A session in search of big roach took an unexpected twist for David Huggins when he banked an enormous 34lb 7oz carp.
The Norwich-based angler has been a regular visitor to his local Billingford Lakes and pencilled in another silverfish session during chilly conditions on the water that the complex is named after.
A helicopter style maggot feeder was put together with 6lb mainline and a 5lb hooklength to a size 12 hook before being launched 60 yards out.
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Starting at 11am, the first three hours passed by without a single indication, but that all changed just before 2.30pm when a fish intercepted his fake and real maggot hookbait combination.
It was clear from the outset something substantial was attached to the other end and once he realised just how huge his quarry was, he was forced to call the bailiff to bring him a bigger landing net.
Within 10-minutes of setting the hook, it was all over, with the giant beaten.
It turned out to be his only bite of the day and David told Angling Times: “It was a spur of the moment session, but I am so glad that I went out as this fish easily smashed my previous best carp of 28lb.
“I was aware of how big the carp ran in the lake, but I never expected to catch one while fishing in this manner.”
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