Lake Meadows regular Graham Cook is celebrating after including carp of 25lb and 21lb 12oz in a four-fish haul to end a 25-year run of frustration at the water.

Cook, who first fished the Billericay venue in 1978, has landed dozens of 18 and 19 pound-plus carp from Lake Meadows, but amazingly none of them ever topped 20 pounds.

Frustrated by this he avoided the lake for several years, catching a string of 20 pounders to a best of 24lb 6oz from other waters.

Cook said he was determined not to be beaten he returned to Lake Meadows after the break but found that the problem persisted.

While those around him caught 20lb-plus specimens Cook's fish always weighed an ounce or two short, earning him the nickname of "The pest controller" among his fellow anglers.

But his amazing run came to an end in fine style during his latest trip when his first run produced possibly the biggest fish in the lake, a cracking personal best mirror of 25lb.

With congratulations coming from all directions, Cook re-cast and soon after caught a second fish weighing 15lb 12oz from a swim bear the boathouse hedge using Richworth shop bought boilie.

Later in the day several of Cook's friends came to the lake to add their congratulations. and while they were there he tempted another big mirror of 21lb 12oz and a smaller common of 11lb.

Published Wednesday, June 4, 2003

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