Bailiff Comments

Week Commencing: Sat 29/03/2025

Do the shotty

Over on the Main Lake this week we had 12 anglers many return customers and some first timers. 

Coming out ball 1 this week saw Liam who decided to put his name in Bob’s Beach and chose to fish two rods out long, going 30 wraps at Alamo and one short going 9 wraps down his right-hand margin towards the reeds at Alcatraz. Fishing spinners over a small amount of corn, Cell and house pellet he fish white maize topped Cell bottom baits Liam managed one fish this week but what a fish it was, landing ‘The Clean Fish’ at 65lb this being his new PB, being made up as he came here with one target and that was to catch a 60lber, so well done mate!

Next up we have regular visitor Aaron ‘MJ’ Metcalfe who opted to go into Big Southerly, a swim he’d not yet fished before. After success in previous years at this time of year, Aaron chose to go in with straight house pellet fishing solid bags with either slow sinking maize or a match the hatch at 26 wraps towards Alcatraz and one down his left-hand margin at 14 wraps towards Alamo. Aaron was soon away come Sunday night landing ‘Wood’s Common’ at 59lb off his left-hand spot, a great start. Aaron then followed this up with two original scalies one known as ‘Buzz’s Half Lin’ at 47lb and the other as ‘Moroccan Sunset’ at 32lb followed by a common known as ‘Stan’ at 36lb. 

Over in Pole Position this week was Josh Tully who came out later in the draw. Josh started the week fishing 30 wraps towards Stink but after a couple of days moved out further after seeing the fish show just past his spot. Fishing spinners with pink topped boilie, Josh was off the mark with two fishing early Wednesday morning catching an unnamed common at 29lb 4oz and a newly named stockie now going by the name ‘The Bosh’ at 23lb 4oz after his darts name Josh The Bosh Tully. It was then Wednesday night Josh saw them showing shorter to his right so decided to have a lead about for a spot finding one at 19 wraps towards Alamo when he had a new 50lber for the Main Lake known as ‘Shakermaker’ at 52lb 4oz, this also being a new PB for Josh. Well done mate!

Next door in Stock Pond we had Josh’s brother James Tully who drew ball 12 in the draw. James concentrated on the tree line to his right fishing 2 towards the 26 wraps spot in the corner and on 17 and a half half way up the tree line. Fishing a lead clip system with spinners over the top, James was using small yellow pop ups and managed to get steady bites through the week landing 4 fish including one he managed to name himself, now known as ‘Strokey’ at 13lb, ‘Dinna’ at 23lb, ‘The Nomad’ at 41lb and a last morning 41lb common just as he was packing up. 

Next up we had another friend of Gigantica, Malcolm Mitchell, who got himself in Baxter’s Hole. Malcom did his research before coming reading catch reports and viewing our posts online and tweeked his approach to suit, opting to use spinners and small hookbaits, again yellow specials, over small beds of bait consisting of pellet corn and a small amount of boilie. Choosing to fish one in open water and two in the margins, it was Malcoms 15 wrap right-hand margin spot that did his fish of the week, a lovely 41lb scaley original known as ‘Buzz’s Kamo’ which came on Sunday night. Unfortunately that was it for Malcolm but we look forward to seeing you on your next trip.

Across the pond in The Alamo we had Elliot. It was a slow start for Elliot this week, but he kept at it and started picking them up towards the end of the week. Fishing 33 wraps out in front of him he also started to see and hear the short so decided to put one in his right-hand margin at 7 wraps. Kicking off on Tuesday Elliot managed two of our freshly stocked fish at 13lb and decided to name one ‘Narky Knickers’ following it up the next day with ‘Good Year’ at 24lb and it wasn’t until last knockings, again while packing away, Elliot managed one of our 2017 stockies that went in at 6lb and is now a cracking 41lb 8oz. 

Another friend of the team Danny Cartwright got himself inAlcatraz this week, a swim he’d never fished before so was looking forward to getting started. Starting off fishing 3 on the spot to the left of Stink, Danny started seeing them slightly further and to his left so upped it to 32 to the scary tree. After no luck on fishing spinners over his bait for a few days, Danny changed over to bags and started to pick them up come Wednesday night where he managed ‘Yellow Peril’ at 23lb and followed it up the next day with ‘Red October’ at 37lb 14oz and had DF on hand to net it for him. Danny’s bait this week consisted of Essential Cell in crumb and whole mixed in with our house mixed particle, fishing slow sinking maize in his bags.

Last but not least, Mr Dan Coles. Dan was on his second trip this year after a successful trip opposite in Alcatraz, he got himself in The Stink. After kicking off the week early with a fish the first night in the shape of ‘The Poacher’ at 26lb, coming off his short spot to his right, it slowed up for Dan for the rest of the week until he managed to land one just before dinner time on Friday afternoon on a 15 foot zig using black and red, known as 'Proper Job'. 

Zigs can be devasting this time of year once you find the right depth, especially in the evening time just after dinner service.

Another great week here at Gigantica, one thing next week brings is the first barbecue of the year.

Tight lines,

Greg.

Team Gigantica.