THE BEST FISH YOU’VE LANDED THIS WEEK
“A MESMERISING JOINT PB!”
“I’VE JUST returned from a memorable grayling session on the Scottish rivers, where I was testing a new prototype 17ft float rod for Drennan. “My first bite was from a fish of 3lb 4oz! What a way to christen the new rod, which performed excellently in challenging conditions.
“Unfortunately, the first day’s fishing was cut short as the weather rolled in and the river started rising. The only saving grace was that, as it’s quite a small tributary, the river recovered quickly for us to fish the next day.
“I didn’t have many bites on that second outing, but those I had were all from quality fish, weighing 2lb 7oz, 2lb 11oz, and a mesmerising joint PB of 3lb 8oz. That one measured a whopping 55cm long!
“On the third and final day I had another seven grayling, the best three weighing 2lb 11oz, 2lb 12oz, and 2lb 13oz. Across the trip, all the fish fell to maggots trotted on a size 14 hook below a 6g Avon float.”
“I PICKED an area on the middle Trent that I was comfortable with and set about introducing a few pints of chilli hemp, which I hoped would get the barbel feeding.
“Over the top I fished boilie hookbaits, and the first night passed with no action. But early the next morning, the upstream rod roared off with a 12lb 4oz fish – a great start. “So I introduced another load of hemp. As the evening drew in, I hooked another good fish, and as I played it, my other rod went too! Thankfully, I had the first one in the net quickly and was able to grab the other rod and land the second fish. “The pair gave me a fantastic brace – the smaller fish weighing 11lb 12oz, the bigger one 17lb 10oz. I was buzzing!”
“I’VE fished with my dad since I was six years old and, now I’m 14, we’re always out exploring the local rivers and canals.
“Last summer I came across a forgotten lake that was very overgrown. After telling my dad about the spot, we returned several times but spent most of our time blanking.
“With a big fish our target, we focused on using deadbaits. On a cold Saturday morning we were on the water at sunrise. I cast out two legered smelts and felt confident of a bite. It wasn’t long before dad landed an 8lb pike, and at midday, line started peeling from the reel of my left-hand rod.
“I p
