BIG FISH COLUMN: South's persistence rewarded

With the river season about to start and most eyes firmly focused on prospects for the flowing waters it is easy to forget that the stillwaters are very much open for business at present and what’s more some of them are fishing very well.

The eyes of most anglers are on tench as the species approach their heaviest weights of the year in the run up to spawning.

The last couple of weeks have seen the first of the crop of double figure fish filtering through from the usual big fish waters such as Korda and Horseshoe and locally there have been a couple of excellent results too.

The top tench from the local stillwaters so far this spring was weighed in from one of the big Kennet Valley pits last weekend by Adam South who fished an overnight session with the maggot feeder presented at medium range to the back of a gravel bar.

Adam started his session by spodding out a bucket of hemp, pellets and maggots stiffened with a little groundbait then dropped a couple of large maggot feeders over the top with bunches of maggots on a size 10 hook to a 6lb fluorocarbon hooklength with an 8lb mainline.

After a quiet night, the tench moved over the spot at first light and after missing one tentative bite Adam connected with a good fish which kited across the bar and into weed causing him a couple of anxious minutes as he applied steady pressure in an attempt to free it. Once the fish was in open water Adam was able to take his time and play it out in front of him.

From the nature of the fight, Adam knew it was a very big fish and as it rolled at the net he had thoughts of a 10lb specimen but the scales stopped 8oz short at 9lb 8oz - still a magnificent specimen and the best reported locally this season.

The tench might still be a little way off spawning but on many waters the carp have already started and anglers on several waters have had the frustration of fish in front of them more intent on conducting their nuptials than on feeding. At such times there is little you can do but grin and bear it and try to make the best of the situation.

The danger of foulhooking spawning fish makes it irresponsible to fish the main areas of activity but it’s important to remember that not all carp will necessarily spawn at the same time and by donning a pair of Polaroids and having a wander with some stalking kit it is often possible to find the occasional specimen still feeding.

As far as carp captures are concerned, Burnham angler Darren Fuller made the most of a trip to the Blue Pool fishery as part of a party who had booked the lake as a stag weekend.

Although the fishing was generally slow, Darren managed fish of 21lb 4oz and 24lb by nurturing a margin spot and carefully presenting artificial pellet hookbaits on a size nine hook to a 20lb coated braid over a bed of the real thing.

Next week, the first river reports and results.

- Any anglers wishing to report catches may contact me on 07780 755138. I may be e-mailed on ian@bigfishtrail.com