Alcove AC - Whitehouse Farm - Margret's Lake

My first match with Alcove AC and first visit to Whitehouse Farm. Took 15 minutes from home - perfect. Arrived to see anglers I've not seen for years and nice to meet up again. Steve Brown (aka Mr Crabtree) looked just the same except not wearing a tie, and carrying his wicker basket, must ask him how many he's had over the years, expecting a Trigger's brush reply. Seeing anglers with this sort of tackle is scary and not to be underestimated - did their Apprenticeship on rivers etc... for sure.

Had a walk around the lake and didn't fancy pegs 1 or 2 because of the the Willow fluff There were others that would be difficult for me to get down. Fishery looks really well looked after. Really exited to be fishing a new unknown venue.

Drew peg 2! Not particularly happy but who knows. For company on 3 was Glynn Sage who is always cheerful and would fish the feeder all match and on 3 was Steve (Enigma) Dawson. Down round to my right was the Ferris brothers.

Not sure what to expect set the lot up. However, the waggler was to be the only method which would put fish in the net, that is when I could fish it due to the wind blowing the Willow fluff in and out of the peg. I set up a heavier waggler than needed due to casting with rod rings fluffed up, which was a 7" bodied Drake. The only species to feed was Chub which I haven't caught for sometime. I could moan about the fluff but it's nature and there's nothing better and have to live with it. Caught Chub up to 3 lb and lots of Chublets 3 to 4 oz on double LR's over loose fed same, on and off throughout and when fluffed out sat on the paste on the top set for a couple of nibbles probably Gudgeon or had a walk for some learning. I am now a Willow fluff removal expert - need long sharp nails though. With 15 minutes to go lost my waggler which had came off the snap swivel - probably fished all match without it snapped up!!  Waggler was last see circling between peg 1 and 2 but just out of reach for retrieval.

I had Lily pads in front and luckily Lake Chub are not as wise to snags as their river cousins. 

My Chub catch weighed 15 lb 5 oz for the silvers win. Very enjoyable. Would I have had more if it wasn't for the fluff? - who knows. I didn't realise there were lots of carp in the lake so will be prepared more next match.

The match was won by Julie Taylor (pictured with the silvers winner) with 40 lb 11 oz from peg 6. Julie caught on the method feeder with a mixed of ingredients with a banded pellet but didn't know the size! Explains a lot. Well done Julie.

Result:

1. Julie Taylor 40-11-0 peg 6

2. Steve Dawson 31-15-0 peg 4 (incl; Carp 20-07)

3. Tony Welsby 29-10-0 peg 13

4. John Dursley 27-02-0 peg 16

5. Andy Gard 15-12-0 peg 17

6. Mike Nicholls 15-05-0 peg 2

Silvers:

1. Mike Nicholls 15-05-0 peg 2

2. Bill Ferris 7-08-0 peg 18

Weigh Sheet:

Thursday 25/05/2023 - Over 55's (and some that look it) - Westerleigh Fishery - Taylor's Pool and Shipp's Canal

It was very challenging for us to get to the fishery due to a pedestrian being run over by a van on the Ring road. Paul Clayton was the last to arrive taking him 3 hours!!

19 fishing so 10 on Taylor's and 9 on Shipp's, all guaranteed some fish.

Vince Shipp drew for me handing me peg 2, a peg I know well, which can be changeable best with some wind on it, but happy with it nonetheless. Vince drew himself peg 3 so good company especially with Shay Gillman on peg 1 who was to go home with one less top set.

Thought the paste would be good today so set up a 0.4 gram paste rig - down to the bush and would also suit down the right margin with minor adjustment. A 4x13 MR to fish one barrel and the short Ronnie rig - some anglers been asking about this rig, so intend to do a separate write up on it soon.

Fed some 4's down to the bush, a ball of GB out in front and the same down the left for the Ronnie rig. The GB was to prove a mistake. 

Started on MR with double DR's where I expected to catch the usual few F1's, but to my surprise that didn't happen just caught Crucians. So switched the the Ronnie rig with single LR on the hook with loose fed same. Started to catch Ronnie's. Expected the F1's to move over the loose feed driving off the Ronnie's but this didn't happen but was being pestered by Crucians which do like the GB. With Leyton opposite and Vince next door bagging on F1's decided to focus on the silvers especially as to my surprise were still feeding. Due to the Crucians wanting the GB which don't count as silvers switched the Ronnie rig to the right with just the loose feed and caught Ronnie's well plus two small Skimmers. As a trial tried the paste down to the tree but was pestered by Crucians adding a few Carp and F1's but wasn't productive enough to catch up. So back on the Ronni's which fed on and off for the whole match which is unusual telling me the carp weren't about.

My few carp weighed 28 lb 14 oz and my silvers 10 lb 15 oz which was pleasing on this pool. Very enjoyable.

Leyton Palmer (pictured) won Taylors Pool with 71 lb 4 oz from peg 11 fishing paste at 5 metres or so. Well done matey.

Paul Barnfield (pictured with the silvers winner) won Taylors pool with 72 lb 13 oz from peg 17 fishing mainly 13 metres with worm over chopped worm and micro. Well done Matey.

Result:

Taylors Pool:

1. Paul Barnfield 72-13-0 peg 17

2. Martin McMahon 48-06-0 peg 19

Silvers: Pete Greenslade 6-0-0 peg 22

Shipp's Canal:

1. Leyton Palmer 71-04-0 peg 11

2. Vince Shipp 65-11-0 peg 3

Silvers: Mike Nicholls 10-15-0 peg 2

Weigh Sheets:

Sunday 21/05/2023 - Windmill Open - Match Lake

Sun, flowers and shorts out so officially Red Knees Day.

I had booked into the PSV match at Shiplate (love the silvers fishing here), however, went out with Geoff and Glenn for an Indian Saturday night so thought it wise to stay local cancelling instead booking into Windmill. Right decision as it turned out!

I don't have problems walking but the knees suffer going up and down the slopes on some of the pegs carrying items of tackle. So Kev sorted a draw out for me to avoid these pegs. Unfortunately old age doesn't come alone. Into the silk draw bag and bloody peg 16 stuck to my hand. I just can't catch carp on this peg, in fact can't catch anything from it. So it was a question of doing what I like best catching silvers - hopefully. Signs of carp spawning.

Set up the 7" waggler, short Ronnie rig, 4x13 MR and a 0.3 gram RJ Slim. Started on the Ronnie rig with single LR over loose fed same and pestered by micro Rudd - last years eggs. So on to the waggler again with LR's in search of big Skimmers but the wind was difficult had one skimmer before foul hooking two carp then pestered again by last years Rudd eggs. Waggler abandoned. With some anglers already having 100 lb of carp started to feel sorry for myself. So it was catch what you can. I knocked up so GB to feed off the eggs, fed a ball on the top set line in front for the 4x13 MR and some down the margin with loose fed LR's over the top. Set the short Ronnie rig to the margin depth 30 " and same for the RJ Slim. The upshot was by fishing the Ronnie rig in the margin and switching it out in front hence fishing shallow caught some better Ronnie's and another Skimmer. Hooked 3 carp landing two and by putting the RJ Slim down the margin caught two more Skimmers but because it wasn't a "to hand" rig lost a few Ronnie's and Rudd swinging. I reckon by the end had 300 fish in the net but didn't have a clue of weight.

My two carp weighed 10 lb 4 oz and the silvers 16 lb 4 oz for the silvers win.

The match was won by Matthew Hamilton (pictured with the silvers winner) with 172 lb 6 oz from peg 8. Matty caught shallow between 10 and 20 inches fishing caster over caster at either 14.5 metres and 13 metres. He fed about 2 pints of casters. Likewise he was initially pestered by micro Rudd which was a worry for him but came good catching carp to 10 lb. Well done matey.

Result:

1. Mathew Hamilton 172-06-0 peg 8

2. Gerry Welsh 152-13-0 peg 25

3. Shaun Townsend 128-11-0 peg 22

4. Leyton Palmer 99-08-0 pg 20

5. Matt Tainton 70-02-0 peg 14

6. John Williams 65-03-0 peg 6

Silvers:

1. Mike Nicholls 16-04-0 peg 16

2. John Osbourne 8-04-0 peg 6

Weigh Sheets:

Thursday 18/05/2023 - Ray's Rip Off - Wimdmill Fishery - Match Lake

Told today by the BBC that we will reach the "no going back" 1.5 degrees in the next 5 years (said this 5 years ago and 5 years before that). Yet we were discussing todays weather all with different Apps giving different forecasts! Anyway, I can confidently forecast we had a nice warm dry day.

Drew peg 22 which was comfy once the box was set up level, had a foot stool in front too. For company on peg 21 was Martin Alexander aka Arkwright. Set up the waggler with a 8 inch bodied Drake, due to the reeds used 8 lb Sensor reel line, doesn't cast or sink like the 3lb Maxima. A 0.3 gram paste floats (hasn't really worked for me here yet). A 0.4 gram RJ slim and two Ronnie rigs primarily to trial some prototype floats by RJ and me.

GB hasn't been working that well so only brought some dry in case, which was

to stay dry. Having trial shotted the long Ronnie rig it wasn't used. Started on the short Ronnie rig and had the usual run of micro Perch on LR's over loose fed same, a few nuisance Rudd (LOL) and some distressed Ronnie's which have suffered during spawning. Out on the waggler with double LR's - one in blunt end and one in pointy end - pointy end first as tendency to come off otherwise. catted a few LR's and had a 5 lb carp first cast and landed fairly easy - sorted - not. Spent the next hour battling carp in the reads opposite and not winning one. Had to cast close, further away didn't get a bite. Did get two Skimmers before waving the white hanky committing to defeat, Common carp are too quick for me. Back on the Ronnie rig and hooked a big carp which broke me, so on to RJ and had a run of decent carp to 12 lb losing a few for various not to mention embarrassing reasons. Netted six scale perfect beautiful carp, with last half hour produced nothing.

My few silvers weighed 6 lb 10 oz but didn't expect to catch many from this peg at moment. The six carp weighed 54  lb 10 oz for third total of 61 lb 4 oz. Got too memorised fishing the waggler today but was fun - not. Thinking of going back to my old favourite blue Middy elastic.

The match was won by Andy Gard (pictured) with 84 lb 6 oz from peg 20. Andy caught on the waggler and maggot over to the bare bank. He also lost a few. Well done matey.

The silver was won by John Osbourne (pictured) with 12 lb 4 oz from peg 19. John caught on the pole over to the far bank at 15 metres on maggot over potted maggot. Well done matey.

Result:

1. Andy Gard 84-06-0 peg 20

2. Kevin Winstone 76-13-0 peg 8

3. Mike Nicholls 61-04-0 peg 22

4. Shay Gillman 58-07-0 peg 6

5. Haydn Withers 52-12-0 peg 4

6. Andy Taylor 44-06-0 peg 16

Silvers:

1. John Osbourne 14-04-0 peg 19

2. Paul Barnfield 11-04-0 peg 14

Weigh Sheets:

Monday 08/05/2023 - 12/05/2023 - Whiteacres - Club Angler Festival - Twin Oaks, Python, Pollawyn and Trewaters

Primary reason for fishing this festival it to clear one more off my bucket list to fish a festival at Whiteacres, plus I had been invited by a very nice person. Shared a Lodged on Nelsons Field with Kev Winstone, Geoff Francis and Tony Ponting. Acceptable for our needs.

Arrived on Saturday morning at 07:30 for a 08:00 breakfast and a subsequent walk around the lakes with Geoff Francis, reliving past visits many moons ago. Sorted our kit for a practice session on Sunday then off to Newquay for a few beers and a Indian. Great view form the windows. Geoff checking his shares performance - not to be left out of showing food.

To be honest I knew little about the whole festival, fishing times, payout's etc...did read the many rules though. Understood the "method" was very popular. Looked at some of the FB posts from previous festivals but not much detail.

First lake for me Twin Oaks. Fished it previously before F1's were introduced, which was chosen for my practice. Sat on peg 33. Bait wise I had venue pellet Micro and fours, maggot, paste, one pint of casters borrowed from Kev, corn, hooker worms, expander and GB. Embarrassed now to say also Pinkies. I don't fish the method and never will as I'm a very busy angler and cant wait a minute for something to happen. Set up four rigs two Ronnie's, 4x14 winter and 0.3 gram paste. I didn't relised there were Motherless Minnows in the lake but soon found out abandoning Pinkie and maggot!! The upshot caught only on the short Ronnie rig with single caster, which was to prove for me the most successful rig and bait for the week. Got fed up catching Ronnie's and the odd carp so pack early and had a chat with a Methodist on peg 27 who hadn't caught much fishing tight over. Decided then and there to fish caster all week a with some GB.

What goes on at a festival at stays on the festival, a few Saturday night casualties I think.

Placed on Twin Oakes end peg 19. Was told it is sometimes good, but since the end bank collapsed it hasn't fished too well. Called an end peg, more like half-peg. Fished for 750 Ronnie's and second put-in hooked and played a 8 poundish carp for ages only for the hook to pull - bugger. Ended up with 41 lb 8 oz comprising 50/50 Ronnie's and carp for 3 points with 2 more left in the peg. This weight was to be the best highest in the festival from the peg.

Placed on Pollawyn peg 36. Proper end peg loads of what was to unusable space and empty platform due to the horrendous weather /gales. Although still had half pint of casters left borrowed another pint off Kev. Again short Ronnie rig throughout the match with single caster

over some GB and loose feed. I was swinging a decent Ronnie (why?) when the elastic broke, losing the lot. New rig and next put in a 5 lb carp was land - lucky, well not really that Ronnie would have gotten me some pools money! Weighed 40 lb 8 oz for 4 points which should have been five - hooked a decent carp for the line to snag a lump of petrified wood - pictured - snapping my rig line but landed it on a snagged shot! Umbrella blew into the lake, luckily the wind suddenly changed blowing it in to next doors peg - sorry Steve. Bin was full of dead brolly's after this match.

Placed on Python peg 29. Again my empty peg was up wind and it was blowing gale force but dry. Tightest pegging I've ever seen. Put my roost up and my top sets were almost touching Barry next door! Luckily he was understanding. John Smith told me it was a small fish affair - wrong, should have practiced this lake on the Saturday. Fished the same rig today again down wind with the added rig of a 03. gram Ryan Jordan Slim for the margin which would have been more suited for paste but didn't bring any. Catching some Skimmers and Ronnie's on caster when it went iffy missing bites galore. The penny didn't sink in until hooking a decent carp which bust me - bugger - times I have read the Ronnie's behaviour correctly and should have relised earlier and gone in with a bunch of DR's on the RJ which did sort a couple of carp. Finished with 25 lb 2 oz with another 15 oz wanted for a section win and a pick up. Wind burnt sore face even though facing down wind!

Last day and placed on Trewaters peg 22. Never seen the place before and was to learn a lot! Plenty of space which was good, but the weed was horrendous on both sides of the lake. Had to fish the long Ronnie rig due to the weed and a 0.4 gram RJ Slim at top set plus two. Caught a few silvers before the struggled started. Tim next door on peg 21 was emptying it on worm over caster at top set plus a barrel and half. I tried it, adding one Carassini. Decided a change was required so pulted 12 casters out to see if I could reach the far bank, and could so set up the waggler with a 7 " bodied Drake. Set the depth against a rig cast out with double DR's and went to pick up the catty and just managed to catch hold of the rod from being dragged in by a decent carp, obviously lost in the weed. But blimey

what an instant response.Had a great run of Carassini losing just two in the weed. Could pull them through the surface weed but not the stuff anchored to the bottom. However, lost loads of the bigger carp either opposite in weed or on the inside mainly due to playing them to the surface down the middle and pulling out. - they were hard fish fish. The horrid skimming wind was naughty at times determined to keep the reel line on the surface. Wish I set up the waggler at the start. Not one of my best matches weighing 33 lb 8 oz for 4 points. A practice would have helped.

Tim Whitchurch (pictured) won the lake with a big weight of 99 lb 8 oz great to watch matey. Kev Winstone over opposite bank (another corner peg) lost his top 5 with Lester Grant going in over to the far bank to retrieve it alas couldn't find it as it was probably dragged off by a carp. Not sure this venue is suitable for the age of the angler fishing.

Really enjoyed the week and learnt lots - why didn't I get the waggler out on Pollawyn and Twin Oakes - next year. Used three borrowed pints of casters, hand full of DR's and 2 KG of GB all week. Binned loads of unused bait though!!

Finished 38th which was OK but worth more, but we all could say that. I've have two near misses on pick ups by ounces. However, there were some decent anglers in my lake draw. Thanks to Kev Winston for the organisation and loan of two pints of casters and Lester Grant for 1 pint.

Some other pictures:

No explanation required:

Trewaters Cardiac Hill: 

Python close pegging:

Weed at Trewaters:

Newquay Mist:

Ready for the off: