Thursday 29/09/2022 - Ray's Rip Off - Windmill Fishery - Match Lake

Seeing this jumper took me back some 25 years. Sensas had sponsored our Bristol team and was the best support we had out of three others, especially the GB. The jumper in the picture was previously owned by Rod Hill (RIP good friend), big shoes to fill. Understandable and nice to see the jumper is still on view albeit a few patches. 

My day didn't start well with a trolley puncture, it was only to get worse.

With Ray on holiday Dave Haines stepped up to run the match. In to the draw bag and out comes peg 10. In form peg for carp. Next door on 9 was "born to feed" Paul Barnfield.

We had some heavy rain overnight which had coloured the water somewhat. The question was will it effect the fishing.

Still decided to fish for the silvers on the waggler and fish for carp in the last hour or so short at top set plus one, but had this doubt that this might be too short today. I had been having problems with my reel with the bale arm not always shutting, instead spinning so had put in the new Drennan reel, but forgetfully still put the troublesome reel on which was still fishable albeit an irritability. For the pole i choose the RJ slim ideal for 4 foot of water. Of course the Ronnie rig.

Started on the Ronnie rig with maggot after 15 minutes without an indication should have told me to forget the silvers and fish for carp! Instead picked up the waggler with maggot and after 30 minutes and no silvers and one carp and a few foulers this should have told me to forget the silvers. Instead persevered catching the odd tiny Skimmers and Ronnie. Foul hooked a decent Skimmer which was bumped off by me hitting the umbrella with the rod. Umbrella was ceremonially chucked behind me, it wasn't going to effect the results though. After a lot of waggler thrashing and few foulers one more carp in the net. I hooked another carp which was played in short when the bale arm came bale ring out of the arm braking the line in the process. Waggler binned - reel now in the spares department.

Meanwhile Paul next door was emptying it at 13 metres. more or less kept to the plan and switched to the pole with worm and micro as anticipated it was too short so went out to three barrels and added another four carp before the all out.

Because we had just the one set of scales it was along weight before they arrived. As they say things happens in three's so, yep, the scales battery had gone. Dave "Three Galps" Gillard pictured wondering why he had the short straw for the scales today). Another wait before a set of dial scales arrived.

My silvers weighed 3 lb 6 oz and my six small carp 25 lb for sixth 28 lb 6 oz. Feel the cold rain did affect the silvers. I did have enough carp in the mouth to get second but the Gods were against today. That's three times I've not done this peg justice - by getting it wrong. Definitely won't bother with the silvers here next time - or will I?

The match was won by Paul Barnfield from peg 9 pictured with 98 lb. Paul caught at 13 metres fishing worm over potted chopped worm and micro loose feeding fours over the top. Well done matey.

The silvers was won by Dave Haines (pictured with the match winner) with 6 lb 4 oz from peg 4. Dave caught on 3 metre whip with maggot over loose fed maggot. Well done matey.

Back to the Ringer with the usual suspects. Again cheese rolls and Branston pickle laid  - excellent pub one which is not taking advantage over drink prices. A bad day soon forgotten.

Weigh Sheet - and Result:

Sunday 25/09/2022 - Windmill Fishery Open - Match Lake

Little bit colder this morning caused by a NW breeze. I have been taking paste every match this summer and hardly used it, so today decided not to take any and just focus on the silvers.

Full house again of 20. I hear there are plans to increase this in future by including the top lake.

I had my usual walk around and compared with other fisheries in the area the match lake is holding its water well with it down only about 18 inches.

In to the draw bag and out comes peg 14 the "Just Magic" Boat peg (he draws there enough) and one of the inform carp pegs. On the end bank I could see Ray Bazeley and Mike Chapman - also good carp pegs.

Committed to the Waggler and silvers so that was set up plus the long Ronnie rig and a 0.3 gram RJ slim (great little floats -  contact Ryan Jordan) for worm and maggot to fish at 1 o clock at an eye watering four barrels with the hope of catching some of the big skimmers in the peg.

No GB today. Started on the long Ronnie rig with loose fed LR's with single on the hook and caught a few really small Ronnie's and Perch, but it wasn't happening like it should so rig abandoned yet again. Fed the skimmer line with four chopped worms, maggot and micro. So out on the waggler - a sawn off bodied drake reduced to 6 inches set to 30 inches deep. Had a good hour catching silvers mainly this time small skimmers to 6 oz. I could see carp up on the far shelf and weren't interested in feeding however, they were a pain as the foul hooking started, didn't keep count but it was embarrassingly high number. Nothing I could do - casting over them was the issue rather than the feeding. The silvers were spasmodic but did have of  skimmer a 1 1/2 lb and a two about 1 lb and did manage to land two carp in the mouth. The carp had been with me until 90 minutes to go and disappeared off the far ledge so thought the silvers might pick up - they didn't. Throughout kept trying the worn line only to get tugs form micro Perch. With 40 minutes to go and after topping up with four worms tried it again - after a Perch tug I hooked a carp in the mouth. Following this one the carp fishing was manic landing eight before the end. Just couldn't put in quick enough - but no skimmers. Ray Bazeley and most of the anglers down our end also found the carp and switched well on at a similar time. The signs were there when the had disappeared from the far shelf to go down on the feed.

My carp weighed 47 lb 12 oz and silvers 9 lb 7 oz for a silvers win with the total weight of 57 lb 3 oz getting me second, just piped by 9 oz! - so a double bubble. Very enjoyable day.

The match was won by Malcolm Fitzgerald (pictured with the silvers winner) with 57 lb 12 oz from peg 10. Again Malcolm was blanking until 1 1/2 hours to go when the carp went manic. Malcolm fished top set plus one with maggot over potted and loose fed maggot. Well done matey.

Very tight frame today which is good.

Back to the Ringer with the usual suspects - where were asked to form a crib team!!

Result:

1. Malcom Fitzgerald 57-12-0  peg 10

2. Mike Nicholls 57-03-0 peg 14

3. Ray Bazeley 55-02-0 peg 12 (fished a tidy match)

4. Nick Saunders 52-04-0 peg 9

5. Leyton Palmer 48-04-0 peg 3

6. Gerry Walsh 44-08-0 peg 8

Silvers:

1. Mike Nicholls 9-07-0 peg 14

2. John Osbourne 5-13-0 peg 20

Weigh Sheet: (Not seen one neater)

Thursday 22/09/2022 - Ray's Rip Off - Windmill Fishery - Match Lake

Another beautiful Autumn day. Credit where credit is due - and a well done to Andy Gard for keeping the access road in such good order and the other managers for turning this fishery around. Keep it up mateys. No sign of the Cormorants as of yet, fingers crossed.

In to the draw bag and out comes peg 20 - the IKEA peg - self assembly flat pack platform! Great company with Dave Poole 19 and Geoff Francis 21. Better draw for silvers than Sunday. However, with most the carp coming out from the far end pegs 9 to 14 didn't think carp was an option except for a section, but still set up a paste rig for the last hour which didn't get wet.

My match was almost identical to Sundays catching on the waggler with single LR over loose feed same which caught 95% of my silvers. Three lost foul hooked carp and one 4 lb in the mouth. Felt I didn't get the feeding right Sunday so varied it a bit today and still thought it wasn't right with dry spells which guessing was my feeding attracting carp. Here again Sunday and will try some different options again, such as spreading the feed a bit more. Very enjoyable day's fishing all the same.

The one beautiful coloured Common carp went 3 lb 14 oz and the silvers 10 lb 15 oz for first silvers by default. Happy to get double figures from here today. I'm feeling really fit at the moment and is reflecting in my fishing.

The match and the silvers was won by Paul Barnfield (pictured with the defaulter silvers winner) with 12 lb 11 silvers and a winning weight of 79 lb 1 oz from peg 14. Paul caught on his usual method of worm hook bait over copious amounts of micro and chopped worm feed. Well done matey especially for the double bubble.

Back to the Ringer with the usual suspects. A big thank you to Dave Haines for arranging the after match rolls and of course the staff for providing them foc.

