10 NEWS
Angling Times Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Drennan contenders Three trots for best roach Keen roach angler Ross Lawson’s trip to the London AA-controlled Britford stretch of the Hants Avon ended with t he c apt u re of t h i s personal best 2lb 7oz roach – thanks to river keeper Stuart Wilson. The 49-year-old air traff ic controller t ravel led f rom h is Romsey home to target the roach hotspot near Salisbury with trotted maggot tactics. Ross was shown to a productive swim by Stuart and proceeded to hook the specimen on just his third trot down.
Patrol route produces
Targeting an area where he had frequently seen barbel patrolling in clear conditions was the key to Ian Lowe’s capture of this immaculate specimen weighing 13lb 5oz from the River Teme. The Oldbury, West Mids-based rod, who beat his personal best by just over 1lb, took the fish less than an hour into his session after it picked up his glugged Teme Severn pellet hookbait. “On its first run the fish headed straight for some tree roots downstream but thankfully I managed to turn it just in time. The fight lasted just over five minutes, but it seemed to last forever! It really is the fish of a lifetime,” enthused Ian.
Fish the Pike Champs ACA/Fox British Pike Champs Qualifying Matches 2009
Vauxhall Lakes. Philip Jones on 01933 396962 Wileys, Newbury. Alan on 0118 9619006
Saturday, March 7 to Sunday, March 8 Wellington Country Park, Odiham Road, Riseley, Reading. 24-hour pairs. Steve Parker on 0118 9753015 or 0791 8025472
Saturday, March 14 Old Nene, Ramsey St Mary’s. Keith Rayment on 01487 814077
Sunday, March 8 Barden Park, Tunbridge. Paul Laws on 0208 4675958 Cockbank, Whittlesey. John Palmer on 01733 208191 or Paul Davis on 07951 897669 Tewitfield Coarse Fishery, Burton Road, Carnforth, Lancashire. Chris Brookshaw on 01229 828038 or 07731 468860
Sunday, March 15 Hermitage Lake, Whitwick, Leicestershire. L Fradsham on 07813 289203 Sunday, March 29 Finch Farm Fishery, Maidenhead. Mike Delaney on 07990 525642 Spade Oak, Little Marlow, Bucks. George Emmett on 01628 676847
Chew has to be the No1 pike water �� Yet another 30lb predator is proof
Drennan Cup
WeekLy Winner
By Ben Miles ben.miles@bauermedia.co.uk
Chew Reservoir has reinforced its reputation as the country’s finest big-pike water this week following the capture of yet another massive fish, this one weighing 38lb 8oz. The latest giant, banked by venue regular Alan Buckingham, is one of three 30lb-plus fish taken in the last fortnight from the Bristol Water-owned venue, and the 29th over the mag ic 30lb barrier since the beginning of last year. It’s a record that leaves many of the countr y’s so-called ‘big-pike waters’ firmly in the shade. But what is it that gives Chew Valley the ability to produce big fish with far more re g u l a r it y t h a n P it sford, Blithfield and Grafham? M a rk Bu rd a s s, a sen ior lecturer on f isheries ma nagement at Spa rsholt College in Hants, believes its down to two main factors – a rich and diverse supply of prey f ish and the venue’s
Alan Buckingham is the latest angler to cash in at Chew Reservoir, with this pike of 38lb 8oz.
unique topography. “Chew not only holds big numbers of trout, but also vast shoals of roach and other coarse fish that are incredibly rich in proteins and oils and make a perfect diet for growing pike,” said Mark. “Perhaps just as importantly, other trout waters are very deep in places and it’s common k nowle d ge t h at pi ke a re ambush predators that prefer to feed in shallower water. This
is why Chew always outperforms the other venues – it’s uniform in depth, which is good for the coarse fish as well as the trout. “These factors combine to create the perfect breeding ground for huge pike.” Meanwhile, Alan Buckingham, who has fished every pike trial at the venue since it opened to predator anglers, believes the management of the venue also has a large part to play in its
continuing success. “Chew is quite simply as near perfect a water for pike as you can get, and I’m convinced that t he f isher y ma nagement, coupled with the outstanding handling of the pike demonst rated by v isit i ng anglers, is a big reason for that. This is borne out by the way all the big fish seem to survive capture so well,” said Alan, who smashed his old pike personal best of 27lb 5oz.
Long-trotted livebait lures 15lb Severn zander Long-trotting small livebaits close to the deck on the River Severn proved the downfall of this cracking 15lb 7oz zander for Martin Jauncey. The Worcester-based painter and decorator went afloat on the West Mids river with friend Chris Fowles, and between them they caught a dozen pike, including five doubles to 15lb 13oz, and 10 zander. The pair used heavy leads and inline pike floats to get their roach, dace and chub livebaits right down to the bottom where the predators were holding up, opting for single Owner circle hooks to
keep their baits securely on the rigs. “As soon as I hooked the fish I could feel the typical head shakes of a big, heavy zander so I took it easy when bringing it to the boat,” Martin told Angling Times. “I knew it was a ‘fifteen’ as soon as I saw it – I’ve been after one for years. James Benfield’s 21lb 5oz record raised the bar for all of us as well as putting the River Severn back on the map,” he added. Boat partner Chris also got in on the big zed action, landing a fish that pulled the scales round to 11lb 2oz.