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4lb 4oz redfin is landed by specimen angling legend Dai Gribble
A ROACH that matches the current British record has been landed by Dai Gribble at a mind-blowing 4lb 4oz.
The two-time Drennan Cup winner took it using maggot feeder tactics while fishing at Brasenose 1 lake, on Oxford’s Linear Fisheries complex. It matches Keith Berry’s current British best, caught in 2006 from Northern Ireland, and tops a sensational run of redfins for Dai, who landed fish of 3lb 6oz and 3lb 5oz on the preceding session.
“My aim was to catch a PB – I wasn’t targeting the four-pounder – but I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t hoping it might come along ,” Dai told us.
This historic fish equals the present record.
“The session when I had the two ‘threes’ was my fourth trip to Linear in search of roach, and it turned out to be a busy few days. I had the 3lb 6oz fish shortly before first light, then the 3lb 5oz fish next afternoon. I also had bream to 11lb 3oz, an 8lb 14oz tench and a 3lb 1oz perch. All on the maggot feeder!”
Dai had planned a trip to Scotland, targeting grayling , but with heavy rain forecast he headed back to Linear.
“That turned out to be a good decision!” Dai joked.
“The swim I was in previously was occupied, so I dropped into a different area where there’s a bar at range. This is the go-to spot, so I put two rods on it, positioning the third well away, in open water.”
After landing a double-figure bream on the first evening , Dai missed a take around midday the following day.
“I thought my chance had gone, but half-an-hour later I had a bite on the rod away from the bar and hooked what I thought right away was a big roach, judging by the characteristic ‘nodding ’ during the fight.
“When I saw a huge fish surface just beyond the net, I was on edge. It shied away before I managed to draw it to safety. I was completely blown away by its size. Compared to the three-pounders, it was ridiculous!”
Dai will be having his scales calibrated, and will contact the BRFC regarding the fish.
With him having landed big specimens of many species, we were interested to hear where the roach ranked among his all-time catches.
