Thursday 16/03/2017 - Bathampton AA Silvers League - Final Round Six - Bridge Pool

Last match of the six match Silvers League which I was leading by one point with a better overall weight, so needed a section second to win overall. As I had breakfast at home I was first to arrive at the draw so walked the Lake, pegs 3, 8, 10, 14, 15, 26, 28, 29, 30 and 32 were showing signs of feeding Skimmers. That said I didn’t mind where I drew so long as I missed pegs 2 and 34 as no one's going to get a days fishing from these pegs.

In to the draw box and out comes peg 21. Umm, difficult peg because I had pegs 26, 28, 29 and 30 all of which had the form to beat my peg. What was worse these form pegs had good anglers on them – double bugger. I had my work cut out but the peg was mine for the next six hours and I wasn’t going to run it down but nurture it. I was thinking 10lb would be a good target.

Peg 21 offers plenty of options but went for three rigs – a 4x16 F1 black top to fish top-set plus three at 10-o-clock for maggot and GB. The same rig would also double up at top-set plus 4 for maggot or Pellet over micro, a 4x12 F1 yellow top to fish at 12 metre, 12 inches up the far shelf again maggot and GB. The final rig was a 4x10 Speedy Titan to fish the inside margin.

I started on the short GB lone and started to catch well mainly small Skimmers until I hooked what I thought was a Tench that was played carefully until I saw a red tail so the wrong colour fish and a 4lb Carp was returned to bugger off. The swim subsequently died. So after trying to revive the swim I was forced to try the margin with caster over caster which wasn’t working and produced nothing. So opened a pellet/maggot line at 11.5 metres at 10-o-clock, same story producing just one small Roach. I went for a walk along the section to give my back some relief, I reckon I was lying joint second with Rich Coles who was on peg 26 which I know from experience can die on you. After a cuppa it was time to go over with maggot and GB luckily this produced a menagerie of small fish at least I was getting bites. I stayed here until the last hour giving all the swims another opportunity to help out adding a few more small fish including the margin rig but with maggot this time.

I finished the match with 12lb 14oz which unfortunately only gave me three points. That said I did enjoy fishing this peg as I needed to work at it. With Callum Dicks winning his section I was pushed into second place overall in the league by weight over Steve Dawson who was third – All pictured below.

Steve Dawson won the match from peg 15 with 26lb 8oz. Steve struggled fishing his favoured pellet and it wasn’t until he went for broke dumping a big pot of maggot at 10 metres that he started catching Skimmers during the second half of the match.

The league was well administered by Chris Rolfe who recognised that the pegging could be bettered for next year. Thanks Chris.

Full Result - On The Day:

1. Steve Dawson 26-08-0 peg 15

2. Dave Willmott 24-06-0 peg 29

3. Dave Wride 23-13-0-peg 6

4. John Fuidge 23-12-0 peg 28

4. Tony Rixon 23-12-0 peg 8

6. Paul Barnfield 21-0-0 peg 11

Overall Final League Placing:

1. Callum Dicks/Des Shipp 9 points

2. Mike Nicholls 10 points weight 76-12-0

3. Steve Dawson 10 points weight 73-13-0

Weigh Sheets:

Thursday 02/03/2017 - Bathampton AA - Silvers League - Round Five - Bridge Pool

I had breakfast in the Hanham Café with the usual suspects, more Gas talk than fishing.

It was our turn in the dreaded A Section. The boss peg has been peg 32 with peg 3 close behind everything else has been crap, especially peg 2, I don’t think Jesus Christ could win the section from here.

First into the draw and out comes peg pictured right. Not what I was hoping for there has been a few disasters on the peg Blanks and DNW’s from some excellent anglers. The best two pegs went to Chris Rolfe (who still can’t tell the time) and Rich Coles peg 3. The Jesus peg 2 went to Glenn “16 metre” Bailey. It was good to see the Gas Heads sticking together – Bailey, Smith Peg 34 and Greenslade peg 33 – as expected all to struggle.

Like would like to record that I caught on the edge rig and the GB feeder I set up but can’t. So it was the yellow top 4x16 F1 Winter that was to serve me well once again today. As forecast the wind was strong and gusting coming in from the West. The crap pegs were relatively sheltered, but this wouldn’t help them, so decided initially to start short at top-set plus three.  After plumbing deadish depth (never absolutely sure the depth is perfect for many reasons) and running the float through at 2 –o-clock I found the tow was aggressive against the wind - left to right. I like a bit of tow but because of the gusting wind I couldn’t hold it back as I would have liked. We were already to do the initial potting only to find the organisers watch was slow by five minutes, duh.

