As Colin Howes bit into his sandwich while he was having a day’s fishing on the Kennet upstream from Reading, his rod tip almost took off.

He soon forgot how hungry he was as he struck into a big fish which started to take line. After a good scrap, Colin slipped his net under a large barbel that was unhooked, rested and then weighed at 13.11.0 – a personal best.

Colin, who this year has been concentrating his fishing on the Kennet, used a bait dropper to deposit hemp and small pellets into his swim and then used banded pellet on a size 10 Drennan hook.

Andy Ormrod travelled all the way down from Lancashire to fish Linear’s St John’s Lake at Stanton Harcourt and caught some double-figure carp, plus a big catfish of 56.2.0.

The lakes at Linear are getting a bit of a reputation for producing catfish and are well worth having a go for.

l IF you have any news, views or photos, you can contact me on 01865 725606 or email agw@awebber20.orangehome.co.uk