Monday 7th July was a big day with my ‘Catch lots of fish species’ down on the River Eden in Kent with all the proceeds going to Ridge Radio community radio station in Caterham.

With species being the target, not size, I set out my stall to catch as many as possible as some sponsors had pledged monies for each different species that I caught. With baits such as maggots, hemp to feed, and a few grains of corn plus a few lobworms and Marukyu pellets I set up a 13ft rod with a fixed spool reel loaded with 4lbs mainline and size 14’s hook with a 5 No 4 stick float.

In a peg that boasted around 5ft in depth, I started to receive bites almost straight away and the first species I caught was the humble gudgeon. A little way into the session and another two species of fish followed quickly in the shape of bleak and then a perch, a good start. Soon it was the time of the roach to get in on the act and for the next 20 minutes or so I was busy catching more of the same species mentioned above. I started to up the feed a little and in no time another different species was caught with a small chub or 'chublet' as they are known by most anglers. I had set myself a target of at catching at least six species and after 90 minutes or so I was on five. The next species that came along was a hybrid cross between a roach and bream; it was tiny and I actually caught six of these species during the day. I was hoping to connect with a tench as I had managed to catch a nice tench on five of the last six visits to the river, but with the sun out and a clear blue sky it was making conditions for the bonus fish hard to locate. My challenge of catching a barbel by Colin Wood and Mick Cove (worth £50 each) did not materialise as I expected, I have not caught as yet or seen as yet a barbel being caught form the River Eden despite rumours on the bankside that they exist in the system.

It was by casting right to the back of the swim that I managed to catch a bit of a species bonus in a fish called the ruffe. In fact I caught three ruffe in the end. They are few and far between so I was well pleased to catch one and in doing so increase the fund.

I moved swim for the last hour to try and catch a rudd but was plagued with lots of other species that I had already caught during the day. After taking the final pictures and film footage, I called it a day. It was a successful day with sevenspecies of fish being caught in the shape again of gudgeon, bleak, perch, roach, chub, roach/bream hybrid and finally a ruffe. I in total caught about 80-90 fish so I was kept busy amongst other things like taking proof photos and filming shots.

I would like to thank everyone who has sponsored me on this fundraiser; all of us at Ridge Radio appreciate your support and encouragement. I would also like to thank my wife Angie for giving up her day to take some of the photos of the day and of course helping me with the filming of the event.

I will post the photos of the species caught and in a few days after I have edited the filming will produce a short film of 'Catch Lots of Fish Species!'

How much did I manage to raise? Well my target was between £250 and £300 and I am very happy to say that when all the monies pledged come in I have reached a total of £560.50. Thank you to everyone who sponsored me.