Sunday 25/06/2023 - PSV Club - Todber Manor - Homeground

Planned to avoid all Todber Manor matches - carp races, however, Glenn was going and there was a silvers pool plus wanted to see Guy Manton and have a look at the new poles in the Todber pole alley. I made up some paste in case, but on the way relised I had left my spare nets behind - so definitely silvers.

Met Guy and had a look at the poles. I was most impressed with the Colmic S31 - long top sets, value for money, especially impressed with the handling at 13 metres with the 16 metre section on the back, it was very comfortable for a light weight like me, only negative it's fit your own side pullers, as is with most poles nowdays, Drennan has got his aspect spot on. Definitely the place to go for a new pole, Guy is very knowledgeable on the subject and open minded about manufacturer's - not Diawa blinkered. Great online service too.Thanks Guy have to visit again to see if any of the Colmic top sets fit my Colmic 808.

Draw under way went last to find no pegs left. Ryan did a count and found the missing swim card on the car floor handing the missing peg 90 to me. I didn't think this was fair as it's a known flyer, so wanted a redraw to give everyone a chance to draw it. First in this time and peg 88 it was to be. Glenn had drawn peg 91 so would need all his/our nets - if he bothered to use them!! 88 was the first peg I fished at Todber winning the silvers with 55 lb so, fond memories.

Got to the peg and with silvers in mind was disappointed to find the wind more or less  blowing in to it. Stood on the edge of the platform which the carp must had detected and were looking up at me with a very hungry look. Umm, going to be interesting avoiding them, which helps to explain why the open match on Hillview record was smashed with 800 lb in 5 hours by Mark Wynne - 3 lb a minute - amazing!

Two Ronnie rigs, long to fish caster over GB laced with caster and short for LR's over loose fed LR's. So it went like this, had a few Ronnie's short before hooking a carp so loose feeding stopped. On the long line with caster which produced a few hand size Skimmers, but only if I managed to firstly get through the carp then secondly Ronnie's. Persevered with it landed a few carp and lost many more. Come the second half ended up feeding nothing! Interesting to observe the carp by my keep net taking a single used discharged maggot.

The accidental carp weighed 44 lb 14 oz and the silvers 21 lb 9 oz as expected there was no other sensible angler fishing for silvers. It isn't easy.

Watching James on peg 80 (pictured) whom I thought was winning the match was pondering over his last keep net - what was he thinking?

The match was won by Bagger Ryan Jordan (pictured) with 418 lb 13 oz from peg 84 (better pegs than this one) and a PB. Ryan caught mostly on banded pellet at the end of his keep nets. Well done matey.

Glenn won his section with 260 lb from peg 91 and would had gone over in all 4 nets if it wasn't for an escapee during weighing in. Lol. Still double bubble van which deserved a tinny on the way home.

Result:

1. Ryan 418-13-0 peg 84

2. Jason 362-14-0 peg 90

3. James 350-01-0 peg 80

Silvers:

1. Mike Nicholls 21-09-0 peg 88

Thursday 22/06/2023 - Bathampton AA - Over 55's and Short Walks

Back to Hunstrete after closure due to fish spawning. Arrived early to have a walk around to see how bad the weed growth was. Only peg 29 have some, that didn't mean there wasn't some out if sight. The colour looked good, however, not much sign of fish topping especially silver fish (Ronnie's).

Down to 19 due to holidays which helped reduce the number of pegs in open water.

Knowing you needed a draw with and island or heavy bankside cover with some depth, delighted when I pulled peg 21, it's one of my favourites especially today due to plenty of shade for at least half the match. All the section had good chance all draws you'd want.

All though the island is only 13 metres away decided to ignore it as the bottom is all over the place due to the bank collapse. So just two top sets - short Ronnie rig for silvers to the right and a 0.3 gram paste rig for the left. Had plenty of time so set up a 6" Drake to cast around  the island, shotting the float hooked a F1 on a bare hook. Thinking now that the Waggler would be my second half match banker.

