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:

Sunday 13/09/2026 - Ron Hardiman's Summer League - Westerleigh - Taylor's and Shipp's

At last we are able to finish the Ron's summer league which has been cancelled a few times due to low water levels. Well done Ron for sorting it all out.

My turn on Shipp's and with the water levels down I would find it difficlt to fish peg 9 to 11 due to having to set up in front of the platform which would need a lot of rock climbing skills. So was really happy to draw peg 2 - my favorite. However, it wasn't to be - REDRAW - bugger. Back in and peg 6 for me. OK peg as could fish from platform with 2 1/2 foot of water right infront, BUT it was clear it would have to be a Carp day rather than silvers - loads swimming around especially in the margins. For company had Ron on peg 5.

Set up two paste floats one for the margin and the other for the deepest part which was top set plus one barrel. As back up the short Ronnie rig.

We were get light rain on and off. With umbrella going up and down mainy due being under a tree which kept shedding it's stored rain over me from time tio time throughout the match.

Had to use my 3 metre landing net handle which I find hard to do these days becasue of arthritis. Usually three keepnets in to start.

Started on the long line with paste over a pinch of kindered micro as concerned too much feed would lead to fouling. Have great two hours intially catching F1's then bigger Carp as did most anglers. The F1's were going in one net whilst the Carp were going into the other leaving the third for silvers if neccessary. With the nets limits currently 50 lb with net disqualification after 60 lb and nearing the 50 lb in one net put an another. The next fish I caught was 14 lb which I found hard to lift out strainng my hand in the process. Now here's a thing I have said many times how I couldn't understand how anglers (you know who you are) go over in keep nets. Well today I found it very easily actually. Landed the 14 lb Carp and realised loweruing it into the net it was the wrong net and too late to scoop it out as it soon disappeared to the bottom of the net - bugger now thinking my net would be disqualified - but your never sure. Thought about moving it but would have caused it more stress, so would take it on the chin.

After two hours or so the Carp shut up shop. Just adding some more F1's and four more Carp before in the final 45 minutes switched to the Ronnie rig for silvers with single maggot over maggot.

Weighed 4 lb 11 oz of silvers including a small Tench. Indeed my net weighed 64 lb and was therefore disqualified, but my estimation was spot on - duh. Weighed 38 lb 12 oz of Carp. Could have had a total of 100 lb plus had I not lost concentration. Fishing for silvers next match, bugger the Carp too stong for me.

Nick Saunders (pictured) won Shipp's and overall match with 140 lb 7 oz from peg 2 - the peg I intially drew - could things been dfferent had there not been a redraw? Nick caught on maggot up and down in the water, adding a few silvers to his weight Well done matey.

Ron Hardiman (pictured) took the silvers with 6 lb 8 oz from peg 5 using expanders/pellets.

Tom Thick (pictured) was second in the overall match winning Taylor's with 139 lb from peg 16. Tom caught long on pellet and short on meat. Well done matey - Charlie would have been proud.

The silvers on Taylors went to Shaun Finagen with 13 lb 10 oz from peg 20. Well done matey.

Weigh Sheets:

Tuesday 08/09/2026 - Harescombe - Hobknobs - Match Lake

I had boked into the silvers match on Field Lake, however, the Old Gits had it booked. So booked into the Match Lake.

Told best to have an end peg at mo. So middle peg 9 would have to do! Had head Hobknob next peg. As can be seen a lot of work has been done to shore up the crumbling bank with thick steel shuttering. Just under 50% done waiting on delivery of more. Understand that platforms will be re-established. Nice drop of rain this morning and low rolling clouds over the the top of the valley. It got a bit chilly.

When fishing the Field Lake last week fed some fishery hemp down the edge and found the Carp were soon colouring up the water. So thought an experiment with the remainder on the hemp today would be worth a try over corn.

Plumbed up a 4x10 winter in 2 1/2 foot of water at top set plus two barrels. The new margins are just a a few inches shallower, with a bit of a slope. So set up a 4x10 Speedy for this. 

Potted some hemp down the RH margin and some corn with a dash of hemp on the long line, where I started. With ASDA corn on the hook had a decent Skimmer on the drop. Kept kindering a few grains of hemp and corn. Had a 3 lb F1 and that was it other than foul hooking Carp. It was clear that the Carp were preoccupied with the hemp so stopped feeding it leaving just corn, which didn't help. Tried down the margin with corn over the hemp and although Carp were coming in they spooked as soon as the rig went in. Two hours in and struggling. Tried the margin again and had the fish of the day - a 2 lb Barbel 😀. Decided to change to paste, so got up and wetted some micro, knocked up some paste and set up a 0.3 gram paste float to fish top set plus one barrel. Kindering the micro over the paste started to produce decent Skimmers and the odd big F1 to 4 lb. As the end came nearer the better it got especially when the wind got up. Didn't want the match to end.

Weighed 11 lb of Silvers and 27 lb 3 oz of F1's for 38 lb 3 oz. Wasted two hours, not good precticing in a match but where else better to try things. Really enjoyed the day.

The match was won by John Smith (pictured) with 73 lb 8 oz from end peg 25. John initially caught four F1's on the method feeder into the far corner. Switched to paste which proved slow, switching instead to the 6 mm banded over fours which produced the lion's share of his catch at top set plus one barrel. Well done matey.

Weigh Sheet:

Sunday 06/09/2026 - Alcove Club - The Clamp

Looking forward to this match. Lovely little venue close to home and well kept and a great pleasure fishing venue. However, very hard match fishing. Arrived and found some golf balls for my neighbour. Told the two best pegs 5 and 6 were under repair so not in. Was hoping to draw anywhere from the middle up to the far end. Pulled peg 2 and with only 9 fishing was surprised it was in. Any chance of a pick up gone. Very shallow with 2 foot of water and in the shade all day. My target was to try and have a days fishing catching small Ronnie's worth 3 lbish. Don was opposit pictured in the sun, who was hoping for 5lb.

Set up a 4x12 Drennan Pinkie, had it ready to go and broke the tip putting in the roost. Duh, plenty of time to set up another. Also set up the Ronnie rig not sure why - it didn't get used. The light was terrible for float visiability. Settled for yellow tips.

Fished single Pinkie over dryish GB fished on the drop at top set plus three barrels. Took 40 minutes to get a bite which I bumped in the excitement. Had two 1 oz Ronnie's straight after and thinking I might have a days fishing. Alas not after three hours and no more bites threw the towell in. Don opposite was also on two Ronnie's when I left. Scared the wife when I walked in early - never heard of.

Did see a Carp about 3 lb sucking air, so wondered if the oxygen levels were low at this end?

John Amato was catching the odd Ronnie, but was being hindered by a blue rope hanging above his head - pictured. Some expletives followed from John which isn't unheard of 😂.

Tony Welsby won the match from peg 10 with a very good weight of 10 lb 3 oz. Runner up was match organiser from peg 9 and Andy Gard third with 4 lb from peg 7. Well done to threm.

Tuesday 01/09/2026 - Hobknobs - Harescombe - Field Lake - Silvers only

About a year ago Rich Powell suggested I fish some of the Hobknobs Silver matches fished on various Harescombe lakes. So with no Glenn fishing today decided to give it a go. The match was on Field Lake, which is a beautiful looking lake and a nice place to send the day silvers fishing.

Gary and Katherine were away today, luckly still got a breakfast served up by head Hobknob Tony and Wife. Very good, and thanks.

Only five of us booked in usually about ten. Plenty on the doughnut though.

Told they had been catching on Hemp but could only use the venue Hemp.So bought a pint.

Best pegs were put in, peg 18 for me. Told there were loads of Ronnie's and Skimmers. So set up two Ronnie rigs - short and long and a 4x14 Winter to fish top set plus two barrels in 4 1/2 foot of water a line out in front and a line to my left at 10 o clock.

Fed some chopped worm in wet GB on the in front long line and just 5 grains of corn to the left long line. Started feeding the hemp on the long Ronnie rig, however, the Hemp was very small and hardly any with a curnel, so no good for the hook so fished LR's over it, coud catch a 1/2 oz Ronnie every put in with the hook bait not reaching the bottom, there are lots of big Roach in the lake, but the 1/2 ouncers get there first. Tried the short Ronnie rig down the LH edge with LR's fished over same loose feed. Same again but did have a 4 oz Perch. I was going nowhere. So out on the worm line with a worm head and had a few of Skimmers - 1 lb to 1 1/2 lb. Kept topping up with small balls of CW in wet GB. It died due to Carp taking too much liking to the worm feed. But frustrating loosing  couple of hook lengths. So switched to the Corn line and started kindering in 4 pieces of corm with a pinch of Hemp hoping to catch some bigger Roach, wishing I had some small Tares. Well started to catch Skimmers again and had a decent spell - wasn't ever manic but nice and steady, Loosing the old hook length to Carp and some flying Skimmers. Come the last 45 minutes I found my self surrounded by Carp and the eigth Carp took the complete long rig so spent the last knocking thrashing out 1/2 ounce Ronnies with LT's over loose fed Hemp up in the water must have added 1 lb!!

Weighed 19 lb 6 oz for the win. Very enjoyable days fishing with some very good silvers anglers. To be fair it was a close match with Rich Bowd weighing 17 lb 12 oz of beautiful Roach and Hybrids caught on edlerberries over Hemp - envious of the Roach. Rich said i'm not to come again though!

Weigh Sheet:

Tuesday 25/08/2026 - Harescombe - Hob Knobs - Doughnut

Glenn loves fishing the Harescombe Doughnut, so with the Hobknobs on it this week got Glenn to come, he needs to get out fishing. So Breakfast - Fishing - Pint and a curry on the way home was planned.

Chat on the way was about the GAS match Saturday. Podge miss his usual goal just before half time - wonder where he was?

We havn't been to Harescombe for some time so out of touch with the fishing. However, the Doughnut has been fishing very well. After a chat with the locals and a breakfast into the draw and peg 17 for me and 9 for Glenn a peg he has framed off previously, my peg has also been decent in the past. Had Lionel Legg next door so good company and had a good chat. Dont think he's a GAS supporter though!!

Bait wise had Micro, Paste and Maggots of which the price has gone through the roof with the quality gone down, after one day they started to turn. Probably now paying for John Alexander's holidays. There is only a few Eels and Perch in the Lake so Maggot can be good, but probably best in winter.

The water level (pictured) is well down similar to last year so set my box up on the dry margin enabling to get my keep nets into deeper water. No one likes being hgh of the water, nothing worse than looking down on your float.

Set up a 0.4 gram paste float and had a good plumb around. Umm, margin was from nothing slopping to 3 foot before dropping off to full depth at 5 foot at 3 metres out. Set the paste float at full depth at top set plus one barrel. Carp were coming in clsoe to the bank and darting out again not sure they would be catchable with this behaviour. Set up a 0.3 g RJ slim for the deapest part of the margin - 3 foot for the left side and and at a similar depth a 0.3 gram paste PC float on the right.

Fed a pot of Micro on the long line and similarly down the right, loose fed some maggots down the left. Started long on the paste whilst watching Carp darting in for the maggot feed. Soon lost a fouler then had one about 3 lb, surprised me how hard the fish fight here. Was expecting a bit of just playing fish all match day, but it was proving very hard. Had three Carp and pulled out another, plus a few lost foulers before trying the maggot and had a Carp first try. Then nothing other than a Bootlace Eel and a couple of Perch. Shallowed up to 2 foot and had another Carp before it died again. Tried the paste in the right side not one indication. Spent a few hours catching the odd Carp on the long line, but it was slow. Kept picking the odd fish off on the maggot rig. Into the last hour the paste long line showed some signs of Carp so decided to fish it to the end. Unfotunatey having foul hooked five Carp on the bounce lost another which snapped a well worn rig line. Couldn't be assed to set up another instead fished the maggot rig shallow and had a very late burst on it but needed to feed heavy then leave it.

Weighed 55 lb 6 oz for last! Did enjoy it, did learn a few things for next time. This comes from being out of touch with a venue.

Local venue expert Mick O'Brian (pictured with some of his catch) took the match out from peg 19 with 167 lb 11 oz. Mick caught all his fish from both margins with his rig set at 2 foot with banded pellet over loose fed same. He certainly got this method sorted, bit like mud bank fishing in oppoite. Well done matey nice to watch.

Our Over 55's member John Smith (pictured) came third with 129 lb 14 oz from peg 7. John caught long on paste - very good result for a pellet head! Well done matey saw you wheel spin out of the car park to the call of Chedder Valley.

Nice to round the day off with a Khurka chicken curry at the White Harte and Glenn explaining the story how he met Jane his wife and the Elephant dance at his wedding reception - both remembering this one 😂. Thanks for the company.

Over 55's got the Doughnut booked for the 24/09/2026. Details to follow on the group chat.

Weigh Sheet:

Sunday 23/08/2026 - Alcove Club - Whitehouse Farm - George's Lake

Bit nippy this morning loading the car - it wasn't to last. Twenty minute drive to George's to see plenty of early birds already unloading.

The day before the club had an 8 hour Carp match on George's. Didn't see any results but told it didn't fish that well.

Most wanted peg 1 as certain winner at the moment. It came out first for Tony Welsby. Game over.

Peg 5 for me, with Steve Sewell - "the Big-un" on peg 4 and match organiser Jason on peg 6. Bit disappointed to find on the right a over-hanging Willow - so no margin there and on the left similarly a Bramble bush which went out into the lake about a metre. so limited margin fishing. A bird cage without the canopy.

With now bright sushine and flat calm I didn't fancy the Skimmers would show in numbers. However, set up a paste float to fish top set and three barrels out in the white water in 4 and half foot of water to cover both options, the lake is at least 18 inches down at the moment. It was going to be hard work in the heat to fish the Ronnie rig, but set it up anyway. - good job I did. 

Tried the paste over micro and incredibly not one indication!!. So picked up the Ronnie rig and caught small Ronnie's, Rudd and the odd Perch steady over GB laced with LR's. The Big-un was who was catching F1's and the odd Skimmer on chop worm and caster most people were catching the odd skmmer and Carp on corn. Too late for me to change. Couldn't see a Wasp nest but three of the buggers hanging out with me.

"Hindsight holds a level of perfection that real-time decisions can't provide".

Now here's a thing a phone call with a family emergency only second time ever out fishing. Which wasn't really, by time I got there someone in Sainsbury's car park had got the car started with jump leads.

I tipped back about 5 lb of spratts and was unlikley to get anywhere near 10 lb of silvers. Did  lose a Carp in the brambles - would be very difficult to land an angry Carp from this peg.

I don't have the results sheet but when it appears I will add to the blog. However, walking past Tony on peg, was playing yet another decent Carp so took a video for something to blog. Tony caught at 10 metres using corn over corn. The beautiful Common Carp in the video weighed in at 14 lb 7 oz.

I predict that The Big-un (pictured) would have the highest silvers weight as claiming 15 lb -3 F1's and some Skimmers.

Weigh Sheet: