WILLOWS LAKE 50 SURFACES AFTER NOVEMBER FLOODS
Tin Opener at 51lb 7oz latest big resident to reappear at Yorks venue
ERIC’S Willows Lake continues to bounce back from flooding with the capture of another 50-pounder feared to have been washed away.
This 51lb 7oz mirror, known as Tin Opener, fell to Scott Millin at the Yorkshire day-ticket venue and is the lake’s fifth different fifty.
Willows was deluged late last November and only re-opened in May, but none of the lake’s largest fish are thought to have been lost.
Boss Tom Broomhead said: “I think after the floods a few people were dubious as to the outcome with regard to the stock. Our minds have been slowly put at ease over the following months as slowly, one by one, the big residents have
slipped up and graced the mat.”
Scott caught a high twenty and a stockie on zigs before deciding to recast every two hours to track down the fish.
“That resulted in a take which weeded me up about 30 yards out, so off in the boat I went,” he said. It was Scott’s first boat battle, but he was soon into the swing of things.
He said: “I used the rod to steer, reeling left to right to get to the fish within a few minutes. I managed to get above it, then the battle began and I finally managed to net it.”
Fishery boss Tom, on hand to help, said: “As soon as I spotted the scale pattern I grabbed Scott’s hand and prematurely shook it. Little did he know! I made the call it would be knocking on 50lb and here it is.”