Neil Maidment
Moderator
An excellent article Richard.
I fished Avington a few times many years ago (in the Sam Holland era) and had very similar experiences.
The sheer size of some of those Rainbows really shook me. On my third visit I finally landed one of 15lb 10oz and saw several other bigger fish on the bank (they were giants).
I had the great fortune to meet and talk to Bill Sibbons a few times at Damerham lakes and it was he that patiently showed me how to present nymphs at the right depth (once I'd worked out how deep the devils were feeding at!). That information increased my catch rate significantly.
I fished Avington a few times many years ago (in the Sam Holland era) and had very similar experiences.
The sheer size of some of those Rainbows really shook me. On my third visit I finally landed one of 15lb 10oz and saw several other bigger fish on the bank (they were giants).
I had the great fortune to meet and talk to Bill Sibbons a few times at Damerham lakes and it was he that patiently showed me how to present nymphs at the right depth (once I'd worked out how deep the devils were feeding at!). That information increased my catch rate significantly.