Meticulous feeding delivers near 40lb deep winter mirror.

It’s not just in the balmy temperatures of summer that prebaiting can pay dividends – as this chunky 39lb 14oz mirror more than goes to show.

Bristol angler Mark Drake feed a spot in the reedy margins of a south west lake for four weeks before casting his rigs.

Targeting a small bay Mark waited until conditions were perfect before he tested his swim, casting out a Perfection Groundbait’s Choc Orange nut boilie over a bed of free offerings.

Presented on a size 6 ESP Curve Shanx hook on ESP sinklink with an 18lb Crystal mono leader, Mark’s tactics paid off, tempting the biggest mirror in the water at 2oz shy of 40lb.

The capture gives Mark the double on the venue, following the capture of the lake’s largest common and largest resident full stop last year at 48lb 8oz.

For more details on ESP carp gear, click here.