Bob and 7lb 1oz chub
FISHERS GREEN CHUB
There is no doubt that it was a momentous season for chub on the River Lea! From the moment that Lea Valley Park’s Fishery Manager, Gary Smith, netted a 6lb 10oz monster from the Relief Channel on opening day 2001 it was clear that the winter would bring some absolute monsters and so it proved with a number of different 7lb specimens, topped by Chris Hillier’s 7lb 8oz specimen.

Bob Hornegold
Bob Hornegold took a string of big fish from Fishers Green last season but had to wait until the end of the season for his first 7lb specimen that came in the shape of a 7lb 1oz fish. Bob took the fish from the Relief Channel on an M-Tech boilie.

Gary Newland
Also scoring with a 7lb specimen right at the end of the season was Bob’s fishing partner Gary Newland who weighed in this specimen of exactly 7lb after it picked up his legered salmon pellet. The fish was Gary’s second over the 7lb mark this winter.


Gary and his second ‘7’ of the season
With literally dozens and dozens of 6lb chub coming through and a good head of 7’s there is little doubt that Fishers Green will be at the pinnacle of UK chub fishing during the 2002/2003 season and the prospect of an 8lb fish is looming large.

SANDHURST LAKE
The Sandhurst Lake on the Nutrabaits Yateley Complex has started to show some fine spring form but despite some quite exceptional catches there have been few finer-looking fish caught than this 27lb 14oz stunner that fell to Nigel Sharp.

Nigel tempted the fish on a Nashbait Scopex pop-up fished at 70 metres range on a size 5 Raptor to 15lb line. Plenty more to come from Sandhurst over the coming weeks we think. Watch this space…

WRAYSBURY ONE – MALLIN’S
After banking fish such as Mary’s Mate, The Pug, Cluster, Measles, Floppy Tail Common and Three-Scales, Jon McAllister from Farnborough, Kent has recently added to his impressive tally of Wraysbury fish with the capture of Mallins. Jon takes up the story:-


Nigel Sharp with his 27lb 14oz stunner

“With just 2 nights left until the end of the season I made my way to Wraysbury in the hopeful search for one more whacker before the traditional close season arrived. I decided to have a look at the North Lake first and noticed ‘Paul the Brummy’ was fishing on the ‘Rocky Barge’. I decided to join him for a cuppa but on my way across the lake I heard a fish crash out towards the vicinity of the ‘Diving Board’.

Making my way towards the area, it did the same again, this time just 20 yards away from the boat. I couldn’t believe my luck but wanted to take advantage of it straight away and I was soon setting up my kit ready for the assault.

Trusty B5 and Pellets
I positioned the first rod on a large silt bed where I knew it would be clear from dead weed. I then introduced a few handfuls of my trusty B5 with matching pellets and sat back to await events. For most of the day, I was happy fishing with just the single rod, but later that day I decided to position the other two rods. Upon doing so with the use of a boat, I spotted another carp, this time a common, close to the lake bed.

After positioning all the rods, I sat back to soak up the magical atmosphere that Wraysbury has to offer whilst reminiscing over past captures. I considered myself to have been fortunate with the amount of fish that I had caught during my relatively short time at Wraysbury, but one of the 40’s had so far eluded me. This being ‘Mallins’ and my desire to catch the great fish was becoming stronger with each passing month.


Jon Mac and Mallins
Screaming Run
At approx 7.30 the following morning, I had an absolute screaming run on the rod positioned on the large silt bed. The fish took off with amazing power so I decided to take to the boat. The fish then started kiting fast to my left, however, I soon managed to gain control and get closer to the fish. Upon doing so, it then decided to go on yet another long powerful run, only this time, in the opposite direction! Eventually the fish slowly began to tire whilst trying to find sanctuary close to the bush island in front of the ‘Secret Reedy’, but I now had the upper hand and managed to coax the warrior towards the surface. At that very moment, I looked into the clear water to see a massive carp powering off towards the bottom. As it did so, it stripped line from my spool at an alarming rate. Several minutes later I managed to regain control and inch-by-inch began gaining line once again. This time though, the fish was tiring rapidly and I slowly drew my prize over the waiting net.

On checking the fish, I was absolutely amazed to find it was the very fish that had eluded me thus far, none other than ‘Mallins’. 120-acres of sparsely stocked water, and my target fish now lay in the folds of my net. The scales registered a weight of 42lb 4oz and I was on cloud nine. With photographs complete, I slowly packed my gear and possibly for the very last time, bid farewell to Wraysbury – the water that has been so kind to me during the past 18 months.”

Many thanks to Mike Willmott of Essential Products for the story and picture of this capture.

Visit RMC’s web site at

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