Jack explains:

“With the light fading rapidly at this time of year, I arrived at the lake in the dark and it soon became apparent I was the only person on the lake. This was perfect and gave me the opportunity to have a walk round, listening for shows or any signs of fish.

“The walk was a quiet one; I didn’t hear anything showing. So, I decided to go off prior knowledge and set up in a swim where I saw them showing and holding up the week before, it’s a great area too, as it also commands a lot of water.

“Once in the swim and with my gear sorted, I deployed three stiff hinge rigs, armed with 14mm white Mulbz Pop-Ups into an open water, silty area. Over this I spread a dozen, 12mm shelf-life Manilla boilies over each rod with the catapult. I decided to fish with fluorocarbon and slack lines because of how clear the water had become. This proved to be the winning method, when after only a couple of hours of the rods being out, one burst into life, and shortly after I slipped the net under one of the lake’s big commons at 31lb 14oz. I was buzzing!

“After slipping back the big common, I got the rod back out and in position, quicky followed by another twelve baits over the top with a catapult. I could hear them showing in the area, but the rest of the night passed by uneventfully.

“I woke up at first light and saw a few fish showing in front of me in the open water where I was fishing, so I knew that the fish were in the area. I was receiving liners on my right-hand rod, it just looked so good for another one. I didn’t have to wait long as it soon indicated a bite! After another great fight, I soon had another lovely common in the net, and at 23lb 7oz it was a great way to cap off the session.”