Kevin Sanders 3lb 5oz Rudd

Kevin Sanders got off to a great start on a local gravel pit once the river season ended. After the first 2 trips were slow, a change of location for his third session resulted in this pb equalling fish of 3lb 5oz.

He told us “I had managed a few fish to 2lb, plus a bonus carp, but on this trip, I wanted to fish in a shallower part of the lake, before the lilies were up too much to do so. My feeling was that, as the weather had now warmed, the rudd would be patrolling the shallower water. With five hours at my disposal between the school runs, I settled into position and assembled two rods.

The first was rigged with a cage feeder and scaled-down 5cm chod rig, with a yellow Dynamite Baits Hit ‘n’ Run pop-up the hookbait. I have great confidence in these for rudd, having caught good fish on them in the past. On the second rod I used the same hookbait, but this time fished on an 8cm braided hooklink alongside a Method feeder. Over the top of both feeders, my plan was to loosefeed boilies, my choice being 12mm The Source baits.

I’ve done this for a few seasons now, and whilst it’s not your textbook rudd tactic, I’ve found it to have significantly upped my catches of specimen fish. They’re a greedy species and absolutely love boilies! Around my feeders, I use a groundbait that attracts nearly every fish that swims. My thinking behind this is to generate some feeding activity in the swim, which catches the attention of the larger rudd as they patrol the area.

My session started with an early spring tench which was soon followed by a bream. The rudd then moved in, with several good fish coming to the net before I hit what felt like a much better one. It shook its head all the way in, but my hook held firm, and I soon scooped it into the net. Laying it on the mat, I was greeted with a wide-bodied rudd and as I picked it up, I could feel a belly full of boilies! At 3lb 5oz it was a great result, and proof in my theory of the larger fish patrolling the shallows.

If you’re fishing over the coming weeks, keep an eye on any shallower parts of the lake. They could well be holding the fish you’re after!”

Well done Kevin!