Thursday 14/03/2024 - Over 55's Silvers Pairs - Farleigh Woods - Final Round

Here's a thing, read there is evidence that during the 4.5 billion years history of Earth it once rained for 2 million years! Regular match angler are starting to understand what this might be like.

Travelled with Kev today with the numbers down due to cry off's.

Dave and Ollie had the draw well sorted - draw on arrival and straight to your peg, giving plenty of time to set up, which was needed. Peg 12 for me another known Carp corner - real Crabtree like. That said expected some Skimmers would be near by.

Strange peg as had a choice of three places to set up. Picked the one which suited the placement of the keep net. There is some complaints about the pegs but found that once your settled in it's safe and comfortable. The section ran from peg 9 to 16 so plenty of room with peg 9 the next was peg 5. Found myself next to Turbo Tony on peg 13.

The long and short Ronnie rigs set up plus a 4 x 16 for 7 foot of water which would be used for the last hour when it seemed the bigger Skimmers arrived. Had four lines chosen, all being  fed with Pinkie and GB. Fed the first short Ronnie rig and had a run of small Ronnie's before it died which I was to discover was due to Carp. On to the long Ronnie rig and gain another run of small fish until it died but soon hooking a 10 lb Common Carp which just fitted in the landing net - very slender beautifully coloured fish in excellent condition. The up shot picked of some Ronnie until hooked a Carp. Struggled the second half of the match for any consistency. The last ball fed on the Ronnie line had Carp blowing over it. With an hour to go went out on the long line for Skimmers had a couple of 2 ouncers before hooking another Carp. Went for the elastic to pull for a break but breaking the elastic instead of hook length - losing the lot - bugger. Now had hooked Carp on all four lines so couldn't be assed to set up another long rig, favouring to sit with the long Ronnie rig catching the odd fish off the feed whilst gaging for a pint of Peroni.

My net of small fished weighed 6 lb 10 oz for 3 points and 6th overall! Mistake not to have set up the waggler as this could have avoided the Carp by spraying the lose fed maggots. Partner Phil did well coming second in section which pushed us up to 4th one out of the £. Well done partner lets do it next year.

The match was won by Kev Winstone (pictured) with 13 lb 14 oz from peg 16. Kev caught more bigger fish than most by alternating two lines at 14.5 metres fishing caster or maggot over GB laced with same. Kev has certainly sorted Farleigh Woods silver taking two first and a second overall. This helped him and Chris Ollis to this years pairs title. Well done lads.

Back to the Red Lion for a pint with very good company and another right laugh. Think we will all remember this years silver league for many reasons, but for me how we have enjoyed and depended relationships. Who said Farleigh Woods was like the Somme, but without the bullets.

Weigh Sheets:

Final League Results - Well done to the top three pairs:

Thursday 29/02/2024 - Over 55's Silvers Pairs - Round 5 - Farleigh Woods

More bloody rain and even more mud if even possible at Farleigh Woods.

The Boss Dave "Three Gulps" Gillard is on sick leave. Not to worry he's at home giving his instructions. Chris Ollis took up the reins. A good job he did too, with us drawing on the way in so we could go straight the the appropriate car park.

A few cry off's so down to 18 which is a good number for the venue.

Drew corner peg 1 which I was slightly apprehensive about as it's a very good Carp peg. For company on 2 was Shay Gillman. Had to walk to my peg from Glenn's van and was shocked at the state my peg - pictured. Shay had to help push the trolley. However, once set up it was OK, but dare not let any tackled near the mud. Anyway the gear was absolutely mired in mud.

Set up three rigs two 4x14 Winter's black and red tip's for two different lines at top set plus four barrels plus the long Ronnie rig which doubted would work. Plumbed around to find the bottom all over the place with different depths. Think it might be effects of feeding Carp.

