Thursday 29/07/2010 - Carps AC Evening Series - Boyd Valley Lake - Round Five

Still no rain, which this venue desperately needs. However, I can’t see an issue with the fish in the regard as the venue has plenty of depth to it.

I drew peg 6 not one of my favourites, plus the wind still tending towards peg 12 (dead opposite). Arriving at the swim it was going to be impossible to fish from the platform as the keep nets would hardly reach the water, plus the high drop for the fish on to stones! So I agreed with neighbouring anglers to fish to the side of the platform, in the water. It’s a long time since I have fished this close to the water, which was always the aim on both the river and canal, often stood all day up to the goolies in water - summer and winter. It proved to be enjoyable, particularly float visibility, which left me wondering why commercial fisheries appear to build their platforms so far off the water. Having walked the bank with Mike Jones, it was clear the Carp were feeding in the shallow water margins. However, I had arrived with a simple plan which did not include any running line methods. Two paste rigs one (0.5 gram) down the shelf at 5 metres and one (0.3 gram) half way up at a power top set distance. I potted in a 125ml of hard 4’s and a few wetted 8 pellet at five metres and started loose feeding 4mm on the short line. Starting on the long line I had a 2lb Skimmer and a 3lb Carp in the first five minutes then I was pestered by small Ronnie’s and Skimmers. Looking around the lake all those fishing the pole were struggling. I tried the short line but clearly the Ronnie’s were up for the paste and the small particles associated with paste fishing. As I still had a ¼ pint of casters left over from Wednesday I decided to set up a Ronnie rig so at least I was adding some weight to my net. So having re-fed the long line with the same dose of pellet, on to the caster, however, as I didn’t have enough casters to feed I kept on feeding the 4mm pellet. I fished this for about an hour and had Ronnie’s to 6oz, one Tench and a couple of decent Skimmers, I then hooked and landed a 4lb Carp, so out on the paste and I had six more Carp in six put-ins. Then the sun came out and it went quite again, not only for me but for most of the anglers. After trying the long line and still encountering Ronnie’s I went back on the caster over loose fed 4’s. I decided to fish this until the last hour, and then focus on the Carp. During this golden hour I had another seven Carp, plus another decent Skimmer. My Silvers weighed in at 13lb 9oz (equal to another 3 to 4 Carp) and my dozen or so Carp weighed 43lb 2oz for a grand total of 56lb 11oz. As it proved my decision to fish for Silvers whilst the sun was blazing proved to be the right one as my combined weight lifted me second overall plus a section win.


The match once again was won by Kev Dicks (pictured right (in the dusk) being helped by Peter Roberts, Lake and Avon Aquatics owner) from peg 7 with 77lb 7oz. Kev fished the method feeder and pellet waggle shallow to the opposite island.

Full Result:

1. Kevin Dicks 77-07-0 peg 7
2. Mike Nicholls 56-11-0 peg 6
3. John Thompson 50-10-0 peg 8
4. Bob Price 42-0-0 peg 10
5. Mark Tanner 32-0-0 peg 12
6. Bob Feltham 28-02-0 peg 2

Wednesday 28/07/2010 - Carps AC - Huntstete Withy Pool

I didn’t sleep well last night, tossing and turning all night. I put this down to going to the Mall and spending money on our Ruby (meaning precious stone) Wedding present – well the Special ones. Consequently I was irritated by everything and everyone, especially the fish – and for no real reason. Unlike Tim Ford who apparently only needs two hours sleep a night and is still as bright and chirpy on the morning.

I drew peg 42 which is a very narrow peg, nonetheless a peg I like. After delivering Colin gear to his peg (he’s still ready before anyone else) I noticed there were signs of feeding fish. So I set up the usual Ronnie rig and the two paste rigs, one for the RH margin and the other to be fished out in front at 5 metre on the edge of the “white water”, you can’t beat a black top float for visibility. I fed the 5 metre line with 8mm hard pellet, noticing that some were floating – irritation- so in went some water. Doing this slows up the decent of the pellet which can be good and bad – bad today – irritation. Second put in on paste I had a beautiful 10 lb Common Carp however, the hook had been pulled right through the lip by the landing net and it took me an age to unhook it carefully – irritation. After an hour no further Carp. I went in after the Ronnie’s with caster, who were really having a go, but I would catch three or four and they would disappear – irritation. I set up a shallow rig on the elasticated rig and had a few more Ronnie’s with the addition of Perch – what are these doing up in the water? After chasing the Ronnie’s and Perch around I tried the RH margin with paste where I had been loose feeding 4 mm hard pellet only to be pestered by Ronnie’s. So I decided to forget the Ronnie’s and focus on the Carp at 5 metres. I continued to feed wetted 8’s through the kinder pot with paste and had line bite after line bite – irritation. I believe this to be Carp – but no - it was decent Skimmers feeding just off bottom. I set up a 4x14 Jolly for the soft 6mm expander, thinking this would be the answer – not a bite – irritation. So I stopped feeding and went back on the paste and had a run of two decent Carp!! My irritations started to ease. I then had a run of decent Skimmers to 3lb, but they played with the paste for ages before taking it – irritation. Matey Terry Bruton came to my peg to collect his shoes he left with me last week, he brought me some freshly picked Stringer beans. He must have known it's the Special Ones favourite vegetable. You have a friend for life now Terry. My three Carp weighed in at 23lb 10oz and the Silvers 17lb 3oz for a total of 40lb 13oz. This put me second overall and second in the Silver, so picking up the Silver pool by default. Prbably because of my mod I felt as if I didn't fish well. That said I think I would have settled for 17lb of Silvers at the start.

