des at: www.destaylorangling.co.uk and www.destaylorstackleden.com Follow his exploits on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ destaylorangling…

Tuesday, September 8 Acorn Fishery Tuesday Tenner, Kingston Seymour - Mike 01179 497310 Alders Farm, Affordable Open, Great Brickhill – Trevor 07860 235655 Aston Park Fisheries, Sheffield - Alex 07743 845737 Coleman’s Cottage Fishery, Witham – Gerry 01376 516383 Daiwa Hallcroft Fishery, Retford – Nick 01777 710448 Decoy, Eastrea – Di 01733 202230 Garbolino Lindholme Lakes, Epworth – Neil 01427 872905 Heronbrook Over 55s, Neil 07879 441288 Janson’s, Elton - 07976 317864 Kobra, Dynamite Baits Makin’s Fishery, Wolvey – John 07749 284823 Little John Lakes, Ollerton - Steve 07715 096738 Meadow View Fisheries OAP & Dis, Warrington – Brian 01925 757985 Moorlands Farm, Kidderminster - Mal 07967 107913 Oakss, Sessay - Chris 07885 553323 Old Hough Fishery, Middlewich – Doug 07976 381996 Partridge Lakes, Culceth - Mel/Nel 07950 057613 Preston…

MONDAY TO SATURDAY Coleman’s Cottage Fishery (Tues) Wood Lake (12 pegs) Result: 1 G Bridge, Browning Wickford Angling, 296-0-0; 2 J Dodkins, Coleman’s Bait & Tackle, 270-0-0; 3 P Binks, Coleman’s Bait & Tackle, 192-8-0. Maidstone Victory (Weds) Mote Park (12 pegs) Result: 1 C Samuels, NT 20 MG, 31-6-0; 2 B Nesbitt, Advanced Pole Repairs, 24-0-0; 3 P Hoffman, South London Angling, 21-8-0. Redbridge Lakes (Mon) Daisy Lake (10 pegs) Result: 1 P Hyde, Browning Wickford Angling, 33-4-0; 2 J Hornsby, Redbridge, 30-8-0; 3 G Eales, Oakwood Angling, 27-8-0.…

Coleman’s Cottage Fishery Pairs (Mon) Wood & Pathfield Lakes (42 pegs) THIS annual pairs event saw Peter Steward and Alex Reynolds take the honours on aggregate weight after scoring three points, the same as Kurt Choppin and Clive Nada and Gary Bell and Paul Chambers. Alex took individual honours with 179-8-0 of carp to 6lb plus F1s and a few ide from peg 25 on the Pathfield Lake catching on long pole and pellet and maggot in the margins. Jason Collins was second with 164-0-0 of carp, F1s and barbel from Wood Lake peg 10. Result:1 A Reynolds, Bait-Tech, 179-8-0; 2 J Collins, Preston Innovations Delcac, 164-0-0; 3 I Palmer, Coleman’s Cottage, 158-8-0; 4 K Choppin, Cariers RAPS, 149-0-0; 5 P Chambers, Coleman’s Bait & Tackle, 144-0-0. Pairs:1 P Steward…

WHITE Water Charters aren’t the only ones celebrating the capture of a huge tuna. Another fish estimated to have weighed between 250lb and 300lb was taken aboard Full Monty, a private vessel owned and skippered by Graham Bevan. He too travelled out of Milford Haven, along with crewmen Mike Steer and Clive Jenkins, and set up a drift 20-30 miles offshore in the Celtic Deeps and began to catch blue sharks before a similar scene to that on White Water II unfolded. “The fight lasted around three-and-a-half hours, but it wasn’t until I grabbed the leader that we realised it was a big tuna,” said Graham. “Towards the end of the fight Mike was exhausted and later admitted he could not have continued for much longer, but he stuck at…

A STUDY has been launched to find out whether fishing could help treat soldiers who have witnessed harrowing war scenes. Researchers from Essex University and Anglian Ruskin University have joined forces to see if the sport can benefit troops who have developed post-traumatic stress disorder following tours of Iraq and Afghanistan. The scheme recently got under way, with several soldiers enjoying a day at Stanford-le-Hope’s The Warren Fishery. More than 40 carp to a best of 18lb were brought to the net on the day.…

MORE than 500 sessions in search of a big river roach finally ended in success for Phil Taylor when he banked this immaculate personal best specimen on the float. The Skegness angler set his heart on landing a redfin over 2lb four years ago and has been visiting local rivers several times a week in an attempt achieve his goal. His latest session saw him turn his attentions away from what has become an obsession and set his sights on winning a friendly competition that had been arranged by a group of friends. But, ironically, it was this switch of focus that saw him achieve his goal. “A few of us who mainly concentrate on catching big fish decided to change our mind-set for a month and arranged a species…

LATE summer is hardly prime time for big crucians, but Alan Rio proved they are still feeding when he banked this 3lb 8oz fish from a Surrey lake. The Woking angler pencilled in a 24-hour session at the water and pinned his faith in the Method feeder. His Sticky Krill pellet hookbaits soon provoked a response and by the end of the session he had banked 20 crucians, with six of them weighing more than 3lb. Alan’s rig incorporated a 3lb hooklength and a size 14 hook.…

A FANATICAL angler who heads up one of the most important organisations in fishing has revealed a revolutionary plan to improve canal fishing across the nation. The Canal & River Trust is responsible for maintaining over 2,000 miles of water and the head of the organisation has shown his commitment to boosting angling participation by creating a number of forward-thinking initiatives in the form of a 10-point action plan. Getting more juniors on to canals, stocking fish and launching new high-profile competitions, are all part of the strategy, with work set to get under way immediately. A surge in the number of people visiting natural waters has been recorded recently and chief executive Richard Parry is determined that the trend continues. “Our canals offer fantastic fishing for coarse anglers of…

THE final weekend of the long school holiday was a pretty good one for Get Hooked on Fishing. On Saturday Rib Valley Fisheries, part of the Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire project managed by England Lure Team angler Sam Edmonds, hosted a Family Fishing Day, and on Sunday it was James Thornhill’s Ealing Project’s turn. These ‘days’, run jointly by the Angling Trust and Get Hooked on Fishing with support from the EA, have been a huge success. The weather played a decent hand, the rain only came to Rib Valley as the last whip was packed away, and Ealing escaped unscathed too. More than 300 young people, plus their parents who are not included in that total, enjoyed an introductory session on the two events and most, if not all, of…

THE RiverFest qualifier at Sprotbrough on the River Don – once so badly polluted but now a lovely waterway – was possibly the best so far when it comes to tight results. It’s section winners that qualify and there have been huge discrepancies between qualifying anglers on some matches, with mammoth weights of big fish distorting the picture. On this one, though, there was just seven measly ounces between the qualifiers with first, third and fourth individuals coming from different sections. Old school match fishing of the highest order!…

THIS WEEK’S 2 FOR 1 WATERS 1 Hampton Springs Fishery, Cheshire 2 Hayton Lakes Ltd, N Notts 3 Home Farm Fishery, Cheshire 4 Hunters Lodge Fishery, N Lincs 5 Langley Lakes, Lancs 6 Rush Lyvars Fishery, E Yorks 7 The Willows Fishery, Yorks 8 Belvoir Lakes, Lincs 9 Castle Ashby Fisheries, Northants 10 Headfen Lakes, Cambs 11 Lakeside Leisure, Lincs 12 Lannys Lagoon, Warks 13 Lavander Hall Fishery, Warks 14 Moorlands Farm, Worcs 15 Alderwood Ponds, W Sussex 16 Hillview Fisheries, Glos 17 Holme Grange Fishery, Berks 18 Milmead Fisheries, Devon 19 Oakfield Fishery, Bucks 20 Windmill Fishery, Bristol  Turn to find out how these waters are fishing, plus loads more in your area 2 FOR 1 FISHING VOUCHER This week’s venues  Hampton Springs Fishery • Hayton Lakes Ltd •…

IF YOU’VE GOT A CATCH TO REPORT CALL OUR HOTLINE ON 01733 395103 RIVERS AND CANALS RIVER TRENT, BURTON JOYCE, NOTTS ALAN Scotthorne proved in last week’s Angling Times just how good silverfish sport is here with a big net of dace caught on wag and mag about three rodlengths out. Contact: 01159 870525, Victoria Tackle Prices: £6 a day on the bank, Ashfield AC BARGATE DRAIN, COWBRIDGE, BOSTON, LINCS Quite a few decent tench and bream being caught by anglers using groundbait as feed. Contact: Boston DAA, 01205 871815 Prices: £20 a season, Boston DAA MIDDLE LEVEL DRAIN, KING’S LYNN, NORFOLK The St Germans to Magdalen High road stretch is seeing perch to over 2lb, zander to 9lb, and plenty of tench and skimmers on corn. Contact: Shipshape Tackle,…

WAGGLER CHOICE Use wagglers with thick tips. Fishing in this way has no place for fine inserts. ROD & REEL A 13ft rod with a through action is coupled with an open-faced reel. Use it with a main line of around 4lb or 5lb for waggler fishing. CUBED MEAT A 6mm cube of luncheon meat is Paul’s choice. It catches chub of all sizes and deters small nuisance fish. AS HE pushed a tin of prime Plumrose twice through his 6mm meat cutter, you’d have thought Paul Bick was preparing his bait for a session on a commercial fishery. But a glance beyond him revealed a road bridge, a line of far-bank willows and a meandering Warwickshire Avon gently flowing past. What was he up to? The Shakespeare Superteam ace…

NO LINE BREAKAGES Q How do I stop my line from breaking when I try to move shot? Andy Burns A This is a problem everyone has probably experienced at some point, so you’re not alone! The answer is to use shot more than once and get them working on the line before you attach a hook. It’s easier to do this at home and then store your rigs on winders, as you’ll get more fishing time that way too! THIN FLOAT RUBBERS HELP PRESENTATION Q How important is the size and positioning of float rubbers on top-and-bottom attached floats? Mick Docherty A I see far too many anglers using totally the wrong sort of rubbers and also positioning them wrongly. My own stuff, which you can buy through tackle…

1 Take a pint bag of micro pellets and tip the contents into a large mixing bowl. 2 Dampen the pellets with water, mixing it in so that every individual pellet is water-coated. Allow the slightly dampened pellets to stand for 15 minutes. 3 Coat the pellets with several squirts of Mainline Baits Liquid Stick Mix and use your hands to blend the mixture together. Once again, allow the treated pellets to stand for 15 minutes. 4 The pellets should now be soft and sticky enough to mould around a Method feeder. 5 Just before casting out, add a small drizzle of the Liquid Stick Mix to the Method feeder to help create a fish-attracting cloud once it reaches the bottom.…

GENERAL CARP FOR targeting fish from 3lb-8lb I use Black Hydro through a Match top-3 kit with the No1 section removed. This give me around 6ft 8ins of elastic, which is the ideal length. I find Black ideal for this size of fish, as it’s soft enough on the lift for me to steer a hooked fish out of the swim, but then it soon powers up when I need to get the fish in the net. As a guide to choosing the right hooklength for Black Hydro I will fish anything from 0.15mm to 0.19mm diameter lines. SHALLOW FISHING WHEN it comes to shallow fishing there is no better elastic than White Hydro. I’m happy to use White for anything from 1lb-plus F1s to proper carp up to 8lb-plus.…

Summer is slipping away and the signs are there for all to see. Lush green leaves are turning to burnished gold, heavy dew sits on the grass at daybreak and nights are growing noticeably longer. As a big-fish angler I look forward to the weeks ahead, as this is prime time for a new personal best, but that doesn’t mean I won’t enjoy every minute of the remaining warm weather. Deep in a Herefordshire valley, Willow Pool is the perfect place to fish in late summer. Any wind not deflected by the surrounding hills is stopped by a bank of trees screening the water from casual passers-by. Not far from the legendary Redmire, and fed by the Gamber Brook, Willow Pool is a suntrap holding I know not how many…

TACKLE for catching silvers on commercials needs a little thought. On the one hand, you should be using delicate equipment that will tempt shy-biting roach and skimmers, but you also need to employ kit that will allow you to catch fish at speed. For floatfishing, insert wagglers will be required, along with fine hooks that are still strong enough to cope with bonus fish. Kit yourself out with some of the following and you’re well on your way... FINE WIDE GAPE HOOKS Caster is one of the best hookbaits for commercial silverfish. A wide gape hook is needed and should be as light as you can get away with, given that a carp or two may turn up. Nothing beats the Kamasan B911 F1 pattern, which is very fine in…

