NORTHAMPTONSHIRE’S Hollowell Reservoir is lifting its ban on the use of boilies for the first time, prompting predictions that an Aladdin’s Cave of big fish opportunities is about to open up.

 The venue has already produced carp to 34lb 8oz and only last year Daventry’s Mick Stevens banked a new venue record tench of 10lb 10oz 8dr, a fish which won Mick through to the final of Midland Angler’s Maver Midland Specialist of the Year competition.

“There were rumours that a 40lb carp was caught during last summer but we could not substantiate this,” commented a spokesman for the venue. “However, it’s entirely possible and we know for a fact the venue holds lots of 20lb plus carp.

“The new record tench taken last year was a thick-set fish with none of the pot-bellied appearance of many double figure tench and it would be no surprise if this record were beaten again in 2003.

“Hopefully this lifting of the boilie ban will allow committed carp anglers to realise the excellent potential of the venue.”

Hollowell, which has also produced bream to 12lb 5oz, pike to 30lb, chub to 6lb 4oz and hybrids to 5lb 6oz, is open all year and can be fished on a £6 day ticket. The venue is featured in this month’s Midland Angler magazine.

Midland Angler