Absolutely poured down all the way to the fishery, luckily that was all we had. I had a walk around the Lake finding the water the clearest I have seen it. There was no sign of fish except around pegs 21 and 33. These were only tiny Ronnies topping. It didn't look good for the fishing. Morning assembly was held by Chris Rolfe (less puritanical), good to see him back at the helm after his eye treatment.
Twenty one fishing today so a good turnout. Into the draw bag and out comes disc 6. Another painful day on a disabled platform then. For company I had "Medium Slice" Price on peg 7 and Dave Poole on end peg 4. My expectations were low for a days fishing.
I set up one rig a 4x16 Winter which I tried to fish at top-set plus 4 barrels but found it too much pressure on my neck and shoulders and with them feeling better thought I wouldn't risk a set back, so decided on three barrels. I plumbed this around for a while and found that out in front was a bit of a trench which was 6 inches deeper than to my right and left. So choose to fish here. Started by putting a small ball of GB in with some DR's and with single DR on the hook and was expecting a quick Ronnie. When this didn't happen I was anticipating a hard day. Fifteen minutes in and I get my first bite a 1 lb Hybrid. The next bite was a decent Carp which I had under control when the hook parted. A quick inspection found a curly tail so the hook was either poorly tied or had been cut by the spade. I put the hook length in my box for an autopsy later. I thought this fish would have been invaluable and was a bit miffed, so I went for a sulk walk down to Tony Rixon who was catching the odd Skimmer but was getting lots of liners. So back in the saddle and after topping up with another small ball of GB I had a 1 1/2 lb Perch. I then had a run of Skimmers from 1 lb to 2 lb. I found the fish would only take a moving bait and if I left it on bottom I would get indications which at first thought it was from tiny Perch, but was liners from Skimmers, so I kept fishing on the drop and only leaving it on bottom for a minute or so. The wind was a problem, gusting at me from the SE and would suddenly gust in the opposite direction! I sometimes had tow against then tow with the wind. When the wind subsided I caught better as the bites were shy and quick. I kept a few Skimmers coming throughout with either double or triple DR's on the hook, also adding an F1 and a 5 lb Common Carp. With 30 minutes to go I up the feed and thought I had killed the peg, alas not I hooked and landed a 8 lb Common. With three minutes left I went back in and had another Skimmer before the whistle. I fed about 1/4 pint of maggot and 2 pints of GB all match.
My Skimmers weighed 25 lb 10 oz and my three Carp 14 lb 9 oz for a total of 40 lb 5 oz and a double bubble win overall and Silvers. Last time I drew peg 6 I won the Silvers with 18 lb so must be a good peg. Except for the wind it was a very enjoyable day's fishing.
The Silvers win was defaulted to Tony Rixon (pictured right with the winner) who weighed 19 lb 1 oz from peg 9.
It was back to the pub with the usual suspects and due to finishing earlier we missed the rat runners.
My autopsy on the hook length concluded the spade had cut the line as there was only two curly bits of line instead on seven+ which I normally tie.
Result:
1. Mike Nicholls 40-05-0 peg 6
2. Paul Haines 37-0-0 peg 21
3. Dave Wride 32-10-0 peg 29
4. Chris Rolfe 28-13-0 peg 14
Silvers:
1. Mike Nicholls 25-10-0 peg 6
2. Tony Rixon 19-01-0 peg 9
3. Dave Gillard 10-13-0 peg 8
Weigh Sheets:
Bela and me had a nice breakfast at Canards Well, we were joined by Grinner Cannings, Sut White and Rowland.
The weather was mild but to expect some drizzle, but had some heavier rain near the end.
Into the draw coffee tin and out comes a peg on Lodge again - three time now. However, it is a good waggler peg which I have won from and due to my neck injury would be my choice of pegs. So happy. For company today was Martin Preston on peg 70 whom I couldn't see and Craig Orton on peg 68 the only angler I could see in my section.
First the waggler was set up and when running it through to set the depth I had two indications on the bare hook! Next the Ronnie rig and the only other rig was a 4x12 Winter Titan. Ground bait mixed and bait table loaded with Pinkie, DR's and caster.
I fed a few casters on the 20 metre waggler line, a knub of GB laced with Pinkie on the Ronnie rig line and one large ball of GB with loose caster at top-set plus three barrels. Started on the waggler and really expected a bite first chuck - nothing. Was the indications earlier from Motherless? I was wishing I ran the float through with a single maggot before feeding to understand a bit more as to what was happening. I was thinking the fish had shied away from the loose feed. However, Martin Preston was swishing away with his waggler and corn over corn sprayed everywhere and was a getting indications regularly. I changed to the Ronnie rig and started to catch Ronnies and small Hybrids and one 8 oz Perch. I was happy to stay with this all match providing I could keep the catch rate the same. Unfortunately Martin Preston Hooked a Carp which went under the rope a into my Ronnie swim! I refed and rested it and swap the wagger to corn as Martin started to catch the odd Skimmer on it. My feeding of the corn was reasonable but couldn't get a bite on it except for one foul hooked Carp. So back on the Ronnie rig which although I still caught on it, it was never the same and painfully slow. So out on the long line which I fished both right and left handed to share the neck pain. Amazing how hard I struck on the left side!! I was soon catching Ronnie's but kept feeding the line to attract the Skimmers. I did catch a couple. Come mid match I had a terrible run of losing Skimmers. If I dropped the rig in vertically I would get liners, when laying the rig out I got a positive bite which was telling me the Skimmers were up in the water. I lost 7 Skimmers all about 1 lb I got three near the landing net and they were hooked in the mouth, but due to others leaving a lot of slime on the line indicated foul hookers. I decided to change the hook size to a 808 - 16 with single DR. Not sure this was the answer but I did start putting pairs of small Skimmers in the net. I concluded that the Skimmers were swimming around in shoals and after catching a couple would shy away for a while, most probably due to the clarity of the water and the amount of anglers feeding.
I was sure I hadn't done very well in the section and was surprised that my 12 lb 8 oz was sufficient for second section pick up. However, I was so disappointed the waggler and caster didn't work today.
The match was won by Dan White (pictured upper right with his catch of Skimmers) with 30 lb 11 oz from peg 59. Dan started on a small caged GB feeder catching about 8 lb. He then switched the the pole at 13 metres and started to catch decent Skimmers with his peg getting better as the match progressed. Due to the affect of the Aerator pegs 50,60 and 61 are deeper that the rest of the Lake, so it looks as if the Skimmers have moved in to this deeper water. Dan fed 2 kg of GB laced with a few casters and used single DR's on the Hook. Dan used Spottedfin GB - the mix pictured right.
Result:
1. Dan White 30-10-0 peg 59
2. Gary Webber 26-01-0 peg 102
3. Paddy Curry 23-05-0 peg 94
4. Dave Romain 22-14-0 peg 100
5. Joe McMahon 22-12-0 peg 60
6. Steve Tucker 21-07-0 peg 98
Weigh Sheet:
What is the financial state of the UK Tackle Industry? I heard this week that Daiwa made £10,000 profit last financial year. I accept that I haven't seen the balance sheet to fully understand any investments etc.. but it doesn't look good for such a prestige company being in this state. Further we have Drennan having delivery issues with spares for the Acolyte Carp poles not available for 8 weeks! They aren't alone in this respect. The future of the tackle industry is in their hands with a need to start investing heavily in more kids start up programmes - otherwise...
The neck is taking it's time to get better, missed last weekend to rest it but couldn't sit home anymore so chose to fish local at Windmill. Was told by BBC app that there was zero chance of rain. So why did we all get wet setting up.
Enigma and me had a pre-draw walk around the Lake. The water level was 2 foot down and had gone clear, we didn't see any sign of fish - not one pimp. I thought it was going to be a very hard match.
Into the draw bag and out come milk bottle top 4 - AGAIN! This time of year the Carp vacate this area with perhaps a few showing over to the island which I couldn't reach if I wanted to, should of brought the waggler rod. So easy decision Silvers all day. Had Matey Two Pots Bailey on next peg 5 and Ray Bazeley on end peg 2. A 4x14 Winter Titan with 808 number 20 hook was the only rig set up to fish t/s plus three barrels out of respect for the neck. GB mixed, micro wetted, Pinkie's and LR's on the bait tray. Initially I cupped in a knub of GB laced with Pinkie and with Pinkie on the hook I hooked a Ronnie first try which fell off as did the next four! I was finding holding the pole niggling the shoulder so took the opportunity make set-up the Ronnie rig and move the fish closer to hand. This worked and I had a run of 30 - 40 small fish. Then suddenly they disappeared. I didn't think it was due to
my feeding. So rested it and went back out long with single LR and had a run of more Ronies this time they were staying on. So a pattern set by switching between the two lines adding four Skimmers and a pound Perch in between catching Ronnies. During the last hour the temperature significantly dropped subsequently I think affected the fishing as I only had three fish during this time. I didn't hook any Carp and looking at the weigh sheet this was remarkable especially with so many Carp caught.
I weighed 10 lb 8 oz which was more than enough to win the Silvers. So another good day out and the neck not feeling any worse - last to be weighed - me pictured in the dark with my Perch.
The match was won by Pete Turner (pictured top right with some of his catch) with 82 lb from peg 8. Pete caught on waggler over sprayed maggot. So a Silvers win last match and a match win this time. I think Pete must be cutting down how long he spends on the phone!
The match was a tight affair with Bob Warren coming a close second with 76 lb 4 oz (pictured right - still light when Bob was weighed in!)
Finally Two Pots caught his 60 lb of Carp mainly on maggot over BUT did have two on the paste!
Back to the pub with the usual suspects and a right old laugh.
Result:
1. Pete Turner 82-0-0 peg 8
2. Bob Warren 76-04-0 peg 20
3. John Smith 75-04-0 peg 14
Silvers:
1. Mike Nicholls 10-08-0 peg 4
2. Dave Poole 4-0-0 peg 12
3. Ken Morgan 2-02-0 peg 11
Weigh Sheet:
