Andy Bennett lands the “Top 6” BDAC carp in a season!

Belper's Andy Bennett lands the 6 biggest carp in Wyver Lane Pond, in under 5 months!

Andy banks the six largest largest known carp in Wyver Lane Pond – including 3 x 20s!

Our Carp & Night Fishing Officer, Andy Bennett, has been busy either side of the COVID lockdown – putting together an impressive run of fish which includes all six of our largest carp, including our two new “stockies”.

This is not only a tremendous personal achievement for Andy, it also proves our four largest carp remained in the pond during the autumn & winter floods and don’t now reside in the Derwent! Great news for the Club and our members.

Here’s how Andy’s run of specimen carp unfolded…

Between March and July Andy landed Moonscale twice, with a largest weight of exactly 20lb.

Moonscale - Big carp from Belper - carp fishing
Moonscale - Andy Bennett with a specimen Wyver Lane Pond mirror carp

Before March was out, a mirror carp called Half Lin was tripped up by Andy, at 20lb 7oz.

Half Lin - Belper pond specimen carp angling

After the national lockdown put an end to all our fishing for a while, Andy hit the ground running with a 6-fish catch that included Half Tail at 16lb 13oz.

Half Tail - Belper pond specimen carp angling

Next up was the large common we stocked this year – Chester – which Andy caught twice, up to 21lb 9oz, which is 11oz heavier than the weight she was stocked at!

Andy Bennett with Chester - a specimen Wyver Lane Pond common carp, Belper
Andy Bennett with a 20lb Wyver Lane Pond common carp - Chester - at Belper

In mid-June it was the turn of our second newly-stocked fish – the beefy mirror, Shoulders, at 18lb 15oz.

Andy Bennett with Shoulders - a 19lb Wyver Lane Pond carp, Belper
Andy Bennett with Shoulders - a specimen Wyver Lane Pond mirror carp, Belper

The final fish that completed Andy’s impressive full-house was a mirror known as Linda, which he banked at 19lb 10oz.

Andy Bennett with a specimen Wyver Lane Pond carp, Belper
Andy Bennett with a Linda - big carp from Wyver Lane Pond, Belper - carp fishing

Well done that man!

Check out some of our other members’ carp catches in our Carp Gallery.

Early Season Captures from the River Derwent

River Derwent 4lb+ specimen wild brown trout

Below is a selection of captures we’ve been sent from our Belper sections of the Derbyshire Derwent – over the first few weeks of the 2020/21 season.

These include a couple of great nets of fish, a stonking river roach, specimen brown trout & grayling, lure caught pike, bream… even an ide! Showcasing just what a fantastic mixed fishery we’re blessed with here, on the Derwent:

If you’d like to send us details & photos of a specimen, bag of fish, or rare capture or sighting from our waters, please use our catch report page to send them to us.

River pegs ready for the new fishing season

River Derwent fishing platforms, Wyver Lane Pond, Belper

The top stretch river pegs in the pond field are all ready for the start of season on 16th June! Some great fishing in lovely surroundings.

There are 16 pegs to choose from, and a large variety of species are present: predominantly dace, roach, perch, grayling, trout and chub, along with the occasional carp, barbel, bream and ide.

Also Wyver Lane Pond is looking in great shape which is a testament to the hard work by our committee members and volunteers.

River Derwent fishing pegs, Wyver Lane Pond, Belper