Snow White is not just any carp. It is a collective name for carp that weigh more than 20 kg and that swim in Sweden’s lakes. These big and strong fish have fascinated anglers for decades.
Frank Hunold has spent 12 years trying to catch this particular carp, and when it finally happened it was a triumph he won’t soon forget.
– It’s a fish like this you’ve hunted for many years, and it’s been up a few times. When it does cut, it is a very heavy resistance. They want to pull in one direction and I want to pull in another, says Frank.
In order to succeed, according to Frank, really good equipment and patience are required.
– You constantly have to tire the fish out slowly but surely. When they are up to those weights, they usually drive what they want.
The feeling of succeeding
After years of trying, failing, and endless hours at the lake, he finally got the pacifier. Frank has actually managed to catch this particular fish twice. The first time it weighed 17.8 kilos, as the fish had then lost weight after a tough season.
In the spring, in the right period, Frank got a pacifier again, and this time Snow White weighed an impressive 20 kilos and 740 grams.
– It has been up to 22.5 kilos when it was at its heaviest, says Frank. But it’s also tricky. I’ve seen it three, four times before when friends have caught it, but it’s a fish that can be hard to fool.
Obviousness to let go back
When it comes to releasing the fish, it’s a no-brainer for Frank.
– I am a sports fisherman. I release a lot of fish, including perch and pike. For us anglers, the carp is very protected because it is a purely cultured sport fish.
It’s terribly strong once you get the hang of it, and it’s not easy to fool, says Frank Hunolds.
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