Thursday 12/12/2024 - Windmill Cost Cutter - Match Lake

Attendance was weather dependant. Didn't look too bad so fished. What a miserable day it was, damp and gloomy.

Found out that the Sunday match was about saving a blank with only 20 lb winning.

It seems Dave Haines had some success scaring the Cormorants off the pylons with his whiz bang fireworks.

At last a draw on the far side peg 8 which I was happy with. The peg has some form, but you really need to fish 13 metres, never had the appetite for that, so only set up the maggot feeder and waggler. Only had LR's on the bait tray.

The chuck over to the sedges needed an 8" Drake had a few practice cast and wasn't confident it was going to stay on station long enough due to a skimming wind blowing along the inside.

Fed some LR's and started on the waggler and had one indication which was either a Ronnie or liner. As I thought couldn't keep the float still long enough, but did keep trying it throughout particularly once the wind reduced, had a couple more indications. Spent the lions share of the match on the feeder. Had two small Carp in two chucks which gave me false hope of another bagging session. Subsequent had a couple of hours without a bite. Last couple of hours added four more Carp. Once again the last two Carp were better fish and about the same weight as the other four.

Thought I had 35 lb weighed 35 lb 8 oz (without a clicker) for 6th overall. The North Easterly was very cold and glad to get in the car. Although caught most of my fish off the reeds think I got a handle on this feeder fishing tight to the reeds. Wish I  had started on a small open ended feeder with Pinkie might have had a pick up with a silver.

The match was won by matey John Williams (pictured with the silvers winner) with 108 lb 11 oz from peg 12. John fished the pole at three barrels using soft pellet on the hook fished over the same. The fish have shoaled up, I think subsequent to the high winds blowing down the lake legs driving the fish out of the horrendous tow in such conditions, as Gary Bedford was second with 80 lb fishing into the gap between the islands on the waggler and pellet.

Tony "Turbo" Ponting fishing peg 2 picked up both pools in the silvers with two accident Perch stretching the scales down to 1 oz!

Geoff and me stopped in the Griffin pub for a pint. Primarily to see the recent refurbishment. As Geoff said it looked the same except no longer doing food. All but empty, block of flats coming soon me thinks.

Result and partial weigh sheet: 

Thursday 05/11/2024 - Windmill Cost Cutter - Match Lake

Some say the wind forecast is usually double at Windmill, think the rainfall should be x10. Right miserable day weather wise. Still haven't used the umbrella due to the wind.

Because of other matches the numbers were down to 11. Waited to last again and at yes out of the 20's, only just though, peg 16 for me found myself next to Geoff Francis on peg 14, unfortunately couldn't really see him.

Must admit arriving at the peg the any waggler fishing would by difficult to impossible due to the wind blowing in at 2 o clock so not only blowing down my side but also cutting across between the islands - bugger. Hey, still set it up love a challenge. Thought the maggot feeder would be important so reluctantly set it up. Last of all a 4x16 so fish top set plus three barrels for a silver or two if lucky!

Had a few casts on the waggler, looked ok but the wind was pulling the inside line away from the island far too fast. Had a  go on the pole with a LR over GB laced with DR's. Could not pick up the tow and hold back and run wasn't going to do it for me, abandoned. Last resort picked up the feeder and worked it all along the far back for one lost fouler. With 3 hours gone and blanking the wind eased slightly picked up the waggler and cast to a small bay where I had been loose feeding LR's with the hope the waggler would stay still long enough in the slight of shelter. Had a 2 lb Carp first cast saving the blank walk of shame. The wind is definitely my enemy as it soon got up making presentation impossible. So spent the remainder of the match of the feeder in the same area with triple DR hook bait. Things started to happen ended the match with 7 Carp. No silvers although I did have a nipped maggot.

Weighed 49 lb 3 oz for second overall. One more Carp would have done it. Felt for Geoff who was beating me until my last Carp caught at on the whistle.

The match was won by Bill Knight (pictured with the silvers winner) with 53 lb 14 oz from peg 8. Not sure how Bill caught but suspect it was the feeder in some form. Well done matey.

Pete Greenslade took the silvers with one 2 lb 14 oz Skimmer caught on maggot and feeder. Well done matey.

With everything soaking wet Geoff and me couldn't wait to get back to the curry house for a couple of Doombar's and a Ruby.

Good luck to anyone fishing this weekend, weather looks awful.

Result: (No readable weigh sheets)

1. Bill Knight 53-14-0 peg 8

2. Mike Nicholls 49-04-0 peg 16

3. John Smith 48-07-0 peg 3

4. Geoff Francis 46-13-0 peg 14

5. John Williams 45-0-0 peg 1

6. Kev Murch 30-09-0 peg 10

Silvers:

1. Pete Greenslade 2-14-0 peg 22 (1 Skimmer)

2. John Smith 2-07-0 peg 3 (1 Skimmer)

Thursday 28/11/2024 - Windmill Cost Cutter - Main Lake

Some say my kit and car is very tidy. Now this van (pictured) tidiness is totally alien to me. Guess who's van it is. Two clues it's not Tony Rixon, but the most consistent angler at Windmill. He nearly got knocked over by the spare tyre falling out of the van.

At the last match here everyone blanked! And after a heavy overnight frost this morning most of us were wondering what we were doing here. At least there was little wind chill factor.

I have been trying not draw in the 20's for over a year, so had the last peg and found peg 22 staring back at me. However, pegs 23 and 21 wasn't in the draw, so plenty of room. So fairly happy for a 20's peg for once.

The talk was there would be loads of blanks, so went negative setting up the feeder, but found I had left all my maggot feeders home. Luckily Phil Morgan and Gary Bedford helped out, nice to so Gary back after a 15 year lay-off. A good angler who's done his apprenticeship.. Decided instead to fish a very small cage feeder with GB and Pinkie for an early silver. 

Also set up a 4 x16 Winter to fish top set plus three barrels and a short Ronnie rig. Neither of these rigs got wet. Started on the small feeder with triple Pinkie on the hook and had an instant bite a small Ronnie which fell off swinging it. Out again and one missed bite with damaged Pinkie. Had a liner, so feed some LR's over to the reeds and immediately the reeds started to move and with blanking after 45 minutes set up the waggler and second cast had a Carp which was played very carefully. The rest of the match was a question of catch three instant Carp then a dwell. Kept adjusting the depth from full to one foot off. It was noticeable as the match progressed the fish got bigger. Got pissed off with three Moorhens that came out of the reeds bending them down in the area being fished, so had to switch about to avoid the reeds, but wasn't always possible losing some tackle. The last 30 minutes was manic catching four big Common Carp to 12 lb. Fed just under half a pint of LR's, with double DR on the hook.

Weighed 113 lb 7 oz for the match win. Thanks to the Robin fed throughout for shitting all over my kit. The venue fish extremely well considering recent results. Lovely days fishing on my favourite method. Plus the drive way was much improved.

The silvers was won accidentally by Phil "Fuzzy" Morgan (pictured with the match winner) from peg 24. Phil catching a 2 lb 2 oz Skimmer on the waggler fished at full depth on maggot. Well done Matey.

Weigh Sheets:

Thursday 14/11/2024 - Over 55's - Main Lake Silvers and 4 oz Carp Only

Out if the blue Tony Rixon decided to run a match on the Main Lake at Hunstrete. The match was soon full of Over 55's with 21 booking in. Sorry 22 Tony forgot himself!! We were all looking forward to getting together again - some for the company, some for the fishing, some for the pub, mostly for all three.

Very misty and damp this morning. The lads ready for the draw - pictured.

Had a look at the revamped Bridge Pool for the first time. (picture of the Pool looking towards the old peg 19 - no island), Pool now island free. For me a much better fishery for this. Well done BAA.

With regards to the fishing most of us didn't know what to expect. The word was you needed to be at the carp park end. Personally, thought 10 lb might win with 5 lb back up weights.

Into the draw bag and peg 16 which is twined with 15 and are very close. Carp anglers like these pegs when they go with mates. Delighted when Dave "The Drain" Lewis arrived on 15. Still the "Drain" as he's come out of retirement.

The water was very clear which decided me to fish the 4 metre whip and waggler. Mixed some GB, LR's and fat Pinkies on the tray - simples.

A lot of big leaves on the Lake today which were being moving around by the light varying wind. So started by feeding some LR's on the waggler line at 25 yards and hand fed some GB and Pinkie on the whip line. Due to the lack of colour set up the pole and pot so I could feed the GB loose on the whip line. Had a few Ronnie's and five 4 oz Carp. The leaves cleared and went on the waggler and ad a few on that but felt the whip was much faster. Spent most of the match on this and had a good middle match until the wind blew leaves over the line so back on the waggler. Back on the whip and hooked a big fish which made mincemeat of my whip rig. Set up another which wasn't the same. At the same time Dave who was probably beating me at this point stopped catching. The last hour was hard for both of us. Switch to Pinkie on the waggler and sneaked out a few more Ronnie's until the reel line tangled - no sure why, investigation to follow.

Thought I might have 12 lb, weighed 11 lb 11 oz for a second section by default which was a pleasant surprise. Beat Dave by 14 oz which was pulled back in the last hour. A number of anglers had considerably over estimated their weights today, easily done if you base weight on numbers of small fish and get the average weight wrong, were they 2 oz or 3 oz? Really enjoyed today especially fishing with Dave, both our type of fishing, we've had enough of Carp fishing.

The match was won by Kev Winstone with 23 lb 7 oz from peg 18. Kev caught at 7 metres on maggot hook bait over GB and caster feed. Well done matey. Thanks for the default. By Tony's body language thought he had beaten you 😁.

Thanks goes to Tony Rixon for once again running a great match with the sections groupings spot on. Hope there's more matches on this lake as it suits me.

Nice to see Glenn Bailey out helping with the weigh in - only there for the cider!

Interesting to note the further from the car park the better the fishing.

Weigh Sheet:

Sunday 10/11/2024 - Ron Hardiman's Open - Westerleigh - Taylor's Pool and Shipp's Canal

First stop Wetherspoons Staple Hill. Geoff and me agreed that it really doesn't matter where you draw on this venue, the winner can come from any peg, which the wind and aerators will help decide. Currently both our favorite venue.

Into the draw bag and peg 24 on Taylor's it would be then. Happy with this as it's a peg I've not fished. However, don't think it's won a match yet but has framed a few times. Glad there was no silvers pool today, being a tight corner peg didn't think it looked favorable in that respect. The peg of one option - see picture. Simple set up one 0.3 gram RJ Slim. Plumbed along the edge and luckily found a flat spot at top set plus three barrels, but had to put four barrels on to reach the fence roller so no need to break down. However, whilst plumbing a short line caught the reeds and for the first time ever broke a Ryan Jordan float (wonder if he does repairs?).

Started on triple maggot on a 20  (yes the LR's were fat Pinkie size) over kindered DR's. First two Carp were small and foul hooked and lost. Switch to 7 mm over maggot and had two quick decent Carp for 10 lb and one small one back on maggot. Fed a tiny bit of meat and didn't have a bite for an hour or so. There was a temptation to go longer but refrained as felt would just move the fish further along and out of reach and probably only get a couple more before that line died. Decided to knock up some GB and put a small ball down the left margin. I thought the water coloured up there but didn't bother to adjust the depth of the rig to fish over it, instead fed some loose GB with DR's on my "stick to line". The response was instant catching decent F1's and the odd Carp to 3 lb. Still had the issue of catch a couple before a short dwell. Seem to like the GB including a small Tench. Didn't want the match to end as I was catching up with the one's that had been doing well from the start.

Weighed 44lb 14oz for 4th on Pool. Happy with this from the peg if only fed GB earlier, pretty sure it wasn't to do with the time of day. Really enjoyed the day with some great anglers.

The match was won by Scaffolder Ricky Mills (pictured) with 108 lb 3 oz from peg 3, beating Steve Rogers (bread) peg 1 by 11 oz! Ricky caught on meat at top set plus three barrels. Well done matey.

Once again overall the pools fished very well, this down to Mark Taylor's fishery management.

Back to the New Inn for a very welcome pint of Doombar.

Weigh Sheets:

Tuesday 05/11/2024 - Bitterwell Silvers Open

South Gloucestershire Council closed Henfield Road for a week last week. Today hoping to see the fruits of my council tax with some improvement to traffic flow left and right at the traffic lights. Alas not they caused a weeks traffic chaos to install a few kerb stones. It also looks like the traffic light settings has been changed causing a long queue there now.

Geoff booked us in for this match. My bloody cough is very exhausting. Only one day's rest from Sunday's match and having had a great day's pleasure fishing last Thursday here on the waggler and maggot made the decision to just set that up and fish all match - right or wrong.

Paul Issac's was concerned with the low water oxygen and had been running the aerator all night and throughout the match. It a similar problems on many fisheries at the moment - high pressure, no rain and no wind for weeks - well since I bought my umbrella!!

Hoping to be down the shallow end alas Peg 3 for me. Happy with this, had tackle dealer Matt Challenger on peg 1. Set up a 7" drake stepped yellow top waggler - 3 lb Maxima reel line and 0.14 GLine (in case of a decent Tench) to Tubertini - 808 - 20. That was it really as I didn't want to flip flop between methods.

Fished the waggler up and down in the water all though catching the odd small Skimmer and Ronnie and one small Hybrid on single LR over loose fed same. I mark the line with a black marker pen so I can get back to full depth without re-plumbing. Had a walk around and it was the same for everyone I chatted to - fishing extremely hard. Had been missing lots of bites from small fish so spent the last knockings on single Pinkie over loose fed same, hitting more bites. 

Weighed 2 lb 2 oz which wasn't last😁.

The match was won by regular Martin McMahon (pictured) from peg 29 with 11 lb 8 oz. Martin caught on expander over micro at 10 metres. His catch included three Tench.

The fish seemed to be only feeding in the corner (more oxygen?) as Matt Challenger (pictured) was runner up from adjacent peg 1 with 10 lb 13 oz. Matt had one Tench and some better skimmers.

And finally back for a pint with Geoff.

Weigh Book:

Sunday 03/11/2024 - Alcove Club - Whitehouse Farm - Margret's

Now here's a thing, me and the Special One have avoided the Covid virus for 5 years. Two weeks ago we had out winter Covid jabs, next day we go down with Covid. No longer contagious but both have a lingering cough. Think we had it mild due to the jabs we've had.

Back to Whitehouse Farm for their Poppy match. Not many from RBL this year. Hoping to be on George's, but due to the low turn out of 13 we all fished Margret's. Pulled peg 7 again, not a great silvers peg unless the Chub have a go. I seem to draw pegs in doubles, so plenty of pegs still to fish. Next to Pete Watkins again peg 8.

My target was Chub on the block end feeder and triple maggot hook bait. It's a bit of a long chuck at about 33 metres. Started on this. If the Chub are about can expect a response straight away. So the writing was on the wall early no indications except from a tiny Perch. I kept trying, but knew as the day went on the likelihood of them turning up would diminish. Ended up fishing at top set plus three barrels catch small Ronnie's on Pinkie and GB. Did have a small F1.

Weighed 5 lb 6 oz which was less than half the weight I weighed last time on this peg. It's very much a Carp peg for the Methodist. Pretty sure the Chub are down the other end which doesn't get pegged very often. Not much energy today still match fit yet.

Once again Pete Watkins (pictured) won the match on peg 8 fishing the method tight to the island. Pete landed 5 to 7 lb for 49 lb. Fair play sitting it out for 6 bites. Well done matey.

The silvers was won by John Amato (pictured with his peg guard dog) from peg 13. John caught on 4 metre whip with maggot over loose fed slop GB. His catch included some F1's and a big Goldfish. Well done matey.

Weigh Sheet:

Tuesday 15/10/2024 - Bitterwell Silvers Open

Geoff Francis joined me today at Bitterwell. It was going to be hard today with the lake still adjusting to the massive amount of rain over the past couple of weeks, close to a complete change of water.

I bought an umbrella some weeks ago and proving to be a good buy as its not got wet yet, as it didn't today. Bloody miracle considering the amount of rain we have had.

Twenty-one fishing today so interesting. Hoping not to be in the 20's, roadside would be my preference. Alas not, peg 28 again. Wasn't over keen on the draw to be honest. Geoff drew peg 9. Found myself between Keith peg 29 and Ricky peg 27. Clive found himself in the corner peg 30 and to be fair did well from it.

Always look for the positive's, the light wind was blowing my way. Would it make a difference? Thought the  waggler would work - but didn't. Caught some Perch up to the reeds on my Tench line plus five Carp. Caught some very small Skimmers at 10 metres on Pinkie fed in small tight balls of GB but for some reason would not increase in size or stay there very long which meant trying other lines with the same number of barrels. It was a right struggle.

Weighed a mere 3 lb 12 oz for 13th. There seems to be a lack of 1 to 3 oz Roach which are always ready to feed in difficult conditions and give bites for most of the day. There must be a Hornets nest nearby as a few of us had them around us - Pictured.

The match was was won by "the Butler in the buff" - Paul Issacs (pictured) with 13 lb 6 z from peg 12. Here's a thing, Ricky Mills said during the match that he thought Paul was catching some better Skimmers so was probably using expanders over micro, and that's exactly how Paul caught. Well done matey.

A shout out to Kai the young lad did very well coming second with 11 lb from peg 7. Maggot and GB at 13 metres apparently.

Back to the Holly Bush for a cider or two to check if I'm still allergic to it - I am - bugger.

Result:

1st Paul Isaacs 13lb 6oz peg 12

2nd Kai Hurley 11lb peg 7

3rd Les Harper 10lb 4oz peg 23

4th Ricky Mills 10lb 2oz peg 27

4th John Smith 10lb 2oz peg 20

6th Marc James Savigar 10lb peg 19

7th Clive Feddery 8lb peg 30

8th Paul Elmes 6lb 12oz peg 2

9th Tony Ponting 6lb 4oz peg 26

10th T-bone 5lb 5oz peg 25

11th Haydn Withers 5lb 4oz peg 3

12th Keith Turner 5lb 2oz peg 29

13th Mike Nicholls 3lb 12oz peg 28

14th Matt Drinkwater 3lb 9oz peg 17

15th Gary Morris 2lb 4oz peg 8

16th Pete Turner 1lb 8oz peg 23

17th Joanna Wingate 1lb 7oz peg 15

18th Marcus Murley 1lb peg 5

Geoff Francis dnw peg 9

Andy Edwards dnw peg 13

Dave Hulcoop dnw peg 21

Thursday 10/10/2024 - Francis and Nicholls - Gone Fishing

Bit concerning when looking at the weather App. Luckily the wind speed was 14950 Kph less than forecast!! In fact the weather was perfect for our day gone fishing.

Day started with a leisurely although later than usual Wetherspoons breakfast. Geoff and me fished a couple of pegs each both catching 80 lb each, mostly averaging 5 lb. The highlight for me was catching the fish of the year, a beautiful 18 lb scale perfect silver plump Common (pictured). It looked as if it never been caught before and took me a while to land.

Back to the Mughal Palace for our dinner and a couple of pints of draft Cobra. Cant think of anything better during the working week that would better such a day "Gone Fishing"

"And Away".

Thursday 03/10/2024 - Harescombe Silvers Cost Cutter Open - Meadow Lake

What a beautiful Autumn morning, cold but with promise of all day sunshine.

Many times have thought about returning to Harescombe. Not been there since June 2021. With only good news from the fishery and them now running silvers matches on Field and Meadow Lakes. I booked in. Although a previous regular on the Match Lake had only fished Field Lake the once, have never fished Meadow Lake and didn't even know its location and luckily that's where todays match was. I love fishing new to me venues/lakes. Nice to meet up with one of the old regulars - Richie Powell - pictured.

Arrived in plenty of time to carefully chew my breakfast after yesterday's tooth extraction - very nice, plus you get another hot drink delivers lunch time to your peg. Joined by Turbo Tone, Phil Morgan and Pete Greenslade.

13 fishing so only a a couple of pegs empty. Into the draw bag and peg 2 it was. Found the lake at the top of the fishery with the road around one way. Nice to be able to park behind my peg. The lake is absolute picturesque and as is the surroundings. No traffic noise. The fishery is obviously very well looked after. Knew it wasn't a silvers only lake verified by some  some large Carp on the surface. Found myself next to Turbo on peg 1.

The sun was directly in the face to start and seemed exceptionally bright, the lake was flat calm. Waggler and two rigs set up. The depth varied from three foot top set and kept going deeper, so settled on top set plus three barrels in 7 foot.

The upshot the GB feed didn't really work so loose feed LR's proved best. Caught small Ronnie's on all rigs and a bonus 8 oz Ronnie. It was fishing very hard and was a question of catch what you can. Wouldn't take a still bait so a lightly strung out waggler helped with this but meant plenty of casting. Did foul hook three Carp landing a 5 lb Common and nearly landing it's twin which broke the ageing no 5 slip elastic.

Weighed 3 lb 3 oz for second. Really enjoyed it, very comfortable platforms. No doubt a very well run fishery. Probably due to the female touch with Kathy running our match (pictured).

The match was won by Tony Price (pictured) with 4 lb 6 oz from peg 10. Think he caught on chopped worm. Well done matey.

Now the very sad news Darren North passed away whilst fishing a festival in Ireland on Wednesday aged 56. Darren was both a friend, neighbour and fellow match angler. Great company, loved his sense of humour. RIP matey.

Weigh Sheet:

Sunday 29/09/2024 - Ron Hardiman's All in Match - Westerleigh Shipp's Canal and Taylor's Pool

Weather forecast was awful looked out the window this morning to see a strange pink sky - red sky in morning etc...whats pink? (pictured). Well done to Ron who had the sense to reduced the match by half hour missing the down pour and the worse of the wind.

Into the draw bag feeling around for a blue disc (Shipp's Canal) and found one with peg 5 on it. Happy with this, but comes with a warning on which way the wind has and is blowing. Last match the early pegs struggled whilst my peg had 200 lb. Nonetheless, in for a day's fishing whatever. Found myself next to Mark Cook on peg 4 who DNW'ed as he had to rush off due to a horse standing on his wife's foot - stupid animals!! Our end was flat calm with loads of red colour.

Fished the same rigs as last match. Started on the meat at top set plus two barrels wasn't happy with the meat - not sinking fast enough with some floating? Had about 15 lb and a lost fouler before it died OR the Carp were up in the water waiting for the feed mid water. I'm going to try pumping it next time. Two choices of islands to fish to, the one to the right is overgrown and couldn't get to the shallower water. The island to the right has a nice depth but very stony so careful plumbing required. Could reach both islands with 11.5metres. Went to the right island having fed some 4's and corn with the response was instant catching a few small Carp, plus some foulers. It died far too soon. Had been feeding the RH margin and caught the occasional small Carp and F1's again on corn. Could see the other end bagging up with my end not so much.

Weighed 54 lb 4 oz for nowhere. As per usual enjoy it. Had some maggots and on hindsight should have tried them in the LH margin. Me pictured on the run to my peg. Is that Ron in the background looking stressed.

Our Pool and the match was won by Paul Elms (pictured with some quality fish) with 115 lb 9 oz from peg 1. Paul caught a few over and short but his LH margin was the most productive catching on maggot over maggot. Well done matey.

Bela once again took Taylor's pool from peg 15 catching mostly in his RH margin on meat over meat. Well done matey.

Considering the change in conditions the pools have gone through over the past week or so it fished really well with 50 lbs being par. Great little fishery, all down to Mark Taylor. Roll on the winter league.

Back to the pub with the usual suspects and for once I didn't by a round 😁

Weigh Sheet:

Tuesday 24/09/2024 - Bitterwell Lake - Silvers Open

After a day of heavy rain it was mayhem around the Westerleigh due to flooding. Paul Issacs had been running water off all night the levels were above the bank. Had ran off more than 2 foot before the match. The question was how would it fish - the answer was quite well under the circumstances.

A bit like Windmill I keep drawing in the 20's and today drew peg 27. Plenty of better pegs in the twenties than this one. For company on 28 TBone and Joanna on 25. I have never been keen of fishing pegs with Lilly Pads, unless the lake is full of them!

Same set up as last match. Fed the waggler line with some DR's at 20 metres. Fed some micro at top-set plus three barrels at 1 o clock and fed the two Ronnie rig lines with loose GB and LR's. Strted on the short Ronnie rig - no indications. On to the long Ronnie rig - no indications - cripes. Out on the long line with 4 mm expander and had a 1 lb Skimmer and two small one's, it didn't last long before the line died. Decided to switch the line to GB and Pinkie whilst it settled tried the waggler which accounted for one 1 lb Skimmer. Fished the Pinkie line for most of the match catching the odd small Skimmer - it was hard. Hour to go filled the line if with maggots and foul hooked two Carp. Tried the short Ronnie rig for the last 15 minutes and lost a decent fish in the Lilly's - probably another Carp.

Now here's a thing bought some Red maggots which were reddish when hooked but after a while turned white!! First time for everything.

Weighed a meager 6 lb 12 oz for nowhere. But as per usual enjoyed the day plus the traffic was fine going home.

The match was won by Mills Scaffolding part time photographer Ricky (pictured with his catch) from peg 4. Ricky caught late once he started to big pot maggots at 7 metres. Well done Matey.

Fished well overall considering the conditions. Unfortunately cant make the next match.

Left my Drink home luckily Matt Drinkwater came to the rescue, thanks Matey. 

Result:

1st Ricky Mills 24lb 12oz peg 4

2nd Paul Isaacs 21lb 4oz peg 15

3rd Ali Gibbs18lb 14oz peg 1

4th Kai Hurley 18lb 9oz peg 23

5th Matt Challenger 17lb peg 21

6th Martin McMahon 14lb 6oz peg 12

Weigh Book:

Tuesday 17/09/2024 - Bitterwell Silvers Open

Good to see a full house at Bitterwell today. Competition would be tough with Des Shipp and Vince Brown booked in. Nice to catch up with Clayton Hudson - how time fly's plus a few of our over 55's, great bunch of blokes.

Des went into the draw bag early and pulled peg 8 well known as the worse silvers peg on the lake - well it was!! Most found this amusing and all betting Des wouldn't pick up from the peg. For me not an angler to be underestimated. Peg 21 for me normally would be happy with the peg but was flat calm and bright, the only wind was blowing into peg 8!

Set up all sorts; 6 inch straight Drake waggler, 4x10 and 4 x12 Winter to fish ether two barrels or three to fish up and down, long and short Ronnie rig. Just felt it was going to be hard work so plenty of options needed.

All the rigs caught a Skimmer except the 4x10. It was strange old day, the other four rigs brought a Skimmer either first or second put in, then nothing. The waggler proved best with three Skimmers especially after switching to Pinkie shallow. Later the Carp started to take interest in the Pinkie loose feed on all lines. The Roach haven't really fed for some weeks, hopefully winter will change that. The upshot was it was bloody hard work switching around all lines varying the hook bait with double Pinkie most productive.

Weighed 12 lb 11 oz for 4th so happy with that. I must confess to my liking to hard silvers fishing. Enjoyed to today.

Lots of humble pie eaten today with Des Shipp easily taking out the match doubling the next weight with 32 lb 10 oz of Skimmers and one Tench. Des caught at 13 metres fishing single Pinkie over sloppy Pro Thatchers green and Marine green. Well done matey a class act as usual, only regret was me not taking bets of you not framing 😉. Great ambassador for Preston Innovation. 

Back to the Ringer with the over 55's for a pint, unfortunate no Babs only hard Tiger rolls. However, Lucy was there 😋 

Weigh Book:

Sunday 15/09/2024 - Laurel and Hardiman All In Match - Westerleigh

Geoff and me breakfasted in Wetherspoons, my small breakfast and coffee cost £4.55, now that's good value. We were joined by Willy Willmott who was off to Windmill.

Bela had made up new draw discs very pretty - blue for Shipp's and red for Taylor's 😂. With the match spread over both pools with the £26 pools paying 3 on each.

Eighteen fishing and a great bunch they are too.

Into the woolly hat and found peg 9. Right pond wrong side for a decent margin.

Knew there wasn't any silvers payout so - 4's, corn, micro and 6 mm meat. No GB or natural baits which gave the feeling that I had left something behind.

Set up a 0.3 gram RJ Slim which did the LH margin to fish top set with corn over hard 4's and over at 11.5 metres. However, would start at top set plus two with a 0.4 gram RJ Slim with meat. Had a few small Carp and F1's for about 20 lb before is completely died. Interestingly the silvers were taking a liking to the meat. Quick look in the margin where I had been dripping hard 4's and some corm for one better Carp, felt as if they didn't really want to be there, it's very rocky close in. So spent most of the match long as my neck can testify. Kinder potting 4's and corn with corn on the hook. Found the Morrison's corn very soft, the skin soon peels away making what I think if a more attractive hook bait. Picked off 2-3 decent Carp and the odd F1 before resting in the margin but only ever catching one there at a time.

Finally got weighed as only one set of scales, weighing 84 lb 1 oz for third on Shipp's Canal. Happy with that but my body isn't up to this Carp hauling at long distances. Back to Silvers fishing Tuesday at Bitterwell. 

The match was won by Vince Shipp (pictured) with 180 lb from peg 5. Vince started slapping long around his peg catching regularly on pellet. Later switched to both margins with corn to keep the fish coming. Vince only brought two nets, assumed both were Carp which by my reckoning had more than filled them both after 4 hours. Vince borrowed a net from Chris Fox (who on earth comes to a Westerleigh match with just 2 nets?). Vince soon filling the third net. Vince was in my eye line and my estimate was over 180 lb. Indeed, Vince went over the 60 lb limit in all his two nets and Chris's and could have weighed 202 lb if he had more! Well done Vince nice to watch. Ask Des for some more nets for the winter league.

Back to the pub with the usual suspects for a pint. Nice end to the day.

Weigh Sheets:

Tuesday 10/09/2024 - Bitterwell Silvers - Open

Nice to have that long hot summer come to an end with cooling high winds and rain 😁.

Hoping for any peg from 1 to 13 and 26 to 28 which would all be relatively out of the wind. Into the draw bag and peg 23 again. Was called a "draw bag" by a retired Scaffolder, to put the record straight I have drawn 23 and 24 twice. So will be in the wind again and again Pete Turner for company on 24, but out of communicating distance.

No doubts it was going to fish hard. So just maggot (LR's and DR's) and GB. Set up the short Ronnie rig, 4x12 on the drop rig and a 4x14 both winters to fish at either two barrels and 3 barrels.

I fed three lines Ronnie line with loose GB and LR's and the other two lines with with a tight knub of GB laced with DR's. Started on the Ronnie rig with single LR and didn't have a bite until loose feeding LR's. Clearly didn't want the GB. Loads of small Perch which I kept fishing for looking on the other lines in between. Hooked a Carp so rested the Ronnie rig to try the two barrel line and had two small Skimmers and more Perch. Tried the longest line where the tow was a bit aggressive, but interestingly it towed both ways due to the swirling wind. Was once a regular on the Gloucester Canal which often towed both ways during the matches, this due to large ship movements, the fishing would tail off and was told it was due to the fish having to turn around to face the flows! I soon relised that the fish didn't want the GB which may have been due to the tow and found the fish 8 inches off the bottom spending the rest of the match fishing the 4x12 on the drop on the long line feeding LR's through the Kinder pot catching some Ronnie's, Hybrids and Skimmers. Loose feeding with the catty would have been preferred but the wind would have spread to wide. Missed loads of bites which were either Hybrid's big Roach, had a suspicion might have been shot bites.

Weighed 14 lb comprising a nice mix of silvers (pictured) which put me second, happy with this especially having to battled the bloody wind and rain.

The match was won by Paul Staite (pictured) with 15 lb 6 oz from peg 13. Paul caught at 10 metres fishing maggot and GB. Well Done Matey.

Nice to see Stu Foale and Nick Milsom fishing today. Felt for Nick on 21 taking the full force of climate change.

Weigh Book: