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