Tuesday 08/09/2026 - Harescombe - Hobknobs - Match Lake

I had boked into the silvers match on Field Lake, however, the Old Gits had it booked. So booked into the Match Lake.

Told best to have an end peg at mo. So middle peg 9 would have to do! Had head Hobknob next peg. As can be seen a lot of work has been done to shore up the crumbling bank with thick steel shuttering. Just under 50% done waiting on delivery of more. Understand that platforms will be re-established. Nice drop of rain this morning and low rolling clouds over the the top of the valley. It got a bit chilly.

When fishing the Field Lake last week fed some fishery hemp down the edge and found the Carp were soon colouring up the water. So thought an experiment with the remainder on the hemp today would be worth a try over corn.

Plumbed up a 4x10 winter in 2 1/2 foot of water at top set plus two barrels. The new margins are just a a few inches shallower, with a bit of a slope. So set up a 4x10 Speedy for this. 

Potted some hemp down the RH margin and some corn with a dash of hemp on the long line, where I started. With ASDA corn on the hook had a decent Skimmer on the drop. Kept kindering a few grains of hemp and corn. Had a 3 lb F1 and that was it other than foul hooking Carp. It was clear that the Carp were preoccupied with the hemp so stopped feeding it leaving just corn, which didn't help. Tried down the margin with corn over the hemp and although Carp were coming in they spooked as soon as the rig went in. Two hours in and struggling. Tried the margin again and had the fish of the day - a 2 lb Barbel 😀. Decided to change to paste, so got up and wetted some micro, knocked up some paste and set up a 0.3 gram paste float to fish top set plus one barrel. Kindering the micro over the paste started to produce decent Skimmers and the odd big F1 to 4 lb. As the end came nearer the better it got especially when the wind got up. Didn't want the match to end.

Weighed 11 lb of Silvers and 27 lb 3 oz of F1's for 38 lb 3 oz. Wasted two hours, not good precticing in a match but where else better to try things. Really enjoyed the day.

The match was won by John Smith (pictured) with 73 lb 8 oz from end peg 25. John initially caught four F1's on the method feeder into the far corner. Switched to paste which proved slow, switching instead to the 6 mm banded over fours which produced the lion's share of his catch at top set plus one barrel. Well done matey.

Weigh Sheet: