Innholdsfortegnelse for 3rd November 2015 i Angling Times

THIS 16lb 7oz barbel is proof that some of the UK’s biggest specimens live in small rivers. Luke Ayling followed up his recent capture of a 16lb 1oz fish from the River Thames when he switched his attentions to its much smaller tributary, the Thame in Oxfordshire. He scaled down bait size, too. Instead of the large homemade hookbaits that he uses on the Thames, the local specialist chose to incorporate Lone Angler Ocean Pride 14mm barrel baits wrapped in matching paste into his combi rig. His Thame barbel beats the current river record of 16lb 2oz caught last year. And to show just how good he is on a variety of waters, Luke went on to land his first-ever barbel from the River Itchen – a fish of 13lb…

THE fishery that hosts one of the sport’s richest competitions is to ramp up its efforts to make the event bigger and better than ever. Bosses at Cudmore Fishery in Staffordshire are offering tackle manufacturers and traders pitches during the 2016 Fish 0’Mania final to provide more still more of an attraction for visitors. The news comes after organisers recently announced that the Fish ’O prize money has increased to £50,000 with more qualifying matches. The latest decision to invite tackle manufacturers to attend has been based on feedback provided by previous visitors to the event, who wan to see exclusive deals and demonstrations by top anglers. If you would like to reserve a pitch for next year’s event email carl@anvilconsulting.co.uk…

SCOTT Reynolds would never have guessed that a session on his local canal would end in him making someone’s wedding album. The 23-year-old from the West Midlands was fishing the quayside on Dudley’s waterfront when a couple who had just tied the knot on one of the quay’s hotels invited him to appear in their wedding photos. Scott said: “It was the most random thing ever to happen when fishing, and I can’t for the life of me wonder why they’d want me and my rod in their most treasured pictures.”…

A CARP angler had a lucky escape as a tree fell on to his bivvy during last week’s storm. Simon Gorton had to be pulled from his shelter at Orchid Lake after storm Barney tore through the Oxfordshire venue. The venue regular was fishing from the middle swim when the tree fell on Tuesday night. Ian Moorhouse, who was in the next swim, said: “I had to pull Simon out. He’s fine, lucky lad. I’m going to ask him to put my lottery on tomorrow!” Orchid boss Marsh Pratley said: “It was a close call for Simon, but thank God everything’s ok. It just shows the power of nature. Even a yearly inspection of the trees on site doesn’t mean anything when you get winds like that.”…

RIVERS and stillwaters across the UK continue to produce some of the best big-perch fishing ever, with both worms and lures accounting for huge stripeys. First angler on this week’s list is Graham King (main picture), who made a visit to a stillwater in South Wales to smash his personal best with this 4lb 6oz specimen. He and two friends fished a combination of maggots and worms to land large numbers of perch. They had 10 fish between them, and Graham backed up his four-pounder with another perch of 3lb 5oz. A simple leger rig coupled with a soft Avon-style rod and a size 2 circle hook was the secret to the Worcester angler’s success. “The trick to catching these perch was using a set-up with minimal resistance, so that’s…

THE man who led Carp Team England to a historic victory in 2015 is part of an initiative to promote the sport. Team manager and highly-respected carp angler Rob Hughes will now join the Angling Trust’s Participation Team working to achieve Sport England’s aims of getting people fishing more often. Keen specialist angler Will Smith, who has spent the last five years working in the Trust’s membership department, is now also part of the team that’s charged with attracting new anglers and boosting licence sales.…

PIKE were like red buses for Marc Eden when a long wait for a take ended with him catching two 20lb-plus specimens in a matter of minutes. Fishing an unnamed gravel pit in Nottingham, the 41-year-old from Cotgrave, Notts, was still celebrating netting a 20lb specimen after a fruitless few hours when a 23lb monster took his floatfished deadbait with seconds of recasting. Marc ended the one-day session with two other fish weighing 6lb and 12lb. He told Angling Times: “After blanking at Chew, of all places, my short drought ended in style. It was unbelievable and totally unexpected.”…

YES, Earlswood Lakes may look like a couple of big-haul carp waters, but there is far more to them than meets the eye. As on the other Canal & River Trust-run venues Drayton and Boddington, a 200lb net of pole-bending carp is not unheard of during the summer on the West Midlands fishery. However, come the winter, when the carp shoal up and the venue becomes peggy, a whole new prospect emerges, offering a totally different day’s fishing – for silverfish. The 22-acre Engine Pool is absolutely teeming with skimmers, roach, perch and hybrids, most of which have probably never been caught. Still they grow plump on high-protein carp baits. With so many fish just queuing up to take your hookbait it’s hard to believe that few people target them.…

IF YOU’VE GOT A CATCH TO REPORT CALL OUR HOTLINE ON 01733 395103 RIVERS AND CANALS GRAND WESTERN CANAL, TIVERTON, DEVON MANLEY and Greenways are producing plenty of roach on light pole rigs fished with breadpunch. Contact:Cullompton Carp & Coarse, 01884 839273 Prices: £5 in advance from the above, Tiverton DAC BRISTOL AVON, NEWBRIDGE, SOMERSET Pegs in the 50s at Newton St Loe are producing 30lb nets of bream to groundbait feeder and worm. Contact:Bacon’s Tackle, 01225 448850 Prices:£3 a day from Bacons Tackle, Bathampton AA BRISTOL CITY DOCKS, BRISTOL, Bream to 6lb at Thekla or Baltic Wharfe on 5m-8m pole with groundbait. Contact:Bristol Match Angling Centre, 01179 500201 Prices:Free fishing KENNET & AVON CANAL, SEEND, WILTS The pegs in the middle of Seend Park are the hotspots where long…

SEVERN SPORTS & LEISURE – LARFORD LAKES, STOURPORT, WORCESTERSHIRE PRICES: £5 a day, River Severn CONTACT: 01299 829373, 07774 703067 or visit www.larfordlakes.co.uk LOCATION:Severn Sports and Leisure, Larford Lakes and River Complex, Larford Lane, Larford, near Stourport, Worcestershire, DY13 0SQ RULES: Pleasure anglers must dip their nets if transferring from the river to a lake, and must confirm the transfer with the fishery manager. Fishing 7am to dusk (night fishing by arrangement), maximum two rods for pleasure sessions, transfer of fish from river to lake or vice-versa strictly forbidden, all litter must be taken home, trout and salmon are to be returned immediately, car parking in designated areas only, no bait restrictions FACILITIES: Parking, toilets, café, tackle-carrying vehicle, tackle and bait shop…

LET me set the scene – you draw a peg with an island in front of you at 25m. It’s out of pole range, but looks perfect for a chuck on the feeder, so the first thing out of your bag is the feeder rod. Well, that could be a big mistake! As the water starts to clear, casting a feeder into shallow water is a recipe for disaster, due to the disturbance it causes. That doesn’t, however, mean the island is now a no-go area. You just need to change your approach. Enter the waggler. The beauty of this tactic is that it causes a lot less disturbance and you can also work the swim a lot better. This week I want to take you through the way I’m…

BINDING maggots together is very easy with a binder such as Stickimag, and has loads of applications. From creating maggot balls that can be fired long distances, to feeding maggots via an open-end feeder, sticky maggots open up a whole new range of baiting possibilities. 1 Remove as much as possible of the maize or sawdust that the maggots come in, using a fine riddle. 2 Dampen the maggots with an atomiser spray. A teaspoonful of flavouring can be added to the water to increase the attraction. 3 Sprinkle Stickimag powder over the maggots, keep them moving around the shallow tray so they are evenly coated with powder. 4 After a few minutes the Stickimag reacts with the water to create a strong glue-like bond that holds the maggots together…

WE’VE had enough wind lately to make even the most hardcore angler consider taking up knitting or some other warmer indoor activity – but all is not lost even when it’s blowing a hoolie outside! Turning to leger tactics will beat the gales and always produce a few fish on carp waters, especially when temperatures are falling and the water is clearing. However, you need to forget all about those summer days of using big feeders and plenty of bait. Instead, a more toned-down approach, often just a single hookbait on its own, can produce quite surprising results. This week, we bring you three rigs for beating the weather and keeping a few carp going into the net – it’s time to dust the tip rod down... PVA POP-UP THERE…

DOWN comes the rain and up goes the river – what to do? Staying in bed seems a good option but fish can still be caught if you select the right swim and the right tactics. Tom Lane proved that by winning day two of the Angling Trust RiverFest final on the Wye with 43lb of barbel. The river was 10ft up and raging through, but that catch saw him crowned champ and take the £12,000 top prize. If you were to take a look at his swim, though, you’d probably have turned on your heel and got back inthe car. Despite torrents of water and a flow too strong even for ducks and swans to deal with, the Coventry angler used his head and came up trumps – and…

THE National Drop Shot Championships is back for its second year – and you can fish it! This week, Angling Times can reveal the hugely popular event will again take place on the predator-packed Grand Union Canal near Stockton, Warks, on Saturday, December 5, 2015. It’s a water run by the Lure Anglers Canal Club and is home to large numbers of perch, pike and zander, as last year’s inaugural event proved. The match was won with a huge 356cm of perch and small zander as keen drop shotters Steve Wilson and Nick Fletcher adopted a ‘hit-and-run’ style, taking fish from all along the length on tiny lures, to win the title. Overall, 70 predators were landed, the biggest a 55cm pike by Jody Toon, from Swadlincote, Derbys. Runners-up Jason…

1 NO TRIP HAZARDS! Store your tackle in the bow and stern so the centre of the boat is clear, with no trip hazards. A place for everything and everything in its place! 2 LIFE JACKET Always wear a life jacket and carry a life raft – fully charged if self-inflating. Your life jacket should be regularly serviced too. 3 OARS Make sure your hire boat has quality oars and rowlocks fitted. If the engine breaks down, oars are effectively a spare engine. 4 THROW LINE As well as a life jacket, a throw line is an extra life-preserving piece of equipment always worth having, for you and other water users. 5 KILL CORD A kill cord attaches to the outboard, and when removed it kills the engine. Essential if…

THIS beautifully photographed autumn lump gave Chris Abbott his second forty of the year during a fruitful session. The 24-year-old set a new complex record at Norfolk’s Nar Valley Fisheries with this 45lb 2oz mirror from Lake Geneva, and also caught a 30lb 12oz common and two other mirrors of 37lb 4oz and 33lb 12oz during his 72-hour stay. Having lost two fish on the Monday of his midweek session, Chris’s dejection turned to elation as he snared the 30lb 12oz common and a 33lb 12oz mirror on Tuesday morning. The feeding spell repeated itself on Wednesday morning as a 37lb 4oz mirror at 7am was followed by the big one just over an hour later. Chris, from East Dereham in Norfolk, told Angling Times: “At 8.15am I received a…

JACK Funnell was about to pack up at Kingsmead One when a showing fish gave him the determination to stick it out and land this 39lb 8oz mirror. Tackling the RK Leisure venue, the 23-year-old had nearly had enough halfway through his two-night stay. He said: “I had fished a night in my chosen swim getting battered from the wind. I was freezing cold and fishless and was about to make a move when I saw a fish show not far away from the baited area. “I decided to stay put and battle through the conditions. As soon as I saw the fish I put the right-hand rod to where the it showed. “The following morning the single white Sticky Signature pop-up was away. It went 39lb 8oz on the…

NOT my greatest week fish-wise, but I am still out on the bank doing it and I’ll be doing it again next week. Trying to catch big fish is no easy task, especially at this time of year when the weather is deteriorating. But everything can change in one take on the type of waters I am fishing, and I continue to believe that the fish of a lifetime is only just around the corner. Of course, I know waters where I could bag up but that’s not what I am about. I know it’s been said before a thousand times, but there is more to fishing than just catching fish. I still enjoyed a great week on the bank, in great places with great people. TUESDAY On the Warwickshire…