Fed all three lines, started on the Ronnie and as expected accounted for only a few small Perch - ditched. Out long and had a few Ronnie's before it went quiet subsequently getting liners from Carp. Hooked one which went on the pull for break. Feeding anything was causing disruption from Carp especially on one line so decided once a line died opened a new one which necessitated a lot of replumbing. This worked to an extent but foul hooked two more Carp but did have a bonus hybrid and Skimmer.

Weighed 4 lb 15 oz for a section win. Not sure I could have done much better.

The match was won by Mick Gale (library picture) with  11 lb 2 oz from peg 9. Seems the silvers have shoaled up around this area.

Back to the Red Lion for a pint where Ray Bazeley robbed the fruit machine of £124 - can't remember if he bought a round or not!

Weigh Sheets:

League to Date:

Thursday 16/02/2024 - Dave Gillard's Over 55's - Silver Pairs - Round 4 - Farleigh Woods

Today on 16 February 2024 I got sunburnt!! The heat didn't come from being trapped in by CO2 but directly from the Sun which appears to me to be getting hotter.

With the sad news that the Hunstrete complex is closed due to unconfirmed issues. It's felt that the complex is continually having issue with it closing most years for some reason or other. Subsequently, we have decided to find other venues. So today we fished Farleigh Woods which was arranged by Chris Ollis who got us an advantageous peg fee. Well done matey.

Nice to Gary Etheridge out standing in for Tony Rixon.

Pulled peg 18 which happened to be the peg Chris and I were chatting on before the draw and I did say I wouldn't mind it today - funny how these things turnout. However, like most of the pegs near any car parking were extremely muddy - not for tackle tarts.

Chris said there were lots of small fish -mainly Ronnie's and Skimmers since I last fished it. So set up the long Ronnie rig, 4 metre whip and two 4x12 winter's - one black tip, the other yellow so to combat the every changing light in 4 1/2 foot of water. The upshot was me wasting too much time trying to catch to hand. Just couldn't get the fish to come any shorter than top set plus 3 barrels, which was to be a pain. Also I could only catch on one line long on the yellow tip. Caught Ronnie's 1/2 to 2oz steady on this line with single Pinkie over GB laced with Pinkie. The last 30 minutes had three bonus fish - 8 oz Perch, 1 lb Hybrid and 1 lb Skimmer. Was this the time of day or because I changed my feeding - who knows?

Weighed 8 lb 7 oz for section win and 4th overall. Glenn was second in section so double Bubble van.

The Crayfish catch went to Hughie Evans, one monster.

The match was won by Kev Winstone (pictured enjoying a pint with Glenn) with 17 lb 6 oz from fancied peg 2. Kev caught some decent Skimmers fishing two lines at 14.5 metres with red maggot hook bait over GB with particles and lose feeding caster over the top. Well done matey.

Runner ups were Barny and Haydn both with 10 lb 7 oz from pegs 13 and 22. Hayden pictured with his net of Skimmers caught at 11 metres.

We stopped in the Stag and Hounds for a pint. Decent pub.

Weigh Sheets:

Pairs League to date:

11/06/2020 - Farleigh Woods - Lerts Open

Left in plenty of time, probably a bit too early as we were all kicking our heels waiting for the organisers, but this did give us some distancing socialising, which is something I have been missing. However, I was being too closely followed around by one angler luckily I was "Alert".

It was forecast to be windy with showers for most of the day - glad  I had the umbrella! 

Finally got a draw and was shouted peg 19. A bit better than last time. For company I had Wayne Storey on peg 17. To be honest for some reason I didn't have my heart in it today.

No point in explaining each rig I set up as I only used the Ronnie rig albeit at two distances. I started on a single bronze maggot over loose fed mixed maggot and caught small Ronnie's, Skimmers and nuisance micro Perch from the off. I basically stayed with this for most of the match until the peg completely died and it wasn't long before I relised I had fed the Carp into the peg foul hooking one. The peg was dead, so mixed up some of my Skimmer GB which I fed neat, again with single maggot (red and bronze was best) this worked and wished I used it from the off because it resulted in some better Skimmers. I then hooked and landed a 7 lb Carp quickly followed by one 12 lb. The small fish then returned and was catching reasonably well at the end. The Carp did affect my Silvers weight but on the positive side helped me towards a bigger overall weight. Should I have fished the paste in these last knockings?

What was noticeable today was the affect the wind had on the tow. It was probably due to where the peg was situated in relation to the island. But it mainly towed left to right but once it switched in the other direction the peg faded. The peg never sat still as the change in direction was fairly quick. I am fascinated with the hydraulics of fisheries.

My Silvers weighed 21 lb 7 oz and my two Carp 19 lb 6 oz for 40 lb 13 oz and a third overall pick up and fifth in the Silvers.

The match was won by Clive Glisson (pictured right) with 60 lb 6 oz from peg 2. Clive had two Carp on the waggler then caught more Carp in both his margins using meat over all sorts of feed. I tell you this picture really made me feel old as I use to fish with Clive's Dad - lovely bloke.

The Silvers was won by Paul Barnfield (pictured right) with 33 lb 1 oz from peg 8. Paul caught on white maggot over GB laced with micro.

To be fair the Lake owners have done a lot of work during the lock-down. They have dug out the pegs and covered the clay with a thin layer of gravel. However, today after the rain the gravel embedded in the clay and both stuck to my boots and found myself walking around in platform boots! For the cost of four paving slabs in each peg would result in an 100 % improvement.

Today saw a weight of near 500 lb by Chris Davis at Ivy House. However, these sorts of weight are not for everyone with many anglers preferring the sort of fishing this venue provides as it's something between a natural and Commercial. I think 100 lb is more than enough to win a match. I think this venue will become more popular.

Result:

1. Clive Glisson 60-03-0 peg 2

2. Chris Ollis 55-0-0 peg 15

3. Mike Nicholls 40-13-0 peg 17

Silvers:

1. Paul Barnfield 33-01-0 peg 8

2. Stu White 29-06-0 peg 16

3. Andy Gard 24-03-0 peg 3 

Weigh Sheet:

Thursday 28/05/2020 - Lert's Match at Farleigh Woods

To keep fit during the lockdown I have been walking 10k most days. However, today having fished my first proper match I realised I should have sat on my seat box every day for six hours waving my arms around. Getting off my box today I was doubled over.

Chris Ollis was keen to run a match at his favourite venue and so were twenty others. Chris was emphatic that government guidelines were to be maintained. So to ensure no gatherings a rolling draw was ran by Dave Poole. So on arrival we threw our £20 in a bucket and the draw done for us and called out by Dave. We went straight to our pegs. The permanent pegs are at least 10 metres apart. The weigh in was done using the bucket system (Chris homemade pictured right), now used by many fisheries. So the bucket would be placed on the ground and the scales man would step back 2 metres whilst the angler put his fish in the bucket, he would then step away and the scales man would weight the fish and safely return them. Larger Carp would be weighed individually if the bucket would distress a number of fish. No following the scales rule was observed. All went to to plan.

I was shouted peg 21. The least popular area in my view. However, I was able to reverse right up to my peg. For company I had Paul "Cucus" Clayton who has been doing well on the Silvers of late - still not sure it's anything to do with the cucus he feeds though. The other side was gentle giant Lee Massey.

Our pegs were back in a bay/corner and mine sightly back further. I must admit the margins looked like they may do the business on Carp later in the day (pictured right) in the meantime it would be the small Silvers with the occasional Carp tester. I initially set up a 4x12 to fish topset plus three in 4 foot of water which was full depth in this part of the lake. Unfortunately due to the conditions and the sun being in the eyes I could barely see the float even after trying various colours. So I set up the Ronnie rig to fish shorter where visibility was much better. I set up the waggler to fish for Silvers in case it got really hard. And finally my banker a margin paste rig taking four number 11's. I prepared my bait but found it impossible to pump my expanders, thought it was the pump so borrowed a new one from Paul and found it to be the expanders probably due to being in the bait bag for so long! Anyway just used them soaked.

I started by feeding a small ball of crushed expander GB laced with dampened micro on the Ronnie rig line and with 4 mm expander on the hook started to catch stunted Skimmers to 4 oz. I managed to keep them coming for about two hours by loose feeding small balls of wetted micro over the top. After which the silvers faded. I noticed Paul next door was struggling on the Silvers. So having been feeding the margins with 4 mm pellet tried the paste which just sat there until it faded away. Switch the Silvers line to loose fed maggot and caught a few Ronnies which were bigger than the Skimmers. This died far too soon for my liking. In and out the margin which just didn't look as if the Carp would not put in an appearance. So out on the waggler with single maggot and had my biggest Skimmer of about 1 lb. I then had a run of Ronnie's before it went quiet. Soon after I hooked a Carp which I thought was foul hooked, but wasn't. Estimated to be about 8 lb and gave me a torrid time in and out of the bankside reeds before it escaped - fair play it worked hard for it. Spent some arm folding time on the paste as I had to given up on the waggler as I couldn't see it. No Carp. I think if I could and wanted to fish the method I would have caught well over to the island which was about 40 metres away.

My Silvers weighed 11 lb 2 oz. inconsideration that I was between two DNW's I was satisfied that I left very few Silvers in the peg.

The match was won by Harry Muir (library pictured above) with 64 lb 2 oz from peg 15. Harry caught on the method over towards the island.

The Silvers was won by Dave Willmott (pictured right with his catch) with 34 lb of Skimmer and Roach. Dave fished short starting on maggot and later switching to caster. Dave certainly got the Silvers sorted on this venue. Well done matey.

Considering the conditions and that it has been fished quite a lot recently it fish better than most expectations. With more matches the venue will improve even more. The fish definitely need feeding up.

Result:

1. Harry Muir 64-02-0 peg 15

2. Luke Fothergill 56-06-0 peg 13

3. Mark Tanner 51-04-0 peg 3

4. Clive Glisson 34-02-0 peg 23

Silvers:

1. Dave Willmott 34-0-0 peg 17

2. Chris Ollis 19-03-0 peg 9

3. Dave Lewis 18-10-0 peg 2

4. Andy Pratten 13-0-0 peg 14

Weigh Sheet:

Thursday 31/08/2017 - Chris Ollis Knock-Up - Farleigh Woods.

I hadn’t had a decent breakfast for ten days so was eager to get to the Café in Bath with Geoff Francis. A great breakfast it was too, but left me very tired combined with travel lag and all I wanted to do was sleep. I didn’t have time to get to the tackle shop so went armed with expenders and paste. And as Chris Ollis had pegged the woods I was hoping to target the Carp with paste. With a few on holiday we were down to eight anglers so a day out with friends for a knock up. This venue can easily take 18 anglers so come on get down to this tranquil fishery and put the world to rights with owner John.

In to the draw hat and out came pegs 1 and 8 with 1 being the fancied peg but had to leave this one to Clive Glisson for his late arrival – so choose the wrong one. Got to the peg and I was set to be in the shade all day, which I was thankful for. On my right is a tree which was mostly under water out to five metres. The other side had an accessible margin so choose this side for the margin paste rig which I really expected to catch Carp from later. I also set up a pate rig to fish at 10 metres in six foot of water. Finally a 4x12 Winter for the Skimmers. I fed the margin with GB and the long paste line with soaked 4’s. I started at top-set plus two with 4mm expander over loose fed micro and caught small Skimmers from the off. I then hooked one of the tree roots which did break off leaving the bottom bubbling for 20 minutes during which I couldn’t catch so noticing fizzing over the long paste line so went over it with the paste and got frustrated as I couldn’t get any indication whatsoever. Back on the Skimmers which had returned until I hooked a small 2lb Carp which did its bets to disrupt the peg. I tried the long paste line again whilst keeping a hopeful eye on any activity in the margin. On the RH side the submerged tree branches were moving about with that catch me if you can wave. Even with the Drennan 25 bungee it would have been impossible to get them out that said I was tempted a few times but resisted. The upshot was I mugged a decent Carp on the Skimmer rig which as I expected broke me. Two foul hookers on the Skimmer rig which needed new hook lengths. Not one Carp obliged in the LH margin and probably had their fill long after we went. I should have fished for Silvers all day.

I weighed 9lb 6oz of Silvers and the one carp of 2lb 14oz for nowhere. It was back to the Globe Inn for a few Pinky Ponks and early to bed to end a perfect but tiring day.

The knock up was won by Clive Glisson (pictured upper right) with 59lb 10oz from peg 1. Clive caught on his usual method – method with pellet.

The Silvers was won by Dave Willmott (pictured right with a net of typical venue Silvers) with 32lb 8oz from peg 6. Dave used his magic caster and maggot approach fished at 7 metres.

The venue is more of a Silvers venue that Carp. If Dave Willmott can get enough interest he will run a Silvers league here, contact Dave if interested.

Result:

1. Clive Glisson 59-10-0 peg 1
2. Geoff Francis 42-11-0 peg 5

Silvers:

1. Dave Willmott 32-08-0 peg 6
2. Paul Barnfield 10-06-0 peg 7

Weight Sheet:

  

Thursday 01/06/2017 - Chris O'Zone Open - Farleigh Woods

It was back to one of Geoff Francis favourite venues – Farleigh Woods. Although the Hungerford Arms was open for breakfast we choose to eat at The Café under the Batch railway arches. Very relaxing place to eat hearing trains pass overhead loaded with people rushing to work.

It appears that once you enter the gates of the fishery you loose all sense of direction once again we went down a dead end, one we haven’t been down before, if we had all the caravans had been mysteriously changed, scary.

These matches are organised by Chris Ollis who had Fourteen anglers booked in with thirteen arriving (is he still wandering around the woods – we didn’t check). We had pegs 1 to 15 booked, so anticipated getting a feature peg. Time for the draw, Chris has a well mannered draw method whereby your invited to the draw – very civilised. I couldn’t believe that I drew peg 14 again. Three visits and have drawn 13 and now 14 twice so haven’t travelled far around the fishery. Would have preferred to have fished a different peg, but the peg is probably the best Silvers peg. However, it meant I would be in the blazing sun all day.

Three pole parts – no 4 and two top sets. Two rigs – 4x12 F1 winter and a 0.3 Barnett paste float. Bait tray – wetted micros, 4mm expanders, hard 4’s, my senile paste and course GB. I’m not sure what went wrong with the expanders but within a few minutes they had turned to a mush. So I made up three batches with varying amounts of pumping/water. None were that good. I think it might be due to the hot weather.

I started as last time and for a couple of hours caught the tiny Skimmers on 4mm paste like expanders over micro at top-set plus one. It was soon apparent that I wasn’t going to get close to the 27lb of Skimmers I had from the peg last time out. It was now time for the banana walk and to have a spell out of the sun. It was fishing really hard for Silvers – as I expected with the conditions. Clive Glisson (nine small carp) and Geoff Francis (four better carp) were doing best. So back in the saddle and sun. The Silvers had all but disappeared so tried adding some sections adding another 6 inches to the depth. Not a bite. Hindsight was to tell me I messed around with this too long. With an hour to go I went in the margin on the top-set where I had been feeding GB. On went the senile and blow me I had a Carp first dob. I went on to land six hard fighting Carp loosing four foulers.

My silvers weighed 11lb 7oz and my six Carp 34lb 6oz for first in the Silvers and third overall. If only I had gone in the margin 15 minutes earlier I think I would have had a double top. Who knows?

The match was won by Clive Glisson (pictured right with the Silvers winner) with 52lb 2oz from peg 7. Clive fished a method feeder 60 metres to the island with hair rigged 8mm pellet. It was nice to see him again I use to fish with his dad John many years ago on the river. When I would see John walking to his peg I always hoped he wasn’t in my section as he was very difficult to beat.

Some new faces up from Somerset today great to see them. This is a gem of a fishery with sensible close winning weights and far from the madding crowd – or I hope it is.

Chris is running two more Thursday matches 08 and 15 June contact him to book in, you don’t have to be a Coffin Dodger to fish - but it helps.

Full Result:

1. Clive Glisson 52-02-0 peg 7
2. Geoff Francis 47-04-0 peg 9
3. Mike Nicholls 45-13-0 peg 14

Top Silvers:

1. Mike Nicholls 11-07-0 peg 14
2. Chris Ollis 6-13-0 peg 13
3. Pau Barnfield 3-14-0 peg 1

Weigh sheet!!

Thursday 04/05/2017 - Farleigh Woods - Nearly over 55's.

Another visit to Farleigh Woods Fishery with Geoff Francis, but first a stop for breakfast I thought we would give the Sizzling Onion a miss trying the Café under the railway arches in Bath (pictured right). Both Geoff and I really enjoyed it, plus easy to park. We must support these independent businesses more.

We arrived at the fishery early so had the usual walk round all hoping to draw peg 1 which would have been difficult as it wasn’t in today. The Willows have being doing their usual business casting their sticky shucks.

Into the draw hat and out comes peg 14, happy with this as it won the Silvers last match.  A quick set up of a margin paste rig which at the moment is a waste of Silvers fishing time. The only other rig was a 4x12 F1 Winter. I could now apply some learning from the first match so to start, it would be top-set plus one in front in four foot of water and later in case I plumbed top-set plus three which was only 3 inches deeper. On the bait tray 4mm expander and wetted micro. The paste and hard fours were thrown to the side very early on. So all set up when I had a visit from the fishery owner 88 year young John (pictured right – the man that built this fishery – to whom we will be thankful in years to come). We swapped our mutual political views. John was a navigator on a Lancaster Bomber. He is a really nice man who takes time to have a chat with everyone. Time for the pre-match wander and first stop was organiser Chris “Recycle” Ollis. Why is it when someone has prepared some disgusting bait they invite you to smell it. Luckily I had already spotted him extracting fish bones from his home made Chicken and Trout paste – really – taking budget fishing to new Heights or lows, made me feel queasy looking at it.

Ignoring the margin wasting I started by potting a few micros in on both my chosen lines starting short with the 4mm expander and loose feeding micro over the top. I caught small Skimmers1oz to 12oz immediately and by applying last match learning wrt feeding pattern managed to keep them coming steady all day from the short line. Reaching the last 45 minutes by which time I reckoned I had 127 fish. I then had a pretty Common Carp of about 5lb. So decided to start loose feeding the 4mm expander leaving the micro out and had another two Commons before the all out.

I finished with 27lb 5oz of an all Skimmers catch with the three Carp weighing 15lb 11oz for a third overall weight of 43lb. This left 5oz behind Geoff Francis (pictured right with some of his 12 Carp). Geoff is getting a bit of a reputation of pulling Birds.

The match was won by Paul Barnfield with eight Carp for 52lb 2oz from end peg 12. Paul caught down to the empty peg in about 2 foot of water catching on meat over meat. Well done matey.

It was back to the Hungerford Arms for a pint or two of Doombar. When Chris “Recycle” Ollis walked in the two large brown dogs went mental jumping all over him and licking his wax jacket – Umm – Chris also DNW’ed - wonder why? Chris said his Lily pads were moving which was probably the fish trying to get away from the paste.

This is a great fishery all the fish being in exceptional conditions, not a mark on them. The Mallard chicks are a bloody nuisance just raise an arm and the dive towards you. The sad think with these birds is that they pestered us all day and come the bait throwing time they had buggered off.

Full Result:

1. Paul Barnfield 52-02-0 peg 12
2. Geoff Francis 43-05-0 peg 16

Silvers:

1. Mike Nicholls 27-05-0 peg 14
2. Hughie Evans 15-03-0 peg 18

Result Sheet:

Thursday 21/04/2017 - Ray's Rip-Off - Farleigh Woods

After a eight day lay-off from fishing due to family commitments I was really up for todays match.

Farleigh Woods today a new venue for most of the Coffin Dodgers including me and Geoff Francis. The venue came highly recommended by Chris Ollis. Apparently a venue difficult to find so ten of us we agreed to meet Dave “Satnav” Gillard at the Red Lion Sizzler at Combe Down for breakfast. The breakfast was strange being served on a slab of ceramic but more off putting was the ingredients were piled on top one another and on the bottom was fried onion – missed that on the menu – horrible repeating on me all day. The price was good though!

We all set off behind Satnav who on reaching the difficult part got lost. Luckily Geoff Francis satnav took over. What a strange place, definitely need to draw away from the venue to prevent a car parking nightmare. The lake looked really nice and natural with loads of Bankside cover. Having walked round there were only a couple of pegs I wouldn’t want.

Ray Bazeley having finally worked out that he had Alan Jones down twice the reason he had 21 anglers on his list and I had 20 on mine. I wonder if Alan paid twice. Into the draw hat and out came peg 13 – unlucky for some. After some good car parking attending by Dave Poole we all managed to get close enough to our pegs. For company I had Dave “Just Like That” Willmott on peg 12 and Pete Greenslade on peg 12. I was a bit concerned I was close to moaning corner with Paul Haines and Paul Barnfield in the next two pegs.

We were promised loads of Skimmers and later loads of Carp from the margins. I’ve heard it all before. With pleasure catches of 20 -30lb of Skimmers and Carp catches of 50lbs in match conditions you can half these weights and possibly reduce further if nearly all the pegs were in as they were today. So the target 10 -15lb Silvers and 25lb of Carp. So set up the Ronnie rig in case some showed – they didn’t. A PC margin paste rig to fish in 30 inches of water down under the tree to my left. A 4x12 Malman F1 was also set up for the Skimmers.

I was told the Skimmers were mainly small 2 to 12oz so for speed elected to fish top-set plus one in 4 foot of water out in front with 4mm expander over loose fed wetted micro. I started on this rig whilst loose feeding hard 4’s into the margin swim. I had a good twenty minutes catching tiny Skimmers not using the landing net once. After this the peg went weird I was getting indications and quick bites I couldn’t hit. When Dave Willmott said he was catching Crayfish on maggot the penny drop “The Crays” were nicking the expander. So time to try the margin with the paste, surprisingly it just sat there with no indications from small fish or The Crays. I put on another section and tried maggot over GB to catch a couple more bottle tops. The upshot I kept the odd fish coming by carfully feeding another micro and expander line at top-set plus three, history now tells me I spent too long trying to catch Carp and should have stuck to the Silvers. The only other species I landed was a 1oz Perch. I did foul hook a colourful Carp in the margin which bounced off my 25 elastic.

My silvers weighed 9lb 2 ½ oz for last in the Silvers money.

 

The Match was won by John Smith (pictured upper right) with 26lb 7oz from Jungle peg 5. John caught four Carp down his RH margin using meat over meat. John lost some Carp in the obstacle course.

The Silvers was won by Dave Willmott (pictured right with his catch - looking some what surprised) with 19lb 3oz from peg 12. Dave caught long using either maggot ot meat hook bait fished over loose fed meat and caster.

Rip-off followed Colin Goldings payout method which I think is very appropriate for these types of matches.

Ended the day in perfect fashion at the Globe drinking Doombar with the usual suspects.

Full Result: (all picking up £25)

1. John Smith 26-7-12-0 peg 5
2. Chris Ollis 27-04-0 peg 9
3. Dave Willmott 24-02-0 peg 14
4. Ray Bazeley 20-12-0 peg 3

Silvers:

1. Dave Willmott 19-03-0 peg 12
2. Hughie Evans 11-15-0 peg 16
3. Dave “Satnav” Gillard 10-15-0 peg 20
4. Mike Nicholls 9-2-8 peg 13

Weigh Sheet: