Tuesday 31/12/2019 - Bitterwell Silvers Costcutter Open

With Christmas now over so was naturally now looking forward to getting out fishing even though the wrist wasn't completely healed. Couldn't help noticing that the weather has been OK during my short layoff. So with the weather promising to be dry I was off to the Tuesday Bitterwell Silvers match.

A good few other anglers had was also in need of a day out as we had 17 fishing and with three pleasure anglers the Lake would be nearing full.

I was joined by matey Chris Ollis and ended up drawing next to each other, with me on peg 6 and Chris on peg 8 - both reasonable pegs, but had the cold light wind in our faces.

I was hoping I could get the small Ronnie's in close enough for the 4 metre whip to save the left hand wrist. So set that up first, the trial presentation was acceptable, which was about top-set plus two and a bit. The other rig was a 4x12 Winter Titan to fish top-set plus four barrels, which just kept the butt out on the road behind. Both lines would be fished the same - GB and Pinkie.

I fed both lines with a nugget of GB with just a few Pinkies. I started on the whip with double Pinkie but didn't get a bite, so went long with Pinkie. I had a small Ronnie first try and by topping up regularly with a neat nugget of GB I kept a few Ronnie's coming with the odd 4 and 6 oz Skimmer. I did have a some Ronnie's on the whip which I had been topping up, but it was a question of only catch two before it died. The upshot was the long line produced the most I did lose a few ounces swing fish as it was still painful to used the landing net.

My few Silvers weighed in at 5 lb 3 oz for joint second on the day with Enigma - pictured below. I must say it is nice to have a break lunch time for a snack and cuppa kindly provided by Paul Isaacs.

The  match was won by Jason (pictured upper right) with 6 lb 13 oz from peg 12. Jason fed two lines, one at 14.5 metres and the other at 8 metres each with three balls of GB laced with maggot at the start. Jason caught small Skimmers mostly from his shorter line on double DR's and Pinkie.

Result:

1. Jason 6-13-0 peg 12
2. Mike Nicholls 5-03-0 peg 6
2. Steve Dawson 5-03-0 peg 31
4. Gary 5-01-0 peg 25

Weigh Sheet:

Thursday 19/12/2019 - Bathampton AA - Over 55's and Short Walks

Not a good start to the day firstly my burglar alarm went off in the early hours due to a power cut and a faulty battery in the alarm. Putting the kit in the car I tripped up a step saving myself with my left hand, I now have a sprained wrist - bugger.

Arrived in time for a quick walk around the Pool, a little bit more colour, a few signs of fish on pegs 8, 9 and 10, but hoping for peg 24.

Time for the draw and I heard John Smith say I could draw now as peg 29 had been drawn, but peg 31 was still in, so I waited a bit more. Finally into the draw bag and out comes peg 21 - yippy somewhere different. I had to think for a minute where it was! I subsequently realised it was a 13 metre peg to the island which I can normally handle, however, I was prepared to give it a try but was doubtful due to the sprained wrist.

When we have something new we are eager to try it out. I understand that Tony Rixon had new dentures and went around the Pool biting off feeders - just ask Paul Barnfield and John Smith. Let this be a lesson to organisers giving some anglers too long to set up.

I had decided to leave the umbrella home as the wind was supposed to increase - mistake as it rained all day with little wind - lesson learnt yet again.

From peg 21 I could only see two anglers John Smith on peg 24 and Pete Greenslade on peg 19. my peg today has not really finished since the summer so I didn't know what to expect. One thing for sure the big Carp that are caught during the summer ain't never far away.

I set up a 4 x16 to fish top-set plus two for Silvers with Pinkie and GB and a 4x14 to fish to my left down the inside shelf in 5 foot of water with kindered DR's. The 4x14 also suited over to the island at 13 metres but found my wrist wasn't up to it so only fished this until I had a Ronnie. As I had time I set up a small GB feeder to chuck around if things got hard.

The upshot was I had a 2 lb Skimmer first try then small Perch before I had another Skimmer about 8 oz all on triple Pinkie. The rest of the fish on this line were small Ronnies, but felt there was a marauding Carp around. I had  five F1's on the DR's down the left. I did have a few chucks on the feeder which only attracted small Perch and Ronnies. I felt I should have set up the Ronnie rig and loose fed it, plus fed some micro down the left.

My few Silvers weighed 4 lb 7 oz and my F1's 6 lb for a nowhere total of 10 lb 7 oz.  I did sit it out in the last hour for a bonus Carp which i knew wasn't far away which would have made a big difference.

Luckily it did stop raining whilst we packed away and weighed in.

The match was won by Pete "The Meat" Greenslade (pictured right) with 18 lb 14 oz from peg 19. Pete caught down both his edges in two foot of water using meat over potted meat and micro. Most of his weight was made up of three decent Carp.

The Silvers was won by Enigma (pictured right with the match winner) with 16 lb 7 oz from peg 16. Steve caught on the pole using Maggot feed and maggot hook bait.

Result:

1. Pete The Meat Greenslade 18-14-0 peg 19
2. Harry Muir 18-12-0 peg 11
3. Paul Barnfield 18-09-0 peg 28

Silvers:

1. Steve Dawson 16-07-0 peg 16
2. Tony The Teeth Rixon 13-12-0 peg 31
3. John Smith 10-03-0 peg 24

Weigh Sheets:

Tuesday 10/12/2019 - Bitterwell Silvers Xmas Match

As I was giving Thursday a miss this week I thought I would go and support Ken Morgan at Bitterwell, Ken runs a good match. However, the attendance was always going to be down due to the horrendous weather forecast - Rain and high gusting winds. Before the draw Ken handed out some mince pies.

I found myself once again wanting to be out of the wind so was hoping for the road side, but definitely not the car park side! Into the draw bag and out come red bottler top 12 - the garden pretty peg - far bank with the wind off my left shoulder. The last time I fished here I drew this peg and struggled. The peg is on the end before going around to the roadside, but on the right I had Neighbour Darren North - peg 14.

I had just bought a new Skimmer feeder rod - Drennan 10 foot Acolyte Ultra and wanted to try in out so set that up first. I set up a 4x12 to fish to my left upto some reed cover in three foot of water I really expected to catch some decent perch and Roach here. Final rig a 4x14 to fish at 10 metres, which to be honest wasn't right because of the tow against - like fishing a river. What was interesting I had a dummy cast on the feeder and there was no sign of tow? This peg is one of the deepest and shallows to the right so most of the tow was up in the water which was going to make presentation difficult.

Paul Isaacs the new fishery Manager came round during the match with a cuppa including a special black one for me - very welcome. 

I fed the against the reeds with neat Pinkie and at 10 metres with GB and Pinkie. I started on the feeder at 25 metres and after two casts was itching to try the pole. As expected the tow was making things difficult especially when adding the gusting wind which made it almost impossible to hold back. I did have a few tiny Ronnies and a lost 2 lb Skimmer which I think was fouled as it was coming in sideways. Next was a Carp which broke me. So tried my banker upto the reeds where the presentation was much better. I could get bites from fish that couldn't even hold the float down - small Perch and Ronnie's. I then had my first visitor Martyn Woodington who witnessed the teasing of the small fish. I then decided to fish the last 3 1/2 hours on the feeder to give it a good try out. Which I clipped up over the 10 metre pole line. My next visitors Glenn Bailey and Martin McMahon. I straight away getting bites on the drop again from tiny Ronnie's - very frustrating because if the bait settled on the bottom I would get a 4 oz Skimmer. If only I could have fished the Ronnie rig I am sure I would have had a good day, but once again the wind wasn't going to allow this.

I weighed 4 lb 3 oz for fifth. I was impressed with this rod and is ideal for this type of fishing - really nice soft action, no compromising the Skimmers.

The match was won by my neighbour Darren North (pictured right) with 9 lb 6 oz from peg 14. Darren had a long line where he fished GB and Pinkie where he caught the odd small Skimmers and Ronnie's. He later switched to a short line - top-set plus two with maggot hook bait fished over maggot. It wasn't until the last 15 minutes that he secured his win landing a 2 lb Hybrid and a 1 lb 5 oz Perch. Well done matey.

There was a special prize for the biggest Perch which I thought Darren would win, however, John Fuidge had a Perch exactly the same weight - pictured right - was it a question of a Xmas "Pass the Perch"?

It was back to the Bitterwell Hall - first time in there for me. Plenty of prizes one for all.

It was good to fish a traditional Xmas match - AKA fur and feather no sign of this - but alcohol free beer - really Ken. Paul Isaacs presented Darren with the Bitterwell Xmas match trophy - pictured above.

I have fished four different venues for Silvers over the last two weeks and can say that Bitterwell came out joint top for the Silvers fishing. I can't wait to get back there in conditions where I can fish the Ronnie rig. Now thinking of swapping Windmill Thursdays for Bitterwell Tuesdays.

Top Six:

1. Darren North 9-06-0 peg 14

2. John Fuidge 8-0-0 peg 17

3. Steve Dawson 5-10-0 peg 5

4. Ken Morgan 4-12-0 peg 7

5. Mike Nicholls 4-03-0 peg 12

6. Graham Beever 4-01-0 peg 15 

Weigh Sheet:

Sunday 08/12/2019 - Tony Rixon Open - Todber Manor - Hillview Lake

Breakfast in the Riverside Cafe with Bela and others - efficient service.. Arrived at the fishery to find Paul Elmes and Trigger travelling together again (evidence pictured right). Has the counselling worked or is it a marriage of convenience for the day?

Originally Tony had planned to use Ash Lake which in my opinion if the weather is going to be bad everyone will have very similar conditions to contend with. Tony moved it to Hillview to accommodate additional anglers. The weather was forecast to be horrendous, and it was which meant certain pegs would be reasonably sheltered and poleable, whilst others would be almost impossible to fish. The weigh sheets show which were which.

Chatting with Trigger, Bela and Paul we all wanted peg 60 or close by, failing that anywhere on the near side as the wind would be off the right shoulder. Well three of us got our wish Trigger peg 60, Bela peg 59 and me too far away on peg 56. I didn't care I just wanted to survive the day.

Mark Wynne on end peg 55 thought it best we fish for Silvers as a frame or section was unlikely. So I set up the Ronnie rig and a 4x14 Winter Titan to fish at 10 metres at 10 o'clock down wind. I fed the Ronnie line with GB laced with Pinkie and the long line which I started on with kindered LR's with double DR's on the hook. First put in I missed a bite but caught a Carp dropping back in. For the first hour all I could catch was Carp. So fed some GB with Pinkie on this line and tried the Ronnie rig and caught two more Carp losing a sizable one which straighten the hook. I did hook a 2 lb Skimmer which came off and two small Tench and four Ronnie's. It was obvious the Silvers weren't going to play today. Back out on the long line with Pinkie and had more Carp one was close to 18 lb. Just into the last two hours and we had a right storm leaving anglers in less fortunate areas running for cover - first time I've seen Tony Rixon run. Unfortunately I was playing a fish at the time and couldn't save four of my bait boxes blowing into the Lake. The wind must have been near 80 mph. Losing my bait didn't worry me as once the storm stopped I couldn't get a bite on anything/anywhere.

My Silvers weighed 1 lb 10 oz and my accidental Carp 51 lb 4 oz!!

The match was by Bela (pictured right with his catch) with 165 lb 13 oz from peg 59. Bela fished the straight lead using 8 mm punched medium slice hair rigged cast into open water. He baited up with either three or five rings. He had Ryan Jordan confused by what he was feeding. Bela was catapulting pouches of nothing whilst Ryan was watching for the splash to see what he was feeding. Bela fed four bags of nothing throughout the match. Bela got the method right on the day - well done matey nice to see you kick Triggers ass off the next better peg.

The Silvers was won by Mark Wynne from peg 55 (pictured right) with 9 lb. Mark caught most of his Silvers at 13 metres using Pinkie hook bait fished over loose fed Pinkie. Well done matey. Both qualified for the King of the Manor finals.

We celebrated Bela's win in the usual way in Bar-Gar-Age.

Result:

1. Bela Bakos 165-13-0 peg 59
2. Dave Willmott 139-14-0 peg 48
3. Joe McMahon 135-08-0 peg 39
4. Craig Edmonds 118-04-0 peg 60

Silvers:

1. Mark Wynne 9-0-0 peg 55
2. Dave Willmott 8-05-0 peg 48
3. Martin Rayet 7-08-0 peg 36

Weigh Sheets:

Thursday 05/12/2019 - Bathampton AA - Over 55's and Short Walks - Bridge Pool

The weather forecast looked good so was vastly disappointed to find a very hard frost. Arrived at the fishery 30 minutes early and had a half walk around the Lake which was enough to tell me is was going to be very hard - didn't see a fish top anywhere.

The GAS played last night in the league cup and scraped through on penalties the two Gas Heads pictured right celebrating.

I'm fed up drawing pegs 29, 30 and 31. At least 30 wasn't in the draw bag and decided to go into the draw bag early in an attempt to fish a different peg! I couldn't believe it to find myself holding peg 29 AGAIN. It's beyond funny now. Looking on the bright side the sun was suppose to come out and would not hinder visibility - that didn't happen! Again the wind was in my face which again was wrong as it was supposed to turn 180 degrees and didn't. The leafs just kept rocking and rolling.

For company  had the mumbler Paul Haines on 28 and Paul Barnfield down on the winter Ronnie peg 31 - expect some moaning - didn't even get that today.

Set up a very small GB feeder and a 4x16 Winter to fish top-set plus three which wasn't really far enough but the light on the water is horrendous and was to cause me a right headache.

After feeding the pole line I started on the GB feeder with maggot hook bait and Pinkie in the GB towards the island but well off as the water was really clear. I was amazed that I had a liner straight away and over the next 20 minutes I put 7 lb of Silvers in the next including a 1 1/2 Perch. Well for the rest of the match I struggled for another 2 1/2 lb. I did hook a decent Carp on the pole but wasn't on long so suspect it was foul hooked.

My Silvers weigh in at 9 lb 3 oz for second in the Silvers, so happy with that from this peg. The issue is that I have the same chances of drawing it again next match!!

The match was won by Mumbles Brewery boss Pete Turner (pictured right on his knees with the Silvers winner on tippy toes) with 14 lb 8 oz from peg 10. Pete caught three quick Carp on the method with maggot hook bait. Then struggled for 2 lb of Silvers. Well done matey.

The Silvers was won by Jeff Grant with 10 lb 8 oz from peg 15. Jeff caught on the long pole fishing maggot and GB catching some big Skimmers.

Result:

1. Pete Turner 14-08-0 peg 10
2. Tony Rixon 14-06-0 peg 19
3. Paul Haines 11-0-0 peg 28

Silvers:

1. Jeff Grant 10-08-0 peg 15
2. Mike Nicholls 9-03-0 peg 29
3. Dave Poole 8-09-0 peg 10

Weigh Sheets:

Sunday 01/12/2019 - Viaduct Silvers League - Round Five - Campbell, Carey and Lodge Lakes

Bela and I had a tortuous drive down behind some old twat driving at 30 MPH irrespective of the speed limit, not wise keeping Bela from his breakfast. I have found the breakfasts at Shipham generally mediocre, however, today it was spot on and was very welcome.

I had my usual walk around and took the picture opposite looking back to the shop of where I would like to draw today.

Into the draw coffee tin and out comes peg 103. It's the third time I have drawn it this year and again will have the cold northerly in the face.Have no doubts it can be a very good peg, but appears to my boogie peg. For company I had Nigel Easton on peg 105 who said the Skimmers had moved up the lake and wasn't that enamoured with his draw. On the other side peg 102 was the Dude - aka Dan Squires. Always interesting fishing next to him - especially today when he broke his waggler fencing with a tree.

I had planned to fish the waggler for the majority of the match with caster feed and either DR's on the hook or single caster, so it was first to be set up. The light is generally very bad on this venue and choosing a float is difficult. However, I had two Drake floats - a red and a yellow tip which I could easily change with a clip attachment. Next was a 4x12 to fish at 11.5 metres which is about as much as Joe McMahon would allow who was behind me on Lodge peg 71. I hate unshipping. I knew The Dude would out gun me and he certainly did I'm not sure how far he went out but I could hardly see the end of the pole. I reckon he was triple unshipping. Last rig which I didn't expect to use was the Ronnie rig.

Laying the bait table I noticed the caster bag had been nibbled which is something I have to do sometimes to open the bag knot. However, it was clear that the culprit was a mouse. There was enough air to turn them very dark - pictured right - they did sink though - Mouse traps now fully armed! Every single angler around me were all kind enough to offer me caster - thanks Dude.

Steve Long came by and I thought he had a piece of carpet for my stepped platform. Alas not.

I fed two long lines with a bit of caster, Pinkie and DR's plus one ball on the Ronnie line. I started on the waggler with double DR's and was getting indications straight away from Ronnies. I had about four 1 oz specimens after a lot of striking and casting. This lead me to try the Ronnies rig which produced the same size fish but 100 time quicker. Now I regret not keeping to the plan and stopping the waggler I should have given it an hour more. The Dud started to catch small Skimmers on maggot on his extreme line. So I tried my long line an could only catch the same small Ronnies. Again I should have given this longer before switching back to the Ronnie rig too soon - too easy I think. The upshot was I stayed with this for the majority of the match, and should not have - catching about 100 Ronnies.

I weighed 6 lb 13 oz for once again last in the section. Although this is a six match series unfortunately I have to miss the last one with Chris Ollis agreeing to stand in. My series has been awful. Mostly down to me. I have got it wrong three times, got in right twice but changed it to wrong, but mostly being out gunned by the long pole. I must make more use of the waggler next year - I have a plan!! Bela further spoiled my day by coming second in his section moving out of last but one relegating me to his position. We did have a good laugh about our poor results this league. Roll on next year.

The match was won by Scaffolder Ricky Mills (pictured right) with 20 lb 10 oz from Campbell peg 131. Ricky caught on the long pole fishing two lines - one with maggot/GB and the other caster/GB. Well done matey them scaffold tubes will be cold in the morning.

Result:

1. Ricky Mills 20-10-0 peg 131
2. Alvin 18-13-0 peg 59
3. Stu White 17-02-0 peg 69 - AGAIN
4. Tony Rixon 16-12-0 peg 80
5. Craig Edmonds 13-08-0 peg 97
6. Bela Bakos 12-03-0 peg 81

Weigh Sheets: