Dave
Here’s my definition of what constitutes good, big, call it what you want for a particular piece of water, be that still or running.
Others will have their own definition and that’s there right, but this is mine.
A good fish – any fish that is half the size of the water record.
A special fish – one that is three-quarters of the water record.
Exceptional special fish – within a 5-10% of the water record.
Lifetimes fish – one that equals or surpasses the water record.
I personally don’t think it worth talking about national records if you fishing a water that is unlikely to produce a fish anywhere near the National record.
Example
I fish the Ribble and love fishing it, but the best-known (Barbel Society’s Records) fish to come off it is 14. 05. This may be a few ozs incorrect now, as I’m almost certain someone mentioned a large fish than this coming out in the last month of the season. There also may have been one or two bigger but they’ve not been reported as yet. Effectively, at the moment the Ribble is probably doing fish up to 15.
You can work out from my list above what constitutes what.
I have no desire to go chasing nationally recognised “big barbel” on the Circus water, it 3 ? hours drive away. Whereas, the Ribble is 40 mins. With far more spectacular scenery and wildlife and I would suggest more challenging river conditions.