The match and the Silvers were by Colin Golding (pictured right with the defaulted Silvers winner) from peg 45 with a total of 44lb 2oz comprising 20lb 4oz of Silvers. It looked as if Colin had a pot on the pole so I don’t think he fished his usual plop, plop method today. Colin also fished at 10 metres, I could easily tell as these pole sections are still brand new.

Bob Price caught the highest Carp weight bringing 7 Carp to the scales for 36lb from his preferred peg 50. Bob fished the wager on top of the bar off the opposite island with banded pellet.


Full Result:

1. Colin Golding 44-02-0 peg 45
2. Mike Nicholls 40-13-0 peg 42
3. Bob Price 36-08-0 peg 50
4. Steve Dawson 30-09-0 peg 48
5. Bill Ferris 20-12-0 peg 47
6. Dave Bacon 14-14-0 peg 43

Top Silvers:

1. Colin Golding 20-04-0 peg 45
2. Mike Nicholls 17-03-0 peg 42

Sunday 25/07/2010 - Cider Farm Open

I remain amazed with how many anglers still moan about the weed growth. The answer is simple we need to live with it as they aren’t going anywhere soon. I personally think the Flora and Faunal is wonderful to fish along side. I took a couple of pictures to give emphasis to this (see pictures right) and of course there is the wildlife, the rushes are full of Weed Warblers. The Anglers have particular issue with:

Cyperaceae is a family of monocotyledonous flowering plants known as sedges, which superficially resemble grasses or rushes. The family is large, with some 5,500 species described in about 109 genera (Govaerts et al., 2007). These species are widely distributed, with the centers of diversity for the group occurring in tropical Asia and tropical South America. While sedges may be found growing in all kinds of situations, many are associated with wetlands, or with poor soils.
Back to the fishing Bela and I went to Shipham for breakfast only to find them closed. These people do not deserve our custom. We went back to Budgens in Churchill and had a delicious breakfast Baggett. Won’t be going back to Shipham for a while that’s for sure.

All though I have fished a few club matches here this year with the focus on Silvers, today was my first Open and an out and out Carp attack would be necessary to win coin.

In to the draw bag and out comes peg 48. A number of anglers asked me what peg I was on and when I told them the response was “Peg 49”? Not well known peg then. I knew where it was as Charlie Barns has drawn it and fished for Silvers for 7lb, then John Paige drew it and DNW’d. Arriving at the peg I was quite please with the peg with signs of fish in the bay my peg was facing, plus the wind off my back. I had already decided on an out and out paste attack. So set up one 0.4 gram rig for down the inside ledge where I found 5 ½ foot of water at 4 metres. I also set up a 0.3 gram rig for left and right hand margin. However, having set the rig at 30 inches and on plumbing up the plummet just kept rolling down the step bank until it reached the bottom of the ledge. Every where I tried I found the same. Umm, I was hoping that a piece of paste might hold up – wrong – in any case I suspect the feed would end up at the shelf bottom. I decide to focus on the 4 metre line and started by Kinder potting in some 4mm pellet with my paste and had three Carp to 6lb straight off, the fourth I tried to bully as I was expecting a fishing race – wrong – and the hook pulled. It then went iffy with the fish moving up in the water. I put all my shot under the float and fished the paste on the drop and had another three decent Carp – amazing bites. It went very quite so readjusted the shot to the logarithmic pattern and soaked up some 10 mm pellet so that they were nice and fluffy. I started again regularly loose feeding a single piece over the float and caught Carp steady on paste to the end with no lost fish to the reeds! I weighed 75lb 15oz for 4th overall and a section win. One of my nets was 1lb 7oz short of the maximum single net limit of 70lb!

The match was won by Lewis Jones (pictured right) with 88lb 10oz from peg 46. Lewis caught most of his fish shallow over to the RH rope anchor on banded 6mm pellet over the same loose fed.

Close runner up was Chris Whitham (pictured lower right on peg 41 - don't ask) with 85lb 10oz from peg 40. Chris caught on paste short and corn over to the RH bare bank.

No Silvers winner here – yet!!

Full Result:

1. Lewis Jones 88-10-0 peg 46
2. Chris Whitham 85-10-0 peg 40
3. Pete Sivell 81-13-0 peg 20
4. Mike Nicholls 75-15-0 peg 48
5. Dave Roper 73-0-0 peg 7
6. Dave Cockayne 72-01-0 peg 56

Saturday 24/07/2010 - Hillview Open

Today see us back to Hillview with son Steve. After our usual egg and bacon tostie and a chat with Nev it was time for the draw hat. Both Lakes and Canal 1 was in today due to the good turn out. I pulled out peg 15 and Steve peg 16 so both on Moorhen See picture right of Lake pegging). We were both pleased with our draws. The down side to this was that we were in the same section. This lake is wind affected and usually blows in to our bank however, not today; it was blowing into the end bank pegs 12 and 11. There were plenty of fish cruising on the surface. I set up two paste rigs one for the margin as these swims can be really productive, particularly in the last hour, and the other for just down the inside shelf at 5 metres. I also set up a 4x14 Jolly for soft pellet, also for 5 metres. I started by dump feeding some 4 and 8 mm pellet at 5 metres and started to drip feed the LH margin also with 4’s and 8’s. First put in on the 6mm expander I lost foul hooker then I landed three foul hookers; one in the tail! I then had a couple of 2lb Skimmers (apparently someone had 45lb of them in last weeks match). I all then became very frustrating as I was foul hooking Carp after Carp on expander. So I tried the paste and with no indications at all (which I found odd) I went back on the expander and once again foul hook city. I decided to put two big pots of feed in and leave it. So in to the margin and I could not believe I couldn’t get a bite or indication, not even from Silver fish. I decided to set up a dibbler shallow to fish at 13 metres. I did this as I really need to practice this method more. At last one in the mouth on 8mm banded hard pellet. I kept the 4mm pellet going in for about half hour but no more fish. However, it was eruption city with fizzing everywhere I fed a 4 mm pellet. I kept trying the margin as became very despondent that there no fish had arrived. I now decided to fish the last hour on the 6mm expander at 5 metres. I did start to hook a few in the mouth, but these were far out numbered by the ones that weren’t. I noticed that the angler on peg 12 was having a similar nightmare to me; he reckons he lost 35 Carp! At last the scales arrived and I could only bring 31lb to them. Steve on the next peg had also lost plenty of foul hookers, but having fished shallow earlier both on the pole and waggler he managed to double my weight with 63lb and second in the section.

The match was won by Lee Joyce (pictured right with a bucket of fish) from peg 42 on Canal 1 with 116lb 2oz. Lee fished down to the LH end pallet catching on worm over maggot. Lee fed 9 pints of bronze maggot!! Josh on peg 11 fed 10 pints of maggot for his ton!!

Heron Lake fished its head off with four tons and all very close tons at that with only one fish separating the top six. The here fish fell to conventional paste methods.

Full Result:

1. Lee Joyce 116-02-0 peg 42
2. Ben Jones 113-13-0 peg 33
3. Nobby Clark 109-14-0 peg 39
4. Chris Cork 108-07-0 peg 36
5. Josh Cork 108-0-0 peg 11
6. Steve Juliffe 107-06-0 peg 35

Thursday 22/07/2010 - Bathampton Over 55's - Withy Pool

Terry Bruton was driven to the match today by his good wife as his Doctor has instructed him not to drive for six months following a recent bad turn. So Terry left his shoes in my car only to leave them behind. I have tried them on and they are too big (we all knew this). I will see if they fit my son, if not I’ll bring them to the next match!

Withy Pool looked very clear with little to no fish surface activity, so the feeling was that the Lake would continue its recent poor form. I pulled out peg 41, a peg I have drawn a few times before. It’s a peg where you will either have a good days fishing for Ronnie’s (they tend to be bigger fish in this swim) or catch big Carp (in match men terms), but not usually both. So I was pleased with the draw. Whilst setting up I could see fish blowing around the swim, primarily down the middle. I suspected it to be Carp but hoping it would be Skimmers. I set up two paste rigs – one for the RH margin set to 1 metre deep and one at full depth out in front at 7 metres. I also set up the Ronnie rig for the caster. On the all in I potted in a small amount of 4 and 8 mm hard pellet, being careful to spread them as wide as possible all on the 7 metre line. On to the caster and I had a few very small Ronnie’s ½ oz. I then foul hooked a Carp. The writing was on the wall. I persevered for the usual three hours with the Ronnie’s, but it was really slow. I was positive it was Carp unsettling them. I went on my Banana walk and the going appeared to be slow on most pegs. Mike Jones owned up to about 5lb of Silvers – about what I had. Back to my swim and I decided to test for the Carp and first put in with paste at 7 metres and a double figure Carp was in the net. It appeared that the fish were really oxygenated as they fought very hard today. I kept on this to the end topping up with 4 mm pellet through the kinder pot, simultaneously with the paste. I added ten more Carp and losing one by the whistle. My Silvers went 6lb 4oz and my eleven Carp went 98lb 15oz giving me a total of 105lb 3oz. This put me first in the match and fourth in the Silvers (I think). Throughout the match I fed about 1 ½ pints of pellet.

I must mention "Ethnic" A name I gave to a dark coloured Common Carp I caught. It's the longest I have fought a fresh water fish taking me what appeared to be an age to land it. It was touch a go as to who gave up first. Ethnic fought all through with it's head down at 45 degrees and it wasn't until I used the shallow bank side water that I managed to get it's head up and net it. I estimated it's weight at 14 lb, so not that big, but worth every pound. Once in the keep net it looked as exhausted as I did, but not for long whilst waiting for the scales the Ethnic keep net was pull in and was the first to swim off after the weigh in. Well done Ethnic hope we don't again soon!

The Silvers was won by Bob Warren (pictured right with the overall winner) with 20lb 8oz of quality Skimmer from peg 45. Bob caught all his Silvers on paste over potted hard pellet.


Full Result:

1. Mike Nicholls 105-03-0 peg 41
2. Bob Warren 52-0-0 peg 45
3. Pete Phillips 42-07-0 peg 43
4. John Smith 32-15-0 peg 54
5. Harry Muir 24-01-0 peg 59
6. Bryan Sheppard 23-03-0 peg 69

Top Silvers:

1. Bob Warren 20-08-0 peg 45
2. Mike Jones 11-09-0 peg 49
3. Rich Coles 8-02-0 peg 56

Wednesday 21/06/2010 - Carps AC - Boyd Valley

I never worry about where I draw on this venue. However, it does concern me when the payouts are changed after the draw. Carps AC you need to be more professional than this, your support is dwindling.

I drew peg 12 and once again the wind was hammering into the peg. This is the first time I fished this peg since winning the Tuesday night pairs with Gerry Pocock (who by the way is not Jesus)coming second overall to Kevin Dicks who weighed 33lb from peg 8 . It was also the night that Dad past away at 20-15 on the 26/06/2007. It was quite erie that night as from that time on I didn't have a bite. So today I had thoughts of Dad and was determined to take some coin home in his memory. I know he watching.

Kevin Dicks had drawn peg 6 again so I was thinking that only an out and out Silvers attack would get me top coin. I set up two Ronnie rigs one for shallow and one set at 30 inches, which was full depth at five metres. This was because the water level is down at least three feet (see picture top right). I started on the full depth rig with caster hook bait over loose fed caster. I must say the wind made it very difficult for feeding and presenting, but the wire stem PB14 did its job. I caught small Ronnie’s one a bung with the odd accidental Carp in between until half hour to go when I set up a paste rig to fish at five metres. During this time I landed ten Carp and lost five foul hookers. The conditions made paste fishing very difficult – almost impossible. My sixteen Carp weighed in at 43lb dead and my 402 Ronnie’s weighed 19lb 8oz for a total of 62lb 8oz. It was very satisfying to pip Kevin Dicks by 1lb 12oz and the method feeder! So my mission for every match I fish was achieved, which is to win both the overall and the Silvers. I am pictured right picking up my winnings from organiser Colin Golding. Today was another memorable match for me.

One last word - throughout I kept an eye on Colin Golding fishing who ended up third on the day. I must say there are many local match anglers who could learn much from watching his presentation and feeding skills, which only comes from years of experience. Well done matey - I'm watching you.

Full Result:

1. Mike Nicholls 62-08-0 peg 12
2. Kev Dicks 60-12-0 peg 6
3. Colin Golding 43-14-0 peg 11
4. Bill Ferris 27-07-0 peg 2
5. Scott Lovell 20-14-0 peg 1
6. Bob Price 15-02-0 peg 4

Top Silvers:

1. Mike Nicholls 19-08-0 peg 12
2. Steve Dawson 8-12-0 peg 10
2. Kev Dicks 8-12-0 peg 6

Sunday 18/07/2010 - Carps AC - Rood Ashton

Who say’s that angling is not a spectator sport? Yesterday I sat in and watched the entire Fish-o-Mania final. I must say it was an exciting last 20 minutes. It was very satisfying to see Neil McKinnon win through on the pole catching six Carp in the last period, fishing pellet shallow. This was especially satisfying for me as this beat the method feeder in to second place – where it should be. Well done matey.

Bela and I thought we would try out Wetherspoons for breakfast as they now open at 07:00. Spot on time they opened and who should join us but John Bennett and Gordon Cannings. Bela usually has a coffee with lots of sugar, but today he had …Tea as the coffee machine was broke. Bela and I agreed it was the best breakie we had for some time. I agreed to look on the internet to find all the Wetherspoons on route to our days out.

For the first time I drew peg 1 which is the closest to the car park. Colin had drawn peg 10 and I offered to swap with him – we all know how stubborn this man is so peg 1 it was for me. Before deciding tactics I plumbed around and was delighted to find 2 foot of water in most areas I tried. So the depth was right for the Silvers. I also fancied the RH margin for some Carp alter in the match. I set up two Ronnie rigs, one on the 3.5 metre elasticated whip and the other at 10 metres with a 5 x 7 TBF. In addition I set up two paste rigs one for the RH margin and the other also at 10 metre straight out in front over the Ronnie line. I don’t know why I did this as both rigs were identical, but it did come in handy later when I got broke by a foul hooker. I started on the whip with single red maggot over the same loose feed and caught decent Ronnie’s to 8oz, with the occasional interruption by the odd Carp. I kept this up for three hours and decided to have a walk to ease my back. Chatting as I went it appeared that the first 7 pegs were neck and neck, plus I ascertained that my Silvers mission was now complete. Back to the swim and in to the RH margin with paste and – nothing. So back on the Ronnie whip and after a few more I decide to try the paste at 10 metre, were I had fed a few hard 4’s. Thus started a frustrating half hour, during which I foul hooked Carp after Carp. With now with an hour to go I tried double maggot at 10 metre on the TBF and caught another seven decent Carp to go with the five I had caught earlier – the Carp just didn’t want the paste today and I should have tried the maggot earlier although I had run short on the pint I took. My 12 Carp weighed in at 48lb 2oz and my all Ronnie catch weighed in at 17lb 12oz for a total of 65lb 14oz for first in the Silvers and fourth overall.

The match was won by Gordon Cannings (pictured right with the Silvers winner) from peg 4 with 74lb 7oz! Gordon caught at 13 metre using 6 and 8mm hard banded pellet fish over loose fed 4’s. Gordon had also caught three Ronnie’s which made the difference on the day, which just ounced out Bela Bakos by 3oz.

Full Result:

1. Gordon Cannings 74-07-0 peg 4
2. Bela Bakos 74-04-0 peg 3
3. Leyton Palmer 66-09-0 peg 2
4. Mike Nicholls 65-14-0 peg 1
5. Dave Tippett 53-14-0 peg 5
6. John Thompson 53-14-0 peg 8

Top Silvers:

1. Mike Nicholls 17-12-0 peg 1

Thursday 15/07/2010 - Carps AC Thursday Evening Series - Boyd Valley Lake - Round Four

The weather men promised us bad conditions for this match - high winds and heavy rain - they didn’t lets us down.

I drew peg 5 and although it isn’t one of my favourite pegs it suited todays mission as it had some shelter from the high gusting winds. Glad I wasn’t on peg 12 though, as the wind was blasting in to this peg, I left that one for Martin Alexander, poor begger was shivering come the end. I set up two paste rigs one for just up the inside shelf where I found six feet of water at 5 metres and one set to three foot deep for partly down the RH shelf. In addition, I set up a banded pellet rig, also set to three foot for the same margin swim – plus I untangled my made up lead rod, which again left me wondering if it’s not quicker to set up fresh every time. I started by dump feeding hard 4’s and 8’s on the 5 metre line and fed a few 8’s to the Ducks mustering against the island. I started on the banded 6mm hard pellet feeding 4’s over the top and quickly netted three small Carp. However, it wasn’t long before the Ronnie found me. So on to the paste at 5 metres and had a few 1lb Skimmers, so fed this line again - Carp will only do match. As the wind had got up I decided to chuck the lead out to the island with an 8mm hard banded pellet. Well, I am not sure whether I should be proud of myself or not but I broke my personal best, with a whole hour on the lead. After the long 3600 seconds all I had to show for it was two skinny Chub and four small Carp and one foul hooked duck which came off! But after completely surveying the local scenery whilst waiting for the rod to be dragged in I went back on the paste and by switching between the short and long line I started to put some decent Carp in the net. I weighed 69lb 8oz for second overall.

The match was once again won by Kev Dicks (pictured right in a better climate as I dare not get the camera out) with 105lb 3oz from peg 6. Kevin caught small Carp using the fixed method feeder with small white boily hook bait fished to the end on the island.

Considering the weather conditions the weights were generally very good.


Full Result:

1. Kev Dicks 105-03-0 peg 6
2. Mike Nicholls 69-08-0 peg 5
3. Bob Feltham 50-0-0 peg 3
4. Tom Coulson 48-0-0 peg 11
5. Colin Golding 43-09-0 peg 2
6. Bill Ferris 35-0-0 peg 4

Sunday 11/07/2010 - Tony Rixon Individual League - Landsend

It’s good to Clayton Hudson (pictured right with his new tackle) back fishing again after having his tackle stolen. The only upside to this, Clayton has all new tackle, which has earned him the nick name “Mr Shinny Tackle”. I am sure it will start working as well as the old gear soon!!

Guesting once again in Rip Off’s League at Landsend. Tony arrived with Deano who decided the van was a bit smelly so Tony fetched the broom, as we know Tony don’t do cleaning so passed it to Deano. It took a while for Deano to realise what he was doing – see short video below.

Great, I drew another flyer peg 5 on Match Lake. This peg has regularly won the Silvers in recent matches so I was delighted with this. Because of the low water levels at the moment I was amazed how high you are off the water. It’s a good job I have fished Jack Whites and use to looking down on top of my float. I decided on an out and out Silvers attack with soft pellet and paste at 10 metres and Ronnie’s and caster at 4 metres down to the LH margin. I started at 10 metres on the 6 mm expander over some damped down potted 4mm and micro. Second put in I lost a foul hooked Carp – new hook required. Let’s try the paste then, first put in another lost foul hooked Carp. I then hooked and landed a 2lb Chub on paste – my first on this bait. I became very frustrated as I was foul hooking Carp on all baits I tried – no Silvers. Decided to go after the Ronnie’s – they are more reliable – aren’t they!! In over the loose fed caster and I stated to catch small Perch one a bung with the odd Ronnie. It slowed so I slipped on a piece of corn and had a 2lb Ide. I increased the Caster feed and next thing I know I have foul hooked yet another Carp which proceeded to break my no 3, the hook pulled free and punctured my no 2. New rig required. Back out on the 10 metre line on 6mm expander and one Ide and one flying Skimmer. Back over the caster and the Carp were soon blowing on the caster feed. I was now thinking that a Silvers pickup wasn’t on the cards, so with pegs 1 & 11 bagging on Carp I decided to fish for Carp during the remaining hour and half for defaulted section. I set up a dibbler with banded 6mm pellet set to 8 inches deep and started to feed 4mm pellet to the far bank. During this period I had nine carp to 4lb still managing to lose a few foul hookers. My Carp weighed in at 38lb and the Silvers 12lb 4oz for a total of 50lb 4oz. With two 100lb weights in my section I was on for a section win by default. That was until I was told that I had picked up for fourth in the Silvers – mission partially accomplished. I think the Silvers didn’t feed because the Carp were so very active up in the water in the swim. I am left wondering if I should have fished for Carp throughout – you pay your money and take your choice. I do like having my options open through out a match as it adds more interest for me.

The match was won by Tony Rixon (pictured right with the Silvers winner) from peg 29 with 156lb 2oz …. See his blog for the details.

There has been a lot of discussion about the Angling Times County League. In particular there has been a suggestion on Tony’s blog that he is in some way selecting lesser anglers to fish matches against to gain league points. I think to a degree this is true simply because unless Des Shipp is fishing the match everyone else in the County is a lesser angler than Tony. It doesn’t need a poorly thought out league to ascertain this fact. Unless you have organised matches then you don't realise the effort and phones calls that go in to it, as far as I am concerned anglers like Tony provide an excellent service to the South West match scene.

The Silvers was won by Craig Edmonds (pictured with the over winner – has Craig’s bald spot gone or is it my imagination) with 38lb of Skimmers from peg 13. Craig fished at 5 metres in to the end margin with soft pellet.


Full Result:

1. Tony Rixon 156-02-0 peg 29
2. Nick Duckett 145-14-0 peg 1
3. Dean Mallin 119-09-0 peg 31
4. John Dursley 108-0-0 peg 11
5. Fred Roberts 106-08-0 peg 19
6. Craig Edmonds 71-0-0 peg 13

Top Silvers:

1. Craig Edmonds 38-0-0 peg 13
2. Nick Collins 15-12-0 peg 21
3. Mike Baber 15-10-0 peg 3
4. Mike Nicholls 12-04-0 peg 5

Saturday 10/07/2010 - Maver Pairs - Stafford Moor

Bela Bakos had booked in to the Maver Pairs at Stafford Moor with Pete Notton only to be informed Wifey 1 that he was booked to go to Spain. So Bela passed the ticket to me and I asked Glenn Bailey to team up with me as he was keen to fish the venue for his first time, plus he’s been catching a few Carp of late.

You can always rely on Glenn to be spot on time as he was today with a 05:30 pickup, arriving at Stafford at 08:00 after a short break for coffee and some sort on breakfast pastry. We had the usual friendly greeting from Andy, who is always happy to help with advice.

The team plan was that I would fish Pines or Josephs and Glenn, Tanners or Woodpecker. Like most well laid plans I ended up on Woodpecker 20 and Glenn Pines 4! The draw rules were changed by Andy, however, having partially set up our gear in these pegs Andy did agree to us swapping, however, it didn’t seem worth while. In any case, I don’t think the result would have been any different.

I set up a waggler at depth and the straight lead. On the pole I set up two paste rigs one for 8 metres (deepest part of the swim) and another paste rig in the LH margin, as it happens for the Ronnie’s!! I fed the 8 metre line with two pots of 4mm’s. The peg was about 50 metre wide to the opposite island and with a nasty skimming wind I started at three quarters on the waggler with a very large banded 8mm pellet loose feeding the same over the top. Nothing, so I swapped floats to a shallow pellet waggler as I could see a few swirls from Carp. However, no one I could see was catching so I went on to the 8 metre line and started to catch Skimmers and Crucians steadily, until Dave (don’t know his surname) on next peg 19 caught a small Carp on the pellet waggler, so started the mistake of the day. I was teased for the next three hours by Carp, with the windy conditions not helping me at all. I did manage three Carp in the mouth and had four foul hookers on the retrieve. I had half hour on the straight lead with three small Skimmers to show for it. From what I could see no one was catching on it. In the last 10 to 15 minutes of the five hour match I switched back to the pole at 8 metres and had a Crucian, a Skimmer and a 5lb Carp. I weighed 34lb 10oz (approximately 50/50 Silvers/Carp)for fourth in the section with three DNW’s!! I was left feeling that if I had stayed with the pole through out the match I would have doubled my weight – who knows - Andy apparently who suggested this as an alternative to the straight lead.

Glenn weighed 54lb 9oz of small Carp, Crucians, Tench and Skimmers on Hard pellet fished at 16 metres to the island for 3 points. No where close for the team event with 7 points.

The match was won by Des Shipp (pictured right) from Tanners peg 30 with 165lb 6oz. Des only set up the pole (I wish I had done this – I shouldn’t be allowed out with rod and line) fishing shallow with 3 foot of line above the float splashing 6mm banded pellet around at various lengths (14 to 16 metres). Des fed 6mm and 8 mm hard pellet.

I have been writing my peg number on the back of my hand for some years now as there is nothing worse than setting up in the wrong peg only to be moved on. Oh yes there one worse - winning the match from the wrong peg!! I think Des might take a leaf out of my book on this one - we ain't getting any younger matey!!

The pairs was won by Jamie Smith and Tony Gilbert (pictured right) with a penalty points tally of 3.

Full Result:

1. Des Shipp 165-06-0 peg Tanners 30
2. Tony Gilbert 121-05-0 peg Pines 13
3. Ken Foxwell 94-05-0 peg Tanners 8
4. Craig Grant 86-04-0 peg Joseph 6 (included a 20lb Carp)
5. Mark Lynch 78-12-0 peg 17 Woodpecker 17
6. Save Stockton 7804-0 peg Woodpecker 32

Top Pair: (3 points)

Jamie Smith 65-04-0 peg Woodpecker 6 (2 point)
Tony Gilbert 121-05-0 peg Pines 13 (1 point)

Thursday 08/07/2010 - Bathampton Over 55's - Bridge Pool

After resting for the previous Coffin Dodgers match because I had just fished six matches in seven days it was nice to be back again particularly as we were on Bridge Pool. I have fished with Colin Golding now for more than forty years and he never ceases to amaze me. I find him fascinating. I have included another short video of Colin doing the Disabled draw – see what I mean!!

Having walked around the Lake twice I fancied peg 18. However, this peg wasn’t drawn so I won’t know if my choice was right. I pulled peg 25 instead, between two good pegs back in a bay. I wasn’t disappointed as it has an unusual featured topography. Because I was back in a bay I decide to target Ronnie’s on caster and for back up a paste rig in the LH margin – that’s it. I decided to leave the Skimmers alone. However, I was soon to regret this decision as there were plenty being caught. I had made my choice and decided to stick with it. I caught small Ronnie’s and Perch for the first four hours shattering an old top set on a Carp in the process, which I subsequently pulled out of due to only having elastic to pull back on! For financial back up to the Silvers I decide to give the margin a go for Carp for the last hour and half, which I had been gently feeding with 4mm hard pellet from the start. During this time I landed eight good size Carp losing one, which must have been lightly hooked. My silvers weighed in at 15lb 10oz for third in the Silvers and my seven Carp went 63lb 4oz for a total of 78lb 14oz for second overall.

The match was one by Geoff Stones (pictured right collecting his winnings from Colin) with 121lb 12oz from peg 16. Geoff caught at 13 metres over to the island in 10 inches of water using 10mm hard banded pellet, fished over loose fed 6mm hard pellet. Geoff had a period of losing foul hookers otherwise his weight would have been much bigger.

The Silvers was won by Terry Bruton (lower pictured right with his net of decent Skimmers) with 20lb 14oz from peg 21. Terry caught on 6mm expander fished over 4mm hard pellet.

Full Result:

1. Geoff Stones 121-12-0 peg 16
2. Mike Nicholls 78-14-0 peg 25
3. Mike Turner 63-03-0 peg 29
4. Harry Muir 58-08-0 peg 8
5. Pete Phillips 49-07-0 peg 32
6. Martin Alexander 44-15-0 peg 30

Top Silvers:

1. Terry Bruton 20-14-0 peg 21
2. Harry Muir 18-04-0 peg 8
3. Mike Nicholls 15-10-0 peg 25
4. Bob Warren 15-04-0 peg 14

Sunday 04/07/2010 - Carps AC - Summer League - Viaduct Fishery

So fish are sneaky and I thought it was just us anglers. I think the following article (copy/paste in to your browser) is a load of twaddle – more fodder for the Anti’s me thinks!!

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1291443/Revealed-Fish-DO-good-memory-quite-sneaky.html

I was guesting again in the last match of the Carps AC Summer Series. Judging by the post match comments the league has been a real success. I think this was largely down to the venue as much as anything else. I do wish I lived closer to it.

I was hoping for one of the four corners of either lake, but out came peg 126 on Campbell. This peg has plenty of form for Carp and Silvers so was happy with the draw. That said it really doesn’t matter where you draw on this venue as you are always going to get a day’s fishing.

Today's travelling partner Glenn Bailey was in the lead overall with Dick Bull and Dan Squire’s one point behind. Glenn drew peg 130 next to Dick Bull on peg 129, so this contest was in Glenn’s hands. However, Dan Squires arrived on corner peg 119 and with the wind blowing in there Dan was sure of a section win and a likely match win.

I set up four pole rigs two for banded hard pellet and two for my “Home Made Irregular Shaped Soft Pellets (HMISSP’s)”. One set to be fished at 8.5 metres and 10 metres. The other set for the LH margin. I started by feeding heavily in the margin with 6mm hard pellet, which I only fished once, only to find the Ronaldo’s waiting for the hook bait. I fed the 10 metre line with a small pot of micros and 4mm pellet. First put in on the HMISSP’s I had a 3lb Carp followed by two lost foul hookers. The wind started to pick up so I fed the 8.5 metre line identically. The issue I had was unless the hook bait was presented at dead depth you caught nowt. So with the gusting wind this became impossible on the long line so having re-fed it I came shorter and had a run of Tench and Skimmers interrupted by the occasional Carp. As soon as the wind allowed I would switch to the longer line, catching similarly but quicker. Once the wind picked up again I would change back to the shorter line. I kept this going until the last hour when the wind totally subsided and I caught really well to the end of the match. My Carp weighed in at 67lb 13oz and my Silvers 51lb 05oz for a total of 119lb 2oz. This gave me a section win, Silvers overall win and 6th overall, so I had of financial options covered. I must say I thoroughly enjoyed the day. I did try the 6mm hard banded pellet on both lines and found that although I had plenty of bites the Skimmers were very small. Throughout I fed one pint between the out lines and one pint in the margins (what a waste).

As predicted Dan Squires (pictured upper right with some of his catch) won the match with 282lb 1oz (the third highest match weight I think) from peg 119. Dan caught most of his fish at 16 metres fished to the end bank margin fishing 12 inches deep. Dan used 8mm banded pellet over loose fed 6mm pellet, feeding nine pints of pellets.

Glenn managed to beat Dick Bull but just fell short on winning his section Managing second, being beaten by Leyton Palmer. With Dan winning his section, it was weight count back for the title which went to Dan (pictured right with the overall league Silvers winner Nigel Bartlett) helped by his massive weight on the day.

Full Result:

1. Dan (Dude) Squires 282-01-0 peg 119
2. Phil Cardwell 142-08-0 peg 112
3. Paul Hearn 138-14-0 peg 118
4. Leyton Palmer 126-03-0 peg 132
5. Alan Oram 123-02-0 peg 110
6. Mike Nicholls 119-02-0 peg 126

Top Silvers:

1. Mike Nicholls 51-05-0 peg 126
2. Nigel Bartlett 40-0-0 peg 128
3. Tom Thick 38-15-0 peg 124

Overall League:

1. Dan Squires 6 points 625-15-0
2. Glenn Bailey 6 points 511-02-0
3. Dick Bull 8 points 482-01-0

Overall League Silvers:

1. Nigel Bartlett 6 points 139-12-0
2. Colin Dyer 6 points 128-06
3. Dave Tippett 7 points 100-13-0

Thursday 01/07/2010 - Carps AC Thursday Evening Series - Boyd Valley Lake - Round Three

Back to Boyd Valley Lake, two days in a row. However, a totally different approach will be needed to pick up coin and league points as there is no Silvers pool or League, so Silvers alone won’t get you close enough. The method feeder is dominating the league and I for one will not fish the method as it for those that has either just started fishing or those that can’t fish properly. The nearest I can get is the straight lead. So it was to be an out and out hard pellet attack with straight lead pellet waggler and one pole rig, all for banded pellet. I took 4, 6 and 8mm hard pellet and nothing else. So have to stick to the plan.

Well I drew the same peg as yesterday peg 8. Luckily I took my wellies as heavy rain was forecast (wrong again) so I was able to get in to the water and remove some of the rushes that are now crowding some swims. I started on the pellet waggler and had a 2lb Chub on 8mm pellet fish chuck (no feeding). Unfortunately I missed the best part – the bite - I was reel fiddling, I looked up and the float could not be seen. Good start one thinks – same problem as yesterday not enough water in the Gap, with the hook snagging stones on the bottom. Added to this a strong gusting wing, it wasn’t right, so out with the straight lead fished up the slope of the far shelf and after my usual count to 60 up the bank it went. I fed in front of the Gap with 8mm hard pellet but never to go back again! On to the 4 metre line with 6mm banded hard pellet which I had been feeding with 4’s since the start. I caught two Tench and a few decent Ronnie’s straight away. I then had a run of small Carp. I really started to enjoy the fishing as the wind was so strong the bites were emphasised. I had runs of two or three small Carp then a period of Silvers putting a couple of decent Skimmers in the net and a few more Ronnie’s making my Silvers weight up to 8lb 4oz and my 15 carp weighed in at 29lb 4oz for a total of 37lb 8oz. Unfortunately it was only good enough for fifth, but second in the section.

The match was won by Kevin Dicks (pictured right – grimacing) with 57lb 4oz from peg 11. Kevin caught on the method feeder - enough said.

Runner up was Bob (MD) Feltham (pictured right – Bob knew it wasn’t going to rain) with 54lb 14oz from peg 3. Bob fished the straight lead to the Gap.

I must mention mark Tanner who arrived two hour after the whistle with just a method feeder rod and caught steady weighing in 34lb 3oz from peg 5 – good job for Kevin Mark didn’t fish the whole match me thinks!!

Full Result:

1. Kevin Dicks 57-04-0 peg 11
2. Bob (MD) Feltham 54-14-0 peg 3
3. Martin Alexander 40-12-0 peg 6
4. Colin Golding 37-14-0 peg 2
5. Mike Nicholls 37-08-0 peg 8
6. Bill Ferris 36-0-0 peg 10