Despite some of the challenges the Bristol Avon has faced over the years, there are still some impressive fish to catch from the waterway. While it is best known for its barbel and chub, there are a small head of nomadic carp that call the Avon home, but as with many river carp, they can be very difficult to catch.
Callum Cornish is no stranger to the Bristol Avon, and over the years he has landed some incredible fish from the river including an 8lb chub and some cracking barbel, although the carp have managed to elude him. After taking a break from his angling as life and personal pressures got in the way, he was welcomed back with open arms by the Avon, when he hooked and landed a 29lb 12oz carp during a short evening session.
HEAD TO ONE OF THESE STRETCHES TO CATCH YOUR FIRST CARP.
"I have let my mental health get in the way of my fishing and free time for quite a few months this year, but thankfully, I managed to fight through that and get back where I belong, down on the bank, fishing in my own peace," Callum told us.
"I have been catching some cracking fish, but this carp tops the lot, and is probably one of the best carp to come from the stretch I have been fishing."
"I like to head down to the river after dark as it is generally much quieter, which allows me to drop into lots of different swims and cover plenty of water. I adopted my favourite rolling meat tactics which is the perfect way of attacking the river, and something that has always worked well for me."
Callum had a couple of chub early in the session, but things seemed quiet, so he decided to head downstream a bit to find some slightly deeper water. As his meat hookbait rolled through the swim a confident bang on the rod tip saw him connected to a powerful fish that he assumed at the time was a big Avon barbel.
"The fish powered off downstream before turning round and coming back up again, then it just held out in the flow. By now, my legs were shaking and I always feel hooking a big fish in the dark just adds to the excitement," Callum explained.
"The fish almost pulled my arms off, but thankfully after severely beating me up, I managed to slip the net under it."
"It was a huge carp, and upon weighing it, I couldn't believe how big it was. At 29lb 12oz, it is the biggest carp I have ever had from the river and one I will never forget!"
THE BEST BARBEL RODS ARE PERFECT FOR ROLLING MEAT FOR BIG FISH LIKE THIS!
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