MOTLEY CREW AND CATS IN PARADISE

Many thanks to my good friend Bruce Elston for sending North Devon & Exmoor Angling News a full report on their trip to Anglers Paradise. Whilst I was unable to attend due to grandad duties I was very much there in spirit and watched developments keenly on our Watts-App group.

It was with much anticipation that a motley crew of like minded anglers assembled at my place for breakfast, prior to annual cat fishing trip on carp and cat 2 at  Elderado. This was to be our fifth year targeting the catfish on this prolific lake and we always have a lot of laughs with a few nice fish thrown in along the way.
Unfortunately Wayne Thomas couldn’t make it this year so Noel Jones readily agreed to take his place.
With the bacon and egg butties and copious amounts of tea and coffee consumed we set about allotting swims by pulling names out of a hat. Unfortunately for Johnny ‘Fat bloke’ Hughes he drew the short straw and had to fish with me!
This year we had been lucky with the weather. With the lake booked months in advance, it is always a worry but with hot and sunny conditions forecast for the 48 hours of fishing we had ahead of us, things looked good. I have always found found this to be good conditions for tempting our whiskered friends.
Arriving at the lake we noticed a few carp spawning which was not ideal. Hopefully our large baits and agricultural tackle needed to tame the large catfish that reside here , would put off any carp fancying a snack after their amorous endeavours.
Barrow loads of gear were quickly deposited in our allotted swims. Well, quickly might be a bit of an exaggeration for this mostly retired and less than spritely bunch of old duffers! Anyway, eventually we were all settled in our swims and sat back in the sunshine awaiting events.
It wasn’t long before I spied a bent rod across the water and Tony Ball was playing the first cat of the session. Only a kitten
at around 8 pounds but it was a good start and fair play to the old fella for thinking outside the box and trying out a float paternoster
fished with worms.


Soon after Alan Palmer also landed a Kitten of a similar size, this was closely followed by a 29 pounder also to Mr Palmer.

Things were looking good and got even better when my alarm sounded and I was suddenly attracted to something that was intent on pulling my arm off. The cats have got bigger and bigger, year on year in this lake and this was definitely one of the bigger ones! Bitter experience of lost fish making it to snags or taking me around islands have meant that I have upgraded the gear I have been using to try and tame these beasts. Despite now using 30lb line, 3 1/2lb test Armorlites and big pit reels the big ones still lead you a merry dance. This one was no exception and decided it wanted to visit Noel in the swim  further up the lake to my left. Eventually it came around to my way of thinking and a nice cat of 40lb 8oz was juggled into
the net by Fatty Hughes.


The action continued with Richard ’Bully’ Bull landing a 20.12.


The cats were definitely on the munch and we were all expecting a busy night but apart from a couple of lost fish and a 15 for Bully it was relatively quiet. Oh, and Fatty Hughes had a micro cat on worms popped up to just under the surface.


As the new day dawned, Noel was woken by lovely looking common carp that took a liking for a half tin of luncheon meat which was soon outgunned on the heavy gear and sent back on its merry way.


Father and son Team, Mitch and Ben Andrews had been quiet (at least fish wise up to this point) but this was about to change. Ben stole the show on day two with two nice fish of 30.08 and 32.14.


As the second night descend on us we could hear the call of a Nightjar nearby but Mitch spoilt the moment by declaring that it was in fact a farting Walrus.
Mitch has had some nice cats in the past but has not had the best of luck on our annual trips so we were all rooting for him as time was starting to run out on the session. Thankfully at 10.45 his bite alarm sounded and this time he wasn’t to be denied and after a spirited battle a 22 pounder was his.

Several other cats were landed in the night including a 28 for Alan, a 27 for Ben and a 24 just before the first light for me.

Fatty contributed to proceedings with another micro cat on worms.


As the new day dawned with mist rising off the water my Alarm sounded for the last time and I was blessed with another 40 pounder to cap off what had been a fabulous trip. Unfortunately Elderado had a sting in its tail for poor Noel as despite the heavy gear he was using and not fishing too close to the snags a big fish managed to get into some sunken branches on the far bank just as he was about to pack up.
Still it was a great trip and fun was had by the old fogeys and a fitting end to our Elderado adventures. I say end as it is rumoured that it will not be available for day tickets next year. I had better make hay…

Anglers Paradise

BIGGEST FISH CAUGHT IN ANGLERS PARADISE HISTORY

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BIGGEST FISH CAUGHT IN ANGLERS PARADISE HISTORY
Lee Meakin, age 36 has made Anglers Paradise history and caught the complex record Catfish at 100lbs from the Main Lake!!
This is the heaviest fish to have ever been caught here and he is now the new RECORD HOLDER!!
As a Fishery, we are all incredibly proud to have grown these Cats on from babies to THIS!!
Lee shared –
“Well my dad said I wouldn’t catch a catfish, so I wanted to prove him wrong haha!! After having no bites on the carp all day, I put 2 rods out for a cat not expecting anything and like he said there is 2/3 in here and the last time 1 was caught, was either last year or 2 years ago but I thought why not try?! I am not going to catch if I don’t try, so out went 2 Dynamite Baits 21m halibut pellets in the middle of the lake and my other went out on big fishy boilie and a fishy pop up.
2 and a half hours later my halibut rod screams off and bringing it in half way felt like a small cat as it wasn’t fighting and coming towards me, only to get it close and off it screamed!!
30 minutes later it tired and I put my waders on to try help it in the net and get it on the bank and only then seeing the pure size of it I couldn’t believe it!!

ANGLER LANDS 2ND BIGGEST CATFISH (Above) 
Massive congratulations to Rob Halsey who has caught the 2nd biggest ever Catfish at 92lbs from the Main Lake!
2 in one week, just insane!!🤯
Rob shared –
“92lb Catfish from the main lake, caught on snowman rig with a 15mm Dynamite Baits monster tiger nut boilie and 10mm yellow pineapple pop up fished over bag of crushed boilies and pellet.
This fish run me ragged, from one side of the lake to the other and back again, but after 20 minutes or so, she was mine.
What a fish!”
Anglers Paradise

65lb 4oz Catfish from Paradise

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Anglers Paradise
Report from Zenia Gregorek 
PB CATFISH
Well done to 5C’s member Joe Dietrich who caught a personal best 65lb 4oz Catfish from Anglers Eldorado’s Carp & Cat Lake 2 as well as a few more!!
Joe shared –
“Had a good session on the cats, ended up with five landed and 2 that fell off, 24lb, 28lb, 32lb, 38lb and the big one at 65lb 4oz! My brother in law Neil had a small one of 17lb as his first ever cat so a great session even though we had some mental thunderstorms! No buckets needed as got soaked several times thanks!”
Congratulations Joe 😸🎣👏🏻🥳
Not sure if you’re going to get away from the buckets though…A PB is a PB…💦🪣💦😸😆
Book with 📲 @gocatchfish gocatchfish and please read the rules before fishing…someone was caught using a bait boat and casting over other anglers lines and also had a friend with them that hadn’t booked…rule breaking is not tolerated at our fishery and will result in a ban at the Baliff’s discretion‼️
Simply stick to the rules, respect the others around you and everyone can enjoy their fishing.

REFLECTIONS AND CONTEMPLATION – PARADISE CATFISH

Anglers Paradisehttp://www.anglers-paradise.co.uk

Anglers Eldorado’s Carp and Catfish Lake 2 is renowned for its catfish that have been stocked to over 90lb.  It was these powerful and challenging fish that we were targeting on what has become an annual pilgrimage for our group.

         Angling is a wonderful pastime for creating long lasting friendships with bonds formed that can often last a lifetime. I have fished with my good friend Bruce Elston on numerous occasions during recent seasons both of us sharing a lifelong obsession with angling.

         Bruce invited me to join the catfish hunters at Anglers Paradise a couple of years ago. Our group consists of Mitch Andrews, his son Ben Andrews, John Hughes, Tony Ball, Bruce Elston, Alan Palmer, Richard Bull and myself.

         Fishing at the venue runs for twenty four hours from midday. We had booked the lake for two days, forty eight hours to target the big catfish that lurk in the murky waters.

         We met up at Bruce’s house for a brunch of bacon, fried egg and fresh bread washed down with tea and coffee. The banter flowed as we discussed tactics and caught up. Strange how we all reconnected after a twelve month gap almost as if we were reconvening after just a week or so.

         Bruce had used his extensive knowledge of the venue to draw up a map showing all the productive swims and where the hotspots were. We all drew numbers out of the proverbial hat (oven glove) to decide who would fish where ensuring that those who wished to fish together could. This was all very much a case of everyone getting the best chance and making sure the whole lake was covered as this is a team effort with no intended competitive element.

         I ended up fishing the East side of the lake offering a wide choice of known holding spots to cast into.

         The first task upon arriving is to lug the mountain of gear required for a forty eight hour session. This is no easy task with barrows loaded to the maximum with two trips required for most.