Started by feeding the paste line with micro and the silver line with neat GB with loose LR's over the top. With single LR on the Ronnie rig caught some decent Ronnie's and Perch. Thought it was going to be a good silvers day until I hooked an F1 which did me round the corner, a couple move silvers before another lost F1. The silvers had now disappeared except the odd small Perch. On to the paste over loose fed 4's and had a great 2 hours catching F1's to 2 lb. Had 25 when the peg died I think due to the sun now coming over the line. Went in tighter to the reeds by holding them back with the landing net for a couple more. With 2 1/2 hours to go picked up the waggler expecting to carry on bagging alas didn't have a bite on it trying maggot and banded pellet up and down in the water - unbelievable, but the sun was now also full on. Spent the remainder messing between all three lines and did have a 2 1/2 Tench on the Ronnie rig on the death. Me pictured landing an F1 amongst the flora and faunal lovely summers day - dreams from winter. 

My silvers weighed 7 lb 12 and the F1's 41 lb 8 oz (averaging 1 1/2 lb) for section winning total of 49 lb 4 oz and second overall. Like to see proper 2 to 3 lb carp stocked in the pool.

The match was won by Tony Rixon (pictured supervising "Three Gulps") with 66 lb 5 oz from peg 28. No doubt Tony fished a back breaking 17 metres to the island - see his blog for the finer details. Well done matey.

The silvers was won by Shay Gillman from a peg 1 which is not always in or moaned about if it is with a great weight of Skimmers weighing 35 lb 8 oz. Shay caught with red maggot over GB. It's noticeable that he only have one small F1 which supports my theory that the F1's push the silvers out to never return. Well done matey good weight on the day.  

Nice to be back outside the Compton with the usual suspects.

Result:

1. Tony Rixon 66-05-0 peg 28

2. Mike Nicholls 49-04-0 peg 21

3. Paul Clayton 43-01-0 peg 19

4. Paul Barnfield 40-12-0 peg 11

5. Mick Gale 39-12-0 peg 24

6. Shay Gillman 36-08-0 peg 1

Silvers:

1. Shay Gillman 35-08-0 peg 1

2. Paul Barnfield  16-04-0 peg 11

Weigh Sheets:

Thursday 15/06/2023 - Ray's Rip Off - Windmill Fishery - Match Lake

Usual Hungry Horace Breakfast and looking forward to a day in the warmth. Arrived to find a Polo shirt double, Hughie definitely had better value for money, why's his stripes wider apart?

Last nights match was won with 20 lb, leading us all to think the worse for us today. Into the draw bag and out comes bottle top 23. Some concerns as the peg been a couple of DNW's from it recently. However, they would have been fishing for carp, me it would be silvers.

Set up the waggler which didn't get used. The short Ronnie rig and a margin paste float, hence the barrels stayed in the case.

Started on the Ronnie rig with single LR over liberally loose fed of LR's and had a good start catching allsorts. Had some Rudd to 6 oz and three Skimmers with one jumping on the bank, new slant on fish taking you for a walk! With 4 hours gone it went quiet and with a swirl of the float a foul hooked carp seen me off, two Perch then soon after the same. So bloody carp it would be to the end with paste over lightly feed micro and hard 4's. Tried the new Drennan elastic (pictured) purchased for the bigger carp where reeds could be a issue - Windmill. Most impressed with it especially the price, plus does two top sets. During this time landed nine decent carp. Very enjoyable days fishing, especially with the warm weather wished many time for throughout a miserable cold winter and Spring.  

Silvers weighed 17 lb 15 oz and the carp 57 lb 2 oz for second silvers and third overall, so both sets pools covered. Most impressed with my new Ronnie floats made for me by Ryan Jordan - thanks matey - great floats.

The match was won by Any Peg Palmer (pictured with the silvers winner) with 141 lb 11 oz from fancied peg 8. Leyton caught long on paste over loose fed 8mm pellets. Well done Matey.

The silvers went to Fishery Manager Dave Haines with 21 lb 11 oz of whuite bait from peg 16. Dave caught on his top set with maggot and a bit of GB. Well done Matey.

Back to the Holly Bush with Geoff for a cold one in the shade.

FINALLY Mark Tanner on YouTube watching video's at Viaduct this week - whats he watching we wonder, cant be fishing related.

