Bailiff Comments

Week Commencing: Sat 03/05/2025

Ten Virgin’s and 6pb’s

Another week another 12 fresh face’s joining the road lake, with this being my first full week bailfing after spending plenty of time out on the Bank at the Big G, I was keen as mustard to get the lad’s off to a good start. Read on to see how the week progressed 

First up this week we have Colin Burch who got himself into Tea Party 2 after Coming second in the draw. Starting off with a slow bait approach following the week before. Colin’s first bite came on the Sunday afternoon with ‘ Stien’ at 41lb 8oz, what a nice start to the week this was for colin! Baiting up to the far margin at 21 wraps, with a throwing stick and the odd Spomb was doing the Business. Colin’s bait approach was Mainline cell 15mm and 18mm baited both whole and crumb Boilie,  with a good dousing of smart Liquid. The next bites came on the Monday afternoon after a quiet night, Colin had ‘The Honeymooner’ at 31lb and colin then told me he had a 50lb fish in the sling, which when looking into the sling, I replied I think it’s a little bigger than a 50 mate! It turned out to be one of the A team, ‘Rons’ at 62lb Colin will admit he’s not the tallest but lifted the fish like an absolute champ. A cracking start to the week and not to mention it was his birthday week also. Colin’s rig choices we’re Spinners and blow back rigs, with match the hatch out the bag mainline cell and half an isotonic popup snowman style hook bait. Colin had two thirty pounders and seven back up twenties. Thursday saw colin land ‘Vouvary’ at 42lb 14oz. That was it for colin as he was leaving early Friday morning to head home for his holiday to turkey. Well done mate you had a cracking weeks fishing!

Next up we have Pete Warren with his partner Suzanne, Pete joining us for the second time on the road lake with an unfortunate blank on his first trip, however this wasn’t the case this time around, landing himself first in the draw Pete was over the moon and slotted himself into Turtles Corner where a lot of bites came from the previous week.

Starting his week off fishing 15 wraps to the tree line where he felt most comfortable. Pete’s tactic for the week would be using Solid bag mix of sticky krill micro pellet, feeding from the margin with 15mm and 18mm iso fish Boilie, with a match the hatch hook bait. Pete’s first bite came on the Monday morning with ‘Inventor Phil’ at 43lb 10oz and a new PB for pete! What a start! Pete continued to feed the far margin, and his next bite didn’t take long with ‘Trunking’ in the net at ‘30lb 4oz’.  Tuesday morning came round with what seemed to be half the stock of the lake in front of Pete and it didn’t take long for the next bite being ‘The Midget’ at 30lb 8oz, also shortly after landing ‘Simon’  at 25lb 8oz which he named after losing his dog a week before heading out, a nice touch! Wednesday came round quicker than Pete could get his bait in! Heading round for the breakfast run, Pete’s words.  ‘Tom….it’s like a dolphin show around here mate’ and no surprise the bites started fast! Landing ‘Wiggy’ at 30lb, two mid Doubles and ‘Meantime’ at 24lb. After a well needed night’s sleep Pete entered Thursday sticking to the same approach that had been doing him so well all week, Landing ‘Bank cat’ at 31lb 12oz , the bites seemed to be slowing down however come just after dinner time with a belly full of the Big G gammon Pete had another bite pretty much on the drop with ‘Mammut’ at 35lb 8oz followed by a couple more mid double Common’s. All in all, a fantastic week for Pete and his partner with 15 Bites.  We Look forward to seeing you both back on the main lake in February.

Next up we have Andy Cartwright, after a 9-year wait Andy was back at the Big G, coming out third in the draw choosing Tea party 1, with fish activity on the walk round and previous week’s doing well also his third choice of swim he was straight in there! Starting the week off fishing 20 wraps towards Turtles, the approach was three on the spot with taking a rod off if he saw any showing fish, Andy’s bait choices were feeding 10mm and 15mm cell with house Maize, with match the hatch 15mm cell wafters tipped with fake maize on a Combi rig. With fish still showing in the main bowl of the lake, it took until early hour’s monday morning for the first bite being ‘Hobnob’ at 46lb 12oz and another good start to the week. With a steady bait approach, it took until Wednesday morning until the next bite, going one better than the previous catch with ‘The nose’ at 56lb 8oz and a new PB for andy! Well done mate and celebrating with a well-deserved beer.  Followed up by ‘Ace ventura’ at 23lb and a cracking fish and one defiantly for the future ‘Luna Rose’ at 30lb. Through the evening Andy manged to nick one on a zig being a mid 20. Into Friday Morning with the fish still crashing out to the right, one more came in ‘Hercules’ at 35lb 12 oz absolute cracker! That was it for Andy, landing some stunning carp and totalling his number’s too 7 for the week. Well done mate and hope to see you again back at Gigantica 

Next up we have Kieren Hattersley and his partner on their first trip out to the road lake. Coming out 4th in the draw Kieren set himself up in The Shingles. Fishing two rods out to the 18-wrap spot at the dot island and 1 out in front at 14 wraps, using Solid Bags with micro pellet, feeding Link 18mm whole and crumb, with a match the hatch Hook bait with spicy squid goo. After a slow start to the week and the first crashing on the far margin in turtles it took until Tuesday morning for the first bite, being ‘Ava’ at 48lb and a new PB. Well done mate, with a mixture of using the throwing stick to give a good spread and a couple of spombs it was on the Wednesday evening the next fish came in ‘Boyle’ at 40lb 12oz. Great start to the week with the 18 wrap spot doing the bites!  In total Kieren landed 7 Carp’s topping off a great week for himself. Well done on your first trip out here 

Next up we have first timer Joe cook who came 5^th in the draw and decided to choose Decoy, not been a prolific swim of late, However Joe manged to get himself into a few. Fishing two rods down the right-hand margin at 18 wraps. Feeding hemp, house maize, house pellet with 15 mm whole and chopped fishmeal boilie. The rig choice for the week was spinners with two pieces of slow sinking maize. Joe got into them quick with two bites coming on the Sunday, first up ‘Lottchen’ at 45lb 14oz and a new PB for himself, well done joe! With ‘Flappy’ gracing the net not long after at 34lb 14oz. The next bite came on the Tuesday morning, with already breaking his PB once, he was at it again with ‘Maggie’ at 49lb, Pb’s all round for joe. The rest of the week was quiet with no more to report. Well done on the PB mate and hope to see you back at Big G again 

Coming out 10^th in the draw was Pisti Varga, also on his first trip to Gigantica, Pisti started off in The Birches where he had a tough week. Landing  ‘Long Time Coming’ at 29lb 10oz, feeding 10mm cell, with combi rig’s snowman style, match the hatch with a yellow isotonic pop-up topper. However, Fortune favour’s the brave, with Colin leaving us early Friday morning, Pisti was straight into Tea party 2, Fishing to the long spot at 26.5 wraps, what a difference a quick move can make. Landing ‘Scotties Common’ at 39lb 4oz and ‘Billy’s pretty one’ at 22lb. The dreaded Saturday morning pack up came, However Pisti decided to put a couple more spombs out and within seconds had a take ‘Porky’ at 49lb 12oz. Brilliant end to the week and went home with a smile on his face. Well done Pisti 

Next up we have another angler fishing the road lake for his first time, Josh Cook, who travelled with his brother Joe and Father-in-law colin. Coming out 7^th in the draw Josh decided to set up in Brambles. The tactic for the week was 3 on the spot out at 21 wraps, feeding House maize, hemp and pellet, with 15mm cell Boilie, with his faithful German rig, with a krill active 16mm wafter. It was a slow week in brambles with not much fish activity, Josh then decided to take a move to Bachelier’s with the swim becoming free on Wednesday, what another great move this was. Landing Three bites ‘Spud’ at 18lb 4oz and ‘Tinkerbell’ at 29lb 2oz, was nice to see a smile on josh’s face after a tough week. Thursday evening saw josh’s smile get even bigger. Landing ‘Diamond Geezer’ at 57lb 8oz and a new PB. Well in mate was fully deserved. Ending the week on a high and dodging the famous ‘Bucketing’ we’re get you next time! 

Another first timer on the road lake in  Anthony Woodall, coming out 8^th in the draw and deciding to set up in the famous beach swim, managing a mid-double fishing towards The decoy at 14 wraps. With a couple of days gone by without any action, Ant decided to move into Dunkerque after hearing a few in the evening, Another fantastic move this was, Landing TJ’s at 60lb and a new PB for ant. Throwing stick boilie at 13.5 wraps to the dot island with mainline cell 15mm, his rig choice was nice and simple with solid bags and match the hatch hookbaits. Well done mate fantastic move 

Next up we have Russ Jobson with also his first trip out to Gigantica, coming out 11^th slotting himself into The poo. Russ kept it very simple Fishing three different spots out at 14 wraps and 9 wraps, baiting up with a throwing stick using 15mm mainline cell, Solid bags with match the hatch hook baits. Russ’s first bite came on Monday morning from the 14-wrap spot with ‘Errol’ at 48lb 4oz and a new PB. Well done mate. Unfortunately, this was it for Russ , Congratulations on your PB

Last but no mean’s least we have Jamie Paice, travelling with Russ out on his first trip to Gigantica, unfortunate to draw ball 12 he set himself up in Billy’s for the week. Jamie’s approach was feeding the far-right hand margin with 15mm cell and fishing solid bags with match the hatch hook baits. It was a slow week for Jamie however tueday morning saw him land a 15lb mirror! Not to mention, cutting my out-of-control barnet on the evening! Thanks mate and hope to see you back soon!

A great bunch, with plenty of PB’s

Tight Lines,

Tom

Team Gigantica