The biggest carp caught by a female angler in the UK was recently landed in the form of 'Pashleys', weighing an enormous 72lb 12oz, which also far exceeds the current British Record of 68lb 1oz.
Angler Naomi Turner was experiencing a fairly tricky session at Holme Fen Fishery before a move paid off, resulting in her cradling the largest resident on the complex.
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"With the weather set to be getting a bit warmer during my session, I decided to hedge my bets and hope the fish would turn up in the shallower water and I’d be ready and waiting for them. Unfortunately, this didn’t pay off," Naomi told us.
"I was now 48 hours in with one night remaining, I needed to make a change. The carp were still clearly liking the end of the south westerly in the deeper water despite the weather getting warmer so I quickly packed up and ventured round."
Upon arriving in the new swim called Harry's, Naomi observed that there were a few fish still present in the area and decided a stealthy approach would fare best:
"I kept disturbance to a minimum, and set out two spinner rigs comprising of 25lb boom and a size 4 Kamakura wide gape X, a rig I have huge confidence in."
"There was a spot to my left on a small hump surrounded by weed and with minimal bait, I was just hoping to catch one that was venturing through."
"The rods had only been out a couple hours, when the left hand rod signalled a slow take, as soon as I connected, the fish had other ideas and found itself lodged firmly into a large weedbed," she said.
Worried the bite she had worked so hard for may come to nothing, Naomi used her experience to tease the carp back out of the weedbed.
"Withslow and steady pressure and bit of patience, I was soon back into direct contact and it was evident the fish was plodding around in the deep water, using its weight to its full advantage."
"A moment of euphoria and utter excitement erupted as I realised what was finally in my landing net, my target, the lake’s current largest known resident “Pashley” and a new UK PB at 72lb 12oz!"
"After a few tears of joy, multiple moments of elation and disbelief, I eventually came to terms that this is potentially the largest carp in the country and the largest carp caught by a female angler in the UK too, a session I certainly won’t forget," Naomi exclaimed!
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