TEARS OF DELIGHT FOR FIRST UK FORTY!

  • Posted: 27th June 2024
  • Author: Team DNA
Callum Reid has been a man on a mission this summer, venturing south in pursuit of his dream of landing his first UK forty, and on a recent visit to Swan Valley in Yateley, his dream became a reality!
Not only was he successful in his goal, he did so whilst surface fishing, picking out one of the legends of the pond, the mighty Tyson, at 44lb 8oz, reducing him to tears of delight.
Cal said: “I arrived at 7 o’clock on Sunday morning after the long 250-mile trip. I stopped at the Old Mill cafe for a full English to refuel, then got to work!
“After walking the venue for four hours, I settled on a swim called Big Fish. The night passed uneventfully, so I loaded the gear on to the barrow at 7am the next morning. After a lap or two, I found a large group of fish on the surface in peg 30. I wasted no time getting some BetaStim Floaters out and after a while the fish grew in confidence, so I flicked the rod out. Shortly after, one slurped in the hookbait, but sadly I lost it in the weed, and not five minutes later I was in again, unfortunately ending in the same result!
“The fish moved off after this, so it was time to have a walk again. After three or four laps of only seeing the odd fish and not really having a plan, I stumbled upon a group of fish in peg 15 and there were a few good ones amongst them. I wasted no time running round, grabbing the barrow and getting in the swim, but the fish soon did the off!
“Time was ticking by, so I needed to start thinking about setting up for the night. I opted for peg 17, as there were fish cruising around in the main body of the lake and in the corners to my left and right, so I thought this gave me the best intersection point. I started to lead about when I noticed a group of fish move in. I put some floaters out on them and the odd fish started to take. After about an hour, a really big fish appeared in the zone and beelined for my Amino Smoke-infused Bug Corker pop-up and slurped it straight down! I was in again! This time, after a long battle amongst multiple weedbeds, a massive mirror appeared on the surface. My knees were trembling as the fish went on one last run before I finally slipped the net under a huge mirror. I burst in to tears and then called Kayla and the gang back home to share my news in the hope they could calm me down. I then rang Scott to get a bailiff to come and assist. It was confirmed as proper old Swan Valley carp named Tyson at 44lb 8oz.
“Carp fishing is not a pastime to me; it is my life and I love it. This was my first-ever forty and the buzz and emotion I felt was out of this world.
“Big shout out to my fiancée Michaela for putting up with me when I’m on a mission and always supporting me. Sally, you’re a legend; thank you for pushing me to reach my goals. Lastly, big ups to DNA Baits for the support and the top-class bait.”