Sunday 08/05/2022 - Tony Rixon's Nearly Short Pole League - Round One - Chiltern Trinity - Woodlands

Tony decided to change the short pole from three barrels to 13 metres for this venue only mainly due to the venue not fishing as well as it did with the expectation of increased weights and aid the slappers.

Arrived with Glenn in time for a walk around and noticed that the water level was higher than I remember - don't know why because its been a dry Spring. Also there was plenty of carp blowing in the low and high numbers where the light wind was blowing into. Therefore pegs 6 or 1 would be my choice.

Found these three reminiscing (pictured) over the success of the GAS's (Bristol Rovers) 7 - 0  win to gain promotion by more goals scored - unbelievable - last of the summer wine jumps to mind.

Into the draw bag and out comes peg 12 well out of any wind. I was worried the bank would be difficult to set up on but was pleasantly surprised to find that a lot of work has been done finding it easy to plonk the seat box down. For company I had Bob Gullick on 14 and Steve Segar on 13 so good company albeit plenty of chatter/ribbing between these two to follow.

I had no intentions of slapping 13 metres about all day and choose to fish for silvers. Set up both long and short Ronnie rigs and a 4x16 Winter Titan to fish at three barrels in 8 ft 6 inches (too deep) of water for Chop worn and caster for skimmers. Fed the short Ronnie line with caster and a bit of GB and the long line with two heavy balls containing chopped worm and caster - messy business. I wasn't sure if the Ronnie's would be feeding as they have just finished  spawning so tried the short Ronnie rig and had one first put in. So confident I could keep be busy. Tested the long line with worm hook bait. There was signs of blowing so was hopeful and my first bite was a very angry 11 lb Mirror which snagged me twice and twice I pulled for a break which got it out and in the landing net where it was fighting so hard couldn't get the hook out it finally trashed the rig. Out again and foul hooked another carp. Bugger this on to the Ronnie's. Catching a 1 -2 ox Ronnie every put in until I hooked a large fish which went from thinking Carp to Tench to seeing a large Perch of about 2 1/2 lb unfortunately it came off at the net thinking I had scooped it was disappointed to see I had missed it - bugger. The short line died so went for a stroll along out bank everyone as struggling with the silvers conspicuous by their absence with little to no accidentals caught. Steve had not had a bite for the first 2 1/2 hours similarly Bob had two carp and was struggling - in the wrong area came to mind. Went back and seen the match out on the long Ronnie rig in 5 foot of water which was well up the shelf.

My silvers weighed 11 lb 5 oz and the one carp 11 lb 9 oz! Having seen the silver results from the other banks think either the skimmers weren't our side or should have stayed on the long line longer.

The match was won by Matt Sheppard (pictured with the silvers winner waving his wonga) with 140 lb 12 oz from peg 6. Matt caught mainly on his top set down his RH side using corn over corn or down the left with corn over GB landing carp to 15 lb. Well done matey.

The silvers was won by Dave "The Drain" Lewis with 35 lb 3 oz from near side peg 27. Dave caught on his favoured chop worm and caster fished at 13 metres. Well done matey.

Result:

1. Matt Sheppard 140-12-0 peg 6

2. Ryan Shipp 130-06-0 peg 17 (Worm and caster down edge)

3. Joe McMahon 116-15-0 peg 31 (slapping pellet at 13 meters)

4. Glenn Bailey 103-15-0 peg 21 (Paste perhaps)

5. Vince Shipp 88-10-0 peg 20

6. Ricky Mills 88-03-0 peg 7

Silvers:

1. Dave Lewis 35-03-0 peg 27

2. Ryan Shipp 25-03-0n peg 17

3. Kev Winstone 14-02-0 peg 18

Weigh Sheets:

Sunday 11/07/2021 - Tony Rixon's Short Pole - Round Three - Chiltern Trinity - Woodlands

The media, the BBC and Gradian in particular regularly report about the areas in the world that are having high temperatures so they can peddle their religion of climate change and ignore the areas that are having lower than average temperatures. Example North America where they point to the West coast where its unseasonably hot, totally ignoring the East coast which is having an abnormal cold spell. They specifically ignore the fact that the global temperature have fallen whilst CO2 has risen. I mention this because today once the rain came down hard combined with a North Easterly wind I was bloody freezing. However, we MUST phase out the diesel and petrol cars due to the harmful gases they exhaust, and not because of CO2 which as far as I am concerned - more the better for Mother Earth. Changing our natural gas boilers is an absolute nonsense.

