Every now and then you see a photo of a carp that stops you in your tracks – and then you can’t stop looking at it! This is one such. Caught by Lee Howard from a northern park lake – superb angling! Here’s Lee’s story:
‘I’d like to share with you the pictures of a 44lb northern park lake mirror I was fortunate to tag a week last Friday. I dropped on the local lake a few weeks ago and after tagging a mid 20 common on my second day session, I thought I was on track for a few more. Being a days only water and only getting a quick morning or an odd evening inbetween work and looking after my children, I’d still take the time to have a little look about.
I started seeing fish move up to the shallower end of the lake in the morning then move off again in the evening or when I set up on them they would do the off everytime. I decided to have a lead around the mid section of the lake that they had to pass on their travels and after what felt like an age, I finally found a clear area in the most weeded spot on the lake. No one was fishing this area due to the weed growth so I decided to spomb out a mix of hemp, corn and chopped up Essential B5 boilies to the little clearing.
I did this four more times over the next week or so, even dragging the kids up with me after school. As they sat eating McDonald’s as a bribe for me bringing them I’d be out in the lake in chesties baiting the little clear spot. I finally managed an evening on a Friday, I dropped the kids off at their mums, then shot off to the lake. I arrived about 16.30 and set off to the spot praying to the good Lord the swim would be free!
Thankfully it was and I quickly cast two rods out to the spot that I pre clipped up at home a few hours earlier. About two hours later as darkness arrived my left hand rod gave three beeps, I just started walking out in the lake to check what had occurred when it absolutely tore off!
I latched onto the rod to be greeted with a heavy lump, she hit the surface out in the distance as the lead had ejected so I kept the rod low and to the left, I steadily gained line over the next 15 minutess with the odd slow bounce on the tip. I knew it was a good fish as it neared the net and as I pulled her over the cord I noticed it was a fish called 5 star. She had not been out this season and normally breaks the 40 barrier. As she lay there I was shaking, thankfully Tom and Jack who were fishing a little further to my right came round and once they knew which fish it was they took over to let me enjoy the moment.
She weighed bang on 44lb and was now my new pb. I was using 15lb Syncro Loaded, the new weed green leadcore, adjustable lead clips, Tungsten Loaded hooklink and a size 5 Cryogen Gripper tied up into a withy pop up rig and a little yellow pop up’.