Thursday 12/08/2016 - Amalgamation Autumn Silvers League - Round Four - Sabre Lake

First stop Miss Piggy’s in Lyneham for breakfast, yummy it was too, might go for the large next time. I arrived in plenty of time for the 10 o clock draw. I was emotional to watch two Red Kites playing and tumbling around above the Lake can’t miss their usual call.

Into the draw Sainsbury’s plastic bag and out comes peg 1 which is the furthest end peg, car park side best Carp peg on the Lake – bugger – Silvers only match. For company I had Peter Pan of angling Mike Jones on peg 2. The wind was blowing hard into my peg which was going to add to the already difficult day ahead.

I decided to fish as far out as the wind would allow hoping to avoid the Carp splashing around under the Willow on my right which was 10 metres where I found five foot of water but was still gently sloping off, nonetheless the presentation was going to be poor so used a heavier 4x16 Jolly back shotted. The feed here would be GB with a few reds and casters. The Ronnie rig would have been nice but for the wind so stayed on the winder on the tray in case. Thinking there might be a few Perch around I also set up a 4x14 Jolly to fish top-set plus one with caster over caster. No feeder today.

I started on the long line with single red on an 808 - 18 and as expected the float was going with the wind. However, that didn’t stop the sucidal Ronnie’s and small Skimmers which lasted about an hour before it went iffy. So tried the short line for a rest with caster and had a few small Perch and a bonus 2lb Hybrid, my first of 13 Carp was next which took the lot snapping the elastic. New top-set and rig erected and went short again anticipating I scared off the new arrival Carp and had a run of better Ronnie’s to 8oz. As soon as loose fed a few casters the Carp would be right on them. So loose spread casters all over the swim and went back out on the long line but only topping up sparingly with GB. A few better Skimmers to 1lb followed but the presentation and the eager Ronnie’s getting to the maggot first made stringing the Skimmers hard. The wind had subsided so erected the Ronnie rig to fish caster over the now rested scattered casters. No more feed until I got desperate (or couldn’t help myself). By casting all around the swim I caught really well for half an hour without feeding in the meantime neighbour Mr Jones was feeding quite heavy and I started to have the last laugh as he began to get battered by Carp. Couldn’t keep my and out the bait box and fed a few more casters and got battered to death by Carp to the point of not wanting to put the rig in.

The best bite came from the short line on single caster a rare species pictured upper right!

I weighed 16lb 12oz for a section win and second overall. I really enjoyed today but did get despondent to fish to avoid catching certain species of fish – don’t make sense.

Now for some serious rig replacement.

The match was won by Steve Jefferies (pictured right with his catch) with 20lb 6oz from peg 4. Steve caught of a GB cage feeder with double red maggot hook bait fished half way over in the deeper water.

Full Result:

1. Steve Jefferies 20-06-0 peg 4
2. Mike Nicholls 16-12-0 peg 1
3. Bob Black 15-08-0 peg 23
4. Mike Jones 14-12-0 peg 2
5. Bill Ferris 12-0-0 peg 27
6. John Osborne 11-10-0 peg 12

Weigh Sheet:

Wednesday 25/06/2014 - Amalgamation Summer League - Round One - Sabre Lake

It was the start of the Amalgamation Summer League with the first match at Sabre Lake. Breakfast at home today, but did get a coffee in the van opposite the venue.

The league is sold out with 24 booked in but we had 4 short due to holidays etc…It was nice to see the legend Colin Golding (pictured right) putting in appearance, peg 1 for him.

The Amalgamation has stocked 1000 - 8 to10oz Skimmers hopefully they will show. I was looking forward to the match and didn’t mind where I drew as long as it wasn’t the Bay of Biscay where the Lake is becalmed.

In to the draw bag and out comes peg 19 which was on the edge of Biscay and for company I had the other river legend Mike Jones on peg 20. Unfortunately for Mike he was further into the bay than me so I should scrap the Silvers battle that was coming.

After plumbing around I found the depth a bit disappointing only finding at 9 metres 4 feet. I set up two Ronnie rigs one on the 4 metre whip and the other on the top-set to hand. The third rig was a 4x14 Jolly – all Silver rigs. I then realised that I had only brought my Carp top sets so walked round and borrowed a top-set off Harry Muir with a no 6 in. I attached the Jolly rig to this.

I started by feeding small balls of GB laced with caster on the top-set line with caster hook bait and the first fish was a Gudgeon. Long time since I caught one of these. I caught a few small Rudd, Ronnie’s and bottle top Skimmers for a while, all of them except Gudgeon were caught in the last 12 inches on the drop.

I then opened a CW&C line at 9 metres at 10-0-clock and first try with worm resulted in a foul hooked Carp which I decided to let go on Harry’s no 6!

The upshot was that after trying allsorts I fished the last two hours with banded hard fours over micro missing lots of bites and bumping just as many 2-3oz Ronnie’s. Once the micro settled on the bottom I couldn’t get a bite so re-feeding was essential.

I would get what I thought was fish fizzing over the feed but I was fooled because if you watched it carefully a lump of black silt would pop up. Hence the reason I think I couldn’t catch on the bottom. The feed in conjunction with the hot weather was reacting with silt.

I weighed 9lb for second in the Silvers just piping Mike Jones. I am sure the roles would have been reversed if we had swapped pegs.

The match was won by Malcolm Ockwell (pictured right with the Silvers winner) with 51lb 4oz from peg 3. Malcolm started fishing for Silvers but notice Carp in his LH margin where he had been feeding maggot and pellet. Malcolm caught on various baits.

The Silvers was won by Doug Sutton with 19lb 8oz from peg 14. Doug caught on his favoured method small feeder with GB and maggot with maggot or worm hook baits. It looked as if Doug was the only angler to land on the new stocked Skimmers.

Full Result:

1. Malcolm Ockwell 51-04-0 peg 3
2. Dave Bacon 45-12-0 peg 10
3. Gary Davis 37-14-0 peg 11
4. Doug Sutton 19-08-0 peg 14
5. Alan Scully 18-14-0 peg 24
6. Mark Bellringer 17-03-0 peg 23

Top Silvers:

1. Doug Sutton 19-08-0 peg 14
2. Mike Nicholls 9-0-0 peg 19
3. Malcolm Ockwell 8-08-0 peg 3
4. Mike Jones 8-02-0 peg 20

Wednesday 02/10/2013 - Amalgamation Summer League - Round Seven - Sabre Lake

Colin Golding was at the match today and explained how he was burgled at night whilst in bed. The thief took his fishing box and some rods plus his car. Colin didn’t realise until lunch time when he couldn’t find his car keys and by evening the thief was spotted on camera driving Colin’s car and was arrested. Colin got all his gear back except the aluminium legs off his tackle box as the thief thought it was the only thing of value and sold them for scrap! The low life got 3 years.

 

So after a delayed match of an hour it was into the draw bag and out comes peg 14. It has some Carp history most of it being based on lost and tackle broken as can be seen from the close proximity to the Sedges.

 

After plumbing up I found 9 foot at 9 metres so that would do for the 4x16 Jolly and 4 ½ foot at 4 metres which would do for the Ronnie rig. I then made up a paste rig with 0.22 G-line straight through for fishing in the Sedges.

 

On the whilst I potted a ball of GB laced with dead maggot on the 9 metre line and the same at 4 metres plus a big pot of micro in the RH margin. Starting on the long line with single dead red I caught small Ronnie’s one a bung on the drop. This lasted about half hour. After re-feeding this line I came in on the 4 metre line. Not to go back out long again because I caught a lot quicker plus some 6 – 8 oz Skimmers by regularly feeding walnut size ball of GB laced with maggot. I then hooked a Carp, and luck was on my side as it was worse for wear and came to the net easily. It had bulging eyes and a deformed body. I named it Marty Feldman. I couldn’t tell the species of Carp, but is weighed 6lb. I kept going on the Silvers until two hours to go when I thought I would try and break my top set in the margin where I had been loose feeding with hard 4’s. First put in with paste hook bait I foul hooked a Carp and yep I broke another number two on my top set with the Carp well gone leaving me fighting the Sedges, plus I lost a complete rig. So I re-set up and again and foul hooked yet another Carp, but luckily it swam out only for the hook to pull. After losing another Carp on yet another foul hooker I switch to worm over caster and hooked and landed another three 6lb Carp, beautiful Commons. I then had a 2lb Tench taking my fish species to nine (excluding Marty)!

 

My Silvers weighed 14lb 4oz and my four Carp 25lb 2oz for a total of 39lb6oz which put first overall and third in the Silvers for a double pick up. I am beginning to like this venue, looking forward to next years series on the venue.

 

The Silvers was won by Mike Jones (pictured right with the match winner) with an excellent weight of 25lb 2oz from peg 2. Mike caught similarly to me except he fished a whip at 6 metres using caster in his GB with caster on the hook. Mike’s catch included some big Skimmers.

 

Full Result:

 

1. Mike Nicholls 39-06-0 peg 14
2. Charlie Barnes 33-03-0 peg 13
3. Dave Bacon 30-12-0 peg 3
4. Mike Jones 25-02-0 peg 2
5. Gary Davis 23-09-0 peg 30
6. Dave Poole 21-09-0 peg 28

 

Top Silvers:

 

1. Mike Jones 25-02-0 peg 2
2. Dave Poole 15-01-0 peg 28
3. Mike Nicholls 14-04-0 peg 14

 

Weigh Sheets:

 

 

Wednesday 10/07/2013 - Amalgamation Summer Open League - Round Two - Sabre Lake

After a wasted trip to the Lyneham Café because it was their day off (that’s what the sign said. It was off to the Berger van opposite the Calne fishery with Barry Fitchew following. The van looked clean enough but I went for an egg and bacon roll. Barry went for a full breakfast. What can I say other than the old lady serving was looking forward to retirement – so are we now!!

 

Mike Jones has bought a new Match Box and combo trolley (pictured right with the low profile tyres). However, what ever time Mike made up on the bends and straights he lost setting it in the Pits setting it up and breaking it down!

 

In to the very deep draw bag and out came peg 23? All I knew was I was next to the Scud and again who was on peg 24. Luckily the Ashes started today so I had the radio on day. We were on the far bank. Last match in the series some low life stole the scales. However, arriving at the peg someone had stolen my platform (pictured right). Glad I had my wellies!

 

To be fair Andy Smith did warn us at the draw that it would fish hard – he meant crap. Don’t you hate it when he’s right!

 

Throughout the day I set up all sorts to try and catch either a Silver or a Carp. The upshot was that I only could catch on soft 3mm pellet over GB. Fishing this at 9 metres on the drop is sole destroying, but compared with Scud next door (everyone else on our side was facing at 90 degrees to us) I was doing well. I did finally succumbed and spent the last half hour on the paste to no avail.

 

My hard earned Silvers weighed 9lb 4oz for a pick up in 4^th in the Silvers. And unbelievably 7^th overall – blimey it did fish hard crap.

 

It is an excellent looking Lake in a good position.

 

The match was won by Barry Fitchew (pictured right with his Silvers) with 21lb 6oz from peg 20. Barry caught on both his whip and pole using either caster or maggot. Barry did land one of his five Carp he hooked.

 

The Silvers was won by Mike Jones (pictured right with his catch) with 14lb 9oz from peg 25. Mike caught mainly on the whip using either caster or maggot.

 

Full Result:

 

1.      Barry Fitchew 21-06-0 peg 20

2.      N Huggett 20-0-0 peg 14

3.      Mike Jones 14-09-0 peg 25

4.      John Osborne 13-09-0 peg 21

5.      Colin Golding 12-04-0 peg 11

6.      Gary Davis 11-14-0 peg 3

 

Top Silvers:

 

1.      Mike Jones 14-09-0 peg 25

2.      Barry Fitchew 12-02-0 peg 20

3.      Gary Davis 11-14-0 peg 3

4.      Mike Nicholls 9-04-0 peg 23

 

Weigh Sheets follow:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wednesday 19/05/2010 - Carps AC - Sabre Lake

I really enjoy fishing new venues. A trait I have inherited from Dad and Granddad as they were both always looking for some where new to fish. I think it’s the unknown that does it for me. Fish species, water depth, baits, methods, etc….

Sabre Lake is just after Caln village on the left of the A4. On our arrival we were greeted by the Bailiff Ken Miles. What a nice man and he certainly has a grip of the fishery. Ken had kept the entire left hand bank free for us and made sure no pleasure anglers poached them. On arrival on the bank (after going back to get Colin Golding kit) I was amazed how well kept it was – not a sign of any litter (it looked like a fairway), with the water quality/clarity spot on (see pictures on the right). As it was a low turn out (those that didn’t fish, missed a great match) I spread the pegs along the entire bank. We offered Colin an early draw, but he said he'd take his chances. Guess what he drew the furthest peg. So I gave him peg 6 which was the closest and we all redrew. Amazingly, all except John Bennett drew the same pegs again. I drew peg 2. Other than the end pegs it all looked similar.

I set up about everything, as you do on a new venue. Three whips, one Ronnie rig, two paste rigs and a soft pellet rig. I was hoping to catch some Carp in the margins with paste but it was too shallow at 18 inches, so didn’t really try it out much. To cut a long story short I caught all on my fish on caster on the Ronnie rig and the elasticated 3.5 metre whip fished shallow. I landed two Carp that weighed in at 11lb 8oz (all Carp had to be weighed and returned), I also lost one at the net through the hook pulling free. I had a very memorable days Silver fishing with Ronnie’s to 12oz and Perch to 1lb for a total of 25lb. That added to my Carp weight, I had enough to win the match with 36lb 8oz and a pick up of £30 – but only just!! One of the Carp I landed was hooked on my very last cast on the whip – Dad was looking down on me again.

Both Steve Dawson and Colin Golding (Colin’s catch of Skimmers are shown right with Bailiff Ken and Andy Gard helping Colin hold his net – Colin is also shown holding a 1lb Roach) pushed me close with all Skimmer catches.

Well Ken Miles certainly was very helpful to the extent that he organise a Mobility Scooter for Colin plus carried his tackle back to his car for him!! What service, you don't even get this service on the Houghton club waters on the River Test. I won’t be surprised if Colin bought one for himself – perhaps all the fisheries should have one, similar to Super Markets – be prepared BAA!!

Full Result:

1. Mike Nicholls 36-08- 0 peg 2
2. Steve Dawson 36-0-0 peg 4
3. Colin Golding 35-02-0 peg 6
4. Bill Ferris 18-0-0 peg 5
5. Andy Gard 12-04-0 peg 5
6. John Bennett 11-12-0 peg 6

Top Silvers:

1. Steve Dawson 36-0-0 peg 4 (all Skimmers to 1lb)
2. Colin Golding 29-12-0 peg 6

Finally: I can’t wait to get back there – I am amazed there aren’t more matches on this venue – perhaps there will be in future. One we missed Dad!!