Carp and match anglers have been using flavourings and additives to enhance their baits for years, but they are seldom used by predator anglers who often rely on the natural attraction of fish baits to attract their quarry.
However Billy Ashmore proved that additives have a place when fishing for predatory species when he landed this fantastic 14lb zander on a roach deadbait he had been soaking in fish oil.
"I’ve been fishing the Gloucester Canal since I was eight, and I always tell people how rewarding it can be. There are some real specimen fish lurking beneath its surface," Bily revealed to us.
"I’ve even accidentally caught a 29lb carp on a size 18 hook with double maggot while fishing for roach and bream!"
"But it is the zander that really interest me, the Gloucester has to be one of the most prolific fisheries in the country to catch them, especially specimen fish."
"I was using a simple running rig as I always do for zander as the less resistance the better I find, it just reduces the amount of aborted takes."
During his most recent session, Billy had caught a few small zander on tiny roach deadbaits, which prompted him to make a change in hopes of improving his luck. He switched to a large roach head that he had been soaking in a fish oil mixture during the session, hoping to attract a bigger fish.
"I’ve been soaking deadbaits in fish oil for a while now with great results. I think many predator anglers could really boost their catch rates by adding this extra attraction to their baits," he explained.
"Within 20 minutes of casting it out, I had a very delicate bite, which I managed to hook into. There was solid pressure on the rod tip, and I knew instantly it was a better fish."
"The fight was fantastic. Between thrashing around and making fast sprints, it really put up a good account of itself."
"When it finally went into the net, I was in awe. It was a big zander, and when I weighed it, it came in at exactly 14lb—proving once again that the Gloucester Canal is a great spot for specimen zander," Billy said.
ZANDER ARE GREAT FUN TO CATCH ON LURES, CHECK OUT OUR BUYER'S GUIDE TO THE BEST LURE FISHING RODS.
