Bluebell 50 at last knockings

Tony Gibson was unpegging his bivvy at the end of a three-night session at Bluebell Lakes when he latched into this 50lb 2oz common.

The venue regular, who is chairman of the Northampton Specimen Group, planned his session on Swan Lake to take advantage of low air pressure and big winds.

His prize, the fish known as the Box Common, is one of at least three 50s in the day-ticket venue.

The Box Common at 50lb 2oz

“On the last morning I was actually well on with the job of packing up,” said Tony.

“I was in the middle of unpegging the bivvy when the right-hand rod signalled a steady run.

“It felt like a decent fish when I first bent into it, but came in relatively easily and without much drama, so I had it in close quite quickly.

Carpfeed's guide to Swan Lake at Bluebell

“When it turned over near the surface, just under the line of the middle rod, I got the impression that it wasn't particularly big.

“However, a minute later it suddenly seemed to grow dramatically as it came up and allowed itself to be drawn over the net cord at the first attempt.”

Tony, who admitted he was surprised at the fish’s weight, fished a spot in the middle of the lake nearly 70yds out.

Tony was all smiles with his new pb common

RIG AND BAIT

• Multi rig
• Hook: Size 6 Nash Twister
• Hooklink: 25lb Nash Combilink
• Hookbait: Dynamite Complex-T corkball pop-up
• Loosefeed: Total of 8kg of mixed-size Dynamite Complex-T boilies