ALAN MARCH, CRADLEY HEATH, ASKS: Q How will winter affect what I do and how should I change my fishing and baits to suit? A Only slight changes need to be made on commercials, which can result in more bites in even the harshest conditions. During winter we tend to use less ‘oily’ groundbaits and pellets so halibut pellets, meat and hemp are not so commonly seen. Instead there are pellet-based groundbaits and smaller feed pellets like 2mm Bait-Tech Carp & Coarse Pellets, which can be moulded around a Method feeder, squeezed into a cage feeder or simply fed in groundbait. Increasingly we are catching fish by just feeding groundbait through a feeder and using its attraction to catch one fish at a time. The theory is that once a…

Tuesday, November 24 Acorn Fishery Tuesday Tenner, Kingston Seymour - Mike 01179 497310 Alders Farm, Affordable Open, Great Brickhill – Trevor 07860 235655 Aston Park Fisheries, Sheffi eld - 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 Oaks, Sessay - Chris 07885 553323 Old Hough Fishery, Middlewich – Doug 07976 381996 Partridge Lakes, Culceth - Mel/Nel 07950…

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 GOT…

ANY river angler would be rightly pleased with this fine net of roach and perch. But the fact that it was caught from a stretch of waterway that only a couple of years ago was virtually devoid of fish makes it all the more special. The River Severn at Shrewsbury was once one of the country’s most famous roach and dace fisheries, but factors such as flooding and predation led to a major downturn in sport. Since the autumn of 2014 a remarkable turnaround has taken place, and the venue is returning to its former glory. Preston Innovations’ Ed Warren has been quick to take advantage of this recovery, regularly catching decent-sized chub and big bags of silverfi sh. “Last year was the first time in a long while that…

A CARP angler who fished so much his bored wife divorced him melted down her wedding ring to form a net clip. Alan Curtis admitted he was on the bank ‘almost every night’ before his partner ditched him. Not wishing to waste the valuable jewellery, he decided to turn the metal into a useful clip to keep his net in place when not in use. “I just wanted to fish,” said Alan. “I was a bailiff at the time and fishing almost every night. “She left me on the grounds of abandonment and I thought I’d melt the ring down, add a bit of gold and turn it into a net clip. It gets a great reaction on the bank when people see it and I tell them about it.…

ONE of the country’s top commercial fisheries has banned the feeding of big pellets after anglers complained that fishing at the venue was becoming ‘too one-dimensional’. Jack Harness, owner of Meadowlands Fishery near Coventry, has banned the use of both 6mm and 8mm pellets on the grounds that visiting matchmen and pleasure anglers were getting fed up of having to fish at long range just to get bites. By enforcing the ban until April 2016 Jack hopes that the fish will move into more accessible areas during the winter, which in turn will encourage anglers to adopt more than one tactic to target them. “Everyone that came here before this ruling was put in place fished the bomb at 30 yards or more, and anglers were catapulting pellets to feed…

ANGLERS are celebrating this week following a major step forward in the bid to protect the nation’s most important rivers and wetlands. The Angling Trust, Fish Legal and WWF-UK’s judicial review secured a landmark victory last Thursday when a High Court judge recognised the need for urgent action to protect these important places and the fish and wildlife that live there. As a result of the legal victory, the Government must evaluate the use of mandatory Water Protection Zones alongside steps by farmers, who have been criticised for failing to protect vulnerable waterways from pollution.…

SUNDAY NOVEMBER 29 Bellwater, Midville, Boston, Lincs. Brian Hunn: 07769 9587775 Englefield Lagoon, Reading, Berks. Steve Parker: 07918 025472 SATURDAY DECEMBER 5 Barham B Pit, Suffolk. Bill Davies: 07725 910065 SUNDAY DECEMBER 6 Old Nene, Exhibition Bridge, B660, Ramsey St Mary’s, Cambs. Keith Rayment: 07551 840409 Loscoe Dam, nr Heanor, Derbys. W. A. Stevenson: 07505 792484 SATURDAY DECEMBER 12 Scoulton Mere Fishery, Norfolk. Matthew Morley: 07977 106717 SUNDAY DECEMBER 13 Beggers Bridge, Whittlesey (PAIRS). Stewart Leonard: 07748 437166 Dinton Pastures Country Park, Berks. Martin Earl: 07979 038074 SUNDAY DECEMBER 20 Clough Bridge, Wisbech. Michael Mumby: 01406 363779/ 07749 100145 Englefield Lagoon, Reading, Berks. Steve Parker: 07918 025472 Langold Lakes, Notts (PAIRS). W. A. Stevenson: 07505 792484…

“THE Big Fish totally changed my life, as I’d never really ventured further than my local river.” So said James Stokoe, winner of the hit BBC2 series Earth’s Wildest Waters: The Big Fish. Newbrough, Northumberland-based James triumphed in the show’s dramatic finale in Zambia where he beat off competition from fellow contestants Sam and Dan in a thrilling two-day fish-off on the Zambezi River. Negotiating murky, dangerous waters and wild animals, the trio targeted several species, and it was an 8lb tiger fish on fly tackle that effectively gave the 33-year-old the verdict, he told Angling Times. “It felt totally surreal just to get on the programme, never mind win it. I’ve never really ventured far from the River Tyne with a fishing rod in my hand so it was…

ISN’T it great to see the River Aire resurrected from its industrial heritage and now flourishing (page 20/21)? From my experience of southern rivers such as the Wandle, Blackwater and Crane – although the latter is still recovering from yet another aquatic homicide – I know that once a river comes good, flies and other invertebrates will set up an ecosystem, giving fish a superabundance of natural food. If these ‘new’ rivers had been around 50 years ago their banks would have been lined with anglers, but the few that visit them now still form their own little casual communities. This was the saving of the Wandle after a chemical incident on the river was dealt with swiftly, minimising the damage. I’m sure pragmatic northerners will realise this, and groups…

