Sunday 04/05/2025 - Westerleigh Winter League - Final Round 8 - Shipp's Canal and Taylor's Pool

My turn on Shipp's Canal and with 19 points I would at least need a lake win or maybe a second to frame overall in the league. So the draw would be important. One end or the other would be best with the wind deciding which end. The temperature had dropped considerably with a nasty cold NW wind

I went first in the draw to see if I could make it all four matches on peg 13. Instead was faced with peg 3, very rarely gets in the top 3 on the lake so no expectations. Got to the peg to find John the Jinx next to me for the seventh time on peg 2, we have had a good laugh all through.

The fish had been spawning over the past few days so my thinking was the margins would produce. Decided to go for the silvers for the first half and see what develops. Fed the RH margin with 5 pieces of meat, starting down the left with the short Ronnie rig with Single LR over loose fed LR's first put in had a small F1 then 20 Crucian Carp which all went 5 lb 13oz. In between caught the odd Ronnie which were tiny. Tried the meat margin with and was only getting nibbles from small silvers. So made my mind up to keep after the silvers adding more Ronnie's and three small Skimmers. Last hour tried the meat margin with double LR's over loose fed LR's and foul hooked five Carp landing a decent F1 and a 3 lb Carp.  For some reason the Carp didn't want to follow the feed down which was the cause of the fouling.

Silvers weighed 8 lb 5 oz for the silvers win and the Carp 10 lb 14 oz for 8 points so well short. Only regret didn't try the paste which stayed in the bait bag. Think it was worth a try as usually results in less fouling. I also won the overall highest silvers weight. So happy overall with my league results from indifferent draws. The weather could have been much kinder at times.

The match and Taylors pool was won by Ricky Mills (pictured) with 69 lb 9 oz, beating Bela off the next peg by 7 oz!. Ricky having failed with his favourite meat attacked changed to pellet to catch at full depth at 13 metes and later in his margins. Well done Matey.

The day was all about Johnny Clarke who won Shipp's Canal with 66 lb 4 oz from peg 6. Also winning the league with just 9 penalty points out of a possible 7. Well deserved and popular win he's not put a foot wrong over the eight matches. Whats so amazing Johnny usually arrived worse for wear as he did today straight from a party with no sleep!

Thanks to Bri Shanks for running the league and Mark Taylor for providing a great fishery.

Back to pub for end of term drink and looking forward to the Ron's Summer League.

Overall League Result:

Weigh Sheets:

Tuesday 29/04/2025 - Acorn Cost Cutter - Paddocks

Had a decent egg and bacon bap at H&H burger van and sat outside eating it on a glorious morning. Down to the fishery to discover Eddie had decided to make it a silvers only match based on the Carp spawning. Many of the anglers weren't equipped with silvers top sets, rigs etc... We were also limited to top set plus three - no margin fishing. My plan of waggler fishing scrapped.

Into the draw bag and found myself on bridge peg 34 again. A good Carp peg  I was told. Umm.

Nice to see Fred Welsh out fishing again who was next peg 36. The other side of the bridge was Gary Bedford.

Set up three rigs one for up to the bridge at full length, one for top set  and a long Ronnie rig. The peg was alive with Carp and whilst shotting up foul hooked a Carp losing a hook length!!

Started feeding up to the bridge with some LR's and a tiny bit of chopped worm hoping for some Tench and out in front on top set with some Pinkies in GB for Skimmers. Had a quick look on the Pinkie for a decent Perch. Then went out for a quick look on the bridge with double LR's and first put in hooked and landed a 10 lb Carp. Unfortunately it rolled over on the rig and trashed it. I spent the next 15 minutes setting up a new rig which needed some extra line the peg is quite deep. Whilst doing this Gary was catching a Ide one a bung. So I was well behind. Out again on the bridge and had a run of 10 Ide and a small Tench. The match was planned for 6 hours but after 2 hours the silvers completely switched off for everyone. Afterwards, I had just the one decent Skimmer on the Ronnie rig. It's clear the Ide refuse to come short. Had a walk around and a few had switched to fishing for Carp to stop the boredom. Went back and after catch 11 accidental Carp packed up 15 minutes to go. Waste of a good Carp peg today.

The match was won by John "Turkey" Thompson (pictured) with 28 lb 10 oz from peg 15. John fed 2 pints of casters and a match pack of worm catching on worm. Well done matey.

Tony Whitcombe was a close second with  27 lb 13 oz from peg 5 with a mainly Ide catch on maggot over heavily fed maggot. Well done matey.

Weigh Sheets:

Tuesday 22/04/2025 - Acorn Cost Cutter - Paddocks

On a high today and looking forward to fishing the Paddocks again with my good friend and bank runner Glenn Bailey (BTW he isn't very good at it). Berger van to getting us going.

Had a walk around the tackle shop and must say it's very well stocked and well supported by Zoe and Des Shipp.

Apparently 30 fishing today, which is good, more the merrier.

Into the draw bag and drawing peg 24 and being one of the first to draw was quick getting to the peg and unloading the van and is a peg I've not draw since the concrete bridge was installed, so was looking forward to having a go at it. Then Dom Sullivan came running around announcing a redraw. It don't happen often, but mistakes are easy to make running matches - I know from experience, usually with collecting the pools. Apparently all to do with having two number 11's. Back in to the draw bag and pulled number 11! Told my draw had gone bad to worse. It doesn't matter happy to fish any peg.

For company on peg 12 was Pinkie Paul Faiers and Chris Gay on 10 who was to DNW. Paul thought the area would be no good for silvers and he would be fishing for Carp.

Set up far too many rigs. Didn't expect to catch many Carp until  later in the match so targeted silvers with 4x14 Winters - one on top set for LR's over GB and loose fed LR's over the top and the other out at three barrels with worm over a smidgen of chopped worm and larger amounts of caster, for hopefully some Tench. Had a few Ronnie and a decent Perch short and a few Ide long on worm, but it was slow. Paul wasn't catching Carp and had switched to silvers. I noticed what I thought was silvers topping over to the island which was well out of reach for my 13 metres. So set the waggler up for double LR's over loose fed same. The first four cast resulted in three foul hooked Carp landing one and getting one in the mouth. Clearly not silvers topping then- Lol. Stayed on this adding another 9 Carp before the wind got so bad I couldn't see where the fed was going or the float too well. So went down the LH margin with a 0.3 gram RJ on the top set and had 10 more Carp with double LR over loose fed same plus a Tench and a decent Skimmer.

Silvers weighed 12 lb 15 oz and the 20 Carp for 61 lb totalling 73 lb 15 oz (weigh sheet error). Happy enough with that but more so if the wind wasn't for bad and freezing cold. If the wind stay's as it is peg 10, 11 and 12 will fish very well indeed.

The match was won by Shaun Fillingham with 147 lb 9 oz from peg 9. Shaun caught long over to the island mugging on banded pellet. No loose fed was injured during the match. Well done matey.

Paul Faiers won the silvers with 31 lb 2 oz from peg 12. Paul having given up on the Carp switched to silvers catching either down his RH edge with Pinkie over Pinkie or short in front with maggot over loose fed maggot. Tench and Skimmers making up most of his weight. He did have Carp trouble near the end. Well done matey nice to watch and thanks for letting some overcasting of the waggler in your peg.😘

Back to the Waterloo for a pint with Glenn, runner up Tony W and Haydn W. Great end of the day even with bad wind burn.

Result:

1. Shaun Fillingham 147-09 p9

2. Tony Whitcombe 118-09 p1

3. Gary Bedford 117-01 p7

4. Mervyn Sivell 106-05 p5

5. Antony Piekielniak              91-07 p2

6. Simon Stacey                      84-11 p33

Silvers:

1. Paul Faiers 31-02 p12

2. Steve Howell 29-09 p15

Section Weigh Sheet:

Sunday 06-04-2025 - Westerleigh Winter League - Round 7 - Taylor's Pool and Shipp's Canal

My turn on Taylor's Pool. The plan was to fish for silvers as too far behind in the league, but second in the pairs but not sure how far behind first place, likely to be too much. Bri Shanks was away so Steve Rogers stepped in to run the match, which was bit worrying😅

Mark Taylor thought the fish had started to spread out from their winter haunt's and with the wind blowing down the opposite end thought middle to far end would be good for silvers and a few Carp. 

Into the draw bag and found myself on peg 26. Pegs 14, 26 and 22 have been the pegs to draw all winter for Carp. Not really a silvers peg. Lee my pairs partner had drawn flyer peg 2 on Shipp's so silvers plan out of the window, Carp it would be and perhaps pull some weight back and give us chance on the last match.

Two rigs - 4x14 to fish top set plus either three or four barrels which took the end section to just touching the fence. A 0.3 gram RJ slim to fish either three barrel down to the reeds or with a slight depth adjustment down the RH side on the top set.

Pinched some corn off Johnny W started with a piece on the hook over some kindered micro at three barrels and straight away getting indications, thought it was silvers. Switched to 4 mm semi hard pellet and had 20 F1's for 5 lb 6 oz 😆. The line died so tried down to the reeds with LR's on the hook over kindered LR's and a bit of micro and had a small Carp which had a plummet and hook in it mouth (later established to be Ricky Mills rig he lost three weeks ago). Had a few Ronnie's so went back out on the 4 mm pellet and had a small Carp and a decent F1. After trying various other lines and baits everything seem to be dead. So tried the margin on the top set with LR's over LR's and micro and hooked a biggish Carp which fought really hard testing my patients too much causing the hook to pull - bad angling another - careful couple of minutes would have made the difference. The upshot was had four decent Carp, but with 15 minutes to go hooked a branch on the bottom which unsettled the line so no more bites.

Weighed 32 lb 15 oz for third in section 10 oz out of a pick up - note to self must be more patient with the bigger Carp.

The match and Shipp's Canal was won by Ron Hardiman (pictured) from peg 11. Ron caught on meat. Well done matey.

Taylor's Pool was won by Johnny Clarke (pictured) with 43 lb from peg 20. Johnny caught down both margins on meat. Well done matey.

Silver on Taylor's was by default Dave with a lowly 2 lb 3 oz from peg 22 and Taylors it was Martin McMahon with 5 lb 11 oz from peg 1.

Back to the pub and glad I didn't pick up today as a good few more were in attendance, Probably due to the sunny warm weather we're having.

Weigh Sheets:

Thursday 03/04/2025 - Windmill Cost Cutter - Match Lake

Breakfast in the Beefeater, Ok but not the best for the money. Didn't want to walk too far around the lake today as left knee has been playing up also took my chances on not having a short walk. Should have done as ended up on peg 11 the longest walk!! Luckily the slope was dry and not too steep.

The wind was coming in from the NNE so the car park end would have been my choice. But down under the bank on peg 11 was warm being out of the cold wind. The fish are all balled up in the reeds at the moment so having some down to my right and reachable with the margin pole was my preferred line. So set up a 03. gram RJ Slim with 0.2 GLine straight through to a Guru 20 super spade. Also set up the waggler to give me some choice with LR's.

As a reed wobbled decided to started down to the reed with pinched corn over kinder micro and had a fish take it on the drop but missed it. Back out and a proper bite and a hard fighting 1 lb 3 oz Tench in the net. No more indications on corn so switched to kindered LR's and triple reds on the hook and had two quick Carp before it dried, decided to rest it in favour of the waggler fished out in front at 20 metres with double reds over loose fed LR's in the meantime started to loose feed down to the reeds to see if I could entice some more Carp out. Second cast had another Carp. Things were looking good as Glenn Bailey came down at 11 o clock and said he was blanking and I was probably winning the match. Thinking have I got enough nets!! As it turned out I could have gone Home after Glenn left as couldn't get another bite!!

Weighed 15 lb 14 oz for nowhere. On hindsight after catching the Tench should have fished for silvers on the Ronnie rig.

The match was won by Steve  Mundy (pictured with the Silvers winner) with 39 lb 2 oz from peg 8. Steve caught 6 Carp on the straight lead with bread hook bait over to the reeds and 2 Carp on the pole on maggot. Well done matey.

Pete Greenslade picked up the silvers from peg 20 with 5 lb 13 oz. Pete caught on my Ronnie rig set up with maggot and GB. Well done matey got that sorted.

The best part of the day is usually the breakfast or a pick up or the after match curry. However, the best part today was seeing my good friend Glenn Bailey out fishing again and winning his section. Welcome back matey, forget the sections you broke 😉

Weigh Sheets:

Sunday 23/03/2025 - Westerleigh Knock Up - Shipp's Canal

We had an impromptu knock up on Shipp's Canal. Ten of us fishing, so all pegging, pools etc.. as winter league.

Great to see the access road now prepared for tarmacking. 

I couldn't draw peg 13 today as Mike Etheridge just beat me to it. However, only one peg away on peg 1. Bri Shanks struggled for Carp on it last Sunday. This decided me from the start to fish for Silvers and if the Carp were there I could easily change to expander over micro or what ever.

Three rigs - Long and Short Ronnie rigs and a 4x14 Winter to fish three barrels for Skimmers and four barrels towards the aerator in case the Carp showed late on. Didn't bother with the margin bush as Vince Shipp would be fishing there from his regular haunt peg 2!

The up shot was caught a couple of small Hybrids, an 8 oz Skimmer and lots of Ronnie's from 1/2 oz to 4 oz on single LR on the short Ronnie rig. Had a look for a Carp on expander now and again to rest the Ronnie line without a sign. However, did catch two accidental F1's and got beat up by two lumps. GB don't seem to be working at the mo.

Silvers weighed 11 lb 12 oz for the silvers win. The two F1's weighed 4 lb 13 oz so they have really grown on, the fishery seems to be exceptional in this respect.

The match was a close run thing for the top two placings with three 70 lb plus weights. It was Paul Elms (picture with his catch and with the silvers winner) coming out top with 76 lb 14 oz from peg 10. Paul caught long into the bay using meat or pellet. Well done matey.

Runner up was  Vince Shipp (pictured) with 74 lb 8 oz from peg 2. To see how he catches see the other 100 times he's drawn peg 2.

Wish I hadn't left off one layer of clothing as it the wind was bloody freezing. What a dower 8 months its been. 

Weigh Book:

Thursday 20/03/2025 - Over 55's Pairs Silvers League - Final Round - Bitterwell Lake

The final league match today. The fishing has been a hard throughout the three months the league has been running. Most of the time we were all scratching around for ounces. Only been a few double figure weights which only came from the draw bag. That said I think everyone enjoyed it - not one FOE. We have all experienced poor fishing at sometime over the years. Also the silvers fishing has been awful all over the country this winter.

Breakfast in the local Beefeater (where was Kev Winstone?). 

With Paul Issac's away practicing on the Gloucester Canal Martyn McMahon and Tom Baker stepped in to run the match. They were ably assisted by Jaxon who had us running scared with his "Granty converter gun" - pictured.

Drew peg 19 which has been poor of late - quite a deep peg. Between Dave "The ex Drain" Lewis on 18 and Phil Morgan on 20. Arrived at the peg which was under some trees but decided I could side swipe the waggler so set that up, but looking around there was lots of Carp up in the water swimming about in shoals. Then a 4 x 14 Winter to fish 11.5 metres. Wasn't feeling the peg. Fed some GB laced with Pinkie and fed some caster on the waggler line at 20 metres. Dave Lewis had two very quick Tench. My wait was much longer for a 1 1/2 lb Skimmer. Paul Clayton (pictured) on peg had 10 lb before my fist fish from peg 21. Picked up the waggler and first cast had a 7 lb Mirror Carp on double DR. Next cast had a Tench, that was it for the rest of the match - could not get a bite on everything or anywhere tried.

Weighed 3 lb 12 oz for last in section. Think I might have over done the feeding chasing bites.

The match was won by Tony (pictured with his catch) with 30 lb 2 oz from peg 29. Tony caught on double Pinkie over GB and Pinkie with the Skimmers coming at top set plus three and a couple of Tench down his edge on maggot. Well done matey.

Well done to Tony Rixon, Dave  Gillard and reserve Clive Feddery for winning the league. Full final result below.

Back to the Ringer for the result and one of Lucy's Baps - We all wish!

Weigh Sheet:

Final Pairs Result:

Sunday 16/03/2025 - Westerleigh Winter League - Round Six - Taylors Pool and Shipp's Canal

Thought the weather would be more pleasant than it was, cold wind from the North. My turn on Shipp's Canal. This series have only drawn one peg which was 13. So in anticipation of missing it left it late to draw.Two pegs left for me and Bri Shanks who said peg 13 was still in the bag, thought he was joking. Nope yes peg 13 for me again. Unbelievable. At least it caused some amusement.

Got to the peg and again it was going to be a cold one. Set up a 6" Drake bodied waggler, a 4x14 Winter to fish 10 metres in two places, a 0.3 RJ Slim to fish 11.5 metres down the edge to the right, finally the long Ronnie rig - luckily.

Fed the waggler line and had a few chucks on it but both the light and wind made it too difficult. Kindered the 10 metres in front line with maggot and micro and then swung round to the right and fed just micro for 4 mm expander on the hook. Had a quick look on all the lines and caught a Ronnie on every single line including the expander. Looked like the Ronnie's were having a munch. Bri was struggling on peg 1 so decided to fish for the Ronnie's whilst keeping an eye on Bri and if he started to catch I would fish for Carp down the edge where I was loose feeding LR's in case. Had a good couple of hours catching Ronnie's to 3 oz but most were 1 oz or less. The feeding was interesting which for once got right on this peg. Kept having a look down the edge kindering micro and LR's to only catch more Ronnie's, but they were a better stamp but too low catch rate fishing long. As Bri only had a couple of small Carp I saw the match out on the Ronnie rig adding the odd fish.

Weighed 7 lb 4 oz for the silvers win, but as usually goes with silvers wins is poor points - 9 points last but one in section. Free now to concentrate on silvers as out of the league placings due to poor draws.

Taylor's Pool and the match was won Tony Mears (pictured) with 48 lb 7oz from inform peg 14. Tony caught at 13 metres kindering micro fish 4 mm expander on the hook. Well done matey.

Shipp's Canal was won by Marcus Murley (pictured) with 31 lb 8 oz from peg 11. Marcus caught over to the right side island loose feeding maggots with maggot hook bait. His catch included two doubles. Well done matey.

Back to the pub with the usual suspects and a right laugh.

Weigh Sheets:

Thursday 13/03/2025 - Windmill Cost Cutter - Match Lake

Breakfast with Geoff in the Beefeater, Ok too.

Had a walk around, no sign of fish. However, "Leyton's Legacy" was pointed out to me (pictured)

Not been to Windmill for some time, but have kept up with the results. The fish currently appear to be at the car park end. But with a very cold Northly wind blowing up that end will mean a very cold day but with plenty of fish, whereas the opposite end would be well sheltered but didn't expect it to fish. So with having enough of this weather especially the wind I would settle for the sheltered end today and hope some fish were still resident.

Ah, into the draw bag and peg 12 it would be. Lovely shelter peg down under the bank. However, the peg was full of rubbish left by anglers very recently, evidence in the red GB used.

Set up a 0.3 Gram RJ Slim to fish down the left just short of the reeds, would have liked to have fished further down to the reeds but well out of reach of the margin pole, didn't want to risk the Carp pole, no doubt would have battled with both Carp and reeds. A 8 " Drake bodied waggler to fish in the open water as far as I could group the LR's, finally a 4x14 Winter which had been used in a recent silvers match and had a 0.1 hook length which couldn't be assed to change to fish three barrels. 

Started on a 4 mm expender over micro at three barrels, then on to the waggler with double LR's, then on the margin at three barrels, Then set up the feeder. Had some casts around including up to the island. Three hours now gone and not a bite. Decided to see I could catch a silver over the first line with GB and a single LR. Ten minutes later playing a very angry 8 lb Common. Was concerned the 0.1 might break so was playing it very carefully. I kept hearing Dad's voice saying "The longer the fish is in the water the more chance you will loose it". Still finally got it in the net. Immediately changed the hook length to 0.16. Didn't have another bite even opened a tin of corn. Then spied out the corner of the eye a reed move right down in the left corner, followed by a Moorhen going up the bank, so wasn't sure nonetheless shallowed the waggler and fed some LR's. The wind was absolutely perfect which by leaving the line on the water would bow the reel line away from the reeds whilst the under tow would push the float towards the reeds, Second cast had a 7 lb Carp which due to the position of the line pull the fish away from the reeds on the strike. Had another three smaller Carp before the all out.

The five fished weighed 29 lb 2 oz to beat John Smith by 1 oz for the section and 5th overall. Needed one more Carp!

The match was won by Nick Saunders (pictured with the silvers winner) with 56 lb 14 oz from fancied peg 25 in a very cold Northly. Nick caught at 13 metres fishing maggot hook bait over kindered maggot and micro. Well done matey.

The silvers was taken by S Fillingham with 7 lb 1 oz from peg 16. He caught down the middle with maggot over GB and maggot feed. Well done best silvers weight for some time.

Back to the White Harte for a warm up. Bloody weather must be mad.

Weigh Sheets:

Thursday 06/03/2025 - Over 55's Silver's League - Round Five - Landsend Fishery - Specimen and Match Lakes

Penultimate round of the league today at Landsend. The cafe staff worked hard today serving up breakfast for most of us. Very nice.

Hoping to be on Specimen lake. However, ended up on peg 17 on Mach lake also next to Tony Rixon on peg 19 that's every match so far!

From memory peg 17 was one of the popular Carp pegs based on the last results also at the wrong end for the silvers.

Two rigs 4x10 shotted with strung our number 12's and a 4x12 with the logarithmic shotting pattern with 11's. Bait wise it was GB and Pinky and a few casters for down the shelf for Perch in addition two lines one at top set plus one and three barrels. Bit too much of a birdcage for the waggler.

A very cold wind was blowing off the Tealham Moor on my back causing a a ripple from middle to far bank making visibility very difficult.  Red tip was best. Only fed the three barrel line initially with loose GB and Pinkie. First put in a Carp, second another Carp. Refed and after a very long wait caught a Skimmer - and relax 😀. After more Carp caught another Skimmer. At last I was beating Tony only for him to catch a 2 lb Perch down his edge. Which gave me inspiration to try my edge where I had been dripping in casters. First try with single LR the float disappears - unfortunately not a Perch just another Carp which trashed my rig in the tree stump.  Visibility got worse so came on the short line where I had been hand loose feeding Pinkies and had a F1 and more Carp. The last 20 minutes the Ronnie's started to feed and caught five small Ronnie's.

Weighed 3 lb 8 oz for joint second in the section with Paul Barnfield on peg 15 both losing out to a 2 lb Perch. Ten Carp hooked and one decent F1.

The match was won By reserve Pinkie Paul Faiers (pictured) with 12 lb 12 oz from peg 27. Paul caught - yes on Pinkie on three lines all at 14 .5 metres feeding Pinkie and GB. Well done matey, thanks for standing in.

Back to the New Inn with the usual suspects. Kev dropped me off, whilst sorting my kit found some unfamiliar looking boots - certainly not mine - any guesses?

Weigh Sheets:

Pairs Result: Round Five

Sunday 02/03/2025 - Westerleigh Winter League - Round 5 - Taylor's and Shipp's

Three days of frost and beautiful clear blue skies. Gradually emerging from the winter darkness, packed the car in the light.

My turn on Taylor's Pool. Four of the pegs face South so wanted to avoid them the sun would be a nightmare. Into the draw bag and peg 19 it was. North facing so OK in that respect. However, the results from the peg has be awful with ounces coming from it. No Carp then! Being ever optimistic hoping some might have migrated down this end. Next to Johnny Jinx again third time, not a good omen.

Set up the kitchen sink. Started at three barrels with a 4 x16 Winter initially fishing expander over micro, thirty biteless minutes later changed to double LR's over the micro thirty biteless minutes and with peg 26 and 14 bagging thought I better save a blank and fish for silvers the only possible way to pick up today. So onto the waggler fishing on the bar off bottom with double Pinkie had a run of small Ronnie's after an hour that died, not to be resurrected. After trying another six lines with various rigs in search of an elusive Carp focused on one line at 2 o clock at three barrels with double Pinkie and GB, again just off bottom. Last twenty minutes had a couple of small Skimmers and a decent one suddenly from wanting to be sun bathing elsewhere to not wanting the match to end felt the Skimmers had suddenly woke up.

Weighed 2 lb 11 oz which was the highest silvers weight across the two Pools. Learnt a bit about the peg today. The big plus the warmest I've Been for many many months.

The match was won by Johnny Clarke (pictured with the Westerleigh Hard Rock Trio - Mark third overall on the lead guitar, Shanksey on the drums and Johnny on the magic Mushrooms) from peg 14 with 54 lb 1 oz. Johnny caught in the deep water at four barrels using his favourite expander hook bait over micro.

Ryan Shipp (pictured) deputised today winning Shipp's Canal taking second overall with 47 lb 13 oz from peg 11. Ryan caught long over to the island's on maggot over loose fed same. Appropriate result as the Pool is named after him due to the hard work he put in helping to remodel the venue. Well done matey. 

Back to the pub with the usual suspects. Great end to the day. Here's to the fish starting to get active splitting the shoals.

Weigh Sheets:

Thursday 20/02/2025 - Over 55's Silvers League - Round Four - Acorn Fishery - Paddocks

Stopped at the Bridge Inn for breakfast - not the best.

With some small Ide being stocked we were at last looking forward to catching more than a few ounces.

Really hoping to avoid the bridges. Alas not. Peg 33 for me. I wanted to fish the waggler but was highly disappointed to find the wind hammering into the bridge. So settled for a 4x16 Winter to fish top set plus one and two barrels and up to the bridge at three barrels with 3 inches extra depth. 

Decided on Pinkie and GB on all lines. Caught small Ide well initially short particularly when picking up some trip against, did foul hook four decent Skimmers landing only one, probably due to the rig going with the wind. Tried the bridge for just one small Ide, the wind was causing havoc to the rig with it bouncing, so abandoned. Went to two barrels and had a 1 lb Tench and another foul hooked landed skimmer plus a few more Ide. The last hour was very hard catching just a few small Ide. All on double Pinkie.

Weighed 7 lb 11 oz for last in section. Should have set up the waggler to at least try it - bugger - bloody wind - hate it.

The match was won by Andy Gard (Pictured)who put in a good display of waggler fish fishing  maggot over loose fed same to weigh 20 lb 3 oz from peg 23. His catch was mostly made up of Ide to 1 lb. Well done matey great result.

Clive Feddery (his net of quality fish pictured)was second with 17 lb 1 oz from peg 38. Clive fish top set plus two barrels with single maggot over hand fed maggot and caster. Well done matey.

Mark Tanner (pictured with his catch) was third from peg 31 with 17 lb 1 oz. Mark caught some quality Perch to 2 lb down the first shelf with caster over kindered caster. He added some Skimmers fish three barrels using Pinkie over GB. Well dome Matey nice to watch.

Pairs result still very much open at the top.

Some good fishing was had today, far better than last match here with half the field catching double figure weights, so very much improved result. Think the mild weather contributed.

Back to the Bridge with the usual suspects - great company one and all. Another pub not selling proper beer.

Weigh Sheets:

Pairs Results Round Four: