IN-FORM Simon Baker landed this 7lb 15oz chub on float tackle from the River Lea.
The London angler found the venue carrying a foot of extra water and a tinge of colour, and began by feeding a few big pouches of maggots while setting up his rig – an 8g Loafer float to combat the extra water and a size 20 Super Spade hook.
On his first trot through Simon caught a roach and, with confidence on a high, started to up the loosefeed.
Soon afterwards the float buried again but he lost the fish to a hook-pull.
Undeterred, he fished on, and 45 minutes later another swift strike saw him connected to something heavy, which pinned itself to the bottom.
Simon patiently worked it upstream, the fish going on several powerful runs before finally hitting the net.
