SIMON ALDRED was running late for an overnighter but went on to tempt this impressive 11 lb 11 oz personal best tench.
The 40-year-old, from Northampton, told Angler’s Mail: “I had planned on being at the lake by 5 pm but as is all too usual now, work delayed my plans.
“I eventually arrived at 7.45 pm so the race was on as I was aware it was going to be dark very soon.
“ I hastily set up camp and got the rods in the water, one to my left margin and two out towards a silty area at the bottom of a gravel bar.
“I put eight Spombs of Sticky Baits Krill boilies and pellet out over the pair by the bar sat back and enjoyed a beer as darkness set in.
“At 2.30 am the right-hand rod was off. I climbed out of the bivvy to a cold wind picked up the rod and landed a 7 lb 1 oz tench which warmed me up a little.
“Back out went the rod, and back into the warm bivvy I went.”
11 lb 11 oz of pristine, hard-fighting tench
Simon continued: “At 6.30 am the left rod dropped back, I lifted the rod to nothing so rebaited and out it went.
“Then at 9.30 am the left rod ripped off, the rod bent into the fish which seemed heavy compared to the usual 6-7 lb fish in the lake.
“When the fish finally came into sight in the gin clear water I couldn’t believe how big it looked.
“I slipped the net under her and put her on the scales and it was 11 lb 11 oz of pristine, hard-fighting tench.
“I called a couple of lads from round the lake to witness what had graced my net. A fish that a day before was just a dream.
“On the second morning I also managed fish of 8 lb 14 oz and 9 lb 6 oz.
“I’m lucky to be fishing a lake with a good head of big tench and I had a 10 lb 5 oz specimen last year,” concluded the Moulton Scaffolding managing director.
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