13 year old banks monster French carp and catfish.
To many 13 year olds, the idea of spending a week sat at the side of a lake would seem very unappealing- but not to Brigg teenager Ben Hunt. While many lads of his age are dragged along fishing with there parents, with Ben it is the other way round- he has to talk his dad, who isn’t an angler into taking him fishing!

On a recent trip to France, Bens commitment and obvious talent paid off in grand style, after he banked several fish that even a seasoned specimen hunter would be proud of.
The Brigg based teenager takes up the story: “ When we got to Etang Tissier (the fishery) I had a good talk to the owner, who told me that it hadn’t been fished for two weeks, which I felt could be a very good sign!

The first day passed and I was beginning to doubt it though, as I had no fish! My first run came at 6am on the Sunday morning, but unfortunately I lost it when it went round a clump of rushes. I recast to the same spot and 10 minutes later it ripped of again. Soon after, I landed my first fish of the week, a common at 23lb.
After this, action was hectic and before 9am I landed another three fish, the biggest being a 28lb mirror. Through the course of that first day, I caught a further 12 carp, and the next day was much the same with loads of low to mid 20s coming to the net. By the end of it, I was so tired that I decided to bring my rods in, and get a good nights sleep!

On the Wednesday, I changed tact and decided to have a go for some of the venues big catfish. I changed baits to a couple of 21mm halibut pellets, and caught several carp to mid double figures. Catching little fish paid off eventually, and when my left hand rod shot off and I felt the power of the beast that I was connected too, I knew it was no carp! Soon after, I landed a stunning 45lb cat and as I had it on the mat unhooking it, my other rod screamed off! I hadn’t even unhooked the first fish yet and I needed to get it in the recovery sling. It was about 3 minutes later that I managed to get to my right hand rod, and I was into another cat. Strangely, both of them weighed in at exactly the same weight- 45lb! I managed to land 3 more cats a 37lb 8oz (which the owner later told me is the smallest in the lake) a 45lb beast and a 47lb cat –which is my PB!

All in all, it was an incredible trip- one to remember- and I cant wait to get back to France and get in touch with some more monsters. I managed to land 48 fish and lost 5 the biggest carp was 30lb 8oz and the biggest cat was 47lb. My thanks go out to my sponsors, Cheshire baits for providing me with the bait I needed- It obviously worked a treat!”