         On arrival in the swim my first task was to set up a rod to explore the swim. Casting a lead and marker float around the swim it is possible to check the depth and assess if the bottom is clear or silty etc.

         Where to put the bait is based upon prior knowledge, advice, observation and that all important gut feeling. Two rods are allowed on the lake and I decided to bait up two spots spodding out generous quantities of halibut pellet in various sizes along with a few boilies of the type to be fished as bait. In this case Sticky Baits Krill and Bloodworm.

         To some extent of course hotspots on these lakes are created by anglers. Spots that look good to anglers are baited up and become feeding spots for the fish. The anglers then catch fish from the spots that become popular with more anglers who add more bait ensuring the ongoing productivity of the hotspot.

         We all followed the same basic plan targeting catfish with stepped up carp rigs using boilies and bolt rigs.

This whole branch of fishing is very much a case of setting traps and grabbing the rod when the fish self-hooks itself.

I don’t believe that catfish are particularly rig shy like carp which is a good job as with fish present close to 100lb subtle rigs are not practical.

         There is a certain appeal to a long session a chance to relax and settle into the natural cycle of the natural world.

There is a continual sense of expectation and anticipation. At any moment the alarm could sound its harsh blip alerting the anglers as an unseen fish of unknown size tears off with the bait.

         Conditions seemed close to perfect. A light breeze drifting high white clouds across the deep blue summer sky. Half a dozen buzzards soared high on thermals their mewing cry’s drifting across the lake. A family of Canada geese paraded around the lake and a mallard brood swam across the water. I thought how vulnerable they looked and wondered if the catfish ever enjoyed a duckling snack.

         Late afternoon there came a cry of fish on. Ben had hooked the first cat of the session a pleasing start, 21lb.

         Early evening it was time to stop for a catch up. We all wound in our rods and assembled together to enjoy  fresh pizzas delivered bankside to us by Bruce Elston’s obliging family.

         This was an opportunity to catch up and talk fishing and there was as always a great deal to discuss. I had probably last fished with Richard Bull from the Dam wall at Durleigh Reservoir near Bridgwater for pike. Back then we were both young men starting off on life’s hopefully long journey. Close to forty years later we had both retired from long careers, mine in the water industry and Richard’s with the Environment Agency.

         A lot has changed in those forty years and we soon started to compare notes along with Alan Palmer. It was immediately apparent that we shared a deep concern regarding the dramatic decline we had seen in nature. We talked of the dramatic decline of salmon and noted the lack of swallows around the lake. The estimated insect decline of 70% over the past forty years, a lack of big pike across the Somerset levels and a collapse in the once prolific population of eels.

         As anglers we are of course very aware of what is happening to the natural world. Pesticides, farming practices, climate change and an ever increasing human population all contributing to natures decline.

         The conversation drifted onto the state of angling. We are perhaps creatures of our generation and have views created from our journeys. Angling perhaps reflects society.

We all reflected upon how we had started fishing for small fish serving a sort of apprenticeship before progressing to bigger specimens. It seems that many of todays young anglers arrive at the water’s edge with all the gear setting out to catch twenty pound carp straight away. Instant gratification no slow path to success. I want it all and I want it now!

         We looked back fondly at our days as young specimen hunters. A time when we learned from books and pooling knowledge. No you-tube videos and ready-made rigs.

         Richard reminisced about his fishing for catfish at Claydon Lake in Bedfordshire during the late eighties and early nineties. The catfish that resided in the lakes had been transferred from Woburn Abbey Lakes. Claydon Lake is situated within the grounds of a large country mansion. The large catfish were a target for budding specimen hunters of the day. Richards best catfish from the water was 35lb a fish that was at the time within the top ten catfish caught from UK waters.

         We discussed Claydon Lake and other venues like Redmire Pool. Waters that have a unique status in angling history. There is perhaps a certain nostalgia amongst our generation a longing for the mystery and excitement of  a bygone era.

         Whilst we had discussed the undoubted decline in nature we also had to acknowledge the fact that many fish now grow far bigger. We were fishing in a lake that contains a large number of catfish far in excess of the wildest dreams of anglers back in the 1980’s. Catfish of over fifty pounds now fail to warrant a mention in the national angling press. Several waters in North Devon contain carp equivalent to the stocks that resided within Redmire’s hallowed waters.

         The eel record has just been beaten, as has the roach record. Many of the British freshwater fish records have been eclipsed in recent years. The roach record is now over 4lb. The bream record stands at 22lb 11oz; I doubt many believed bream could grow to that size back in the 1980’s. The carp record is now 68lb 1oz, catfish record 143lb 14oz, perch 6lb 3oz, pike 47lb 5oz, tench 15lb 3oz, barbel 21lb 2oz, chub 9lb 5oz, crucian carp 4lb 12oz, dace 1lb 5oz, rudd 4lb 10oz and  zander 21lb 5oz. All of the above records and several others have all been caught since 2000 proving perhaps that our perception of fishing’s golden era is all within our imagination.

The truth with our perception is perhaps that we have lost much of the mystery and magic? The fish are growing bigger because of an artificially created environment. Whilst truly wild fish like salmon, sea trout and eels are in an alarming spiral of decline other fish dwelling in lakes or rivers enriched by nutrients and anglers baits are growing larger.

         In light of the above facts it is undoubtedly our perception of fishing that has changed. A generation is inclined to look back with rose tinted glasses, the measure of success in angling is to be measured in happiness and contentment not in the size of fish. I often state that anglers go through three main phases. At first wanting to catch fish, any fish. Then aspiring to catch bigger fish or more than other anglers. I suspect that at some point most anglers reach the stage where they are content to just go fishing. It is perhaps difficult to reach the latter stage without experiencing the first two. And as stated earlier a modern society tends to skip the first stage and go straight in to stage two.

         A fact I often note is that when a bunch of anglers get together a schoolboy humour is soon rekindled as farts and bodily functions always abounds. A youthful cheer emerges which is undoubtedly one of the reasons angling is so good for mental health.

         Anyway after a rather long ramble away from our trip I will reconvene on the banks of carp and Catfish 2.

         The evening light descended and expectation climbed. At close to midnight my alarm screamed out and I fumbled my way to the rod. Lifting into a heavy fish for a moment or two before the hook hold gave way.

         Disappointed I recast and tried to get some sleep. A few hours later at just after 3.00am I heard voices and commotion across the water. Assuming that Bruce or John had caught I reeled in my rods and made my way over to the far side of the lake.

         A jubilant John was being congratulated on successfully banking a large catfish. I joined in with the jubilation witnessing the weighing of a personal best cat for John of 49lb. I secured a few images and watched the fish gently lowered back into the lake.

         The rest of the night passed by without interruption except for the invasion of my swim by the geese family shortly after first light.

         The dawn chorus was spectacular with a wide variety of birds contributing to the choir. The Merlin app on my phone recorded sedge warbler, carrion crow, chaffinch, wren, willow warbler, blue tit, chiff chaff,  song thrush and nuthatch.

         The second day drifted past and we settled into life on the lakeside. The sound of cars and farm machinery came from the nearby road reminding us of a world beyond this tranquil lake.

         Knowing the size of fish present within the confines of this small lake ensured that hope of connection was never lost. I brewed regular coffee and ensured that a steady trickle of bait was going into the chosen spots within the swim.

         I noticed the occasional large swirl in my swim, an indication that big fish were on the prowl. But the alarms remained silent.

         As evening descended once again expectation grew surely more catfish would be caught? At around midnight my alarm bleeped frantically and I rushed from my bivvy to grab the rod. As I touched the rod handle the run stopped!

In the early hours I was answering natures call and noticed headlights further along the bank. Rich was elated to have landed a catfish of 39lb a new personal best and I believe his first catfish since the mid- nineties.

During the night light rain had fallen, resulting in droplets glistening as the new day dawned. The calm light of dawn descended upon the lake as the new day unfurled.

         We all hoped for one last chance. Suddenly out of the blue came a call fish on! Ben was in action and after an exciting tussle brought a 24lb catfish to the waiting net.

Tony avoided a blank by tempting a couple of kittens float fishing worms in the margin.

         Then as we started to consider packing away John on the far side of the lake was in action. I watched the drama as John piled on the pressure, trying to prevent what was undoubtedly a big fish finding sanctuary in a tangle of branches and lily’s near the Island.

When the fish was safely netted I wound in my rods and walked around to witness the weighing and get a few images of the fish in daylight. At 39lb it was another fine specimen for John.

         Whilst the fishing had been slower than hoped for the company had been great. Catfish weighing 49lb, 39lb, 39lb, 24lb and 21lb is after all a pretty good result.

We said our farewells after lugging the ridiculous heap of gear up to the cars vowing to do it all again next year.

         Upon reflection it had been a very enjoyable excursion catching up with friends. Some big fish had been caught and discussion had left plenty to contemplate. Izaak Walton author of The Complete Angler  first published in 1653  described angling as the ‘Contemplative Mans Recreation’. Somethings never change.

