Indholdsfortegnelse for Issue 3655 i Angling Times

THIS WEEK A FORMER top Midlands ‘bagging water’ is being renovated and restocked in a bid to return it to its best. Back in the 1990s Blythe Waters, near Solihull, used to pull in anglers from far and wide, but visitor numbers plummeted after the fishery fell into a poor state. However, it’s now been taken on by Perls Angling Club, who’ve already added over 4,000lb of roach, skimmers and bream to 10lb, restored banks and cleared access pathways. “We hope to restore Blythe back to its former glory,” said Richard Ray from Perls AC. “Hopefully, it’ll also become an academy where we’ll be able to deliver Level 2 angling coaching courses.”…

PRESTON REFLO POWERLINE ALTHOUGH widely considered to be a pole or hooklength line, due to its floating nature and excellent durability, it can also be used on the pellet waggler or when speed fishing for smaller species, when a floating line helps hit more bites. Thicker than stated on the spool, the 0.13mm/4lb 12oz is ideal for general use, stepping up to 0.15mm/5lb 15oz or 0.17mm/6lb 12oz for carp. Breaking strains: 10oz – 12lb 5oz Price: £5.99 - £6.99 for 100m, www.prestoninnovations.com DRENNAN FLOAT FISH THERE have been several incarnations of this line over the years, the latest boasting an even greater knot strength. A neutral buoyancy ensures it doesn’t sink too deep and won’t impede the strike, while its fractional stiffness helps you remain in direct contact with the…

THERE are a growing number of fisheries that can perhaps best be described as a hybrid between a natural water and a commercial, and a certain top Yorkshire complex slots into this category. Doncaster’s Bank End Fishery is home to three waters, and it is the five-acre East End Lake that provides visitors with this ‘best of both worlds’ angling scenario. With depths of between 6ft and 14ft on offer in the open water, roach and bream are the two dominant species at this time of the year, and the depth fluctuations provide brilliant tactical versatility, with everything from the long pole right through to the slider float capable of producing the goods. A stone track runs around the whole of the 58-peg lake, allowing you to park behind your…

I WAS quite surprised when I realised that it’s been nearly 25 years since what came to be known as the current F1 hybrid carp first emerged. It wasn’t the original F1, which I christened ‘champagne carp’ when I first encountered them at Ian Heaps’ fabulous Holgan Farm fishery. I believe they were crucians crossed with feral goldfish, which produced glorious pale-gold offspring; slow growing, disease-free and prepared to eat under most weather conditions. That was in 1996, when I visited Ian to make a film for Tight Lines, but then in 2000 Kent fish farmer Simon Hughes introduced what were to become known as F1s, leapfrogging the ‘originals’. “F1 hybrids were never intended to be fished for in their home country” As far as I could understand at the…

Expert help to give your match fishing the edge THE LESSON 1 WORK THE BAIT Just like when fishing for perch on a canal, it’s key to keep ‘working’ the bait, dragging the rig off to one side or lifting it out of the water. A small pile of chopped worm will attract fish and while they’ll eat some of it, the bigger perch often sit over the top, almost guarding it. 2 GO STEADY WITH THE TOP UP With chopped worm, the idea is to keep the bed of feed intact, by adding just enough to replace what the fish have eaten. That means popping in just a small marble of worm or worm and groundbait. I’d do this after catching three or four fish, never letting the swim…

THIS WEEKEVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW FROM THE WORLD OF FISHING ONE of the best things about angling is that, if you’re in the right place at the right time, anyone can catch the fish of a lifetime... and six-year-old Leo Deprieelle certainly proved that with this phenomenal 5lb 1oz perch! Each weekend, his dad John takes him and his older brother, Dylan, fishing, and predators are their favourite winter target. Having heard of a huge perch swimming around in Devon’s Clawford Lakes, the trio decided to pay a visit. “I was expecting to find a small pond, but the water looked harder than I expected,” John revealed. “It’s filled with features, which made location tricky, but with two small kids in tow, we had to fish the safest-looking bank.…

“BITES WERE SLOW TO BEGIN WITH” Nathan Horwood – 2lb 4oz roach “A ROACH fishing session on a southern river was planned well in advance, and I was on the water before first light. “In my third swim of the day, I found a narrow area of slack water on the nearside which I felt would give the fish some sanctuary from the faster water further out. “I opted to fish the maggot feeder, which I cast slightly upstream and beyond the slack, allowing it to then swing round and drop into the desired spot. “Bites were slow to begin with, but my second cast produced a fish of more than 1lb, which gave me confidence in the area. I kept feeding, and as a result, the bites became regular.…

HELL AND HIGH WATER HEAVY rain now falls every winter in the UK, with atrocious recent conditions on the Trent flooding homes and even drowning cattle. But can we still catch fish in such crazy conditions? Surprisingly, yes, and notable monsters caught in Biblical-scale floods include our own Martin Bowler’s former record barbel of 16lb 11oz, landed in January 1999. “When I arrived at Adams Mill on the Great Ouse, the surrounding area looked like the North Sea!” he recalled. “But I managed to wade to a small strip of land and get my boilie on to the riverbed next to some submerged reeds. “With the river running at 50°F, though, barbel were still willing to feed – and at mid-morning I caught the record fish!” Martin stressed that safety…

FEW match anglers could fail to recognise Daiwa’s iconic TDR reel. Its universal appeal sets it apart from all others and Daiwa, recognising its all-round desirability, has kept it updated with regard to tech-spec. The latest models are jam-packed with innovations like HIP line clips, QD front drags, Air-Bail and Air Rotor. There aren’t many tackle items that remain at the top of their game forever – in fact, most anglers regard the original of ‘anything’ as being ‘simply the best’ – but that can’t be said of the TDR. TDR 2006 – 2013 FOLLOWING their launch, the TDR reels quickly found favour with match anglers, and would go on to become among the most popular match reels ever made. Their exceptional smoothness and winding power were obvious with just…

THE TINIEST details can often make a big difference in fishing, and Dale Calvert reckons that rule can also apply to something so seemingly insignificant as the length of your hair rig when using bomb and bread. It’s a banker of a tactic when the going gets tough, as the buoyant and highly visible bait pops up off the deck, in full view of any carp cruising nearby. Work out where the fish are, drop the rig among them and a bite could be almost instant. But it’s no good doing the hard work only to lose your prize a few seconds later. Dale believes the main reason for such gut-wrenching losses is related to the hookpoint being partially masked at the crucial moment of penetration. “When I thread my…

CARPSKILLS Why small, highly-digestible feed items are the way to go! AT THIS time of the year, when temperatures are as low as they’re going to get and the carp’s appetites are suppressed, the addition of natural baits to your feed can have a remarkable effect. My general mix always includes digestible items such as boilie crumb, corn, hemp and liquids, which are suited to cold water carp fishing as well. I tend to not divert too far away from this, as it’s something I have a lot of confidence in. I think, if you read too much into certain venues and lakes, you can arrive with a pre-conceived idea and run the risk of shooting yourself in the foot. I always have a look at any recent catch reports…

IT’S OFTEN roach that win the money on the Old River Nene. But, on a changing river that’s just beginning to feel the effects of cold weather, those fish were largely absent, leaving skimmers to make up the winning net of Alex Bates. The former England Youth man and Daiwa Tackle & Bates shop boss is no stranger to his home water and, after drawing a good peg with a bit of room below him, he went all out for the skimmers from peg 56 at the ‘Stile’, landing lots of small fish plus a few better 1lb specimens to take him to a winning 35-12-0. Second and third were on adjacent pegs on the green at Wigstone’s Bridge, where many fancied the winner to be. Drennan Barnsley Blacks man…

THIS WEEK A BREAKTHROUGH has been made in the battle against chicken farms in the Wye Valley, following a legal complaint submitted against Natural Resources Wales (NRW) for failing to protect the river. Fish Legal submitted the objection, which alleges that NRW has failed to deliver its ‘monitoring, assessment and investigation of pollution of the River Wye in accordance with Welsh environmental law’. The Wye is a designated Special Area of Conservation, and NRW is responsible for policing polluting activities on the Welsh section of the river. In 2020 and 2021 it was told by Fish Legal that intensive poultry units were damaging the precious waterway, after years of algal blooms high in the catchment. But NRW concluded in 2022, using old data from 2009-2015, that there was no…

IF YOU’VE ever felt conflicted, cross or plain frustrated at the war of words around angling and otters, spare a thought for Dave Webb. As both a lifelong angler and CEO of the UK Wild Otter Trust (UKWOT), he has faced backlash from both sides. “The thought train has to change, because it’s so much better if we can work together,” he said. “We don’t all have to agree, but there’s always something to learn, and without cooperation we get nowhere.” The ‘Wild West’ approach of social media has been a toxic factor for years. But could this mask a more positive underlying truth, that most of us want the same thing – healthier rivers where all wildlife can thrive? “At one point I was probably more unpopular than Chris…

TACKLE GUIDE FREE Spirit produces some mightily impressive commercial fishery rods these days – everything from tip-trembling finesse Feederlite models through to super-powerful, horizon-hitting beasts. And now, since the launch of the six-rod Helical Commercial series, there’s something to suit everyone’s pocket. At the pinnacle of all of the Free Spirit ranges sits the jaw-droppingly classy Hi S marque, closely followed by the mid-priced CTX. Helical, though, comes in as Free Spirit’s introductory range, retailing at well under £100. Admittedly, these are slightly more expensive than many other manufacturers’ basic rod ranges. But, as I slid this week’s Live Test candidate – the 10ft two-piece Free Spirit Helical Commercial Carp – from its bright red bag, that thought never even crossed my mind. What struck me was the rod’s impeccable…

IT’S THAT time of year when we all begin dreaming of better weather and a much needed summer holiday! When we’re fed up with the cold and wet, warmer climes overseas are appealing. But with money still tight, have you ever thought about perhaps staying in the UK and combining your trip away with a spot of fishing? The British fishing holiday business is buoyant, offering everything from lakeside lodges to boats, and meeting the needs of the everyday pleasure angler right through to the hardened carper. There are no border checkpoints, no passports needed, no delayed flights. Jump in the car and within a few hours you’ll be there, with a whole world of fishing to explore! PARKDEAN RESORTS The real giant of the British holiday park scene, Parkdean…

REDWORMS RULE BREAM love worms, and redworms, in particular, are a must-have on your bait tray. These tiny worms are more active in the water than larger dendrobaenas, and softer, too. Try two whole worms on the hook or, if the fishing is tricky, two halves. They’re not much good for chopping up as a feed, though, so keep them just for the hook! TRY THE WAGGLER THE pole is a deadly method, but it is limiting in terms of how far out you can fish. If the bream are feeding well beyond 16m, it’s worth having a waggler rod set up to let you search the peg. Fish the float a few inches overdepth to deal with any tow and to keep the bait still. In terms of the…