Although early-season river fishing is generally a poor time to target specimen fish, if there’s one species that breaks the mould, it’s the rudd of Cambridgeshire’s Fenland Drains.
Growing to specimen sizes, this warm-weather species is a popular bet for anglers in the opening months of the season, with Stephen Gibbons showing exactly why with this three-pounder.
He’d started the session fishing floating crust, but couldn’t get a take, so switched to trotting a piece of bread flake 2ft deep. After persevering through a few smaller fish, he hit into his target. It weeded him up near his own bank, but his 4lb line straight through to the hook held firm, and he bundled the fish into the net.
Well done Stephen!