Sunday 08/08/2021 - Sedges - Pops Charity Pairs - Tile and Brick Lakes

Partnered with Glenn Bailey for Pops charity Pairs match. Both Glenn and me had been out to parties the night before and with heavy rain when we set off, neither fancied it. I felt really tired.

Steady drive down and back via the motorway which was a surprise as we usually have to get off at W-S-M coming home. Team tactics discussed for a few seconds - paste it was then.

Steve Segar tossed a coin for us - winner chooses lake. I won and chose Tile, only because it has a better margin than Brick. Apparently, a pair would  have a good peg and a no so good peg. So captain Two Pots did the draw. I was on peg 31 and and Glenn peg 4. We both wondered which was the good peg! My peg had a tree to the left which left very little margin. It wasn't much better the other side due to the Sedges. With an island opposite made the peg designed for the method chucker's me thinks - not for me, but did think about setting up a maggot feeder. However, the wind was blowing into this end and thought it might produce.

I initially set up three paste rigs. A bullet for the right margin (shallow) and a 0.4 gram for the left in three foot of water and a 0.5 gram out in front set to five foot - all on the top set.

I started out in front with paste over a large pot of micro and initially expected nibbling Ronnie's. I didn't! This indicated that the small Silvers wasn't feeding making the paste a good option. It took a while before I had a bite which  was a 2 lb Skimmer. Due to the wind blowing the rig up the shelf it was difficult to keep the paste on station so decided to feed both margins with micro with hard 4's over the top. Because the Nibblers were absent the best bait for Carp is maggot, using either maggot or paste hook baits over them, so got up and set up a 4x14 Titan to fish maggot out in front. I fed a pot of LR's out in front and tried the margins. No signs of Carp or Skimmers just the odd indication from very tiny fish. Went out with triple maggot hook bait and had a couple of flying Skimmers. However, I was having problems holding the hook bait on station again and was towing into Skimmers fouling hooking them, but not landing them. Very frustrating. I had my one and only Carp which weighed a massive 12 oz! I kept adding the odd Skimmer between the foulers. I switched to feeding DR's which resulted in the best part of the day as I started to catch Eels including a fouler!. I had four and last put in lost one about 3 lb which broke me. Size for size they fight harder than Carp.

I weighed 21 lb 2 oz which beat anglers around me which went to prove I was at the wrong end of the lake and only managed 12 points from 20. Steve Segar opposite me actually blanked not having a bite all match. Glenn faired better but was also at the wrong end of his lake weighing 39 lb 12 oz for 7 points giving us a total of 19 for half way position.

The pairs was won by Ben Hagg peg 38 and Scott Puddy peg 8 (pictured) with 5 points. They both caught at 16 metres. Scott staying slapping throughout the match and similarly Ben slapping and catching some on the deck. Well done to both, how nice it must be to be young and fit like these two.

I must say Jamie did a great job weighing in most efficient and fish friendly I've seen.

Last words from Glenn "at least it didn't rain".

Result:

Overall 1st Scott Puddy and Ben Hagg 5 points 124lb 4oz

Overall 2nd Jamie Parkhouse and Paul Homewood 9 points 147lb 4oz

Overall 3rd Tony Rixon and Chris Fox 9 points 140lb 4oz

Brick Lake 1st Jamie Parkhouse 112lb 2oz peg 11

Brick Lake 2nd Tony Rixon 99lb 3oz peg 9

Brick Lake 3rd Russ Peck 66lb 10oz peg 20

Tile Lake 1st Ben Hagg 71lb 15oz peg 38

Tile Lake 2nd Lee Masey 53lb 4oz peg 21

Tile Lake joint 3rd Adrian Bishop 49lb 9oz peg 24

Tile Lake joint 3rd Jamie Cook 49lb 9oz peg 36

Weigh Sheets:

Sunday 18/07/2021 - Tony Rixon's Float Only - Round Four - Sedges - Brick and Tile Lakes

I had planned to be in Brighton this weekend with my Son Mark and family, so got Martin McMahon to stand in. However, my Granddaughter got sent home from school and had to self isolate, so we cancelled. Luckily there was a spare space so I was able to fish one of my favourite venues which I haven't done for a long while.

Travelled with Glenn Bailey and arrived to the usual warm welcome from Denise. We had a walk around to find lots of fish up in the water. Not a good sign for me but good news for the 16 and 17 metre Slappers.

Having lost most of my margin Bullet paste floats at Landsend Ryan Jordan (RJ) made me some more. I must say they fit the bill perfectly - pictured. Wire stem self cocking them to the eye with the paste taking it to half the tip. Perfect for margins up to 2 foot deep.

