I've been fishing since I was 13, and I'm self taught so it has been a long learning curve for me. Between the ages of 20 and 30 fishing took a back seat as I was a busy cricketer during this time. In 2000 I got back into the sport big time, but was shocked to discover that all the big roach I used to target had vanished.
Armed with a set of scales second time around, I set off in pursuit of an officially weighed 2 pound roach. When that first biggie of 2lb 10oz came, it was so big and special that it made me want to catch big fish of all species.
A specimen fish of any species seems so much bigger than a normal sized fish and is so impressive. That's why I want to see and catch large specimens of all coarse species. I am also prepared to travel anywhere to have a good chance of catching, though I would prefer to catch nearer to home.
Roach are by far my favourite, followed by Rudd and Dace. It is these smaller members of our coarse fish that I want to catch first, because they are all at big risk from the Cormorants, and Rudd seem to be vanishing altogether.
Mike Townsend
Armed with a set of scales second time around, I set off in pursuit of an officially weighed 2 pound roach. When that first biggie of 2lb 10oz came, it was so big and special that it made me want to catch big fish of all species.
A specimen fish of any species seems so much bigger than a normal sized fish and is so impressive. That's why I want to see and catch large specimens of all coarse species. I am also prepared to travel anywhere to have a good chance of catching, though I would prefer to catch nearer to home.
Roach are by far my favourite, followed by Rudd and Dace. It is these smaller members of our coarse fish that I want to catch first, because they are all at big risk from the Cormorants, and Rudd seem to be vanishing altogether.
Personal Bests;
a northern stillwater