UK BIG CARP ‘SET’ COMPLETED
PAUL Heseltine this week achieved the rare feat of capturing a carp in every 10lb weight bracket, from singles right through to a whopping 70lb!
His final fish to complete the set came during a session on the Rosemere syndicate in Cambridgeshire, where he banked the mirror ‘Harris’ at 60lb 14oz.
“I’d been prepping two areas on previous sessions,” the 39-year-old explained.
“One was in a swim called ‘Last Resort’ where Harris had been caught last year. The other spot was in a swim called ‘Cherries’, which I had already caught from this year.”
Despite his prep work, however, nothing had happened for Paul after two nights in ‘Last Resort’, so he moved to his back-up swim for the final night. This tactical decision proved vital, as he was soon into not one, but two carp, after a double take.
“I didn’t panic, I just carried on playing the first fish while the other rod was peeling off line,” Paul said.
“Once the first fish was in the net, I picked up the other rod and I knew it was a good one straight away. It put up a slow and dogged fight, and with only one net set up I had to bundle the two fish in together - having no idea what I had on the end!”
The smaller of Paul’s remarkable brace was a common of 26lb 12oz, and after sorting out that fish, he finally got a good look at the other prize waiting in his net.
“The elation was immense,” he said. “The scales went round to 60lb 14oz and nothing could describe that feeling.
“It’s a dream come true, not only for this capture, but for the fact that I now have landed the full UK set, singles right through to 60lb, and of course Holme Fen’s ‘Marshalls’ at 70lb 8oz two years ago. I only switched over to carp fishing in 2009 – I just wish I’d done it sooner!”
Paul’s latest giant fell to a Key Bait Solutions’ Maxi Nut boilie on a Slip-D Multi rig made from 25lb Captive coated braid, a size 4 Armorok Curve hook and Outline Camo Terminal components.