Thursday 05/02/2026 - Over 55's Silvers League - Round Four - Bitterwell Lake

"Kites fly highest against the wind, not with it". Winstone Churchill - relevant for me today sat in the bloody freezing wind.

Bristol traffic is ridiculous and to think they want to build thousands of more house in South Gloucester and Bristol - nuts.

A few stand-ins today it was nice to see Jeff Surmon (pictured) standing in for Kev Winstone. We go back a long way and travelled together a few times - real gentleman and a very good angler who arrived next to me on peg 5.

We all knew we were in for a hard match. More rain and with higher winds than of late greeted us. As I was in A section knew I could be on the road bank where the wind was hitting it from 2 o clock. Hoping for pegs 8 through to 15 where the wind was least. Not to be peg 7 for me.

Set up the usual - large waggler to help beat the wind, 4x14 Winter to fish four barrels for Skimmers and expecting it to be really hard on this peg and with a bit of colour down the edge set up a 4x12 Winter to fish on the top set to target the Perch, which are plentiful in this lake. However, a bit of a quandary, knowing Perch tend to feed well for the first hour, will I miss out on any early skimmers. As the presentation on the long line was awful went for the early Perch with single Pinkie over kinder Pinkie. 

Had a great start catching small Perch for an hour. Switched the long line which I had fed with loose GB and Pinkie - had no idea where the feed was ending up. Had two bites a small Perch and a Ronnie. Had a go on the waggler with single white maggot, but as with the long line it was poor presentation, but had another small Perch and a Ronnie. Kept trying all the lines, but decided to spent most of the time catching Perch and did get a 10 ouncer for my efforts. Had a walk along the section and a few anglers had some early Skimmers - but not many. So seen the match out for the Perch.

My 40 fished weighed 3 lb 6 oz for three points. Think the right decision made to target the early Perch, my mistake was not sticking with it all match as I was only 4 oz from a pick up. Well done to my partner keeping us in contention.

The match was won by Andy Greenham (pictured with his catch) with 11 lb 12 oz from favoured peg 23. Andy caught at 11 metres fishing single Pinkie over Pinkie. Andy had a very lucky day as he also won guess the weight with the exact amount he caught. 

Weigh Sheets:

League to date after Four rounds:

Note: Now we are starting to use more than one substitute, need to clarify the following: Second Substitutes points will not count, however their section positions and weight will. Non points counting subs shown in red. NB: only one sub points only count.

Thursday 25/09/2025 - Over 55's - Bitterwell Lake

Tony Rixon organised this match with 18 of the over 55's including a couple of stragglers. Weather wise it was to be beautiful albeit a cold start.

Nice to see my old City of Bristol team mate Steve Gosling out fishing with us again. He did have a reputation of being late or no show back then. Seems he's got over that 😀. Very welcome.

Into the draw bag and peg 29 for me. Hang on another "Rixon Redraw" (accidentally dropped a peg on the floor). Peg 23 instead for me. Really didn't mind which peg just nice to be out fishing, plus would have been in the Sun either peg.

The peg was flat calm with the little wing blowing towards peg 8. Whilst setting up noticed the reeds moving which wasn't ducks hoping it was Tench rather than Carp. Set up a 0.3 gram rig for the edge of the reeds to the right for double caster over kindered caster. The waggler, a 4x12 Winter for top set plus three barrels for Skimmers on single caster/LR over GB and caster and a long Ronnie rig to fish single LR over GB and LR's.

Fed all the lines, starting on the margin line. It didn't take long to hook and finally net a decent Tench. Two more followed. I then lost one. Had been thinking the elastic was under gunned due to the reeds. So without thinking it through got a heavy elastic top set out and this time slipped on a worm and had a bite straight away and pulled out of it - bugger. Next bad decision was to feed a bit of chopped worm which resulted in a disaster - hooked a Carp which broke the number 3 section and with an old couple stood behind me hindered me getting to the broken section with my landing net before it shot off to the middle. It was my error as I was playing the Carp as if on my Carp pole and not my silvers pole!!!

