Wednesday 03/06/2020 - Meat Head's Knock up - Rood Ashton

Martin Rayet aka Meathead organised an eight peg knock up at Rood Ashton. Because the match was so small I wasn't going to blog but when  heard Barry Fitchew had passed away I felt the need to write something on both. 

I have known Barry for many years and never seen him in other than a jovial mood. As well as meeting with Barry on a number of open matches he started to fish the Over 55's and Silvers league at Hunstrete and showed his class with the caster, picking up on many occasions. The Over 55's will always fondly remember Barry for when he lost his valuable wrist watch in peg 11. Barry paid a diver to go in to find it which failed. I always think of him when I fish peg 11 but especially now. RIP Baz. Talking pictures - saves a thousand words.

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So eight of us met up on the banks of Rood Ashton Lake. Meathead had booked the top and woods banks, worked out we had 12+ pegs so could have had more fishing. I had a chat with Alan who said he's been very busy. For those that hadn't been here before were impressed with size and quality of the banks although there are no platforms to fish from.

Martin threw the peg cards in the air, I picked up the one nearest which was permanent peg 17, right by my car! The only other angler I could see was Mark Tanner on the next peg 18. With all the hot weather as of late and the fact the Lake is on average two foot deed, sheltered from the wind and no form of aeration I was concerned about the oxygen levels. There was a good few Carp on the surface.

I set up a paste rig for the LH margin where I had a decent depth of two feet. A 4x12 Speedy to fish at 5 metres (Alan had told us that he had used the digger to deepen the lake but only went out 5 metres). I started out in front with 6 mm expander on the hook over kindered hard 4's. The float just sat there with no indications not even form silver fish. I then had a Carp of about 7 lb, followed quickly by a 5 lb Carp. It was clear the Lake was fishing really hard. I couldn't get a bite so switched round to 10 o clock and added another section and caught two more Carp. So I thought I had sorted something out so started switching all over the place in the search of more fish. On all the numerous lines I did get a liner only to see the lone fish bow wave off. I had been feeding the margin with hard 4's so tried the paste which just sat there until it mingled with the silt. I tried the maggot for a silver or two, not a sign. So after two bite less hours I had enough so threw the towel in and decided to watch the method men fishing the island. I found out from Junior that something called a White Washed Out Wafter was best banded bait on the Method. On examination it didn't smell of anything and looked plastic! I did take a pictured of my fish because they did look pristine - about 20 lb.

The match and the biggest fish payout was picked up by Mark "Methodman" Tanner with 12 Carp for 41 lb comprising one 9 lb 11 oz which was the last fish of the match caught on paste. Well done matey.

Result:

1. Mark Tanner 44-0-0 peg 18

2. Lee Massey 38-02-0 peg 20

3. Gary Bowden 38-01-0 peg 15

Thursday 13/06/2013 - Ray's Rip Off - Rood Ashton

I decided to fish another rip off match at Rood with Mark Tanner. This time we all met the café just behind the K&A Canal at Semmington, a lot of fond memories for me fishing this section on the Canal, which I need to write about.

 

We had jus done the draw when Pete Philips arrived. Rip-off initially said he couldn’t fish because he said he “might turn up” - duh! Anyway Pete dropped in after end peg 10 – John Smiths peg.

 

Rip-off had drawn peg 1 – AGAIN, with his personal chauffeur on peg 2 – hence Rip-off match. I had drawn peg 7 which was next to the peg I drew last match. However, the conditions were vastly different with high winds and overcast I expected to catch a few. I set just the two rigs – a paste rig and a maggot rig all to be fished at 10 metres or in the RH margin. Starting on paste I had a 4 lb Carp straight way followed by another two, so things were happening, that was until the wind picked up so bad that the tow was pulling off the paste! I switched to the maggot and had a run of five Ronnie’s, this time of very light elastic which lasted until the next cast where I lost the lot on a foul hooked Carp. A similar pattern was forming similar to the previous match. The wind was getting even worse making it impossible to fish at 10 metres. So it was into the RH margin for the remainder of the match adding another four Carp losing another three – making it 4 to the fish and 7 to me – better – making it a draw over the two matches.

 

My seven Carp (all Commons) weighed 31lb 6oz and when adding my Silvers it took me to 31lb 4oz (enough to beat John Smith again) for 6^th overall.

 

I am now convinced that the destocking of this fishery has seriously affected the venue.

 

The match was won by Rip-off (pictured right with his catch) with 55lb 15oz from yes peg 1.

 

The Silvers was won by the real Pete Philips (pictured right) from end peg 11 with 2lb 12oz. Pete caught on the pole close in with maggot over maggot.

 

Full Result:

 

1.      Ray Bazeley 55-15-0 peg 1

2.      Paul Haines 54-04-0 peg 2

3.      Kevin 37-13-0 peg 9

4.      Mark Tanner 35-12-0 peg 5

5.      Pete Greenslade 33-03-0 peg 8

6.      Mike Nicholls 32-04-0 peg 7

 

Top Silvers:

 

1. Pete Philips 2-12-0 peg 11

 

The Weigh Rag Follows (Charlie Barns was on peg 5):

 

 

Thursday 06/06/2013 - "Rays Rip-Off" - Rood Ashton

With The Coffin Dodgers and Pill Poppers match being cancelled Ray Bazeley organised a match at Rood Ashton with a sell out to mainly CD & PP regulars. I got my name down early as I love this venue and haven’t been there for some time. Luckily for us there was an evening match on the Car Park bank so we were on the far bank (my favourite area) with permission to drive round – good one Ray.

 

Rood Ashton is a venue that is so picturesque that it doesn’t matter if you catch or not – which was to prove lucky for me.

 

As Mark Tanner also likes the venue he managed to get a day away from the office so picked me up. Mark decided to stop at McDonalds for a coffee and bought me a tea, only for Mark to hit a pothole and I ended up wearing it – very painful.

 

In to the draw box and out comes peg 6 which was midway along the top bank opposite the island. Unfortunately it was a very narrow swim (but not quite a Parrott cage), dead calm and bright, with surface rubbish blowing in and out the swim (this went on all day). So I had no margin option so it was going to be just the one swim at 10 metres. I set up one paste, a soft pellet and a maggot rig all to be fished full depth – 18 inches!

 

I started on the soft pellet over kindered hard 4’s and could only get bites  from small Ronnie’s but could not hook one. So I switched to the single maggot again over kindered dead maggot. I started to hook a few Ronnie’s but because of the depth of water they were splashing around on the surface a soon as I struck, losing 50% of the fish I hooked. It wasn’t going to plan. I then hooked and lost a foul hooked Carp breaking the hook length. I had a walk done to Mark Tanner who was on peg 8 and mark was catching on the pole and straight lead. Mark had plenty of wind cover which was helping him. I decided to focus on the Silvers, which might have been the right decision if I caught some, but I didn’t, instead I was a case of hooking a Carp in the mouth and then lose a foul hooker. I tried the paste with no joy. So I stayed on the maggot until the end landing 8 Carp and losing 12 (yes 12) foul hookers. I tried allsorts of feeding but I couldn’t work out how to catch the critters in the mouth – very frustrating.

 

My 8 Carp weighed 24lb 14oz and my bag of Ronnie’s 1lb 3oz from a not so grand total of 26lb 1oz for 8^th overall and third in the Silvers! That said I did enjoy fishing against the fish at one time I had clawed back to 8 Carp in the net and lost 8 foul hookers, but lost the day in the final 30 minutes.

 

The match was won by Mark Tanner (pictured upper right with his catch) with 67lb 8oz from peg 8. Mark caught on hard banded 8mm pellet fished at 12 metres over lose fed hard 4’s. Mark also had a couple on both the pellet waggler and straight lead.

 

The Silvers was won by Andy Shields (pictured lower right with the match winner) with 3lb 4oz of Ronnie’s all caught on maggot from peg 10.

 

Full Result:

 

1.      Mark (I don’t like this peg)Tanner 67-8-0 peg 8

2.      Pete Greenslade 46-10-0 peg 46-10-0 peg 2

3.      Kevin Jefferies 44-04-0 peg 4

4.      Dave Gillard 40-12-0 peg 3

5.      Ray Bazeley 34-04-0 peg 1

6.      Paul Haines 30-0-0 peg 9

 

Top Silvers:!

 

1.      Andy Shields 3-04-0 peg 10

2.      Charlie Barnes 1-08-0 peg 5

 

Weigh Sheet: 

 

 There will be another of Ray's Rip-off next Thursday so book in early.



Sunday 24/07/2011 - Kings Head Open - Rood Ashton

Bela and I had originally booked in to the Avon Angling Open at Shiplate Fishery - Bream Lake. However, we changed our minds and instead booked in with Layton Palmer at Rood. Tony was usual his usual affable self on receiving the news – he had a waiting list.
After a great breakfast at Timmy’s (wetherspoons) place in Kingswood it was off to Rood Ashton, which for me is a trip down memory lane, passing through Bathford, Staverton and the Kings Arms (Wadden).

It was good to meet up with Alan Pike (pictured right) the Fishery owner’s son again. He explained that he is having problems with fish theft; hence we all had to walk from the car park and good precaution I think.

You really have to be careful when pegging this venue as it’s easy to get it wrong. I managed for once not to stick my nose in and was surprised to find that the pegging was spot on – well done Leyton - sorry Martin R and Ray B pegged it under the strict supervision of Leyton.

In to the draw pot and out comes peg 9 which was on the top bank and a peg I have fished before. I was told it was the shortest island chuck, which left me wondering what I was going to chuck at it – my pole or seat box perhaps! I was hoping that Alan had excavated the peg out to the depth I had last Wednesday, alas not I had a full 18 inches, at least I couldn’t drown! The wind was off my back which was a negative as it was blowing down to pegs 1 and 2. The positive was that I had plenty of water to pull fish from. With no Silvers pool is was Carp or Carp. So I set up a paste rig and a soft pellet rig to be fished at 6 metres, with the paste rig also OK for the RH margin. Before the off I decided that a bit of gardening was required in the margin removing a lot of the branches of the Alder Tree, plus as many of the submerged Brambles as I could – which wasn’t enough!

From the learning from the Wednesday match I decided to feed dead red maggot in the kinder pot with either 6mm expander or paste rig. Starting on the expander resulted in one missed bite – was it a Ronnie – tempting - not. Out on the paste and I had a run of three Carp before it went quite. I decided because of the depth that every Carp caught scared off another two, so I started to loose feed the dead maggot by hand, moreover, I fed them all over the swim hoping that I could hold some fish in the wings. This worked much better even so it was slow with the strong tow from the wind often pulling the paste off before a fish had a look. It was a case of ship out and quickly pull back the pole to hold it in the tow (it was pulling with the wind as you would expect in shallow water). I kept fish coming on an off whilst drip feeding the margin with hard 4’s. It wasn’t until the last half hour before the fish arrived in the margin which resulted in an 8lb fish and on the whistle I lost one of a similar size plus my rig in the bank side brambles – at least I didn’t have to put the rig back on the winder!! I finished the match with 21 fish. As I couldn’t see anyone from my swim I had no idea how it fished. Martin Rayett walked up and said he had 28 Carp and those on the lawn had not caught that well. So I was hoping for second. My Carp weighed 97lb 2oz which, because they were of a bigger size than Martins it was enough to win overall.

However, Martin (pictured right with the winner) came second overall with a close 85lb 6oz – also caught on the pole. It was satisfying to see the Method Men taking up the lower order with much smaller fish than is captured by the pole.

Full Result:

1. Mike Nicholls 97-02-0 peg 9
2. Martin Rayett 85-06-0 peg 10
3. Jamie Dyte 72-07-0 peg 5
4. Leyton Palmer 52-14-0 peg 7 (section)
5. Ray Bazeley 51-09-0 peg 2 (section)
6. Paul Haines 50-07-0 peg 4

Wednesday - 20/07/2011 - Carps AC - Rood Ashton

I had a new travelling partner with me going to Rood Ashton today – Mr Big Foot – see picture right - my size sevens next to Big Foots size fifteens!! Big foot came fourth for the second time in consecutive visits.

It’s seems a long time since I fished this venue. It was nice to be back though because it’s a wonderful setting – that’s if you can find it!! Plus it’s a sensible draw 9-o clock so home by 6 o clock.

In to the draw bucket and comes peg 4. I was happy with this peg even though the guy who fished it Sunday DNW’ed. I decided to fish for the Ronnie’s and set up my usual two Ronnie rigs to be fished at 6 metres with maggot over maggot. This was to be the first big mistake of the day; the second was persevering with them for far too long. I started by fishing maggot over loose feed maggot and started to catch 3oz Ronnie’s with the odd better one. However, it wasn’t long before my 3 hollow elastic was bottoming out on a Carp which required a lot of persuasions to return back in to the top set plus a new hook was required. A pattern was forming two Ronnie’s and a lost Carp. So I up the elastic and did land two Carp on it. Unfortunately, the heavier elastic lead to bumping the Ronnie’s in addition, once over terra firma they would fall off in to a muddy puddle caused by a prolonged down pour adding to my frustration. After switching back to the lighter elastic and loosing more Carp (one was enormous) and with pegs 1 and 2 catching Silvers regularly, I looked at the time and I had 1 hour 55 minutes left. So I decided to abandon the Ronnie’s and go for Carp even though I was well behind Ray Bazeley and Turkey who both had around 18 Carp. I decided to keep feeding the maggot through the kinder pot with paste hook bait and had a steady last part of the match catching 13 decent carp to 8lb-ish. On the whisle I was expecting to be well down the order as some anglers had 25 to 30 Carp. My Silvers weighed in at 7lb 5oz and my Carp 81lb 4oz for a total 88lb 9oz. I was amazed to find that this put me second overall, but not amazed to find both pegs 1 and 2 beat me in the Silvers. Neither of them had more than 2 Carp each! I was going to do an “If only I fished for Carp …”, but I won’t.

The match was won by Leyton (moan, moan, moan) Palmer (pictured right with some of his catch) from peg 8 with 97lb 12oz. Leyton caught initially on the method feeder and later on the pole.

There are signs that the fish are keeping well out in the Lake probably drive there by the method boys.

The Silvers was won by Steve Dawson (pictured lower right with someone else’s catch!) from peg 2 with 18lb 8oz of quality Ronnie’s. Steve fished short up to the brambles on his LH side.

Full Result:

1. Leyton Palmer 97-12-0 peg 8
2. Mike Nicholls 88-09-0 peg 4
3. John Thompson 79-0-0 peg 6
4. Ray Bazeley 78-04-0 peg 5
5. Scott Lovell 49-08-0 peg 7
6. Colin Golding 31-13-0 peg 3

Top Silvers:

1. Steve Dawson 18-08-0 peg 2
2. Andy Gard 13-06-0 peg 1
3. Mike Nicholls 7-05-0 peg 4

Sunday 22/08/2010 - Carps AC - Rood Ashton

With John Bennett home looking after his good Wife Betty due to her resent illness so stalwart Colin Golding stood in to run the match. Judging by recent results they are already missing you down the City ground – get well soon Betty.

After a great breakfast at Wetherspoons in Kingswood (I couldn’t eat it all – Bela did) it was off to one of my favourite venues – Rood Ashton. I can’t understand why there isn’t an open here every Sunday – food for thought me thinks as it will suit all anglers and methods. I had a chat with the owners Son Alan, during our discussions he did say that there had been some de-stocking of the Lake, I am on the fence as to whether this is a good thing or not. Time will tell.

I drew peg 7 and Bela end peg 8. Having walked round the Lake before hand most of the fish were in the early pegs and this did reflect in the results (other than Carp bagger Rod Wotton). I had already decided to have an out and out attack for the Ronnie’s as there are some good quality fish in this venue – that is if you can catch them!! I set up a paste rig for the LH margin (30 inches deep) and the same rig was suitable for fishing at 7 meters (after this the Lake starts to get shallower and it was the approximate distance I intended to fish for the Ronnie’s). I set up two Ronnie rigs – one was a 3 metre whip with waggler and the other a 4x8 Drennan Chop – wire stem (remember them – why do the stop making the popular floats – anyone?). I started on the whip with single red maggot fished over loose fed mix coloured maggots and caught Ronnie’s to 6oz straight off. I the meantime I kept a few 4 mm hard pellet going in to the RH margin keeping an eye open for any signs of fish. However, the Ronnie's became very hard to come by and this time I can’t blame the Carp for disrupting the Silvers. It was, catch a couple and then wait before another couple ended in the net. It appeared that the fish were being frightened away. I persevered with this for four hours using both rigs with neither being more productive than the other. Interestingly enough I didn’t have one Carp during this time. I had a little walk and as expected Carp was coming out from the early pegs, but hardly any Silvers were showing – so it wasn’t just me then. I went back and had a few more Ronnie’s then switched to the RH margin with paste even though there wasn’t any sign of Carp. It wasn’t producing so switched to maggot; feeding half a pint of dead maggot in a few big hand full’s. Using my Chop Ronnie rig with double Maggot I did managed to snare six decent Carp and a couple more Ronnie’s. My Carp weighed in at 22lb 4oz and the Silvers 8lb for a total of 30lb 4oz. This put me first in the Silvers (so mission accomplished) and seventh in the match.


The match was won by Mark Bird (pictured right with the bulk of his catch) from peg 5 with 71lb 6oz. Mark fished the straight lead with Conker hook bait (pellet with hard paste wrapped around it). Mark loose fed about a pint of 8 mm pellet throughout the match.


Bela DNW'd through not weighing his seven Carp one was a beautiful 8lb Common, I know this because he brought it down to my peg in his landing net! Wrong end of the match Matey.

Full Result:

1. Mark Bird 71-06-0 peg 5
2. Rod Wotton 66-07-0 peg 6 (Silvers did it)
3. Scott Lovell 66-04-0 peg 2
4. Shane Caswell 63-11-0 peg 4
5. Rich Heathen 44-02-0 peg 3
6. Colin Golding 43-0-0 peg 1

Top Silvers:
1. Mike Nicholls 8-0-0 peg 7
2. Rod Wotton 1-10-0 peg 6
3. Shane Caswell 0-0-3 peg 4 (qualifies for the Carps Final!)

Sunday 18/07/2010 - Carps AC - Rood Ashton

Who say’s that angling is not a spectator sport? Yesterday I sat in and watched the entire Fish-o-Mania final. I must say it was an exciting last 20 minutes. It was very satisfying to see Neil McKinnon win through on the pole catching six Carp in the last period, fishing pellet shallow. This was especially satisfying for me as this beat the method feeder in to second place – where it should be. Well done matey.

Bela and I thought we would try out Wetherspoons for breakfast as they now open at 07:00. Spot on time they opened and who should join us but John Bennett and Gordon Cannings. Bela usually has a coffee with lots of sugar, but today he had …Tea as the coffee machine was broke. Bela and I agreed it was the best breakie we had for some time. I agreed to look on the internet to find all the Wetherspoons on route to our days out.

For the first time I drew peg 1 which is the closest to the car park. Colin had drawn peg 10 and I offered to swap with him – we all know how stubborn this man is so peg 1 it was for me. Before deciding tactics I plumbed around and was delighted to find 2 foot of water in most areas I tried. So the depth was right for the Silvers. I also fancied the RH margin for some Carp alter in the match. I set up two Ronnie rigs, one on the 3.5 metre elasticated whip and the other at 10 metres with a 5 x 7 TBF. In addition I set up two paste rigs one for the RH margin and the other also at 10 metre straight out in front over the Ronnie line. I don’t know why I did this as both rigs were identical, but it did come in handy later when I got broke by a foul hooker. I started on the whip with single red maggot over the same loose feed and caught decent Ronnie’s to 8oz, with the occasional interruption by the odd Carp. I kept this up for three hours and decided to have a walk to ease my back. Chatting as I went it appeared that the first 7 pegs were neck and neck, plus I ascertained that my Silvers mission was now complete. Back to the swim and in to the RH margin with paste and – nothing. So back on the Ronnie whip and after a few more I decide to try the paste at 10 metre, were I had fed a few hard 4’s. Thus started a frustrating half hour, during which I foul hooked Carp after Carp. With now with an hour to go I tried double maggot at 10 metre on the TBF and caught another seven decent Carp to go with the five I had caught earlier – the Carp just didn’t want the paste today and I should have tried the maggot earlier although I had run short on the pint I took. My 12 Carp weighed in at 48lb 2oz and my all Ronnie catch weighed in at 17lb 12oz for a total of 65lb 14oz for first in the Silvers and fourth overall.

The match was won by Gordon Cannings (pictured right with the Silvers winner) from peg 4 with 74lb 7oz! Gordon caught at 13 metre using 6 and 8mm hard banded pellet fish over loose fed 4’s. Gordon had also caught three Ronnie’s which made the difference on the day, which just ounced out Bela Bakos by 3oz.

Full Result:

1. Gordon Cannings 74-07-0 peg 4
2. Bela Bakos 74-04-0 peg 3
3. Leyton Palmer 66-09-0 peg 2
4. Mike Nicholls 65-14-0 peg 1
5. Dave Tippett 53-14-0 peg 5
6. John Thompson 53-14-0 peg 8

Top Silvers:

1. Mike Nicholls 17-12-0 peg 1

Sunday 07/09/2009 - Carps AC - Rood Ashton

Happy Birthday Steve 36 today. Travel with Mark Tanner again today and he arrived spot on time, but he spoiled it all when he said "What time was I suppose to pick you up" - nothing changes!

I reckoned that this would be the last match this season that the fish would feed on this venue. Due to the depth of water (18 inches) the fish hibernate during the winter months. Judging by the results I was right.

Rod Wootton had an interesting time at the draw. He initially pulled out peg 24 - John Bradford declared there wasn't a peg 24 and Rod should fish a peg - 1A! Every one wanted to draw peg 21 - guess what it wasn't in the draw! Rod's peg 24 should have read peg 21. Rod 24, 1A and 21 are all still classed flyer!! Half way through I thought I saw Rod fishing paste (this is from 120 metres away - I miss nothing) - no couldn't be. After the match I couldn't wait to challenge Rod on this one. After some arm twisting Rod admitted to using paste because he couldn't catch on hard pellet. He also confirmed that he brought the paste with him - I thought the only paste Rod used was to stick paper to the walls - another one out of the closet. By the way you were beat off the next peg by a ten stone weakling fishing hard pellet.

I drew peg 18 which was one above the outfall peg 19. I wasn't that pleased with the peg as it is cut right back with a fallen Willow tree submerged to my right out to 15 metres. I decided to fish for Ronnie's on both the elasticated whip and a top set with a Preston PB14 (the only thing Preston make that is any good). I also set up the usual soft pellet and paste rigs for out at 13 metres and for both left and right hand margins. Second cast on the whip with maggot hook bait resulted in a 3oz Ronnie. Next cast and I lost a complete rig including one of my best home made floats to a big Carp - it must have been foul hooked - I then tried the pellet and had one missed bite. I then decided to set up a light whip rig (0.1 mm G-Line) for the Ronnie's. I subsequently caught well for about an hour before I was bust again, but only the hook length this time. I started to understand the feeding a bit better and could tell when carp came over the maggot and was able to land five decent carp using my PB14 with a 0.14 hook length and 16 lacci. I tried the paste in the LH margin only and had a couple of liners - the carp didn't appear to want the pellet or paste today. I weighed 12lb of Ronnie' and 29 lb of Carp for a total of 41lb. This put me 8th overall and second in the Silvers for a pick up of £40.

The match was won by Gordon Cannings (pictured right with the silvers winner Bill Ferris) from peg 3 with 96lb 12oz. Gordon caught at 13 metres using and feeding 8mm hard pellet.

The Silvers was won by Bill Ferris with 15lb 14oz from peg 13 using maggot close in to his RH margin.

Full Result:

1. Gordon Cannings 96-12-0 peg 2

2. John Baker 82-14-0 peg 20

3. Scott "Eddy"Lovell 63-05-0 peg 5

4. Shaun Townsend 60-08-0 peg 14

5. Rod Wootton 57-08-0 peg 1A

6. Rich Lacey 48-12-0 peg 6

Top Silvers:

1. Bill "Maggot Man" Ferris 15-14-0 peg 13

2. Mike Nicholls 12-0-0 peg 18

Sunday 09/08/2009 - Carps AC - Rood Ashton

At last the Bristol Balloon Fiesta had a sunny, dry weekend – must be the first for many years. As I write I can see Balloons galore from my office window heading my way.

I like Rood Ashton, the only downer – no café. One other issue I have is the up keep of the fishery. The access drive is in a terrible state, with only 4x4’s now able to drive to pegs. Luckily I was with Mark Tanner and his Jeep thing. It was disappointing to hear that Charlie Barnes decided not to fish after drawing peg 19 due to the walk (second longest walk – second best peg)! Anyway, I hope Carps AC kept his pools money!!

Gordon “Corner” Cannings drew corner peg 1 again! John Baker said that if the Lake was perfectly round Gordon would still manage draw a corner!!

I drew peg 15 which is on the top bank, just before the corner – opposite the “Jungle” Island. Rood is one venue where I do enjoy catching the Carp equally as much as the Silvers. However, compared with many of the swims I had seen there weren’t many Carp showing. Hence I made the decision to start after the Ronnie’s on a 3 metre whip and maggot (the Ronnie’s are a good stamp at Rood so caster not essential). I caught Ronnie’s steady for about two hours, I then foul hooked a Carp, for the next half hour it was hard – picking off the odd Ronnie. I then hooked a Carp which broke me, so on to the paste and pellet for the Carp. I had fed both margins – one heavier than the other. I started at 8 metres with 6mm expander over 4mm hard pellet and had a run of four Carp. I then ventured in to the margins. It’s strange how one side produces and the other not. In this case it was the RH side where I caught (lightly fed). I had nine good Carp to 10lb on paste. The swim improved steady over the last two hours until the whistle – another hour would have been good – should have gone in sooner – perhaps! I weighed 6lb 8oz of Silvers and my thirteen Carp went 61lb 12oz. This put me second in the Silvers and a pick up of £30 with my total weight of 68lb 4oz putting sixth overall.

I was drawn next to Mark Bird - What a noisy beggar!! However he does have a sense of humour.

The match was won by Rod Wotton from peg 2 with 122lb 15oz and Jamie Dyte was runner up from peg 10 with another ton of 104lb 4oz (pictured together right).

The Silvers was won by John “The Gimp” Bradford from peg 7 with 15lb all Roach on caster.

Full Result:

1. Rod Wotton 122-15-0 peg 2

2. Jamie Dyte 104-04-0 peg 10

3. Martin Mahon 81-15-0 peg 3

4. Scott Lovell 74-10-0 peg 20

5. John Baker 68-07-0 peg 18

6. Mike Nicholls 69-04-0 peg 15

Top Silvers:

1. John Bradford 15-0-0 peg 7

2. Mike Nicholls 6-08-0 peg 15

Sunday 25/04/2009 - Carps AC - Rood Ashton

John Bennet announced at the draw that John (The Gimp) Bradford (owner of Avon Angling) has taken over running the Carps AC matches and is officially the now the new Chairman. The first thing John has done is remove the £1 club match day fee. The club matches fees will now be “all paid out” after peg fees subtracted. Tony Rixon won't have anything to moan about with Carps AC now (some say he’ll find something)!!

I know a lot of anglers haven’t fished Rood Ashton so I took a very short video (top left) from the hill above the Lake to impress the size and maturity of the lake. I have written about the Lake on a previous blog.

I walked the pegs before the draw and I didn’t want peg 3 or 8. So when peg 3 was pulled by John Bradford I was expecting a good draw. Not to be, I drew peg 8! This peg is cut right back from adjacent pegs. The peg is at least 11 metre further back than peg 7, with the inside being ten inches deep and stony. However, I did have Son Steve as company on peg 9. I started at 11.5 metres where I had a good depth of two foot! I started on the caster rig at 10 metres and did not have any indications at all. There was a huge hatch of buzzers and noticed small fish taking the shucks. I put this down as the reason why the Ronnie’s wouldn’t take a caster. I noticed Steve catching Carp so quickly switched to paste at 13 metres, over kinder potted 4mm/micro. I had a line bite straight away, then a 3 pounder. I then struggled for five Carp, persevering with paste until that last half hour. During which, I landed four decent Carp, losing a five pounder on the whistle (I knew there was a wind knot in the hook length – line always breaks on these knots – doesn’t it). This fish would have put me third overall, however, I had to settle for joint fifth, weighing 31lb 8oz. It is a lot less tiring fishing for Carp than it is Silvers.

The match was won by son Steve (picture right) from peg 9 with twenty three Carp for 63lb 5oz. Steve fished paste over 4mm pellet at 11 metes. Steve caught steady all day with a slight lull mid match. Steve picked up £60 winners purse.

Runner up was Darren Gillman (pictured bottom right with his best Carp of 9lb 8oz, which was landed five minutes after the whistle) from peg 14 with sixteen Carp for 50lb 3oz. Darren used both pole and straight lead.

The Silvers pool was won by John Bradford with a mere 1lb 12oz!
With Steve Jefferies picking up 2nd in the Silvers with 2oz!!!

Full Result:

1. Steve Nicholls 63-05-0 peg 9
2. Darren Gillman 50-03-0 peg 14
3. Shane Caswell 33-08-0 peg 6
4. Terry Bruton 31-10-0 peg 12
5. Mike Nicholls 31-08-0 peg 85.
5. John Baker 31-08-0 peg 13

Top Silvers:

1. John Bradford 1-12-0 peg 3
2. Steve Jefferies 0-2-0 peg 7

Sunday 23/11/2008 Carps AC - Rood Ashton

When I decided to fish Rood Ashton my mind my saying "your not going to catch in two foot of water in November, especially based on a forecast of extreme weather conditions.". However, my wallet was saying "get a few more Silver points and you will win the aggregate". My heart was pulling me to the Silvers open match at Viaduct (40 pegs).

I thought the match might be a lottery, which, it proved to be. NO ONE HAD A BITE! So I had achieved my objective and defended my postion in the Silvers. However, the match was indeed decided by lottery!

The lottery result follows:

1. Bill Ferris (£50)
2. Gordon Cannings (pictured top right) (£30 well deserved as he fished to the end)
3. Mike (new member) (£25)
4. Bob Price (pictured bottom right) (£15 well deserved as he also fished to the end)

This is the first season I have not fished the K&A canal during the winter months. I am now wondering whether the change to commercials is the right move. Lets, wait until the end of the year, and then reflect.

Sunday 28/09/2008 Carps AC - Carpsmania Final - Rood Ashton

This was the final of Carps AC Carpsmania. Twenty anglers had won through over the year. The prize money was £1,000 for the highest overall weight and £500 for the Silvers. So not really fishing for runner up then! However, with a lots of speculation in the media with regards to the Bradford & Bingley of which I am both a shareholder and saver I had more on my mind than the £1,000. As I write this am still waiting on an announcement from HMG - Gordon Brown PM. This is the man who resided over the period that lead to the "credit crunch" as Chancellor - who described himself "Prudent". Um!

Back to the match, I drew peg 15 which was in the top right hand corner form the car park. I knew that Silvers getting first or second in the Silvers was unlikely, I focused on the Carp (not until I caught four Ronnies for 8oz though!). After plumbing around in 18 inches of water - at best, I wasn't sure of catching enough Carp either. However, I went for Carp on paste over 6mm soft pellet, which result in seven carp to 6lb, then the tractors arrived behind my peg (three tractors to be precise), and the swim went dead (bow waves back to the island). In the last hour when things got quieter , I had another ten cap for a total weight of 68lb 12oz and eighth in the match. Taking everything in to account I was fairly satisfied with this weight. My 8oz of Ronnies got me sixth in the Silvers!!

Everyone wanted end peg 20, which was through the thicket and half the lake to draw fish from.

Andy Neal (pictured left) drew the peg and made no mistakes, winning the match with 154lb 14oz. Andy fished paste over 6mm hard pellet, feeding about two pints throughout.

Ray Hayward (pictured below left) lost out by a mere 11lb 4oz. Ray weighed 143lb from peg 17. Ray caught most of his fish in the RH margin on meat fished over loose fed hard pellet. I am sure Ray will be travelling home, thinking of the Carp he lost.

John Bradford (pictured below right) could not believe his luck drawing peg 4 - a out and out Silvers area, and surrounded by Carp Slayers. Again John made no mistakes catching 26lb 14oz of quality Roach on caster. John latch into only two Carp throughout the day - takes some doing on this venue!



Full Result:

1. Andy Neal 154-14-0 peg 20 (£1,080)
2. Ray Hayward 143-0-0 peg 17
3. Jamie Smith 135-12-0 peg 18
4. Alan Oram 127-04-0 peg 5
5. Steve Seagar 97-06-0 peg 13
6. Mike Owens 96-02-0 peg 1

Top Silvers:

1. John Bradford 26-14-0 peg 4 (£560)
2. Bob Gullick 11-04-0 peg 9

Wednesday 24/09/2008 Carps AC - Rood Ashton

This was the last practice match before Sunday's final. The pegging went from peg 1 at the car park to peg 19 at the end of the furthest island. I was ask to include the very corner peg on the car park bank which was peg 11. I wasn't sure about the peg as the wind was not blowing directly in to it - in fact it was fairly calm. As chance has it, I drew the peg! I am told the car park bank is the bank for silvers - so started on the 4 metre whip and caster. I started straight away to catch quality Ronnies and Ronald's to 1lb (at last). However after a couple of rounds with Carp I broke my whip. To say I was upset - well, I had to have a walk to and to see if John Bradford had a spare, which he didn't. So I set up the 14 foot Normark Avenger, which was a bit too stiff for shallow water waggler fishing. I had a few more Ronnies and after a total of four and a half hours was broke again by Carp. I decided to get my own back and fished for them with pellet and paste for the last hour and a half. I weighed 13lb 10oz of quality Ronald's for second in the Silvers and 86lb 10oz of Carp for a total weight of 100lb 4oz and second overall and a pick up of £30. However, second and second is not going to win anything this Sunday!!

The match was won by Colin Golding from peg 5 with 123-10-0 of Carp. I am not going to divulge how he caught - as you all know anyway!!

The Silvers was won by Bob Gullick from peg 3 with 26lb 5oz of Ronnies. Bob also qualifies for the Carps AC Wednesday Silversmania.

Full Result:

1. Colin Golding 123-10-0 peg 5

2. Mike Nicholls 100-04-0 peg 11

3. John Thompson 91-0-0 peg 9

4. Paul Attwood 82-01-0 peg 19

5. Alan Oram 76-13-0 peg 13

6. Jamie Dyte 63-08-0 peg 6

Top Silvers:

1. Bob Gullick 26-05-0 peg 3

2. Mike Nicholls 13-10-0 peg 11

3. Bill "Maggot man" Ferris 11-14-0 peg 2

4. Charlie Barnes 6-01-0 peg 7

Wednesday 17/09/2008 Carps AC - Rood Ashton

This was the first of two Wednesday practice matches prior to the Carpsmaina final on Sunday 28 September 08. I drew peg 8. Peg 1 was one below the concrete overflow (the last one before the "Jungle", the pegging then went anti-clockwise back to the car park. Peg 8 put me centre of the top bank.
Having not caught a Ronnie on this venue yet, today, I was determined to do so! After half an hour I had two Ronnies on caster, and a lot of float wobble from the Carp. So, needs must, I switched to Carp with paste and GOT expander pellet. I weighed a total of 117lb 10oz for first in the match and a pick up of £30, for a match costing £20, Colin is spreading the payouts too far!

Runner up was John"Turkey" Thompson - " I've got a crap peg - who pegged this crap". John weighed 79lb 1oz from peg 9. No apology for his outburst!!

Bill "The Maggotman" Ferris won the Silvers with 10lb 9oz from peg 1. Bill caught all his Silvers in the first half of the match on - Maggot. Bob Feltham (pictured top right with his Ronnie catch) was runner up in the Silvers with 8lb 4oz - again all caught on the maggot. Bob qualifies for the Carps AC Wednesday Silversmania.

Full Result:

1. Mike Nicholls 117-10-0 peg 8
2. John Thompson 79-01-0 peg 9
3. Paul Attwood 50-0-0 peg 2
4. Bill Ferris 47-07-0 peg 1
5. Colin Golding 40-04-0 peg 6
6. Bob Feltham 18-06-0 peg 7

Top Silvers:

1. Bill Ferris 10-09-0 peg 1
2. Bob Feltham 8-04-0 peg 7

Sunday 22/06/2008 - Carps AC - Rood Ashton

The strong gusting South Westerly winds, which blew all day spoiled the match for most. The venue is very shallow, with eighteen inches of water in most pegs (if your lucky) the water had coloured up some what, due to the wind. I drew peg 16 and had the wind blowing off my right shoulder. I set up three rigs, two for paste right and left of the swim and one for pellet out in front. I started by kinder potting hard pellet with GOT expander on the hook. Straight away I had a liner, out again, another liner. Fed again which resulted in a lost foul hooker. Out again - then nothing - fed again - nothing - um!!! Decided to pot 250 ml of hard pellet in to my right hand swim. Out over this with paste and a lost foul hooker - plus one rig! It occurred to me that the fish were not having the feed. Lucky enough I had kept my left hand swim free of feed, so decided to try the paste. Although the wind made it difficult to present the paste properly, I had a fish immediately and did not look back. I caught 22 Carp (but only weighed twenty one as one jumped the net, giving my ticker a rush of adrenaline) and one Crucian for a total weight of 76lb 2oz for second overall and a pick up of £45. The Crucian weighed 1lb 10oz which gave me third in the Silvers!! It was easy packing up as I had trashed so many rigs I was down to my last one. I will be calling Gerry's of Nottingham in the morning for a top up of his corn & paste floats.
The match was won by John Thompson (pictured top right - apparently on a day out for good behaviour - NB: handcuffs hidden from view) from peg 3 with 78 lb 12 oz (the fish that jumped ship would have given me first overall). John fished the ground bait feeder throughout with hard Pellet on the hook.

The Silvers was interesting with Bill Ferris (pictured right) winning with 7lb 4oz of Roach on whip and caster from peg 15. Bill qualifies for the Sunday Carps AC Silversmania. The second weight was a mere 2lb 15oz!

Full Result:

1. John Thompsom 78-12-0 peg 3
2. Mike Nicholls 76-02-0 peg 16
3. Shaun Townsend 73-08-0 peg 7
4. Jamie White 68-02-0 peg 12
5. Darren Gillman 66-10-0 peg 1
6. Bob Gullick 59-14-0 peg 21

Top Silvers:

1. Bill Ferris 7-04-0 peg 15 (Qualifies for the Carps AC Sunday Silversmania)
2. Tom Thick 2-15-0 peg 13
3. Mike Nicholls 1-10-0 peg 16

Sunday 04/05/2008 Carps AC - Rood Ashton

This was my first visit to Rood Ashton and it won't be last as this is the venue for the Carpsmania final, for which I have qualified. A good choice I think. Many anglers have said to me that the lake is shallow and silted up. True it is shallow at about two foot, however, there is no signs of it being silted. I believe this to be a very old lake originally constructed by an estate for stocking with Wild Carp perhaps for a food source. The following is some history that might apply to this lake.

It was the Romans who first brought the carp to Western Europe way back in the forth century AD but it was not until the 1400s (this explains why Darren Gillman's map to Rood Ashton was dated 1390 - true ask him) that they were first introduced into British waters. Introduced initially by monks as a food source, carp became established and were stocked into estate lakes and fisheries, and once available, quickly became a target for anglers. In support of this both Darren and I caught some Wild Carp, which by appearance are Common Carp but build like torpedo's! Rood also translates as "Crucifix".
Any way back to the match. I drew peg 12 on the day which was in the middle of the far bank. I was convinced by many that there was twenty pound of Roach in every peg (quote - John Bradford - Avon Angling). I set up a rig for Carp, which would serve paste at ten metres and in both hand margins (same depth). I also set up my main attack for Ronnies at four metres and at eight metres.
I started on the caster in great expectation - however, after fifteen minutes not a sign of a Ronnie Roach - not even an indication. A few Carp were coming out so I changed to paste and had fourteen Carp in Fourteen put-in's. Then my struggle started. Went down to see Darren who was on peg 14. Daz had twenty Carp on paste. Ran back to my peg (got to beat yer mate-haven't you?). I had a quick flirt with the waggler, which resulted in one lost foul hooker. I then fed in rotation RH margin, ten metre and LH margin. I caught another six Carp for the remainder of the match. I ended up with twenty one Common Carp Carp for 86lb and second on the match and a pick up of £50.
This was a Carp Silversmania Qualifer and the top Silver weight went to Bob Gullick (pictured top right) with 21lb from peg 22.

The match winner was Alan Oram (pictured bottom left) with 95lb from peg 17. Alan caught on paste down the left hand margin over 6mm hard pellet.


As far as I am aware there were only one or two Mirror Carp caught.
Oh, yes - what about the twenty pound of Silvers from any peg. The nearest John Bradford got to anything silver was pushing Tom Coulston's car out of the mud behind Terry Bruton's swim (pictured bottom right!).

Full Result:

1. Alan Oram 95-0-0 peg 17
2. Mike Nicholls 86-0-0 peg 12
3. Darren Gillman 73-09-0 peg 14
4. Ron Wotton 72-04-0 peg 10
5. Jamie Smith 68-08-0 peg 6 (lost 30 Carp on feeder!)
6. Shane Caswell 67-13-0 peg 3

Top Silvers:

1. Bob Gullick 21-0-0 peg 22 (Sunday Silversmania Qualifier)
2. Bill Ferris 11-02-0 peg 18
3. Shaun Townsend 6-08-0 peg 1
Top Junior:
1. Ryan Houghton 20-08-0 peg 1a