DUKE OF WELLINGTON!
Gaskin blitzes it with fish of 51lb, 50lb 6oz and 45lb 8oz
JUST when you think David Gaskin’s run of form can’t get any better he has two fifties and a mid-forty in a session.
The unstoppable hauler had already taken two fifties and three forties this year, on top of the four fifties he managed in 2016.
His latest visit to Wellington Country Park, where all the fish have come from, resulted in the capture of a 45lb 8oz ghostie, a 51lb common and a 50lb 6oz mirror. Commons of 32lb 4oz and 24lb were added to the tally.
David said: “I arrived midafternoon and the morning arrivals had filled the main swims, leaving me with a restricted choice. I opted for the last main swim called the Grassy, which covers the end of the island where I’d had success on a previous session a few weeks back.”
Fishing single hookbaits in the island margin, it took just an hour for the 45lb 8oz ghostie to open David’s account.
“Next morning I moved into the swim next door where I could fish previously productive spots,” said David, who again fished single hookbaits until a 24lb common picked up one of them and he decided to add a kilo of boilies to a couple of spots in the area.
David explained: “The theory was that the fish would have the whole day to get confident on the spots. Just before dark I put fresh rigs out and again it didn’t take long before one of my rods was in meltdown.
“As I ran to my rod I lost a trainer. Stumbling about with one shoe and mud in my eye, I gained control of the fish and instantly felt a much more powerful
creature on the end.
“After a lengthy fight, a huge common rolled into the net. It was the Small-Tailed Common at 51lb – an infrequent visitor to the bank and a new fish for me.”
Having baited up again that morning, David rested the swim and had to wait until 2am the following morning for a 32lb 4oz common to show up.
“It was mild, so I was confident of another bite before leaving in the morning. I repositioned the rod and was woken up at first light to the little ATTs in meltdown.
“It felt like an age to get the fish in because it seemed to hold its ground and just waddle in.
“I knew exactly what carp it was as it rolled over the net cord. It was the Linear, a fish that was at the very top of my wish list. With a fish like this, size was irrelevant but at 50lb 6oz it certainly made the capture even more special.”