Saturday 08/10/1994 - Nation Angling Championship - Division 2 - River Trent - Team Bristol

With the team having gained promotion in consecutive years we were now looking to make it from Division 2 to Division 1. Once again no practice or local expert help. Everyman for himself. However, we had three really good river anglers join us, volunteering to fish :

Rod Hill

Pete Phillips

Darren Gillman

We decided to travel up on the Friday morning and have a pleasure session off the match length. Andy Floyd travelled with me. I'm not sure where we fished but it wasn't far from the road where we parked. Andy and I selected to fish the Stick close in and caught lots of small fish - Gudgeon, Roach. However, Glenn Bailey fished the waggler well out and was catching some quality Roach to 1 lb. I had packed up and went and had a go on his waggler whilst he packed up. Had one decent Roach before I snapped the 1 lb hook length striking on a fish.

Not sure what happened on our pre-match drink in Nottingham. However, everyone was well hungover which was apparent by many not eating their breakfast. I thought Kev Boltz particularly looked the worse for wear

80 Teams of 12 - 960 anglers would line the mighty River Trent.

I was drawn peg L34. Which was between Holme and Winthorpe (peg shown with red dot).  Found the relevant coach and found myself sitting next to Andy Billington who was fishing for Mohmar, who had drawn peg 28. We had a good chat on the coach. When the coach stopped we found ourselves at the higher numbers of L section near M section. It was a long walk to our pegs with Andy having a bit further to walk than me. Arrived at my peg the river was running right to left.  To gain that extra downstream room I set up 1 metre above where the peg was placed as per Wayne Swinscoe's previous advice - all within the rules.

I noticed that all the anglers I could see had set up a heavy feeder rods and were practice casting 70 yards or so to the far bank - Chub the target I'm guessing. The rules only allowed using a bomb before the match and only casting a feeder during the match (should apply this rule on commercials nowadays). Both Ian Sprigg's and me had purchased Diawa 13 foot Porky Pig's for just this purpose with the reel line fitted with 6 lb shock leaders. So set that up remembering that Wayne said to hold the rod and to expect bites on the drop. However, it was very shallow over and wasn't convinced this would work. The angler downstream of me was having problems casting with one practice cast landing at my feet, made me jumpy after that, so kept an eye on him! He followed this up with a fair few crack-offs during the match. I also set a GB feeder for down the middle. The main flow was down my inside so set up and a 10 BB Crow Quill to fish at two rod lengths out where I had 12 foot of water. Never had time to set up the waggler.

I started on a maggot feeder and first cast I had a right drop back and thought I had missed it and after a long retrieve thinking there was nothing on the hook found a Gudgeon hanging on the hook. I carried on fishing the maggot feeder getting drop backs, every time thinking it was something decent, but only rewarded with small fish. I had been loose feeding the inside regularly with maggot and when a large Barge came down the middle we had to wind in so I picked up the Crow Quill and first trot down had a 2 lb Chub. Quickly followed another one about 1 lb. It went quiet so rested it and tried the GB feeder down the middle and had a few small 2 oz Skimmers. Spent the last hour on the Crow Quill and had two more Chub.

I weighed 7 lb 9 oz and discovered I was second in the section with 79 points. Walked back with Andy who had 1 oz less than me for third in the section. We were to meet up again in Denmark on the Embassy Pairs.

Back at the results and found that four of us was in the top 10 in our section and good backing points. We all waited with bated breath as the the team results were announced in reverse order. We were all elated to find we were third team overall - bronze with 665 points and promotion to the Division 1. More importantly we would be local on the Gloucester Canal. 

It was only whilst writing this that I relised we had beaten Trinders into fourth place. Just have a look at their team it's the who's who of match fishing especially the Trent.

Result:

Darnell Hoti AC took the team honours with 803 points With the match being won by Alan Simpson with 28 lb 5 oz of Chub.

Saturday 03/07/1993 - National Angling Championship - Division 3 - 16 and 40 Foot Drains - Team Bristol

None of us had previously fished this venue and didn’t enlist any coaching. As per usual it was every man for himself. I did some research and found that the 16, 20 and 40 foot drains were not named after the depth (thankfully), Width (much wider) or the fall across locks (flat landscape). The consensus was that because the Drains were built over 400 years ago the term “Foot” was not back then the unit of measurement we now understand and referred to the width by proportion between each Drain.

However, there was always plenty of Eels in these drains!

Andy Floyd travelled with me. I’m sure we stayed over night but can’t remember where or any of the antics team members got up to.

Team Bristol selected shown below.

85 Teams of 12 entered - 1,020 anglers lined the banks of these two drains.

I was drawn peg K 15 on the 16 Foot drain. No coach, instead found myself travelling by double decker bus. Tackle downstairs anglers up. I do remember just turning right on to the road that ran the length of the 16 Foot Drain and after a short drive we we were all looking out of the right side of the bus mesmerised by the number of Bream we could see up in the water. We were all hoping we had drawn there when someone spotted a peg and was indeed our section. The lad I was sat next to said that's my peg! The bus moved on a bit further and stopped. Unfortunately I had to walk away from this massive shoal of bream which were from pegs K30 to K37. I found my peg which was just below a bridge (pictured below with the red dot). It was about 100 yards from the Bream, but hopeful I might snare one or two.

My peg was right up against a bush to my right nearest to the bridge. Set up a feeder and an Eel rig for the pole. I plan to fish the feeder for 30-45 minutes as a look see. First thing was to put a big pot of white maggot in at 11.5 metres for my Eel line. Started on the tip with GB laced with caster in a Drennan feeder and double red on the hook cast 3/4 over. Whilst willing the tip to go round a family of Mink arrived by the tree. It look as if the young were being taught how to feed/swim. Never had any indications on the tip, but noticed the Mink had moved away and saw small fish topping under the tree. So I set up a shallow light rig to save a blank. I started to catch Roach fry one a bung. But felt it wouldn't lead to many points, so spent the second half of the match on the Eel rig catching the occasional Eel to 4 oz. It was extremely slow. I can't remember what I weighed or my points.

Got back on the bus sitting next to the same guy I came with who explained that when he got to is peg there was so many Bream up in the water all across the Drain he didn't know how he was going to put his keep net in the water without spooking them! The match winner came from peg 36 with 57 lb with six of these pegs coming in top 12!!

Got back to the headquarters and after a short chat with the team we started back home before the result was announced. Before we left Ian Spriggs who was in the next section down from me explained he set up a pole rig which he tried first, his float held up for some reason and did a speculative strike and found a 3 lb Bream on the end. Quite rightly Ian was expecting a good day, however, it was the only bite he had which was enough to come second in his section!

Driving back Andy and I tried to work out if we might have enough points for promotion. We concluded we did - just. I wont go into the details of Andy trying to call a recently deceased NFA official from my car phone in an attempt to see how we got on. We did indeed have enough points for promotion coming 10th and were delighted as we were eager to fish the division 2 National on a proper running river - The mighty Trent.

Result:

Saturday 12/09/1992 - National Championship - Division 4 - River Witham - Team Bristol

Three of us in the City of Bristol team were asked to join Team Bristol which were also struggling for team members, but like us had some good anglers and it made sense for me, Tony Rixon, Ian Spriggs, Pete Sivell to join them, with others transferring over later. Which meant this would be my third different National team, fourth if I count Bathampton non fishing Manager. We would be fishing Division 4 on the River Witham. 

Mark Jefferies arranged for some help from local ace Andy Finch. So because of work I would drive up and back in one day so took my son Steve with me who had just past his driving test to help with the driving. 

Arrived at the Witham where Andy was already set up and fishing. He explained his rig and feeding to us whilst catching Eels regularly in the 4 oz bracket. Basic Eel fishing bunches of white maggot over pots of the same. Tony Rixon and I love fishing for Eels and rushed off with our kit and was soon catching Eels one a bung. Not one Silver fish. Nice few hours before setting off.

We travelled up the night before and spent Friday night in Lincoln. For legal reason I haven't written about the night before these Nationals, I will leave this to others! All I will say is never share a room with Tony Rixon unless you get to sleep before him. Had my socks in my ears all night trying to drown out his snoring - heard nothing like it before or since.

On the day of the National 79 teams of 12 - 948 anglers would be lining the banks of the River Witham an old natural river and not a drain as some may think. I had fished a national on the river before – so not my first.

The Team Bristol comprising:

 Me

Tim Ford

Tony Rixon

Mark Jefferies

Mark Cook

Andy Floyd

Kevin Boltz

Glenn Bailey

Bob Shepherd

Paul Lombard

Pete Sivell

Martyn Woodington 

I was drawn peg M67 end section at Boston. I finally found the right M section coach which must have been brought out of retirement for the day as was the driver. We arrived at a housing estate and were told by the driver that we had to take everything we needed because he couldn’t leave the Coach there as the wheels would be stolen and likely vandalised. He went on to say it was a rough area and to expect youths throwing stones from the top of the high bank, and definitely not to retaliate. Good start. 

My peg shown in picture right with red dot, however, the picture is recent and it looks to me that the area has been redeveloped – possibly for the good. 

Whilst unloading the coach I overheard one angler say there were very few Eels at this end of the River. So the only plan scuppered. I then heard someone say there were plenty of small Silvers though. So I was already thinking of changing my plan.

A short walk to the river and found the banks very high and once down at my peg felt venerable if stones started flying. Tried to put it to the back of my mind and get on with the fishing. Found we all had plenty of room between pegs. 

As Bream wasn't mentioned I didn't bother with the feeder. So set up one of the many Eel rigs (which didn't get used)  and a 4x12 light Jolly with strung out shotting for the Silver fish. As usual I always take loads of kit and a variety of baits to these Nationals. I dug out some GB and Pinkies for starters. On the whistle I started by cupping in a ball of GB laced with some Pinkies at 11.5 metres and with single white maggot had a small 2 oz Skimmer first try – avoiding the dreaded blank. I had a good first hour catching small Skimmer, Perch and Roach, it then got harder. I was wishing I set up the waggler but was doing OK against the anglers around me. 

Halfway through there was some commotion a few pegs down from me, with what looked like stones being thrown into the river. It didn’t last for long. However, after about 30 minutes two young lads were running down the far bank being chased by a Policeman on a bike – keystone like. I kept an eye open but no one returned – probably still chasing them. 

The peg chirped up a few more Silvers in the final hour, but no bonus fish and NO eels!! I weighed 4 lb 9 ¾ lb for 65 points out of 79. 

The team came 13th with 602 points and promotion to division 3 which would see us on the 16 and 40 foot Drains the following year.

 Result:

Milo Mohmar won the team event and Paul Hillier winning the match with 28 lb 1 oz of Bream. The team was totally unware of the Blood Worm and Joker issue as we didn't even know it was allowed.

Saturday 20/07/1991 - National Championship - Division 5 - Gloucester Canal - City of Bristol

During the 80's and early 90's I had fallen in love with the Gloucester Canal and got up there as often as my life working away from home would allow, which meant missing some matches, being replaced by pleasure sessions. It's one of the few venues that I enjoy pleasure sessions and probably still will. A Canal with plenty of room for anglers and walkers, not that I saw many. The fishing wasn't affected by boat traffic as such because of the depth. If I was short on time or eager to get fishing I would head to Slimbridge (pictured right), primarily because it had easy access and a relative short drive. Park by the shop, over the bridge most often turning left and fish 50 yards up. Catching many bags of Bream to 50lb fishing maggot and GB at 13 metres. However, a large pleasure paddle boat would sometimes piss me off parking next to me with it's huge paddle left running lifting my keep net.  I sometimes went further up to to miss him but he usually found me, always a sign for a pint.

Most of the matches were fished from Hempstead down, with the famous bend and just before the hotspots. The matches were low weigh affairs, with less than 10 lb winning. I couldn't believe it when fishing my first match on the Gloucester I drew the bend, finding myself next to Kenny Giles - the then Shakespeare match team Captain. The team had developed the Sigma Wand with extremely sensitive tips designed especially for the Canal. I won one of theses rods at a previous match at Arrow Valley Lake and still have it. So the form was to loose feed maggot over the pole line, using either a light 1/8th ounce bomb (or linked shot) on the Wand or the pole on the same line. Roach being the target. However, I had been having some success on the Bristol Avon using a home modified tiny Drennan maggot feeder which I cut down to 12 mm diameter and 12 mm long and would take 6 or so maggots, so gave that a go. I think I weighed 3 lb or so, just beating Kenny. The match was won by Steve Webb just before the bend with I think 8 lb on the pole.

I mostly used the pole during pleasure sessions and developed my own style of fishing.  I used either a 1.0 or 1.5 gram float with a long wire stem and fine long plastic tip enabling shotting the tip. I found that laying shot on the bottom was less productive than small styles. My usual shotting - one Olivette 30 inches from the hook leaving about 1/4 gram for the dropper shot comprising a large number of mainly no 7 styles to 8 inches from the hook. I would plumb up and increase the depth until the float just dragged - job done. The 1.5 gram was reserved for when the Canal towed, and boy couldn't it tow at times, in both directions. Some said if the tow changed direction the fish would stop feeding because they had to turn around, not sure about this one!

With the Canal being 16 to 18 foot deep and having a limited number of top 5's for my pole I usually only set up the two rigs. The only other rig I might set up was a very light rig fully shotted with styles to fish short up the inside shelf for Roach - hemp and bronze maggot.

The City of Bristol team were fishing the South West Drennan Super League which had two matches on the Gloucester plus practice matches. The league also allowed Blood worm and Joker. I really like using these baits and always took them to venues where they were permitted. Blood Worm or Joker on a  Gamma Green hook were spot on for this type of fishing. I still have the complete range. If the Skimmers were in the area I would add a single red maggot with double Blood Worm. This worked well. The GB mix was always a conundrum, but basically plenty of leam and heavy sieved continental GB's laced with Joker to get it to the bottom in 18 foot of water that might be towing hard.

When the team heard the 5th Division National would be on the Gloucester Canal the following year we enlisted.

City of Bristol Team:

Me

Tony Rixon

Ian Spriggs

Jim Thomas

Alan Oram

Warren Bates

Nigel Wyatt

Steve Robinson

Pete Sivell

Steve Gostlin

Shay Gillman

Steve Hutchinson

We had all fished it enough not to have a team plan - just a bunch of individuals. I must admit that the years have affected my memory for this match. I was drawn peg L28 - Upper Purton. All I remember is fishing 13 metres all match with BandJ catching small fish all day - mainly Ruffe, which was a bugger to unhook especially the females - they just won't open their mouths! 

The team did reasonably well in a very tight match coming 12th out of 68 teams with 532 points with 675 winning - another 12 points each would have done it. I weighed  3lb 13 oz for 62 points - 7th in section. But the honors went to matey Ian Spriggs who drew lower Purton weighing 13 lb 8 oz for section win and third overall (second highest weight as there was a tie for first). I bet he sat on the feeder all match, who wouldn't at Purton.

Result:

Sunday 03/01/2021 - Westerleigh Winter league - Round Two - Taylor's Pool and Shipp's Canal

With the weather turning rather cold the local Lakes have frozen over. I promised myself a few years back that I would not fish if a venue was frozen over, which was the main reason for stopping fishing leagues - I will never learn. However, although I packed the ice breaker only to arrive and find Mark Taylor and Ron Hardiman braking the ice for everyone. Mark did it using his newly refurbished boat - Christened HMS Bela after the Ships Architect. Didn't take them long once Mark worked out the best way to use the boat - video below weigh sheet. And yes well overseen by me!! Thanks to both.

I picked counter peg 16. Two thoughts - I will have my back to the very cold NE wind - The peg has not been productive in recent matches. That said, the fish on both Canal and Pool tend to move around in pockets. Ever optimistic me. For company I had Tony on end peg 17 and Alan on 15. Paddington on peg 18.

I took the ice breaker to the peg to give it a couple of chucks for some QA on Marks work, and stir up the bottom a bit 😁.

Set up the one rig - 4x13 MR - Silverfox wire winter to fish 10 metres to the edge of the ice to my right - simple. I noticed some small Ronnie's topping in pegs 17 and opposite on peg 20, so hopefully won't blank. I decided to fish pinkie and GB all day. I started by feeding a very small nub of GB laced with a few Pinkies and with double Pinkie on the hook expected to catch a small Ronnie early. That didn't happen. I was biteless for 2 1/2 hours, whilst Tony next door was catch small Carp at 13 metres using 10 mm punch over liquidised with gravel. Most anglers I could see were catching except for me Alan and Ron on peg 14. Finally had a bite and missed it dropped back in and the float seemed to hold up a bit, so a speculative strike welcomed a 3 oz Crucian to the net. Soon after I hooked a Skimmer of about 2 1/2 lb which shed the hook and tantalisingly hung up in the water for a while but was out of scooping distance, and painfully slowly disappeared into the depths along with a potential £40 Silvers pickup. On inspection the Pinkie had gone round the hook - bugger. I did have another one of 1 lb 12oz and a few Ronnie's before the fish stopped feeding as quickly as they appeared, making the last hour unproductive for most.

My Silvers weighed 2 lb 2 oz and as expected with the  lost Skimmers costing me - can I play the Skimmer again please I will take it much easier - promise! My total weight of 2 lb 5 oz gave me a lowly 8 points. Luckily my partner Martyn did the business again on the Canal.

The Pool was won by Tony with 12 Carp for 13 lb 8 oz - Punch over Liquidised.

Shaun won the Silver with two Skimmers and a few bits for 3 lb 2 oz - Maggot over GB.

The Canal was won by Martyn with 21 lb 14 oz - Dobbing bread far bank.

The Silvers was won by Steve with 2 lb 2 oz - probably punch over copious amounts of liquidised.

Next match 24 /01/21 - hopefully!

Result:

Canal: 

1. Martyn McMahon 21-14-0 peg 2

2. Bela Bakos 17-04-0 peg 7

Silvers: Steve Rogers 2-02-0 peg 12

Pool:

1. Tony 13-08-0 peg 17

2. John 12-04-0 peg 26

Silvers: Shaun Putney 3-02-0 peg 22

Weigh Sheet: