A BRACE OF BURGHFIELD FORTIES
Linear mirror, then a 42lb 4oz ‘unknown’ common
ARY Jones notched up his ninth and 10th UK forties with two hardfighting Burghfield specimens.
The Derby angler has been in top form at the expansive Berkshire gravel pit, having bagged three thirties and two twenties from the same area a week earlier.
“I arrived at Burghfield on Thursday lunchtime and dropped back into an area I’d had several bites from the week before, so the spots were well primed,” said the tiler and plasterer.
G“With no time wasted the rods were back on the going spots waiting for bite time. At 3am I had a few bleeps. I picked up the rod, thinking it was a tench, and instantly got flat-rodded by a fish that must have taken 60 yards off me without stopping – then the hook pulled as the clutch was still in meltdown. I was gutted!”
Not to be deterred, Gary recast and saw a good fish show over the area at 8am.
He said: “The next hour was very tense before the swinger whacked to the top and I was in again, though this time the problem was the weed.
“After a long, hard battle I managed to net this awesome rare slope-backed linear. She looked amazing and weighed 40lb 10oz – my first Burghfield forty – and I was buzzing with it all.”
After a quiet weekend, the 34-year-old’s next run came at 8.30am on Monday morning.
“As soon as I picked up the rod I knew I had a good one. The power of these big-pit carp is unreal. I would gain a yard or two and then the fish would go on a mad 30-yard run.
“The fight was like that from start to finish before a big, oldlooking common hit the net.
“Again it was a rare fish of 42lb 4oz that I never knew was in Burghfield. I am seriously blown away by these two carp.”