Sunday 28/06/2020 - Tony Rixon's Short Pole - Todber Manor - Hillview

Yobs tearing down monuments and damaging public property and the police standing back and watching, whilst on the way to Todber at 07:00 on a Sunday morning a motorbike policeman can hide behind bushes with a speed camera. Makes my blood boil. Fair play perfectly positioned where a 60 mph drops to a 30 mph.

This was to be one of Tony's float only's but because all 28 pegs were in he sensibly changed it to a short pole - top set plus three.

Again a Corona draw but with a slight difference as can be seen in Tony's office (looks like he's had a tidy up) - the use of a tombola machine. Personally I can't wait to get back to drawing my own peg. First to have the roll and lady of fate gave me peg 40. Arrived at the peg followed by two Shipp's. Ryan was one side of me on peg 41 and Dad Vince on peg 39 so great company - no moaning from these two.

Ryan came and had a chat and said he had been told the Skimmers had mostly died and the way to winning the Silvers would be Roach. Good news for me. Ryan told a few anglers this.

So just top sets to day for me - two paste rigs one for out in front and one for down the RH edge. Two Ronnie rigs - One top and bottom and a small waggler to try and battle the nasty left to right wind. I put four keep nets in and relised I had left two others I planned to take in case at home.

I started on the waggler just off bottom with single caster over loose feed and found I had attracted a hundreds of 1/2 oz Ronnie's. The waggler wasn't right as the caster was getting ragged on the drop. So on to the top and bottom and had a few Ronnie's and micro Perch. I was missing lots of bites and continually changing the damaged caster. Meanwhile the Shipp's were bagging on small Carp. After 30 minutes I reckon I had 2 lb of Silvers. I then had a small Carp. My next decision was a hindsight bad-un as I switched to the paste for Carp. As I did this I noticed Ryan had switched to full length fishing shallow with casters and had a Skimmer first put in!!! My first 22 put-ins produced 22 small Carp and one net filled with about 60 lb. We then had the first of a couple of storms with high gusting winds and horizontal hail and rain - putting the weather back to pre-lock-down conditions. I had been potting micro and loose feeding hard 4's over the top which brought the fish up in the water producing lots of liners and the need to keep re-baiting. The wind was making things very difficult so changed to the Big H Bullet paste float fished round to the right, down wind using the keep nets as a wind shield. Again the feed was potted micro. This worked well resulting in catching much bigger Carp. I had now filled three nets to 60 lb so for the first time ever I emptied my Silvers back and continued adding Carp. I had a beautiful white Ghost Carp and later a Black Carp and out of recognition of current affairs I put them in the same keep net. Nearing the end of the match panic ensued as I was running out of paste and keep nets, with an estimated 60 lb in each - hopefully. Also my ageing hands were finding it hard to hold the top set - please call all out I had enough. Couldn't do this sort of fishing on a regular basis.

My four nets weighed 245 lb 8 oz for 6th overall. However, with 6 lb picking up in the Silvers I should have stayed with them - lesson learnt - but unlikely. Ryan won the Silvers with the only 38 lb in the Lake! In his defence I don;'t think he went long with the caster solely to catch Skimmers as Ryan likes fishing this way for Carp and I think he looked surprised to catch them. Due to the wind Ryan had to feed by catty

The match was won by Neil Mercer (pictured right) with 335 lb 6 oz from peg 50. Neil caught on 6 mm banded pellet over 6 mm loose feed. He fed about 4 pints. Well done matey.

How can someone DNW on this venue?

Result:

1. Neil Mercer 335-06-0 peg 50
2. Martin Rayett 321 06-0 peg 45
3. Paul Elmes 298-06-0 peg 48
4. Bob Gullick 292-15-0 peg 60
5. Joe McMahon 270-07-0 peg 36
6. Mike Nicholls 245-08-0 peg 40
7. P. RICK 243-13-0 peg 54

Silvers:

1. Ryan Shipp 38-04-0 peg 41
2. Gary Bowden 6-08-0 peg 35
3. Freddie Wojtyla 6-05-0 peg 37
Weigh Sheet: Sheet names were added by Mrs Rixon.

Thursday 25/06/2020 - Windmill Fishery - Cost Cutter - Match Lake

First match here since the lock down. Ken Morgan announced that he will be not running these matches in the near future due to him looking to move house. A shame really as Ken runs a good match. No one has yet come forward to run them, so today might be the last one for awhile.

The payouts are equal Silvers and overall.

24 booked in including Bob Warren twice! We also had 2 no shows - probably because of the really hot weather 30 degrees plus today. So 21 fishing. I had a walk around the lake and with no wind it was flat calm with no signs of fish - it was going to be a hard match. As there is no aeration I suspected that the oxygen levels would be low.

Plenty of pegs I would like so the ones I wouldn't - pegs 4 to 9, 15 to 18 and 23. First to have my peg called - peg 4 it would be then. Didn't fancy it for Carp on the pole so my focus would be Silvers and planned to fish for them all day. I had plenty of time to set up and found five rigs in the roost but only used one all day - the short Ronnie rig.

So with the umbrella set up to keep the sun off me and with a slight wind in my face it all felt comfortable. So a simple match with live red maggot feed and hook bait. I fed one line out in front with GB and loose fed over the top I found could only catch on the drop, not getting a bite once it settled over the GB - so no more of that fed then, instead concentrating up in the water. I had a good hour catching small Ronnie's and Rudd. I had to swap around the peg to keep them coming but two hours in these fish switched off. I reckon I had 10 lb by then. Even though I had landed one Carp and lost two foul hookers I fought off the  temptation to try the paste, deciding as planned to stay with the Silvers. After a dull hour the Ronnie's returned along with some better Skimmers. I lost another Carp landing two towards the end. I really enjoyed the fishing today - persistence winning over.

My Silvers weighed 21 lb for the Silvers win and my three Carp weighed 14 lb 8 oz for a total of 35 lb 8 oz for 6th overall!

The match was won by John " Cliff" Smith (pictured below) with 103 lb 4 oz from fancied peg 14 (peg 13 is abandoned to not fished). John caught a few Carp long on 6 mm banded pellet but had problems with foul hookers. Finding it hard work in the heat switched to his RH margin fishing paste or corn down to the end of the Sedges. Well done matey.

Result:

1. John Smith 103-04-0 peg 14
2. Gary Bowden 57-04-0 peg 18
3. Tom Baker 55-08-0 peg 21
4. Glenn Bailey 48-12-0 peg 20

Silvers:

1. Mike Nicholls 21-0-0 peg 4
2. Dave Haines 19-08-0 peg 10
3. Ken Morgan 11-08-0 peg 23
4. Bill Ferris 9-0-0 peg 1

Weigh Sheet:

Tuesday 23/06/2020 - Acorn Cost Cutter - Paddocks

Currently cramming in three matches a week and with the hot weather I'm finding it hard going. Another visit to Acorn. I Had a walk around and notice loads of fish around pegs 27 and 28 so these would be my pegs of choice today - pictured right.

As is the "New Normal" everyone arrives early and left kicking heels for an hour waiting for the all in. I like it but miss the gatherings at the draw and the banter.

Mike Chapman called me peg 4 - The second time in four matches. I know its a decent peg but was a tad disappointed as I do like to fish different pegs - this would also apply if it won every match. Anyway I soon cheered up when Junior arrived on peg 5.

I set up two Ronnie rigs a long and short, two paste rigs one for down the shelf - where I caught last time on this peg and a Big H Bullit for tight against the bank where I still had 18 inches of water, the other rig was a 4x12 to fish top-set plus one section - this one only had a trial run out.

I have been fishing maggot for the Silvers here but had some casters left over from the weekend including some donated by matey Glenn Calvert so thought I would initially use these for the Silvers. However, I was a tad concerned that the sound of the loose feed might attract the Carp. So with single on the hook over loose feed, and yes first fish a 6 lb Common Carp. Soon followed by another of 2 lb. With these now cleared out I started to catch some decent Ronnie's and small Skimmers. The pesky small Perch didn't seem to like the caster which was a bonus. After an hour the Silvers slowed so went out on the long Ronnie rig with loose fed LR's over single LR and had a couple of Silvers but the wind was awkward so abandoned this.

In the meantime Junior was putting into practice the teach in held by Tony Rixon the day before at Hunstrete in the art of stalking. I must say he did very well at it, but a long way to go to compete with the masters finesse.

Back on the short Ronnie rig, switching to LR's this resulted in foul hooking Carp, in fact I foul hooked seven Carp in quick succession before I gave it up. Time to have a go on the paste down the shelf I had a couple but was foul hooking as many as I was catching, so thought I would take one of the dimensions out of the equation by fishing the Bullit tight again the bank. Stranger things - I would feed and the peg would colour up and I would either catch a Carp or foul hook one. I tried all sorts of feeding but found if I stopped feeding I wouldn't have so much as an indication! I believe these fish are educated such that they only come to the initial feed in numbers hence foul hooking and once one is hooked legally or not they all back off somewhere which cannot be that far away because in a matter of seconds after feeding they are back. The upshot was I was foul hooking as many as I was catching with the Carp always being ahead until I managed to get it back to 14 all and was hoping to take the lead. Alas not we ended up 15 - 17 to the Carp, one of them an 8 lb fish I lost was in the mouth. Driving home I came up with somethings to try next time - if there is a next time, so really wanted to re-fish the match.

My Silvers weighed 13 lb 4 oz and my 14 Carp 64 lb 13 oz for a total of 78 lb 1 oz for 8th overall. The caster was a mistake but worth getting it out of the system. I think my fishing was a bit  clumsy today.

The match was won by the affable Lee Waller (pictured upper right) with 100 lb 13 oz from peg 28 (as I predicted). Lee caught initially on pellet long then switched to paste late on in his margins. Well done Matey and didn't go for a swim.

The Silvers was won Mike Chapman (pictured right) with 27 lb 1 oz from peg 7. Mike caught short on mainly maggot which included some of the big Tench which remain elusive to me!

Next matches:

Thursday: Windmill Cost Cutter - Contact Ken Morgan (Also Chris Ollis running a match at Farleigh Woods

Sunday: Todber - Tony Rixon's Short Pole

Result:

1. Lee Waller 100-13-0 peg 28
2. Keith Ray 100-10-0 peg 18
3. Gary Bowden 95-01-0 peg 5
4. Paul Lasson 91-12-0 peg 15
5. Eddy Wynne 86-03-0 peg 10
6. Bob Smith 85-15-0 peg 13

Silvers:

1. Mike Chapman 27-01-0 peg 7
2. Ant Page 23-01-0 peg 22

Weigh Sheets:

Sunday 21/06/2020 - Tony Rixon - Float Only - Avalon Match Lake

This was to be the first of Tony Rixon's float only league but due to the Covid was changed this year to opens. Hence it was nice to fish a match with nearly every peg in with 46 fishing and 48 pegs available. Also nice was to see Mark Cook a returnee today whom I last saw on the ferry returning form Denmark. It sounds as if we will see more of him - hope so.

Paid the pools and Vic Bush drew me peg 41. Told it was an open water peg and should be good for Silvers - good news. For company I had Martin Lenaghan who is more likely these days to be catching Carp over 30 lb but hidden by a tree. On the other side Glenn Calvert a good all round angler. With all the pegs in the bank looked like pole alley - picture right.

Looking at the weather forecast it was likely to be windy and from my experience pole fishing can be difficult once the tow starts so in preparation made up a 2 gram and 4 gram rigs. Luckily I was able to easily get a way with a 4x16. The short Ronnie rig was set up and a margin paste rig attached to the Drennan 25 elastic - no prisoners today - my margin was nearly 5 foot deep! So just the three rigs. I nearly set up a normal waggler to fish for Silvers but the wind put me off.

In case the wind did get up I decided to fish the 4x16 at top-set plus two barrels to fish worm over GB laced with caster and a bit of chopped worm - "the messy business" which on the "all in" I fed three balls of at the start. I left this to start on the Ronnie rig with single caster over loose fed same. Thankfully this worked and started to catch Ronnie's to 3 oz and Golden Rudd. I Hooked a Carp which I lost in the overhanging branches of the tree. So decided to give this a rest and tried the long line with worm and didn't have any indications. So a change of plan I switch to feeding micro, caster and worm leaving off the GB. Whilst this settled I went back on the Ronnie, keeping an eye on the long line for any signs. Kept the Silvers coming until I hooked another Carp which I lost in the tree roots. Decided to clear out any Carp with the paste rig and had two Carp before I spied some blow over the long line so out again and this time I had two decent Skimmers. Fed again and on to the Ronnie rig and a few more Silvers, it slowed again so on the paste and another two Carp owiked out. Back out on the long line and two more Skimmers. By following this cycle I finished with six decent Skimmers and six Carp. I'm embarrassed to say I got platformed by a big Hybrid!! With an hour to go I had to make the decision whether to stay with the Silvers or go all out for the Carp. Glenn suggest he would stay with the Silvers which I did.

Along came the scales which looked like a mobile Guillotine (pictured above right) designed and manufactured by Vic Bush - very effective - ("that's the way to do it").

My Silvers (pictured right) weighed 29 lb 9 oz comprising 20 lb of Skimmers and 10 lb of Ronnie's for a Silvers win. My six Carp weighed 25 lb 9 oz for a 7th overall 55 lb 2 oz. Hindsight tells me I should have switched to Carp as I was clearly ahead on the Silvers - but you can never be sure.

The Match was won by the venue paste expert Glenn Bailey aka Two Pots (pictured below with his catch and the Silvers winner) with 88 lb 9 oz from peg 36. Glenn caught six Carp on the first hour on paste, five more in the middle four hours on the waggler and five more on the paste at 13 metres. He explained how he landed a 12 lb Carp on 12 inches of top-set which was the only bit remaining after being smashed against the platform.

Result:

1. Glenn Bailey 88-09-0 peg 36
2. Neil Mercer 75-10-0 peg 5
3. Martyn McMahon 76-02-0 peg 23
4. Russ Peck 68-05-0 peg 29

Silvers:

1. Mike Nicholls 29-09-0 peg 41
2. John Dursley 18-09-0 peg 18
3. Paul Faiers 16-09-0 peg 22

Weigh Sheets:

Thursday 18/06/2020 - Bathampton AA - Hunstrete - Over 55's and Short Walks - Bridge Pool

I was certainty glad I had a policy change last year, re use of umbrella's whilst fishing! It rained all daylight hours today - relentless, persistent, and heavy. I felt for Ray Bazeley today his first day out since lock down and with no umbrella and leaking waterproofs got soaked through. But credit to him he sat it out and weighed in - some didn't - fair play.

Arrived at the fishery early which seems to be the thing to do with rolling draws. I was told all 34 pegs was in as the organiser didn't have a clue on how many would turn up and with a rolling draw to prevent "Gatherings" wouldn't be able to count the attendees and select the best pegs for the number.

I missed the usual pre-draw chats with the lads today, but at lest we are back fishing these matches.

I was hoping for a any peg from 17 through to 27 (but not 23). I was allocated peg 3. Reasonably happy with this as it has plenty of Silver form. However, the bonus was I could park behind my peg so was able to leave some kit in the dry. So with little to no wind I was able to erect the Drennan umbrella up high so I was able stand up under it.

So with all the gear in the dry I set up a long and short Ronnie rigs - the long one didn't get used, a 4x16 to fish for Skimmers at top-set plus two barrels and a 0.3 paste float to fish the RH margin.

After an hours wait for the all in at 10 o'clock I started by feeding the Skimmer line with wetted micro and started on a 4 mm expander and was soon getting indications and had a 1 lb Skimmer. Next put in I foul hooked a Carp, it went quiet so re-fed this time with GB laced with micro and had a run of Skimmers before I hooked and landed a 3 lb Carp. The line faded, so had a go on the short Ronnie rig with single LR over loose feeding the same and had a run of Ronnie's and micro Perch and hooked and landed another 3 lb Carp followed by an F1. As it looked like the Carp were going to feed made the decision to drop the Silvers and switch to margin paste. I potted some hard 4's and feed a few over the top primarily to draw the Carp's attention to the feed. The upshot was I landed seven decent Carp with one I must mention out of respect was a near 20 lb Common Carp which I played for at least 15 minutes - it nearly beat me into submission, a beautiful fish and worth coming just to catch it.

My Silvers weighed 12 lb 4 oz and my Carp 62 lb 6 oz for a total of 74 lb 10 oz which got me second in the match. However, with only 19 lb winning the Silvers and with four hours left of the match when I switched to the Carp I think if I stuck with Silvers I could have got very close to this weight if not more. The peg is certainly capable of winning the Silvers today.

The match was won by Junior (pictured right with the Silvers winner - Christmas coming) with 90 lb from peg 24. Gary caught a few F1's on the method, catching most of his weight comprising small Carp on the pole tucked in close to the end on the island with banded pellet, catching regularly throughout the match.

The Silvers was won by Hughie Evans with 19 lb 12 oz from peg 14. As the weigh sheets tells Hughie made no mistake having two good empty pegs to his left and  five empty pegs to his right! Sods law when 34 pegs are in the draw and only 22 fishing. Hughie caught on worm over GB laced with caster and chopped worm.

I thoroughly enjoyed it today, but a visit to the pub after would have been the icing on the cake, even it meant sitting outside in the rain - perhaps next match

Result:

1. Gary Bowden 90-0-0 peg 24

2. Mike Nicholls 74-10-0 peg 31

3. Harry Muir 64-01-0 peg 8

Silvers:

1. Hughie Evans 19-12-0 peg 14

2. Rod Dufferty 18-08-0 peg 25

3. Ken Morgan 16-0-0 peg 32

3. Pete Turner 16-0-0 peg 28

Weigh Sheets:

Tuesday 16/06/2020 - Acorn Cost Cutter - Paddocks

Another visit to this popular fishery and once again sold out with 28 fishing. Credit where credits due Mike Chapman does a great job running these matches in his calm professional way - thanks Mike.

I was told Leyton Palmer was to make a come back today, who did just manage to make it to peg 15 before the all in. He said he was a bit rusty, need to get back to basics and learn how to set the alarm clock would be a good start. Hope he makes another attempt. I hardly recognised him at first with his slimmed down body and hair.

Why is it that whilst thinking about the various pegs you always draw one that you didn't considered. This time Mike called me peg 31. Not the best of pegs for Carp which made my decision to fish for Silvers easy. I thought I had an empty peg both sides until Eric Cantana look-a-like arrived aka Brian Slipper on peg 30. Two pegs down on bridge peg 33 was Paul Nichols - not related doesn't have enough ll's.

Set up a 0.3 shotted paste float for the LH side, a short Ronnie and long Ronnie rig and a 4x12 to fish at top-set plus two barrels. Bait tray: LR's, wetted micros, hard 4's, 4 and 6 mm expanders and my Skimmer GB.

At the start I fed a small ball of GB on the 4x12 line, starting on the short Ronnie rig with single LR on the hook over loose fed LR's. This produce Skimmers and Ronnie's immediately, and noticed a large amount of fizzing over the GB - so won't being going there for a while. Stayed on the shorty for about two hours when it slowed. No sign of Carp so far. Decided to try over the GB with single LR After a too long a wait I had a small Tench and a Skimmer. Deciding it was too slow fed a small ball of GB on the long Ronnie line and went back on the shorty until the fizzing died off over the GB. Again a nice run of Silvers albeit the fish were smaller, but Carp decided to have a look and had two 5 lb fish. With the 4x12 retired I had a go on the long Ronnie rig again with single LR, feeding some LR's over the top. Again kept a few Skimmers and Ronnie's coming - just happy to have bites and put ounces in the net. I noticed the Carp starting to take interest in the loose feed. So had a go on the paste and although I had a couple on this I was foul hooking too many and being well behind Paul decided to get back on the shorty again with single LR and had a run of ten decent Carp!!! Bugger. I did have some better skimmers to 2 lb which was welcome. Back on the long Ronnie rig which was soon trashed by a foul hooked Carp. So back on the shorty and some more Carp and my float tip got trashed in the landing net and with only 5 minutes of the match left fished with it hanging out and had another 2 lb Skimmer on it! I fancied some better fished had now arrived.


I must say I really enjoyed today match except for the thunder storm 30 minutes from the end soaking every thing. My Silvers weighed 28 lb 3 oz for a silvers default pickup with my Carp weight of 63 lb taking me to 91 lb 11 oz which was only good enough for halfway today so the Carp had a right munch.

The Match was won by Paul Nichols (pictured right with some of his catch - I left Gardy in the picture has I've not taken one recently) with 144 lb 12 oz from bridge peg 33. Paul caught most of his fish short in his RH margin fishing worm over GB.

The Silvers was won by Incognito (pictured right and centre bottom) with a terrific weigh of Tench for 88 lb from another bridge peg 22. Eddy caught on pellet over loose fed/cupped pellet. Very nice net of Tench to 6 lb.

Result:

1. Paul Nichols 144-12-0 peg 33
2. Eddie Wynne 139-15-0 peg 22
3. John Thompson 129-13-0 peg 1
4. Walshy 118-14-0 peg 4

Silvers:

1. Eddie Wynne 88-0-0 peg 22
2. Mike Nicholls 28-03-0 peg 31
3. Paul Faiers 27-14-0 peg 40

Weigh Sheets:

11/06/2020 - Farleigh Woods - Lerts Open

Left in plenty of time, probably a bit too early as we were all kicking our heels waiting for the organisers, but this did give us some distancing socialising, which is something I have been missing. However, I was being too closely followed around by one angler luckily I was "Alert".

It was forecast to be windy with showers for most of the day - glad  I had the umbrella! 

Finally got a draw and was shouted peg 19. A bit better than last time. For company I had Wayne Storey on peg 17. To be honest for some reason I didn't have my heart in it today.

No point in explaining each rig I set up as I only used the Ronnie rig albeit at two distances. I started on a single bronze maggot over loose fed mixed maggot and caught small Ronnie's, Skimmers and nuisance micro Perch from the off. I basically stayed with this for most of the match until the peg completely died and it wasn't long before I relised I had fed the Carp into the peg foul hooking one. The peg was dead, so mixed up some of my Skimmer GB which I fed neat, again with single maggot (red and bronze was best) this worked and wished I used it from the off because it resulted in some better Skimmers. I then hooked and landed a 7 lb Carp quickly followed by one 12 lb. The small fish then returned and was catching reasonably well at the end. The Carp did affect my Silvers weight but on the positive side helped me towards a bigger overall weight. Should I have fished the paste in these last knockings?

What was noticeable today was the affect the wind had on the tow. It was probably due to where the peg was situated in relation to the island. But it mainly towed left to right but once it switched in the other direction the peg faded. The peg never sat still as the change in direction was fairly quick. I am fascinated with the hydraulics of fisheries.

My Silvers weighed 21 lb 7 oz and my two Carp 19 lb 6 oz for 40 lb 13 oz and a third overall pick up and fifth in the Silvers.

The match was won by Clive Glisson (pictured right) with 60 lb 6 oz from peg 2. Clive had two Carp on the waggler then caught more Carp in both his margins using meat over all sorts of feed. I tell you this picture really made me feel old as I use to fish with Clive's Dad - lovely bloke.

The Silvers was won by Paul Barnfield (pictured right) with 33 lb 1 oz from peg 8. Paul caught on white maggot over GB laced with micro.

To be fair the Lake owners have done a lot of work during the lock-down. They have dug out the pegs and covered the clay with a thin layer of gravel. However, today after the rain the gravel embedded in the clay and both stuck to my boots and found myself walking around in platform boots! For the cost of four paving slabs in each peg would result in an 100 % improvement.

Today saw a weight of near 500 lb by Chris Davis at Ivy House. However, these sorts of weight are not for everyone with many anglers preferring the sort of fishing this venue provides as it's something between a natural and Commercial. I think 100 lb is more than enough to win a match. I think this venue will become more popular.

Result:

1. Clive Glisson 60-03-0 peg 2

2. Chris Ollis 55-0-0 peg 15

3. Mike Nicholls 40-13-0 peg 17

Silvers:

1. Paul Barnfield 33-01-0 peg 8

2. Stu White 29-06-0 peg 16

3. Andy Gard 24-03-0 peg 3 

Weigh Sheet:

Tuesday 09/06/2020 - Acorn Cost Cutter - Paddocks

Another trip to Acorn Fishery which was sold out with numbers limited to 28. Done the usual safe transfer of my £13 and was drawn peg 4 on the Island. No emotion as I didn't mine where I drew, just nice to be out fishing with decent weather. However, a bridge peg would have been my choice as the learning from the last match was that the Silvers have migrated under them probably to get away from the bright sunshine we've had recently. For company I had Dad to be Lewis Walker on peg 5. Two Pots was on peg 1.

Adrian Bartlett decided my peg would be the best one to measure the dissolve oxygen from (pictured right). There's plenty of oxygenating equipment available if needed - non required today though. I was hoping it was a fish attractor.

The set up was the same as last match. As we all arrived early most of us were kicking heels for an hour. Exception to this was Tony Rixon who floated off his casters a bit too efficiently and spent some time chasing floaters around his peg. I also noted Andy Gard was keen to get started as he sat with his pole pot extended over the water for 9 minutes!

Watching the fish behavior I could see it was going to be a difficult start going for them straight away, swimming around on the surface very fast and scatty. I started by feeding 1/4 of pot of micro at top-set plus two for Silvers and started to loose feed LR's again for Silver for the Ronnie rig. There's no doubt the fish here like their micro but are pretty clued up and know exactly how to feed on them without being caught in the mouth. Plenty of activity over the feed, but decided to let if settled otherwise it would have been foul hook city. Instead picked up the Ronnie rig and found the Carp were responding to the maggot in a similar way. Their action obviously would keep the Silvers at bay. So all this lead to a slow start. I did manged to land one foul hooker after which I had a spell catching Perch, Ronnie's and Skimmers. By now I knew it would be unlikely that I could pick up in the Silvers (bridges remember) I stayed with them as I was putting fish in the net in this early part of the match. Things slowed and after a lost fouler went out on the 4x12 on 4 mm expander and straight away was getting liners from Carp. I was soon playing another Carp which was only just foul hooked! I decided to re-fed this line with micro and watch the cleverness of the Carp feeding on them whilst they fell though the water, I don't  think they follow the feed to the bottom. Back on the Ronnie rig again in a new part of
the peg and had another run of small fish. Two and half hours gone so time to try the paste using a 0.3 gram rig fished over loose fed 4's. Again the fish were really scatty, they wanted the feed but not at any cost to them. So I eased off the loose feed bow waving in and out of the swim and started to pot some micro and left it as a trap which worked to some extent, this resulted in a good hour. However, careful feeding was the name of the day - but I didn't get it quite right. The last 45 minutes became very difficult and only hooked one more Carp a decent Ghosty, which I landed only for the landing net handle to come apart. I managed to retrieve it, but with no fish, but it was still on the hook but only for a few more seconds - bugger.

My Silvers weighed 16 lb 3 oz and my Carp 93 lb 3 oz for fourth overall but a third default pickup of 109 lb  6 oz.


The match was won by Tony Rixon (pictured right with Two Pots who was runner up) with 171 b 13 oz from peg 16. Tony caught "Stalking" his favourite method which he has got right sorted - see his blog for all the sordid details.

The Silvers was won by Eddy Wynne (pictured right incognito) with 59 lb 3 oz from Bridge peg 21. Eddy caught all his fish on pellet. His catch included a good few of the large Tench that are now showing as per the two 5 lb fish that Lewis Walker caught next to me also on pellet.

Result:

1. Tony Rixon 171-13-0 peg 16
2. Glenn Bailey 120-03-0 peg 1
3. Eddy Wynne 111-07-0 peg 21
4. Mike Nicholls 109-06-0 peg 4

Silvers:

1. Eddy Wynne 59-03-0 peg 21
2. Alan Q 31-07-0 peg 40

Weigh Sheets:

Wednesday 03/06/2020 - Meat Head's Knock up - Rood Ashton

Martin Rayet aka Meathead organised an eight peg knock up at Rood Ashton. Because the match was so small I wasn't going to blog but when  heard Barry Fitchew had passed away I felt the need to write something on both. 

I have known Barry for many years and never seen him in other than a jovial mood. As well as meeting with Barry on a number of open matches he started to fish the Over 55's and Silvers league at Hunstrete and showed his class with the caster, picking up on many occasions. The Over 55's will always fondly remember Barry for when he lost his valuable wrist watch in peg 11. Barry paid a diver to go in to find it which failed. I always think of him when I fish peg 11 but especially now. RIP Baz. Talking pictures - saves a thousand words.

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So eight of us met up on the banks of Rood Ashton Lake. Meathead had booked the top and woods banks, worked out we had 12+ pegs so could have had more fishing. I had a chat with Alan who said he's been very busy. For those that hadn't been here before were impressed with size and quality of the banks although there are no platforms to fish from.

Martin threw the peg cards in the air, I picked up the one nearest which was permanent peg 17, right by my car! The only other angler I could see was Mark Tanner on the next peg 18. With all the hot weather as of late and the fact the Lake is on average two foot deed, sheltered from the wind and no form of aeration I was concerned about the oxygen levels. There was a good few Carp on the surface.

I set up a paste rig for the LH margin where I had a decent depth of two feet. A 4x12 Speedy to fish at 5 metres (Alan had told us that he had used the digger to deepen the lake but only went out 5 metres). I started out in front with 6 mm expander on the hook over kindered hard 4's. The float just sat there with no indications not even form silver fish. I then had a Carp of about 7 lb, followed quickly by a 5 lb Carp. It was clear the Lake was fishing really hard. I couldn't get a bite so switched round to 10 o clock and added another section and caught two more Carp. So I thought I had sorted something out so started switching all over the place in the search of more fish. On all the numerous lines I did get a liner only to see the lone fish bow wave off. I had been feeding the margin with hard 4's so tried the paste which just sat there until it mingled with the silt. I tried the maggot for a silver or two, not a sign. So after two bite less hours I had enough so threw the towel in and decided to watch the method men fishing the island. I found out from Junior that something called a White Washed Out Wafter was best banded bait on the Method. On examination it didn't smell of anything and looked plastic! I did take a pictured of my fish because they did look pristine - about 20 lb.

The match and the biggest fish payout was picked up by Mark "Methodman" Tanner with 12 Carp for 41 lb comprising one 9 lb 11 oz which was the last fish of the match caught on paste. Well done matey.

Result:

1. Mark Tanner 44-0-0 peg 18

2. Lee Massey 38-02-0 peg 20

3. Gary Bowden 38-01-0 peg 15

Tuesday 02/06/2020 - Acorn Costcutter - Paddocks

With weekend matches fully booked I have decided to concentrate on week day matches and save the weekends for Tony Rixon and Windmill matches. So today I was off to Acorn which was sensibly limited to 28 anglers. All the matches so far including this one has been run in accordance with the current guidelines. However, in doing so reduces the social side which is a big element for me. No gossip and limited piss taking. Some social distancing photography though.

It was a rolling draw so no time to discuss with anyone their favoured draws, tactics, etc... That said I’m told you can get a days fishing from any peg, which is about right. Paid my £13 and sent to peg 25. Not a peg you would run to, but I wasn’t that concerned as plenty of Silvers have been showing all round so always a good fall back to keep me occupied. For company I had Granty Junior on peg 27 and Mark “No Pots” Bailey on peg 24. Plenty of time to set up and have a social distancing walk around.

Set up a 5x11 paste rig, 4x12 F1 and the Ronnie rig. Bait wise LR’s, 4 mm expander (not pumped), wetted micro, hard 4’s and ground expander GB – simple.

I started by feeding a small ball of GB laced with a few micros down the track (Snake Lake) and l started loose feeding LR’s on the Ronnie rig line. Started on the 4x12 rig with 4 mm expander and soon had a 12 oz Skimmer. However, far too soon the Carp disrupters moved in above the feed. So re-fed the GB and picked up the Ronnie rig with single LR on the hook started to catch more 12 oz Skimmers and Perch but the Ronnie’s weren’t showing. The line hit a brick wall and I persevered too much with this and after foul hooking a Carp which I lost, I looked at the watch and already two hours into the match. So picked up the F1 rig and had another Skimmer and a small Tench before the same happened. The penny made a big clunking sound as it dropped. Onto the paste rig set to fish down the inside shelf. The upshot was that in the next four hours I put 100 lb of Carp in the net. I caught over loose fed hard 4’s, feeding about ½ a pint.

Along came Mark Bartlett with the distancing weighing system (pictured upper right). Must say the cheapest and most effective system Iv'e seen yet. My Silvers weighed 7 lb 12 oz and my Carp 100 lb 1 oz for a third overall total of 107 lb 1 oz. the question is what would I have caught had I not spent two hours trying to catch Silvers? Does it matter - no, as it was a very enjoyable day but would have liked a visit to the pub on the way home.

The match was won by Dave Turberville from peg 28 (pictured right a safe distance from runner up Zac Williams) with 133 lb 6 oz. Dave caught on hard pellet over and down to the empty pallet on next peg 29 where he caught most of his Carp.

Matt Vowels won the Silvers from peg 22 with 25 lb 2 oz. Not sure how he caught but do know he disappeared for an hour during the match! Any Gard needed another 10 minutes!!

Result:

1. Dave Tuberville 133-06-0 peg 28

2. Zac Williams 131-15-0 peg 13

3. Mike Nicholls 107-01-0 peg 25

4. Tony Rixon 95-01-0 peg 39

Silvers:

1. Matt Vowles 25-02-0 peg 22

2. Andy Gard 23-04-0 peg 23

Weigh Sheets: