Patience pays off with five carp to a 40lb 9oz best

Simon Harbottle returned to the bank after a three-month absence and immediately got stuck into a five-carp haul that included two thirties and a forty.

The Stockton-on-Tees angler made the trip south to Cambridgeshire’s Monks Pit, but had to bide his time to get into the area he wanted to fish.

“This was my first session in over three months and it turned out to be quite a memorable one,” said the 45-year-old.

“When I arrived for my 72-hour session I saw fish showing in an area of the lake but the swim was occupied, so I set up in a nearby area and slept under the stars.

“I had a quiet night, and when the swim I wanted became vacant I had a few casts of the lead at about 85yds to where the fish had been showing – and, as I suspected, the area was firm and clear.”

Simon used a throwing stick to deposit 2kg of All Season Mix boilies from Key Bait Solutions over the spot and fished hi-viz snowman rigs over the top.

“My first two fish fell off, but I went on to land five in total, including a 7lb stockie and mirrors of 29lb 10oz, 30lb 8oz and 34lb 9oz. I saved the best till last with a 40lb 9oz mirror.”