Cold water session delivers run of fish with 32lb common taking centre stage.


A five fish haul to 32lb 10oz was the reward for Korum brand manager Mat Woods during a recent trip to RH Fisheries’ Weston Park syndicate.

Having never caught a 30 in January before, Mat targeted the venue’s inhabitants with a batch of new Sonubaits Refresha pop-ups, fished wafter style on a 'Jonny' Rig. And his plan more than paid off. Not only did he bank a fish at the target weight over his weekend session, but specimen also pulled the scales around to be Mat's biggest ever common carp.

"I've never caught a 30 in January before and for it to be my biggest ever common carp was the icing on the cake," Mat told Total Carp. "Weston's been closed for many weeks now so I was extremely eager to fish the day it opened again. I'm glad I made the effort to arrive in the wee small hours of the morning to secure the swim. The fish were in immaculate condition, as they always are on this incredible estate lake."

"I concentrated on the margins during this session after seeing fish in the area earlier in the week,” Mat continued. “The lake was still half frozen when I arrived but the mild winds soon got rid of it - the conditions were perfect for a winter hit.

“After the first two 20s it went quiet, but at 3pm everything kicked off. I lost a fish then had three fish turn up within a windy half hour period - the 32 common topping off the action," he added.

As well as the 32, Mat’s tally for the weekend included mirrors of 25lb, 21lb 2oz and 17lb, along with another common of 20lb 8oz. His winning rigs including a 2.5oz Avid Flat Swivel Lead to hold bottom on a marginal slope, with his rigs fished free-running with Korum Running Clips and Buffer Beads. Also in Mat’s arsenal was a new 24/7 Sonubaits prototype boilie, a small scattering of which he fished his hook baits over, topping them up after each fish.

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