Thursday 03/02/2022 - Bathampton Winter Silvers Series - Withy Pool

With Bridge Pool closed due to an Algae issue we were moved to Withy which to be fair due to the quality Roach fishing would be much more appropriate for the silver series. However, it was very upsetting to drive past our beloved Bridge Pool to see its sorry state - pictured - at least the Sea Gulls are having a fill.

With twenty fishing it would be difficult to peg but, Tony and me had it sorted - almost. Sorry Pete.

We all wanted to draw in the bowl preferably one of the two flyer point pegs. Into the draw bag and out comes peg 59. Happy with this as it was an end peg and just into the bowl. However, my section ran to one past the car park point peg 66 which was occupied by Tony Rixon, so he was favourite to win the section. It wasn't to turn out this way. The other point peg was drawn by my pairs partner. For company on peg peg 58 was Paul Haines who broke his waggler rod tip in tree branches which were just behind him.

Haven't used my Colmic 808 due to not being able to buy spare top sets, but found my Drennan number 3 fitted perfectly so decided to use that today as its a superior pole. These pegs along the North bank are shallow close in and don't drop off until about 11.5 metres. So with my shoulders still an issue I decided I would feed with the pole and fish the waggler over it. I set up a 4x14 float just for plumbing purposes. As the wind was predicted to increase I chose an 8 inch Drake bodied waggler, usual 3 lb Maxima main line and 0.14 GLine hook length to a no 20 Tubertini 808 hook - some big carp in this Pool.

Potted three big balls of GB laced with caster and Pinkie and fed a few casters over the top at 11. 5 metres. Started on the waggler with single LR and basically caught Ronnie's from 1/2 to 10 ounces throughout the match with it slowing in the last hour. Topping up the GB just the once. The pole was only use for GBing.

I weighed 13 lb 13 oz for section second with Chris Ollis (pictured) winning the section aided by a lovely near 2 lb Perch.

The match was won by Tony Ponting (pictured with his pairs partner) with 20 lb 6 oz from point peg 46. Tony initially caught short at top set plus two and later at 11.5 metres to keep quality Roach coming using maggot over GB.

Nice to see not one carp landed. The Pool fished really well.

Result:

1. Tony Ponting 20-06-0 peg 46

2. Paul Barnfield 19-04-0 peg 43

3. Dave Wride 17-05-0 peg 44

4. Chris Ollis 14-11-0 peg 66

5. Mike Nicholls 13-13-0 peg 59

6. Tony Rixon 13-02-0 peg 65

Weigh Sheets:

Silvers Pairs To Date: