Bela and I were the first to arrive a Canards Well with Bela
first to the buffet. Mark Poppleton arrived shortly after and was horrified to
see “Two Chews” Bela ahead of him, obviously worried that there would be
nothing left for him. Luckily Bela left sufficient.
After a good start in the first match the team was hoping
for another good draw, plus we had super sub Tim Ford standing in for Steve
Skelton who was climbing in the Lake District.
Bela came back with the draw – not too bad I
thought but who can tell this time of year especially with the temperatures
being up and down. As it was my turn on Spring Lake I found myself on peg 19 I was happy with this as historically it has held plenty
of Skimmers plus the chance of a Carp over to the end of the island. However, I
did have the icy North wind blowing into my face albeit the island giving some
shelter.
I decided to set up just three rods – a Carp straight lead
rig for over to the island with either bread or corn hook baits, a Silver
feeder for Skimmers and finally a waggler. No pole!!
For team sake I started on the straight lead with three
pieces of 10mm punched bread slung tight to the island. It sat three for ten
minutes. I started to loose feed casters at ¾ distance (as far as the wind
would permit). Straight away I got liners. I recast the lead but with double
corn this time and again after loose feeding caster I got liners and had a pull
round sufficient to strike at and foul hooked a Carp some distance from where I
had cast. It didn’t take long for us to part company.
I realised that my reel line must be at about half depth
where I was feeding the caster which was attracting the Carp, so I immediately
picked up the waggler and with double caster cast it at three quarters loose
feeding over the top. I did have one indication but it was a question of after
the “Carp” had bolted. That was it after trying the straight lead, Silvers
feeder and the waggler I arrived at halfway without a fish. So I decided to set
up a 4x14 Jolly to be fished at 11.5 metres, at the same time Dave Romain who
also was blanking on next peg 20 went off to the shop for some maggots both of
us hoping to save a blank.
I fed some GB laced with Pinkie and with dead red on the
hook I had 29 Ronnie’s in 29 put in’s plus a 1lb Skimmer. The sun then made an
appearance which totally killed the swim. I decided to stay with the pole until
the end adding a couple more 1oz Ronnie’s.
I ended the match with 2lb 11oz for a meagre 6 points. Where
are all the Skimmers that use to live on these teen pegs?
I do admire the angler that can sit all match on the lead
for two bites and two Carp for good team points – unfortunately, something I
just haven’t the mentally to do.
The team didn't fair well with 36 points and Bela blanking, our decline has started!
The match was won by Nicky Ewers (pictured right) with 141lb
2oz from peg 86. Nicky caught on the straight lead casting long with either
meat or maggot hook bait. The Carp are tightly packed as proven by the angler
each side of Nicky – a blank and a 7lb!!
The Silvers was won by Clint Wojtyle (pictured lower right) with
17lb 15oz from Middle peg 37. Clint caught at 13 metres down to the tree on the
left catching big Skimmers and Perch on caster fished over GB laced with caster
and maggots.
Finally on the way home Bela and I stopped in Shepton Mallet’s
Winstones chip shop for a sit down dinner. Bela went for 8oz burger and fries
plus a stack of onion rings that were at least 12 inches high. It was a first
today for me, to witness Bela not devouring all his dinner, leaving 3 inches of
onion rings – hope he’s not coming down with something.
Full Result:
- Nicky Ewers 141-02-0 peg 86
- Gary O’Shea 127-03-0 peg 119
- Ron Hardiman 70-12-0 peg 90
- John Howell 67-09-0 peg 96
- Adrian Jefferies 67-03-0 peg 115
- Lewis Greenwood 59-04-0 peg 127
Top Silvers:
- Clint Wojtyle 17-15-0 peg 37
- A Crocker 14-08-0 peg 2
- Des Shipp 9-09-0 peg 3
No comments:
Post a Comment