In went my first knub of GB laced with a few dead Pinkies not really knowing exactly where it would settle the fish. So with single DR on the hook I started to run it through, the pace was harder than Newbridge in summer. I was soon settled with a micro Ronnie. Over the next two hours I caught surprisingly well including a 2 ½ lb Tench (thinking of renaming by Skimmer GB to Tench GB). After which the wind died the sun came out and the tow stopped and my struggle to get a bite started. I started a pellet line at 10 metres and a new GB line at 11.5 metres again at 2-o-clock. The upshot was I caught one 1 ½ lb Skimmer on triple DR’s over the pellet losing a 2 pounder foul hooked in the anus. I had three more 8oz Skimmers over the long GB line, but it was a long remaining four hours. Rich Coles had a great middle of the match catching decent Skimmers regularly, but I was hoping I might pip him because of my Tench. This wasn’t to be because all the Tench I have caught during this league has shown signs of significant weight loss.

I finished the match with 9lb 10 oz – 15oz behind Rich Coles. Well done matey. This put me in section second and fourth overall. Certainly would have settled with that before the all in!

The match was won my Paul Barnfield (pictured right) with 16lb 1oz from peg 28. Paul caught on the waggler at 20 metres with triple Pinkie over lose fed maggot and catapulted GB. Paul also fished the feeder over the same line and later when the wind died caught at 11 metres catching 15 decent Skimmers throughout the match with all methods adding to his over all weight.

Full Result:

A Section: Rich Coles 10-09-0 peg 3

A Section: Mike Nicholls 9-10-0 peg 4

B Section: Steve Dawson 13-06-0 peg 7

B Section: Dave Wride 6-02-0 peg 11

C Section: Jim Norris 6-0-0 peg 19

C Section: Dave Willmott 5-08-0 peg 17

D Section: Paul Barnfield 16-01-0 peg 28

D Section: Steve Tanner 8-12-0 peg 24

Weigh Sheets:

Thursday 16/02/2017 - Bathampton AA - Silver League - Round Four - Dave Crookes Fishery - Bridge pool

I had a reasonable breakfast with good company, John Smith and Pete Greenslade in Hanham, arriving at the draw in plenty of time to find out that Callum Dicks couldn’t make it today so sent stand-in Des Shipp.

Before the draw Mike Jones apparently tried to have a pee but found an obstacle in the way. He said he had put his trousers on back to front; however, some say it was left over’s from Valentines Day and still had his wives knickers on!!

I was in Section D today which was peg 21 to 30. I didn’t mind where I was so when I drew peg 26 again there was no emotion. It was good to see Rich Coles back fishing, but sorry Jim Norris wouldn’t be standing in for him. Apparently Jim has replaced the three sections of pole blown in last match.

I set up two 4x16 F1 winter floats, one yellow top and the other black to fish the latter at top-set plus three and the yellow as it happened all over the swim! The word was that it would fish very hard, which I had no reason to doubt especially as the water was extremely clear. I started by feeding a knub of my GB laced with a few frozen Pinkies and with double on the hook on the black top float I was amazed to catch a 12oz Skimmer first try. For the next 1 hour and 45 minutes I caught well putting 11lb in the net which included a 2 ½ lb Tench. Subsequently the swim completely died. Over the next 3 ¾ hours all I could add was another 14 ounces. I tried all sorts, but the swim doesn’t have a decent up the shelf swim that I could reach, so couldn’t get the caster going. However, I was winning the section until the last five minutes when Chris Rolfe on peg 28 landed a 1 ½ lb Skimmer. No comment on the early whistle.

I finished the match with 11lb 14oz for section second and 7^th overall. The upside to my frustrating 3 ¾ hours is that I am 90% certain I know why it happened.

The match was won by John Fuidge (pictured right) with 22lb 7oz from peg 8. John caught switching between 13 and 14.5 metres using dead red hook bait over small balls of micro. His catch included some decent Skimmers to 4lb.

A nice finish to the day with a pint of Doombar in the Compton Dando Arms with the usual suspects.

