An angler diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in 2021, causing him to say "he would never fish again", has caught one of the most wanted carp in Europe - 'The Carrot' from Carpasens Lac Gravier in France at 50lb 4oz.
It's not been an easy few years for 51-year-old Lee Whittaker, who after his diagnosis on Christmas day was left unable to walk and barely talk.
With help from his friends at the Grenville syndicate he was guided to Canadian doctors who began setting him on the road to recovery. Shortly after he was contacted by OMC's Ali Hamidi and asked to take part helping with the Grand Fishing Adventure, an opportunity that would lead to his latest epic carp capture.
"After filming, I was really interested in this fish," Lee told us.
"There are seventies and eighties in the venue, but I really wanted to catch that one, it's a really big target fish on the European scene.
"I thought it could be my last trip to France, so it really meant something to me."
Targeting a snaggy area the fish is known to be caught from, Lee had several liners from fish moving in and out of the bay the first night, before switching his baiting approach on the second.
"The bed of tiger nuts and casters just weren't working, so the second night I went for a handful of corn and Essential Cell boilies with a Mainline Clone hookbait over the top," he said.
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"I didn't get a single liner that night, it just ripped off and gave me an epic battle around the snags.
"I have to admit, I was crying when I landed it, it was one of those angling moments that are few and far between.
"The fish was absolutely mint and it went back that way too, the new OMC Lock hooks didn't even leave a mark in its mouth."
Somewhat controversially for some, Lee caught the giant koi on OMC's recently released Magic Twig, a product he says anglers in Europe have a different attitude to.
"There's a totally different ethos around the Magic Twig product in France," he said.
"If I'm dropping a rig from a boat, I will have a Magic Twig on, their only downside is they aren't the easiest to cast over 150 yards.
"As soon as the fish pick up the bait and move, it's done, they are nailed!"
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Lee was obviously doing something right, as he was the only angler on the venue that week to catch, other than one enormous bream to his partner.
The work on his recovery is not yet complete, however.
"I'm so grateful to everyone that has helped me so far, fishing has literally saved my life and I don't know where I would be without the support from Paul, Mark, Ali and others."
A stem cell transplant is what is needed next to help Lee live a normal lifestyle, and sadly that cannot be provided on the NHS at this stage. He has therefore set up a fundraiser, and is welcoming any support big or small anglers can give him to help fund the procedure.
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