BIRTHDAY CELEBRATED IN STYLE ON KINGY!
Andrew Murphy marked his birthday in style on Bluebell’s famous Kingfisher Lake, landing his largest-ever zig-caught carp, a common of 35lb 2oz.
“Due to me being busy with work and kids, this would be my first weekend of the year, so I headed over to Bluebell Lakes for a long Birthday weekend,” said Andrew.
“After a walk about, I discovered most of the lakes had been quiet fish-wise, so decided to jump on Kingfisher in my quest to catch a UK 40lb common. A big ask, but not impossible!
“After seeing a few fish, I set up in a quiet corner of the lake where there was a mild wind blowing. I found a few clean spots at 25 yards out, so put out two PB pop-ups on Ronnie rigs with a few grains of corn and some Bug crumb and the other on an 8ft zig.
“The night passed without any joy, although I did see quite a few shows in the distance. Knowing I couldn’t get to where I was seeing fish, and that the guy next door was leaving the next day from a swim that commanded more water, I opted to move swim the next day. I found some 13ft spots at 70 yards and put all of them on zigs at 9ft, 10ft and 11ft. Knowing the pressure was still really high and seeing all the activity, I thought zigs would be a good shout. I soaked all my zigs in the Sticky Sweet, which I love using and is something I always pre-soak my plastic imitation baits in.
“Temperatures fell below freezing that night, and just when I was thinking my chances had gone, out the blue at about midnight, the right-hand alarm let out a few bleeps and I was into a fish! After a very hairy 10-minute battle, I slid the net under my biggest carp to date on a zig, a common of 35lb 2oz. I maybe didn’t get my birthday forty, but with conditions how they were and the lake fishing hard as always, I was more than happy.”
