COMBLEY’S BIG GIRL ON FIRST VISIT TO ISLE OF WIGHT!

  • Posted: 2nd October 2024
  • Author: Team DNA
Dave Watson wasted very little time in making a huge impact on his first-ever visit to the Isle of Wight, landing the Combley Lakes big girl just 15 hours into his session!
The 53lb mirror that resides in the Main Lake was Dave’s second 50-pounder in the space of 15 months, coming on the back of the Sandhurst Lake record back in the spring of last year.
“After coming out fifth of six people in the draw, I opted for a swim with some open water and a bit of depth,” said Dave.
“With my spots found, I baited up with a mixture of 12mm SLK and Bug boilies, along with some matching boilie crumb, a little bit of hemp and some Bug pellets, all covered with some Bug Liquid Food.
“The first night was quiet, with the odd liner, but I heard some good fish show in the hours of darkness. At 9.30 the next morning, I walked down to the next swim to see if my friend had caught anything and while chatting my receiver let off two single beeps, which I went to investigate. I discovered my left-hand rod was bending round and the bobbin had slammed into the alarm. The fish had swam sharply down to my left, picking up another rod! The fish felt big from the off, holding deep out into the lake. It surfaced a few rod-lengths out and I shouted, ‘That’s a big fish!’ As I scooped it into the net, the adrenaline was pumping!
“Everyone was guessing it was a mid-forty, but I was thinking it was bigger than that. Up on the scales she went and it was then I realised I had caught the Main Lake’s big girl, coming in at a top weight of 53lb!
“In just 15 hours’ fishing, I had caught the biggest fish in the lake, and my second UK fifty, after also catching the Sandhurst Lake record in May 2023.
“The rest of the week proved to be tough, with some horrendous weather thrown in. I opted to move for the final night, bagging a scraper 30lb mirror for my efforts.”