Commercial fisheries sometimes get a bad rap from anglers who say all the fish look similar and that fishing them can become boring. However on a recent session while filming for Angling Times, Tony Grigorjevs proved that commercials can still hold some hidden gems, banking a stunning koi that wouldn’t look out of place in a domestic garden pond.
Fishing at Pipehill Fisheries in Lichfield, Tony discovered some fish sunbathing in a reed-lined margin tucked away in a quiet corner of the lake. After spotting the glowing orange body of the koi, he carefully lowered a Method feeder into the area where the fish was feeding and didn’t have to wait long before the rod arched round. After a short battle, the fish was safely in the net.
"It’s very rare that you actually catch the fish you’ve seen, at least for me anyway," Tony joked.
"The bite was very tentative, and I wasn’t sure it was a carp at first, but after picking up the rod, it soon became apparent that it was," he added.
"When the fish surfaced and I saw the bright orange flank, I knew it was the one I’d seen, and I couldn’t wait to get it onto the bank for a closer look."
"It’s one of the prettiest fish I’ve caught anywhere, and it just goes to show, you shouldn’t dismiss commercials, as they contain some great looking fish!"
A PAIR OF THE BEST POLAROIDS CAN HELP YOU SEE THE FISH YOU WANT TO CATCH!
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