Wednesday 03/09/2008 Carps AC - Burley Fields

I am now absolutely sure world governments terminology is wrong when they generalise using the term "Global Warming". From the UK perspective it's must be "Global Wetting"! What a day, I feel as if I have been hosed down by the fire brigade and dried out in a wind tunnel. The attendance today was very disappointing especially for such an excellent venue. I have noticed that the Carps Angling Club Wednesday matches has been gradually dwindling through out this year.

I drew peg 1 which I have been second from earlier in the year. I started on the caster, and for fifteen minutes I didn't have a bite! Second match in a row, Roach not responding to caster, um! Started to catch some 1 - 2oz Ronnies, but no quality at all. So out on the Skimmer line and more small Ronnies. Tried the 6mm pellet, still small Ronnies. I decided to fish for them on caster for the rest of the match. Other than getting broke by a carp I weighed 13lb 10oz of Ronnies. We were lucky to weigh in at all, as I was peg 1, I wetted the weigh net, only for the resident Black Swan to nearly snatch it from my hand! Swans are not my favourite bird.

The match was won by Colin Golding (pictured above right - I wonder what the "C" stands for on his hat) from peg 6 with 21lb 40z. Colin caught on his usual method of 6mm expander fished over 6mm expander pellet.

The Silvers was won by Dave Bacon (pictured top right) with 18lb 10oz of Skimmers from peg 5. Dave caught on chopped worm over chopped worm and caster. Dave also qualifies for the Carps AC Wednesday Silversmaina.

Full Result:

1. Colin Golding 21-04-0 peg 6

2. Chris Fox 20-0-0 peg 2

3. Dave Bacon 18-10-0 peg 5
4. Mike Nicholls 13-10-0 peg 1

Wednesday 16/07/2008 Carps AC - Burley Fields

Time once again for my favourite Roach venue - Burley Fields. Darren Gillman and I walked the pegging and was surprised how the pegs were crammed in at the bottom right corner. We explained this to Colin Golding and as usual he was not in listening mode. I felt sorry for Bob Feltham who draw tight in the corner peg 4. When you pay £18 to fish a match you expect a bit of space, especially when it is available!

I drew peg 3 , which is the same peg as last match but without peg 4 being in. I started on the caster rig and caught steady. Tried now and again for the Skimmers at 10 metres but they weren't having it today - the water was a little clearer than last time. I stayed most on the match on the caster - trying 6mm and 3 mm GOT expander now and again. I did land two Carp and Lost two on the pellet. Darren, who was on peg 4, was convinced (again) that I had won the match - I wasn't sure. I weighed 38lb 8oz of Silver for second in the Silvers by 1lb 10oz and weighed 51lb overall for second in the match by 1lb 9oz! Second and second - no pick up this time! Hindsight is not "wonderful" as some say, another 1lb 11oz would have given me the double win - could have done it easy now!
I was pleased to see Andy Gard (pictured top right with his 17lb 8oz Leather Carp) win the match with 52lb 9oz. Andy caught all his fish on red maggot - including the Carp! Good running commentary Andy - enjoyed it!

My mate Darren Gillman won the Silvers with 40lb 20z, consisting of mainly quality Rudd - What a venue.

Full Result:

1. Andy Gard 52-09-0 peg 5
2. Mike Nicholls 51-0-0 peg 3
3. Darren Gillman 40-02-0 peg 2
4. Colin Golding 39-12-0 peg 7
5. Bob Feltham 35-11-0 peg 4
6. Steve Jefferies 24-04-0 peg 8

Top Silvers:

1. Darren Gillman 40-02-0 peg 3
2. Mike Nicholls 38-08 peg 3
3. Andy Gard 35-03-0 peg 5 (Andy qualifies for the Carps AC Wednesday Silversmaina - Well done)

Wednesday 28/05/2008 Carps AC - Burley Fields

Well this venue produced the best match for me in 2007 with 60lb of Skimmers, and has done so far in 2008 with 58lb 6oz of Roach - with a smattering of Skimmers! Even the incessant rain could not spoil the day, as it gave my tackle a good clean! I drew peg 7 on the day which put me in the far right hand corner (looking from the car park). At the last Carps AC match Gordon Canning's had some Skimmers in this peg, so off to the peg with anticipation. I started on the 3 metre whip with caster and caught Roach to 8oz straight off. I then tried for the Skimmers at 10 metres with paste having fed earlier with 25o ml of pellet. This resulted in a run of six Skimmers to 2lb - then pestered by Roach. I fed the line again then back after the Roach with caster. After an hour back out on the Skimmer line which resulted in a couple more Skimmers, then again pestered by 10oz Roach! I decided to fish the remainder of the match on the 3 metres whip with a change to GOT expander pellet, which resulted in a number of quality Roach to 1lb.

My mate Darren Gillman (pictured top right with his 8lb Carp) drew peg 1 which was one above the bridge on the left hand bank. Darren pipped me on the silvers by 1lb 2oz! Darren also had one 8lb Carp for a winning weight of 67lb 8oz (Darren's Silvers also included three Barbel for 7lb - yes Barbel there are also big Chub in the lake to 6lb). Darren picked up £40 and myself £30 for the Silvers pool - by default. When we both pickup we have a stop in the pub, this time it was the Essex Arms in Kingswood. We both also picked up an Indian curry next door in the Curry Kings - end to a perfect day.

Full result (mostly Silvers)

1. Darren Gillman 67-08-0 peg 1 (Qualifies for the Wednesday Carps Silvermaina)

2. Mike Nicholls 58-06-0 peg 7

3. Steve Jefferies 47-11-0 peg 6
4. Dave Bacon 42-01- 0 peg 5

5. Andy Gard 40-01-0 peg 2

6. Andy Britt 36-04-0 peg 3

Top silvers:

1. Darren Gillman 59-08-0 peg 1

2. Mike Nicholls 58 -6-0 Peg 7

3. Andy Britt 36-04-0 peg 3

Sunday 09/03/2008 Carps AC - Burley Fields

Burley Fields is situated between Gloucester and Cheltenham (a few miles east of Junction 11A - M5). This venue never disappoints with the quality of Silverfishing. Quality Roach dominates with plenty of Skimmers. I have fished here twice this year and I can say so far this year both have been my best days fishing. However, the landscaping leaves a lot to be desired (has been described as a poop hole).

I drew peg 9 which I had not fished before, in the middle of the right hand bank. One problem with the venue is that it is tree lined which causes the light is bad and variable making float tip colour choice difficult. I choose black but needed to go white then back to black dependant on the sunlight and ripple. Always wise to have a Roach and Skimmer line here, so choose to fish for Roach at 10m (light dictating distance) out in front and for Skimmers at 11.5m at 2-o-clock.

Started on the Roach line and caught quality Roach from the start on caster. After a hour it started to slow so fed again and went to the Skimmer line and caught six small Skimmers straight off. Then nothing (hind sight tells me I should have started on the Skimmer line).
Back to the Roach for the rest of the match, progressively the fishing faded. The bait presentation to catch the larger Roach is important:

The caster must not be broken, by this I mean no white caster inners to be showing.
The hook must be buried.
Dry caster to be used on the hook.

I weighed in 25lb for second in the match and second in the Silvers and picked up £45. My travelling partner on the day Martin Rayett (pictured) won the match with 26lb 10oz which included two Chub for 10lb. Both caught on his pellet line. He also lost one.

Full Result:

1. Martin Rayett 26-10-0 Peg 5
2. Mike Nicholls 25-0-0 Peg 9
3. Gordon Cannings 20-10-0 Peg 8
4. Colin Golding 20-0-0 Peg 11

Top Silvers:Martin Rayett 26-10-0 (Qualifies for Sundays Silversmania)