GEOFF Adams, from Oxford, had a fishing holiday to remember by catching this massive 100lb Mekong catfish from a lake near Bangkok in Thailand, writes ANDY WEBBER.

He caught the monster on 'the method', using bread as bait to a 30lb line and a large hook. The fish took over 45 minutes to land.

Adams said: "The lake is about 20 acres in size and full of fish. This is the third time I have fished it and there is never a dull moment.

"On more than one occasion I have seen blokes diving in after their rods, and once, I caught a rod and reel when I was winding in.

"The reel was a nice one - an ABU multiplier, which I still use for my piking in England!"

  • BICESTER rod man Chris Corcoran has been catching some cracking barbel from the Thames below Oxford.

He started fishing this club stretch back in October and on his first visit had fish to 13.4.0.

More recently, he was fishing this stretch and after having a few chub out, changed his tactics from chopped worm to Dynamite boilies and pellets fished with a feeder.

He started off with hair-rigged 15mm boilies and then changed to 20mm.

The result was astounding. He caught no fewer than seven barbel up to 13.15.0, including four doubles - 11.0.0, 12.4.0, 13.14.0, plus the big one.

Corcoran tells me that he used to fish tadpole, but he was at a loss to know where the barbel on the Upper Thames had gone, as it was getting really hard.

I wish I knew the answer, as that part of the Thames used to be very good.

  • DUNCAN Charman, from Hampshire, a tackle consultant for Wychwood, has been doing a bit of roach fishing on an Oxfordshire pit.

Using a bolt rig with a single white maggot on a size 18 hook, he landed a superb redfin weighing 3.0.0, plus another fine specimen going 2.8.0.

He watched for rolling fish, and then cast out to them, also keeping his feed down to a minimum.

  • LINEAR'S Hardwick Lake is still doing the business, with big carp and pike showing.

Swindon carper Dominic Baker banked a 37.10.0 common, using a home-made boilie to a size 8 wide gap hook fished at short range. He also had a 12lb mirror.

Also on Hardwick, Dave Cresswell, from Middlesex, landed a 25.4.0 pike on a lure.

  • IF you have any news, views or photos, you can contact me on 01865 725606.