11/05/2026
One angler who consistently filling up our inbox is Shane Pratt, this time he checks in after a rather special session on his syndicate - here's what he had to say 😮💨
With a few jobs postponed, I managed to squeeze in a midweek session. Arriving at the lake on Wednesday morning, I was met with a busy pit. With the water split into two halves, I chose a swim that covered the opening of the channel - an area I felt confident in 🔥
With wraps already sorted, I got the rods positioned quickly. It didn’t take long for action, as within half an hour the right-hand rod was away. Unfortunately, it ended in a hook pull halfway through the fight. I had full confidence in the rig, but I made a small, calculated adjustment - shortening it by half an inch 👌
The night passed quietly, but by the following day I started to see signs of fish activity on the other side. As a few anglers began packing up, I took it as my chance to stay mobile and go looking for them. Trusting my instincts, I moved onto an area I felt they’d drift into - and it paid off 💪
After finding two promising spots, I got the rods back out with just a single spomb over each. What followed was an incredible display, with carp showing repeatedly - something you rarely see on this water. Confidence was high going into the evening 🤞🏼
A couple of shows behind my right-hand rod hinted at what was to come, and I was convinced one of them was a common I’d been hoping for. Before long, the rod was away. After a tense and ropey battle, with the fish getting into the pads, I kept my composure. Nine minutes later, I slipped the net under a stunning old Redmire common weighing 34lb 2oz 🐋
The hook hold was nailed an inch back, confirming the earlier rig adjustment was the right call. It was a special moment - finally landing one of the bigger commons from the syndicate that I’d been chasing 😍
It fell to a Combi rig, tied with St**fy in 20lb and 35lb CamoX Stiff, paired with a Size 4 ApeX Curve 💪
Well done Shane, Great angling 👏
