Tuesday 05/08/2025 - Harescombe - Hobnobs - Match Lake

For some reason my blog has become infested with annoying adverts, need to investigate, but guess it won't be easy - Google language is from some time in the distant future and is difficult to understand.

Had a call from matey Glenn Bailey who wanted to fish a match with me. So with him busy on Thursday we decided to get on the Hobnobs match at Harescombe which is every Tuesday. So contacted Tony Cook - Chief Hobnob (pictured chatting to Glenn on peg 8) who gladly booked us in and making us very welcome - a good feeling. The match was on Match Lake.

After a decent breakfast with Glenn and Mark Lodge who we discovered is the Land Lord of the New Inn Frampton Cotterell!

Twelve booked in so plenty of room. Again I was hoping for a peg on the near side especially today as would have to barrow my kit round. In to the draw bag and it was peg 24 on the far side for me and the longest walk, whilst Glenn was on peg 8 sat by his van. From previous results pegs 24 and 25 (empty today) seem to be all or nothing pegs. Found myself next to matey Rich Powell on peg 22 so good company - hope he puts the maggots I gave him to good use Thursday.

Only had paste so one rig for top set plus three barrels and a RJ bullet for the RH margin which I kept trying to find the margins full of very small silvers which mashed the paste to death did spear a few of the blighters😁.

Started at three barrels and had a two F1's and a small Carp before it went iffy. The wind picked up making presentation of paste in 3 foot of water difficult so dropped down to two barrels and refed the line with micro. It was soon clear that it was going to be a difficult day. I basically struggled to about 90 minutes to go and had three Carp which I hoping was the start for a dash to the finish - alas not just the odd F1. Glenn who was also struggling started to catch at the same time as me but fortunately he carried on to the end (pictured with his third overall catch of 64 lb 9 oz and especially good to see him back to his old self).

Weighed 33 lb 9 oz for last but one. I think today result was partly to do with the draw and my feeding which I'm still trying to sort it out, came away thinking I'm over feeding. I must say the fish are in great condition with Gary taking good care of his fish, spraying anti-bacterial on fish with any signs of infection. A first time time for everything tripped over three Scotch Eggs 😂.

The match was won by regular C J Booth (pictured with his catch) with 76 lb 8 oz from peg 12. Not sure how he caught. Well done matey.

Glenn and me have booked into the match on the Doughnut in two weeks time which will be the first time we've fished it, could be interesting.

Finally it looks like Mark Lodge not only can pull a decent pint but also good pegs!!

Weigh Sheet:

Sunday 03/08/2025 - Alcove v. Royal British Legion (RBL) - Whitehouse Farm - Margret's and George's

Twenty minute drive to this lovely picturesque fishery. Nineteen fishing so it would be ten on Margret's and nine on George's.

But first my annual forage for Blackberries which are abundant here. Nice full tub for my tart.

Was hoping for George's. However, found myself on peg 8 on Margret's. The lake was at least two foot down - need some serious rain.

Have previously caught Chub to 3 lb on the maggot feeder here, but due to the levels didn't bother to set it up, instead favouring the waggler but some concerned that the hacking wind right to left would make this difficult. Short Ronnie rig and a 0.3 margin paste float for the RH side and a 4x14 Malman slim to fish top set plus four barrels.

Fed some loose GB with loose LR's on the long line and a big pot of micro down the RH side. With single LR on the hook caught a 6 oz Skimmer first put in which hopefully would be  the start of a good day on the Skimmers. Alas not the Ronnie's were very active and were first to the hook bait. After three Ronnie's and the same number falling off picked up the waggler and as I thought the wind wasn't helpful. Missed a bite to find the double LR hook bait sucked right out - Chub? Had a few more casts but was missing bites due to the wind and having to lay too much line on the bottom. Normal circumstances would have fished shallow waggler binned. Had a look on the paste in the margin with no indications binned that. So the Ronnie rig was my last chance to put some fish in the net which I fished down the LH side with single LR over loose fed LR's and hand fed looseish GB with the depth set at 30 inches. The upshot was caught initially lots of small Perch and once they got pissed off of my GB started to catch Rudd and Ronnie's to the end. The fact that I caught silvers all match shows the Carp didn't show causing the usual disruption.

Weighed 15 lb 14 oz for first silvers and not a sign of a Carp (silvers winner pictured with the match winner).

The match was won by Matt Challenger - Owner of Scott's Tackle with a new match record of 152 lb 5 oz from Georges peg 19 which included a fair few doubles including a 20 lb 1 oz Carp (pictured - don't look like a twenty on Matts hands - 😂). Matt caught long down his LH margin fishing paste over micro and 4's. Matt lost a few Carp and went home with two broken top sets and number six - get yourself a Drennan margin pole. Don't think his picked up help much towards the replacements. Well done matey.

Driving home I wondered what the record silvers match weight is.

Great day out but could have been better if it wasn't for the bloody wind.

Well done to all the framers.

Margret's

George's:

Thursday 24-07-2025 - Harescombe Cost Cutter - Match Lake

A few of the over 55's decided to have a go at Harescombe Match Lake. Not fished this Lake for some years but have fond memories. Back then it was primarily F1's building the weights with a smattering of Carp, Barbel and Chub. I understand there has been a complete change and restocking. With the Barbel and Chub now gone and a reversal of F1's for Carp being the target for better weights.

After a small breakfast, which was very good and adequate for me. There are "Fat Bastard" ones if you going to wait all day for an Indian!

Into the draw bag and peg 21 for me. Mid Lake far side (right side in picture). Geoff was on the same side end peg 16. Opposite me Chris Gay peg 9.

Catching F1's on paste can be a nightmare, subsequently have never used it here. However, with Carp being the new target decided to give it a go. Set up a 0.4 PC paste float and plumbed at top set plus two barrels to find 2 1/2 foot of water a lot less than I remember, the water levels was well down the stream that runs through now dry. So with that over gunned switch to a 4 no 8  PC paste float. Amazed that in was the same depth in tight to the margin so one float did both. Set up a 0.3 gram RJ for corn. Simple. Little concerned about the depth and how it would fish.

Won't bother to include the episodes in margin only to say wasted too much time there catching nothing. Latter realising this probably due to the fish not really wanting to feed.

Fed the long line with some 4's and a little 2 mm expander and went over it with the paste. Getting indications straight away from silvers catching a couple of Skimmers and a very small F1. The better F1's moved in and found it very frustrating trying to catch the blighters. After catching six F1's it went quiet but was fizzing. Had been topping up with 4's and expanders, so stopped the feed for a while and fished away from the fizz and had a run of four decent Carp. I knew my feeding wasn't right but was learning on the job. Caught the odd Carp steady to the end. Matey Chris Gay (pictured with his second placing catch) was catching well opposite over to the far bank and thought he had a bit more than me. Here's a thing my impatience lost a decent Carp and got that feeling it was going to cost you.

Weighed 46 lb 15 oz for 4th overall and a section win. So reasonably happy with the result, but not convinced the feeding was right.

A very close match with only a few fish between the framers, which in my opinion is what match fishing is about. A very good match venue. Will have to try the Doughnut sometime. I'm not  great fan of these high weight matches. Very well managed fishery.

The match was won by Steve Brown ( pictured with his catch) from peg 14 with 54 lb 15 oz. Chris told me he had caught over shallow with caster.

Geoff and me planned for a after match Indian and Geoff thought it best to go motorway down to the ring road citing schools were out so less traffic. Well I was OK until got to the ring road and hit traffic due to an accident with police filtering us from three lanes to one. However, one of the benefits is the road is usually clear after an accident. Had a phone call from Geoff who had mistakenly gone back onto the M4 instead of the M32 and had to go to Bath junction 18 where there was also and accident. Anyway I was one pint up by time Geoff arrived at the Mughal Palace!!! Another great memorable day out.

Weigh Sheet:

Thursday 17/07/2025 - Windmill Silvers Knock Up - Top Lake

Last minute decision to fish the Windmill Silvers knock up on the Top Lake if I could get a lift, which Kev Winstone kindly offered. We had the usual fishing chat about our ups and downs in recent matches – more good luck than bad for both. I then changed the subject to how his Solar Panel business was doing. He balled me a googly saying he just bought a funeral business in Kingswood!! Thinking diversification or waiting for punch line. Kev explained the business was doing exceptionally well they had out grown his current offices and would convert the property to offices. However, he may keep the cold storage for his bait! If anyone wants Solar or overnight battery storage Kev’s your man.

https://helpinusolar.com/

Whoops, unpacking the van realised I had brought my Carp pole case instead of the Silvers case. Duh, did have a couple of Ronnie top sets and the waggler. No 4 metre whip though which I was favouring.

Nine fishing today which fills this small lake as it has a lot of inaccessible areas which the Carper’s like. In to the draw box and peg 3 for me. So off to find the peg along a sloping path had to help Kev with his overloaded trolley he was next peg.

No platforms but I was able to get down the bank just in the water a long time since did this – closer to the water the better the fishing. But had the usual experience of the front legs gradually sinking over the six hours.

Set up the waggler and a long Ronnie rig. Set both to 3 foot so would fishing well off bottom. Only crap maggots and GB on the tray.

Fed a ball of loose GB with LR’s on the Ronnie line started on single LR and started catching Rudd and Roach Fry. Suspected the fry liked the GB too much, so switched to loose feeding. This worked to some extent and started catching tiny Skimmers, Ronnie’s, Hybrids and Rudd to 3 oz. Stayed with this until hooking a Carp subsequently switching the waggler over loose fed LR’s using it to hand as a whip (sort of). Kept switching between the two line throughout after being Carped. Only landed one one beautiful Common Carp of 8 lb out of three hooked.

These certainly came to mind - however, these are bigger that most of our fish.

Weighed 8 lb 3 oz for second placing. 

The knock up was won by Shay Gillman from Lily peg 10 with 10 lb 8 oz. Shay struggled until the last hour when he started to catch some proper Roach. Well done Matey.

Now here's a thing I was wondering why Tony Rixon was hanging around Kev's van who was still packing up, instead of heading back West. Then the  "Pound coin" dropped - Tony loves a pick up no matter how small.

Back to the Ringer for a cold one or two with the usual suspects. Baps looked great.

Weigh Sheet:

06-07-2025 - Ron Hardiman's Summer League - Round 5 - Westerleigh - Taylor's Pool and Shipp's Canal

Penultimate round of this well run league (Ron told me say this -  pictured some time ago 😁), which will be my last in the league as can't make the last round. This means losing one result as only allowed one dropper and have already had one stand in.

My turn on Shipp's. The draw bag gave my peg 10. So, from the four matches I have drawn peg's 10 and 20 twice. Both average pegs at the moment.

It was sad to find a dead 6 lb Carp in my peg. Ricky netted it out for me - thanks mate, who later nearly fell in due to nodding off.

From last experience gained match on this peg decided only needed GB and Maggots. One short Ronnie rig, 4x12 Winter for two barrels for hopefully a Skimmer or two and a 0.3 RJ slim for the LH margin.

Fed the Skimmer line with GB and a few LR's and tried the the line straight away on single LR to catch a few small Ronnie's - no Skimmers. Meanwhile been loose feeding the Ronnie rig line with LR's - No GB as wanted to catch some Perch which GB seem to turn off. Had a steady 90 minutes catching Perch and Ronnie's before it went quiet. Expected a Carp had took some interest and yep soon after that thought was landing a 4 lb fish. From the chatter around the canal it was fishing hard with most only having a Carp or two. So brought the RJ into use with triple LR hook bait over loose fed same and had a run of decent Carp. After we had a bit of a squall most of the others started to catch and with the wind picking up into peg 6 expected the weights to now come from that end. Set up a small dibber for tight into the margin where I started feeding the GB in 18 inches of water and had a few more plus a couple of munters, but as anticipated foul hooked a few over the GB.

Weighed 72 lb 8 oz which included 7 lb of silvers for the silvers win and 5th in the match, again average 5 points. But really enjoyed it, and nearly the Carp fishing!

Shipp's canal and the match was won by Bela Bakos (pictured with the silvers winner) from in form peg 8 with 103 lb 7 oz. Until the squall Bela was struggling with one Carp and thought I heard some crying. However, as expected he turned it around fishing his top set with DR's hook bait over GB and DR's feed. Well done matey can't keep a good man down.

Best of luck for all in the last round.

Back to the pub for a decent pint of Doombar. Good job the Banter Police wasn't in attendance.

Weigh Sheets:

29/06/2025 _- Westerleigh Summer League - Round 4 - Taylor's Pool and Shipp's Canal

My turn on Taylor's. With the aerator running fancied pegs 14, 26,25, 22. Alas drew the same peg as last time peg 10.

When Mark turned off the aerator there was loads of fish topping close to it. 

Didn't think I could make the top two on the lake from so far from the aerator, so set out for the silvers and see what developed.

Set up short Ronnie rig, Paste float for top set plus two barrels and a 4x14 Winter to fish the same line as the paste. Not been setting up the waggler of late reply because of the weed growth on the shallow bar which hasn't been producing. Some fish were showing out on the bar though so nearly set it up.

Now here's a thing after the match Mark Taylor told me he had cleared the weed from the bar and as he did so fish were feeding behind him. So if you think of doing something do it and give it a go.

Fed the two barrel line with GB laced with LR's and with single LR on the Winter had a tiny Skimmer and a few Crucians which seem to have grown on a fair bit on Taylors. I was hoping for some better Skimmers but probably didn't give it long enough as too soon converted the line to paste to got ragged by small F1's and Crucians. That was it, it's spent the remainder of the day on the Ronnie rig catch small Silvers and three better Skimmers. Late on caught four decent Carp losing one plus a 2 lb flying Skimmer (also known as a RAF Skimmer - fight harder in the air than in the water) they always look bigger in the air. Very enjoyable day.

Carp weighed 39 lb 3 oz and silvers 10 lb 7 oz for a total of 49 lb 10 oz for 4th on the pool. Felt second place was touchable had I actually spent time focussed on Carp, plus regretted not trying the waggler.

The match was won by Nick Saunders (pictured with the silvers winner) with 116 lb 7 oz from peg 23 (which hasn't produced for some time). Nick caught primarily down his margins on maggot. Well done matey.

Weigh Sheets:

15/06/2025 - Westerleigh Summer League - Round 3 - Taylor's Pool and Shipp's Canal

Just back from the Viaduct week and my side stomach muscle playing up, it's weird symptoms - can lift etc... but can't lightly touch it with clothes or hand?

Breakfast at Wetherspoons with Geoff.

My turn on Shipp's Canal. Into the draw bag and found disc 10. OK peg can throw up F1's and a few small silvers. Plus there are some munters in the margins late on which can be frustrating to catch.

For company on 9 with loads of options was matey Bela Bakos. I was half expecting a keep net count.

The short Ronnie rig and a 0.4 paste rig for down the middle.

Had a look on the paste expecting a F1 first try. Alas, it was soon apparent it wasn't going to happen early doors. Meanwhile Bela was busy foul hooking over to the island on banded pellet. He was struggling and understandably getting frustrated. So binned the paste and perhaps try again in the last hour in favour of the silvers on the Ronnie rig and single LR over loose fed same. Had a good couple of hours catching Perch and very small Ronnie's - no Skimmers. Did have a few 4 oz F1's and Crucians which quite rightly class as Carp which have to be placed in a separate net. Ninety minutes to go hooked a decent Carp which broke the hook length. I obviously wasn't paying attention - Bela had binned the pellet in favour of worm over GB in his margin and started to catch well so Carp not interested to pellet or forms of, so I make the mistake of setting up a margin paste rig catching a decent Carp first try, but after that foulers and lost rigs followed. Went back on the Ronnie rig with single LR and had three more decent Carp. Had I been paying more attention I would have set up a RJ slim with double LR sure I would have had a better last knockings.

Weighed a total of 38 lb 4 oz which included 8 lb of silvers for the silvers win.

The match was won by Steve Rogers with 124 lb from peg 6. Steve caught over to the island and long down his LH edge on bread hook bait over big pots of liquidised bread. Well done matey.

Weight Sheets: