Coventry angler Sim-on Poole smashed the catfish record at Dorchester’s Orchid Lakes when slipping his net under a magnificent 52lb 8oz specimen, writes Andy Webber.

Poole used a popped up squid bait to land the huge fish.

Over the years, the Club Lake has seen several large catfish taken, and for anyone who would like to have a go at catching one, you can call 07885 618190.

Former Olympic decathlete Dean Macey landed a smashing carp weighing 32lb from Linear Fisheries at Stanton Harcourt.

Macey used a spod to bait up an area with Bait Tec Party Mix, pellet and dead maggot, and then fished maggot on top.

The day he had the fish out, conditions were not good, and a break in the weather saw his bobbin hit the butt ring and he was in.

Nash consultant Jack Brown got a bit of a shock when targeting carp at an Oxfordshire pit.

Instead of a carp taking his 15mm boilie attached to a size eight hook and 20lb hook link, Brown took a giant roach weighing 3lb 4oz.

The fish took a liking to an IC-1 boilie which hooked itself on a 2.5oz pear lead.

Chipping Norton’s Mark Lyford had a birthday to remember when he landed a personal best carp on a night session at Standlake.

The fish, caught at Manor Farm, weighed in at 35lb 5oz.

Lyford had started fishing at about 3pm, and six hours passed without a bite.

So he recast using a pva bag and 14mm mainline cell boilie about 60 yards out.

Fishing into a cold north-easterly wind, Lyford made himself a cup of tea and was settling down for the night when the fish bit at about 12.45 the following morning – on his 38th birthday.

He said: “The rod screamed off and I could see something big was on the end of the line.; “It took about ten minutes to land the fish and it was a lovely mirror carp.”

Membership books for North Oxford AS are in the tackle shops, costing £20.

North Oxford have plenty of waters around the city and run regular Sunday matches.

For more information, call Andy Crisp on 01865 553800 before 10pm.

There are evening matches over at Abingdon on June 23 and 30 and July 7 and 14, drawing at 5.30pm.

Entry fees are £40, which must be paid by June 23 at Acorn Angling.

Contact Steve Roberts on 07780 936826 for more details.

Prize money will be paid out at end of four-match series.

If you have any news, views, photos or just want to have a chat, you can contact me on 01865 725606 or email agw@awebber20.orange home.co.uk