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:

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.