Horton forties fall at distance and in margins

Island Lake on the historic Horton complex provided Dan Leney with two of its prized residents to very different tactics.

“I had two forties in two weeks – what a buzz!” said Dan, who banked a 45lb 12oz mirror at long range, then a 40lb 6oz mirror in the margins.

The first and bigger of the fish came during a three-day session. “I had been prepping some spots from the boat at 120 yards,” said Dan. “The fish were on clearings of silt amid huge weedbeds.” 

“The rod ripped off at 1pm on day two and I latched into the huge-framed Two Tone mirror, which came in at 45lb 12oz.
I had three bites that day, taking another 25lb common and losing one in the weed.

“I returned two weeks later but this time I chose to fish just 10 yards from the bank in much, much shallower water. The sun was beating down and the temperatures were far warmer, so I targeted the 5ft area. 

“On the first morning I managed two takes, one from a 23lb mirror and another from the huge 40lb 6oz mirror.”