Jason's dream finally comes true

But that’s what Jason Heenan did in something coming close to a modern day version of Captain Ahab’s hunt for Moby Dick – though his odyssey had a far happier ending than the Herman Melville book.

The object of Jason’s desire has been a muscle-packed oceanic game species known as a ‘rooster’ – and he didn’t mind how big it was...just so long as he caught one!

And he’s finally done just that, boating a 10-pounder off the Panamanian coast.

“After probably 20 years dreaming, and countless casts in the past few years, I finally managed to get a rooster to stay on,” he said.

“It was nothing big, but a very special fish to me in a sad kind of way.”

>> Is there yet another trend in the ever-changing world of matchfishing – the demise of league fishing?

Many local series have struggled for entries in recent years, and MKAA’s winter league had to be converted to an individual series (though the canal spring league was a big draw) and now, facing a lack of entries, Alder’s spring league has been replaced with an open series.

Sunday’s first such match pulled in 21 entrants with Colin Spencer netting 160-10 as Gary Thorpe had 160-8 and Richard Brain 110-8. There’s another one this Sunday.

>> According to Facebook posts, Mike Waterson had a ‘cat’ of around 40lb at Linford; a run of good carp (and lots of silverfish) have been showing at Furzton, Mount Farm and Tear Drops have produced good doubles, and Arthur Terrill had a 6-8 Bradwell tench.

>> Towcester Vets, Tofts: John Balhatchett 144lb, Les Goodridge 143-8, Graham Martin 61lb.

>> Towcester Travellers, Lakeside: Troy Hillier 79-12, Graham Martin 68lb, Tosh Saunders 56-8.

>> MK Vets, Tear Drops: Alan Ford 31-12, Bob Gale 18-2, Steve Chilton and Mick Hefferon both 15-9.

>> DATS’ Thursday evening series second round, Navvi canal: Lee Jones with 26-1 of bream and skimmers, Phil Bardel 6-7, Ernie Sattler 5-15.

>> Fixtures: June 16, river-fishing season (plus Lodge & Caldecotte South) opens; July 17, Haeochromatosis Society charity open, Furzton, call Paul Chapman 07970 047506; July 30 national canal pairs champs eliminator on Aylesbury Arm and, September 24, at Simpson, call 0115 9061301 or visit www.anglingtrust.net

For the full angling report, see online.