Thursday 08/11/2026 - Westerleigh Winter League - Practice Match - Taylor's and Shipp's

I nearly didn't go today having problems with my right arm from elbow to neck. But the clincher was due to my personal trainer putting me on high protein diet so a full English will contribute 61 g. Seeing Doctor tomorrow.

Today's match was practice for the up and coming Westerleigh winter league.

Open draw and peg 17 on Taylors for me. As I would find it diffucult playing large Carp happy to be on Taylors albeit a corner peg which usually aren't great for silvers. Set up a 4x14 Winter to fish 3 barrels but soon relised that I wouldn't be able to hold it that distance for long so put two barrels away and plumbed about at one barrel, finding a few high spots which were probably stones. Set up short and long Ronnie rigs. The left hand margin was nice so hope to  catch plenty of Ronnie's there. There was a little cold wind but wasn't really providing any cover or water movement.

Fed some DR's in GB, feeding some LR's down the LH margin. Started out in front with double DR's (very small). Soon getting indications resulting in a couple of small skimmers and the odd Ronnie. It was very slow so had a qiuck look in my banker margin on the short rig initially expecting Perch, but blow me couldn't get a bite from anything. Meanwhile the anglers near/around the areator were catching well. Tried the long Ronnie rig with single LR over loose feed LR's and had some Ronnie's and a couple of F1's. I was struggling as was John opposite on peg 19. Basiccaly kept trying all three rigs picking off the odd small Silvers and F1's. Lost a couple of better Carp, one breaking the tip on my Winter. Set up again but never the same - why-o-why? Silver fish are the first to react to low oxygen which I think was the reason John and me struggled, desperate for some real rain and wind.

My Silvers weighed 6 lb 9 ozish and 8 F1's 9 lb 4 oz. A real struggle but still enjoyed the day as usual. Hoping the Doctor can sort my arm and neck. Today I saw the benefit of using digital scales instead of dial scales espeicially with low weight silver fish. The digital scales are far more diffinitive.

Taylor's was won by Matt Tainton (pictured standing due to a bad back - know the feeling) with an excellent catch of 82 lb 10 oz. Matt caught long over the bar fishing corn. Well done matey.

Silvers was a joint affair with two 7 lb 2 oz by Dave and Nick. Would digital scales had found an outright winner?

Shipp's was won by Martin Rayet (pictured drinking tea as per usual) with 58 lb 13 oz from unfancied peg 13. Martin caught on maggot long feeding about 1 1/2 pints. Well done matey.

Silvers was won by Steve Rogers (not John Winter a weigh sheet) with 2 lb 10 oz from peg 5. His catch included two decent Perch.

Weigh Sheets:

Thursday 05/11/2026 - Over 55's - Redhill - Half Penny's - 1 to 20

Looking forward to the return to Redhill - Penny's. Last match felt that although I had the Carp sorted (sort themselves) I failed on the  silvers, plaqued by tiny Perch. So another go today.

Twelve fishing so we booked half of Penny's choosing the far side pegs 1 to 20.

Arrived at the fishery wishing I had put on my base layer. Nasty cold wind.

Another nice Egg abd Bacon roll from the Breakfast hut.

Pegs sorted by Tony Whitcomb and peg 9 for me (pictured) nice veiw accross the Valley. For company had Tony on 8 and Ray on peg 11.

The pool is usually higly coloured, however, today the colour had drop somewhat. Tony said hardly anything came from the margins in yesterday's match, making things simple a 4x12 Winter to fish top set plus three barrels in 3 foot of water. Uncertain about hook and hook length to start with but due to the size of the Carp and wanted to land any accidentals went for 0.16 GLine with no. 20 Guru super spade hook. Later in the match I set up the long Ronnie rig.

Fed the line with a knub of GB laced with DR's with double DR on the hook and was soon catching Skimmers from 5 oz to 2 lb averaging 12 oz and some decent Ide. Had two F1's and a 3 lb Carp loosing two foulers . Had a really good 90 minutes on the silvers as did neighbour Ray. However, it suddenly slowed for me and Ray. Next door Tony had been busy loosing Carp on pellet, after 90 minutes he changed to Maggot started to land a few Carp in addituin 5 Tench to 3 lb. As few Carp were showing in my oeg changed the hook length to 0.14 and no. 20 Tubertini 808. Slowed so much set up the Ronnie rig and  tried it with single LR over loose fed same and had a few more Skimmers and Ronnie's, but it wasn't manic. Went for a Banana walk. Martin Rayett peg 15 was doing well on F1's and silvers having 30 lb plus of Ide being helped by the wind blowing down his end. Still most anglers getting a day's fishing.

Went back and swapped the long line to kindering LR's over double LR's and started to catch Ide and F1's and the odd Skimmer. Kept trying the Ronnie rig which would add two quick Skimmers before it died.

Carp weighed 13 lb 4 oz so good avoidance. Silvers weighed 21 lb 8oz for a default silvers win thanks to Martin Rayet who came third and smashed the silvers with 48 lb 4 oz. Well done matey. Really enjoyed today. Very nice fishery. Hopefully will be back soon.

The match was won by Bristol's Tackle Tart Gary Bowden (pictured) with 95 lb 8 oz from peg 5. He said he only had three Carp for his last weigh which went 37 lb and the clincher over Tony Whitcomb pictured with the scalesman, bombing is the only way he can get on the blog these days. Gary caught on pellet mainly at three barrels. Apparently Gary is going to try every new pole before he dies. 

Back to the Riverside Hotel for a pint where the discussion centred around the timing of Martin Rayet eating his large breakfast. Apparently start to finish -  4 minutes 37 seconds. Can't butter my toast that quick!!

Weigh Sheet:

Thursday 22/10/2026 - Over 55's Pole Only - Harescombe - Doughnut

With Kev Winstone otherwise engaged I travelled with Geoff Francis and without the need of trollies the kit fitted in easily. Nice breakfast as per usual in the Harescombe cafe.

The very helpful Tony Cook kindly collected the pools and did the weigh board today - thanks to him and the other Tony for weighing in - he's good at it. John Smith told me to f*ck off when I asked him to weigh in.

At last some decent rain recently and overnight but still surprised to see the Doughnut full to the brim. It was down 3 foot 4 weeks a go! Due to this fancied the lower numbers in the shallower water. However, it was peg 12 for me. That will do. Between Lionel and Phil and could see Mark Tanner opposite on peg 7 sat on his new £1100 tackle box with his recent purchased £1500 pole, which broke today by the way. Money bags.

Sat on the peg and couldn't believe the Sun was going to be a right problem which was relecting off the water at about 10 o clock to the left and would move to the right over the match whereas I would move the line to the left, plus the wind was smack in the face - bugger. Set up a 4x14 Winter and had a plumbed around to the right and left at top set plus one barrel which was about 6 foot deep and even so not at full depth but the slope to the deeper water was slight to decided to let the facing wind drag the rig up the slope. Marked both depths on the line with a black marker pen for quick depth change. Set up a 4x10 Speedy for the left margin but didn't fancy it much and I was right, athough it had a few outings it spent most of the time on the bank.

Had some meat but didn't fancy it so stayed in the bag. Instead going for LR's and some GB mixed hard to get the LR's to the bottom as loose feeding may have lead to foul hooking. So fed the right side, but not the left as wasn't sure where the sun would go. Had a fish after 10 minutes deceded to top up after each fish - that didn't work as couldbn't get another bite. So kept feeding small tight balls of GB laced with LR's. After an hour had two fish in two put-ins. Here we go - not. The Sun was creeping up to my line which wasn't too bad when the wind broke the reflection.  After a couple of hours felt something was starting to happen getting some indications had a another fish loosing to foul hookers. Now my mistakes was not to priming the left line earier as soon as the Sun made it's path to the right, also staying on the right line too long. Finally forced to switch and surprise had a fish put in! It was a long time before the next fish - now here's thing have been waiting for the Hospital to call me back for a few day's and they did while I was playing the fished, just as I answered they hung up! Back to playing the fish and it comes off bugger. Had two more fish before the all out.

The 7 Carp weighed 31 lb all above average for the lake. Surprised it got me third overall as I thought Phil Morgan who fished a good match who had more fish than me. Felt I could have got closer to Gary bowden's second overall weight of 55 lb 4 oz had it not been for the Sun. I really enjoy fishing when its hard as it was today. The Doughnut does get hard in the winter so looking forward to more visits.

AS most expected the match to be won by Tony Rixon (pictured) when he rocked up on peg 1, but he's an angler that doesn't need much luck. Tony caught at 13 metres using his go to bait of 8 mm hard pellet to put 79 lb 2 oz on the scales. Well done matey.

Back to the White Harte for some grub with Geoff Francis - pictured - FB

Weigh Sheet:

Sunday 18/10/2026 - Ron Hardiman's Summer League - Final Round - Shipp's and Taylor's

Final match of this well run league by Ron Hardiman. If it wasn't for anglers like Ron there would be a lot less choice of matches. Oraganisers are far more important than participating anglers.

Last round which should have been fished some time ago but due to water levels some matches had to be cancelled. Won't be long before the winter league starts here. Already the weather has turned in that direction, it was rather Nipply this morning.

My turn on Shipp's. Into the draw bag and peg 13 for me. This is a funny peg and can be good for Carp but more reliable for Silvers. Tom Thick had 200 lb of Carp off it last match. No way I was up to landing this amount at the moment, so fingers crossed the weather has sent the Carp to the other end as it was going to be silvers for me.Set up the long Ronnie rig, a 4x10 Winter to fish top set plus three barrels (deepest part pf the peg at 2 3/4 feet, finally a 4x10 Speedy for anywhere from 6 inches to 2 foot for Carp in case they were lurking ready to spoil the day. I would know very quickly which it would be!

First problem I faced was the sun which was straight in my face and would stay there until it passed overhead or it clouded over. Fed some loose GB and Pinkie on the long line, loose feeding  LR's on the Ronnie rig line. Started on the long line with single LR on the hook and had a small Ronnie first put in, then another. Fishing this distance is too slow for small fish, so picked up the Ronnie rig and basically has a small fish every put in. However, my arm was aching shielding the sun reflection with my hand. It wasn't untill half way through that it clouded over. Much better afterwards and it wasn't until the last 30 minutes that it dried up thought Carp might have arrived but with pegs our end struggling for Carp was doubtful. Spent the last knockings on the long line and had a tiny Skimmer and the nearest I got to Carp was one foul hooker 😁

Weighed an estimted 150 Ronnie's for 12 lb 4 oz for the silvers win. It was inevitable that I would finish near bottom of the league which I did coming last - only once fished for Carp which was a mistake. Except for the sun issue it was a very enjoyable day.

Shipp's was won by Nick Saunders (pictured with a 15 lb Common Carp) with 130 lb 8 oz from peg 8. Nick caught on tripple maggot feeding 3 pints of dead maggot. Nick also won the league with 11 points and 750 lb of fish. Well done matey,

Taylor's pool and the match was won by Tom Thick (pictutred with today's silvers winner) with 159 lb 14 oz from peg 17. Tom caught mainly at 13 metres with pellet or meat. He also took a few down his end margin. Well done matey pity you missed  match.

Bela Bakos caught a few silvers from Taylor's peg 23 to take the silvers with 5 lb 12 oz.

Back to the Old Inn where Nick bought a round as did Paul Elm's another overall framer. Thanks lads.

Top six overall - rouges gallery pictured at the top.

Weigh Sheets:

Final League table: Thanks to Chris Fox

Thursday 08/10/2026 - Over 55's - Redhill - Penny's Lake

Heard so many good things about this venue so booked it for the Over 55's. So new venue for me and a few others which gets my enthusiasm going, love trying to work out new venues. Told plenty of Carp and Silvers. So silvers for me.

We had 18 turn up but Phil Stone was unwell and had to go home - well done for turning up matey. So 17 in the draw, Thanks to Clayton and Tony for sorting the pegs and sections. as I didn't have a clue. As one end is better than the other at the moment the two sections were split across the lake. The weigh sheets confirming this.

Travelled with Kev Winstone and was surprised how easy a drive it is - Ring Road, M4 and A40 dual carriageway. About an hour. Had a nice tasty bacon and egg roll at the fishery - wish I had time for another.

Pete Turner collected the pools and sorted the payout - even had envelopes.

Last but one into the draw bag and peg 25 for me. Got to the lake and first impressions was it resembled a rowing course. Next to the affable Haydn on 27 and Rod on 23. So good company.

Very shallow out as far as I could fish the pole so set up a waggler to fish 20 metres where I found about 7 foot. Intent was to catch Ide on maggot. Set up the long Ronnie rig to fish at a distance of top set plus one where it was 30 inches deep. Finally as 4x10 Speedy for down the edge in 18 inches for some late Skimmers.

Fed the Ronnie rig line with loose GB and LR's, starting on the waggler with single maggot over loose fed same at full depth. Well this proved to be very disappointing tried up in the water and had liners from sswirling Carp. With no sign of silvers. Went on the Ronnie rig and had an Ide and a Skimmer before being plaqued by 1 oz Perch. Stopped feeding the maggots instead just potting neat GB. Perch aren't keen on GB - not here!. Inbetween perch caught the odd Skimmer all similar sized at 12 oz. Been loose feeding LR's down the edge and could see Carp swirling so dropped the Speedy in with double LR on the hook and could not believe it when the float shot under thinking it was a fouler to find a 1 oz Perch hanging on the hook. With only 3 hours left and about 10 lb of silvers decided to give it up and set the RJ Bullet paste rig (if a venue was design for this float Penny's is it). Feeding a mix of GB and micro fished the same line to the end catching Carp averaging 3 1/2 lb to the end.

Silvers weighed 14 lb 12 oz and Carp weighed 83 lb 13 oz for a section winning weight of 98 lb 9 oz. Must say the fish are in great condition. Probably due to not been fished for by "the method" very often.

The match was close affair for first overall with Tony Wittcomb (pictured) taking the match by 4 oz with 211 lb 15 oz from second place Clayton Hudson's 211 lb 11 oz from peg 37. Tony caught on both paste and dead maggot. Well done to both.

Silvers was won Ryan Jordan (pictured) with 56 lb 14 oz from peg 2. In his own words - Well nearly:
"With silvers season kicking off this month I needed some practice to get me in the swing of it all again. I drew peg 2 which was yet another end peg and my brain was starting to wobble on the days plan but I had a word with my self and stuck to the silvers. I set up a few riggs to cover different depths but only used two of them. Hybrid Slim 0.2g for 2 plus 2 on corn and a jigga for 13 meters for maggots. 

Started short with the hybrid on corn had 3 skimmers and a couple f1 tbh I spent too long here as it was slow, meanwhile I had been pinging white maggots out long and went to my 9 meter line but was no good so binned that off. So probably just over an hour in to a 5 hour match I went shallow and all I can say is it was solid with ide and the odd big f1. Spent the rest of the day with the jigga feeding white maggots with worm head on the hook. Ended the day with 56lb of skimmers and 44lb of accidentally caught f1. And objective completed winning the silvers on the day" Well done matey.

Weigh Sheet - Section A

Weigh Sheet - Section B

Sunday 27/09/2026 - Ron Hardiman's Summerish League - Round 5 - Westerleigh - Shipp's and Taylor's

My turn on Taylor's. My last two matches had to fish for Carp. So looking forward to having a go back on the silvers. Hoping for peg 20 - my favourite for silvers plus would have the wind off my back.

Into the draw bag and peg 15 for me it's an OK silvers peg but with the wind hacking into it might be a proplem for the Ronnie rig and a Carp attractor. For company had Mike Etheridge on 14 and inform Nick Saunders on 16.

Set up the 4x14 Winter to fish at top set plus one just down the shelf and a 0.25 gram RJ short Ronnie rig. Thought about  0.3 gram RJ Slim for the Carp - incase, but didn't bother my wrist still a tad sore.

Started on the long line with single LR on the hook over GB with some very very old crappy Pinkies in it. Had two quick small Skimmers and a 8 oz Tench before the Carp arrived. Bloody things had a few F1's and a small Mirror Carp before loosing the hook, so onto the Ronnie rig down the right and had a little run of Ronnies over loose fed LR's. Meanwhile both Tony Rixon on 17 and Nick were bagging with Carp on Maggot in the margins. The wind really picked up which brought lots of Carp into my peg which were a bloody nusience. Thought about setting up a Carp rig but was so far behind Nick, Tony, Paul Elms and Des Shipp decided to tough it out. Just couldn't feed anything especially maggot. Didn't count how many I lost, but would have been embassing to mention in any case. Decided to set up a 4x12 Speedy with a light hook length to prevent loosing rigs and fed a very big pot of very loose GB down the left margin which seem to work resulting in a few better Skimmers and Ronnie more importantly less Carp. Had to keep topping up as most fish were coming on the drop.

Silvers weigh 9 lb which won the silvers by 1 oz 😁. My accidental Carp weighed 26 lb 8 oz. I bloody hate the wind.

Nick Saunders (pictured) won Taylor's with 168 lb 6 oz from peg 16. Nick caught well for 5 hours slowing once the wind eased. Well done matey nice to watch. 

Shipp's was won by Tom Thick from peg 13 (kiss of death in the winter peg) with an incredible 201 lb 12 oz and so far taking the prize for the highest league weight by 9 oz. Tom caught on meat intially down the right on his top set and later further down the right to 9 metres. All caught in 10 inches of water. Tom pictured at the top (on the right) with his mentor Charlie Barnes, and weight lifting todays silvers winner. Tom is great comany and hard to beat on either Carp and Silvers. Well done matey.

Shaun Fillingham won the silvers on Shipp's with 5 lb 8 oz. Fished hard for silvers today.

Some great Carp weights today. Well done to Mark Taylor for keeping the fishery so well.

Weigh Sheets:

Thursday 24/09/2026 - Over 55's - Harescombe - Doughnut - Floats Only

Back to the well organised Harescombe fishery. Great breakfast and company. Like to thank the two Tony's (Cook and Rixon) for thier help yesterday. It's a thankless job running matches - just remember without match organisers there would be no matches - so greatest respect for them.

Travelled with Kev "Any Road" Winstone today. Great company.

Didn't mind where I drew as plenty of space. So happy with peg 20 plus next to matey Geoff Frances on peg 19.

Last match kept an eye on Mick O'Brian who won the match with 164 lb. So took some learning from that on board today. Mixed up some paste, had some wetted micro and soaked 4's and LR's.

Set up two paste floats one for full depth at top set and two barrels, the other for the left margin. For the right margin a 4 x12 Speedy set to 2 foot deep - love theses floats becasue of the long tips.

I fed the both paste lines with 4's and micro anf after 30 minutes without any signs on both lines - not even any blows over the feed, gave it up and fished the Speedy with tripple maggot on a Guru no 20 super spade - like these hooks because of thier wide gape and strength. Was soon playing the hard fighting Mirrors and Commons. Last 45 minutes lost concentration and relising why I had stopped catching - fishing in the wrong place - Duh.

My 29 similar size Carp weighed 99 lb 6 oz (average 3 1/2 lb) for second. Losing concentration is mainly due to finding it boring playing Carp, hence my fishing for silvers being  preferred. But do love a match where you use the same rig all match including the hook length.

The match was won by Kev Winstone (pictured with the runner up) from peg 7 with 108 lb 11 oz. Kev spent an hour or so trying variuos methods before settling on his preferred bait of 7 mm meat fished at top set and two barrels in 3 foot of water. His catch rate increased as the match progressed adding 9 Carp in the last knockings. Kev used 1 1/2 small tins throughout. Well done matey - double bubble van.

Now here's a thing - we were driving back to the Ringer for a roll and pint getting to Iron Acton I asked if he knew the way to the pub from here. Kev said he knows every road in the arrea so no problem. So driving behind a slow tractor Kev darted down a road which would be quicker - he said -  after a couple hundred yards I said it looks as if we are going away from the pub. Kev then said I don't recognise this road so threw a heuy Hence "Any Road" Winstone.

Everyone caught a few fish today - good t o see.

Weigh Sheet: