Bream tactics account for two thirties and 23 twenties

The carp have woken up on Bluebell’s Mallard Lake, as Scott Reynolds proved with a massive haul.

The 24-year-old fished Method feeders to bank 27 carp, including two of more than 30lb and 23 over 20lb in three nights.

He said: “I had a few carp during the day, but most of the fish came at night. I had 12 fish the one night and, in the end, I never had both rods in the water at the same time. By 3am, I had to reel in because I was so tired.”

The lake, which is the largest on the Northants day-ticket complex, is known for its large head of carp, but Scott was actually after one of the handful of massive bream present.

The Dudley specimen hunter, who had seven fish over 28lb, said: “I used a flat ESP Method feeder with a ready-tied hooklink featuring a size 8 hook and 20lb stripped braid. When I fish the flat Method, I mould the groundbait all the way around the feeder to cover it and to ensure it hits the bottom as I was fishing in 19ft of water.

“I use the flat ones instead of normal fin types as, when the groundbait breaks up, the fins on the feeder are exposed, whereas with the flat Method feeder the whole feeder is covered.

“I was fishing 55 yards out with rubber corn as my hookbait. I baited up with Sonubaits Bream Feed and Sonubaits Halibut and Hemp Crush groundbait mixed with sweetcorn and maggots and 4mm Cell pellets. I made them into hard groundbait balls and Spombed them out so they got on to the deck as the wind was very strong into my face.”