Review of 2020

Twenty Twenty Annus horibilous they named it twice. A year to forget, but will be talked about for years to come. Once the Kung Flu is done and dusted we need a full investigation of it's origin and lessons learnt, we don't want a reoccurrence too often. The Special One and me can't wait to get vaccinated, hopefully will be during January 21. Also, I would be first in the queue for a microchip if it could continuously monitor my wellbeing.

The upside to Kung Flu is that tackle shops have done really well with loads of Dads and Lads getting out fishing, which has knocked-on into the commercial fisheries having an exceptional year.

The good news Brexit is done. I have to confess, I wanted a clean break at the beginning of the year and negotiate from a position of independence in it's fullest sense. However, the deal Boris got is acceptable, including the fishing. It makes sense to allow the EU to fish our waters for 5 years whilst we build back up our fleets. Leaving fish in the seas that could feed many doesn't make any sense. However, I understand we can walk away from this agreement if we wish.

Do match angling need a governing body? A question I've asked myself a number of times this year. I think we do, but am concerned about the Angling Trust's (AT) behaviour during the lockdowns, calling the Police to a match was unacceptable. For a number of reasons I am sure they have a not so well hidden agenda for a full keepnet ban. Something to keep a close eye on.

Politics over. It's been a good year for "Juniors" making a come back now they reached the age of 55 - 😁. To be fair they haven't lost it, surprised how quickly they adapted to fishing commercials - trolleys were soon full of kit and developing their own styles of fishing. Lets hope we see more making a comeback.

During the lockdown I did fish a few bootleg matches (organisers and venues withheld). It didn't feel the same having to self distance, unable to socialise at the draws. Be glad to be back drawing my own pegs and have the close encounters of the strange kind. Matches post lockdown's were subjected to risk assessment and were very well run.

The Viaducters had booked our annual fishing weeks holiday at Viaduct for June and were hoping to get there, alas not, but did get a booking for September, but due to the Kung Flu restrictions had to limit the numbers so some could have separate bedrooms. Luckily all went well. Thanks to the Unicorn hotel that we got fed and watered most nights, with a bonus of still doing half price meals. Also thanks to Mandy at M&M café (pictured right) for a super breakfast every morning. Tim Ford was man of the week picking up every match he fished. As per most years we have a swimmer! We have booked again next year, hopefully a Kung flu free holiday and back to normal.

I aim to fish 100 matches a year, but because of the lockdown I was well behind the curve. To catch up I started to go three times a week, adding Acorn Tuesday's to the calendar. I must say I did enjoy these matches, especially the pub garden on the way home with the usual suspects. Fourteen visits - 9 tons and one double ton. The double was memorable not for drawing peg 11, but because of the horrendous wind. Self perseveration kicked in and back to the wind and head down on the top set in the margin for the entire match. I got off the box to get another keep net and the wind started to move the seat box! A proper sou'wester. However, the most memorable day at Acorn was drawing peg 40 and catching 50 lb of Tench and 85 lb of Carp.

Had a few trips to Shiplate for their Thursday matches. I did have my highest Silvers weight of the year from peg 14 - 82 lb 14 oz of Skimmers - pissed down all day. I've been bugged by this match as I still can't believe I went for a Banana walk and fished for Carp in the last hour adding 63 lb of lumps!! Why, just one fish off the Lake Silvers record?  The fishery has changed ownership recently, it seems not much will change with regards to match fishing. 

Not hard to guess where my biggest weight came from - The Prolific Todber Manor. Tony Rixon's floats only matches were changed to opens and it was at one of his matches at Todber that after fishing for Silvers for 30 minutes that 246 lb of Carp caught me. It's not my sort of fishing but nice to do a couple of times a year. I'm a great believer that if you get the Silvers feeding the Carp inquisitive Carp wont be far away.

Have to mention Bathampton AA Hunstrete Over 55's. We did mange to get back there after the lockdown for a few matches until Boris introduced tiers. I did well on a few matches fishing the waggler, would always be my first choice of weapon. Peg 11 pictured right crying F1's and waggler - pole rollers only out to dry. I do miss theses matches especially the great company. We are all waiting for B&NES to get into the same tier as the majority that fish it. I did go out on Withypool for a couple of rare short pleasure sessions catching some quality Roach with nets to 18 lb, not a Carp in sight.

Well that's it for 2020. My next match Westerleigh Winter League on Sunday 03/01/21. Looking forward to it.

Some 2020 - Facts and Figures:

 

Sunday 20/12/2020 - Westerleigh Winter League - Round One - Shipp's Canal and Taylors Pool

First round of eight rounds of the Westerleigh Winter League well run by Bri Shanks. I was drawn with matey Martin McMahon in the pairs, happy with this, as he's been doing well on this venue of late. Two sections of ten, but concerned that ten on each lake might be too many, but as results show it was about right.

I was drawn on Shipp's Canal and would subsequently rotate ponds. Peg disc's were laid out and I ended up selecting peg 11. The right end but wrong side at the moment. A really good angler DNW'd on it last week in practice, so knew it would be a bit of a scratching match. Got to the peg and found "Paddington" next to me on peg 12 - pictured right.

Peg 11 is between two island and both islands can be reached with 14.5 metres by double unshipping. I selected to only set up 10 metres - 5 barrels. A stiff wind was blowing through the gap and in anticipation of the sun putting in an appearance carefully planned the lines to avoid both the direct sun and the glistening from the ripple. So two lines out in front, middle of gap - one at two barrels, the other at five barrels - red tipped 4x13 Silverfox MR Winter. One at 5 barrels towards the now non-productive RH island (apparently since the tree has been removed), one at 5 barrels at 10 o'clock which would come into play in the last two hours once the early sun had moved - both with white natural tipped 4x13 Silverfox MR Winter. All the lines were at a similar depth of five foot.

Just to explain about my floats - I have been using Malman Winter floats but it appear they no longer have them in stock. So Martin Rayet made some up for me, the are as good if not better than the Malman's plus a lot cheaper!

Whilst the wind was slight I started in front at two barrels fishing double Pinkie over a nub of neat GB. Bite first try and a run of small Skimmers and Ronnie's, but was soon playing a 7 lb Carp which I played for some time before cutting the hook length on the stone shelf which is about 1.5 metres out from the bank - bugger. The line died so went out in front at 5 barrels where I had fed a nub of GB laced with Pinkie and as expected another run of small Ronnie's and micro Perch. I then hooked another Carp which caught me by surprise and went into the LH island with shedding the hook, coming back with a load of debris. - double bugger! Line died so went to the RH island and again a run of small Silvers and some 3 oz Crucians. The sun had now moved and the wind picked up making fishing the gap impossible. So decided to spend the rest of the match to my LH line at five barrels feeding GB laced with Pinkie and double Pinkie on the hook and had a few more Crucians and a 8 oz Mirror Carp, followed by decent run of Silvers plus two bonus Perch. During the last knockings I felt there were some bigger Carp about but didn't hook any more.

My Silvers weighed 5 lb 2 oz which was enough for the Silvers win and with my six small Carp took my total weight to 7 lb 12 oz which surprisingly got me third in the section - would have settled for this at the start. Martin did very well again winning Taylor's Pool section, so a good start for both.

My section was won by Tony (pictured upper right with the Silvers winner) from inform peg 4 with 41 lb 1 oz. Tony started on maggot, but found it slow so switched to bread off bottom at 13 metres and didn't look back catching some decent Carp.

Taylors Pool was won by Martin McMahon (pictured with the Silvers winner) with 39 lb 2 oz from peg 26. Martin caught over to the island in three foot of water using double maggot over kindered combo of maggot/GB/micro.

The Silvers was won by Ricky Mills with mainly one Bream weighing 3 lb 10 oz from peg 16.

Taylors Pool certainly fished well with plenty of double figure weights.

Weigh Sheet:

 

Thursday 17/12/2020 - Silverfox Local - Windmill Fishery - Match Lake

Weather was forecast to be dry, moderate winds with temperatures up to 14 degrees, so perfect day for winter fishing. Another good turn out with 16 fishing.

To aid my self distancing I co-opted Junior to collect the pools, apparently he's now referred to as "Torpedo" Bowden - apparently he sinks Shipp's. With the other Junior on the weigh sheet (may be trouble ahead) with Tony on the scales my job done except for some diplomacy.

With Geoff Grunt short walk sorted the Covid safe draw was underway. Tony pulled me peg 17. I was happy with this as it's in the gap between the islands with some of the fish backing off into it when the tow gets significant. Got to the peg and found my self between the two Juniors, could they repeat their one - two from the last match at this venue and batter the senile OAP?

The wind was in a good direction for the waggler but the reflected light was a concern. So with a red top waggler set-up on the Drennan 12 foot Carp waggler rod (wish Dad could have had a go on this rod - it's amazing) attached to 3 lb Maxima and 0.14 GLine hook length to Tubertini 808 - size 18 to impair three semi conscious reds (SCR's). I also set up a 4 x14 MR Winter to fish ay 10 metres at 2 o'clock with GB and Pinkie, which on the all in I fed one nub laced with Pinkie. Loose fed the waggler line and after a few cast realised if the sun stayed bright I the float was very visible even though dotted down. I started to get some indications and because I was dragging a few inches on I would get a slight lift before the float went under and my first Carp in the net after five minutes. I kept up regular feeding of LR's which was reasonably accurate considering the wind and the 20 metres I was fishing. For half the match I had lost two foul hookers landing eight Carp, one Ronnie and a 12 oz Skimmer. It was at this time I should have switched to the pole but was happy to be able to squint at the float which was almost invisible due to the ripple and reflected light and drink tea at the same time. I only added one more Carp on the waggler and it wasn't until the last 45 minutes that I had a go on the pole hoping for some Silvers. So topped up the line and first put in caught a 4 oz Skimmers and a Ronnie. Shortly after I had decent Skimmer. It went quiet until I foul hooked another Carp. Just before the all out I was getting some indications and now wishing I had switched to the pole earlier, giving the waggler and my eyes a rest.

My Silvers weighed in at 2 lb 9 oz for third Silvers and my beautifully marked Common Carp taking my total to 43 lb 6 oz for second overall. Oh yes both the Juniors DNW'd, hope I haven't done too much damage to their confidence - 😝Lol.

The match was won by inform Dave Willmott (pictured with his catch and the Silvers winner) with 80 lb 5 oz from peg 10. Dave basically caught on maggot over maggot - but told me he fed a menagerie of baits. Dave fished the pole on two lines at 13 metres.

The Silvers was won once again by Dave "The Whip" Poole with 7 lb 11 oz from peg 4. Dave caught on the whip fishing maggot over hand fed GB.

Well done to both.

Finally: Kev Winstone needs some additional training on the difference in recording Silvers and Carp on the weigh sheet - where have we gone wrong with theses Juniors?

Result:

1. Dave Willmott 80-05-0 peg 10

2. Mike Nicholls 43 lb 6 oz peg 17

3. Tony Rixon 36-0-0 peg 12

Silvers:

1. Dave Poole 7-11-0 peg 4

2. John Osbourne 2-12-0 peg 24

3. Mike Nicholls 2-09-0 peg 17

Weigh Sheet:

Sunday 13/12/2020 - Westerleigh - Winter League Practice Match - Shipp's Canal and Taylors Pond

With the Westerleigh Winter League starting next week - 22/12/20 Brian Shanks ran a practice match. I was surprised to find fifteen of the twenty fishing the league turn up as the weather was predicted to be horrendous, and it was, I even had second thoughts. However, I did think with some wind on the ponds it would improve the fishing. I do believe it did.

I drew peg 2 on Shipp's Canal. This peg won the last match with mostly one 15 lb 8 oz Carp. I had planned to fish for Silvers today, but with Carp of that proportions about I had to increase the elastic - so a compromise.

Arriving at the peg I found myself between Steve Rogers and Lee Waller so good company. Also that the peg was just a few feet in front of the Otter fence which would make fishing long to the island difficult, the wind wouldn't allow me anyway. The peg is a decent depth at 5 foot which required a 4x14 float, so set up two identical rigs, one with red top the other black to aid fishing various lines.

I normally try to stay with one line but have found in recent matches here that fishing for Silvers strange in that you can feed and quickly catch a few Ronnie's before it seems to die. Move somewhere else and the same happens - weird.

I decided to fish Pinkie all day with GB so started my excursions at top-set plus one barrel where I had fed a neat nub of GB had a bite fish drop in, however, it was a foul hooked lump which eventually shed the hook. Next put in another bite and a 5 lb Carp in the net - glad I gunned up the elastic. So a good start which Steve Rogers was also having, but landing his. I had a run of small Ronnie's short but was being prestored my minute Perch. So opened another line at top-set plus two barrels at 10 o'clock. Fed some GB laced with Pinkie and as expected started to catch Silvers, unfortunately most were coming off due to the fence but mainly due to the elastic - wish I had a light elastic! I did feed another three lines adding only 75% of the Silvers I was hooking into the net. I did lose another two more foul hooked Carp, adding another four small Carp before the all out. As it happen after the first two Carp I could could have fished a lighter elastic.

My silvers weighed 1 lb 15 oz and my Carp 9 lb 4 oz for a fourth overall of 11 lb 5 oz. Apart from the weather I did enjoy it, great bunch of guys.

Our Pool and the match was won by Tom Kerridge look-a-alike Martin McMahon (pictured right with his catch) from peg 4 with 37 lb 12 oz. Martin caught mostly over to the island using maggot hook bait over loose fed maggots. Peg 4 doesn't usually produce but with peg 5 and 6 not taken helped Martin to the win. The Silver on our pool was won by Marcus (pictured) with 3 lb 4 oz from peg 12.

Taylors Pool was won by organiser Bri Shanks (pictured) with 10 lb from peg 17. The Silvers was won by Mark Tayler (pictured) with 4 lb 8 oz - if you include Goldfish.

Finally I watched Mortimer and Whitehouse Christmas show, which I could relate to fishing with my Dad, very emotional for me - TV at its very best.

Weigh Sheet:

Thursday 10/12/2020 - Rixon's Rip Off - Plantation Main Lake - Silvers Only

Must say I didn't enjoy the drive down in the dark especially through the lanes with a car right up my ass. Probably go via motorway next time.

The weather was really mild, overcast and was to stay dry. However, it was flat calm and with no tow wouldn't help Skimmer fishing.

This venue wrt quality of Silver fishing is second to none in our area, Tony could have filled the match twice over. However, it's a pity the banks are in such a poor state of repair, with mud everywhere - not for tackle tarts.

Tony called me peg 6 which is permanent peg 8. Not happy with this as it's really difficult for me to set up the tackle box and get the keep nets in the water without them catching up in some old bank shoring's. Setting up the box took up most of my setting of time. I ended up unprepared only setting up one rig, a 4 x15 Winter Wire which would more or less do for most areas. I was limited by the light reflected trees on the island as to where I could fish, settling on a dark area at 10 metres at 11 o'clock. My target was Skimmers so fed GB laced with Pinkie with double Pinkie on the hook.

It was a while before I had my first fish a 2 oz Ronnie. It looked as if it was going to fish Hard. I kept the GB going in and started to loose feed Pinkie over the top which resulted in a run of Ronnie's, but no Skimmers. I wasn't that concerned as last time I fished the peg I had a run of large Skimmers during the last hour. I kept putting Ronnie's in the net but it was clear that shipping in and out wasn't the right way to fish for them especially as I was low down to the rollers. I thought about setting up the 4 metre whip and switching to caster. However, moving on the box caused it to start slipping forward towards the water so stayed where I was, still anticipating Skimmers late. Mid match I did have three Carp one about 9 lb, Again I thought the Skimmers might show up behind them. Unfortunately not, only managing the one. I did manage to get out of the peg and pack away the tackle safely, albeit sloshing around in the mud.

My Ronnie's weighed 13 lb 10 oz for nowhere, just didn't get anything right today from the drive down to the drive back.

The match was won by Dave Willmott (pictured right with Lee Waller the runner up) with 27 lb 10 oz from permanent peg 7. Dave caught at 11.5 metres until the Ducks found his loose fed casters. Dave switched short to 7 metres where he either toss potted caster or tried hand feeding them whilst the Ducks weren't watching.  Dave's catch included three big Perch with the rest being quality Roach. Well done matey.

Now off to clean up the tackle.

Result (perm pegs no's):

1. Dave Willmott 27-10-0 peg 8 (Roach/Perch)

2. Lee Waller 26-02-0 peg 31 (Skimmers)

3. Chris Fox 24-10-0 peg 5 (Skimmers/Roach)

4. Tony Rixon 23-0-0 peg 2 (Roach)

5. Ryan Jordan 21-02-0 peg 15 (Skimmers)

Weigh Sheet:

Sunday 06/12/20 - Westerleigh Winter League - Remainder from 2019 - Taylors Pool and Shipps Canal

This was the last match from last years cancelled league I'm now booked in for the full series this year. I was reserve on Taylors Pool. I do prefer this Pool as it has small Carp which tend to feed more so that the bigger Carp, plus a few more Silvers than the Canal.

It rained all day albeit light, at one time it was such that a few had to put up the umbrella. I would have done had I brought it - No rain today they said!! And yet today the Met Office is forecasting weather in 2040!! Less snow and more rain = same amount of water!!

Drew peg 22 which I fished this time last year. and caught on the waggler and very little elsewhere on the pole. The peg is probably the deepest on the pool which is not conducive for winter fishing. So set up the a small straight waggler with 3 no 11 droppers set at 4 foot to fish off the island with single LR over loose fed LR's. I also set up a 4x14 winter wire dotted right down to fish at top-set plus three barrels with double Pinkie over GB laced with Pinkie - that's it.

I fed the GB line and loose fed a dozen maggots over. Started on the waggler. The target on the waggler was Ronnie's, Rudd and small Carp. I knew if I didn't get an early indication I wasn't going to complete with pegs 14,14 and 16. After 20 minutes with no indications and with the realisation sinking in I put the waggler down and tried the pole I soon had a Skimmer which was very welcome even though it was only 2 oz. For the next two hours I added 6 more Skimmers up to 12 oz and two small Carp and one Goldfish (should have been an instant win) and lost two small Carp one was definitely foul hooked the other could have been played a bit more carefully. Thereafter, I couldn't buy a bite adding only two Ronnie's and one more tiny Skimmer.

My Carp weighed 2 lb 8 oz and my Silvers 2 lb 10 oz totaling 5 lb 2 oz. Bit of bad luck not picking up missed out by 4 oz - that small lost Carp costing me! That said other than the rain I wasn't cold and to be honest I do enjoy these low weight winter matches. getting the float dotted down in itself can be challenging but rewarding.

My pond was won by Steve "The loaf" Rogers (pictured with the Pool silvers winner) with 6 lb 9 oz from peg 14. Steve caught over copious amounts of liquidised bread with punch hook bait and later fishing longer over loose fed maggot. Steve also won the league overall - well done matey.

The Silvers was won by Simon Belcham with 3 lb 13 oz from peg 16. Simon fished maggot short.

The Canal was won by Tony Mears (pictured with the Canal Silvers winner) with 18 lb 2 oz which included a winter beast of 15 lb 8 oz! Tony caught it on maggot down to the aerator.

Johnny Clark won the Silvers with 1 lb 11 oz!

Yes it was hard, but enjoyable. Great bunch of guys.

Weigh Sheets:

Thursday 03/12/2020 - Silverfox Local - Open - Windmill Fishery - Match Lake

Officially back to match fishing. I must say the Angling Trust has made a complete ass of itself over their management of match fishing during the Covid19 lockdowns. Jamie Cook has contributed significantly towards their defunding - not good for a CEO. Under the old NFA he would have been voted out at the next AGM.

At the request of the fishery Manager I prepared a Covid19 risk assessment. To ensure complete compliance anglers were threatened with disqualification for anyone following the scalesman.

Well done to Pete Greenslade for calling the NSPB and helping the rescuing a Moorhen trapped in line on the bottom island. The NSPB guy had a floatation suit and was able to easily access the island without a boat. The Moorhen was OK but would spend the night in hospital.

With sixteen fishing the pegging was relative easy, giving everyone plenty of room. I was hoping for pegs 24 or 25. Was last out of the bag and allocated peg 19. No emotion just so content to be fishing. At least the light rain and wind was just over the left shoulder. Umbrella up, heated jacket ready to be switched on if I started to shiver - which I did after two hours - good purchase. I found myself between two Silvers anglers - Dave Poole and Andy Gard - great company.

I set up the short Ronnie rig and tried setting up a 4x16 to fish top-set plus two or three barrels. I don't know if its because I'm not match fit but tangled the rig and spent 15 minutes trying to save it to no avail - losing patience with it. Another rig and I ended up with a knot in the main line - bugger - not the start I wanted. All this messing about meant I didn't have time to set up the waggler to fish to the island - the wind was perfect for it.

Started by feeding a ball of GB on the Ronnie rig line and half a pot of micro and DR's at top-set plus two. Started here with double DR's. I was expecting bites from Ronnie's straight away, but that didn't happen so they weren't feeding then. I was getting indications which proved to be liners as I foul hooked a Carp which broke the hook length. I decided to put on a whole worm and had a Carp first try, quickly followed by another - got it cracked then - no more bites on this but persevered with DR's and worm, I kept some feed going in. I dropped in on the Ronnie rig with single LR and wasn't surprised to not get a bite as Dave Haines opposite had given up on his and was of the lead. I decided to switch round to 9 o- clock still at 2 barrels feeding some GB laced with Pinkie. First try I had a 1 lb Skimmer and a Ronnie followed by a 3 lb Carp which I lost in the reeds. Another couple of small Skimmers and Ronnie's before it died. I suddenly noticed Carp feeding everywhere, but not over the feed!! Couldn't understand what was going on. However, I switched to three barrels out in front feeding GB laced with Pinkie and with triple Pinkie on the hook I had a spell of putting three beautiful looking big Common Carp in the net - cripes they fought very hard - got the adrenalin pumping. After a long bite less spell I had another 3 lb Carp close to the all out.

My Silvers weighed  2 lb 4 oz for second in the Silvers and my total of 39 lb 8 oz put me third overall, so a good day which despite the weather I really enjoyed it. I wished I tried the waggler and nearly set it up.

The match was won by Kev Winstone (pictured right with the Silvers winner - being bombed by Junior) with 80 lb 4 oz from peg 25. Kev caught long fishing corn over corn feeding one tin of corn.

The Silvers was won by Dave Poole with 3 lb 4 oz from peg 18. Dave caught on the 4 metre whip using a waggler rig, fishing maggot over hand fed GB.

Well done to both.

Finally, I wondered why Pete Turner packed in early - out of character, until I found out he loose fed his mobile. Bet he was devastated as he spends most of the match on it managing Mumbles Brewery - great beer by the way.

Another match in two weeks time 18/12/20.

Result:

1. Kev Winstone 80-04-0 peg 25

2. Gary Bowden 72-15-0 peg 2

3. Mike Nicholls 39-08-0 peg 19

4. Tony Rixon 37-01-0 peg 7

Silvers:

1. Dave Poole 3-04-0 peg 18

2. Mike Nicholls 2-14-0 peg 19

3. Tony Ponting 2-09-0 peg 15

3. Andy Gard 2-09-0 peg 21

Weigh Sheet: