Sunday 28/09/2008 Carps AC - Carpsmania Final - Rood Ashton

This was the final of Carps AC Carpsmania. Twenty anglers had won through over the year. The prize money was £1,000 for the highest overall weight and £500 for the Silvers. So not really fishing for runner up then! However, with a lots of speculation in the media with regards to the Bradford & Bingley of which I am both a shareholder and saver I had more on my mind than the £1,000. As I write this am still waiting on an announcement from HMG - Gordon Brown PM. This is the man who resided over the period that lead to the "credit crunch" as Chancellor - who described himself "Prudent". Um!

Back to the match, I drew peg 15 which was in the top right hand corner form the car park. I knew that Silvers getting first or second in the Silvers was unlikely, I focused on the Carp (not until I caught four Ronnies for 8oz though!). After plumbing around in 18 inches of water - at best, I wasn't sure of catching enough Carp either. However, I went for Carp on paste over 6mm soft pellet, which result in seven carp to 6lb, then the tractors arrived behind my peg (three tractors to be precise), and the swim went dead (bow waves back to the island). In the last hour when things got quieter , I had another ten cap for a total weight of 68lb 12oz and eighth in the match. Taking everything in to account I was fairly satisfied with this weight. My 8oz of Ronnies got me sixth in the Silvers!!

Everyone wanted end peg 20, which was through the thicket and half the lake to draw fish from.

Andy Neal (pictured left) drew the peg and made no mistakes, winning the match with 154lb 14oz. Andy fished paste over 6mm hard pellet, feeding about two pints throughout.

Ray Hayward (pictured below left) lost out by a mere 11lb 4oz. Ray weighed 143lb from peg 17. Ray caught most of his fish in the RH margin on meat fished over loose fed hard pellet. I am sure Ray will be travelling home, thinking of the Carp he lost.

John Bradford (pictured below right) could not believe his luck drawing peg 4 - a out and out Silvers area, and surrounded by Carp Slayers. Again John made no mistakes catching 26lb 14oz of quality Roach on caster. John latch into only two Carp throughout the day - takes some doing on this venue!



Full Result:

1. Andy Neal 154-14-0 peg 20 (£1,080)
2. Ray Hayward 143-0-0 peg 17
3. Jamie Smith 135-12-0 peg 18
4. Alan Oram 127-04-0 peg 5
5. Steve Seagar 97-06-0 peg 13
6. Mike Owens 96-02-0 peg 1

Top Silvers:

1. John Bradford 26-14-0 peg 4 (£560)
2. Bob Gullick 11-04-0 peg 9

Thursday 24/09/2008 Carps AC - Summer Evening Series - Shangri La - Round Nine

This was the last match of the series which meant that we all now had fished each peg once - in turn. Due to the nights drawing in the match was rescheduled for the the afternoon: 13-30 to 18-30. A five hour match. I was on peg 5, which I think is the best peg on the venue. Today I caught my first Grass Carp (I had not previously even seen one). It was only 2lb, but what a beautiful fish. It is often described as "Chub looking". I would describe it more, Dace like, with a miniature Masheer looking scaling. If I every get round to specimen hunting this fish would be at the top of the list.

I fished my usual paste over pellet, winning the match with 82lb 10oz and a pick up of £40. After the match it was all ("all" pictured top right tucking in to beer and grub - pictured courtesy of ten year old William Tanner) back to the Upton Inn for sausage and chips, kindly provided by pub owner Martin Bennett (John's son).

Full result of the day:

1. Mike Nicholls 82-10-0 peg 5 (Five hour venue record)
2. Bob "The Bread" Price 55-12-0 peg 4 (Carp to 13lb)
3. Bill "The Maggotman" Ferris 36-04-0 peg 2

Series final Result (points are based on dropping lowest result):

1. Mike Nicholls 59 points (£135)
2. Phil Coulam 56 points (£81)
3. Bob Feltham 49 points (£54)
4. Bob Price 40 points (missed 2 matches!)
5. Steve Jefferies 39 points (missed 2 matches!)
6. Mark Tanner 38 points
7. Bill Ferris 37 points
8. Colin Golding 36 points
9. Tom Coulston 30 points

Some Series statistics:

1. Total amount of fish caught: 1,780lb
2. Highest weight: 82lb 10oz
3. Lowest weight: 8oz
4. Best peg: 3 with 6 match wins and a total of 374lb of fish
5. Worse peg: 8 with 49lb of fish
6. Everyone in the series picked up pools money at least once.

Finally a thank you to:
Martin Bennett and Wife Tracey for providing the superb venue. and John Bennett for always being there to open the gates for us (and of course Betty for allowing John out)!

Wednesday 24/09/2008 Carps AC - Rood Ashton

This was the last practice match before Sunday's final. The pegging went from peg 1 at the car park to peg 19 at the end of the furthest island. I was ask to include the very corner peg on the car park bank which was peg 11. I wasn't sure about the peg as the wind was not blowing directly in to it - in fact it was fairly calm. As chance has it, I drew the peg! I am told the car park bank is the bank for silvers - so started on the 4 metre whip and caster. I started straight away to catch quality Ronnies and Ronald's to 1lb (at last). However after a couple of rounds with Carp I broke my whip. To say I was upset - well, I had to have a walk to and to see if John Bradford had a spare, which he didn't. So I set up the 14 foot Normark Avenger, which was a bit too stiff for shallow water waggler fishing. I had a few more Ronnies and after a total of four and a half hours was broke again by Carp. I decided to get my own back and fished for them with pellet and paste for the last hour and a half. I weighed 13lb 10oz of quality Ronald's for second in the Silvers and 86lb 10oz of Carp for a total weight of 100lb 4oz and second overall and a pick up of £30. However, second and second is not going to win anything this Sunday!!

The match was won by Colin Golding from peg 5 with 123-10-0 of Carp. I am not going to divulge how he caught - as you all know anyway!!

The Silvers was won by Bob Gullick from peg 3 with 26lb 5oz of Ronnies. Bob also qualifies for the Carps AC Wednesday Silversmania.

Full Result:

1. Colin Golding 123-10-0 peg 5

2. Mike Nicholls 100-04-0 peg 11

3. John Thompson 91-0-0 peg 9

4. Paul Attwood 82-01-0 peg 19

5. Alan Oram 76-13-0 peg 13

6. Jamie Dyte 63-08-0 peg 6

Top Silvers:

1. Bob Gullick 26-05-0 peg 3

2. Mike Nicholls 13-10-0 peg 11

3. Bill "Maggot man" Ferris 11-14-0 peg 2

4. Charlie Barnes 6-01-0 peg 7

Sunday 21/09/08 - Veals Teams of Four Winter League Round 1 - Chilton Trinity - Wildmarsh and Woodlands

Arrived at the draw at 08:00 and was amazed to find Charlie Barnes already there and on his third fag and fourth coffee. There were three sections of fifteen on Wildmarsh and one section of fifteen on Woodlands - everyone was hoping to be on Woodlands as all the top Carps weights were expected from there, (as the results now confirm). I drew peg A9 on Wildmarsh, the map I was given identified A9 as permanent peg 15 (or so I thought). Arrived at peg 15 - and was greeted with rustling reeds in the end margin - so set up a paste rig - yippee. Ah, wrong peg and I was moved to peg 9 - what a difference - no margin and couldn't get close to the water - or get my nets in properly. The Carp net I hung over the boards, the silvers in the gap between the bank and the boards!! After the match I spoke to the owners they assured me it was their next job - we will see. I had my team instructions from captain Barnes, which I religiously kept to (honest I am Church of England!). I caught most of my fish at 10.5 metres (from the bank!) on worm or double caster. My biggest fish was an Eel of 2 pound plus hooked in the pectoral fin, whilst getting the hook out I had a nip from him! I weighed 10lb 5oz, which comprised of eight different species of fish - Crucian, Common Carp, Golden Rudd, Roach, Chub, Perch, Eel, Skimmer. This gave me fourth in the section and twelve team points. I was beat by a Carp for my five peg section. I enjoyed the match, but the jury is out on the amount of fish in the Lake - recognising that I have only fished the venue in flat calm and bright sunny conditions - we will see next year. As to peg 15, the lad weighed less than 2lb!

The individual pools payouts are based on Silvers weight only and Carp weight only - with section points counted on combined weight. Both the Silvers and Carp weights paying equally the top four in each category. The combined over winner gets nothing. As it happens today that was Clayton Hudson (pictured bottom left) with 62lb 2oz from Woodlands peg 30. Clayton did pick up the second Carp weight with 60lb 14oz. Clayton caught on his usual chopped worm and caster.

Rod Wotton (pictured bottom right) won the Carp weight with 61lb 11oz from Woodlands peg 20.

The Silvers was won by team mate Rich Coles (pictured bottom/bottom left) with 32lb 7oz of Skimmers and Bream from Woodlands peg 12. Rich caught all his fish on paste.
On the team front Charlie's Angels were fourth overall with 41 points. Not a bad start.


Full Results:

Carp (All Woodlands):
1. Rod Wotton 61-11-0 peg 20
2. Clayton Hudson 60-14-0 peg 30
3. Steve Jackson 53-10-0 peg 9
4. Julian Heavan 52-10-0 peg 4

Silvers:

1. Rich Coles 32-07-0 Woodlands peg 12
2. Bryan Shanks 17-04-0 Wildmarsh peg 25
3. Ken Rainer 13-04-0 Wildmarsh peg 30
4. Dave Dunstan 12-04-0 Wildmarsh peg 29

Top Teams:

1. Avon Angling 48
2. Westerleigh Blue 46
3. Team Veals 43
4. Charlie's Angels 41

Wednesday 17/09/2008 Carps AC - Rood Ashton

This was the first of two Wednesday practice matches prior to the Carpsmaina final on Sunday 28 September 08. I drew peg 8. Peg 1 was one below the concrete overflow (the last one before the "Jungle", the pegging then went anti-clockwise back to the car park. Peg 8 put me centre of the top bank.
Having not caught a Ronnie on this venue yet, today, I was determined to do so! After half an hour I had two Ronnies on caster, and a lot of float wobble from the Carp. So, needs must, I switched to Carp with paste and GOT expander pellet. I weighed a total of 117lb 10oz for first in the match and a pick up of £30, for a match costing £20, Colin is spreading the payouts too far!

Runner up was John"Turkey" Thompson - " I've got a crap peg - who pegged this crap". John weighed 79lb 1oz from peg 9. No apology for his outburst!!

Bill "The Maggotman" Ferris won the Silvers with 10lb 9oz from peg 1. Bill caught all his Silvers in the first half of the match on - Maggot. Bob Feltham (pictured top right with his Ronnie catch) was runner up in the Silvers with 8lb 4oz - again all caught on the maggot. Bob qualifies for the Carps AC Wednesday Silversmania.

Full Result:

1. Mike Nicholls 117-10-0 peg 8
2. John Thompson 79-01-0 peg 9
3. Paul Attwood 50-0-0 peg 2
4. Bill Ferris 47-07-0 peg 1
5. Colin Golding 40-04-0 peg 6
6. Bob Feltham 18-06-0 peg 7

Top Silvers:

1. Bill Ferris 10-09-0 peg 1
2. Bob Feltham 8-04-0 peg 7

Sunday 14/09/08 - Chilton Trinity Open - Wildmarsh

I have signed up with "Charlies Angels" for the forth coming Veals Teams of Four Winter League. The team comprises Myself, Tom Thick, Rich Coles and team captain Charlie Barnes. The league is fished on commercial fisheries - Chilton Trinity, Bullocks Farm, Landsend, Viaduct and a week ender at Stafford Moor. Today was a practice match for the league match next Sunday.


This is the first time I have fished the venue. Before the draw I walked Wildmarsh with Tony Rixon. I thought the lake was picturesque. However, I was concerned that the lake was flat calm, usually without some tow the Skimmers shut up shop. I really love fishing a venue for the first time, I like working it out. I had plenty of information - too much really. I decided to target the Ronnies and Skimmers. The Skimmers was to be chopped worm and caster with worm on the hook and the Ronnies the 4 metre whip and small waggler.


I drew peg 47 which I was happy with, as it was in open water. I started on the chopped worm and caster and had plenty of missed bites from the Ronnie Roach. I went quickly on to the whip with caster and started to put a few Ronnies to 3oz together. I can't believe how many bites I missed today. The fish did the odd disappearing act. I struggled with both methods and weighed 7lb 8oz which included one small skimmer on the worm. However, I think I have learnt quite a bit for next weeks team match - we'll see!


The match was won by team mate Tom Thick (pictured top right) with 26lb 9 oz from peg 26. Tom's weight also included a 11lb carp from the margin.


The Silvers was won by Gary Bedford (pictured bottom left) from peg 50 with 19lb 6oz of quality Skimmers. Gary caught both long and short with either soft pellet over pellet or chopped worm and caster with worm on the hook.


Full Result:


1. Tom Thick 26-09-0 peg 26
2. Steve Priest 22-08-0 peg 18
3. Nick Harvey 21-04-0 peg 21
4. Gary Bedford 19-06-0 peg 50
5. Dean Mallin 18-15-0 peg 10
6. Nick Collins 18-11-0 peg 13


Top Silvers:


1. Gary Bedford 19-06-0 peg 50
2. Nick Collins 15-04-0 peg 13
3. Julian Heaven 14-04-0 peg 37

Thursday 11/09/2008 Carps AC - Summer Evening Series - Shangri La - Round Eight

We nearly got through to 19:30 with out it raining, however, it was reasonable warm for those with the wind off their backs. One of the advantages of moving peg by peg is that you can watch how your next peg is being fished, so one eye on your float the other on the next peg. I was on peg 4 this week and I was a bit disappointed with how I fished. For a start I discovered that the 8mm hard pellet I was feeding, was in fact floating! I fed through the kinder pot which was 12 inches from the top of the top-set and I did not allow for this with my initial feed (which probably floated in to Mark Tanners swim any way). It wasn't until I got some bait in did I start catching. I caught all of my fish on paste either out in front or in the right hand margin. I weighed 28lb 9oz for third in the match and a pick up of £20.

Bob Price (no photograph this week as it was dark and raining) won the match for the second consecutive match from peg 3 with 44lb 13oz. Bob caught most of his fish from the right hand margin, fishing paste over hard pellet/corn.

Mark Tanner weighed 28lb 8oz but had left a 8oz Carp in his net which would have given him second overall instead of fourth! The lesson cost him £25 - Lesson learnt.

Phil Coulam still leads the series with 52 points, me on 50 and Bob Feltham on 44 (all with worse result dropped).

Full Result:

1. Bob Price 44-13-0 peg 3
2. Bill Ferris 28-12-0 peg 1
3. Mike Nicholls 28-09-0 peg 4
4. Mark Tanner 28-08-0 peg 5
5. Colin Golding 22-12-0 peg 6
6. Phil Coulam 8-12-0 peg 8
7. Tom Coulston 7-08-0 peg 2
8. Bob Feltham 2-14-0 peg 9

Wednesday 10/09/2008 Carps AC - Huntstrete Withy Pool

I have just realised that today I have fished a match without it raining! I drew peg 54, which is behind the furthest island. The wind was being funnelled down through the gap between the island and the bank, into my face which was going to make it difficult to present for the Ronnies. I decided to feed some ground bait with micro and a few 4mm pellet in to 7 foot of water at top set plus two on for the Skimmers. I started on the top set with caster and could not get a bite. So out on the 6mm GOT expander pellet for the skimmers. I caught about four then foul hooked a Carp. From hence I kept missing what seemed positive bites. I tried small pieces of paste, which resulted in a couple more Skimmers. The catch rate was not good enough. So back on the caster and top set which started to deliver some quality Ronald's to 1lb 8oz. Because of the wind I set up a three metre whip and waggler. I alternated between the waggler and top set to keep a few Ronnies coming, with the odd Skimmer/Hybrids on the Skimmer line. With five minutes to go I hooked a large Carp which was landed five minutes after the whistle. This cost me first in the Silvers. I weighed 15lb 12oz of Silvers and 11lb 10oz Carp for fifth in the match and second in the Silvers and a pick up of £15.

The Match was won by Terry Bruton (pictured top right) from peg 59 with 85lb 12oz. Terry fished the pole at 14.5 metres to the island with banded hard pellet on the hook, fished over 10mm hard pellet. Terry's first three Carp weighed in at 34lb!

The Silvers was won by Keith Firks from peg 47 with 2oz more then me - 15lb 14oz! Keith fished sweet corn on the hook over sweet corn. Keith qualified for the Carps AC Wednesday Silversmania.
Colin Golding broke his number four section of his Maver 401 (again) whilst playing a Carp. I watched him playing the fish, and must say, he wasn't putting that much pressure on. The section never had the decency to make any noise when it broke! Terry Bruton and I rescued the top set which still had the Carp on it. Unfortunately Colin then proceeded to lose it.

Full Result:

1. Terry Bruton 85-12-0 peg 59
2. Chris Fox 64-06-0 peg 51
3. Bob Price 48-14-0 peg 43
4. Keith Firks 31-10-0 peg 47
5. Mike Nicholls 27-10-0 peg 54
6. Bob Warren 27-01-0 peg 45

Top Silvers:

1. Keith Firks 15-14-0 peg 47
2. Mike Nicholls 15-12-0 peg 54
3. Bob Warren 14-12-0 peg 45
4. Bill Ferris 14-0-0 peg 50

For those wanting to fish Rood Ashton I have attached a map from Google Earth - for guidance only!

Sunday 07/09/2008 Carps AC Open - Sedges Tile & Brick

The match was moved to Tile lake, however, with twenty three fishing it meant that pegs 10, 9 & 8 on Brick were needed (John Bennett's philosophy that no one it turned away)! What I would have given for end peg 8 and it's copious amounts of Skimmers!! Or peg 9! I drew peg 27 on Tile which I was pleased with, especially as I had the wind off my left shoulder coming strong in from the SW. After tackling up I had time to collect some blackberries for wife Brenda, to go with our apples, blackberries are definitely in short supply this year- could it be the weather? I fed the right margin with 250 ml of micro pellet to fish paste over for the Tench. I fed some ground bait and corn at 6 metres for Skimmers. I started after the Ronnies at 3 metres with singles caster on a 16 Tubertini 808. I new immediately is was going to be Roach day for me. I caught Ronald's to 12oz for the first hour, after, which I rested the line and on to the Skimmers. I had six Skimmers to 1lb then it slowed. Fed the line again and tried the margin with paste, pestered by small fish, so back on the Ronnies. Basically this went on for the rest of the match. I managed nothing from the margin and avoided all Carp - yippee! I weighed 33lb 10oz of Ronnies Plus a few Skimmers for first in the Silvers and 7th in the match and a pick up of £50.

As I anticipated the three pegs on Brick all picked up money! The match was won by Dick Bull (pictured top right with some of his catch) with 102lb 14oz of mainly Carp to 13lb from peg 8! Dick caught on the pellet waggler out to the rope. Dick said "he was pestered by big Skimmers on the pole line"!! Runner up was Rich Coles on peg 10 with 66lb 12oz of Carp. Rich caught in the end margin with corn over corn.

Watch out for John Dursley (Enterprise Angling) his inside leg measurement is apparently only 12 inches. John Paige confirmed this, with his Maver N57 number six section being broken by John trying to step over it - never mind it's rrp is only circa £250! Good job they both picked up today!!

Full Result:

1. Dick Bull 102-14-0 peg 8

2. Rich Coles 66-12-0 peg 10

3. John Dursley 44-09-0 peg 28

4. Paul Lock 42-08-0 peg 34

5. John Paige 37-02-0 peg 29

6. Simon Rayall 35-0-0 peg 25

Top Silvers:

1. Mike Nicholls 33-10-0 peg 27

2. John Bradford 29-02-0 peg 7 (fished it wrong John)

3. Colin Golding 23-10-0 peg 36

Thursdays 04/09/08 Bathampton AA Over 55's and Disabled - Withy

The wind still gusting and the rain still falling, nonetheless another good turn out. I drew peg 42. Apparently you can reach the island with 13 metres, not true; you are a metre off, Bob Price I want my fiver back! I had not fished this peg before, but it had some previous Silvers form. The caster had not been working for the pass three matches, so it was with caution the I approached the swim. There were signs of Skimmers blowing, so I had a back up. I fed a small amount of 4mm hard pellet on the skimmer line (five metres out it's eight foot). Started on the caster and top set and I knew immediately that the bigger Roach (Ronald's) were feeding. I lightly fed with caster and kept Ronald's to 12oz coming through out, occasionally trying the Skimmer line, which resulted in one 4lb Carp and a number of hybrids to 1lb. When things went quite on the caster I changed to paste which result in two quality Carp. I lost two on the 0.14 G Line caster hook length through breakage. You now need to fish at least 0.18 straight through to land the Withy bigger Carp. My three Carp weighed 20lb 8oz and 21lb 4oz of Roach for a total weight of 41lb 12oz. This gave me fourth overall and first in the Silver and a pick up of £25.

The match was won by Mike Smith with 25 Carp for 126lb from peg 50. Mike fished 6mm expander pellet down the left hand margin fished over 6mm hard pellet. Mike is a new addition to the over 55's and was introduced by friend Harry Muir (pictured bottom right - playing a double figure Carp on Bridge Pool, with John Wild skulking in the background)

Runner up was Ian Sheppard with 61lb 4oz from peg 51.

Full Result
:

1. Mike Smith 126-0-0 peg 50

2. Ian Sheppard 61-04-0 peg 51

3. Bob "The Bread" Price 58-04-0 peg 49

4. Mike Nicholls 41-12-0 peg 42

5. Harry Muir 38-10-0 peg 43

6. Martin Alexander 31-10-0 peg 54

Top Silvers:

1. Mike Nicholls 21-04-0 peg 42

2. Bill "The Maggot man" Ferris 16-04-0 peg 57

Wednesday 03/09/2008 Carps AC - Burley Fields

I am now absolutely sure world governments terminology is wrong when they generalise using the term "Global Warming". From the UK perspective it's must be "Global Wetting"! What a day, I feel as if I have been hosed down by the fire brigade and dried out in a wind tunnel. The attendance today was very disappointing especially for such an excellent venue. I have noticed that the Carps Angling Club Wednesday matches has been gradually dwindling through out this year.

I drew peg 1 which I have been second from earlier in the year. I started on the caster, and for fifteen minutes I didn't have a bite! Second match in a row, Roach not responding to caster, um! Started to catch some 1 - 2oz Ronnies, but no quality at all. So out on the Skimmer line and more small Ronnies. Tried the 6mm pellet, still small Ronnies. I decided to fish for them on caster for the rest of the match. Other than getting broke by a carp I weighed 13lb 10oz of Ronnies. We were lucky to weigh in at all, as I was peg 1, I wetted the weigh net, only for the resident Black Swan to nearly snatch it from my hand! Swans are not my favourite bird.

The match was won by Colin Golding (pictured above right - I wonder what the "C" stands for on his hat) from peg 6 with 21lb 40z. Colin caught on his usual method of 6mm expander fished over 6mm expander pellet.

The Silvers was won by Dave Bacon (pictured top right) with 18lb 10oz of Skimmers from peg 5. Dave caught on chopped worm over chopped worm and caster. Dave also qualifies for the Carps AC Wednesday Silversmaina.

Full Result:

1. Colin Golding 21-04-0 peg 6

2. Chris Fox 20-0-0 peg 2

3. Dave Bacon 18-10-0 peg 5
4. Mike Nicholls 13-10-0 peg 1