Last night the Grand Fishing Adventure season two finale hit ITV4, stunning viewers with spectacular footage of giant carp and sturgeon, culminating in the capture of the biggest fish ever caught on an underwater film.
Posting on his social media platforms, show star Ali Hamidi asked the question, "Is this the greatest episode of fishing on the TV ever?, You'll be the judge."
So, how does this history making episode compare to these classic TV moments you voted your favourite back in 2020, and are there any more that should make this top 10?
1 - John Wilson Bream on the Boat
John Wilson's Go Fishing show takes some beating when it comes to classic fishing television. An inspiration to many, fishing lost one of its true greats when he passed away and he is still recognised by most as our "greatest ever angler."
The episode you voted your favourite was his incredible red-letter bream session. Fishing from a boat with a slider float, every fish he caught was a double - next level angling!
WANT TO LEARN HOW TO FISH A SLIDER FLOAT LIKE JOHN? HERE'S HOW TO DO IT.
2 - Bob James' Roach Haul
A Passion for Angling was packed full of great moments, from the scarecrow and jump in the lake at Redmire to the captures of stunning barbel and pike. None of these got mentioned as frequently, however, as Bob's incredible roach catch from the River Kennet. A truly epic haul that to this day still inspires anglers to target one of Britain's finest fish.
CATCH A BIG ROACH YOURSELF BY VISITING ONE OF THESEFANTASTIC VENUES NEAR YOU.
3 - Jeremy Wade and the Goliath Tiger Fish
River Monsters was a show that will go down in history as one of the angling greats, with presenter Jeremy Wade capturing the attentions of non-anglers as much as dedicated enthusiasts with his fascinating and dramatic adventures.
The standout moment voted the best by our readers was his capture of a gigantic Goliath Tiger Fish from the Congo River. The venue was pretty scary itself, but the fish was like something out of a horror movie, with its massive teeth. Incredible angling once again from Jeremy.
LEARN MORE ABOUT PREDATOR FISH LIKE THIS AND THE CRAZY THINGS THEY EAT.
4 - Mick Brown and the Monument Carp
"That's like winning the lottery," were the words of Mick Brown after he banked a massive 44lb carp from the Monument Fishery in Shropshire, whilst filming Record Breaking Fish with Matt Hayes. The look on his face and the reaction of the pair to the enormous fish really connects with the everyday angler and is understandably ranked as one of our reader's favourite fishing TV moments.
YOU NEED THE RIGHT TACKLE TO CATCH BIG CARP. CHECK OUT OUR GUIDE TO BEST CARP RODS.
5 - Martin Bowler's Enormous Perch on the Pole
Martin Bowler and Hugh Miles teamed up to produce one of fishing's most inspiring shows in Catching the Impossible. The filming from Hugh was flawless and Martin produced the goods on the fishing front too, landing fish most anglers could only dream of once in a lifetime.
The moment that impressed our readers most, however, was when specimen angler Martin swapped rod and line for a match angler's pole, using it to catch a huge brace of perch, topped by an incredible 5lb 4oz specimen.
TAKE YOUR FISHING TO ANOTHER LEVEL BY BUYING ONE OF THE BEST POLES IN THIS GUIDE.
6 - Pike Snaps Wilson's Rod!
John's iconic laugh will be one of the main things anglers remember from his wonderful TV shows, but he also had the odd comical disaster that most anglers wouldn't be laughing at if it was them.
A classic moment our readers voted highly was a wrestling match he had with a big pike. After a tough day, he attempts to hold the fish up to the camera before it wriggles from his arms and falls on to his rod, snapping it in the process. With a duck quacking in the background John simply says: "Well, that just about takes the bloody biscuit." Even the legends of our sport have had "one of those days."
MAKE SURE YOUR ROD WON'T BREAK BY GRABBING ONE OF THE BEST FISHING RODS IN THIS GUIDE.
7- Matt Hayes and his Monster Horseshoe Rudd
Matt and Mick produced several shows that anglers will always remember and Record Breaking Fish was certainly one of them. But when it comes to truly inspiring moments from the series, there are few that ranked as highly in the minds of our readers then when Matt caught a giant rudd from Horseshoe Lake.
Initially targeting tench, Matt switches to a waggler to target the rudd, taking the huge specimen after a flurry of smaller fish. The reaction of the pair when witnessing the fish is what all anglers dream of.
CATCH A BIG RUDD YOURSELF BY PAYING A VISIT TO ONE OF THESE SUPERB VENUES.
8 - Redmire Magic
For anglers who love their history, the episode of a Passion for Angling at Redmire takes some beating. The magic of the old tackle, the gudgeon match at dawn, the jump from the tree, the scarecrow - Bob, Chris and Hugh really did capture what it was that made carp fishing so special in the early days. A sense of mystery, anticipation and wonder make this episode one of the all-time great pieces of fishing TV.
IS CHRIS YATES QUITTING FISHING? HERE'S WHAT HE HAD TO SAY.
9 - Bob's First Barbel
Mortimer and Whitehouse: Gone Fishing has been voted 'TV Show of the Year' by our readers on several occasions. It's a show about friendship and laughter, that appeals even more to non-anglers than it does to dedicated fisherman.
One moment every angler can connect with, however, was the excitement novice Bob has when he hooks his first barbel on the River Wye. Sheer panic, unusual language and laughter follow as the comedy duo try to get the fish in. We all felt the same when we first hooked one of these amazing fish, right?
FOLLOW IN BOB AND PAUL'S FOOTSTEPS WITH A HOLIDAY TRIP TO THE STUNNING RIVER WYE.
10 - Weirpool Magic
Classic river fishing is highlighted in this episode from the second series of John Wilson's Go Fishing. He tackles floods for roach and chub, then catches bream and roach on the tip from a Wensum weirpool. In true all-rounder fashion John also lands a decent pike, before the show ends with a spectacular brace of 2lb roach. They just don't make fishing shows like this anymore.
FIND A WEIRPOOL NEW YOU AND REPLICATE ONE OF JOHN'S EPIC SESSIONS. HERE ARE THE BEST SPOTS.
What's your favourite TV moments? Be sure to let us know and we might just update our list!
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