Sunday 02/09/2012 - Avon Angling Open - Chiltern Trinity - Wild Marsh

Charlie’s Angels were assembled and ready for another series of the teams of fours. Other teams must have got wind on how strong we were this year and pulled out!! It’s a shame it was cancelled though, but Tony did the right thing as usual, eight teams isn’t quite enough and Tony would have only been left trying to find anglers to fill vacant places. Nevertheless, Tony is running the series as opens and Bela and I agreed to support them all.

 

The first match was at Chiltern Trinity – Wild Marsh. I really can’t make my mind up about this venue; it does have something that attracts me here. As I am writing I am thinking that I wouldn’t mind a pleasure trip down there as I am sure I would catch a good mixed net of big Skimmers and very fit Carp. I understand that John the owner has but a few thousand Tench in the Lake with plans for a big stocking of small Carp – whatever, I am sure I will be drawn back again.

 

I managed to get the last draw ticket away from Clayton Hudson. And yippee one of the pegs I would have picked – peg 9. I could expect big Skimmers and Carp from this peg.

 

Arriving at the peg the first thing I noticed was that the water colour was that horrible brown algae colour with patches of light brown where the bottom was being disturbed. I set up just two rigs a 0.5 gram paste float to be fish out in front at 11.5 metres where I had 9 foot of water, and a 0.4gram rig for the very deep 4 foot LH margin – simple.

 

I started by cupping in a big pot of 3mm soften pellet on both lines starting on the paste at 11.5 metres I missed a bite first put in. Second put in I caught and landed a 4lb carp – good start. That was it for an age even though I kept topping up with 3’s and 4’s. The fish on this venue usually give you clues by bowing over the pellet that they are about; however; today there wasn’t any sign of life. I then lost two Bream in two put ins. I don’t know whether they were foul hooked or not. I was now beginning to realise that perhaps the fish were up in the water more so due to the waters algae. So a quick look on the margin and the usual tell-tell sign that there were no big fish around due to the Motherless Minnows nibbling at the paste. I put a big worm over it to check and had a 2 oz Ronnie. So it was back out on the long line and another lost Bream. I switched to the worm hook bait and had three Bream losing another one bringing the total to 4 lost and three in the net. With an hour to go it was clear that the good pegs in this leg of the Lake weren’t fishing that well, so I stayed in the margin feeding 4’s over the paste hook bait until the float stayed still announcing the arrival of a Carp. In the last 20 minutes I landed two one being a 10 pounder. So in the six hours of fishing I landed six fish – one an hour equivalent.

 

My three Bream weighed in at 8lb (I would like to think that by lost Bream would have given me some Silvers coin) and my three Carp weighed in at 20lb 1oz for a second in section of 28lb 1oz.

 

The match was won by Adrian Clark (pictured right with his catch) with 63lb 5oz from Island peg 10. Adrian caught 15 Carp to eight pounds, catching half his weight on paste down to his RH margin up to the tree. When the margin swim died he switched to the pellet feeder over to the opposite bank with 8mm pellet banded hook bait.

 

The Silvers was won by Tom Thick (pictured right with his catch) with 19lb 5oz from peg 57. Tom caught on hair rigged 6mm pellet fish over loose fed hard 4’s at 14.5 metres. Tom feed about two pints through out the match.

 

Full Result:

 

1.      Adrian Clark 63-05-0 peg Island 10

2.      Steve Segar 56-03-0 peg 39

3.      Alan Oram 53-14-0 peg Island 3

4.      Mike West 39-03-0 peg 59

5.      Tony Rixon 35-04-0 peg 60

6.      Tom Thick 31-12-0 peg 57

 

Top Silvers:

 

1.      Tom Thick 19-05-0 peg 57

2.      Nick Collins 17-02-0 peg 19

3.      Chris Fox 15-0-0 peg 30

Sunday 22/04/2012 - Avon Angling Open - Chiltern Trinity - Wildmarsh

Breakfast at the Hilltops Café was superb and as it happened was to be the highlight of mine and Bela’s day.

In to the draw container and out comes peg 22. Excellent, a draw I had been hoping for as it has plenty of Skimmer history, plus it was one of the "pegs on the outside of the Lake".

Arriving at the peg I was immediately concerned about the wind affect. So I set up the biggest float in the box a 4x18 Jolly to be fished as long as I thought possible with the wind strength, 10 metres to be fished over a GB line at 11 o clock. However, my main method was to be paste at the same distance but at 1 o clock. I also set up a Ronnie rig (this only produced four 3oz fish) and a margin paste rig (which produce a couple of speared Motherless). On to the GB line where I had fed seven balls of GB laced with micro, this produced just a couple of Ronnie’s on Maggot. As there was some blowing going on I switched to pellet which produce some more small Ronnie.  So I switched to paste over this line which produced – nothing. I had fed two big pots of micro over the paste line, so out went the paste and first put in I had a 2lb Skimmer. The wind had got up and unfortunately the tow was with the wind and I couldn’t keep the paste on longer that a few seconds. So I went over the line with 6mm expander on the Jolly rig and had two more Skimmers, losing one because of the gusting wind. The wind was ever increasing such that I couldn’t fish the pole any more. Luckily (where nearly) Paul Faiers lent me a feeder rod which produced only s few nibbled soft pellet. My match was clearly over. I packed up early very frustrated at there were fish in the swim but because of the conditions I couldn’t catch them – bugger. My three Skimmers and Ronnie’s weighed in at 7lb 8oz p- for nowhere.

The match was won by Adrian Jefferies (pictured right with his catch) with five Carp for 32lb 14oz from point peg 25. Adrian caught on conventional method feeder with micro pellet and big bunches of red maggot hook bait.

The Silvers was won by 2012 Fish o Mania qualifier Steve Tucker (pictured lower right) with 16lb 10oz from peg 58. Steve caught at 14.5 metres using various baits.

 

Runner up in the Slivers was Paul Faiers (Pictured lower right with his catch of three Tench and Skimmers - when is he going to bring Snow White with him). Paul caught a Tench on the pole using single caster, switching to the feeder with caster and worm hook bait once the wind picked up.

He man of the match was Steve kedge (pictured right playing

his third Carp his top a lot). Steve played three Carp for ½

hour each.

 

 Full Result:

1.      Adrian Jefferies 32-14-0 peg 25

2.      Dean Malin 27-08-0 peg 42

3.      Tony Rixon 26-09-0 peg 30

4.      Steve Kedge 26-02-0 peg 9

5.      Steve Tucker 24-07-0 peg 58

6.      Glen Calvert 23-01-0 peg 6

Top Silvers:

 

1.      Steve Tucker 16-10-0 peg 58

2.      Paul Faiers 16-05-0 peg 20

3.      Tony Rixon 15-0-0 peg 30 

04/09/2011 - Avon Angling Teams of Four - Round One - Chiltern Trinity - Wildmarsh

Today was Round One of the Avon Angling Teams of Four with eleven Teams fishing. My team “Charlie’s Angels” had a Judas leave for pastures new – well that what Tom Thick thinks. However, we found a good replacement in Steve Segar. Today’s match was on Chiltern Trinity’s Wildmarsh Lake, with the feeder allowed, which I thought would be a big help for some of the more difficult pegs – I was wrong.

Captain Charlie came back with a good team draw, with me on Island peg 3. This peg is good for both Silvers and Carp so pleased with it until I got there. To my dismay I found a fence across the peg with nowhere to place my seat box unless I got into the water. I tried to remove it but couldn’t. Fortunately I found Tony Rixon and he kindly came and helped me take it out - thanks long time acquaintance (see picture right of the offensive worlds biggest peg).

During the drive down Bela and I were discussing how we never seem to draw near each other, so it was scary when Bela arrived on peg Island 2.

I untangled the Normark feeder rod and set it to fish at 25 metres with a small Drennan feeder. I set up three rigs, the first a 4 x16 Jolly for the expander pellet for Silvers, next a 0.5 gram paste float both to be fished at 10 metres straight out in front where I had five foot of water. Lastly I set up a 0.3 gram paste float for the RH margin to be fished in three foot of water, although a bit of an undulating bottom. I started on the soft pellet over a full pot of micro and had my usual run of there small Skimmers and four Ronnie’s before the swim died. So after feeding the margin with a mixed pot of micros and 4’s I went back out at 10 metres with the paste and after half hour I had a 3lb Carp quickly followed by a 4lb Skimmer. The swim died after this. So I tied the margin only to find the paste being tampered with by small fish. Most of the anglers in my section had started on the feeder with little to nothing coming to it. So I decided to have a chuck myself whilst I drank a cup of coffee. It was no different for me – not one bite! After trying the pellet again to no avail it was back out on the long paste line, but this time feeding 4’s with the paste through the kinder pot. Subsequently I had a 7lb Common Carp. I went straight back out and had an immediate bite – but bugger it was foul hooked and bumped its self off. I didn’t have another bite over this line after this. So I spent the remaining hour in the margin and had a 8 lb Common which had the adrenaline pumping as you can’t afford to lose fish of this size on this venue, plus they fight really hard. I went straight back out and foul hooked another Carp, which also bumped its self off (a pattern forming here). This was the last bite I had. My three Carp weighed 20lb 1oz and my few Skimmers 4lb 15oz for a total of 25lb. This gave me an eleven peg section win and a sixth overall, beating Bela by 9lb!!

Team wise we made the most of our draw amassing 32 points which put us joint first overall on the day with two other teams.

The match was won by Tom “Judas” Thick with 48lb 10oz from peg 12. Tom fished the pole at 11.5 metres up to he edge of the line of Sedges using paste and pellet.

Runner up was Paul Elmes with 42lb 13oz from peg 21. Paul weight was boosted by double figure Common Carp (picture right with Paul).

The Silvers was won by Steve Kedge (pictured lower right with Judas) with 18lb 6oz from peg 47. Steve caught Chub and Roach using caster hook bait over caster, backed up with a couple of proper Skimmers on the worm fished long.

Full Result:



1. Tom Thick 48-10-0 peg 12
2. Paul Elmes 42-13-0 peg 21
3. Rich Coles 41-07-0 peg 7
4. Tony Rixon 27-02-0 peg 67
5. Kev Perry 25-14-0 peg 61
6. Mike Nicholls 25-0-0 peg Isle 3

Top Silvers:

1. Steve Kedge 18-06-0 peg 47
2. Gary Etheridge 13-05-0 peg 22

Sunday 07/08/2011 - Avon Angling Float Only Open - Chiltern Trinity Wild Marsh - Round Five

After an excellent breakfast in the Hill Top Café it was an early arrival at Chiltern Trinity – Wild Marsh. As someone said to me “the organiser needs to get another set of scales or start the match earlier”. I think he should do both!!



I had a walk around the venue putting my scent down on my preferred pegs 40, 39 and any peg from 7 to 15. I just didn’t want any pegs in the sixties. I was keen to get the draw over as I haven’t drawn very well on this venue this year (67, and 59), the keenness was due to the fact I was in the final of the knockout, fishing against Tony R, Dean M and Dick B so I needed some help. I was trying to keep to the first few in the draw queue, however there were plenty of bigger anglers (and some smaller – Tim Ford for example) pushing in. I hovered over the draw container and pounced on a peg 64, bugger – lacking confidence.

I arrived at my peg a beaten pensioner. I spent quite a while coming to terms with seeing Dean on peg 11, Tony peg 12 and Dick on peg 15. Well I had a section still to fish for! I set up just two rigs all to be fished at 11.5 metres and a waggler. The 4x16 Jolly was to be fished at 11 o clock over GB with dead red maggot and at 12o clock over CW&C with worm on the hook. The paste rig was to be fished at 1 o clock over hard 4’s. I started by feeding just two balls of neat GB and a cup of a mix of dead reds, caster and a few chopped up worms. For the paste line I put in a cup of 4;s plus a bit of wetted micro. Starting on small pieces of worm I had a quick run of small Skimmers and Ronnie’s, which soon died once the Eels mover in. I then had a funny spell “bumping” Eels. After I had netted two Eels weighing at least 3 ounces each I gave the GB line a try with double dead red which resulted “I can’t be bothered to fish for tiny Ronnie. Out went the waggler with triple dead red whilst I fed hard 4’s over the top (no balling it today). The upshot was that I tried the waggler a number of times – once whilst I was having a Mesha delivered coffee, the other time when we had to endure a thunder storm, all to no avail. With three hours to go switched to the paste line and did have some indications, which I thought might be small fish, but am not sure now, so gave the worm line a go which produced nought. I decided to spend the last two hours on the paste and feeding micro and hard 4’s with the paste through the kinder pot. I was amazed when I had a bite and landed a 4lb frisky Common Carp. This was followed quickly followed by three more to 6lb. The swim went iffy losing two foul hookers; I did then hook and play to the landing net a Mirror Carp which I estimated to be 15 lb. However, my impatience got the better of my and forced the hook out of its mouth. Bugger! That was the end of the Carp, However, I did had two 3lb Bream on the same bait and line, bumping one on the whistle – how they mess with the bait. I knew I had beaten Dick but with Tony of 40 lb and Dean on 29 lb I was anticipating picking up third in the knockout. I was surprised when my Silvers weighed in at 10lb 12oz and my Carp 23lb for a total of 33lb 12oz. I was amazed to fond that this put me fourth in the Silvers, second in the knockout, second overall and a section win. Certainly would have settled for that off the scented pegs!

The match was won by Tony Rixon (pictured upper right with his Japanese sniper grin) with 45lb 3oz from peg 12. Tony caught on… see his blog.

The Silvers was won once again by Nick Collins(pictured right) with 14lb 14oz from un-fancied peg (by me) 57. Nick caught on worm heads fished over GB laced with CW&C.

It was amusing to find Trigger  (see pictured lower right) in the water up his knees trying to release a very stuck seat box. It took two of them to release it from the red clay.

Full Result:

1.      Tony Rixon 45-03-0 peg 12
2.      Mike Nicholls 33-12-0 peg 64
3.      Martin Pettifer 32-08-0 peg 9
4.      Gary Etheridge 29-11-0 peg 42
5.      Dean Malin 29-08-0 peg 11
6.      Scott Puddy 26-04-0 peg 7

Top Silvers:

1.      Nicky Collins 14-14-0 peg 57
2.      Steve Segar 13-2-0 peg 46
3.      Matt Tomes 12-04-0 peg 29
4.      Mike Nicholls 10-12-0 peg 64

Sunday 19/06/2011 - Avon Angling Float Only Open - Chiltern Trinity - Wildmarsh - Round Three

Father’s day – My card started with – “May Fathers Day hold the happy events that set the day apart...” Not quite. I think I am safe speaking for many Dads in this respect today. The fishing just didn’t live up to expectations with a few Blanks and even more DNW’s. Hey, it’s a day out with your friends and long time acquaintances’.

It looks as if someone is trying to organise Tony Rixon (don’t even think about it) – see picture right, I initially thought Steve Evans was organising a-bring-and-buy sell with his chair and wall paper table – guaranteed that it’s never seen any paste.

I was hoping for one of the pegs in the legs but no, out popped end peg 67 on the road bank. I had drawn the best Auto Electrician in the county in the knockout – Tim Clark. I was delighted to see him walk past me to be also on the road bank – I had a chance.

The peg is a in a bit of a corner and very shallow out to 13 meters, so I thought the waggler would be the banker. So I spent 20 minutes getting it just right holding it on station fairly easily. I also set a 4x14 Boy Jolly to be fished out in front with CW&C and at the same depth at 13 metres at 11o clock over neat GB.

On the whistle I threw in ten balls of GB laced with micro and caster at 25 metres, only to hear a cry from Clayton Hudson on the next peg that I was balling his peg! Not the case, but understood what Clayton was saying as his peg was looking towards mine. Clayton was still setting up his waggler after the whistle so I had no idea that he was planning to fish my peg! I followed this up with a pot of CWC at 13 metres. I started on a piece of worm and had five Ronnie’s straight off before it died – Eels moved in I suspect. So time for my waggler banker. On went double red maggot and I was soon expecting a bite as there was plenty of signs of feeding fish. I spent the next hour with only some Skimmer slime from a liner to show for it – that wasn’t quite true as I had a visit from Capitan Tom Mangnall who left me with three pints of caster –thanks matey. Time to open a 13 metre GB line. I started by fishing single caster over it and had a run of Ronnie’s, however, there was a bit of shelling going on so switched to single or double maggot, this accounted for the odd small Ronnie until the last hour when I set up a paste rig over the GB line converting to pellet feed, however, nothing to show for this tactical move. Come the end (thank you) I weighed 4lb 4oz for 3 points beating the two anglers to my left. However, the cloud had a bit of a silver lining as Tim Clark weighed 1lb 8oz so I managed to scrape thorough the knockout.

The match was won by Chris Davis (pictured right with the smiling Silvers winner) from fancied peg 40 with 53lb 9oz.Chris caught at both 5 and 13 metres down his RH margin. Losing quite a few Carp I understand.

The Silvers was won by Dick Bull from peg 21 with 23lb. Dick caught on CW&C at 13 metres.

Full Result:

1. Chris Davis 53-09-0 peg 40
2. Steve Segar 51-05-0 peg 9
3. Gary Etheridge 28-01-0 peg Island 11
4. Matt Tomes 27-14-0 peg 11
5. Tony Rixon 25-14-0 peg 22 (again)
6. Dick Bull 23-0-0 peg 21

Top Silvers:

1. Dick Bull 23-0-0 peg 21
2. Tony Rixon 22-08-0 peg 22
3. Bob Gullick 20-04-0 peg 20

So this is where the Skimmers were!

Sunday 22/05/2011 - Avon Angling Float Only Open - Chiltern Trinity - Wildmarsh

After a decent breakfast at Hill Tops it was off to the draw at Chiltern Trinity – Wild Marsh Lake and it certainly lived up to it’s name with the Wild gusting winds that welcomed us.

I was one of the last to draw – again, so I let Tony Rixon pull the peg for me (for the last time), I wish I hadn’t because out comes peg 59 on the road bank. In my experience it’s not been the best places to draw. Arriving at the peg I found that I had the high gusting wind off my back with the peg looking pretty manageable with any method. I also had a bank of Water Lily to my right pads (pictured right). For some unknown reason I have never caught anything near this plant, nor do I know anyone that has. However they still remain tantalising to us anglers if not the fish.

I had Charlie Barns two pegs to my right and Joe Thompson next peg to my left so lady luck had concocted pensioner’s corner. I think we are put there to be out of the main action.

As it was a practice match for the float only series I set up everything except a feeder, which may have been the right method on this peg. Two Ronnie rigs one for 2 metres and the other for 7 metres, two paste rigs, one for 9 metres and yes one for the Lily’s. The Waggler rod was untangled and it was soon apparent after a few setting up casts that the tow was far too great for it to work properly, it was like fishing the Bristol Avon in summer flow. I then set up a 4x14 rig for the CW&C which I decided from my limited previous experience would be my main method.

I started by cupping in the messy business at 11.5 metres, starting on the caster at 7 metres expecting to catch Ronnie’s from the off, but after fifteen minutes I had one small Rudd and one missed bite. So out on the Worm and I had the usual initial run of Ronnie’s until I hooked and landed a 2 ½ lb Skimmer. I then bumped two decent fish I then had an Eel. The swim died so I re-fed the messy business and hooked an enormous fish (which explained why the swim had gone dead) which went to the middle of the lake bottoming out the elastic and finally breaking the elastic so I lost the lot. All this in the first hour which marked the time my match was over. After setting up a new rig I struggled for another bite adding three more Eel’s. I tried everything and couldn’t get bite. I weighed 5lb 12oz for no where.

I don’t know anyone that got in the coin using CW&C on its own. The GB appeared to be the better feed on the day, fishing various baits over it. I had planned to fish the waggler over the GB but conditions would not permit this which might have been the method for the swim on the day – who knows.

Charlie Barns caught five Barbel on the CW&C for 14lb and Joe Thompson also had a Barbel weighing 3lb which really pleased him (pictured right). Apparently these fish were stocked when 3 inches long, so they have grown on really well.

Dave Roper (pictured right with the Silvers winner) won the match by a narrow margin from Island peg end peg 2 with 46lb 15oz. Dave had mainly Carp to 6lb fishing down to his left using meat.

The Silvers was won by Steve Kedge with 20lb of Roach from Island peg 3. Steve caught short using caster over caster.

To be fair the venue fished much better than my previous visits, needing near 20lb to win a section.

Full Result:

1. Dave Roper 46-15-0 peg 2 Island
2. Paul Elmes 45-13-0 peg 7
3. Glenn (Jinx) Bailey 43-09-0 peg 13
4. Steve Priest 30-11-0 peg 44
5. Bela Bakos 26-01-0 peg 21
6. Dean Mallin 25-05-0 peg 65

Top Silvers:

1. Steve Kedge 20-0-0 peg 3 Island
2. Nigel Bartlett 19-07-0 peg 12
3. Bela Bakos 18-05-0 peg 21

Sunday 21/09/08 - Veals Teams of Four Winter League Round 1 - Chilton Trinity - Wildmarsh and Woodlands

Arrived at the draw at 08:00 and was amazed to find Charlie Barnes already there and on his third fag and fourth coffee. There were three sections of fifteen on Wildmarsh and one section of fifteen on Woodlands - everyone was hoping to be on Woodlands as all the top Carps weights were expected from there, (as the results now confirm). I drew peg A9 on Wildmarsh, the map I was given identified A9 as permanent peg 15 (or so I thought). Arrived at peg 15 - and was greeted with rustling reeds in the end margin - so set up a paste rig - yippee. Ah, wrong peg and I was moved to peg 9 - what a difference - no margin and couldn't get close to the water - or get my nets in properly. The Carp net I hung over the boards, the silvers in the gap between the bank and the boards!! After the match I spoke to the owners they assured me it was their next job - we will see. I had my team instructions from captain Barnes, which I religiously kept to (honest I am Church of England!). I caught most of my fish at 10.5 metres (from the bank!) on worm or double caster. My biggest fish was an Eel of 2 pound plus hooked in the pectoral fin, whilst getting the hook out I had a nip from him! I weighed 10lb 5oz, which comprised of eight different species of fish - Crucian, Common Carp, Golden Rudd, Roach, Chub, Perch, Eel, Skimmer. This gave me fourth in the section and twelve team points. I was beat by a Carp for my five peg section. I enjoyed the match, but the jury is out on the amount of fish in the Lake - recognising that I have only fished the venue in flat calm and bright sunny conditions - we will see next year. As to peg 15, the lad weighed less than 2lb!

The individual pools payouts are based on Silvers weight only and Carp weight only - with section points counted on combined weight. Both the Silvers and Carp weights paying equally the top four in each category. The combined over winner gets nothing. As it happens today that was Clayton Hudson (pictured bottom left) with 62lb 2oz from Woodlands peg 30. Clayton did pick up the second Carp weight with 60lb 14oz. Clayton caught on his usual chopped worm and caster.

Rod Wotton (pictured bottom right) won the Carp weight with 61lb 11oz from Woodlands peg 20.

The Silvers was won by team mate Rich Coles (pictured bottom/bottom left) with 32lb 7oz of Skimmers and Bream from Woodlands peg 12. Rich caught all his fish on paste.
On the team front Charlie's Angels were fourth overall with 41 points. Not a bad start.


Full Results:

Carp (All Woodlands):
1. Rod Wotton 61-11-0 peg 20
2. Clayton Hudson 60-14-0 peg 30
3. Steve Jackson 53-10-0 peg 9
4. Julian Heavan 52-10-0 peg 4

Silvers:

1. Rich Coles 32-07-0 Woodlands peg 12
2. Bryan Shanks 17-04-0 Wildmarsh peg 25
3. Ken Rainer 13-04-0 Wildmarsh peg 30
4. Dave Dunstan 12-04-0 Wildmarsh peg 29

Top Teams:

1. Avon Angling 48
2. Westerleigh Blue 46
3. Team Veals 43
4. Charlie's Angels 41

Sunday 14/09/08 - Chilton Trinity Open - Wildmarsh

I have signed up with "Charlies Angels" for the forth coming Veals Teams of Four Winter League. The team comprises Myself, Tom Thick, Rich Coles and team captain Charlie Barnes. The league is fished on commercial fisheries - Chilton Trinity, Bullocks Farm, Landsend, Viaduct and a week ender at Stafford Moor. Today was a practice match for the league match next Sunday.


This is the first time I have fished the venue. Before the draw I walked Wildmarsh with Tony Rixon. I thought the lake was picturesque. However, I was concerned that the lake was flat calm, usually without some tow the Skimmers shut up shop. I really love fishing a venue for the first time, I like working it out. I had plenty of information - too much really. I decided to target the Ronnies and Skimmers. The Skimmers was to be chopped worm and caster with worm on the hook and the Ronnies the 4 metre whip and small waggler.


I drew peg 47 which I was happy with, as it was in open water. I started on the chopped worm and caster and had plenty of missed bites from the Ronnie Roach. I went quickly on to the whip with caster and started to put a few Ronnies to 3oz together. I can't believe how many bites I missed today. The fish did the odd disappearing act. I struggled with both methods and weighed 7lb 8oz which included one small skimmer on the worm. However, I think I have learnt quite a bit for next weeks team match - we'll see!


The match was won by team mate Tom Thick (pictured top right) with 26lb 9 oz from peg 26. Tom's weight also included a 11lb carp from the margin.


The Silvers was won by Gary Bedford (pictured bottom left) from peg 50 with 19lb 6oz of quality Skimmers. Gary caught both long and short with either soft pellet over pellet or chopped worm and caster with worm on the hook.


Full Result:


1. Tom Thick 26-09-0 peg 26
2. Steve Priest 22-08-0 peg 18
3. Nick Harvey 21-04-0 peg 21
4. Gary Bedford 19-06-0 peg 50
5. Dean Mallin 18-15-0 peg 10
6. Nick Collins 18-11-0 peg 13


Top Silvers:


1. Gary Bedford 19-06-0 peg 50
2. Nick Collins 15-04-0 peg 13
3. Julian Heaven 14-04-0 peg 37