Catch Reports

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Posted in Catch Reports on 21st August 2009

Essential Bait boss Mike Willmott is having a tremendous year with a number of big fish from various venues including a few UK river systems, however, his latest big hit tops the lot! Mike has recently turned back time and re-visited a large gravel pit that he used to fish many years ago, and what a welcome back present he had! On his very first session he managed to bank an immaculate 38lb mirror (1st image) which at the time was the biggest fish to be caught from the venue so far this season, however, little did he know what was in store for him on his next trip!

The following week Mike returned for his second session on the venue, and what a memorable session it turned out to be! Fishing over beds Shellfish B5 boilies and matching B5 pellets to a marginal slope at 90-yards he managed to bank two forties!! The first being a stunning leathery type mirror of 48lb 8oz (2nd image) followed by an immaculate mirror of 41lb 2oz (3rd image) which hadn’t seen the bank for 3-years! As you would expect Mike used his favourite bait, Shellfish B5, and fished over beds of 16mm and 20mm boilies at various ranges to nail each of the fish.

Rigs included single 20mm B5 bottom bait mounted blowback style to size 6 Gardner Mugga hooks, 5-inches 25lb Gardner Sink-Skin hooklinks and 3.5oz semi-fixed leads. Each fish fell to 3kg mixed sized (16mm and 20mm)B5 boilies and matching B5 pellets. Rods were 12ft 3.75tc Daiwa Infinity Magnum’s coupled with Daiwa Tournament Basiair reels loaded with 16lb mono.   

Footnote: Whilst compiling this report Mike has since returned to the venue to catch yet another whacker! Once again the B5 doing the business to catch this awesome looking mirror of 35lb 10oz (4th image)


Cork ball advantages

Although we provide cork dust pop-ups, we also appreciate that some customers prefer cork ball pop-ups and I think that it's generally accepted that cork ball pop-ups are the best method for long term buoyancy. This can be particularly advantageous for many modern day rigs such as chod rigs and Hinged Stiff-rigs. These clever little packs allow anglers to create their own cork ball pop-ups with little effort. You can also regulate the amount of paste you use to make them more buoyant or turn them into slow sinkers.

Top tip

If you are having problems with diving birds or nuisance fish, you can combat this by 'meshing up'. The best method we have seen to do this is to cut a small section of tights (we recommend you get your missus's permission first!). Wrap the pop-up in the fine mesh, pull tight, tie off with floss, 'blob' the excess with a lighter and away you go.