Tactics
behind the week’s best fish
A‘FIELD of dreams’ is how well-travelled angler Dave Parkes described The Avenue after landing two fifties and a 39-pounder in a single session.
The 67-year-old caught Single Scale at its heaviest-ever weight of 50lb 11oz, then added Captain Scarlett the next day at 50lb 14oz. Finally, as he was packing up to leave, he managed a 39lb mirror.
The Dudley angler, who has been a member of the Shropshire syndicate for two seasons, told Carpfeed: “It’s a season’s fishing in two days! I’ve caught seven fish in three sessions this year, more than I did the whole of last year.
“I’ve not done anything different, I’ve stuck to my tried-
and-tested tactics, but sometimes you’re in the right place at the right time and you get lucky.
“I’m fortunate in that I retired 17 years ago and I’ve fished all over the world for carp and salmon and trout, but The Avenue is a field of dreams. The fish are there, but catching them is a different matter!”
Dave scattered Mainline Cell boilies over his spot and fished a Cell bottom bait hookbait.
“The fish in there don’t get so big by not eating, but I call them grazers,” said Dave.
“I like food but I’m not likely to want to eat after a big meal – but if you offered me a little chocolate I’d probably take it. I think that sometimes applies to the carp.”
Dave presented his hookbait on a 6ins combi rig made with fluorocarbon, Korda N-Trap and a Gamakatsu G2 Hard hook. He tamed the fish on Korda Kontour mainline and Greys AirCurve rods. First to fall, the 50lb 11oz Single Scale.
“The Avenue is a field of dreams. The fish are there, catching them is a different matter!”