Grant Land's 20% of Venue's Carp In One Nuts Fishing Trip

When a last-minute call comes in from two very good mates who happen to own one of the most talked-about carp lakes in France, there's really only one answer — and for OMC angler Grant Hilton, that answer was an emphatic yes. A decision that resulted in a dream session...

"To say he smashed it would be an understatement"

The call came from Martin & Craig, owners of a stunning water around 4½ hours from Calais, letting Grant know a swim had opened up for the week. Sat with his son as the conversation unfolded, Grant felt the excitement building before he'd even hung up the phone. Fully stocked after a recent order of One More Cast Bait, the gear was packed and the pair were on their way within days.

The venue in question is no easy touch. Holding just 90 fish but boasting a serious average weight, the lake had humbled the anglers before Grant — the previous booking returned just three fish between three rods for the week. But the pull of a stunning two-tone common reputed to weigh around 50lb was all the motivation Grant needed.

"Grant was armed with OMC Bait and Tackle for the trip"

With deep water, shallow margins, overhanging trees and gravel patches all in play, the lake rewards anglers willing to switch things up — and Grant's tactics were spot on from the off. Solid PVA Bags fished over beds of bait on the gravel, Chods Away and Kickback Linkz Hinges deployed where debris called for a higher presentation, and Ronnie Rigs all played their part across the session.

"The Kickback Linkz were a key component of several of the winning rigs"

"The Solid PVA Bag has always been one of Grant's favourite tactics"

The result was a phenomenal 18 carp landed — around 20% of the entire lake's population in a single trip.

• 60lb x 1
• 50lb x 5
• 40lb x 7
• 30lb x 3
• 20lb x 2

A session Grant says he'll "remember for years to come" — but as ever, it wasn't just about the fish. "Sharing the bank with my son, watching him pick up tricks and tactics along the way, was the real highlight of the trip," he said. 

Though not every lesson landed as intended — his son had one question that summed up the week: "Why does Dad use so much Nutty Sauce?"