Sunday 26/11/2023 - Westerleigh Winter League - Practice Match - Taylor's and Shipp's

It's amazing how the weather changes at the start of Winter  league. Hard frost the day before and dank and dower today.

Breakfast at Staple Hill Spoons with Geoff. The microwave Chef warm's (nearly) it up in the same time it takes to nearly fry an egg. Still good value and quick.

Very overcast with a mizzle affecting visibility. It was to be like this on and off the entire match.

Wanted to avoid Taylor's pool especially my nemesis pegs 15 and 16 - just can't catch on it. Heart sank seeing peg 16 staring back at me. Bri Shanks was next door on 15. All the pegs on our bank were in with peg 19 having two pegs to his right and one to his left empty.

Got in a bit of a muddle tackling up, so not quite ready at the all in. Waggler set up, Short Ronnie rig and a 4x14 Winter Titan. Fed a short line and one further out at bottom of shelf for the Titan with GB and Pinkie. Started long and had a little run of Ronnie's and a Goldfish which count as silvers. Decided to put a smaller hook on and in the process trashed the rig - Oh "Snickers". As we know the substitute rig never seems to be the same. Only had one Crucian afterwards. Tried the waggler with LR's over pulted LR's had one tiny Ronnie and with Brian fishing 14 .5 metres over to the bar and struggling I gave it in. Put another section on and fed some LR's and micro before trying the Ronnie rig which did produce a small Skimmer and some Ronnie's but they didn't seem to like the GB so switched to loose fed Pinkie. Out on the new line and one more Crucian. So spent the last knockings on the Ronnie rig, but didn't expect any Silvers coin as Lee Waller on peg 14 was catch accidently Skimmers long at 16 metres on pellet for 6 lb 7 oz. As per usual the rain came down harder as we packing up - great.

My few silvers weighed 4 lb 9 oz for no where the two Crucians went 1 lb 1 oz. No sign of a Carp, Bri only had the two. Matey Bill Ferris could only manage 6 tiny fish for a DNW on peg 25.

The lake was won as expected by the two anglers with some room - Norman Ferris (pictured) on peg 19 with 25 lb 5 oz catching on pastey maggots (don't ask) fished short!! Geoff Francis (pictured) was a close second with 24 lb from peg 22 Geoff caught on worm at 11 metres.

 

The match was won by Bela Bakos (pictured with the Silvers winner) from peg 10 on Shipp's with 71 lb 10 oz. Bela fished long 1 metre off the island with 6 mm hard over 4 mm loose feed. Later going 16 metres down to peg 9 adding some more decent Carp. Well done Matey.

The Silvers went to stand in Paul Elms with a decent catch of Roach and a smattering of Skimmers for 10 lb 14 oz from peg 4. Paul fished mainly just off the island with maggot kindered in slop. Well dome Matey.

Bit concerning on how Taylor's pool fished.

Back to the New Inn with the usually suspects and a good laugh.

Weigh Sheets: