Saw the record eel in Dave Swallow's tackle shop (Custom Tackle in Moordown). We were convinced it was a little conger from Bournemouth or Boscombe Pier!
Witnessed an estimated 38lb very fresh run Avon salmon being hooked, played, tailed and gently nursed back to fitness then slipped back without fanfare. Stunning piece of angling skill by a proper all round angler.
I've had a few captures which are memorable only to me. The most recent happened last month. After quite a few years I finally landed a 20lb+ Brownie. Yes it was a stocked fish but had successfully avoided (and been harassed by) anglers of all skill levels every day for the last 4 or 5 months. But, hey, it floats my boat
Stalked the thing for hours but it eventually made a mistake.
Memorable for me as it concluded a long held ambition, far too many unsuccessful trips and probably a few hundred hours of stalking such beasts. All of which probably explains why I ended up jumping in up to the waist when it buried itself in the weed. Managed to free it, get back on the back and eventually got it in the net.
mg:
At 21:04 it's the heaviest fish of the year from Avington and just 1:04 short of the long held fishery record.