Chris Vandervleit reports back from a fun and friendly Open Day at Rib Valley Angling at Ware in Hertfordshire.

I was recently asked to represent Drennan and Bait-Tech at the Rib Valley Angling Open Day to stand in for my old mate Dickie Carr, as he was away in Ireland. I actually thought I was to spend the day in the shop so I was pleasantly surprised when Mick the owner said I was actually going to be fishing one of Rib Valley’s lakes.

After tackling up on a very fishy looking peg I had a chat to some of the locals and was ready to catch a few fish. After two hours I had caught a tench of about 4lb plus lots of roach and perch.

One of the highlights was catching up with ex match angler, now specimen angler, Alan Storey, who boasts specimen roach up to 4lb 3oz! Alan had a go on my Acolyte Carp pole and caught five roach in five drop ins. It was the first time Alan had fished with a pole in 15 years and he could not believe how much pole technology had advanced.

The roach Alan caught were not the specimens he is used to. He actually told me that there was something wrong with them. After asking what, he replied that their mouths were too close to their tails!

It was nice to talk fellow anglers on the bankside and show them some of the latest Drennan and Bait-Tech products. One of the things I love about my hobby is that I meet and know some lovely people.