Full Result:

A Section: Steve Dawson 18-0-0 peg 32

A Section: Dave Wride 15-15-0 peg 3

B Section: John Fuidge 22-07-0 peg 8

B Section: Des Shipp 13-05-0 peg 10

C Section: Tony Rixon 14-0-0 peg 15

C Section: Steve Tanner 4-0-0 peg 16

D Section: Chris Rolfe 12-14-0 peg 28

D Section: Mike Nicholls 11-14-0 peg 26

Weigh Sheets:

Thursday 02/02/2017 - Bathampton AA - Silvers League - Round Three - Bridge Pool

Third round of the Bathampton AA Silvers League, however, first stop Hungry Horace’s for an OK Speedwell breakfast.

The weather forecast was for heavy rain and high gusting winds. The latter was right with I reckon 50 mph gusts, thankfully with the rain holding off.

Our turn in C section, I didn’t mind which peg as long as it wasn’t peg 13. Are you reading this Bela!

First into the draw and out comes peg 19 – a sigh of relief. Peg 13 was reserved for the organiser Chris Rolfe. I was happy with my peg, especially as I was 30 feet from the car and relatively out of the wind which nonetheless was to be a bloody nuisance. As I was section end peg I was next to Glenn “Gas Lottery Winner” Bailey who was on peg 17, with Pete Greenslade on peg 16 and John Smith on 15, can only be "Gas Head" corner.

Luckily my favourite peg 18 has been left out of the league so I had plenty of room. I set up the Ronnie rig which had a 2 minute run out before being retired into the stands. Two other rigs a 4x16 Malman F1 and a 4x10 Malman F1 winter for down the LH margin. For some unknown reason I was fancying the caster today, perhaps it was the colour of the Lake. I started at top-set plus three out in front with double DR’s hook bait over a nugget of GB. I also started to loose feed some caster down the margin, but because of the unpredictable wind direction soon stopped because none of the feed was landing where I wanted, most landing on the bank! I started really slow  - caching nothing for 30 minutes whilst Glenn and others were catching small Skimmers. I Start to think the worse, the first match three small Roach, second match a DNW from the peg. After which I then decided to feed some caster at top-set plus four at 2-o-clock, a good decision as it proved. Over the GB I started to get what I believed to be liners. So I took 6 inches off and fishing on the drop and a 2lb Skimmer, dead handy. Next put-in a 3lb Tench. I was right the fish were up in the water. The swim slowed so tried the caster rig and first try another 3lb Tench – happy days. By feeding and switching between the two swims I kept a few small fish coming on the GB line and quality Skimmers, Tench and Roach on the caster line. The GB line died so added another section just in time for the wind to pick up – bugger. So time to try the margin where I had switched to cupping caster and caught more quality Perch, Roach and another Tench. Surprisingly I also had five 3oz Chub but no Carp.

I finished the match with four Tench to 4lb, five decent Perch to 1lb, Skimmers to 2lb and quality Roach to 1lb all adding up to a great days fishing, weighing 28lb 4oz for a section and match win. The caster did it for me once again. My catch pictured right.

Full Result:

A Section: Callum Dicks 6-04-0 peg 3

A Section: Dave Willmott 4-02-0 peg 4

B Section: Shaun Tanner 11-07-0 peg 8

B Section: Tony Rixon 10-10-0 peg 5

C Section: Mike Nicholls 28-04-0 peg 19

C Section: John Smith 10-02-0 peg 15

D Section: Steve Dawson 10-12-0 peg 26

D Section: Dave Wride 9-01-0 peg 29

Weigh Sheets:

Thursday 19/01/2017 - Thursday - Bathampton Silvers League - Round Two - Bridge Pool

After recent mild weather it was a very hard frost this morning – very disappointing, best put the breaker in just in case, plus I might make some money hiring it out. Alas not the case.

Next stop Hungry Horace’s where I met up with Pete UTG Greenslade and after a reasonably priced breakfast it was an early arrival at the fishery. As per usual a few of us congregated on the Bridge between the Main Lake and Bridge Pool and we spotted what resembled an Otter swimming around in the middle of the Main Lake, by the time I got the camera from the car it had disappeared - as they do, its head was far too big to be a Mink.

It was back in B section for me with the same anglers as last match. Alas not, Glenn Bailey had wintered off to Jamaica and John Smith to Barbados with Rich Coles unfortunately in Bridgwater getting over an operation on his water works. So after drawing reasonable peg 8 the section went from peg 11 – Pete Greenslade, Jimmy Norris (Rich) peg 10, welcome to the Dark Side Craig Fletcher (Glenn) peg 7, Paul Haines (John) peg 6, organiser Chris Rolf.

With wall to wall sunshine and little to no wind predicted and because we were south facing Chris Rolfe quite rightly said our worse enemy would be the sun. I had left my clip-on Polaroid’s home so used the ones in the seat box which hasn’t quite got the focal length required to select the best hook bait!

I set up two of the best float ever made – a Malman F1 winter 4x14 – one black tip and the other yellow. The Back top initially to fish at top set plus three out in front, the yellow top-set plus four at 2 o clock. I fed the black line with GB laced with DR’s and the yellow line with DR’s and soaked Micro. As expected it was a slow start for everyone. With DR’s on the hook I had three Ronnie’s on the black tip, when this slowed I tried the yellow tip with again DR’s on the hook and had one Ronnie and a Perch of about 1lb. This settled things down. Although I kept topping up the yellow line I only had one missed bite on this line. The upshot was I kept a few Roomies and decent Skimmers coming in fits and starts on the black line until the last 45 minutes when I did my usual over-feed trying to force some bigger Skimmers to the net, but only, managed to attract Carp which buggered the dying part of the match.

I finished the match with 10lb 10oz for a cash section win plus a match win and a promissory bond from Veals Tackle – pictured upper right.

Full Section Results:

A: Tony Rixon 7-05-0 peg 32

A: Dave Gillard 4-11-0m peg 3

B: Mike Nicholls 10-10-0 peg 8

B: Chris Rolfe 4-02-0 peg 5

C: Dave Wride 6-12-0m peg 15

C: Mike Owens 6-10-0mpeg 14

D: Callum Dicks 9-12-0 peg 26

D: Chris Ollis 8-14-0 peg 29

Weigh Sheets:

Thursday 05/01/2017 - Baththampton AA - Silvers League - Round One - Bridge Pool

First match of the Bathampton AA Silvers League and as fate would have it, the coldest night of the year so far and as anticipated ice breakers at the ready. I started my day in Hungry Horace’s with John Smith and Pete Greenslade.

Twenty Four booked in to the league and only one no-show matey Rich Coles who had a bad back – all comes with old age. I was pleasantly surprised to see a couple of stand-ins Craig Fletcher who I fished with for many years on the river, he reminded me of how I use to fish dried blood in GB to catch Eels, and Graham Beevor (pictured upper right) whom I haven’t seen for 12 or so years, he haven’t lost it, Graham is still smashing poles! Hope to see more of these guys.

In to the draw bag and out comes tripled stapled and glued peg 10. Happy with this and amazingly would have been next to Rich Coles on my left and on the right was John Smith and next to John Pete Greenslade. On my left also was Dave Wride (pictured right) with whom I had some great conversation for once, but still couldn’t get a smile. Although an excellent peg I worried I had too much room/ice where the fish could back-off into.

After swinging the 4lb Lump Hammer around tied to 11 metres of blue very cold and wet rope I eventually warmed up, although my hands were freezing. The ice was about 10mm thick so not too bad. What didn't surprise me was that pulling the hammer along the bottom it didn't colour the peg - due to no silt! I usually go for a 4x16 float on this venue but because of the conditions I set up two 4x14 Malman F1 Winters – one with a black top to fish in front and a yellow top to fish at 10-o-clock both to fish at top-set plus four. However, this size proved to be a little light as the small pieces of floating ice was holding up the float – but we persevere.

Set my mind for one dinner plate on the black top rig. So initially fed a knub of GB laced with a few dead reds where I would fish either a single dead or double Pinkie. Amazingly I had an indication first dob-in, however, it took a15 minutes before I netted my first 2oz Skimmer. It was fishing very hard. The upshot was I caught 24 small fish during the match and got worried in the last 15 minutes when Chris Rolfe had his first bite – a big Skimmer and then John “Jammy” Smith a 2lb 8oz Skimmer. Luckily I held out weighing 3lb 7oz for a section win.

There is no overall payout with the exception of a Veals £25 tackle voucher which ironically was won by Callum Dicks. Dad Paul had a chuckle – expect some restocking of his shop soon! Callum (pictured right) caught seventeen Skimmers for 9lb 2oz from peg 21. Callum caught on maggot over GB at 13 metres. As he said we were all handicapped by the ice having to fish the broken channels.

As the result show that the Pool lacks small silver fish.

Finally back to the pub for a warm up with the usual suspects and Craig Fletcher. 

Full Result:

A Section: Paul Barnfield 1-10-0 peg 32

A Section: Tony “where was Judith” Rixon 0-08-0 peg 33

B Section: Mike Nicholls 3-07-0 peg 10

B Section: John “Jammy” Smith 2-09-0 peg 8

C Section: Graham Beevor 6-09-0 peg 14

C Section: Mike Owens 6-09 –o peg 15

D Section: Callum Dicks 9-02-0 peg 21

D Section: Craig Fletcher 4-14-0 peg 29

Weigh Sheets:

Thursday 02/04/2105 0 Bathampton AA/ Veals Silvers Championship - Final Round - Bridge Pool

Last in the BAA Silvers League series , as usually happens in most league come the last match the attendance drops, today we were down to 24, which I think is about the right number for a competitive match on this venue.

In to the draw bag and out comes peg 15. History tells me that it is a good Silvers peg, however, as of late it ‘s not been that good with 13lb being the top weight so far this series with 8lb next. For company on peg 14 was the Bridgwater brawler Rich Coles. On peg 16 was that nice man and venue Bailiff Mike Taylor, our pegs have the potential for some sword fencing. However, Mike went pole –roller tall and I went short (about right). Mike also let me share his top-set roost (pictured right). I usually chuck them on the ground and it wasn’t long before that was the case.

I set up two 4x16 Jolly’s, one for maggot and the other for semi-hard 4m pellet. As I had plenty of time I set of the old faithful Ronnie rig for the caster. Plumbing around I decided on 10 metres for the pellet, just out of the “Hole” at 10 o clock and the same distance in the same depth at 2 o clock.

Starting on the soft pellet over kindered wetted micro I started catching Skimmers straight off. Over the next 2 hours and 35 minutes I caught well, Skimmers to 3lb including a 5lb Tench. The swim had slowed so I fed a ball of GB laced with maggot over the 2 o clock line. I did have a couple of 1lb Skimmers over this line but that was it and on hindsight it was a mistake feeding the GB I should have stuck with the pellet. I struggled for an age until I tried the Ronnie rig adding a quick 3lb until I hooked and lost a near 20lb Carp. I kept trying the two lines without adding anything significant to the keepnet.

I ended the match with 30lb 1oz for 5^th overall and a section win. Having missed a match I was pleased to end up joint 6^th over.

Luckily my pairs partner Dave Bacon was doing well in his section ending up contributing a section 2^nd, enabling us to hold on to second place overall. Well done matey.

The match was won by John Smith (pictured right) with 36lb 2oz from peg 26. John caught mainly on soft pellet over micro and later with triple red maggot. John also won the Knock out - happy days.

The league was won by Dave Wride with 9 points.

 Full Result:

1. John Smith 36-02-0 peg 26
2. Barry Fitchew 33-09-0 peg 28
3. Dave Bacon 32-14-0 peg 29
4. Dave Wride 32- 09-0 peg 32
5. Mike Nicholls 30-01-0 peg 15
6. Dave Gillard 27-14-0 peg 10

 Top Pairs:

1. Dave Wride/Tony Rixon
2. Mike Nicholls/Dave Bacon

Knock Out:

1. John Smith
2. Tony Rixon
3. Mike Jones

Final Overall League:

1. Dave Wride 9 points
2. Paul Barnfield 11
3. Mike Jones 12
4. John Smith 13
5. Barry Fitchew 15
6. Tony Rixon 16
7. Mike Nicholls 16

Weigh Sheets:

Thursday 19/03/2015 - Bathampton AA/ Veals - Silvers Championship - Bridge Pool

Arriving at the draw it was a bit nippy with that nasty easterly wind still biting at us. However, it didn’t take too long for it to warm up, we even seen some late sunshine.

In to the draw bag and out comes peg 21 – again – third time I have drawn the peg if stand-in Glenn Bailey is included. However, Mike Jones decided to re-peg it which meant I had plenty of room. That said it was going to be a tough section with John Smith on 18, Dave Wride on 19 and Tony Rixon on 26.

I set up a 4x12 Jolly for over to the island, however, the margin was very steep at 4 foot so I didn’t have much confidence in catching - and although I tried it twice with double maggot over potted maggot I didn’t have a bite, so that’s the end of that. I also set up a Ronnie rig to fish down the inside shelf to my left. Again the Ronnie’s didn’t make a show, are they getting ready to spawn?

The main attack comprised two 4x16 Jollies one with an 808 - 18 hook for soft pellet and the other an 808 - 20 hook for everything else. For my pellet line I choose to fish at 10 metres at 10 o clock. The other Jolly was set to a depth to fish at 11.5 metres just up the far shelf at 12 o clock.

Kindering some wetted micro and with semi hard on the hook I was soon catching Skimmers to 1lb. However, an hour or so into the match I was getting plagued by small skimmers driving me to near madness. I kept trying and was rewarded with the odd 1lb Skimmer, but it was hard work shipping in and out too often losing my pellet to the little blighters. I sensed there were plenty of pounders to be had but the little blighter getting to the bait first. For a moment I thought I had it sorted switching to maggot, but it didn’t take long before I was missing bites again. Time to try over at 11.5 metres with maggot over GB laced with the same. I had some more pounders before the Ronnie’s joined in the fun. The upshot was I had a bad last hour catching just a few small Skimmers and Ronnie’s.

I weighed 17lb 5oz for a section fourth and seventh overall. Luckily my pair’s partner Dave Bacon caught some Bream from peg 1 winning his section and coming second overall – well done matey.

The match was won by Dave Wride (pictured right with some of his catch) from peg 19 with 43lb 10oz. Dave gave us all lesson in soft pellet fishing.

I have to mention matey Dave Gillard who drew peg 33. Dave was aware that a Heron was sat in a tree above next peg 34 for most of the match watching his elastic coming in and out. In the last hour Dave hooked 10oz Skimmer. Unbeknown to Dave the Heron had slipped in to the water and Dave found himself playing the Skimmer 10 foot in the air! His hook length soon parted and the Heron took his Skimmer over to the opposite island spending the rest of the match munching it. This cost Dave second place!!

Full Result:

1. Dave Wride 43-10-0 peg 19
2. Dave Bacon 26-06-0 peg 1
3. Dave Gillard 26-0-0 peg 33
4. John Smith 25-12-0 peg 18
5. Tony Rixon 24-05-0 peg 26
6. Ray “TincaTinca” Bazeley 18-02-0 peg 14
7. Mike Nicholls 17-05-0 peg 21

Weigh Sheets:

Thursday 12/03/2015 - Bathampton AA/ Veals - Silvers Championship - Round Five - Bridge Pool

After a three week layoff due to, as Tony Rixon eloquently put it – “sick note had Newmonial”. Tony was phonetically correct as usual (which I don’t have a problem with) but I actually had Pneumonia (drowning from inside).

I must say that I had the best care from the NHS that anyone could expect. However, this experience left me fuming how the Labour party have politicised the NHS. How must the hard working staff feel about the continued unfounded criticism by “Wallace”. The twat won’t be getting my vote.

Although not totally fit I couldn’t stay home any longer. So I persuaded the Special One to release me. The weather forecast swung it as it was expected to be good. The BBC weather forecast was reasonably accurate with it dry, low winds and temperatures up to 9 degrees.

I didn’t mind where I drew as I was just happy to be out wetting a line. In to the draw bag and out comes peg 31. Happy with this one but would have preferred end peg 32, which John Fry had drawn for the second consecutive match. On peg 30 was matey Pete Greenslade.

I set three rigs – a 4x12 Jolly for caster over caster in the RH margin (which nearly got wet), the Ronnie rig also for caster for further down the shelf in the LH margin, finally a 4x16 Jolly to be fished initially at 7 metres.

I have a little some niggling doubts today because I was using a new keepnet, not that I am superstitious!

I started by feeding a knub of my Skimmer GB fully laced with Pinkie and wetted micro ay 7 metres into the dark water with a yellow tipped Jolly with double Pinkie on a 20 - 808 hook. It wasn’t long before I had a 3oz bottle top. I then had a 1lb Skimmer followed by one about 1 ½ lb. Feeding another knub I had a few more Skimmers to 10oz. The swim died so I fed again. The Ronnie then put in an appearance, which I was happy to catch. I then had a 3lb Skimmer. I reckon at 2 hours in to the match I had about 8lb so decided to sit it out for the bigger fish. So I put a whole pot (250ml) of dead reds in at 10 o clock at 10 metres. With double red on the hook first put in I had a 2lb Skimmers quickly followed by a similar Skimmer. The swim died so in went another pot of dead reds which produce one Ronnie. Time to try the Ronnie rig with single caster over the loose fed caster I had been feeding from the start. It was soon apparent the Ronnie’s weren’t in the feeding mood only adding four of the smaller species’. So I put on another section taking the 4x16 Jolly to 11.5 metres at 11 o clock where I put a big pot of wetted micro in and a repeat of two immediate decent Skimmers, then it died. So I fed a big ball of GB laced with micro and Pinkie out in front again at 11.5 metres and had a 4lb 12oz Tench followed by a 3lb Bream. With now 15 minutes to go I hooked another 3lb Bream however, the line tangled around it’s pectoral fin, which meant it was coming in side ways which makes playing the fish easier, but I bumped the fish because I had to double unship taking the line from the pectoral fin pulling he hook free – bugger – another yellow card from Mike Jones. As it worked out this fish cost me.

I weighed 21lb 7oz for a section win and fourth overall – letting in “Jones the Default” for the section.

The Keepnet is a "Good un".

The match was won by Tony Rixon (pictured right) from his regular peg 6 with 24lb 12oz. Dave Wride was runner up but unfortunately for him he had Tony in the knockout, so once again it was a wheel spin out of the car park for Dave before the results were announced. Tony caught … see his blog. But I could see his pole tip from my peg so he was fishing very long. I hope he mentions how he was nearly beaten by the one armed man in peg 5!!

Full Result:

1. Tony Rixon 24-12-0 peg 6 (Again!)
2. Dave Wride 24-06-0 peg 21 (with 20, 22 &23 not fished!)
3. Paul Barnfield 22-06-0 peg 14
4. Mike Nicholls 21-07-0 peg 31
5. John Smith 20-02-0 peg 16
6.  John Barker 19-08-0 peg 5 (one handed)

   Weigh Sheets:

Thursday 19/02/2015 - Veals/Bathampton AA - Silvers Championship - Round Three - Bridge Pool

When I was working in Port Said (Egypt) I mentioned to my Egyptian colleges over dinner that I was interested in Egyptology. On my next day off they kindly arranged for me to visit Cairo’s Museum where they were exhibiting the full Tutankhamen recent discovery. They also arranged for a one to one English speaking guide. I spent most of the day there; I could have spent a full week. I was particularly interested in the burial artefacts. Why am I mentioning this, well this week my two Granddaughters as part of their home learning needed to visit Bristol Museum, I jumped at the opportunity to take them to see the small Egyptian exhibition. One item that made an impression was the fishing hooks buried with a fisherman (pictured right). These hooks are nearly 4000 years old and as far as I can see are not too different from today’s hooks, the gapes were about 10mm – one eyed hook and one spade end – both hand made!!

The BBC weather forecast was for high winds and heavy rain – I hate it when they get it right nearly as much as I hate high winds.

Arriving early at the draw I couldn’t help noticing the pair of sellotaped trainers (pictured right) being sported by an Acorn Fishery regular.

Today was the draw for the pairs and I was lucky enough to draw Dave Bacon, let’s hope we can keep out of the same section.

In to the draw bag and out comes two peg stuck together, both went back in and went for a single which was end peg 4 (I always wonder if I put back better pegs – will never know). I was reasonably happy with the peg. Charlie Barnes drew it last match had only had 1lb, but that tells me nothing as it was iced over which changes everything. The main worry was the high winds gusting in through the gap into Withy. I wanted to fish to my right but that was a no-no as this meant fishing up wind. I settled for down wind at 6 metres for my one rig a 4x16 Jolly.

I decided to fish two swims the first at 11 o clock where I would feed soft pellet 4’s, Micro and Dead reds. The other about 1 metres further down where I fed GB laced with Pinkie. I did this so that the wind and I could “Stick Float” the Jolly through both swims using double dead red hook bait.

Both the rain and wind gradually worsened. It took an hour to get my first bite over the GB which was a 5lb Tench. I kept topping up both lines. In to the second hour I had my second fish a 2lb Skimmer over the pellet line. The third hour I had another 5lb Tench. For the rest of the match I only landed three Ronnie’s and a tiny Perch. I did lose a foul hooked Carp over the pellet line.

My Silvers weighed 11lb 15oz for a section win and fifth overall.

My pair’s partner also won his section from peg 29 so a good start for us.

The match was won by Dave Wride (pictured right) with 46lb 10oz from peg 19. Dave caught Skimmers and Bream on “The pole in the Lake”.

Full Result:

1. Dave Wride 46-10-0 peg 19
2. Ray Bazeley 29-14-0 peg 18
3. Mike Jones 13-13-0 peg 15
4. Paul Barnfield 13-04-0 peg 21
5. Mike Nicholls 11-15-0 peg 4
6. Mike Owens 10-07-0 peg 11

Weigh Sheets:

Thursday 05/02/2015 - Veals/Bathampton AA Silvers Championship - Round Two - Bridge Pool

Glenn Bailey and I had a walk around the various pools at Huntstrete yesterday, for two purposes. Firstly, to see how fishable Bridge Pool was due to the ice covering. Secondly, to encourage Glenn to buy a BAA membership. There was a couple of pleasure anglers there who had earlier broken the ice but by the time they got their gear out it had re-frozen. I explained this to Mike Jones who said John Fry (BAA Bailiff) was going to visit the complex later to decide whether it was fishable or otherwise. As I had not heard to the contrary I arrived at the venue, the match was on.

With thick ice I didn’t want to draw peg 25 which is set well back so it would have taken Jeff Capes to throw a shot far enough. In fact I didn’t want to draw this section again as history tells us that when this area is iced over it can be blanking country!

I was hoping to draw peg 32 (change of heart). This was because of the Bream that has been moved from the Main Lake. My thinking was that these fish lived and fed in 3 to 5 foot of water and with Bridge being generally much deeper their swim bladder would take them to the shallower parts of the Pool – higher and lower peg numbers. I think my theory proved correct

In to the draw bag and out comes peg 21. Umm, the exact section I didn’t want, but one of the better pegs in the section.

Arriving at the peg and having a couple of swings on my ice breaker – a 4lb Lump Hammer (pictured upper right) I realised because of issues with my Rotor Cuff I would only managed to clear enough ice to put a keep net in the water. I did have offers from a couple of very kind anglers – Tony Rixon and Dave Gillard, two anglers you would choose to shot put for you. Luckily matey Dave Wride on the next peg helped me with half his wheel barrow on a piece of rope (action shot pictured right). The further out Dave went the thicker the ice it was 1 inch thick (pictured right – the North east winds blow into this area). We managed to clear to 5 ½ metres – enough for me!!

I started by kindering a knub of GB laced with Pinkie and with Pinkie on the hook I landed a 8oz Skimmer second put in. Within thirty minutes I had three Skimmers and three Ronnie’s – good start. The peg then died. By halfway I hadn’t had another bite. However there were three anglers in the section to still have a bite!!

My body joints started to seize up so I went for a wander. Many were struggling but some were catching big fish with Mike Jones estimated to have four fish for 17lb, plus fish topping in these pegs.

Reluctantly back to my purgatory where I could only add another two Ronnie’s. It didn’t seem to matter what or how I fed the result was the same!! I was laying section second until on the Whistle Paul Barnes landed a big Skimmer – bugger.

I weighed 2lb 10oz for third in section – about right.

The match was won by Mike Jones (pictured right - my pile of shiny ice seen over Mikes shoulder) with 25lb 7oz from peg 31. Mike caught short on his favoured Diawa whip. Mike caught over laced up GB using maggot hook bait. Mikes catch included a 5lb 11oz Tench and a 5lb 1oz Bream.

Finally, Glenn was impressed enough to join BAA.

 Full Result:

1. Mike Jones 25-07-0 peg 31
2. Ade Crawley 17-04-0 peg 32
3. Tony Rixon 15-07-0 peg 30
4. Bob Price 14-11-0 peg 13
5. Pete Greenslade 12-13-0 peg 7
6. Gary Sage 12-13-0 peg 13

Weigh Sheets: