As the leaves begin to turn, we’re starting to see the first few grayling of the year, and they don’t come much better than this 3lb 1oz fish caught by Retford angler, Ian Smith.

Fishing a Scottish river with reputable specimen angler Simon Ashton, Ian trotted red maggot at the end of a long shallow run where the water drops off, feeding plenty of loose offerings. Upon hooking the fish, he knew right away that it was something special as his 15ft Acolyte arched over. His size 16 held firm, and eventually he slipped the net under a fish that comfortably beats his old PB of 2lb 13oz.