Thursday 19/10/2023 - Ray's Rip Off - Windmill Fishery - Match Lake

With red weather forecasts across the country we got off lightly with a few light showers which became "the day of rainbows" - stunning, combined with Reed Warblers having a squabble and the thieving Robins, some days it doesn't matter whether you catch or not.

Some time ago at the Viaduct winter league Matt Taynton had won both the silvers and match and got paid for both (for some reason Bela and

me expected a drink - alas not!!). Matt is always dressed smart even at matches, as he was this day. However, he never wore a tie. He said it was because he didn't own one. So at the next match I gave him my NFA tie. He wears it quite often and is pictured proudly showing it off prior to a shoot dinner.

Peg 21 for me, which usually throws up some Skimmers. Thought is was going to be hard after the nights heavy rain. Tried the wag and mag for a tiny Perch and a foul hooked lost Carp. Again plagued with indications from tiny Ronnie's. The waggler didn't feel right so abandoned. Spent the rest of the match on the short Ronnie rig catching the odd Ronnie on single LR but was still missing loads of bites from the small fish - even with pinkie on the hook! Very few Perch about. It was hard. From what I could see very few silvers was coming out, so stuck with it until the last hour when the disrupting Carp arrived. Andy Greenham paid a visit just as I was landing a 11 lb Common on a 20 - 808 to 0.1 GLine. Swapped to 0.14 only to get broken on the next Carp!! Back on 0.1 and landed a 6 lb Carp before the all out.

Silvers weighed 5 lb 9 oz - all Ronnie's and the two accidental Carp going 17 lb, for 22 lb 10 oz for an unexpected section win!

John Smith (pictured with the silver winner) won the match from peg 23 fishing banded pellet up in the water over loose fed same at 13 metres for 78 lb 9 oz. Well done Matey - still a jinx though.

The silvers went to Paul Barnfield with 10 lb 15 oz from peg 25. Paul caught at his usual 13 metres with worm over chopped worm and micro. Close on the silver with three 10 lb weights. Well done matey 

Back for a curry at the Mughal Palace with the usual suspect - excellent.

Weigh Sheets: