Lee with the big common
Lee Howard turned up to a busy lake last weekend and as a result decided to visit another lake on a whim – it paid off big style! Good angling Lee!
‘I turned up on Saturday morning to five anglers already set up and after a quick chat found out another three was due to turn up later.
After looking in the only two areas left and seeing nothing I decided not to stay and thought about a local deep gravel pit close to home that I had a dabble on in the spring.
Once on the local pit, I noticed the water level was down 2ft or more from the spring. I was able to eliminate the top channel being a lot shallower which left the deep bowl area at top end of the lake.
I sat for half hour in a swim that I could see most of this area, with the sun in my face and wind over my back, I was praying for one to show when about 30 odd yards out a good fish poped its head clean out.
I quickly got a rod together and put a single roughly in the area then set a second up ready to go if another showed.
After a couple of hours with nothing more showing, I chucked the second rod a little to the right of the first rod as to fish two rods on the spot the fish showed earlier followed by a few pouches of 16mm b5 boilies. I then flicked a third into the left margin on a spot I had a few off of in the spring.
About an hour into dark the fish came alive, boshing and rolling all over the bowl with a few smack over the 2 rods out in front! I was shocked when the night ended without a bite!
I was up most of the night freezing as I’d not done any nights for months and was a little under gunned for the weather. While hugging the stove at about 7 in the morning the fish came alive once more, I must of seen a dozen shows within 20 minutes when around half past 7 the left hand rod whipped off.
The pretty 23lb 12oz common
After a steady tussle I managed to land a 23lb 12 oz common. I then re chucked the rod back on the same spot and decided with the activity and the lake to myself that I was staying put for my second night.
The fish slowed down showing after the take, I did see a few but nothing compared to the morning or evening before.
About 2pm I was just tying fresh rigs ready to get things ready a little earlier before dark just incase they started showing again when the same rod from the morning was away again.
This time it felt good from the off and gave a good battle for ten or more minutes, everytime I gained a bit he would power back down into the deep margins.
Eventually enough was enough and he came in over the net.
I knew which one it was while half way through playing it and was in bits everytime he tore off but now all was secure.
I quickly weighed it in at 35lb 10oz which turned out to be the new lake record by a few oz’s All caught again on 15lb Syncro Loaded, original leadcore, adjuster lead clips, silt semi stiff Tungsten Loaded and size 5 Cryogen Grippers tied up as a Withy rig and a 16mm b5 pop up’.