| CIVIL servant Stuart Brown wasn’t sure whether to target perch or barbel during a recent session on the Great Ouse, but clearly made the right choice, as this magnificent 4 lb 1 oz personal best stripey proves. |
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Legering a lobworm, the East Molesey, Surrey rod tempted the fish on 3 lb line to a size eight hook and also took a 3 lb 12 oz perch during the trip.
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| PROFESSIONAL Anglers Association chief Alan Pearce led by example when he banked this pristine 22 lb 8 oz pike from a gravel pit near Ipswich. |
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Taking a day out of his busy schedule as boss of the nation’s first professional fishing coaching scheme, Essex-based Alan legered a large half mackerel at 80 yards to fool the well-proportioned predator.
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| MULLET fans in the South West are enjoying a catch bonanza weeks earlier than expected. |
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The shy-biting species, dubbed the grey ghost, has been providing rod-bending action in the rivers Plym, Yealm and in the Kingsbridge Estuary – but devotees of the finicky fish usually have to wait until March or April to make contact with their chosen prey.
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| Martin Larkin exploited the mullet explosion, after landing this 4 lb 8 oz thick-lipped specimen on breadjust before nightfall.Plymouth angling writer and TV presenter Henry said: “Most people wouldn’t even consider targeting mullet at this time of year, yet I’ve seen one particular shoal of at least 60 fish.”Catching them can be difficult at first, but it’s a very cheap pursuit because you don’t need fancy gear or baits. Most of all it’s brilliant fun.”• If you want more details on catching this interesting species, call John Orford, at the National Mullet Club, tel: 01633 254693. |
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| THOUSANDS of specimen fish have been found thriving at an exclusive West London address! |
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Construction workers and fishery staff stood wide-eyed as more than 24,000 fish were scooped from London’s Paddington basin.
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| Work on a £2 billion development of new homes and offices at the site, near Little Venice, couldn’t continue until 60,000 cubic metres of water had been drained – and Carp to just under 30 lb, perch to 3 lb, pike to 20 lb, 250 eels and countless bream and tench were pulled from the water.British Waterways enlisted Framlingham Fisheries to electro-fish the canal basin before draining began – but even they were stunned at the colossal numbers of fish there.Framlingham boss Max Bond said: “This is definitely the biggest haul I’ve ever seen from a canal. There were so many fish it took four days to remove them.”Only a handful of anglers belonging to Westminster AC had access to the fish before their re-location to the Grand Union Canal just 500 metres away. |
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| ONE of Britain’s finest mixed fisheries is poised to open its doors to anglers again after a five-year lay-off. |
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Boddington Reservoir, near Banbury in Oxfordshire, is now ready to re-open on April 1 after a major improvement program by British Waterways.
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| The 65-acre venue was shut in 1995 after owners discovered the lake was losing thousands of gallons of water through leaks in the dam wall. A rapid fish rescue moved stocks to the nearby Oxford Canal.But now it’s back and, in keeping with its impressive history of big mixed weights, BW has opted against an all-out giant carp-hauling water in favour a pleasure angler friendly venue with rich rewards.The last fish have finally been stocked with 50,000 roach, tench, perch and small carp to 1 lb added to restore the water to its former glory.BW’s John Ellis said: “Boddington has been a slow project but we’re finally there now and what a water it promises to be. We have already held a trial fish and 140 lb was the top weight so we know it’s going to be brilliant.”The site has enough space for over 150 pegs but BW has decided to strike a balance with wildlife interests too.”We haven’t gone for another Drayton with closely packed pegs, we wanted to spread anglers out and strike a balance with nature.”• Day tickets are available on the bank or your can book a club match with BW now on (01923) 208717. |
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| SEA angling conservation now has its own place in cyberspace with a new Internet site. |
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The Sea Anglers’ Conservation Network is put together by a group of anglers dedicated to protecting vital stocks and the environment.
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| Hosted by AnglersNet, the website is the hub of the SACN, featuring relevant information, encouraging anglers to get involved in conservation issues and telling them what they can practically do to tackle the problems of overfishing and pollution which threaten our sport.Leading sea conservation campaigner Leon Roskilly said: “I see SACN as a resource, to be used by other campaigning angling organisations, such as NFSA and BASS, intent on getting conservation information out to anglers, and marshalling their support when this is needed.”AnglersNet editor Elton Murphy said: “The Sea Anglers’ Conservation Network (SACN) is a cyber-effort to ensure that anglers on the internet are, at least, aware of what is being done by various organisations and individuals to preserve our sport for future generations. We want people to realise that every little helps and that you, the angler, can and do make a difference.*You can find the SACN at www.AnglersNet.co.uk |
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| RESIDENTS living around a northern trout hotspot are claiming the water is ruining the local weather! |
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Severn Trent Water’s Carsington Reservoir is being blamed for an increase in the amount of rainfall, gales and thunderstorms.
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| Local farmer Ashley Hedges said: “The nearby fields are perpetually wet and muddy, even when they’re dry just a few miles down the road.”A Met Office spokesman said there could be some truth in the claim: “Because it’s a moisture source, a reservoir can create more morning fog in an area, although I’d be surprised if it completely altered the local climate.”Manager at Carsington’s Vistor Centre, Sue Wild, said: “I think we’ve done pretty well with the weather lately as it seems to have been raining everywhere else but here!” |
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