New lake record for Dean Watson

The first outing this month was a trip to Linear Fisheries with the family. The van was ram-packed with the extra bedchairs, bivvies, sleeping bags, food and of course the dog bed. We soon arrived at Linear and settled on to Unity Lake.

Working at about 70 yards I found gravel and silt patches. I started out with ten Spombs over the area and placed the hookbaits alongside. The venue was fishing slow, with no fish being caught over the past few days. There were a few signs of the fish starting to pair up in the margins, a sure sign that spawning was ever near. Later that afternoon I had had a take on the boilie rod, but unfortunately that fish popped off shortly after the first run.

The following morning the fish had started spawning on the other side of the lake. So with that in mind, we packed up and headed home.

My next outing was to an old haunt a few weeks later. Hidden away in the Shropshire hills. A typical Shropshire mere, deep, black as your hat silt and tree lined. I opted to fish a new swim. With the wind pushing directly into my face and the conditions bang on, surely a bite or two was on the cards to make up for the blank at Linear?

I left the spod mix alone for this trip and decided on a boilie only approach, armed with the ever faithful Poloni I baited up with about two kilos to get the area going. With a nice set of pads to my right, I baited them with half a kilo and fished just off them, locked up.

The following morning I was rewarded with a lovely 23lb mirror from the pad rod. A cracking looking fish and gave a good scrap too!

The rest of that day passed with nothing to go on. I moved the middle rod further round to the point, an area in which I know fish hold up in. At first light the following morning a beautiful zip linear graced the net, weighing in at 14lb. Not the biggest fish I grant you that, but a future king of the lake for sure. Stunning!

I thought that was it for my session and packing up began, until the middle rod went into melt down! The rod had only been out 30 minutes, after the recast. Straight away it felt like a good fish. After she kissed the spreader block I knew I had one of the lakes big guns!

A fish called Uno was staring back at me, a stunning creature, one of the lake’s residents I wanted so badly. She went 33lb 4oz on the scales which also set a new lake record. Absolutely blown away by this fish.

It just goes to show, it’s never over until those lines are out of the water. Buzzing!

Don't forget to watch my full video blog below.

Thanks again
Dean Watson