PHIL SMITH

An angler who is actually fishing for specimen eels rather than one who catches by accident. Shame the report was not correct, that would have been a good eel instead of a paltry 7lb 15oz!

The point about digi photos is the quality. The bettter the quality the more chance it will be usable, ie phone digi is not good enough. The point about shots taken from different angles is very valid as well. Take good shots, with close up of head and fin positions.

When I took a brace of roach from Willow Pool on the Linch complex [3lb-13.5oz and 3lb-7oz] said to be the record pair, I thought it would last for many years. How wrong, and fish from a river as well. Stef and I were fishing the river that week and met the captor of a brace going 3lb-15oz and 3lb-8oz, quite unasuming with a photo to be proud of. Pictures can make any fish look bigger or smaller either by intent or by accident, I have no reason to doubt this angler, he had good witnesses, and I hail the new brace record holder to the best of my knowledge. We have fished that stretch for some seasons now since it is known to hold these monster roach but it is the "Queenford" of roach waters with only a bite every two or three visits. Stef had two days the week before these fish for a couple of small chub, and with the Stour in full flood we had two days there last weekend for a couple of bullheads.

Anyone out there know where I can get one of these Bic 252 boats repaired, the twin hulls are worn and cracked. I found a place but it is down by Brighton, prefer somewhere more Midlands [birmingham] Alternatively do you have one for sale.