BIGGEST COMMON YET FROM CAR PARK LAKE
40-pounder ends one Yateley season and starts the next
WORLD-famous Yateley Car Park Lake has produced its biggestever common to an angler gripped by the rock-hard pit.
Charlie Wright banked the Slate Grey Common at 44lb 8oz from the Hampshire venue, known for producing huge mirrors like Arfur and Heather the Leather in the 1990s.
The former serviceman has now banked two carp in 45 nights at the lake, both of them forties.
“Words cannot describe the feeling I have right now,” said the 25-year-old. “I’m truly overwhelmed by it all.”
Charlie banked Two Scale at 42lb 7oz on the final day of last season after a 30-night blank, and returned this time round full of determination.
He said: “After settling in and getting to know the lake last year I just hoped that this year I could get among the fish nice and early in the season to give me that all-important confidence boost.”
Fifteen nights later, at 5am on a Monday morning, Charlie got the second bite he’d been waiting for.
“My wildest dreams came true. The rod rattled off, interrupting my call of nature!
“Running to the rod I lifted into what at first felt like a tench, but after getting her out of the first weedbed and nearly being flat
rodded, I saw a flash of scales in the rising sunlight. Instantly I knew I was into a common, and within seconds of seeing her she went absolutely crazy!
“My legs were like jelly at this point but after an epic clear-water battle I eventually splipped the net under her.
“I could not believe my eyes! Sitting there in the net was one of the fish I dearly wanted and had photographed twice before. But finally this time she was mine!”