Monday 29/08/2011 - Gary Wall Memorial - Landsend Fishery - Specimen, Match and John Walters Lake

I decided to miss the last of the Avon Angling Float Only at Viaduct to spend Sunday with the whole family (which is ever increasing)! I chose instead to fish the Gary Wall Memorial Match at Landsend today - Our 41st anniversary! It was good to see the South West Legend still turning out (pictured right eating his pasty breakfast).

I was hoping for one of the Silvers pegs on Specimen, but instead I pulled the best Carp peg on Match Lake peg 19. Nonetheless I decided to start for the Silvers with the expectancy that the Carp would terminate this. I wasn’t disappointed. Starting on the 4x14 Jolly at 11.5 metres fishing 3mm expander over a tiny amount of wetted micro and straight into a foul hooked Carp which soon came adrift. The same thing happened next cast. I then had an 8oz Skimmer and a small Tench. That was the end of the Silver rig as it got trashed next cast on another foul hooked Carp. All this after feeding 10 micros!! Out went the paste and it was the same again more foul hooked Carp and putting nothing in the sack. I decided to put a lot of feed over this line and try in the margin, so in went two big pots of micro and 4’s. Down the margin with paste over kindered hard 4’s and I had a good run of nine Carp before I started foul hooking again – bugger. So back out on the long line and I was soon up to 25 lost foul hooked Carp, it was about now that the depression set in – I hate foul hooking Carp I rather not have a bite. I didn’t feed again and did manage five more Carp in the last half hour all in the mouth – well nearly. My few Silvers went 3lb and the fourteen Carp 74lb 6oz giving a total of 77lb 6oz. I was surprised to find that the put me forth overall, with one more fish would have hiked me up to second spot – alas not. I made a few mistakes today the biggest was putting all that feed in, rather than use the paste as the feed. I also should have moved up the far shelf by another section and start again, but my arthritis was playing me up a bit.

And of course there was also fishing shallow, but it was the Gary Wall Memorial and fitting to use paste I think!!

The match was won by Tony Rixon with 154lb 11oz from peg 31. See his blog for details, but I think he might have beaten me on the number of lost fouler’s!

The Silvers was won by Alan Oram (pictured right with the match winner) from peg 36 with 33lb 10oz. Alan caught over to the far bank using CW&C, catching mostly Chub boosted by some big Skimmers.

Full Result:

1. Tony Rixon 154-11-0 peg 31
2. Anton Page 80-09-0 peg 7
3. Bob Gullick 79-02-0 peg 39
4. Mike Nicholls 77-06-0 peg 19
5. Tom Mangnall 63-07-0 peg 24
6. Andy Bryant 58-0-0 peg 32

Top Silvers:

1. Alan Oram 33-10-0 peg 36
2. Tom Thick 23-15-0 peg 28
3. Nigel Bartlett 23-06-0 peg 21

Thursday 25/08/2011 - Cost Cutter - Viaduct Fishery - Campbell and Carey

Back down on another Skivers Matches, which had another high turn out, probably due to this being the current best “in form” Commercial Fishery in the UK. The fishery has been producing ton weights day in and day out all through the summer and off varying pegs – Incredible.

After picking up my weekly vegetables from matey Terry Bruton (his Tomatoes are delicious) it was all most last into the draw bucket and out comes one of my favourite pegs 116 on Campbell.

I had only brought paste and expander pellet to the peg, giving a pint of casters to Rich Coles who wanted to fish for Silvers on the feeder on peg 86.

I set up two paste rigs, one 0.4 gram for fishing long at 6 metres and a 0.3 gram for both margins having plumbed both locations to the same depth. I started by feeding a pot of hard 4’s in to both margins, but started on the long line with small pieces of paste in the kinder pot and with a few hard 4’s just covering it. I had a 5lb Common Carp first put in – happy days. Feeding likewise after every fish I was catching Carp with the odd Tench steady. However, Brian Chivers on peg 118 was catching at twice my rate on either the pellet waggler or straight lead. We then had a heavy down pour which seemed to slow my swim right up. So I had a go in each margin and it was the RH the produced this time with two of the smaller Carp, two Tench and a Bream before this swim died. It was also proving quite a pull to stop the fish going in to the reeds around the corner in towards peg 117. A call of nature was required so up I got and because the platform was slippery due to the rain I slipped and it was a question of either into the Lake or step on the number two of one of my top sets – the top set got it. With two hours remaining I reckon I had about 60lb with Brian beating me hands down. So back after changing my top set it was back in the saddle at 6 metres and I noticed that some towing had started which I think was the initiator for the fish switching on. By continuing to feed in the exact same way I was getting a Carp within seconds on putting in. I reckon I caught 100lb of Carp in the last 90 minutes. I lost four by pulling too hard in the race to catch Brian (bad angling all said and done), plus I lost one of them to a snag on the one metre line (so watch out for this one). My few Silvers weighed in at 13lb 11oz and my 28 Carp weighed in at 180lb 1oz for a grand total of 193lb 12oz.

I thought Brian Chivers (pictured right with his third overall weight of 140lb 3oz) had beaten me, but alas not. I put this down to my fish being bigger than his by about 25%.

The Silver was won by John Bradford (pictured right with the overall winner) with 37lb 10oz pushing the Silvers Guru John green in to second place by 7oz! John was moaning about his draw – hard to believe that anyone should moan about drawing any peg on Campbell Lake - shame on you!! John caught on CW&C short on the pole at four metres.

Full Result:

1. Mike Nicholls 193-12-0 peg 116
2. Lewis Greenwood 164-02-0 peg 110
3. Brian Chivers 140-03-0 peg 118
4. Martin Smith 121-12-0 peg 128
5. Terry Williams 118-12-0 peg 115
6. Dave Sperring 109-02-0 peg 132
7. Pete Shergold 108-03-0 peg 80
8. Joe McMahon 107-07-0 peg 132
9. Den A!%&*^$ 101-02-0 peg 130

Top Silvers:

1. John Bradford 37-10-0 peg 119
2. John Green 37-03-0 peg 97
3. Pete Thompson 32-04-0 peg 124

Sunday 21/08/2011 - Avon Angling open - Shiplate Fishery - Hawthornes and Westpool

Finally I booked in for a match at Shiplate Farm: I think it was (until now) a well guarded secret venue for both match and pleasure fishing. The venue is located at the foot of the Mendips, just past the Webbington Hotel on the left (plenty of memorable hangovers from this venue). See fishery website:

http://www.shiplatefisheries.co.uk/shiplatefisheries/Welcome.html

As usual Bela and I arrived early and walked the two Canals – Hawthorne’s and Westpool. I didn’t mind where I drew except peg 15 of Hawthorne’s – how wrong could one be? – My excuse is that I am a virgin of the venue.

Both Canals are shown right (Westpool uppermost)


Into the draw bag and out comes two peg stuck together so I put both back and redraw peg 3 on Westpool – the Skimmer Canal– that will do then.

The venue reminded me a bit of Hillview Fishery (one for Terry King and his club for next year). I was pleased with the draw but found I was sandwiched between Chub Head and Steptoe (pictured right landing his first of four Carp) so it was continuous banter for all six hours with me acting as the translator.

Having chatted with the anglers that had fished it before and getting mixed messages I decided on a soft pellet approach so set a 4 x 14 Jolly. Plumbing around I found that there was a very narrow channel down the middle, about 12 inches wide and 5 footish deep at 10 metres. So I decided to fish just up the slope from this channel (first mistake). I also set up a 4x12 Jolly to be fished just down the inside margin in 3 foot of water. On the whistle I fed some micro with a dash of red maggot on the 10 metres line, but started on the top set with triple red maggot over loose fed micro and red maggot. I missed a bite first cast before I hooked a 4oz Skimmer. Chub Head then lashed in handfuls of expander pellet on the same line and that was the end on this line for quite a while. Out on the long line with 3mm expander and had four more 4oz Skimmers that was it for the next three hours. I played about with paste on both lines, but it was clear that the fish weren't interested in fish meal of any description. It wasn’t fishing that well except for the two farthest two pegs, 9 and 10. I decided on a Banana walk with Ron Hardiman (he’s still turning up on the odd occasion) down to Hawthorne. It appeared that everyone was struggling. I had a chat with Martin Alexander who explained that he had caught late on Westpool by continually feeding 6mm pellet and GB at 5 metres. I went back and fed (balled all over the swim) 2 kg of Magic GB on the 10ish metre line to the consternation of anglers around me (if the heat in the kitchen is too hot, etc…). It was apparent that most fish were coming to the CW&C so I scrounged a hand full of caster from Chris Davis (a first). With the few near death worms I had left from the Trinity match I added pole to take me to 13 metes which necessitated swallowing up 8 inches. I then had a run of Skimmers to 4lb, but it was all too late. Last cast I did have a 5lb 8z Ghost Carp. My Skimmers weighed 13lb 2oz for fifth in the Silvers, giving a not so grand total of 18lb 10oz for not last overall nor was I battered both sides which looked on the cards until the last cast!

The match was won by Tony Rixon pictured right landing his third Carp - and with half his winning bag of 99lb 12oz from the peg I didn’t want to draw on Hawthorne’s!! Tony fished caster over to the far …see his blog.

The Silvers was won by Chris Fox (pictured lower right) from peg 9 on Westpool with a creditable 52lb 4oz of Skimmers and Bream. Chris fished … see his blog. If there was a man of the match award it would have gone to Chris who fished a good match.

This is one of the venues that I would pleasure fish especially the Main Lake where there are Bream to 14lb and plenty of Grass Carp - another of my favourite fish.

Full Result:

1. Tony Rixon 99-12-0 peg 15
2. Bela Bakos 53-08-0 peg 4
3. Chris Fox 52-04-0 peg 9 Westpool
4. Dean Malin 44-04-0 peg 14
5. Richard Heatley 42-10-0 peg 10 Westpool
6. Andy Bryant 41-04-0 peg 13

Top Silvers:

1. Chris Fox 52-04-0 peg 9
2. Chris Davis 27-0-0 peg 2
3. Adrian Jefferies 25-04-0 peg 5

Thursday 11/08/2011 - Viaduct Cost Saver - Campbell and Carey

Back to Viaduct for another Skivers match. I was looking forward to this match as I had been promised some home grown Kidney Beans (the Special One’s favourite vegetable) and Tomatoes by matey Terry and Angela Bruton. lucky enough, Mike Jones wasn’t fishing so I had his as well – scrummy.

We had a Lady fishing today – Dick Bulls Partner Sarah Purchase (Pictured right under instruction from Dick). It was a case of role reversal with Dick sat in the deck chair. Sarah did very well landing 27lb 13oz of Carp from peg 111. Lets hope this doesn’t catch on!!

For myself I had pulled peg 98 on Carey. I was delighted as it’s one of the better Skimmer pegs, plus it was the lake end peg. I was slightly concerned that I might have Carp trouble because of the space I had – and as it proved to be justified.

I set up a 4x16 Jolly for the Skimmers and soft 6 mm pellet over a mix of Micro and hard 4’s, followed by the usual paste rig all to be fished at 10 metres in to white water. Whilst waiting for the whistle I spotted some blowing in the LH margin so this persuaded me to set up a paste margin rig. On the whistle I fed the 10 metre line with a full pot, but started in the margin hoping it would produce a quick Tench. As it happens I think this was “fools blow” and produced nothing. Out on the 10 metre line and has luck would have it the wind which was blowing in to the end bank picked up and it became impossible to present so I had to repeat the feeding at 6 metres – bugger.

That’s better, as expected I was catching 4oz Skimmers initially with the bigger species coming later. The swim slowed so I re-fed, it then all went tits up, with all the Carp in Carey arriving in my swim. I had two flying 4lb Bream shed the hook after bouncing half way across Carey and ten lost foul hooked Carp, landing one 10 pounder caught in the mouth. I was tiring of changing rigs and re tying hooks. It was now half way stage and it was getting very emotional and frustrating – feeling sorry for myself. At this point I was thinking of waving the white flag and going home as I didn’t have an answer. The Carp were going berserk for the feed. I tried not feeding and all I did was to sit there bite less.

So on to the paste rig and first put in I thought I had hooked the bottom pulling has hard as I dare I decided to pull for the break, getting down to the elastic I could feeling something moving so back on the right end of the top set and I knew immediately I had hooked an Eel. This fish got the adrenalin pumping, but lucky enough it was lip hooked and was able to get it in the landing net a personal best of 3lb 1oz specimen – that made feel better. It was a day when you really had to put the feed in as the Carp and the Bream were really competing for it. I hadn’t seen this before which lead to me losing four more big Bream and five more foul hooked Carp. I did land eight Carp that weighed 76lb 8oz and my six Bream, the few small Skimmers and Eel weighed in at 26lb 5oz. I reckon I lost 20 lb of Bream which in itself is unusual which I put down to them having to compete with the Carp. My total weight just sneaking over the ton to 102lb 13oz this was only good enough for eight overall.

TO SAY THE LEAST IT'S BEEN AN EMOTIONAL DAY.

Bill Gilbert (pictured right with his Silvers catch) on next peg 96 had a lucky “break”. Bill broke his number four section and was left with only his top set to fish with and as luck would have it, this spare Bill the frustration of the gorging Carp, only hooking and losing one. Bill weighed 28lb 5oz for third in the Silvers – every cloud has a silver lining.

The match was won by Jamie Smith who had gone before I had chance of a photograph – another pin-up me thinks. Jamie drew peg 112 and landed 236lb 13oz all caught on the long pols up in the water using with banded, hair rig pellet. Not sure what he fed.

The Silvers was won by John Green using his usual method from peg 131 with 58lb 8oz.

It appeared today that the Carp had driven the Silvers into the margins as second weight was also caught short along the margin of peg 85.

Full Result:

1. Jamie Smith 236-13-0 peg 112
2. Mark Wynne 160-11-0 peg 78
3. Shaun Kittredge 153-08-0 peg 80
4. Dave 141-11-0 peg 126
5. A Perkins 126-04-0 peg 119
6. Martin Lenaghan 108-12-0 peg 127
7. Glen Radford 103-3-0 peg 115
8. Mike Nicholls 102-13-0 peg 98T

Top Silvers:

1. John Green 58-08-0 peg 131
2. Bryan Preston 44-08-0 peg 85
3. Bill Gilbert 28-05-0 peg 96

Wednesday 10/08/2011 - Avon Angling Open - Landsend - Match Lake

I was undecided on whether to go on Avon Angling Open Match at Landsend because it was another midday start. What swayed me was that the Special One was off to Tyntesfield House with her friend Gill. These matches seem to me that you arrive at the venue on the 10^th, Draw on the 11^th and fish to the 12^th – whinge over.

In to the draw bucket and out comes peg 16. In the past few months none of the regular Silver specialist has done too well off the peg, so I wasn’t expecting too much myself. I had Tony Rixon for company on peg 15. I got to the peg before he did and spied lots of mugalbes swimming about, so I started clapping my hands loud and jumping up and down on the pallet. Jim Jenner on peg 18 must have thought I was mad.

On Tony’s arrival I tackle up my usual 4x12 Jolly to fish at 7 metres with soft pellet for the Skimmers and a paste rig to fish the same swim. I also set up a paste rig for the LH margin - nothing more to discuss on this line! That was it. By this time the Mugables had return and on Tony’s first swipe and in a blink of an eye Tony was in to his first Carp. However, I was proud to say that I landed the first Carp on my Silvers rig, as Tony let his first Carp go in to the nearside vegetation (this was going to be the nearest I was going to push Tony on his favourite Carp venue). I had another quick Carp followed by a quiet period. It was soon clear it was going to fish hard for the Silvers. I then had a run of small Skimmers with two about 2lb, from then on I struggled. My inpatients got the better of me and I was too soon on the paste – struggling even more. I did have a couple of foul hook Carp before landing two in the mouth. As it appeared to be fishing hard for Silvers and with Martin Lenaghan, Tony and Stu Foal catching Carp I opened up another Silvers line well down the peg at 10 metres. This accounted for another Skimmer and a few Ronnie’s on 3mm expander pellet. It seemed very easy to over feed today and bring the Carp in to the swim and up in the water. I was soon back on the paste line and had another two Carp, one more Skimmer and a beautiful Golden Tench that had striking black spot markings – it was worth the visit just for this one fish. My six Carp weighed in at 25lb and by humble skimmers net 13lb for a total of 38lb for no where. At least I didn't DNW of which there were a good few today. Speaking to Mike Duckett put this down to the fact that his aerators had broken down and the oxygen levels were low.

The match was won by Martin Lenaghan (pictured right) 169lb 3oz. Martin fished shallow at various lengths using hair rig banded pellet.

The Silvers was won by John Bradford with 21lb 2oz from peg 1. John caught on his beloved caster fished short.

Full Result:

1.      Martin Lenaghan 169-03-0 peg 19

2.      Tony Rixon 91-11-0 peg 15
3.      Stu Foal 79-06-0 peg 24
4.      Jason Radford 63-13-0 peg 7
5.      Mike West 45-02-0 peg 5

6.      Jim Jenner 41-13-0 peg 18

Top Silvers:
1.     John Bradford 21-02-0 peg 1

2.      Nigel Bartlett 17-10-0 peg 22

3.      Mike Nicholls 13-0-0 peg 16

Sunday 07/08/2011 - Avon Angling Float Only Open - Chiltern Trinity Wild Marsh - Round Five

After an excellent breakfast in the Hill Top Café it was an early arrival at Chiltern Trinity – Wild Marsh. As someone said to me “the organiser needs to get another set of scales or start the match earlier”. I think he should do both!!



I had a walk around the venue putting my scent down on my preferred pegs 40, 39 and any peg from 7 to 15. I just didn’t want any pegs in the sixties. I was keen to get the draw over as I haven’t drawn very well on this venue this year (67, and 59), the keenness was due to the fact I was in the final of the knockout, fishing against Tony R, Dean M and Dick B so I needed some help. I was trying to keep to the first few in the draw queue, however there were plenty of bigger anglers (and some smaller – Tim Ford for example) pushing in. I hovered over the draw container and pounced on a peg 64, bugger – lacking confidence.

I arrived at my peg a beaten pensioner. I spent quite a while coming to terms with seeing Dean on peg 11, Tony peg 12 and Dick on peg 15. Well I had a section still to fish for! I set up just two rigs all to be fished at 11.5 metres and a waggler. The 4x16 Jolly was to be fished at 11 o clock over GB with dead red maggot and at 12o clock over CW&C with worm on the hook. The paste rig was to be fished at 1 o clock over hard 4’s. I started by feeding just two balls of neat GB and a cup of a mix of dead reds, caster and a few chopped up worms. For the paste line I put in a cup of 4;s plus a bit of wetted micro. Starting on small pieces of worm I had a quick run of small Skimmers and Ronnie’s, which soon died once the Eels mover in. I then had a funny spell “bumping” Eels. After I had netted two Eels weighing at least 3 ounces each I gave the GB line a try with double dead red which resulted “I can’t be bothered to fish for tiny Ronnie. Out went the waggler with triple dead red whilst I fed hard 4’s over the top (no balling it today). The upshot was that I tried the waggler a number of times – once whilst I was having a Mesha delivered coffee, the other time when we had to endure a thunder storm, all to no avail. With three hours to go switched to the paste line and did have some indications, which I thought might be small fish, but am not sure now, so gave the worm line a go which produced nought. I decided to spend the last two hours on the paste and feeding micro and hard 4’s with the paste through the kinder pot. I was amazed when I had a bite and landed a 4lb frisky Common Carp. This was followed quickly followed by three more to 6lb. The swim went iffy losing two foul hookers; I did then hook and play to the landing net a Mirror Carp which I estimated to be 15 lb. However, my impatience got the better of my and forced the hook out of its mouth. Bugger! That was the end of the Carp, However, I did had two 3lb Bream on the same bait and line, bumping one on the whistle – how they mess with the bait. I knew I had beaten Dick but with Tony of 40 lb and Dean on 29 lb I was anticipating picking up third in the knockout. I was surprised when my Silvers weighed in at 10lb 12oz and my Carp 23lb for a total of 33lb 12oz. I was amazed to fond that this put me fourth in the Silvers, second in the knockout, second overall and a section win. Certainly would have settled for that off the scented pegs!

The match was won by Tony Rixon (pictured upper right with his Japanese sniper grin) with 45lb 3oz from peg 12. Tony caught on… see his blog.

The Silvers was won once again by Nick Collins(pictured right) with 14lb 14oz from un-fancied peg (by me) 57. Nick caught on worm heads fished over GB laced with CW&C.

It was amusing to find Trigger  (see pictured lower right) in the water up his knees trying to release a very stuck seat box. It took two of them to release it from the red clay.

Full Result:

1.      Tony Rixon 45-03-0 peg 12
2.      Mike Nicholls 33-12-0 peg 64
3.      Martin Pettifer 32-08-0 peg 9
4.      Gary Etheridge 29-11-0 peg 42
5.      Dean Malin 29-08-0 peg 11
6.      Scott Puddy 26-04-0 peg 7

Top Silvers:

1.      Nicky Collins 14-14-0 peg 57
2.      Steve Segar 13-2-0 peg 46
3.      Matt Tomes 12-04-0 peg 29
4.      Mike Nicholls 10-12-0 peg 64

Thursday 04/08/2011 - Bathampton AA Over 55's And Disabled - Withy Pool

After a breakfast at ASDA with Bob Warren, it was off to Withy Pool for today’s Dodgers match. In to the draw box and out comes peg 50 AGAIN!! Only joking, the Coffin Dodgers have been banned from fishing it in a match – anyone know why? Apparently we can still pleasure fish the peg.

The peg I actually drew was peg 48. If you walked the Lake it would be one of the pegs you would fancy as it is out on a point. However, I have drawn it a few times and have always struggled. I think the reason is below the surface, it appears to be very stony with a shallow shelf a fair way out. I had a good think about the peg and couldn’t come up with anything different from the last time I fished it. So it was a Ronnie rig with caster, a 4x16 Jolly to be fish just up the shelf at 7 metres for the Skimmers and a paste rig – 0.75 gram float to be fished over the Skimmer line. Some say I am frugal with my bait, so not to disappoint I decided to use the 6mm meat I didn’t use in yesterdays match for the Skimmers. On the whistle I fed a pot full and started after the Ronnie’s with caster and caught straight off, unfortunately they were ½ oz fish, I did have a 4oz Perch before I gave it up – exact repeat of the last match I was on this peg. So out on the meat and I had a nice quick run of 3 – 4oz Skimmers, which kept me occupied for an hour or so until the swim went quiet, which can be an indication that the Carp are mooching around. So out went the paste switching the feed to hard 4’s fed with the paste through the kinder pot. After I had a dice with two foul hookers I hooked and landed six Carp in succession. I then lost one at the net and that was it for the Carp. However, I was getting what looked line bites, which didn’t appear to be Carp. This kept me going until I found out what it was; I foul hooked a big Bream re-stocked from the Main Lake. I then had another in the mouth, followed by another smaller one. I must say that the Bream looked in much better condition than they did when housed in the Main Lake (vermin to revered) and have taken on a silver healthy look. Up to this I reckon I had about 10lbish and I was surprised to find that these new inhabitants had boosted my Silver weight to 19lb 12oz for second in the Silvers. My six Carp weighed in at 51lb 8oz for a winning total of 71lb 4oz.

The Silvers was won by  Bath Tackle Dealer Dave Bacon (pictured top right) from peg 60 with 35lb 14oz of Bream and Skimmers. Dave caught on traditional Bream fishing method – Ground bait feeder and red maggot. I think this is a Silvers record for this Lake.

As I have said before it's important for our sport that we support these local tackle shops, which are under threat from cheap Chinese goods sold on the Internet. Remember you get the full invaluable service from these shops - including a cup of tea.

Full Result:

1.      Mike Nicholls 71-04-0 peg 48
2.      Ian Sheppard 56-04-0 peg 66
3.      Rich Coles 47-12-0 peg 54
5.      Dave Bacon 35-14-0 peg 60
6.      Pete Phillips 31-10-0 peg 69

Top Silvers:

1.      Dave Bacon 35-14-0 peg 60
2.      Mike Nicholls 19-12-0 peg 48

Wednesday 03/08/2011 - Avon Angling 2+2 Pole Only Open - Viaduct - Campbell

With Bela still having a sabbatical we were off to Viaduct - Campbell Lake in the Avon Angling 2 + 2 pole only match (top 5). After another great “help your self” breakfast in the Bear Inn Hotel along with Tony and his Hartcliffe gang it was in to the draw room where we found Charlie Barns and his rent boy Tom Thick still dressed in their travelling gear (pictured right). Apparently Charlie decided on Peter Andre and Katie Price outfits today – Charlie explained how Tom got breathalysed on the way – hang on Tom can’t drive!!

In to the draw box and the peg I would have chosen stuck to my hand, peg 132 – again I hear. Very happy with this one, especially for today’s match. The upshot was that I fished it the same as Sunday but at half the distance. The only changes made were that I didn’t catch many Carp in the shorter margin, but it did account for eight Tench and one Skimmer. In addition, I had to hand feed the out in front swim after two hours to attract some of the shyer Carp. My Silvers weighed in at 21lb for second in the Silvers and my 22 Carp 119lb 11oz for a total of 140lb 11oz. Because Dean Malin over stocked one of his keep nets by 7lb which let me in to first overall, because of this, some of the glory wasn’t quite there for me. I fed a similar amount as Sunday, 1 pint of hard 4’s.

Dean caught 133lb 5oz on whole worm over loose fed pellet from peg 126.

The Silvers was won by Tom Thick (pictured right trying to take home the match winner - couldn't have tried this with Dean) from peg 112 with 25lb 8oz. Tom caught on 8 and 4 mm hard pellet and paste. Toms catch also included a 3lb Eel. Which Bela Bakos had to unhook for him.

Bela also picked up today so we rounded off a great day by having fish and chips in the Whitstones in Shepton Mallet (pictured right) – the best I have had for many years – if not the best.

Full Result:

1. Mike Nicholls 140-11-0 peg 132
2. Dean Malin 133-05-0 peg 126
3. Tom Thick 128-14-0 peg 112
4. Bela Bakos 100-01-0 peg 111
5. Alan Oram 83-06-0 peg 128
6. Tony Rixon 80-01-0 peg 130

Top Silvers:

1. Tom Thick 25-08-0 peg 112
2. Mike Nicholls 21-0-0 peg 132

3. Jim Baines 19-0-0 peg 129