It took John Wood (pictured) three days and nights to corner ‘Colin’, a biggest common carp in Eliburn Reservoir, but the dogged angler succeeded and the lucky strike happened as the roads worker was thinking of packing up.
It took the 43-year-old ten minutes to land the 25lbs 12oz monster, but it is not Livingston-based John’s biggest carp.
That was a 33lbs specimen hooked in a lake near Catterick in England when he was working in the area but the father-of-two believes it is the biggest carp landed in Scotland this year and it is a record for the popular Livingston water which sees sport from members and day ticket holders.
It is, however, well below the Scottish record which is listed at 45lb 12oz and caught by Ben Mir from Glasgow during an overnight session at Castle Loch, Lochmaben, in August 2017.
John fished an area at Eliburn which had an extensive weed cover cut last week and he used boilies on a Chod carp rig which is a technique regarded as having advantages in the way the bait is displayed over soft mud, weed or debris and its distinct shape.
The angler, who is also a bailiff at the water near Livingston Community Football Club (not Livingston FC who play in the Scottish {Premiership) used 15lbs breaking strain line.
He had two rods in the water where he has been a member of since 2015.John revealed his previous biggest catch at the water was an 18lb carp and he said: “I’d been at the lake since Sunday night.
“The best fish I had landed was a 14lbs carp. So, I changed my position on Tuesday to be at the area where the weed at been cut in a bay area near the car park.
“It was about 11am on Wednesday morning and I was thinking of jacking it in when the indicator began to scream and I hooked into the fish. It felt like a big lump and it dived deep.
“I tried to keep it out of nearby weeds and it certainly gave a good account of itself. Then it sort of gave up and lay back, just like a bream, and I got it into the net.
“My mate was fishing nearby and we weighed ‘Colin’. He was 25lbs 12oz and we believe the last time ‘Colin’ was caught was in May 2019 and he was 22lbs 13oz.
“I believe I’m the fourth angler to have hooked him and he added: “I’m chuffed and it was the perfect end to three good days.
“It’s great to be out there fishing only 15 minutes walk from my home in Eliburn and being able to experience things like the kingfisher feeding and seeing the other wildlife and catching a big fish.
“Eliburn is a great pond and I’d recommend it to coarse anglers as it has other species like roach, tench and bream. I’m lucky to be a season ticket holder, but it is well worth a £7 day ticket.”
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