IT WILL go down in angling history – a haul of 11 rudd topped by a 4lb 5oz monster, taken by specimen angler James Champkin.
The Milton Keynes rod returned to the northern venue where he banked a 3lb 9oz rudd a few weeks ago, but nothing could have prepared him for what happened next.
Over three nights, James (28) hooked 15 huge rudd. Four were lost during the fight, but he still managed to land 10 weighing between 3lb and 3lb 12oz, on top of the unbelievable four-pounder, a personal best.
“The proportions of that fish were incredible,” said James,
“wide across the back, with a huge frame, and immaculate, except for a tiny split in one pectoral fin.”
James landed 35 tench on the same trip to the undisclosed venue, and returned a few days later to bag two more rudd of 3lb 8oz and 3lb 10oz, alongside another 20 tench.
“It was the most hectic fishing I’ve ever known,” he said.
“At times I struggled to keep a single rod in the water. Pure carnage!”
James caught all his fish on maggot feeders fished helicopter-style over a bed of hemp containing lots of sweet tiger nut liquid to create a cloud in the water column.
But the dream session almost didn’t happen, as James’ car had to go in for repair.
“I was so determined to fish that I hired a car just so I could make the long journey north to the special lake,” he told us.
“I was moaning to a friend of mine that week, complaining that I had to shell out for a hire car just to go fishing. He jokingly said: ‘Well, if you catch a 4lb rudd it’s not a bad investment.’ Turns out he was spot-on!”