SPARE DEEP DRAWER UNIT The Tournament 500 comes with a deep drawer unit which can be added to, and is supplied with 50 pole winders to start you off. There’s the option of changing the tray configuration to suit the venue you are fishing – river, lake or canal. SPIRIT LEVELS Side and front-fitted spirit levels ensure that the box is always perfectly positioned, to avoid any possibility of back strain. BOX CLIPS Daiwa’s unique one-touch clip system facilitates the easy opening and removal of trays – this is likely to be a key feature of a new range of seatboxes due to hit the tackle shops next year. FOOTPLATE The retractable footplate is easily positioned and sturdy enough to hold a considerable weight, even when the angler is standing…

BRITAIN’S best stillwater angler and World Feeder Champion Steve Ringer reveals his greatest tricks in his brilliant new Guide to Stillwater Fishing. The limited-edition 132-page book covers all the tactics you need for catching on the float, feeder and pole with a mix of easy-to-follow instructions, rig diagrams and on-the-bank features. It kicks off with a guide to understanding different types of stillwaters, and takes you through the tackle you need, plus a huge section on bait preparation and feeding. Steve then reveals his best tactics for all four seasons, with features on Method fishing, F1s, bream on the feeder, shallow pole for carp, winter roach and skimmers, meat, pellet and corn tactics, pole fishing on snake lakes and loads more! 132 PAGES PACKED WITH EXPERT ADVICE FOR ALL ANGLERS…

IT’S highly unlikely that any other carp angler in the country can rival the 2015 that Kris Ollington is having. Staggeringly, this 52lb common is the fifth 50lb-plus fish he has caught from Berkshire’s Wellington Country Park this summer. The fish, known as the Big Common, came along with a 36lb 10oz mirror in a 15-minute spell at the end of a gruelling four-night session in which the 33-year-old fished five different swims. “It’s been a once-in-a-lifetime summer, it’s something that is never, ever going to happen again,” he said. “I started in a swim called Brambles for two nights and ended up fishing five swims in four nights, chasing the fish around the lake. I ended up in a swim called Hole in the Bush and had two in…

A FIVE-night stay at a Somerset day-ticket water gave two friends a 23-fish catch, including three 30-pounders. Welsh pair Rhys Sullock and Robert Deans travelled to Pavyotts Mill in Yeovil and capitalised on “perfect weather” to land 16 doubles, four twenties and a trio of thirties. The biggest fish of the trip, a 39lb 2oz pb common for Rhys, came during a triple take that also produced a 28lb 2oz mirror and a mid-double common for Robert. Robert, a 35-year-old painter and decorator from Cardiff, told Angling Times: “The weather was perfect with low air pressure, south-westerly winds and rain. The highlight of the trip was our triple take, which produced Rhys’s personal best. “I’ve got to say, these fish are some of the hardest-fighting fish I have caught, and…

A WEEK’S holiday spent following the fish around Kingsmead One gave Jack Funnell two thirties and a 41-pounder. The fishery manager moved swims every time the fish vacated the area in front of him at the RK Leisure venue. The biggest carp of his haul, which also included two mid-doubles, was a mirror known as Mr Pink at 41lb. The 23-year-old Surrey rod said: “I was lucky enough to be given the week off work, so I went fishing. I started off the trip fishing a swim that commands a large area of water with a large weedbed to the left of the swim. “Both rods were placed along the weedbed, one at 40 yards and one at 60 yards, and 5kg of Sticky Krill boilies were spread over both…

ANOTHER great fishing week for me. Heavy rain flushed out the river, perfect for catching barbel! Serious barbel anglers pray for rain and coloured water that’s a few feet above normal level, but pleasure anglers and holidaymakers cancel trips under these conditions! The fact is, though, that low and clear rivers are the worst possible summer scenario for barbel unless you are willing to fish all night, which most pleasure anglers aren’t! Anyway, talk to your local tackle shop owner and he’ll put you on the spots where you’ll make your best catch ever, whatever the conditions. MONDAY Guiding with Bob and Sue Palt. It went really well, and both caught plenty of barbel on boilies. Sue had only caught a few small barbel from a stillwater and was shocked…

Corby gets hooked! NEWLY-formed Corby Junior Angling Club has had a fantastic summer introducing local young people to the sport. The club was formed earlier in the year following a successful coaching programme delivered by licensed angling coaches in partnership with Corby Borough Council. By utilising funding from the Sportivate initiative, the club delivered a weekly coaching programme throughout the summer holidays – giving young people the chance to try angling and develop skills and techniques to ensure they are able to fish independently and with confidence. All young anglers also received a free junior rod licence at the end of the sessions. In total, 50 young people took part in the programme – a great result for such a new club. Coaching sessions attract more juniors NOTTINGHAM Anglers Association…

QUESTION 1 What is the name of the Canal & River Trust’s chief executive? A Richard Parry B Malcolm Barry C Stephen Derry QUESTION 2 From which county did Phil Taylor catch his first ever 2lb roach? A Nottinghamshire B Leicestershire C Lincolnshire QUESTION 3 How much does it cost for an adult Thames Lock & Wear scheme angling permit? A £25.50 B £28.50 C £30.50 QUESTION 4 Which fishery did Glen Picton visit to prove the effectiveness of his cloudy Method feeder approach? A Alders Farm B Tunnel Barn Farm C Lawn Farm QUESTION 5 Which Welsh town did Andrew Alsop’s boat travel out of to catch a 500lb tuna? A Tenby B Milford Haven C Llanelli QUESTION 6 What is the name of the scheme designed to help…

Ajax, Dynamite Baits Makins Fishery, Derwent Pool: 1 B Spears, 30-8-0, pellet, carp; 2 S Carr, 28-4-0; 3 P Burgess, 28-0-0. Andy’s Mob, Orchard Place Farm: 1 A Bland, 242-0-0, pellet, F1s; 2 B Rowden, 218-0-0; 3 A Webb, 207-0-0. Anvil AC, Janson’s Fishery, Match Lake: 1 B Dent, 173-11-0, pellet/corn, carp; 2 T Hill, 155-1-0; 3 S Jeffs, 111-13-0. Belvoir Old Gits, Belvoir Vale Lake: 1 I Hendry, 42-8-0, pellet, mixed; 2 D Foster, 20-14-0; 3 M Pattinson, 17-8-0. Birmingham Thursday Club, Packington Somers, Little Geary’s Pool: 1 M Marshall, 53-1-0, maggot, carp; 2 T Robertson, 48-2-0; 3 W McCranor, 41-7-0. Bramley Social AC, Clearwater Lake: 1 G Colley, 124-6-0, caster, ide; 2 L Webb, 78-9-0; 3 P Watson, 55-3-0. Bridlington Tri-Star Angling, Laverack’s Lakes: 1 T Freer, 53-8-0,…

Angling Times/Bait-Tech Supercup Final 2015 Barston Lakes, Main & Match Lakes (15 teams) NORFOLK’S Dersingham AC have finally achieved their dream of winning the Angling Times/Bait-Tech Supercup. Scoring 29 points, the side were crowned champions on their fifth attempt, ending up six clear of Stainforth Angling Centre to lift the famous silver trophy and pocket the £1,000 first prize. In third spot was Nottingham side Barnstone AC on 37. After the big weights taken in the practice match the day before, fished in cloudy, overcast conditions, hot and calm weather descended on Barston come the big day, changing the nature of the fishing – but not that this bothered the Dersingham lads. The change in weather seemed to catch some teams out, however, especially at the far end of the…

Stafford Moor Residents Tanners Lake (20 pegs) DOUG Richardson will never forget his first ever visit to the complex after he came out on top in the contest with 130-12-0. Most of the events at the Devon complex are won by anglers using bomb or waggler tactics but Doug went against the grain on his debut and worked with long pole and 8mm pellet hookbaits from peg 11 for carp to just shy of double figures. He wasn’t the only man to fill his keepnets up and over on peg 36 Charlie Jevens put together 107-0-0. Bomb and pellet was his chosen approach, with plenty of quality mirrors and commons taking a liking to it. Result:1 D Richardson, Stafford Moor, 130-12-0; 2 C Jevens, Stafford Moor, 107-0-0; 3 R Thurlow,…

Gillingham AA Three Day Festival (Sat – Mon) Lodden, Turner’s & Whitepost Lakes (40 pegs) ROB Randall won the 19th annual Gillingham AA Festival, dropping just a single point across the three days for 23 points. His aggregate weight saw him beat Liam Braddell who also had 23 points. Rob’s 174-0-0 proved too good for Liam’s 146-8-0 total. Day one saw Rob draw peg 26 on the Bottom Lake at Whitepost. He took 93-4-0 of F1s and carp on long pole and pellet and maggot and groundbait down the edge for second in his section. He then had fancied peg 15 at Lodden on Sunday and netted a lake-winning 58-4-0 of bream on dead red maggot over groundbait. His last day on Turner’s Paddock peg 9 saw him catch 236…