Now here's a thing in the past 30 years I've never gone to a match without a spare pole. However, today I didn't, as this morning gave one of my silvers poles to Clayton Hudson for repair. So didn't get to fish my skimmer line as no pole. Had to spend the second half of the match on either the waggler or Ronnie rig adding a few small Ronnie's and Perch BUT because of only loose feeding attracted Carp where ever I fished. Hooked 9 lumps, got a few out on the waggler.

Weighed 12 lb 2 oz for 6th overall. I felt I could have done far better with the pole and left wondering about what I may have caught on the Skimmer line. My fault "fail to prepare, prepare to fail". Hope Charlie/Paul get my top set back which will mean the Carp got free, concerned more about the health of the Carp than the top set. Nonetheless, enjoyed the day and thanks to Charlie for weighing in.

Wonder how many times Tony Rixon (pictured) has won the matches he runs? Well today was another. Tony weighed 21 lb 2 oz from peg 13 catching Skimmer's on caster or red maggot hook bait, over caster and GB feed. Well done matey. With his retirement on the horizon expect more of his matches😁.

I didn't go home empty handed, Kev Winston gave me a GAS bucket hat (pictured) which for some reason didn't fit him 😂.

Weigh Sheet:

Thursday 20/03/2025 - Over 55's Pairs Silvers League - Final Round - Bitterwell Lake

The final league match today. The fishing has been a hard throughout the three months the league has been running. Most of the time we were all scratching around for ounces. Only been a few double figure weights which only came from the draw bag. That said I think everyone enjoyed it - not one FOE. We have all experienced poor fishing at sometime over the years. Also the silvers fishing has been awful all over the country this winter.

Breakfast in the local Beefeater (where was Kev Winstone?). 

With Paul Issac's away practicing on the Gloucester Canal Martyn McMahon and Tom Baker stepped in to run the match. They were ably assisted by Jaxon who had us running scared with his "Granty converter gun" - pictured.

Drew peg 19 which has been poor of late - quite a deep peg. Between Dave "The ex Drain" Lewis on 18 and Phil Morgan on 20. Arrived at the peg which was under some trees but decided I could side swipe the waggler so set that up, but looking around there was lots of Carp up in the water swimming about in shoals. Then a 4 x 14 Winter to fish 11.5 metres. Wasn't feeling the peg. Fed some GB laced with Pinkie and fed some caster on the waggler line at 20 metres. Dave Lewis had two very quick Tench. My wait was much longer for a 1 1/2 lb Skimmer. Paul Clayton (pictured) on peg had 10 lb before my fist fish from peg 21. Picked up the waggler and first cast had a 7 lb Mirror Carp on double DR. Next cast had a Tench, that was it for the rest of the match - could not get a bite on everything or anywhere tried.

Weighed 3 lb 12 oz for last in section. Think I might have over done the feeding chasing bites.

The match was won by Tony (pictured with his catch) with 30 lb 2 oz from peg 29. Tony caught on double Pinkie over GB and Pinkie with the Skimmers coming at top set plus three and a couple of Tench down his edge on maggot. Well done matey.

Well done to Tony Rixon, Dave  Gillard and reserve Clive Feddery for winning the league. Full final result below.

Back to the Ringer for the result and one of Lucy's Baps - We all wish!

Weigh Sheet:

Final Pairs Result:

Thursday 06/02/2025 - Over 55's Silvers Pairs League - Round 3 - Bitterwell

Heavy Frost and freezing fog. Suppose it's better than rain and wind. All venues are fishing hard for silvers Bitterwell no exception. However, was looking forward to it as I think secretly the rest of the Over 55's were. Twenty fishing.

Big shout out to Paul Issac's who supplied hot drinks and bacon/sausage rolls. Also ran the match for us from start to finish. Thanks matey much appreciated. Apparently we should be catching some Barbel next match!!

Hoping not to draw the car park bank South facing as the sun is a nightmare there. Last peg handed to me by Paul peg 13. Happy with this one but the only peg without a platform and to make things more difficult next to Tony Rixon on peg 12 for the third time FFS. Hughie Evans the other side on 14.

