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A Different Kettle Of Fish

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For the last couple of years I’ve done a little rod race with a few pals to see who can catch the highest number of freshwater species in 12 months. In 2010 I had 24 species, and last year 30. I could have easily had 34 last year but by the time September came I was thoroughly fed up with the whole process as i seemed to catch nothing but tiddlers. Whilst it was initially good fun, I eventually realised that I was missing out on the bigger specimen fish which really give me a buzz.
So in 2012 I’ve decided to turn my attention to nabbing a few lunkers.
20lb Carp, 20lb Pike, 10lb Barbel, 2lb Roach, 7lb Tench (a big fish for the northwest) and a 10lb bream are my targets for 2012. I know venues where these fish can be found, catching them will be a different kettle of fish.

manchester fishing Irwell Ribble Trout

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Comments

  3. Mike Duddy says

    a mix of both, I've got a good idea which waters will produce these fish, and am looking forwards to the challenge. I think the bream and the pike will be the most difficult.

  4. Ian says

    I can put you on 2 lakes within 30 minutes of you both with potential for 30lb pike, a fair few 20's though and plenty of doubles. One's a club water ones free. There's also good bream in one.
    Drop us an email, youve got it somewhere, if you want to know more.

    I fished one today for a few hours ….. and blanked! the barbel and roach id struggle with the most

  9. By JAYZS says

    It probably all depends very much upon the angler and choice of venues. When I did most of my big fish angling many years ago, the tench would have been more or less unattainable. The rest were achievable even then, and nowadays big fish seem to be so much easier to catch. Back then I was the only angler I knew who had a double figure barbel under his belt (Some luck was involved). Nowadays everyone and his dog seem to catch them with relative ease.
    I would think, myself, that the pike, the barbel and the carp should come quite easily. Ten pound bream are much more readily available these days, no need to stake out waters for weeks at a time as I did, and a 7 pound tench has now become a realistic target.
    I suspect a 2 pound roach will still be as difficult as it always was, but on landing one's first 2 pound plus roach, there is a hell of a buzz. My first such roach is one I will never forget, a creature of pure, newly minted, uncaught beauty.
    I had already determined that a 7 pound tench would be a target for me too this year. I could never have hoped for one 35 years ago.
    Best of luck Mike.

  10. Mike Duddy says

    I think my targets are realistic – decent fish, all of them achievable fishing local waters.
    I agree that the roach will prove to be the most difficult – but then again its all down to location and luck.
    I know the locations but luck is a different matter all together.

  11. Carp Fishing says

    Good luck to you and I hope you are successful this year and I hope you can get more compared before. Hope you'll get all your targets. Also, thank you for this post. Hope you could get your targets and share your experience once you are successful. Good luck!