Anglers Paradise

        

11 YEAR OLD BOY CATCHES A MONSTER 60LB+ CATFISH

11 YEAR OLD BOY CATCHES A MONSTER 60LB+ CATFISH‼️🙀🎣
Massive congratulations to Riley John who caught a huge new personal best 62lb 5oz Catfish from Nirvana’s Specimen Cat Lake!!
Riley’s Dad shared –
“Riley has been coming to anglers paradise for 5 years now, normally in August with his family but this year was treated with his dad and uncles. We arrived Friday to fish the specimen catfish lake.
It was a quiet night for Riley with his dad having a 2 during the night, and Riley woke up feeling disheartened not to have had a beep.
Then all of a sudden after breakfast, his rod beeped into action & after a long hard battle & a little help from his dad, he landed a monster!! Hopefully beating his 33lb from last year….it weighed 62lb 5oz!! A fish that was as long as himself & an attitude to match what a great start to the week!!”
Wow! Well done Riley, a fish that many adult Anglers still dream of catching and you have at such a young age!!

 

Anglers Paradise
NEW LAKE RECORD COMMON‼️🎣🥳
Massive congratulations to 5C’s member Joe Dietrich who fished Nirvana’s day ticket Xanadu Lake for a quick 24 hour session and only goes and catches the biggest Common of the Lake at 30lbs 2oz!!

 

Personal Best CATFISH FOR 13 YEAR OLD AIDEN

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Personal Best CATFISH FOR 13 YEAR OLD AIDEN
As the weather warms up the catfish across the lakes at Anglers Paradise start to feed. What will the biggest catfish be this year?
Latest report from Zenia at Anglers Paradise
Massive congratulations to Aiden Vanderboom-Colling who caught a personal best 36lb 10oz Catfish from Nirvana’s Specimen Cat Lake 😺
Aiden’ Dad Stuart shared –
“Aiden loves Catfish so we decided to go for an overnighter and target one of the complexes bigger residents at the Specimen Catfish Lake.
After missing a couple of bites, the alarm screamed off in the early morning and he locked into this truly awesome 36lb 10oz beast. After a 15 minute battle we slid it into the net before shouting very loudly!
A personal best for Aiden beating his previous Cat by 16lb 🤩 caught on double 20mm pellets topped with a flouro corn for the visual.”
Aiden also caught a 29lb 5oz Catfish from the Octopussy Lake not long after, now that’s some pretty impressive fishing for a 13 year old!!
WELL DONE AIDEN – GREAT ANGLING😺😺🎣🥳👏🏻👏🏻
Anglers Paradise

40lb 9oz Wels Catfish from Anglers Eldorado

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Report from Zenia
Well done to Sarah Robertson-Browne who caught a 40lb 9oz Wels Catfish from Anglers Eldorado Cat and Carp 2 on Dynamite Baits Halibut Pellets 🧨🎣😸
Even though…”IT NEVER RAINS IN DEVON”…there was some heavy dew that day!!
Sarah shared –
“After a couple of years away, we braved a return to the wild, wet and windy shores of Paradise, and set our sights on Eldorado as we’ve had some great sessions there before.
It was everything we expected and then some! Windy – absolutely ✅️ Wet – I would have been drier IN the lake ✅️
But most importantly, it was wonderful. With the Devon weather holding form as always, I was doubtful, but I created a decent bed of bait, popped a big Dynamite Halibut pellet on, and was getting cautious bites in no time.
A couple of hours watching and waiting, then my alarm rang out, and the fight was on. A batttle of slow, strength sapping, plodding, paired with bursts of mad speed as it pulled for the deeper water, but I emerged victorious!”
Anglers Paradise
wwwAnglers Paradise

Whats that coming out the lake ? Is it a Monster?

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Anglers Paradise

Shaun Thorne continued his run of success at Anglers Paradises Day Ticket Eldorado Catfish lake. Returning to venue after catching carp to over 29lb Shaun set up in heatwave conditions that are known to suit the predatory catfish. During the tropical heat of the night Shaun hooked into a huge catfish that battled hard before being coaxed into the waiting net. Weighing over 60lb the beast is a new personal best. Shortly after day break a 40lb catfish was also tempted to round of a never to be forgotten night with a brace for 100lb+

It’s a monster! I’m still shaking, what a crazy chain of events! It was very warm sat here, never known it so warm in September. Then it started persisting down! 5 minutes into the rain and I had a run. 25 minutes later after a series of unbelievable runs and getting in some tree roots it came to the net fairly easily. It’s got to be over 60lb!

Anglers Paradise