Being an allrounder and targeting specimen fish comes with a whole array of
challenges. It requires dedication, passion, fully fuelled commitment and a pinch of
obsession. The reality is that specimen hunting is a niche category nestled under
the UK fishing umbrella. Fortunately, popularity has grown in recent years, and it’s
fantastic to see more anglers getting out and about targeting some of the superb
specimens that our country has to offer. For me the challenge of catching unique
rare fish is more appealing than catching numbers of fish. Specimen sized fish are
rare because they’re old and have defied all odds to surpass the gauntlet of
survival in a highly predatory environment. From the hundreds of thousands of
eggs only a handful of these fish ever make it to become a dream maker, and
whatever the species, there tends to only be few of them when they get this big.
This in turn makes them a challenge to the committed angler and are the ultimate
prize. Specimen hunting isn’t everyone’s cup of tea and that’s fine. We all share a
passion for the same sport of fishing, and how we choose to do that is all down to
personal preference. The beauty of angling is that you can get what you want from
it, whether it be a social with friend’s, fishing a match, a quick roving session on a
local river or a hardened specimen angling campaign for a huge fish. However you
decide to fish, the main thing is that you enjoy it, and encourage the next
generation to follow suit in this incredible sport.
I wanted to write something a little different for this short article, putting into words
an outline of what’s involved with my specimen hunting, and how I go about it as
an overview. I’m not going to focus on any one specific catch, but just offer an
insight into my preparation, organisation and the logistics involved with targeting
these rare creatures.
It seems the old cliché to state, but one of the most important factors when
targeting large fish is the venue which you are fishing. “You can’t catch what’s not
there” is an expression we are all familiar with and is used regularly for good
reason. You really can’t catch what’s not there, so it’s imperative that the venue I
choose holds the quarry for which I am targeting. Information like this can be
extremely hard to obtain and keeping your ear to the ground is essential. Most of
this research is desktop related and carried out in the comfort of my home. I
contact tackle shops, angling clubs, search for photographs, assess potential
venues on google maps and gather as much information as I can to build up a
picture of the venue prior to my first reccy session. I never rely on old information
and although some venues have a track record of producing large fish year after
year, events can dramatically decimate fish stocks, and this has happened on
several occasions. Algae blooms, predation, flooding, disease and pollution can
wipe out fish stocks within a very short period.
Whatever the species once they reach specimen size, they don’t usually hang
around for long except for tench, crucians and bream that tend to be more resilient
to environmental changes. Some tench can live for a very long time. A great
example of this was an incredible red coloured tench weighing 12lb 6oz that I
caught in 2020. Due to its unique colouration, this fish was easily identifiable, and
there’s a record of it being caught in the 1980s making it approximately forty years
old at the time of capture. Fig 1 (An incredible looking tench – as old as the
hills!)
This fish went nearly forty years without being caught and was suspected dead by
many anglers. It’s a great example of how resilient tench can be in the right
environment. Big fish are usually old and once I find a venue with potential, I act
quick, particularly when it comes to roach, rudd, grayling and dace. Strike while
the iron’s hot, because you only have a limited time to catch these fish, and it’s
more than likely that other specimen anglers will not be far behind!
Timing is also essential but comes with experience. For me there are three main
seasons for the specimen angler – Autumn, Winter and Spring. Summer can be
productive for species such as eels and rudd, but it’s really not a great season to
fish, particularly for the specimen hunter. In fact, I only fish for eels in the Summer
with the odd rudd trip to the river Cam thrown in. (Fig 2. A cracking eel caught
on a quick summers overnighter)
The rivers during the Summer months are usually at very low levels and the fish
have either just spawned or are actively spawning. This generally means they’re in
poor condition and at low weights. For these reasons I like to leave rivers alone
until September at the earliest. I’m not suggesting that you shouldn’t river fish in
the Summer, I’m just stating its not the best time for bagging a specimen. I can
see the appeal of a day spent on the bank in the sun, and I understand that many
anglers really enjoy this, but for the serious specimen angler it’s not the most
comfortable time of year to fish.
Knowing when to fish for a specific species is extremely important for the
specimen hunter, and although every water is different, a basic understanding of
when species are more active and roughly when they spawn is imperative. The
main species I target every year without fail is tench, from the end of April until
mid-May before they spawn in June. eels during the Summer months, perch and
roach in the Autumn, and chub, barbel, roach and dace in the Winter. However,
these targets are not set in stone. There are several factors that determine when I
target specific species, with the main one being the weather. For example, I
wouldn’t target barbel if the water temperature is below nine degrees, so if we get
a warm spell in late autumn or winter, I will hit the riverbank. I’m constantly
checking on the river levels and weather before deciding what species would be
best to target at that specific time. It’s certainly easier to catch barbel for example
in the warmer months when they are more active, but they’re truly special fish in
winter. They’re in prime condition and fully healed from their spawning activities
and at excellent weights. I also like the fact that the rivers are quieter in the colder
months from the reduced boat traffic and dog walkers. There are also less anglers
about which is a huge bonus, and peace and quiet is something I really enjoy.
When it comes to species such as big roach and rudd, I like to target them in late
Autumn and in the Winter following some really cold weather. As long as it’s not
the first frosts of the year, the larger ones are a lot easier to pick out on still waters,
as the smaller ones become dormant and shoal up in the margins. This allows the
use of maggots which is by far the best bait when you’re not being pestered by
small fish. This understanding of how the weather affects fish behaviour has
helped me when selecting what fish to target and when.
I do commit a lot of time to my angling, and I view each campaign as a process of
trial and error. With low stock fish it can be a very slow process. The reality is that
the specimen hunter needs to invest a considerable amount of time into their
fishing to see regular results and put the pieces of the puzzle together to work
their way to success. There are exceptions though, especially if you’re fortunate
enough to live close to a prolific river that holds specimen sized fish. In this
instance the angler can be selective when they choose to go, ensuring that they
are fishing in prime conditions. They can pre-bait and turn up at the ideal time of
day for a bite.
Being a specimen hunter also involves an awful lot of travelling and I’m fully
prepared to put in the miles. No matter how far away the venue is, if it holds my
target fish, I’m always willing to travel. I’ve always enjoyed exploring different
venues, travelling across the country, and I feel that this is all part of the
adventure. In fact, as I write this I’ve just returned from Scotland after Grayling
which was a nine-hour drive from my home in Kent. Due to the logistics of fishing
such a venue I decided to kip in the car by the riverbank out in the Scottish
wilderness. I believe that commitments like this can give you the edge when it
comes to fishing tricky low stock venues. (Fig 3. A 3lb 3oz Scottish grayling
caught with dedicated approach)
Once I’ve selected a venue, the next stage is to plan a reccy session. This is
usually for a couple of days depending on where the venue is located and how far
away it is from my home. This session is primarily to establish several factors
including depth of the water, weed, swim access, water clarity and even parking. I
don’t expect to catch on these trips (although I do try) and simply use it to gather
any snippets of information I can. Committing to an approach prior to seeing the
lake can be disastrous, and I often find that after my first reccy I can tailor all my
kit to suit the current situation. It’s also a great time to talk to other anglers on the
bank and gather even more information. Carp anglers don’t generally mind sharing
information on other species that aren’t their intended quarry and are usually
willing to talk.
The weather is such a critical aspect that affects every species. I’m constantly
keeping an eye on it, looking for those low-pressure spells and ideal conditions for
the species I’m targeting. My phone has several fishing locations saved on a
weather app for quick reference. Timing is such an important element in my
angling and it’s not just the time of year that I begin my campaigns for certain
species, but also when I choose to get out and fish for them. Monitoring river
levels and water clarity is paramount to increase your chances, and this
information is easily accessible online, although it does help to have eyes on the
water. There’s no point in committing to a three-hour journey only to find that the
river is in poor condition for your target species. So, I like to call the local tackle
shops and check the water level websites to ensure I’m fishing in prime conditions.
This is what makes angling such a special sport, as there are so many variables to
consider. Finding that perfect recipe for success can be extremely rewarding. It’s
this maze of variables and combined factors that keep the like-minded angler
thinking, adapting and dedicated to succeed.
Once all my preparation, weather checks and research has been completed and
I’m on a venue that holds my intended quarry, the next stage is to catch them. I’m
a big fan of travelling as light as possible so that I’m always prepared to move
swims to other areas of the venue if there are sudden changes of weather. It’s
difficult to travel light for long sessions on low stock venues but I try and keep
tackle to a minimum. During a recent crucian carp campaign in Shropshire, the
wind was on a constant change throughout the session, and I moved six times.
Crucian carp like a fresh wind, and I knew this, so tried to make the most of it.
Seeing that a fresh westerly wind was going to be pushing into one corner of the
lake, I moved swims in the dark at 4am in torrential rain and was rewarded for my
efforts. Being mobile helped me catch a stunning 3lb 12oz crucian, and one I
certainly wouldn’t have caught if I had stayed put. (Fig 4. 3lb 12oz of stunning
Shropshire crucian carp caught following a quick move on a wind change)
Access to venues is limited and the key is to try and stay one step ahead – which
is easier said than done! As a result of covid it seemed as though every angler
decided to dust the rods off and get out fishing. I believe this was due to angling
being one of the first activities allowed following the outbreak, and this in turn
created a huge demand for syndicates resulting in waiting lists growing
substantially. Always thinking ahead, I like to get my name on waiting lists as soon
as possible so that maybe one day I will get offered a ticket. It can be expensive
having to purchase different tickets for each species. I’ve lost count of the tickets I
currently have, but if you’re fully committed to catching these creatures, you must
have access to the water in which they reside.
With the variety of fish that the allrounder targets, bait choices are endless, and as
we know each species has preferences. Selection of bait is a lot more than just
what a fish feeds on, it must also suit the environment you are fishing in and the
method in which you are fishing. For example, there’s no point in using lobworms
when targeting eels in a water that contains small fish, as you’ll just get pestered
before the eel has a chance to reach your bait. This again boils down to research,
and learning the water as you fish it to tailor your approach. Good quality bait
comes very high up on my list of priorities. Whether it be boilies, maggots or dead
baits I make sure that they are fresh and of a high quality.
I’m a big believer that preparation contributes to success, and I really enjoy
preparing for my angling campaigns. One such adventure illustrates the lengths I
went to increase my chances of landing fish in a somewhat unique situation. I was
targeting the river Medway for its elusive barbel when I decided to make a swim in
a very under-fished area, where access was particularly difficult. This stretch had
extremely steep banks making it very dangerous, especially when fishing at night.
I set off to the venue with a car full of tools. I created a clearing and carved some
steps from the clay bank which I then covered in gravel for extra grip. The next
stage was to hammer in three storm poles with glow in the dark tape on the top of
each one to make them visible at night. These would act as my balustrades and
handrail, enabling me to safely navigate my way down the steps during darkness.
This planning and effort helped to create a safe, accessible swim to ensure I could
fish this area with great effectiveness. I then did a small pre-baiting campaign
before fishing it, reaping the rewards by landing a number of double figure barbel.
(Fig 5. Putting in the effort to create a new swim allowed access to some
fantastic, safe fishing) Improvisation and adaptation is something I really enjoy
about targeting big specimen fish. That barbel campaign made me think outside of
the box and resulted in success.
I hope this short write up has been interesting, informative and has given an
insight into how I plan my specimen fishing throughout the year. There are so
many other contributing factors, that I could write a book on the subject! But just
wanted to focus on the logistics of a fishing campaign from the specimen hunter’s
perspective. If you’re planning on going fishing, I wish you tight lines and great
success.
Jan 2024
Daniel Woolcott