STEVE ‘APACHE’ CLIFF had just landed a brace of carp when he got the news the fishery he was on had to close, including this 35 lb 10 oz stunner.
The 60-year-old’s catch came from at Elstow Fishery complex in Bedfordshire, at the time when venues were just beginning to close.
Steve, who is head bailiff on Elstow, explained: “I wanted to have a dabble with the new Sticky Baits Krill Active I’d just had delivered.
“I decided to have a go in a swim that has not been fished lately and by the time I had set up it was near midnight.
“I got the rods out to the spot all on spinner rigs and baited with 12 mm Buchu-Berry pop-ups and spread a kilo of 12 mm Krill Active boilies and mixed bloodworm pellets over the spot.
“As I cleared my gear up it was covered in ice so I jumped in the bag.
“I was back up first light with a brew and saw a few shows in the area when the first rod was away and I was into my first Elstow carp since last year.
“After a spirited fight a lovely old warrior came over the cord and another angler took some pictures for me.
“I turned round to sort my life out and another take came which resulted in one of the ‘leathery crew’ at 35 lb 10 oz.
“I was then informed that fisheries were closing so I had to wind in the last rod and shut the complex down,” added Steve.
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