Evesham Angling Championship Warks Avon, Evesham (70 pegs) Welsh star Andrew Murphy put a year of bad health behind him to lift the famed trophy for the second time in his career, weighing in 12-15-0 from peg 44 to take the £3,000 cheque to sit alongside a long list of big river wins. The inaugural RiverFest champion had a bonus double figure barbel to thank for this year’s win, the incredibly welcome fish being taken on long pole with chopped worm and caster backed up by small chub and roach on waggler and maggot and pole and bloodworm. That left England man Lee Kerry in second, the Preston Innovations ace carrying on a great summer of success with 11-15-0 at peg 7 where he also took a barbel of around…

Wychavon Angling Championship Warks Avon, Evesham (70 pegs) Sunday’s match saw an emotional win for England Feeder team man Dean Barlow as he lifted the trophy his late, great dad Frank had back in 1983, weighing in 9-10-0 from peg 6 to get clear of Lee Kerry, who played the bridesmaid for the second day running on the river. Drennan-backed Dean put his faith in bloodworm on the long pole and found some quality roach including a 1lb 8oz fish alongside dace and small chub on the waggler. Lee drew peg 51 and replied with 8-3-0 consisting of nine eels and a big perch as he went down the chopped worm and caster route. Result:1 D Barlow, Drennan/Bait-Tech, 9-10-0; 2 L Kerry, Preston Innovations, 8-3-0; 3 J Spiers, Evesham Bait…

Nisa Open (Weds) Makins Fishery, Lake Two (24 pegs) THE fish were reluctant to feed following heavy downpours that chilled the water but Dave Hipkiss eventually got the fish lined up and finished with 103-14-0. He found the occasional fish in the early stages from peg B9 on the bomb and feeder but it was a switch to paste in the edge that found numerous double figure fish, with four of them alone weighing it at more than 50lb! Result: 1 D Hipkiss, Ridgemere AC, 103-14-0; 2 J Adamson, Nisa Feeders, 73-0-0; 3 T Sanderson, Angling Man, 66-10-0; 4 S Greenfield, Manchester AC, 62-0-0; 5 T Phillips, Attleborough Angling, 57-8-0; 6 D Kent, Long Eaton Victoria AS, 47-8-0. MIDS MONDAY TO SATURDAY Janson’s Fishery (Mon) Match & Munroes Pools (26…

MONDAY TO SATURDAY Alvechurch Fishery (Thurs) Canal Pool(12 pegs) Result: 1 G White, Alvechurch, 70-0-0; 2 W Beach, Alvechurch, 68-7-0; 3 D Kellon, Alvechurch, 57-8-0. Alvechurch Fishery Horseshoe Pool (16 pegs) Result: 1 R Ganley, Alvechurch, 117-13-0; 2 T Hodges, Alvechurch, 86-14-0; 3 P Gartshore, Alvechurch, 86-10-0. Barford Lakes Match Lake (14 pegs) Result: 1 W Martin, Matrix Van Den Eynde Barford Tackle, 134-2-0; 2 M Wiles, Wensum Valley Angling, 105-4-0; 3 C Cooper, PW Angling, 88-14-0. Cross Drove Fishery Hockwold (23 pegs) Result: 1 A Moore, Avenue Angling, 68-13-0; 2 D Pearce Snr, 61-2-0; 3 R Heath, Chestnut Pool, 55-10-0. Dynamite Baits / Scunthorpe & DAA (Thurs) Tidal Trent, South Clifton (17 pegs) Result: 1 M Firmstone, Whisby AS, 6-10-0; 2 R Moses, Brigg AC, 6-8-0; 3 D Norwood,…

Angling Trust Canal Pairs Qualifier Staffs & Worcester Canal, Sat (94 pegs) THIS big qualifier on an in form canal saw five pairs going through to the final. Top with an excellent nine point penalty tally was Preston Innovations backed Scott Geens and Ed Warren. On the individual front Gordon Griffiths put an excellent 23-7-8 on the scales to take top spot. Drawn on B1 by the Boat Pub, he had skimmers, roach and perch fishing the pole with groundbait alternating between pinkie, maggot and caster baits. It was a good day for Preston backed Scott Geens – not only did he top the pairs list, but he also came runner-up with a 16-0-0 net of roach from B46 in the Bay fishing squatt and pinkie over groundbait. Result: 1…