Carp which avoided capture for two years finally landed at 36lb 2oz

THIS classic-looking carp evaded capture for almost two years before providing Mark Parish with a new British personal best.

The 36lb 2oz mirror came from Pingles Pool in Cambridgeshire during an overnight session for the Lincolnshire rod.

It was last caught in March 2011 and its previous visit to the bank before that was in 2009.
Service manager Mark said: “It was a brilliant fish, a great fight and very exciting. My knees were shaking and I was absolutely chuffed to bits when I got it on the mat.”

The 41-year-old, whose birthday fell just days after this capture, cast a hinged Chod rig featuring a Nash Fang Twister hook to the base of a gravel bar at about 80 yards’ range. This was baited with a Cambridge Carp Baits Red Berry pop-up surrounded by about 150 freebies.

“It was my first session of the year and was absolutely freezing during the night,” said Mark.
“At about 6am I had one bleep on the Delkim and watched the bobbin lift then drop back before I got a one-toner.

“I knew straight away I was connected to a decent fish but it took me about 20 minutes to land after going through two trees in the margins.”

He added: “I had 22 fish from Pingles Pool last year and was top rod, and had set myself a target of catching a 30lb common. I had a 26lb common on December 30 but although I didn’t quite achieve that goal this fish more than made up for it.”