Wednesday 03/11/2010 - Carps AC - Cider Farm - Yarlington Mill

I once again stopped at Budgens in Churchill and had my usual breakfast Baggett - £2.40 and scrummy. I think the BBC should stop spending millions on trying to predict the weather and use one of the free websites which are far better than they are. David Angwin tonight was presenting for the BBC local news that the temperature would struggle to reach 11 degrees tomorrow and behind him on the weather board it was declaring 14 degrees!! Come on what’s going on – covering all aspects?

It was a good turn out for the last match at Cider Farm until March 2011. There were signs of the home team being a bit demob happy. Mark is off to South Africa and Mum and Dad off to Cancun after getting the cider fermenting. Have a good one.

So the match was on Yarlington Mill instead of Dabinett. In to the draw bucket and out comes peg 4. Umm, not that happy with this one as it doesn’t have any Silvers history and little Carp framing history either. With Anton Page on peg 40, Rod Wotton on peg 41 and Leyton Palmer on peg 14, I guessed that was the Carp pools taken care of. So it would be an out and out Silvers attack. I set up a Skimmer rig to fish in the middle of the open water at 7 metres for 4 mm expander over 2 mm expander, a Ronnie rig for the RH margin and a corn rig for the same margin if the Carp swayed me from the Silvers. I cupped on some hard 4 mils and corn in the RH margin, fed some dead reds (DR’s) at 4 metres and some 2 mm expander at 7 metres. I started with the Ronnie rig over DR’s and had a Ronnie followed by a Carp – then nothing. Out at 7 metres with the 4 mm expander which could only produce tiny 1 -2 oz Skimmers (last year’s fish I reckon). I caught about 40 then the Carp moved in (I am sure Carp are attracted by feeding Silvers as much as they are by the feed itself). I decided to try the margin with single maggot and had a run of very small Ronnie’s, again until the Carp moved in. I had no choice but to stick with these tiny fish to the end swapping between the two lines – what a long 5 ¾ hours it was. The biggest Silver fish was about 3oz!! Towards the end I was giving up the will to live loosing a hook in the reeds and a tangle in the last ten minutes actually cost me some coin. My accidental Carp weighed in at 32lb 2oz and my Silvers 7lb 14 oz giving a total of 40lb. This put me joint third with Colin Golding in the Silvers (2oz away from coinage) and I think 7th overall.

Peg 4 is dead opposite peg 11 which I think is an average Carp peg – certainly not a flyer. Nick Collier drew this peg and I had to look at him all day (see picture right with Nick grimacing - I think this distracted me a tad) catching Carp. Similar to me, Nick fell one short of gaining coin. What I must say I thought he did extremely well from this peg breaking the ton – not many have done that this year from it – if anyone.

The match was won by Rod Wotton from peg 41 with 130lb. Rod caught on banded pellet fished short to his Left fished at 11 and 13 metres over 4 mm pellet. Rod would have weighed 138lb had he not missed alternating his fish to net, having 8lb disqualified. Further, had Layton Palmer (pictured right - in agony) not had 40 minutes or so not fishing due to pains in his chest he might have overhauled Rod – who knows!!

What I di know is that Bob Prices Power Walker dosn't walk over a bed of fallen apples!!

The Silvers was won by Andy Gard from peg 46 with 9lb 3oz. Andy, similar to me caught tiny fish on maggot.

Full Result:
1. Rod Wotton 130-0-0 peg 41
2. Leyton Palmer 124-0-0 peg 14
3. Nick Collier 104-14-0 peg 11
4. Anton Page 95-03-0 peg 40
5. Martin Alexander 68-03-0 peg 32
6. Andy Hempstead 63-07-0 peg 36

Top Silvers:

1. Andy Gard 9-03-0 peg 46
2. Steve Jefferies 8-0-0 peg 25
3. Colin Golding 7-14-0 and Mike Nicholls 7-14-0 peg 4

Wednesday 13/10/2010 - Carps AC - Cider Farm - Yarlington Mill

I stopped in Budgens at Churchill for a breakfast baguette and a quick read of the Daily Mail – its great news that they have got some of the Chilean Miners out and it’s all go for all 33 being out by time I wake up tomorrow.

I hear from Mark Gibson that John Dursley was disqualified Sunday for having two nets over the 70lb limit. Apparently John has taken umbrage. Come on John, Mark (bless him) explains the rules before every draw. Why didn’t you use the two nets beside you on the bank? In any case I expect to see you back their next season.

It was a good turn out with 18 fishing, so the match was moved from Dabinett to Yarlington Mill. I drew peg 41 – another bloody Carp peg. However, I decided to keep my options open this time. I set up all the usual Silvers rigs plus a paste rig (not used – Darve Vader will be pleased) and a Drennan wire stem 4x10 chop for corn in the margin. I started at 7 metres with a 4x16 jolly with double dead red maggot fished over a 125ml pot of the same and had a 12oz Skimmer first put in. It then deteriorated from here to 2oz Skimmers with the odd Ronnie and was very slow. I decide to put in a bit of micro and switch to 3mm expander – nothing - but impatients. I switched to corn and had four Carp to 3lb. Not what I was after. I decided to go for an early banana walk; I was bloody cold – coldest since last winter. The most Carp was Nick Collier with twelve; however, it was apparent that the Silvers were not responding. Because the fishing was slow I decided that if I switched to a Carp attack I wouldn’t catch up. So the best option for coin was to stick with the Silvers. So I switched to the margin with single maggot sparingly loose feeding the same. All I could catch was 1oz fish and if I over done the feed (by feeding twice) I would snare another Carp. With my bed now made I stuck with these tiny fish to the end. I did muster 16 carp in the process which weighed in at 32lb and my Silvers went 6lb 4oz for a total of 36lb 4oz. This got me in the Silvers coin, but only by 1oz!

The match was won by Nick Collier (pictured right with some of his catch) with 91lb 10oz from peg 40. Nick caught the majority of his fish down the far shelf using corn hook bait over kinder potted 4’s. Nick fed about three pints throughout the match.

The Silvers was won by Steve Dawson from peg 54 with 11lb 11oz. Steve caught mostly Skimmers fishing 3 mm expander fished over the same feed at 7 metres. It was good to see Nick back out fishing again after a short rest - we can't afford to lose good anglers like Nick from the circuit - especially as he gives me his left over casters!!

Full Result:

1. Nick Collier 91-10-0 peg 40
2. Matt Tomes 75-01-0 peg 25
3. Anton Page 67-09-0 peg 32
4. Andy Gard 57-06-0 peg 14
5. Paul Lock 50-14-0 peg 36
6. John Bennett 45-0-0 peg 19

It was 1,2 and 3 for the Landsend brigade.

Top Silvers:

1. Steve Dawson 11-11-0 peg 54
2. Mike Nicholls 6-04-0 peg 41
3. Steve Jefferies 6-03-0 peg 28

Wednesday 22/09/2010 - Carps AC - Cider Farm - Dabinett Lake

The match was panned to be on Sheppard’s Lake; however, Mark wanted to rest the Lake after a busy summer. So the match was switched to Dabinett. I was hoping for a different peg to that which I had on Sunday. It wasn’t to be, out came peg 21 again. I could hear the groans from the Carp Slayers. So was it to be a repeat of Sunday’s match? The pegging was exactly the same except peg 28 was left out. This promoted peg 1 to an absolute flyer for Chris Davis. So first in the Carp pool was settled. Both Chris and I expected the Carp winning weight to be lower than Sunday. However, I expected the Silvers to be better. Even though I had pulled a chest muscle I still decided to fish the same match as Sunday - for Silvers- rather than a steady day on Carp. I think I got it right on Sunday, but today I got it all wrong, particularly my assumption with regard to Carp not feeding as well. After a good first three hours on the Silvers everything was going exactly to plan – plus the bonus of no Carp in the net, although there were plenty coming out all around. Then I hit the Carp wall with the swim coming alive with them. I decided to try the paste at 5 metre and in 6 put in’s I had 6 Carp. Then I heard that Colin Golding had 40 Carp and Chris Davis was also bagging. Having decided that I would not now catch these two I spent the rest of the match trying to avoid Carp, mustering the odd Silver. I noticed that Steve Dawson had started to catch Silvers having had a slow start, catching Carp early. I now wish I had fished for Carp I think I could have done a respectable weight – hind sight is a wonderful thing! My Silvers weighed in at 15lb and my Carp 29lb 7oz for 44lb 7oz. This put me second in the Silvers and 7th Overall.

The match was won by Chris Davis (pictured with the Silvers winner and runner up - what a motley crew) with 174lb 14oz from peg 1. Chris fished corn in to the gully between pegs 1 and 29. Chris started cautiously then increased the feed to keep the Carp coming regularly all through the match.

Runner up was Colin Golding from peg 12 with 128lb 15oz. Colin caught at 5 metres using meat, feeding just half tin of meat. I think Colin ate the remainder!

The Silvers was won by Steve Dawson from peg 23 with 21lb 12oz. Steve caught most of his fish in the last 2 hours once the Carp disappeared (as they did for Steve Denmead on Sunday).

Full Result:

1. Chris Davis 174-14-0 peg 1
2. Colin Golding 128-15-0 peg 12
3. Mike Owens 112-09-0 peg 7
4. Bob Feltham 95-03-0 peg 18
5. Andy Gard 75-03-0 peg 20
6. Steve Jefferies 67-03-0 peg 10

Top Silvers:

1. Steve Dawson 21-12-0 peg 23
2. Mike Nicholls 15-0-0 peg 21
3. Bill Ferris 10-0-0 peg 6

Sunday 19/09/2010 - South West Teams of Four - Cider Farm Round 2

I have just returned from holiday in Sorrento – Italy with the Special One. I must say it was a good choice of hers. I have visited many wonderful places in my time but the Amalfi Coast is without doubt the most beautiful. And there is also the food – Bottlelinos and Pizza Hut will never be the same again!! The nearest I got to fishing was watching the locals boat fishing in the Bay of Naples from small rowing boats, jerking hand lines whilst rowing with the other hand. I am not sure what they were catching, but it definitely wasn't Ronnie's. The picture right shows the Bay of Naples with Vesuvius (an active Volcano) in the background.

Having just returned home I wasn’t as mentally prepared for this match as I usually am. However, the plan was simple – fish for Silvers for the first three hours with the anticipation of securing some coin and the second half fish for team points!

This plan was good in respect that I didn’t have to worry about which lake I fished, but was secretly hoping for Sheppard’s. Charlie Barns came back from the draw with peg 21 on Dabinett. Great Carp peg, but also with plenty of open water which will invariably holds Silvers too. Having settled in the peg and looking around the section I found myself in Carp Slayer paradise – Rip Off on next peg 20, Steve Denmead on peg 19, Rod Wotton on peg 1, Chris Davis on peg 12, Dean Mallin on peg 7, Mark Broomsgrove on peg 6 and so on. So my plan was looking even more promising - for this Lake anyway.

I decided on two paste rigs, one for the RH margin at full depth, one at 10 metre on top the bar. Then the important rigs – a 4x14 Jolly for Skimmers to be fished at 5 metres with Soft pellet or Maggot and my Ronnie rig, also for use with Maggot. I fed the 10 metre line with 4’s and micro in equal proportions, quickly followed up with a 125 ml pot of 50/50 maggot and wetted micro at 5 metres. I started with the Ronnie rig, loose feeding with maggot (basically over the 5 metre line). I had a run off Ronnie’s and Rudd with the occasional Hybrid. I then had a 3lb Carp which aren’t that easy to land on the Ronnie rig as it causes a lot of disturbance. With that landed I tried over the 5 metre line and had a few 4oz Skimmers before I latched in to another 3lb Carp. Playing these fish totally unsettles the silvers. Back on the Ronnie rig and another run of Silvers, however, if I fed too much the Carp would disrupt the swim. It was very difficult sorting the feed pattern, but the best I could work out was feed heavy and fish it out. I had been feeding the RH margin from the start with 4’s and noticed a blow so had a dob in with paste and after counting to 120 and without any indication (if there is any indication I start the count again) wrapped it in. So that was the end on the paste for the day (and probably for the rest of the season). I decided to concentrate on the 5 metre line adding a Kinder pot to keep a mix of micro and maggot going in. With two hours to go I had a period on foul hooking Carp – five in a row in fact. It then settled and I had a run to the end of Carp to 3lb and Skimmers to 12oz. My 10 Carp weighed in at 37lb 13oz and my Silvers 21lb for a total of 58lb 13oz. This put me tenth overall and second in the Silvers by a miserable 6oz. However, this only gave my 4 ½ section points – drawing with next peg Steve Denmead. On the whole it was mission accomplished. I purposely didn't mention the team performance as I noticed we had two 1 pointers!!

The match was won by Des Shipp (pictured right with the Silvers winner) with 103lb 15oz from peg 41 on Yarlington. Des started at 5 metres on soft pellet, swapping later to hard pellet shallow in to both margins. In the last half hour Des decided to switch to caster over to the far bank weeds with double caster on the hook, landing a quick 10 more fish, which made the difference on the day. Today proves once again that match fishing it’s not about luck as Des won the County Championship on this venue the day before (which I predicted on one of my earlier blogs). However, what is lucky is Des selling his roof tiles for more that the cost of new one’s (that’s what Bela told me – jammy beggar)!! It is only a matter on time before Des is the crowned World Champion.

The Silvers was won by Steve Seagar with 21lb 6oz from peg 15 on Sheppard’s Lake. Steve caught mostly 1oz Rudd and Ronnie’s on single maggot fishing short.

I must say Rip Off (who seems to have a fatal attraction to Blackberry bushes) and Dean Mallin do a great job running the league and also taking on the weighing in (picture right proves this – can you name the anglers hiding in the Sedges - you might miss Jason Radford though)?

Full Result:

1. Des Shipp 103-15-0 peg 41 Yar
2. Rod Wotton 98-01-0 peg 1 Dab
3. Dean Mallin 89-04-0 peg 7 Dab
4. Paul Elmes 77-13-0 peg 16 Dab
5. Tony Rixon 70-14-0 peg 20 Dab
6. Mark Broomsgrove 69-0-0 peg 6 Dab

Top Silvers:

1. Steve Seagar 21-06-0 peg 15 Shep
2. Mike Nicholls 21-0-0 peg 21 Dab
3. Kev Perry 19-0-0 peg 3 Shep

Wednesday 11/08/2010 - Carps AC - Cider Farm - Dabinett Lake

I wasn’t sure which Lake we would be on, but it wasn’t important, however, I was fancying another crack at Dabinett for the Silvers as last time I was on peg 28 where I found laying in waiting were loads of Carp. So I was please that Dabinett was chosen again for today’s match. As everyone was shying away from the draw bag, I dived in first and pulled peg 7. Darn another Carp flyer. In any case I had my Silvers plan in place. I set up two Ronnie rigs one for at full depth just down the inside shelf at 3 metres and the other for up in the water, set to 2 foot. Bearing in mind that we had a lot of cold water go in the Lake yesterday and just in case the Silvers weren’t having it I set up two paste rigs one for the LH margin and the other also for down the inside shelf at 3 metres.

Whilst plumbing up in the LH margin I thought Carp were attacking the plummet – not a good sign. On the whistle I fed a 125ml of maggots with a dash of wetted micro at 3 metres. However, I decided to check if in fact the Carp did attack the Plummet, so on with the paste and in five put-ins I had five Carp pulling out of one. Enough of this nonsense, out on the maggot on the bottom only to find plenty of Carp activity over the maggot, so got the shallow rig out and had a good two hours catching Rudd, Hybrids and Skimmers over loose fed maggot, occasionally topping up the 3 metre line with the pot, containing maggot and micro. Back on the bottom rig and I had a run of decent Hybrids and Skimmers. However, if I over did it with the maggot whether potted or loose fed the Carp would disrupt the Silvers, occasionally a Carp would take the double red maggot hook bait. Once the Carp had moved off I would have a run of Silvers until I was forced to top up. This was how my match went. It can be bloody difficult catching Silvers under these conditions. My twelve Carp weighed 42lb and my Silvers went 26lb 14oz (pictured right – courtesy of Mark Gibson) for a total of 69lb 14oz for first in the Silvers. A new Silvers Lake record – where’s my bottle of pop Mark!!

The match was won by Chris Davis with 157lb 3oz from peg 28. Chris caught over to the far bare bank using banded pellet over loose fed pellet. You need to invest some of your winnings in another keep net matey, it will save you loosing time walking round to borrowing one.

Full Result:

1. Chris Davis 157-03-0 peg 28
2. Pete Sivell 142-09-0 peg12
3. John Thompson 123-10-0 peg 21
4. Paul Lock 93-04-0 peg 20
5. Colin Golding 86-10-0 peg 1
6. Steve Dawson 83-04-0 peg 6

Top Silvers:

1. Mike Nicholls 26-14-0 peg 7
2. Steve Dawson 20-11-0 peg 6
3. Andy Gard 18-09-0 peg 16

Sunday 01/08/2010 - Cider Farm Open

With the radio in the tackle box in readiness to listen to the remainder of the Paki innings in the first test match with England Bela arrived as usual dead on time at 06-30 and off to the Bishopsworth Café. As it happens 15 minutes too early, so we helped Jane by putting out the chairs. After a decent very large breakfast we off to Cider Farm.

With a good turn out both Dabinatt and Yarlington Mill were in the draw bag. Mark Gibson explained that the match was split into three sections of ten anglers – paying the top 3 in each - Yarlington Mill two sections and Dabinett one. I was nearly last to draw which is very unusual for me - bloody chatting again - I like to be first. However, I drew peg 25 which I really fancied. Bela drew peg 48 the peg I had last week so I went round and explained how and where I caught. Back to my peg and I set up a 4x16 Jolly for 6mm expander pellet at five metres for the Silvers that hang out here, plus a 0.5 gram paste rig over the same line. The last rig was a 0.2 gram paste rig for the LH margin. I started by feeding a 125ml pot of 3mm and 4mm pellet and commenced to lightly feed the LH margin. I started quite well taking a few decent Skimmers and a couple of small Carp. However, I had run out of my usual expander and bought some of the new Ringer pellet and found that they were breaking up, needing any slight interest from the fish for the pellet to come off – very frustrating – won’t be buying these again. So I switched to the paste and had a couple more Skimmers and Carp, but the paste was being attacked by 4 oz Skimmers.

Blimey 13-00 already and I had forgotton to switch on the Cricket. So out came the radio only to find the Paki's were skittled out for 80 runs. Great result - will be watching the highlights on channel five tonight.

In the mean time Lee Werrett (picture right - unwinding) was bagging at 11. 5 metres on peg 41 using paste over loose fed 6’s. I dived in to the margin far too early having two Carp before the Ronnie’s arrived. I decided to fish 13 metres in to the opposite Gap starting by putting in two 125ml of 6 mm pellet – at least I might be able to slow down Lee if not picking off some of his fish. I did have four on the paste before it went iffy. Mimicking Lee I fed two pouches of 6’s over the top and had a few more small Carp. However, Lee just carried on catching one a bung. Into the LH margin where I managed to catch Carp to 3lb steady to the end of the match. My Silvers weighed in at about 20lb and the total weigh was 66lb 6oz (666 the sign of the Devil). This put me fourth in my section (one out of the money) and 6th on Yarlington Mill.

The match was won by Pete Sivell (pictured right with runner up Lee Werrett) from Dabinett peg 28 with a new Lake and Match record of 187lb 6oz. Pete initially caught on 10mm hard pellet close in, subsequently switching to the paste fished in his RH margin.

I must mention Lee Werrett (pictured right with Bela’s peg in background - what a wonderful environment to fish in) who I watched most of the day. Lee was 7lb short of a new Lake record with 163lb 2oz. I thought Lee fished a tidy match fishing paste all day over the same line feeding 6 pints of 6 mm pellet over the top. His feeding regime was to hook a fish and whilst playing it feed two pouch full of 6’s over the top – why didn’t the fish come up in the water do I hear – the answer is - I don’t know – well done matey.

Full Result:

1. Pete Sivell 187-06-0 peg 28 Dab (New Match and Lake record) 
2. Lee Werrett 163-02-0 peg 41 Yar
3. Clive Petit 154-09-0 peg 12 Dab
4. Howard Green 154-01-0 peg 22 Dab
5. Steve Howell 132-14-0 peg 18 Dab
6. Gordon Jones 115-07-0 peg 1 Dab
7. Dave Cockayne 106-03-0 peg 19 Yar

Sunday 25/07/2010 - Cider Farm Open

I remain amazed with how many anglers still moan about the weed growth. The answer is simple we need to live with it as they aren’t going anywhere soon. I personally think the Flora and Faunal is wonderful to fish along side. I took a couple of pictures to give emphasis to this (see pictures right) and of course there is the wildlife, the rushes are full of Weed Warblers. The Anglers have particular issue with:

Cyperaceae is a family of monocotyledonous flowering plants known as sedges, which superficially resemble grasses or rushes. The family is large, with some 5,500 species described in about 109 genera (Govaerts et al., 2007). These species are widely distributed, with the centers of diversity for the group occurring in tropical Asia and tropical South America. While sedges may be found growing in all kinds of situations, many are associated with wetlands, or with poor soils.
Back to the fishing Bela and I went to Shipham for breakfast only to find them closed. These people do not deserve our custom. We went back to Budgens in Churchill and had a delicious breakfast Baggett. Won’t be going back to Shipham for a while that’s for sure.

All though I have fished a few club matches here this year with the focus on Silvers, today was my first Open and an out and out Carp attack would be necessary to win coin.

In to the draw bag and out comes peg 48. A number of anglers asked me what peg I was on and when I told them the response was “Peg 49”? Not well known peg then. I knew where it was as Charlie Barns has drawn it and fished for Silvers for 7lb, then John Paige drew it and DNW’d. Arriving at the peg I was quite please with the peg with signs of fish in the bay my peg was facing, plus the wind off my back. I had already decided on an out and out paste attack. So set up one 0.4 gram rig for down the inside ledge where I found 5 ½ foot of water at 4 metres. I also set up a 0.3 gram rig for left and right hand margin. However, having set the rig at 30 inches and on plumbing up the plummet just kept rolling down the step bank until it reached the bottom of the ledge. Every where I tried I found the same. Umm, I was hoping that a piece of paste might hold up – wrong – in any case I suspect the feed would end up at the shelf bottom. I decide to focus on the 4 metre line and started by Kinder potting in some 4mm pellet with my paste and had three Carp to 6lb straight off, the fourth I tried to bully as I was expecting a fishing race – wrong – and the hook pulled. It then went iffy with the fish moving up in the water. I put all my shot under the float and fished the paste on the drop and had another three decent Carp – amazing bites. It went very quite so readjusted the shot to the logarithmic pattern and soaked up some 10 mm pellet so that they were nice and fluffy. I started again regularly loose feeding a single piece over the float and caught Carp steady on paste to the end with no lost fish to the reeds! I weighed 75lb 15oz for 4th overall and a section win. One of my nets was 1lb 7oz short of the maximum single net limit of 70lb!

The match was won by Lewis Jones (pictured right) with 88lb 10oz from peg 46. Lewis caught most of his fish shallow over to the RH rope anchor on banded 6mm pellet over the same loose fed.

Close runner up was Chris Whitham (pictured lower right on peg 41 - don't ask) with 85lb 10oz from peg 40. Chris caught on paste short and corn over to the RH bare bank.

No Silvers winner here – yet!!

Full Result:

1. Lewis Jones 88-10-0 peg 46
2. Chris Whitham 85-10-0 peg 40
3. Pete Sivell 81-13-0 peg 20
4. Mike Nicholls 75-15-0 peg 48
5. Dave Roper 73-0-0 peg 7
6. Dave Cockayne 72-01-0 peg 56

Wednesday 02/06/2010 - Carps AC - Cider Farm - Dabinett Lake

We were booked to fish Yarlington Mill (Match Lake). However Mark moved it Dabinett. Not a problem as I have heard that there are plenty Skimmers to be had, plus Mark has stocked quite a few 3 ounce Skimmers. I had a walk around the Lake before the draw and there were plenty of signs of feeding fish particularly in peg 1 even though the wind had been blowing in the opposite direction. Mark informed me that pegs 1 and 28 were the shallowest pegs on the entire venue with about 4 foot.

I drew peg 28. I wasn’t disappointed as I would have been happy with any of the pegs. With Colin only paying one overall and one in the Silvers a decision had to be made. Mike Owens was on peg 20 and I thought this might be a hard peg to beat for Carp from peg 28. So I decided initially to keep my options open by starting on the Silvers and fish them out before going for Carp, keeping an eye on Mike and Dave Bacon who was on peg 21. I set up a 0.4 gram paste rig, a 4x12 Jolly for maggot and pellet at 7 metres in to open water and my usual Ronnie 4x14 PB14. I started by potting in about 70ml of maggot with a dash of wetted micro pellet at 7 metres, but started on the Ronnie rig over loose fed maggot with single red maggot on the hook. I also started to feed the RH margin with 4 mm pellet to keep the Carp at arms length from my Silvers peg. I started well catching 3 oz Skimmers, Ronnie’s to 4oz and Hybrids to 8oz. However, I was having difficulty with the fry that has recently hatched attacking my float. After 90 minutes I decided to have a go over the micro with double red maggot. This resulted in a couple of bigger Skimmers to 2lb. At least the maggot appeared to be keeping the Carp away. I re-fed this line with a big pot of micros and went back on the Ronnie rig until two hour to go. At this stage Mike Owens had been catching Carp regularly as had Steve Dawson on peg 1. There was no way I thought I could catch either of them on the Carp. As for the Silvers Colin had been catching Skimmers well on peg 7, but the Carp had moved in. So I thought I would have a dabble on the paste over my Ronnie maggot line, in the anticipation that I might catch some bigger Skimmers. In fourteen put in I had thirteen Carp to 4lb and one 2lb Skimmer. Not a good ratio. I dropped the paste in to the RH margin and a Carp on the drop, then a 1lb Hybrid, followed by another Carp. So back out on the Jolly with soft pellet and the ratio of 3oz Skimmers to Carp was two to one so I decide to stick with this to the end. I had 23 carp which weighed in at 58lb 15oz (not one was lost in reeds) and 25lb 12oz of Silvers for a combined total of 84lb 11oz for first in the Silvers and third overall. On reflection I think this peg could be an overall winning peg, albeit it a bit risky especially if only paying the one overall. You really need to keep options open taking the best rout for you to coin.

My Silvers weight today is a record match weight for Dabinett (pictured right – thanks Mark you take a photo on a decent camera), so I now hold both Silvers records with my 44lb on Yarlington Mill. Come on Mark start having a Silvers pool on your Sunday Opens. I am sure the regulars would welcome it.

The match was won by Mike Owens (pictured right with some on his catch) with a personal best weight of 137lb from peg 20. Mike caught all his fish at 5 metres in to open water using either paste or pellet. Mike caught steady all day. Mike also didn’t lose any fish in the reeds.

I really don’t understand why anglers feel the erg to feed the Carp in the weeds, and then moan when they get beaten up. I think the fish that show themselves through reed knocking are fish that are not prepared to feed properly with many Carp being foul hooked.

Full Result:

1. Mike Owens 137-0-0 peg20
2. Steve Dawson 112-14-0 peg 1
3. Mike Nicholls 84-11-0 peg 28
4. Dave Bacon 77-02-0 peg 21
5. Colin Golding 67-08-0 peg 7
6. Andy Gard 17-0-0 peg 6

Top Silvers:

1. Mike Nicholls 25-12-0 peg 28 (Lake Record)
2. Colin Golding 17-15-0 peg 7

Wednesday 07/04/2010 - Carps AC - Cider Farm - Yarlington Mill

After reading Tony Rixon’s blog from last Sunday’s match at CF it was a bit Déjà vu. I drew peg 40 (Rip off’s peg from Sunday) and Chris Davis was on his same peg 37! Peg 40 has many options (I counted six) for the Carp Slayer. However, knowing that the Silvers wouldn’t have seen a keep net I decided it was out and out Silvers on the maggot. That is unless it got difficult or the Carp came looking for me. I set up an elasticated 3.5 metre whip (just in case a Carp hooked itself). A 4x16 Jolly for over the same line set at full depth for the Skimmers. I also set up my Ronnie rig.

Having set up I went for a walk down to see Mark Tanner who had drawn peg 46. Mark had just got off the phone to Tim Ford for information about the peg and was told to fish long under the Aerator rope. The picture right shows Mark's first attempt at plumbing up!! I suggested to Mark he fish short in to open water – at least he might get to find out how deep his swim is!

I won’t bore you with a fish by fish narrative as I had approaching 300 of the little blighters. I caught Silvers from fry to 2lb – Skimmers, Hybrids, Rudd but mostly Ronnie’s up to 6oz. My match was interrupted eight times by Carp due to over feeding the maggot. These "accidental" Carp weighed in at 17lb 10oz and my Silvers went 26lb 5oz for first in the Silvers and a pick up of £40. My total of 43lb 15oz put me sixth overall. Pictured right is my net of Silvers – very wide ranging size of fish. I think there is a great future for the Silver fishing at this venue, and they don't hide in the reeds. I fed one pint of mixed coloured maggot over the six hours.

First in the match was John Thompson (pictured bottom right with the Silvers winner) with 81lb 7oz of Carp from peg 14. John caught at 11 o clock at 17 metres against the corner of the far island. John fished hard banded pellet over loose fed 4mm pellet.

Chris Davis was runner up with 75lb 4oz and similarly I could hear Chris Davis all day splashing his carp across the surface interrupted by the occasional THWACK.

Full Result:

1. John Thompson 81-07-0 peg 14
2. Chris Davis 75-04-0 peg 37
3. Martin Rayet 74-11-0 peg 17 (couldn’t get 10 more oz then)
4. Dave Wride 67-0-0 peg 11
5. John Paige 51-12-0 peg 4
6. Mike Nicholls 43-15-0 peg 40

Top Silvers:

1. Mike Nicholls 26-05-0 peg 40
2. Dave Wride 15-14-0 peg 11

Wednesday 31/03/2010 - Carps AC - Cider Farm - Shepherd's Lake

Plenty of FRESH Sea air today, back to ten layers of clothing. Gale force, freezing North Westerly wind. The air temperate was 4 degrees all day, but feeling more like zero. Rain, hale stones the lot. The man of the match was undoubtedly Dave Bacon who managed sixth with the wind directly in his face.

How lucky can you be I wanted either peg 13 or 14 so was pleased to draw peg 13 again. However the conditions were totally different. The water had coloured up to a greyish colour, similar to the local clay. Luckily the wind was blowing over my left shoulder (thats why I wanted to draw around this part of the Lake) so not in the face today. I set up three rigs; 1 – 1 gram Jolly at 3 metres out in front in 9 foot of water; 1 – 4x14 Jolly for the LH margin for corn in 6 foot of water; and a Gerry of Nottingham Corn and Paste float for the paste in to the RH margin. I started by cupping in a small amount of corn and caster in to the LH margin and a pot of 50/50 wetted micro and caster out in front at 4 metres, I also started to sparingly loose feed some wetted 4mm pellets in to the RH margin. Starting out in front with 3mm expander on the hook I had a small Tench (1lb 8oz). Then nothing so tried double caster, then double red maggot nothing, Umm. On went a piece of corn and whilst pulling it up the slope it sailed away and a 2lb Skimmer was in the Mossella net. I kept on the corn and had a run of Skimmers, but re-fed using wetted micro compressed with a ground bait punch so I could get it to the bottom quicker, preventing the fish intercepting the feed up in the water. I also started loose feeding the 4mm wetted pellet on this line. This kept the odd Skimmer coming. It was now two hours into the match and no one had caught a Carp. So I decided to try the LH margin (this is where I caught the 80lb last match here). However, the wind was blowing the 5 foot high Sedges over in to the Lake and it was difficult to get close in, it also meant I had to turn my left cheek in to the wind. On first put in there was a gust of wind which took my glasses off and dumped them in the lake at 2 metres. I had a spare pair in the car but I couldn’t be bothered, I can just about see corn enough to hook it. On the second put in I had a bite which I missed. Out again a small Rudd took the corn but couldn’t hold on long enough for me to land it. I was subsequently pestered by small fish. Back out on the Skimmers and another couple found their way in to the net. Due to the bad weather it was decided to reduce to match to 5 ½ hours (thank Goodness). So with an hour to go I decided to see if my investment of 4mm wetted pellet would pay off. On went the paste and first put in I hooked and got broke by a Carp. Went for a walk down to Bob Price whilst I ate my Banana Bob had caught four Skimmers and three Carp – I believed this to be the best weight. I returned to my peg feeling a lot colder. I decided to stay on the paste and caught two Carp before the end, one I estimated to be 8lb. My Skimmers weighed in at 12lb 7oz for first in the Silvers, with my Carp weighing 10lb 7oz, giving a total of 22lb 14 for first overall and a pick up of £45.

Runner up overall was Bob Price with Andy Gard (pictured right) taking the Silvers by default. I think Bill Ferris was disappointed with himself for loosing out to Andy by a mere 3oz, especially off the next peg.

Full Result:

1. Mike Nicholls 22-14-0 peg 13
2. Bob Price 17-04-0 peg 10
3. Andy Gard 11-07-0 peg 9
4. Bill Ferris 11-04-0 peg 9
5. Colin Golding 9-0-0 peg 14
6. Dave Bacon 7-04-0 peg 18

Top Silvers:

1. Mike Nicholls 12-07-0 peg 13
2. Andy Gard 11-07-0 peg 10
3. Bill Ferris 11-04-0 peg 9 (Just 3oz Bill)

Wednesday 10/03/2010 - Carps AC - Cider Farm - Shepherd's Lake

“Knowledge is Power” (Francis Bacon 1626). Before today’s match I had been swapping e-mails with Bob Feltham who ran the first match this term on Shepherds’ Lake – and won it. Below are the details of how Bob caught.

email 1:
Just to let you now the results of our match on Shepherds lake yesterday. Not bad considering the heavy frost and ffffffffffffreezing East wind!!
1st Bob Feltham 56lbs 2 oz all carp peg 13 margin 11 metres
2nd John Thompson 45 lbs 2 oz Carp and silvers peg 5 pole 11 metres- open water
3rd Steve Horsewell 42 lbs 10 oz Carp and silvers peg 11 pole 11 metres- open water
Silvers: Dave Bacon 11 lbs 9 oz peg 2 - no carp
I thought this may be of interest as you my be there on Wednesday!
Regds
Bob Feltham MD

email 2:
"Basic stuff really- tried pinkies and bread out at 11 metres- had one blade but didn’t stay with it for long as deep in peg 13. Fed half medium pot of green micros (stim) in the margin laced with dampened 4 mill and a few grains of corn. Went straight to the left margin after half hour about 11 metres there is a wooden pylon stuck out you can see the top and fished laying on the shelf and bottom of the near shelf – there is about 6 foot of water here-maybe slightly less. Used very soft ringers 6 mill expanders and had carp first dib. Fed regularly cupping 2 dozen 4 mill and few grains of corn every other fish and ended up with around 17 carp from 1 lb to 7 lb losing 5 (including 2 lumps) of which 4 were foul hookers and one pull out).
In retrospect could have fed another line further down the margin at 14.5 metres and picked off odd fish when the closer margin went quiet but hey ho!
As regards the other pegs- looks like the carp are not in 1 and 2 so could be out/out silvers. So fish 11-13 metres and feed 4 mill and corn fishing 6 mm and maybe paste as a few were caught on Sunday. Peg 15 out and out margin peg- fish 2 margin lines and forget everything else as lumps live here!
Cheers
Bob Feltham - MD"

As the Silver fishing is good on this Lake it was any peg except 13 and 15 for me then!! In to the draw bucket and out comes peg 13 – the Carp flyer. Umm. Over the last couple of matches I reckon due to the water clarity I have been chasing the fish out of my swim. So today my plan was to start short and not go long until the last two hours. I decided on a 4x14 Jolly for a short and long margin swim (as Bob said 6 foot or so) and a 4 x 16 at 4 metres out in front in 9 foot of water for the Skimmers and Ronnie’s. I started on the Silver rig by potting in a generous amount of micro pellet and casters of equal proportions. The wind was blowing straight in at me so it was necessary to feed a little short, plus a shorter than normal line. I started on double caster and – nothing – so swapped to the 4 mm pellet and had a run of small Skimmers. But it was slow. So tried double red maggot and had a 4lb Carp straight away followed by a few smaller Skimmers. I switched to single caster and started to catch a few Ronnie’s on the drop, again very slow. An hour had passed so I switched to the short margin swim at 5 metres with corn hook bait over kinder potted caster and corn. Like Bob, I had a Carp first put in. I kept on this line until the seventeenth Carp and the first Skimmer (always an indication that the Carp had vacated). It was with two hours to go that I switched to the 10 metre line (Bob I think your pole is shorter than you think). I fished identical and first put in had another Carp. However, with a 70 lb fishery net limit and having only two nets with me I decided to put back my 5lb of Silvers to facilitate a 3lb Carp. This didn’t make much sense at the time – what if I didn’t catch another Carp – back to three nets now until next winter. Not to worry I had another nine Carp and just before the whistle the last fish was a Ronnie. The next worry was with twenty seven Carp in the net would I have needed the 5lb of Silvers to make the ton – nope, I weighed 86lb 6oz (see picture upper right of some of my catch) for first overall and a pick up of £40. Thanks for the intel Bob.

The Silvers was won by Mike Owens (pictured right with the match winner) with 13lb 12oz from peg 17.

I must say this is a wonderful little Lake and well managed by Mark Gibson. The fish are in pristine condition.

Full Result:

1. Mike Nicholls 86-06-0 peg 13
2. Steve Dawson 50-01-0 peg 9
3. Mike Owens 26-05-0 peg 17
4. John Dursley 20-08-0 peg 1
5. Colin Golding 18-04-0 peg 6
6. John Bennett 17-08-0 peg 4

Top Silvers:

1. Mike Owens 13-12-0 peg 17
2. Andy Gard 13-05-0 peg 15

Wednesday 04/11/2009 - Carps AC - Cider Farm - Sheppards Lake

So the Lisbon treaty has been ratified. The labour manifesto Iead me to believe that I would be entitled to vote on Europe (Lisbon treaty). Alas not. Not to worry the Conservatives also stated that we would under their government be able to voice our desires in this respect. Alas not. In any case had we voted NO we would have been kept voting until the vote was YES – much like the Irish!! My all time hero Sir Winston Churchill would turn in his grave. They could not beat us in the air, land or sea – but will achieve their long term goal by bring Britain to her knees financially. It has already started through instructions from the EU that we must break up our “nationalised” banks.

This venue never fails to disappoint and it didn’t today despite horrendous weather conditions. I drew peg 19 which was facing directly South West and the gusting winds and heavy down pours of rain and icebergs. In between I was blinded by the sun. I had made up my mind to fish out and out for the Silvers as this venue has plenty of them in all species. However, I knew the wind was going to be a big problem. On plumbing up the peg I found I had little to no margin as at the end of my keepnet I had nine foot of water!! I set up the 3.5 metre whip for caster shallow, a Ronnie 4x14 PB14 rig also for caster and a Skimmer rig suitable for at 4 metres and 9 metres. I started by potting in some micro with a drizzle of 4mm pellet at 9 metres. I then started on the whip and had a few Ronnie’s. However, as expected the wing was just too bad to loose feed at this distance. I switched to 9 metres and had a run of 3oz Skimmers (peas in a pod). I decided this was too slow a catch rate and switched to my Ronnie rig a 4 metres, again the wind was making it too difficult, so I fed some micro at 4 metres anticipating catching the small Skimmers closer in. This worked and for four hours I kept the 3oz “Bottle Tops” coming. With an hour to go the wind subsided so back out on the whip shallow. This was marginally better as my catch rate was better even though the Ronnie’s and Rudd were much smaller. I did have the odd better Ronnie losing a pounder at the net – bloody wind! Luckily I didn’t have any problems with Carp – not even foul hooking one. I weighed 19lb 3oz for second in the Silvers and a pick up of £25.

The match was won by Steve Jefferies with 75lb 4oz of Carp from peg 5. Steve caught his fish on 6mm hard pellet fished on the deck at 13 metres and 5 metres. Steve landed one on the whistle which relegated Mike Owens in to second spot with 71lb 8oz. Mike fished the straight lead from peg 9.

The Silvers was won by Andy Gard (pictured right with his winnings) from corner peg 13. Andy caught decent Skimmers to 2lb on bread paste fished over loose fed maggot!!

Full Result:

1. Steve Jefferies 75-04-0 peg 5

2. Mike Owens 71-08-0 peg 9

3. John Thompson 42-06-0 peg 18

4. Bob Price 31-12-0 peg 15

5. Rich Coles 31-0-0 peg 12

6. Dave Roper 30-11-0 peg 1

Top Silvers:

1. Andy Gard 19-14-0 peg 13

2. Mike Nicholls 19-04-0 peg 19

Wednesday - 07/10/2009 - Avon Angling Open - Cider Farm - Yarlington Mill

What a drop in temperature from yesterday which was 17 degrees overnight and today barely making 10 degrees – can only happen in the UK. Then there was the persistent rain from twelve onwards. However, can report the Halkon Hunt clothing does what it says on the tin!! By the end of the match those of us that had the North Westerly blowing in to us were bloody frozen.

I really didn’t mine which peg I drew pulling out peg 36. This is a corner peg full of sedges. Mark did his usual rounds and informed me that he hadn't seen any Skimmers come off the peg, but it was a good Carp peg winning the weekend match with 100lb. So what do I do – fish for Silvers for most of the match and got it wrong - duh! I fished red maggot at five metres under a 4x16 Jolly and managed a lowly 5lb 10 oz of Silvers and 40lb 6oz of Carp. This wasn't good enough for any coin – seventh overall and third in the Silvers. Had I done the right thing and fished for Carp all match, I am sure I would have framed sufficiently to pick up at least some "day out money".

The match was won by Tony Rixon (pictured right with some of his catch) from peg 25 with 159lb 9oz. As this wasn’t a left hander's peg I think he should have redrawn – peg 36 would have been more suitable. Tony caught shallow on banded hard 6mm pellet at both 11.5 metres (to the left) and 13 metres out to the right of his peg.

The Silvers was won by Matt Tomes from peg 19 fishing maggot in the margin catching a few Roach and Skimmers.

Full Result:

1. Tony Rixon 159-09-0 peg 25
2. Rod Wootton 93-03-0 peg 46
3. Derek Cullip 90-06-0 peg 11
4. Chris Davis 71-10-0 peg 41
5. Edie Wynne 57-04-0 peg 54
6. John Dursley 52 07-0 peg 22

Top Silvers:

1. Matt Tomes 7-05-0 peg 19
2. Martin Alexander 6-0-0 peg 49

Finally - Bad news about the River Trent with massive pollution from cyanide and sewage. So far it has effected 13 miles of the river with a heavy fish kill. The pollution if moving down to Burton Joyce and the Golden Mile. - lets hope they find and prosecute the people behind this.

Wednesday 23/09/2009 - Carps AC - Cider Farm - Yarlington Mill

There was no where else to be but Cider Farm today. This has to be one of my best days so far this year, with both the overall and Silvers records being beaten and the top six all returning ton plus weights.

I drew peg 25 and was a little concerned as the angler on the peg Sunday DNW’d. However, Mark Gibson came along and assured me that there were plenty of Carp and Skimmers in the peg. He also said it would fish well today due to the overcast and mizzle. Well with the mention of Skimmers that decided me to an out and out Silvers attack, setting up two 3.5 metre whips (one that would handle Carp and the other wouldn’t!). I also set up a 4 x 16 Jolly shotted to fish on the drop. I did set up a margin paste rig just in case. I started on the maggot and carp whip shallow and had a Carp first put in on single maggot. I then had a couple of Rudd, then another Carp. I decide to try on the bottom with the Jolly and started to catch decent Skimmers to 2 ½ lb. Then more Carp. At the half way stage I had worked out a feeding pattern – catch shallow until a Carp is hooked then go deep and then vis versa. I managed to keep the Silvers coming. I had been drip feeding the LH margin all match and after two hours noticed Carp taking the 4mm pellet on the drop!! With 12 minutes to go I had to give the paste a go in the Margin. Well solid or what I landed six and lost one in those twelve minutes!! I weighed in 83lb 2oz of “accidental” Carp and 44lb 7oz of Skimmers (me pictured right with Silvers net). This put me first in the Silvers and third overall with 130lb 9oz and a pick up of £45. On hindsight I should have gone in the margin at half time as I had the Silvers well won by then. I think I would have also won the match if I had.

The match was won by Marks Broomsgrove (pictured right with the Silvers record holder) with a new lake record of 172lb 10oz from peg 54. Mark fish at full depth with corn, feeding about three small tins of corn mixed with some 4mm pellet.

Full Result:

1. Mark Broomsgrove 172-10-0 peg 54 (New Lake Record)

2. Chris Davis 136-13-0 peg 46

3. Mike Nicholls 130-09-0 peg 25

4. Rich Coles 125-13-0 peg 40

5. Mike Owens 118-02-0 peg 41

6. Steve Jefferies 113-04-0 peg 14

Top Silvers:

1. Mike Nicholls 44-07-0 peg 25 (New Lake Record)

2. Bill Ferris 13-13-0 peg 4

Sunday 20/09/2009 - Cider Farm Open - Yarlington Mill

This year I had planned to fish the Veals Teams of Four again with Charlie’s Angels, which should have started today. However, Ken Rayner, due to personal issues had handed over the running of the league to Dave Downton. A couple of weeks ago Dave rang me for Charlie Barnes’s telephone number to explain to the captain that he was changing the individual pools to:

1 x Top overall

1 x Silvers

£70 per 5 peg section

£200 top team on the day

Last year it was:

4 x Top overall

4 x Silvers

2 per 10 peg section

Dave explained that he was putting the emphasis on team fishing hence the payout. I tried to explain to Dave that 75% of the anglers that fish the league treat it an individual open (all of Charlie’s Angels fall in this category) and he would find that the proposed payouts would result in teams pulling put. I for one was very unhappy with paying out a team prize from individual pools money. Plus you could be second in the match and win nought. Dave could not be dissuaded, so I informed Charlie of my decision not to fish this year. The upshot was because Dave didn’t listen to the majority of the anglers and subsequently cancel the league due to lack of support. Another league that Dave has gotten involved with that has ended up on the scrap heap. We can only hope he doesn’t get involved with any more leagues!! A long time acquaintance of mine is looking to run it next year.

So I needed a match and after a chat with Rod Wootton in Rip Off’s I decided on Cider Farm. Ihad a walk round before the match and noticed how clear the water was – lets hope it’s not too bright today – what did we have a beautiful day with wall to wall sunshine!! I did also take to opportunity to pick some blackberries for Brenda to make one of her famous Blackberry and Apple Tarts.

Before the draw Paul Lock gave me some 6mm pellet in a three pint Marshmallow tub – no wonder he so fat. I drew peg 27. I know peg 25 has had some form recently so wasn’t that disappointed. On arriving at the peg I thought it would suit my track and inside margin fishing. I set up pellet and paste rig for down the track and a paste margin rig. I started by potting in some 4mm with a tiny bit of micro in both swims. I started in the soft pellet down the track at 5 metres and was getting a few liners – so out went the paste and a foul hooked Carp in the tail. I was soon aware that the fish weren’t having it – or more like it was too bright and not enough fish in the swim. After trying hard banded pellet I decided to fish paste in the margin over loose fed 4mm. I had twenty fish steady until the last hour when it went completely dead – I was expecting the swim to get better towards the end. I decide to pot in some corn down the track and fish corn over the top. This resulted in one more Carp. However, I was getting the odd indication. I wish now that I had started on corn. My twenty one Carp weighed 38lb 9oz – for no where. The angler on peg 25 DNW’d.

My section was won by default by Nicky Collins (pictured right - well actually two pictures - can you guess which one Nick is smiling on - wrong - he smiling on both according to him - I think on the first he has eaten too many cider apples) with 58lb 10oz from corner peg 30. Nick caught on Corn over to the bare bank and a few down the margin.

The match was won by Robert Cullip with 116lb from peg 40. I didn’t get to speak to Robert but Bela Bakos said he had fished meat down the track.

Full result:

1. Robert Cullip 116-0-0 peg 40

2. Rod Wootton 84-02-0 peg7

3. John Gray 83-03-0 peg 36

4. Howard Green 32-15-0 peg 46

5. Derek Cullip 73-10-0 peg 51

6. Nicky Collins 58-10-0 peg 30

Finally I will NEVER, NEVER, NEVER, EVER come home by Motorway again. Traffic was tailed back from the M4 turn off to Junction 20 – M5. I nearly followed home Bib Feltham up the A38 – but thought it would be quicker on the M5!!! So my journey home was M5 to Junction 19 down Failand until the Suspension Bridge turn off – Bridge closed so traffic jammed up down to Cumberland Basin. Tried short cutting through Ashton Park – but dead end – turn back and try going to long Ashton – Traffic backed up to the bottom of Ashton Park – in to Long Ashton and down Yanley Lane on to the A38 then the usual route home one hour longer than normal!

Sunday 23/08/2009 - Cider Farm Open - Yarlington Mill

A good turn out with 29 fishing, plus a waiting list for this popular Brean venue. Some moan about the Sedges growth, but me, I like the environment. However, I couldn’t help noticing that we are now coming into the apple skating season! There was a strong South Westerly blowing, but still reasonably warm, enough so, for Glenn Bailey to be wearing shorts, with whom I was travelling with today.

I didn’t mind where I drew as long as I wasn’t facing in to the wind. I pulled out peg 4 – facing directly South West!! I was well pleased with the draw and was expecting a good weight – perhaps even a ton. I decided that I would target the Right Hand margin with paste in about three foot of water. Within a few minutes I had a couple of small Carp, realising at this point that the fishing was going to be harder than expected. The swim progressively got harder and after nine small Carp I decided it was a day of trying some experiments. After trying the 3 metre whip at all depths with 4mm banded pellet and a paste rig up in the water I went out to 5 metres full depth with paste and experimented with various feeding patterns. It seemed to me that the fish weren’t prepared to feed on the bottom, preferring instead to feed off bottom. The Carp wouldn’t follow the feed to the bottom neither but mooched about up in the water for the next feed. I did try fishing shallow, lifting and dropping, but due to the gusting winds the presentation wasn’t good enough to get a bite (or I wasn't doing it right). I did manage to put six of the Lakes bigger Carp in the net during this time and weighed 38lb 5oz for section win (by default - thanks Rod) and a pick up of £30.

The match was won by Rod Wootton (pictured right) from peg 10 with 79lb 8oz. Rod caught on the deck both over and down the track using 6mm hard pellet hook bait. Rod fed two generous pouches of 4mm pellet for every fish landed.

Glenn Bailey weighed 46lb 5oz from peg 55, who nearly won his five peg section by treble default!!

Full Result:

1. Rod Wootton 79-08-0 peg 10

2. Brett Holly 69-08-0 peg 58

3. Paul Locke 68-04-0 peg 17

4. Adrian Jefferies 67-07-0 peg 25

5. Steve Tanner 59-15-0 peg 51

6. Dave Roper 56-09-0 peg 41