The Suffolk rod hit the river after heavy rain and employed his tried and trusted approach of roving with big cubes of luncheon meat, fished on 15lb fluorocarbon hooklinks and size 8 hooks below 3oz leads. Dave loves this style of fishing, describing it as ‘simple yet satisfying’. On a previous trip he’d landed a fish of 16lb 4oz, but that was eclipsed by one of the Lea’s true giants in the shape of his eighteen-pounder. Judging by the venue’s form, Dave reckons it has the potential to throw up a British Record later in the season.

Well done Dave!