I’ve just set a new PB match weight at Larford and booked a place in the final of the Maver Classic at the start of May. And I did d it using Sonu Fin Perfect 6mm Feed pellets for the hook and Sonu’s new Tigerfish groundbait to attract big carp to my margin peg.

The match took place on Saturday April 9 and it was a warm day, so I fancied a big weight on the Match Lake.

I set up my Preston Gis 14 pole to fish shallow for F1s at 13 metres and the rig comprised a 9H elastic through the top two and a Preston Pink in-line dibber float, with a .11mm Preston Power hooklength finished off with a PR36 size 18, with a hair-rigged band.

I fed casters via the catapult and just used a Sonu Fin Perfect feed pellet in the band and it worked a treat, with an F1 coming literally every put-in. Despite the fact you are catching all the time it is a steady process. I’d say each fish takes around five minutes, from shipping out to getting a bite to landing the fish.

I caught well for three-and-a-half hours but all the while I had been feeding Sonu Tigerfish groundbait down in my margin in 18inches of water. I primed this peg with my groundbait mix and at times, because I was throwing the groundbait rather than potting it in, as the ball hit the water the surface would erupt as carp made their presence known.

When I went down the margin the action, with a piece of luncheon meat on the hook, was instantaneous. I had a five-pounder five minutes from the end of the contest, which took me through the 200lb barrier, and right on the all-out I netted an eight-pounder to cap a fantastic day.

My weight of 214lb 14oz was not only a new PB for me at Larford but it won me the match, giving me a berth in the Maver Classic final, which takes place on the May Bank Holiday weekend of May 1st and 2nd.

My margin rig was a 13H hollo elastic on a Preston Pullakit with .17 Preston Power  main line to a .15mm Power hooklength, with a Preston PR456 in a size 14 finishing it off.

The Sonu Tigerfish groundbait mixes really well and is slightly tackier than some of the other Sonu groundbait range because of the sugars in the tiger nuts. Best of all,  it has amazing pulling power for the carp, which adore it.