Travelled with Glenn Bailey and arrived nice and early. Into the draw box and out came peg 6. Happy enough with this as I have won from here a couple of times albeit many moons ago when there was actually a platform to sit on! The peg is now such that you sit on the bank behind a plank setting you back from the Lake, so I moved to the RH end onto the grass and which was still difficult to get the seat box level. I really thought I would catch some decent Carp down the edge. For company on peg 7 was Mark Cook whom I travelled to Denmark with - now in the distant past, good angler.

So set up a paste/worm rig, short Ronnie rig and a 4x18 Jolly to fish top set plus two barrels at the full depth of 7 foot. Fed the Skimmer line with GB mix of caster and micro, the margin down as far as I could see close in with a big pot of micro and started to loose feed caster for the Ronnie rig.

Started on the Skimmer line with worm on the hook and had four decent Skimmers straight away, before it faded. Topped up with the GB mix and after a short wait had four more albeit smaller hand size Skimmers and a couple of small Hybrids. Topped up again and tried the Ronnie rig and had a run of decent Ronnie's and a Hybrid on single caster. I then hooked a 5lb Carp which I was lucky to land on the light rig. Back out on the Skimmer line and few more hand size specimens. It was obvious there was an Eel on the feed so tried four DR's but didn't get a bite on them. So time to try for some Carp down the edge with Paste to only find nibblers, so switched to whole large worm and had a 2 lb Perch - nice fish. Kept topping the line up with micro but could only get tugs from small fish. I was disappointed that I couldn't get any Carp from this line. Switch back to the Ronnie rig and had a 2 lb F1 and a few more Ronnie's, but it had slowed so went back on the Carp line with double worm for the remainder on the match to no avail. Glenn was still in the knockout and was pleased to see he was catching the occasional Carp on his paste at three barrels, which was enough to beat Ryan Shipp. It was now pouring with rain and glad when Tony called the all out.

My Silvers weighed 16lb 9oz for well off the pace and my Carp 7lb for a total of 23lb 9oz. Each side of me faired even less which shows how bad this area of the Lake is fishing.

The match was won by Vince Shipp (pictured right with his catch of quality Carp) with 101lb 7oz from peg 13. Vince caught at all three barrels on pellet fishing shallow/slapping. His catch consisted of just ten Carp. Well done matey.

The Silvers was won by Ricky Mills (pictured with a spectacular net of Skimmers) with 40lb 14oz from peg 25. Ricky also caught at the the full three barrels using chopped worm/caster with worm hook bait. Well done  net of fish to envy.

This Lake as Tony put it the Lake is "challenging". The consensus it that it could do with stocking of 2 to 3lb Carp to get it back to how it was.

Travelling back and Glenn and discussed peg 6 and concluded that over the last couple of years the peg has definitely stopped producing like it once did. Today most of the fish came from the middle to bottom end.

Well done to Tim Cark for keeping the weigh sheet dry.

Result:

1. Vince Shipp 101-07-0 peg 13

2. Lee Masey 76-06-0 peg 27

3. Martin Rayet 65-08-0 peg 17

Silvers:

1. Ricky Mills 40-14-0 peg 25

2. Martin Mc Mahon 28-08-0 peg 16

Weigh Sheet:

Sunday 27/06/2021 - Tony Rixon's Short Pole - Chiltern Trinity - Woodlands

I had to cancel fishing this league this year due to family commitments. However, as Podge had just thrown the towel in on Tony's leagues I replaced him today and for the last match both at Woodlands. I had heard the venue was fishing poor as is most others at the moment most probably due to the low oxygen levels - we really need some sunshine.

Went to open the back gate this morning and found my path obstructed by a 2 1/2" beast of a Moth (pictured). My Granddaughter identified it as a Privet Hawk Moth.

It's strange the number of times I have drawn next the mate I have travelled with, which happened today with me picking peg 18 and Glenn peg 21. Neither of us were happy with our draws as we thought we were the wrong end both wanting to fish peg 2 which neither of us have - yet. 

My peg is in the top RH corner set back from the main part of the lake. I didn't think it would be any good for the Silvers, but would start after them in any case. Glenn would use - well paste.

I set up the long Ronnie rig a 4x18 Jolly with a triple bulk to fish the full permitted pole length of top-set plus three barrels, a 0.3 gram paste rig and a 4x12 Roob to fish corn full length down the LH side to a small tree.

Fed the long line with GB laced with casters and chopped worm. Some corm and micro down to the tree and started loose feeding the caster. Started on the Ronnie rig with single caster and had a few 2-3 oz Ronnie's, but with Glenn having three accidental Skimmers and with me not catching small fish quick enough I had a go over the Skimmer line with a whole worm on the hook it took a while to catch one but it was a decent one - almost a Bream. I had to 1 lb Skimmers before moving back on the Ronnie rig and foul hooked a Carp which came off. Time to try down to the tree where the margin was 4 foot and running deeper quite fast. I had a Carp first try, but couldn't catch another. So I decided to give up with the Silvers and focus on Carp. Converted the Ronnie line to paste by feeding a pot of micro and loose feeding hard 4's. No sign of Carp only shy nibblers - paste abandoned. Changed to a large worm and had another Carp whilst the worm was falling down the slope. Converted the corn line to Micro a worm hook bait and had three more quick Carp one was a right beast and took an age to land. With 20 minutes to go I hooked another large Carp which broke 0.2 GLine, on inspection it had broken on a shot., it happens. I felt this would cost me.

My Silvers weighed 10 lb and my five Carp 35 lb 14 oz for a third overall total of 45 lb 14 oz with the lost Carp costing me second spot. here seemed to be a reluctance for the fish to feed at full depth today.

The match was won by Lee Masey (pictured with the Silver winner) with 54 lb 6 oz from peg 2!! Lee caught on worm hook bait.

The Silvers was won by Ryan Shipp with 25 lb from peg 29. Ryan caught at full permitted length using worm hook bait over GB laced with Micro, worm and caster.

Happy double bubbler van going back home as Glenn picked up our section by double default. well done matey.

Result:

Weigh Sheet:

Sunday 26/07/2020 - Tony Rixon's 13 Metre Pole Only - Chiltern Chilton - Woodlands

Thank God for Physiotherapist, back much improved but still being cautious. 

Nice steady drive down the M5 more or less inside lane all the way. I had a walk around the Lake and didn't fancy the far side only due to the difficulty now setting up the box after the work done moving the bank back due to erosion. I would recommend that all the trees/bushed that are sat right on the edge of the near bank are removed otherwise the same will happen there and is already sever undercut exposing roots. I decided on the peg of choice and took a picture from it - peg 2 - not drawn it yet.

P. Rick had planned for us to draw our own pegs but lost the draw cards on his peg selection walkabouts so we were back to Judith's bingo wheel. Wheel of fortune spun and out comes peg 26 for me. No emotion being on the preferred bank was enough for me. Good company with Paul Elmes on peg 27 who I could hear but not see and Mark Broomsgrove on peg 25 who I could see and hear. Great company.

Had a chat with Mark who had committed to fishing for Silvers all match. I thought about it but decided against fishing long, so Carp short and perhaps the accidental Skimmers might join in the fun. So set up two paste rigs - one for top-set plus one which took me just up the shelf out of the silt. The other one for the right hand margin. Bait tray paste, hard 4's and micro. I did give Mark some hooker casters.

So fed the usual one pot of micro on both lines and started on the "longest line" with paste and had a Carp second put in. Next was a 3 lb Skimmer followed by a Eel that I believe would have been a PB but lost it in debris on the bottom. For the next hour I couldn't get a bite except from debris on the bottom which Mark and I had a good laugh over - some pictured right. No Mark I didn't weigh them in as all foul hooked. Mark was doing very well on the Silvers and it was obvious that the Lake was fishing hard for Carp. So as boredom started to set in I set up a Ronnie rig to fish caster over caster. I had a good hour catching small Silvers. Come the fourth hour I started to foul hook Carp on this rig. So thinking I was too far behind on the Silvers I switched back to the original plan and fished paste down the margin changing to loose feeding hard fours. I had a great last 90 minutes albeit frustrating. I landed 9 decent Carp to 18 lb and lost 8. One snagged me in the corner tree roots, another broke the line (probably damaged  by the roots), the third I lost trying to rush it in to catch the last one before the all out. The other five were foul hookers with no chance of getting them out. So two Carp lost due to losing concentration leading to  poor angling, but in my defence they were on the large size and hard fighting.

My 9 Carp weighed in at 73 lb 14 oz and my Silvers 10 lb 2 oz for an 84 lb total. I was hoping this might get me a default section and was surprised it got me 4th overall pickup. I think had I carried on with the Silvers I would have secured a second Silvers by default. So all pools covers.

The match was won by Ryan Shipp (pictured upper right) with 123 lb 10 oz. from peg 2!! Ryan fished the full 13 metres fishing his favourite caster over caster shallow. Fishing this way Ryan catches everything including Silvers so has his pools options open. Well done matey, Dad did well too.

The Silvers was won by Mark Broomsgrove (pictured right with a quality mixed bag of Silvers) with 28 lb 12 oz from peg 25. Mark caught on worm over chopped worm in lashings of GB. A memorial day as we had a right laugh. Well done matey.

We have all anticipated a bite just as the all out is called and stayed those extra minutes. Paul Elmes did this today and landed a beautiful double - pictured right. Paul correctly returned the fish -  Paul did sneak in the Silvers by default fishing meat.

This weeks matches:
Tuesday Acorn
Thursday Hunstrete - hope it fished better, been right off lately
Sunday Landsend - Hoping for Lake 3.

Result:

1. Ryan Shipp 123-10-0 peg 2
2. Ryan Jordan 105-08-0 peg 23
3. Vince Shipp 89-12-0 peg 20
4. Mike Nicholls 84-0-0 peg 26
5. Ricky Mills 80-08-0 peg 3
6. Tony Rixon 64-0-0 peg 22

Silvers:

1. Mark Broomsgrove 28-12-0 peg 25
2. Ryan Shipp 24-06-0 peg 2
3. Paul Elmes 15-10-0 peg 27

Weigh Sheets:

Sunday 04/08/2019 - Tony Rixon's Short Pole - Third Round - Chilton Trinity - Woodlands

Travelled with Glenn Bailey today so second day of porridge and beans. Steady drive down the motorway and arrived in plenty of time for a walk around the Lake. I know the owner have had problems with the banks on this lake and have done a lot of work to the far bank pegs removing all the platforms and shoring up the bank. We now have to fish from the bank which is OK but, the large piece of wood installed in front of the angler is far too far back from the bank side hindering the set up the seat box and placing keep nets. It would be far better if this is removed. My choice of pegs would be 2.

Last but one into the draw bag and out comes peg 32, as close to peg 2 as you can get - in fact too close I thought, but still expected a good day. For company I had the silent assassin Gordon Cannings on peg 31. I was also being watched cautiously by a huge Heron - pictured upper right.

I had planned to fish for Silvers today and had the baits to do so, however, being a near corner peg I had to settle for fishing for Carp, so set up a full depth paste rig at full permitted length of top set plus three tubes. The only other rig again was for paste around the margins. The margins were very deep with three/four foot with the float touching the bank, again the sides are steep so hard to hold the paste. Due to trees on the bank I couldn't get round to the next platform - peg1. I had four margin lines planned. However, after feeding all the lines I started on the full depth long line where I soon had a mass fizz (as you do on this venue) but my patients got the better of me again and made the mistake of giving up this line far too soon. After 10 minutes I was playing a 7 lb carp from my top set margin line. I had three here before I went round all the other margin lines picking off the odd carp. Everyone I could see was also catching, but from bank side banter the bottom end was fishing very hard. After a 2lb Perch took a liking to my paste I sensed things were changing as carp started to come into the margin and bow wave out followed by some foul hooking. I did have a big Common which loafed about before darting out, I did retrieve it but the hook pulled luckily the float hit the top set saving me some pain I think. More foul hookers before the peg completely died. The wind had completely turned round and was now blowing down the lake. Gordon who struggled early mid match caught a few. I then heard that the other end of the lake where anglers were blanking to mid match had started to catch well, whilst us at our end corner struggled for the last 2 hours, not adding a fish during this time.

It was between me and Gordon for the section and once again I came up one lost carp short weighing 49 lb 15 oz to Gordon's 54 lb 11 oz. Well done to him.

The match was won by inform paste angler Glenn Bailey (pictured right with the Silvers winner) with 122 lb 15 oz from peg 23. Glen caught all his fish at full length over two lines switching to the fizzing lines as necessary. Glenn is cleaning up at the moment on paste.

The Silvers was won by Ryan Shipp with 37 lb 12 oz from peg 9. Ryan also came second overall. Ryan caught at full length using whole worm over GB laced with caster/hemp/chopped worm and some 4 mm pellet. Another angler that's catching well at the moment especially Silvers

Result:

Weigh Sheet:

Sunday 09/09/2019 - Tony Rixon's Short Pole Match - Final Round Four - Chiltern trinity - Woodlands

First stop for Bela and me Lillypool cafe, very busy but luckily we didn't have to wait long. With 27 fishing no one really had much room, so fair in this respect. It was Geoff Francis first time here so walked him around the Lake explaining the good and the bad. He wasn't disappointed when he drew his expected bad peg 22. The Lake looked dower with it being flat calm, with no wind and hardly any signs of fish which is very unusual for this venue - probably low oxygen. The water level was well down by about 18 inches exposing the undercutting and snags (pictured right peg 29). All of this leading me to think it wasn't going to fish well. I thought the Carp wouldn't come into the near bank margins due to the undercut being so exposed leaving no cover for them. The far bank has a different margin which runs down a steep slope.

I have a history of drawing peg 29 and although I have managed to pick up coin from it I was really hoping to be at the other end of the Lake. Into the draw box and out comes peg 31. Very happy with this as I have won from the peg. For company I had grinner Gordon Canning's on peg 30 and Martin McMahon on peg 32. I had a plan - Paste at top-set plus two with a 0.5 gram shotted paste float and a 0.3 again shotted for the margin. I set the Ronnie Roach rig incase.

I started by feeding a pot of 4's and wetted micro on the long line and expected the usual big fizz which is normal here. As half expected no fizz. I put another big pot in in case the fished missed the first one, again no fizz. Looking around all but a few were static except a couple playing foul hookers. After twenty minutes I picked up the Ronnie rig to see if they wanted to pay. Luckily they did. So whilst keeping an eye on the non fizzing line I sat catching small Ronnies and the odd Rudd and small hybrids on single caster close in shallow. Nice change from the last two matches Carp hauling. It was obvious it was fishing really hard, so decision made to stay with the Ronnies until a Carp braved the margin. It wasn't until the last twenty minutes that the Ronnie's backed off so out went the paste and first try a 12 lb Common Carp in the net. Back on the Ronnies but they hadn't returned so back on the paste and another quick Carp of 5 lb. Went to drop the paste in again when the all out was called. No fizz over the pellet all day!!

My Silvers weighed 24 lb 6 oz for well ahead weight in the Silvers and my two Carp weighed 17 lb 14 0z for 41 lb 10 oz. Bela was in my section and picked up second in section with just 18 lb which included a 2 lb Eel by quadruple default!! And to think he was going to chuck back! Nonetheless another van double bubble.

The match was a joint affair between Joe McMahon and Mike West (pictured right with some of his munters) both catching 84 lb 14 oz. Both pegs were unfancied with Mike on peg 29 and Joe on peg 3. Joe caught shallow and from each margin using 8 mm banded over loose fed 6's. Whilst Mike caught down his LH margin in four foot of water using his now favourite paste.

Joe (pictured right with the joint match winner) had a triple bubble today - winning the match, the League and the knockout. We can only hope Dorking ask's him to join Trigger in their team soon.

Another great league ran by Tony and Steve Evans. The addition of Todber Manor this year was a good addition and welcome by all. Not sure where I came in the league but happy enough to have picked up in every match - three with Silvers and one with Carp.

Result:

Overall League:

Weigh Sheets:

Sunday 15/07/2018 - Tony Rixon's Short Pole League - Round Two - Chiltern Trinity - Woodlands

Bela chose to have breakfast at Shipham, which was OK. Arrived at the fishery and had a look around the Lake which showed plenty signs of feeding Carp especially at the near end. At the moment I am going through a run of drawing at the far end. I was hoping this would end. Alas not, drew peg 19 again. Found myself sandwiched between Philanderer  Mike West and Lucky to be married Gordon Cannings. Both their pegs not as good as mine, but not by much. At least I should know what to do on this peg, plus I would be in the very welcome shade for most of the match.

What wind there was was blowing into this end and was to get stronger as the day progressed. For these pegs to fish for Carp the wind needs to be the other way, unusual I know but that's my experience. From my peg I could more or less see everyone - my view pictured top right.

I knew pegs 17 and 15 would be favourite to win the section so the only way to pick up coin would be the Silvers. So the Ronnie rig was set-up as was a paste rig as standby in case of unwanted intruders. So it was caster over caster for the whole match catching Ronnies and small Hybrids. Only once did the swim go quiet which was soon sorted first put in with paste and a very angry 7 lb Carp went in the net. Then back on the Silvers. It would have been the same hook all day had it not for a stealth Carp taking a single caster and breaking the hook length.

My one Carp weighed 7 lb 1 oz and my 400 odd of Silvers 28 lb 7 oz for that important Silvers win. But only just, beating Vic Bush's Skimmers catch by 1 lb 4 oz. my net of fish pictured upper right. I hope the Hybrids keep growing as the Carp have.

Mike Wst had a Carp first put in then struggled for the rest of the match. Gordon took three hours to get his first fish, adding only one more!

The match was won by Glenn "Two Pots" Bailey (pictured right with his catch and below us together) with 116 lb 9 oz from peg 31. Glenn caught at the full permitted length using Paste over soaked 4's. Glenn fed about two pints throughout the match.

Finally Bela has put a one Metre exclusion zone around his van - you have been warned!

Full Result:



Weigh Sheets:

Sunday 03/07/2017 - Tony Rixon's Short Pole League - Final Round - Woodlands

I now know why I was feeling tired at Thursday match – I now have come down with Easyjet flu. The Special One will not fly with this carrier again, too many poor people on them. I can’t stop coughing at the moment, so it was touch and go whether I stayed home and lazed about or go fishing. Fishing won out as I don’t like letting organisers down especially at the last moment, where would we be without them.

We were promised rain and wind all day and we got it. From the moment I stepped out of the door until I got home it rained, it was bloody cold to boot.

Anyway the day started well with a Jumbo breakfast at the usual café in Burnham, very nice too. Bela reckoned he saw Terry smile, probably wind!

The wind was blowing more or less up the lake slightly into peg 4 (not pegged in the league). So for the Ronnie rig to work I would need to draw down the far end, so put the kit in the place where I have drawn down there. In to the draw box and out comes peg 7. From my point of view this peg has both Silvers and section coin possibilities.  Was amazed when Bela arrived on flyer peg 2 – Again!

A set one margin paste rig which I initially plumbed around down wind to my right, but found the Plummet was catching up marginal depths I forcing me to nearly full depth. So Ronnie rig would be staying dry. I plumbed around into the wind to my left and found I could hang up the plummet in about 2 ½ foot water – OK.  I set up a 4x16 Winter to fish top-set plus two out in front for Skimmers, the presentation was crap as the rig was going with the wind so some hanging on needed. I also set up my new Drennan umbrella which I must say did the job in the strong wind, but was careful to take it down before I got off the box.

I fed the margin with soaked 4’s – no choice here. I fed the Skimmers line with GB laced with maggot, caster and some chopped worm. First put in with worm the float buried and a 2lb Bream was seen flying across the lake, I’m sure it wasn’t even hooked, both fish and angler scaring each other. It took a while to catch a Skimmer; it was quite obvious that my side of the lake was fishing really hard with the angers each side of me having not caught. The upshot was I stayed coughing under the umbrella nicking the odd Skimmer plus a Tench, and only hooking and landing one 5lb Carp. I looked like from some of bubbles coming up that I had an Eel in the peg which was proved right as the float started to move with the wind an Eel then, which felt big but unfortunately the hook pulled, would liked to have seen it though, I like Eel fishing and hope they one day make a return. The upshot was I caught for three hours and practiced catching for the remaining time. The margin was just full of nibblers whom I could have sorted with the Ronnie rig but it just wasn’t right for it today.

I weighed one 5lb 2oz Carp and my Silvers12lb 6oz which was enough for second in the silver AGAIN pick up and wasn’t far off a default section win which I could have achieved if I fished longer in the margin. That’s four pick-ups in the four league matches which paid for my series, which is all I aim to achieve.

The match was won by Two Pots (pictured below with the runner up) by the narrowest margins with 71lb 6oz from peg 11. Glenn caught on…..you know the rest.

The Silvers was won once again by Dave Lewis with 20lb 13oz from peg 24. Dave caught on his usual CW over GB. Dave won the Silvers every league match with me runner up each time. Dave had to leave early so left me to take his keep net and winnings home for him – He’s not getting his net back then we will see how he gets on!

Thanks to Tony for running the league once again.

Now sat eating Ferrero Rocher.

Full Result:

Weigh Sheet:

Sunday 20/08/2017 - Tony Rixon's Short Pole Match - Round Three - Chiltern Trinity - Woodlands

Bela and I went for breakfast at the new Hilltops Café (must make a note of the cafes new name) in Burnham-on-Sea, where we found Adrian Jeffery hiding in a corner eating his Liver Breakfast. Very nice breakfast it was too.

I have invested in a new umbrella and should really start taking it with me. What an awful August weather wise, it’s either windy, raining or both. By the end of the match we were all wet and freezing cold.

I have drawn the bottom pegs of the Lake too many times to mention so Bela and I put our gear on the top pegs in hope. Well it worked I was on peg 3 and Bela on fancied peg 2. Opposite me on peg 6 was Martin McMahon and opposite Bela was Joe McMahon on peg 33. With two no shows Tony left all the pegs in the draw and Tony’s draw puts him with two good empty pegs next to him to his left, plus a third which isn’t normally pegged! Oh well luck of the draw.

I haven’t fished this peg before but most of the anglers that walked past didn’t seem to fancy it. I had a plumb around to help decide on what rigs to use. I was surprised to find one foot tight in the LH margin, a metre further out I found two foot levelling. Out at full permitted length I had five foot with it still going deeper, plus the bottom was all over the place. My section included pegs 2, 33 and 32 all of which I knew would beat this peg with Carp. However, I did fancy the peg for Silvers. So set up the Ronnie rig and a 0.2 gram paste rig for dropping in case I got any disruption from Carp. The upshot was I caught small Hybrids and Ronnie’s from start to finish with one interruption and out came an 11lb Mirror Carp on the paste. One further interruption, this time a welcomed 1lb Perch falling to the caster. In the mean while in between his gardening to retrieve snagged rigs (seems to be a habit these days) Bela was catching Carp steady down his RH margin on paste.

I finished with the one 11lb 12oz Carp and 18lb 11oz of mainly Hybrids which was nice to see for second in the Silvers.

The match was won as expected by most by Tony Rixon (pictured upper right) from pegs 11, 12, 13 and 14 with 110lb4oz. Tony caught on his favoured 8mm pellet mostly down his edge. See his Blog for more details….

The Silvers was won by Dave Lewis (pictured right with his catch of Skimmers and Hybrids) with 24lb10oz from peg 24. Dave caught on worm over GB laced with caster and chopped worm.

Bela finished a close second on 10lb behind Tony, I will try and keep him in his peg more fishing instead of gardening and he will start being the Bride. Nonetheless, the van had its triple double bubble today. It was yet another memorable day out with Bela.

Full Result:

Weigh Sheet:

Sunday 24/07/2017 - Tony Rixon's Short Pole Match - Round Two - Chiltern Trinity - Woodlands

On my lonesome today how this makes the journeys seem so much longer. If Bela wasn’t here today he would probably be home resting from a hard week roofing.

Into the draw tin and out comes peg 18 – AGAIN. I bloody hate this peg. The platform is so high off the water you need a drop net. Also the margins are all but impossible to fish with paste due to them being so steep 45 degrees from 0 foot to 9 foot, plus this is the deepest peg on the lake. The paste just keeps rolling down, especially today with the wind hammering in to the peg causing a severe undertow away from the bank. So with pegs 15 and 17 in my section the only way to coin was the Silvers. On peg 17 was Mr and Mrs so section going here then.

Chris Ollis (aka Orris or O’Zone) arrived and stood all match between me and Tony. He’s has now booked in for the next match here. Chris is now a fully fledged Ronnie rig and 8mm pellet carp slayer.

I set up a 0.3 Barnett paste rig (good news Stewart coming back from Ozland). A Ronnie rig and a 4x10 Winter to fish the margin in tight with caster. I started on the caster and Ronnie and I soon had attracted Carp the tell tale sign being no Ronnie’s about. In went the paste on the LH side and I just couldn’t present it correctly, the result being a lost foul hooked Carp. On the bright side it did allow the Ronnie’s in on the caster feed. I could catch one-a-bung but they were small 1-2oz, as were the bottle top Skimmers (but nice to see these). The wind was a nightmare for the long lining so shortened up which was much better. From what I could see it was fishing hard so felt I needed a Paste line so had a plumb around and found a spot close to the RH side of the platform where the paste would hold. Having fed some really old smelly dead reds here I went in with the Paste and lost another fouler. I then had a 5lb Carp followed by a very welcome 3lb Tench – a beautiful fish worth coming just for this one. Re-fed the line and although I fished it again I lost more foul hookers landing one more decent Carp I gave the paste up and stayed on the Ronnie’s, catching another Carp which needed a lot of luck to get it out on this rig. The other caster rig was tried but not with any enthusiasm, just a few more Ronnie’s.

My Silvers weighed 12lb 7oz for second Silvers pool with my three Carp weighing 15lb 1oz for a total of 27lb 8oz.

The match won by Jason Radford (pictured right hiding behind the weigh net) from peg 2 with 147lb 8oz. Jason caught on hard pellet fished shallow in his RH margin at top-set plus three – maximum allowed. Jason fed nothing for the first two hour during which he reckons he caught 100lb.

The Silvers was won by matey Dave Lewis (pictured upper right) aka Dave The Drain with 38lb 15oz from peg 9. Dave caught on worm over GB laced with caster and worm. Dave fished top-set plus two and a bit sections out in front.

Dave and I go back too many years. I remember we went on a double header match at Moorlands Farm – Breakfast – Match – Roast dinner – Match. These were well attended matches. The new method was the floating pole, which consisted of a piece of strong 10 inch line with a 14 hook attached with a 6mm piece of meat impaled. You placed 11.5 metres of pole down on the platform between your feet, freeing both hands to catapult pieces of meat at the pole tip. You just waited until the pole tip started to move and hey presto a Carp hooked. I found this hilarious and couldn’t stop laughing all day. This made me realise how stupid and easy Commercial Carp are to catch. If I remember correctly every angler had between 100lb and 200lb during each match. At the end of the day John was knackered from weighing in so many fish and announced he was banning the method. I’ve not heard of it used since and surprised it’s not use at Fisheries that hasn’t banned it. Nice to have Dave back fishing great company and an excellent no frills Angler.

There were a number of early baths today especially one - Phil Harding aka Fabio fell head first in trying to recover his pole, he fished on for a short while but the wind was too cold. Unfortunately no one caught it on camera.

Torrential rain driving home all but stopped the traffic on the M5! The Kids holidays must have started.

Full Result:

Weigh Sheet:

Sunday 14/05/2017 - Tony Rixon Short Pole Series - Chilton Trinity - Woodlands

I was looking forward to the start of this league especially travelling with my regular partner Bela and how I have missed the drone of the ladder on the roof rack. First stop Shipham café Small breakfast for me which was ok, not sure the big breakfast was all it should have been.

We arrived early and were immediately offered a hot drink by Misha and husband Tom. I had a partial walk around the fishery, however, there was little sign of feeding fish, however, the fishery looked immaculate. Plenty of work carried out by the family.

It was a pleasant surprise to meet up again after good few years with matey Dave Lewis (pictured right with his catch today). As it happened we ended up on adjacent pegs. He’s still as disorganised as ever, God help us he does sort himself out as he a great angler.

In to the draw box and out comes peg 19. Umm, the only saviour was the wind was blowing into the bank. When this happens peg 17, 15 and 14 seem to be the boss pegs. I didn’t think I could pick up coin fishing for Carp so elected to fish for Silvers using the Ronnie rig with caster over caster down to my left where at even 12 inches from the bank I had 3ft 6ins of water. The margins are exceptionally deep at this end of the Lake. I also set up a paste rig to fetch out any interfering Carp from either the Left or right hand margins. I fed some hard 4’s down to my right up close to the sedges which forms a wall you can’t fish round. I started loose feeding caster with single casters on the Ronnie rig and started to catch small Hybrids from 1 oz to 4oz. Now this species can be difficult to catch as you need to be patient and not strike at the first indication which is the same even on natural venues including the river. So plenty of missed bites! To help boost the weight I did have a 2lb Perch out of the blue. With 1 ½ hours to go I noticed a swirl over the right hand margin where I had been continuously feeding hard 4’s, so went in with the paste and in six consecutive put-ins I hooked six Carp loosing two foul hookers landing four. I now wish I had switched immediately back to the Silvers but didn’t instead wasting some valuable time.

I finished freezing cold and 16lb of mainly Hybrids for second in the Silvers and my four Carp 33lb 8oz for a total of 49lb 8oz and a section 3^rd. At least I got some coin.

The match was won by Joe McMahon (pictured upper right with his biggest Carp which weighed in at 18lb) with 119lb from peg 17. Joe caught straight off fishing at top-set plus three (the maximum allowed today) shallow using 10mm banded pellet over loose fed 6’s.

The Silvers was won by the winners Dad (pictured right with a familiar Perch) with 17lb from peg 13. Martyn caught on his top-set out in front using casters hook bait over caster.

It was back to Bar-Gar-Age for a Pinky Ponk. I also made a presentation to Bela for his endeavours in the Golden Reel matches he fished at Viaduct – A rusty Reel Handle for two poor draws.

Full Result:

1. Joe McMahon 119-0-0 peg 17
2. Chris Fox 89-03-0 peg 6
3. Dave Evans 88-07-0 peg 32
4. Martin Rayet 78-11-0 peg 8
5. Clayton Hudson 62-09-0 peg 16
6. John Waite 58-02-0 peg 14

Top Silvers:

1. Martyn McMahon 17-0-0 peg 13
2. Mike Nicholls 16-0-0 peg 19

Weigh Sheet: