IT’S TUESDAY, you open your copy of Angler’s Mail and you turn to the pages of big fish captures. How do you feel? Are you filled with awe, envy or inspiration?
I’m filled with awe and inspiration, and I hope you are, too. Those pictures of massive fish really make me want to get out there and get among them myself. Inspiration is the key.
The pictures that I really identify with are those that represent a quest, the captor having been rewarded after a long campaign.
Sure, fish that come out of the blue are equally commendable, and every angling dog has his fishy day. That said, it’s a monster fish on the bank after weeks or even years of planning that really gets my juices flowing.
Robbie Northman and I have been embarked on a three-year quest for an East Anglian 4 lb perch.
The great thing about having a partner is that you can bounce ideas off each other, and feed off each other’s commitment. It doesn’t really matter who catches the target fish if you have a true partner. It’s the result that counts.
If you read Angler’s Mail on a weekly basis, it could seem that a 4 lb perch isn’t that big. Think again. In my book, a 2 lb perch is big, a three-pounder is massive, and a four-pounder is a fish of a lifetime, certainly for 95 per cent of anglers in the UK.
I’d suggest that the rivers Thames, Ouse and Lea, and some of the big reservoirs with an endless supply of whoppers, are far from the norm. Unless you have access to these venues, a 4 lb stripy will always be a massive, sometimes impossible ask.
Super stripy venues
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Making Short Work Of Specimen Chub
It takes angling guide Kenny Parsons a few hours to drive from his home, near Bath, to his favourite Wessex rivers, but it doesn’t seem to bother him, as he just loves to catch big chub on feeder and fl oat tactics, his personal best standing at 7 lb 12 oz. One of his favourite methods for this cunning species is a maggot feeder with a short hook link.
Venues on the menu
Dave regularly switches between different types of venue, as he is convinced that it helps him become a better and far more versatile angler. Here is his guide on what to expect and how to tackle them.
“By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail”
In our new mini series, the physiotherapist will put you in the right frame of mind to help you achieve your angling dreams.
Search for a super stripy
They’ve done it! Robbie Northman and John Bailey have been on a long mission to catch a 4 lb perch. Robbie got there first, landing this specimen recently.
Pole position carping
The thinking carp angler offers his opinion, insight and advice every week exclusively here in Angler’s Mail. Col will help you become a wiser angler.
My best catch!
This week: Billy puts his newborn daughter on the scales after a productive winter carp session.
Huge zed after run of disasters
19 lb 4 oz monster zanderRiver boat fishing sessionSeries of calamities
Christmas stocking
The future of fishery management is a bright one, these BTEC Fish Husbandry students keen to help stock an Essex lake with carp over the Christmas holiday, including this 21 lb mirror.
Alien aquatic plants
In this final part of my special look at alien species, I have highlighted some invasive aquatic plants that have had an impact on waters, with an evaluation on the degree of threat that they pose, on a scale of one to ten, one being the lowest.
A guide's guide to guides
Canadian Jeff is a great guide, helping anglers to catch the fish of their dreams.
