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: