Midsummer Madness! Season’s biggest fish fall in the heatwave
Weather stirs specimens into feeding nationwide
“I’ve just about stopped turning cartwheels, but I’m still beaming from ear to ear!”
AN IMPRESSIVE week of specimen fishing has produced the biggest chub, roach, rudd and barbel of the season so far.
In one of the hottest summers in years, soaring temperatures have prompted specimens across to country to embark on a feeding spree and big-fish anglers have been quick to take advantage.
A 3lb roach is considered by many as the pinnacle of achievement in any angler’s career, and this dream became a reality for Mark Woodage during a recent session on a southern gravel pit.
The angler from Swindon, Wiltshire, had spent three months targeting the venue’s redfins before success finally came knocking at his door.
He told Angling Times: “I decided to target the roach in a large gravel pit after hearing that the carp anglers had caught a couple by accident. After numerous visits over nearly three months I had caught only tench and perch, with absolutely no sign of a roach – although during the first week of June, for the very first time, I saw what I was convinced was a big roach roll.
“A couple of hours later, after chopping and changing methods, my float went under and soon my landing net was graced by a stunning redfin that weighed 2lb 12oz – a new personal best. I was over the moon.”
After returning a number of times to the venue with helicopter maggot feeder tactics, Mark was able to put other roach of 2lb 10oz and 2lb 9oz in the net – although it was during his most recent visit that he struck gold.
“It was very noticeable that I received all my bites on the rod supporting a Drennan buoyant bloodworm maggot hookbait,” Mark added.
“The winning combination was
one fake and one live maggot, and on this session I was fortunate enough to land an awesome fish weighing 3lb 1oz. I’ve just about stopped turning cartwheels, but I’m still beaming from ear to ear!”
Mark’s winning helicopter rig included a size 18 Drennan Wide gape hook attached to a 3ins hooklink of 6lb X-Tough mono.