Full Moon Whacker! 30th October, 2012

The clocks may have gone back and the long nights of winter are not too far away, but that hasn't deterred Mainline carper David Chancellor who enjoyed another big-fish result recently using one of our new test baits. Over to David to take up the story: 

"Having endured some heavy drizzle and moving last thing into a new swim I felt that if ever effort was rewarded then now is the time to find out. I decided to fish light offerings of bait as nothing had been out for several days and it was obvious the fish were not really up for it. Selecting for 10 to 20 free-baits round each rod and fishing at different distances to ensure good coverage of the water in front of me. I sat up until about 10pm and saw only the occasional small, roach break the calm surface illuminated by the bright full moon. I managed to get my head down for an hour or so when the familiar sound of a large carp breaking the surface layers woke me from my slumber. Peering out across the lake the distinct ripples could be seen from where the carp had made an appearance. As I had no bait anywhere near where it had shown and considering it was the only fish I had seen I decided to put a bait as near as I dare. The right hand rod was repositioned some 10 yards short of where the fish had shown and another small scattering of bait was fired out with the stick. I sat back on my chair wondering if I had made the right choice moving a bait that I knew was fishing well and chucking it out into the unknown darkness. However, I convinced myself that it was fishing well and my philosophy has always been, if you see one, get on it, especially at this time of year when they are less likely to move around a lot.

Sure enough about one hour later the buzzer broke the silence and the bobbin tightened up and hovered tightly against the rod. I have had several takes like this in the winter so without hesitation I hit it and felt the reassuring mass of a fishy bulk attached to the other end. The fish moved off to my left and slowly chugged along covering 10, 20, 30 yards, it just kept going! Fearful of the overhanging willow to my left I dipped the rod tip and applied as much side strain as I dared. This only served to increase the fishes ambition or reaching the refuge of the sunken willow. A brutal tug of war pursued with me gaining a few inches then the fish taking it all back. I simply didn’t dare to put any harder the last thing I wanted was to break off or damage the fishes mouth and I soon felt the grating of line against branch and then the solid lifeless feeling as fish found snag. Not to be deterred, I placed the rod back on the rest keeping the line tight with bait runner engaged and introduced a few carefully placed stones into the roots of where I thought the fish was. Picking the rod back up, I felt the line for any movement and after a few minutes a gentle pluck was felt, immediately tightening up I pulled slowly but firmly and to my relief the attached weight came towards me. Keeping up the momentum I edged the fish along the margin until it wallowed in-front of me breaking the surface with its glistening shoulders in the bright moonlight. A few short runs and hefty head shakes later I managed to slip the net under what can only be described as a true lump of a fish. Weighing in at 49lb 2ozs this was the perfect reward for the 4 hour drive and last minute swim change. Very happy days indeed!!!"