Result:

1. Leyton Palmer 141-11-0 peg 8

2. Jeff Grant 76-0-0 peg 20

3. Mike Nicholls 75-01-0 peg 23

4. John Osborne 55-14-0 peg 1

5. Tony Ponting 49-10-0 peg 25

6. Hughie Evans 34-02-0 peg 14

Silvers:

1. Dave Haines 21-11-0 peg 16

2. Mike Nicholls 17-15-0 peg 23

Weigh Sheets:

Sunday 12/06/2023 - Alcove AC - Whitehouse Farm - Margret's Lake

A few got caught out with the weather, luckily the brolly was with me, some didn't. Rained on an off throughout the match. Couldn't think where I've seen similar umbrella's?

My plan was to fish expander over micro, however, on the way relised I had left them home. Rest of the way thinking of other options. 

Full contingent of 18 anglers. Shame peg 2 wouldn't be in due to some weed growth. Into the draw bag and out comes peg 13. Good skimmers peg I'm told and a long cast to the island for the chub. Got to the peg which was a bit of a parrot cage but sufficient space to cast a waggler or feeder. No way could I loose feed anywhere the island probably half way at best. Still set it up with a 9" small bodied Drake in doing so noticed a eye missing - bugger - but still functional. The new plan was to fish 10 metres out in front with worm over micro for skimmers using a 4 x16 Winter Titan. A paste rig for over the same line, a paste rig for the LH margin and the long Ronnie rig.

Fed the long line with micro and five of finely chopped worms. Fed the Ronnie line with GB laced with DR's. Catapulted out some LR's which as I thought fell short of half way, going to try anyway once the umbrella came down. Had a few Ronnie's, Rudd and the usual micro Perch before foul hooking a Carp up in the water. The line went dead, noticing there was significant fizzing over the long line went over it with a big worm and had a good spell two Skimmers and three fantail thingy's one bright orange. Again foul hooked another carp. So refed, trying the Ronnie rig again for just a few Perch. More fizzing, so out again, no bites just another fouler. Fed again which was too prove a pot too far, more fizzing, so decided to leave it until it stopped which sometimes works. Ounce stopped out long with the paste float and another skimmer and a 3 lb Carp. Unfortunately fed again, couldn't help myself - lesson learnt here. Couldn't by another bite on this line. Rain stopped and had a four casts on the waggler and 4 bites and judging from the nicked end of the LR it was tiny fish. Rain back so waggler abandoned. In to the margin with the paste where I had been loose feeding hard 4's and first put in missed a bite, in again and a 4 lb carp, next put in a foul hooked carp which came off, thought this was the start of a bagging session, alas not, nothing more from the margin. As the rain had stopped started to pack away watching John Dursley peg 6 and Kevin Manning peg 7 catching well (pictured).

The two Carp weighed 7 lb 10 oz and silvers 12 lb 6 oz for fourth and more importantly a silvers win beating Bill Ferries by 2 oz, he didn't go home empty handed winning his section. No doubt the fish like the micro here, but too much and they become to preoccupied with it - less is more I think.

The match was won by John Dursley (pictured with the silvers winner) with 58 lb 10 oz from peg 6. John caught down his RH edge, finding he had to keep ringing the changes of hook baits. He lost a few foul hookers probably due to his margin being a tad deep up to the reeds. Well done matey. 

Credit where credit is due Tony Welsby runs a great match, especially as he does all the weighing and weigh sheet, like another Tony I know Thanks.

Result:

1. John Dursley 58-10-0 peg 6

2. Kevin Murch 25-12-0 peg 18

3. Dave Manning 20-15-0 peg 7

Silvers:

1. Mike Nicholls 12-06-0 peg 13

2 Bill Ferris 12-04-0 peg 1

Weigh Sheet:

Thursday 08/06/2023 - Over 55's (and some that look it) - Westerleigh Fishery - Shipp's Canal and Taylor's Pool

Once again bloody cold first thing only to be sweating by midday. I'm a bit of a minimalistic match organiser, all the match details on the one sheet.

Sixteen fishing so eight on each lake just about right. Had a walk around and Taylors looked good whereas Shipp's looked clearer with perhaps some brown algae, expected that to fish harder.

Was handed peg 11 on Shipp's a form carp peg. For company had Glenn Bailey on 10. Plenty of large carp in groups up in the water all round the canal.

Currently suffering from minute silverfishitus so would focus on the carp today. With the carp behaving as they were thought maggot and waggler cast around would be the best option. Did set up a short paste rig for later.

Started on the 7" Small Bodied Drake. I use the bodied ones when fishing close to features, the body aiding the sinking of the line. The wind was all over the place hence my feeding. Feed two of three areas whilst fishing the other. If the waggler was left for any length of time a Perch would snaffle the double LR's. The carp bites were fairly quick after casting, they didn't seem to want to feed on the bottom hence plenty of depth adjustments and casting. Had seven decent carp until a hour to go when got annoyed with the bottom locking shot moving ending up biting it too hard and next cast hooked a piece of grass and lost the waggler - duh (thanks to Mower on peg 1 for retrieving it for me). For the remainder fished short on the paste feeding it heavily with maggot and micro and watched munter carp come close into the bank and slip down to the feed giving line bites hence four foul hookers, did manage one taking the tally to eight. Meanwhile Glenn had spent much of the match tearing his hair out due to foul hooking loads. Even so thought he had beaten me easily - he didn't!

The eight carp weighed 33 lb 13 oz and the few accidental silvers weighed 3 lb 8 oz for second on the pool weight of 37 lb 5 oz. The canal weights were very close - like it when it's a close affair.

Geoff "Mower" Francis won the canal with 43 lb 9 oz from peg 1 which included the smaller of the two Grass Carp.

Did hear an almighty crack which was Leyton's number 6 ging out in style, heard Leyton say "have to fish short then"!

Geoff and me stopped in the Holly Bush on the way home, the cold one's were going down too well.

Result:

Taylor's:

1. Ricky Mills 74-02-0 peg 16 (pictured - pellet long)

2. Lee Waller 64-07-0 peg 22 (pellet long)

Silvers: John Smith 3-08-0 peg 19

Shipp's:

1. Geoff Francis 43-09-0 peg 1

2. Mike Nicholls 37-05-0 peg 11

Silvers: Shay Gillman 5-09-0 peg 2

Weigh Sheets:

Sunday 04/06/2023 - PSV Club - Mathern Mill Fishery Top Lake (nearest)

Glenn and me travelled international to Mathern Mill in Wales. Only took 20 minutes. Thank heavens for Satnav's. Second time here and wasn't sure what lake was fished previously, but was told todays lake had plenty of big carp, so thought it was the same as last time an angler caught a 26 lb carp, unfortunately that was a silvers only match.

Arrived in plenty of time. Ryan Jordan got a bit stressed due to some anglers no show. It's stressful enough working out section, payouts, etc... the night before, becomes extra difficult on the day as so much other things to do.

Had a walk around with Glenn and it was definitely a different lake this time. So somewhere new. It looked good with a few monsters topping.

Into the draw and out comes peg 19 which was also the golden peg. In good company with Ryan on peg 18 and Gary peg 20. Ryan explained that the golden peg could be won with either silvers or carp. So now I'm confused as what to fish for. My original plan was to fish for carp with paste. So decided to keep both options open and start out for silvers and watch to see what happens on the carp front.

Didn't bother with the waggler due to the wind - Again! 0.3 gram paste rig for the margin which having plumbed around didn't impress. The short Ronnie rig and a 4x13 MR white top to fish two barrels out on front. Wanted to set up another paste float to fish over the MR line but didn't have time so left the empty top set on the roost and the rig on the tray in case.

So started on the Ronnie rig with LR's over GB laced with single LR on the hook and couldn't believe how many minute Rudd was in the peg just couldn't get through them, bulked the rig up close to the hook but didn't make a difference. So fed some GB and micro out in front and confronted with the same. The only hard bait in the bag was 4 mm hard pellet, but did have a hand full of worms. Meanwhile Ryan had a few Skimmers on corn which I left in the garage. Tried the worm and had three Skimmers, a Hybrid and a 4 oz Eel. But still pestered by Rudd. Tried the pastedown the margin on the top set and a sight to behold god knows how many Rudd holding up the paste once on the bottom it was gnawed away in quick time. Meanwhile Ryan had a few more Skimmers and Mark Radford was catching carp regularly in his margin. Ryan had been feeding casters and now had 7 skimmers and kindly sold me a pint for £4 which I assume included a high delivery charge. So what to do. Only one way forward, fish for the meniscal Rudd. So onto the Ronnie rig with the Logarithmic shotting reestablished and fished that to the end. Caster wasn't robust enough so it was LR's. No idea what they weighed but did try and count them in 10's putting a caster in a empty bait box. However, did get confused a few times. They were anything from 2 inches to 3 inches long! There were trillions in the peg and could not get through them to any better fish. Didn't bother watching for bites just cast and strike straight away. Really could have done with my plastic maggot. Estimated numbers of fish somewhere between 650 to 700. No idea what the weight was but thought Ryan had beaten me with 12 lb 5 oz thus saving the golden peg. However, I was amazed to weigh 17 lb 14 oz. Needless to say I was knackered.

The match was won by Mark Radford (pictured) with 150 lb 12 oz from peg 12 catching some quality carp down his left hand margin on his top set with paste over loose fed hard pellet. Marks did loose a few big carp due to being out gunned on his elastic. Well done Matey.

Glenn did his thing by sticking with his paste and wetted 4's feed, having only one until the last hour, adding another 7 for a section win and a 4th. Double bubble van.

There were four DNW's.

Result: (4 empty pegs between first and second!)

1. Mark Radford 150-12-0 peg 12

2. Andy Gard 111-13-0 peg 16

3. Ross 88-05-0 peg 21 (including a beautiful 18 lb Common)

4. Glenn Bailey 56-04-0 peg 9

Silvers:

1. Mike Nicholls 17-14-0 peg 19

2. Ryan Jordan 12-05-0 peg 18

Weigh Sheet:

Thursday 01/06/2023 - Ray's Rip Off - Windmill Fishery - Match Lake

1st of June and it was bloody freezing, heating was only 1/2 degree from coming on! However, as seems to be the pattern at the moment it was to warm up.

Breakfast in Hungry Horace's with Geoff. Always a good start to the day.

Had a quick look at the lake and it definitely had the look of the post spawning blues. As expected a few casualties from sex in the reeds. The colour looked a bit odd. So decided it was going to be a hard one today. Also most similar venues have turned off.

Into the draw bag and out comes peg 21. Arrived at the peg and the first job was to cut back some on the reeds (pictured) which were covering the margins especially with the wind blowing them over towards the water. At best the margins are at least 3 foot deep a tad too deep for my liking.

Unfortunately the waggler was out of the question due to the wind. Thought the fish would still be in and around the margins so just set up a couple of rigs for that plus the short Ronnie rig which I expected to produce the most with regards to silvers my main target.

Fed a small ball of GB with a few particles and my suspicions were soon founded as the small Perch weren't feeding as well as they initially do, very slow catching a few Cormorant "Mars Bars" - tiny Skimmers and a few Ronnie's and a Rudd before hooking a munter Carp which was played for some time. It tried a few times to get in the reeds but it was too fat. It finally broke me - fair play. As the silvers were slow changed to targeting Carp with either bunches of maggots or paste. The upshot was I didn't catch one until 30 minutes to go quickly followed by another. This meant spending 4 1/2 hours biteless!

My few silvers weighed 1 lb 15 oz and the two Common's 14 lb 11 oz for 16 lb 10 oz which saved some pride. beating 7!!

The match was won by John Osbourne (pictured with the silvers winner) with 41 lb 3 oz from peg 2. John fished long over to the reeds with banded pellet. Well done matey.

The silvers was won by Pete Greenslade (pictured landing one of his decent Skimmers) with 9 lb from peg 25. Pete caught short on worm over GB laced with worm. Well done matey.

It fished as expected - poor. However, looking back a year the weights were very similar with only a pound or two difference - post spawning blues. Be a few weeks before full recovery.

Back to the "Ringer" with the usual suspects for pint outside in the sun.

Result:

1. John Osborne 41-03-0 peg 2

2. Kev Winstone 35-05-0 peg 6

3. Andy Taylor 35-01-0 peg 18

4. Jeff Grant 26-12-0 peg 22

5. Shay Gillman 22-03-0 peg 4

6. Geoff Francis 21-01-0 peg 9

Silvers:

1. Pete Greenslade 9-0-0 peg 25

2. Shay Gillman 8-02-0 peg 4

Weigh Sheets: