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: