Top match angler Grant Albutt caught this immaculate looking 41lb 8oz common carp yesterday during a week-long trip to France.

The fish was caught from La Saule Paquot Lake in France. It fell to a single tigernut, hair-rigged on a size 6 ESP G4 hook to 15lb Sink Link and fished over a bed of parti blend.

“I decided to go to France to try and catch a fish of a life time – for me anyway being a match angler!” he explained. “Fair play to all the carp anglers out there as it certainly is a waiting game. The trouble is I like being busy and I don’t know what to do half the time, twiddling my thumbs! Well at 10.30 in the morning, boom, off it went and I landed this stunning common.

“To say I’m buzzing is an understatement. I’ve still got five days left, so I might get one even bigger!”