Another year has flown by, and it was probably the best year for fishing of my angling lifetime. Looking back through all my photos I really have been lucky with some of the fish that have slipped over my net. Nothing massive or record breaking, but fish I have hunted down and outwitted in the joust between man and animal.

I set myself some targets at the beginning of the river season in June; a 5lb Chub; my first River Arrow Pike and Barbel; and a 20lb carp. By setting myself these targets I had at least something to work towards. The one that concerned me the most was the Carp. I love a spot of match style fishing on commercials but I knew something a little different would be needed to fool a wise old 20lber.

I managed to achieve all of my target fish in 2013, my first Barbel on the trusty old Luncheon meat, the pike to a small spinner, the Chub fell to free lined maggot and the Carp was eventually banked on a floating dog biscuit.

These fish got me thinking about what was my best catch of 2013 and why?

It’s not as easy to answer as I first thought. I have landed some beautiful Barbel, had some superb Chub sessions and a few beautiful Pike. However my favourite catch came on the very last day of 2013.

I have a real soft spot for Perch and after seeing some real lumps come out of commercial still waters, late on in the year I decided to give it a go. I had tried most things, Prawn, maggot, stick float fished lob worm and even dead baits but on the first long session nothing picked up any of my baits.

On the 31st December I decided to give the stripes another go. After doing a bit more research and some much needed advice from Top allrounder Andy Loble, I headed to the same water with plenty of options to try again.

Eventually I managed two beautiful Perch who couldn’t resist my ledgered lob worm.

Although neither of the fish were massive I feel that the work I had put in before both sessions was what made the difference and although not actually fishing, reading books and watching online videos seemed like part of the hunt.

2013 was fantastic for fishing and I hope 2014 will be even better. I’m already taking part in the January Crabtree Challenge and it’s getting me well in the mood for some more bank time!