27/08/2026
Fulling Mill Ambassador Marco Naldi shared this incredible catch of a lifetime with us recently. The fish was caught using a Chornobyl Ant tied by Marco on a size 4 Tactical Big Bug hook, one of our go-to barbless hooks for large terrestrials.
Marco writes: “Some catches are quickly forgotten, while others stay with you forever. That day had started like many others, with the simple pleasure of being on the river and enjoying every cast. Then, all of a sudden, everything changed. A cast of about fifteen meters, right into the main current; the fly landed on the water and began its drift. Just a few moments later, she rose decisively to that big searching dry fly, giving me one of those takes that instantly makes your heart race. I set the hook and immediately felt that unmistakable sensation: there was something special on the other end of the line.
The fight was intense. The fish used all her strength, and the current seemed to be on her side. Every powerful run sent the adrenaline higher, along with the fear that she might break free at any moment. For those few minutes, nothing else existed: just the river, the bent rod, and that magnificent fish.
When I finally managed to bring her in front of me, I realised just how special she was: a magnificent Atlantic brown trout, powerful, with incredible colours and markings that looked as though they had been painted on.
But it was only after measuring her that I truly understood just how big she was: 85 centimetres. A number that, even now, makes it hard to believe what I had in front of my eyes.
Holding her in my hands, even if only for the time it took to take a photo, was an emotion difficult to put into words. The effort, tension and concentration gave way to pure satisfaction—and to that smile that only certain catches can give you.
Then came the most beautiful moment of all: watching her regain her strength in the water before returning to her river.
An encounter that lasted only a few minutes, but a memory I will carry with me for a very, very long time.”
Learn more about Marco Naldi here: https://www.fullingmill.co.uk/Pro-Community-UK/Marco-Naldi
