Wednesday 28/07/2010 - Carps AC - Huntstete Withy Pool

I didn’t sleep well last night, tossing and turning all night. I put this down to going to the Mall and spending money on our Ruby (meaning precious stone) Wedding present – well the Special ones. Consequently I was irritated by everything and everyone, especially the fish – and for no real reason. Unlike Tim Ford who apparently only needs two hours sleep a night and is still as bright and chirpy on the morning.

I drew peg 42 which is a very narrow peg, nonetheless a peg I like. After delivering Colin gear to his peg (he’s still ready before anyone else) I noticed there were signs of feeding fish. So I set up the usual Ronnie rig and the two paste rigs, one for the RH margin and the other to be fished out in front at 5 metre on the edge of the “white water”, you can’t beat a black top float for visibility. I fed the 5 metre line with 8mm hard pellet, noticing that some were floating – irritation- so in went some water. Doing this slows up the decent of the pellet which can be good and bad – bad today – irritation. Second put in on paste I had a beautiful 10 lb Common Carp however, the hook had been pulled right through the lip by the landing net and it took me an age to unhook it carefully – irritation. After an hour no further Carp. I went in after the Ronnie’s with caster, who were really having a go, but I would catch three or four and they would disappear – irritation. I set up a shallow rig on the elasticated rig and had a few more Ronnie’s with the addition of Perch – what are these doing up in the water? After chasing the Ronnie’s and Perch around I tried the RH margin with paste where I had been loose feeding 4 mm hard pellet only to be pestered by Ronnie’s. So I decided to forget the Ronnie’s and focus on the Carp at 5 metres. I continued to feed wetted 8’s through the kinder pot with paste and had line bite after line bite – irritation. I believe this to be Carp – but no - it was decent Skimmers feeding just off bottom. I set up a 4x14 Jolly for the soft 6mm expander, thinking this would be the answer – not a bite – irritation. So I stopped feeding and went back on the paste and had a run of two decent Carp!! My irritations started to ease. I then had a run of decent Skimmers to 3lb, but they played with the paste for ages before taking it – irritation. Matey Terry Bruton came to my peg to collect his shoes he left with me last week, he brought me some freshly picked Stringer beans. He must have known it's the Special Ones favourite vegetable. You have a friend for life now Terry. My three Carp weighed in at 23lb 10oz and the Silvers 17lb 3oz for a total of 40lb 13oz. This put me second overall and second in the Silver, so picking up the Silver pool by default. Prbably because of my mod I felt as if I didn't fish well. That said I think I would have settled for 17lb of Silvers at the start.

The match and the Silvers were by Colin Golding (pictured right with the defaulted Silvers winner) from peg 45 with a total of 44lb 2oz comprising 20lb 4oz of Silvers. It looked as if Colin had a pot on the pole so I don’t think he fished his usual plop, plop method today. Colin also fished at 10 metres, I could easily tell as these pole sections are still brand new.

Bob Price caught the highest Carp weight bringing 7 Carp to the scales for 36lb from his preferred peg 50. Bob fished the wager on top of the bar off the opposite island with banded pellet.


Full Result:

1. Colin Golding 44-02-0 peg 45
2. Mike Nicholls 40-13-0 peg 42
3. Bob Price 36-08-0 peg 50
4. Steve Dawson 30-09-0 peg 48
5. Bill Ferris 20-12-0 peg 47
6. Dave Bacon 14-14-0 peg 43

Top Silvers:

1. Colin Golding 20-04-0 peg 45
2. Mike Nicholls 17-03-0 peg 42

Wednesday 17/03/2010 - Carps AC - Huntsrete - Withy Pool

As today’s chosen venue was fishing so bad I nearly went to Avalon instead, it was only the fact that it was much closer that swayed me. There are numerous rumours regarding the future stocking and destocking of the Huntstrete complex that I think Bathampton AA should now inform members as to what is planned to enable member feed back - I believe that major decisions such as these should be by member consensus. As far as I am concerned Bridge Pool is spot on with Withy Pool needing lots more fish – my suggestion would be F1’s and perhaps some Chub. As for the main lake that needs a lot more thought. I really don’t know where the club is going with this one; it seems to be a waste of a good fishing resource to me.

Off the soap box and back to the fishing. With my back still playing up from my "Trip" to Landsend I was hoping for an easy day. I suggested that all the pegs should be on the main water of the lake, however, I was shouted down and pegs 53 and 54 were put in which are behind the island. These pegs can be good for Carp during the summer, however, not very productive for the Silver population at any time of the year. I drew peg 53! Next to me on peg 54 was Steve Dawson a good Silvers angler. However, I knew it wasn’t going to be a peg to peg battle for the Silvers pool from these pegs. I set up two rigs: 1 – 4x16 Jolly at 7 metres for the Silvers, which is half the width of the peg and 1 – 4x12 Jolly at 13 metres for Carp. I fed a small amount of micro with about six casters on the silvers line and micro and corn on the Carp line. Starting on the Silvers line I had four fast bites which I missed before I had a 1oz Ronnie. The same pattern repeated itself and another 1oz Ronnie. I then had a 1lb Mirror Carp. Then nothing so I switched to 3mm soft pellet and had a 1lb Skimmer and that was the last of my Silvers! Steve Dawson by this time was still waiting for his first bite. Time to go out and out for Carp and on went a curnel of corn and before the float settled I was into a 3lb Carp. With it safely in the net, back out again and a 6lb Carp. Umm, another good day’s carping in the offering – Not. I had another three Carp losing one at the net after “the fish on cry”. I knew the loss of this fish would cost me and it did. I weighed 1lb 4oz of Silvers and 23lb 6oz of Carp for a total of 24lb 10oz.

My neighbour for the day - Steve Dawson weighed 2lb of 1 - 2 oz Ronnies. Unfortunately Steve also broke his pole - a number four section.

The match was won by Tom Thick from peg 43 with 55lb 13oz. Tom caught the majority of his fish at 10 metre on soft 3mm pellet fished over wetted micro pellet feed.

Runner up was Chris Fox (pictured right focused on catching another Carp, either taht or he is a sleep) who relegated me to third spot with six Carp from peg 50. For details on how Chris caught his fish visit his blog.

Full Result:

1. Tom Thick 55-13-0 peg 43
2. Chris Fox 27-11-0 peg 50
3. Mike Nicholls 24-10-0 peg 53
4. John Bennett 8-15-0 peg 73
5. Bob Price 7-02-0 peg 47
6. Andy Gard 7-01-0 peg 50

Top Silvers:

1. Tom Thick 20-08-0 peg 43
2. Bob Price 7-02-0 peg 47

Wednesday 02/09/2009 - Carps AC - Huntstrete - Withy Pool

It's now official the River Chew Dace caught by Paul Randell highlighted in my blog

http://silverfoxangling.blogspot.com/2009/06/sunday-07062009-bathampton-aa-open.html

has been confirmed by the Environment Agency as a Chub hybrid. Unlucky Paul - good fish though.

Any one fed up of hearing about the Lockerbie bomber release yet - I am!!

Well done to "Woody" Woodington for his first double ton this weekend - for details see comments today.

My first expander, like most anglers was the Ringer, however, the quality dropped with additives such as hemp adding to the breaking up of the pellet and attracting Ronnie's. I swapped to the GOT pellet (Ton up), which, for some time was OK. As with the Ringers they now seemed to have lost quality with the pellets being inconsistent in size. So I have now switched to Halibait pellets (can be purchased from Avon Angling). I use both the 4mm and 6mm, but when ready for use the are more like 6mm and 8mm!! They do keep their shape and can be squeezed to perfectly shot the float.

Isn't it amazing how Autumn is a sudden step change where as Spring never seems to happen! Torrential rain today - AND I STAYED DRY - not a drop on me - unfortunately this was the highlight of my day! I wore my Halkon Hunt Gortex for the first time today. You only get what you pay for in this world. My Preston 1000 crap is now hung in the kitchen for washing up!!

I was hoping for peg 41 again as I didn't do the peg justice on the last match (so I thought). I was the last to draw and pulled out peg - 41. Lucky Halkon Hunt! I was a little apprehensive as to whether the Silvers would feed - particularly the Ronnie's after my experiences at Viaduct Sunday. This peg is Ronnie's or nothing with huge Carp later in the match. So I set up two Ronnie rigs, one on the 3 metre whip and one paste rig both these rigs were at top set distance. I started on the caster and second put in I latched in to something that fought very strange - after 10 minutes I was starting to think really big Eel. Then I saw a fixed in line method feeder attached to my hook. I then saw a huge tail of a Carp - I estimated it at 16lb. What had happened was, my hook had caught in the method feeder which was attached to the Carps tail by a 6 inch piece of heavy line. I was determined to get the Carp out for two reasons - one no one was catching and more important to me was to untangle the Carp. So I played it very carefully, but after 45 minutes I realised that I wasn't going to get it out, mainly because of the method feeder attachment. Suddenly my hook pulled free from the feeder. Why is it that this fishery is one of the only of the few in the country that allows fixed method feeders - this superb fish will probably be dead by tomorrow. Who ever used this rig shame on you - Bathampton AA BAN THESE RIGS NOW. This all episode really upset me. After this I struggled for any sort of fish. I half heartily picked off the odd Ronnie on caster for a weight of 5lb 8oz for fourth in the Silvers. The lowest weight this year.

The match and Silvers was won by Terry Bruton (pictured right) from peg 43 with 16lb 14 oz of Bream and 43lb 4oz of Carp for a total weight of 60lb 2oz. Terry caught at 8 metres on paste. Well done matey - I am expecting a phone call. It's all Bob Warren' s fault for coaching Terry on the paste!

Full Result:

1. Terry Bruton 60-04-0 peg 43

2. Bob Warren 37-02-0 peg 48

3. Steve Jefferies 32-08-0 peg 53

4. Dave Bacon 30-0-0 peg 47

5. Bill Ferris 23-08-0 peg 50

Top Silvers:

1. Terry Bruton 16-14-0 peg 43

2. Bill Ferris 11-04 - 0 peg 50

Wednesday 29/07/2009 - Carps AC - Huntstrete - Withy Pool

I receive quite a few comments about my blog by e-mail. The comments made are very interesting and can be shared with other readers, whom I am sure, would also like to read them. Simply use the “comments” section at the bottom of each blog entry and follow the instructions.

I have mentioned a few times in my blog Skip “The Stig” McCabe the record holder at Mawgan Porth. Well, It looks as if we have a new “Stig” with Harry Billings – doesn’t quite have the same ring, “you know what I mean”! I wonder how many fished.

Mawgan Porth: Match Lake, Fri. 10. Harry Billing (Mosella Garbolino) 363-15-0, carp on pole and pellet, peg 6, new match record; Andy Partridge (Spro) 189-5-0; John Slote (Mawgan Porth) 177-5-0; Wayne Ledbury (Mawgan Porth) 80-13-0; Guy Bristow (Barns) 72-5-0.

However, Stuart Redman must be the real Stig of the match angling world – See attached video and watch his rhythm and how focussed he is!!! 1,247 fish in five hours that’s 311lb 12oz; if they are all 4oz fish or 155lb 14oz if 2oz! Blimey, that is impressive. However, you do need the fish in front of you.

http://www.matchfishingmagazine.com/Videos/category_5/video_81/

Matey Bela Bakos won Rip Off’s match at Avalon on Sunday fishing paste on the waggler to the far bank - How on earth does he do this?

Well at last the weather forecasters got it right – heavy rain all day, and it’s still raining as I write this blog (no Darren I haven’t got my Halkon Hunt clothing yet and yes I did use the Preston crap and yes I got soaked – make you feel better after Sunday). After a good breakfast at Hungry Horace’s with Mark Tanner we arrived at Withy Pool car park at 08:00 and had a walk around. No fish showing anywhere so I didn’t have a feel for which peg might produce today. On hearing that peg 57 was pegged Terry Bruton said that if he drew it he would go straight home (Terry fished it Sunday in the Bathampton AA Charity match and had two small Carp). It was a good job that Steve Jefferies didn’t go home after drawing it! There is no doubt that Withy Pool is difficult to peg, it’s like dealing a pack of cards! It was a good turn out today – probably because we were expecting some good weather – or was it because it was local venue.

I drew peg 41, a peg I have never fished but always wanted to. I was anticipating a good net of Silvers and perhaps some Carp later. I started on the Ronnie rig and caster and immediately knew the going was going to be hard. I had fed a 7 metre line for both the paste and pellet, so I had a try on both, only to be beaten to the strike by small Ronnie’s on paste, pellet, corn and caster. So I came back on the caster rig loose feeding wetted micro pellet with the same on the hook. This resulted in a run of small hybrid’s and Ronnie’s. With two hours to go I went back on the caster and had a few Ronnie’s – but the going was hard. With one hour to go the Ronnie’s suddenly stopped feeding. I thought it was because of the general poor fishing and miss read that the Carp had moved in. I went out on the 7 metre line and messed about catching the odd Ronnie on various baits. With fifteen minutes to go came back in on the caster and wham one lost carp. Tied a new hook and wham another lost Carp. With five minutes to go I plopped the paste in and wham a seven pounder in the net. Bugger, I wish I changed to the paste with one hour to go – all the signs were there!! I weighed 14lb 14oz which included 7lb 3oz of Silvers which put me third in the Silvers and a pick up of £25.

The match was won by Bob Warren (pictured right with runner up Kevin Dicks) with 49lb 12oz from peg 43. Bob fished paste all match at 7 metres, landing eight Carp.

In third place was Steve “The Skud” Jefferies with 40-12-0 which included a 17 lb Mirror Carp (pictured bottom right) - (which apparently shrank by 3lb whilst in Steve’s keep net). I don't think that today's Carp beats the one Steve caught at Sangria-La last year - Either way Stevee looks just as cold! (see picture bottom right).

The Silvers was won by Mr Pastry from peg 49 with a lowly 8lb 15oz.

Full Result:

1. Bob Warren 49-12-0 peg 43

2. Kevin Dicks 46-12-0 peg 54

3. Steve Jefferies 40-12-0 peg 57

4. Terry Bruton 40 -0-0 peg 74

5. Tom Thick 38-08-0 peg 48

6. Charlie Barnes 25-13-0 peg 69

Top Silvers:

1. Colin Golding 8-15-0 peg 49

2. Tom Thick 7-14-0 peg 48

3. Mike Nicholls 7-03-0 peg 41

Sunday 29/03/2009 - Carps AC - Huntstrete Withy Pool

Prior to the draw we had a small rendition of “Happy Birthday” for Bob Price who was 71 today. I was going to record:

“Bob the Bread Blanks on his Birthday”

However, one hour before the whistle Bob disappears off behind the island (pegs in the 50’s) and landed three double figure Carp on Bread.

I drew peg 42. A peg I am familiar with. I set up for pellet and Skimmers at 6 metres (the peg is only 13 metres wide), a light Ronnie rig and a margin paste rig for the Carp. I fed wet micro at 6 metres, but started on the caster. I had a good run of Ronald’s to 8oz until some bank walkers pushed the fish further out. I switched to the pellet rig. I was getting very quick bites, which indicated that the Ronnie’s were also over the pellet. No sign of the Skimmers. This line started to frustrate. It was noticeable that the Carp were not feeding either. So I decided to set up the 4 metre whip and after trying all depths found that one foot deep was the most productive and had a good run of Ronnie’s. However, the fish were lying off the feed, with only two to three Ronnie’s being caught on any one line. I must have missed hundreds of bites. I weighed 15lb for first in the Silvers and third in the match for a pick up of £45.

The match was won by Terry Bruton (pictured right with the Silvers winner) from peg 61 with a low 17lb 7oz. Terry caught on a 3 gram waggler at full depth with 8mm hard banded pellet fished over 8mm pellet. Terry fed 1 ½ pints.

Full Result:

1. Terry Bruton 17-07-0 peg 61
2. Gordon Cannings 15-14-0 peg 60

3. Mike Nicholls 15-0-0 peg 42

4. Dave Bacon 14-01-0 peg 67
5. Bill Ferris 12-03-0 peg 44
6. Darren Gillman 9-12-0 peg 47 (pictured right with a 1lb 3oz Roach from his catch)

Top Silvers:
1. Mike Nicholls 15-0-0 peg 42
2. Bill Ferris 12-03-0 peg 44

Wednesday 04/02/2009 - Carps AC - Huntstrete - Withy Pool

Well the weather goes from bad to worse; should I go, or, should I do a couch potato? Although the first test was starting in Jamaica I decided to go, well the temperature had risen to zero! I was amazed to find another nine lunatics’ who had braved the conditions. The conditions made pegging easy - where swims were ice free. This was pegs 69 through to pegs 59 (photograph right shows the clear areas (far top) and the prevailing conditions).

