Sunday 31/08/2008 Carps AC - Landsend Fishery

This was the last day of the three monthly Carps AC sponsorship aggregate . I was joint second in the Silvers but ten points behind Bill Ferris, but within three points of Martin Rayett in the overall. So the obvious plan was to fish for Carp - you think! I drew peg 20, which I thought was a good peg for both Silvers and Carp. "Our Kid" Charlie Barnes gave me two pints of casters at the start. At this point my "silvers head" got he better of me. I spent half the match chasing "silver shadows". I could not catch on my usual methods - plus some. I decided to revert to the original plan and fish paste at 11 metres for Carp. I weighed 6lb of Silvers and nine Carp for 49lb 6oz and a total weight of 55lb 6oz. This gave me fifth in the match and a section win of £25. Martin Rayett and Bill Ferris did the business to win the Sponsorship aggregates. Of course driving home the torment was "what if" I had stuck to the plan?

The match winner was Rod Wotton (pictured top right) with 95lb 8oz from peg 21. Rod fished shallow tight over for half the match, the second half down the shelf, which was the most productive. Rod fished 6mm and 8mm hard pellet over loose fed 4mm pellet.

The silvers was won by Steve Kedge (pictured bottom left) with a credible 30lb 4oz from peg 18. Steve fished caster and pieces of chopped worm over loose fed caster at 4, 12 and 14 metres. Steve qualifies for the Carps AC Wednesday Silversmania.

Full Result:

1. Rod Wotton 95-08-0 peg 21
2. Andy Neal 84-11-0 peg 24
3. Tom Thick 66-08-0 peg 32
4. Martin Rayett 65-05-0 peg 5
5. Mike Nicholls 55-06-0 peg 20
6. Andy Gard 42-04-0 peg 11

Top Silvers:

1. Steve Kedge 30-04-0 peg 18
2. Jess Jordan 19-12-0 peg 27
3. Andy Gard 15-04-0 peg 11

Thursday 28/08/2008 Carps AC - Summer Evening Series - Shangri La - Round Seven

I was disappointed that Steve Jefferies could not make the match due to him working in Leeds. I missed his competition and his MOAN, MOAN, MOAN, MOAN, MOAN, MOAN...Hope you can make the next match matey, starting 16:30 until 19:30. The last match I am hoping will be a start of 14:00 fish to 19:00.

I was on peg 3 this week, I struggled again with the feeding (as did others), however, I think I have now got it sorted (we will see next match). I only took paste (my new Tuna flavour) and 6mm hard pellet. I caught down the margin (top set) and out in front at 9 metres. I weighed 50lb 13oz for second and a pick up of £25. I lost a 4 pounder on the whistle which I thought had cost me the match - and it did!

Bob "The Head" Price (pictured top right : nice to catch some anglers without their hats) won the match from the from form peg 2 with 53lb 8oz. Bob also caught on paste at 9 metres. Bob also nearly landed the aerator cable (twice) - what line is he using!

Phil Coulam still leads the series with 46 points followed by Mike Nicholls 43 points and close in third is Bob Feltham with 42 (all with worse score dropped). It's going to be an interesting last two matches.

Full Result:

1. Bob "The Bread" Price 53-08-0 peg 2

2. Mike Nicholls 50-13-0 peg 3

3. Bob Feltham 27-09-0 peg 8

4. Phil Coulam 26-12-0 peg 7

5. Mark Tanner 24-07-0 peg 4

6. John Lewis 15-0-0 peg 9

7. Colin Golding 14-14-0 peg 5

8. Tom Coulston 9-0-0 peg 1

Thursdays 21/08/08 Bathampton AA Over 55's and Disabled - Bridge Pool

Like a vintage wine the Bathampton Huntstrete venue (pictured top right) is getting better and better with age. The over fifty fives (also fondly referred to by John Bradford as "The Coffin Dodgers") sees yet another good turn out of thirty anglers, weather good too, you might have even thought it summer time!

I drew peg 18 which is usually a good Skimmer peg with some big Carp to be had in the right hand margin. I fed corn with a bit of 4mm hard pellet at 6 metres (ten foot of water here) for the Skimmers. Then straight on to the top set for the Ronnies. Compared with yesterday the Ronnies were much bigger. On time after 90 minutes the Carp moved in over the caster. A foul hooker confirmed this, out on the paste and a 12lb carp in the net. This is how my match went on - a few Ronnies and then a quality Carp. I landed eight carp for 74lb 10oz and weighed 11lb 14oz of Ronnies for a total weight of 86lb 8oz. This gave me second in the match and second in the Silvers and a pick up of £25.

With ten minutes to go a latched in to another Double figure Carp and after twenty minutes the hook pulled. This fish cost me the 100lb. However, this still would not have been enough to beat the worthy match winner Terry Bruton (pictured bottom left) who weighed 134lb from peg 30. Terry fished shallow pellet waggler (apparently 26 inches deep - exactly) with hair rigged 10mm hard pellet.

I thought I would published the attached from the Bathampton website - Terry will remember this - The D Bruton is son Dave and the M Nicholls is my son Mark, we were pegged next to each other and Dad Terry landed a big Tench to win the day (lower right) - nothing changes!

ECERPTS FROM COMMITTEE MEETING 20 YEARS AGO (JULY 1987)A quite/quick meeting (for a change) Claims for “specimen-fish” awards received:- All caught at Hunstrete Lake – Tench, 6lbs. 15ozs caught by Mr. T. Jump;Eight tench between 4lbs and 6½lbs caught by Mr. T Carpenter. Carp of 21lbs. 1oz caught by Mr. B. Rose.(Then, as now, Hunstrete was/is a superb fishery. Fourteen pairs fished the Dads and Lads match at Hunstrete Lake.Top weights: D. Bruton 6lbs. 1oz; C. Williams 5lbs. 8ozs; Jason Shirley 3lbs. 4ozs; Mike Nicholls 3lbs. 3ozs.(Twenty years on and this event, now known as the “Old-Uns and Young-Uns” is even more popular).Also, Mike Nicholls is still a regular prize winner in club matches, but these are in the Over 55’s matches – time waits for no man!).

The Silvers was won by Colin Golding from peg 31 with 15lb 8oz of Skimmers.

Full Result:

1. Terry Bruton 134-0-0 peg 30

2. Mike Nicholls 86-08-0 peg 18
3. Bob Tilley 69-12-0 peg 16

4. Ian Sheppard 51-12-0 peg 32

5. Mike Smith 31-14-0 peg 5

6. John Bradford 29-13-0 peg 24

Top Silvers:

1. Colin Golding 15-08-0 peg 31

2. Mike Nicholls 11-14-0 peg 18

3. Bill Ferris 9-08-0 peg 23

3. Bryan Sheppard 9-08-0 peg 8

Wednesday 20/08/2008 Carps AC - Landsend Fishery - Specimen Lake

I had not been fishing for a week and I was starting to suffer from withdraw symptoms. I have never fished the far bank of Specimen Lake, until today, when I drew peg 29. I usually leave this side to Darren Gillman! I understand from Tony Rixon that this side is best for Carp and the other, best for Silvers. I did my usual venue "tester kinder pot" to determine which fish were feeding. From this I decided that the Skimmers and Crucians were not feeding (probably due to the Algae bloom), the Ronnies were. The Carp also appeared active. Decision made and on to the top set and Ronnie rig and caster. For the next three hours or so I caught small Ronnies and Perch (1/2oz to 2oz fish). There was a bit of a lull so out on the paste over the caster and immediately hooked a big carp which finally broke me. The next two put ins on the paste resulted in two Carp for 18lb 130z. With how it was fishing I reckoned that 20lb would win the Silvers, so got my head down with a target of 100 Ronnies in the last 55 minutes - I caught 105 (I need to start slowing down - much easier on the body catching Carp)! I weighed 20lb 12oz of Ronnies for first in the silvers and a pick up of £40.

The match was won by Paul Lock (pictured top right) from peg 31 with 85lb 11oz of Carp. Paul fished paste at 10 metres over potted hard pellet. Paul (with the muttley laugh -from wacky racers) Blake was runner up from peg 30 with 69-10oz. Paul fished 16.5 metres using hard pellet hook bait.

Roy Short qualified for the Wednesday Carps AC Silversmania by five defaults with 12lb 9oz (this is the record number of defaults - will it be beaten)!

Full Result:

1. Paul Lock 85-11-0 peg 31
2. Paul Blake 69-10-0 peg 30
3. Gary Wall 65-12-0 peg 38
4. John Thompson 54-07-0 peg 28
5. Roy Short 52-11-0 peg 26
6. Ryan Potter 50-0-0 peg 39

Top Silvers:

1. Mike Nicholls 20-12-0 peg 29
2. Steve Jefferies 17-0-0 peg 34
3. Colin Golding 14-06-0 peg 36

Thursday 14/08/2008 Carps AC - Summer Evening Series - Shangri La - Round Six

After the down pours earlier in the day it turned out a nice warm evening (by Shangri-La standards), and surprise, surprise, it was flat calm. I always arrived first to meet John Bennett, who has the gate key. John as usual, had Charlie (pictured top right -King Charles Spaniel) with him. If you fish Carps AC matches and had not heard of Charlie before, you most certainly would had heard him. Charlie is renowned for his deep grunting snore, You can hear him from on any twenty peg venue - even with the wind blowing! Any way another ugly mug for the gallery.

My turn for flyer peg 2. I decided to fish paste all match at 6 metres, fished over 6mm hard pellet. I must say getting the feeding right is very important on this venue. Steve Jefferies was on the other point peg 5 and we had a bit of a battle all night. I thought I had won, but by a smaller margin than I actually did. I won the match with 80lb 2oz which included a near 20lb Mirror (must take a larger landing net next time!) and a pick up of £35. Steve was second with 59lb 4oz, which included three doubles from his right hand margin on treble sweet corn.

Phil Coulam's remains the series leader with an evening third.

Full Result:

1. Mike Nicholls 80-02-0 peg 2
2. Steve Jefferies 59-04-0 peg 5
3. Phil Coulam 27-12-0 peg 6
4. Mark tanner 23-0-0 peg 3
5. John Baker 15-09-0 peg 9 (again)
6. Bob Price 12-0-0 peg 1
7. Bill Ferris 9-13-0 peg 8
8. Bob Feltham 9-10-0 peg 7

Wednesday 13/08/2008 Carps AC - Sedges Fishery - Tile Lake

The full results and payouts are now on the Carps AC website. I was pleased with my third in the Silvers and the pick up of £90, particularly, as £15 of the £25 match fees went to pools on the day. Paying the top six in each category was excellent. Well done to Martin Rayett (Overall League winner) and John Bradford (Silvers winner).

Whilst on the well done's, it was excellent news that Callum Dicks (pictured with Des Shipp with previous Team England Gold medals) won World Individual gold in the under 22's. I am sure it won't be long before the South West has a senior World Individual Champion with Des Shipp. Des is without doubt the best Angler in Europe, who also works full time! Come on tackle sponsors pay him his worth - he's awesome. The South West has done well with England representations (in addition to the above - Ben Leech, Colin Golding!). However, I would like to see a bigger England squad and more competition around the country. I believe this will lead to increasing the South West's contingent- bias perhaps? Whilst on the subject why does angling need joint England Team Managers - doesn't work for me, you don't see this in other sports - question for the NFA?

To today's match, the weather was absolutely awful with gale force winds and heavy showers. Not a day to be fishing facing the wind then! I drew peg 36 - four of us with the gales blowing straight at us. I was pleased with the peg, but feared the conditions for catching Silvers. I fed at 4 metres with ground bait and dead maggot, but started on the caster at 2 metres with a wire stem PB14. I had to abandon this due to the conditions. Went out on the 4 metre line with dead maggot on the hook and caught three Skimmers straight away - then small Carp moved in, I decided to switch to 6mm GOT pellet on the hook which resulted a run of small Carp to 1lb. Time to make a decision - all out Carp or stay with the Silvers, I could see Paul Locke catching what I thought was Carp (I didn't know it also include a number of Tench), so decided to go back and persevere with the caster for the rest of the match. This resulted in two big Bream and one 4lb Tench and a lot of Ronnies from 2oz to 4oz, plus about 5lb of quality Perch. My total weight was 54lb 5oz which was made up of 32lb of Silvers. This gave me fifth overall and first in the Silvers and a pick up of £40.

The match was won by Paul Lock (pictured bottom left) from peg 30 with 90lb 6oz. His catch included twelve Tench for 29lb. Paul caught long in to the end left hand margin with 6mm expander pellet and short to his right with paste over loose fed 4mm pellet.

Considering the conditions the venue fished exceptionally well, with all Anglers having a good day's fishing.

Full Result:

1. Paul Lock 90-06-0 peg 30
2. Roy Short 72-12-0 peg 26
3. Mark Chilcott 66-13-0 peg 27
4. Ian Dawe 60-08-0 peg 39
5. Mike Nicholls 54-05-0 peg 36
6. Gary Barne 51-10-0 peg 40

Top Silvers:

1. Mike Nicholls 32-0-0 peg 36
2. Ian Dawe (pictured bottom right) 29-06-0 peg 39 (Qualifies for the Carps AC Wednesday Silversmania by default)
3. Paul Locke 29-04-0 peg 30

Sunday 10/08/2008 - Carps AC - Sedges - Brick Lake

Today was a question of "Over the hill". I drew peg 18 - sorry, Rich Coles drew peg 18 for me - last time I ask him! Rich drew next to me on peg 17 and Martin Rayett on peg 19 - I was up against it for the Silvers from this peg. With the wind gusting from 11 0 clock to 5 o clock (South Westerly) I decided that 7.5 metres was as far as I dare fish the pole (I had the feeder set up for back up). Plumbing up I found a flat spot directly in front of me that was about one metre wide, which was 10 inches shallower than each side. I pulled the plummet through a couple of times , and it felt clear of any obvious snags and bumps. I thought this would be an ideal area to catch Skimmers. On the whistle in went three lots of feed across this shallower flat spot. On went a 6mm GOT pellet and nothing happened until I snagged the bottom! After a couple of Skimmers snagged the bottom again. Out on the feeder which resulted in a couple of pound Skimmers. Back on top of my hill and a couple of more Skimmers - and so it went on feeder and up the hill until the last hour at which time I had about 10lb. I decided a change was needed so I decided to fish "over the hill" to my right with a big pot of caster and maggot, with Eels as my target. First put in - bit off by an Eel, second put in lost a Tench at the net (bloody wind). After that I put another 11 pound of Skimmers and one carp in the net by fishing double red maggot over potted caster and maggot. I weighed 21lb 13oz of Skimmers and one carp for 24lb 3oz. This gave me second in the Silvers by default and a pick up of £45.

Martin Rayett (pictured top right - cool dude) won the match with 61lb 13oz from peg 19. Martin fished chopped worm and caster at 13 metres and 6 metres with chopped worm on the hook.

Runner up was Jess Jordon (pictured right) from peg 5 with 51lb 110z, which included 17lb 5oz of Silvers which qualified him for the Carps AC Sunday Silversmania by treble default!!

The Silvers was won by Bill Ferris from peg 8 with a credible 25lb 8oz.

Full Result:

1. Martin Rayett 61-13-0 peg 19
2. Jess Jordon 51-11-0 peg 5
3. Dick Bull 51-0-0 peg 14
4. Mark Hanham 46-10-0 peg 16
5. Shaun Townsend 35-14-0 peg 7
6. Bill Ferris 25-08-0 peg 8

Top Silvers:

1. Bill Ferris 25-08-0 peg 8
2. Martin Rayett 23-12-0 peg 19
3. Mike Nicholls 21-13-0 peg 18
4, Jess Jordon 17-05-0 peg 5 (Qualifies for Carps AC Sunday Silversmania)

Thursdays 07/08/08 Bathampton AA Over 55's and Disabled - Hunstrete Lake

Can someone explain to Colin Golding the difference between pegs "left out" and "not drawn". If you have thirty anglers fishing you put in the best thirty pegs - don't you? You don't put in thirty four pegs and hope the best pegs are drawn - do you? Two new faces arrived and approached Colin Golding stating that "you all look a bit professional for us ", Colin retorted, "yes, best go to Bridge Pool!!! Exasperated me!

It didn't go unnoticed that Chris Snow had a female on tow, was it his Daughter ? or his...?

When match fishing Huntstrete Lake, remember that as yet, no one has weighed in a Carp - so out and out Silvers match.

I drew peg 35, before I go further, I would have expected this peg to be in the draw. It is in a bit of a corner, which is not best for the silvers, but has a some open water. I would not have used pegs 36, 4 and 5, absolutely crap. I was pleased when Bob "the Bread" arrived at peg 36 as he is good company - albeit a crap peg! Before the match I was thinking of feeder approach (I can still smell the Sensas Bream 3000 on my hands now - wonderful) with either double maggot (subject to the Ronnies not feeding - which they weren't - or chopped worm). As it happens I didn't have either in the bait bag So cupped in pellet at 10 metres and Bream 3000 at 5 metres for the Skimmers and started after the Ronnies on the whip with caster, as I half expected they weren't feeding that well - or were being kept away by Pike (a couple of Pike were in evidence). I started to put a few Ronnies together but due to the Pike the fish kept moving out of the peg. I had a spell on 4 and 6 mm GOT pellet and had a run of 4oz Skimmers. At the weigh in I had 14lb 10 oz. This gave me 5th overall and a pick up of £15.
Bob "The Bread" fished for a Tench and caught a five pounder fifteen minuted before the end, hoping to beat Bill "the Maggotman" Ferris for the £1 bet.

The match was won by matey Dave Bacon from peg 32 (pictured top right - Bacon Tackle - Bath - always got scrummy sandwiches). Today Dave got his Mojo working from peg 32 with 30lb 8oz of quality Bream to 5lb. Dave caught on the feeder packed with expander pellet and VDE Mojo ground bait, with Pineapple mini boily on the hook. 

Runner up was Tom Newell (pictured right) from opposite peg 13. Tom also fished the feeder with worm hook bait (my choice).

Full Result:

1. Dave Bacon 30-08-0 peg 32
2. Tom Newell 29-0-0 peg 13
3. Martin Alexander 26-09-0 peg 28
4. Chris Snow 16-03-0 peg 27
5. Mike Nicholls 14-10-0 peg 35
6. John Bradford 14-06-9 peg 10 ("I didn't feed enough")

Sunday 02/08/2008 - Carps AC - Summer Individual Series - Round Six (Final Round) - Viaduct Fishery

Fed up with the summer weather yet? I am. The BBC's forecast for today was for light showers with sunny intervals - wrong again, rained for most of the day! The humidity was also very high assisting the drop in water oxygen levels. I needed a section win to be sure of a framing place overall in the Silvers and was hoping for a peg on Cary - the top bank would be especially good. I drew peg 130 on Campbell. I was informed that I was in the only section with six Anglers, otherwise, Glenn Bailey on peg 132 would have been in a one Angler section (he might have won this one). I Decided to get my head down and go flat out for six hours for the small Ronnies (1 to 2oz) on caster. Blimey, no Ronnies feeding. I caught a few 4oz Skimmers and one Tench which also included half a tree! The next fish was a Carp. Tried the pellet and another Tench, followed by another Carp. Went in to the margin with caster, which resulted in four lost Tench (which I think they were foul hooked) plus two more in the net. I continued in the margin for most of the match and ended up with 17lb 5oz of Silvers and 10lb 5oz of Carp. This gave me a Silvers section win and I believe third overall in the Silvers - subject to final checking by Paul Garrett - payout to be advised.

It fished hard on Campbell probably due to the low oxygen and high nutrient levels.

The match was won by Andy Neal (pictured top right) with 133-5oz from peg 87 on Cary. His travelling partner Lee Werrett also framed from peg 126 with 90lb 4oz. Now known as the "Welsh Carp Slayers". Roger Young was runner up with 126lb from peg 107 (at least Roger's trying to slay the Welsh Dragons)!

The overall league was won by Martin Rayett (pictured right). The overall Silvers was won by John Bradford (pictured bottom right), who would have bet again this going in to the last match!

The top ten in both the overall (Carp/Silvers) and Silvers will be published on the Carp website some time this week. Carps AC has agreed to contribute a further £100 to the final top six in both categories. Pay out by cheque next week (or when John Bennett see's you next)

Full Result:

1. Andy Neal 133-05-0 peg 87

2. Roger Young 126-0-0 peg 107

3. Chris Davis 111-06-0 peg 87

4. Lee Werrett 90-04-0 peg 126

5. Paul Garrett 86-0-0 peg 123

6. Alan Perkins 78-15-0 peg 77

Top Silvers:

1. Phil Cardwell 39-11-0 peg 94 (Also qualifies for the Sunday Carpsmania)

2. John Bradford 33-0-0 peg 99

3. Shaun Townsend 30-0-0 peg 88
4. Fred Roberts 26-03-0 peg 118

Thursday 31/07/2008 Carps AC - Summer Evening Series - Shangri La - Round Five

A definite improvement in fishing conditions - no wind in the face and the warmest night so far. The fishing however, appears to be gradually getting worse. The same pegs are taking the top spots, but with proportionately lower weights. I was on peg 1 tonight, which is on the decking. I caught straight away on paste, but was soon pestered by the widger Crucians. I fished for them in the left hand margin, for about thirty minutes and put about 7lb of them in the net. For some reason the corn did not work, so back out on the paste and landed another six small Carp to 2lb for a total weight of 19lb. This gave me fourth spot and 6 points.

It was Mark Tanner's (pictured top right - in near total darkness - probably best) turn to fish the flyer peg 2. Mark did not disappoint, winning the match with 29lb 8oz of Carp to 3lb. Mark fished paste both out in front and down the left hand margin towards the hay bale.

The man of the match must be Phil Coulam (Cat meat specialist) who arrived two hours late and finished third with 26lb!

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Full Result:

1. Mark Tanner 28-08-0 peg 2

2. Bob Feltham 26-04-0 peg 6

3. Phil Coulam 26-0-0 peg 5

4. Mike Nicholls 19-0-0 peg 1

5. John Baker 18-04-0 peg 9 (Reserve for Bob Price)

6. Steve Jefferies 15-12-0 peg 4

7. Colin Golding 14-12-0 peg 3

8. Bill Ferris 5-12-0 peg 7

9. Tom Coulston 0-08-0 peg 8

For full points and placings see carpsac.co.uk website