THIS WEEK’S 2 FOR 1 WATERS THIS WEEK’S WATERS 1Broom Fisheries, Scotland 2 Hampton Springs Fishery, Cheshire 3Moss Farm Fisheries, Manchester 4 Rufford Meadows Fishery, Lancs 5Rushfield Fishery, N Lincs 6 Rush Lyvars Fishery, Humberside 7Viking Fishery, E Yorks 8 Bishops Bowl, Warks 9Evesbatch Fisheries, Herefordshire 10Froggatts Lakes, Shropshire 11Sion Farm Fishery, Worcs 12Westwood Lakes, Lincs 13Wold Farm Fishery, Northants 14 Earlswood Lakes, Warks 15Chequertree Trout and Coarse Fishery, Kent 16 Furnace Brook Fishery, E Sussex 17Hillview Fisheries, Glos 18 Rochford Reservoir Marks Hall Fisheries, Essex 19Shiplate Farm Fishery, Somerset 20 Willinghurst Fisheries, Surrey Turn to find out how these waters are fishing, plus loads more in your area FISHING VOUCHER This week’s venues Broom Fisheries • Hampton Springs Fishery • Moss Farm Fisheries • Rufford Meadows Fishery • Rushfield Fishery • Rush Lyvars Fishery…

IF YOU’VE GOT A CATCH TO REPORT CALL OUR HOTLINE ON 01733 395103 RIVERS AND CANALS FACTORY BANK, OLD RIVER NENE, RAMSEY, CAMBS NETS to 15lb of small fish are coming from the end pegs close to the village. A pole, fished tight across with squatts, will get you plenty of bites. Contact:Wades Tackle, 01733 565159 Prices:£4 on the bank, Ramsay AS BIRMINGHAM FAZELEY CANAL, ERDINGTON, W MIDS Big perch, zander and pike to lures. Pole tactics for perch and bream. Contact:K.J Tackle, 0121 7476962 Prices:£6, Birmingham AA or K.J Tackle MIDDLE LEVEL DRAIN, KING’S LYNN, NORFOLK Pingles has bream to 5lb, skimmers, roach and rudd to whip and caster. Contact:Shipshape Tackle, 01553 764058 Prices: £5 on the bank, King’s Lynn AA RIVER LEAM, LEAMINGTON SPA, WARKS The Victoria Park…

OXFORDSHIRE’S Panshill Wood Fishery is the perfect example of a venue that has something for everyone – as each of its four well-stocked pools offer a range of species from roach to big carp and catfish. The onset of winter often affects fishing on commercial fisheries, but not here, as 30lb-50lb nets, as well as individual fish to over 30lb, are featuring right now. Here’s what’s on offer (left) at Panshill Fishery now... VENUE FACTFILE PANSHILL WOOD FISHERY, BICESTER, OXFORDSHIRE PRICES: £9 for two rods, £7 concessions, from £12 on Hill Lake CONTACT:Tracey, 07740707795 LOCATION: Panshill Wood Fishery, nr Murcott, Bicester, Oxon, Oxfordshire, OX5 2RG RULES: Barbless hooks only, no fires, no littering, landing nets to be used at all times, no floating baits, no accessing the island on Wood…

1 BIRKWOOD FARM FISHERIES, WAKEFIELD, W YORKS This four-lake complex has its own section of the River Calder stocked with trout, chub, gudgeon, roach, rudd, perch and barbel. Natural baits such as worms and maggots are vital here and will claim almost everything on light float tackle. 01924 892251, Sat Nav: WF6 2JE 2 CATTERICK LAKES, SCORTON, N YORKS A quality section of the River Swale containing mainly roach, chub and barbel, but there are also perch and grayling to target. 07816 200590, Sat Nav: DL10 7LF 3 HALL LANE FISHERY, BISPHAM, LANCS The River Douglas, which is around 3m deep, contains mainly chub and dace. It’s an Ideal venue for trotting a float with bread, or you can switch to hempseed or pinkies on the hook for the larger…

Catch carp on sloppy pellets GET on sloppy pellets! If you’re fishing on a stillwater then you’ve got to try this simple pole fishing tactic – it’s perfect for catching carp and F1s from shallow water. In this exclusive Angling Times video Steve reveals how you can make the perfect pellets and the best way to feed them to draw fish into your swim and keep them there. He also shows you why heavier rigs are crucial for success and explains how you can set up such a rig. How to fish Steve’s Hybrid feeders  JOIN Steve at Bishops Bowl Fishery as he puts the new Guru Hybrid feeders through their paces. Learn the best way to set up the feeders – including information on mainlines and the best hooks…

AFTER plenty of quite mild weather the forecasters are predicting a much colder spell. When this happens it normally coincides with a fairly dry period, and I expect all our rivers to be back to normal levels within the next week or two. This is a great time to be fishing. Tiny fish activity is much reduced and bigger roach, dace and chub become my main target fish. I always look at a swim with three things in mind – how sensitive do I need the float to be, how heavy does it need to be, and how long should the float be? On a slow-moving river I’d opt for an Insert Peacock or Thick Insert waggler with a No8 shot down the line for every 2ft of water. For…

JUST about every water contains them – fish that have outgrown all others in the place. They go on to reach specimen size and are the makings of a red-letter day for any angler fortunate enough to outwit one...those fish which make you tremble at the knees when you first see them come up to the net. Those fish of a lifetime. In this new series, Angling Times reveals exactly how, where and when to catch these monsters, with the help of species experts who have already done so. So whether you’re after that crocodile of a pike, tiger of a perch, double-figure barbel or 2lb roach, there will be something here for you! WHAT IS A SPECIMEN-SIZED CHUB? ON SOME northern rivers a specimen-sized chub could be considered anything…

RRP: £24.99 READER OFFER PRICE: £12 PLUS £4.99 P&P BUY Daiwa and you buy quality – that’s always been the case, whether you’re shelling out thousands of pounds for a new pole or simply buying a spool of line. This week you can get hold of Daiwa’s super little Strikeforce reel for half the retail price thanks to Chapmans Angling. Hundreds of the 2500B and 2000B models are ready and waiting, priced at just £12.99 plus £4.99 P&P (RRP £24.99). Both will make great additions to your kit, between them covering every style of pleasure and match fishing. The 2500B reel is slightly bigger than the 2000 and so holds more line and packs a little more power. For float and light feeder work, the 2000B is perfect, while for…

THE countdown is on for Christmas – and if you haven’t got the ideal gift for the angler in your family then fear not, this exclusive Angling Times guide will help you! This packed pull-out guide is loaded with great ideas for all styles of fishing, whether you’re looking for big items like rods and reels, carp kit, luggage or just some fantastic stocking fillers. Over the next 16 pages you’ll find some of the UK’s best tackle deals with great prices from big-name brands, guaranteed to put a smile on the face of every angler this festive season. MONEY SAVING OFFERS…

THE secret to catching big pike is not really a secret at all. It all boils down to location, plain and simple. These fish are not present in all waters, and even where they are, they won’t be evenly spread. Fish the wrong swim and the best baits and rigs in the world won’t help you to catch your first 20-pounder. On the plus side, find the pike of your dreams and the hardest piece of the puzzle is already in place. That’s why, on my first serious trip of the current campaign, I had made no changes to my basic approach. I was sure I was in the right place, even if the early morning had failed to produce a single run. Heavy cloud cover had blocked out the…

IN the early part of the season lure fishing expert David Watkins-Smith reckons it pays to be a hard man, rather than a softie. While many predator anglers will now be turning to soft baits, David prefers the hard option, particularly while the weather remains mild. Known as ‘reactive’ baits, hard lures such as crank baits tend to encourage aggressive attacks more readily. Unlike drop shotting, where the lure is worked in one area, hard lures need to be constantly retrieved to generate their action. “Most lures are just coloured, hard or soft-bodied pieces of wood or rubber,” said the Milton Keynes man. “They are attractive to all predators – especially pike, perch, zander and chub – but hard lures are only as good as the movement the anglers puts…

TRONIX is a wholesale tackle supplier, providing shops across the UK with a wide range of brands from around the world, as well its own highly respected Tronixpro and HTO products. Founded in 2007 by experienced angler George Cunningham, the company’s roots are already well embedded in the sea fishing market. However, the similarities between LRF (light rock fishing) and freshwater drop shotting and light lure tactics has meant a huge upsurge in interest for the Littlehampton-based outfit’s unique ranges of lures, high quality rods, reels and accessories. Many of these are now available under the HTO brand, and are fast becoming the ‘go-to’ choice of the modern lure angler. This week Angling Times reveals many of the firm’s must-have products, including some of the best value-for-money light lure rods…

NINETEEN years to the day after Terry Hearn’s capture of Mary, Kev Hewitt slipped the net under his own 55-pounder. At just an ounce under the weight of Terry’s record-breaking Wraysbury fish from 1996, Kev’s capture of Dave from Swan Lake on the Bluebell complex in Northamptonshire had a remarkable symmetry about it. Kev, who first saw the iconic photographs of Mary on television show Tight Lines as a 12-year-old, was even using ESP’s Terry Hearnnamed rods. “I was only 12 years old but I remember seeing Terry and the iconic photo,” said the Swindon angler. “Fast forward 19 years to the day and I find myself holding a new personal best of 55lb 12oz. Dreams can come true!” The 31-year-old added: “The lake had been fishing slow and there…

THE first 3D computer game depicting British carp fishing has been released. Dovetail Games’ Euro Fishing was designed in collaboration with Korda and features licensed products from Mainline Baits and Delkim. Euro Fishing highlights faithful recreations of St John’s on the Linear complex, and Devon’s Digger Lakes. You can catch known fish such as the Big Plated and even compete in online multiplayer matches. The game is available as a download for PCs via dtgfishing.com and costs £19.99. Read a review in UKCarp, free with next week’s Angling Times.…

DES TAYLOR’S DIARY OF A COUNTRYMAN THIS WEEK’S CATCHES IN KINGFISHER CLUB QUIZ OF THIS WEEK’S NEWS AND CROSSWORD STOP MOANING OVER AWARDS I WAS reading on Facebook how an angler complained that he hadn’t won a Drennan Cup weekly award. How sad! The Drennan is easily the best big-fish competition and it has been for years. What these people forget is that it’s not just a specimen award. It’s about the quality of the photography, the way the fish was caught (by design) and other factors, too. So my message to those whingers is: Stop complaining and go and catch something really special, from a different venue, and take a stunning photo. Ray Perkes, Reading PATHETIC LIARS I KNOW there has been some debate about the size of fish…

ONE of the lads in our club was a bit on the large side. Well, we were fishing a match at a commercial venue whose platforms were made from half a dozen railway sleepers encased in a metal surround. This particular September day we made the draw and off the 20 or so of us went to our pegs. I was last away as I was the organiser and when I reached my peg, there was Big Mick sitting on his next door, looking a little damp. “Blimey you’ve got a sweat on there mate!” I said. “Are you OK?” “I’ve been in pal!” was his reply. “What?” “Yep, come and have a look.” There, in front of him, were three railway sleepers, cleanly snapped in half, and a large…

The Big Fish Off  Tuesday, November 24, 1:55pm Ali Hamidi and Dean Macey are joined by former England goalie David Seaman and British Superbike Champ Tommy Hill. 9pm Jeremy Wade targets a lake monster in the Ukraine, on the site of the world’s worst nuclear accident at Chernobyl. Wicked Tuna  Wednesday, November 25, midnight Only one or two fish are all that separate the top four boats. Wild Fishing with Henry Gilbey  Wednesday, November 25, 6:45am Henry boards a charterboat and heads out of Penarth Marina in South Wales. Earth’s Wildest Waters – The Big Fish Off  Thursday, November 26, 12:15am The anglers travel to Costa Rica for their hard-fishing quarry of the Pacific. Fishing Gurus  Thursday, November 26, 2:30pm On the River Wye, Dean Macey targets grayling and hard-fighting…

Active AC, Blind Lane Fishery: 1 R Stevens, 76-0-0, pellet, carp/roach; 2 L Attfield, 31-2-0; 3 R Mason, 27-12-0. Alliance & Leicester Liverpool, Chapel Pool: 1 D Langton, 188-0-0, pellet, carp; 2 I Pritchard, 180-0-0; 3 K Bradshaw, 170-8-0. Alliance & Leicester Liverpool, Chapel Pool: 1 D Langton, 255-0-0, pellet, carp; 2 I Pritchard, 189-8-0; 3 P Williams, 158-8-0. Birmingham Thursday Club, Tunnel Barn Farm, New Pool: 1 P McCranor, 23-15-0, maggot, F1s/skimmers; 2 S Birch, 20-3-0; 3 G Young, 17-4-0. Breakingstone AC, Tunnel Hill Fishery: 1 J Harcourt, 33-13-0, corn, carp; 2 A Fry, 30-14-0; 3 P Simonett, 28-136-0. CESAS, Orchard Place Farm: 1 P Parker, 115-8-0, pellet, carp/F1s; 2 M Williams, 112-6-0; 3 B Neale, 85-8-0. Cormorant Abbott AS, River Cam: 1 G Rowe, 3-14-0, caster, mixed; 2…

Dynamite Baits Oakfield Fishery (Weds) Red Kite & Woodpecker Lakes (15 pegs) ANDY Quarmby won a close match with a big carp on his last put-in from peg 2 on the Woodpecker Lake from his 6m line that came to life in the last hour. Starting at 13m on the pole using meat or dead maggot, Andy snared the occasional carp, before coming good in the last hour on that shorter line for 83-8-0. Neil Reid caught big carp to 9lb from peg 5 on the same lake for second with 78-1-0 as he used maggot feeder tactics. Result:1 A Quarmby, Middy/Bag’em Baits, 83-8-0; 2 N Reid, Oakfield, 78-1-0; 3 B Eddy, Dynamite Oakfield, 49-15-0; 4 R Wall, Dynamite Oakfield, 47-5-0; 5 B Upperton, Monk Lakes, 41-4-0; 6 R Makins,…

MONDAY TO SATURDAY Bait-Tech Viaduct Fishery (Thurs) Campbell Lake (19 pegs) Just before the bad weather settled in there were some good weights recorded for this Thursday match, topped by Scott Russell on peg 125. He had a net of skimmers and carp and alternating between the long pole and waggler, catching most on meat to weigh in 98-3-0. Result: 1 S Russell, Tackle UK, 98-3-0; 2 T Williams, Drennan SW, 78-9-0; 3 J Butcher, Wiltshire Anling, 77-7-0; 4 T Lenny, Sillybait, 74-6-0; 5 R Worth, Bait-Tech Viaduct, 74-3-0; 6 G Etheridge, Garbolino Blackmore Vale MG, 63-15-0. Silvers: G Etheridge, Garbolino Blackmore Vale MG, 27-8-0. Coleman’s Cottage Fishery (Thurs) Pathfield Lake (17 pegs) Bag’em Baits man Gary Cooper won with ease on Thursday, drawing peg 4 and landing carp to…

MONDAY TO SATURDAY Coleman’s Cottage Fishery (Tues) Wood Lake (15 pegs) Result: 1 G Bridge, Browning Wickford Angling, 134-0-0; 2 J Dodkins, Coleman’s Bait & Tackle, 93-8-0; 3 J Trew, Maver Coleman’s Bait & Tackle/ Matchpack, 78-8-0. SUNDAY Coleman’s Cottage Fishery Stepfield Lake (19 pegs) Result: 1 T Curd, MAP/Bait-Tech, 61-0-0; 2 G Mason, Norwich, 50-8-0; 3 L Carver, Norwich, 47-8-0. Dynamite Baits Oakfield Fishery Red Kite & Woodpecker Lakes (11 pegs) Result: 1 J Emmerson, Dynamite Oakfield, 70-11-0; 2 A Foulkes, Dynamite Oakfield, 57-8-0; 3 N Dean, Oxford, 40-12-0.…

MONDAY TO SATURDAY Alvechurch Fishery (Thurs) Horseshoe Lake (16 pegs) Local rod Richard Knowles alternated between the pole and waggler with red maggot to go well clear of the field with 67-6-0 of carp and a few F1s from peg 7. Paul Gartshore claimed second with 43-6-0. Result: 1 R Knowles, Alvechurch, 67-6-0; 2 P Gartshore, Alvechurch, 43-6-0; 3 L Ayres, Alvechurch, 41-3-0; 4 R Taylor, Alvechurch, 36-14-0; 5 P Mace, Alvechurch, 36-0-0; 6 M Brown, Alvechurch, 34-3-0. Daiwa Hallcroft Fishery Carp/ Silverfish Winter League Moat Pool (24 pegs) Strong winds made fishing the pole difficult and most opted for the tip, winner Andy Sellars fishing bomb and pellet or corn from peg 16 to take 90-14-0 of carp to 8lb. That left Pete Bagshaw to fill second with 72-6-0…

ANGLERS are being urged to help catch criminals who stole £15,000 of cash, rods and reels from a Swindon tackle shop – including a ‘priceless’ gift left to the owner by his friend and fishing companion who died soon afterwards of cancer. Three men were caught by CCTV cameras on the evening of Sunday, November 15 smashing into the shop on the Kembrey Business Park and making off with their haul. But it was a Shimano Tiagra 50 big-game reel that was left to 60-year-old shop owner Trevor Gunning by his mentor Denis Froud that Trevor is most anxious to see recovered. Police are appealing for any witnesses to the break-in to call the nonemergency 101 number. If you have any information about the incident, please contact Trevor on: 01793…

ANYONE that’s seen a porpoise in the wild will tell you what a special experience it is – but one angler got the surprise of his life when one swam through his peg on the River Trent. The extremely rare marine mammal was spotted by a barbel angler in the river at Church Laneham in Nottinghamshire, some 50 miles from the sea. A video has been posted on Youtube and shared on Facebook, and has attracted thousands of viewers. See the video at: www.youtu.be/ZAm9iAJ8OnU.…

WARREN Peaty’s incredible run of big-weight match wins continued last weekend as the London angler won yet another of his Lee Green club’s outings with a massive 345-13-0 of carp from the Willow Lake at Tyler’s Common – hardly the sort of weight you’d expect to be catching in mid-November! The catch is just one of a dozen 300lb-plus weights Warren has taken this year from venues around Kent and Essex. He fished simple pole and pellet tactics, but he wasn’t long in topping the triple ton. Bob Edwards heaved 332-6-0 on to the scales for second as pellet again did the trick.…

ANGLING legend Bob Church described the moment he received his MBE at Buckingham Palace as one of his ‘proudest moments ever’. Bob received the prestigious accolade for his services to angling during an incredible career as one of the most decorated fly fishers in UK history and one of the most passionate, enthusiastic and best-loved anglers this country has ever produced. His medal tally includes team golds at the World Fly Fishing Championships in 1987 and 1988, plus a European team gold in 1990 – and Bob was also a regular contributor to Angling Times for more than 28 years. It certainly was a day to remember for the founder member of the Northamptonshire Specimen Group, who travelled to Buckingham Palace with his wife Jeanette, daughter Nicola and son Stephen…

AGE limits for junior and intermediate world championships have been raised in a bid to provide more international stars of the future. The three new age categories will be under-25, under-20 and under-15, with the England youth teams managed by Mark Downes and Steve Sanders. The changes will come into force in 2017. England’s international events director Dick Clegg said that it would give the youth teams more experience fishing in five-year slots and would provide a smoother transition to a big stage. In addition, the age limit for the veterans’ team has been lowered to 55 and the 15m minimum cast allowed in the world feeder champs has been scrapped.…

THE recent resurgence in the number of tackle shops opening their doors in 2015 continues this week with news of another business on the high street. Legacy Tackle, at the Evans Business Centre in Aycliffe, near Darlington, is now open and stocks tackle and bait from all the major brands. The shop is open six days a week, 9.30am to 5.30pm Tuesday to Saturday and 10am to 2pm on Sundays. Customers can also shop online at legacytackle.co.uk or call: 01325 327302.…

TO CATCH a 2lb river roach is seen as ‘the holy grail’ for many anglers but to catch one on float tackle is special – this week two anglers joined this exclusive club. Roach fanatic Billy McDonald used traditional trotting tactics with stick float and maggot on the River Test at Timsbury to bank a haul of big roach topped by a 2lb 8oz specimen. The Milton Keynes angler made the long drive to the Hampshire venue a trip to remember when he netted roach of 1lb 1oz, 1lb 2oz and 1lb 10oz, followed by his biggest, which was just 1oz off his personal best. However, the day could have been even better for Billy had he not lost an even bigger fish at the net. “I lost two other…

THAT excellent Scottish angler and actor Paul Young once told me to always remember ‘NFWI’ when a situation arises that has the potential to turn out twisted. It stands for ‘No Fish Worth It’ and I think I’ve just had that experience. I’m on holiday just south of Islamorada in the Florida Keys. There’s a little concrete jetty at the resort that has a bait-cutting table, and someone had put thick cable ties around the legs to hold rods, mine included, which was baited with a very smelly chunk of ballyhoo. Suddenly there was a loud crack as the top cable tie snapped. The rod bent through 90 degrees, now held in place by just one tie, with the drag spewing line. Battle commenced. Twenty five metres away were four…

THE tale of the carp angler divorced by his wife for ‘abandonment’ raised a smile on my old visage (page 3). Surely every ‘significant other’ becoming involved with an angler realises it’s not stamp collecting. It can’t be done at home and demands long days (and in carp angling cases sometimes weeks and even months) beside some water with a mountain of expensive gear. The only time the angler should be held responsible for the situation becoming untenable is if the pursuit of fish begins only after a successful capture of the human type. Turning the wedding rings into a net clip sounds like an act of pique to me, although at least he’s now got something useful...…

RIVERS & CANALS RIVER ANCHOLME, BRIGG, N LINCS THE Cake Mills stretch is fishing well at the moment, with some good tench and big perch showing to chopped worm tactics. Contact:Brigg Angling, 01652 651650 Prices:£4 on the bank, Scunthorpe DAA BEVERLEY CANAL, BEVERLEY, E YORKS Roach nets to 10lb to caster by the boats. Contact:Hull DAA, 07976 779983 Prices:£3 on the bank, Hull DAA LEEDS & LIVERPOOL CANAL, APPLEY BRIDGE, LANCS Try pinkie over groundbait in coloured water below the locks. Contact:Sams Tackle & Bait, 01942 322085 Prices: £2 on the bank, Wigan DAA LEEDS & LIVERPOOL CANAL, BARNOLDSWICK, N YORKS Long Ings is worth fishing when rivers are flooded. It is full of silverfish, perch and pike. Contact:Total Fisherman, 01756 228030 Prices:£6 from local tackle shops, Skipton AA RIVER…

MANY commercial fisheries now own day-ticket stretches of river – but are they even being used? There’s no doubt that stillwaters produce consistent bites for anglers, but with many rivers now at perfect level, there’s no better time to get out and sample a different kind of fishing at a commercial fishery near you. Maver’s Larford Lakes complex is such a place that offers both still and running water sport – with a section of the River Severn readily available. With 80 pegs to go at there’s plenty of scope to plan an attack for silverfish, bream, chub and barbel. The river here is much like most of the other reaches of the Severn, running through a deep valley, with steep banks and breathtaking scenery. Swims run from below Lincombe…

