From Friday 31 July to Sunday 2 August, we were delighted to host our 2026 Catch of the Day event. Some of angling’s biggest names gathered at St Johns Lake at Linear Fisheries in Witney, Oxfordshire, as Willow’s Honorary President, David Seaman, welcomed them to the popular annual fishing competition for Willow.
The in-person event was attended by angling celebrities Nigel Botherway, Tom Maker, Scott Lloyd, Damian Clarke, Nuffinbutfishing and The Sober Angler, along with a wonderful group of keen fishers. Anglers around the country also had the opportunity to get involved through the virtual event, by being part of an online group and joining in the fun along with SnaggedBro.
Across the weekend, an amazing 57 fish were caught, with nine personal bests. In a memorable competition finale, angler Chris Wilkins achieved the lake’s biggest ever catch, setting a new record for a 124lb catfish on Sunday morning, becoming winner of the 2026 catfish trophy. James Humble won the carp category with a 44lb catch, whilst David George won the tench category with a 2lb 10oz fish.
At Linear, freshly cooked food was dished up throughout the weekend, and the evening meals gave anglers the chance to meet up to chat with the experts and pick up tips and advice from each other. David Seaman entertained the guests with tales from his goalkeeping days, and Scott Lloyd gave everyone a brilliant demonstration of some professional angling techniques on Saturday evening.
One of the event attendees, Jonathan, said: “I’ve fished all my life, and Catch of the Day was the most amazing experience I’ve ever had. It was so friendly, the Willow staff worked so hard and made us feel so welcome. It was a real pleasure to be part of it.”
Thanks to the generosity of the attendees at the in-person and virtual events, we’ll be able to help more seriously ill young adults living with serious illnesses create special memories with their loved ones.
Thank you to our sponsors Mainline Baits, Korda, GamePlan Solutions and Fishing Republic, and to the Angling Trust for their support.