Thursday 28/04/2022 - Bathampton AA - Withy Pool - Over 55's and Short Walks

Thought I would be the first there this morning only to be beaten by "Just Like That" Granty - pictured

Cold this morning again - bloody NE winds.

Good turn out with 25 fishing, which meant pegging would be difficult. Soon sorted.

Into the draw bag and out comes first time in the draw peg 50. No emotion. For company had fellow Gas Head John Smith in the gap peg 51.

Could reach the far bank with a stretched 13 metre, but settled for two barrels as going to fish for silvers. Did set up a paste rig for the RH margin which was tried once but the carp don't usually come put from the sanctuary gap. Set up the long and short Ronnie rig and a 4x13 MR to fish initially at one barrel then later two.

Fed the long rig with GB laced with Pinkie and loose fed LR's down the RH side for the short rig. With single LR on the hook I had a good start on the long rig catching mainly 4oz skimmers with a smattering of Ronnie's. It died so put double Pinkie on the hook which totally revived the peg, stayed with this hook bait for the rest of the match. Kept the laced GB going in which kept them coming. Slowed so tried the short rig which was slow but did had a few Rudd and tiny Perch before abandoning it in favour of the long rig. It slowed so went over it with the MR at one barrel, later opened two lines at three barrels to keep the odd skimmers and Ronnie coming by swapping around. It was necessary to fish over the line as soon as you fed then leave and feed the other line. I did catch a few on the drop soon after feeding, definitely following the hook bait down.

Meanwhile John had been doing battle with the decent size carp in the gap only loosing three, as John found out you can't use line clips on this peg.

My silvers weighed 18 lb 5 oz fro second in the silvers. Very enjoyable trying to keep some fish coming for the 6 hours albeit slow at times.

The match was won by John Smith (pictured with some of his catch) with 58 lb 6 oz from peg 51. John caught on both pellet waggler and the method fishing 8 mm banded pellet in to the gap. Well done matey good contest between you and Geoff Francis.

The silvers was won by Mike Gayle (pictured with the match winner) with 19 lb 12 oz from peg 59. Mike caught long with worm over Chopped worm and GB and later catching some quality Roach on caster up and down in the water. Well done matey.

Back to the Compton with the usual suspects.

Result:

1. John Smith 58-06-0 peg 51

2. Geoff Francis 55-04-0 peg 45

3. Paul Barnfield 53-04-0 peg 58

4. Pete Greenslade 40-04-0 peg 42

5. Ray Bazeley 33-09-0 peg 40

6. Chris Ollis 32-14-0 peg 59

Silvers:

1. Mike Gayle 19-12-0 peg 59

2. Mike Nicholls 18-05-0 peg 50

3. Paul Barnfield 13-09-0 peg 58

4. Tony Ponting 8-02-0 peg 65

Weigh Sheets:

Sunday 24/04/2022 - Tony Rixon Open - Todber Manor - White Post

Informed that Bob Sheppard passed away last night. Bob was a valued member of our successful Avon Angling team. Will always remember our long chats in the Airbus coffee shop. RIP matey.

A Tony Rixon Open at White Post instead of short pole on Hillview (not Tewkesbury - Why? Won't go into detail leaving it to Tony to explain. Steady drive down with Glenn and a bacon and egg roll from the Todber van, tasty.

Was told that some silvers had been stocked in both upper and lower White Post. However, I had only put carp slaying top sets in the tube plus the faithful Ronnie rig which, because I fish it to hand also has a heavyish elastic.

A case of flying and pick up draw cards, choosing the one that landed closest to me. Opened it to find peg 24. Knew instantly that it would be impossible to beat the two point pegs to my right. Arrived at the peg which is set back in a small bay and spotted a Roach top close into the bank in the bay, so it would be silvers back to front. These pegs are just over 2 foot deep from near to far bank so one 4 x10 Winter Titan set up to fish at two barrels which was a tad light due to the nasty NW wind which was once again blowing directly into me - bugger off. The other rig was the short Ronnie rig.

Fed the both the long and Ronnie line with lose GB and Pinkie. Started on the Ronnie rig and hooked a 8 oz Rudd first cast which fell off on the bank but couldn't rescue it before it went back. Never mind plenty more, nope was to be the biggest silver I caught. Stayed on the Ronnie rig for the first hour catching 1 - 2 oz fish every other cast on single LR missing a few bites. Topped up and tried the long line the wind was a right pest on this light rig but soon had a 4 oz skimmer the next two 4 oz fish came off due to the heavy 14 elastic very frustrating. after one Ronnie and another lost 4 oz skimmer threw the towel in. Staying on the Ronnie rig for the remainder of the match. I was pestered by the occasional accidental carp including a 4 lb F1. Interestingly every time I fed GB and Pinkie could guarantee to catch one. However, the Ronnie's would soon return.

My seven carp weighed 26 lb 6 oz and my circa 250 Ronnie's weighed in at 17 lb 2 oz for second in the silvers silvers losing out to matey Kev Winstone (according to Chris Davis the apprentice corpse) by 6 oz. With what I learned by feeding Pinkie in loose GB and catching carp might have been worth a try out on the long line had the wind been kinder. As predicted the two pegs to my right whom could reach the far bank were first and second on bottom White Post pegs 22 and 21.

The match was won by Matt Sheppard (pictured with the silvers winner) with 168 lb 2 oz from peg 11. Matt caught most of his fish down both margins - one side corn over corn and the other maggot over maggot. Well done matey.

The silvers was won by matey Kev Winstone (pictured with the match winner) with 17 lb 8 oz of mainly small skimmer to 1 lb. Kev caught at top set plus four barrels using maggot over GB. Well done matey and thanks for the poke in the chest!

Steady drive home in the double one out van accompanied by a large San Miguel.

Result:

1. Matt Sheppard 168-02-0 peg 11

2. Ryan Shipp 167-08-0 peg 5 (method)

3. Glenn Bailey 140-04-0 peg (paste 13 metres)

4. Ricky Mills 132-01-0 peg 21 (banded pellet over)

5. Tony Rixon 137-05-0 peg 1

6. Lee Masey 124-12-0 peg 4

Silvers:

1. Kev Winstone 17-08-0 peg 17

2. Mike Nicholls 17-02-0 peg 24

3. Chris Davis 14-13-0 peg 2

Weigh Sheets:

Thursday 21/04/2022 - Ray's Rip Off - Windmill Fishery - Match Lake

Arrived early to find a family with two teenage boys setting up to fish peg 17. I informed them that the lake was closed which they took well and on my recommendation moved over to Billy's Pool. It's not pleasant having to do this especially as there was no closure sign on the notice board. Apparently the lake was full yesterday and walking around I picked up a enough rubbish to fill a wheelie bin liner. Don't know how people can walk past rubbish without picking it up.

The wind had done a complete 180 with it blowing from the NW in to the car park end pegs 24 and 25. I had been praying to Anemoi the god of wind hoping it would look favourably on me and keep me out of it, have spent more than my fair share in it, as my wind burn confirms.

Into the draw bag and out comes 1. Although its at the windy end it would be on my left side, so happy with the draw. Got to the peg to find it was an IKEA platform - a self assembly.

The peg is really a carp peg however, with reeds each side thought there might be some Rudd around, so would initially target them so set up the short Rudd rig but wasn't happy with the depth at 4 foot straight off the bank sloping quickly. There may be some large skimmers here so set up the 4x14 Winter Titan at top set out in front in 6 foot which was about two foot up but sloped slowly, ideal for skimmers. Finally a paste rig for tight in to the left well away from the reeds at top set in 4 foot which didn't appeal to me at all.

Fed a pot of micro for the paste, a ball of GB laced with caster and Pinkie down the right for the Rudd and an identical ball our in front. Didn't expect to use any barrels today.

Started loose feeding LR's down the right and had a couple of Ronnie's and Rudd. It was soon clear it would be a struggled on the silvers down the side. Persevered and foul hooked a carp which was soon heading to the reeds luckily the hook pulled. The carp were responding to the maggot lose feed as next put in hooked and landed a 8 lb common caught on the drop. Even the the noise on the bank was saying it was fishing hard all round. It was clear the chance of a silvers pick up was unlikely - it didn't feel right. I had been loose feeding 4's on the paste line and tried it but no indications or nibblers, the depth was putting me off. So out in front where I had been loose feeding some LR's and started to catch the odd tiny Skimmer and Ronnie. I then had a run of carp on the drop. I did loose two which broke me trying to stop them heading for the reeds. Thought the paste might now work so gave that another try and immediately had some indication's only to foul hook a carp followed by four more all coming off. Put this down to the depth and the steep slope combined with them only wanting to take a falling bait i.e the hard 4's loose feed. Spent the rest of the match adding the odd Ronnie and carp on the drop obviously wanting to stay up in the water. Found the whole day enjoyable.

Ended the day with  8 carp for 51 lb and 6 lb 1 oz of small silvers for a third overall total weight of 57 lb 1 oz. Had a shrapnel pick up - pictured. 

The match was won by Shaun Townsend (pictured with the silvers winner) with 85 lb 12 oz from peg 19. Shaun caught tight over at 16 metres fishing meat at 18 inches. Shaun later drop back to 13 metres at same depth slapping meat. Well done Matey.

The silvers was won by Hughie "Unc Albert" Evans (pictured with his net of Rudd) with 19 lb 10 oz from peg 8. Hughie caught at 3 metres fishing a light rig with maggot hook bait over loose fed maggot. Nice day's fishing. Well done Matey decent catch on a hard day.

Back to the Ringer sitting outside out of the wind in the sun. Perfect end to another memorable day.

Result:

1. Shaun Townsend 85-12-0 peg 19

2. Kev Winstone 84-15-0 peg 4 (fished expander)

3. Mike Nicholls 57-01-0 peg 1

4. Laurie Laing 55-02-0 peg 22

5. Glenn Bailey 53-01 peg 10

6. Ray Bazeley 41-03-0 peg 7

Silvers:

1. Hughie Evans 19-10-0 peg 8

2. Rich Britton 13-12-0 peg 20

Weigh Sheets:

Sunday 17/04/2022 - Westerleigh Open - Taylor's Pool and Shipp's Canal

The Westerleigh winter league had a reserve date unused so we arranged a open. Planned to keep it to 8 per pool but found we had a good response and had 3 on the waiting list and as we really didn't want to turn anglers away went with 19 - 10 on Taylor's and 9 on Shipp's. So going to be interesting.

Nice morning albeit a nasty SE wind, again!!

Into the draw bag and out comes Taylor's 17 which is a corner peg. Not the peg of choice by along way. With paying 3 overall on each lake which would come from opposite pegs 22,21,20 or 19 on my pool, and with silver anglers on pegs 25 and 24 and paying only one silvers felt it was a no hoper for a pick up. With the wind hacking into the peg to-boot thinking it was going to be a miserable day - it was.

Set the stool out for silvers so a 4x13 MR to fish initially at top set plus one barrel and to gradually work out to 3 barrels, a 4x10 for the shallow margin again at various barrels down both sides and the waggler which can produce a few skimmers and Ronnie's on maggot. Started at one barrel with single LR over GB with a few Pinkies and had few small skimmers which were mostly foul hooked! Next out to two the barrel line again a couple of small skimmer one foul hooked and a Crucian. Out to three barrels and a one skimmer. On each line pestered by small Perch. Out on the waggler and one Perch and a small Carp. The wind was just too bad to present on the shallow bar in any case couldn't see where the LR feed was going. So gave in and monked about in both margins adding more micro Perch and Ronnie's plus 5 more small carp using the 4x10 in 12 inches of water. As predicted the opposite pegs were producing with my side fishing poorly has they have done all year.

My silvers weighed 4 lb 13 oz which I'm sure consisted of the most fish mainly micro Perch and the six carp weighed 12 lb 9 oz for 17 lb 6 oz which was a above average weight from the peg this year.

The match was won by Lee Masey (pictured with the silvers winner) with 52 lb 12 oz from Shipp's peg 5. Lee caught initially long over to the island using pellet over pellet later switching short with meat. A lot of foul hooking on the lake today. Well done matey.

The silvers was won by Dave Haines (pictured with his catch of skimmers) with 12 lb 4 oz from peg 25. Dave as usual caught on his top set with maggot hook bait over loose fed caster and maggot. Well done matey.

The best part of the day was back in the pub with the winners buying the rounds - happy days.

Result:

Shipp's Canal:

1. Lee Masey 52-12-0 peg 5

2. Paul Barnfield 50-12-0 peg 2

3. Brad Snowden 46-14-0 peg 11

Silvers: Bomber 5-04-0 peg 12

Taylor's Pool:

1. Glenn Bailey 51-0-0 peg 19

2. John Clark 37-11-0 peg 22

3. Martin Mc Mahon 31-11-0 peg 21

Silvers: Dave Haines 12-04-0 peg 25

Weigh Sheets:

Thursday 14/04/2022 - Bathampton AA - Over 55's - Withy Pool

Wind has done one at last and the the temperature has increased, really felt if Spring was back. So expected the resident carp to make an appearance.

Twenty one fishing, making the pegging easier, some pegs haven't been producing so tried pegs 38 and 40 where some carp have recently shown.

With paste in the bag didn't mind where I drew second into the draw bag and out comes peg 56, so once again on the North Bank - good draw. Next door on carp peg 55 was Paul "Barny" Barnfield and Three Gulp's on peg 57. Pegs 54 and 52 were occupied by John Smith and Geoff Francis - "may be trouble ahead"!

Didn't set up the waggler and later was to regret it, did set up the long Ronnie rig and a 4x14 Winter Titan to fish initially two barrels then later three, also set up a RJ 0.3 gram paste rig for the LH margin. Started on the Ronnie rig with single LR over GB and for the first hour had a flying start catching small skimmers and the odd Ronnie to 4oz. The line gradually faded over the second hour but did have two better skimmers. Third hour switched to the Titan at two barrel again single LR over GB and had an immediate response catch a 2 lb and 3 lb skimmer. The line soon slowed but kept adding the odd skimmers and Ronnie which were really noticeable by their absence in this peg. Fourth and fifth hour was a real struggle having to go to three barrels over loose GB came 6 inches off bottom and added two 1 lb Skimmers but very few Ronnie's. John Smith was having a torrid time losing carp in Geoff's peg lost five!! Meanwhile Barny had been caching carp to 15 lb steady. So come the last 45 minutes I went into the LH margin with the paste where I had been potting GB and micro and lose feeding 4's over the top managing two decent carp before the all out. Nice to see the paste working.

Silvers weighed in at 17 lb 6 oz for first silvers and my two carp 22 lb 5 oz for third overall weight of 39 lb 11 oz and another double bubble.

The match was won by Barny (pictured above with his five carp catch) with 72 lb 12 oz from peg 55. Barny caught down his RH margin using meat over meat. He didn't make the mistake of putting any back unlike John. Well done matey.

The Over 55's are coming to terms with Withy and are beginning to think it's fairer (as result show very close with silver weights) than Bridge Pool, suggesting once Bridge is back fishing well they might want to alternate the two pools as we did previously.

Back to the Compton with the usual suspects and outside in the sun - wonderful. However, had my thermal undies on and started to feel like a melting Snowman so pint downed quickly.

Result:

1. Paul Barnfield 72-12-0 peg 55

2. Pete Greenslade 44-05-0 peg 51

3. Mike Nicholls 39-11-0 peg 56

4. John Smith 39-07-0 peg 54

5. Andy Gard 24-08-0 peg 40

6. Andy Greenham 23-06-0 peg 38

Silvers:

1. Mike Nicholls 17-06-0 peg 56

2. Chris Rolfe 16-13-0 peg 58

3. Kev Winstone 16-04-0 peg 43

Weigh Sheets:

Sunday 10/04/2022 - Windmill Open - Match Lake

Timed my drive to the lake, eight minutes to the gate and seven minutes to navigate the 200 metres of rocky road.

Another sell out with a waiting list, must be an increase in the sell of 4x4's.

Another frost, however, the wind had dropped making all the pegs fishable on the pole. Had the usual walk around no sign of fish. Back to the draw and pulled peg 14. One of the best carp pegs if not the best. However, its the worse maintained. Where's the platform? Ah, there's the remnants - pictured. Finally got the trolley through the swamp and set up next to the platform with the front legs in the water. Reasonably comfortable.

My plan was to fish for silvers until either they stopped feeding or 90 minutes from the end when I would see the match out on carp and hopefully have the double bubble covered. However, hasn't thrown up any silvers so far with them being mainly at the car park end, so may be over optimistic. Set up the short Ronnie rig was expecting Rudd so used with a reverse shotting (weight at top and spread out down to the hook) to fish single LR down wind over nuggets of GB and loose feed. A 4x13 MR with black tip to fish top-set plus two barrels down wind one foot up the shelf giving 5 foot for meat later.

Fed the meat line and a nugget and started on the Ronnie/Rudd rig and caught Rudd straight away to 4 oz with the occasional Ronnie and Perch. It went quiet and thought that was the end of the silvers when I foul hooked a carp which broke me. Fed another nugget which brought the silvers back another decent run and was really enjoying sorting the loose feed to keep them coming. Another quiet spell resulted and hook another carp which nearly got in the net before of broke the hook length, long lining with 3 foot of top set makes it difficult to land large carp. Definitely thought that would end the silvers so fed another nugget and tried the meat line as Dave Haines came for a chat I was get liners with the fish being up in the water I did land one and fouling a couple. Back on the Ronnie rig after reversing the shotting and had a nice surprise to find the Ronnie's and Perch had returned, alas not the Rudd. I stayed on the silvers until it completely died, which left 90 minutes for carp, but first changed to a 0.3 gram RJ slim to fish in 3 foot of water down the right side. I had four more carp to 10 lb on the meat. I did foul hook a couple on the drop after feeding due to meat sinking slow. Had a visit from Dave "Willy" Willmott.

My silvers weighed 11 lb 3 oz for the silvers win adding the carp weight took me to third overall with 46 lb 1 oz need another 2lb for second! So double bubble. Should have brought some paste - bugger.

The match was won by Tony Bailey (pictured with the silvers winner) with 95 lb 10 oz from peg 12. Tony started on the method towards the island catching two quick carp then the method down to the LH end bank catching a couple more. After advise from Dave Haines Tony switched to his LH margin catching carp steady to the end using corn over corn. Well done matey.

Can see the similarity with Glenn have to check if he's related.

I choose to climb the steep bank rather than go through the swamp again.

Result:

1. Tony Bailey 95-10-0 peg 12

2. Antonio Barson 47-14-0 peg 7

3. Mike Nicholls 46-01-0 peg 14

4. Gerry Walsh 39-04-0 peg 6

5. John Williams 29-14-0 peg 18

6. Cliff 22-09-0 peg 11

Silvers:

1. Mike Nicholls 11-03-0 peg 14

2. John Osborne 8-03-0 peg 23

3. Andy Gard 6-09-0 peg 1

Weigh Sheet:

Thursday 07'04'2022 - Ray's Rip Off - Windmill Fishery - Match Lake

Ray Bazeley has started his Thursday Rip Off's and will running one every fortnight due to one clubs decision to cancel their bookings because of the poor condition of the access road. I'm not sure how much longer I'm prepared to put my car through the trip along rocky road. 

Promised high winds gusting to 44 mph and that what greeted us. I had my usual walk around and was hoping for a peg on the far bank. The pegs to avoid would be 23,22, 12 and 11.

Last but one into the draw bag and pulled peg 12 with peg 25 last out! Not happy. Arrived at the peg to find the platform all but disintegrated a comfortable day ahead then - pictured above. The wind was hacking directly into my face with some shelter from the island at about 25 metres out, so set up the waggler. I had brought paste but there was no way the conditions would permit this. It can be a good margin peg down the left so set up a 4x12 steel Roob set to 3 foot to fish maggot, but trying it out lost any enthusiasm for it, the wind just blow it into the bank where at least 2 foot of line was dragging, didn't quite give up on it though - yet! I also set up a 4x13 MR to fish meat at top set plus two barrels to fish at 11 o clock with a short line to aid holding back on station. So far no enthusiasm, a challenge ahead. Fed the margin with GB laced with LR's and micro. The MR line with 7 pieces of meat. Started on the meat for about 10 minutes presentation wasn't good and with no indications abandoned it but would keep an eye on Willy Willmott on peg 14 and wait until he started catching before trying again would keep topping it up. Switched to the margin with double LR and had one small Perch. Presentation was awful so abandon the line. Cast the waggler and was pleased with the presentation albeit had six inches dragging. With single LR on the hook over loose fed same had a few Ronnie's before I foul hooked a carp which came off. A few more Ronnie's before getting a 5 lb carp in the mouth. I lost another foul hooker and potentially another which broke me - could have been in the mouth? Had another 5lb carp in the mouth followed by more Ronnie's. Had a right downpour of hail and rain right in the face had to turn my back - bloody freezing as picture right above shows (taken by Willy) . With a hour to go Willy who had been struggling started to catch carp on his favoured meat, so tried it but no signs so had a go at casting the waggler down to the corner in the old peg 13. Hooked a small fish which left me in a right snag to abandoned this line. Sixteen minutes to go thought I see out on the meat line and first put in had a indication and another 5 lb Carp out again and another immediate bite and landed a 6 lb carp on the whistle. Carp arrived too late for me, needed another half hour me thinks.

My few silvers weighed 2 lb 7 oz and my carp 22 lb 13 oz for a double default section win with 25 lb 6 oz. Love a double D.

The match was won by Dave "Willy" Willmott (pictured with the silvers winner) with 58 lb 13 oz from fancied peg 14. Dave caught late using meat over meat at top set plus two barrels down wind (what wind) at 2 o clock. Well dome matey.

The silvers was won by John Osbourne (pictured with the match winner) with 9 lb 8 oz from peg 8. John caught short using maggot hook bait over GB. Well done matey a decent weight in the conditions.

Back to the Ringer with the usual suspect's finding myself in the "Thatchers End" UTG.

Result:

1. Dave Willmott 58-13-0 peg 14

2. Laurie Laing 40-07-0 peg 11

3. Glenn Bailey 28-07-0 peg 4

4. Mike Nicholls 25-06-0 peg 12

5. Bob Price 24-03-0 peg 9

6. Bob Warren 23-14-0 peg 10

Silvers:

1. John Osbourne 9-08-0 peg 8

2. Geoff Francis 8-12-0 peg 21 

Weigh Sheets:

Sunday 03/04/2022 - Westerleigh Winter League - Final Round 8 - Taylor's Pool and Shipp's Canal

Leaving home it was -1 degree, arriving back 12 degrees! Last match of the series, which I have thoroughly enjoyed, the fishing is difficult most of the time which adds something for me. Only 10 minutes from home so plenty of time for some after match socialising with great company. What's not to like?

My turn of Shipp's Canal. I was a bit disappointed to find we would have two missing anglers on our pool which leaves empty pegs giving anglers an advantage - hopefully me!

Currently standing in first pace overall and first in the pairs with John W by 5 lb. All 8 matches count so no droppers or stand-ins. Total pairs weight wins.

Into the car boot draw selecting the nearest disc to find peg 9. It's a strange peg with good anglers blanking on it and anglers winning the pool from it this series. Iv'e drawn it a few times in the past and found it difficult to sort out with just too many options. I was told peg 7 occupied by John C had started to fish and with Brian Shanks sat on peg 4 with pegs 2, 3 and 5 empty felt I was fishing for third which would just about do. John had drawn peg 15 on Taylor's which is the worse peg on the pool so our chances of the pairs were all but gone. We did well to get this far with John missing two matches.

Set up the waggler to fish the gap with maggot, a 4x13 MR to fish at top set plus two barrels and a 4 x12 Winter Titan set to 3 foot to fish around to my left hand margin with expander over micro. 

Fed a small ball of GB on the pole line and pulted a few LR's into the gap. I had a great start catching five small F1's and some Ronnie and a small Tench in the first 30 minutes. I fed another small ball of GB and for some reason the line died, so tried the waggler and caught Ronnie's and one small Crucian. Felt I was already on a struggle. Added another barrel and started a new line with the MR rig at 10 o clock again with GB and caught more Ronnie's and a some very small Skimmers. Now wondering whether I should have been more patient with the first line. Time to try the margin and had two missed bites before adding another small F1 and a small Mirror carp. I kept trying the this line but didn't have another bite from it. The upshot was I tried three line with the waggler and five other lines with the pole with up to six barrels! All lines produced Ronnie's and the odd small skimmer which really told me that there wasn't many F1's around. One line I did,t try was down towards peg 10 only because the wind was blowing up from the direction. At least I knew I would win the pool silvers from the peg even though they were nearly accidentals!!

Silvers weighed 5 lb 10 oz and my few Carp 7 lb 7 oz totalling 13 lb 1 oz. This left me with a lowly 5 points. I had won the pool silvers but found myself relegated to third overall. Another 1 lb 8 oz (one or two F1's) would have got me the 3 points I needed to win. Kicking myself for not trying down to peg 10 where I had caught a few late F1's in the past. As predicted we lost out in the pairs by a good few pounds.

The match was won by Bri Shanks (pictured with the silvers winner) with 44 lb 2 oz from peg 4. Bri caught on 6 mm banded hard pellet initially fishing 1 metre from the island and later having to chase them in tight.

The silvers was won by Hughie Evans with 7 lb 15 oz from peg 22. Hughie caught at 13 metres using GB and maggot hook bait.

The top four overall league winners pictured which was close run. Below full league results at bottom. Well done to all the winners and participants.

Thanks to Bri Shanks for running the league and Mark Taylor for great fishery management (and waggler retriever). Looking forward to next year when Bri expects some additions to the league.

Back to the pub with the usual suspects for the payout - more importantly a well earned pint.

Result:

Taylor's Pool:

1. Martin McMahon 30-02-0 peg 25

2. Ricky Mills 18-05-0 peg 17

Silvers: Hughie Evans 7-15-0 peg 22

Shipp's Canal:

1. Brian Shanks 44-02-0 peg 4

2. John C 29-06-0 peg 7

Silvers: Mike Nicholls 5-10-0 peg 9

Weigh Sheet:

Overall League Final Result:

Thursday 31/03/2022 - Bathampton AA - Over 55's and Short Walks - Withy Pool

With beautiful Spring weather for the last 7 days I was planning on fishing for carp today. however, we would find ourselves back to January's weather with a bitterly cold North wind and some snow! So no paste in the bag today.

Stopped and had a look at Bridge Pool, it looks like the warm weather has helped in increasing fish immunity. Only one Seagull on the water. We all hope that BAA does some serious restocking instead of stocking with unwanted fish from other lakes. Suggest 1,500 - 2 to 3 lb carp, based on the 10% rule equates to 11 lb of catchable carp per peg The realisation is that this is a fishing/match pool.

Numbers down to 19 due to illness from the common cold circulating.

Dave Gillard a me had a walk around the pool to sort out pegs for the day. Thought we would leave out pegs 67 and 68 and try peg 40 and 60. Peg 40 is going to be a good carp peg once they fully awake with 60 being an end peg along the North back which is where you would want to be today with the wind off the back.

Into the draw bag and out comes peg 57. Happy with this have fished nearly all the pegs along this bank. For company on the right was "Three Spikes" peg 56, on the left Andy "Gardenaire" peg 58.

Set up the same as always on this bank - waggler, 4 metre whip and a 4x13 MR which was only intended for plumbing. I fed the waggler line at 11.5 metres with two balls of GB with some Pinkies and the whip line with one ball. Started on the wag with single LR and as expected had an immediate response catching small Ronnie's and Rudd. Have been catching the bigger silvers close in so went on the whip again with single LR and did have some better fish but it was slow and close as to which method was adding the most to the net. So settled on the waggler as it was producing most bites which is what its all about for me. I couldn't see what was going on along my bank as there were bushes both sides. Thought I was doing OK on the wag. The Rudd were getting to the bait first and became a nuisance missing bites with them nicking the maggot. So started heavy feeding LR's on the waggler line for carp. Shallowed up and did indeed hook a carp which was a right beast breaking the hook length - no more carp and waggler abandoned. Shallowed up on the whip and had a run of better fish but knew at 4 metres I was fishing over the rocks. With 41 minutes to go abandoned the whip in favour of fishing the MR at three barrels which took me just over the rocks. Fishing Pinkie over GB I had a great run to the end catching a 2 lb Hybrid adding about 4 lb to the net in this short time.

Weighed 14 lb 3 oz for 5th silvers. At least it was good to know where I went wrong - spending too much time on the waggler and not trying the MR earlier. which i have done in previous matches!! Very enjoyable day and wasn't too cold for me.

The match was won by Pete Greenslade (pictured with the silvers winner) with two carp and a few silver for 28 lb 2 oz from peg 44. Pete caught on meat down his margin in 3 foot of water fishing meat over micro. Well done matey. Withy pool is a great silvers venue - not huge weights but result always close.

The silvers was won by Tony Ponting (pictured with the match winner) with 17 lb 4 oz from end peg 60. Tony caught mostly short fishing various baits over GB. Well done matey.

A good few carp lost due to fouling today so they are starting to wake up.

Back to the Compton with the usual suspects. Thinking we should have a reserved notice on our log fire corner table.

Result:

1. Pete Greenslade 28-02-0 peg 44

2. Paul Barnfield 27-08-0 peg 70

3. Harry Muir 24-15-0 peg 64

Silvers:

1. Tony Ponting 17-04-0 peg 60

2. Kev Winstone 16-05-0 peg 56

3. Andy Gard 15-10-0 peg 58

Weigh Sheets: