Spencer Wright from the Isle of Wight has had a couple of productive overnighters over the last couple of weeks – catching a forty pounder per trip! Spence’s highly effective approach is producing even when the fishing has been particularly slow. Here’s the full story:
The Spring Common
Spring Common
With the alignment of the moon, air pressure and weather, I was eager to get down to my local syndicate, where two weeks beforehand, i’d managed a fine brace of 40+ mirror & common carp.
I moved three times trying to keep on the fish as they departed the area’s soon after setting my traps, such was there awareness of what was around them.
I had my traps spoilt, five times in the first day as a fish trailing line ruined my carefully presented hook-baits. As nightfall approached, I was nervous at the prospect of having my rods wiped out with the possibility of not being able to re-place them.
At midnight I had a couple of bleeps from the Neville and fearing the worse, quickly walked to my rods and felt the line, which was bow-string tight. I struck expecting to have some initial pressure and it all fall slack, but felt a healthy bend and then gave line as the unseen leviathan surged off!
After 25 minutes of sustained pressure and surging runs, I finally managed to entangle the fish within the folds of my net and was quite surprised to see the scales of a bar of gold, looking up at me.
The scales settled on 41lb 3oz and was identified as the Spring Common, last making an appearance over two years ago.
It fell to my usual favoured and hugely successful Anchor rig, bottom bait set up of a size 6 Mk2 stiff Rigger, 15lb Stiff Rig Bristle-filament. 15lb Brown Camo Sink-Link reverse combi-rig attached to a double ring swivel, fished drop-off style, in a 2oz inline Leadshed lead and 45lb ESP Weedy Green Leadcore.
Bait, was CC Moore’s new Pacific Tuna, over chopped & whole freebies.
Titanic Tussle
Following on from last week’s overnighter, I was obviously keen to get back to the lake after the result of my second 40+ in as many weeks. With many things conspiring against me I didn’t arrive until just before dark and had to take care of photo duties for my best friends son, Jack before getting too my chosen plot.
I strategically placed 3 snowman set up’s, comprising of a red Northern Special on a custom CC Moore Pacific Tuna Bottom bait over washed out chopped and whole free offerings. The trusty Anchor Rig comprised the business end.
Soon after positioning my rods at the bottom of a marginal shelf, I received an aborted take from a trailer, wiping my banker rod out which meant the arduous task of trying to reposition this, in complete darkness was required, which I thankfully achieved without too much trouble.
Soon after line bites commenced, which carried on through the night at regular intervals, meaning sleep was very hard to come by, and by day break, I was feeling slightly worse for wear.
Thankfully, a short, sharp take brought me to my senses and after a titanic battle, lasting 45 minutes a very wide mirror ended up in the folds of my welcome net.
The ‘Titanic’ mirror
On the scales, it pulled down to a satisfying 42-10, meaning in the last few weeks, my tally of biggies had risen to 4, all down to having the confidence in your tackle and bait to fish effectively, no doubt.