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.

For quality big carp products visit these 3 websites: TASKA – KRYSTON – NUTRABAITS

LUKE FARRELLY was chuffed to get his first 30 in the shape of this pristine 31 lb 10 oz mirror from day ticket Gwinear near Newquay in Cornwall.

The 20-year-old bricklayer from Plymouth, Devon, used a balanced 16 mm Sticky Baits Manila wafter.

LUKE KENNARD decided on a last minute session after work and headed to Oxfordshire’s Linear Fisheries for the first ever time and nabbed this 27 lb 6 oz common on double corn popped-up on a size 10 hook.

The 21-year-old from Abergavenny South Wales, said: “I wasn’t expecting much but to land my new PB common on the easiest rig ever was great.”

FORMER Dorking matchman Dave Hurry used his local knowledge of the River Thames to help Naomie Guppy land her first carp in the shape of this 32 lb 15 oz tidal river chunk, after she hooked and lost her first four.

Dave, from Kingston, Surrey, and Naomi, a professional bell ringer and tuner originally from Corsica, fished at Chiswick Green on an ebbing tide and hooked the fish on a legered double 18 mm Richworth Dark Tutti Frutti boilie.

CONNOR BOVINGDON also got in on the Thames carp action with this 31 lb mirror on a 24 hour stint.

The 20-year-old duct fitter from Ascot, Berkshire, used a Sticky Baits Krill boilie on a blowback rig.

DAVID WILTSHER finally broke my UK PB after 20 years of trying with this stunning 32 lb 2 oz common from a Bedfordshire lake.

He fished a stiff hinged rig to present a Nash Key pop-up over hemp and Denham Baits Element freebies.

TOMMY CHASE found a spot near some reeds in a deep silt gully about 40 yards that just ‘screamed carpy’ at Rushmoor Lakes in Surrey and had this PB 28 lb 2oz mirror soon after.

The 23-year-old machine operator from Aldershot, Hampshire, fished three grains of artificial corn over 500 gr of sweetcorn

WAREHOUSEMAN Mick Henderson matted this 34 lb 4 oz common along with a mirror of identical weight during three nights on a Lincolnshire pit.

Stockton-on-Tees, County Durham-based Mick 44, offered Nash Key Cray boilies over 3 kg of freebies 20 yards out on a clean hard spot on a new wind.

DARREN BAKER smashed his PB by 14 lb with this lovely mirror called The Nunn at 43 lb 6 oz at top Essex complex Fryerning Fisheries.

The 34-year-old car valeter from St Neots, Cambridgeshire, offered an Xcel Baits VNF boilie over a good spread of bait near a tree at 20 yards.

CHRIS COX tempted this dark 43 lb 8 oz mirror during an overnighter at RK Leisure’s Horton Church Lake in Berkshire.

Ruislip Manor, West London-based Chris, 26, fished at 35 yards in a clearing amongst decaying ribbon weed using Sticky Baits 20 mm Krill boilies over 1.5 kg of matching freebies.

WELDER Simon Kenny topped a great trio of mirrors on the Essex Manor with this 44 lb 10 oz beauty in 72 hours.

Diss, Norfolk-based Simon, 32, added others of 42 lb 4 oz and mirror and 38 lb 10 oz fishing Sticky Baits Krill boilies 20 yards out over silk weed and fed 10 kg of freebies during the trip.

For quality carp products & more visit these 3 websites: TASKA – KRYSTON – NUTRABAITS

MICHAEL MONK had just made redundant, and was treated to a day's fishing by his dad... resulting in this PB 45 lb 5 oz common carp.

The giant common carp came to the North East London angler during  a 12-hour day session at his local Wathamstow Reservoirs, part of which is on day ticket.

It was on the complex’s No.3 Reservoir where the 32-year-old connected with the huge common carp using Sticky Baits Manilla boilies.

Michael, from Walthamstow, explained: “I fished two rods a rod length apart at 60 yards aiming towards an island rod feeding a handful on each every 20 minutes.

“It was a very standard style bottom bait rig, 16mm bottom bait on a 10 inch Nash Armourlink hook link with a size 6 Nash fang X hook and a pretty long hair.

“My dad treated me to a day session up the Stow and what a treat it was being able to catch this massive big common.

“I count myself very lucky to have caught this amazing creature and to be able to share it all with my dad was amazing.”

What’s on offer at the ‘Stow

The Walthamstow Reservoirs site is run by Thames Water. There are nine reservoirs, of which some are Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) due to rich bird habitat and terrestrial fauna.

Coarse fishing-wise, six  reservoirs, and the Coppermill Stream, provide many challenges for all angling abilities. The predominant species are carp and bream, but there are also quality barbel, chub, eels, pike and perch to be had.

Walthamstow Reservoirs is on the edge of London and it provides a fascinating refuge amidst the urban spawl.

The three fly fishing reservoirs are stocked throughout the season with a total of 11,000 top quality rainbow and brown trout.

Day tickets start at just £5 on the coarse stock pond (one rod only), but the general charge per day is £15 a day on the main coarse waters for up to three rods. There are various concessions and season ticket options across the site.

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.

ASHLEY TINKLIN had a dream angling holiday just 100 miles from home when he landed mighty mirrors of 49 lb 2 oz (pictured) and 45 lb 12 oz.

