He spent a couple of days on the river and used an approach he describes as ‘bandering’, where he switches between targeting barbel and zander, using the same rods but changing the end tackle.

He’s found that the last hour of light and first few hours of darkness are best for zander, so at these times puts on a slightly lighter lead and a trace to fish a roach deadbait on a single hook.

After changing his end tackle as darkness descended, he received one knock on the tip and struck into a fish that didn’t put up much of a fight. When Dai saw it turn, he wondered if it might be a ‘double’. Having landed it, he hoisted the fish onto the bank and got something of a shock when he peeled back the landing net mesh and realised just how fat it was.

Well done Dai!