CASTERS OR MAGGOTS – WHICH ARE THE BETTER WINTER CHUB BAIT? Q Are casters or maggots best for winter chub on float gear? John Lloyd AI tend to use maggots more in the cooler months, as they seem to work better for me. Chub are hungry fish so be prepared to use a fair bit of bait. Take three to four pints if the stretch you are fishing holds a good head of fish. WHY ISN’T THE LINK LEGER MORE POPULAR? Q Years ago a lot of anglers, including you, used to win a lot on the link leger. Why has it fallen out of favour today? Mike Carter A Great question, and I agree that it’s probably not used enough on certain days. I think the main reason for…

TOM’S grandfather was the late former World Champion Billy, widely recognised as a master of delicate fishing for roach on his local rivers, so it’s fair to say that on occasions Tom has fished under a bit of a shadow. Not that he’s particularly bothered! “I never knew my grandad as he died before I was born, but my dad regularly talked about his fishing in terms of the attention to detail he put into everything and how he always used to say ‘the last six inches count’ with regard to your hooklengths and presentation,” he said. “It was a very different time in the 1950s and 1960s with tackle, bait and methods so far removed from now – if the Sunday of RiverFest had been held in the 1950s…

1 My favourite deadbaits are sardine and smelt (below), mackerel and herring. 2 When you unhook a pike, do so with confidence. Once you slip your hand under the gill cover do not let go, as this is when hooks can go into your hand. 3 Keep it simple – a lack of resistance to a taking pike is your main concern. 4 Check that your bite alarms work with open spools and loose coils of braid – many don’t, and need resistance to bleep. 5 Big pike do not live in every venue – social media, tackle shops, websites and fellow fishermen can all help you find the right water.…

THERE is no finer way to catch predators from a river than going afloat – just ask pike fishing guide Mark Watson. Having spent over 20 years boat fishing the Norfolk Broads, the 44-year-old has helped more than 300 customers land 20lb-plus pike. So, when it comes to learning the golden rules of boat fishing on larger, navigable waterways, who better to turn to for a day’s piking on the River Bure at Wroxham? WHERE DO YOU START? The one thing navigable rivers have in common is that they’re big! It seems that around every corner there is a new great-looking swim holding pike. But you can’t fish everywhere. So how do you narrow things down? “One word – location!” was Mark’s reply. “Look at the river methodically. If you…

LAUNCHED just a month or so ago, Preston Innovations’ new flagship Response M90 pole is ‘selling like hot cakes.’ That’s quite some testament to its performance, especially when you consider that now is the time of year when everyone is saving for the big family Christmas – historically, a quiet time for the tackle trade. For the more minted in our ranks, this pole will set you back £2,999.99 – you could but an awful lot of tinsel, crackers and fairy lights for that. Still, as always, you get what you pay for, in this case a whole load of the finest grade Japanese Torayca carbon, wrapped around mandrels and transformed into a stunning 10-piece, 16m beauty – and a strong contender for the title of ‘stiffest pole ever’. I…

AT this time of year it’s great to get a fish under your belt and head home before dark – and it’s even better when that fish weighs 45lb. “It was meant to be an overnighter,” said Adam Honeysett after catching this big mirror from a windswept pit in southern England. “But after catching the fish so quickly I decided to go home rather than do a night, so my session only lasted four hours!” The Kent angler added: “I arrived at around 1pm and I decided to do a lap of the lake to see what I could see. “On my way round I was lucky enough to spot a fish ‘head and shoulder’ in an area where there was no angling pressure, so I decided to go in…

Be a winner! I’VE learned a lot from this week’s Angling Times, specifically our unrivalled Tips & Tactics section. This big section has really got me thinking about how I approach my own fishing. Each week we ask the real experts to reveal their tricks for winning matches. For example, how often have you got to your peg, noted the island in front of you and immediately picked out a feeder rod? Well, Steve Ringer might make you think differently as he reveals that he’d rather fish the float! Similarly, there’s food for thought in Paul ‘Bait Doctor’ Garner’s column about using our most popular bait – maggots. Unless I’m predator fishing, I’ll always take maggots with me, but again, thanks to Paul, I’m going to try something different with…

1 SANDRA SCOTTHORNE Sandra retired from the international scene in 2009 after a 15-year spell. The wife of Alan, the world’s most successful match angler, she was the world ladies’ individual champion in 2002 and 2003. Daiwasponsored, Sandra runs the famous Halkon Hunt clothing firm. 2 EMMA PICKERING Under the guidance of her father, Tommy Pickering, Emma has fished at a high level from her teens. Ladies world champion in 2008, twice ladies national winner and three-times ladies Fish O’Mania champion, Emma is sponsored by Preston Innovations and Sonubaits. 3 SAMANTHA SIM The 2015 Fish O’Mania finals saw her set a record of four ladies Fish’ O titles. She has been a permanent fixture in the international team and is also a former ladies national champion. She has earnt sponsorship…

SATURDAY Cold with sunshine and wintry showers. Frost and ice overnight. Turning less cold with wind and rain from the North West. Highs of 10° in the South and East and 5° to 9° elsewhere. SUNDAY North and North West will have the wettest weather, with gales possible. The South and South East seeing dry weather. Highs of 7° in the South and East of England, and between 4° and 7°for the rest of the UK. YOU can now get Angling Times on your iPad. Find it on the newsstand and iTunes stores. Priced at just £1.49, it is out on a Monday afternoon full of the latest news, features and weekend match results. Our GoFishingOnline YouTube channel now has 9.4 million views. Join match ace Steve Ringer as he…

Monk Lakes Silverfish Only (Weds) Puma Lake (21 pegs) TO say it was windy on this match would be an understatement, but it didn’t stop Lenny Goodwin from winning off peg 31. The Monk Lakes man weighed in 29-4-0 of skimmers up to 2lb as he left the pole in the bag and fished Method feeder with pellet and maggot. Second was Charlie Lovell with 26-4-0. Result:1 L Goodwin, Monk Lakes, 29-4-0; 2 C Lovell, Preston Innovations Delcac, 26-4-0; 3 R Hall, Sensas SE, 21-0-0; 4 F Brown, Sensas SE, 20-0-0; 5 T Parnell, West Malling Angling, 19-12-0; 6 M Leask, Vinyl Signs, 14-4-0.…