Sunday 04/06/2023 - PSV Club - Mathern Mill Fishery Top Lake (nearest)

Glenn and me travelled international to Mathern Mill in Wales. Only took 20 minutes. Thank heavens for Satnav's. Second time here and wasn't sure what lake was fished previously, but was told todays lake had plenty of big carp, so thought it was the same as last time an angler caught a 26 lb carp, unfortunately that was a silvers only match.

Arrived in plenty of time. Ryan Jordan got a bit stressed due to some anglers no show. It's stressful enough working out section, payouts, etc... the night before, becomes extra difficult on the day as so much other things to do.

Had a walk around with Glenn and it was definitely a different lake this time. So somewhere new. It looked good with a few monsters topping.

Into the draw and out comes peg 19 which was also the golden peg. In good company with Ryan on peg 18 and Gary peg 20. Ryan explained that the golden peg could be won with either silvers or carp. So now I'm confused as what to fish for. My original plan was to fish for carp with paste. So decided to keep both options open and start out for silvers and watch to see what happens on the carp front.

Didn't bother with the waggler due to the wind - Again! 0.3 gram paste rig for the margin which having plumbed around didn't impress. The short Ronnie rig and a 4x13 MR white top to fish two barrels out on front. Wanted to set up another paste float to fish over the MR line but didn't have time so left the empty top set on the roost and the rig on the tray in case.

So started on the Ronnie rig with LR's over GB laced with single LR on the hook and couldn't believe how many minute Rudd was in the peg just couldn't get through them, bulked the rig up close to the hook but didn't make a difference. So fed some GB and micro out in front and confronted with the same. The only hard bait in the bag was 4 mm hard pellet, but did have a hand full of worms. Meanwhile Ryan had a few Skimmers on corn which I left in the garage. Tried the worm and had three Skimmers, a Hybrid and a 4 oz Eel. But still pestered by Rudd. Tried the pastedown the margin on the top set and a sight to behold god knows how many Rudd holding up the paste once on the bottom it was gnawed away in quick time. Meanwhile Ryan had a few more Skimmers and Mark Radford was catching carp regularly in his margin. Ryan had been feeding casters and now had 7 skimmers and kindly sold me a pint for £4 which I assume included a high delivery charge. So what to do. Only one way forward, fish for the meniscal Rudd. So onto the Ronnie rig with the Logarithmic shotting reestablished and fished that to the end. Caster wasn't robust enough so it was LR's. No idea what they weighed but did try and count them in 10's putting a caster in a empty bait box. However, did get confused a few times. They were anything from 2 inches to 3 inches long! There were trillions in the peg and could not get through them to any better fish. Didn't bother watching for bites just cast and strike straight away. Really could have done with my plastic maggot. Estimated numbers of fish somewhere between 650 to 700. No idea what the weight was but thought Ryan had beaten me with 12 lb 5 oz thus saving the golden peg. However, I was amazed to weigh 17 lb 14 oz. Needless to say I was knackered.

The match was won by Mark Radford (pictured) with 150 lb 12 oz from peg 12 catching some quality carp down his left hand margin on his top set with paste over loose fed hard pellet. Marks did loose a few big carp due to being out gunned on his elastic. Well done Matey.

Glenn did his thing by sticking with his paste and wetted 4's feed, having only one until the last hour, adding another 7 for a section win and a 4th. Double bubble van.

There were four DNW's.

Result: (4 empty pegs between first and second!)

1. Mark Radford 150-12-0 peg 12

2. Andy Gard 111-13-0 peg 16

3. Ross 88-05-0 peg 21 (including a beautiful 18 lb Common)

4. Glenn Bailey 56-04-0 peg 9

Silvers:

1. Mike Nicholls 17-14-0 peg 19

2. Ryan Jordan 12-05-0 peg 18

Weigh Sheet:

Saturday 20/05/2017 - Mathern Mill Fishery - Silvers Only Match - Bottom Lake

It was the second new fishery for me this year – Mathern Mill Fishery. A silver only match organised by Norman Sterry. Geoff Francis and Tim Ford joined me in the trip over the bridges! First stop where we met up with Norman and George Sumusion was the Chepstow Wetherspoons, luckily there was a pay and display dead opposite. According to the Satnav it would be 25 minutes, but the twats had closed the Old Bridge adding 15 minutes to our trip. Unfortunately Tim Ford missed the two 20 feet warning signs and continued down the M48 and had to turn round.

Into the draw hat where I was immediately confused by what was in there. Out came half a clothes line peg with number SEVEN written on it, not a clue until everyone who asked me what peg I was on turned there nose up at. Arriving at the peg I had Mr and Mrs Gabe on peg 6 and George on peg 8. I was just off the end of the Island, so I asked Gabe if I could share just a bit of the end which was only just in his peg, alas not.

Expecting lots of Rudd, Roach and Skimmers, which was my target. I did erect the waggler but it stayed fishless. I set up the Ronnie rig which I thought might not be that effective because it is was quite shallow close in. The full depth was five foot at 5 metres. Because of this I set up the 4 metres whip which did get me to full depth, finally a 4x14 F1 Winter for the Skimmers at any length as the depth was fairly consistent.

I feed the top-set plus two line with some of my Skimmer GB laced wit DR’s which was conveniently also over the 4 metre whip line. However, I started on the Ronnie rig with caster and as I suspected it was too shallow but did have a couple of Rudd and a lost 2lb Chub. Out on the 4 metre whip and I wasn’t catching as anticipated – on the drop. I had a few more Rudd and some small Skimmers. It was obvious the venue wasn’t fishing to expectations, I think with the Silvers spawning and the bloody weather had something to do with it. So on to the Skimmer rig which I stayed on for the remainder of the match gradually adding sections out to top-set plus four, catching the odd Rudd, Skimmer and hooking huge Carp! I knew there was plenty of Skimmers around because I foul hooked seven of them and it was 15 minutes to go when I called it a day as I was now biteless.

I weighed 15lb 8oz which was par on the day. You definitely either need some space or an island chuck on the waggler so couldn’t understand why a couple of Island pegs were left out on the far side. Gabe next door did beat me but he was help by his Missis who kept shouting Ryby Ryby, to encourage Gabe to strike.

The match was won by organiser Norman Sterry (pictured upper right with his catch) with 34lb 14oz from fancied peg 25. Norman caught eight Chub on the waggler and maggot and some Skimmers on the pole.

Phil Weaver was opposite me and abandoned fishing for Silvers switching instead to Carp to get a days fishing. Phil had eight munters to over 20lb. One he had pictured right.

To finish off a perfect day it was back to the Griffin for a couple of pints and a steak and Chip’s. I certainly will be back to the venue as it is close even though it’s in a foreign country. Want to have a go at the large Carp with the paste.

Full Result:

1. Norman Sterry 34-14-0 peg 25
2. Rich Candy 34-12-0 peg 17
3. Tim Ford 25-13-0 peg 2
4. Andy Gard 23-02-0 peg 11
5. Gabe 20-06-0 peg 6
6. Mike Nicholls 15-08-0 peg 7

Weigh Sheet: