Wednesday 30/09/2015 - Amalgamation Summer League - Round Seven - Sedges Fishery - Tile Lake

It was my turn to drive picking up Glenn earlier this morning for an early 09:15vdraw. First stop Hilltops café where the talk was about Bristol Rovers win last night away to Hartlepool – up the GAS.

In to the draw post box and out comes peg 21, which is far side corner peg. This peg has won plenty of matches with Carp this term mainly on the method cast to the point on the end bank. Not for me though. However, it’s also not a fancied Silvers peg which is what I really wanted to fish for – bugger. I set up two Ronnie rigs one short the other long, a 2x16 Jolly to fish 6 inches up the inside shelf in front at top set distance which was a top set depth, finally a 0.3 PC paste float to fish ay 11.5 metres along the end bank.

The weather was glorious although a bit too bright for the Silvers to feed, that said the brisk nippy wind was gusting into me at 11 0 clock which was going to make presentation difficult, but hopefully provide some cover.

Two Saturdays ago I fell on my left shoulder which has been painful for sometime, but has gradually eased. However, today I slipped and stop myself falling by falling on my left hand which set the arm off again, making it difficult to fish long. – Bugger.

I started by feeding the 4x16 Jolly line with some clumped wetted micro and with a semi-hard on the hook I had five small Skimmers in as many put ins. It then died probably due to a maraudering Carp. I had been loose feeding caster down wind to aid presentation, so had a go on the short Ronnie rig with single caster and had a couple of small Ronnie’s I then I hooked a decent Tench, only to have it beat for the hook to ping out. Next put-in another Tench (I think) must get this one out – bugger it snagged me breaking the line well above the hook length – Ugh. The swim became difficult catching the odd Ronnie. I re-fed the long line with more pellet. Back on the Jolly this time double caster over caster and I hooked and landed a 8lb Common Carp – Not what I was expecting – later I foul hooked a Carp which herald the end of this line. Back on the Ronnie’s adding a few more, but they weren’t playing hard enough making it difficult. My arm was aching so stretched the legs only to find that the pegs on our side were fishing hard. I went back and had ago for the Carp on the paste long. The arm was OK shipping out but painful lifting and dragging back. The issue I had was the wind was so strong that it was blowing the float into the end bank whilst the strong under tow was dragging the paste down into the deeper water. The upshot was I struggled for Silvers and Carp giving them both 50% of my time catching two more Carp on the paste foul hooking another four.

My Silvers weighed 4lb 8oz and my three Carp 17lb for a total of 21lb 8oz.

On hindsight I should have fished for Silvers more as it only took 6lb to pick up coin – O if only I had landed those Tench … I also should have fished the paste down the bottom of the shelf over to the end bank as I think there were too many uneven stones and bricks in the shallow margin – next time – perhaps.

The match was won by Glenn Bailey (pictured right with some of his catch) with 71lb 9oz from peg 35. Glenn caught using Two Pots and paste at 13 metres.

The Silvers was won by John Barker (pictured right) with 9lb 11oz of Roach and small Skimmers fishing at 7 metres.

Full Result:

1. Glenn Bailey 71-09-0 peg 35
2. Pete Greenslade 49-12-0 peg 40
3. M Bellringer 49-06-0 peg 39
4. Steve Jefferies 45-06-0 peg 28
5. Bob Price 43-01-0 peg 38
6. Paul Haines  31-11-0 peg 37

Top Silvers:

1. John Barker 9-11-0 peg 25
2. John Osborne 6-11-0 peg 29
3. Alan Jones 6-10-0 peg 32

Weigh Sheets:

Sunday 27/09/2015 - Windmill Fishery Open - Match Lake

Because Bela is having back problems we decided to fish locally at Windmill Fishery. The problem was to find a somewhere to breakfast. I asked around without success, I then remembered that the Travelodge hotels had breakfast facilities with the Beefeater. So goggled it and found that the Beefeater at Emerson Green was open for breakfast from 07:00, perfect as it is 5 minutes from home and the fishery. We arrived at 07:30 and ordered our breakie which took about 15 minutes to arrive; in the meantime Bela was working out how to use the toaster, Duh! I have to say that the breakfast was worth every penny at £8 – All Bela could eat-ish – but he didn’t feel sick. Best tasting breakie I have had for at least 3 months which was also a Beefeater, but don’t eat there at night!!

Of course we arrived early and had a look around. It looks as if some of the Lakes need some TLC and another 3 foot of water. The Match Lake also needs a top up but looked OK.

Shaun Townsend told me last week he had caught 30lb of Skimmers pleasure fishing on caster. So I decided to target Skimmers where ever I drew – not that I know the water as it is the only second time I have fished it.

In to the draw box and out comes peg 6 – no emotions except I was next to Trev who was on peg 8.

Because the water lever is well down I set up the seatbox in front of the platform. – Unsatisfactory as over the six hours I gradually sunk forward.

I set up a 4x14 Jolly to fish at 7meres at 11 o clock into the skimming wind. This was a catch all rig to fish semi-hards and caster over wetted micro and caster, followed by the Ronnie rig to fish at top-set plus one down wind to the right with caster over caster.

I fed the 7 metres line with half a pot of micro, starting on the Ronnie rig with caster over caster on the top set. I was pleasantly surprised how many Ronnie’s were feeding – one a chuck on single caster. After an hour and about 6lb in keeping I had a go on the semi-hards over the 7 metre line and caught Skimmers from 2oz to 1lb consistently. I stayed on this line until the last 40 minutes catching Crucian’s to 1lb and Ronnie’s up to 1lb. On the 40 minutes I noticed some caster air bubbles coming up over the Ronnie line so I set up a 0.3 gram PC paste rig set to 3 foot and caught seven Carp before the all out.

My Silvers weighed 22lb 10oz (pictured right with my catch) for first in the pool and my seven Carp weighed 30 lb for a fifth overall eight of 52lb 10oz. Just being piped by Bela for fourth spot who was in agony after the match with his back.

The match was won by Kevin Jefferies (pictured upper centre with the runner up (on the golden peg - unlucky) and the Silvers winner) with 103lb from peg 24. Kevin caught initially on hard pellet shallow - hook length depth at 17 metres and later in the margin with the same bait.

Bela and I agreed that we had a great day out with the fishing much improved since my last visit – we will no doubt be back. I thoroughly enjoyed the day – another one to remember. Home in ten minutes - well nearly!!

Full Result:

1. Kevin Jefferies 103-0-0 peg 24
2. Steve Dawson 73-14-0 peg 10
3. John Clark 59-10-0 peg 36
4. Bela Bakos 57-10-0 peg 8
5. Mike Nicholls 52-10-0 peg 6

Top Silvers:

1. Mike Nicholls 22-10-0 peg 6 
2. Trev Bakos 11lb 10oz peg 8 (another hour and I would have beat the old boy – Umm)

Thursday 24/09/2015 - Harescombe Fishery - Cost Cutter Open - Match Lake

I travelled today with the affable Tony Rixon, who arrived 5 minutes early still with plenty of time for a large breakfast – like being with Bela in this respect, double Black Pudding for the driver.

I just can’t understand why this fishery isn’t sold out for every match, it’s brilliant, especially with a tenner pools which is only two quid more than a day permit. That said we did have five up from Bristol.

After Tony’s round table piss take it was into the draw bag – me first and out comes peg 25. Hang on I thought there was only 24 pegs. Not now as peg 25 has been salvaged from the landslide. Arriving at the peg I was slightly concerned that the end bank was far too close to the platform (pictured right). Nonetheless it really doesn’t matter where you draw on this Lake as there are so many F1’s in the Lake. Apparently this bank hasn’t been fishing so well as the car park bank – I can’t understand why this should be so.

I set up three rigs: A 4x12 Jolly for down the inside shelf finding one foot less than the other two pegs I have fished so far, so not completely re-salvaged. A 4x10 Yoof recommended to me at Landsend by the Yoof Trigger. Not as good as the Drennan Chop wire stem because the bodies are far bigger and the wire stem although very stiff the smallest rubber tends to slide around wasting time to re-adjust, overall not a bad substitute. Finally I set up the Ronnie rig to fish at 12 inches deep, long lining to the end bank. All rigs to have a 6mm meat hook bait.

Starting on the Jolly at top-set plus one over micro I started catching F1’s straight away. Because I wasn’t sure where I would bag I started loose feeding hard 4’s down my LH margin, similarly over to the muddy end bank and caster down my very short RH margin – all hand fed. Unusual for me to have four swims in play.

The upshot was I didn’t stay with the longer first line long enough being distracted by Carp slurping up the muddy end bank where I caught some proper Carp on the Ronnie rig but couldn’t keep them in reach as they would quickly back off. I caught most of the Carp down to the Left and plenty of Silvers down to the Right over the caster including Chub, Barbel, Hybrids and Skimmers ending with just 9 species this time out – no Perch or Rudd!

I thought I was well out of it today; however, it is very difficult to know what you have in custody (a few ex police about today). I was surprised that my nets went 99lb 10oz with the last fish pinging off costing me third place.

Excellent days fishing, it doesn’t get any better in my opinion. Back in two week time. Tony has booked a Sunday match so watch his blog for details.

The match was won by “floorman” Adrian Clark (pictured right with the runner up) with 122lb 12oz. Adrian caught mostly on the method feeder chucked to his end bank with banded hard pellet and eyes shut. Adrian did have some on the pole enabling him to say he caught some properly.

Full Result:

1. Adrian Clark 122-12-0 peg 14
2. Tony Rixon 117-0-0 peg 9
3. Stuart Graham 100-14-0 peg 3
4. Mike Nicholls 99-10-0 peg 25
5. Stuart Barnet 97-04-0 peg 6
6. Terry Girdlestone 91-04-0 peg 12

Weigh Sheet:

Sunday 12/11/1978 - Angling Times Winter League - A Division - Newbridge, Saltford and Kelston

It was touch and go whether I made the match as I had been working away and unknowingly drank some of the local water which laid me up in my hotel for two days before I could even think of making a dash for the airport and home. During the second night I drank 7 litres of bottled water. I was beginning to think I had Malaria. Make it home I did and straight to the Doctors who took blood samples etc... Apparently I can now drink the local’s water as I am supposedly immune. No chance.

Armed with a full toilet roll I decided to fish the match, against the Special Ones advice.

The weather had changed from gales to a dull misty frosty day with the air temperature well below freezing. The river had turned that bright green which can mean either all or nothing in terms of the fishing. Captain Colin Golding came back with the draw and I pulled a peg opposite the rowing club at Saltford the end section on the day. Spot on for the conditions, but a fair old walk from the Bird in Hand Car Park.

For company I had the Stick and Waggler maestro Edie Shortman (that’s what he kept telling me) up stream of me. I can’t remember who was below.

The first thing I did was look for a bolt hole to share with my toilet roll and found the big old Oak tree ample cover (it’s still there – the tree that is.

The section is known to throw up Skimmers to 1 ½ lb so set up a 3AA home made peacock waggler with 2lb Maxima reel line to 1lb Maxima hook length, followed by the Normark feeder rod with 3lb reel lone and 1 1/2 lb Maxima hook length (Maxima lone excellent then and excellent now). I started on the feeder with brown crumb and caster with double bronze maggot on the hook and first cast hooked a 1lb Skimmer. Whilst playing the fish to the bank the rod rings started to freeze up so much I couldn’t wind the Skimmer close enough to net. As it was the first fish and perhaps the last I was desperate to land it so kept picking the ice off the rod rings. Thank heavens for barbed hooks as I hand lined it the few remaining feet to the landing net. Good points I was thinking. I picked the ice from the rings and cast again and another Skimmer but this time it was impossible to play it because of the ice and it came off.

Eddie Shortman was fishing the waggler over loose fed maggots and started to catch Skimmers. I couldn’t understand why his rod rings weren’t freezing as much as mine, perhaps it was the bigger rings on the waggler rod. So I switched to the waggler and had a couple of 1lb Skimmers but I was still suffering  with the iced rings and getting frustrated because there was plenty of Skimmers willing to feed but I was losing too many. After the third call of nature I walked up to Eddie and watched him. Back in those days it wasn’t considered sportsman like to ask anglers how they were catching. Eddie’s rod rings weren’t freezing as bad as mine and was able to fish well and getting plenty of bites. Back to the Oak tree and back on the waggler frustratingly landing a few more Skimmers. I was well and truly beaten come the end by Eddie - he didn’t mention it once!! Whilst waiting to be weighed in and to Eddie’s credit he did introduce me to Glycerine. It wasn’t the total answer for him but enough to win the match. Monday morning I was down Veals for a bottle. I think there are other substances that can be used nowadays. Luckily poles don’t freeze.

I reluctantly concede that Eddie Shortman was one of the best river waggler anglers around at the time and there were plenty.

My few Skimmers weighed in at 5lb 7oz which did gain me 6^th overall picking up enough coin to fund some more toilet rolls. I have never been back to Egypt since and never will.

Full Result:

Thursday 17/09/2015 - Tony Rixon Cost Cutter - Avalon Fishery - Match Lake

Two Pots driving today and arrived 6 minutes late. Drive to Shipham café took us through Chew Magna to the Airport and down the A38. Steady easy drive - nearly. Café was unusually quiet. We arrived at the fishery 15 minutes before the draw.

In to the draw bag and out comes peg 1. As most of the anglers lucky enough to be walking to the other end of the Lake pointed out that at least the walk was short!

I remember Tony Rixon saying that when he drew the peg a few weeks back he wished he had fished for Silvers. No brainer for me. I set up a 4x16 Jolly finding that the peg is about a foot shallower than most of the other pegs I have fished, thinking I could get away with a 4x14, but stuck to the bigger float. This Lake is unusual in that it is near enough the same depth per peg two inches form the bank to the other bank, so no real margin to speak of. However, I suspect if I could fish 16 metres down to the end bank I might have found a more fishable margin. I also set up the Ronnie rig but was doubtful that the Ronnie’s would feed.

Whilst sorting the bait I spill some water on to the semi-hard 4’s making most of them mushy. Luckily I could pick out a few to start with and luckily the sun came out drying out some more. I thought I would do the Ronnie test and was soon convinced I was right; they weren’t coming out to play. So on to the Skimmer line starting by fishing at 10 o clock at top-set plus 3 with semi-hards over micro. As expected I was soon in to a foul hooked Carp which wasn’t on long. I then had a run of small Skimmers and Hybrids before hooking an enormous Carp which bored me to a stand still, I have to confess that when it surfaced trying to swim through my keepnets the heart started race it was near 20lb than 15lb, I suddenly wanted to land it, alas not the hook pulled trying to tip his head upwards. I did land two small Carp soon after.

I had the usual visit from the Gimp who was struggling to catch Silvers. With two hours to go I had another visitor, this time Ziggy from peg 5. He said that he was top Silver weight with 15lb with Tony Rixon having switched from trying to catch Silvers to Carp. I started to smell blood so switched to top-set plus one which was a distance I could now loose feed. I had a good run of small hybrids to 6 oz on semi-hards plus a few bonus bigger Skimmers. I kept them coming until the heavens opened up drowning me for the second consecutive day.

My two tiny Carp weighed 5lb and my Silvers 26lb 8oz for second in the Silvers loosing put to Tony who had switched to catching Carp … on worm!!!

The match was won by Two Pots (pictured right with the Silvers winner) with 172lb 12 oz from peg 20. Glenn caught on paste over soaked 4’s at 13 metres. His weight was made up of just 24 fish.

The Silvers was won by Tony Rixon (pictured right) with 34lb 5oz from peg 16…see his blog for further details.

Full Result:

1. Glenn Bailey 172-12-0 peg 20
2. Mike West 134-12-0 peg 9
3. Gary Flinders 129-07-0 peg 23

Top Silvers:

1. Tony Rixon 34-05-0 peg 16
2. Mike Nicholls 26-08-0 peg 1
3. Ziggy 17-0-0 peg 5

Weigh Sheet:

Wednesday 16/09/2015 - Amalgamation Summer League - Round Seven - Canal

My turn to pick up Two Pots I even got his enormous tractor wheel and metal North Sea platform in the car. First stop Hill Tops café, where two Jumbos were devoured.

We arrived in plenty of time to have a wonder round. The Sedges open was down a couple of anglers no doubt put off by the BBC weather –The BBC has sacked the Met Office – I think the BBC are the one’s that should be sacked from forecasting weather. We could have been in for some right down pours luckily for us they got it wrong again. That said apparently over the previous few days Sedges have had plenty of rain with all three Lakes now brimming.

In to the draw letter box and out comes peg 59 which is just about on the causeway between Tile and Brick Lakes so I could fish longish without unshipping.

I set up a 4x10 Drennan Chop for the far side tight in which was just over 11.5 metres so fished the 13 metre section for the first time. The same rig sufficed for both margins at 30 inches. The second rig was a 4x14 Jolly, heavier than usual  as the peg was deeper than previous pegs – indications that I am gradually moving to the near end where all the fish appear to be and is the deepest part of the Canal (for me still to confirm).

Two Pots drew the match end peg 54 and had a moan because he wasn’t on flyer peg 64 again!!

John Barker came down for a chat and thought 7 to 10 lb would win the Silvers as the Canal has been difficult over the past week or so.

I fed the far side with a few casters and then went in at 5 metres with the jolly with 4mm semi-hards on the hook over micro. This approach usually produces a few decent Skimmers, alas today it only gave up five tiny Skimmers to 3oz. John’s predictions I feared would materialise.

Probably too early but I panicked over to the far bank with double caster and foul hooked two decent Carp. I then had a menagerie of Silvers – Crucian, Skimmers, Ronnie’s and Perch. I decided to try worm hook bait which resulted in me foul hooking three decent Skimmers, not landing any of them – bugger – a sign that the fish weren’t feeding properly. The swim died and had a head fit and mixed up some GB mixed with worm, micro and casters I potted this in to the far bank swim – end of swim and after a dower period of no bites wasn’t fished again. I had been feeding a mix of micro and casters down both margins. The RH margin produced nothing, whilst the LH margin accounted for four more foul hooked Carp a 1 ½ Perch and a few more Skimmers and Ronnie’s all on single or double caster. I switched to semi hard 4’s and landed a decent Skimmer and three Common Carp which fought well above their 3lb weight.

My Silvers weighed 10lb 12oz for first in the Silvers and when they added my Carp weight of 11lb 8oz this gave me a second in the match weight of 22lb 4oz

The match was won by Glenn Bailey who had slimmed down to one pot today (pictured above centre with the Silvers winner) with 26lb 4oz consisting of mainly 7 Carp, Glenn caught on hard pellet with only one fish caught on paste!

John was right the venue fished very hard today with the flyer pegs not producing.

Packing up in the rain my breath was compensating for the first time since last winter.

Full Result:

1. Glenn Bailey 26-04-0 peg 54
2. Mike Nicholls 22-04-0 peg 59
3. Dave Bacon 20-06-0 peg 43
4. Alan Jones 19-03-0 peg 51
5. John Barker 12-11-0 peg 62
6. Dave Poole 11-07-0 peg 63

Top Silvers:

1. Mike Nicholls 10-12-0 peg 59
2. Alan Jones 8-10-0 peg 51

Weigh Sheets:

Overall League before today's match:

Sunday 13/09/2105 - Landsend Open - Specimen and Macth Lakes

After a great Saturday afternoon out with Bela and Geoff Francis I woke a few times in the night for obvious reasons, so felt a bit lethargic in the morning. Bela arrived on time as usual. We had breakfast in Shipham which wasn’t up to the standard for a number of reasons. Dean Malin was in the café holding court about various aspects of his life that can’t possibly be put in to print – he was well in form and off to fish in the Shiplate Farm league.

When I booked in I understood that Walters Lake was in the hat however, PSV had booked it so we over spilled on to Specimen Lake instead which I was hoping to avoid. That said I wasn’t enamoured about fishing Match Lake either.

In to the draw tin and out comes peg 18. Sandwich between the Gimp (DNW) on peg 19 and Bela on peg 16 (he reckoned he had put 100lb in each net so disqualified himself, hence DNW) – Umm!!

My peg for the day is an out and out Carp peg so I set up three rigs. A 4x12 Jolly with 0.16 hook length to fish at 10 metres with soft 4mm pellet/6mm meat (left over from Thursday). A 0.4 gram paste float to fish over the 10 metres line once the Carp arrived in numbers (this didn’t happen so it didn’t get a wetting). Finally a 0.3 gram PC pastes float to fish on the top-set down to the right hand margin.

Starting on the semi-hards over hard 4’s at 10 metres I had the usual few Silvers including two nice Crucian Carp. As anticipated it wasn’t long before a few small Carp took an interest. The upshot was that the Silvers had pissed-off and the Carp weren’t there in numbers so it was a question of picking off the odd Carp. I persevered out long for half the match switching to the paste in the margin for the remainder. Again there wasn’t enough competing Carp to line them up. However, I did have four doubles on the paste which boosted my weight.

My Silvers weighed 6lb 8oz and my Carp 86lb 4oz for a 6^th overall tally of 90lb 12oz (one out of coin).

The match was won by Craig Edmonds (pictured right with some of his catch) with a huge weight of 311lb 5oz from peg 13. Craig caught on 8mm hard pellet fish both long and short down his end margin fished over hard 6’s. He also caught on 8mm meat short at 5metres out in front.

The Silvers was won by Clint Wojtyle (pictured right with his net of Skimmers) with 36lb 1oz from peg 37. Clint caught on soft pellet over micro on one line and on corn over micro on his other line.

Full Result:

1. Craig Edmonds 311-05-0 peg 13
2. Tony Rixon 256-09-0 peg 3
3. Steve Segar 147-01-0 peg 39
4. Andy Hembrow 11-05-0 peg 15
5. Paul Elmes 134-01-0 peg 24
6. Mike Nicholls 90-12-0 peg 18

Top Silvers:

1. Clint Wojtyle 36-01-0 peg 37
2. Paul Faiers 33-02-0 peg 22

Weigh Sheets:

Thursday 10/09/2015 - Harescombe Fishery - Cost Cutter - Match Lake

At home drinking a cup of tea the local BBC news came on warning that the M4 between the M32 and M5 was slow. So I set off 10 minutes earlier than planned. However, when I got to the M4 the speed limits were just changing up to 60 mph so no delays and arriving early at the fishery. I sat in the car for a while admiring the surroundings. The weather was to be a perfect autumn’s day with plenty of sunshine to come; I love this time of year.

In for breakfast going for the big one because the Special One was out of the kitchen for the day, I did recycle the black pudding on to Tony Rixon’s plate.

The draw was slightly delayed as we waited for Stu Barnet to negotiate the Cow movement along the lower road.

In to the draw bag and out comes peg 17 which is situated on the far bank end but one peg. No emotion except to find Tony Rixon on favoured peg 29. I was able to park directly behind my peg making setting up easy. For company I had Stu Barnet on peg 19.

Basically I caught 30 % of my fish on the 4x14 Jolly on the drop with no 11 shotting in the old logarithmic style at 4 metres and 70% on the 4x8 Drennan wire stem Chop in the LH margin, also on the drop. Every fish was caught on 6mm meat fished over pellet.

With what I thought was an hour to go I got up for a pee. As soon as I sat back down the duck all out call was sounded by Terry. The matches are 5 hours and not 6!!

My F1’s weighed in at about 110lb and the rest of the 10 different species weighed 22lb 6oz for a match winning weight of 132lb 6oz (some of my catch pictured right).

This is a wonderful mixed fishery which attracts loads of pleasure anglers on the three other pleasure Lakes dotted around the farm. The pleasure peg fee of £8 and is worth every penny.

Tony Rixon did scrape in second with 117lb 6oz (pictured right with a Selfie with the match winner). See his blog for the details.

Full Result:

1. Mike Nicholls 132-06-0 peg 17
2. Tony Rixon 117-06-0 peg 29
3. Terry Girdlestone 112-14-0 peg 11
4. Mike Goodlock 90-02-0 peg 90-02-0 peg 14
5. Stewart Barnet 88-06-0 peg 19
6. John Skelti 85-06-0 peg 3

Weigh Sheet:

Sunday 06/09/2105 - Ivy House Open - Match Lake and New Canal

After seeking solid evidence of the existence of a God for over 2000 years it's time to give up and have one global "Humanity Religion" - One religion no wars?

Bela picking me up this morning arriving early so found Bela sat in the van with all gear packed – excellent.

After a venue breakfast it was into the draw tin and out comes ball peg 7NC on the New Canal. I was reasonably happy with the peg because the peg is the narrowest on the Canal, some 12 metres to the far bank. Getting the gear unpacked the rare cry of “Miss Draw” sometimes welcome and other times not. Back in the queue and this time ball with 18 on it comes out. Bela came back to the van also with peg 18 written on his hand (getting senile – thought it wasn’t catching)! Another miss draw - not he was on 18 NC - twat!

All the Intel from the regulars was that my peg was Carp down to the pallet on peg 19. The conditions for fishing was totally alien for catching fish of any kind with a cold near frost followed by clear blue skies and flat calm water.

I set up a 4x16 jolly to fish at 10 metres with semi-hard 4’s over micro, A 0.15 PC paste float fro down to the first leg of peg 19. And finally the Ronnie rig on the top-set.

On the whistle I fed the 10 metre line with a few micros. The margin pallet peg with a big pot of micro and maggot, simultaneously I started to loose feed caster on the Ronnie line.

Starting on the semi-hards I had a short run of skimmer until it was disrupted buy a foul hooked Carp. I just couldn’t revive the peg after this so went on the Ronnie rig. After a few Ronnie’s I re-fed the margin Pallet swim and just as I rotated the cup I saw a blow – too late I fed over the top. I decided to leave the swim in any case to later.

I tried again to revive the 10 metre line to no avail. However, the earlier blow on the margin line gave me confidence I would catch some Carp later. I carried on with the Ronnie’s, but because of the flat clam bright conditions I couldn’t keep them coming regularly. Half way now and I noticed some small Ronnie’s jumping put of the margin line so I went in with the paste and foul hooked a Carp. No matter plenty left!! Even though I kept feeding the margin with various baits – GB, Maggot, hard 4’s and micros I couldn’t nail the Carp even though I knew the blighters were in the margin. This was a real distraction from the Silvers and I unfortunately soon fell between two stools, not focusing on either the Carp or Silvers with the obvious outcome.

I didn’t land any Carp so only weighed Silvers which went 15lb 10oz. After the all out I tried the paste down to the margin pallet again and had a Carp immediately – bugger. This proved for me that it wasn’t the hook bait why I didn’t catch Carp during normal time.

And for peg 7NC this was left Chris Davis who DNW’ed.

The match was won by Tony Rixon (pictured right with the Silvers winner) with 62lb 3oz from peg 3. See his blog for the details. However, I thought at one stage during the match I saw his fishing short for Ronnie’s – surely not!!

The Silvers was won by Alan Parsons with 26lb 6oz from peg 2. Alan caught mainly Roach on caster over caster on his top-set plus one.

Bela did well again winning the New Canal from peg 18 with 42lb 12oz sounds as if Bela had enough fish on the hook to win the match.

Full Result;

1. Tony Rixon 62-03-0 peg 3
2. Mike Etheridge 51-10-0 peg 20
3. Red 48-12-0 peg 12
4. Bela Bakos 42-14-0 peg 18 NC
5. Joe Thompson 42-08-0 peg 14
6. Craig Edmonds 40-14-0 peg 12

Top Silvers:

1. Alan Parson 26-06-0 peg 2
2. John Cambridge 22-04-0 peg 11

Weigh Sheets:

Thursday 03/09/2015 - Tony Rixon's Cost Cutter - Avalon Fishery - Match Lake

The temperature was above dew point this morning so the car windows were dry. On my own again, this time stopped in Shipham café and dined with Tony Rixon.

We were on the west side today pegs 1 to 23. The top end has won most of the coin this term so anywhere up there would do. In to the draw bag and out comes peg 3 – Umm. Down to the Right the peg has Sedges which are far out in to the lake. The other side not so bad so I choose this side for my margin swim but it needed some clearing of the over hanging Sedges, in doing so I disturbed a number of insects some yet to be named!

Because of the treacherous nature of the Bankside I settled on the Drennan margin pole. The Match Lake is almost the same depth from bank to bank and fairly flat even the margins are only a few inches shallower mainly due to the Sedges which grow up from 4-5 foot.

I had already decided I would have a Carpy-Pastey day, so I set up just the two rigs a 0.4 gram for the margin and a 0.5 gram float to be fished at 5 metres at 2 o clock. I thought I would try and keep the feed down on the long line to see if I could catch fish without any fizz. The upshot of this was:-

No fizz no bites – fizz no fish – its Fizzalogical!!

The above sums up my day I fished both lines through out the day and even though I fished the margin pole and heavy 22 elastic to 0.22 line the small 4-5 lb Common Carp still unhooked me in the Sedges leaving me playing stalks leading to the obvious out come – tears for me. I lost too many of these blighters from both swims even though I thought I had played them out well away from the Sedges.

 

It wasn’t until the last 30 minutes that I started to catch better from the long line unfortunately all too late.

Looking at my weights I now think I should have fished for Silvers which was confirmed by fishery owner Vic Bush when he came by to weigh in – bugger. I will know next time - perhaps.

I did manage 22lb 8oz of accidental Skimmer/Hybrids and one beautiful 1 ½ lb Crucian and 12 small aggressive Carp for a total of 68lb. If I had got all my fish out I think I might have still been 5^th!!

The match was won by Tony Rixon (pictured upper right with some of his catch) with 110lb 5oz from lonesome end peg 23. Tony caught on hard pellet (I didn’t have to ask) – see his Blog for all the gruesome details.

The Silver was won by Nigel Bartlett (pictured right with his catch of shiny things) with 33lb 5oz from peg 19. Nigel initially caught 10 Skimmers long on maggot or caster over GB. He later switched to caster on his top-set adding 170 Ronnie’s.

Full Result:

1. Tony Rixon 110-05-0 peg 23
2. Mike West 108-0-0 peg 20
3. Rich Coles 92-09-0 peg 17
4. Adrian Jeffery 82-08-0 peg 13
5. Mike Nicholls 68-0-0 peg 3
6. Ray White 36-08-0 peg 7

Top Silvers:

1. Nigel Bartlett 33-05-0 peg 19
2. Rich Coles 28-09-0 peg 3
3. Pete Rabbats 28-0-0 peg 16

Weigh Sheet:

Wednesday 02/09/2015 - Amalgamation Summer League - Round Six - Tile Lake

The Banksey Dismaland exhibition appears to have gone from satire to irony. Apparently the organisers have been confiscating fibre pens and spray cans because some have been putting graffiti on Banksey’s sculptures!!

On my own today because Two Pots has buggered off to Spain until the weekend, so had a few of the league members - kids back to school then! I still stopped in Hill Tops for breakie. When I left home the temperature was 8 degrees by time I got to the cafe it was 15 degrees. Autumn is here I think.

I had warm welcome from Denise and Jamie with the usual offer of a cuppa. In to the draw post box and out comes peg 26 – middle of the far bank.

Jamie has done some work reducing the Sedges in the margins along each side of the peg making it possible to get in close to the bank. For company on next peg I had Silvers angler John Barker.

My mission was to win the Silvers so I set up the Ronnie rig for caster over caster and a 4x16 jolly to fish just up the inside shelf at 4 metres with caster or worm over GB with a smidgen of chopped worm, caster and micro.

On the whistle I fed two big balls of GB at 4 metres and started to feed caster down my LH side for the Ronnie’s. Starting on a piece of worm I had a small Ronnie on the drop followed by an 8 oz Skimmer, and then I was pestered by the Ronnie’s. Perhaps I didn’t give the line long enough but abandoned it anyway mostly due to lack of confidence in catching Skimmers. On to the Ronnie rig and it was one a bung from ½ oz to 4 oz. I spent the majority of the match switching around the peg from LH side to out in front to keep the bites coming.

With 1 ¼ hours to go to the end of the match I foul hooked a Carp on single caster which quickly broke the hook length. A few minutes for re-tie and I had a decent Skimmer about 2lb which took my weight Silvers weight to 22lb 6oz I knew this because next put-in I hooked a Carp which broke the hook so the rig went up the bank. I got the double two top-set out with blue Middy bungee and attached a 0.3 gram PC paste float. I started to loose feed the semi-hard 4’s I had prepared earlier down the LH margin. On to the top set with paste and what happened next was amazing. I hooked 16 Carp losing 2. The last one landed on the whistle weighed 14lb 3oz. Thanks to John Barker I didn't have to walk back to the hut to get another keep net as he kindly gave me his second net that he hadn't any use for.

The 14 Carp weighed 115lb 3oz when added to my Silvers winning weight took me to a second overall weight with 137lb 9oz.

John barker pictured upper right with his catch of Ronnie’s did run me close with his second in the Silvers weight of 18lb 3oz.

The match was won by Mark Bellringer (pictured right) with 160lb 4oz from in form peg 21. Mark caught his Carp on the method feeder fished long, along the end bank using hard pellet.

Full Result:

1. Mark Bellringer 160-04-0 mpeg 21
2. Mike Nicholls 137-09-0 peg 26
3. Steve Jefferies 114-14-0 peg 38
4. Alan Jones 93-12-0 peg 40
5. Dave Bacon 59-02-0 peg 37
6. Bill Ferris 47-09-0 peg 35

Top Silvers:

1. Mike Nicholls 22-06-0 peg 26
2. John Barker 18-13-0 peg 25
3. Ray Bazeley 11-02- 0 peg 28

Weigh Sheet: