Tom Goodwin snares Old Mill's A Team 'RIGGERS'
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What a week it’s been at Old Mill Lakes, Birch Lake. I was last to pick in the draw and got ball number 1! I instantly knew which peg I was going to pick.
An uneventful first night, and woke up thinking I’m going all out and purchased another 9kg of boilies. I spread these over 2 spots. Early afternoon, I landed a stunning 16lb linear. Just over an hour later, I landed a fully scaled banger at 27lb 9oz.
Then Wednesday, around 5pm, I knew it was approaching prime bite time, and I caught a lovely 27lb 10oz mirror with apple slice scales.
Thursday is where it all happened, and it would have been my Gran's birthday. At 9am, I landed a new PB at 37lb, but I knew there were plenty more to fish out there. At dinner time, I landed a 26lb mirror. After this, I reeled in to have a shower. Within 20 minutes of getting my rods back out, I landed a small common at 11lb. This is when carnage happened. At 5pm, I heard my line ping from the line clip, and I was away playing the fish. I could see it was a nice one, but never in a million years did I think it would be what it was. I could feel the fish bury itself into a weed bed, so I took a few steps to my right, which was roughly 4ft higher than my rods, and luckily enough, the fish was free. Seeing the bow waves, I thought Jeez, this is a lump! I netted it and looked at my prize and thought this might be my first ever 40. I threw my waders on, collapsed my net, and went to lift it into my floating retainer. This is when I thought bloody hell, it is a 40. Shaun was fishing in the peg to my left, and I shouted to him to come over. He came and said, “Let’s have a look” instantly shouting “RIGGERS! This normally does mid 50”. Then I thought Wow, I’ve got a 50!
Shaun grabbed his waders and scales as mine were topping out. The scales hit 65lb 12oz, and I knew 100% my sling wasn’t 5lb 12, so I knew I’d bagged a 60. With a few of the lads congratulating me, I felt numb. After the photos and the fish were safely back, I realised my phone was on fire. I wanted to tell the world. I sat there for an hour and thought I needed to get the rod back out. With a fresh hook, which my hook of choice was an IB longshank size 6, attached to an EFP Infused Boom.
Less than an hour later, I was away again. The same rod as before, and another gruelling battle. Once it was in my net, Shaun said, “I think that's Mean Bean, a 50lb common”. I thought Wow, pinch me! The scales went to 48lb 14oz, a 109lb brace is mental. That night, I just fished 2 rods and went to sleep at around 9pm I was worn out. Shortly after waking and resetting all my rods, I had another nice common at 38lb 10oz. I said for the past month, I hope a massive fish comes out of the lake, and I was the lucky one!
A massive thanks to everybody who helped with photos, advice, and to the lake owner, Chris, for the opportunity to fish his breathtaking venue!
EFP Products used;
Infused boom
IB size 6 Longshank
Bait Screw
Kickers