Joined the nearly orderly queue for the draw and pulled peg 29 on Tile. Right Lake and right side for me. That said, it seems peg 38 has recently been the most productive for Silvers. For company I had the affable Steve Seager on end peg 30 and match organiser extraordinaire Tony Rixon on peg 28. Steve's peg was black with Carp on the surface as was most pegs on our side of the lake, the other side was to fish really hard. It was clear I wouldn't be able to compete with the long pole merchants for Carp mugging, especially the mugging/"stalking" master Tony Rixon. So I decided to target the Silvers until the Carp came down into the margins.

Umbrella up as it was to be a right swelter which helped me feel comfortable for most of the day.

The set up was a margin 0.3 gram paste rig which suited both right and left hand sides, 4 x 16 Titan to fish top set plus one barrel just up the inside shelf out in front. The short and long Ronnie rig with caster over caster.

Started on the Titan rig with expander over micro, whilst shipping out noticed Steve, Tony and Arron next to Tony were all playing Carp! To my surprise I had no indications on this! Switched to the short Ronnie rig with single caster over loose fed caster in both margins and that's where I stayed catching some decent Ronnie's, Rudd and some proper Skimmers. I did get a bit frustrated when I had three fly off the hook. All OK until the last 90 minutes when both margins completely died. I could fathom out what had happened. Thought Carp had moved in, so tried the paste both sides and nothing not even a nibbler. With 10 minutes to go I dumped a pot of LR's on the long line in the hope of one of the big Eels in this Lake with triple LR's on the hook. It did work as I has an Eel of 6 oz and a small Skimmer. Hindsight tells me I should have switched to this as soon as it died, but wont beat myself up over it. I fed about 3/4 pint of caster.

My silvers weighed 43 lb  8 oz for a Silvers win, my one accidental Carp weighed 3 lb 12 oz - smallest in the Lake me thinks. Just a tad disappointed I didn't get the 50 lb. I think with none of the anglers around me not feeding helped me.

The match was won by Joe McMahon (pictured with some of his catch) with 232 lb 13 oz from Tile peg 22. Joe caught mugging with 8 mm banded pellet. Well done matey a worthy winner. Other than Joe's weight the match was a close affair with most framers catching shallow.

From the talk along my bank apparently you can mug fish with either both eyes open, one eye open or with both closed!!

Glenn Bailey won is section opposite me with on peg 33 with 61 lb, so double bubble van catching five decent Carp very quickly late on. Once again the M5 motorway was rammed, so had to get off again and use the A roads. Very refreshing to get that first cold one in hand.

I think I will give Acorn a miss Tuesday as it will be another hot one.

Result:

Weigh Sheets:

Sunday 08/07/2019 - Tony Rixon's Float Only - Round Three - Sedges - Brick and Tile Lakes

Travelled with Two Pots today, so breakfast at home,more beans and porridge. Podge is still on page one of his new car sat nav manual so had to follow us down. Didn't need us on the way home though.

Two Pots was telling everyone that this venue was the best paste venue in the South West - Umm.

I really to be wanted to draw on Tile Lake, simply because the Silvers could be won off any of the middle pegs. Whereas on Brick the favourite areas are pegs 5 to 8. There are pegs to avoid at the moment - Brick pegs 2,3 20, 19,18 and 17. So into the draw tube and out comes peg 3. Noooo. No chance of beating peg 1 especially with Meat Head on it and with little hope of Silvers it was going to be a philosophical day. For company on peg 2 was the affable Nick Brown and Phil Hardwick on peg 4. Phil fetched the item pictured right from his car. I wasn't sure what it was - a sewing machine, Gramophone? I was hoping it was a picnic to share.

Being an out and out paste venue!!! I set up two paste rigs one o fish at top-set plus three out in front and one for the RH margin which was just the right topography for presenting the paste. In case I set up a 4x16 Winter Titan for Silvers at top set plus four at 11 o'clock. I started on the long paste rig after feeding a big pot of micro/4's mix. The expectation was to immediately have some fizzing, I was amazed and worried this didn't happen. I expected in this case to have some nibblers - more concern when this didn't happen the paste just sat there. I had a go on the Titan with expander's of micro and again no sign of feeding fish not even a Ronnie intercepting the bait on the drop. Nick hadn't had a bite either whilst Phil was catching the odd Carp on the pellet waggler - releasing as many as he was landing! The penny dropped all the fish were up in the water and really didn't want to feed. I thought about setting up the waggler but knew I couldn't possible catch meat head. At sometime the fish would go down on the bottom to feed, but was a question of when? So rather than sit there bite less I thought I would socialise and have a walk around the Lakes having a chat with at least 75% of the anglers. I did this twice! It was obvious that the venue had converted from a paste venue to Slappers paradise. Arrived at Two Pots corner peg 31 and found he was struggling with the paste and was practising his slapping. Back to my peg and so to while away the time I set up the Ronnie rig and caught an assortment of small fish - nothing manic ob caster over GB and caster. With an hour to go Nick had his first Carp so time to go back on the long paste line. I fed some more hard 4's and had the elusive fizz right away. During the last hour I had three Carp losing one fouler and three decent Skimmers. Come the all out the peg was alive with feeding fish giving me liners!! This has happened before and will happen again. At least I saved face with my total weight of 32 lb being halfway up the Lake beating two in the section!!

The match once again was won by Neil Mercer (pictured right) with 258 lb 14 oz from Tile corner peg 40. Neil caught on banded pellet fished over pinged 6's fished at 14.5 to his end bank. His catch also included an Eel of 3 lb 4 oz - nice to see. three matches in the three, I don't think The Trig is that happy about sharing his flyer's around - even though Neil is his boss.

The Silvers was won by Chris Fox (pictured right with a nice net of assorted size of Skimmers) with 44 lb 2 oz from Tile peg 38. Chris caught mainly on expander's over micro and hard 4's. However, see his blog for more details.

Result:

1. Neil Mercer 258-14-0 peg 40
2. Tony Rixon 184-0-0 peg 37
3. Paul Elmes 156-08-0 peg 21
4. Vince Shipp 126-05-0 peg 24

Silvers:

1. Chris Fox 44-02-0 peg 38
2. Paul Faiers 32-04-0 peg 27

Weigh Sheets:

Wednesday 05/06/2019 - Sedges Fishery - Cost Cutter - Tile and Brick Lakes

Glenn (with two nn's or Two Pots) and me decided to fish Wednesday this week, so choose Sedges which is one of my favourite fisheries. I've not been there for some time so was looking forward to it.

Arrived at the fishery to the usual warm welcome and with some nostalgia. Matey Merv "Topper" Haskins in the early days use to arrive at matches on his motorbike, which you think impossible nowadays - apparently not - see pictured right.

A good turn out with 22 fishing so match split over three banks. Into the draw bag and out comes peg 40 on Tile Lake - a very sought after peg. After seeking recent form I found that the Monday Silvers pegs 40, 39 and 38 had the top three 40 lb weights. So my plan was to initially fish for Silvers and switch to Carp if they showed up. To these ends I set up a 4x16 Winter Titan to fish for Skimmers at top-set plus two and a 0.3 gram paste float to fish top-set plus one down the LH edge. Simple. Whilst setting up I got a dusting down from the industrial plant next door to the fishery - couldn't stop coughing. Luckily it didn't last too long, covering Two Pots new luggage with a fine dust!

I started by feeding the margin with hard 4's which I would continue to loose feed over the top whilst fishing for the Skimmers. I fed the Skimmer line with GB laced with micro and with 4 mm expander on the hook initially caught small 4 - 6 oz Skimmers regularly. In Between these I would get the occasional 1 - 1 1/2 pound fish. I was surprised how many of these Skimmers take to flight - it may well be due to the Lake being deep. I hooked one Skimmer of about 12 oz which ran straight to the bank jumped out and landed in my empty Carp net - Result. I carried on fishing then decided I should remove the Skimmer incase I caught a Carp so took out the net and fish and during transfer to the Silvers net dropped it back - Bugger. By regularly topping up I kept them coming for about 4 hours when I foul hooked four Carp in quick succession. Tile Lake wasn't fishing to it's usual high standards for Carp but noticed a few anglers also stating to catch them. So reckoning I had about 40 lb of Silvers switched to paste down the margin with plan to cover some other winning options. First put in I had a 6 lb Carp followed quickly by three more I then had a spell of foul hooking. Because of the Reeds it's impossible to get out of the deep margin which was about 3 1/2 foot, which is too deep for this type of fishing. However, I did put about 60 lb in the Carp net loosing five foul hookers.

My Silvers weighed 39 lb 11 oz just one ounce behind first place!! My Carp weighed 63 lb 12 oz for a sixth overall weight of 103 lb 7 oz and second in the section. A very minor bit of bad judgement - perhaps.

The match was won by Two Pots (pictured right) with 177 lb 2 oz from brick Lake peg 3. Pots caught on .....well ... paste at 13 metres from two lines - left and right.

The Silvers was won by Phil Clapp (pictured right with the match winner) with 39 lb 12 oz from Tile peg 35. Phil caught on 7 mm meat fished over meat.

So what's changed since my last visit: Not too much as it is a very well managed venue. Certainly lots more Skimmers in Tile - very good news, improving what was already a superb Silvers venue. I thought the Carp mouths were a bit battered. Not sure why this should be, but noticed there were some anglers using very large wagglers (if that is what they are called) with tops as big as ping pong balls. For some reason fisheries limit the size of wagglers to 5/8 " diameter or size of the middle finger. Can't wait to get back again only wished it was closer to home.

Result:

1. Glenn Bailey 177-02-0 peg 3 Brick (Paste)
2. Bill Hopping 138-10-0 peg 9 Brick (Paste)
3. Mark Bellringer 121-10-0 peg 33 Tile

Silvers:

1. Phil Clapp 39-12-0 peg 35 Tile (Meat)
2. Mike Nicholls 39-11-0 peg 40 (Expander)
3. Jess 38-04-0 peg 22 (Meat)

Weigh Sheets:

Wednesday 12/04/2017 - Sedges Open - Brick Lake

With family commitments over the Easter I had to get a fix in before the post Easter Thursday, so called Glenn Bailey with a view of fishing Wednesday. Not to worry he was soon swayed form his gardening duties and booked us into Sedges. But first we had to find the relocated Hillview Café, which we did first attempt with directions from Clint Wojtyle. The café is smaller and right by Burnham sea wall, the menu is identical as is the quality of the excellent food. Bela will be pleased I found it.

When you haven’t been to a fishery for a while you can easily forget how good it can be. I was really looking forward to fishing it today, but was disappointed to find only nine booked in. I can’t understand why especially looking at the weigh sheet and how well it fished. First into the draw drum and out comes ping pong ball number 5. “Corner Two Pots” Bailey drew end peg 10 again!! That said I was delighted with my peg as it is one of the better Silvers pegs. The wind was blowing hard and gusting off my back and was bloody cold, and would keep veering making presentation difficult.

I came fully baited up but because of the low turn out I kept the expensive bait dry opting for the multi-buy pellet. So one 4x10 F1 Malman set up at top-set plus two to fish 4mm expander over hand fed hard fours for the Skimmers, and a PC paste float to fish over the same line later or sooner if the Carp arrived in numbers. Started on the expander and caught a couple of decent Skimmers followed quickly by a 10 lb Common. I did expect some early disruption from this species. I then had a lovely run of Skimmers and a lonely 3lb Tench. I then hooked a monster Carp which to be truthful I lost patients with, breaking my elastic instead of the 0.14 GLine! Lost the lot – my favourite float gone, we’ve been through a lot over the winter. This wasn’t expected. After re-rigging I kept on with the Skimmers until the last hour when the swim petered out. So had my first try of the new season with the paste, but because of the ever increasing wind chose to fish it at top set plus one where I still had the full depth of seven foot. Again I fished the paste over hand fed hard 4’s. I had two quick Skimmers so was just thinking why didn’t I try this earlier when the battles commenced with the margin dwellers. The up shot was I lost two munters one went behind my keepnets and the other was just wouldn’t come off bottom and with it so deep I had wound the laccy right to the top and bust the 0.18 GLine hook length!! However, I did land four up to 14lb 8oz.

My Skimmers weighed 51lb 10oz of Skimmers to 3lb for first in Silvers (pictured right) and my five Carp weighed in at 53lb 3oz for third overall. I wouldn’t like to think my impatiens costs me second – but might of!

As I expected the match was won by “Corner Two Pots” (pictured upper right with some of his catch) with 219lb 6oz from peg 10. He caught most of his Carp at 13 metres fishing paste over potted soaked 4’s. Well done matey, double car bubble and I still bought the beers!

We will be sooner rather than later.

Note to Jamie “Need to run Sunday Opens Matey”!

Full Result:

1. Glenn Bailey 219-06-0 Peg 10
2. Neil Adloct 133-06-0 peg 2

Top Silvers:

1. Mike Nicholls 51-10-0 peg 5
2. Paul Berry 39-12-0 peg 8

Weigh Sheet:

Wednesday 14/10/2015 - Amalgamation Summer League - Final Round - Sedges Canal

Two Pots child minding today so on my own for the last match of the series. My usual stop for breakfast in Misery Guts Café.

 Arriving at the fishery the talk was how bad the Canal was fishing with seven DNW’s in Monday’s match, most coming from the top end – so area to avoid. I have yet to draw the near end, so far not getting passed halfway.

 The Sedges open match was on Brick Lake today and Bob Price wisely decided to fish that rather than the Canal. Good choice as he won the match with 90lb on bread on the lead and down his RH margin. I can just make him out on peg 8 (pictured above).

Andy Smith runs the league on similar lines to the Parkdean Masters in that the top twelve in the overall league fish off for the overall prize money on the last match being shared between overall and Silvers.

In to the draw letter box and out comes peg 57 – top end and second time I have drawn this peg - bugger. I was hoping it would be end peg today, alas not that was reserved for matey Pete Greenslade.

Arriving at the peg I spied some bubbles coming up over the far bank (pictured right). Interesting enough I had the same last time I fished it so I wasn’t going after fool’s gold this time. I set up two rigs a 4x16 Yoof to fish the near and far bank which was only 10 metres away, and a 4x14 Jolly to fish at 5 metres.

The Canal was so clear that the Yoof proved unproductive. So I spent all match on the one 5 metre line. I decided to keep the feed down by kindering a few wetted micros in and with a 4 semi-hard on the 16 – 808 hook; I thought 5 minutes was well long enough without any indication so swapped to single perky red maggot. I was soon dropping off small Ronnie’s before I landed a 4oz Skimmer. Next put in I had a 4lb Common Carp which no doubt unsettled the silver fish as it took an age to catch another Skimmer. The upshot was the predictions were right – it fished hard. I spent the odd hour fishless catching the odd Skimmer plus one bonus 1lb Barbel.

My lonesome Carp weighed in at 4lb 3oz and my Silvers 6lb 1oz for a total of 11lb 1oz, which was good enough for second Silvers and fourth overall.

The match was won by John Osborne (pictured above right) with 16lb 15oz from peg 46.John caught on either hard or soft expander pellet fished at 11.65 metres ¾ across.

The Silvers was won by John Barker (pictured right) with a credible 13lb 3oz from his favourite peg 48.

Well done to both sharing the overall spoils.

 Full Result:

1. John Osborne 16-15-0 peg 46
2. John Barker 13-03-0 peg 48
3. Mark Bellringer 11-05-0 peg 42
4. Mike Nicholls 11-01-0 peg 57
5. Alan Jones 9-14-0 peg 64
6. Dave Bacon 4-15-0 peg 44

Top Silvers:

1. John Barker  13-03-0 peg 48
2. Mike Nicholls 6-14-0 peg 57

Weigh Sheets:

Wednesday 30/09/2015 - Amalgamation Summer League - Round Seven - Sedges Fishery - Tile Lake

It was my turn to drive picking up Glenn earlier this morning for an early 09:15vdraw. First stop Hilltops café where the talk was about Bristol Rovers win last night away to Hartlepool – up the GAS.

In to the draw post box and out comes peg 21, which is far side corner peg. This peg has won plenty of matches with Carp this term mainly on the method cast to the point on the end bank. Not for me though. However, it’s also not a fancied Silvers peg which is what I really wanted to fish for – bugger. I set up two Ronnie rigs one short the other long, a 2x16 Jolly to fish 6 inches up the inside shelf in front at top set distance which was a top set depth, finally a 0.3 PC paste float to fish ay 11.5 metres along the end bank.

The weather was glorious although a bit too bright for the Silvers to feed, that said the brisk nippy wind was gusting into me at 11 0 clock which was going to make presentation difficult, but hopefully provide some cover.

Two Saturdays ago I fell on my left shoulder which has been painful for sometime, but has gradually eased. However, today I slipped and stop myself falling by falling on my left hand which set the arm off again, making it difficult to fish long. – Bugger.

I started by feeding the 4x16 Jolly line with some clumped wetted micro and with a semi-hard on the hook I had five small Skimmers in as many put ins. It then died probably due to a maraudering Carp. I had been loose feeding caster down wind to aid presentation, so had a go on the short Ronnie rig with single caster and had a couple of small Ronnie’s I then I hooked a decent Tench, only to have it beat for the hook to ping out. Next put-in another Tench (I think) must get this one out – bugger it snagged me breaking the line well above the hook length – Ugh. The swim became difficult catching the odd Ronnie. I re-fed the long line with more pellet. Back on the Jolly this time double caster over caster and I hooked and landed a 8lb Common Carp – Not what I was expecting – later I foul hooked a Carp which herald the end of this line. Back on the Ronnie’s adding a few more, but they weren’t playing hard enough making it difficult. My arm was aching so stretched the legs only to find that the pegs on our side were fishing hard. I went back and had ago for the Carp on the paste long. The arm was OK shipping out but painful lifting and dragging back. The issue I had was the wind was so strong that it was blowing the float into the end bank whilst the strong under tow was dragging the paste down into the deeper water. The upshot was I struggled for Silvers and Carp giving them both 50% of my time catching two more Carp on the paste foul hooking another four.

My Silvers weighed 4lb 8oz and my three Carp 17lb for a total of 21lb 8oz.

On hindsight I should have fished for Silvers more as it only took 6lb to pick up coin – O if only I had landed those Tench … I also should have fished the paste down the bottom of the shelf over to the end bank as I think there were too many uneven stones and bricks in the shallow margin – next time – perhaps.

The match was won by Glenn Bailey (pictured right with some of his catch) with 71lb 9oz from peg 35. Glenn caught using Two Pots and paste at 13 metres.

The Silvers was won by John Barker (pictured right) with 9lb 11oz of Roach and small Skimmers fishing at 7 metres.

Full Result:

1. Glenn Bailey 71-09-0 peg 35
2. Pete Greenslade 49-12-0 peg 40
3. M Bellringer 49-06-0 peg 39
4. Steve Jefferies 45-06-0 peg 28
5. Bob Price 43-01-0 peg 38
6. Paul Haines  31-11-0 peg 37

Top Silvers:

1. John Barker 9-11-0 peg 25
2. John Osborne 6-11-0 peg 29
3. Alan Jones 6-10-0 peg 32

Weigh Sheets:

Wednesday 16/09/2015 - Amalgamation Summer League - Round Seven - Canal

My turn to pick up Two Pots I even got his enormous tractor wheel and metal North Sea platform in the car. First stop Hill Tops café, where two Jumbos were devoured.

We arrived in plenty of time to have a wonder round. The Sedges open was down a couple of anglers no doubt put off by the BBC weather –The BBC has sacked the Met Office – I think the BBC are the one’s that should be sacked from forecasting weather. We could have been in for some right down pours luckily for us they got it wrong again. That said apparently over the previous few days Sedges have had plenty of rain with all three Lakes now brimming.

In to the draw letter box and out comes peg 59 which is just about on the causeway between Tile and Brick Lakes so I could fish longish without unshipping.

I set up a 4x10 Drennan Chop for the far side tight in which was just over 11.5 metres so fished the 13 metre section for the first time. The same rig sufficed for both margins at 30 inches. The second rig was a 4x14 Jolly, heavier than usual  as the peg was deeper than previous pegs – indications that I am gradually moving to the near end where all the fish appear to be and is the deepest part of the Canal (for me still to confirm).

Two Pots drew the match end peg 54 and had a moan because he wasn’t on flyer peg 64 again!!

John Barker came down for a chat and thought 7 to 10 lb would win the Silvers as the Canal has been difficult over the past week or so.

I fed the far side with a few casters and then went in at 5 metres with the jolly with 4mm semi-hards on the hook over micro. This approach usually produces a few decent Skimmers, alas today it only gave up five tiny Skimmers to 3oz. John’s predictions I feared would materialise.

Probably too early but I panicked over to the far bank with double caster and foul hooked two decent Carp. I then had a menagerie of Silvers – Crucian, Skimmers, Ronnie’s and Perch. I decided to try worm hook bait which resulted in me foul hooking three decent Skimmers, not landing any of them – bugger – a sign that the fish weren’t feeding properly. The swim died and had a head fit and mixed up some GB mixed with worm, micro and casters I potted this in to the far bank swim – end of swim and after a dower period of no bites wasn’t fished again. I had been feeding a mix of micro and casters down both margins. The RH margin produced nothing, whilst the LH margin accounted for four more foul hooked Carp a 1 ½ Perch and a few more Skimmers and Ronnie’s all on single or double caster. I switched to semi hard 4’s and landed a decent Skimmer and three Common Carp which fought well above their 3lb weight.

My Silvers weighed 10lb 12oz for first in the Silvers and when they added my Carp weight of 11lb 8oz this gave me a second in the match weight of 22lb 4oz

The match was won by Glenn Bailey who had slimmed down to one pot today (pictured above centre with the Silvers winner) with 26lb 4oz consisting of mainly 7 Carp, Glenn caught on hard pellet with only one fish caught on paste!

John was right the venue fished very hard today with the flyer pegs not producing.

Packing up in the rain my breath was compensating for the first time since last winter.

Full Result:

1. Glenn Bailey 26-04-0 peg 54
2. Mike Nicholls 22-04-0 peg 59
3. Dave Bacon 20-06-0 peg 43
4. Alan Jones 19-03-0 peg 51
5. John Barker 12-11-0 peg 62
6. Dave Poole 11-07-0 peg 63

Top Silvers:

1. Mike Nicholls 10-12-0 peg 59
2. Alan Jones 8-10-0 peg 51

Weigh Sheets:

Overall League before today's match:

Wednesday 02/09/2015 - Amalgamation Summer League - Round Six - Tile Lake

The Banksey Dismaland exhibition appears to have gone from satire to irony. Apparently the organisers have been confiscating fibre pens and spray cans because some have been putting graffiti on Banksey’s sculptures!!

On my own today because Two Pots has buggered off to Spain until the weekend, so had a few of the league members - kids back to school then! I still stopped in Hill Tops for breakie. When I left home the temperature was 8 degrees by time I got to the cafe it was 15 degrees. Autumn is here I think.

I had warm welcome from Denise and Jamie with the usual offer of a cuppa. In to the draw post box and out comes peg 26 – middle of the far bank.

Jamie has done some work reducing the Sedges in the margins along each side of the peg making it possible to get in close to the bank. For company on next peg I had Silvers angler John Barker.

My mission was to win the Silvers so I set up the Ronnie rig for caster over caster and a 4x16 jolly to fish just up the inside shelf at 4 metres with caster or worm over GB with a smidgen of chopped worm, caster and micro.

On the whistle I fed two big balls of GB at 4 metres and started to feed caster down my LH side for the Ronnie’s. Starting on a piece of worm I had a small Ronnie on the drop followed by an 8 oz Skimmer, and then I was pestered by the Ronnie’s. Perhaps I didn’t give the line long enough but abandoned it anyway mostly due to lack of confidence in catching Skimmers. On to the Ronnie rig and it was one a bung from ½ oz to 4 oz. I spent the majority of the match switching around the peg from LH side to out in front to keep the bites coming.

With 1 ¼ hours to go to the end of the match I foul hooked a Carp on single caster which quickly broke the hook length. A few minutes for re-tie and I had a decent Skimmer about 2lb which took my weight Silvers weight to 22lb 6oz I knew this because next put-in I hooked a Carp which broke the hook so the rig went up the bank. I got the double two top-set out with blue Middy bungee and attached a 0.3 gram PC paste float. I started to loose feed the semi-hard 4’s I had prepared earlier down the LH margin. On to the top set with paste and what happened next was amazing. I hooked 16 Carp losing 2. The last one landed on the whistle weighed 14lb 3oz. Thanks to John Barker I didn't have to walk back to the hut to get another keep net as he kindly gave me his second net that he hadn't any use for.

The 14 Carp weighed 115lb 3oz when added to my Silvers winning weight took me to a second overall weight with 137lb 9oz.

John barker pictured upper right with his catch of Ronnie’s did run me close with his second in the Silvers weight of 18lb 3oz.

The match was won by Mark Bellringer (pictured right) with 160lb 4oz from in form peg 21. Mark caught his Carp on the method feeder fished long, along the end bank using hard pellet.

Full Result:

1. Mark Bellringer 160-04-0 mpeg 21
2. Mike Nicholls 137-09-0 peg 26
3. Steve Jefferies 114-14-0 peg 38
4. Alan Jones 93-12-0 peg 40
5. Dave Bacon 59-02-0 peg 37
6. Bill Ferris 47-09-0 peg 35

Top Silvers:

1. Mike Nicholls 22-06-0 peg 26
2. John Barker 18-13-0 peg 25
3. Ray Bazeley 11-02- 0 peg 28

Weigh Sheet:

Wednesday 19/08/2015 - Amalgamation Summer League - Round Five - Sedges Fishery - Canal

Glenn Two Pots wanted to fish today’s match so a quick call to organiser Andy Smith and he was booked in because Dave Bacon was absent, off to Ireland again!! My turn to pick up Two Pots and it was off to Hill Tops café where half the anglers fishing today had gathered. Apparently Glenn spotted misery guts smiling.

There were a few anglers in shorts today, what were they thinking wearing them in August! Temperatures were in the low teens and rain on and off all day with 20 mph winds. I got home at 19-15 and had to put the lights on in the garage!! What’s going on, I feel sorry for the families on their annual holidays with the kids.

We walked around the Canal and fancied end peg 64 or next peg 63 which has been the winning peg so far this summer. In to the post box draw tin and out comes ping pong ball 57. And Glenn peg 64 – Umm, followed by a head shake by me.

Once again I was drawn next to Steve Jefferies on peg 56, who only asked the time once.

There wasn’t much sign of fish which with the current weather conditions wasn’t surprising. Plumbing around with a 4x12 Jolly I found a strange topography. On the 1 meter I had full depth of 4 foot which was level until 5 metres where is gradually shallowed up to 4 inches over to the far bank at 10 metres. I set up a 2x10 TBFB float for caster over in 10 inches of water, and a 0.15 gram paste float set just off the far bank set at 12 inches deep.

The Jolly was to be fished out at 1 metre and 4 metres down the peg with caster and at 5 metres out in front with semi-hard 4mm pellet fished over wetted micro. After feeding the two caster lines with a kinder pot full I started on the semis. First put in I had a 2oz Skimmer followed by a 2 pounder. I then had about six more Skimmers up to 8oz! I was get indications from tiny Skimmers which heralded the time to switch to double caster over. With a few more kindered caster I had another two pound Skimmer followed by a run of smaller ones to 1 pound. I then hooked a Carp which shed the hook playing it under the top-set – bugger. I then switch to pieces of worm over the caster and had three Perch to 12oz. The swim then died so put two big pots of micro in, to keep an eye open for any fizzing so to introduce the paste. Now down the near side with double caster expecting some more silvers only to catch a 4lb Common Carp. Fed some more casters and hooked another Carp which did me in the Bull Rushes which needed another 4x12 Jolly only for the same to happen again – double bugger. I then had four more small Skimmers before spying a fizz over the far bank so a switch to the paste and a 4 lb Common was soon in the keepnet. That was it the swim completely died.

My Silvers weighed 10lb 9oz for a Silvers win and my two Common Carp helped me to 5^th overall with 18lb 9oz.

The match was won by Glenn Bailey – Umm (Selfie pictured right with the Silvers winner) with 66lb 2oz from end peg 64. Glenn initially caught over to the point of the island under the overhanging tree using hair rigged banded 6mm pellet fished over pellet, later switching to paste in to the end bank, which coincided with a few Carp doing him in the Bull Rushes. The Carp in this lake are all in pristine condition as shown in the pictured right of some of Two Pots net.

Another car double bubble.

Full Result:

1. Glenn Bailey 66-02-0 peg 64
2. Norman Huggett 26-02-0m peg 44
3. John Smith 22-13-0 peg 47
4. Mark Bellringer 22-09-0 peg 63
5. Mike Nicholls 18-09-0 peg 57
6. Pete turner 17-02-0 peg 60

Top Silvers:

1. Mike Nicholls 10-09-0 peg 57
2. Andy Smith 9-05-0 peg 42
3. Mark Bellringer 6-05-0 peg 4

Weigh Sheet:

Wednesday 05/08/2015 - Amalgamation Summer League - Round Four - Tile Lake

I was on my lonesome today for the trip to Sedges. First stop Hilltops Café where half the anglers fishing today had mustered.

The BBC weather App said no rain however, the morning forecast told a different story, and luckily the phone App was right. That said there was a right blow on the Lake from the car park and.

In to the draw bag and out comes ping-pong 32 which put me one from the far end – near bank, right in the blast of the wind. For company on peg 33 was Dave Bacon who I know would be on the method feeder. And on end peg 31 was Steve Jefferies, who I know would give a running commentary all through the match – Steve still hasn’t bought a time piece. Good job I had a watch!!

I had previously decided that I would fish for Silvers simply because I thought I would struggle to pick up coin fishing against the Method Feeder boys. So I set up the Ronnie rig and a 4x16 Jolly to fish at 7 metres out in front with worm hook bait over a mix of worm, caster, micro and some dead reds.

I started by feeding a pot of my W,C,M&M then started to feed caster short for the Ronnie’s. First put in with a piece of worm I hooked a 1lb Skimmer which came off after trying to fly. I then started to get unhittable sail away bites which I knew were Eel’s. I then hooked a monster Eel from the bite I had I knew it was in the mouth so a bite off wasn’t my concern. I had a right old tussle with it trying to get it off the bottom. Because of the depth of water I had to wind in a fair amount of elastic. Unfortunately, due partly to my bad angling and trying to rush the fish I bottomed the elastic and it broke 4lb 9oz bottom. I did just see a babies arm appear on the surface before I lost it. I am sure it was a PB, 3lb plus so I will dwell on my loss for a few days.

After this episode I couldn’t get a bite from this line so I re-fed and went on the Ronnie’s with single caster. However, they were very small averaging 11/2 oz! I was now faced with a dilemma as to whether continue catching Ronnie or try again fro the Skimmers, which I decided on and was rewarded with three 4oz Skimmers before I landed two small Carp followed by a tiny Perch. As very few Skimmers were being caught I abandoned this line and concentrated on the Ronnie’s to the end of the match.

My two Carp weighed 5lb 3oz and my Ronnie’s 16lb 5oz for a total of 21lb 8oz and Silvers win (Silvers winner pictured right with the match winner).

The match was won by Dave Bacon (pictured right with some of his catch) with 96lb 12oz from peg 33. Dave caught most of his fish on the method feeder fished well short of the opposite island using some perfumed smelling GB with 8mm jzp’s on the hook. In the latter stages Dave added addition Carp from his RH margin using worm hook bait fished over perfume GB.

Full Result:

1. Dave Bacon 96-12-0 peg 33
2. M Bellringer 81-13-0 peg 24
3. Phil Coulam 79-15-0 peg 26
4. John Osborne 78-06-0 peg 21
5. John Smith 69-04-0 peg 40
6. Ray Bazeley 66-02-0 peg 28

Top Silvers:

1. Mike Nicholls 16-05-0 peg 32
2. John Barker 13-13-0 peg 37
3. Bill Ferris 13-09-0 peg 39

Weigh Sheets: