Sunday 30/11/2014 - Viaduct Slivers League - Round 5 - Campbell, Carey and Lodge Lakes

It was the Viaduct Silvers League for me today standing in for Clint Wojtyle and with Bela fishing at Westerleigh I travelled down with Gordon Cannings. We breakfasted in Canards Well which was OK again.

The weather is still staying above average temperatures for the time of year and with the sun coming through it was going to be hard. I drew peg 60 on Lodge Lake which was OK as when the fishing gets hard you can always get bites from the many small fish. For company I had Trigger on my right on peg 62.

As I was tackling up Steve Long was feeding pellet to the Carp in the stock ponds (pictured right – a beard isn’t just for Christmas). These Carp are destined for Match Lake.

I set a waggler, which didn’t get wet, a 4 metre whip and a 4x14 jolly for the Skimmers. I started by feeding 4 balls of GB laced with dead reds and caster at 11 metres. I started on the whip anticipating catching some Ronnie’s on caster over loose fed caster. It was soon apparent that the fish weren’t in the feeding mood. I did catch a few small Ronnie’s but it was hard going for everyone around me. I switched to double pinkie on the hook and had a couple of small Skimmers one was the biggest fish of the day a 12oz specimen. I decided to try the long line with single dead red, but the fish were tiny, hardly able to pull the float down. I sat on a caster for an age before swapping to double Pinkie hook bait this lead to catching small Skimmers and Ronnie’s up to 4oz for the rest of the match. I kept feeding the laced up GB hoping that a couple of big Skimmers might arrive which would have made the difference on the day. Alas not.

I weighed 8lb 3oz for 5^th in section.

The match was won by Paul Elmes (pictured below centre with the runner up Phil Cardwell) with 20lb 13oz from peg 70. Paul caught steady all match fishing single caster over GB laced with caster at both 11.5 metres and 14.5 metres. Paul fed about half pint of casters and 1kilo of GB shared between the two lines.

 Full Result:

1. Paul Elms 20-13-0 peg 70
2. Phil Cardwell 20-07-0 peg 68
3. Gary O’shea 20-06-0 peg 115
4. Steve Kedge 19-10-0 peg 97
5. Steve Tucker 18-12-0 peg 86
6. Tony Rixon 18-06-0 peg 77

Weigh Sheets:

Thursday 27/11/2014 - Coffin Dodgers @ Emerald Fishery - Ruby Lake

I am amazed how much traffic is on the ring road at 06:30! Steady drive down the M5 in very damp and misty conditions. I returned via the A38 which was also steady and uneventful drive, home by 17:30.

It was breakfast in the Hilltops Café with Dave, Dave and Norman.

As there were 13 of us Mike Jones decided to put us all on Ruby. A good decision I thought.

I drew peg 1 at the top end near bank, opposite where I was last match.

The peg was a bit of a Parrot cage so the Ronnie rig would have to be cast under hand. I also set up a 4 x14 Jolly to be fished at 4 metres. I was pleasantly surprised to find I had a foot more water than the last opposite peg.

For company on peg 2 I had pooper scooper expert Dave Bacon, who chucked it to the pimple of an island midway across with the Carp dragging the rod in as soon as it landed.

The plan as last time was to fish for the Silvers so I started and finished the match on the Ronnie rig, with single caster over loose fed caster. The Ronnie’s in Ruby are well worth catching but the Silver fishing is continually disrupted by the many, many small Carp in this Lake. By intentionally feeding all over the swim I managed to keep adding the odd Ronnie to 10oz to the keeper.

I finished the match with 11lb 2oz of Silvers which was well ahead of the next Silver weight plus 54lb 6oz of Carp for a total of 65lb 8oz for third overall.

I really enjoy fishing this venue with plenty of fish to be caught from all pegs as the weigh sheet shows.

The match was won again by Rich Coles (pictured right with the Silvers winner) from the same bank but opposite end with 86lb 1oz from peg 5. Rich caught at 10 metres using dead red hook bait over kindered wetted micro. Rich later caught on 6mm expander.

Paul Locke came expecting to mug us pensioners but ended up being a chip shop sandwich. Anyway he did significantly lower the average age!!

Full Result:

1. Rich Coles 86-01-0 peg 5
2. Dave Bacon 71-06-0 peg 2
3. Mike Nicholls 65-08-0 peg 1
4. Normal Huggett 54-14-0 peg 13
5. Pete Turner 42-11-0 peg 12
6. Mike Key 41-15-0 peg 10

Top Silvers:

1. Mike Nicholls 11-02-0 peg 1
2. Andy Smith 4-14-0 peg 6
3. Mike Jones 4-13-0 peg 4 (ounced out)

Weigh Sheet:

Sunday 23/11/2014 - Todber Manor Autumn League - Round 3 - Park Lake

Breakfast in Canards Well was much better this week because the buffet was up and running when we got there. All down to Kim.

It was our turn in C section. Chris Fox had produced an Xcel spread sheet analysing the section pegs. Not sure about this as fish can swim especially this time of year with various environmental condition changes.

I drew peg 23 which I was told according to Mr. Xcel that it was the worse peg in the section with Fabio DNW’ing from it last match.

I had Tim Clarke for company on peg 25 was who salivating because of the Carp swirling about in his LH margin. Well out of reach for him and me because the rules are not to fish pass the next pallet which was 11.5 metres away and with the fish some further 10 metres away the rule would not impact me!

I was pleased to find I had plenty of water to fish in. I set up two 4x12 Jolly’s – one with a black top and the other red, otherwise they were the similar. One was to be fished at 10 metres at 2-o-clock and the other 5 metres out from the platform on peg 24.

I started on the 2-o-clock line with a soft 4 on the hook over kindered micro. I was soon landing a F1. I followed this with a 3lb Skimmer. Then I foul hooked an 8lb Carp in the tail which took me an age to land. A struggle then ensued. So I decided to see if there were any number of Silvers in the peg and mixed up some GB which was fed over which now would be my throw away line and with double pinkie on the hook I had a 1lb Skimmer and five Ronnie’s. That was it other than indications from tiny fish.

That was enough of that, time to switch to the 5 metre line with my beloved pellet attack and make that work or catch nought. So out went the other rig which needed to be set 5 inches deeper. Subsequently I caught small Carp to 3lb steady until the end. I do enjoy this sort of fishing.

I weighed 51lb 12oz for a section third and 5^th overall.

The match was won by Ashley Tompkins (pictured below centre with some of his catch) with 115lb 5oz from peg 28. Ashley initially caught over to the far bank landing eight quick Carp. Then a couple followed from his RH margin before switching to down the track where he caught the majority of his Carp. Ashley caught all his fish on 6mm meat.

Bela and I decided that we would have fish and chips on the way back in Shepton Mallet and also follow the Sat Nav home. Unfortunately, they weren't conducive as we ended up following the A30 - A350 - A36 to Bath which is the quickest way back to ours. However, all was not lost we stopped in the Bell Inn just outside Bath where Bela had the "Bell Burger", what a whopper. Quarter way through my Gammon I looked up and Bela's plate was clean I looked under the table thinking he had dropped half of it. He look like the Cat got the cream!

Full Result:

1. Ashley Tompkins 115-05-0 peg 28
2. Alan Oram 74-04-0 peg 38
3. Tim Clarke 61-09-0 peg 25
4. Dan White 54-02-0 peg 13
5. Mike Nicholls 51-12-0 peg 23
6. Ken Rayner 51-10-0 peg 11

Thursday 20/11/2014 - Bathampton AA - Over 55's and Disabled - Withy Pool

The only other option to attending the Coffin Dodgers at Withy was for me to stay at home – not an option.

Less is more. With only 20 booked in at least peg 38 wouldn’t be in the draw bag!! In to the draw bag and out comes peg 42. The nearest available peg to 38!! That said I have always had a good days fishing from this peg.

For company I had Mike Jones who was modelling a clean set of fishing clothing. Apparently his wife was out for the day and was able to break the house rules and sneak his kit in the washing machine – hope this hasn’t got him in trouble!!

Easy peg to set up for – the one rig -  a 4x16 Jolly to be fished down the track (the peg is only 13 metres wide swallowing up both sides on to stone (shale).

No pellet today just the humble maggot (fluro and red) and my Skimmer GB.

Having set up I stepped onto the platform and slipped on the moss which has taken a liking to the green like carpet fitted to the top of the platform (upper pictured right) I landed on my number four shattering it into three pieces. I have for eight years carried a spare pole but recently stopped so no spare four – bugger. Mike Jones lent me his Maver short number four and by cutting the remainders of my section I managed to cobble a number four together (pictured right). I was worried about the Maver content if I hooked a Carp.

Ready for the off when I noticed another angler setting up next to me (pictured right). I think I was in his swim! Pointing the camera and it ran off never to return.

As long as I am getting bites I am enjoying my fishing, and that’s what I did catching circa 75 tiny Ronnie’s steady throughout the match interrupted by two Carp. The first I landed a Mirror weighing 12lb 10oz the other was foul hooked with little to no chance of landing.

My Silvers weighed 5lb 12oz and added to my lonely Carp took me to 6^th overall with 18lb 6oz.

The match was won by Dave Bacon (pictured right with the Silvers winner) with 37lb 9oz from peg 62. Dave caught on his favourite pellet feeder rig.

The Silvers was won by Dave Wride (pictured lower right with his catch of Skimmers) from fancied point peg 48 with 24lb 2oz. Dave caught at 13 metres using maggot hook bait over GB laved with caster. Dave needed to keep the feed going in to keep the fish coming.

Full Result:

1. Dave Bacon 37-09-0 peg 62
2. Pete Phillips 30-01-0 peg 66
3. Dave Wride 24-02-0 peg 48
4. Rich Coles 20-10-0 peg 47
5. Pete Greenslade 19-10-0 peg 44
6. Mike Nicholls 18-06-0 peg 42

Top Silvers:

1. Dave Wride 24-02-0m peg 48
2. Rich Coles 20-10-0 peg 47
3. John Barker 15-04-0 peg 46

Sunday 16/11/2014 - Ivy House Open - New Canal

Yesterday was my last visit to Avon Angling due to it closing down (pictured right – last days blues). It was a sad day as I have shopped at Avon Angling since it opened some 30 odd years ago. During that time I have had excellent service, never being let down with bait, Tony has always managed to cobbled something together even though having been let down by suppliers. As is common knowledge Avon Angling was never stocked to excess and one of Tony’s favourite sayings was “if I don’t have it you don’t need it”. I’m not sure where I am going to shop now – unless – some local tackle shop realises the potential earning power of Tony. Many thanks to John and Tony for all they have done for me. Did you know that John “The Gimp” Bradford has never watch the film Pulp Fiction!!

I would normally have been fish the Westerleigh Winter league today however, because I will miss a match I decided to give it a miss. I had plenty of alternatives but settled on Ivy House hoping to reserve in their winter league if that failed fish the open on the New Canal.

It was another easy drive to the venue. Unfortunately, I couldn’t reserve so opted for the canal even though there was only the seven of us – coin to be won and lost.

In to the draw tin and out comes peg 3. Apparently it was the wrong end of the Canal. Next to me on peg 1 was Jamie Compton who lasted three hours! The other side peg 5 was Chris Cottrell.

Not a lot to say. Started on a 4x14 jolly at 7 metres using 4mm soft pellet over micro down the track expecting Silvers and hooked a 6 lb Carp second put in which I pulled out of at the net. I didn’t realise at the time that this would cost me coin. Five minutes later I landed a 4 lb Carp. That was it for an hour when I decided to feed some GB on a new line at 2-o-clock and with a singe dead red on the hook I didn’t get a bite. I had set up a 4x10 TBF float for the far bank with my full 13 metres only getting me with 1 metre. I did have 2 “Stockies” losing another two foul hookers plus a small Tench. I tried allsorts to get a bite – none of it worked. Fishing 13 metres paid its toll on my body so with an hour to go I packed up and had a walk around getting the scales to weigh in quickly as soon as the whistle sounded.

My three Carp weighed 7lb 8oz and my Tench 8oz for a total of 8lb.

The match was won by Junior Josh Clarke (pictured upper right with his catch) with 22lb 14oz from end peg on the day 16. Josh caught on maggot over to the far bank and down his margin. It’s nice to see a junior not only out fishing but winning.

Josh for obvious reasons doesn’t do the pools so the spoils of the day went to runner up Chris Cottrell (pictured right) with 18lb 13oz.

Result:

1. Josh Clarke 22-14-0 peg 16
2. Chris Cottrell 18-13-0 peg 5

 Top Silver:

1.       Alan Smith 4-04-0 peg 14

Weigh Sheet:

Bill Milton

Bill Milton passed away recently aged 82 after a long illness.

I have known Bill for many years, often seeing him at the BAWA Rock and Roll Revival nights with his long time partner Mary. For some time Bill and Mary were Friday night regulars at my local pub “Dando’s”. However, I will remember him mostly through match angling where he had a very big presence.

Two events have stuck in my mind over the years.

The first was at the Bathampton AA Christmas Match where I drew peg 54 “The Bream Hole”. However, I didn’t run to the peg as it hadn’t fished well for some weeks due to weather effects on the river which had pushed the Bream into the thirties and twenties which tended to happen at this time of year. On next peg 53 was Bill (pictured top centre -  ready for the off). As there was plenty of water on (but not enough for Lobbies) I set up just the feeder using the small open ended Drennan variety. Bill came down for a chat and ridiculed my little feeder. Bill had recently got back from fishing in Ireland with Pete Hodge and showed me his “Splodger”. I think he attached it to his line by the pull ring!! The match started and there was an enormous splash over tight to the far bank in to the main flow. I cast short into the slack and was soon netting a 1lb Skimmer, next cast I lost one. That was it for me for the rest of the match. Bill hadn’t had a bite even though he kept waking me up with his “Splodging”. In the last half hour Bill netted three Bream for 12lb and with the river fishing poor this put him either second or third overall.

The second was in a Commercial House match on Fry’s. Bill was fishing for Jaynes Contractors and me Fry’s A. Bill and I had drawn next to each other below the trees, just in to the deep water, a great draw considering the river was well up. Now Bill was a playful sort of guy and took pleasure in light hearted wind ups, his favourite play mate being Paul Lombard. I think he picked out Paul because Paul could not only give it but take it too. More heavy rain was forecast so Bill had put up his umbrella and because of the steep banks at Fry’s this obscured the top of the bank. Paul Lombard crept up on Bill and started to urinate from a great height on his brollie. Bill shouted out what the **** and peeped around the brollie only to get slashed by some after spray in his face. Bill went berserk scrambling up the bank after the “laughing hyena” (those that know Paul would recognise his laugh) who was much too quick for the “Bear”. Bill and I had a good days fishing. Back for the result in Fry’s club Bill was on the look out for Paul. Paul liked his cider and it wasn’t long before he had enough on board to tease the Bear. Unfortunately the drink had slow him down sufficiently for Bill to get him in a head lock. Now Bill was enormously strong man. The hyena had to take what the Bear gave out, Bill not letting him go until Paul nearly passed out.

Bill was much better than me at telling stories which he had many. Rest in peace matey I and many others will miss you.

Thursday 13/11/2014 - Coffin Dodgers @ Emerald Fishery

At Mike Jones request I arrived early at the Lakes to help him peg out because Emerald Lake was closed for weed removal we were given both Sapphire and Ruby Lakes to ourselves. However, we didn’t know for sure what to peg. Because of the threat of high winds and heavy rain we went for the far banks of both Lakes. But the wind stayed in the South all day so we didn’t get that right. Mike and I discussed the pegging after and decided it might had been better to have put us all on one Lake.

Mike decided on equal payout - one overall and one Silver on each Lake.

In to the draw bag and out came peg 12 which was the corner peg on the far left of Ruby Lake.

Chris Fox had passed on to me the bag of his “last Avon Angling casters” (thank you - pictured right). So I decide to fish caster all match with Silvers the target.

Just the one rig that I would be used all match - the faithful Ronnie rig. The wind was blowing hard right to left so I fished the rig down wind letting it run up the shelf to try and get some presentation. We did have some really high gusts of up to 60 mph bringing down a tree by the railway – bit scary at times.

I started well on single caster catching some decent Ronnie’s. Unfortunately the Carp heard the caster going in and it wasn’t long before they were getting to the bait first. I tried backing off the feed but the Carp were there for good!. The Carp I was catching were very small up to 2lb, but I was catching them quicker than anyone else on the Lake. However, I noticed Rich Coles was catching Carp which were two to three times bigger than mine. So it was the Silvers or no coin. So it was a question of fishing around with minimal feed to pick off the odd Ronnie, but it was hard to avoid the Carp. Looking around I couldn’t see anyone catching Silvers – plenty of Carp though. So with half hour to go I upped the feed and caught some more small Carp.

My Carp weighed 79lb 8oz and with my Lake winning Silvers (pictured right – the casters weren't wasted Chris) of 11lb 12oz took me to 91lb 4oz for third overall. Another great days fishing at this venue.

As expected Rich Coles (pictured lower right) won the Lake and the match with 176lb 4oz fish his top set in his LH margin with Dendrabena hook bait fished over caster and maggot.

Result:

Sapphire:

Overall: Dave Bacon 103-09-0 peg 7

Silvers: Mike Jones 22-10-0 peg 3

Ruby:

Overall: Rich Coles 176-04-0 peg 8

Silvers: Mike Nicholls 11-12-0 peg 12

Weigh Sheet:

Sunday 09/11/2014 - Todber Manor Autumn League - Round Two - Park Lake

Not a good start to the day when arriving at Canards Well for breakfast to find no staff had arrived. The Manager promised the breakfast would only take 10 minutes which stopped us going to some place called McDonalds. Well it took 30 minutes and both my eggs were burnt, not an enjoyable experience. We arrived at the draw with 10 minutes spare.

My turn in B section and in to the box out comes peg 19. Close walk then. I had a chat with match organiser Mark Poppleton who drew it last match he said it was the worse peg in the section and expect to come last as he had, Mark is regular visitor to the venue and a good angler so this information was a bit worrying. Was the day getting worse.

Arriving at the peg I found that the platform was under a tree and as I wasn’t allowed to set up on the bank I put the tackle box as close to the left edge of the platform as possible (pictured right). Of course this meant no RH margin and I only had 2 metres to the next tree on the left side so limited margins all round.

There were a couple of trees on the far bank island which would have made seeing the float difficult at 12 o clock so I opted to fish at 10 metres to the left (away from the reflection of the bright sun) into the white water = black top float. The platform was also well back from the waters edge so needed 10 metres of pole.

I initially set up a 4x14 Jolly but found only 3 foot of water and with a still sunny day I opted for a 4x12 jolly I use at Hillview. I had made up some TBF’s and choose a 4x10 in the remaining LH margin.

I started on the 4 mm soft pellet with the same on the kinder pot. It wasn’t long before I was playing my first stamp Carp. I had four on the trot and then foul hook four on the trot, then it settled to steady catch rate of catch two then wait for another two. This seems to happen not only to me but most anglers on this venue.

For the first three hours I think I was holding my own in the section. Then the swim completely died whilst all the anglers to my left carried on catching short and in their margins.

I tried my bit of margin with various baits finishing with a very large Dendrabena which did produce my only bite a micro Perch hanging on to the end of the worm 2 inches away from the hook. Needless to say it fell off. End of margin fishing.

It’s seems now that a lot of anglers are fishing short and it is at these times that I wish I could fish longer as I was sure the fish had backed off to the far bank 17 metres away. Or I need other anglers to start fishing the far bank again!

I opened another line this time to my right as the sun had moved off the water. Bait and feed was semiconscious red maggot. Never had a bite on this in a fishery that if full of Silvers? Kev Hanson on next peg 20 fished for 5 hours to only catch one small Roach and DNW’d.

Back out on the pellet and at 14:30 I did have a bite and I was into a good fish of about 8lb which was in the mouth as I seen it come up on the top. I then had a twang and my elastic disappeared rapidly out the end of the top set. Not a good experience - bugger. When I was packing up I found a shard of carbon in the top set which must have aided the departure of my elastic.

With twenty minutes left I got another pole section out and re-plumbed at 11.5 metre and started again two inches less depth. I had one more Carp and just before the whistle I started to get indications.

I like playing the game of having equal weigh in each keep net. I had my personal best today with 19lb 8oz in each net for a total of 39lb and last but one in section.

The match was won by Rowland Lucas (pictured right) with 118lb 10oz from peg 38. Rowland caught on bunches of red maggot short at 5 metres fished over maggot.

The framers today all used various baits – pellet, meat and maggot.

The day ended on a good note on the drive back Bala played a Bere’s Hammond CD I gave him, plus a few Pinky Ponks in Bar gar-age ended what is always a great day out fishing.

Full Result:

1. Roland Lucas 118-10-0 peg 38
2. Ashley Tompkins 82-12-0 peg 14
3. Nick Merry 81-09-0 peg 9
4. Chris Fox 77-07-0 peg 17
5. Tim Clarke 73-01-0 peg 7
6. Tom Ince 64-04-0 peg 11

Thursday 06/11/2014 - Bathampton AA Over 55's and Disabled - Bridge Pool

It was a 08:45 draw with 09:55 start with all out at 15:40 that’s how it gets when the organiser is nearing seventy!! Yep another Coffin Dodgers match making the most of our time left, wonderful.

In to the draw bag and out comes peg 19. Umm, yes happy with this simply because it would be very sheltered from the high winds and it was. Seemed very cold today but that has to be balanced with the very mild autumn we have had so far.

Arriving at the peg Ray Bazeley who was on next peg 21 pointed out a Mallard with 12 new chicks – in November! They swam down to my LH margin where one of the chicks got snaffled by a Magpie – nasty bird (now 11 pictured right). The family stayed around our end of the Lake until the end when a magpie made it 10 chicks left. Doubt of the family will last until next year, shame.

I set up the Ronnie rig, a 4x16 jolly to be fished at 5 meters in 7 foot of water and a 0.2 PC float with a size 14 - 808 to 0.16 hook length.

Although I fed some micro and soft 4’s long on one line and GB with dead red on another, all the action came from the Ronnie rig and the RH margin.

Starting on the Ronnie rig with caster over caster I had a good half hour putting 6lb 2oz of Ronnie’s in the net. The swim apparently died I suspected maraudering Carp so I went in with Bela’s favoured double Dendrabena and the float buried and a 8lb Carp was in the net. In again laying the worm out for if to lay against the shelf and the float went again this time a foul hooker which decided to straighten the hook. Foul hooking can be an issue when laying the bait out in this manner. I lost another foul hooker before landing a 6 pounder, followed right away by a 16 ponder. For the next hour I remained biteless no matter what I tried. Because I had to weigh in I packed up 20 minutes early to avoid the rain.

 

My Silvers weighed 6lb 2oz and my three Carp 32lb 14oz for fifth overall.

The match was won by Rich Coles (pictured right) with 59lb 10oz from peg 16. Rich caught on maggot in his left hand margin catch 7 Carp.

The Silvers was won by Chris Rolfe (pictured lower right with his catch) with 16lb of Skimmers from peg 30. Chris caught on worm hook bait over caster and worm In GB.

Full Result:

1. Rich Coles 59-10-0 peg 16
2. Martin Alexander 57-07-0 peg 24
3. Terry Bruton 52-02-0 peg 9
4. Dave Bacon 44-08-0 peg 28
5. Mike Nicholls 39-0-0 peg 19
6. Dave Haines 35-12-0 peg 11

Top Silvers:

1. Chris Rolfe 16-0-0 peg 30
2. Barry Fitchew 15-10-0 peg 26
3. John Barker 11-08-0 peg 13

Sunday 02/11/2014 - Ivy House Open - Specimen Lake

Bela arrived as usual on time but found that his windscreen wipers had stopped working. We did the usual non-mechanic stuff – Fuse, wiggling wires etc… without success. I suggested Bela leave his van at mine and we go in my car. However, Bela needed to sort things out for work on Monday so he went back home. I went in the car. Another easy drive, I didn't have a car in front of me all the way, that don’t happen very often.

It looks as if the Indian Summer is about to end.

 Because the individual winter league had started on the Match Lake (25 fishing) the open was on the Specimen Lake where 15 were booked in so not many pegs empty.

In to the draw coffee tin and out comes peg 6. As I haven’t fished the Lake before I didn’t have a clue, except Andy Lloyd said there were plenty on Roach to be had.

Arriving at the peg I had Vine Shipp and Bullseye on peg 7 and Rupp on peg 5 (third time I have drawn next to him in a row). The water looked very clear.

I set up a 4x16 Jolly to be fished at 10 metre where I had 8 foot of water with it getting deeper the further I went out. I set up the Ronnie rig and a 4 metres whip with a Crow quill waggler.

I started at 10 metres with soft 4mm pellet fished over some micro and soft 4’s. I also started loose feeding caster on the Ronnie rig line. After 20 biteless minutes on the pellet I switched to the Ronnie rig and had half a dozen 2-3oz Ronnie’s on single caster, but it was difficult to keep them this close. So out went the 4 metre whip where I did have a few more but I reckon I missed 10 bites before I actually caught one!!

A Ronnie match it would be then, so I went back on the 10 metre line but this time kindering in caster and with single caster on the hook I started to get bites but again was missing loads. I then had a 12oz Skimmer and a 12 oz Perch. With 2 hours left I stayed on the long line where I started to catch Ronnie’s steady which got better the nearer the end we got!!

No Carp. My Silvers weighed 11lb 8oz for first in the Silvers.

The match was won by Alan Smith with three Carp to 17lb for 39lb 8oz from peg 14. Alan caught at 4 metres using maggot hook bait over maggot.

Runner up was Andy Weston (pictured right with the Silvers winner) with 23lb 3oz from peg 13. Andy caught similar to Alan but shorter just on his top set. No picture of Alan as he had gone straight home.

Full Result:

1. Alan Smith 39-08-0 peg 14
2. Andy Weston 23-02-0 peg 13
3. Robbo 16-02-0 peg 8
4. Lee Pearce 13-06-0 peg 12
5. Ryan Shipp 13-0-0 peg 3
6. Mike Nicholls 11-08-0 peg 6

Top Silvers:

1. Mike Nicholls 11-08-0 peg 6
2. Des Shipp 10-0-0 peg 18

 Weigh Sheet: