Sunday 29/07/201 - Shiplate Fishery - Wallace and Gromit - Grand Appeal Charity Match - Hawthornes, Westpool and Main Lake

Todays match was for an important charity close the family's heart - Bristol Children's Hospital - Oncology. All the money raised is to go to making the poorly children lifes more bearable. Having spent some time in this environment you really have to be a special person to work as a Children's nurse. It was Donna Taylor an Oncology Nurse organising today's event along with partner Mark Jones. Any charity that involves Children's hospitals I'm there if possible.

The match format of one payout per sections of 5 or 6 would not suit me, but it was about the Children today. However, at the last moment Gordon's Garden Services sponsored the Silvers winner to the tune of £50. 

A break in the hot weather today with high winds and rain all day forecasted. Fortunately we only had a couple of light showers that didn't wet the ground, the wind wasn't too bad either, the fishery appears to be sheltered from southerly winds. After breakfast at Lillypool with Geoff Francis it was on to the fishery where The Gamekeeper had planned on 50 entrants, but was let down by some, reducing the attendance to 38. It's not wise to frustrate a Gamekeeper. After paying the pools to Goldilocks and purchasing some raffle tickets it was time to hopefully draw the Main Lake because it was in my opinion sure to win the one off Silvers prize. Alas not, ended up on peg 11 Hawthornes (my second choice of Lakes) so Carp it would be then.

Two paste rigs one for the margins and the other for top-set plus two and as back-up a 4x10 for the margin for maggot over maggot. Started on the paste long over a mix of micro and hard 4's for the float to sit there until the paste melted off the hook. Paste is usually an instant bait so after 45 minutes of too much perseverance with it I binned it. I decided to set up a 4x14 Winter to fish the same length but down the peg to the Left with corn over corn and Micro. One Roach resulted from this. I was struggling. Switched to catch anything than swims, setting up the Ronnie rig. A few Rudd, Roach, a Skimmer, four bootlace Eels and a 4 lb Carp came from this. Tom Thick came down from end peg 15 who was yet to catch, Tom had a walk around and everywhere appeared to be fishing hard - probably due the the sudden drop of the air pressure. Switched to the shallow margin rig with single maggot over loose fed maggot. However, realising that I was fishing in a submerged jungle I had to accept the odd snag-ups but caught four small Chub, three Crucians, another Eel and a few Ronnies. During this period I hooked and landed 8 small Carp and 2 better ones but lost too many to record - some were foul hooked whilst others it was a case of jungle warfare at its fearces. I must say I did enjoy the challenge today.

My managery of Silvers weighed 8 lb 8 oz and my Carp 39 lb 2 oz for a second in section by a long way weight of 47 lb 10 oz . Unbelievably this weight put me third on Hawthornes!!

The match was won by Kurtis Pinkett (pictured right with the Silvers winner) with his PB weight of 176 lb 14 oz from Main Lake peg 15. Kurtis caught on the Method with Micro and 8 mm banded on the hook casting down to the Lawns. Well done to him.

The Silver prize was won by Glenn Bailey with 25 lb 2 oz of accidental Skimmers from peg 14. Glenn caught - well on the paste at 13 metres fished over wetted 4's.

The section winners today are pictured below centre with Donna the real winner today.

Back for the raffle with plenty of prizes up for grabs (pictured lower right). Unfortunately none went home in Geoff's car.

A big thank you to Steve and Carol for their organisation and providing the great fishing.

Result:

1. Kurtis Pinkett 176-14-0 peg 15 ML
2. Dave Romaine 105-14-0 peg 3 ML
3. Steve Howell 101-15-0 peg 15 WP

Silvers:

Glenn Bailey 25-02-0 peg 14 ML

Weigh Sheets: You will notice an angler with a FOE by his name - meaning F-Off-Early