Wednesday - 09/12/2009 - Landsend Christmas Match

The weather was spot on today - no wind, no rain (at last) and temperatures in the teens. I wanted to draw a peg on Specimen Lake but not any between 31 and 26. In to the draw bag with my left hand and I pick up two pegs one was stuck in the staple. This is bad news, as I always worry that I will return the wrong peg: and I probably did as on opening up the one I kept revealed peg 31. Peg 31 is normally a real Carp slayers peg. All the advise (and there was plenty) was to forget the Silvers and fish for carp at 16 metres up and down the shelf using double red maggot over pellet. However, I was in good company drawing next to the Gimp who was on peg 32 for the second time in consecutive matches. Oh yes beat him again!!

I got to my peg and decided on three rigs – a Ronnie rig/Perch rig, a soft pellet 4x14 rig for 1-0-clock at 13 metres and yes – the full sixteen metres for the far bank shelf with a 0.3 gram Gerry of Nottingham corn/pellet float. I decided to feed a couple of balls of GB at 4 metres out in front and loose feed caster at the same distance at 9-0-clock to my left. I also fed some micro at 13 and 16 metres. I started on the 13 metre line with 3mm soft pellet and was pestered by 1oz Ronnie’s. I came in on the 4 metre line over the GB and had one 10 oz Skimmer on pellet. I tried all the various baits over this line, but the GB just didn’t do the biz. On to the caster and I had a run of Ronnie’s to 8oz. However, I now realised that I wasn’t going to pick up money in the super pool with Silvers as Glyn Wickham on peg 33 was catching decent Perch and chub. Having tried the 13 metre line again and once more I was prevented from get to the better fish by the Ronnie’s I decide to fish the rest of the match for Carp in an attempt to get up the placing for a better prize. I tried all the baits on the table, all of which were prey for the Ronnie’s!! I decided to open a tin of corn (another 22p down the drain) and get some 4mm hard pellet out the bait bag. I catapulted half dozen of 4mm’s in and fished corn over them. I was still being pestered by Ronnie’s and had to hook the corn deep to keep it on the hook. I kept feeding a few 4mm’s. I then hooked a decent Carp which tore off close to the net and broke me (was it foul hooked I wondered). The up shot was that I hooked six Carp and got two out. I reckon the nearest any of them was to being in the mouth was 2 cm. I weighed 7lb 8oz of Silvers and 16lb 10oz of Carp for a total weight of 24lb 2oz. This was only good enough for ninth overall. I did come away with a bottle of Brandy and a ton of Quality Street!! I must say that I was very impressed with the Colmic pole. At 16 metres it is a very well balanced and stiff.

The match was won by Vic Bush (pictured right under the arm of the Silvers winner Tony Rixon) with 87lb 4oz from in form peg 11 on Match Lake. Vic caught at 11.5 metres using single caster over potted caster with a bit of micro.

The Silvers was won by Tony Rixon with 22lb 9oz from peg 3 on Match Lake. Tony caught on …………see his blog.

I must say I didn’t go prepared for the fine spread that the Duckett’s laid on; hot cottage pie, hot dogs and all the usual buffet fodder. If I had known I would have cancelled my dinner with the special one and got stuck in like the rest. I must say the prizes were very good too. Well done Mike. I am back there again on Sunday for next Christmas match.

Full Result:

1. Vic Bush 87-04-0 peg 11
2. Dean Mallin 73-03-0 peg 16
3. Adrian Clark 64-15-0 peg 36
4. Tony Rixon 40-10-0 peg 3
5. Alan Oram 32-02-0 peg 25
6. Andy Bryant 29-0-0 peg 13

Top Silvers:

1. Tony Rixon 29-02-0 peg 3
2. Glyn Wickham 22-09-0 peg 33