Angler Name: Anton Barrett

Hometown: Peterborough

Fish Weight: 41lb known as ‘Early Riser’

Bait: 16mm manilla pop up

Venue: Northey park

Rig: Ronnie rig

Tactics: Single pop over a scattering of 20mm over the top

Additional Info: Target fish and personal best smashed! I turned up to my local syndicate Friday morning to a very strong south westerly wind and the swim I really wanted was taken, knowing the fish are always around there this time of year, I plotted my self into the next door swim called ‘THE HUMP’ which I had never fished before. So the first thing I decided to do was led around, knowingly I had to find 3 spots at a comfortable distance because with the wind it was just making it impossible to cast at long range. I managed to find 2 gravel spots at about 9 Wraps out and that was for my left and middle rod which I presented 2 slip D rigs using 25lb Fox Camotex semi stiff coated braid along with Fox size 5 medium curve topped with a 16mm yellow Manilla Wafter on a led clip system. Then I was onto my right hand rod which I had a set lily pads in front of me but I just couldn’t find a spot where I was comfortable placing a rig, I managed to find a light weedy area at 8.5 wraps out in open water so I tied up a Ronnie rig using 35lb Fox Camotex Stiff coated braid with size 5 medium curve topped with a yellow Manilla pop up again on the Led clip system. With all Rods placed I then started to scatter 16mm & 20mm boilies over the top of each rod. A few hours went by and I haven’t caught anything so I started to scan the lake from my swim just to see if I can see any fish moving which I couldn’t. I didn’t want to put any more bait in. 1, because there was 2 swans that lived on the lake and would wipe all your bait out including your rig. 2, I hadn’t caught anything yet so was no need to keep putting bait in. So I got back into my Bivvy and started to scan through the lakes Instagram page seeing what hadn’t been out yet and what normally comes out this time of year. 5-10 minutes went by and I had a bleep on my right hand rig so I went out to investigate while I was staring at my rod, I had a drop back then seconds later went into meltdown, so I hooked into this fish and took me straight into a weed bed but within seconds and keeping a tight line the fish was out and slowly coming towards me but from then onwards it didn’t really put up a fight just because I could see some weed in front of the fish eyes which meant to fish couldn’t see. When I managed to land the fish and took a look of my prize I couldn’t believe what I have landed! I had to call a few people including the owner of the lake just to get clarification on the fish I’ve just caught. When I lifted her onto the scales she topped a whopping 41lb which smashed my personal best by 10lbs! and she was known as EARLY RISER at her biggest ever weight. I was so happy with myself because i have waited so long to catch one of the A-Team and she is finally mine!