David Magalhaes

Swan Valley – Big Common Catch Report

I got down the lake on Saturday evening after finishing in the tackle shop at 6pm. As usual the lake was pretty much rammed out, but having called a few friends on the way down I knew that there was at least a couple of swims free in an area known as the back bay.

After a quick recce and a chat with some mates I set up in a swim known as ‘the beach’.  Not having much light left, I was able to get two rods out before it got dark. My left hand rod was fished to a clear area about 40 yards out in front of the swim. The set-up was just a simple ‘choddy’ rig, using ESP Bristle filament and a size 6 Stiff Rigger. Around it I sprayed 60 18mm OCM boilies.

The right hand rod was placed on a real nice silt area about 25 yards to the right of the swim. The rig was a very simple bottom bait set-up with Atomic Tackles new Jellywire tied to a size 8 ESP Stiff Rigger. On the hair was a 14mm boilie on test tipped with 4 maggots. This was fished over about a kilo of hemp, pellet and maize as well as 2 pints of maggots.

That night passed quietly except for one of the other members coming round and asking me to picture a 30lb common. The next morning I got up early and basically ended up chasing the fish all around the bay until a couple got caught in the afternoon and it seemed like they’d done a disappearing act.  I decided to chill out a bit and grab something to eat. I was just sat with a few friends talking when fish began showing on the same area that they were in the morning (just to the right of my swim!). One of the others boys ran his gear round into the swim closest to where they were showing. I walked back round to my swim to get the rods back out. Before doing so I got up a tree further round to see what was out in front. It seemed like mainly smaller fish with a few better ones in between. Running back to my swim I got one rod back onto the silt area to my right and I got another under the tree in the corner to my left. The fish really started boshing in numbers and I was sure it was only a matter of time before me, or Scott opposite, got a bite.

I was getting restless and just started walking over to check the left hand spot when my right hand rod burst into life. The take was so fast that the buzzer actually cut out! Lifting into the fish it kited hard on a tight line all the way round to my left until it was under the tree. Eventually I managed to get it moving back towards me. It wasn’t doing much, just holding bottom with the odd powerful run. After stripping down to my pants I waded out to meet the fish, and after a few more tense moments I was able to scoop it up. I immediately recognised it as one of the fish id been following most of the day, which if I’m honest I really didn’t think was much over 30lb when id been watching it!! As I lifted her out the water it slowly dawned on me that it was a good common, but it wasn’t until I pulled the net away from around her that I realised just how big it was. Up on the scales and the needle spun round to 42.09! To be honest I was a bit blown away by it all and I’m still a bit shocked to have nailed that one.

How’s that for the first trip with the new bait ...first impressions are good guys!!!

David Magalhaes