A large common stocked into a south-west day-ticket lake has been caught for the first time.

The fish, known as the Don, weighed in at 34lb 4oz and is the biggest common to be caught from Upper Tamar in around a decade.

The 81-acre venue, which straddles the border of Cornwall and Devon, was topped up with 30 carp over 20lb last September.

The Don, which was one of these fish, was banked by Ashley Bunning using Burton Bait Rollers boilies. He said: “To say I am over the moon is an understatement.”

Ben Smeeth of the South West Lakes Trust, which runs the water, told Carpfeed: “The capture was part of a great weekend on the venue with anglers catching multiple numbers of fish and other fish over 20lb.

“The Done was stocked at 34lb 6oz and we think the fish has taken five months to settle and is now feeding well again and we expect weights to climb.

“It’s not a venue-record fish although it is the biggest common caught for 10 years or so. We know there are bigger in here but they just don’t get caught!

“The largest fish we stocked in September 2017 was a mirror at 35lb 9oz which was caught at 36lb 8oz.”

Upper Tamar can be fished for £8 a day or £17.50 for 24 hours and £195 for full-season access. Concessions are available. For more details visit: http://coarse.swlakesfishing.co.uk/waters/upper-tamar/