Thursday 12/02/2015 - Veals Open - Emerald Fishery - Rudy and Sapphire

The now keen winter match angler Glenn Bailey arrived 15 minutes early. We had a stress free ride around the ring road and down the M5 to Hilltop Café. We were surprised to see Tony Rixon arrive in the café; apparently every other café from Bristol to Bridgwater was closed!

Dave Bacon arrived at the café but had to go back home as he had just heard his Mum had passed away – our condolences matey.

As usual by the time we arrived at the match Mike Jones had pegged everyone on Ruby. I was reasonably happy with this (I had my silvers head on). However, Tony Rixon wanted to re-peg putting three on Sapphire. Mike announced before the draw that “any complaints with the pegging see Nixon and Richolls” – this is why we let Mike run these matches – priceless.

In to the draw bag and out comes peg 7 which is the top end last peg on the near side. Second time on this peg so expected to catch Silvers with a few accidental Carp.

I set up a 4x12 Jolly to fish at 6 metres, the Ronnie rig a 4 metres whip with a tiny wagglers. On the bait tray was a pint of casters and the occasional sneaky Robin.

I confidently started on the Ronnie rig with single caster and second cast I lost a foul hooked Carp.  Next I landed a 2lb Common Carp, not what I wanted or expected. After 30 minutes I hadn’t had a Ronnie! However, Mike Jones on the next peg was catching them regularly. I’m too old to panic aren’t I? In to the bait bag and I get out some hard 4’s to feed down the RH side to try and concentrate the Carp away from the Ronnie’s (something I got from the Carp anglers feeding casters to get rid of the Ronnie’s). This coincided with using the 4 metre whip. It all worked well as I started to catch some decent Ronnie’s on the single caster and remained “relatively” Carp free for the remainder of the match. It was hard work to keep the Ronnie’s coming as the bigger they get the harder they are to catch.

I ended the match with six accidentals for 16lb 7oz 9 (pictured upper right) and a very satisfying first in the Silvers net of all Ronnie’s for 19lb giving a total of 35lb 7oz.

Considering the venue had been frozen for the previous 5 days it fish extremely well. An island to fish up to was the most productive areas for Carp.

Travelling partner Glenn Bailey (pictured right with his catch) did it again on the Carp from peg 11 (permanent peg 2), one of the three pegs on Sapphire winning the match with 99lb 10oz. Glenn caught over to the opposite island using 4mm soft pellet over kindered micro and hard 4’s. The average weight of is fish was 1 ½ lb so a busy day.

Full Result:

1. Glenn Bailey 99-10-0 peg 11 (Sapphire)
2. Tony Nixon 88-06-0 peg 3
3. Scott Puddy 69-13-0 peg 9
4. Adrian Jeffrey 66-0-0 peg 10
5. Mike Jones 64-10-0 peg 8
6. Norman Huggett 47-05-0 peg 5

Top Silvers:

1. Mike Richolls 19-0-0 peg 7
2. Andy Smith 8-050 peg 12 (Sapphire)

Weigh Sheet:

Thursday 27/11/2014 - Coffin Dodgers @ Emerald Fishery - Ruby Lake

I am amazed how much traffic is on the ring road at 06:30! Steady drive down the M5 in very damp and misty conditions. I returned via the A38 which was also steady and uneventful drive, home by 17:30.

It was breakfast in the Hilltops Café with Dave, Dave and Norman.

As there were 13 of us Mike Jones decided to put us all on Ruby. A good decision I thought.

I drew peg 1 at the top end near bank, opposite where I was last match.

The peg was a bit of a Parrot cage so the Ronnie rig would have to be cast under hand. I also set up a 4 x14 Jolly to be fished at 4 metres. I was pleasantly surprised to find I had a foot more water than the last opposite peg.

For company on peg 2 I had pooper scooper expert Dave Bacon, who chucked it to the pimple of an island midway across with the Carp dragging the rod in as soon as it landed.

The plan as last time was to fish for the Silvers so I started and finished the match on the Ronnie rig, with single caster over loose fed caster. The Ronnie’s in Ruby are well worth catching but the Silver fishing is continually disrupted by the many, many small Carp in this Lake. By intentionally feeding all over the swim I managed to keep adding the odd Ronnie to 10oz to the keeper.

I finished the match with 11lb 2oz of Silvers which was well ahead of the next Silver weight plus 54lb 6oz of Carp for a total of 65lb 8oz for third overall.

I really enjoy fishing this venue with plenty of fish to be caught from all pegs as the weigh sheet shows.

The match was won again by Rich Coles (pictured right with the Silvers winner) from the same bank but opposite end with 86lb 1oz from peg 5. Rich caught at 10 metres using dead red hook bait over kindered wetted micro. Rich later caught on 6mm expander.

Paul Locke came expecting to mug us pensioners but ended up being a chip shop sandwich. Anyway he did significantly lower the average age!!

Full Result:

1. Rich Coles 86-01-0 peg 5
2. Dave Bacon 71-06-0 peg 2
3. Mike Nicholls 65-08-0 peg 1
4. Normal Huggett 54-14-0 peg 13
5. Pete Turner 42-11-0 peg 12
6. Mike Key 41-15-0 peg 10

Top Silvers:

1. Mike Nicholls 11-02-0 peg 1
2. Andy Smith 4-14-0 peg 6
3. Mike Jones 4-13-0 peg 4 (ounced out)

Weigh Sheet:

Thursday 30/10/1024 - Coffin Dodgers at Emerald Fishery - Emerald Pool

Because it was half term we were down on attendees with 11 booked in. I thought I would travel down via the motorway thinking it would be quiet, but it wasn’t, came back via A38 but that was just as bad for traffic. I breakfasted in the Hill Top Café which went down very well.

I was asked to peg the match out, but found Mike Jones had already done it by time I got there. That was until Terry Bruton decided to move the disabled pegs around. Then the Gimp decided to change the able pegs around. We finally got there!

I pulled peg 4 which was halfway along the far bank, happy with this although the peg is a bit of a bird cage. For company I had Bill Ferris on peg 5 and gentleman Dave on peg 3.

I was soon set up with one Ronnie rig and a 4x14 Jolly. I wouldn’t normally set the Jolly up but because the aerator was causing the water to flow (about Newbridge rate) the aerator was to be left running all through the match. Added to this there was an occasional nasty wing blowing with the flow.

I had mixed up some black Lake and fed a ball laced with caster at 4 metres at 12 o clock. I started on the Ronnie rig with caster over caster at 11 o clock. I had a few Skimmers to 1lb on this but found the presentation wasn’t good. Bill Ferris was bagging on worm hook bait. I kept switching between the caster line and GB line with the Ronnie rig to keep a few Skimmers and Hybrids coming. I topped up the GB regularly but fished over the caster until it settled. At 1 o clock my swim died and so had Bills. I thought I had clawed back his quick start. For some reason without any prior thought I started loose feeding wetted micro over the GB line, feeding three handfuls. I decided to give the Jolly a chance adding another section taking me to 6 metres where I kindered in some soft 4’s expecting to catch a Carp or two with soft 4’s on the hook. Surprise surprise I started to catch Skimmers of all sizes up to

1lb. That made me switch back to 4 metre line over the loose fed micro with soft 4 on the hook where I had a good hour again catching small Skimmers plus the odd Tench. I kept feeding the caster line hoping the absent Hybrids may make a late entry. I dropped feeding the GB but maintained the loose fed micro and by switching between 4 and 6 metre lines I kept them coming. Into the last hour I switched back to the caster on the Ronnie rig and found some Hybrids. However, the Carp took a fancy to my caster landing six accidentals and one Gold fish by the end!

My Silvers weighed 45lb 13oz (pictured upper right) which was top Silvers weight and when combined with my Carp weight of 21lb 2oz gave me a double, winning the match with a total of 66lb 15oz.

Dave “Gentleman” Bacon (pictured right) was runner up with 60lb 8oz from peg 3.

Although the Fishery had an off day the fishing was still amazing I can't wait to get back in two weeks time. If anyone wants to fish contact Mike Jones.

Full Result:

1. Mike Nicholls 66-15-0 peg 4
2. Dave Bacon 60-08-0 peg 3
3. Pete Greenslade 54-10-0 peg 2
4. John Bradford 36-04-0 peg 7
5. Mike Jones 35-06-0 peg 6
6. Bill Ferris 34-08-0 peg 5

Top Silvers:

1. Mike Nicholls 45-13-0 peg 4
2. Mike Jones 34-0-0 peg 6
3. Bill Ferris 43-08-0 peg 5 

Weigh Sheet:

Thursday 03/04/2014 - Coffin Dodgers Day Out - Emerald Fishery - Emerald Pool

The Coffin Dodgers decided to have a day out to catch some fish, so Ray Bazeley organised a match at Emerald Fishery on Emerald Pool. We met up at Hillview café before I pegged out the match for 16 of the regular Coffin Dodgers.

The match was run on the same basis as the usual CD matches with the match only costing £12.

In to the draw bucket and out comes peg 6 which was the first peg over the bridge on the far side where Tim Clarke was on the second match I fished where he framed, so happy with the peg. The peg is in a sort of corner up against the foot bridge.

I set up two identical Ronnie rigs – one full depth (four foot) and one half depth. Chose two swims one out in front for GB laced with Hemp, micro and casters. The other swim was to my right away from the bridge for lose fed caster over caster.

We had the usual warm up before the draw on Ruby Pool and caught plenty of Carp and Ronnie’s.

On the whistle I fed the GB line with an egg size helping and started lightly lose feeding caster on the RH side. Second put in with the full depth rig I hooked a Golden Tench of about 2lb. I followed this with another two Tench before pulling out of the fourth with my rig ending up in the tree. So my shallow rig was converted in a full depth rig and carried on fishing this time catching Hybrids from 4oz to a 1lb every cast. I continued feeding throughout both swims. Once the GB line slowed I switched to the caster line again at full depth and carried on catching this time including Roach from 10oz to 2lb!! Lovely Jubbly.

I kept switching between the two lines throughout the match once one line became iffy due to incorrect feeding. I basically caught regularly all match only interrupted by six small Carp two of which were Crucian’s.

My Silvers weighed 99lb 2oz for first in the Silvers (if Crucian had counted they would have put me over the Silvers ton – bugger). My six small Carp weighed 10lb 3oz for a match winning total of 109lb 3oz.

Bob Price was the only DNW only because his estimated 35lb of Silvers wouldn’t have put him in the coin.

It was an amazing match and we all left the venue happy, wet and knackered. I was surprised we didn’t lose one of us due to all the fish catching exertion.

Full Result:

1. Mike Nicholls 109-05-0 peg 6
2. Dave Bacon 96-0-0 peg 2
3. John Smith 95-0-0 peg 7
4. Rich Coles 87-06-0 peg 14
5. John Bradford 82-05-0 peg 10
6. Ray Bazeley 73-05-0 peg 9

Top Silvers:

1. Mike Nicholls 99-02-0 peg 6
2. John Smith 82-14-0 peg 7
3. John Bradford 68-14-0 peg 10
4. Rich Coles 64-14-0 peg 14
5. Ray Bazeley 61-12-0 peg 9

Weight Sheet:

Wednesday 05/03/2014 - Avon Angling Silvers Only Open - Emerald Pond

Today we were having the re-run of the match abandoned on the 19/02/2014. This fishery is a jewel in the South West, an Emerald. The secret is out, a fabulous Silvers fishery. So far the record on Emerald Pond is 97lb. Today’s match was Silvers only with no Carp of any description.

As I found out on the abandoned match there are plenty of Hybrids, Skimmers, Tench and bloody big Roach to 2lb.

The previous match I drew peg 6 and was hoping for it again. So when I drew peg 4 I thought I was on a good-un. However, the pegging had changed with peg 6 now being 8. And I found myself in a bit of a back water (see pictured right) a right Carp looker!!

I set up two identical Ronnie’s rigs to fish caster over caster and GB long lined on my top set.  I started out on front with lose fed GB laced with caster. After 2 minutes without a bite I knew things weren’t going to be easy I then hooked three Carp in a row, which really was the end of my match as you can’t afford to get behind on the Silvers on this Pond. I started to feed heavily with the GB/caster combo down to the left hoping I would draw the Carp away from my in front swim which I changed to loose fed caster. The danger was I would draw more Carp up from the Sedges which were all waving about just as if the Carp were spawning (which the weren’t). This worked to an extent with the Carp catch rate falling, keeping a few Silvers coming. Over the match I landed 16 Carp to 8lb, averaging 3lb and 2 Crucian’s. My Silvers weighed 34lb 12oz.

Very enjoyable if a tad frustrating with an amazing weight sheet. I could do this twice a week.

 The match was won by Tom Thick (pictured right with one of his nets of Silvers) with 67lb 4oz from peg 9. Tom caught on soft pellet fished over GB at 10 metres.

On the way home I photographed a leafless tress with hundreds of Starlings preparing for the evening sky dance (pictured lower right).

Full Result:

1. Tom Thick 67-04-0 peg 9
2. Steve Tucker 53-0-0 peg 6
3. Tim Clark 45-0-0 peg 5 (going to Belgium tomorrow)
4. John Bradford 39-14-0 peg 1
5. Harry Muir 39-14-0 peg 7
6. Bob price 36-15-0 peg 15
7. Ken Rayner 36-08-0 peg 16

 Weigh Sheet: