OUR CELEBRATION OF THE COUNTRY’S BEST CARP
Bluebell’s day-ticket giant nudges magic 60lb mark
THERE was a time when giant carp of nearly 60lb were exclusive to expensive syndicates, but something very special is happening at Bluebell Lakes in Northamptonshire. The complex’s biggest resident, Dave, was last month caught at a record weight of 59lb 9oz.
The don of the site’s Swan Lake, Dave is a super-impressive carp and one, like all Bluebell fish, that is possible to catch for less than £35 for 24 hours. He lives in the lake alongside some of Bluebell’s other giants that include the Perfect Common and a huge grass carp of more than 40lb. So you could say he is the bully in the monster’s playground.
This theory is backed up by the number of visits this huge mirror makes to the bank each year. Getting caught around 6-8 times on average, this fish certainly likes to munch on anglers’ baits. It is hardly surprising, then, that the mirror shows little pattern in terms of behaviour, being caught on everything from boilies to floaters. The most recent capture of this impressive specimen was taken from very close to the bank.
That’s not to say that catching Dave is easy. Two members have been targeting the fish for eight years, catching almost every other Swan Lake resident except this one.
As the biggest mirror in the 12-acre lake, the fish is often sighted in the crystal-clear water and is easily distinguishable from the other stock, which includes three other fifties, thanks to its large shoulders.
A former haunt of relentless big-carp catcher Kev Hewitt, Dave’s home, Swan Lake, is a beautiful water to fish. However, angling pressure can make it a challenging venue, because these fish have seen every trick in the book. The going tactic at present is to find a hard area of silt, clay or gravel and fish two rods tight on a spot over particles.
So, there you go – fancy giving Swan a try? Your next bite might be from a true monster!