Now known as the ‘Unknown’
Michael Whitney broke his PB on the famous Yateley Car Park lake recently – with a bit of a surprise… Well done Michael!
‘I set up Thursday evening on the Car Park Yateley, this was only my 8th night on the lake in my first season with the ticket. as i had been targeting a big dark common in a lake round the corner and hadn’t wanted to give in yet.
The wind woke me up at 2am hacking across the lake from behind me. I pretty much knew right then i would be moving at first light. I woke up, wound in and went for a walk straight round to a bay where the wind had been blowing all night, and was stronger now than ever.
With no hope of seeing any signs of fish with the white tops racing across the water, I knew this would be my best chance for a bite. The bay was nice and quiet, sheltered by the trees and it was nicer for me to be tucked up in there too. I quickly set up, found a nice hard spot with the lead, over the back of a small gravel bar and threw about 30 boilies on it. I made up a couple of sticks and put two rods out. They were only out for about half an hour when the Delkim woke up!
At the first bleep I thought ……Swan, the next two bleeps i thought……bloody swan! Then as single bleeps melted into one solid tone i knew this could be it. The next 30 seconds of action i’ll never forget. She went straight for the weed, I held her up as much as i could but she took line the whole time, not with a steaming run but just the weight of the fish in the weed. As I slipped the net under I was thinking easy 30 by the size of her head. It wasnt till I was stood over the fish and looked down into the net, that i could see just how big this fish was.
At 42lb 1oz I smashed my old pb by nearly 5lbs. A fish of a lifetime from a venue I used to only dream about fishing on.
They have let me name the fish…….its now……..”TheUnknown”
Michael used a simple pop up rig comprising ESP Tungsten Loaded and a size 6 Stiff Rigger.