Matt Fernandez has been in touch with news of a PB common and what a cracker it is too. Here’s Matt’s story on how a move paid off with a lovely run of fish, topped by the big common. Powerful angling Matt!
After arriving at the lake I’ve been angling on, more anglers proceeded to turn up due to the warm weather, adding more and more pressure to the lake and the cagey residents which reside in there. So I phoned a friend to see if an area on the lake next door would be free, as I know the carp loved that swim in the hot weather expected over the next couple of days.
After all the leading and spodding started I couldn’t wait any longer so I packed up and began the trek. I arrived at the swim and already had two stiff links tied up with two bottom baits attached so I clipped them up to the zones I’ve had carp from before and cast them out into the darkness hoping for a donk. All went well next step was to put some bait out, being late in the evening I didn’t want to smash the swim up so just put two smombs of 16mm baits over each rod. For my third rod I just cast a hinge stiff rig into the margin knowing the carp route around the margins in the quiet evenings.
At 1am I was woken by the sound of a screaming neville, being half a sleep it took me a few seconds to get my waders on, I hit into an absolute steam train of something, the lake contains cat fish at first I thought it was a cat so I proceeded to winch whatever was on the end in, after ten mins of battling out in the lake I could finally see the lead core rising and to my surprise a breeze block sized common, I was shocked as I bullied the carp in as I thought it was a cat fish so I quickly slackened the clutch and played very gingerly knowing this could be a PB!
After 20mins she was in the net in absolute shock I had a breather got the mat, scales and sling out being half way round the lake and every other angler I knew had their phones off I carried on my self. I weighed the common which pulled the needle round to 32.2lb – a new PB for me – I was shaking with adrenaline. I sacked the fish and waited till 1st light for help with photos. Five hours later with no sleep we took the photos and returned the beautiful common. I spent the day celebrating by enjoying a bbq and some good company and of course the celebratory tradition in the form of a Keskins (revered Ringwood eatery regularly frequented by local carp angling legends) for dinner.
The evening was drawing close so I used the same tactics as the previous evening, same baiting and rig approach but this time with a bit of bait over the margin spot. Again at 1:30am the middle rod ripped off this time resulting in a 28lb mirror in the sack she went and i put the rod back out. I was awoken at 2:30am this time it was the margin rod resulting in a lovely dark 20lb common. I slept easy knowing there were two carp in the sack waiting for photos at first light. My best mate little TJ helped out with the photos and good karma also rewarded him for helping in the form of a old scaily mirror. The session was ended with smiles all around.
All fish were caught using various ESP tackle, including Super Floss, 25lb Stiff Rig Bristle Filament, original Camo Leadcore, and Hi-Performance Uni-Link Swivels.
