Thursday 23-03-2023 - Ray's Rip Off - Windmill - Match Lake

First stop Hungry Horace's, and a good start to the day and was to prove the best part. The weather was forecast to be awful, it was. Had a walk around the lake with Geoff Francis. Reached peg 16 and said to Geoff it was a peg that you definitely didn't want, hopefully it won't be in the draw today, peg 17 being a much better choice. Hoping for peg 25 which would again have the wind off the back - flat calm.

Into the draw bag and couldn't believe it as peg 16 stuck to my hand - In my opinion the worse peg on the lake. The wind was howling left to right so didn't think the waggler would be a choice and with the wind limiting the pole length set up a light feeder rod with a small cage feeder on a sliding link. Next was a 4 x14 RJ slim to fish three barrels down wind at 45 degrees just down the inside shelf. Had plenty of time so did set up the waggler and amazed how it sat on station. This was due to the very hard tow against the wind so counterbalancing. This gave me some optimism -  got to try and find some positives in this game.

Started on the pole fishing double DR's over potted micro and DR's. After 6 micro Perch the writing was on the wall. A small skimmer and a few Ronnie's before it died. Out on the wag and mag and again had a micro Perch a 12 oz Skimmer and a couple of Ronnie's. Then nothing. Tried the feeder and had a tremble from a 1/2 oz Rudd! Back on the pole adding a couple of small fish before calling it a day with 30 minutes to go. Dreadful days fishing which wasn't unexpected form this peg.

I weighed 1 lb 9 oz for last but one in the match. My weight is the highest from this peg for a while only because there has been 3 FOE's from it the last 3 matches when it was pegged! At least I persevered 😁. And to think I was concerned at only bringing 2 keepnets.

The match was won by venue manager Kev Winstone with 48 lb 12 oz from peg 25. Kev caught long on the pole with micro and maggot. Well done matey.

The silvers was won by Paul Barnfield with 19 lb 1 oz from peg 6. Paul caught on worm over potted micro and chopped worm at 7 metres. Well done matey. Paul fed about 1/4 kilo of worm.

Runner up in both the silvers and the match was John " Standing Man" Osborne pictured below with his net of silvers which he caught at 9 metres fishing double DR's over GB. John didn't hold back on the feed, feeding about 4 pints of GB. Well done matey.

Very limited on the photos due to the horrendous rain and wind. With all my kit soaking wet decided to miss the beer and Baps - miss the Baps!

No weigh sheets as they were readied for a paper mashe modelling.

Result:

1. Kev Winstone 48-12-0 peg 25

2. John Osborne 46-15-0 peg 19

3. Paul Barnfield 38-07-0 peg 6

4. Ray Bazeley 30- 04-0 peg 5

5 Geoff Francis 29-01-0 peg 9

6. Dave Haines 27-11-0 peg 20

Silvers:

1. Paul Barnfield 19-01 peg 6

2. John Osborne 18-04 peg 19