Many anglers now target the River Trent for its stocks of carp, fish that have escaped from nearby gravel pits and stillwaters in the floods.
Often elusive, hard to locate and incredibly nomadic, these river carp offer a whole different challenge to anglers and are incredibly exciting to hook.
Eddie Wilson has been targeting the river recently, and finally connected with one of these awesome fish on a recent session - a stunning common weighing 28lb 13oz.
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"I've been baiting a few spots at a time and checking for any signs of these elusive fish," he told us.
“I had one spot in mind for a session but, sadly, an angler was already there. But, rather than be put off, I walked further upstream and found a huge reedbed in the margin where there was a lovely sandy bottom.
“Wading down the margin line, I found a nice hard spot and placed my rig by hand, ensuring great presentation, and fed a few boilies over the top, setting the perfect trap.
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“The bite came at first light, and the rod was nearly ripped off the pod!
"I knew there was a big fish on the end – it felt like I was reeling in a whale against the flow!
"After a few close calls, I had it in the net, which I gazed into with wonder and amazement.
“It went 28lb 13oz, and I couldn’t stop dancing!”
GET THE BEST HOOKBAITS FOR YOUR CARP FISHING BY TAKING A LOOK AT THIS GUIDE.
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