Sunday 31/05/2026- Ron Hardiman's Summer League - Round Three - Westerleigh - Shipp's and Taylor's Pools

Weather has been up in the 30's, today a definite change but very comfortable for fishing. 

My turn on Taylor's. Into the draw tub and peg 22 for me. For company on 23 was matey Lee Waller - not a great peg at the mo. My peg has been fishing well for Carp over to the island at 16 metres. Set up a 7" Bodied Drake waggler to fish to the island. However, it was flat calm on the island but it was a bit gusty halfway across making keeping the waggler on station for long difficult, but if the Carp were really having a go it might be OK. A 4x16 Winter to fish top set plus two barrels in 7 foot of water. Set up a PC 0.5 gram paste float to fish three barrels. I was going to keep an eye on Neil Mercer opposite and if he started catching on it I would plop some in. The short Ronnie rig was last in the roost.

Started on the Winter rig with single LR on the hook over GB laced with the same. Having liners from Carp up in the water munching the feed on the drop, but wouldn't follow it down. Umm. After a lost foul hooker and some more feed had a decent Skimmer. After that had one tiny F1 and one tiny Skimmer before being pestered by tiny Ronnie's. Looked like most were struggling early doors. Lee was catching a few small F1's. Picked up the waggler with double DR's on the hook fished it over heavy feed of LR's was getting indications only to find it was small Ronnie's. So put a big pot of Micro in at three barrels for the paste to wait for some fizz. Meanwhile would fish the Ronnie rig single LR over loose fed the same. Blimey the Ronnie's were really having it. Noticed Neil had started to bag on the paste, so plopped some in not any indications not even from the Ronnie's, abandoned it just as I heard Lee fall in the pool. He had slipped in off the bank and was having trouble getting out so I went round to give him a hand with the help of him catching hold of the but of his landing net handle. Afterwards I sat the match out on the Ronnie rig adding a couple more Skimmers, but noticeably no Tench. Had one large battle weary 6 pound Mirror Carp (mouth was in a bad state probably from method feeders) and four more small F1's.

Weighed 24 lb 3 oz for last in section. However, mission accomplished with my silvers going 13 lb 2 oz and silvers win. Not one blow over the paste line. There is a rule here that absolutely no gardening which hindered me in both margins, just a few sedges nipped off would have got me a nice margin to fish - nice depth tight in.

Our Pool and the match was taken out by Neil Mercer (pictured for once not playing a Carp) from peg 14 with a massive weight of 201 lb 3 oz. Neil caught mainly at three barrels using paste over BIG pots of 4's. Well done matey nice to watch.

Shipp's was won by Tom Thick (pictured) with 122 lb 14 oz from peg 8. Tom caught initially on top two, down his margin and a few shallow all caught on meat  over meat feed. Well done Tom nice to see you again, always been a treat fishing with you. 

Back to the New Inn with the usual suspects. Thanks goes to Paul Elms for buying a round - appreciated, but the conditions that were not to mention the P word.

Weigh Sheets:

Sunday 24/05/2026 - Ron Hardiman's Summer League - Round Two - Westerleigh - Shipp's and Taylor's

Just back from Whiteacres and feeling a but jaded, so no prep and left over bait of maggots, casters and GB so limited to probably silvers.

My turn on Shipp's and pre-draw could see some big Carp cruising around with the odd rushes moving so not long before a full spawn, especially as the temperature has at last become comfortable 30 degrees C!

Peg 9 for me which has replaced peg 4 used in the winter league. It's a good Carp peg - silvers not so much. I have done well fishing over to the island which is reachable with 11.5 metres and one of the short stubby bits in the end. However, wasn't going to be bothered with that today as the reeds were moving a lot and thinking foul hooking, couldn't be assed more like. Loads of big Carp cruising between the two islands seen one of the Grass Carp - looked lonely.

Set up a 4x12 Winter to fish top set and two barrels over LR's (soon to DR's in the heat) laced GB, Short Ronnie rig for maggot over loose fed same and a 0.3 RJ swinging the two barrels down the right to some Sedges.

Started long over the GB with single LR and started to catch very small Skimmers. I netted them all due to a lesson given to me by Kim Milson, fishing a match next to him at Durleigh. We were whip fishing which naturally leads to swinging the fish which were mainly 4-6 oz Skimmers. Of course you loose a few swinging. I noticed Kim netted all his Skimmers but swung all the Roach. He beat me but only just ever since have netted Skimmers - soft mouths. Kept a bit of feed going in and wasn't long before bubbles appeared which soon went after landing a decent F1. F1's tend to scatter the Skimmers so rested it in favour of the Ronnie rig catching a few Ronnie's and Perch until hooking an 8 lb Common. So back out and a couple more Skimmers and some Ronnie's until more F1's re-appeared. Went down the long edge to the right with kindered caster and double on the hook. Was soon playing another 8 lb Carp this time a Mirror. Thought I might have enticed the 3 lb Perch that lives nearby with the caster but alas not just more Carp. Spent the rest of the match on the Ronnie rig down the left loose feeding DR's catching the odd Ronnie and Carp on single DR's. No doubt I would have caught much more if I could have been assed to fished over - next time!!

Weighed 4 lb 10 oz of silvers for the silver win - mission accomplished, with the Carp taking my weight to 44 lb and 8 points. 

Shipp's was won by Nick Saunders (pictured with the Taylors winner) with 55 lb 12 oz (weigh sheet had incorrect adding) from peg 6. I couldn't see Nick but from what I could hear he spent the match slapping about his peg with maggot hook bait. NO FEEDING - HOW?? Well done matey.

Taylor's was won by Martin Rayet's stand in young Freddie Harper-Wojtyla (pictured) drawing the winter unfancied peg 16 - summer peg apparently.

In his own words:

"Set up 14m with pellets then top 5 with meat and both edges one maggots and gb and one with meat. Shit first 30 mins no bites then had a nice hour and a bit catching small f1s and little carp about 2 pound f1s 6 ounce to a pound and a half then dried up a bit  with odd bite last 2 hours was good in edge on meat on a top kit ended up with 106 pound what won the section and the lake 🥇🥇🥇and got the important 10 points for mart." 

Nice to see how well Freddie has come on and one to watch for the future. Nice lad too. Keep it up and obviously not listening to Dad anymore. Well done great result.

Matt Tainton won the silvers on Taylors with 10 lb from peg 26. Matt caught on worm over chopped worm. Mine had died overnight! Well done matey.

Well nearly back to the New Inn with the usual suspects to find it closed!! Strange pub. However, a much better pub just across the road. Old Inn much better managed I think.

Thanks to Ron Hardiman for another well run match.

Weigh Sheets:

Monday 18/05/2026 to Thursday 21/05/2026 - Whiteacres Clubman Festival - Python, Pollawyn, Twin Oaks and Trelawney

Looking forward to the week down Whiteacres with Geoff Francis, our 4th year. The first match is Monday but travelled Saturday, separately - too much kit. Geoff followed me down and were slowed to 40/50 mph for some time due to a wide load taking up one and sometimes two lanes. Still made a nice steady drive. We paid for early entry so just enough time for tackle shop a walk around the fishery, finding Ray and Phil Cooper fishing Jenny's. Ray had been keeping a Topper Crow Quill Canal waggler for me as he didn't use it any longer and I might - pictured - Topper made some great river waggler's as well as his famous Avon floats. After our walk Geoff commented on how well kept the fishery was with no litter. We finished up in the club for a pint with the rest of the Over 55's. Geoff, Phil Morgan and me booked up for a curry in the Maharajah - Newquay. Nice outlook but the service was absolutely awful. It took an hour for the starters to arrive then with no signs of the mains arriving Geoff decided to have a right go at the manager - Geoff pictured coming to the boil. We finally got our meal and Geoff got all our drinks taken off the bill - good one - let this be a lesson to everyone - never get between Geoff and food.

Sunday: most of the lads went off to Bolingey for a match. And after a nice breakfast served up by Geoff, we went for a short practice session on Trelawney. As Geoff knows I get bored very quickly when pleasure fishing. Spent a couple of hours fishing and came to the conclusion that it was going to be hard. Paste wasn't really doing it, finding caster down both margins most effective. Packed up and went to the Halfway house for Sunday lunch - very nice.

Monday 18/05/2026: Python peg 24:

Another excellent breakfast served up by Geoff. Usual FB message with our peg number, putting me on Python 24. Walked from our shed and met matey Ian Hudson on a bad draw on Jenny's for the residents match. He said that peg 24 was in the right area.

Set up the short Ronnie rig a 4x10 Speedy for both edges and a 0.4 gram paste float to fish top set plus three barrel's. Started on the paste over micro and fouled hooked a Carp first dob in, In again and had a decent Carp. Other than a scrawny Carrasio the line died. Had been loose feeding both margins with caster which started to produce some Perch, Ronnie's and the occasional decent Carp including a Ghosty loosing another Ghosty soon afterwards. In and out kept trying the paste which produce the odd F1, but mostly stayed in the margins. Always one margin produces more that the other and in this case it was the right. All margin fish caught on the top set.

Weighed 35 lb 9 oz for second section and 3rd super pool. So a reasonable start - up the caster.

All the restaurant's were closed Mondays so Geoff did a delicious Sirloin steak Baggett with trimmings. Just right.

Tuesday 19/05/2026: Pollawyn:

Arrived at the peg and was bitterly disappointed as the peg had no margins except wood from old platform on the right and likewise to the left platform peg 19 old wood - pictured. Umm.

Was told there was a bar at 13 metres so set the a 7" Drake bodied waggler and spent 20 minutes casting it around the deep bowl at various distances and just found it very deep everywhere. Suspect the bar been washed away over the years. So set it up at 4 foot to fish caster shallow at 20 metres or so.

There are two ends of islands at 40ish metres which were probably crying out for the method to be chuck at them, but as I don't do that thought about the pellet waggler but the wind was horrendous so no go on that. 

Plumbed up the paste float at top set plus one and a bit in 7 foot of water and must admit it felt right as it gently sloped off into the bowl and could pulled the paste up the slope. So fingers crossed the fish would like it too.

Set up the short Ronnie rig to fish down the side down tight to the plank towards peg 19 with caster.

Well started on the paste over micro and lost a Skimmer and had one about 12 oz. That was it - I'm in trouble. Picked up the waggler and fished double caster over loose fed the same. Although the wind was awful the bodied waggler presented reasonably well, but the light was difficult. Soon binned it without a sign. Over on the other point pegs one of the two was catching on the method. So decision made to fish the Ronnie rig with caster and caught Perch and Ronnie's for the last three hour's. Nothing about the margin was right.

Weighed 15 lb 8 oz for 2 points. Definitely left 1 more point on the table needing another pound a which would have been easy if I spent a more time on the Ronnie rig early on. Probably a lot more if I fished the Method!! The wind was awful.

We were joined by Phil "Fuzzy" Morgan for dinner at the Journeyman Restaurant. Best Balti since last time there with son Mark. Regretfully decided on a desert which was huge, luckily I was with two fat helpful bastards.

Wednesday 20/05/2026: Twin Oaks:

Breakfast roll for us today which was enough after last nights feast.

Peg 24 for me. Delighted to find its one of the small crappy concrete platforms that has been replaced. Had an empty peg next door peg 23. However, due to the reeds couldn't get near it and also hemmed in on the left also.

Set up the pellet waggler but wasn't hopeful due to again the horrendous wind. Short Ronnie rig, 4x10 Speedy and a 0.4 gram paste float. 

Started on the paste and micro and had two small F1's before it died. Now sat here writing this I'm wondering if I haven't given the paste long enough - won't ever know now! So had a few chucks on the pellet waggler fishing 4's and feeding fours and decided the fish would have to by starving to take the bait with the wind taking it through so quick - that was binned. Only peg 19 seemed to be catching with everyone else was struggling. So fished the Short Ronnie rig with maggot down the right and the Speedy to the left on caster. Had some decent F1's down the right and some decent Carp down the left on caster. Tried the paste in and out but nothing. Fished the caster side to the end and had another Carp loosing two foulers.

Weighed 16 lb 12 oz for 4 points. With 4 lb each side thought I fished a decent match.

The Two Clome's for Geoff, Fuzzy and me. Must say the food has drastically improved since last there with my Wife. 

Thursday 21/05/2026: Trelawney:

We had a guest for breakfast being joined by Fuzzy Phil. 

Peg 10 for me a short walk from the shed and was able to go back for a cup of tea before the start - 3 hours from the draw to "all in" I find strange.

Usual rigs; Paste, short Ronnie, 4x10 Speedy and a 7" Drake bodied waggler. Plumbed around each margin which was disappointing very shallow. The bank is severely undercut with the bank to the right having collapsed. Not much water on the three barrel line for the paste either where I planned to start. Talking to Fuzzy Phil who fished the lake the previous day explained he was beaten again by his nemesis dobbing big balls of paste around the peg without feeding. This got me thinking. Although I find it impossible not feed decided to cut it back to kindering small offerings of micro. The upshot I had a good first half of the match catching F1's and some decent Carp. The wind once again was horrendous at least the temperature had increased. It slowed and wanted a rest from fighting the wind so first tried the short Ronnie rig with maggot down the left out from the margin and had a couple of Ronnie's and one big F1. Down to the right with the Speedy with caster into a bay created by land slip and had a couple of big Carp, with another one of them completely fooling me into thinking it had come off only having charged into the bank and snapping the hook length. Lost another big Carp both of which would have made a difference. Had a few casts on the waggler with maggot and had a lot of indications only to find the culprits to be small Ronnie's - waggler abandon in any case had to put too much line on bottom to slow the waggler down due to the wind.

Weighed 32 lb 14 oz for second section which was OK. Now regretting not starting a new paste line to rest the margins.

We had a table booked at the Two Clomes with Geoff, Fuzzy Phil, Pete "Cliff" Smith, Jeff Grant, Chris Gay and me. Choose the Sirloin steak which was very good and can recommend this Pub, service is excellent. Chris Gay had won his section on Twin Oak's so thanks Chris for buying a round for us - appreciated.

Overall Results form this weeks Club angler festival:

1st place Will Sweeney with 24 points, with a weight of 156lb 12oz 

2nd place is Dave Elliott with 23 points and a weight of 205lb 03oz

3rd place John Pilling with 22 points and a weight of 195lb 08oz.

I amassed 10 points and 100 lb 11 oz for 38th - could have been worse. Felt the draw on Pollawyn and Twin Oakes could have been better but happy with the other two draws. The venue fished very hard with the weather being unkind for the four days. Very challenging, but enjoyable for me.

The best from our Bristol contingent was Mick "Mucky" Gale in 17th place and John Smith 22nd.

A shame that Haydn Withers had to pull out for a family illness, was well missed . He will be back in 2027.

For family reason I went home on the Friday. However, the lads teamed up the Fry's the lads and fished a 15 pegger at Morgan Porth with Geoff Francis taking the match with 146 lb on paste. Well done matey.

Weigh Sheet:

Apparently Jeff Grant befriended a Jack Russel a dog because of similarity in leg length.

This is what happens when you take on Granty in a drinking session - Turbo recharging.

Me and Geoff have already booked in for next year - can't wait. The rest are in the process of also re-booking.

Tuesday 05/05/2026 - Hob knobs - Harescombe - Match Lake

Back to Harescombe with Glenn to fish the Hob Knobs match on the Match Lake. Sixteen fishing. Another decent breakfast which had to be devoured quickly as head Hob Knob was enthusiastic for an early draw. Effects of holidays.

Was nearly last to be called up to the draw bag. Good way to draw, no mass gatherings and time for a recorded draw.

Peg 1 for me. Hopefully peg 29 wasn't in - it wasn't so plenty of room - pictured.  The wind was blowing quite hard down to the end bank and was quite cold. 

Applying learning last match I dug out four Speedy float rigs - 4x10's and 4 x 12's to try out. Love these floats, designed for Malman by Nick Speed - not sure what he used them for but I like them for long lining in margins when windy.

Bait wise had 7 mm meat, micro, GB and LR's. Once again don't' have the patients to wait hours for fish to turn up on it and that was how it was today, so no more discussion on this. Has to be instant to keep me interested.

Set up a 4x10 Speedy. A small margin bush had attracted me on the top set and plumbing around was perfect depth and slope. Could easily reach the end bank with three barrels so chose a line with the same depth as the bush line.

Started by loose feeding micro and LR's down to the bush. But wasted time fishing out one barrel over loose fed meat and after 30 minutes gave it in. Went down to the bush with singe LR and expected to be pestered by small silvers. I was getting indications which was liners from Carp and soon had a 3 lb Carp in the net. Next put in hooked another that was really angry and took ages to get in close, thought it was fouled - it wasn't, started to pull harder which resulted in the rig line snapping above the float. Close inspection revealed I had put on a silvers Speedy with 0.12 rig line which I attached 0.16 hook length thinking it was 0.16 rig line. Duh. Set up again and back to the bush which had gone quiet so went over to the end bank where I had been loose feeding LR's. Presentation was perfect as the strong wind was causing the rig to swing round and away from the bank. I was soon in to a purple patch catching regularly decent Common's and Mirror's and the odd big F1's. Did foul hook a couple. The wind dropped leaving the rig becalmed which certainly slowed the catch rate. So back to the bush and two more there. Back out to the end bank which had really slowed but had a 1 1/2 Skimmer on the drop. Last hour was really difficult only catching one more, losing a foul hooker on the all out.

Weighed 36 lb 14 oz for a close won match. That's it now until Whiteacres in 11 days time with plenty of tackle sorting to do.

Here's a thing had a Common Carp which looked really sick so isolated it in a separate net for Gary to diagnose. Apparently it had Carp Pox and would be fine in a few weeks. Apparently similar to human Herpes.

Back to the Lamb with the usual suspects for a pint or two in my case.

 Weigh Sheet:

Sunday 03/05/2026 - Ron Hardiman's Summer League - Round One - Westerleigh - Taylor's and Shipp's

Round one of Ron's Summer League today. Weather looked reasonable, with hardly any wind which would likely effect the silver fishing. However, on the start on any league it's only sensible to start to catch the heaviest weight and get some good points. So Carp targetted.

Nineteen fishing with one "unavailable".

First round is a random draw following matches swop between the two pools. So you stay fishing with the same ten anglers throughout the league.

Into the draw bag and peg 16 on Taylor's for me. Far from being the best peg. it's been poor for some time usually last on the pool. However, you never know - staying positive. For company on 15 was Shaun T and peg 17 Tony M. Our pool had the full 10 fishing with the absentee being on Shipp's peg 1.

Well had to give the paste a go. I should know this peg well by now, drawn it a few times and fishing any closer than three barrels you are fishing over a rocky bottom and difficult to plumb. Sensibly it's best to fish just short of the bar at 13 metres. So set up a 0.4 gram PC paste float to fish top set plus three barrels. The peg does have a good margin to the left so a 0.3 gram paste float was set up for that. The usual short Ronnie rig in case! Finally set up the waggler to fish on the bar in 30 inches of water.

Fed half a pot of micro on the long paste line and plopped in the paste and had a fouler first attempt, which didn't reach the net. After which the paste was getting pestered by I think were small Tench, too small for the size of paste, so put on a small piece and had a 8 oz Tench, so refed and had a few casts on the waggler with double LR's over loose fed same and once again foul hooked a Carp which broke me. Subsequently got pestered by small Ronnie's. Meanwhile Paul Elmes opposite was catching well short (good short peg). All along our bank was struggling. So on to the Ronnie rig to put something in the net fishing single LR's over loose fed same and caught small Perch and Ronnie's for a couple of hours before trying the long paste line again but with no sign of a fizz it was soon abandoned back to the Ronnie rig. Nick S on 14 was blanking at this time Shaun T had a few F1's long on pellet. So stayed on the Ronnie rig and had three Skimmers and a couple of Tench when the rain started and the line went completely dead. It was either due to the rain or Carp had moved in. Luckily it was the latter had a 5 lb dumpy Carp on the Ronnie rig with single LR. So time to pick up the margin paste rig, so fed some micro and with great expectations as it was plopped in and it just sat there without any indications!! Shaun was now bagging in his margin on meat. So went back on the Ronnie rig and had three more decent Carp and some F1's (well F0.5's as they were so small). Shaun T and me needed another hour as Paul E opposite had stopped catching at the same time we started to catch.

Weighed 40 lb dead with 9 lb 9 oz of silvers enough for the pool silvers win. I would have settled for 6 points off this peg at the start. Very enjoyable day's fishing.

Taylor's was won as expected by Paul Elmes with 87 lb 11 oz from peg 20. Paul caught short on meat and 14.5 metres out to the bar fishing pellet. Well done matey.

That man on fire on this venue Bela Bakos (pictured with the winner on Taylor's pool) easily won Shipp's with 102 lb 8 oz from peg 11. Bela started short with meat and had a few F1's, switching to long over to the end of his right side island with pellet and started to catch better stamp of Carp. He later dropped back short on meat and was rewarded with a beautiful 12 lb Grass Carp (foul hooked apparently). he also manged to properly hook some munters that do come in close to your keep net on this peg late on and are very difficult to hook properly. Well done matey.

Couldn't help noticing a number of anglers now suffering with injuries from fishing very long. Think it's time to introduce a 13 metre limit. Even the best pole you can buy are heavy fished long.

Back to the New Inn for a pint and the usual banter.

Weigh Sheets - Rain effected:

Tuesday 28/04/2026 - Hob Knobs - Harescombe - Match Lake

Back to Harescombe with angler and good friend who needs  no introduction other than looking at his roost - pictured.

The day before the match the temperature was comfortable enough to sit in the garden tying hooks. Looked at the forecast for today and it did say expect the temperature to be 5 degrees colder. Should have considered the wind chill factor as arriving at the fishery there was a very cold NE wind blowing. It was bloody freezing.

Head Hob Knob wasn't available today so Katherine did the honors with the draw etc...

After a nice breakfast, into the draw bag and peg 18 for me. Luckily Glen was next peg 20 so parked behind empty 19. My other next peg was 16 occupied by matey Chris Gay. The fish were attempting to spawn - certainly going through the motions particularly in peg 16. Sat on my box to find the wind blowing it at me at 11 0 clock - bloody freezing.

Glenn and I haven't been here for a good few months so were well out of touch and will be fishing with good bunch of anglers that fish the venue two to three times a week.

Had paste, maggots. micro and GB. I was doubtful about the paste. Fish spawning up edge of the sedges, so didn't bother with a margin rig as thought it would only lead to fouling. So a short Ronnie rig, 4x12 Winter to initially fish top set plus three barrels and a 0.3 gram paste float to also fish long to the left of the Winter rig.

Fed some GB and Maggot on the right Winter line and loose fed some maggots on the Ronnie rig line. Started with a small ball of paste over some micro and had a bite first put put in, well not a bite exactly but a fouler that came off. Never mind gave some enthusiasm for the paste. Well an hour in and having lost seven foulers and nothing in the net except a speared micro Ronnie, so gave it up. Tried double maggot on the Winter line and lost a Skimmer which might have also been foul hooked! Plenty of moaning going on about how cold it was and how poor the fishing was. The wind was a pain long to sulked on to top set plus one and batten down the hatches. Fished double LR's with GB and experimented with different feeding and started to catch some F1's, some skimmers and one decent Roach and was surprised when a Bream (not a Skimmer) flew off the hook, indeed if it was hooked, Learnt a bit about the feeding for next time. The Ronnie rig was left in the roost today due to the poor presentation due to the strong wind.

Weighed 12 lb 12 oz for seventh from bottom, lost 10 foulers - final score 10 - 7 to the Carp -  duh. On hindsight should have set up a margin rig.

The match was won by regular Phil Auger (pictured with his catch) from peg 11 with a great weight on the day of 42 lb 15 oz. Phil caught mainly long over to the island at 14 metres fishing either maggot or caster hook bait fished over loose fed same. Well done matey.

Back to the pub with John S, Pete G and Glenn B for the usual moans.

Weigh Sheet:

Thursday 16/04/2026 - Avalon Open - Match Lake

Had a call from Kev Winstone offering a lift to Avalon. Definite yes otherwise I would have spent the day tearing my hair out setting up a new phone. Happy to put that off.

We had breakfast in Lillypool Cafe. It's had a complete refurbish since last there. The breakfast was excellent especially the sausage. Expensive, but only get what you pay for.

Didn't expect the need to give Kev instructions on how to get to Avalon from the cafe. Yep, he took the wrong turning - Duh. Never a dull moment with Kev's driving - very exciting white knuckles come to mind.

Nice to catch up with Vic Bush, Steve Kedge, Incognito and others

Twenty four fishing so every peg in on the far in on the far bank where you can now park behind every peg. I was being over watched by a large Heron, it didn't come down after my flying Ronnie's - pictured

Into the draw bag and peg 40 for me. Arrived at the peg which was on the end of the second island and thought might have a day on the pellet waggler but was deterred by the wind. So silvers it would be.

Set up a 4x16 winter to fish for skimmers at top set plus three, short Ronnie rig (Mutterless rig?) and a 4x12 for tight into the edge which is very deep hopefully for a bonus Perch or two.

Potted a few casters down tight to the RH margin, fed the long line with a ball of hard GB laced with caster, micro and chopped worm. Started down the edge with double caster and had a few small Ronnie's with no sign of Perch went out long with a worm and although the wind was strong presentation was good. However no signs, not even from a Ronnie. Looking around a fair few were fishing for silvers and all struggling early doors, so fed the long line again a kept an eye open for any sign of a blow. Meanwhile started on the Ronnie rig with single caster over loose fed caster. It was a bite a chuck from mainly small Ronnie's and the odd decent Rudd and bloody loads of Mutterless Minnows. Kept trying the long line with worm but no signs and topping up afterwards. The upshot was I don't have the ability to sit 6 hours for 5 bites so with no signs of Skimmers spent the last last couple of hours on the Ronnie rig trying different feeding etc.. to avoid the Minnows.

Had around 300 fish for 12 lb 4 oz. which surprisingly left me one out of the silvers pool.

The match was won by Incognito (pictured with the silvers winner) with 73 lb 5 oz from peg 26. Howard caught on his usual Tea Bag method. Well done matey.

The silvers was taken by Phil Dodds with 21 lb 8 oz from peg 34. Phil caught on the cage feeder with micro and worm feed with worm on the hook. He caught four big Bream and one Perch. Well done matey.

Well done to Kev for second in the silvers with 19 lb 3 oz. Kev got platformed by a foul hooked Bream using knicker elastic.

Back to Wells Spoons for a couple or three pints of Guinness's with the usual lads.

Weigh Sheet:

Sunday 12/04/2026 - Bela Bakos Open - Westerleigh - Shipp's and Taylor's

After a short break was looking forward to today's match. Usual twenty pegs and hoping for a peg on the far side of Taylor's. Into the draw bag and peg 4 Shipp's again! This peg can throw up a Carp weight once in a while but not of late, so no need to cut up meat or mix paste today. However, it's an OK silvers peg - so that will do. Nice to have fishery manager next door on peg 3.

Simple set up 4x14 winter to fish two barrels, Short Ronnie rig and a 6" slim bodied drake.

Plan was to initially fish the two barrel line for Skimmers then switch to the Ronnie rig and if things got hard onto the waggler for again Ronnie's. Every time I fish this peg the first 30 minutes is spent catching F1's and can guarantee one first put in. So fed a knub of GB laced with Pinkie and yes the Winter rig hadn't settled and a F1 took the double Pinkie and was soon in the net. Kept topping up every fish and after four F1's had two small Skimmers and a couple of Crucians (which don't count as silvers). Had a couple more Skimmers and some Ronnie's before it was time to test for the Ronnie's on the short rig. Had a good couple of hours regularly catching 1 - 2 oz fish. Thought I would rest it and try the waggler with single LR over lose fed same. First couple of cast was getting indications, then the heavens opened with a barrage of hail stones making the waggler invisible, so abandoned that and went back on the Ronnie rig. Last hour thought I would have an experiment on the two barrel line by dumping a big pot of LR's in. With single LR on the hook and had two instant F1's and foul hooked two decent Carp.  Experiment over - thinking paste might have worked today. Spent the remaining time on the Ronnie rig had slowed but did add two better Skimmers.

F1's weighed 12 lb 4 oz and the Silvers 8 lb 13 oz for the lake silvers win. Mission accomplished.

Shipp's and the match was won by Vince Shipp (pictured) - AGAIN - with 90 lb 1 oz from peg 8. Vince struggled early on fishing soft pellet and micro (thought I heard some moaning) . He later switched to corn hook bait over micro fishing short down his right margin and caught decent Carp. Vince had also had a go with meat which didn't produce much - guessing it was due the highly coloured water. Well done matey.

Taylor's was won by Mike Etheridge (pictured) with 74 lb 10 oz from peg 20. Mike tried catching long which didn't produce switching to both his margins fishing meat in both. Well done matey.

Taylors silver's was won by Matt Tainton with a decent weight of 14 lb 12 oz from peg 25. Matt caught mainly Skimmers on either maggot or worm over chopped worm. Well done matey.

Now here's a thing Ricky Mills was on peg 11 which was on my sight line and his yellow topped float was a right distraction. Then relised Ricky must of borrowed some of Geoff Francis special floats also explaining Geoff's absence.

Well done to Bela for running the match today and thanks for putting peg 4 in 😉

Weigh Sheets:

Thursday 26/03/2026 - Windmill Cost Cutter - Match Lake

Asked one of the senior fishery managers if the access road had been repaired. Told it was, so booked in. WRONG the road was far from decent condition. However, this wasn't going to be the worse part of the day. With 21 fishing expected it was going to be tough fishing, but nowhere near as was to transpire.

Into the draw box and peg 21 for me. Have drawn this peg a few times which is tough most times, especially after high winds. It's a  deep peg as is the margins and over.

The silvers is usually won with one 2 or 3 lb skimmer so might as well fish for Carp with maggot which is as good as any method to catch one of the elusive skimmers.

Set up a 8" drake small bodied waggler to fish over and found the depth 4 foot which was the closest I could get with out hitting the reeds. Set up the maggot feeder - that was it.

Whilst setting up 6 pairs of Canadian Geese flew up from the bottom end and took a fancy to pegs 22 and my peg 21. Not one of my favourite birds, very aggressive. But what got to me was the noise it was like being at a vintage car event where they were trying to beat the record for how long the could blow their air horns. Strange Birds. No doubt they were looking to nest opposite us on the island but couldn't gain access.

Started on the waggler with double LR over the same loose feed. Had indications from small silvers hooked one which fell off, landed one then a 4 lb 9 oz Mirror Carp. So good start. That was it for the next two hours during which I lost one float when the group of Geese decided to have a squabble flying into my line. A hour later lost a hook for the same reason. Went for a Mars Bar walk and I was equal top with one Carp!! Went back and had a micro Perch. Subsequently hooked a large Carp which just wanted to sit in front of me on the bottom going around slowly in a circles. Wise Carp must had some inside information about my inpatients as I pull a bit too hard to get it up and broke the line beneath the waggler probably worn line due to me having been moving the waggler up and down. Spent the last very long 2 hours on the maggot feeder for nothing.

Weighed 4 lb 10 oz for nowhere. The lads each side of me didn't have a bite all match. As there is a Cormorant issue here, suggest they forget stocking silvers, instead stock with 2000 - 2 to 3 lb Carp which is needed in my opinion.

The match was won by A Bright (pictured with the silvers winner) with five Carp for 39 lb 11 oz from peg 4. He caught two on the feeder and later three in his margin all caught on maggot over maggot. Well done matey.

Silvers went to Hughie Evans with the one 3 lb Skimmer caught on the maggot feeder over to the end on the island. As he said - "lucky". Nonetheless, well done matey.

Finally, a big shout out to Stu Barnet on peg 12 who discovered a Roe Deer on disused peg 13 with sever broken leg. He tried to involve various official bodies including the RSPCA all of whom offered nothing. Private help was obtained to humanely put it down. Well done Stu.

The day took a turn for the better with section winner Geoff Francis and me having Gurkha Chicken meal in the White Harte. Recommend this one.

Weigh Sheets:

Result:

1. A. Bright          p4    39lb 11ozs

2. K. Winston      p5    33lb 8ozs

3. H. Evans          p23  31lb 4ozs

4. S. Gilman        p1    28lb 4ozs

5. G. Francis       p11  25lb 1oz

6. S. Fillingham  p8    19lb 5ozs

Silvers

1. H. Evans         p23  3lb

2. S. Gilman       p1     1lb 2ozs

Sections

A. J. Smith         p2    18lb 12ozs

B. G. Francis     p11   25lb  1oz

C. G. Bedford    p16   8lb 11ozs

Sunday 22/03/2026 - Westerleigh Winter League - Final Round 8 - Taylor's and Shipp's

Weather set fair again 😊. It's the best health wise I felt for some time - joyous.

My turn on Shipp's. Into the draw box and "Scull Corner" - peg 8 for me. Umm, can be a very good Carp peg, wind dependant, with very few silvers coming from it. Arrived at the peg and could see pairs a big Carp on the surface. So thinking it might be a Carp day. But first need to test it for silvers.

No chance of pick up in either the pairs with matey Johnny Wintle or the league.

Holstered the Long Ronnie rig, 4x12 Winter to fish two barrels and a 0.3 gram RJ to fish four barrels down to the LH side margin to the tree. The island was 13 metres so out of my physical reach.

Felt if the Carp were to have a go I would catch one very early. Started on the two barrel line feeding some GB with Pinkies and a single LR on the hook and had a Ronnie first put in and started to miss bites so went on the Ronnie rig with single Pinkie. Had a nice couple of hours catching small Skimmers and Ronnie's - no sign of Carp. It started to slow and had two F1's before the peg completely died so thinking oxygen crash. Struggled for the odd small silver. Had a go down the margin with a bunch of LR's on the hook over kindered DR's expecting Carp, just two more Ronnie's. Went on the two barrel line with double Pinkie over GB and had a 8 lb Carp spending the rest of the match on this line had one more decent Carp getting beat up three times.

Silvers weighed 5 lb for the silvers win and the two accidental Carp and two F1's took me to 26 lb 3 oz for 6 points. Really enjoyed the day. Picked up the highest weight silver prize, so mission accomplished.

Our pool was won by Dave Monks (pictured with the silvers winner) from peg 10 with 56 lb 7 oz. Dave initially caught tight over at 14.5 metres fish maggot over loose fed maggot mainly catching small Carp and F1's. Later Dave switch to down his margin catching a better stamp of Carp again on maggot. This also elevated Dave to second overall in the league and a decent pay day. Well done matey well deserved.

Taylor's was won once again by Vince Shipp (pictured). Drawing peg 20 Vince initially fished long, switching later in the match to his RH margin. His all Carp catch came on meat fished over meat. Well done Matey.

Silvers went to Marcus with a lowly 2 lb 3 oz from peg 25. Well deserved.

The individual league was won by inform Vince Shipp with 10 points, also the pairs with Ricky Mills with 604 lb

Thanks to Mark Taylor for the use of his lovely well kept fishery and Brian Shanks for running a well manged league. Already looking forward to the 2026/27 league. Lots of fish caught in some very difficult conditions.

Back to the pub for the presentation and a pint.

Weigh Sheets:

Final League:

Vince 10.   326-12

Dave. 14    309-14

Paul    15.   284-8

Ron.     15.   238-12

Bela.    16.    294-4

Ricky.    16.   278-4

Mike E.  19.   187-4

Brian.     20.   245-10

Mark.      23.   197-8

Steve R.  30.   129-9

Lee.         32.    162-4

Mike N.    32.    156-8

Geoff.       32.    154-5

John W.    33.    106-1

Tony.        33.     104-12

John C.    36.    139-5

Glen.         38.    120-5

Marcus.     45.    78-1

Steve S.      46.   62-8

Andy.          50.    58-2 

Pairs

Rick & Vince 604-0

Dave & Ron.  548-9

Mark & Bela  491- 12

Thursday 19/03/2026 - Over 55's Trial Match at Player's Golf Course - Wide Water

Over 55's have been thinking of giving Player's Widewater a trial match which has 18 pegs. With 17 fishing we left out peg 6 which was unfishable, but being on the point would give peg 5 more space. Lots of talk about the Lake before hand, reality was most of us didn't know what to expect. I love fishing new venues which adds extra excitement.

Into the draw bag and peg 16 for me which put me in B section pegs 11 to 18 which was on the right hand bank - picture looking from my peg looking across to A section pegs 1 to 10 on the left hand side. As can be seen it is a large lake in comparison to some of the ponds we fish these days, looks a bit "natural".

Peg 16 was under a bloody tree which wasn't too much of a nuisance, only caught it twice. It was nice and level with the water though. Pegs 11, 12 and 13 are at least 3 foot above the water - not good - Tom Daley's. For company on peg 17 was Tony Welsby - wish he'd get his hearing sorted! Mick Gale was on end peg 18. The wind was blowing hard straight into our pegs. You wouldn't want to fish this venue in wind and rain.

Three rigs - 4 metre whip with small home made waggler, long Ronnie rig and a 4 x12 Winter to fish top set plus two. 

I plumbed about for ages on two of the lines and got fed up adjusting the depth, could not find a flat spot anywhere. Branches and stones everywhere. With the match about to start settled on fisdhing 6 inches off bottom on the Ronnie rig and would take my chances with the Winter rig.

Fed some GB laced with Pinkie on the Ronnie rig line, starting with it with a single LR. Getting bites straight away, catching a few but also missing bites, so switched to single Pinkie and had a good 2 hours catching a small Ronnie every put in. However, if the wind blew the rig in too close I would loose a hook - in fact lost 4 hooks, plus caught a few branches. It slowed remarkably as the wind dropped and changed direction slightly causing heavy tow. So went out on the Winter over the same feed and had a couple of decent Ronnie's. It didn't last though. But caught a Gudgeon, a Perch, a Hybrid, a Ruffe, and a Rudd!! Brought the 4 metre whip into action which improved the catch rate but loose feeding was impossible do to the wind, so had to loose feed in GB. Most of the fish were anything from micro to 4 oz, but mainly 1-2 oz.

Weighed 11 lb 13 oz for 5th overall and a second in silvers pick up. The weather was really kind to us nice and warm and dry. Spring is here, plus some Global warming hopefully.

The match and the silvers was won by Gary Etheridge (pictured with his catch) with 31 lb 4 oz from point peg 5, Gary initially caught on his top set, later switching to top two to keep the fish coming. Gary caught on either Pinkie of maggot over loose feed - no GB involved. Well done matey nice to see you out with us.

The silvers was picked up by Hughie Evans (pictured with the match winner) with 23 lb 12 oz from peg 3. Well done matey some nice Roach I hear.

Big shout out to Geoff Francis for weighing most of us in on his own. His mastery over the scales certainly impressed me. Plus he had two near misses with golf balls.

I'm not sure it's a going to be a regular venue as the match fishing is a bit patchy with some DNW's (caught but didn't weigh). Only 4 small Carp caught.

Back to the Holly Bush with Geoff for pie, veg and chips - nice pie loads of beef. Couldn't quite eat all mine but luckily had dusty bin with me.

Wife - "hello matchstick head" - bloody wind burn again.

Weigh Sheets: