Tuesday 28/09/2021 - Acorn Cost Cutter - Paddocks

Due to the petrol issue and the promise of heavy rain I decided not to go today replaced with standing looking out of the window at the garden I couldn't work on. However, matey Glenn Bailey rang and offered me a lift so decided to go but wasn't that prepared bait wise. I decided to try corn today in readiness for the forth coming colder weather. So purchased some F1 corn and maggots' from the on site well stocked shop.

I also decided to have a non island draw because my back was aching after two days of gardening, missing out on some of  the better pegs. I was pulled peg 19 and wished I had kept the island in! I can't remember ever picking up from this peg, but usually get a days fishing nonetheless. Luckily Glenn drew next to me on peg 17 so one stop unpack.

Short Ronnie rig with maggots' to see if I could catch some silvers to start with. A 4x13 MR black top to fish top set out in front, also with maggots again for silvers. Two paste rigs one for over the short Ronnie rig line down wind to my right and another for over the out in front line. The main attack was to be corn down the margin so set up a 4x12 RJ.

Started on the Ronnie rig expecting an immediate response which didn't materialise. I finally got a bite from a tiny Ronnie. Caught a few more but this wasn't going to win anything. However, I noticed loads of fry which I assumed to be Perch. Out in front with the maggot over loose feed and had a three Skimmers and a small Tench before the line completely died. So fed some micro and loose fed hard fours over the top and picked up the paste rig and had three Carp one fouled in the tail which I landed - eventually. Again this died even though I was topping up regularly. Glenn was catching well on paste down the middle, so decided I would spend the rest of the match trying to make the corn work in the margin. The Carp certainly responded to the kinder feed but only wanted to pick it up on the drop. I tried feeding allsorts with the corn, finding the GB best. I was laying the corn against the very steep shelve. I had seven Carp, two on the drop. Close to the end the rain absolutely hammered down and without doubt all the anglers were glad to hear the all out. It looked like to me that the carp were feeding on the fry.

My few silvers weighed 4 lb 2 oz and my carp 47 lb 13 oz for a total of 52 lb. Glad I didn't have to weigh in today, this was down to Boris and Blanks.

The match was won by Glenn (pictured upper right looking wet) with 109 lb 10 oz from peg 17. Glenn caught some short on the top set but mainly down the middle with paste over copious amounts of soaked 4's. I must say an excellent display of paste fishing, well done matey.

The silvers was won by Dave Wride (pictured with the match winner - a rare picture of him smiling) with 26 lb from peg 2. Dave caught on the pole in the water. Probably using expander over micro.

The rain was so hard the Ducks went into hibernation. No pub stop because we all wanted to get home and dry out. Most of the roads were starting to flood so good decision.

Result:

Weigh Sheets:

Thursday 23/09/2021 - Bathampton AA - Over 55's and Short Walks

First to arrive and had my usual walk around. The water looked clear which wasn't a good sign for the fishing. However, what struck me was the tired condition of the platforms, the wood has now significantly aged. Most have had plastic non-slip flooring covering up rotting wood. The time has come.

Good turn out of 23. Named called out and I pull myself peg 14. Happy with this one. Again I wasn't running to the peg my trolley was pulling me down the hill 😁. For company I had Dave Poole peg 15 and Rod Dufferty peg 11.

I've always done well on the waggler on this peg. I got he reel and catty out and noticed the wind skimming around the corner of the island, with the forecast for the wind to increase I put it away. Set up one nude paste rig for both margins and a long and short Ronnie rig. The wind had switched around so got the reel, catty and waggler rod out again but it all went away again because a horrible swirling wind had picked up I was to regret not setting it up as a  "just in case".

I fed the LH margin heavy with micro, the RH light with loose fed LR's and the out in front long Ronnie rig with GB laced with DR's. I started on this whilst I kept feeding the RH with LR's and the LH with hard 4's. I had six 4 oz quick skimmers (nice to see these). I fed again and appeared to kill the line. I think the an F1 or two had come over the feed. So tried the paste in the margin and was surprised to find no indications, not even from nibblers, umm. So tried the RH margin with single LR on the short rig. The arms on these platforms are very restrictive in this respect and a bloody nuisance. I started to get a Perch one a bung, nice to see some have grown on to 3 - 4 oz, still plenty of small one's though. Very difficult to estimate your weight with such a mix of size. It suddenly stopped and subsequently I hooked a F1 which came off. I had a few do this but did land four. Once the Perch had had enough I added a Tench, a near 2 lb Perch and a couple of quality Roach to 12 oz. I then had a 4 lb Carp before the line needed a rest so tried the paste again and nothing! Water too clear for the F1's I think. So fed some micro on the long Ronnie rig and had a 2 lb skimmer and a few more 4 oz'ers on single LR's. The fishing became very hard and with the wind not as bad I wished I had set the waggler up, but thought about doing it but couldn't be bothered as I thought I was too far behind to catch up not realising that it was fishing hard for everyone  Decided to scratch around with the short rig and sneaked a few more small fish and a minute before the all out hooked a decent Carp which had the adrenalin pumping, managing to land it within the 15 minutes overtime.

My silvers weighed 18 lb 8 oz which surprised me and my two carp 17 lb for a total of 35 lb 8 oz for a double bubble section and double bubble second overall for both - happy days, but must admit that I thought I was well off the pace today. I fed half pint of LR's to catch the majority of my fish - light feeding the answer - who knows?

The Match and silvers was won by Kev Winstone (pictured with the runner up in both - a couple of double bubblers) with 50 lb 8 oz and 21 lb 10 oz of silvers. Kev caught on caster short, initially catching five big skimmers at the start before it slowed adding a mix of fish throughout the match. Kev fed three pints of caster. Well done matey.

Back to the pub with the usual suspects plus a few more including Dave Gillard's mate Sinbad! Great end to the day.

Result:

A Section:

1. Harry Muir 28-03-0 peg 7

Silvers: Dave Wride 8-11-0 peg 3

B Section:

1. Mike Nicholls 35-08-0 peg 14

Silvers: Mike Nicholls 18-08-0 peg 14

C Section:

1. Paul Haines 29-08-0 peg 21

Silvers: Phil Morgan 4-02-0 peg 18

D Section:

1. Kev Winstone 50-08-0 peg 27

Silvers: Kev Winstone 21-10-0 peg 27

Weigh Sheets:

Sunday 19/09/2021 - Ivy House Open - Old Match Lake

Had my Flu Jab Saturday and my arm was slightly sore this morning. A steady drive up taking 45 minutes via the M4. Nice to be having breakfast with "Bubba" Bela haven't seen him for a while. I was upset when he told me he's not fishing the Westerleigh winter league this year, hopefully he will come round.

Into the draw tin and ball 5 jumped into my hand. Once again I found myself next to Stu Foale's on peg 4. Peg 5 had won the match the day before.

The intention was to fish for Carp short on paste. So set up two paste rigs a 0.3 gram Nude for out in front top set plus one and a paste Bullet for the RH margin. I also set up a 4x13 MR for out in front for either worm of corn.

Started out in front with the paste over micro kindering hard 4's and was soon getting indications from small fish. Fed the margin with micro and switch to corn out in front and similarly was getting indications from small fish. I did have three tiny Skimmers. It looked as if the Skimmers weren't feeding which was confirmed by Ryan Shipp walked past with a bait tub to Vince. Ricky Mills was doing well on peg 1 as was Gareth on peg 9. I could only see one angler on the opposite bank and he appeared to be struggling. SO, I decided to switch to the silvers and target the Ronnie's. Firstly, I tried the long rig which was a bit slow. So switched to the short Ronnie rig down the RH side in 30 inches of water (this side of the lake appears to much shallower than the other) with single LR over loose fed LR's and was getting a 2 oz fish every put in. I do enjoy this sort of fishing. Unfortunately, I had the occasional incursion of some rather large carp. I did land three (eventually) on the rig losing loads either through breakages or foulers. I fed some GB to see if I could catch some bigger stamp which proved to be a mistake as tails were soon wagging at me - bugger. Head down and by careful feeding carried catching to the end.

My three carp weighed 18 lb 4 oz and my circa 240 silvers weighed 30 lb 8 oz for second in the silvers once again. I'm still getting to grips with this lake. The pattern at the moment appears to be that the big Skimmers are on pegs 16 to 12 and the opposite side is full of small fish. It's also notable that the corner pegs appear best for Carp and some bigger Skimmers.

The match was won by Adrian Davis (pictured with the silvers winner) with 127 lb from peg 16. Adrian fished the method throughout using micro feed with a banded 6mm hard pellet. Well done matey.

The silvers was won by Ryan Jordan of RJ floats with 43 lb from peg 12. Ryan caught on worm hook bait fished over chopped worm mushed with dry GB.

It was back to the pub with Bela (not done this for a while) and Willy for a nice end to another good day out.

Fishery closed next weekend.

Weigh Sheet and Result:

16/09/2021 - Ray's Rip Off - Windmill Fishery - Match Lake

What a beautiful autumn morning - mist and a rising sun - pictured.

Had a quick walk around the lake, surprised how coloured it was. Ray Bazeley and the lads had been out repairing and replacing some of the pallets - well done to them - but shouldn't the fishery owners being doing this?

Into the draw bag and out comes milk bottle top 18. Happy enough with this one, especially to find myself between good friends Kev Winstone peg 19 and Glenn Bailey peg 17.

After a bit of weed clearing I set up just three of my "Naked" float range, Which can can be obtained from Ryan Jordan:

The Paste Bullet:

0.2 GLine straight through. Very tough float, great for fishing in reeds with Drennan 25 elastic.

The 3 ways paste, 0. 3 gram:

Used for paste with a logarithmic shotting pattern and by adding another shot can be easily switched to fishing either corn or worm - 1 mm cane tip, carbon stem 0.3 gram, 0.2 GLine straight through.

Short Ronnie Float, 4x12:

0.16 GLine main line to 0.14 GLine 6 inch hook length.

Today all the above fished on the top set. Whilst each side of me 17 metres of pole being squeaked out.

As per usual at the moment I started by feeding out in front with a large pot of micro as a tester to what is feeding. This can produce some early big Skimmers and if so and I'm getting nibblers I switch to the Ronnie rig and get my head down for the Silvers. Today there were no signs of silvers but did foul hook a carp which came off. After an hour and no signs it was obviously fishing hard around me. I opened up the RH margin line with micro with loose fed hard 4's over the top and picked up the Ronnie rig and caught small fish with LR's over GB and loose feed, even this was slow. After an another hour I hooked a Carp which did me and the rig in the reeds. So decided to fish the last four hours on the Paste Bullet in the LH margin where the reeds were moving. First try I had a 6 lb Carp, followed quickly by another so was hoping for a productive day. There were plenty of carp in the peg but only appeared to be feeding on a falling bait. Thought about setting up a maggot rig to fish on the drop but couldn't be assed so stuck with the paste. By switching from loose feeding to kindering small amount of hard 4 's every put in tricked another seven carp to 11 lb in to the keep net. I did loose four, two by rushing and pulling too hard (bad angling) and two more foulers. I thought I had beat Kev but not Glenn who had a good start.

My silvers weighed 5 lb 6 oz and my nine carp weighed 54 lb 4 oz for third overall of total of 59 lb 10 oz, just pipping Glenn. Happy with this from the slow start.

The match was once again won by Dave "Willy" Willmott (pictured with the silvers winner) with 129 lb 11 oz from peg 11. Dave caught on 7 mm meat hook bait over loose fed meat fished at top-set plus two.

The silvers was won by Hughie Evans with 20 lb from peg 14. Hughie also caught at top set plus two on maggot fished over small amounts of GB and loose fed maggot. Well done matey.

Back to the "Ringer" with the usual suspects what a great end to a lovely day out on the bank. Does it get better than this?

Result:

1. Dave Willmott 129-11-0 peg 11

2. John Smith 86-12-0 peg 4

3. Mike Nicholls 59-10-0 peg 18

4. Bob Warren 58-13-0 peg 5

5. Pete Greenslade 53-08-0 peg 10

Silvers:

1. Hughie Evans 20-0-0 peg 14

2. Dave Willmott 17-06-0 peg 11

3. Mike Chapman 17-05-0 peg 20

Weigh Sheets:

Tuesday 14/09/2021 - Acorn - Widger Open Match - Specimen Lake

Travelled via the M4/M5 and had a steady drive down taking 44 minutes. I Had a look at the Specimen lake and it looked so Mediterranean like I fancied a dip - pictured.

Into the tackle shop and bought some more Preston Dura Hybrid 17 perfect for me!

Pools paid and Des Shipp did the match do's and don'ts. Definitely better at fishing matches than organising. I guess he will improve with more practice. Into the draw bag and out comes ping pong ball 21. No emotion because i didn't know where it was. Des didn't like his draw - there's a surprise.

Found my peg which was unfishable due to the trees, I couldn't lift a top set above my head. So went and saw Zoe who arrange for Adrian to come round - before and after below. Thanks matey amazed at what you did with a blunt saw.

For company the other side of the bridge on peg 22 was Paul Faires and the other side was a Carp angler whom was pegged around. 

I set up juts two rigs - a 0.3 gram RJ Nude paste float for the RH margin and a MR 4x13 to fish out in front on top set with triple LR's over Ringers Carp GB. Wherever I plumbed up it was the same depth at 5 footish give or take an inch, including the margin! I fed the margin with copious amounts of micro for the paste later, then the out in front

line with GB and DR;s. I didn't have to wait long before I was catching Widger carp to 4 oz. It was one a bung for 30 minutes before it slowed. Tried the margin with the paste and no sign. I fancied the fish had come off the bottom so spread the bulk to fish on the drop and started to feed the GB looser. This worked and caught steady. Paul was doing well and had landed what he thought was a Carp over 10 lb which had to be returned. However, it didn't look like to me so Paul brought it over and I estimated it at 8 lb 4 oz - which it was weighed at later. I tried the margin again to see if I could catch a lump, however once again to sign. Back on the top-set and caught

VERY steady 4 oz  to 8 oz Carp to the end.

I weighed 44 lb 4 oz for third overall.

The match was won by Des Shipp (who else - pictured) with 86 lb 2 oz from peg 17. Des stated on the pole with GB and maggot and after a slow start switched to the method over to the island with a small banb'um pellet, switching to method and maggot and later on the pole with maggot and GB. Well done matey nice to see you looking fit.

Loads of small carp transferred to the fisheries stock pond.

Result:

1. Des Shipp 86-02-0 peg 17

2. Paul Faires 56-09-0 peg 22

3. Mike Nicholls 44-04-0 peg 21

4. Ant P 39-01-0 peg 12

5. Dave Willmott 35-0-0 peg 16 - stiff neck

6. Darren North 30-01-0 peg 8

Weigh Sheet:

Saturday 11/09/2021 - Bathampton AA - Dave Crookes Memorial Charity Match - Bridge Pool

Because Dave Crookes was a long time good friend I have wanted to fish this match for some time but for various reason couldn't. Dave and I joined the BAA committee at the same time through the affiliated clubs. Dave representing the RAF and me MST. Dave was a natural angler but didn't regularly fish matches, when he did he often framed. I would love to win this one in his memory.

Because there were two matches today, ours on Bridge Pool and a 24 hours Carp match on the Main Lake I arrived to a packed car park . I had a walk around the Pool with Dave Gillard. Apparently some heavy rain last week had knocked the colour out, so expectation was for it to fish hard.

Back to the draw and it was a nice touch by the BAA committee to lay on bacon and sausage rolls and hot drinks - all FOC - well done to them. Cant beat the smell of bacon especially cooked out doors. Pools paid - raffle tickets purchased - no more on this one. The draw put me on peg 19, the peg I had last match here and got frustrated because I couldn't see the float due to the sun shining on silver flotsam. For company I had matey Kev Winstone on peg 18 who would be difficult to beat especially if he listened to my advice!

Any peg on this Pool with cover hold F1's. I have noticed that BAA have trimmed some of the islands which is OK but please leave the margins overgrown, otherwise we won't be able to catch the F1's in any numbers. Won't catch these fish on a mud bank. As can be seen from the picture above peg 19 had plenty of margin cover and therefore holds plenty of F1's - the problem is encouraging them out from the reeds to feed.

Two paste rigs - one for out in front and one for both margins just in front the reeds in 31/2 foot of water at top set plus three barrels of margin pole. Also the Ronnie rig in case I couldn't see the down the margin. Started out in front with the paste over a pot of micro and as expected the same as previous match plenty of nibblers. So quickly abandoned after feeding some DR's in GB for the Silvers as back up. Went down the RH margin which felt as if it wouldn't produce. So round to the left with paste over micro and kindered hard 4's and could just about see the float and had a couple of F1's before the sun squeezed through the trees and hindered my vision. So thought I would try the Silvers with singe LR over the GB and loose fed LR's. I fished this for an hour which accounted for 8 lb of Silvers. I felt I had a chance to frame in the Silvers, but wanted to go for the win. So back in the margin but the sun was a pain, so set up the waggler to fish further down to the end bank where visibility was far better. With double LR over loose fed LR's I had two quick big F1's before I was pestered by small Perch. Luckily the sun had moved on and I could go back to the margin paste rig. This resulted in spells of catching F1's catch two and the shoal backed off. Late on I caught two small Carp and two better ones, the largest coming just before the whistle. Kev had caught a very similar amount of fish as me so it was going to be tight.

My silvers weighed 8 lb 2 oz, The four carp 30 lb and the F1's 24 lb 12 oz for a match winner weight of 62 lb 14 oz beating Kev in to second spot by just 3 lb 2 oz which was the difference between our Silvers weights!

I usually give my trophies to the junior for recycling, however for sentimental reason I will be keeping this one in the office. 

The Silvers was won by Paul Barnfield with a low weight of 14 lb 4 oz from peg 14. Paul Caught at 13 metres using his worm hook bait over chopped worm and copious amounts of micro. Well done matey.

Back to the pub with the usual suspects and a nice end to another memorable day mainly thanks to Arron Britnell, James Buckle and the rest of the BAA committee.

Result:

Weigh Sheet:

Sunday 05/09/2021 - Ivy House Open - Old Match Lake

Glenn and me decided on a visit to Ivy House, this time the Old Match Lake, our preferred lake. Glenn for his paste and myself for the Silvers and paste fishing, get the choice. We even pushed the boat out and had a breakfast - very nice too.

Eighteen pegs on this lake so with twelve fishing plenty of room for all. There has been some large weights of Skimmers to 60 lb coming out recently, but I was out of touch on how they were being caught, so some observing and learning today, up against the regulars in this respect. The Silvers was won the day before from peg 1.

I drew myself peg 16 which is a good Silvers area. For company on peg 14 I had Smiffy whom I have renamed "Cornucopia" and the affable Stu Foale on end peg 18. 

Spoke to Smiffy who has been doing well on the Silvers. Checked his bait tray which contained 2 kg of wetted micro and guessing 4 pints of corn with another 12 tins in his bait bag. Catching on corn then!

Set up the waggler for the LR's to the island. Two paste rigs one 0.3 gram RJ "Nude" for out in front at top set plus two barrels (fishing long today), and one for the RH margin, the last rig was a 4x13 MR for the Skimmers at the same distance as the long paste rig. One thing for certain I wasn't going to compete with Smiffy on the amount of corn feed as I only had one small - "just in case" tin of corn. Stu did offer me another tin, but would try and make what I had work, especially as I expected the paste to catch the better Skimmers.

I fed the margin with GB, micro and DR's and the long paste line with a pot of micro and started to loose feed 4's over the top. After 15 minutes with no bites I wrongly decided to switch to the corn over kindered corn and micro and started to catch the occasional hand size Skimmer plus one 4 lb carp. Meanwhile Smiffy was loose feeding his peg regularly with the equivalent of my one tin every time!! I kept feeding the margin to be faced with tiny Ronnie nibblers. Tried the wag and mag to only catch small Ronnie's so that was holstered. I stayed with the corn as I was getting bites.

Had a called from Glenn who had 45 lb on his clicker and from what I could see he was well ahead of he field,  certainly expected him to to go on and win with paste doing best in the last knockings. Stu was doing next best catching regularly, until I found out he was catching small Stock carp.

It wasn't until I had run out of corn that I switched back to the paste fished over kindered hard 4's and started to catch some better Skimmers and some recently stocked carp. However, I had left it too late to catch up with Smiffy. Got it wrong today switching from the paste far too early which should have been fished all through. I really started to enjoy the day especially as it was a lovely warm dry day having got rid of the clouds that has plaqued us over many weeks.

My Silvers weighed 34 lb 10 oz for second silver some 15 lb behind Smiffy. My total amounted to 56 lb 10 oz adding my few carp. Andy Lloyd told me after the match that I should have fished the LH margin, he wasn't wrong as I couldn't catch from the RH. I learnt a bit today, but wont be investing in copious amounts of corn!

As expected the match was smashed by Glenn Bailey (picture - prepared earlier) with 123 lb from peg 7. Glenn caught on - well - paste over soaked 4's.

Smiffy (pictured right) won the Silvers with 50 lb 4 oz from peg 14. He caught on corn short fished over copious amounts of loose fed corn. Well done matey.

Glenn and me had a cold one on the way back to round off a lovely warm productive day out.

Result:

1. Glenn Bailey 123-0-0 peg 7

2. Alan Oram 95-0-0 peg 4

Silvers:

1. Alan Smith 50-04-0 peg 14

2. Mike Nicholls 34-12-0 peg 16

Weigh Sheet:

Thursday 02/09/2021 - Ray's Rip Off - Windmill - Match Lake

I had a quick look at the lake and just as quick decided I wanted either pegs 24 or 25 as the wind was hacking into both pegs. I didn't think the opposite end would fish as well as recently.

Ray did his usual draw by throwing the swim cards into the air again I picked the one that landed closest. Peg 4 it would be again! Not that keen on this peg as I couldn't get the margin to work last match. Arrived at the peg and found someone had nicked my pallet!! With the bank looking dodgey and probably undercut I had the choice which side to set up on. I chose the left as there is a tree to the right which would had limited the length of the margin - pictured. For company I had Dave Poole on peg 5 who would no doubt be fishing his favoured long whip for silvers.

Decided to focus on Carp. So with the experienced gained last match I set up just the two paste rigs - 0.3 gram for the LH margin and a 0.4 for out in front. Last time I could only catch out in front, so this is where I started by potting micro in and loose feed some hard 4's over the top. I had a quick response catching two Carp followed by a period of foulers which all were lost. After an hour and only three carp for about 20 lb is was obvious things were going to be vastly different than last match. I had a visit from Glenn Bailey who had also started to struggle after a good start claiming 35 lb from flyer peg 10. I did try a 4x14 Titan at top-set plus one with corn over corn and had one Perch and a small Skimmer. That was abandoned. The in front line had completely died, not even signs of the silver nibblers. I potted some GB into the margin and had a carp first drop in with paste. I had a good run by topping up with GB. With an hour left I was now expecting to to get to the ton. However, I started to foul hook Carp which was very frustrating. With 15 minutes to go the penny dropped the Carp where feeding on the suspended GB, so I switched to potting micro, this worked but all too late. There's' no doubt the GB got them into the margin but should have switch to potting micro sooner. - lesson learnt - or not.

Today just goes to show that fishing is not prescriptive as peg 4 fished the exact opposite as last match, as I think other pegs did.

I weighed 78 lb 12 oz which was a surprise third place.

The match was won by Willy Willmott (pictured with the silvers winner) with 156 lb from peg 25. Dave initially caught on the method switching to both margins using 7 mm meat over loose fed meat. Dave needs to get some heavier elastic similar to the Drennan 25 as he lost loads in the reeds!

The silvers was won once again by Dave Haines with 25 lb 3 oz from peg 21. Dave fished his usual short whip using caster/ maggot hook baits over GB and loose feed.

Back to the "Ringer" with the usual suspects. Good end to another good day out with like minded friends.

Result:

1. Dave Willmott 156-0-0 peg 25

2. Glenn Bailey 89-04-0 peg 10

3. Mike Nicholls 78-12-0 peg 4

4. Paul Haines 78-05-0 peg 17

Silvers:

1. Dave Haines 25-02-0 peg 21

2. Hughie Evans 13-08-0 peg 12

Weigh Sheet: