Sunday 28/06/2015 - Ivy House Open - Match Lake

Bela cried off today because of aches and pains from working on a steep roof, I suggested he bought some high heels shoes. For his information one Fox, one Badger today.

A steady drive up and after a chat with Anton, Alan and Leon it was late into the draw bag and out comes peg 42. I have drawn this before and have won the Silvers with Ronnie’s and a few small Skimmers.

I thought I would give the corn a work out today because I haven’t fished for a long while and it’s the current (cheap) bait to catch the Skimmers’. So I set up a 4x14 Jolly for this task to be fished at 7 metres. The only other rig was the Ronnie rig. So another sparse bait tray. I am a believer of selecting a bait right or wrong and try and make it work. I didn’t bring any semi-hard 4’s today because the Ronnie’s have been nicking them before they got to bottom.

I started by potting in 20 grains of corn with a smidgen of wetted micro. I started to loose feed the Ronnie line. I had a fizz over the corn line straight away so started on that and had a 7lb Carp first try, quickly followed by a foul hooker. I tried for a total of two hours to try and catch another fish of any description over the corn even though I kept feeding it. So time to try the Ronnie line and get a days fishing. I couldn’t believe how hard it was to catch them – very slow on the caster. So with no Skimmers on the corn my only hope was to fish for Carp. Because of the lack of feeding Ronnie’s the Semi-hards might have been the answer today.

Last time I fished the peg I plumbed up to the right over the tree stump and found 3 foot of water right up to the tree roots but didn’t fish it. As I like to try areas that aren’t fished I clear some summer vegetation and set up a paste rig. Not for the faint hearted. I liberally fed the wetted micro and first put in I had a local Stockie, followed by one of about 5lb then another about 10lb – going to bag up then after all – not – that was it except for five decent Skimmers form the same margin.

My silvers weighed 13lb and my Carp 27lb 2oz for a total of 40lb 12oz for 8^th overall.

The match and Silvers was won by Chris Telling from peg 6. See his blog to ascertain how much CW&C he fed.

Runner up in the Silvers was Baggy (pictured right with his catch of Skimmers) with 49lb 11oz from peg 32. Baggy caught on 90p worth of corn at 7 metres.

Anton Page who was on peg 40 included three Grass Carp (pictured lower right) in his catch fishing long line shallow.

Full Result:

1. Chris Telling 78-01-0 peg 6
2. Steve Chandler 75-12-0 peg 12
3. Andy Lord 55-10-0 peg 36
4. Baggy 53-07-0 peg 32
5. Anton Page 48-0-0 peg 40
6. Mike Gale 47-08-0 peg 25

Top Silvers:

1. Chris Telling 54-02-0 peg 6
2. Baggy 49-11-0 peg 32

Weigh Sheet:

Saturday 27/06/2015 - Hillview Open

Hillview today with son Steve for a Fathers Day outing and an Indian Curry afterwards – don’t get any better than this.

The rules at Hillview have changed primarily with regards to the keep net limits (see right). I think they are one of the most sensible rules around especially the four net rules – well done Keith. However, it’s the only fishery I know that if an angler gets it badly wrong he could end up with a negative weight – it will happen., can’t wait - Lol.

In to the Woolly hat and out comes peg 30 on Heron a corner peg with the wind nearly blowing in to it. I was reasonably happy with the peg until the nemesis arrived on peg 27.

I decided to make it an out and out paste match for me. So two rigs a 0.4 gram rig to be fished just down the shelf at top-set plus one and a half sections. And a 0.3 gram which suited both margins all to be fished over hard 4’s so bait tray sparser than usual.

Starting long whilst lightly feeding both margins I hooked a 4lb Carp first put in. Second put in another – going to be good – just as I thought that the nibblers arrived. So in to the RH margin and an F1 in the net. It then all went Tits-up. I couldn’t get a bite. So went out again on the longer line and had another F1. The nibblers soon arrived. By now both Glenn and Terry were bagging in their margins on maggot. I did notice that both of them were feeding heavy, more in one go than I normally feed all match!! True.

I started to up the feed accordingly and - nothing until the last hour when I started to catch the odd F1 and Carp, but the bites was strange it was “tear-a–ways” or nothing. I can’t believe I fed a whole 2 pints can’t believe it. I finished up with 44lb and nowhere. It fished weird; Terry King confirmed the same where heavy feeding was the only way to get the marauding Carp to take any interest.

The match was won by Chris Cork (pictured right) with 168lb 8oz (would have been minus if in one net!!) from first canal peg 42. Chris saved the day for me as he caught on paste from both margins. One margin paste over micro and the RH paste over meat. All his fish equally spread from both margins, all caught short.

Steve drew peg 5 and DNW'd but had around 40lb of F1’s in the process had a lesson from Des Shipp – hope he don’t invoice him!!

I always have a look at the post match platforms to see what anglers have been feeding the picture right is that of Des Shipp’s where there were signs of Corn, Meat, Pellet and Worm.

Full Result:

1. Chris Cork 168-08-0 peg 42
2. Luke Hughes 166-0-0 peg 16
3. Glenn Brothcrion 147-0-0 peg 28
4. Terry King 146-0-0 peg 27
5. Des Shipp 127-08-0 peg 3
6. Jake Cork 123-12-0 peg 18

Weigh Sheet:

Wednesday 25/06/2015 - Amalgamation Summer League - Round One - Sedges - Canal

It’s been a while since fishing the Sedges and I was looking forward to returning. Even though the draw isn’t until 10 o clock I left early to miss the traffic so everything was done at a leisurely pace especially on such a beautiful summer’s day including breakfast in Hill Tops café. Some changes to the drive from here to the Fishery, since my last visit two roundabouts have been built on Bower Lane, which makes things much easier.

There were also plenty of changes to the Fishery under the good hospice of Jamie and Denise. Nature has also played a big hand with the trees and shrubs etc… maturing.

The league will alternate between the Canal and Tile Lake starting today on the Canal, which I have only fished once some 8 years ago. The fishing that day wasn’t good, but since Jamie has taken over I would guarantee things had improved. Plenty of time to have a walk round with a cup of coffee, during which I saw plenty of signs of fish all around the Canal – started to get excited. Back for chat with Jamie and he gave some good advice about fishing the Canal - mainly treat it like any Canal (didn’t have any squatt!!).

It was good to see Phil Coulam again – always cheerful.

This summer league attendance is always up and down due to holidays, three were missing today from the twenty booked in. Finally into the draw bag and out comes peg 51 which was end but one peg on the top far side. No emotions. For company on end peg 52 was John Thorne sporting a mummified Diawa Pole. Opposite was Ray Bazeley couldn’t see him but some how knew it was Ray!

On the opposite bank was an overhanging tree giving loads of shadow and on a hot bright summer’s day might be useful. I set up two 4x12 Jolly’s one yellow topped to fish ¾ across in the shadow and the other back top to fish at 4 metres in white water. Finally a 0.4 gram PC paste float to fish where ever. I plumbed around and found that the depth varied little with 6 inches differences right up to the opposite tree roots/trunk.

I started on the yellow top with semi-hard 4’s over kindered hard four with a smidgen of wetted micro and caught some small Skimmers, Ronnie’s and a 1lb Tench fairly quickly looking good for a days fishing. I then foul hooked a small Carp which went mental I was glad when the hook pulled out. The swim went quite but picked up again but the skimmers were tiny 1-2 oz. The swim then completely died. So I set up the Ronnie rig and caught some small Ronnie’s on caster before it again completely died. I kept trying the semi-hard but was get ragged by small fish which wouldn’t take a caster.

I tried the paste in various locations over potted hard 4’s but only got the nibblers interested.

I started to get bored not catching. At which time a young lad in a bright red shirt came round to me. He said he match fishes Sedges regularly but couldn’t fish the cost cutter today because he couldn’t get a lift (come on anglers get the Lad to the match). He stayed for about twenty minutes asking all sorts things whilst waving my pole around, I was happy enough to converse with him because I wasn’t catching. He gave me some advice on the peg mainly to do with fishing over with paste/pellet. However, John next door was doing this and although he was catching some small carp he was having a torrid time towing them out of the weeds, breaking a top-set and losing the lot!

The lad moved on. I decided to have a walk and everyone was struggling, with 6lb of Silvers tops. I borrowed a few maggots off John Barker and tried them only to catch the tiny Ronnie’s that were nicking my semi-hard’s.

So I decided to fish the caster on the 4 metre line for the remaining 3 hours of the match feeding very carefully. At the same time the sun went in and the temperatures lower significantly. I started to catch. First three small Chub and a 12oz Barbel which ripped my elastic out thinking it was a 3lb Carp. The Skimmers then moved in and I had a wonderful Hour catching them regularly up to 1lb. The sun came back out, temperature went up and the fishing slowed. I did foul hook anther Carp which also went mental.

I finished the match with 22lb 12oz of Silvers comprising 9 different species – no Carp! This put me 1st in the Silvers and 4^th overall (pictured upper right with the match winner). Half a pint of caster did it.

The match was won by Normal Huggett (pictured right with his catch of Carp) with 38lb 3oz from peg 63. Norman fished at either 14.5 or 16 metres over to near the far bank fishing either hard or expander pellet in 18 inches of water. Norman fed about 1 pint of hard 6’s.

Full Result:

1. Norman Huggatt 38-03-0 peg 63
2. Harry Muir 28-08-0 peg 46
3. John Thorne 24-14-0 peg 52
4. Mike Nicholls 22-12-0 peg 51
5. Bill Ferris 17-08-0 peg 58
6. Steve Jefferies 16-02-0 peg 47

Top Silvers:

1. Mike Nicholls 22-12-0 peg 51
2. John Barker 10-0-0 peg 44

Weigh Sheets:

Sunday 21/06/2015 - Ivy House Open - Match Lake

Bela was counting the road kill again so signs of hunger – Squirrel, Magpie (yummy pie) and Rabbit. One of Karen’s big Breakfasts it was then.

Still a bit jaded from last week’s holiday at Viaduct. Into the draw bag and out comes peg 2. Would normally be happy with this but the wind was blowing in at me at some knots. Presentation for Silvers was going to be difficult especially as the float would go through with the wind. My thinking was to fish for Carp.

Apparently it wasn’t enough to travel with Bela but I had to look at him for another six hours with him on peg 45.

I set up a Skimmer rig comprising a 4x14 Jolly to be fished at 7 metres, plus a 0.5 Paste rig to fish over the same line (this rig stayed dry). A 0.3 paste float for the LH margin at 5 metres (this rig stayed dry) and finally the Ronnie rig for caster and Ronnies.

Whilst tackling up the wind caught my pole and rather than let it find a safe place to land I tried to stop it with my foot only to crush the number 5 section against the stone platform – bugger. So exchanged it for the margin number 5 and carried on.

I started on the Jolly with semi-hard 4 over micro, it was soon apparent that the presentation was awful with the float zooming through with the wind. Holding back with the float at 45 degrees produced a couple of Ronnie’s. I hate the wind. It was going to be a difficult day. I switched to the Ronnie rig and started to catch Ronnie’s with single caster over loose fed caster. Of course the wind is a double edge sword, because it was so bright the wind was giving some cover. Feeding was a nightmare because the wind was so strong I had to feed heavy when it subsided which isn’t the best way to feed Ronnie’s. On many occasions I couldn’t cast my 4x16 rig further than half way. Bloody wind, I did catch reasonably well nonetheless. I was kept busy to say the least I caught Skimmers and Ronnie’s on the drop and if the rig touched bottom I would catch small Perch – still a bite and a couple of ounces to the tally. I fed exactly one pint of casters but could have done with more because of all the miss feeding I had done due to the bloody wind.

Come the weigh in I had 15lb of Skimmers and 25lb odd of Ronnie’s and Perch for a Silvers total of 40lb 14oz for 2^nd in the Silvers and 6^th overall. I felt satisfied with the catch considering the conditions I fished under.

The match was won by Mark Kimber (pictured right with the Silvers winner) with 68lb from peg 33. Mark caught shallow with small pieces of worm on the hook fished over loose fed 6’s. Mark fed light feeding only one pint throughout.

The Silvers was won by Gary (0.8) Etheridge with 56lb 10oz of Skimmers from peg 9. Gary caught on corn at 5 metres. Apparently feeding two large tins, didn’t know he carried this much bait with him!!

Full Result:

1. Mark Kimber 68-0-0 peg 33
2. Andrew C 58-06-0 peg 31
3. Gary Etheridge 56-10-0 peg 9
4. Dave 44-05-0 peg 39
5. Red 41-08-0 peg 35
6. Mike Nicholls 40-14-0 peg 2

Top Silvers:

1. Gary Etheridge 56-10-0 peg 9
2. Mike Nicholls 40-14-0 peg 2

Weigh Sheet:

Thursday 18/06/2015 - Viaduct Cost Cutter - Campbell and Lodge Lakes

Geoff Francis left after yesterdays match with Gordon Cannings joining us. We also had an unplanned visit from Mark “Podge” Jefferies who came down from Bristol just for the curry. The India in Somerton must be the smallest in GB if not the world. With 17 booked in the five of us sat in the corner on their office chairs. That said it is definitely excellent food – will be back.

Carey wasn’t available today so the match was spread over Campbell and Lodge Lakes. To make things fairer Steve Long was paying out the top overall and top Silvers on each Lake.  It was another chance to qualify for the Silvers. I was hoping for a good Silvers peg whilst Two Pots was hoping for another good draw to make it a three in a row hat trick.

After a long speech from on the day organiser Woody I was first into the draw tin and out comes peg 69 on Lodge. Wasn’t that disappointed as the Skimmers have been feeding on this Lake however, with so many fishing combined with the bright sunny conditions  didn’t expect it to fish as good as the 27 Skimmers I had on Saturday fishing for four hours for Carp on peg 66.

Glenn had his wish drawing peg 110 and a great chance of his hat trick – alas not.

Interestingly both Glenn and I had fished peg 66 this week and it was Two Pots Jnr. that drew it today. However, Martyn looked a bit nervous as he was concerned he might break his ancient Preston pole chasing Carp under the tree. He need not have worried as he caught mostly out in front in open water winning the Lake and coming 2^nd overall.

For company I had the oldest angler fishing today John “Gimp” Bradford on peg 70 and Andy “The Maggot” Gard next to John on peg 72. So amongst good Silvers company.

I set up two paste rigs – one to fish out in front at 9 metres and the other for the margins. Peg 69 doesn’t have a RH margin because of the willow tree. I decided to plumb up under it and found a fairly deep flat area so I went to the Shop and borrowed Steve Longs saw and cut some of the branches off so it could be fished. The peg now has a RH margin however; as it transpired I didn’t get to fish it.

Initially I fed a pot of mixed wetted 4’s and micro on the 9 metre line and with paste hook bait started to catch Skimmers to 2lb. After an hour and about 12 lb in the net I hooked a 10lb Common Carp which some what stirred up the swim and made the next hour fishing difficult. I spent far too long messing around with feeding and the paste. So after two hours I set up a 4x12 Jolly to fish semi-hard pellet hook bait. I also decided to add a section going out to 10 metres – a brand new swim and a re-start. By carefully feeding the swim with soaked 4’s I caught small Skimmers to 1lb regularly until 10 minutes before the end when another 10lb Common arrived and trashed my rig in the landing net so an early finish.

My two Carp weighed 20lb 14oz and my Silvers 26lb 2oz for a total of 47lb,  which was enough to win the Lake Silvers (me pictured upper right with the overall Lake winner). I missed out qualifying by 4lb which had I started on the pellet early and fished shorter I might have beaten. But it all about making decisions particularly the right ones.

The match was won by Gary O’Shea (pictured right) with 192lb 14oz from peg 115. Gary initially caught Skimmers at 14.5 metres fishing worm (not hair rigged!!). When it dried up Gary converted the line for paste by feeding hard 4’s and started to catch Carp regularly. In the meantime he had been loose feeding his 5 metre line with pellet and during the final hour or so caught well on paste over this line.

The Silvers was won by Dick Bull (pictured right with the match winner - is Dick smiling?) 30lb 10oz from peg 127. Dick caught short on hair rigged pellet fished over pellet.

Well that's it for our weeks holiday at Viaduct. we have already booked for next year hopefully missing the Carp spawning late due to this years strange Spring.

Full Result:

1. Gary O’Shea 192-14-0 peg 115
2. Martyn Woodington 176-02-0 peg 66
3. Dom Sullivan 161-0-0 peg 118
4. Andy Rowbottom 159-11-0 peg 119
5. Craig Edmonds 149-10-0 peg 126
6. S Walters 132-14-0 peg 59

Top Silvers:

1. Dick Bull 30-10-0 peg 127
2. Ian Dunlop 27-0-0 peg 111
3. Mike Nicholls 26-02-0 peg 69

Weigh Sheets:

Wednesday 17/06/2015 - Silverfox Short Pole Open - Campbell Lake

With Mark Tanner away this year watching the Le-mans 24 hour race apparently with his eyes closed for most of the time we didn’t have a breakfast Chef but was hoping the new attendee Geoff “Pill Box” Francis would fit the bill. Unfortunately not, as he spent most of the time eating, drinking draught cider and sleeping (pictured right) – some similarities to Mark there. So I arranged for the Savannah Cafe in Somerton to open at 8 o clock for us to breakfast for the remaining three days. So the oven didn’t even get near to warm.

I had booked Campbell for the Silverfox Short Pole Open (Top-set plus three sections of pole). This match proves popular as it’s a close affair match for the top spots, with plenty of fish caught. The Drennan Margin Pole is idea for this sort of match.

Having qualified for the all winners final for overall weight the aim now was to try and qualify for the Silvers. Into the draw tin and out comes peg 128 one above the spit. Not really a current Silvers peg but I still made them my target as you never know in this game.

I decided to fish at the full six metres with hard banded 6mm pellet over GB using a 4x12 Jolly. I also set up two paste rigs in case, one to fish in the brambles and the other as close to the spit as I could get.

First put in over the GB I had a 3lb Tench, good start. After catching a couple of small Tench it went quite with no signs of fizzing or Skimmers. I tried the Brambles with paste where I had been feeding hard 4’s and had a run of Tench from 8oz to 3lb. I then hooked a Carp which really wanted to get in the brambles but my Drennan margin pole stopped that nonsense especially with a 25 elastic to help me. So out to the spit where I had some more Tench taking the tally to ten. I then tried the GB again adding just one Skimmer. I walked up to Dan White who was catching plenty of Skimmers. So I decided to abandon chasing Silvers and up the feed down to the spit with paste and spent the last two hours battling Carp in the brambles finishing with fifteen only losing two to the brambles and another snapping my well brambled worn 0.2 G-Line in open water.

I finished with 15 Carp for 87lb 12oz and the Tench catch of 19lb 13oz taking the tally to just over the ton 107lb 9oz. Needless to say I didn’t qualify for the Silvers. That was left to Dan White. Very enjoyable though, always a good days fishing at this venue.

The Match was won by Two Pots (pictured right with some of his catch) with 193lb 10oz from peg 124. Glenn caught on paste at 6 metres feeding 10 pints of 4’s throughout the match.

Dan White won the Silvers (pictured right with his catch) with 37lb 13oz from peg 125. Dan caught at 6 metres fishing hair rigged hard 6mm pellet over loose fed 4’s fishing a 4x10 float catching most of his Skimmers on the drop.

The fishing didn’t disappoint with half the entrants catching over 100lb. I am running two short pole matches next year, in addition to the Wednesday match I will also be running one on Saturday.

Full Result:

1. Glenn Bailey 193-10-0 peg 124
2. Steve Tucker 169-07-0 peg 123
3. Dan White 160-13-0 peg 125
4. Tim Ford 123-12-0 peg 119
5. N Docherty 120-02-0 peg 130
6. Mike West 113-11-0 peg 114

Top Silvers:

1. Dan White 37-13-0 peg 125
2. Steve Tucker 32-12-0 peg 123

Weigh Sheets:

Tuesday 16/06/2015 - Acorn Open - Paddocks

We went for dinner to the Unicorn where two if the locals lads had challenged the Chef that they could eat anything. So the Chef made them  a Burger comprising a loaf of bread cut down the middle with 5lb of mince which had a whole pot of chilies mixed with it, plus the usual trimmings.  Needless to say they hardly made any impact both taking regular trips to the toilet to wipe the sweat and tears away. We named the Berger after Bela - "The Bertie Berger" pictured right.

After a day of leisure at Viaduct it was time to revisit Acorn Fishery Tuesday Open which I haven’t fished for some time during which the fishery has had an influx of quality Silvers, then shortly after for them all perish at the hands of nature. The true Silvers are currently non-existent with F1’s taking the prizes. Nonetheless I was really looking forward to returning.

First Two Pots had to mix his paste (pictured right) apparently the recipe is a close guarded secret with Martyn “Two Pots Jnr." Woodington the only other person knowing the ingredients. Utensil requirements - a cauldron and wooden spoon.

On arrival the Carp were going mental spawning so a big weight match wasn’t on the cards. Unlike some anglers I haven’t drawn any of the pegs on any of the top two bridges which are surprising considering the amount of times I have visited the venue. Into the draw bag and out comes ping-pong ball 34 – a Bridge peg!! For company I had Eddie Wynne on peg 33 the other side of the bridge.

Arriving at the peg I was disappointed to see so many Carp spawning which would prove to be frustrating. I set up a 4x12 Jolly for caster down to the bridge primarily for the margin and perhaps the odd Tench and F1’s. Two paste floats one set for full depth and the other for both Left and Right hand margins.

I started feeding the caster in the RH margin close to the bridge but started fishing the paste at full depth one metre away from the bridge stanchion. This provided a quick small Carp. Then after another kinder pot of hard 4’s the liners and foulers started. Eddie was suffering the same we did make light of it and had a laugh about it. So I tried the single caster and had bites from fish I couldn’t hit when I did finally hook one it was a micro Perch which fell off. This rig was abandoned in favour of the margin paste rig. More and more foulers and liners followed until about 2 o clock when suddenly all calmed down. I then started to catch decent Carp equally from both margins.

I finished the match with fourteen Carp for 44lb 6oz for 10^th. Definitely the wrong day to draw this peg. I must say I did enjoy my return and hopefully I will be able to get down more often on Tuesdays.

The match was won by Two Pots (pictured right with some of his catch) with 78lb 15oz from peg 23. Glenn caught on paste over to the far bank in 9 inches of water.

The so called Silvers was won by Mike Chapman (pictured lower right) with 16lb 9oz of F1’s from peg 21. Mike caught in his Left hand margin using worm hook bait over CW&C.

The icing on the cake was our usual stop for Dinner at the Brent House Carvery. Excellent wholesome food, especially the Lamb.

Full Result:

1. Glenn Bailey 78-15-0 peg 23
2. Gabriel Skarba 71-10-0 peg 15
3. Paul Faiers 62-10-0 peg 6
4. Tim Ford 55-05- 0 peg 18
5. Bob Smith 52-06-0 peg 12
6. Andy Gard 51-13-0 peg 40

Top Silvers:

1. Mike Chapman 16-09-0 peg 21
2. Keith Fisher 5-05-0 peg 22

Weigh Sheets:

Sunday 15/06/2015 - Tony Rixon's Float Only League - Round Two - Specimen, Match and Walter's Lake

This coming week is the start of our annual holiday at Viaduct Fishery. I must say the Chalets still look new. On arrival on Saturday as there weren’t any matches we could fish Martyn and I had 4 hours pleasure fishing, me on peg 66 (I wanted to try out my pole and familiarise myself with the new Drennan elastics and Martyn peg 19. I did have 5 Carp which was my quarry plus 27 Skimmers to 2lb. Martyn had no Carp but had a similar bag of Skimmers pictured right – all paste caught.

Sunday seen me, Glenn, Geoff and Martyn off to Landsend for a Tony’s float only league but not before breakfast in the Bear Inn in Street. More sophisticated than usual.

Arrived at Landsend Fishery in plenty of time enough to notice the sign on the gate (pictured right). Food for thought from Somerset.

My order of preference would have been “The Third Lake”, Match Lake and Specimen Lake if I had to!! So early into the draw bucket and out comes peg 25 on Specimen. If I had to fish it (and I do) then the peg would have been my third choice as I could reach the end banks. At least I had some good company including Chris Davis and Chris Fox who always gives me laugh one way or another. I didn’t realise how important the company was going to be.

The fishing was so poor that I need not go through the rigs I used today as there was so many that didn’t catch fish.Bloody good job the company was good which helped the time go by in between the first hour where I caught two Carp on the only rig to produce which was a 0.4 paste rig fished at 11.5 metres long the end bank and the last 45 minutes during which I added another four and went from despair to not wanting the match to end – typical.

I did have a go at the Silvers but couldn’t catch anything decent that would lead to Silvers coin as the F1’s count at Silvers on this venue.

My few Silvers weighed 6lb 11oz mostly Perch and my six carp 36lb 9oz for a total of 43lb 4oz for fourth in section. However, I did manage to sneak through the knockout against Mike West – but only just.

The match was won by Steve Tucker (pictured right with the Silvers winner) with 125lb 9oz from peg 1. Steve initially caught down his end margin at 6 metres then later switching to his RH margin up to the bush. All Steve’s fish fell to 8mm meat. Steve fed 1 ½ tins plus two pints of hemp seed.

The Silvers was won by Gordon Cannings (pictured with the match winner) with 22lb 12oz from peg 31. Gordon caught short also on 8mm meat feeding 1 ½ tins throughout the match.

I hear that someone was catching on hair rigged worm – mind boggles over such things.

Full Result:

1. Steve Tucker 125-09-0 peg 1
2. Tony Rixon 123-15-0 peg 18
3. Clint Wojtyle 105-09-0 peg 19
4. Dave Evans 105-08-0 peg 13
5. Shaun Townsend 105-0-0 peg 70
6. Craig Edmonds 102-15-0 peg 51

Top Silvers:

1. Gordon Cannings 22-12-0 peg 31
2. Tim Ford 16-02-0 peg 27

Thursday 11/06/2015 - Rixon and Jones Cost Cutter - Avalon Fishery - Match Lake

I decided to bequeath my Colmic poles to son Steve because of difficulties obtaining spares. So I have changed to Drennan selecting the 13 metre Carp pole which at 11.5 metres was as good if not better than any pole that I have tried out. I also purchased a 9.5 metre margin pole with all sections interchangeable with the Carp pole. The reasoning behind this selection is that I don’t fish further than 11.5 metres and the Carp on the venues I fish are getting stronger and bigger where as I am getting smaller and weaker. I was hoping to catch a couple of Carp today to try it out.

On my own today so I stopped at Shipham Café for breakfast and ended up sitting opposite Mike Jones. For some reason Mike continually missed his mouth with his food with most of it ending up down his shirt; at least he hasn’t started dribbling - yet!

We were promised good weather today but I was a bit sceptical as a NE wind was blowing which was cold to say the least. However, Carol Kirkland got it about right with temperatures soaring to 24 degrees.

After feeling around in the enormous draw bag for an age I finally pull out peg 44. No emotions as I didn’t have a clue about the peg. Tony Rixon thought it might be OK for Skimmers on paste – where’s Two Pots when you need him!

I had Mike Jones on the next peg, still scraping the breakfast off his shirt in to his ground bait bowl. I set up the Ronnie rig for caster over caster, the 4x16 Jolly to be fished at top-set plus three with semi-hard pellets. Then two paste rigs – one for the LH margin and the other for over the Jolly line.

Although I kept feeding the margin with hard 4’s the under tow back to me was so hard that I could present the paste so this rig had an early bath.

I started in the Jolly with semi-hard’s over kindered wetted micro, whilst feeding the Ronnie line with caster. I had a few small Skimmers to 8oz but I couldn’t get any fizzing from the bigger Skimmers. The tow was just as bad out on this long line. I started to get Ronnied so decided to have a go on the paste. I had two Carp one small and one about 3lb. I then had two better flying Skimmers. The swim then went quite I persevered with the paste probably too long and with two hours gone I had a go on the Ronnie’s rig and caught well for 15 minutes then it slowed then it would pick up then slow again. I think the slowness was due to Carp having a look see. I kept trying the pellet and paste but now found all I could catch was Ronnie’s on the drop.

Mike Jones had his down from the start of the match appearing to be catching well. I was beginning to think I had fallen between two stools – the Skimmers and Ronnie stool. So with an hour left I decided to get my head down on the Ronnie’s. Then fate played a hand as I foul hooked a Carp which was selfish enough to break me up. I thought about putting another Ronnie rig on when I spied some blow on the long line so selected the paste rig. First put in I foul hooked a Carp. Next put in I hooked and landed a double figure Common Carp which gave the pole the awaited trial. Then fate played its second hand I hooked a big Skimmer which flew out and off the hook. Fates third hand was identical with another big Skimmer flying off – bugger.

My three Carp weighed 16lb and my Silvers 26lb 13oz for 7^th overall and third in the Silvers, The upshot was if I had stayed on the Ronnie’s or hand landed one of the two flying Skimmers I would have had a Silvers second. At least I beat Jonesey.

The match was won by Dan White (pictured upper right with some of his catch) with 105lb 2oz from first end peg 48. Dan caught at 16 metres down to his end bank catching deep and shallow using banded hard pellet.

The Silvers was won by Gary Cross (yes Gary Cross) (pictured right with his net of Skimmers) from peg 40. Gary caught at top-set plus two (nice to hear) using worm over CW&C.

Full Result:

1. Dan White 105-02-0 peg 48
2. Dave Romaine 87-02-0 peg 28
3. Tony Rixon 79-08-0 peg 26
4. Mike West 54-13-0 peg 24
5. Ray White 49-11-0 peg 38
6. Dave Bacon 44-05-0 peg 30

Top Silvers:

1. Gary Cross 36-10-0 peg 40
2. Dave Bacon 28-10-0 peg 30
3. Mike Nicholls 26-13-0 peg 44
4. Mike Jones 24-08-0 peg 42

Weigh Sheet:

07/06/2015 - Ivy House Open - Match Lake

After a heavy Friday night out during which Bela got absolutely Stella’ed mainly because he had some preliminaries at home before going out. I must admit I spent most of Saturday on the sofa.

On the way to Ivy House Bela and I counted the number of road kills (I think Bela was hungry) - Seagull, Fox, Magpie, Pheasant.

After breakfast we had a walk around. It looked to me like the Carp were pairing up which I thought tended to a stalking/thrashing match for those that do it. So it would be silvers for me then.

I drew peg 41 which thankfully is a good Skimmer/Silvers peg. However, there was a Festival on all week and lots of Skimmers had been caught plus it had been windy most of the week. What greeted us was bright sunshine and flat calm water, so I was already thinking Ronnie’s might take the Silvers today as they have spawned and have been feeding well.

Bela drew peg 29 for the third time which I thought would suit him because with the Polaroid’s on I could see plenty of big shadows lurking at 16 metres.

I set up two paste rigs one to be fished at top set plus two and the other for the LH margin. However, these rigs didn’t get loaded with paste nor got wet.

I set up the Ronnie rig for caster over caster and a 4x14 Jolly for semi-hard 4’s over wetted micro also to fish at top-set plus two.

I started on the Jolly and after half hour I only manage to catch small Skimmers and Ronnie’s it was a bite a chuck but without any bigger Skimmers it would be difficult to build a weight this far out.  I couldn’t see anyone catching the bigger Skimmers; in fact I couldn’t see anyone catching anything. Bela behind me said he had two Carp and he couldn’t see anyone catching Skimmers either.

Decision made, head down Ronnie rig for the rest of the match with single caster on a 16 – 808. During the remainder of the match I caught Ronnie’s steady to 8oz adding five decent Skimmers. I fed about ¾ pint of casters all through the match and by light feeding I managed not to hook a Carp which were continually patrolling up and down in front of me.

I finished the match with 34lb 2oz for first in the Silvers. I reckon I had about 14lb of Skimmers and 20lb of Ronnie’s (me pictured right with my catch being photo-bombed my Fishery owners Son Peter).

Runner up in the Silvers was Joe Thompson who like me couldn’t catch Skimmers on pellet instead he changed to a bunch of dead maggot hook bait, taking some better Skimmers late on. It was a close call.

The match was won by Bela Bakos (Selfie right with the Silvers winner) with 72lb 8oz from peg 29 (two wins from this peg now for him). As I suspected Bela caught Stalking/Thrashing and late on caught some Stockies long down his end bank margin.

It’s twice now that Bela and I have had double bubble on this great venue. So it was right only to have double Pinky Ponk in Bar Gar-age!!

Full Result:

1. Bela Bakos 72-08-0 peg 29
2. M Gale 55-04-0 peg 24
3. Gary Etheridge 48-12-0 peg 3
4. John Fuidge 46-14-0 peg 37
5. John 46-08-0 peg 33
6. Dean Malin 43-15-0 peg 44

Top Silvers:

1. Mike Nicholls 34-02-0 peg 41
2. Joe Thompson 32-04-0 peg 46

Weigh Sheet:

Sunday 31/05/2015 - Tony Rixon's Float Only League - Round One - Viaduct Fishery - Campbell and Carey

Two Chews and I stopped again in Canards Well for breakfast. Although the food is good the management leaves a lot to be desired. That said Two Chews always ensures I get value for money with six sausages and six rashers plus all the other ingredients in volumes.

I was hoping for any peg on Campbell and got my wishes drawing peg 116 a peg I have fond memories of – one of my favourites. However, arriving at the peg it was getting blasted by a cold NW wind. For some reason the pegs on this bank never fish that well with a strong wind blowing into it and vis versa for the opposite bank. I think it’s because of the tow being strongest closest to the bank hence the fish back off to calmer areas especially if they aren’t willing to feed.

One bait pony today paste which on hind sight might have been a mistake, lesson learnt – I doubt it. So two paste floats set up be to be fish long at top-set plus two about as much as I could fish in the wind blowing in at me at 11 o clock. The other rig was to fish in either margin, which was to be fished at least a metre from the bank so to find two foot of water.

I started long kindering a few hard 4’s in with the paste and soon had a 10lb Carp in the net. I then got pestered by small fish but then had another 10 lb Carp. It was looking good as I then had another 8lb pounder. Then the small fish arrived again and in conjunction with the wind I was forever losing the paste and re-baiting. I had to abandon this line as the small fish got smaller and the wind got stronger. The upshot was that I spent the rest of the match with my back to the cold blasting wind fishing along the margin to my right at top-set plus two catching five small Carp and two Tench spearing a few Rudd and Ronnie’s in the process.

Occupying next peg 115 was Alan Oram who was reserving for Two Pots Bailey. Interestingly enough Alan had a similar match to me, also being pestered by small fish but fishing meat hook bait.

I weighed 5lb 11oz of Silvers and my eight Carp weighed 53lb 3oz for a last in section of 58lb 4oz.

It appeared that the fish had indeed searched out calmer waters all except the match winner swim; Tony Rixon (pictured right - Japanese springs to mind) who was on peg 114 winning with 176lb 9oz. Tony caught … see his blog -  hope he mentions slapping shallow down to peg 13’s pallet!!

The Silvers was won by Glen Calvert (pictured lower right with the match winner) with 38lb 12oz from peg 88 on Carey. Glen caught using the pole at 11 metres on either 6mm banded pellet or paste over hard 4’s. The results show that the Skimmers have gathered along the top bank.

Rich Lacey had his first ton weighing in 172lb 14oz from peg 132 (another becalmed peg). Tony Rixon, who could see Rich fishing thought he had gone over the limit on each of his Carp nets. However, Rich said he had 169lb on his clicker which proved to be just 4oz over – well done matey.

The day finished better than it started with Two Chews and me having dinner in Winstone’s.

Full Result:

1. Tony Rixon 176-09-0 peg 114
2. Craig Edmonds 175-15-0 peg 96
3. Rich Lacey 172-14-0 peg 132
4. Shaun Townsend 161-05-0 peg 125
5. Tim Ford 135-07-0 peg 123
6. Gary O’Shea 122-12-0 peg 90

Top Silvers:

1. Glen Calvert 38-12-0 peg 88
2. Kev Moulton 34-10-0 peg 86
3. Nigel Brown 34-06-0 peg 95

Weigh Sheets: