Coventry specialist Matt Ridley has banked the biggest ‘day ticket’ carp in the land in the shape of a fish called The Creature from Bluebell Lakes in Northants at a massive 64lb 2oz (pictured in this week’s Angling Times), its biggest ever weight and less than 4lb off the British record.

The fish was stocked into the Tansor venue’s Swan Lake in 1988 at 33lb after the floods that devastated the Nene Valley. It was last caught 12 months ago at 60lb by Chris Thompson.

Matt (26) has targeted the fishery for around 18 months and hit the jackpot while fishing a clear spot in 12ft of water using a Richworth Crab and Mussel boilie over a bed a bed of maggots, corn and chopped boilies.

As an extra edge he also introduced several handfuls of mud to the swim to help colour up the water and give the fish the confidence to feed.

Matt had decided to stay on for an extra couple of days after banking several fish to 30lb from his chosen swim as conditions favoured more action. His set-up comprised a 4in Fox Coretex Black hook link tied to a size 8 Fox SSC hook on a helicopter set-up.