Three Of The Best For Jack
Jack Ayles is right at the very beginning of his
fishing journey, having only picked up a rod for the first time at the
beginning of his summer holidays. But now the 12yr old is well and truly hooked. After getting some guidance on how to catch, land, and handle fish safely, he wasted no time in putting his new skills to use, banking this trio of mirror carp from an overgrown farm pond. We are sure that the advice contained in Carl Smith’s book ‘The Simple Fishing Guidebook ‘ with give Jack a valuable insight into all forms of coarse fishing.
Well Worth The Wait
In an age where carp tend to dominate catch reports, it is refreshing to see a young angler who is prepared to put in the effort to experience the wider range of species that
fishing has to offer. One such fisherman is Finnegan Kelly, who is already carving out a reputation as an accomplished all rounder. With both specimen catfish and perch to his credit, Finnegan turned his attention to running water in an attempt to catch a barbel.
Putting in a lot of walking on his local Sussex Ouse, his efforts paid off when this fine 8lb specimen picked up his luncheon meat hookbait. A worthy winner of this months Sussex Bait Developments bait package, we look forward to seeing which species he will target next.
A Roach To Be Proud Of
Jack Jackman landed this very impressive looking roach on a recent trip with his Dad Paul.
Jack, who has been fishing since the age of three and has already completed his Bronze, Silver, and Gold Get Fishing certificates, was float fishing using a 3mtr Whip, when the incredible redfin took his 6mm robin red pellet hook bait. After a tense battle, the 5yr Old who is now working towards earning his Cast Award, managed to land the impressive specimen. Unfortunately the pair had no scales to hand, but Dad Paul estimated the fish to weigh at least 3lbs, the fish of a lifetime in roach terms. This combined with young Jack’s obvious enthusiasm for angling makes him the worthy winner of a signed copy of Carl Smith’s book ‘ The Simple Fishing Guidebook ‘
A Bigger Personal Best Than His Dad!
Despite his tender years, 6yr old Jayden not only managed to out fish 39 adult anglers during a Bank Life social held at Martello Lakes, but beat his Dad’s PB in the process!
Thinking that Jayden was playing a bream, Dad Damien, left his son to his own devices, whilst he dealt with a carp he had just landed. It was only when the giant mirror surfaced that he realised what Jayden had hooked and hastily grabbed the landing net. Once on the bank it was clear that the youngster had not only landed a new PB, but beaten his Dad’s best too, by over 3lbs, when the scales swung round to 35lb 8oz.
Not content with that, Jayden added another carp of 16lb 3oz to help the pair take the trophies for biggest and most fish.
A superb achievement that makes him this months winner of a Sussex Bait Developments bait package.
Double PB For Bobbi
Lots of anglers set themselves a target of beating their personal best at the beginning of the season. Very few manage to achieve it, and fewer still manage to achieve what 11 year old Bobbi Mclemon accomplished, breaking two PB’s on his very first session of the year! Fishing with dad Rob, at a water in Hythe, Bobbi caught seven carp including a new Personal Best mirror carp of 18lb 2oz and this incredible common of 32lb, which not only beat his Personal Best, but that of his dad’s as well! That in itself makes him a worthy winner of this months Sussex Bait Developments bait package.
Rare Roach Rewards Alex
Pole fished worm proved to be the winning method for 14yr old Alex Stokes when he visited a local venue. Having already put together a nice mixed bag of fish made up of small silvers, a carp, and a 5lb 8oz Tench, Alex was surprised to find himself connected to a fish that remains the holy grail for many anglers, a 2lb plus roach.
Weighing in at 2lb 4oz, this magnificent fish not only set a new Personal Best for Alex, but in all likelihood, a new venue record as well, as the lake has no previous form of producing such large silver fish. We hope that Alex will find a few extra edges in Carl Smith’s book ‘The Simple Fishing Guidebook’ that may help him tempt any other unknown specimens that reside in the water.
An Early Morning Wake Up Call.
When her bite alarm sounded at 5am, Layla’May Drury was quick to respond. Whilst most twelve year old would probably be more inclined to pull the covers up over their heads, Layla’May knew it could be the take that she had been waiting for. Fishing since the age of 4, she wasted no time in grabbing her rod and commencing battle with an angry carp. Despite it only being her second visit to Coombe Bank Fishery, she rose to the challenge, landing a new PB in the shape of this superb 26lb common carp. As the winner of this months Sussex Bait Developments bait package, we are sure it won’t be too long before she lands many more.
Arthur Achieves His Target!
12 years old Arthur Guest set his sights on landing his first catfish. The fact that he is a relative newcomer to angling, and the fact that many a seasoned angler has lacked the skill set to tangle with these powerful fish, he was determined to put his plan into action. A visit to Orchard Place Farm, nr Paddock Wood, gave him just the opportunity when his hook bait was engulfed by this twenty pound fish. With a little help from the fishery bailiff, Arthur managed to land his prize.
An ardent Carl Smith fan, we are sure that he will appreciate a copy of ‘The Simple Fishing Guidebook’ signed by Carl himself, and put it to good use with his next target species.
Hey Freddy – Leave Some Fish For The Rest Of Us!
It’s no exaggeration to say that we could fill the entire Junior Informer section with the catches reported by Freddy Joe Beaney over the last month. The 15yr old has an ability to catch fish with a consistently that many a seasoned veteran would find hard to match. Not only has Freddy mastered a number of disciplines, including pole, feeder and lure fishing, but he puts them to good use across a number of different venues, and for a wide range of species. Pike, perch, tench, bream and crucian carp have all featured in his recent catch reports, as well as plenty of carp, including his new Personal Best 19lb 8oz Common Carp caught from Pittlands Lakes on a feeder. The only reservation we have about awarding him the Sussex Bait Developments bait package prize is that there might not be any fish left for the rest of us!
Proper Preparation Pays Off For Finnegan
11 year old Finnegan Kelly was well rewarded for the time he spent researching perch fishing at Furnace Brook Fishery with this beautiful looking example of 2lb 4oz. Following the advice of FWI columnist Russ Evans, who fished the venue earlier in the year for an article, and to film an episode of his popular YouTube series ‘Fishing Tail Films’, Finnegan chose to fish close to the margins. His preparation paid off handsomely when, along with some smaller examples, this superb specimen stripey took his red maggot hook bait. We have not doubt that Finnegan will be able to put many of the tactics contained within ‘The Simple Fishing Guidebook’ to good use, as this months winner of the signed copy of Carl Smiths book.
New Personal Best For Harley
15yr old Harley Williams has been enjoying a fine run of success at his local Dartford Lakes. Despite the challenging conditions facing all anglers this winter, Harley managed to land an impressive run of fish, topped off by a new PB in the shape of this lovely deep bodied common carp weighing in at 23lb 2oz. Showing the determination to get out and fish, during what many consider to be the least productive months of the year, make Harley a worthy winner of this months Sussex Bait Developments bait package, which will help him bank plenty more fish now that the warmer weather is on the way.
Hooray For Harrison
Under the tutorage of his Grandfather, 7yr old Harrison been learning how to fish. The thing that impressed us most at FWI is that in an age where so many young anglers start with, and only ever learn about carp, Harrison started by float fishing for roach and rudd before moving on to bigger species. His apprenticeship has obviously payed off, enabling him to land this superb looking PB ghost carp all on his own. An easy winner of this months signed copy of Carl Smiths book ‘The Simple Fishing Guidebook‘ which will undoubtedly help him develop his multi species approach.
Sussex Bait Developments Winner
Fishing with a friend, 14 year old Dom Windsor visited a well known southern park lake determined to catch a large carp. Casting out his popup bait, fished on a helisafe rig, in conjunction with a pva mesh bag of groundbait, the session was nearly up when he received a take on one of his rods. After a determined fight, Dom and his friend Mason, were able to net this superb 20lb 1oz mirror carp.
Although not a pb for Dom, to land a winter twenty from such a pressured venue makes him a worthy winner of this months Sussex Bait Developments bait package prize.
Fish With Carl Winner
Five year old Jayden Read had a bitter sweet experience when he visited Hawkhurst Fish Farm with his dad Steve. One the one hand Jayden caught plenty of fish, including this lovely common carp, using a combination of 12mm cell and maggots. On the other, he unfortunately snapped the tip section of his fishing rod. Something that has undoubtedly happened to many a seasoned angler over the years, and whilst we aren’t able to replace young Jayden’s rod, we are able to award him this months signed copy of Carl Smith’s book ‘The Simple Fishing Guidebook ‘ which is full of great tips and advice to hopefully avoid a similar mishap in the future.
Charlie Young- A Carp Catching Machine
Few anglers have been brave enough to venture our fishing in the recent weather conditions, and of those that have, even fewer have managed the sort of catch results posted by this months Sussex Bait Developments bait package winner Charlie Young. Targeting his local Tricklebrook Fishery, Charlie has managed to catch consistently throughout the winter from both specimen lakes on the complex, including some real crackers like the fish pictured
Start As You Mean To Go On.
It may have been cold, wet and windy, but that didn’t stop 5 year old Harry Martin from joining his Dad George on the bank at Hartley lands Fishery for his first ever fishing trip. Plenty of warm clothes and a steady supply of bacon sandwiches kept the cold at bay as the father and son duo managed a nice bag of carp. A worthy winner of this months signed copy of Carl Smith’s book ‘The Simple Fishing Guidebook ‘
Things That Go Bump In The Night
Many anglers go years or even decades without catching a thirty pound carp. Layton Buckwell managed to catch one on only his second ever night session. The eleven year old was fishing at Pittlands Lakes, nr Horsmonden, when his bait was picked by the behemoth. Even more impressive is the fact that he managed to land it in the dark, no mean feat when you see the size of the massive mirror. Clearly already on the path to a successful angling career, we’re sure that this months Sussex Bait Developments Bait package will help him catch even more monster sized fish.
Following In His Father’s Footsteps
Stanley Etherington may only be 7yrs old but he is already proving to be a ‘chip off the old block’. His Dad Colin is a very accomplished all round angler and young Stanley is keen not to get left behind. His latest quest has been to target pike in the waters close to his home in Burgess Hill, with considerable success. Where not only has he been able to land magnificent specimens, such as the one pictured, but also take a keen interest in all aspects of their safe handling. We are sure that Stanley will be able to learn many more useful tips as this months winner of a signed copy of Carl Smiths book ‘The Simple Fishing Guidebook ‘ he might even be able to teach Dad a thing or two!
Essential reading for any enthusiastic fishing person in the South East, Providing Match Reports, Fisheries, Reviews and Articles from all over the Region.
All Rights Reserved © Freshwater Informer