Nottinghamshire-based Ashley booked up for his ‘angling holiday’ at Holme Fen Fishery in Cambridgeshire, where he spent time with nine mates for six days.

The 33 year-old said: “We rented the whole lake and there was five personal bests smashed including me beating my old 26 lb 12 oz PB twice.

“I added two others of 22 lb 8 oz and 17 lb 12 oz and all were caught on Vortex Baits’s Squid Liver pop-ups,” added the assistant at Phils Bait & Tackle in Sutton-in-Ashfield.

Holme Fen is a water to watch

Holme Fen Fishery is far from the average ‘angling holiday’ venue. It is located not far from Huntingdon near the village of Colne on the edge of the Cambridgeshire fens. And it’s gained a big reputation for quality big carp.

The venue – with Meadows and Poachers pools – was carefully developed from a recently completed gravel extraction site. Martin Dawson and Mike Hawes, who have run it since 2010, both have extensive experience of managing fisheries of this type.

Ashley Tinklin shows the 45-pounder from his visit to Holme Fen.

They say on the official Holme Fen website: “The complex has been purposely designed as a specimen carp, day ticket fishery, where PB’s will be regularly broken.

“It is available for individual or group bookings of 48, 96 or 144 hours at £40 per night, starting Mon, Wed and Fri.

“The Meadows is 26 acres in size and currently holds approximately 200 fish, with approx. 40 fish over 40lb and a current lake record of over 64 lb.

“In addition, Poachers Pool is 4 acres in size and stocked with approx. 90 carp in excess of 35 lb, open for group bookings of up to three anglers.”

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.

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.

For quality big carp products visit these 3 websites: TASKA – KRYSTON – NUTRABAITS

CONNOR BOVINGDON matted this fine 31 lb mirror on a 24 hour stint on the mighty River Thames.

The 20-year-old duct fitter from Ascot, Berkshire, used a Sticky Baits Krill boilie on a blow back rig.

INTERIOR designer Katie Watkinson was thrilled to catch one of the two most wanted at an Essex syndicate when she fooled the Big Lin at 35 lb.

The London-based big carp ace used 18 mm Live System boilies over 1 kg of freebies at 90 yards to the right of a large bush.

CHRIS COX tempted this dark 43 lb 8 oz mirror during an overnighter at RK Leisure’s Horton Church Lake in Berkshire.

Ruislip Manor, West London-based Chris, 26, fished at 35 yards in a clearing amongst decaying ribbon weed using Sticky Baits 20 mm Krill boilies over 1.5 kg of matching freebies.

COMPANY boss Martin Gardener knew Yateley North Lake had fished poorly for a month but didn’t let that bother him as he nabbed this 47 lb 4 oz mirror plus two others in a 48 hour trip.

The 51-year-old from Flackwell Heath, Buckinghamshire, added others of 33 lb 14 oz and 19 lb 8 oz by baiting little and often with Sticky Baits Krill boilies.

BIG CARP don’t get much better looking than this 33 lb 6 oz mirror caught by Joe Wilson in a three night trip to a Midlands syndicate.

The 31-year-old supervisor from Hyde, Greater Manchester, used a Sticky Baits Krill pop-up.

YATELEY ANGLING assistant Daniel Ibbott had two nights on his local North lake and it produced this 42 lb beauty.

Farnborough, Hampshire-based Daniel, 21, fished to a bar at 80 yards with 12mm Sticky Baits Krill boilies over matching pellet, hemp and chopped tiger nut.

JAMES BUTCHER moved swims on Berkshire’s Kingsmead 1 after a blank night and found fishing in swim 14 and later than night matted The Scar at 47 lb 10 oz.

James fished CC Moore boilies over a spread of 1.5 kg of freebies.

For quality carp products & more visit these 3 websites: TASKA – KRYSTON – NUTRABAITS

EXCITEMENT is mounting in anticipation of a new carp rod range due to hit the shops soon.

Carp fans will benefit after top-end rod makers Century Composites have done a deal to produce even better casting rods with a new space age material called Graphene that is 15 times stronger than diamond and is the thinnest material ever known.

The news was leaked by developer Applied Graphene to the financial markets, but Century confirmed they have struck a deal to use the material.

Simon Chicott, joint owner of Century Rods, said: “We weren’t expecting this news to be released now and it took us a bit by surprise.

“The rods aren’t yet ready to go into the shops, and we are planning to publicise the new product in the next few weeks.

“Test samples have already broken world casting records.

“We are confident that they will add an extra dimension for the specimen angler,” he concluded.

Anglers ready for new carp rods’ release

The RRP for the current top Century carp rod, the C2/D is £549, so we expect the new product will be dearer.

Bob Davies, award-winning rod builder from Fosters of Birmingham, who has been with the company since 1978, commented: “Century are an excellent rod company and their high end products sell well to the specialist angler.

“Extra casting length is popular for long-range fishing and is highly sought after and anglers seem willing to pay the extra for a quality product.

“We sell plenty of rods that retail for well over £400 and price isn’t a great barrier for anglers if the product does what it claims,” he added.

Graphene can be produced in tiny particles that can then be added to other substances like resins, paints and oils to strengthen the product. It is said to be one-million times thinner than a human hair and 200 times stronger than steel.

CAUGHT A BIG FISH? Email photos and details exclusively to: anglersmail@timeinc.com – you could star in the unbeatable print magazine and win great prizes.

