New river season gets off to a flying start on the Nene

With so many good reports it’s hard to know where to start, but I think taking pride of place has to be the massive barbel taken from Elton on the river.

Captor was Gary Johnson, who caught the beautiful 18lb specimen on a DNA boilie on 15lb main line and a 12lb hook length.

He said: “I knew it was something special as it stayed deep and the sheer power of the fish was unbelievable. It took close to seven minutes to land and was a wonderful present on my 55th birthday.”

A little further downstream in the Alwalton area, city rod Angus Nicholls caught a massive River Nene mirror carp of 28lb 5oz on a red boilie.

PETERBOROUGH DAA OPEN

Not to be out done the match boys had a real fun day in the first Peterborough DAA Open match of the season on the Orton Upstream section of the River Nene.

Leading the way with a fine 44lb 12oz net of bream and skimmers was Rob Hewison.

He drew just above the locks and caught on the feeder and pole feeder for half of the match but unfortunately the water started to slow down and the fished moved off or we could have been looking at a truly spectacular weight.

Runner-up was the ever-consistent River Nene angler John Means. He fished big pole floats down the middle over heavy groundbaiting for 30lb 10oz. Then came Andy Ellis with 29lb.

JVAC

On the team fishing front congratulations are in order after the JVAC team did a demolition job on Dersingham AC in the Angling Times Bait-Tech match fished at Decoy Lakes.

The opposition were as strong as it gets as they are the reigning champions and have not been beaten for a very long time.

That all came to an end on Sunday as our local lads put together a fine team effort to earn an emphatic victory.

On the individual front Matt Bunning took the honours with 143lb 5oz, the only grain of comfort for the visitors.

Runner-up was Andy Gausden on 110lb 11oz followed by Andy Kelk with 105lb 1oz. Then came two more JVAC lads Dan Abbott and Lee Kendal, who were equal fourth with 98lb 4oz.

The Willows at Decoy was the venue for the JVAC lads not fishing the knockout event.

Way out in front from peg one was Gus Gausden, who caught all day fishing cat meat close in for 187lb 15oz.

Runner-up from peg 11 was Roger Gowler, who fished a worm and caster approach close in to finish with 140lb 6oz, followed closely by Nick Carlton on peg 33 catching shallow with caster for 140lb.

FERRY MEADOWS

On Ferry Meadows the bream put in an appearance again after a quiet week or two.

Topping the Steel City Open with 101lb 6oz from peg 115 on the Overton Lake was Phil Irving, who caught on long range feeder tactics.

Runner-up was Mick Smith on 99lb 2oz then came Morris Williams with 96lb 4oz, Ian Drage with 64lb 10oz and top of the local contingent once again was Carl Singleton on 62lb 6oz.