Sunday 24/08/2025 - Alcove Club Match - Whitehouse Farm - George's

I have been concerned as of late as to what the dry, warm weather is/will have on our still waters and fish. With water levels well down and water warming up and reducing the dissolved oxygen both adding to the stress of fish especially if kept in keepnets for long periods. Fish are habitual and will get confused and stressed with their margin haunts no longer available to them. Be watchful everyone. So, it was good to see our club match this Sunday switched from "all in" to Silvers only and them being spread over two keep nets. I have found that silver fish won't feed if the oxygen is too low and of course are not susceptible to the dreaded KHV.

Jonny Amato pictured with his club loan wheel barrow fully loaded including his trusted peg guard dog - prevents sky lining plus new dog house.

Wasn't sure if the Skimmers would feed so decided to forget skimmers and only take maggot and GB.

Into the draw bag and peg 3 for me. First time for this bank. walking around pegs 1 to 5 looked very Carpy, especially 1 obvious signs of bring popular with the Carp Anglers. I was delight to find I would be sitting under a large Willow all day with the Sun behind me. Set up the Waggler as a back up if struggling for bites, long and short Ronnie rigs both to fish in the shade of the Mr Willow. The short was set at half depth and the long full depth at 3 1/2 feet. After feeding a pot of loose GB and red unconscious Maggots

started on the long Ronnie rig with single LR and had a Rudd off the top first put in, so a quick change to the short rig and for an hour caught small Rudd. Ronnie's and Perch off the top by just loose feeding now LR's. When it slowed had a quick go on the Waggler and Maggot had one Ronnie and far slower, that was binned. Switch to the long rig on the bottom and started to introduce GB and caught small fish steady to the end. Did have two better perch, one 8 oz Skimmer and two 6 oz Hybrids. Although I didn't hook a Carp had suspicions one might have come in and had a look.

Weighed 17 lb 14 oz which I was very happy with. I love catching small
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.

The match was won by  club Treasurer Tony Welsby (pictured) from my favourite peg 10 with 24 lb 9 oz. Tony caught mainly Chub to 3 lb short on Maggot. Well done matey.

Took all my remaining Maggots home to be looked after now they're £4 a pint. Wonder if the price will go down once the weather issues are over - remains to be seen.

Weight Sheet: