A few seasons ago, we were inundated with reports of huge crucian carp from Johnsons Lake, Surrey. The venue even produced a British Record of 4lb 12oz for Julian Barnes, but over recent years, numerous anglers have reported that the crucian fishing has become more challenging.   However, on a… Read more

Cambridgeshire is, in the eyes of many anglers, the big-rudd capital of the UK, with its vast network of rivers and drains producing specimen fish season after season. But the county’s stillwaters also hold a few special fish, as Paul Howarth found during a trip to a private lake in… Read more

Gary Knowles decided to start his crucian fishing slightly earlier this year, with early spring a great time to land a specimen and that proved to be the right decision as he banked himself a new personal best, in the shape of this lovely 4lb 5oz specimen. He told us… Read more

Before starting his campaign in search of bream and tench, Adam Riches likes to spend a few sessions in search of smaller species, such as rudd. After finding a spot on a Midlands stillwater where there was far-bank cover and newly forming lily pads, providing the sanctuary that the rudd… Read more

After several months spent chasing the small number of big carp that live in the shallow areas of a 90-plus acre busy park lake in Yorkshire, Joel Martin started seeing the odd large tench drifting in and out of his eyeline. So, with the carp proving frustrating, he went home… Read more

So far this season, Sam Smith has been exploring stretches of river to him in the Fens, searching for a 3lb rudd. His efforts were recently rewarded with this 3lb 4oz specimen, taken on a bread hookbait. Having spotted a few good fish, he got them competing for his free… Read more