Two Very Big Trout!

[Catfish Virgin (Still!)]

A spur of the moment trip to Avington on Saturday ended up with me netting two of the biggest trout I've ever seen on the bank and completing a "double" that I will probably never beat.

Now, Avington is renowned for its big trout and their stock average weight is probably around 5lbs+ with plenty of fish in the 6lb to 8lb range. Fishing "blind" will usually catch these trout fairly quickly and easily. However, the venue has a reputation earned over 40 years+ for really big trout with the venue records for Rainbows, Browns and Blues all into the 20lbs+ range! These big trout, mainly in the "teens" and usually rainbows, are stocked in small numbers with an average of maybe 10 to 15 fish coming out each month. Bearing in mind the fishery is usually fully booked with around 25 anglers every day throughout the year, the odds are fairly small on landing one! No-one, least of all me, is claiming these are wild fish (show me a rainbow that isn't stocked!) but my day on Saturday will be very hard for me to to beat!

I was determined to try and ignore the "stock" fish and aim to locate and target very specific fish. Easier said than done! But after two hours I finally located a big "shadow" in an overgrown corner of the second lake. My first cast of the day put the Gold Head Damsel in its path and it took it straight away. A superb fight had me really struggling to control it but I eventually got it into the net. At 16lbs 04oz it was huge and turned out to be 2nd biggest rainbow of the year (just 1oz behind a fish of a few months ago!):



More than content with my lot, I very nearly packed up and went home. But after several cups of coffee, a good gossip and photo session with the fishery staff, I decided to get the gear and go wandering again. For the next several hours I slowly wandered around the whole fishery again trying to spot the bigger residents. I did find two fish which looked like "doubles" but only succeeded in severely spooking both of them. By around 3pm I found my way back to the first lake and took up position at the top end. I just stood and watched for about 15 minutes before I spotted some movement in the heavy weed a couple of rod lengths out. It turned out to be another big fish but try as I might I couldn't tempt it. I watched that fish come and go for well over an hour, it always ended up back in the same spot but would not take my offering. Eventually, when the trout was on one of its patrols, I succeeded in placing a weighted Red Buzzer on "its" vacant patch. It eventually returned, I tweaked the rod tip, the mouth flashed and it was on! Another tremendous fight saw the trout hurtle across and down the lake forcing other anglers to get their lines out of the way. At one stage the fish rolled over the line and I was fighting it side on, not good for the heart! But I eventually got it within range and finally netted it at the third attempt. This time it was a very rare big Brownie and at 15lbs exactly it was the biggest Brown to come out this year! According to the staff it had also been resident for quite some while and caused a lot of frustration to a lot of anglers!





That completed an incredible double and I went home a very happy man indeed. I didn't do the Lottery on Saturday night so failed to complete the Hatrick!

[cuckoo]

Well what a cracking brace of trout , biggest ive ever seen thats august fish of the month sorted , well done neil

[rob@home]

Wow thats some incredible fish there Neil. I'd love to have a go @ fly fishing always fancied fly fishing the Avon but not knowing anything about it kinda holds me back a bit. Have to get myself a rod & take a wander down the recreation ground for some casting practise I think before showing my face anywhere near the avon lol. Great report as well you must be chuffed to bits, I know I would be all I can catch lately is bream ha ha.
Do you have an tips on rods,reels & lines for a novice like myself?don't want to go buying a load of old rubbish & getting frustrated with it. Hopefully be on the royalty again this friday

Rob.

[pingu]

cracking fish neil
and top pics as well

dave

[pike_hunter]

Lovely fish there mate well done

[fishypaul]

superb fish neil well done mate

[fullcreel]

An outstanding Brace, the last few weeks has seen forum members getting some seriously impressive fish on the bank, Banana Steve's new PB acrp, Jolly Piscators new PB carp, Baggies amazing bass catch. Time I got myself something respectable on the bank.

[dave fish]

once had a crack at fly fishing on an old quarry the water was gin clear and there was some massive trout in there well into the doubles but went home empty handed so never went back and havnt fly fished again but well done looks like a cracking meal coming your way

[Norfolkboy]

Great stuff Neil, well done!

[Richy]

That double right there is better than any footy team winning a double.

Biggest Brownie i've ever seen........well done