Thursday 23/12/2021 - Rixon's Rip Off - Plantation - Main Lake

It was sad news to hear Wayne Storey passed away today who was one of our BAA Over 55's. Wayne has been ill for some time but didn't stop him from fishing and never heard him complain once about his illness, but was always helpful explaining how he fished the matches. RIP matey will be missed by all us.

I would like to thank those that take on the unenviable task of running matches I attend: Tony Rixon, Dave Gillard, Ray Bazeley, Mike Chapman and Eddie Wynne, Brian Shanks and Gerry Walsh. A thankless task at the best of times.

Ray Bazeley wasn't running a match at Windmill so booked in to Tony' Rixon's Rip Off - Silvers only at the very popular Plantation fishery. Always a good turn out of excellent silvers anglers, probably could fill it twice over.

Travelled with Glenn Bailey and had a quick look see of the near bank and said to Glenn I fancied peg 1, it was the only peg that had any signs of a bit of wind cover. I have had some good days on this peg. Over cast with drizzle which was to continue on and off all day, at least it was very mild.

Last but one to draw and ended up on peg 24 which is the far side of the lake and the least muddy area. However, fancied I was a bit too far up. For company I had Rip Off on peg 26.75. Plus I had a platform and a black and white Kitten sat under my trolley!

Being flat calm I decided to target Ronnie's so set up the Ronnie rig, a 4 metre Drennan whip and a 4x13 MR to fish at 10 metres for a look see for skimmers. Time to get the 0.1 GLine hook lengths out, only in case I hook Carp.

Fed the whip line and the skimmer line with GB laced with a copious amounts of LP's and the Ronnie line with loose fed caster which is where I started with single caster hook bait. I expected a bite early but with no signs after 15 minutes abandoned this in favour of the whip. With double Pinkie hook bait started to catch some decent Ronnie's. I kept topping up with a squeezes hand full of laced GB. I foul hooked a carp which thankfully just gave me a scale which went in the net! Fed the line and tried the skimmer line and have five very quick 4-6 oz skimmers - thought I was in for a good day. I fed this line again and had instant result with a 2 lb skimmer. Fed again and a 1 1/2 lb skimmer, then a 5 lb carp which I bullied but landed. The line went worrying quiet. Re fed and picked up the whip and had a few more Ronnie's to 8 oz. I then hooked another Carp which broke the hook length. So the first half of the match over and felt I was holding my own with the anglers I could see. Come the second half it became a real struggle - even the Kitten abandoned me. I scratched around on both lines trying all sorts - Kindering Pinkie, Loose GB and Loose fed Pinkie. It was very hard and could see signs of carp but didn't hook anymore. I just kept falling behind so was glad to hear Rip Off call all out and as per usual he waited until I shipped out!!

My silvers weighed 16 lb 3 oz for sixth overall and one out of the money. Very enjoyable day's fishing.

The match was won by Des Shipp (pictured with the runner up) with 30 lb 14 oz of Roach to 1 lb from fancied peg 1. Des caught on caster over caster either loose fed or potted at 14.5 metres.

Mark caught all skimmers GB and maggot at 11.5 metres.

Result:

1. Des Shipp 30-14-0 peg 1

2. Mark Broomsgrove 26-13-0 peg 27

3. Dave Willmott 24-14-0 peg 19

4. Tony Rixon 21-04-0 peg 25

5. Gary Bowden 19-1-0 peg 5

6. Mike Nicholls 16-03-0 peg 24

Weigh Sheet:

Sunday 19/12/2021 - Westerleigh Winter League - Shipp's Canal and Taylors Pool

Thought I arrived at a reasonable time but was first at the gate and didn't know how to operate the combination lock even though I knew the number, luckily Andy behind me did.

Did miss Ron and Bela today. They will be back.

Eight on each lake so numbers about right. We won't know our pairs partners until next match, but won't be anyone on the lake drawn today, last years partner was on the other lake though! Had a walk around to see a couple of blips top. Not looking good especially as the temperature had dropped to 3 degrees combined with a horrid damp fog. Into the draw car boot and out came tiny disc peg 22 on Taylors. Just glad to be on this Pool and for company I had Glenn Bailey on peg 21 - so unfortunately won't be drawing him in the pairs. I have fished this peg a few times and have learnt that the pole short doesn't produce, however, set up a 4x14 Winter Titan for top set plus two barrels and a 0.3 gram RJ Slim set to 3 foot to fish down the LH margin at the same length - as expected both these rigs produce nothing. The waggler was the set up which caught me all my fish.

I plumbed around with the waggler and where I fancied fishing was in white water to the left but with the mist and poor light it was hard to see the float so opt for the darker water where I settled on a depth of about 4 foot. I started by feeding LR's and broke the catty first feed. It was a slow start with Glenn starting well at 16 metres! I kept the feed up and started to catch the odd Ronnie. The small carp arrived and started to catch them in spasms - two at a time. In between I would catch the odd 3 oz Ronnie so kept occupied. That's how the match went - a couple of small carp followed by a silver. Very enjoyable except for the light and the bloody nuisances Mallards on the opposite bank either liking the overspill on the loose feed or causing ripples and lost of float vision.

My silver weighed 3 lb 8 oz for the lake silvers win, with my carp weighing 29 lb for a second on lake and overall weight of 32 lb 8 oz. Happy with this from the peg. A few things to remember - clean off the maize off the maggots and try using a yellow topped waggler in the dark water instead of red. I fed about 1/2 pint of maized up LR's.

Taylors lake was won by Bri Shanks (pictured with the silvers and second on lake winner) with 34 lb 4 oz from peg 15. Bri started long on the pole catching well early on. Later switching to his RH margin at top set plus three barrel to catch some better carp - all caught on maggot over kindered maggot.

Shipps canal was won by Norman Ferris (pictured with the runner up and Silver's winner and Brother Bill) with mainly two carp for 7 lb 4 oz from peg 1. Norman caught his carp on paste!!!

The pool silvers and lake second was won by Bill Ferris with 4 lb 10 oz from peg 7. Bill caught short on maggot.

No pub for me until after Christmas.

Result:

Taylors Pool:

1. Brian Shanks 34-04-0 peg 15

2. Mike Nicholls 32-08-0 peg 22

Silvers: Mike Nicholls 3-08-0 peg 22

Shipp's Canal:

1. Normal Ferris 7-04-0 peg 1

2. Bill Ferris 4-10-0 peg 7

Silvers: Bill Ferris 4-10-0m peg 7

Weigh Sheet:

Thursday 16/12/2021 - Bathampton AA - Over 55's and Short Walks

Ideal weather for fishing - over cast, mild and no wind - perfect. No time for a walk around just a stare over the bridge with the gathering - a few tiny silvers topping in pegs 18 and 17.

In to the draw bag and out comes - as Dave Haines predicted thirty ??? It was peg 31 - bugger wrong end again. However, having fished peg 33 last match I was prepared with some experience!

For company I had Pete THE GAS Greenslade on 33 and Tony Ponting on flyer peg 30.

I decided to forget skimmers and concentrate on the small silvers - Ronnie's and Rudd. So set up the waggler, the 4 metre whip with a small home made waggler and the Ronnie rig. It would only take a few minutes to set up another rig if necessary.

Started by feeding a ball of GB laced with too many LMP's (Live Mixed Pinkies) on the Ronnie rig line and catapulted some LR's over to the island. Started on the Ronnie with single RP on the hook and have three quick skimmers about 12 oz each and a 2 oz Perch. I then had a run of 1/2 to 1 oz Ronnie's. They were small so picked up the waggler with single LR on the hook and hooked and lost an 8 oz F1 followed by a 3 oz Ronnie. Although the Ronnie's were 3 x bigger on the waggler the time to catch was about the same to the keepnet as those caught short. So did an inbetweener switching to the 4 metre whip with single LR on the hook over loose hand fed same. I didn't look back catching 1 to 3 oz Ronnie's to the end of the match with only one dry spell due to a Herring Gull deciding to share my peg. Obviously the GB was attracting the smaller fish.

Only silvers to weigh which went 15 lb 3 oz for a silvers section win and a third overall lake silvers, only by a ounces - good match in this respect. Really enjoyed today - my sort of fishing. However, I was ran close in the section silvers by Tony "Smiler" Ponting on peg 30 with some nice skimmers for 15 lb.

The interesting thing, Tony fished totally different from me, catching a different species of fish with the same result and that is the attraction of commercial fisheries for me. I often walk around before the start of a match and everyone to a man has a different set ups. The commonality is having two or more keep nets in!

The match was won by Andy Gard (pictured top right with the silvers winner) with 40 lb 14 oz from peg 27. Andy caught on the waggler to the island with maggot over loose fed same catching decent carp. Later switching to the pole to catch a few F1's and skimmers.

The silvers was won Paul Barnfield with 15 lb 9 oz from peg 24. Paul caught at 13 metres on DR's over GB - single ouncing out Dave Wride on next peg 15 to his obvious disappointment.

The Pool fished reasonably well today, but needs some 2 - 3 lb junior carp stocking.

No pub today - bloody 0Covids and road blocks!

Next match is the Silvers priority and pairs on 06/01/2022 - 24 booked in - sold out.

Result:

Section A:

1. Tony Ponting 22-08-0 peg 32

Silvers: Mike Nicholls 15-04-0 peg 31

Section B:

1. Paul Barnfield 15-09-0 peg 14

Silvers: John Fry 9-12-0 peg 7

Section C:

1. Geoff Grant 22-13-0 peg 18

Silvers: Dave Wride 15-08-0 peg 15

D Section:

1. Andy Gard 40-14-0 peg 27

Silvers: John "Turkey" Thompson 13-02-0 peg 26

Weigh Sheets:

Tuesday 14/12/2021 - Acorn Cost Cutter - Paddocks

Hadn't planned to fish Acorn today until matey Glenn Bailey called offering to give me a lift. However, my back was just about getting better from doing stupid things with 13 metres of pole a week ago. However, fishing short and catching next to nothing was better than another day in Netflix land. So it was a yes from me.

Pitch black when Glenn arrived at 07:00. It was one of those days that stayed like midnight  with horrid drizzle on and off. So far away from our summer days here. It was mild though and almost windless.

My back recommended I go for a short walk draw. The problem with this the odds increase in drawing a bridge peg. Well there we go peg 21 it was to be. Hate bridge pegs, but did have good company on peg 22 with Ant P.

I fed some GB laced with Pinkies on the Ronnie rig line and have two small Ronnie's, two lost small Skimmers and one in the net on double Pinkie before the line completely died except for touches from micro Ronnie's. So out at top set plus three barrels out in front with maggot over kinder micro and LR's, 30 minutes passed very quite slowly - not a sign of fish.

I have been meaning to give the waggler try down here and had set it up. So this was the next and last option. So double tiny LR's on the hook over loose fed the same and started to pick off the occasional Ronnie and Skimmers. Never going threaten the frame but at least I was kept occupied trying not to cast on the the island! I missed loads of indications from small fish which also helped the time to elapse. I did have two small carp and pulled out of one about 5 lb and one foul hooker of about the same size.

My silvers weighed 8 lb 3 oz and my two carp 1 lb 15 oz.

The match was won by Des Shipp (pictured with the silvers winner on his lap) with 74 lb 8 oz from peg 6. Des caught tight to the bridge to the white mark to his left with dead maggot over the same.

The silvers was won by Paul Faiers with an excellent catch of 31 lb 4 oz from peg 5. Paul caught at top set plus two barrels using Pinkie over loose fed Pinkie. Well done matey a great weight on the day.

Result:

1. Des Shipp 74-08-0 peg 6

2. Leon Hubbard 55-04-0 peg 34

3. Dave Wride 53-11-0 peg 25

Silvers:

1. Paul Faiers 31-04-0 peg 5

2. Kev Perry 17-0-0 peg 37

Weigh Sheets:

Thursday 09/12/2021 - Ray's Rip Off - Windmill Fishery - Match Lake

Beautiful skies  welcomed us - Rain later then - pictured. Usual walk as the Cormorants arrived on the pylons. You can set your clock to their arrival and departure. They wont come down on the water whilst anglers are around. No sign of fish, but didn't expect to see any.

Eleven fishing still out numbered by Cormorant's by one.

Into the draw bag and out comes red milk bottle top 5. No emotion. For company I had locksmith Jeff Grant.

Set up a 4x14 Winter Titan to fish top-set plus three barrels and - wait for it a 4x12 to fish 13 metres to the island! First time the pole been out for over a year, first time the 11.5 and 13 metre sections been out for a few years!! Of course had to set up the waggler. Carp were the target with the hope of an accidental skimmer.

Fed the short line with GB and Pinkie, then loose fed LR's down wind on the waggler line. Started on short line with double LP's after 30 minutes and no indications tried the long line with kindered LR's with double LR's on the hook. Again after 30 minutes no bites and with the wind making it hard work at 13 metres picked up the waggler. It is difficult getting the waggler depth right. Too far up the shelf with line on the bottom leads to foul hooking too far down, up in the water no bites, dead depth perfect. I had one bite landing a 5 lb angry Common. Jeff had started catching on the pole with Pinkie and with the wind further picking up I followed the leader, fishing the short line. Stayed on this far too long - with no bites. My six hour match clock was still working and thinking I had another hour left and with the wind dropping picked up the waggler. First cast another 5 lb Common. Next cast hooked another 5 lb Common and whilst playing it Ray called all out. I called fish on. So my 60 minutes left was 10!! Bugger should have started on the waggler earlier.

My three beautiful coloured Commons weighed 15 lb 9 oz for a small pick up.

The match was won by John Williams (pictured above with some of his catch) with 85 lb from peg 1. John caught on the pole at top-set plus two at full depth. Initially using hookable wetted 6 mm hard pellet over GB with micro and a few hard fours feed. John caught 4 early carp on this before switching to 8 mm meat hook bait over the same GB with a few pieces of meat catching steady to the end. Well done matey excellent weight on the day.

The silvers was won by Pete Greenslade (pictured with the match winner and his Border Terrier, that's him in the middle - what a well behaved dog sat in John's bait bag all day) with two skimmers for 2 lb 3 oz from peg 22. Pete caught on maggot over maggot at 10 metres.

Back to the Ringer with the usual suspects, all around the open fire, not sure which was most welcome beer or fire.

Weigh Sheet: Only those that weighed.

Sunday 05/12/2021 - Windmill Open - Match Lake

There were more Cormorants on the pylons than anglers today with 9 of us and 15 of them.

Into the draw bag and out comes red milk top peg 10. Not happy. This end of the lake is not fishing and appears to be devoid of carp, it's also the end the Cormorants entre the lake from the pylons. During the winter the idea of spreading anglers equally around the lake instead of putting them where the fish are is something I have yet to understand. I went to the peg feeling I wasn't fishing for coin but saving a blank, certainly waste of time targeting silvers at the moment as it's currently won with one accidental skimmer.

Just set up the waggler to fish around the peg with double LR's on the hook feeding maggots where the wind took them and fished over them. The upshot was I had one proper bite and landed a 3 lb 5 oz Common. I did have a few liners and three foulers which were all lost. I had planned to pack up and have a walk around after catching but I could only see one other angler who was blanking so carried on to the end. No accidental's.

I often see anglers asking recommendations for reel line . For me there is only one and that's 3 lb Maxima - durable, longevity, sinkabilty, don't curl and inexpensive. Will handle anything I'm likely to catch. What's not to like.

The match was won by Dave Poole (pictured with the accidental Silvers angler) with 44 lb 15 oz from peg 6. Dave started after silvers with GB and Pinkie and started to hook carp so switched to the the pole at 7 metres and caught carp steady throughout again fishing Pinkie over GB. His catch included one 2 lb 3 oz Skimmer. Well dome matey.

The silvers was won by Nick Saunders with one accidental skimmer caught first put in on the pole weighing 2 lb 10 oz from peg 18.

Comparing with other fisheries the lake fished reasonably well.

Result:

1. Dave Poole 44-15-0 peg 6

2. John Williams 42-09-0 peg 22

Silvers:

1. Nick Saunders 2-10-0 peg 18 

Weigh Sheet:

Thursday 02/12/2021 - Bathampton AA - Over 55's and Short Walks

Twenty five fishing today with no short walkers - pictured right. It's a privilege to fish with these guys - 1,000 years of experience lined up. All very good anglers having served apprenticeships on various types of fisheries over those years. Worth a few bob too.

Second into the draw bag and out comes peg 33. This is where the small fish tend to shoal in winter, but with pegs 34 Hughie and peg 32 Pete in it was going to be hard. This section is split across the lake two my side and three the other. The light on my side is awful due to the trees opposite still with their yellow ochre leaves and the sun high above behind us. Arrived at the peg which is a bit of parrot cage making fishing running lines difficult. However, I set up allsorts to help pass the time if it was hard including a feeder rod with a tiny cage feeder.

Due to the light I started short really hoping I could catch small fish for most of the day. I fed some GB laced with LP's and fished single LTR over the top. The expectation was to get a bite first put in, this didn't happen and after 30 minutes and one small Perch. I tried the cage feeder with GB and Pinkies which had to be under armed. After a short wait and no indications I wound in to find a small Rudd attached. Another cast and the same. The fish were so small they couldn't pull the line and tip. This was abandoned in favour of the 4 metre whip with a small waggler fished over loose fed LR's with single on the hook. I had a good run of very small fish averaging 1 1/2 ounces for about an hour before they shied away probably due to the sun brightening. I fed some GB over the line hoping for their return. First try I had a 12 oz Skimmer followed by - nothing. The only way left was to pick up the waggler which was going to be difficult to use due to the tree behind and the light. However, after a few side swipe casts I was able to hit some narrow dark water where I could see the red top waggler. I fished single LR over loose fed same. I had a steady last two hours catching tiny Rudd and and Ronnie's. I only caught the tree twice. This end of the lake doesn't see the sun all day in winter with frost still on the ground from two days ago, so glad to hear the pea less whistle for the all out. 

My 70 odd fish weighed 6 lb 4 oz for section silvers. The section fished really hard except for peg 3 on the opposite bank. However, I thought compared with other fisheries at the moment it fished reasonably well overall.

The match was won by John Smith (pictured with the silvers winner) with 39 lb 10 oz from peg 30. John started on the straight lead with bread hook bait over to the island catching four carp for about 20 lb. He then switched to fish caster over potted caster at 13 metres adding a few skimmers and F1's. Well done mate well fished.

The silvers was won by Paul Barnfield with 13 lb 4 oz from peg 3. Paul caught at 13 metres over a few different lines fishing Pinkie over GB laced with dead Pinkie. Well done matey and not too many moaned on!

Back to the Compton for a warm and a pint with a good turn out - "We're going to need a bigger pub". A couple of the lads sporting the new look winter fishing bobble hats - one size fits nobody.

NOTE FOR DIARY: The Silvers priority matches start 06/01/2022. It will include a pairs match. Twenty four booked in.

Result:

Section A:

1. Paul Barnfield 13-04-0 peg 3

Silvers: Mike Nicholls 6-04-0 peg 33

Section B:

1. Andy Gard 14-03-0 peg 6

Silvers: Bob Feltham 8-04-0 peg 10

Section C:

1. Paul Haines 16-01-0 peg 14

Silvers: Andy Greenham 3-13-0 peg 15

Section: D

1. Gary Bowden 18-08-0 peg 24

Silvers: Tony Rixon 7-08-0 peg 27

Section E:

1. John Smith 39-10-0 peg 30

Silvers: Dave Wride 8-08-0 peg 31

Weigh Sheets: