Bailiff Comments

Week Commencing: Sat 27/09/2025

Korda Social 

Once again the Annual Korda Social soon comes around and every year its a great week, a week where all the team can get together share story’s, banter and of course the odd obligatory alcoholic beverage. This year the fishing front was fairly slow with 32 fish in total with most coming to just two anglers, the fish seem to have grouped up into two groups and off course the lads with fish in front off them made hay! 

Another cracking session on Gigantica for Calum Sharp, better known around the banks as Sticker Licker! Over the course of his trip, Calum managed to put 12 stunning carp on the bank – a seriously impressive tally that proves once again why he’s one to watch. The highlight of the session came in the shape of “Shoulders” at 69lb 8oz, a true Gigantica giant and a fish that’ll make any angler’s knees go weak. Calum’s tactics were spot on. He fished 26.5 wraps toward the corner and 23 wraps to the left-hand side of Oblivion, with both spots producing solid results. His chosen presentation was a spinner rig tipped with a match-the-hatch wafter, a deadly combo for these wary carp. On the bait front, Calum went for a classic mix of hemp and boilie, with hemp playing the starring role in keeping the fish grubbing around. It’s fair to say Calum’s consistency on Gigantica speaks for itself – year after year, he manages to tempt some of the lake’s finest residents. And of course, it wouldn’t be a true Calum session without a bit of trademark behaviour… let’s just say if he wasn’t in his bivvy licking stickers, he was out there catching carp! Well done, Calum – top angling as always!

It was a week to remember for Callum Stocks, better known around the angling world as “The Glorified Gardener.” Callum made the long trip to Gigantica and was rewarded with an unforgettable session that perfectly showcased his skill, patience, and deep understanding of the water. Fishing 31 wraps towards the left of Baxter’s, all three rods were positioned with precision, each one armed with a spinner rig and a match-the-hatch wafter—a combination that proved deadly over the course of the session. His chosen mix of hemp and boilie, with hemp being the dominant ingredient, created a rich, attractive bed that clearly drew in some of Gigantica’s most sought-after residents. Over the session, Callum landed a total of 10 fish, but the real story lay in the sheer quality of the captures. Among them were three 60s, two 50s, and several other impressive fish that made for a dream lineup. The highlight of the trip came in the form of the mighty “Spotty Leather”—a stunning mirror weighing in at 68lb 12oz, marking the biggest fish of the session. Not far behind were two other iconic Gigantica residents: “Lashes” at 65lb 8oz and “The Weld” at 62lb 4oz, both adding serious weight and prestige to an already incredible haul. It was a textbook display of modern carp fishing—rigs placed with purpose, baiting done with thought, and confidence maintained throughout. When he’s not banking giants at Gigantica, Callum can be found putting his passion and knowledge into practice, turning lakes into thriving fisheries for Embryo Angling, helping to create waters that future generations of anglers can enjoy. A truly standout performance from The Glorified Gardener—one that will be remembered around the banks of Gigantica for a long time to come.

It was a week to remember (and laugh about) for Lewis Porter, who finally swapped the camera for the rods and took on the mighty Gigantica Main Lake. Fishing from the famous Pole Position swim, Lewis set up his traps 31 wraps toward the right of Stink, with all three rods positioned perfectly on the money. His approach was textbook – a spinner rig paired with a match-the-hatch wafter, fished over a tasty mix of boilie and hemp. Despite his best efforts, the lake proved tricky, and Lewis managed just one carp during his session. But what a carp it was — “The Cheese” at a solid 51lb 12oz! He landed the beast on his first day, and for a brief moment, you’d have thought royalty had arrived at Gigantica. Lewis strutted around like King Dick himself, basking in his early glory. However, as the week went on and the buzz faded, doubts began to creep in by Tuesday afternoon — prompting the staff to keep an eye out for sharp objects and rope, just in case the despair of a one-fish week took hold! Still, it was brilliant to see Lewis on the other side of the lens for once. After filming over ten fishing videos at Gigantica, it was only right he got a chance to wet a line himself. One fish or not, it was a memorable trip — and landing “The Cheese” is no small feat. Well done, Lewis – The Cheese suits you!

It was a testing week for John Wilkes down in Big Southerly, but perseverance and patience paid off. Fishing at 27.5 wraps to the left of Traz, John worked hard for every opportunity. Running a spinner rig with a match-the-hatch wafter, and baiting with a steady mix of boilies and hemp, he managed to tempt a couple of the lake’s wary residents into picking up the rig.Despite having five bites in total, John unfortunately lost three fish through no fault of his own — a real heartbreaker considering how tough the swim has been fishing recently. Still, he ended his session with two fine captures, the highlight being a stunning mirror known as “Chop Dorsal” at 50lb 12oz. Given how quiet Big Southerly has been, those bites were well-earned and showed true determination. 

P.S this is the first catch report on Big Suv in a very long time due to the lack of or no fish being caught in this swim, so John deserves to hold his head high!

It was another eventful session down at the mighty Gigantica, and this time it was none other than Carl Smith – better known online as Carl and No Alex – who took on the challenge. Setting up in the famous Alamo swim, Carl’s plan was clear from the start: fish 30 wraps to the left of Beach, using a tried-and-tested spinner rig tipped with a match-the-hatch wafter. The baiting approach was kept simple but effective – a mix of boilies and hemp to draw in the fish without overfeeding them. The tactic paid off, with Carl landing a total of three carp during his stay. The highlight of the trip came when Smarty Pants, a stunning 50lb 4oz mirror, rolled over the net cord – a true Gigantica gem and the biggest fish of Carl’s session. As always, Carl didn’t just fish; he documented the entire experience in his trademark style – sprinting around the pond armed with his GoPro and camera, capturing every moment from the glorious takes to the inevitable mishaps. Expect plenty of laughs, excitement, and some top-quality angling action when the video drops on his YouTube channel, “Fish with Carl,” very soon. A fantastic session, full of character, carp, and classic Carl moments – well done that man!

This week on the Main Lake, our very own Scott Cook made the trip over from Embryo Norton Disney and set up camp in Alcatraz. With the rods positioned 30 wraps to the right of Big Suv, Scott worked the area perfectly, presenting a spinner rig with a match-the-hatch wafter over a bed of boilie and hemp. The hard work soon paid off, with Scott landing three stunning carp during his session. The highlight of the trip came when Fluey rolled over the cord—a beautiful mirror weighing in at 46lb 10oz, and certainly the jewel of the week! Anyone who knows Scott will know he’s rarely far from the water—if he’s not on the bank catching carp or stocking up Scotty’s Tackle Shop back at Norton Disney, you’ll probably hear him before you see him, slicked-back hair blowing in the wind, hanging out the van window shouting “Any old iron!” Another cracking trip for the bailiff himself—nice one, Scott!

If you’ve spent any time around the Embryo Norton Disney complex, you’ll already know the name Ben Swain — or as most of us like to call him, Scott’s Boyfriend. Usually, you’ll find him out there in full bailiff mode, trimming hedges, cutting grass, or keeping everything looking neat and tidy… unless, of course, he’s too busy shouting at the coots or being generally angry at something (or someone). But this week, Ben traded his strimmer for his rods and made the trip over to Gigantica — and it’s fair to say it was worth it! Set up in Baxter’s Swim, Ben fished 25 wraps to the left of Stink, presenting a tidy spinner rig with a match-the-hatch wafter. His baiting approach was simple but classic — a mix of boilies and hemp. Over the session, Ben managed to land two fish, with the standout being none other than Chipper, weighing in at an impressive 42lb. A proper Gigantica chunk and one to be proud of! As always, Ben approached it with precision, focus… and probably a bit of shouting at any wildlife that came too close to his spot. When he’s not playing bailiff, he’s usually behind the wheel himself — driving Scott around looking for that good old iron!

Well done, Ben — tidy angling, tidy catch, and another memorable Gigantica trip in the books!

It was a tricky week down at Gigantica for Keith Rayment, who set up in the Oblivion swim with hopes high and rods clipped up at 25 wraps towards Beach. Despite the cooler conditions and the fish showing a little further up the lake, Keith kept his composure and stayed consistent throughout the session. Fishing with a spinner rig presented with a match-the-hatch wafter, Keith carefully baited his spot with a mix of boilies and hemp, building attraction over time. The patience paid off with two fish landed during the week, the highlight being a stunning 24lb mirror known as Nano Brutus – a well-deserved result after a slow start.  

It was a week of ups and downs for angler Ryan Gibson, who set up camp in CO’s Point for his session on the famous Gigantica. Fishing 28 wraps towards Beach, Ryan worked hard to tempt one of the lake’s elusive residents — and in the end, his persistence paid off! After a few early battles with the bream (we’ll get to that…), Ryan finally landed a stunning Lauren’s Lips at 29lb 8oz, a well-deserved capture that made the trip worthwhile. Ryan’s winning setup was a spinner rig paired with a match-the-hatch wafter, presented perfectly over a bed of boilies and hemp. It was a classic Gigantica approach — simple, clean, and deadly effective once he tuned things in.

Now, as for the week’s running joke… let’s just say Gibbo spent the first half of the trip ignoring the bailiffs’ advice — which earned him a few too many run-ins with the bream! But, after finally giving in and listening to the experts, things turned around. And wouldn’t you know it? A proper carp graced his net shortly after.

Moral of the story: sometimes the bailiffs do know best — well done, mate! 

For myself I didn’t manage to get the rods out this week, it was much more enjoyable watching this bunch try and catch them. 

Until next time 

Tight lines 

Ben Wazowski