The Simple Carp Rig That Landed My New 58lb 4oz UK PB | Shaun Sharman
The Grenville Syndicate in Cambridgeshire lives up to its nickname of "The Lake of Dreams" time and time again for OMC anglers, and Shaun Sharman has recently again tasted some of the magic himself with a new UK personal best. Here he tells the story, the challenges this lake presents and the Carp Rig he used to overcome them...
Grenville is a big old lake, so finding fish is the first challenge you face. On turning up for this trip, I had a good walk around and soon spotted fish showing. Keep in mind that the carp were jumping at ranges of 300-plus-yards, so I got in a swim that gave me the best opportunity to get somewhere near them.
I decided to fish at a comfortable range of 34-wraps, knowing that there was a big southerly wind coming in the next day, which was straight towards me. I wanted to be able to still cast on my spot when the wind turned.
This part of the lake was around 30ft deep with a clear bottom, so I went for a wafter Hookbait on a German style Rig. I needed a Rig that wasn't going to tangle on the cast and this was it.
Shaun's German Rig Shopping List:
About 20 hours had past and the fish were still showing long with the occasional one or two showing a bit closer. All of a sudden, my middle Rod just melted off...
Having caught a few big fish from Grenville already, I soon realised I was attached to a beast, slow and heavy just using its weight to hold deep. Just before landing it, I thought it was an upper forty but after unhooking it in the net (nailed by the way), I knew I had something very special. Weighing in at 58lb 4oz - what a fish - what a venue!
Journalist Chris Haydon joined the OMC Family in the spring of 2024, after six years working for the UK's number 1 fishing publication, the Angling Times. He is a keen Coarse and Carp Fishing All-rounder, fishing in the South West region, including the famous Cotswold Water Park.
