Breaking Barriers: W// Kayleigh Faulkner.

Spring Victories: Reeling in Personal Bests with Max Attract Family.

Spring has sprung, and I achieved my new personal best...

I recently joined the Max Attract Family as an ambassador. My fiancé Ben and I joined 25 other anglers for what was my first official Fishing Social and solo angling experience at Horcott Lakes in the Cotswolds.

To say I was nervous was an understatement. I had only managed to spend limited time on the bank due to other commitments before the social. However, I had spent the previous year with Ben trying to teach myself just a smidgen of watercraft. I observed fizzing, fish turning over, and what looked like carpy spots, and occasionally climbed up trees just to get a better idea of what I was looking for. It wasn't long before I gained the nickname "Spotter" from my close friends.

In addition to honing my casting skills, feeling the lead down, bait application, and rig tying, Ben had really helped improve my angling. So, while I was anxious, I felt ready to take on the challenge of fishing a weedy pit. Both Mat and Ben also felt that I was very much ready for it.

Friday came, and a few of us drove in a convoy for a weekend on the bank. The weather wasn't on our side at all; the rain was relentless from the early hours. We wrapped up warm, and packed our wellies and waterproofs, knowing that the only good thing the weather was going to bring was what we call "epic fishing conditions." After an unfavorable draw, Ben and I picked a swim and got to it. Just as we were finishing setting up, I was lucky enough to see a fish show twice on the same spot and instantly thought, "That's where I want my rods to go." So, after a quick lead about, I found a spot close by that was just beyond a weed bed but had a perfect clear drop. The first year Mat started Max Attract Baits, he showed me a product in the pipeline, and I said to Ben that we needed to have them. Bright pink in color, with the most pungent smell of garlic, the bait soon became known to us all as "Stinky Pinkys."

After a few hours of sheltering from the rain, my receiver beeped twice, followed by a single beep, and my adrenaline hit the roof. Fish on! I was away... To say my legs were like jelly would be an understatement. I was saying to myself, "Please get in the net." Ben helped me land what was clearly a decent fish. Well, it was safe to say everyone on the lake knew I had landed the first fish with the massive "Yes!" I screamed. With Ben, Mat, and Shaun around me, smiles on all four of our faces, Ben said to me, "Well, that's a new PB."

It was a beautiful common weighing 24lbs 10oz, and I was thinking, "How the hell am I going to lift this thing for photos?"

With the weighing confirming the new personal best, and photos done, it was time to tie new rigs and get the rods back out. Again, the bait used was Pro fish in the Fluro pink pop-up, a bait that I set my sights on as the first choice among Max Attract Baits.

As the session progressed, I went on to land another small but cool stocky mirror and three decent-sized tench with carp-like one-toner takes.

I had a fantastic weekend, an amazing BBQ on Saturday, and met a lot more of the dedicated Max Attract Baits family.

I came away feeling far more confident in my angling, and I look forward to the season ahead armed with my trusty "STINKY PINKYS"

Tight lines everyone

Kayleigh