Angling News

The Largest zander of the new year was caught this week from the Fenland drains. A 14lb 11oz specimen was landed by Chris Peck of Grimsby. Using a float fished patenoster rig with a mounted perch.

William Wright recently caught an 8.6 tench from a private strech of the river lea at pickets lock,enfield

Bob Nudd (MBE) this week won the World Freshwater Angling Championships for a record fourth time. Bob made this historic win on the Castrejon Canal Spain with an impressive 1st and 2nd section placing over the two day period. With a total weight of 54.110Kilo. England (3rd) the defending champions made way for Spain to record their first WorldChampionship win.

TEAM RESULTS Spain 34 points Italy 40 points England 52 points Hungary 97 points San Marino 110 points France 111 points Austria 117 points Czech Rep 123 points Norway 126 points Belgium 135 points

Britain's match record has been smashed during a Drayton Reservoir Club match. Kevin Parkes (Tight Lines AC) set up the new record with 70 Carp up to 11lb. in just six hours. Fishing pepperoni meat on the method feeder

The 25 year old record bream has been beaten this week by 1oz. by Lee McManus (25) Leicester. Lee became one of the youngest anglers to hold a British record when he caught a giant bream of 16lb 10oz from an undisclosed water near Leicester. Ledgering two red maggots on a14 hook to 6lb line and 4lb bottom. Lee caught the big fish at 5am and took 15 mins to land

John Wilkins (30) from Oxford caught a giant 13lb 5oz bream from his local gravel pit, including in his bag was also a 12lb 2oz and 10lb 8oz respectfully.

A Trio of eel fanatics have shared in angling's greatest ever catch of giant eel's. Cheshire based anglers Barry McConnel, Graham Howes and Peter Drabble, caught three World beating eels records, including a 14lb 6oz, 11lb 12oz, 9lb 10oz in an explosive month long fishing trip. The National Anguilla Club Members unearthed some exclusive fishing lakes in New Zealand, the Lakes high in the hills of New Zealand are the breeding home of these giant freshwater eels. The three anglers are convinced that there are possible 25kilo eels withion the lakes, and are expected to re-visit the lakes in 2001

Dave Lane from Crawley the big carp expert has done it again with a 54lb monster, Dave's previous best of 50lb 2oz was beaten this time in a night session at a Mid Kent Fishery. Using boilies for bait it took him 30 mins to land

Barbel expert Ray Walton has become the first angler to catch a record Barbel over the 17lb mark, the controversial venue of the Great Ouse that has produced a new record almost every month through the season, this time ray on only his second visit has produced a 17lb 6oz wisker on ledgered spam meat

Martin Bowler from South London has finally re-caught the infamous Barbel once caught by Dave Currel, it was reconised that this potential record barbel, once caught at 16lb11oz would perhaps reach 17lb however Martin after many attempts to re-capture this wisker from the River Ouse finally caught it again, this time it has only put on 1oz yet Martin now says "enough time has been spent on this one that I am now going to concentrate on another species." The River Ouse is running high with winter rain, the record fish was caught in a slack using a boilie paste coctail.

Matt Reay a novice angler from Cambs, in only his first year of fishing, caught a record breaking Chub from a day ticket water, Shepreth, Cambridge, near Duxford. Mistaken for a common Carp Matt caught this monster chub of 10lb 6oz on strawberry sweetcorn. Fishery expert's say that more and more former river fish records are going to be broken, as still water enviroment can make river fish grow so much bigger.

Stuart Morgan, from Chippenham, has caught nine double figure Wiskers in only four days of fishing. Wintery conditions normally put Barbel off the feed, yet some barbel specialist using barometers, can forcast the days when they will feed. Stuart bagged his fish from the Bristol Avon near his home town.

RUMOURS are flying about the big fish world tht a British record carp of 60 lb has been secretly stocked into a Norfolk lake. The massive fish, topping Kevin Cummins' new record of 56lb 6oz by more than 3lb,is believed to have been the best of four carp introduced into the water. The other specimens are believed to weigh 38lb, 40lb and 48lb.

Loch Lomond has delivered its biggest pike for a number of years, the fish weighing in at 31lb 8oz was banked by Glasgow angler David McCairns (47) Legering mackeral with a 15lb trace the preditor pike took 10 mins to land.

Jim Hilton (69) came within ounces of breaking the British Barbel record on the River Ribble, Lancashire. Jim from Athereton caught the huge barbus on a bunch of caster's, fished on a feeder rod useing a size 14 hook and 8lb line. The fish took 15 mins to land, Jim is convinced the fish will grow to a record, and the exact swim is being kept a secret.

ONE OF Britain's top carp match venues has been turned Into a specimen roach hot spot, thanks to England ace Tom Pickering. In a bid to turn the four acre Shakespeare Halicrofts Bridge Pool into an all-year-round catch paradise, more than four tonnn of prime redfins to over the 2lb rnark have been stocked.

DAVE CURRELL looks certain to head into the record books after landing a monstrous 16 lb 11 oz barbel from the Great Ouse, after getting tips from maestro Ray Walton. After weeks of turmoil in the barbel world, Dave bagged the giant from the same club stretch where Ray took his 15 lb6oz specimen,

John Fulton's 16 lb 13 oz River Wensum fish, nicknamed Gash looks unlikely to be accepted after being caught at 15 lb6 oz less than a month later. Self-employed air-conditioning contactor Dave has the gloomy economy to thank for his rise to the top of the barbel charts. 'I've not had a lot of work on so I went barbel fishing, but never expected to catch a record,' explained Dave, 37, from Boreham Wood, Hertfordshire. normally I fish the River Lea or Severn, but both were un fishable in the floods so I thought 1 may as well go up and fish the Ouse but really didn't expect to catch anything,' he added. But Dave knew there was a slim hope of catching. 'Ray's been marvellous and given me a lot of advice. He spent a couple of hours teaching me how to roll the bait. . Ironically, Dave's fish - which was first caught this season in June at 13 lb 12 oz and has come out at least five times since from the heavily pressurised stretch - came after Dave stopped rolling the bait through. 'I had baited a few swims with Partiblend and hemp and was roving between them, but then the rain got too bad so I put a brolly up and settled in one swim,

Britain's biggest carp has died, the huge 67lb mirror was found dead in a tiny Leeds display canal, the fish was never caught by an angler. Bought as a fingerling and introduced into Roundhay Tropical Park Leeds, the fish gathered weight on loose fed protien pellets by its owner Keith Roberts. The fish will be missed by the staff and regular visiters.

A SECOND potential carp record has been banked, a 56 lb giant from Mid-Kent Fisheries by Ian Brown.casting into the 19 acre venue which holds only 19 carp. Ian, from Wye, Kent, scored with a snowman rig and honey yucatan and cranberry baits, recording the fish for the third time, 70 nights since his last bite at the venue. The giant was last banked at 50 lb 13 oz by current carp recerd balder Terry Hearn In October1997, and beats his British benchmark of 55 lb 13oz set In November 1996 with Wraysbury's Mary. Controversy over scales used to weigh Mary affer her potential record capture last month by Kevin Cummins may leave Ian open for a record claim affer his scales are officially checked.

THE captor of a potential British Record carp will shun the chance of his place in history despite his fish being bigger than the current best of 55 lb l3oz. Ian Brown, who banked a 55 lb 15 oz mirror at Mid-Kent Fisheries, won't be claiming the record because he is convinced the Wraysbury No.1 Pit mirror Mary was heavier on her last but one capture. The ott-caught fish, with which Terry Hearn holds the official record, fell to Wafford's Kevin Cummins back in September and was first repofled at 56 lb 6 oz. That's why 33-year-old Wye, kent research officer Ian is leaving the way open for Kevin to submit a claim. After his own scales check caused a 1 oz deduction, Ian's fish weighs exactly the same as the official Trading Standards verdict on Mary - but he's not convinced! 'Three readings for Mary were over 56 lb, so it's likely she was that big. I think the British Record Fish Committee will accept it at over 56 lb so I probably won't even submit a claim,' he quoted. Controversy arose after the scales used to weigh Mary performed inconsistently in further tests, and the British Record Fish Committee still don't know what to make of it. 'Kevin has submitted a claim at 56 lb 6oz with a Weight and Measures certificate from Northampton. I assume we'll adjudicate. lt's difficult, and there's no absolute answer, 'said BRFC committee member Phil Smith.

WRAYSBURY'S Mary may have secured her record carp status for the Immediate future, but a five acre Devon syndicate water has upped Its challenge for the title by preducing its second different 50-pounder. Liverton, Devon angler Mark Woedhall, partner in Network Salts, took the 50 lb 2 oz giant called Brucie during an over night trip to the only British water to hold two different 50lbs 'I lightly baited a hard patch of lake bed between weed beds at 25 yards with three dozen sausage and liver boilies,' said Mark, 37. Mark, who caught the same fish at 48 lb 15 oz In June,

THE margins of a canal have thrown up a massive 9lb3oz eel - In daylight Plumbing and boating engineer Paul Chapman, 45, was after bream on the pole at his local Grand Union Canal In Milton Keynes, taken by a worm bait, 45 the angry anguilia wrenched his rod round and a 20 minute battle ensued. 'I'm not easly shocked, but after landing It 1 was shaking like a leaf' said Paul, the ell was 45 inches long,11.5 Inch girth The Grand Union has a 'story of big fish. and the record of 11lb 2oz still stands

RUMOURS of a British record shattering the 57 lb mirror carp from the St Eves complex In Cambridgeshire have been rubbished. But syndicate leader Trevor Jones insists the fish Is genuine - though he doesn't know or Isn't saying who caught it - and adds that other 50-pounder In Long Reach Lake in the 800 acre, site. 'is possible. but I don't want to do that. I was in undated with people with no tickets on the complex after the rumours of the 5Olber leaked out last yeay, said Trever' of St Eves Angling Center. 'There were two fish ecaught at 51 lb and5l lb 12 oz last year,and I imagine It's got to be one of those fish. The venue's been a closely guarded secret for years,' he claimed. But Stan Binge, owner of nearby Manjay Tacue and Wulpack Fishery, is sceptical: 'One of the members of my fishery, fishes over there, and he's had two 37-pounders but I've heard of nothing of this big.' 50lb Gordon Howes, a water bailiff with 20 years experience added: 'I've been there the last few weeks and have not, seen another angler. 'I don't dispute the 50lb pounder' • Terry Hearn': current 55 lb 13 or British record was set in November lst at Lelsuim Sport's Wraysbury.

Kevin Cummins put Wraysbury No.1 pit firmly back on top of the carp world when he caught Mary at a new high of 56lb6oz. lt completes a 'carp' hat-trick, following the record crucian carp and grass carp. Just a week after speculation of an unknown 57-pounder from a Cambridgeshire lake, king Kevin blitzed Terry Hearn's old record of 55 lb l3oz. Watford, Hertfordshire ace Kevin - who caught Mary three years ago at 50 lb 8 oz - set history last Friday morning at 4.30 am. The 39-year-old draftsman, nicknamed 'The Plumber', tempted the fish on a legered boilie from sponsors Mainline. For a change, the fish was actually measured - 37 inches long with a 36 inch girth. It fell at the end of the first week of a fortnight's tip to the water which still has 15 places available at £100 for two rods or £200 for four. 'Not altogether surprising - but it would have been nice if she had been caught six weeks later when she would have been at her top weight,''We will have to wait until next year when she will get bigger. he said. There's no reason why it can't make 60 lb as it is a huge framed fish,' he added. lt was stocked into the 120 acre Berkshire venue, in the flight path of nearby Heathrow Airport, during the l980s as a mid-20. lt came from a local water which wasn't fished. Head bailiff Dave Merreft said; 'There's plenty of potential still left in it and the frame is still there. It's been lost afew times already this year so good to see it on the bank.' The capture adds more mystery to the actions of Clive Tillotson in July. He caught Mary, kept his story from the Press and won't even tell the syndicate what it weighed! Meanwhile, evidence of that 57-pounder from Cambridgeshire's St ves complex last week is yet to emerge - and the whole thing has been described as a public stunt. 'It's a load of rubbish - he's just trying to get people to fish the lake,' scoffed Stan Binge, boss of nearby Woolpack Fishery.

BARBEL were not prolific in the River Wensum until a small stocking of River Severn fish by the old Angilan Water Authority in the mid-196Os at Costessey Mill. They followed it up with 150 barbel in 1971. This batch thrived, spreading to stretches Including Taverham Mill and even climbing a weir. The Record fish dubbed red belly' first shot to fame when holidaymaker Swan Hawthorn from Middlesbrough caught it at 13 lb 8oz in summer 1995. Local angler David Livermore had it at 15 lb I oz that September, then it disappeared for two years before being caught this times in a week last summer at 15 lb 6 oz Manager Jo Cofliugham reckons there are eight other barbel ever 12 lb in Taverham. The one mile stretch has also produced chub to 5 lb, plus roach and perch over 2 lb. There is also tench and a carp lake on site. The venue - five miles west of Norwich - issues Just 15 season tickets at £145 a year. The site also has £10 day tickets available for people who stay in the nine twin room on the holiday building. The September cost for two staying the minimum of two nights is £48. Tel: 01603861014.

Terry Moseley (England International Disabled Team) put together an impressive weight of carp during The Welsh disabled open on Ian Heaps pool at Tenby on the weekend, his 65lb was 40lbs higher than the rest.

Former British record holder and tackle dealer Derrick Amies (Great Yarmouth) Has landed a double of double's from his local Alder Carr Lake, in 1985 he set a local club record with a 42lb 2oz Pike and now recently with a mirror carp of 43lb the massive mirror fell for a popped up boilie on a size 4 hook to 12lb line

Staffordshire angler Andy Philpot (retired) landed a huge 12lb bream from the river Trent near stoke-on-trent, he caught the bronze beauty on ledgered worm and corn cocktail.

The largest pike ever caught in England has been preserved for prosperity after its was found dead earlier this year. The 40lb plus pike has been preserved and mounted in a case at Blue Bell lakes, where it was last caught by pike specialist Nige Williams in Febuary 1996.

This season carp have been making the head lines, with huge weights reported all over the country, in a match at Colton Lake, Norfolk a record was set with 121lb 4oz in a five hour club match by Andy baker, (Cortessey Crouwn Club)

Pleasure angler Gary Goodson (39)(Kettering, Northants) fished a local Leicester lake and caught an incredible 150 of carp for 445lb ranging from 2lb to 8lb useing sweetcorn as bait

Nottingham angler Simon Bovington included a 19lb 2oz mirror carp in his 100lb plus bag from a local stillwater, useing legered meat and cheese baits.

The carp that one day may break the record of 55lb 13oz set by Terry Hearn, at Berkshire Wraysbury No 1 in 1996 was caught again by Jerry Hiscutt, from the Devon syndcate venue, the big mirror which is called smirk,came to fishmeal boilies.

Ray Walton the barbel expert does it again, this time with a monster 13lb 7oz from a new stretch of the Great Ouse just above Bedford, the fish fell to spam bait, on a size 6 hook and braid line.

Lob worm was the bait that caught four big chub including a 5lb 4oz specimen, in a rising and coloured River hodder in Lancaster, for Martin James the broadcaster.

Dougal Gray (52) the local bailiff of Ruislip, used chopped boillie to catch a back to back bream double for 23lb with the best going 12lb 8oz, fishing at Denham, Buckinghamshire.

Tackle shop worker from Walkers of Trowell, Phill Aylett (42) bagged a big cat of 35lb 6oz on squid bait, the Nottingham angler caught the wisker from Rackley Hills, Bedfordshire.

Whitby Match angler Steve Taylor (25) amassed a huge pleasure weight in eight hours of 104 chub averaging 3lb to 4lb from the River Swale at Scruton on a private water stretch.

Tamworth angler John Turner caught a mamouth bag of carp for 297lb 2oz from the River Anchor, included in his catch was 20 doubles with a specimen of 21lb 6oz, all caught on sweetcorn and wheat, over a bed of hemp.

The Bristol Avon has produced one of the best barbel of the season to farm manager Neville Day, 13lb 3oz shortly after a 8lb 3oz came to the net. A link ledger with a secret flavoured meat was the order of the day.

Pipe fitter Ian Watherall (27) (Cleethorpe) caught a huge zander of 14lb 3oz from an undiclosed Fen Drain, using paternostered live roach, also in his catch was a 10lb specimen.

Accountant Neil Smith smashed the local club record on the river severn at Coalport, with 114lb Neil who fishes for Rowley Regis AC feeder fished hemp and caster to tempt 28 fish, best barbel was 6lb 8oz

Record Grass carp holder Del Smith landed a super 24lb 4oz specimen from Horton Church Pool, Berks, using chum mixer on the surface, Del (48) (London) caught his record from the same pool back last year, the rewcord stands at 31lb