37lb 3oz 'Angie' in first session

A 350-mile round trip to Orchid Lake paid off for Derek Stewart who bagged one of the water’s biggest residents on his first visit.

The Oldham rod travelled to the Oxfordshire gravel pit with son Dale and the pair banked five carp including the mirror known as Angie at 37lb 3oz.

Derek, who caught the fish on the first night of a 48-hour session in the Boards swim, said: “I was fishing to a hard patch a couple of rod lengths from the island and I spodded out about 2kg of Dynamite mixed particles.

“The bite came at about 8.30pm and it was an absolute belter. I knew it was a decent fish as soon as I hit it, and it was 25 minutes before I even saw it. It plodded around at range but when it got in close it shot off again. The whole fight lasted 40 minutes!”

The new personal best fell to a Mainline Cell boilie tipped with buoyant plastic corn on a size 6 Korda Wide Gape hook tied to coated braid.

Fishing next door in the New Middles swim, son Dale had four carp to 22lb 4oz. Elsewhere at the venue, Birkenhead angler John Kearney snared an immaculate 31lb common from the Alamo swim.

Orchid has now reduced its prices for winter, with 24-hour tickets down from £20 to £15. For venue information visit www.orchid-lakes.co.uk