LEE KEMP only needed five hours at an Essex syndicate to take a 23 lb linear mirror carp and then this 44 lb 12 oz mirror carp called James’ Fish – and then promptly packed up.

Brightlingsea-based Lee, 33, cast under an overhang on an island and fed 150 16 mm Sticky Baits Manilla boilies with a corkball pop-up over the top.

The ground worker said: “I packed up straight away after as it was the fish I really wanted and didn’t see much point hanging about, especially as I’d had a nice linear as well.”

CAUGHT A BIG FISH? Email photos and details exclusively to: anglersmail@timeinc.com – you could star in the brilliant weekly print 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.

For quality big carp products visit these 3 websites: TASKA – KRYSTON – NUTRABAITS

SIMON KENNY continued his good form on the Essex Manor with one of the best looking big carp in the lake with Cluster at 39 lb 6 oz.

Diss, Norfolk-based Simon, 32, offered a Sticky Baits Signature pop-up over Krill boilies at 20 yards on a clay patch.

The welder said: “I just had the one fish in 48 hours but it is a very beautiful carp.”

KEVIN HOSIE nabbed his first ever 40-pounder when he tempted this 45 lb 8 oz mirror from the day ticket Kracking Carp Lake at Anglers Paradise in Devon.

Kevin legered artificial sweetcorn.

FISH and chip shop manager Ian Davis fed 30 boilies every half an hour in his 48-hour trip at Fryerning Fisheries Main Lake in Essex and the little and often feed helped fool this mirror of 42 lb 6 oz.

The 26-year-old from Billericay offered Mainline Hybrid boilies which he added rock salt and sugar on hard spot in open water at 60 yards.

DANIEL ROWE had a great mixed session on a 36 hour session at Monk Lakes in Kent and he nabbed this 30 lb 3 oz mirror plus another of 23 lb 4 oz plus three catfish to 54 lb. Daniel offered a tuna boilie.

PAUL COOPER baited a spot at 120 yards in open water with 5 kg of Sticky Bait Krill boilies and the same amount of pellets in a two night trip and it helped fool this 37 lb 6 oz mirror plus another of 33 lb 8 oz.

The North Hykeham, Lincoln-based plasterer, 47, tempted both big carp using a 15mm pop-up on a Ronnie rig.

MARK TUCKNOTT recorded the first 40 from CWA Fisheries Long Lake in Berkshire with this PB 41 lb 2 oz mirror.

Romford, East London-based Mark, 55, a facilities manager, had stalked fish in the margins for two days before he got his specimen on a Sticky Baits Manilla boilie.

SCOTT LARMAN fed lots of hemp, corn and 3 Kg of Sticky Baits Krill and Manilla boilies at local Elstow Pit One before fooling this autumnal 35 lb 12 oz mirror.

The 39-year-old security engineer from Luton, Bedfordshire, offered a matching pop-up at his spot at 52 yards.

LEE WHITFIELD had another fine result at Cornwall’s Argal Reservoir when he matted Black Scale at 30 lb 6 oz and added a 21 lb common and four high doubles.

The Westcountry Leads boss used 6 kilos of BlakesBaits snowberry boilies fished at 120 yards at the £7 a day South West Lakes Trust venue.

DAVE WILKERSON had a slow session at Farlows Lake in Buckinghamshire but returned and found some fish under a willow where he had this 32 lb 6 oz mirror plus another of 30 lb 9 oz.

High Wycombe-based Dave offered 15 mm CC Moore Pacific tuna corkballs soaked in tuna extract, L030 and rock salt on a stiff hinge rig over freebies plus hemp and pigeon conditioner.

For quality carp products & more visit these 3 websites: TASKA – KRYSTON – NUTRABAITS

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.

For quality big carp products visit these 3 websites: TASKA – KRYSTON – NUTRABAITS

GARY TAYLOR can only fish the lower River Thames about ten times a year as he lives on the Isle of Wight but made the most of his latest trip across the Solent to nab this 29 lb 11 oz mirror.

The 45-year-old forklift driver, from Sandown, fished a single boilie and had just the one run in a two-night stint.

LEE BUNDOCK was lucky enough to catch the largest of a Lea Valley pit’s big carp stock with this fish known as Cut Tail at 36 lb 10 oz.

The Hertfordshire 41-year-old added others of 22 lb, 28 lb 3 oz and 30 lb 12 oz.

He made sure his 6 in. 25 lb Tunskin hooklinks were straightened properly and his Mainline Cell wafter hookbaits were weighted perfectly before casts landed on a clean spot amongst weed.

Lee used 1 kg of boilies and 3 kg of particles after every one of his big carp.

JOHN CLARIDGE enjoyed a good summer on his syndicate lake but the four biggest carp eluded him until he matted this 46 lb 3 oz stunner.

Swindon, Wiltshire-based John 43, shop manager at the Tackle Den, added two others in 40 hours using Sticky Baits Manila boilies over three sizes of freebies at 60 yards to a small hole in a weed bed.

MECHANIC James Winter notched his third 40 of the season from Farriers Lake in Gloucestershire with this 45 lb common.

Castle Combe, Wiltshire-based James, 38, fished an overnighter and offered Sticky Baits Manila boilies over 2 kg of freebies at 70 yards.

JESS HALL had never caught a carp on a boilie before a trip to his local River Trent near Nottingham produced this PB 23 lb 2 oz common using a CC Moore Pacific Tuna offering.

The 43-year-old, from Calverton, fished into a weir on a standard bottom bait rig.

SUPPORT worker Greg Riand topped a super session on a local club water with the biggest fish in the lake at 39 lb 12 oz.

Long Melford, Suffolk-based Greg, 26, added others of 38 lb 10 oz, 33 lb 4 oz and 26 lb, using a Sticky Baits 16mm Krill boilies on a blowback rig.

LEE GRAVER had a good weekend at Lower Tamar Lake on the Cornwall-Devon border, landing seven carp including this stunning 27 lb 13 oz common.

Bude-based Lee legered Specimen Carp Baits boilies at 120 yards with West Country Leads.

DAN ADAMS couldn’t have wished for a finer-scaled carp than this 30 lb 4 oz mirror from a local estate lake.

Huntworth, Somerset-based Dan legered a Sticky Baits Manila boilie tipped with corn over matching freebies and Monster particles.

For quality carp products & more visit these 3 websites: TASKA – KRYSTON – NUTRABAITS

CARP went on an autumn feed with some colossal fish from around the country including two sought-after 59-pounders.

Biggest carp reported was Single Scale at a massive 59 lb 12 oz that set a new lake record for TJ Elliott at Ringwood DAA club water Rockford Lake on the Dorset/Hampshire border.

Local TJ got his reward for a lot of hard work at the tough 55 acre venue using CC Moore Live System boilies at over 100 yards.

Single Scale’s previous biggest capture was at 57 lb 12 oz to carp star Darrell Peck and now it could become a rare UK 60-pounder.

Rockford Lake is on the standard £160 club permit plus an extra £100 a year for the night permit and holds one of the biggest carp in the UK. Club latest: www.ringwoodfishing.co.uk

CAUGHT A BIG FISH? Email photos and details exclusively to: anglersmail@timeinc.com – you could star in the unbeatable print magazine and win great prizes.

CARP legend Harry Haskell sadly passed away last week and left behind a legacy of inventions – and wind-ups!

Harry Haskell was a genuine all-rounder who fell in love with carp fishing and was one of the leading writers in the carp boom in the 1980s, and a tackle inventor.

Harry, who was in his mid 70s and lived near Haywards Heath in West Sussex, invented the combi rig, many products for Kryston like their original tungsten putty and found the vital floating ingredient for Richworth pop-up boilies.

Carp historian Chris Ball said: “He wrote a great book called Reeling In The Years that went through his fishing life.

“But in the latter years he became a bit more secretive and I know he caught some massive unknown carp. He asked me at the time what the record was, which was about 65 lb, so we’re talking about some amazing fish which I believe are still alive.

“He was very highly intelligent, clever, thinking angler and he was at the forefront of not moving carp because of the disease threat and wrote some emotive article in the late 1980s on it,” added Chris.

RIP Harry Haskell – tributes to a carp great

All-rounder Neil Wayte said: “Very sorry to hear that Harry has passed away. I met Harry when I took over the Sussex region of the BCSG and Harry attended our group meetings.

“He was a cantankerous old sod who would throw something controversial into the discussions around the table and then just sit back and watch the rest argue over it.

“One of the best evenings we had was when Harry brought a hook testing machine along so we could test all our favourite hook patterns to destruction. RIP Harry and I’m honoured to have called you a mate.”

And Paul Selman added: “RIP Harry. One of carp angling’s most inventive minds and a great character. We crossed swords in the magazines a few times in the past but it was with mutual respect.

CAUGHT A BIG FISH OR GOT A NEWS STORY? Email photos and details exclusively to: anglersmail@timeinc.com – you could star in the unbeatable Angler’s Mail print 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.

For quality big carp products visit these 3 websites: TASKA – KRYSTON – NUTRABAITS

REECE SALES picked up a cool £1,200 for this clonking 39 lb 8 oz common called Bruno that won him the White Springs Carp Open.

Fishing was tougher this year at the prolific South Wales venue with just five fish banked in the weekend and Reece left it late from peg 8A on Specimen Lake to claim the spoils.

Essex boy Reece, who now lives in Llanelli, said: “There was 20 minutes to go and I couldn’t quite believe it.

“It was on my own bait as well, first time out using it – get in there!” added Reece.

Matthew Steele on peg 6 was second with two carp for 31 lb.

LIAM MCGOLDRICK was chuffed to get one of his targets from a secret park lake when he tempted this 51 lb mirror.

Liam used a small pop-up on a Ronnie rig using a size 4 Gardner Dark Covert Mugga hook over 2 kilos of 18 mm Mainline Cell on a silty strip behind a pronounced bar

TOP carper Steve Briggs fished an awful lot abroad but still loves it in the UK and nabbed this fine mirror of 46 lb 4 oz from Grenville Lake in Cambridgeshire.

West Drayton, West London-based Steve did a 48 hour social where he fished at 120 metres with Nash Key Cray boilies for the fish which hit 40 for the first time.

OLIVER HUGHES had a fight on his hands when he hooked Cassius at 43 lb 12 oz at The Quarry in Essex.

Acomb, North Yorkshire-based Oliver, a 32-year-old site manager used a Sticky Baits Krill pop-up over 2 kg of freebies.

LEE WHITFIELD’S fine run of form on Argal Reservoir in Cornwall has continued with a four fish haul including this 31 lb 10 oz cracker known as the ‘Parrot mouth common’.

Lee was using his own Westcountry Leads 4 oz flat pears and Gardener end tackle with a Blakes Baits Snowberry boilie at the £7 a day South West Lakes Trust venue.

LEE WALTERS had a fine brace when he matted this 49 lb 2 oz common plus a 31 lb 12 oz mirror from Stanwick Lakes.

Local Lee from Northampton used an Excel baits VNF 16 mm corkball special over a bed of matching barrels and pellets on a shallow plateau.

WELDER Simon Kenny had a big hauling session at the Essex Manor including this fine 43 lb 4 oz carp called the Bream Common.

The 32-year-old from Diss, Norfolk, added others of 43 lb 8 oz, two of 40 lb 8 oz, a 39-pounder and one of 29 lb 14 oz using Sticky Baits Krill freezer boilies 20 yards out on a clay patch.

HAYDEN ROSE booked a week on historic Wraysbury One in Berkshire for a social and a chance of one of the remaining originals and struck lucky with this 38 lb Redmire common, plus a 20 lb stockie.

The 29-year-old sales manager, from Brentwood, Essex, used a Sticky Baits 14 mm washed out pink signature pop-up.

Hayden said: “My friend had two stockies and they are stunning as well. The Redmire common is by far the best carp I have ever caught at an amazing venue. I can’t wait to get back.”

For quality carp products & more visit these 3 websites: TASKA – KRYSTON – NUTRABAITS

MARCUS HOWARTH showed how effective maggots can be for big carp in the colder months when silver fish activity dies down with fours specimens on the grubs.

Wimborne, Dorset-based Marcus fished a 48 hour session on a Berkshire club water and had The Brute at 43 lb 12 oz, a 32 lb 6 oz common and others of 25 lb 15 oz and 29 lb 8 oz.

The 29-year-old tackle shop employee said: “I was fishing 50 yards to a silt gully and fed maggots plus 5 kg of crumbed up Sticky Baits Manilla boilies.

“I used a size 6 Atomic Chodda hook with a 25 lb Amnesia hooklink with a balanced maggot rig.”

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.

For quality big carp products visit these 3 websites: TASKA – KRYSTON – NUTRABAITS

MICK HENDERSON couldn’t get any closer to the 40 lb barrier when he matted this stunning common of 39 lb 15 oz.

The 45-year-old warehouseman from Stockton-on-Tees, County Durham, added others of 28 lb and 26 lb in the three night trip to a Lincolnshire pit.

All three fell to Nash Baits’ new Key Cray fishing to a silty smooth area at 120 yards and he got through 8 kg of freebies in the trip.

COREY HASSELL decided to cut back on loose feed in the colder weather as many others at Baden Hall’s Quarry Pool in Staffordshire and it paid off with this 36 lb 1 oz cracker.

The 21-year-old packing operator Macclesfield, Cheshire, spread 50 boilies over two rods at the far bank then used PVA bags with Sticky Baits Manilla bag mix with added water snails and pellets and tempted the first fish out for over a week.

RUPERT STACY had a 48 hour social at Willinghurst’s Christmas Tree Lake in Surrey and nabbed this 33 lb 2 oz common on his first day.

The 22-year-old graduate marine biologist from Stanton Harcourt, Oxfordshire, used a Sticky Baits Manilla boilie a rod length out from an overhanging marginal tree.

TOP club Pride of Derby AA have some great carp fishing and John Coupe visited one of their stillwaters for this prime 33 lb 4 oz common.

The 65-year-old salesman from Sheffield used two glugged Sticky Baits Manilla boilies over 1 kg of freebies.

DES MADDOCKS came down with a violent stomach bug on a trip to a local lake and was trying not to throw up when hooked into this 38 lb 8 oz mirror at dawn.

Eastleigh, Hampshire-based Des, a 27-year-old support worker, had only put out one rod to a prebaited area using Sticky Baits Manilla boilies.

JONNY FLETCHER plotted his peg as he knew a string cold wind was about to hit Greenacres Fishery in Cambridgeshire and he got it right with this fine 34 lb 2 oz mirror.

The 29-year-old builder from nearby Peterborough used Sticky Baits Manilla boilies.

CONNOR BOVINGDON is having a good season on his local River Thames and his latest trip produced this stunning 32 lb.8 oz mirror.

The 20-year-old duct fitter from Ascot, Berkshire, legered Sticky Baits Krill boilies.

GAVIN FRANKLIN was chuffed with this 31 lb 7 oz common carp from a secret pit. The 39-year-old from Northamptonshire used a 3 Foot Twitch Redemption pop-up that he is field testing.

KARL ‘BERTIE’ BAXTER can only fish once a month at Fryerning Fisheries Main Lake in Essex but is in the form of his life and his latest trip produced this 38 lb 6 oz mirror called the Stripe plus four others 30s.

The 42-year-old brick layer from Ipswich, Suffolk, used Mainline Activ-8 boilies and fed regularly, using 7 kg of freebies.

For quality carp products & more visit these 3 websites: TASKA – KRYSTON – NUTRABAITS

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.

For quality big carp products visit these 3 websites: TASKA – KRYSTON – NUTRABAITS

MARCUS HOWARTH showed how effective maggots can be for big carp in the colder months when silver fish activity dies down with fours specimens on the grubs.

Wimborne, Dorset-based Marcus fished a 48 hour session on a Berkshire club water and had The Brute at 43 lb 12 oz, a 32 lb 6 oz common and others of 25 lb 15 oz and 29 lb 8 oz.

The 29-year-old tackle shop employee said: “I was fishing 50 yards to a silt gully and fed maggots plus 5 kg of crumbed up Sticky Baits Manilla boilies.

“I used a size 6 Atomic Chodda hook with a 25 lb Amnesia hooklink with a balanced maggot rig.”

DANNY MARTIN had struggled for eight nights on a local syndicate so decided on change to day ticket Farlows Lake in Buckinghamshire and had mirrors of 34 lb 10 oz and 26 lb 8 oz in 72 hours.

The 20-year-old salesman from Loughton, Essex, fished at 104 yards to the back of a gravel bar in a 12 foot silty gully using Sticky Baits 16 mm shelf-life Manilla.

STEVE POTTS tempted 11 carp in two overnighters at a local pit including Dumpy at 32 lb 8 oz, a 33 lb common and a mirror of 30 lb 10 oz.

Sedgley, West Midlands-based Steve, 28, who works for Angling Direct at Willenhall, sales assistant, fished at 170 yards to a silt patch on a Sticky Bait shelf-life Manilla boilies over maggots.

FIREFIGHTER Marc Cavaciuti had a great trip to the Essex Manor when he tempted this mirror called The Pearly Lin at 37 lb 7 oz plus others of 42 lb 6 oz and 32 lb 4 oz.

The 32-year-old from Welwyn Garden City in Hertfordshire, used a 12 mm pink Sticky Baits Signiture pop-ups tipped with five maggots in PVA bags of Krilled grubs and bloodworm pellets.

MARK ROBINSON tackled a tricky northern water and banked this corking 31 lb mirror. He was trialing a new test bait from Nutrabaits which is due out in the spring.

ROB PLESTED had a productive trip to a Cambridgeshire syndicate topped by this lovely 33 lb 7 oz mirror. Local Rob added others of 30 lb 4 oz and 20 lb 2 oz on legered boilies.

BEN TIPNEY set himself a target of a day ticket 40 this year and managed it with this 41 lb 6 oz mirror from Oxlease Lake at Oxfordshire’s Linear Fisheries.

The 33-year-old training consultant from Bourne End, Buckinghamshire, also had a 28 lb 6 oz mirror and mid double common in 34 hours on a Sticky Baits White Krill pop-up tipped with maggots on an adapted version of the multi-rig.

For quality carp products & more visit these 3 websites: TASKA – KRYSTON – NUTRABAITS

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.

For quality big carp products visit these 3 websites: TASKA – KRYSTON – NUTRABAITS

THE ten acre venue that produced Big Rig at a potential record 71 lb 4 oz has produced yet another 40 with Trio to Luke Vanes.

Luke visited the Shropshire syndicate water The Avenue run by RH Fisheries for a day session.

Coseley, West Midlands-based Luke said: “It was only a quick trip so I didn’t deed much. I used a Mainline Pineapple 12 mm balanced wafter over 10 mm Essential Cell and Active Hemp bag mix.”

JARED LEWINGTON moved into a corner after seeing some fish at St. Johns Lake on Oxfordshire’s Linear Fisheries and he was rewarded with this 32 lb mirror within an hour.

The 32-year-old engineer from Waverley, Devon, used Sticky Baits Krill boilies with a naked chod rig.

BEN HUTT didn’t weigh this pristine mirror from RK Leisure’s Horton complex but pounds and ounces don’t matter when they look as good as this.

Didcot, Oxfordshire-based Ben legered Sticky Baits Manilla boilies glugged in matching cloudy liquid.

CHRIS CONNAUGHTON won a game of ‘rock, paper, scissors’ with a mate to decide which swims they’d have at local day ticket water Furzebray Carp Lakes and was glad he did as he went onto mat this PB 37 lb mirror called Dropscale. The 28-year-old sales consultant from Bideford, Devon, also added others of 28 lb, 21 lb 12 oz and a low double using Sticky Baits Manilla boilies in the four-day session.

TEZ TAYLOR had an overnighter on a local mere to coincide with the recent ‘super moon’ and lunar event it brought him luck with this 30 lb 2 oz mirror.

The 32-year-old compliance manager from Atherton, Greater Manchester, fished a hard open water spot at 70 yards with a Sticky Baits Manilla White One pop-up fished over 2 kg of chops plus maggots.

ARCHITECTURAL technician Daniel Chandler tackled a Bedfordshire clay pit for the ‘King Of Elstow’ at 36 lb 2 oz.

Letchworth, Hertfordshire-based Daniel, 40, used a Sticky Baits Krill 16mm freezer bait over 2.5 kg of chops plus bloodworm pellets and pure krill liquid.

DT BAIT DEVELOPMENTS manager Neil Messenger used one of his own boilies to tempt this 45 lb 8 oz mirror called The Emperor from Essex’s Fryerning Main Lake.

Stanstead-based Neil, 44, said: “I’m well pleased with a fish I have dearly wanted for a long time.”

LEON SPRAGUE was chuffed with four fish to 34 lb 8 oz during a weekend at St. Johns on Oxfordshire’s Linear Fisheries as it hadn’t been fishing that well.

Wellington, Somerset-based Leon used CC Moore Pacific Tuna 10 mm boilies over matching freebies, maggots and hemp.

JOHN WELTON enjoyed the ‘super moon’ at Dorset’s Milton Abbas even more when he caught this 29 lb 2 oz mirror at 5 am right under it.

Southampton, Hampshire-based John used CC Moore Live System 15mm freezer baits soaked in roasted nut extract with 2 kilos of matching freebies and added a 17 lb 10 oz.

For quality carp products & more visit these 3 websites: TASKA – KRYSTON – NUTRABAITS

GARDNER TACKLE’S Lewis Read had a hard weekend manning their stand at the busy Carp Society Winter Show but made the effort to do overnighters afterwards and had this 54 lb 4 oz mirror.

Carp Society show regular Lewis has matted an astonishing ten carp over 48 lb since January 1 this year, but was particularly pleased with the PB from Berkshire wonder water Wellington Country Park.

The 45-year-old from Kingston, South West London, explained how he scored straight after the annual event at Surrey’s Sandown Racecourse.

“Some people get more intelligent than others – others go fishing on nights during shows even if it means packing up ridiculously early to attend said events. Now and again the madness is fruitful!

“

I did Saturday night in a snaggy corner swim called Animal Farm, as the forecast was that it would be the best night of the week so felt utterly compelled, and it was pretty pointless – but a nice way to chill out between show days.”

Manic day at Carp Society show

“After a manic day manning the Gardner stand at the Carp Society show on Sunday I got away after pack up and decided I’d sneak in yet another night,” continued Lewis.

“After a couple of scant recent sightings over the last couple of weeks – and working on a ‘where hasn’t been fished recently’ basis I decided to do my first ever night in a quiet corner on the back of the easterly in The Stump Swim.

“

I knew about where I wanted the hookbaits to land so after priming 3 Ronnie Rigs with size 4 Covert Dark Mugga Hooks, 25 lb Silt Ultra Skin, 2 oz Gardner Bolt Bombs and 3 ft CamFlex Leadfree leaders with a 12mm Carp Company Caviar and Cranberry washed out pink pop-up.

“Each had a two bait ‘bit stringer’ attached and each rod hit the spots I wanted first cast… lovely! And that is vital in my opinion.

“I started getting the odd single bleep on one of the rods, a great tell tale that they are about when using fluorocarbon main line.

Twitchy winter bite

“It wasn’t long when the RHR bobbin pulled up an inch then lifted again tight to the clip, a typical twitchy winter bite.

“

I picked the rod up and a big fish erupted just to the right of the spot and started steadily peeling off line as I clumsily tried to get in the chesties.

“The fish then did a series of long and short surging runs all over the place down that end of the lake – that I countered with gentle pressure.

“In truth at least one of these runs would have been avoidable had I remembered to set the net up which was at the back of the swim on the barrow. What a dope! But it went in easily enough,” he concluded.
CAUGHT A BIG FISH? Email photos and details exclusively to: anglersmail@timeinc.com – you could star in the magazine.

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.

For quality big carp products visit these 3 websites: TASKA – KRYSTON – NUTRABAITS

MATTHEW HOWARD donated a huge amount of money in aid of Guide Dogs For The Blind in return for 24 hours fishing with Nash Tackle ace Alan Blair and ended up with this tremendous cold water brace.

Alan explained: “Rather than sit it out on one water, I took him on a bit of an adventure (to keep us warm) that saw us fishing a gravel pit, canal and tidal river!

“Matt’s had a lovely common from Chigboro Fisheries in Essex just before the lake froze over!

“The brace was actually a double take from the river and I think Matt was surprised enough when the first rod went but to have a second take literally as the first fish went in the net was epic.”

FIREFIGHTER Marc Cavaciuti can’t stop catching at the Essex Manor and his latest chunk is this lovely 37 lb common.

The 32-year-old from Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire, fished a Sticky Baits 12mm White Signiture pop-up tipped with five maggots in silt in 20 ft of water.

GERAINT JONES was chuffed to nab one of the originals at Elstow Pit Two in Bedfordshire when he tempted Epaulettes at 32 lb 12 oz.

The 33-year-old carpenter from Byfield, Northamptonshire, had spotted fish on arrival at long range and offered Sticky Baits shelf-life 16 mm Krill boilies in PVA bags at 90 yards.

ADAM PENNING fished through Storm Angus at day ticket Sandhurst Lake in Hampshire and topped a five-carp catch with this 30 lb 14 oz mirror.

The 45-year-old carp guide used Sticky Baits Manilla boilies over matching crumbed baits and just two other bites came to the rest of the lake that week.

SPENCER WRIGHT fished a single Sticky Baits Manilla ‘mega boosted’ home-made pop-up on an overnighter on his local Blackwater syndicate on the Isle of Wight for this 29 lb mirror.

The 43-year-old senior designer, from Binstead, used the smelly offering on a marginal shelf.

JOSH SPEARMAN had two days without a bite at Linford One on Buckingshire’s Great Linford Lakes complex but he stopped blank in fine style with this stunning 31 lb 2 oz leather.

Newport Pagnell-based Josh used a 360 rig with a 12mm Mainline Essential Cell pop-up and soon after added a 22 lb 6 oz common before the lake froze over.

LIAM CHAPMAN managed to see a few fish show before setting up for an overnighter and he was rewarded with this 28 lb common.

King’s Lynn, Norfolk-based Liam used a CC Moore Pacific tuna hard hookbait balanced out with a white tuna pop up in a deep bowl against snags.

JORDAN KETTLETY was on the last morning of a six-night session at Wintons in West Sussex when he matted this last-gasp 32 lb 4 oz common called Cut Tail.

Reigate, Surrey-based Jordan used a Mainline Essential Cell boilie tipped with a white Mainline Topper.

For quality carp products & more visit these 3 websites: TASKA – KRYSTON – NUTRABAITS

DAVE FARMER has been having a good run and topped a good campaign with this fine 46 lb 12 oz mirror – his 20th 40 lb carp caught here in the UK.

The latest 40 lb carp – all 46 lb 12 oz of it –  fell to an Individual Baits TNT Steamies boilies over hemp and sweetcorn on an overnight session.

Teston, Kent-based Dave explained: “I’ve been waiting for a few weeks for more carpy weather to come in.

“After applying a few Spombs of bait over my chosen spot I positioned my rods. My mate arrived and started chatting.

“Within minutes I saw a good fish roll over my rod. Then I had a liner. My mate missed it of course and he thought I was pulling his leg as only three carp had been out in three weeks.”

Lifting bobbin signals 40 lb carp

“Then my bobbin lifted up pulling into the alarm. I was straight into it and he still seemed in disbelief, and he thought it was a bream.

“But it was then obvious I was attached to a carp and after a few good minutes it was ready for the net!

“Upon lifting it out of the water I instantly recognised it as one of the rarer ones – I was ecstatic. It was a total result,” he said.

For great carp fishing  coverage and all latest coarse catches and tips, read Angler’s Mail magazine every week!

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.

For quality big carp products visit these 3 websites: TASKA – KRYSTON – NUTRABAITS

JOE LONGMAN had this stunning heavily-scaled mirror of 32 lb 4 oz in a fine winter haul of carp.

The 25-year-old tackled Lake Christine on Kent’s Cottington Lake and added other mirrors of 33 lb and 31 lb 2 oz plus four 20s and six doubles in a 48-hour stint.

Joe fished 20-30 yards to a bay against an island and to a marginal reedline feeding 30 Sticky Baits Krill boilies per fish.

Harlow, Essex-based Joe said: “Ten fish all came to a rod fished about 30 yards to a bay inbetween two islands. In the day I was fishing tighter to the island to get a bite and on the last day I landed six from fishing a foot or so from the island locked up.”

THE tiny day ticket Coppermill Stream on North East London’s Walthamstow complex produced this fine 22 lb 4 oz near-leather for gardener Stewart Harvey.

Edmonton-based Stewart, 52, used a Sticky Baits Krill pop-up.

Stewart said: “Others tell me there is a common in the stream that is touching 30, but I was overjoyed with this from such a small stream.”

THIS fine linear called The Don might have passed the magical 40 lb barrier for the first time ever when Steve Stephenson caught it at 40 lb 8 oz.

Steve offered Mainline Essential Cell boilies over a lightly baited area.

ANT MUSSON couldn’t have been happier to nab this superb 37 lb 14 oz common from Manton New Lake in Lincolnshire.

Cottingham. East Yorkshire-based Ant used a Sticky Baits Manilla boilie at long range.

COLIN DELAHAYE had been baiting the River Thames for a few weeks with up to 10 kg of Sticky Baits Manilla boilies per week and the effort paid off as had this common of 20 lb 2 oz plus a mirror of exactly the same weight.

Selsey, The 37-year-old gas engineer, from West Sussex, was on an overnighter and fished a 20mm Manilla topped with fake tiger nut at 75 yards.

JEFF SMITH thought his Norfolk syndicate would be tough as a carp hadn’t been caught for almost a month but he winkled out this 32 lb 14 oz mirror plus a 1 lb 9 oz roach.

Dereham-based Jeff, 46, used a solid PVA bag filled with Sticky Baits Manilla boilies.

For quality carp products & more visit these 3 websites: TASKA – KRYSTON – NUTRABAITS

REECE LISLE came close to the Yorkshire carp record when he took this 57 lb 3 oz monster from a day ticket water that he was meant to be pike fishing on!

Bradford, West Yorkshire-based Reece, who works for Erics Angling, tackled their own venue Willows Lake when his predator fishing took an unexpected twist.

Reece explained: “Although the pike wasn’t playing ball I spotted a few carp showing round the back of the islands so I quickly geared up and put out a couple of faithful stiff hinge rigs with the new Duster Baits Nut-trix high intense pop-up at the business end.

“After just 15 minutes the rod went into meltdown and it was doing the usual big fish motion of short burst and heavy nods. It wasn’t until I dipped the net under this chunk and see how thick set its shoulders were that it started to sink in this was potentially a new PB.

“After moving her safely to the weighing in area it was at that point confirmed when the needle spun round to 57 lb 3 oz. A new UK PB was in the bag absolutely buzzing and a fish known as Lumpy,” he added.

Willows Lake already hold the county record with a fish called Three Scales at 59 lb 8 oz but that has dropped down in weight, coming out at 51 lb on her last capture.

CAUGHT A BIG FISH? Email photos and details exclusively to: anglersmail@timeinc.com – you could star in AM print magazine and win great prizes.