Angler Name: Thomas Mercer (King of Chantereine)

Hometown: Chorley

Fish Weight: 54lb

Bait: DNA Baits

Venue: Chantereine France

Rig: Balanced/Wafter

Tactics: Heavy baiting and patenice.

Additional Info: This fish came on the last night of my recent trip to France, at a roughly 12 acre lake baliffed by my Cousin. I used a heavy baiting approach consisting of a mixture of DNA boilies and hemp/corn particle. Used a simple balanced wafter rig and lead clip setup. Braided mainline was a must as the venue was extremely weedy and rig placement was key. Overwhelmed with the fish I'd already caught (41, 2x 48s, 53 & 68-8), i lay in my bivvy thinking, "I had all them fish in the day, its a shame I haven't had one in the night, oh well.". I must of been asleep for a second and the rod ripped off, in the darkness and panic I left my headtorch like a school boy and wrestled this 54lb mirror in the dead of night. It was an exoerience to say the least.