Sunday 16/03/2025 - Westerleigh Winter League - Round Six - Taylors Pool and Shipp's Canal

Thought the weather would be more pleasant than it was, cold wind from the North. My turn on Shipp's Canal. This series have only drawn one peg which was 13. So in anticipation of missing it left it late to draw.Two pegs left for me and Bri Shanks who said peg 13 was still in the bag, thought he was joking. Nope yes peg 13 for me again. Unbelievable. At least it caused some amusement.

Got to the peg and again it was going to be a cold one. Set up a 6" Drake bodied waggler, a 4x14 Winter to fish 10 metres in two places, a 0.3 RJ Slim to fish 11.5 metres down the edge to the right, finally the long Ronnie rig - luckily.

Fed the waggler line and had a few chucks on it but both the light and wind made it too difficult. Kindered the 10 metres in front line with maggot and micro and then swung round to the right and fed just micro for 4 mm expander on the hook. Had a quick look on all the lines and caught a Ronnie on every single line including the expander. Looked like the Ronnie's were having a munch. Bri was struggling on peg 1 so decided to fish for the Ronnie's whilst keeping an eye on Bri and if he started to catch I would fish for Carp down the edge where I was loose feeding LR's in case. Had a good couple of hours catching Ronnie's to 3 oz but most were 1 oz or less. The feeding was interesting which for once got right on this peg. Kept having a look down the edge kindering micro and LR's to only catch more Ronnie's, but they were a better stamp but too low catch rate fishing long. As Bri only had a couple of small Carp I saw the match out on the Ronnie rig adding the odd fish.

Weighed 7 lb 4 oz for the silvers win, but as usually goes with silvers wins is poor points - 9 points last but one in section. Free now to concentrate on silvers as out of the league placings due to poor draws.

Taylor's Pool and the match was won Tony Mears (pictured) with 48 lb 7oz from inform peg 14. Tony caught at 13 metres kindering micro fish 4 mm expander on the hook. Well done matey.

Shipp's Canal was won by Marcus Murley (pictured) with 31 lb 8 oz from peg 11. Marcus caught over to the right side island loose feeding maggots with maggot hook bait. His catch included two doubles. Well done matey.

Back to the pub with the usual suspects and a right laugh.

Weigh Sheets:

Thursday 13/03/2025 - Windmill Cost Cutter - Match Lake

Breakfast with Geoff in the Beefeater, Ok too.

Had a walk around, no sign of fish. However, "Leyton's Legacy" was pointed out to me (pictured)

Not been to Windmill for some time, but have kept up with the results. The fish currently appear to be at the car park end. But with a very cold Northly wind blowing up that end will mean a very cold day but with plenty of fish, whereas the opposite end would be well sheltered but didn't expect it to fish. So with having enough of this weather especially the wind I would settle for the sheltered end today and hope some fish were still resident.

Ah, into the draw bag and peg 12 it would be. Lovely shelter peg down under the bank. However, the peg was full of rubbish left by anglers very recently, evidence in the red GB used.

Set up a 0.3 Gram RJ Slim to fish down the left just short of the reeds, would have liked to have fished further down to the reeds but well out of reach of the margin pole, didn't want to risk the Carp pole, no doubt would have battled with both Carp and reeds. A 8 " Drake bodied waggler to fish in the open water as far as I could group the LR's, finally a 4x14 Winter which had been used in a recent silvers match and had a 0.1 hook length which couldn't be assed to change to fish three barrels. 

Started on a 4 mm expender over micro at three barrels, then on to the waggler with double LR's, then on the margin at three barrels, Then set up the feeder. Had some casts around including up to the island. Three hours now gone and not a bite. Decided to see I could catch a silver over the first line with GB and a single LR. Ten minutes later playing a very angry 8 lb Common. Was concerned the 0.1 might break so was playing it very carefully. I kept hearing Dad's voice saying "The longer the fish is in the water the more chance you will loose it". Still finally got it in the net. Immediately changed the hook length to 0.16. Didn't have another bite even opened a tin of corn. Then spied out the corner of the eye a reed move right down in the left corner, followed by a Moorhen going up the bank, so wasn't sure nonetheless shallowed the waggler and fed some LR's. The wind was absolutely perfect which by leaving the line on the water would bow the reel line away from the reeds whilst the under tow would push the float towards the reeds, Second cast had a 7 lb Carp which due to the position of the line pull the fish away from the reeds on the strike. Had another three smaller Carp before the all out.

The five fished weighed 29 lb 2 oz to beat John Smith by 1 oz for the section and 5th overall. Needed one more Carp!

The match was won by Nick Saunders (pictured with the silvers winner) with 56 lb 14 oz from fancied peg 25 in a very cold Northly. Nick caught at 13 metres fishing maggot hook bait over kindered maggot and micro. Well done matey.

The silvers was taken by S Fillingham with 7 lb 1 oz from peg 16. He caught down the middle with maggot over GB and maggot feed. Well done best silvers weight for some time.

Back to the White Harte for a warm up. Bloody weather must be mad.

Weigh Sheets:

Thursday 06/03/2025 - Over 55's Silver's League - Round Five - Landsend Fishery - Specimen and Match Lakes

Penultimate round of the league today at Landsend. The cafe staff worked hard today serving up breakfast for most of us. Very nice.

Hoping to be on Specimen lake. However, ended up on peg 17 on Mach lake also next to Tony Rixon on peg 19 that's every match so far!

From memory peg 17 was one of the popular Carp pegs based on the last results also at the wrong end for the silvers.

Two rigs 4x10 shotted with strung our number 12's and a 4x12 with the logarithmic shotting pattern with 11's. Bait wise it was GB and Pinky and a few casters for down the shelf for Perch in addition two lines one at top set plus one and three barrels. Bit too much of a birdcage for the waggler.

A very cold wind was blowing off the Tealham Moor on my back causing a a ripple from middle to far bank making visibility very difficult.  Red tip was best. Only fed the three barrel line initially with loose GB and Pinkie. First put in a Carp, second another Carp. Refed and after a very long wait caught a Skimmer - and relax 😀. After more Carp caught another Skimmer. At last I was beating Tony only for him to catch a 2 lb Perch down his edge. Which gave me inspiration to try my edge where I had been dripping in casters. First try with single LR the float disappears - unfortunately not a Perch just another Carp which trashed my rig in the tree stump.  Visibility got worse so came on the short line where I had been hand loose feeding Pinkies and had a F1 and more Carp. The last 20 minutes the Ronnie's started to feed and caught five small Ronnie's.

Weighed 3 lb 8 oz for joint second in the section with Paul Barnfield on peg 15 both losing out to a 2 lb Perch. Ten Carp hooked and one decent F1.

The match was won By reserve Pinkie Paul Faiers (pictured) with 12 lb 12 oz from peg 27. Paul caught - yes on Pinkie on three lines all at 14 .5 metres feeding Pinkie and GB. Well done matey, thanks for standing in.

Back to the New Inn with the usual suspects. Kev dropped me off, whilst sorting my kit found some unfamiliar looking boots - certainly not mine - any guesses?

Weigh Sheets:

Pairs Result: Round Five

Sunday 02/03/2025 - Westerleigh Winter League - Round 5 - Taylor's and Shipp's

Three days of frost and beautiful clear blue skies. Gradually emerging from the winter darkness, packed the car in the light.

My turn on Taylor's Pool. Four of the pegs face South so wanted to avoid them the sun would be a nightmare. Into the draw bag and peg 19 it was. North facing so OK in that respect. However, the results from the peg has be awful with ounces coming from it. No Carp then! Being ever optimistic hoping some might have migrated down this end. Next to Johnny Jinx again third time, not a good omen.

Set up the kitchen sink. Started at three barrels with a 4 x16 Winter initially fishing expander over micro, thirty biteless minutes later changed to double LR's over the micro thirty biteless minutes and with peg 26 and 14 bagging thought I better save a blank and fish for silvers the only possible way to pick up today. So onto the waggler fishing on the bar off bottom with double Pinkie had a run of small Ronnie's after an hour that died, not to be resurrected. After trying another six lines with various rigs in search of an elusive Carp focused on one line at 2 o clock at three barrels with double Pinkie and GB, again just off bottom. Last twenty minutes had a couple of small Skimmers and a decent one suddenly from wanting to be sun bathing elsewhere to not wanting the match to end felt the Skimmers had suddenly woke up.

Weighed 2 lb 11 oz which was the highest silvers weight across the two Pools. Learnt a bit about the peg today. The big plus the warmest I've Been for many many months.

The match was won by Johnny Clarke (pictured with the Westerleigh Hard Rock Trio - Mark third overall on the lead guitar, Shanksey on the drums and Johnny on the magic Mushrooms) from peg 14 with 54 lb 1 oz. Johnny caught in the deep water at four barrels using his favourite expander hook bait over micro.

Ryan Shipp (pictured) deputised today winning Shipp's Canal taking second overall with 47 lb 13 oz from peg 11. Ryan caught long over to the island's on maggot over loose fed same. Appropriate result as the Pool is named after him due to the hard work he put in helping to remodel the venue. Well done matey. 

Back to the pub with the usual suspects. Great end to the day. Here's to the fish starting to get active splitting the shoals.

Weigh Sheets:

Thursday 20/02/2025 - Over 55's Silvers League - Round Four - Acorn Fishery - Paddocks

Stopped at the Bridge Inn for breakfast - not the best.

With some small Ide being stocked we were at last looking forward to catching more than a few ounces.

Really hoping to avoid the bridges. Alas not. Peg 33 for me. I wanted to fish the waggler but was highly disappointed to find the wind hammering into the bridge. So settled for a 4x16 Winter to fish top set plus one and two barrels and up to the bridge at three barrels with 3 inches extra depth. 

Decided on Pinkie and GB on all lines. Caught small Ide well initially short particularly when picking up some trip against, did foul hook four decent Skimmers landing only one, probably due to the rig going with the wind. Tried the bridge for just one small Ide, the wind was causing havoc to the rig with it bouncing, so abandoned. Went to two barrels and had a 1 lb Tench and another foul hooked landed skimmer plus a few more Ide. The last hour was very hard catching just a few small Ide. All on double Pinkie.

Weighed 7 lb 11 oz for last in section. Should have set up the waggler to at least try it - bugger - bloody wind - hate it.

The match was won by Andy Gard (Pictured)who put in a good display of waggler fish fishing  maggot over loose fed same to weigh 20 lb 3 oz from peg 23. His catch was mostly made up of Ide to 1 lb. Well done matey great result.

Clive Feddery (his net of quality fish pictured)was second with 17 lb 1 oz from peg 38. Clive fish top set plus two barrels with single maggot over hand fed maggot and caster. Well done matey.

Mark Tanner (pictured with his catch) was third from peg 31 with 17 lb 1 oz. Mark caught some quality Perch to 2 lb down the first shelf with caster over kindered caster. He added some Skimmers fish three barrels using Pinkie over GB. Well dome Matey nice to watch.

Pairs result still very much open at the top.

Some good fishing was had today, far better than last match here with half the field catching double figure weights, so very much improved result. Think the mild weather contributed.

Back to the Bridge with the usual suspects - great company one and all. Another pub not selling proper beer.

Weigh Sheets:

Pairs Results Round Four:

Sunday 16/02/2025 - Westerleigh Winter League - Round Four - Taylor's and Shipp's

Broke a cardinal rule today. Over a Wetherspoons breakfast with Geoff and with him on Taylor's said he didn't want peg 23. Unfortunately I retorted by saying I didn't want peg 13 on Shipp's - dam.

Into the draw and yep Geoff on 23 and me on 13!! There was some very cold wind blowing into peg 13 from the East but not enough I feared to entice the fish there. This series both Geoff and Me have drawn it twice each. Can be decent peg in the latter stages of the league, bet we are nowhere near it by then.

Just had Carp in mind today as the peg is shallow and doesn't hold enough silvers to target them. Two rigs a 4x12 Slim to fish down to the right into 3 foot, and a 4x14 to fish 3 inches deeper into the deepest line all fished at 10 metres and a bit. Started on the 4 mm expander over some micro at 2 o

clock hoping for a quick Carp. One Ronnie after 30 minutes everyone I could see was also struggling so if the better pegs like 1 & 2  were to I was in serious trouble. In a bit of panic set up the Ronnie rig (should have been the waggler on hindsight) and had a few silvers before that died. Spent a painful three hours freezing cold catching the odd silver from now four lines. Ten minutes to go had a surprise F1 quickly followed by a small Carp from two different lines. Both caught on double LR's over kindered DR's.

Weighed 2 lb 3 oz of silvers and 4 lb of Carp for 6 lb 3 oz which got me 6 points. Needed another 14 lb to get better points that wasn't on the cards from 13. For some reason at the mo the silvers don't seem to want GB.

The match and Taylor's was won by Ricky Mills with 28 lb 10 oz from peg 20. Ricky caught in the deeper water with maggot.

Shipp's seen a unusual draw between Steve Rogers peg 10 and Mark Taylor peg 2. Both catching 23 lb 8 oz using like most of us today maggot. Steve boosted his weight with a nice 7 lb of Roach on Pinkie fishing shallow over loose fed Pinkie. Both pictured. Well done to all three.

Back to the pub with the usual suspects and a warm up with plenty of piss taking. Apparently Bela gave Geoff a kick up the ass about his presentation and heeding his advise lead to catching a couple of decent Perch with him missing out on a silvers pick up by 1 oz, unlucky, blame Bela for not kicking ass earlier. 

Arriving home the BBC were saying it was a very mild day today - NOT it was 4 degrees adding the wind chill 2 degrees or less, I suspect it was the same all over the UK.

Weigh Sheets:

Thursday 06/02/2025 - Over 55's Silvers Pairs League - Round 3 - Bitterwell

Heavy Frost and freezing fog. Suppose it's better than rain and wind. All venues are fishing hard for silvers Bitterwell no exception. However, was looking forward to it as I think secretly the rest of the Over 55's were. Twenty fishing.

Big shout out to Paul Issac's who supplied hot drinks and bacon/sausage rolls. Also ran the match for us from start to finish. Thanks matey much appreciated. Apparently we should be catching some Barbel next match!!

Hoping not to draw the car park bank South facing as the sun is a nightmare there. Last peg handed to me by Paul peg 13. Happy with this one but the only peg without a platform and to make things more difficult next to Tony Rixon on peg 12 for the third time FFS. Hughie Evans the other side on 14.

Thought the waggler would be key so set that up first, the visibility with the yellow top was amazing. The only other rig was a 4 x14 Winter with strung out no 11's.

Started by feeding GB and Pinkies at top set plus three barrels and loose fed caster on the waggler line. Tony set his stall out to fish long to 16 metres. My waggler feed was landing at about the same distance as his pole tip! Had to bollock him for swinging his pole over my line when shipping back - Would of been OK if he wasn't scrammy handed.

After 30 minutes with no bites went out on the waggler with single LR and had a small Ronnie followed by a 4 oz Hybrid and a 3 oz Skimmer. Back on the three barrel line and had another 4 oz Hybrid followed by the odd Ronnie. Kept trying the waggler but only managed a small Perch. Meanwhile Tony had his usual foul hooked Skimmer which came off near the net but Tony was too quick and managed to scoop it. Thirty minutes to go decided to go out to 11.5 metres with double Pinkie over GB and Pinkie feed and was rewarded with a 1 1/2 lb Skimmer and a 3 oz Ronnie. During this time Tony had a 3 lb unseasonable Tench (pictured). You do make your own luck in match fishing!

Weighed 2 lb 10 oz for 3 section points and joint 4th in the match - happy enough with this.

John Smith won the match with 7 lb 14 oz of decent Skimmers from peg 7. John caught mainly at 13 metres using expander hook bait over micro. Well done John brave and good choice of baits.

Back for a curry with Geoff at his favourite Curry House and a few beers.

Weigh Book:

Pairs After 3 Rounds: