Sunday 25/08/2014 - Avon Angling Float Only - Final Round Six - Viaduct Fishery - Campbell and Carey Lakes

It was an all Bela could eat breakfast in Canards Well; I wasn't far behind him today as I was hungry.

The league is based on only 5 peg sections so as expected the league was tight at the top with weight going to decided most of the five coin places. I was in sixth place and needed a section win to have a chance of picking up. I was hoping for a peg on Campbell. In to the draw coffee tin and out comes peg 95. I had to look twice as this peg isn’t normally pegged. Match organiser Tony confirmed it was included in the first match so also in this time for consistency. You can’t argue with that. I then remembered Bela was on it first match. I didn’t fancy my chances of a section win from this peg – but you never know, as always I would give it my best shot.

For company on peg 96 was Cheery Steve Segar who spent 10 minutes untangling his pre-made up waggler (pictured right). Steve had torrid time fishing the wag striking regularly at liners landing only one Carp on it.

The other side on corner peg 94 was Bob Gullick who struggled for the first four hours catching just one Carp. Steve Segar had drawn it a few weeks back and explained to Bob that he had caught 100lb in the last hour. However, this didn’t console Bob. But Steve was proven right with Bob catch 70lb in the last hour. On the all out Bob was playing a Carp that had gone in the Lilly pads and finally succumbed to the banter to jump in (pictured right landing his fish after I passed him the landing net). Should the fish have been weighed?

Arriving at the peg there was saplings growing out through the platform as testimony to its little occupancy. I set up three paste rigs two identical in case one broke to be fished at 10 metres out in front. The other for the LH margin remembering that peg 96 can catch up to this pallet when empty.

I plumbed up the long line and found that the bottom was flat. Due too little use the “Hole had healed over”. Where have I heard this before?

On the whistle I fed the long line with a pot of 4’s and the margin with a pot of soaked micro (I think this is better than GB which appears to be in vogue at present).

I took me 30 minutes to catch my first Carp a beautiful unmarked Common Carp. I had to call on my spare rig after because it mashed up my rig in the landing net. I now was getting some fizz from Carp which soon opened a hole necessitating increasing the depth.

The upshot was that the first half of the match everyone I could see was struggling. However, during this time I had landed five doubles and was just nicking the section. The second half I had a torrid time foul hooking two lost Carp catching just one 2lb Skimmer. The margin produced nothing except one swirl. I was left debating whether I had fed enough on the long line having fed 1 ½ pints. I fed 3 pints of micro in the margin.

My Silver and five Carp weighed 59lb 9oz only beating Steve Segar in the section.

The match was won by Craig “Trigger” Edmonds (pictured right with the Silvers winner) with 245lb 15oz from peg 111. Craig initially caught on 8mm pellet over loose fed 8’s, feeding about 1 ½ pints long and later catching the lion share on meat fishing at 7 metres, again loose feed meat cubes by hand.

The Silvers was won by the Dude Dan Squires with 36lb 13oz from peg 76. Dan caught at both 14.5 metres and at 9 metres using hard 6mm pellet over hard 4's feed.

The league once again was won by league organiser Tony Rixon (pictured right with runner up Shaun Townsend and only 2oz out in third Tom Mangnall).

Bela, Glenn and I planned a stop in the best fish and chip shop in the country on the way hiome in Shepton. As both Bela and Glenn had picked up their sections by default they went for the large Cod. I followed suit and wish I hadn't, feeling bloated all night.

Thursday 21/08/2014 - Viaduct Cost Cutter Open - Campbell and Carey

Although I had plenty on with the house I couldn't refuse an offer for a lift to the Viaduct Cost Cutter from matey Glenn Bailey. I know this seems ridiculous but I have been avoiding the venue due to the travelling and partly due to the vast quantities of Carp being caught with 300lb needed to win and 200lb to frame. At my old age I am happy winning with 100lb or less. These quantities of fish are best left to the young slayers.

Glenn and I had a really god breakfast at Canards Well. The regular Chef has left. Will be missed me thinks.

Another good turn out of 26 most of them Skivers me thinks!!

I didn't bring any casters but is I drew near a few Silvers I would purchase some from the shop. So into the coffee tin and out comes peg 110. I have been itching to get in this peg as it suits my style of fishing – margin busting.

Glenn drew peg 112 so wasn't far away. Certainly close enough for me to hear his 13 metre section blow up on one of his the paste strikes. Another £200 out of his holiday money.

Arriving at the peg it was oblivious there was plenty of Carp around so Silvers not an option today. I set up just the two paste rigs. Both 0.3 gram Silverfox PC paste floats. One with 0.22 straight through with 22 hollow elastic to be fished at 10 metres in line with the RH leg of the platform on peg 135. The other 0.18 with Middy blue bungee to be fish at 5 metre at 10 o clock. All well clear of the brambles!!

There was so many fish on display that I was concerned that I would have a day of foul hooking so decided to start on the short line with minimal hard 4’s feed. First put in on the paste and a 3lb carp nailed it on the drop from the kinder feed hard 4’s. I had a run of these small Carp on this line then switched to the longer line closer to the Brambles. This fishing is not for Tackle Tarts of the faint hearted. I love it. I pent the rest of the match giving no mercy to these small bloody strong Common Carp, still managing to loose a two to the Brambles. It wasn’t until the last hour that I started to catch the better stamp of fish to 10lb. There was so many fish that over feeding lead to foul hookers. I found the best pattern was to kinder hard 4’s and not feed until I caught.

In between the Carp I did have four Tench which went 8lb, adding to this my forty Carp weighing 183lb 10oz for a third overall 191lb 10oz. A very enjoyable day but now exhausted.

Glenn had to come short due to his earlier pole mishap which proved to be a blessing in disguise catching Carp short on meat!!!

The match was won by young gun Ben Hagg (pictured right with the Silvers winner) with a massive 373lb 10oz from peg 77. Ben initially used the straight lead at 17 metres using 8 mm pellet hook bait feeding about three pints of 8’s. He then switched to the pole at 16 metres shallow at 18 inches catching regularly to the end, Ben loose fed another 10 pints during this time.

The Silvers was won by Giles Cochran with 26lb 8oz from peg 78. Giles caught on expander over hard sixes.

Full Result:

1. Ben Hagg 373-10-0 peg 77
2. Lewis Greenwood 199-10-0 peg 118
3. Mike Nicholls 191-10- 0 Peg 110
4. John Guy 181-01-0 peg 115
5. Dave Romain 176-13-0 peg 114
6. Glenn Bailey 169-13-0 peg 112

Top Silvers:

1. Giles Cochran 26-08-0 peg 78
2. Paul Blake 25-06-0 peg 124
3. John Bradford 22-08-0 peg 119

Weigh Sheet:

Sunday 17/08/2014 - Ivy House Open - Match Lake

Bela, Glenn Bailey and me decided on another trip to Ivy House. A nice steady drive, except, for another early Sunday morning mobile speed camera positioned at the top of Mill Lane. Hopefully Bela was less than 35 mph, otherwise it’s two fines in four weeks!!

The connoisseur of quantity went for the Ivy House big breakfast which wasn’t enough because Bela didn’t feel sick afterwards!

It was nice to meet up with three of the original Swindon Talisman who was always hard to beat in the South West Winter League on the river. I sat with them for a while to talk old times – felt at home with the “done it all before” oldies.

Apparently the Skimmers switched on last Friday with weights up to 80 and 60lb. I doubted if they would show again today in any numbers. Nice if they did though.

Twenty nine booked in so about the right numbers for the match lake all having plenty of room.

Chatting to another oldie – Gary Etheridge we decided peg 27 or 29 would be a good draw especially as the wind was blowing in to their end bank. Choosing a peg like this usually means I end up on a no hoper (no that only happens if Bela starts choosing). I was pleasantly surprised to pull peg 29. Thankfully it meant I could fish reasonable short, with plenty of options. This peg would suit all types and styles of fishing.

I wasn’t going to be caught short this week on bait options taking caster and expanders. The end margin was obviously going to my banker swim. However, I decided initially to fish just down the shelf at 10 metres at 12-o-clock for some Silvers. I set up a 4x16 Jolly for this line and backed it up with a 0.5 gram paste float for the bigger Skimmers and Carp if they do their usual disrupting. For the end margin I set up a 0.4 gram paste float – heavier than usual due to the depth (30 inches) and wind for stability.

On the all in I fed the margin with a big pot of mixed multi-ethnic dead maggots and hard 4’s. On the long line a big pot of a 50/50 mix of caster and wetted micro. I started on the Jolly with double caster and had a 2lb Skimmer first put in, followed by a few smaller versions. All the anglers I could see were struggling to get bites so I stayed on this, now catching 3oz Ronnie’s. Although I was getting a fish as soon as the float settled it was slow, fish of this size need to be caught to hand which is something I will try on my next visit with my Ronnie rig. After an hour I re-fed both lines and noticed a fizz on the long line and try the paste which resulted in a 4lb Mirror Carp. Out again and I foul hooked a carp which I decided to let go. With the fizz all but gone I went back on the Jolly this time trying the expander, which produced nothing. I then tried a semi hard soaked 4 pellet and amazingly I started catching small Skimmers and Ronnie’s. Has expander had its day I wondered? As the fish were the same size as the caster I switched back.

Again everyone I could see were still struggling Dean Malin on peg 43 was blanking on his favourite method The Method.

With two hours gone it was time to try the end margin which I fished at 9 metres. So out went the paste and the float buries straight away sure to be fish - but not? Every time I went out with paste hook bait the float would bury but couldn’t hook anything. It was one of those occasions when I kept saying one more try, one more try, etc…I finally got up and set up a caster/maggot rig for the margin (I had been feeding caster with the maggot). I slipped on double caster and the float buried again this time I nailed the culprit – a 1 ½ lb Chub! I followed this with another three small versions and some better Roach. It went quite so I switched to triple maggot from which I didn’t get any indications. So back on the caster and I hooked a big Carp (I was told to expect to catch the recently stocked small Carp from this swim) which broke me. So time to get back on the paste this time kindering hard 4’s with each new piece of paste. I then had a run of four decent Carp to 12lb. I then had a nightmare period of foul hooking fish. I stopped kindering a reverted back to dump feeding and kept some decent Carp coming to the end.

My Silvers weighed 10lb 8oz and my 10 Carp 68lb 5oz for a match second overall with 78lb 13oz.

The match was won by fishery owner and landscape gardener Andy Lloyd (pictured right with his catch) with 122lb 14oz from peg 47. Andy caught at 14.5 metres down to his end margin fishing either worm or maggot hook bait fished over GB laced with a few maggots. Andy fed about 1kg of GB throughout.

The Silvers was won by Roop (pictured right fishing on after the match) with 26lb 3oz of decent Skimmers from end peg 21. Roop caught on either soft or hard pellet fished at 12 metres over wetted micro.

All three of us enjoyed the day especially as we all drew really well – does help a lot - and all three framed. Because of how close the venue is to us compared with other venues we fish we decided to spend more time up there in the winter.

Full Result:

1.      Andy Lloyd 122-14-0 peg 47

2.      Mike Nicholls 78-13-0 peg 29

3.      Derek Hammond 75-07-0 peg 8

4.      Derek Young 57-13-0 peg 37

5.      Glenn Bailey 55-10-0 peg 5

6.      Bela Bakos 55-09-0 peg 41

Top Silvers:

1. Roop (Rupert) 26-03-0 peg 21
2. Gary Etheridge 19-08-0 peg 12

Weigh Sheet:

Sunday 10/08/2014 - Avon Angling Top Six League - Round Three - Chiltern Trinity - Woodlands

The talk was all about Bertha the Hurricane being carried over by the jet stream from the Gulf. As usual the press (Daily Express to name but one) overstated the overall impact with little to no rain. However, the wind was stronger that usual on this wind effected venue.

Bela being a “connoisseur of quantity” could only talk about was where he could get the biggest breakfast – we ended up at Hill Top – my choice this time.

Bela once again put his foot in it by saying where he didn’t want to draw and once again ended up exactly there. I drew opposite on peg 14. I wasn’t too disappointed with the peg as I have had some good catches from the peg. However, on arrival my feelings changed, as have the peg. The Bankside has been undermined by the lapping water and has caused bank slippage on both sides of the platform. I poked about in the margin with the landing net handle to survey the depth. Where I found 30 inches a suitable margin depth for this venue but I also found loads of snags. So once again would have to fish fishing a margin of 4 foot!

I got out my cupping kit, then a top set which was laid next to the cupper, after which I had a chat with Tom Mangnall on next peg 15. On my return my top set was gone. Was it an age thing? Did I get it out etc; etc, etc…I spent 30 minutes trying to find it, only to concede it to the depths of the Lake. I still don’t know how it got there!

I set up two paste rigs one to be fished at 5 metres for the Skimmers over micro and the other for the down wind LH margin towards Tom Mangnall on peg 15.

On the all in the wind was fairly light so I started after the Skimmers and for half hour or so I caught six Skimmers plus a 2 lb Carp. The wind then got up and presenting the paste was hopeless. This is when I realised I was totally unprepared for the conditions – no caster and no soft pellet which I think would have giving better and longer presentation on the Jolly. However, Tom Mangnall kept a few Skimmers coming using meat.

In to the margin where I had a Carp first put in where I had been lose feeding hard 4’s.  For the next four hours the float remained motionless not even the Silver nibblers were interested in the paste today. I did lose two Carp to the inside snags which added some interest to an otherwise dour dayy In fact the fishing was “Pants” in fact I would go as far as to say it was “Hugo Boss Pants”, which reminds me that Clint Wojtyle was having a nightmare on peg 17 getting lapped by the waves.

The upshot was that for the remainder of the match I added another three Carp and one Perch. My few Silvers weighed 6lb 10oz and my four Carp 16lb 9oz for a total of 23lb 3oz. Other than Rod Wotton the section was very close with only a few pounds separating us. With me at the wrong end. With Mark leader just nicking it, where have I heard his name before?

The Match was won by Chris Fox (pictured right with some of his catch) with 89lb 9oz from peg 23. For details of his match see his blog… I over heard Tony Rixon (his travelling partner) say to Chris hat “you are not going to be happy all the way home”. Chris agreed he wouldn’t.

The Silvers was won by Ton Mangnall (pictured right with his catch) from next peg 15 with 18lb 7oz. As explained earlier Tom caught on meat at 5 metres. The bait choice was right on the day when considering the weather conditions. Well done matey.

Full Result:

1. Chris Fox 89-09-0 peg 23
2. Rod Wotton 81-01-0 peg 8
3. Paul Elmes 74-13-0 peg 29
4. Glenn Bailey 64-07-0 peg 2
5. Tony Rixon 56-13-0 peg 32
6. Steve Segar 52-08-0 peg 25

Top Silvers:

1. Tom Mangnall 18-07-0 peg 15
2. Joe McMahon 13-03-0 peg 31