Last Thursday I had a pleasure session on peg 67 and had 30lb of Skimmers, plus two Carp. I recon that 10% of the Skimmers had Cormorant spear marks on them – a bit worrying. So, any peg around this area would be good. In fact I drew peg 69, which was the first peg next to the ice. I was well pleased. I started at top set plus four sections – two swims – a light rig up to the edge of the ice, over caster and one out in front with pellet. It took me two hours to get my first bite - a micro Perch. Other than pegs 69 and 68 (Bill Ferris) everyone caught Carp. I ended up with six Ronnie’s and one Perch for 8oz and won the Silvers by default with 8oz and a pick up of £35. Bill Ferris had one Ronnie (DNW). The only other Silver fish caught was a 3lb 14oz Bream by the match winner John Bennett (pictured right with his Bream) from peg 67.

John Bennett (Photograph bottom right with one of his Carp) weighed an amazing 60lb 4oz. John caught at 13 metres using maggot and 4mm expander pellet over micro pellet.

Runner up was Andy Curry with 48lb 12oz from peg 66. Andy fished 10 metres with Corn.

Full Result:
  
1. John Bennett 60-04-0 peg 67
2. Andy Curry 48-12-0 peg 66
3. Bob Price 28-0-0 peg 62
4. Colin Golding 26-12-0 peg 60
5. Andy Gard 9-12-0 peg 64
6. Bob Warren 5-02-0 peg 61

Top Silvers:

1. John Bennett 3-14-0 peg 67
2. Mike Nicholls 0-8-0 peg 69

Wednesday 10/09/2008 Carps AC - Huntstrete Withy Pool

I have just realised that today I have fished a match without it raining! I drew peg 54, which is behind the furthest island. The wind was being funnelled down through the gap between the island and the bank, into my face which was going to make it difficult to present for the Ronnies. I decided to feed some ground bait with micro and a few 4mm pellet in to 7 foot of water at top set plus two on for the Skimmers. I started on the top set with caster and could not get a bite. So out on the 6mm GOT expander pellet for the skimmers. I caught about four then foul hooked a Carp. From hence I kept missing what seemed positive bites. I tried small pieces of paste, which resulted in a couple more Skimmers. The catch rate was not good enough. So back on the caster and top set which started to deliver some quality Ronald's to 1lb 8oz. Because of the wind I set up a three metre whip and waggler. I alternated between the waggler and top set to keep a few Ronnies coming, with the odd Skimmer/Hybrids on the Skimmer line. With five minutes to go I hooked a large Carp which was landed five minutes after the whistle. This cost me first in the Silvers. I weighed 15lb 12oz of Silvers and 11lb 10oz Carp for fifth in the match and second in the Silvers and a pick up of £15.

The Match was won by Terry Bruton (pictured top right) from peg 59 with 85lb 12oz. Terry fished the pole at 14.5 metres to the island with banded hard pellet on the hook, fished over 10mm hard pellet. Terry's first three Carp weighed in at 34lb!

The Silvers was won by Keith Firks from peg 47 with 2oz more then me - 15lb 14oz! Keith fished sweet corn on the hook over sweet corn. Keith qualified for the Carps AC Wednesday Silversmania.
Colin Golding broke his number four section of his Maver 401 (again) whilst playing a Carp. I watched him playing the fish, and must say, he wasn't putting that much pressure on. The section never had the decency to make any noise when it broke! Terry Bruton and I rescued the top set which still had the Carp on it. Unfortunately Colin then proceeded to lose it.

Full Result:

1. Terry Bruton 85-12-0 peg 59
2. Chris Fox 64-06-0 peg 51
3. Bob Price 48-14-0 peg 43
4. Keith Firks 31-10-0 peg 47
5. Mike Nicholls 27-10-0 peg 54
6. Bob Warren 27-01-0 peg 45

Top Silvers:

1. Keith Firks 15-14-0 peg 47
2. Mike Nicholls 15-12-0 peg 54
3. Bob Warren 14-12-0 peg 45
4. Bill Ferris 14-0-0 peg 50

For those wanting to fish Rood Ashton I have attached a map from Google Earth - for guidance only!

Wednesday 02/07/2008 Carps AC - Huntstrete - Withy Pool

Carps AC enlisted the experience of Bob Warren and Terry Bruton to decide on the pegging. What a difference! Well done to both. The close results reflect this with only one fish separating the frame. I drew peg 69 (again). I started after the Ronnies on caster, only to get bitted out by Perch! The Perch were anything from eyes to 4oz - really not worth catching. Decide to switch to pellet and started to catch 1 to 4oz Ronnies and small Skimmers from bottle tops to 4oz. No better than the Perch. As the Carp were apparently not feeding I stayed on this for all of the match. I lost two Carp then landed two for 13lb 12oz (the second was a double). I weighed 24lb 8oz of Silvers for a total of 38lb 4oz. This gave me first in the Silvers and 2nd overall. For some reason I picked up £33 for second overall rather than first in silvers. However, this did give Colin Golding second in the Silvers (third pacing) by default and for the second time left Steve Jefferies without a pick up coming third overall. Why does a third in Silvers pick up and third overall does not?
The match was one by Dave Bacon (pictured top right - ready for fishing on after the match - is that Cat meat I see) from peg 68 (having originally set up in my peg!). Dave fished both the pellet waggler and straight lead for seven Carp and a couple of decent Bream for a total weight of 40lb 4oz. Dave caught on pellet loose feeding 11 mm hard pellet.

John Bradford qualified for the Wednesday Silversmainia by triple default with 18lb 12oz of Silvers up to 4oz - again a lot of Perch evident in John's catch.

Full Result:

1. Dave Bacon 40-04-0 peg 68
2. Mike Nicholls 38-04-0 peg 69
3. Steve Jefferies 36-06-0 peg 50
4. Bob Warren 34-13-0 peg 43
5. Chris Fox 30-04-0 peg 58
6. John Bennett 30-03-0 peg 47

Top Silvers:

1. Mike Nicholls 24-08-0 peg 69
2. Bill Ferris 22-12-0 peg 72
3. Colin Golding 21-08-0 peg 41
4. John Bradford 18-12-0 peg 42 (Qualifies for the Carps AC Wednesday Silversmainia)

Wednesday 14/05/2008 Carps AC - Huntstrete - Withy Pool

I have been asked a number of times how I prepare my expander pellet, so that they all sink! The following is how I achieve this (irrespective of pellet manufacture):
Put the desired amount of pellet in a bait tub and just cover with cold tap water. Leave for sufficient time for the pellets to absorb all of the water -about a couple of hours which enough time to prepare them on the morning of the match.

Once on the bank (or at home before you leave) pump the pellets as they are i.e. do not add any water – very important this as pumping in water will give the pellets neutral buoyancy, which dependant on the properties of the surface tension will cause the pellets to float. However, neutral buoyancy pellets can be good for hookers to counter act the weight of the hook!

It was another good turn out. Nice to see Bob Sheppard in attendance - back from the IOW. I didn't realise how much I missed his moaning (Colin take a back seat). To be fair I don't think Carps AC has quite got a grips of pegging this venue. I believe the aim of the pegging should to create as much space as possible, which means, for example going for every other peg, ensuring the whole thirty nine peg are evenly spread - a number of permutations are possible to achieve this.

Today I traveled with my mate Darren Gillman who had taken a weeks holiday (thanks for the "Hungry Horace" breakfast - still digesting it), so I knew I was up against it for the Silvers pool. Darren drew peg 41 which, due the pegging gave him an end peg. This peg also has some recent form with big Roach.

I drew peg soixante neuf. Bob Warren said it was a good Silvers peg - enough said! I fed my ground bait mix at 10 metre, but started on the Ronnie Roach caster rig. I started well catching Ronnies, Rudd and some Perch. After two hours it slowed so went out on the 10 metre Skimmer line and caught six small Skimmers. Back to the Ronnie caster rig and caught more Perch, but much smaller. I had a walk round the lake which indicated that I was most probably just ahead with the Silvers, so stuck with this to the end. I weighed about 9lb of mixed Silvers and 9lb of Perch for a total weight of 18lb 2oz for first in the Silvers pool and a pick up of £40 (plus £1 from Bill Ferris).

The match was won by Chris Fox with 51lb 1oz of Carp from the next peg 68. Chris fished the pellet waggler shallow in to open water with 12mm banded pellet, over loose fed 8mm pellet.

Steve Jefferies did well to come second from un-fancied peg 51 with 44lb 3oz.

Full Result:

1. Chris Fox 51-01-0 peg 68
2. Steve Jefferies 44-03-0 peg 51
3. Leighton Palmer 42-05-0 peg 50
4. Andy Britt 41-14-0 peg 44
5. Andy Hempstead 29-0-0 peg 67
6. Darren Gillman 22-10-0 peg 41

Top Silvers:

Mike Nicholls 18-02-0 peg 69
2. Bill Ferris 15-08-0 peg 41 (giving Bill too many tips for comfort!)

Wednesday 02/04/2008 Carps AC - Huntstrete - Withy Pool

My birthday today so I decided to bring along some cakes to the draw for my fellow anglers. So happy birthday to all those born on 02 April, which includes John Baker, the previous Carps AC Treasurer and one time National Angling Champion. It was nice to see Andy Britt bring his Dad Bryan with him for this match (Bryan won the last Bathampton AA pensioners match from Withy Pool). The match was pegged a big strange to say the least - in blocks of sevens and fives which only occupied 50% of the lake, what a waste! I drew peg 57 which was 6 metres wide to an island - but an end peg (thank god).
I set up a Skimmer rig which was a 4x14 Jolly with no 20 Tubertini 808 to 0.14 G-Line hook length. The depth was about five foot down the track, which I decided to fish at 10-o-clock at 9 metres. I also set up a caster rig, for fishing over to the island with kinder potted caster, and single caster on the hook. I also setup a paste rig for down the left hand margin a 4 metres.

I started on the caster and had one small Roach which came off. Decided early to started over my Skimmer line with 4mm GOT expander pellet and didn't look back, I caught Skimmers from 3oz up tp 2lb all match. I foul hooked one Carp, which came off in five seconds and broke on another. Caught nothing on caster or paste, but both were fished half heartily.

I weighed 24lb 9oz for first in the Silvers and second in the match and a pick up of £35. Tom Coulston won the match with four Carp on bread on the straight lead and a few Skimmers for 38lb 11oz from peg 54
.
Chris Fox (pictured) was second in the Silvers with 17lb 6oz of quality Roach also from an end peg 41. Chris qualified for the Wednesday Silversmania by default.

Full Result:

1. Tom Coulston 38-11-0 Peg 54
2. Mike Nicholls 24-09-0 Peg 57
3. Colin Golding 23-00-0 Peg 45
4. Chris Fox 22-15-0 Peg 41
5. Dave Bacon 16-02-0 Peg 44
6. Bill Ferris 12-04-0 Peg 43

Top Silver:

1. Mike Nicholls 24-09-0
2. Chris Fox 17-06-0 (Qualifies for the Wednesday Silversmania)

Sunday 03/03/2008 Carps AC Hunstrete - Withypool

Practiced on peg 48 the the previous Thursday with Bob Warren and Terry Bruton. During practice I had about 23 lb of Skimmers averaging 4oz. On match day I drew peg 43, which is a peg I have pleasure fished landing an estimated 120lb of Carp. Bob drew peg 48! I intended from the start to fish for silvers as the Carp were absent during practice. The wind was blustery and blowing into my bank at 11-o-clock. Plumbed the depth to fish about 2ft up the slope towards my bank (to avoid silt and better bait presentation) which was about 10 metres of pole. The depth was 7ft (just over a power top set), so a 4x16 Jolly was just right. Fished a 20 Tubertini 808 on 0.14 G-line, with 0.18 main line.

The night before I mixed 3 pints of ground bait consisting of 50% brown Lake and 50% Gimps Gold fish meal. Fed 4 tangerine size balls through the cup at the start. I also included some 3mm soft expander pellets. I fished 4mm Ringer expander's on the hook, which accounted for all my fish. At the two hour mark I fed the same again. Then later switched to kinder potting 8 - 3mm expander pellet every fish.

I Lost two - 1lb Skimmers and one Tench due to striking in the direction of the tow (this was necessary due to bait movement, as holding the line above the float caused a static bait).
I weighed 16lb 9oz for 3rd in silvers but picked up 2nd (£35) by default (thanks to Tom Thick who came 2nd in the match). John Bradford won the silvers with 18lb 4oz of Roach from peg 41 using caster.

Full Result:

1. Terry Green 52-15-0 Peg 58

2. Tom Thick 36-7-0 Peg 56

3. Colin Golding 28-12-0 Peg 52

4. Bob Warren 26-12-0 Peg 48

5. John Bradford 18-4-0 Peg 41

6. Mike Nicholls 16-9-0 Peg 43

Top Silvers: John Bradford 18lb 6oz - Peg 41 Roach on caster