Big mirror marks a happy return to southern lake

After four years away from a southern park lake Duncan Hayward returned in style with the capture of this cracking 35lb 8oz mirror.

The Surrey-based rod cast a Tails Up Pro Liver cork ball pop-up to a silt patch in among the weed and baited the feature with a mixture of 18mm and 14mm boilies.

He said: “The fish gave a decent account of itself and at one point it weeded me up solid. After wading out I was able to get it moving again.”

Duncan mounted his hookbaits on chod rigs incorporating G-Force Tackle Straight Point hooks and light dung leads.