Wednesday, 15 October 2025
Tuesday 14/10/2025 - Hobnobs - Harescombe - Doughnut
Wednesday, 8 October 2025
Tuesday 07/10/2025 - Hobnob's - Harescombe Fishery - Doughnut
Hoping to be over the far side for a change and was rewarded with peg 19. As with last week on the Match Lake found myself next to Mick peg 18 and Richard peg 20 aka Teabag - little less coughing and spitting today.
There are lots of different baits you can take to matches which causes confusing and switching around resulting in reduced catches. I choose a bait and try and make it work. So far that has been paste here but have now switched to maggot, in my opinion the best bait if no silvers around.
At last conditions were good for the waggler so set up a 6" Drake. A 4x16 Winter to fish up the slope in nearly 5 foot of water at top set plus one barrel at 1 o clock and the short Ronnie rig. All to fish maggot.Fed the inside lines and the far bank. Started on the waggler with double LR's hook bait with the depth set at 3 foot. Soon found that the far bank had collapsed with the depth being just a few inches. Shallowed up to 18 inches and was soon foul hooking Carp. Hooked three in the mouth and had lost five and time to ditch the waggler - at least got that one out of my system - bit ridiculous trying to fish a mud bank with a waggler - but fun. Thanks to Mick for retrieving my waggler π.
Had a short go on the Ronnie rig with single LR over loose feed which didn't feel right, so spent the rest on the match on the one barrel line and from there on had a steady day catching some beautiful looking Carp to 4 lb. Played about with the feeding which was informative, get it wrong and foul hooking follows. Can't emphasise enough how important it is to take time plumbing up on this lake.Weighed 56 lb 8 oz which included a 1/4 oz Perch for second overall. Fed about 3/4 pint so not a lot of bait required. Enjoyed the day but did get a tad cold near the end.
The match was won by Rob Pass (pictured) with 66 lb 5 oz from peg 9. I'm sure paste played a big part for him today. Well done matey.
Chris Gay took our section by default, fishing 16 metres with worm over micro - cripes hard work that. Nice one matey.
Back to the Lamb with the usual suspects and another good laugh.
Weigh Sheet:
Wednesday, 1 October 2025
Tuesday 31/09/2025 - Hobnob's - Harescombe - Match Lake
Into the draw bag and peg 14 again for me. Hopefully the peg will fish a bit better with 28 lb to beat. Will be applying some learning from the last match which might help the cause.
Felt I was in the open end at the Mem facing the Thatcher's end with Pete Greenslade, Glenn Bailey and John Smith (pictured - that's him on the left - The one on the right looked like a Ginger!) opposite me in a line - UTG.
Thought I would try the 7 mm meat today so set up a 4x12 to fish top set plus two barrels. But would start on the paste to see if there was any longevity in the method with a 0.3 gram shotted paste rig to fish top set plus three barrels. Finally a short Ronnie rig for fishing each side with LR's.Had the usual three early Carp and one F1 on the paste over kindered micro before it died. Didn't try forcing the line as it didn't work last time, so, switched to the meat line at 2 0 clock where I had been regularly loose pieces of meat. Expected initially to get pestered by small silvers. However, no indications but did foul hook a Carp up in the water, patience exhausted after 10 minutes so binned it in favour of the Ronnie rig knowing that I would have to face catching tiny Ronnie's before the Carp arrived. Went through the pain barrier catching Whitebait before the odd Carp arrived and had a decent couple of hours catching Carp to 7 lb. However, had to put up with Whitebait in between each Carp but as the match progressed the silvers were less of a nuisance, netting a a few bigger 3 oz Rudd and Ronnie's, but no Perch today.
Meanwhile John Smith was busy foul hooking and losing his first seven fish. John stayed strong taking the piss take on the chin, it would have broken most menπͺ.Weighed 51 lb 8 oz for fourth overall and a section first. Really enjoyed it today, especially as didn't feed too many maggots. Took away from today that the paste on the Match lake will for me be mothballed until next Spring.
The match was won by "Stitch" (pictured) with 66 lb 9 oz from peg 2. Excellent weight on a difficult day.
Back to the Lamb for a pint with fellow GAS Heads. Glenn was pondering at his lucky polo shirt and realising he had it on inside out. π
Weigh Sheet:
Friday, 26 September 2025
Thursday 25/09/2025 - Over 55's - Bitterwell Lake
Nice to see my old City of Bristol team mate Steve Gosling out fishing with us again. He did have a reputation of being late or no show back then. Seems he's got over that π. Very welcome.
Into the draw bag and peg 29 for me. Hang on another "Rixon Redraw" (accidentally dropped a peg on the floor). Peg 23 instead for me. Really didn't mind which peg just nice to be out fishing, plus would have been in the Sun either peg.
The peg was flat calm with the little wing blowing towards peg 8. Whilst setting up noticed the reeds moving which wasn't ducks hoping it was Tench rather than Carp. Set up a 0.3 gram rig for the edge of the reeds to the right for double caster over kindered caster. The waggler, a 4x12 Winter for top set plus three barrels for Skimmers on single caster/LR over GB and caster and a long Ronnie rig to fish single LR over GB and LR's.
Fed all the lines, starting on the margin line. It didn't take long to hook and finally net a decent Tench. Two more followed. I then lost one. Had been thinking the elastic was under gunned due to the reeds. So without thinking it through got a heavy elastic top set out and this time slipped on a worm and had a bite straight away and pulled out of it - bugger. Next bad decision was to feed a bit of chopped worm which resulted in a disaster - hooked a Carp which broke the number 3 section and with an old couple stood behind me hindered me getting to the broken section with my landing net before it shot off to the middle. It was my error as I was playing the Carp as if on my Carp pole and not my silvers pole!!!Now here's a thing in the past 30 years I've never gone to a match without a spare pole. However, today I didn't, as this morning gave one of my silvers poles to Clayton Hudson for repair. So didn't get to fish my skimmer line as no pole. Had to spend the second half of the match on either the waggler or Ronnie rig adding a few small Ronnie's and Perch BUT because of only loose feeding attracted Carp where ever I fished. Hooked 9 lumps, got a few out on the waggler.
Weighed 12 lb 2 oz for 6th overall. I felt I could have done far better with the pole and left wondering about what I may have caught on the Skimmer line. My fault "fail to prepare, prepare to fail". Hope Charlie/Paul get my top set back which will mean the Carp got free, concerned more about the health of the Carp than the top set. Nonetheless, enjoyed the day and thanks to Charlie for weighing in.
Wonder how many times Tony Rixon (pictured) has won the matches he runs? Well today was another. Tony weighed 21 lb 2 oz from peg 13 catching Skimmer's on caster or red maggot hook bait, over caster and GB feed. Well done matey. With his retirement on the horizon expect more of his matchesπ.
I didn't go home empty handed, Kev Winston gave me a GAS bucket hat (pictured) which for some reason didn't fit him π.
Weigh Sheet:
Wednesday, 24 September 2025
Tuesday 23/09/2025 - Hobnob's - Harescombe - Match Lake
Sunday 21/09/2025 - Alcove Interclub with Silver Bream - Whitehouse Farm - Margret's and George's Lakes
Was hoping to draw George's lake. Into the draw bag and Margret's 11 for me and surprised to find Geoff had drawn peg 12 next to me!
The water level is still really low nearing 3 foot down on Winter levels. The light wind was blowing off my back favouring the waggler but the gap in the trees was a little risky so didn't bother. Instead set up three Ronnie rigs and a margin rig for Carp for the last knockings.
Started on the short Ronnie rig down the left side on single LR over loose fed LR's. Had a few expected Perch of various small sizes. Doing ok until caught an over hanging branch trashing the rig. So now down the right side with another heavier short Ronnie rig with the same feed and hook bait, however, it was very slow. Bined that and converted it to a Carp line feeding some corn. Picked up the Long Ronnie rig fishing single caster over caster and GB. I soon had switched back to LR's on the hook and caught Ronnie's steady but interrupted four times by Carp - all lost The last hour arrived with the Sun blinding me out of the long Ronnie rig line. So time to test the Carp line with single corn, had a bite first drop in and thought it was a Carp only to net a hard fighting 8 oz Chub! Didn't have another bite on corn. Tried the long line again for a few more Ronnie's but couldn't really see bites properly.Meanwhile there was a lot of cussing coming from peg 12 - "ANIMALS" was the cry mostly. Geoff had landed a small Carp and had lost four snapping 0.2 main rig line.
I weighed 10 lb 8 oz for third silvers with Tony Welsby having 10 lb 9 oz but Steve Sewell winning the silvers with 11 lb 12 oz which included a 3 lb 11 oz Perch. Well done matey a beautiful fish.
Our lake was won by Pete Turner (pictured) with 30 lb from peg 15. Pete caught on the method cast around his peg in ope water. Well done matey.
Georges Lake was won by Don Searle with 44 lb 3 oz from Carp peg 1. Apparently Don lost more Carp than he landed today. Well done matey.
Silver catches were below expectation with Steve Brown taking the honors with 10 lb 8 oz from peg 19. Well done Mr Crabtree.
Alcove, the home team came out in top in the interclub match taking the top 4 places.
Back to the pub with Geoff where, couldn't resist taking the P a tad today's misadventures.
Weigh Sheets:
Wednesday, 17 September 2025
Tuesday 16/09/2025 - Harescombe - Hobnob's - The Doughnut
Wednesday, 10 September 2025
Tuesday 09/09/2025 - Hobnobs's at Harescombe - Doughnut
Wednesday, 3 September 2025
Tuesday 02/09/2025 - Harescombe Fishery - Hobnobs on Match Lake
Nice to see Jock again. Lovely man.
Seems that every year at the beginning of September there is a sudden change in temperature, as it was today, needed fleece and Gore-Tex jacket. Luckily only a few small showers of rain even though Gary and the rest of the fishery managers have been doing rain dances every day. Think their worse worries are over for another year.As Glenn and Me travel together it would be helpful if we were on the same side of the lake. It hasn't happened yet, but we were opposite today (pictured Glenn and Barry packing up).
Into the draw bag and peg 9 for me and next to Dave peg 8 who years back ran the Bridgewater AA matches on the Huntspill and Sedgemoor Drain with Geoff Francis on peg 11.
Just the usual set up of two paste rigs. However, with the water cooling down would it be as good? So all my eggs in the one basket. Choose to fish initially at top set plus two then back to one barrel then margin with the bullet rig in the last knockings. Cutting back on the feed was the order of the day. So just a few micros kindered with the paste on the long line and had my usual quick six Carp/F1's before it slowed. Came to the conclusion that it's mainly the F1's who cause the slowing rather than the Carp, this because of how hard they initially speed off scaring the other F1's off. So question of keep a bit of feed going and being patient today. Tried the short line and it felt as if wasn't going to produce so binned that, with the margin producing one F1. Only place producing was the long line and hadn't lost or foul hooked any fish. Five minutes from the end hooked a Carp which was the first fouler of about 2 lb plus which came off with Glenn shouting out that could have been a "Game changer". He was right cost me the match win.
Weighed 55 lb 8 oz for third place only 1 ln 5 oz from first!! Very enjoyable steady days fishing. Great match fishing when it's this close.The match was won again by Richard Rogers (pictured with his catch) 56 lb 13 oz from peg 12. Richard is well known for setting up the one feeder rod and fishing the tea bag throughout his matches. Well done.
Unlucky Tony Hobnobber.
Now here's a thing. Richard frames most matches here, mostly winning. Other than the odd angler dabbling in the tea bag most fish the pole. So if the tea bag is the winning method why isn't everyone using it? My answer would be; It's not the winning that's the most important thing but having a good day fishing using the methods you enjoy the most - feeder fishing is not for me not busy enough, have never fished the Method.
Back to the White Harte for a pint and a Himalayan curry with Geoff and Glenn. Very nice first time for a Buttered Chicken very tasty.
