After landing a 26 on his first trip to Lancashire’s Wyreside Lakes, a return session for carper Andy Robinson proved more than worth the effort when he banked a new personal best from the venue at 35lb.
The Manchester-based rod targeted the specimen in the complex’s Wyre Lake for a 72hour stint – and it didn’t take him long to start catching.
“As soon as I got to the lake I could see a lot of fish sunning themselves in a small bay, so that’s where I decided to fish,” Andy told ACF. “I asked one of the regular anglers about fishing zigs, but he told me no one bothers as they don’t really work. As soon as he said that, I knew I had to give them a go!”
Looking to snare one of the cruising carp, Andy set up a zig to sit just below the surface, using a 4foot hooklink to a size 7 Fox hook with a hairrigged dog biscuit as bait. Four hours after casting out his alarm was screaming as the first fish fell for the setup.
“It took 10minutes to get it to the net and I was very happy to weigh it in at 29lb 4oz,”continued Andy. “It was actually a named fish known as the Sergeant which was the icing on the cake as it’s quite a sort after fish.”
That was not the end of the action though, and following a bite-less night the carp were back on the surface and the zigs were still scoring.
“As the sun rose I noticed that the carp had started to return to the bay and my confidence grew that I may get another take,” said Andy. “Around 3pm it got roasting hot and my right hand rod ripped off again, after 15 minutes of a great fight I finally managed to land the fish.
“There was no one fishing near me I had to get in the lake to keep the fish in the water, and when I opened my landing net and looked in I couldn’t believe my eyes. I shouted across the lake to Paul, one of the bailiffs, who came over to help weigh and photograph the fish.”
On the scales Andy’s second fish of the session took the needle round to bang on 35lb. Another named fish, this time Gladiator 2, the capture gave the decorator a brand new pb by 10oz.
"I couldn't believe it," added Andy. "I'll definitely be back again soon as it's quickly turning into my lucky water!"
For more details on fishing Wyreside Lakes, click here
Andy cradles the Sergeant caught at 29lb 4oz.
