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: