Thursday 28/05/2015 - Tony Rixon and Mike Jones Cost Cutter - Avalon - Match Lake

I missed the last Thursday Avalon match due to holidays so was looking forward to getting down there again with “Two Pots”. Vic Bush has done a great job developing the Match Lake into a very competitive match venue. Take your pick – Silvers or Carp either way you will get a great days fishing – A real mixed fishery in species and size.

First a stop at Shipham for breakfast where the piss take began from ring leader Rixon all centred on the stitches in my head (pictured right) from a recent operation. I certainly wouldn’t let this Surgeon tie my fishing knots!!

In to the enormous draw bag and after 5 minutes rummage found a swim card putting me on end peg 23. Tony had this peg the last time I was here and had issues with snags. However, it was unlikely that I would be fishing as far as he did! Arriving at the peg the cold NW wind that has been spoiling our spring weather was blowing off my left shoulder and was exceptionally cold today. There were signs of Carp midway along the end bank reachable by rod and line – not for me. There were also signs of plenty of feeding Ronnie’s, close in too. Reading across from last Sundays match where the Skimmers and to some extent the Carp didn’t feed but the Ronnie’s did this could be a good sign.

I set up the Ronnie rig, followed by a 4x16 Jolly to be fished at 6 metres for the Skimmers and a margin top-set paste rig for the Left hand side. With the Ronnie’s active I decided against the semi hard pellet as the blighters are experts at nicking the bait before anything else gets a chance. Instead I went for worm hook bait over caster and a smidgen of chopped worm on the Jolly. After 20 minutes I only had one tiny Perch and with no signs of blowing I decided to put a big pot of wetted micro in at 7 metres and watch for any signs of activity – which throughout there was none. In the meantime I started after the Ronnie’s with single caster on an 808 size 16, initially starting down the left hand side at full depth. I was soon surprised how big some of the Ronnie’s were from 3 to 12oz. The inside slowed probably because of Carp nosing about. So I switch to out in front gradually shallowing up to 18 inches but catching at about 4 inches deep. I was really in my element enjoying every moment. With 10 minutes to go and having fed less than a pint I spied a swirl in the left hand margin which I had be loose feeding with hard 4’s thinking it might be a Skimmer as it wasn’t that big. So in went the paste rig and before it hit bottom I was playing the fish – a bloody small Carp. Two more put-ins with paste and two more small Carp.

I reckon based on 6 fish to the pound and 6lb per hour and 222 fish I had 36 lb but was hoping for 40lb!! My three Carp weighed 10lb 2oz and my Ronnie’s went 37lb 10oz (my net of Ronnie’s (pictured centre) for first in the Silvers and sixth overall.

Packing up I noticed that my 808 hook was still as sharp as when I started and will probably get used again! However, when I stood up I had a “Pensioners stumbled” and because I don’t used my top-set tidy they tend to get spread all over, so I had to start a Highland dance around them to prevent stepping on one, but I am two footed dancer so one top-set got it – bugger.

Glenn Bailey (Silverfox) - (pictured right with some of his catch) won the match with 108lb from peg 16. Glenn started on the waggler over to the island bay catching five small Carp on banded pellet. He then switched to the pole at 13 metres catching a few more and whilst he had a time out put the lead out to the island catch a couple more Carp. Switching back to the pole in the last hour bagged bigger carp to doubles figures close in.

Another double bubble for the car and a Pinky Ponk soon followed.

Full Result:

1. Glenn Bailey 108-0-0 peg 16
2. Mike West 89-13-0 peg 1
3. Tony Rixon 72-07-0 peg 3
4. Paul Lock 67-02-0 peg 19
5. Chris Fox 64-15-0 peg 5
6. Mike Nicholls 48-06-0 peg 23

Top Silvers:

1. Mike Nicholls 37-10-0 peg 23
2. Paul Lock 35-01-0 peg 19
3. mike Jones 34-04-0 peg 13

Weigh Sheet:

Sunday 24/05/2015 - Ivy House Open - Match Lake

Son Mark ran the London to Brighton 100k Ultra Marathon Challenge for Great Ormond Street Hospital. The Special One and I were really proud of him for doing this, especially as Mark finished in 7^th position out of 500 runners 2,500 walkers completing the course in 11 hour!

It was a nice steady drive to Ivy House to one of Karen’s breakfasts. Matty Tainton was here today eating his dried toast and red jam sandwich. How does he last all match on this intake I wondered.

In to the draw tin and out comes peg 13, apparently not that good a draw. I found my self surrounded by Shipp’s. Des was opposite on peg 37 and Shipp Junior was pleasure fishing peg 11 with his mate which consisted of chucking the method out – not bringing Junior up right Des. The other side I had Brian Shanks. Des said Ryan drew my peg last week and struggled. Umm.

Four rigs a 4x14 Jolly to fish at 7 metres at 1 o clock in to the white water with a black tip. This rig for semi hard 4’s and caster if need be, all to be fished over wetted micro. The trusted Ronnie rig was erected and two paste floats one for over the Jolly rig line and the other for the RH margin which had the right depth and topography for fishing the paste. However, as said neither paste rigs produced a bite from anything over a few ounces.

I started on the Jolly with semi hard 4’s and had a very confident bite and a small Skimmer first put in. This lead me to think I was going to have a good day on he Silvers. Alas not as it wasn’t long before my pellet hook bait was being nicked by small fish. I then foul hooked a Carp on the drop which luckily didn’t damage the rig. I suspected the Carp were disrupting the Silvers but not really feeding themselves. I re-shotted the float so to fish on the drop which after a right old tussle resulted in a 14lb Mirror Carp. I kept this going for while picking off the odd Ronnie and tiny Skimmer until I hooked another double figure Carp. The Lake was fishing poorly with hardly anyone catching Carp. Des opposite was doing well catch small Silvers, the bigger Skimmers weren’t really showing anywhere. As it was going to be a tight match I gave the Ronnie rig a go and after catching three or four decent Ronnie’s the swim would die, again I think disrupted by Carp. As I said I tried the paste in the margin having continually fed hard fours, but nothing. I switch lines coming in to 4 metres where it’s not far off full depth. In the last hour I added two more Carp on the caster and a smattering of Ronnie’s to 8oz losing two foul Carp in the process.

I spied a large Carp surface feeding so I tried a Tony Rixon by putting a pellet on its nose. The blighter took the bait but not the hook!! I don’t feel comfortable catching this way, sort of cheating myself out of a bite.

My Silvers weighed 11lb 14oz and my four Carp 40lb for a 6^th position weight of 51lb 14oz. As expected the match result was tight with Bela and I only one fish each out of a section pick up. I must admit I rather fish a tight lowish weight match such as this one today as you are always in with a chance to the end.

The match was one my Mike Etheridge (pictured right with the Silvers winner) with 84lb 6oz from end bank peg 48. Mike fished long using 4mm hard pellet fished over hard 4’s feeding about 2 pints. Mike also nicked a couple from his margin late on. The results show that the majority of the catchable Carp are currently in the bay nearest the Café.

The Silvers was won by Des Shipp with 45lb 4oz from the same peg 37 Des drew last week. Des caught on worm fished over CW&C feeding about three pints of caster and ½ kilo of worm.

Full Result:

1. Mike Etheridge 84-06-0 peg 48
2. Dean Malin 73-06-0 peg 2
3. Craig 60-12-0 peg 3
4. Jamie 58-04-0 peg 43
5. Dick Young 55-02-0 peg 39
6. Mike Nicholls 51-14-0 peg 13

Top Silvers:

1. Des Shipp 45-04-0 peg 37
2. Chris Telling 29-0-0 peg 41
3. Jamie 25-0-0 peg 43

Weigh Sheets:

Thursday 21/05/2015 - Bathampton AA - Over 55's and Disabled - Dave Crooks Fishery - Bridge Pool

I had breakfast in ASDA this morning – not bad for the price.

Coming to the end of man flu so was looking forward to some fresh air. With 29 fishing there was going to be some difficult pegs in the draw. In to the draw bag and out comes peg 2 – again. I drew this last match and had 27lb of Skimmers, but the wind was blowing into this end as opposed to today. I didn’t know what to think. Arriving at the peg I found I had Mike Jones on peg 3 and Dave Poole on peg 1 for company, plus on peg zero I had the best angler here (pictured right). The Heron seemed to drop from his tree and pick fish off at will.

The swim looked devoid of fish with no signs at all. In for a hard day here I thought drawing the wrong end of the pool. And my feelings were to be substantiated.

I set up the usual Ronnie rig and 4x16 Jolly to fish at 9 metres, plus a 0.4 gram PC paste rig to fish on the top-set – probably a tad ambitious!

Starting on the Jolly with semi- hard pellet fished over kindered micro resulted in some tiny Skimmers which proved to be about all that was prepared to feed in my swim with most times the little blighters taking the pellet before it got on the bottom. I persevered with this only to get mores frustrated. So on to the Ronnie rig and caster which only produce a tiny Perch and two 3oz Ronnie’s. So I switched back to the Jolly adding another section taking me to 10 metres. Once again more tiny Skimmers. I tried maggot which produced similar bites and fish however, at least I didn’t have to keep baiting up.

This end of the Pool was fishing awful for Silvers so I went for a walk and wasn’t surprised to find that the usual pegs were producing the goods. It was clear that the only way was to fish for Carp. So returning to my peg I packed all but the paste rig away and sat on that for the remaining two hours. During this time I missed one bite and foul hooked two carp both of which were lost.

I weighed 4lb 8oz of Silvers – what a miserable days fishing.

The match was won by Alan Jones (pictured right with the Silvers winner) with 95lb 14oz from peg 21. Alan caught at 13 metres towards the opposite island using corn hook bait fished over corn.

The Silvers was won by Dave Bacon with 37lb 8oz from peg 29. Dave caught on red maggot over either the line he fed with GB or the line he fed with micro both containing some caster at 10 metres.

It appeared that the GB produced the best results today.

Full Result:

1. Alan Jones 95-14-0 peg 21
2. John Smith 47-04-0 peg 28
3. John Fry 38-07-0 peg 16
4. Dave Bacon 37-08-0 peg 29
5. Paul Haines 32-12-0 peg 17
6. Pate Greenslade 32-03-0 peg 11

 Top Silvers:

1. Dave Bacon 37-08-0 peg 29
2. Chris Rolfe 31-03-0 peg 15
3. Paul Barnfield 30-04-0 peg 27

Weigh Sheets:

Sunday 17/05/2015 - Tony Rixon's Short Pole Series - Round Two - Chiltern Trinity - Woodlands

Back from a holiday from the Isle of Wight. Which we last visited 31 years ago and it hasn’t changed in any way, which we thought was for the good – change is not always for the better.

Woke up this morning (good) but was feeling under the weather (bad). I now know it was the start of man flu which needed some extra Pinky Ponk in the bar Gar-age on our return.

It was the Hilltops Café again for Bela and me (Bertie Buster breakfast for Two Chews) where we were joined by Leon “One Chew” Hubbard. Believe it or not One Chew can eat quicker than Bela and at the same time as leading the conversation – true.

I drew "Two Pots" Bailey in the knockout which would have been fun had he been fishing today instead of going to Wembley with Tim Ford to watch the Gas get promoted back into the football league.

In to the draw tin and out comes two tickets stuck together, both went back in and out comes peg 22 which is the right hand end peg on the nearside. The wind was blowing down this end, promising sign. However, Kev Moulton drew it last match here and struggled weighing 25lb. The weight to better.

I decided to set the Ronnie rig and two identical paste floats for the RH down wind margin. The bank side vegetation restricts fishing more than 4 metres down the right which suits me but limits any fish chasing. Because of the wind I expected some tow right to left and that’s what I had which meant fishing the top-set plus one to hold the float back preventing the paste being dragged down the various sloping margin – a nuisance for paste fishing.

Once again I had “One Chew” next to me on peg 23, but we were both ends of different sections of seven. Bela had drawn again in his favourite area mid pegs on the near side which has been reserved it for him. (pictured right).

Because I had forty minutes to wait out before the start I had a go on the pond behind with the Ronnie rig where I would expect to catch Silvers in quick time. This didn’t happen, not even a bite. If this was to read across to our match then it would be concerning.

Nonetheless I started the match on the Ronnie rig and caster. However, it was slow and in the first hour could only manage 6lb 14oz of Ronnie’s at which time the Lake appeared to completely switch off – I couldn’t get a bite on caster except for the Motherless. One Chew next door had a couple of Carp pegs 20 and 19 were blanking! Carp totalling talk started around the Lake with seven Carp winning. So it was paste for the rest of the match fished over loose fed hard 4’s. The first Carp I hooked snagged me close in dead centre of the peg and came off – rig in tack. The next Carp I hooked I decided to play further out from the bank and before bring it to netting position making sure I could see the Dacron connector – this worked. Over the remaining five hour I landed ten decent sized Carp equi-spaced throughout – roughly two Carp per hour.

My ten Carp weighed 72lb 6oz for a total of 79lb 4oz for a section win and third overall.

I could say that the initial lost Carp cost me second place, but we all lose the odd fish. That said I think the choice of fishing for the Silvers was wrong and did cost me a higher placing because there were some early Carp to be had. Lesson for next match – I doubt it.

The match was won by Rod Wotton (pictured right with the Silvers winner) with 117lb 12oz from peg 6. Rod caught in his margin using 8mm banded pellet fished over 4 pints of loose fed hard 4’s and  2 pints of 6’s.

The Silvers was won by Paul Faiers with 25lb 7oz of Skimmers from peg 31. Paul caught at full length – top-set plus three using work hook bait fished over CW&C.

Full Result:

Weigh Sheets:

Thursday 08/05/2015 - Viaduct Cost Cutter - Campbell, Carey and Lodge Lakes

I thought it time to visit the Viaduct Fishery again because I haven’t been there since the winter league, plus matey “Two Pots” Bailey was going down so I had a lift. We stopped in Canards Well for breakfast. I noticed that the glass window over the Well is covered over, guessing the glass has broken. I must say the breakfast was superb, best for some time.

When travelling with Bela we don’t talk about good and bad pegs as we always end up on one of the ones we didn’t want – well Bela does! However, Glenn started the discussion and I think I said I like peg 114. I can’t say that about peg 123 which is one Glenn discussed as I have yet to draw it!!

Arriving at the venue I was amazed how many cars were in the car park which resulted in an excellent turn out of 43 anglers so Campbell, Carey and Lodge in the draw. Tony Rixon did his usual pushing in, trampling the pensioners who pulled peg 116 umm. In I went after him and pulled peg 114, must discuss pegs more with Bela.

I had brought bait for both a Silvers and Carp peg. Peg 114 is very much a Carp peg, so three rigs set up all for the paste. Because of the wind blowing in at me I  decided on a heavier than normal 0.6 gram PC paste float to be fished at top-set plus two with a third section behind to hold the float back against the wind. This rig was fished at 11 o clock to try and get direct in to the wind to reduce side movement. The two 0.3 gram PC paste floats one red top the other yellow, one for the top set in to the RH margin and the other to be fished into the LH margin at top-set plus two down to the point before the bank goes back into a bay towards unoccupied peg 113. For this margin I used 0.2 mm GLine straight through.

Because I won’t be fishing for a week I decided to feed the pint of dead maggot and caster into the RH margin to see if the big Silvers Tench and Bream would come over it. I fed the LH margin with a kinder cup of hard 4’s and did the same out at 10 o clock where I started. It didn’t take long before I was landing a 7lb Common Carp. Another quickly followed. I then kindered some more 4’s which seemed to have the opposite effect having to wait and long time for my next fish, another quickly followed. And this is how this line worked out with the fish shying away from the feed. The wind wasn’t helping; the presentation on this longer line having to hold back isn’t the best way to fish paste. So whilst the feed settled I started in the LH margin catching Carp straight away, the issue with this margin is that the bank is undercut causing a torrid time pulling the Carp out even though I had a 22 elastic in. I broke two pole floats doing this that said I didn’t loose any. Out long again and I landed a couple more Commons before I fed it again. This time I tried the RH margin on the top-set and had a Bream first try followed by another. The nibblers arrived so time to go long again and a couple more Commons in the net. Back down the LH again and Carp straight away I then hooked a large Carp which was getting a right tug from me when my number four broke on a poor repaired I had done. So panic stations and off the box down the edge where the top-set was just laying there, so thought the Carp had escaped. I caught hold of the line and surprise surprise the Carp was still on laying under the undercut bank – walked the dog and still hadn’t lost a Carp. I got my match number four out and was reluctant to try long down the margin again so picked off another two Carp long and then went down the RH margin again on the top set and with no nibblers the float tore off and a 14lb Mirror was in the net. That was it for this side for the remainder of the match. The long line was too slow so I switched to the LH margin again but this time on the top-set first put in I had another 14lb Common Carp whilst playing it I noticed one of my keepnets had fallen in, panic stations again so was eager to land the fish enabling me to retrieve it with the landing net. Luckily it didn’t fight as much as others had done and just managed to get the net back – phew.

I reckon in the last 50 minutes I put 100lb + in the keep nets all on my top set and no feed. I was knackered come the end. Why I caught them here ask Alan Oram he knows.

My Silvers comprising two Tench and two Skimmers weighed 7lb 8oz and my Carp 226lb 4oz for a match winning total of 233lb 12oz. Three of my nets were within ounces of the 70lb limit – good judgement – maybe.

The Silvers was won by Fishery Owner Steve Long (pictured above with the match winner) with 58lb of Skimmers from peg 125. Steve fished hard 6 mm pellet over Special G ground bait (pictured lower right) at 6 metres.

Two Pots drew Lodge peg 69 winning the Lake with 83lb 8oz.

Full Result:

1. Mike Nicholls 233-12-0 peg 114
2. Alan Oram 178-09-0 peg 97
3. Mark Hanham 173-05-0 peg 85
4. Kevin Dicks 158-02-0 Peg 118
5. Andy Weston 152-10-0 p2g 112
6. Tony Rixon 151-05-0 peg 116

Top Silvers:

1. Steve Long 58-0-0 peg 125
2. Gabriel Scarba 47-02-0 peg 128
3. John Billington 43-10-0 peg 80

Weigh Sheets:

Finally: I am running the annual Viaduct short pole (Top set plus three) match on Campbell this year on Wednesday 17^th June 2015 I have a just a few places left.

The match will be limited to 20 pegs

Cost £20.

Draw 09:30 Fishing 11:00 to 17:00 – Fishery rules apply.

Book in by calling Mike Nicholls on 07436015587

Sunday 03/05/2105 - Landsend Open - Match and Walters Lakes

Up early to free up the joints and sort my fishing gear for today’s match at Landsend. This means a stop for breakfast in Shipham which was very busy today (Bank Holiday weekend) however, Bela and I didn’t have long to wait. I couldn’t help noticing that there was some pretty lasses serving today – busy has its benefits.

I haven’t been to Landsend for just over a year. So some noticeable changes the Container shop have been refurbished. Mike Duckett said it was necessary because it was beginning to look like Tony’s old shop – no chance of that. And of course the trees have grown as they do.

There were two sections on the match Lake and one on Walters the Lake I was hoping to draw. In to the draw tin and out comes peg 13 the top corner of Match Lake. Bela drew peg 11 opposite me. I had a quick word with the Landsend Oracle John Bradford who said there has been a lot of Carp at this end of the Lake (probably because of the wind blowing this way) – not what I wanted to hear because I wanted an easy day on the Silvers – suit Bela though.

Arriving at the peg and the first thing I noticed was the tree along the middle of the end bank which has grown huge. It wouldn’t affect my fishing but for those that like to flay around with long poles it may. Would have been interesting to see Bela fish it!!

Peg 13 has plenty of Silvers history with Perch, Chub and Tench down the end bank and Skimmers out in front. So I set up a 4x14 Jolly for the Skimmers with pellet, but for the wind off my back blowing in from the moors through the gap in the trees I could have gotten away with a 4x12. I did set one up for the end bank for up on the shelf with caster. Finally I set up a paste rig to fish the RH margin on the top set at a depth of three foot.

I started on the 4x14 jolly at top set plus two sections at 1 o clock with semi hards on the hook over some kindered micro. It wasn’t long before I had a small Carp. I decided not to feed for a while to see if I could get the Skimmers to come over the residual feed. I had a quick run of Skimmers and a Bream before it died. So kindered some more micro in and another small Carp followed, the same pattern but with more Carp and less Silvers. I was determined to stay with the Silvers so changed to caster down the end bank up to the tree trunk. Over kindered caster and single caster on the hook I had one Ronnie and three small Perch before the small Carp found the caster which they were frenzying over which meant a few foul hookers. I was going no where with the Silvers and was suffering from over active Carp as per yesterdays match. If you can’t beat them join them. So with half the match gone I had six small Carp in the net, but the talk from Bela’s bank was some anglers had already 11 Carp; Bela was catching Carp well too. Possibly “Catchupable” I thought. So I switched to the paste on the top set where I had been dribbling hard 4’s.

First put in had a 10 pound Carp and over the remainder of the match I added another 14 big Common Carp to 15lb feeding about half a pint of 4's. Come the end of the match I thought Bela had beaten me as he had more fish than me.

My Silvers weighed 7lb 10oz and my Carp 152lb 2oz for a match winning total of 159lb 13oz (pictured right), just beating Craig and Bela.

Interestingly I only picked up £2 more for today's 18 peg match than yesterdays 7 peg match! 

Bela drew next to the venue expert again Tony Rixon who was on his favourite peg 7. That didn’t stop Bela thrashing him again. I must say I was impressed with how Bela fished his shallow long line rig at 14.5 metres for six hours (except for the times he had to retrieve his rig from the trees) over to the point of the island, it isn’t easy to hook the Carp doing this as the bites were very fast. Well done matey another double van pick up.

The Silvers was won by Nigel Bartlett (pictured right) with 22lb 13oz of mainly small fish caught short to hand using caster over caster.

Plenty of Carp feeding at present as the results show. Need to give the Silvers a week or two to recover and I suspect the Carp will spawn next week when some hot weather is forecast.

Full Result:

1. Mike Nicholls 159-13-0 peg 13
2. Craig Edmonds 147-11-0 peg 1
3. Bela Bakos 142-08-0 peg 11
4. Paul Elms 124-08-0 peg 50
5. Anton Page 122-08-0 peg 42
6. Tony Rixon 118-0-0 peg 7

Top Silvers:

1. Nigel Bartlett 22-13-0 peg 21
2. Craig Edmonds 22-02-0 peg 1
3. Paul Faiers 21-05-0 peg 24

Weigh Sheets:

Saturday 02/05/2015 - Ivy House open - Match Lake

Son Steve and I decided to go to the Saturday Ivy House Open. However, I wasn’t expecting a great turn out because Andy had organised a two day event for the Sunday and the Spring Bank Holiday Monday. But I thought it would be a good introduction to the venue for Steve.

I was right only seven fishing that said Andy was paying the top overall and one in the Silvers, plus you can win both which is still enough to fish for to pay for the day out.

After a bacon sandwich it was time for the 09:30 draw. Andy had pegged the match so that we were all out of the bitter cold easterly blowing across the venue, so any peg would do today. In to the sack and out comes peg 35 on the island. Steve drew peg 3 outside the Café. I said to Steve it should be an OK peg for either the Carp or the Skimmers, which ever showed up, or rather Skimmers if the Carp didn’t show up.

By the time I got near my peg I had forgotten the number so Steve went in the Café to confirm I was on peg 35 – age doesn't come alone.

Finally arriving at the peg I realised that I had left my cap at home which is one of the most important items of tackle as it’s needed to stop the glare. Luckily for me Gentleman Alan Oram came to the rescue with none other than his “Angling Times Drennan Cup Winner” cap (pictured right). I must say that it was a privilege to wear it, plus Alan said it was a lucky cap – he could be right! These caps are as rare as hen’s teeth (less than England International caps I think!) and are very hard earned –Thanks Alan.

I thought it wouldn’t take much to win the Silvers because they are in the stages of either spawning or recovering from this event. That said the first rig I set up was a 4x16 Jolly, heavier than normal for the venue due to the depth and the wind blowing the rig out and away from me. The only other rig was a 0.5 gram PC paste float for the RH side on the top set in 3 foot of water – not really the margin as I was 4 metres from the bank.

I started on the semi hards over some kindered wetted micro for the Skimmers. First put in I had a small Carp. I then had a run of hand size Skimmers plus a couple of bigger versions. I had also started feeding the short line with hard 4’s for later in the match. After the short spell catching Skimmers it was soon obvious that it was going to be a Carp day – the question was the Carp feeding up prior to spawning? All I could catch on the pellet was Carp most of which were foul hooked. So decided to do it properly and set up a deep paste rig.

The way the match went from this point with four hours left was to feed a kinder pot of micro then fish over the short line with paste, catch a 8 to 10 lb fish then switch over the longer line and catch two quick fish to 15lb before kindering again, whilst still loose feeding the short line with hard 4’s. During this time I put twenty Carp in the net. The last fish on the paste was a welcome 2lb Tench as by now I was knackered.

For that later stages of the match I had a Chicken sat under the bait tray feeding of the dropped bait. Talk about Free Range this Chicken was "Long Range!

My Silvers weighed 17lb 12oz for third in the Silvers and my Carp 151lb 14oz for a match winning total of 169lb 10oz (pictured right).

Luckily son Steve (pictured right with the match winner) won the Silvers with 20lb from peg 3, Steve caught on 4mm expander over wetted micro.

Like me Steve was impressed with the Silvers fishing on the venue – oh yes and the huge quantity of large Carp.

We both went for a curry straight after in the Eastern Spice, Kingswood, very nice food and drink!

Weigh Sheet and Result: