Whilst Oxfordshire's Linear Fisheries is well known for its prolific carp fishing, it does occasionally produce some huge specimens of other species, with all its lakes home to a few surprises. Ashley Edwards was another angler who was left shocked after, amongst several carp, he managed to land the lake record bream weighing 17lb 10oz.
Fishing a 48 hour session on St Johns Lake, Ashley targeted the shallower end of the lake near the infamous Herman Hill swims, where he caught his first fish within 30 seconds of casting in.
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"I got to St John’s and headed straight to the point area. After seeing the lake was very busy, I continued walking around before coming across a free peg at the top end of the lake," he told us.
"I decided to get the rods out before doing anything else, and within 30 seconds of the rig being in the water, I was away with the first fish of the trip."
"Fast forward, I ended up landing 9 carp up to 33lb on the first day before the weather changed, and the fishing switched off, with only 2 carp landed on the following day."
After that prolific start, the action slowed right down, leaving Ashley deliberating a move before a tactical change saw the bobbin pull tight and another fish was hooked.
"After a quiet night, I reset the left-hand rod, changing it to a single piece of Korda yellow pop-up corn on a spinner rig."
"I managed to get the rod bang on the spot on the first cast, and within 5 minutes, the rod pulled up tight and I was away after a very unusual battle."
"I was a little confused as it was fighting like a carp but didn’t feel like a carp. I pulled in an absolute monster of a bream."
"After composing myself, I got this monster out of the lake and watched the scales bounce around to a shocking 17lb 10oz, which was, of course, a PB bream. I later found out it was also the lake record," Ashley told us.
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