Innholdsfortegnelse for Issue 3695 i Angling Times

AFTER catching a perch of over 4lb from Grafham Water a fortnight ago, Russ Alexander returned to see if he could catch another, and he achieved his goal in stunning fashion by landing no fewer than five of them! The largest was this fish of 4lb 12oz, measuring an impressive 48cm. Reaching the in-form Cambridgeshire venue isn’t easy for Russ, but his efforts paid off. “I’m based in East Sussex, so going to Grafham involves a 3am start!” he told us. “Thankfully, this session made it all worthwhile. “Alongside the five four-pounders, I landed three other perch, the smallest of which weighed 3lb 10oz! The bites were ferocious, with all the fish falling to Rapala crankbaits throughout the day.”…

GET READY WITH NOW that the clocks have gone back, it’s the perfect time of year to adopt a short-session, maggot feeder approach for big barbel. Although temperatures are still reasonably high, in my experience I’ve found that barbel will generally feed best at last light and into darkness over the coming weeks. This style of fishing is perfect, as you don’t need mountains of kit and can travel light. You can arrive after work and have four hours’ sport and the chance of a few fish. I generally take just a couple of pints of maggots and a pint or two of hemp, and will often have some left over at the end. I tend to fish with only one rod, as this allows me to fish more accurately…

I WAS introduced to the Scottish Highlands by the legendary Bob Church, who persuaded me to join him and his party on their annual trip to the River Ness. The price was astronomical for a coarse angler, but it was money well spent – the scenery was stunning , the socialising extravagant, and I got to see and catch Scottish salmon. But this wasn’t the main reason it was a good investment. Now I have a passion for the ‘silver tourist’ to add to all the other species I love, and every year thereafter my favourite pursuit has been chasing spring salmon closer to home. I have also met some great people who have become good friends, one of whom is Raymond Fisher so, when he invited me to return…

WHEN two tench are caught less than two weeks apart, both beating – in one case smashing – the British record, it’s guaranteed to raise eyebrows. Back when five-pounders were given column inches by Angling Times, and the long-standing previous record was 8lb 8oz, a 9lb 9oz 12dr tench was right in the ballpark for a new record, especially as it was caught in July, and laden with spawn. The second fish, reported at 11lb – a suspiciously exact weight which was recorded in a kitchen on a second set of scales when the originals weren’t big enough – raised one eyebrow much higher than the other. “Did ignorance of rules deny us our first double-figure red-eye?” In those days, back in 1959, the legal Latin term Habeas corpus, which…

EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW FROM THE WORLD OF FISHING THE SON of much loved angler and broadcaster Nick Fisher is embarking on an epic row across the Atlantic Ocean in remembrance of his dad, raising money for a worthy cause in the process. Rex Fisher and three of his friends will be setting off in December on a gruelling 42-day, 3,000-mile crossing from the Canary Islands to the Caribbean. They’ll be making the whole journey in a boat no bigger than a Nissan Micra, and Rex is hoping to raise £12,000 for Tackling Minds, the charity that promotes fishing as an alternative mental health therapy. It’s a cause close to his heart, having lost his dad, Nick, in 2022 to suicide. Nick was a groundbreaker in the world of…

“I NEVER DREAMED OF A PERCH THIS BIG” Mark Pilley – 5lb 7oz perch “HAVING caught a 4lb perch from a lake, I decided to try and catch one from a river, so headed to a stretch of the Thames where I’d heard rumours of big perch being caught. “My tactic was to fish a bleak livebait, and within three minutes of casting out, I had a lovely fish of 3lb 7oz. “To my amazement, 30 minutes later I had another take from a huge perch, bigger than anything I had ever seen in the flesh before. “I downplayed my mate’s estimate of 5lb, but was proved massively wrong when the needle of my scales swung round to 5lb 7oz! I never dreamed I’d catch a perch over 5lb. “I…

SHIMANO AERO LEGER CUP QUALIFIER (WEDS) Barston Lakes (48 pegs) BARSTON Lakes was in fickle mode for the final qualifier of this series, but Alex Walker quickly sussed out the killer method for the day and topped the field with a highly impressive 223lb 2oz haul. The big carp refused to show in many areas of the lake, but the skilled rod-and-line angler made the most of a noted area to keep bites coming throughout the day. His victory bags him a place in the final at Lincolnshire’s Lindholme Lakes, where the top five in each of the three zones will join him for the big-money showdown. Alex takes up the story of his prestigious win... PLAN OF ATTACK “I picked peg 21 out of the bag and that was…

Angling TimesBANKSIDE PROMISE • Genuine on-the-bank tests• By anglers, for anglers • Unrivalled insight every week HOW WE TEST OUR GEAR Our team of tackle experts use their years of angling experience to test new gear to its limits Tony Grigorjevs, Tackle Tester ASK A hundred anglers to name a style of floatfishing with rod and line that’s suitable for tackling commercials, and I’d be surprised if the pellet waggler didn’t top the list. When the fish push out of pole range, and there’s a chance of catching off the deck, the pellet wag often seems like the only option. But at this time of year, such an ‘all action’ way of fishing isn’t going to set the world alight. A bit of finesse is required to convince fish that…

AS ANGLERS, we’re always looking for a bit of an ‘edge’. We spend hours analysing past sessions and searching the internet to find that bit of magic that will hopefully lead to better results – but often, it’s simple adjustments that make the biggest difference. Last winter, river fishing fan Kelvin Tallett discovered a little bait tweak that had an immediate impact on the number of chub going into his net, and this autumn it’s carried on producing the goods to floatfishing tactics. “In years gone by, lots of anglers put turmeric on their maggots to gain that little ‘boost’, and there are days when it will make a difference,” explained Kelvin. “But with such a huge array of liquid flavours at our disposal these days, it seemed silly not…

WHERE I live in Surrey, I am spoilt for choice when it comes to waters I can fish. I have the Basingstoke Canal, the River Wey, the Thames and loads of stillwaters, all within easy reach. Given that drop shotting is a highly versatile method, capable of catching a variety of species, it’s the perfect tactic for this style of challenge. For those who haven’t heard of it before, it involves presenting a suspended lure at a set depth off the bottom. Originally invented in Japan, it has become incredibly popular with UK-based light lure anglers in recent years. So, with the faint orange glow of the rising sun on the horizon, I set off on my bike to see if I could tick off all three types of venue.…

THE SPECIMEN fishing world lost a true great last week when legendary eel angler Steve Pitts passed away following a short illness. Steve died after a brief fight with the incurable Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, which impacts the brain. He was known for his remarkable lifelong dedication to the pursuit of big freshwater eels, and a highly-respected figure within the big-fish angling community. In 2020, he hit the headlines after catching a truly massive fish weighing 10lb 2oz, but his contribution to the sport went beyond merely catching huge eels. He was instrumental in the adoption of safer fishing practices, promoting rigs and tactics designed to lip-hook eels that have revolutionised the way that many now target them. A spokesperson for the National Anguilla Club (NAC) told Angling Times: “The news…

AN INITIATIVE has just been launched that aims to give the nation’s struggling angling clubs and fisheries the chance to tap into a wealth of expert guidance to help them grow and develop. The Fisheries Support Service is a joint initiative between the Angling Trust and the Environment Agency, and has been created to recognise the significant role played by angling organisations. Funded by rod licence income, it aims to help everyone, including small, local clubs and little-known fisheries, enabling them to raise their game and adapt to the current challenges that many in the sport are currently facing. Everything from junior participation to invasive species management is covered, not to mention assistance with common logistical challenges, such as dealing with health and safety requirements and operating efficiently in our…

THE GAME CHANGER Daniel Bouskila – 1lb 11oz roach “AS AUTUMN and moodier weather arrives, my focus shifts to silverfish, roach being my favourite target species. “When I arrived home from work the other day, I shot over to a local gravel pit for a quick evening session. It’s best known for carp, but I know there are some good roach in there too. Finding them can be a challenge, though, as can catching them. “The common tactic for big roach these days is to fish multiple rods on bite alarms, but I’ve found that I have better results when fishing just one quivertip rod. Instead of waiting for runs, I’m watching for bites, which can be fickle and easily missed when fishing with bite alarms. “In addition, it’s easier…

KORUM CLASSIC BARBEL FAST MAT WHAT THEY SAY: Providing excellent fish-care thanks to improved padding, the new Classic Barbel Fast Mat has a fantastic pop-up design that's simple to use and easy to transport. Designed to provide a lightweight alternative to cradle-style mats, this unhooking mat clips to all Korum luggage and can be put up in seconds. Simply untwist, pop in the waterproof padded mattress, and it’s ready for action. It packs away just as easily and provides the ultimate fish care solution for the roving barbel angler. WHAT WE SAY: Adorned with a fetching barbel print design by artist Steve Phillips, this fast mat uses a soft-touch, fish-friendly material that is 5000mm waterproof and has a super-quick drying time. It has pegging points for added security on uneven…

ZANDER are becoming common in many of our larger rivers, such as the Severn, Trent and Thames, as well as in other venues such as canals and stillwaters, and make a great target species right through autumn and winter. They can be targeted using rods and reels designed for barbel fishing , as they grow to a similar size, and it is only the bait and end tackle that need to be changed. Unlike barbel, zander are quite sensitive feeders, and bites are often indicated by a sharp knock on the rod-tip, which needs to be struck immediately. This can be frustrating at times, but by using small roach baits of no more than 12cm on a combi trace, with a tiny treble hook and a single bait-holder hook, missed…

ACROSS 1 Cascades, like those on River Twiss at Ingleton (10)7 Month when Fish O’ 2024 final was held (4)9/22ac. Staffs. fishery named after 'The Compleat Angler' author (5,6)10 Water___, aquatic bug with paddle-like legs (7)11 Bagged, ready to be landed (2,3,3) 13 ___ Khan, 'Off the Hook' podcast host (*as Nash) (6)14 Alter - e.g. drag on fixed-spool reel (6)16 Pole supporter (3,4)18 Blotched – like a rock goby (7)21 Fishes using e.g. Arlesey bomb (6)22 See 9ac.24 Lure's rings for attaching to line etc (*yet eels) (7)26 A Tring reservoir with big bream (*at sports) (8)27 Rob __, 3 x World Champ and Hall of Fame inductee (6)29 ___ Kinder, inventor of a certain pole cup (4)30 Lateral pressure on rod and line (4,6) DOWN 2 Non-native, like…