There was still two long weeks to go before April 27^th. Once this day arrived I and a fishing mate Lee Stokes were to fish ‘The Monument’ in Shropshire for 3 days. As I looked at the map of the lake I was drawn to swims 3 and 4. Both had nice features at 30-40 yards range, 3 having a nice bar running to the left and 4 a set of egg cups, a unique feature to this lake. The day only venue contains 300 carp, 200 20’s, about 25 thirties and 4 known 40’s. What an awesome stock of fish and in only 9 acres of water! I was hoping that during the trip I would beat my PB of 23lb.Given the statistics I thought I was in with a good chance. However I had fished the venue twice last year and blanked, but this was in the months of October and November.

Three days to go and the hemp and maize were in soak with the added chilli and ginger. Finally it was the night before and I arrived home from work thinking of little else whilst I was there. Hemp and maize on the boil and a final thorough check of the tackle was all that was left to do. Once the maize and hemp were cooked into the bucket they went along with a liberal helping of sweetcorn. With my head spinning thinking of those 300 carp swimming around in there aquatic home I hastily added the pellets to the still steaming bucket of goodies. Oh no, they would all go soft and mushy come morning! After a while I thought less of this mistake and simply thought that this may add to the instant attraction of the spod mix.

I had a plan of attack, but this was all dependant upon me not drawing the unproductive swims 9 or 10. If I drew any other peg on the lake I had decided to take advantage of the policy which allows you to keep a peg for 2 days, and bait heavily with the spod mix in the hope that it would produce on the second day, or the first would do!

 Finally April 27^th and after a bacon sandwich we were hurtling down the country lanes of Shropshire in anticipation of the dreaded draw. Well I never, guess which peg I drew……..peg 3!!!! Lee had drawn peg 2 so we were both well happy in these pegs as they have a good track record, and the wind was also hammering down the lake into our corner!

Hastily we made our way to our respective pitches. It was a mild day but the wind was strong but warm. Regardless of this I was going to get the rods out first before putting up the shelter. Just as I was about to launch the inline lead and ‘Red Jack’ (a pepperami type bait) stringer out along comes Sam the fishery manager.

“Do you know where to put your rods in this swim?”

“Well there’s a bar running to the left….”

“Forget that just put one out towards those willows to the left at about 30 yards and the other right out in front towards the middle.”

“O.K. mate thanks for that.”

Back on his quad and off he goes to the next swim to offer advice. I pondered about doing my own thing but then thought that it would be foolish to not take the advice of Sam. So out went the rods, one on a stringer the other a single homemade Frank Warwick style hi-attract Strawberry pop-up. After a couple of hours the silence was pierced by my fox alarm. The indicator on the stringer rod lifted and stopped, the rod end bent slightly and then the indicator stuttered again. I struck to find thin air. Maybe I was too hasty in my eagerness to connect with a Monument lump. Maybe it was a liner. Back out it goes, same spot but with addition of a backlead. Another hour passes and as per the plan out comes the spod and marker. The advised area to the left seemed to be at the end of the bar about 6 feet deep if I remember rightly. So half an hour later and this area had received about 2kg of the spod mix. The other rod fished over a bed of birdfood/milk protein boilies. Day one passed by uneventfully for Lee and me but a few fish had come out to the maggots. So the maggots would definitely be getting a go on day two.

Twenty minutes into the second day and I’m away to a flier on the spodded area to a trimmed down Strawberry pop-up. Shakily I land one of the waters doubles at 13lb 10oz. A very good start. Thirty minutes later and the pop-up rattles off again!!! This time a steadier plod indicates a better fish. Into the net she goes a beautifully scaled mirror of 20lb 2oz.Nice, a twenty. Confidently sipping a brew I relax on the bed chair. I few hours passed by uneventfully. I thought that maybe the fish were in the area after having two so quickly but maybe they were not all interested in pop-ups with so many small food items going in the previous day added to the fact that the fish had really been on the maggot the previous day. Maggot it was to be, seven on a floss hair tied to a rig ring attached to the hair on a size 6 D7. Coupled with this was a feeder, yes a 2oz blockend feeder (I used to be a matchman!!). The day before Des Taylor had proven its worth with 4 runs in two hours, so it seemed a good tactic to copy.

Half an hour later and a serious screamer indicates that the maggots are working today! I knew I was into a bigger fish from the start, as apart from a couple of runs it just felt heavy and immovable. Ten minutes later and the fish is still in control just plodding up and down the margins with the rod at full test curve. Five minutes later and I decide enough is enough and try and apply some pressure but I just kept reeling through a reasonably tight clutch. My arms and shoulders were now aching but I was just focussed on landing this fish. I started to think maybe it’s a 30!!!! Finally up she pops. WOW!!!! Dumbfounded I watched the needle spin round and voices around me echoed 41lb 8oz!!!! Certainly a new PB. I was on cloud nine, a lifetime ambition achieved, well that was a 30 but still a 40 will do! I had two more fish, another belter at 25lb 4oz to a pop-up and a 15lb 12oz to the maggot and lost another whacker. My mate Lee had a 22lber as well, but he did a 34lb 7oz last year from here, you can’t catch em all mate!!

I returned home and started fishing my local lake again. A twenty from here would be a result. Three weeks later I had six fish in a 36hr session to 23lb 2oz!!! Some months really are better than others.

The Pet at 41lb 8oz