Hot tactics
working for the best catches and the biggest fish
CARL Udry had Wellington Country Park all to himself for a weekend session as he banked two upper 40s, a 30 and a 20.
Nonetheless, the 43-year-old was made to work for his haul, packing up and moving in freezing conditions just as he was about to settle into his first swim.
The last-minute switch of pegs proved a master stroke as Carl went on to catch the Pretty Mirror at 49lb, Clint’s Common at 47lb and two others of 35lb and 25lb.
The Thatcham angler arrived at the empty Berkshire venue at 4pm on Saturday and headed for the Three Trees swim.
He said: “Halfway down the lake a rolling fish was impossible to ignore. So, it was brolly down, rods packed away and I was on the move in the dark.”
Carl hauled his kit round to the Bush swim, which he knows well, and at 5.45am attended to a dropback bite on his right-hand rod.
“A short wintry battle was soon won and a shine down into the landing net unveiled one of the sought-after gems in the shape of the Pretty Mirror at 49lb,” he said.
The same rod was away again at 10am. “After another short, heavy battle I was staring down at a new pb common at 47lb. What a morning – I was speechless!”
A 25lb common followed soon afterwards and at 4am a 35lb ghostie completed a four-fish haul.
Said Carl: “I’ve had a number of memorable sessions in my time, but on a venue that has inevitably become much trickier over the years, this ranks right up there.”