Thought the waggler would be key so set that up first, the visibility with the yellow top was amazing. The only other rig was a 4 x14 Winter with strung out no 11's.

Started by feeding GB and Pinkies at top set plus three barrels and loose fed caster on the waggler line. Tony set his stall out to fish long to 16 metres. My waggler feed was landing at about the same distance as his pole tip! Had to bollock him for swinging his pole over my line when shipping back - Would of been OK if he wasn't scrammy handed.

After 30 minutes with no bites went out on the waggler with single LR and had a small Ronnie followed by a 4 oz Hybrid and a 3 oz Skimmer. Back on the three barrel line and had another 4 oz Hybrid followed by the odd Ronnie. Kept trying the waggler but only managed a small Perch. Meanwhile Tony had his usual foul hooked Skimmer which came off near the net but Tony was too quick and managed to scoop it. Thirty minutes to go decided to go out to 11.5 metres with double Pinkie over GB and Pinkie feed and was rewarded with a 1 1/2 lb Skimmer and a 3 oz Ronnie. During this time Tony had a 3 lb unseasonable Tench (pictured). You do make your own luck in match fishing!

Weighed 2 lb 10 oz for 3 section points and joint 4th in the match - happy enough with this.

John Smith won the match with 7 lb 14 oz of decent Skimmers from peg 7. John caught mainly at 13 metres using expander hook bait over micro. Well done John brave and good choice of baits.

Back for a curry with Geoff at his favourite Curry House and a few beers.

Weigh Book:

Pairs After 3 Rounds:

Tuesday 05/11/2024 - Bitterwell Silvers Open

South Gloucestershire Council closed Henfield Road for a week last week. Today hoping to see the fruits of my council tax with some improvement to traffic flow left and right at the traffic lights. Alas not they caused a weeks traffic chaos to install a few kerb stones. It also looks like the traffic light settings has been changed causing a long queue there now.

Geoff booked us in for this match. My bloody cough is very exhausting. Only one day's rest from Sunday's match and having had a great day's pleasure fishing last Thursday here on the waggler and maggot made the decision to just set that up and fish all match - right or wrong.

Paul Issac's was concerned with the low water oxygen and had been running the aerator all night and throughout the match. It a similar problems on many fisheries at the moment - high pressure, no rain and no wind for weeks - well since I bought my umbrella!!

Hoping to be down the shallow end alas Peg 3 for me. Happy with this, had tackle dealer Matt Challenger on peg 1. Set up a 7" drake stepped yellow top waggler - 3 lb Maxima reel line and 0.14 GLine (in case of a decent Tench) to Tubertini - 808 - 20. That was it really as I didn't want to flip flop between methods.

Fished the waggler up and down in the water all though catching the odd small Skimmer and Ronnie and one small Hybrid on single LR over loose fed same. I mark the line with a black marker pen so I can get back to full depth without re-plumbing. Had a walk around and it was the same for everyone I chatted to - fishing extremely hard. Had been missing lots of bites from small fish so spent the last knockings on single Pinkie over loose fed same, hitting more bites. 

Weighed 2 lb 2 oz which wasn't last😁.

The match was won by regular Martin McMahon (pictured) from peg 29 with 11 lb 8 oz. Martin caught on expander over micro at 10 metres. His catch included three Tench.

The fish seemed to be only feeding in the corner (more oxygen?) as Matt Challenger (pictured) was runner up from adjacent peg 1 with 10 lb 13 oz. Matt had one Tench and some better skimmers.

And finally back for a pint with Geoff.

Weigh Book:

Tuesday 15/10/2024 - Bitterwell Silvers Open

Geoff Francis joined me today at Bitterwell. It was going to be hard today with the lake still adjusting to the massive amount of rain over the past couple of weeks, close to a complete change of water.

I bought an umbrella some weeks ago and proving to be a good buy as its not got wet yet, as it didn't today. Bloody miracle considering the amount of rain we have had.

Twenty-one fishing today so interesting. Hoping not to be in the 20's, roadside would be my preference. Alas not, peg 28 again. Wasn't over keen on the draw to be honest. Geoff drew peg 9. Found myself between Keith peg 29 and Ricky peg 27. Clive found himself in the corner peg 30 and to be fair did well from it.

Always look for the positive's, the light wind was blowing my way. Would it make a difference? Thought the  waggler would work - but didn't. Caught some Perch up to the reeds on my Tench line plus five Carp. Caught some very small Skimmers at 10 metres on Pinkie fed in small tight balls of GB but for some reason would not increase in size or stay there very long which meant trying other lines with the same number of barrels. It was a right struggle.

Weighed a mere 3 lb 12 oz for 13th. There seems to be a lack of 1 to 3 oz Roach which are always ready to feed in difficult conditions and give bites for most of the day. There must be a Hornets nest nearby as a few of us had them around us - Pictured.

The match was was won by "the Butler in the buff" - Paul Issacs (pictured) with 13 lb 6 z from peg 12. Here's a thing, Ricky Mills said during the match that he thought Paul was catching some better Skimmers so was probably using expanders over micro, and that's exactly how Paul caught. Well done matey.

A shout out to Kai the young lad did very well coming second with 11 lb from peg 7. Maggot and GB at 13 metres apparently.

Back to the Holly Bush for a cider or two to check if I'm still allergic to it - I am - bugger.

Result:

1st Paul Isaacs 13lb 6oz peg 12

2nd Kai Hurley 11lb peg 7

3rd Les Harper 10lb 4oz peg 23

4th Ricky Mills 10lb 2oz peg 27

4th John Smith 10lb 2oz peg 20

6th Marc James Savigar 10lb peg 19

7th Clive Feddery 8lb peg 30

8th Paul Elmes 6lb 12oz peg 2

9th Tony Ponting 6lb 4oz peg 26

10th T-bone 5lb 5oz peg 25

11th Haydn Withers 5lb 4oz peg 3

12th Keith Turner 5lb 2oz peg 29

13th Mike Nicholls 3lb 12oz peg 28

14th Matt Drinkwater 3lb 9oz peg 17

15th Gary Morris 2lb 4oz peg 8

16th Pete Turner 1lb 8oz peg 23

17th Joanna Wingate 1lb 7oz peg 15

18th Marcus Murley 1lb peg 5

Geoff Francis dnw peg 9

Andy Edwards dnw peg 13

Dave Hulcoop dnw peg 21

Tuesday 24/09/2024 - Bitterwell Lake - Silvers Open

After a day of heavy rain it was mayhem around the Westerleigh due to flooding. Paul Issacs had been running water off all night the levels were above the bank. Had ran off more than 2 foot before the match. The question was how would it fish - the answer was quite well under the circumstances.

A bit like Windmill I keep drawing in the 20's and today drew peg 27. Plenty of better pegs in the twenties than this one. For company on 28 TBone and Joanna on 25. I have never been keen of fishing pegs with Lilly Pads, unless the lake is full of them!

Same set up as last match. Fed the waggler line with some DR's at 20 metres. Fed some micro at top-set plus three barrels at 1 o clock and fed the two Ronnie rig lines with loose GB and LR's. Strted on the short Ronnie rig - no indications. On to the long Ronnie rig - no indications - cripes. Out on the long line with 4 mm expander and had a 1 lb Skimmer and two small one's, it didn't last long before the line died. Decided to switch the line to GB and Pinkie whilst it settled tried the waggler which accounted for one 1 lb Skimmer. Fished the Pinkie line for most of the match catching the odd small Skimmer - it was hard. Hour to go filled the line if with maggots and foul hooked two Carp. Tried the short Ronnie rig for the last 15 minutes and lost a decent fish in the Lilly's - probably another Carp.

Now here's a thing bought some Red maggots which were reddish when hooked but after a while turned white!! First time for everything.

Weighed a meager 6 lb 12 oz for nowhere. But as per usual enjoyed the day plus the traffic was fine going home.

The match was won by Mills Scaffolding part time photographer Ricky (pictured with his catch) from peg 4. Ricky caught late once he started to big pot maggots at 7 metres. Well done Matey.

Fished well overall considering the conditions. Unfortunately cant make the next match.

Left my Drink home luckily Matt Drinkwater came to the rescue, thanks Matey. 

Result:

1st Ricky Mills 24lb 12oz peg 4

2nd Paul Isaacs 21lb 4oz peg 15

3rd Ali Gibbs18lb 14oz peg 1

4th Kai Hurley 18lb 9oz peg 23

5th Matt Challenger 17lb peg 21

6th Martin McMahon 14lb 6oz peg 12

Weigh Book:

Tuesday 17/09/2024 - Bitterwell Silvers Open

Good to see a full house at Bitterwell today. Competition would be tough with Des Shipp and Vince Brown booked in. Nice to catch up with Clayton Hudson - how time fly's plus a few of our over 55's, great bunch of blokes.

Des went into the draw bag early and pulled peg 8 well known as the worse silvers peg on the lake - well it was!! Most found this amusing and all betting Des wouldn't pick up from the peg. For me not an angler to be underestimated. Peg 21 for me normally would be happy with the peg but was flat calm and bright, the only wind was blowing into peg 8!

Set up all sorts; 6 inch straight Drake waggler, 4x10 and 4 x12 Winter to fish ether two barrels or three to fish up and down, long and short Ronnie rig. Just felt it was going to be hard work so plenty of options needed.

All the rigs caught a Skimmer except the 4x10. It was strange old day, the other four rigs brought a Skimmer either first or second put in, then nothing. The waggler proved best with three Skimmers especially after switching to Pinkie shallow. Later the Carp started to take interest in the Pinkie loose feed on all lines. The Roach haven't really fed for some weeks, hopefully winter will change that. The upshot was it was bloody hard work switching around all lines varying the hook bait with double Pinkie most productive.

Weighed 12 lb 11 oz for 4th so happy with that. I must confess to my liking to hard silvers fishing. Enjoyed to today.

Lots of humble pie eaten today with Des Shipp easily taking out the match doubling the next weight with 32 lb 10 oz of Skimmers and one Tench. Des caught at 13 metres fishing single Pinkie over sloppy Pro Thatchers green and Marine green. Well done matey a class act as usual, only regret was me not taking bets of you not framing 😉. Great ambassador for Preston Innovation. 

Back to the Ringer with the over 55's for a pint, unfortunate no Babs only hard Tiger rolls. However, Lucy was there 😋 

Weigh Book:

Tuesday 10/09/2024 - Bitterwell Silvers - Open

Nice to have that long hot summer come to an end with cooling high winds and rain 😁.

Hoping for any peg from 1 to 13 and 26 to 28 which would all be relatively out of the wind. Into the draw bag and peg 23 again. Was called a "draw bag" by a retired Scaffolder, to put the record straight I have drawn 23 and 24 twice. So will be in the wind again and again Pete Turner for company on 24, but out of communicating distance.

No doubts it was going to fish hard. So just maggot (LR's and DR's) and GB. Set up the short Ronnie rig, 4x12 on the drop rig and a 4x14 both winters to fish at either two barrels and 3 barrels.

I fed three lines Ronnie line with loose GB and LR's and the other two lines with with a tight knub of GB laced with DR's. Started on the Ronnie rig with single LR and didn't have a bite until loose feeding LR's. Clearly didn't want the GB. Loads of small Perch which I kept fishing for looking on the other lines in between. Hooked a Carp so rested the Ronnie rig to try the two barrel line and had two small Skimmers and more Perch. Tried the longest line where the tow was a bit aggressive, but interestingly it towed both ways due to the swirling wind. Was once a regular on the Gloucester Canal which often towed both ways during the matches, this due to large ship movements, the fishing would tail off and was told it was due to the fish having to turn around to face the flows! I soon relised that the fish didn't want the GB which may have been due to the tow and found the fish 8 inches off the bottom spending the rest of the match fishing the 4x12 on the drop on the long line feeding LR's through the Kinder pot catching some Ronnie's, Hybrids and Skimmers. Loose feeding with the catty would have been preferred but the wind would have spread to wide. Missed loads of bites which were either Hybrid's big Roach, had a suspicion might have been shot bites.

Weighed 14 lb comprising a nice mix of silvers (pictured) which put me second, happy with this especially having to battled the bloody wind and rain.

The match was won by Paul Staite (pictured) with 15 lb 6 oz from peg 13. Paul caught at 10 metres fishing maggot and GB. Well Done Matey.

Nice to see Stu Foale and Nick Milsom fishing today. Felt for Nick on 21 taking the full force of climate change.

Weigh Book:

Tuesday 03/09/2024 - Bitterwell Silvers

Back to Bitterwell for the start of Autumn matches with a drive to the fishery in some drizzle, warm though. Sixteen fishing today ready for the draw - pictured.

At last a peg on the near side of the lake - peg 20. Good company with Pete Turner on 19 and Ali on 21. Cleared a bit of debris weed down the RH side and plumbed up there with the short Ronnie rig finding a decent depth and nice flat, clean bottom, thinking this was going to produce some bigger skimmers and perhaps a Tench or two. Long Ronnie rig, likewise nice depth and silt free. Set up a 4x12 Winter to fish 3 barrels again out of the silt.

I had decided to try expanders today and had 4's and 2's hookers and micro feed for the long line, so feed a few micro to start and both Ronnie lines with loose GB and LR's. Started down the right with single LR expecting a quick Skimmer, alas just tiny Perch and plenty of them with an occasional small Ronnie. Soon gave this up and tried the long Ronnie rig and found the same. Oh dear. Looking around every one looked static. So out on the 4 mm expander and had a small Skimmer and a small Tench. Kindering in small amounts of micro and couple more small Skimmers before it tailed off. Cripes it was fishing hard. Everyone appeared to be struggling decided to focus on catch what you can. Put the unopened meat back in the bait bag and concentrated on GB feed in various forms with LR's fished around the three lines. The RH margin had to be abandoned as it was full of Carp. Concentrating in the long line until the Carp arrived late on. Switching to the long Ronnie rig started to produce some slightly better Skimmers. Time of day or should I have focus here early - who knows?  

Weighed 13 lb 8 oz to scrape in 4th. Really enjoyed the scratching around today. Booked in for next week. My mixed bag pictured. The lake has not fished anywhere to its potential today - seasonal change perhaps.

The match was won by 17 year old Ben the Bagger (pictured with his catch) with 21 lb 4 oz from peg 17. Ben caught small Skimmers steady for the first hour or so at 7 metres with maggot over GB, before struggling like the rest of us, switching close in on a meat line late on produced well including a last gasp 4 lb Tench. The Tench clinched first spot by 10 oz from Charlie Issacs. Watch out match anglers Ben's learning to drive so may arrive at a match near you soon. Well done matey. Match angling need more of these young anglers.

Weigh Sheet:

 

Tuesday 27/08/2024 - Bitterwell Silvers

The silver fishing here is the best in the area and from looking at the mixed sizes of Skimmers it's only going to get even better. Paul is away with a group in France Carp fishing. Son Charlie has already had a 50 lb fish. So the numbers fishing down with others also on holiday.

So into the draw bag and as Des Shipp wasn't there I temporarily had his peg 23 today. Now wishing I watched all of his video fishing a live match on this peg, but gave up after seeing all his bait options.

I use to be a bird magnet now reduced to a wind magnet, Hate the wind especially from the side. Plenty of rigs set up - the peg is shallow 3 foot at three barrels and wanted to use a 4x12 but the wind insisted on a 4x14 which was only just OK. Long and short Ronnie rigs and a 4x10 Roob/s (RIP) for down the margins.

Fed meet on the long line, loose GB and maggots on the Ronnie lines, and some chopped worm and maggot down the margins.

Had a Skimmer on both the long and short Ronnie rigs and some nice Ronnie's, but pestered by Perch before the Carp took interest. Out long on 6 mm meat was strange foul hooking and missing bites. To test my thinking it was small skimmers fed some maggot and yes it was. Back on the meat and catch one decent Skimmer after feeding then nothing - strange. Messed about with both margins for a decent skimmer from both sides until the Carp decided to start foul hooking themselves losing two Robbs - bugger, day's tally was 6 lost Carp certainly can't fish short for too long here. It was a real struggle for a while until I gave up the meat feeding it to the pigeons instead and switching to neat chopped worm with a whole worm on the hook catching four Bream. Think this may be the end of my relationship with meat - again!

Weighed 20 lb which was third on the day, so a another great days fishing.

The venue expert Martin McMahon (pictured) won the with 35 lb 5 oz from peg 20. Martin caught mostly small Skimmers at top set plus three barrels, catching on and off for most of the day using 4 mm meat over loose fed same.

Ben the Bagger (pictured) was runner up with 27 lb 14 oz from peg 25. His catch including three Tench all caught of maggot. Nice to see a young lad doing well. I was amused to see him giving fishing instructions to his Dad who drew peg 12, usually the other way round. Well done.

Weigh Book:

Tuesday 06/08/2024 - Bitterwell Silvers Open

Usually fish Thursday's but unable to this week, so booked in to Bitterwell Silvers. Great group of blokes here plenty of banter. Paul Issac's is in Serbia this week on England duty with his son Charlie who's fishing for the under 15's. So Ricky's Scaffold and Martin Mc stood in. TBone was was promoted to tea boy for the day and suggested one of us should go to the Pharmacy to get some laxative for Des Shipp's tea 😂.

Into the draw bag and peg 1 comes out, happy with this as I've not fished it for 50 years! Groans followed when Des drew peg 23 again. Not from me as he will will be difficult to beat off any peg. Good to have the opportunity to fish with him, he's always happy to give advice. Some anglers moan when he's fishing their match but as the greatest ever Chess player Garry Kasparov said "to be the best you have to beat the best". Anyway the laxative wouldn't have worked, he was too close to the toilet.

So three rigs a 4 x14 Winter to fish top set plus three barrels hoping to get meat to work. The short Ronnie rig and the banker a 0.3 RJ for the tree line (pictured) on the top set to give me one second to tighten to the Tench. Would have used the 25 elastic but only had my silvers kit but had sneaked in a Drennan 2.4.

Started by feeding corn to the tree line, 6 mm long and loose GB and maggots on the Ronnie rig. Started on the Ronnie rig and caught a few small skimmers and Ronnie's but pestered by small Perch. Looking around it was a slow start for all so stayed with it adding ounces regularly. Got fed up with the Perch so went to the tree line with a big worm and yes another Perch so the idea of feeding worm on this line forgotten. On the corn and started to catch some Tench to 5 lb but pulling them out of from under the tree isn't for the faint hearted. Lost a couple of fish but not sure it they were Carp or Tench. Martin McMahon on peg 3 had started to catch decent skimmers regularly on meat. So went long with the meat and surprised to catch a couple of quick decent skimmers and a Tench. That was it as I think my feeding brought them off bottom. So back on the tree line with meat and had a few skimmers and another Tench, however, the corn was edging it so stayed on that to the end adding more skimmers and the odd Tench. However, pulled hard on a couple of skimmers in case they were Tench pulling out. Last hour the Carp arrived and spent some time mending rigs. Got two 7 lb Carp out though! I thought Martin may have just pipped me.

Weighed 41 lb 2 oz for second my Tench making the difference with Martin's 36 lb 14 oz. Top three pictured above.

The match was won by Des Shipp (pictured) with just 63 lb 12 oz! Des started on ground bait and worms for a few small skimmers with worms definitely not feeling right went onto his pellet line with expanders and which was ok but the skimmers were small missing lots of bites, he decided to changed to hard pellets on the hook and this was much better with some slightly better stamp fish. With the wind getting up and blowing straight at him, he gave the reed edge line a go on meat, this was good adding quality skimmers.

Very enjoyable day out. I hooked the bottom on the Ronnie rig and came back with a piece of brick clinker - why was this in here, looked like it had been in there for hundred's of years. Another lucky charm taken home.

Weight Book:

 

Thursday 18/07/2023 - Over 55's - Silvers Only - Bitterwell Lake

Back to Bitterwell down to 12 fishing again to holidays and work commitments etc...Paul Issacs has had the aeration on for three days nonstop as the oxygen levels were down - could see he was concerned. The day before he had walked around in the margins measuring the oxygen levels and found that the shallower far end had the highest oxygen levels. He put this down to having the least silt - the organisms in silt need oxygen. So pegs 24 round to 18 the pegs I would like.

Silvers only today.

Into the draw bag and peg 28 it would be which put me next to a pleasure angler on 29 which didn't bother me. Next to Barny again on peg 26.

Set up two Ronnie rigs and a 0.3 Gram RJ to fish down to the corner of the rushes. Started with maggot over GB and after trying both the long and short Ronnie rigs and having just one Perch abandoned both. Tried the RJ with worm over GB and LR's and pulled out of a 2 lb Tench. So made my mind up to fish this rig for the rest of the match. Five Carp and three skimmers and a hybrid later went on a banana walk and everyone was struggling except the two meat heads - Martin Rayet peg 23 and Martin McMahon peg 19 both having weights in the teens. Back in the saddle and back on the RJ and had three more skimmers but took the Carp hooking to eleven landed Carp from 7 lb to 14 lb however, a couple of the lost fish may have been Tench - but might have been hallucinating due to the heat. Thirty minutes to go had a 3 lb Bream on worm. Think I had pissed off the Carp as it went quiet. Eight minutes to go had a big Tench which if it was 4 lb might just take me to double figures. Two minutes to go hooked what was another decent silver but the hooked pulled - may had been fouled hooked.

Was surprised to weigh 13 lb 4 oz for third overall with my Tench going 5 lb think a PB - what a lovely fish worth going just to catch this one.

As expected the two meat heads were first and second with McMahon's  6 mm meat (pictured above) beating Rayet's 7 mm meat by 8 oz  (pictured with today's catch). 

Nice to Matt Drinkwater out today coming 4th within 12 lb from a hard area. Well done Matey.

Weigh Book:

Thursday 04/07/2024 - Over 55's - Bitterwell Lake

We arrived to find PC Jaxon waiting and promptly arrested five of the Over 55's (pictured). Must say PC Jaxon certainly know's a villain when he see's one.

The poor weather continues into July, when is this cold blustering wind going to do one?

Bit depleted today due to holiday's, etc... In to the draw bag and peg 27 it was. Matt Challenger drew it Tuesday and struggle, hesaid the LH edge produced nothing but snags. The other side is Lily pads, which produced very little, which is my past experience of fishing to them. This didn't stop me setting up 2 x 0.3 RJ Slims to fish both. Caught only a few small Perch from both but did get one snag out (pictured) inspecting the shot it looked like it had been in the lake 50 years or more. So switched to the long Ronnie rig with single LR over GB catching five quick Skimmers and some Ronnie's but the presentation was awful due to the bloody wind which was effecting most of us in some way. Had to switch to the short Ronnie rig which worked a lot better adding Skimmers and Ronnie's to the end. Last few minutes hooked a big Skimmer which I didn't relised was foul hooked until it came up and escaped the hook - bugger.

Weighed 22 lb 9 oz for third in the silvers. Was pleased with the weight from this peg especially as pegs 23,24 and 25 have been the better pegs so far. Good anglers on them but they seem to have switched off.

The match was won by Martin McMahon (pictured - not sure why he wasn't the first to be arrested) with 100 lb 14 oz from peg 6. Martin initially caught on the PVA bag/feeder, later switching to the pole fishing hard pellet. Well done matey.

The silvers went to Shay Gillman (pictured) with 25 lb 9 oz from peg 21. Shay was forced to fish short due facing the brunt of the wind on maggot and caster. Shay learnt a lesson today walking his kit back to the car and leaving his nets unattended losing two Carp but managed to get his empty net back. Well done matey.

The next match at Bitterwell is Silvers only, which makes it simpler for us all especially me wasting time trying to catch Carp 😁. Bitterwell is the best Silvers venue locally.

Weigh Book: