Big Lin gives Cause for Celebration

At 30lb 3oz it was definitely cause for celebration - not only was it a new personal best but it was also my first fish out of the serpentine after a whole season of blanks.

Don’t get me wrong, it was just the challenge I’d been looking for - it’s a stunning lake with a relatively small head of carp and I knew from the beginning that it wasn't going to be easy.

On the day in question I arrived just before dawn. It was the kind of day that makes you think that maybe this could be the one; it was quite cold but sunny with a slight breeze. I’d spent time pre-baiting the swim for a couple of days beforehand and by 8am the rods were out and ready for action.

After later repositioning my bait slightly away from a thick bed of leaves I sat back again to watch the water. At around 2pm it happened - I was in! The truth is though, I was just about to pull my rods in after deciding to pack up, but irrespective of this I had what felt like a huge fish on the end and I couldn’t believe it, on my favourite rod as well!

It felt big, not much of a run at first, but solid. On a 2 1/4 test curve rod it felt great. Eventually I was able to bring the fish closer to the bank, and on one of her turns the distinctive pink colouring came into view and gave her identity away - I now knew it was the Big linear.

After a couple of good runs and twenty minutes of playing her in the swim, the largest resident carp was in the net. It was a magical experience and well worth the wait.

Up on the scales she went 30lb 3oz and I was over the moon, a fitting end to what has been a long but memorable campaign.

Jason Mills

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Big Lin gives Cause for Celebration

Rick Birch