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)