Sunday 08/05/2022 - Tony Rixon's Nearly Short Pole League - Round One - Chiltern Trinity - Woodlands

Tony decided to change the short pole from three barrels to 13 metres for this venue only mainly due to the venue not fishing as well as it did with the expectation of increased weights and aid the slappers.

Arrived with Glenn in time for a walk around and noticed that the water level was higher than I remember - don't know why because its been a dry Spring. Also there was plenty of carp blowing in the low and high numbers where the light wind was blowing into. Therefore pegs 6 or 1 would be my choice.

Found these three reminiscing (pictured) over the success of the GAS's (Bristol Rovers) 7 - 0  win to gain promotion by more goals scored - unbelievable - last of the summer wine jumps to mind.

Into the draw bag and out comes peg 12 well out of any wind. I was worried the bank would be difficult to set up on but was pleasantly surprised to find that a lot of work has been done finding it easy to plonk the seat box down. For company I had Bob Gullick on 14 and Steve Segar on 13 so good company albeit plenty of chatter/ribbing between these two to follow.

I had no intentions of slapping 13 metres about all day and choose to fish for silvers. Set up both long and short Ronnie rigs and a 4x16 Winter Titan to fish at three barrels in 8 ft 6 inches (too deep) of water for Chop worn and caster for skimmers. Fed the short Ronnie line with caster and a bit of GB and the long line with two heavy balls containing chopped worm and caster - messy business. I wasn't sure if the Ronnie's would be feeding as they have just finished  spawning so tried the short Ronnie rig and had one first put in. So confident I could keep be busy. Tested the long line with worm hook bait. There was signs of blowing so was hopeful and my first bite was a very angry 11 lb Mirror which snagged me twice and twice I pulled for a break which got it out and in the landing net where it was fighting so hard couldn't get the hook out it finally trashed the rig. Out again and foul hooked another carp. Bugger this on to the Ronnie's. Catching a 1 -2 ox Ronnie every put in until I hooked a large fish which went from thinking Carp to Tench to seeing a large Perch of about 2 1/2 lb unfortunately it came off at the net thinking I had scooped it was disappointed to see I had missed it - bugger. The short line died so went for a stroll along out bank everyone as struggling with the silvers conspicuous by their absence with little to no accidentals caught. Steve had not had a bite for the first 2 1/2 hours similarly Bob had two carp and was struggling - in the wrong area came to mind. Went back and seen the match out on the long Ronnie rig in 5 foot of water which was well up the shelf.

My silvers weighed 11 lb 5 oz and the one carp 11 lb 9 oz! Having seen the silver results from the other banks think either the skimmers weren't our side or should have stayed on the long line longer.

The match was won by Matt Sheppard (pictured with the silvers winner waving his wonga) with 140 lb 12 oz from peg 6. Matt caught mainly on his top set down his RH side using corn over corn or down the left with corn over GB landing carp to 15 lb. Well done matey.

The silvers was won by Dave "The Drain" Lewis with 35 lb 3 oz from near side peg 27. Dave caught on his favoured chop worm and caster fished at 13 metres. Well done matey.

Result:

1. Matt Sheppard 140-12-0 peg 6

2. Ryan Shipp 130-06-0 peg 17 (Worm and caster down edge)

3. Joe McMahon 116-15-0 peg 31 (slapping pellet at 13 meters)

4. Glenn Bailey 103-15-0 peg 21 (Paste perhaps)

5. Vince Shipp 88-10-0 peg 20

6. Ricky Mills 88-03-0 peg 7

Silvers:

1. Dave Lewis 35-03-0 peg 27

2. Ryan Shipp 25-03-0n peg 17

3. Kev Winstone 14-02-0 peg 18

Weigh Sheets: