Wherever we turn in life, modern technology has become a part of our daily routine, and slowly but surely, it’s making its way into angling. While some anglers are totally against the use of technology to help catch fish, others embrace it and those that do, often, are rewarded with fish they may not have caught without using it.
Garry Willis was spending the day afloat in his kayak with good friend Danny Baker and while the session was going well, with several zander already landed, it wasn't until Garry spotted a huge fish on his sonar device that the day became truly memorable for the duo.
IF YOU HAVE NEVER CAUGHT A ZANDER, HERE IS A GREAT GUIDE TO HELP YOU LAND ONE!
"We were both fishing lures for zander, and the session was going great, landing a number of fish up to 70cm between us," Garry told us.
"As I was drifting across the water, I noticed a big fish appear on the sounder. I initially thought it might have been a pike as it was in a completely different league to anything I'd seen that day," he explained.
"I moved closer and lowered my lure just above her and a few feet away. The lure was ignored at first, so I gradually moved it towards the fish and gave it a tiny flick to catch its attention, with that it swam up and just stared at the lure."
THE BEST LURE RODS WILL HELP YOU WORK A LURE PROPERLY TO GET MORE HITS.
Thanks to the accuracy of his sounder, Garry could see exactly how the fish was reacting. Despite her interest, the fish didn’t seem eager to strike, so he began subtly working the lure to provoke a response.
"We both just sat there, it was stalemate. I didn’t move, and neither did the fish. After what felt like an eternity, I felt a slight donk, struck, and it was on! I couldn’t believe it after watching it all unfold too," he recalled.
"The fight was heavy and intense, confirming this fish was in a different class altogether. When I finally saw her, it took my breath away and I struggled to get her in the net."
"I was filming at the time, and my GoPro fell off due to a dodgy clip—thankfully, it landed in the boat. Even on board, she was just as feisty. It was a quick measure, weigh, and release and at 97cm and 18lb 4oz, an absolute unit."
"I held her for a few seconds to let her catch her breath before she powered away," he concluded.
NEW TO LURE FISHING? OUR BEGINNERS GUIDE HAS ALL THE TACKLE AND TIPS YOU NEED.
Subscribe to Angling Times magazine today. Choose a Print+ Subscription and you'll get instant digital access and so much more. PLUS FREE UK delivery.