Ryan revealed:

“I arrived at the lake at 4:30am, for the first night of the year absolutely buzzing with anticipation. With it being a bank holiday, I was greeted with an extremely busy lake, with the lake having a 72-hour rule and me turning up on the Sunday, I was hopeful of getting near where I wanted to be on a few fish. I lapped the lake for seven hours before knowing where I wanted to be. I had seen a few very early on and, although there were plenty of tench in amongst them, I was sure a few of the shows moved far too much water for mr tench to be responsible!

“As luck would have it a couple of the lads set up in that area were indeed off that day, and after more and more laps, while watching the mighty Saints coming from two behind to beat Burnley 3-2, I was more than ready to get started. With nothing coming out to anyone else, I was acutely aware I did not want to smash a lead around and move the fish out of the zone as a move was probably well and truly off the cards with the lake as busy as it was.

“I decided to fish long three-inch Chods with Krill White Ones for drops. After only a couple of casts on each rod to the zone where they had been showing, I decided to delicately scatter 20 baits over the top of each rod and sit back and enjoy the first evening coming to a close.

“I awoke at first light scratching my head as to how I hadn’t had a bite with my ears still ringing with the activity I heard throughout the night. After another hour or so of watching them roll closer to my rods, I was sure I was on for the first bite of the year. Sure enough, at 6:30am the left hander signalled a take. After a very docile, sleepy fight with not much in the way of drama, I landed a very impressive looking common still covered in leeches and lice after undoubtedly being laid up all winter and her first mistake of the year was made.  It was one known as the choc orange at a shade under 30lb, I was made up. The effort of the early morning and constant lapping had paid off and my Roach Pit account was open for the year.

“I was back a few weeks later for another go, having booked a few days off to take advantage of the free time I had left before my first child was born. It was a Sunday and so I had plenty of people to speak to and find out as much information as I could. I found out a fair few fish were gathered in a bay sunning themselves and sure enough there was a group of them up there when I had a look myself. Again, I went for a minimal disturbance approach and long Chod rigs with Krill White Ones were the plan of action. As it got dark the air was filled with a bitterness that only the sleeping bag could solve, and I soon drifted off.

“At around 12am, I was called into the cold air by an absolute one toner. Unfortunately, that’s about as good as the fight got and a small, docile mirror graced the net. I didn’t sleep much the rest of the night and kept hearing big fish lump out further and further away from my zones. There were still fish in the area but all smaller splashy shows.

“By 10am I hadn’t seen so much as a bubble and so I moved to a central swim with plenty of water so if they had moved there was a good chance I could get a rig near the zone. I fanned the rods around as before and introduced a few Krill freebies soaked in Calanus Liquid and a pinch of Bloodworm pellets too.

“Morning came and with a few smaller fish showing again in the old zone, I started to wonder if I had made the right move. A decent fish then showed at 7am, near enough on the right-hand rod and the zone I was sure they would come across first. Standing at the front of the swim, I noticed the rod tip take on an alarming bend! In disbelief, I scanned the area for birds and looked back down at the rod. The bobbin was wedged in the buzzer and the tip was again slowly beginning to bend.

“I lifted into it and immediately knew I was attached to a decent fish. It began to demand line and kite right where there were some nasty marginal snags. I didn’t have much time for much else other than to grab the net, jump in and wade the margin fully clothed to change the line angle. This worked, and he came back in front of the swim. I stood up to my belly button in ice cold water for the following 20 minutes to try and tame the angry beast I was attached to.

“I saw the fish twisting and turning in the crystal-clear water and It was clearly a very old battle-scared mirror, undoubtedly an original. I was pretty sure it could only be one of two fish and with one being a mid-twenty and the other my number one target at near 40lb, I was sure it was the latter with the sheer size of its shoulders. My knees went to jelly, I was completely unaware of the cold water by now and focused on landing the fish. After much more twisting and turning, I eventually won the battle, and she went in the net. One quick glance confirmed it was her: The Grey One. A proper Roach Pit original at around 50 years old, I was honoured to have outsmarted the beast and was completely blown away with how wrinkly and war wounded she was. I’m told she is the oldest fish in Ringwood, and she’s certainly got plenty of fight left yet.

“After a few snaps, I slipped her back as soon as I could, acutely aware of the age of the old warrior, I didn’t want to cause unnecessary distress. My number one target had been achieved so early in the season, what a buzz, a day I’ll never forget.”