ALAN WILSON’S WILSTONE WONDER - 1985

BIG-fish hunting was seen as a bit niche in the mid-1980s. Who but a crazy man would spend weeks on end in all weathers under an umbrella in search of a record-breaking specimen? However, Lancashire rod Alan Wilson showed how rich the rewards could be when he landed a new UK tench best, a 12lb 8oz 11dr fish from Hertfordshire’s Wilstone Reservoir.

Triple Drennan Cup winner Alan, who is sadly no longer with us, caught the fish on feeder and corn tactics in the early morning before retaining the fish in a keep sack and contacting both the British Record Fish Committee and Angling Times for authentication and photos.