THIS famous giant common carp known as ‘Lee Jackson’ has been out, this time at 60 lb 4 oz to Steve McNeil on his very first visit to Kent day ticket water, Strawberry Fields.
The EA field team member explained: “I was invited to Strawberry Fields for a 24-hour social and decided to take the time away from my syndicate and give it a go.
“The first 16 hours went by very quietly without a bite on the lake, so I made a few changes and recast to fizzing I spotted near the middle.
“Within an hour the fish was off and after a hard battle it finally graced the net.
“I certainly wouldn’t say no if I was invited to Strawberry Fields again!”
The 31-year-old, from Deal, tempted the Tunbridge Wells venue’s stunner on a Cherry Carp KMT boilie using a stringer on a KD rig. The giant common carp increased his PB by 22 lb.
Steve’s giant common carp falls nearly 8 lb short of the British carp record, which is a mirror carp.
This is a short version of the story that appeared in Angler’s Mail printed magazine. Get the magazine every week for top tips, big news, best products, and venues that are in form.
CAUGHT A BIG FISH? Email photos and details exclusively to: anglersmail@timeinc.com – you could star in the magazine and win great prizes.
A THREE-HOUR drive to a new venue was road miles well spent for David Crouch as it resulted in this monster mirror carp of 53 lb 4 oz.
David, from Macclesfield, Cheshire, explained: “ I had never fished Cambridgeshire’s Greville Lake before, and, finding on arrival only six other carp anglers on the 72 acres, I had a vast choice of swims.
“I settled on a spot 80 yards out at the back of a large weed bed fishing in 16 feet of water, with the surrounding swims dropping off sharply to 25 ft and more.
“I baited with 20 Spombs of CC Moore XXX and used 12 mm Red Northern Specials hookbait but balanced out and fished on the bottom.
“The take was fierce, nearly pulling my rod from the rest. I could tell straight away that this fish was altogether different.
“I was quickly into my chesties and down into the water. It felt and looked massive in the net.
“An immense male carp, a real brute of a fish, and we all stood in awe of him,” he added.
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SPENCER WRIGHT was invited by friends to visit the beautiful Ashmead Fishery in Somerset and scored with the stunner known as ‘Moonscale’ at 46 lb 4 oz.
Isle of Wight-based Spencer targeted a small hole in extensive weedbeds where he had seen signs of fish. The 43-year-old senior designer fed little and often basis, offering Sticky Baits double 15mm Boosted Krill Bottom Bait boilies.
He added: “Amazingly, after the take the fish kept coming and sailed through all the weed in front of me and was in the net after two minutes.”
DAN ADAMS enjoyed a highly productive 48-hour session at Yateley, Surrey when he landed carp of 31 lb, 25 lb 39 lb and 32 lb, topped by this fine 39 lb 10 oz mirror. Bridgwater, Somerset-based Dan used Sticky Baits Krill freezer boilies over a large bed of boilies and hemp.
FISHING just 3 ft out, Mark Ayliffe tempted this 35 lb 14 oz mirror on a day session at his local Elstow Pit 1. The 50-year-old carpet cleaner from Houghton Regis,
Bedfordshire, found fish feeding on another angler’s bait who had left that morning. He lowered in a Sticky Baits Krill bottom bait and struck five minutes later.
STEVEN COOKE nailed the biggest known resident of a midlands stillwater, this 38 lb 4 oz mirror, part of a three-fish haul during a six-night session. The 39-year-old tiler from Leicestershire used a white Manilla pop-up over whole and crumbled baits at 40 yards on the side of a shallow bar.
DARREN WHITE tempted this 35 lb 14 oz linear on a short session at the beautiful Milton Abbas Lake in Dorset.
Targetting lilies where he spotted feeding fish, Darren quietly flicked a light-leaded hinged stiffy rig 20 yards to the other side of the coloured water, complete with a CC Moore Pacific Tuna Corkball and a few pitfalls of Pacific Tuna freebies. Darren preceded the catch with a stunning 21lb 4 oz mirror.
ED BETTERIDGE enjoyed a memorable session with the family in Northamptonshire and in 48 hours caught commons over of 30 lb, 32 lb 6 oz, 35 lb 8 oz (pictured) and 36 lb 8 oz. These included three of the six biggest fish in the lake. The media manager for Greys and Chub, from Derbyshire, cast into weed with Mainline Hybrid boilies.
ALEX MAGUIRE-SMITH smashed his PB after stalking the mirror known as ‘Gurm’ that weighed in at 51 lb, from his local Fryerning Fisheries Main Lake.
The 24-year-old landscape gardener from Harlow in Essex revealed: “I watched the fish patrol past a silty area ten feet from the bank numerous times, then placed the rig when it was gone, and the magic happened shortly after.”
Alex tempted the giant using Baitcraft Bank Bugg Super K boilies soaked in Super K Hemp Oil, with a helicopter hinged stiff rig.
WITH a week off work, Sam Mee went to the southern big pit where he had been building up an area for a few weeks. His confidence was boosted after seeing fish and on the first night he landed a lovely mirror of 28 lb 8 oz on a hardened CC Moore Pacific Tuna hook bait.
Sam said: “After that it was difficult as the fish were spending their time in the weed, but on the final morning I landed this stunner known as ‘Clive’ at 41 lb 12 oz. This is a fish I had seen spawn this year and one I dearly wanted!”
CARL ‘BERTIE’ BAXTER really had the blessing of the carp god after he helped install a giant statue at a fishery and then caught his target fish of 18 years.
Fryerning Fisheries in Essex had the ‘carp god’ created and Bertie put in some hard graft to get the statue in place.
And soon after he struck gold with the common called The Mommon at 50 lb 6 oz (pictured below) and then a rarely-caught Leney strain mirror of 36 lb 12 oz.
Fryerning’s ‘carp god’ is based on one of the 887 ancient statues called Moai found on Easter Island found west of South America.
Carl Baxter with the giant fish caught at the venue with its own carp god.
Bricklayer Bertie, 42, from Ipswich, Suffolk, said: “I helped put the statue in and then had a 72 hour session afterwards.
“I’m not sure if it was the ‘carp god’ or a switch back to Mainline’s Activ-8 boilies after not using them for several years but they did me proud with 87 lb of fish in two casts.
“The Mommon is my second UK 50 – and a fish I dearly wanted after fishing the venue for 18 years. I fed heavy every day at my spot at 100 yards only fishing the spot at night after resting it during the day,” he concluded.
Carp god was £1,500 well spent
Co-owner Charlie Knowles told the Mail: “My dad Chris’s pal Alistair Smith is an artist and sculptor so we decided to commission the ‘carp god’ for a bit of a laugh.
“It took him six months the create and is 8 ft high with carp scales on the back and weighs 3.5 tonnes so took a bit of work to get in.
“It looks nice looking across the main lake and is £3,500 well spent,” he added.
The full story first appeared in Angler’s Mail printed magazine before anywhere else – No.1 for news again. Get the magazine every week to get yourself fully up to speed for top tips, big news, best products, and venues that are in form.
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EDWARD SWAIN recorded his first grass carp in real style when he caught one of the biggest in the country.
This giant 40 lb 2 oz grass carp fell on Edward’s debut session to day ticket Strawberry Fields in Kent.
The 30-year-old scaffolding inspector from Preston, Lancashire, fed 12 kg of Sticky Bait Krill boilies in the three-day trip and added a 26 lb mirror carp.
His catch was featured on the hallowed Fish of the Week page of Angler’s Mail magazine, also winning him £100 of top tackle from Korum via the magazine’s Korum Specimen Cup.
Other specimens in the Kent wonder water where Edward visited include the biggest known living common carp, which was recently caught at 60 lb 4 oz.
CAUGHT A BIG FISH? Email photos and details exclusively to: anglersmail@timeinc.com – you could star in the magazine and win great prizes.
DAN LENEY has now caught all the biggest carp in a lake after nabbing the impressive Two Tone at a massive 45 lb 12 oz plus another at 40 lb 6 oz on his next trip.
Twickenham, South West London-based Dan has been scoring at Horton’s Island Lake in Berkshire.
He told Angler’s Mail: “I know the lake well and absolutely love every time I set foot on the venue.
“I was there for three days. I had located and had been prepping some spots via the boat at 120 yards. They were placed on clearings of silt amongst huge weed beds, areas where I could easily present a rig.
“A load of CC Moore Pacific Tuna chops and particles were introduced over the top. I used Brazil nuts and CC Moore Pacific Tuna pop-ups to balance them out.”
Ten yards out
Dan continued: “The rod ripped off at 1pm on the second day and latched into the huge framed Two Tone mirror. I managed three bites that day, taking another 25 lb common and lost one in the weed.
“I returned after that session two weeks later but this time chose to fish just ten yards from the bank in much shallower water.
“On the first morning I managed two takes, a 23 lb mirror and the second 40 making it two 40s in two weeks – what a buzz!”
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TOP carper Dan Taylor tackled a secret local water for its resident monster common and banked her a little down in weight at a still impressive 47 lb 12 oz. Ashford, Kent-based Dan fished just 1 ft from the near bank using double 15 mm Nash Key boilies.
GREG WILDON had seen carp tight to an island at Elphicks Fishery in Kent so got his Dynamite Spicy Crab and Garlic boilie just 2 ft from it to tempt this 39 lb 6 oz mirror. Great Horkesley, Essex , based Greg added commons of 26 lb 4 oz and 12 lb 8 oz and a catfish of 11 lb.
ADAM ALDRED used just a plain hair rig combined with a Nash Key boilies to fool this 37 lb common carp from Bluebell Lakes in Northamptonshire. Peterborough, Cambridgeshire-based Adam, a 43-year-old plasterer, fished Sandmartin Lake.
HYBRID TACKLE consultant Robert Boswell, owner of Lakelife Baits, used one of his own boilies to tempt this 43 lb mirror from a local water. Faversham, Kent-based Robert used a size 6 Armohawk hook and 8 inches of Conda coated braid.
JOSH JONES has been prebaiting a local canal and it meant he tempted this 18 lb 8 oz koi plus a 20 lb 4 oz mirror in just a short trip. Berkshire-based Josh used CC Moore Pacific Tuna boilies on a hinged stiff rig.
WILLIAM SPRINGER can only do a five-night session once a year but put his holiday to good use by matting this 40 lb 4 oz mirror called the Snow Fish from his local Swan Valley. Camberley, Surrey-based William, a 35-year-old ground worker, added others of 36 lb 12 oz, 27 lb and 26 lb 10 oz using a Sticky Baits Krill pop-up over matching freezer freebies.
WILL BURROWS targeted the historical Yateley Match Lake on the Surrey-Hampshire border and was chuffed with this old 34 lb 12 oz mirror. Will pinpointed a silty channel inbetween weed beds at 50 yards where he offered balanced bottom baits of CC Moore Odyssey XXX.
WELDER Simon Kenny is in good form at the Essex Manor and nabbed this 38 lb 8 oz beast on his latest trip. The 32-year-old from Diss, Norfolk, offered Sticky Baits Krill freezer baits at 40 yards to a reed bed over 50 freebies.
THE second biggest grass carp in the country has come out at a stonking 51 lb 10 oz on floaters.
Horton Church Lake regular Dave Levy spotted some fish on the surface and decided to give them a go at the Berkshire syndicate complex.
The Wickford, Essex-based process operator explained: “As the morning passed it got extremely warm and I started feeding a few floaters to the fish I spotted which looked about 20 lb.
“I could tell it was a grassie by the rather pointed mouth. Every mixer was taken except the hook bait and when it finally went for that I struck hard and kept its head up out of the weed.
“When I saw it I really couldn’t believe the size and it really was a beautiful fish. I believe it is the same fish that once held the British record until the committee decided to abolish the category,” said Dave.
Three mega grass carp in Horton
Dave continued: “This is the biggest of three massive grass carp in the lake but they rarely come out. It was particularly welcome as I had three blank sessions in a row in the hot weather.
“It is my biggest ever fish ever beating my PB 50 lb 10 oz mirror, and previous best grassie of 30 lb, and the next morning I also managed to notch a 41 lb mirror.
“It has been a good year for me as I have fished Horton one night a week since April and the mirror was my seventh different 40 lb plus carp this year, whereas other more regular members have struggled,” he added.
The 43-year-old used a Korda controller with 4 foot trace of Kruiser Surface line to a size 8 Mixa hook with hair-rigged Enterprise plastic mixer bait.
Earlier this summer, Drennan-sponsored Martin Bowler landed an unofficial grass carp record at 52 lb 10 oz, which came as part of six fish catch, all weighing over 37 lb. Grass carp – and catfish -were taken off the record list over a decade ago as they are non-native.
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JOHN MILKINS target this year was to catch a 20 lb carp but absolutely smashed his old PB of 17 lb 3 oz with this 37 lb 13 oz beauty called the Joker from a difficult north Somerset lake. Centre manager John, 66, from Bristol, fished just 2 ft out on the surface with an Enterprise Tackle artificial dog biscuit with 12 lb Fox Surface Floater line and size 12 barbless Korda Kaptor hook.
BRICKLAYER Gary Broadhurst nabbed two of only three 30s in a local 25-acre pit and was chuffed with this 38 lb 12 oz mirror plus common of 36 lb 2 oz. The 27-year-old from Tamworth, Staffordshire, used Sticky Bait Krill boilies with helicopter rigs with stiff hinges in the 15-hour session.
ANTONY MARRS couldn’t have wished for a better looking mirror than this 28 lb 4 oz sample from a local water. The busy 38-year-old electrical engineer from Strood, Kent, fished a margin spot with Sticky Baits Manilla and Vortex mix on his first trip for a few weeks as a new south-westerly wind had got up and he knew it was ideal conditions.
WELDER Simon Kenny fished a new spot at the Essex Manor and was rewarded with a three-carp catch topped by The Anchor at 40 lb 3 oz. Diss, Norfolk-based Simon, 32, added others of 27 lb 4 oz and 31 lb 10 oz fishing 40 yards to reeds with Sticky Baits Krill freezer baits.
NATHAN BURROWS made the most of his first trip for a month with this 39 lb common from Erics Angling’s Willows Lake in West Yorkshire. Wigan, Lancashire-based Nathan fished 80 yards to a clear patch in weed Sticky Baits Krill boilies.
JAMES WINTERS fished an overnighter with five-year-old daughter Hattie and she brought him the best luck possible with this 41 lb 8 oz common. He visited his local Carp Society-run Farriers Lake in Gloucestershire with half a kilo per rod of 16 mm Sticky Baits Manilla boilies.
CHRIS HOLLAND matted the largest carp in his 25-acre Shropshire syndicate with this 43 lb 9 oz mirror, his 42nd over 30 lb. Lancashire-based Chris, 26, who works at Leigh Tackle And Bait, used Sticky Baits Manilla boilies at over 130 yards.
MARK WOZENCROFT had an amazing session at the Carp Society’s Farriers Lake in Gloucestershire with nine carp topped by this 44 lb 8 oz common plus another of 40 lb 6 oz. The steel worker, from Pontypridd, Mid Glamorgan, fished Sticky Baits boilies.
ANGLER'S MAIL takes carp fishing seriously. And our big carp galleries are backed by TAG (The Angling Group) who have top carp fishing brands Taska, Nutrabaits and Kryston.
PAUL FORSTER joined boss Wayne Gray at local day ticket water Chad Lakes for this 42 lb 2 oz mirror. Paul, who works at Top Tackle Ltd in Oxford, used Sticky Baits 20 mm boilies while Wayne chipped in with fish of 34 lb 8 oz and 34 lb 4 oz.
CRAIG SEPHTON fished a silty channel between weed beds to tempt this 40 lb carp known as ‘Orion’ along with five other 20s on his first trip to Quarry Fishery, Essex. The 31-year-old head gardener from Welwyn, Hertfordshire, used solid PVA bags with Sticky Baits Krill 12 mm pop ups, Krill pellets and Krill active mix.
CRAIG MCEVOY had to pack up at noon on the final morning of a 48-hour session in order to attend his uncle’s funeral, but in the final hour landed this new UK PB going 53 lb 8 oz. “It sure was an emotional day,” said Craig, who used four kilos of Mainline Cell throughout the session at The Avenue in Shropshire, and he added others of 35 lb 8 oz, 32 lb 4 oz and 27 lb.
LINCOLNSHIRE carp record holder Les Marsh has been back down his syndicate Deepings 1 again, and this time managed this hard-fighting 35 lb 5 oz common. Guisborough, North Lincolnshire-based Les used JH Baits KLF boilies over a bed of Hooked On Baits Blitz mix, on a Hybrid Tackle Armohawk Widegape size 4 hook.
AFTER three quiet days at Pavyotts Mill in Somerset, Roy Nicholls decided to swap tactics from boilies to corn and the switch paid dividends with no less than three consecutive PBs going 33 lb 5 oz, 39 lb 1 oz and this 42 lb specimen. The 43-year-old mechanic from Wolverhampton, West Midlands, fished with two fake corn grains critically balanced over the top of a bed of corn, with a 4 in. Fox Camo 20 lb braid rig.
RINGWOOD DAA’s Northfield Lake on the Dorset-Hampshire border produced a new PB mirror of 27 lb 12 oz for 12-year-old Ben Henniker-Parker, smashing his old PB of 16 lb. Ben backed it up with another mirror of 20 lb 4 oz during an overnight session, both fish falling at first light to Sticky Baits Krill boilies fished in a solid PVA bag.
AFTER six days of solid fishing with carp fizzing without even getting a bite, Ryan Maxwell-Carless nearly sold his gear and bought golf clubs, but returned to Yateley the next night to the same swim, he was rewarded with this nice PB common of 36 lb. Ryan used half a CC Moore Pacific Tuna pop up, tipped with a yellow fake corn hair stop, and having already baited the swim heavily, topped up by catapulting 30 of both 10 mm and 15 mm free samples, plus a handful of tigers.
SPOTTING a group of fish tearing up the bottom on the other side of the Milton Abbas syndicate lake in Dorset, John Welton took a rod with minimal tackle and placed a bait 30 yards out where fish had clouded the bottom. After 15 minutes he was into this PB English mirror of 36 lb 8 oz, known as Turbo, that was tempted on CC Moore Pacific Tuna 15 mm Wafters using small stringers and matching freebies.
TERRY MAYNARD had this 39 lb 10 oz PB mirror during a 48-hour stint, from Lake 7 at Orchard Place Farm in Kent. The 55-year-old delivery driver from Walderslade a single Sticky Baits Krill boilie, with a small PVA mesh bag filled with crushed boilies and he added a first catfish of 27 lb 8 oz plus a 16 lb common.
Colin Mitchell, the popular Angler's Mail website blogger, shares his views on record fish in the wake of this near-70 lb carp shocker. Read the latest AM print magazine for the amazing story - and get the next AM issue for the exclusive latest!
ANGLING’s crazies were out in force last week – and they have once again done nothing to help the reputation of our sport.
It’s amazing how one big fish can cause so much outrage and stupidity among people who we all believe care for angling.
Just in case you missed it – the carp (pictured above) was of record-breaking proportions was caught. It was fattened up in a holding pool and then released… and it got caught some weeks later.
There were also death threats and worse against the angler who caught the fish.
Eh? Death threats! How ridiculous is that?
And of course the national media latched onto that straight away and crazy anglers put us in the headlines for all the wrong reasons.
Now a death threat is a pretty serious thing so let’s hope that the law is brought in to deal with these people and their mad outpourings.
Record fish in general
First, if a fish is brought legally, then why shouldn’t it be a record, if it is caught on rod and line in Britain?
Now, if a fish is fattened up in a pool like has happened in this latest case at RH Fisheries, where they are masters in carp – where’s the difference there to many of the fish that are bred, reared and then stocked into waters everywhere?
Now that’s a huuuuge trout! Would I want to catch one? Not really.
A few decades ago there were similar accusations when big trout were reared and released in certain fisheries on days when big-name anglers were due to fish.
Of course these guys hit the headlines for landing a record giant – but did any of us really think it was a supreme effort?
Of course we didn’t! It was skill but not as we like to know it.
But we didn’t get all hot and bothered and start sharpening our filleting knives!
The only people who suffered with these big fish were the captors – whose reputations were slowly eroded by such captures.
Are record fish a big deal anymore?
I think the whole record fish thing is no longer as prestigious as it used to be.
A number of records are now open to claims after previous bests were ditched; certain species don’t even have records and the authenticity of other biggest-fish have been questioned.
Is a record fish caught from a venue where it is known to live really as good as a massive specimen of the same species caught from a water where it was unknown?
A 40 lb carp is a monster of a fish yet in many parts of England it is no longer rightly recognised as the superb creature that it is.
In my book a 20 lb carp is good – even more so if it comes from a place such as a canal or a river and has been carefully tracked down and then tempted to a bait.
We’d all be happy with a gudgeon as big as Angler’s Mail print magazine columnist Steve Collett’s holding… wouldn’t we?
Big or small we should be appreciating what we catch and where the fish is caught.
I believe the vast majority of anglers do accept that once a fish of any species reaches a certain size it should be recognised as a superb specimen.
I’d bet most of you would be more than happy with a 1lb roach, 3lb chub, 4lb tench, 20lb carp or even a 2oz gudgeon. I know I am…
For the vast majority of us angling is something that creates a great social life, a superb hobby or sport and can be enhanced in the public eye when they learn how we look after the environment among other things.
Maybe it’s down to stupidity or jealously but we need to stop this silly bickering in our sport.
GOT A VIEWon this huge carp catch or about record fish and big fish in general? Please email your views to: amletters@timeinc.com You could get published in print in Angler’s Mail, the best weekly magazine.
HUGE controversy surrounds a potential British carp record artificially reared and stocked a few weeks before capture in August 2016.
It was legally imported from abroad and then hand reared on 2 kilos of boilies plus pellets every day from 39 lb to its record weight.
Investment banker Tom Doherty was fishing RH Fisheries syndicate water The Avenue, when he caught the previously unknown mirror after a 20-minute battle.
The monster called ‘Big Rig’ weighed in at 69 lb 13 oz on one set of scales that have been verified, and 70 lb 4 oz on another…. but the weight has now been confirmed at 69 lb 3 oz.
It was only fishery regular Tom’s second session on the particular lake and the 35-year-old PB Products consultant told The Sun national newspaper that because of the controversy he half regrets the capture.
Tom told The Sun: “All I did was cast a bait into the lake. You can only catch what is in front of you.”
Careful management for biggest carp
Although known for its big head of large carp The Avenue’s biggest fish previously only went 60 lb 4 oz, a fish called Jona that sadly died a couple of years ago.
The ten acre lake stands in the grounds of the owner Rob Hales’s own house and dates back to the late 17th century, but was hugely extended in 2007, and developed as a big carp water only.
It has been deliberately de-stocked in the past to allow the bigger fish to grow on and has 28 fish over 40 lb, with six going over 50 lb.
All the other lakes at the fishery have some degree of open access, and do also contain fish of over 50 lb.
Dean Fletcher shows the carp which is currently listed No.1 on the British record list. It was caught in January in Berkshire.
RH Fisheries owner Rob Hales is an avid carper himself who, when he’s not trying to create the best big-fish waters in the country, likes to target the demanding Rainbow Lake in France.
The out-and-out big fish hunter has caught a string of large carp from the world famous venue, including the lake’s largest mirror at a staggering 90 lb 4 oz.
This is a short version of the story that appeared in Angler’s Mail printed magazine. Get the magazine every week for top tips, big news, best products, and venues that are in form.
CAUGHT A BIG FISH? Email photos and details exclusively to: anglersmail@timeinc.com – you could star in the magazine and win great prizes.
ANGLER'S MAIL takes carp fishing seriously. And our big carp galleries are backed by TAG (The Angling Group) who have top carp fishing brands Taska, Nutrabaits and Kryston.
Ben Jones had a 38 lb 12 oz mirror known as Korda Fish plus a 23 lb common and 27 lb mirror when he fished an overnighter at Swan Valley, Hampshire.
The 29-year-old carpenter from nearby Yateley used Sticky Baits Krill boilies on size 6 Korda Choddy hooks 12 yards out, over 2 kg of mixed 16 mm and 12 mm Krill soaked in pure Krill liquid.
FIVE nights produced just one carp for Robert Dungate on The Quarry in Essex but it was this fine 39 lb 10 oz specimen.
The 35-year-old from Bromley, Kent, cast 50 yards to the back of heavy weed on a clear silt patch and used Sticky Baits Manilla 15 mm boilies.
It was the last night of his three night trip and third swim before Ed Biscoe caught but he was delighted to land his fourth UK carp over 40 lb and his first from the Black Swan Lake in Berkshire.
The 29-year-old estate agent from Winchester, Hampshire, attracted this 41 lb 8 oz specimen with 1 kg of Nash Key Cray boilies and mixed in 1 kg of particle and pellets fished on a hard area about 80 yards out and used a white Citruz pop-up.
Lee Wheeler had mirrors of 32 lb and 37 lb (pictured) and also one of 33 lb 2 oz on the surface from Yateley Pads Lake, Hampshire during a three night session.
The 29-year-old used Pacific Tuna White pop ups fished on hinged stiff rigs in a weedy area and spread 30 15 mm Pacific Tuna freezer baits.
MARTIN ROGERS followed up his recent run of good form by landing this ghostie of 39 lb 13 oz from his local Wasing Estate’s Cranwells Lake, along with ‘Floppy Tail’ at 44 lb, the same fish he caught that was reported here two weeks ago.
Both fish fell in a two hour spell to Dave Mallin’s The Brace mix and two doubles joined in the party. Aldermaston, Berkshire-based Martin baited with just a kilo of freebies.
James Butcher had a prolific four nights on RK Leisure Kingsmead One landing ten carp topped by this fine 44 lb 2 oz mirror called Moony. He also had a 37 lb 14 oz mirror known as the Mug Sutton, two other 30s and six 20s all caught in the daytime.
James explained: “I initially put in around 4 kg of 15 mm CC Moore Pacific Tuna out to intercept them as they moved in and out from the bridge area between two weed beds. After each fish I put around a further 1 kg of bait out, and the more I put out the move runs I had.”
A margin swim proved just the ticket for Adrian Priest when he fished Stanwick Lake in Northamptonshire and tempted this 41 lb common along with a 32 lb 4 oz mirror.
The 45-year-old pipefitter from Rugby, Warwickshire, used a Sticky Baits Manilla wafter fished over broken boilies and mixed particles on a blowback rig.
DAVE MUDDLE’S first carp from a new lake turned out to be a PB weighing in at 45 lb 10 oz.
The 59-year-old semi-retired teacher from Basildon, Essex, fished three days on local Fryernings’ Main Lake to land the mirror known as the Emperor with a DNA Baits Switch wafter.
JAMES WINTER had this lovely PB 47 lb 2 oz common during an overnight session on Farriers, Gloucestershire.
The 37-year-old car mechanic from Castle Combe, Wiltshire, used Sticky Baits Manilla boilies, baiting up with half a kilo of free samples in a small clear area on the edge of a large weedbed.
Jon Taylor had a wasps' nest and a predicted change of wind direction to thank for an amazing session in which he landed three 40 lb carp... followed by five others up to 32 lb!
The 42-year-old fished a syndicate water in Essex and notched heavyweight carp of 42 lb 6 oz (pictured), 42 lb and 45 lb 6 oz.
Jon told Angler’s Mail: “On arrival I was warned that an empty swim I fancied had a big wasps’ nest but I gave it a go until the wasps soon drove me away.
“I decided to take a punt out instead and chose an area that would suit the predicted wind change, spraying out two kilos of Sticky Baits Krill boilies over a clear, firm area.
“Carp were soon feeding and before long I hooked into a fish known as Scattered Lin at 42 lb 6 oz and while she was still in the net, my rod screamed off again and I landed Boris that went 42 lb.
“Later in the day after continued feeding I had another screaming run and landed a brute of a fish known as Brick Top at 45 lb 6 oz.
“Three special fish all landed within ten hours before I went on to land the other five samples – it was certainly a red letter day never to be forgotten!” he exclaimed.
CAUGHT A BIG FISH? Email photos and details exclusively to: anglersmail@timeinc.com – you could star in the magazine and win great prizes.
With changing of the seasons from summer to autumn, here are some top autumn carp fishing tips from expert anglers, to help you catch fish like this in the weeks ahead.
Have self-belief, says Julian Cundiff
Looking for autumn carp fishing tips? The key to catching carp at this time of year is not just going but having the self-belief to keep at it even when it looks less than favourable.
I gave up believing that this time of year was ‘the big feed up’ years ago and for me that happens late Oct/Nov and this time of year can be hard work…
The nights are clear and the rain really can drop the water temperature down a lot. Water clarity makes the carp a lot more spooky and for me the period mid September to mid October is about toughing it out and keeping the drive going.
Julian Cundiff
A lot of anglers fall by the wayside but I won’t and I know that keeping the bait going in, keeping an eye on any developing patterns will stand me in good stead for the future.
I am fishing single hookbaits on my favourite Multi-Rig over my ‘slop’ of crumb/hemp/liquidised corn but when I do go I will spread bait all round areas the carp have been showing.
The trick is not to falter and fall off the radar as once you lose touch with a water its hard to get back on it.
Everything is right for a bite, the baits are in position and its time for another coffee. Believe me this is as live a blog as you will get. I am here doing my bit…are you? You can’t catch them sat at home!
Think about your bait, says Nigel Sharp
Nigel Sharp, seen here with the stunning Burghfield Common.
As the water temperatures start to fall I tend to stop using oily products such as high oil pellets and boilie dips. My reasoning behind this is so that my baits don’t start fatting up like candle wax in the carps digestive systems. In the main I’ll be sticking to the boilie approach from now on.
As the leaves start to fall and litter the bottom, I’ll also start to favour pop-up rigs over bottom bait presentations so that I can guarantee that my hook points are clear of any debris.
If I am intent on staying on the same water in to the colder winter months I’ll start introducing my favoured winter baits by mixing them in with the bait that I’m currently using.
Focus on your watercraft, says Keith Jones
The weed is fast disappearing, some hot spots of natural food have also disappeared or been eaten out by fish. This seems to have had the effect of encouraging the carp to move into new comfort zones, their daily routines and patrol routes have changed slightly too.
The normally productive swims have mainly failed to produce for the anglers that are just doing the same old thing but those with a more open mind who are making the effort to find the fish and fine tune their tactics slightly have done better.
One question we are regularly asked at the moment is ‘should I be changing my baits ready for the months ahead’. The answer to that is for the time being no, if it’s working then stick with it and instead focus on the watercraft.
But if I had to pick just bait at the moment it would be Nash Bait ready-made Boilie Paste, this stuff just oozes water born food signals, even the most lethargic disinterested fish can’t resist it – it works for me and I recommend you give it a try.
Time to get on the paste reckons Nash blog co-ordinator Keith Jones!
Stick to one water, suggests Adam Garland
I’m really looking forward to autumn and early winter. Due to having limited time to spend on the bank, I’ve been changing from one water to another all year in an effort to make the most of the time available, and although I’ve caught well, I’ve lost consistency and that’s something I’m really keen to re establish.
Adam Garland with an impressive autumn catch.
I’ve made the decision to see the rest of the year out on just one syndicate water in an attempt to regain the consistency within my angling. The fish in this water are very old, and like most old fish they are creatures of habit, and regularly get caught from their favoured spots time and time again, so making sure I’m in the swim and on that spot is the main approach I plan to employ in the coming months.
I had a fantastic end to last years campaign on the same water banking no less than five of the big girls over 35lb, but there were times when I knew a fish was due out from a certain swim, but opted to follow the larger pack of fish instead, and on more than one occasion the fish showed up true to form.
This is the first year since joining Nash I’ve played around with alternative baits to the Scopex Squid, but with big fish time on the horizon, I’ll be going straight back to the best carp bait of all time, to make bait something I need not worry about.
My rigs for the spring and summer have been my ever faithful fluoro carbon – Armour braid combi rig fished at 12 inches, to keep it on top of any bottom debris and light weed. During the later months the weed dies back and most of the spots I’ll be fishing will be crystal clear, and it’s for this reason I’ve switched over to 10 inches of the excellent Nash Missing Link coated braid.
I fish it blow back style with a Fang Twister and a snowman rig, small subtle changes can make a big difference at the moment, but with big changes going in the carp’s under water world you need to go fishing with an open mind, location is key, if you are not on fish you won’t catch them! That’s it from me – good luck!
Venue with a track record for Mike Jones
I’m starting on a new water this autumn, I’m actually here today having a look around and discretely baiting a few spots, it’s a gravel pit and around ten acres in size and it’s quite deep too.
Mike Jones
The lake has a very good winter track record which is very important to me as their is no point in sticking it out all winter on a water where only one or two fish comes out. The blanks can get you down and your motivation will soon go.
I think bait will be the key this winter on this lake because the fish I have seen are quite short and fat with big mouths and look like real boilie eating machines.
My boilie choice is the dark red Monster Squid mixed with White Amber Strawberry mixed 80:20 – all Nash baits have a really high food value which makes them particularly effective during the colder months. The bright coloured Amber is also proven to produce quick bites which makes it an unbeatable combination.
I’ll fish different options for hook baits but if the fish show a preference for one I’ll simply switch all rods to that one – it looks good for a bite today and I can’t wait to get the rods out and have a go!
Stay closer to home, says Joe Jaggar
Joe Jaggar doesn’t live in an area blessed with biggies, but knows how to catch autumn carp.
Living up north, I clock up a fair few miles during the year fishing target waters in the pursuit of big carp. But with the colder months looming I’m going to be fishing closer to home. But as a result of that the carp will be a little bit smaller.
I’ve been baiting the lake heaily for the last four weeks and as I write this now, I’ve just got back from my first night on the lake without any action but there was plenty of carp activity so I feel that my bait is getting polished off.
The campaign is going to be by no means a stroll in the park as the lake is low stock and sees a great deal of angling pressure. But I love fishing during the colder months and one thing is for sure though, when the going gets tough, the Nash Bait gets going and I’m sure it wont let me down!
CAUGHT A BIG ONE? Report catches to the No.1 weekly, Angler’s Mail print magazine. Email photos and info to: anglersmail@timeinc.com
KARL ‘BERTIE’ BAXTER just can’t stop catching after helping install the ‘carp god’ at Essex’s Fryerning Fisheries!
Karl became the first person to catch all three of the 50-pounders in there with The Boss at 50 lb 8 oz.
His latest 50 came in a great catch as he added Berties Linear at 37 lb 8 oz, Riddler at 36 lb, Starburst at 37 lb 2 oz and Four Scale at 38 lb using Mainline Activ-8 boilies in 60 hours.
Ipswich, Suffolk-based Karl, a 42-year-old said: “What a session. I can’t believe it.
“I have now had three UK 50s all from Fryerning. The first angler to have all three. Wow!”
This is a short version of the story that appeared in Angler’s Mail printed magazine. Get the magazine every week for top tips, big news, best products, and venues that are in form.
CAUGHT A BIG FISH? Email photos and details exclusively to: anglersmail@timeinc.com – you could star in the magazine and win great prizes.
SEAN LOCKYER had to get in only his second session at Wintons Fishery before a major shoulder operation - and was pleased he did after landing this venue record 52 lb carp.
The 65-year-old landscaping boss from Tadworth, Surrey, offered a single 18 mm Mainline Cell boilie on a size 8 barbless hook at Kingfisher Lake.
Wintons Fishery is in Burgess Hill, West Sussex and is rated as a premier specimen carp and catfish venue, but also has some interesting specimens of other species too that rarely get fished for.
There are three lakes set in 33 acres of beautiful countryside with views reaching to the South Downs. The lakes are well matured and cared for, delivering countless numbers of personal bests to its members who pay £60 then a charge to fish starting at £20 for a day.
CAUGHT A BIG FISH? Email photos and details exclusively to: anglersmail@timeinc.com – you could star in the brilliant weekly magazine and win great prizes.
CAN any carp angler match Jim Shelley for consistency in catching the biggest fish in the country? This fish is further proof of the credentials of the man's incredible knack... not to mention commitment and skill.
The impressive catch meant carp guide and author Jim Shelley managed to notch up the final member of the ‘A-Team’ he was after from Bayeswater syndicate lake in Essex.
It’s known as the Coconut Common and fell to Jim at a top weight of 48 lb 12 oz.
Carping Re-Cut author Jim, who has now had 58 pukka UK 40-pounders, from Colchester, used a Proper Carp Baits Blackseal hardened hookbait.
This was tipped with 12mm Pineapple & N-Butyric pop ups fished over Black Seal freebies.
CAUGHT A BIG FISH? Email photos and details exclusively to: anglersmail@timeinc.com – you could star in the brilliant weekly magazine and win great prizes.
DEADLY koi herpes virus (KHV) could indeed be spread by nets, a new scientific study has found. Angler's Mail - No.1 for news - found out all about it.
And the research carried out by the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science has found carp becoming resistant to KHV which has been muted by affected fisheries.
Angler’s Mail magazine readers have kept fully up to date with the KHV developments this year. At least 23 waters have been infected this summer including recent cases at popular carp water Thorpe Lea in Surrey and also at Portland Lakes in Hampshire.
The study by CEFAS found 100 per cent of carp that came into contact with the disease were infected with 75 per cent developed clinical disease and the remaining 25 per cent survived by creating antibodies.
The virus shedding into mucus started the day after exposure and continued during the 22-day trial. And although KHV infection did reduce feeding, the test carp still ate over 40 per cent of the daily food ration so could be caught and spread the disease.
Wet infected nets and KHV
Net spreading potential was then tested with infected mucus and the virus remained alive in ‘dark and damp’ conditions, with 100 per cent of the cell cultures were positive.
Drying reduced KHV infectivity to about 20 per cent but KHV did not survive exposure to sunlight in two sets of tests.
There were no positive cells for KHV in both ‘light and damp’, and ‘light and dry’ conditions, something anglers thought was true but has now been proven.
A CEFAS spokesperson said: “Hopefully these experiments show that fish shedding KHV virus feed and are therefore likely to be caught by anglers.
“These can contaminate nets, the virus can survive on these nets, and that KHV can be transmitted to uninfected fish by contact with infected nets.
“Put simply, the use of infected nets is a disease risk to fisheries but moving fish still remains the biggest risk for KHV transmission.”
Small KHV outbreak at Thorpe Lea
Thorpe Lea’s Chloe Beale said: “We have had a small outbreak of KHV causing us to lose a small amount of fish up to 10 lb and this is due to the larger ones having built up immunity to the virus.
“We are now implementing Steri-7 which all landing nets, mats and slings must be immersed in on arrival and departure which kills all bacteria in seconds ensuring no further spread.
“We reopened on October 3 and the fishing has already been outstanding,” she added.
What do you think KHV and about nets? Email your views to amletters@timeinc.com – your comments may appear in the printed Angler’s Mail magazine!
