Thursday 26/01/2023 - Over 55's (And Some That Look It) - Silvers - Bitterwell Lake

Sad news that Bob Warren passed away this week whilst doing the thing he loved best - fishing. RIP matey.

Arrived to find that 2/3 of the lake ice free and Paul breaking the ice on the few pegs still affected. We had 19 fishing today and a queue waiting at the shop! Some thought there may have been too many fishing but as the results show it fished much better than it did on Tuesday's match.

I didn't mind where I drew but an ice free peg would be favourite so having pulled two discs stuck together, Martin Rayet took the bottom one leaving me the top one, putting him on peg 29, me 27 so ice free but would have the sun in our faces. Good company with Geoff Francis the Apiculturist and Cider Maker on peg 28 and the Hughie Evans the Jimmy Edwards look-a-like on peg 24.

With only 12 oz winning the Tuesday match by John Smith whilst having a sneaky practice, hence thinking a careful approach was necessary. Set up the waggler, 4 metre whip (didn't get off the sub bench) and a 4x13 MR to fish three barrels.

Fed the pole line with a small ball of GB with a few loose Pinkies and loose GB. Pulted a few Pinkies out at about 25 metres - surprised how far they went and reasonably grouped using the new Guru light catapult recommended by Vic Bush for the first time, going to get another reserve one. Started on the waggler with double Pinkie and was soon relieved to have a quick Ronnie in the net. Had a run of small 1 - 2 oz Ronnie's when the sun came out blinding us all on our bank. On went the Polaroid's and having preempted the sun I used the glow tip Drake waggler's, absolutely brilliant visibility glistening in the sun. Had a few more Ronnie's and a 6 oz Skimmer before the peg died which I couldn't understand until I hooked a 5 lb carp which was landed on 0.1 hook length. Thought the fish would now return so thrashed away for far too long foul hooking two more carp. I had kept trying and toping up the pole line to add a couple of Ronnie's before going back on the waggler. Come the last 45 minutes gave up the now non-productive waggler and stayed on the pole resulting in two decent Skimmers and losing two good ones due to the double Pinkie going over the hook and one more carp which tested the 3 elastic with the 0.1 hook length breaking - thankfully.

Weighed 5 lb 6 oz for 6th overall. Kicking myself for loosing those two Skimmers and spending too long on the waggler both costing some coin.

The match was won by Martin Rayet (pictured with his catch of skimmers) with 12 lb 7 oz from peg 29. Martin caught on the pole at 13.5 metres using expander hook bait over kinder micro and fishmeal GB. - Well done matey.

Back to the Ringer where we had some cheese and onion rolls waiting for us kindly provided by the gorgeous Land Lady. Nice end to another great day out with some special people.

Result:

1. Martin Rayet 12-07-0 peg 29

2. Jeff Grant 7-0-0 peg 18

3. Andy Greenham 6-09-0 peg 4

4. Paul Barnfield 6-02-0 peg 1

5. Paul Clayton 6-0-0 peg 23

6. Mike Nicholls 5-06-0 peg 27

Weigh Sheet: