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: