Angler’s first UK forty falls from Yateley

This Yateley common of 40lb 4oz gave Russell Godfrey a personal best and a ‘night to remember’ on the historic North Lake.

The Farnborough angler arrived for a 24-hour session on a Friday morning and used his previous observation to full effect.

The 35-year-old said: “After a bit of a walk round and chatting to the others, not a lot had been seen around. Luckily I had been down earlier in the week for a walk and had seen a couple of fish show behind an island and decided, as the swim I could cast to that area from was free, to drop in to there for the first night and see if anything would show the following morning.”

Having found a gravel spot next to a clump of weed, Russell Spombed out 2kg of sweetcorn and chopped Sticky Manilla boilies before casting out at 3.30pm.

He added: “A few hours later the bobbin pulled up tight and as I lifted my rod up to make contact with the fish I felt a small kick and nothing else happened. This one got away.

“I topped up the swim with another 2kg of bait and got my rig back out on the spot. At about 8pm the bobbin pulled up to the top and I was in contact with another fish.

“After a hard 20-minute battle I finally slipped the large common into the net. On closer inspection we realised it was the elusive Black Common which only makes a few appearances on the bank per season.

“As you can imagine I was absolutely made up as it was my first UK 40-pounder and a new pb! All the regulars came round to help with the photos and to congratulate me. What a night to remember!”