29lb 3oz at Tatten Park Big Mirror
29/01/2012
I was just leaving work one evening recently on my way up the M62 towards Tatten park to do a bit more pre-baiting when I received a phone call from my friend Paul, when I finally found my hands free kit in my bag and plugged it in , I called him back. Low and behold his 4 year campaign on local club water has just ended with the capture of the big common at 29Lb 11oz. It was the only fish in the lake that he hadn't caught.
I quickly turned around at the next junction and shot down there and 25 minutes later I was looking at Paul holding one of my previous captures. It was nice to see her after almost 2 years looking as good as ever. I took a few pictures of him holding her, when I looked back at the picture I could see a fish in the far margins, so I looked over his shoulder and spotted the fish again. A few other regulars and I helped Paul pack his tackle up while having a celebratory cuppa. An hour later and the lake was empty so I shot home and picked up a rod and net, got back to the lake in pure darkness and the fish shown herself again so I set a rod up but realised I left loads of bits at home including my leads. (Yeah I know stupid right) I decided instead of going home again I would free line bait. I set up a size 8 Pallatrax hook with a snowman bait presentation SSRR 18mm bottom bait with a matching pop up.
I crept around the lake and lowered the bait into the margins where the fish was showing, let the line slacken and crawled back away from the margin, all of a sudden the fish stuck its head out again , I was sure she spotted me but then a minute later the line tightened and the reel started clicking away. Because I wasn't using a lead due to my stupidity I had to strike the rod to set the hook so I picked the rod up with my finger on the spool and strike and that's when all hell broke loose and the fish bolted at an astonishing rate I just had to give it line.
One 10 minute fight later and a pale mirror glided over the net cord. When I looked in the net I was amazed, it was the big mirror, one of 3 fish that have not grace the bank for me yet. She went 29Lb 3oz on my scales then all of a sudden the bailiff came walking round, asked him to take pictures but he was more concerned about getting the fish out of my net and back into the lake.(Fair play to him ,fish care is paramount) I took an 'in the net shot' and dropped her back in. 21 fish down, 2 to go, Pop eye and ghost zip will be mine some day.
SSRR not only a great bait but also great when used as single hook bait.
Ducky