Darren Clarke has been fishing for zander for 10+ years on the River Trent but had never managed a double figure fish. Well that all changed when he banked this stunning 16lb 9oz personal best!

He told us “I have been targeting zander on the trent for over years now with dozens of fish caught but never a double so this year I set myself a tough but realistic target of a 12lb zander
And had put my focus onto this and not fished for anything else since October 1st.

On my latest session I turned up at dawn to a stretch I have caught from before and it started off really well with several zander landed to 8lb, but at 3.30pm just as the light started to fade, I have another run but as soon as I struck, I could tell this fish was in a different league to the others but thought it could be a pike until it showed just a rod length out. I could instantly see it was a big zed and thought there and then “this is the double I’ve been waiting for”. I was an absolute wreck but after a few lunges under the rod tip, the fish was safely in the net.

I stood for several minutes letting her rest and it was only when I lifted her out of the water I realised I had something very special! The scales were zeroed and the fish was weighed……. 16lb 9oz! I can’t describe the feeling that I felt at the time but it’s something I won’t ever forget. I didn’t just beat my pb, I smashed it. The fish was rested again and a few quick pictures taken before she was released and powered back into the depths of the River Trent.”