Weigh Sheet:
Monday, 1 September 2025
Sunday 31/08/2025 - Alcove Club - Knock up - The Clamp
Today we were at The Clamp - silvers only match with a few crying off so down to a knock up number of 7. I like it here as it's probable one, if not the hardest venue around. A venue for improving discipline. As the numbers were down Julie changed it to a rover. I'm not keen on rovers, hearing this had a quick walk round to pick three pegs. Got back and drew number 5 to draw. The first peg I wanted was taken the second would have meant three of us in a row so went to third choice peg 12 "The Blackberry bush" which would have plenty of room. Got to be some Chub under there munching Blackberries.
I had previously made a rig up for the match a Drennan Chop that took just 3 number 12 shot to fish out at two barrels, plus the long and short Ronnie Rigs.Started on the short Ronnie rig with single LR over loose fed LR's down to the BB Bush which needed careful casting as didn't want a Blackberry gate! Had a variation of small fish before it slowed. Tried the long rig down to the left again with maggot very slow just a few small Ronnie's. Picked up my very light rig and fished it with single LR over loose dampened GB. Had a interesting few hours messing around with presentation catching small Hybrids, Skimmers, Rudd and Ronnie's. I hooked what looked like a big Skimmer only to see my number 4 elastic break so lost the lot, bit surprised as felt like not much pressure on it. We all now we should make up at least two rigs duh. Anyway got out a 4x12 Winter and adjusted the shotting which was OK but not the same as the one lost (never is). Spent the last 30 minutes down to the bush with the short Ronnie rig and had 3 small Chub and a Hybrid was wishing I returned to the BB Bush earlier.Weighed 7 lb 5 oz which comprised of 7 deferent species for second. Even though we had thunder and rain really enjoyed the day.The match was won by Tony Welsby (pictured) with 13 lb 12 oz from peg 6. Tony caught at 6 metres using single maggot over sloppy GB.
Weigh Sheet:
Wednesday, 27 August 2025
Tuesday 26/08/2025 - Hobnobs at Harescombe - Match Lake
If Carlsberg did match organisers.
Into the draw bag and peg 6 for me. Good company with Pete Turner on 5 and Tony Welsby on 8.
Two paste rigs - at top set plus three barrels, the other for right hand margin to see if I catch there this time!
Started on the long line with kindered paste and micro and had six quick Carp feeding a small amount of micro every fish and started to think I was going to empty it, nope, it was clear these were the fish that had missed yesterday's dinner. Kept going on the line nicking the odd now F1's. The wind picked up and although the wind was forecast to from in the SE the valley decides which way it's going to hit the Match Lake, blowing in every direction of the compass which can catch you out. A change now required so had a plumb around and decided to have a go at top set plus one which was about 6 inch shallower and anticipated it would take me out of the worse of the silt. Changed the feeding to minimum loose fed wet 4's. This worked for a while adding F1's and a few decent Skimmers. Started loose feeding wetted 4's in the margin and kept testing with the paste for the millions of nibbler's if present went back to the short line nicking the odd fish but had slowed considerably. At last went in the margin and the float sat still and had a run of Carp and F1's that was until I had a period of foul hooking - bugger.Weighed 58 lb 10 oz for 5th. Felt that I haven't got the feeding right but got some clues for the next match. Very enjoyable day with the highlight seeing the delight on Pete Turners face when I retrieved his number 7 and 8 that had blown in the lake - pleasure matey.Glenn won his section again (pictured) pegged next to the winner Phil Auger (pictured with his catch) on peg 19 who won with 93 lb 7 oz. Not sure how he caught as my assistant Sports Journalist didn't know, only he caught mainly long tight over, but couldn't identify hook baits etc..."YOUR FIRED"
Runner up was worth a mention Rich Rogers who sat on the Tea Bag all match for 84 lb 10 oz. This method seems to be following me everywhere.
John Smith invited us for a pint on the way home but failed tell us which pub he was going to - apparently cider pickles brains. Glenn and me stopped again in the White Harte - No Geoff Francis stuffing himself this time.
Weigh Sheet:
Monday, 25 August 2025
Sunday 24/08/2025 - Alcove Club Match - Whitehouse Farm - George's
Silvers. Very enjoyable day. However, Could see Kev Murch opposite catching Skimmers on paste! As it happened I was wrong about the Skimmers with a few caught on worm and caster too. I did sneak my section though plus another tub of Blackberries.