Catch Reports
The Black Mirror
Posted in Catch Reports on 04th July 2008‘Brief statement by Mike Willmott’
"As many of my friends and customers have been aware, for the past 4-years I have been concentrating my efforts on to a large Berkshire gravel pit in pursuit of what many anglers believe to be the ultimate challenge in carp fishing – the elusive but magnificent Black Mirror.
At 7.15am on July 5th 2008, after clocking up literally tens of thousands of miles travelling back and forth to the venue, coupled with an enormous amount of sacrifices in my personal life, I finally managed to reach out and touch my dream by landing the great fish at a weight of 52lb 10oz.
It was an incredible journey with some exceptional tales attached. Perhaps one day these might just be told but this is not the time or the place, and in respect for the lake, its inhabitants and those still pursuing their goal in life, I have decided against publicising this fish within any magazines.
I would however like to take this opportunity of thanking everyone who has supported me throughout my campaign and given me the encouragement and inspiration to succeed. Special thanks go out to my family and friends, but I would also like to thank E.S.P, Daiwa and Dymag Specialist Tackle for supporting me with their excellent range of products, also, Dave Gawthorn for providing photography assistance at such short notice and Saul Gardiner for his technical assistance".
Images protected by Copyright © Essential Products 2008
Balanced Dumbells
There are definitely times when standard round hook baits can lose their effectiveness and a switch to a different shape can often produce the goods. These pellet shaped hook baits offer a viable alternative to standard round hook baits and when mounted on a slightly longer hair and fished over a bed of pellets, they can often make the difference between success and failure!
Their shape not only makes them very difficult for the fish to eject, but coupled with their added buoyancy due to the inclusion of cork dust, they are also superb for fishing over the top of silt or weed. They are also very durable and will last for many hours without being nibbled away by nuisance fish, Crayfish or diving birds. Definitely worth considering when the going gets tough!
Top tip
Try mounting the dumbell on the hair long-ways. This will enter the carp's mouth easier, but will spin around on ejection thus making it more difficult for the carp to eject the hook.