Result:

1. Paul Barnfield 79-01-0 peg 14

2. Dave Willmott 73-14-0 peg 10

3. Kev Winstone 72-08-0 peg 12

4. John Smith 44-03-0 peg 18

5. Kev Bamford 32-09-0 peg 23

6. Paul Haines/Pete Greenslade 29-10-0 peg 8/25

Silvers:

1. Paul Barnfield 12-11-0 peg 14

2. Mike Nicholls 10-15-0 peg 20 

Weigh Sheets:

Sunday 18/09/2022 - Windmill Open - Match Lake

My favourite time of year nearly here with the early morning mist rising from the match lake. Had my usual walk around to find pegs 17,16 and 8 full of litter. all collected and disposed of. Guessing teenagers - pictured.

Good turn out with 21 fishing. To justify the ball of paste I was hoping for pegs 14,12,10 or 1 . However, had to settle for peg 4, which I have had my fair share of. Not my favourite. For company I had Jason on peg 3 and Kevin Bamford on 5.

The opposite side of the lake is best for silvers, but with only 5 lb needed at the moment thought this doable from the peg so set the roost out accordingly:-

Short and long Ronnie rigs, 4x10 F1 light rig for the margins, a 4x13 MR to fish top set plus 3 barrels and the waggler.

Started on the MR with 4 mm expander over kindered micro in the hope of a skimmer or two. First put in and a 4 lb Common landed. Next put in a lost fouler. Following this I was getting tiny indications which proved to be 1 oz skimmers and managed just the two before switching the feed to Pinkie in GB (which wasn't to get fished over). Tried both Ronnie rigs with single LR on the hook over loose feed same and after 30 minutes of no indications it was very disappointing to have to abandon these banker silvers rigs. So picked up the waggler with single LR over LR loose feed. For the next 30 minutes I landed one carp and lost 4 foulers. This due to either fishing over depth and dragging into them of casting over them. I shallowed up and after a blank spell started to catch the odd Ronnie and skimmer. Only hooked one more carp which was landed. It was a question of catch 3 or 4 silvers before it slowed then 3 or 4 more. Think this was due my feeding pattern and carp interference. 30 minutes to go I had two consecutive better skimmers. The last 5 minutes was spent retrieving  Kevin's top set attached to a very angry carp. Come to think of it he didn't shout "fish on". It's just enjoyable helping a mate as being helped.

My three carp weighed 11 lb 13 oz and my silver 8 lb 11 for the silvers win. The total of 20 lb 8 oz was nearly last. Very enjoyable fishing the waggler - a skill lost to many nowadays.

The match was won by Kevin Bamford on next peg 5 (pictured with the silvers winner) with 74 lb 7 oz. Kevin had just returned form Whiteacres and decided not to waste his left over worms and casters putting them to good use at 11.5 metres. Kevin caught 13 carp steady over the six hours. Well done matey.

Result:

1. Kevin Bamford 74-07-0 peg 5

2. Nick Saunders 65-14-0 peg 12

3. Malcolm Fitzgerald 58-15-0 peg 10

4. Paul Elms 57-04-0 peg 21

Silvers:

1. Mike Nicholls 8-11-0 peg 4

2. Dave Haines 7-07-0 peg 22

Weigh Sheet:

Thursday 15/09/2022 - Over 55's - Westerleigh - Taylors Pool and Ships Canal

With Hunstrete closed due to low water levels and with the over 55's still wanting their weekly fix we booked Westerleigh which has been fishing reasonably well. However, the day before some of us were celebrating one our own, Kev Winstone's marriage, so a few blurry eyes especially Junior who was suffering from red wine amnesia. A great day out and must say - a beautiful bride indeed - great catch.

Sixteen fishing so match split into two - eight on each pool. My preference would have been Shipp's canal. Into the draw bag and out comes Taylors peg 22. Happy with this as for unknown reason is the better side of the pool. For company I had Chris Ollis on peg 21.

As expected the water levels were well down. Mark Taylor had told us that the bar on Taylors was now only a foot deep but was fishing well close in - suits me sir. I set up the waggler to chuck around and a 4 x13 MR to fish top set plus two barrels with the intentions of fishing for silvers. Started on 4 mm expander over micro and had a 1 lb carp first put in. I then got pestered by indications from small Crucian carp with none getting on the hook - frustrating. So picked up the waggler with LR's on the hook over the same loose feed and first cast had a small carp then a few small Ronnie's. It was slow. Have tried the Ronnie rig every time Iv'e fished here and never really caught on it. So decided to set it and give it another try. Fed some GB with Pinkie and started to catch the Crucians, Ronnie's and small Skimmers and the occasional carp to 1 1/2lb on single LR. 

Chris Ollis had been catching well and had already put another net in and could see Pete Greenslade's landing net continually waving about in the air. Thought I was behind on the carp front and with about one hour to go my peg had slowed. So complete focus on silvers then, so shallowed to half depth and started to loose feed the LR's and started to get some better Ronnie's and Skimmer's. In between catching some better carp to 3 lb which were put in a third net. The upshot was catch a few silvers then a better carp, then a few silvers...had a great last knockings but still felt Chris or Pete would beat me overall.

My carp weighed 75 lb 2 oz with the last hour net containing 39 lb. My silvers weighed 11 lb for a total of 86 lb 3 oz for a double bubble. Just piping Pete and winning the silvers. Well done Pete.

Shipp's canal was won by Gary Bowden (Junior pictured with the top two) with 63 lb 1 oz from peg 7. Guessing paste was involved somewhere.

Great little venue.

Back to the pub with only half the suspects to round of another memorable day.

Result:

Taylors Pool:

1. Mike Nicholls 86-03-0 peg 22

2. Pete Greenslade 73-08-0 peg 19

Silvers: Mike Nicholls 11-0-0 peg 22

Shipp's Canal: 

1. Gary Bowden 63-01-0 peg 7

2. Shay Gillman 35-0-0 peg 9

Silvers: Paul Clayton 4-10-0 peg 11

Weigh Sheets:

Saturday 10/09/2022 - Dave Crookes Open - Hunstrete - With Pool

Always try to fish Dave's memorial Match. He was a great servant to the club and a hard act to follow. A young Dave pictured inspecting the Monk prior to the opening of Withy Pool.

Some food and drinks laid on by the club at the draw. Committee members cooking whilst the fishery Manger was doing his best to wash up under close supervision - pictured.

Two matches in memory today - A 24 hours carp match on the Main Lake and us match anglers on Withy pool. The carp crew pictured - bet they don't look so fresh tomorrow morning. When I left a few fish had come out with one going 28 lb 8 oz. More details and results will be available on the BAA website.

I walked around Withy with Aaron Brinell to give some guidance on the usual pegs used by the Over 55's. With 21 fishing it wasn't too bad finding pegs even though some may need fishing in front of the platform. Due to the lack of rain the pool was down at least two foot and flat calm - it was going to be a hard match. Aaron repegged the match and for those that wasn't there peg 1 was perm peg 71 and went anticlockwise around the pool.

I was feeling really good today so no short walk for me even though some of the short walk pegs have been fishing well for carp. Our pegs were drawn for us, peg 7 is where I would spent the next 6 hours which was peg perm 62 on the North bank a peg I seem to keep drawing. Found myself next to Aaron on peg 6! This bank is very shallow at normal water levels, with low water it was going to be hard. I didn't think carp was going to be an option so set the roost up for silvers but did have a paste rig handy in case a carp or two arrived late on. I expected to catch mainly small Ronnie's which meant fishing long would be too slow so set up the 4 metre whip which got me 3 foot of water. I also set up the long Ronnie rig which got me 6 inches less. The margin was 2 inches so would fish the paste out in 2 foot - but was to stay in the roost for the duration.

GB laced with Pinkies was fed on both lines using either top two of top three at arms length. Started short and started to catch Roach fry so the next GB feed had large DR's in and once the loose GB reached the bottom I caught some 1 - 2 oz Ronnie's and tiny skimmers. However, until it reached bottom the fry were very active. The upshot was I spent half the match on the short line and the second on the 4 metre whip without a sign of a carp or anything over 3 oz.

My silvers weighed 14 lb 7 oz which was about 200 fish. This got me first in the silvers - so mission accomplished. Last year I won the Dave Crookes and now the silvers, happy with this - one for you Dave.

The match was won by Kevin Fothergill (pictured with the silvers winner) with 89 lb 3 oz from peg 10. Kev caught on the method over to the sanctuary bank using micro and banded pellet. His catch consisted of 13 carp.

Glenn Bailey drew the point peg and out of desperation fished round the corner margin with paste and nearly got dragged into the sanctuary twice - up on the tip of his toes at one time - hilarious.

The club raised £1,000 for charity - well done everyone.

Back to the Compton for a well earn pint of Doombar.

Result:

1. Kev Fothergill 89-03-0 peg 10

2. John Smith 52-0-0 peg 3

3. Kev Winstone 45-09-0 peg 12 (P51)

4. Leighton Palmer 42-0-0 peg 17 (P42)

5. Luke Fothergill 41-15-0 peg 8

Silvers:

1. Mike Nicholls 14-07-0 peg 6

2. Kev Winstone 11-06-0 peg 12

3. John Smith 11-06-0 peg 3

Weigh Sheet:

Thursday 01/09/2023 - Bathampton AA Over 55's and Short Walks - Bridge Pool

Having fished Withy Pool all through the winter and just as we were starting to catch some of the Withy carp the club has moved us back to Bridge where there has been a recent massive fish kill. The members weren't happy with this as the recent trial match on the pool proved to be hard fishing confirming the massive loss of fish. Don't think there will be many fishing Bridge Pool in the winter.

Twenty One fishing today. 

One of the short walks today and Dave pulled me peg 2 an end peg today as 1 wasn't in. I didn't know what to expect.

I don't know if anyone has seen a "Methodist Dance" which I witnessed today. This phenomenal is brought on when a method feeder angler arrives at his peg with no island chuck - the dance starts on the yell of "I'm going home" followed by minor tackle abuse. It lasts for about 15 minutes followed by signing a song they don't know the words to. Anyway good company in matey Paul Haines today on open water peg 3

Paul Barnfield mentioned that there was still some very small Roach to be caught. In the past this end of the pool was best for them. So set up both short and long Ronnie rigs and a very optimistic paste float for the RH margin.

Started by feeding GB on both Ronnie rig lines. Started short on a single live crappy red maggot and surprise had indications straight away and second cast had a 2 lb F1. I then had a run of small Ronnie's and the odd Perch. It soon died so spent the remainder of the match on the long Ronnie rig catching mostly small Ronnie's to 2 oz four 3 oz Skimmers. For a short period tried catching carp on paste that's no longer in the pool, did see one lonely unhealthy carp swimming around. I lost a 6 oz Hybrid having got it on the landing net which I dropped for it to find it's freedom. For some reason loose feeding LCRM's wasn't working. I did have four more F1's albeit small. On the death I caught the last 1 lb Chub.

My five F1's weighed 6 lb 12 oz and my silvers 8 lb 4 oz for a total of 15 lb for 5th overall and third silvers and section pick up. So some of the rust gone.

The match was won by Kev Winstone (pictured right - soon to get married. I think it too soon as he has only been living with her for 29 years) with 29 lb 2 oz from peg 31. Kev caught mainly F1's fishing 14.5 metres to the the opposite island. His silvers catch include two big scabby skimmers for 4 lb (thought it needed mentioning). Not sure how Kev caught but could hear his scissors clicking away for most of the day. Although he pots like a girl thought he fished a tidy match.

The silvers was won by Paul Barnfield (pictured) with a lowly 9 lb from peg 16. Paul cay=guht mainly at 11 metres on maggot hook bait over chopped worm and micro.

As the weigh board shows the pool fish really bad compared to pre fish loss and trial match. Was the fish loss bad luck or bad fishery management - have to give the benefit of the doubt. Hope BAA management lets us get back on Withy full time until the issues of Bridge are resolved.

Back to the Compton with the usual suspects which I thoroughly enjoyed.

Result:

1. Kev Winstone 29-02-0 peg 31

2. Shay Gillman 19-0-0 peg 11

3. John Smith 18-12-0 peg 28

4. Chris Rolfe 16-0-0 peg 19

5. Mike Nicholls 15-0-0 peg 2

6. Paul Barnfield 14-02-0 peg 16

Silvers:

1. Paul Barnfield 9-0-0 peg 16

2. Kev Winstone 8-06-0 peg 31

3. Mike Nicholls 8-04-0 peg 2

Weigh Sheets: