Sunday 31/08/2025 - Alcove Club - Knock up - The Clamp

Adverts on my Blog have been going wild and driving me mad. Have half heartily tried to stop them, but was recently asked if I was sponsored by Temu which got me on the case. Well dealing with Google is an extraordinary experience, they talk in a language that likens to something from a far far Galaxy. Anyway the worse gone.

Today we were at The Clamp - silvers only match with a few crying off so down to a knock up number of 7. I like it here as it's probable one, if not the hardest venue around. A venue for improving discipline. As the numbers were down Julie changed it to a rover. I'm not keen on rovers, hearing this had a quick walk round to pick three pegs. Got back and drew number 5 to draw. The first peg I wanted was taken the second would have meant three of us in a row so went to third choice peg 12 "The Blackberry bush"  which would have plenty of room. Got to be some Chub under there munching Blackberries.

I had previously made a rig up for the match a Drennan Chop that took just 3 number 12 shot to fish out at two barrels, plus the long and short Ronnie Rigs.

Started on the short Ronnie rig with single LR over loose fed LR's down to the BB Bush which needed careful casting as didn't want a Blackberry gate! Had a variation of small fish before it slowed. Tried the long rig down to the left again with maggot very slow just a few small Ronnie's. Picked up my very light rig and fished it with single LR over loose dampened GB. Had a interesting few hours messing around with presentation catching small Hybrids, Skimmers, Rudd and Ronnie's. I hooked what looked like a big Skimmer only to see my number 4 elastic break so lost the lot, bit surprised as felt like not much pressure on it. We all now we should make up at least two rigs duh. Anyway got out a 4x12 Winter and adjusted the shotting which was OK but not the same as the one lost (never is). Spent the last 30 minutes down to the bush with the short Ronnie rig and had 3 small Chub and a Hybrid was wishing I returned to the BB Bush earlier.

Weighed 7 lb 5 oz which comprised of 7 deferent species for second. Even though we had thunder and rain really enjoyed the day.

The match was won by Tony Welsby (pictured) with 13 lb 12 oz from peg 6. Tony caught at 6 metres using single maggot over sloppy GB. 

Weigh Sheet:

My Catch:

Sunday 01/09/2024 - Alcove Club Match - The Clamp

As per usual this time of year (start of Autumn) the Clamp was mostly covered with a green film form the Ash trees. Apparently Graham Beevor tried mowed it but left the grass box off.

To say the least the match fishing here isn't great, - much better for pleasure fishing. However, there is something about the environment of the Clamp that I enjoy.

End corner peg 15 for me today (pictured). Although it was fairly clear of the film I really wanted to be from the middle to the top end. Very dour looking peg. Got worse to find it was only 30 inches deep. I cleared some of the left side out to get to the tree stump where I was told some F1's might be. In doing so spotted a strange pipe about 10 inches diameter with 3/4 inches diameter holes around it - it was made of either concrete of cast iron - very puzzling. 

Two rigs - short Ronnie rig and a 4 x12 (no 4x10's in the box) to fish all around as it was the same depth to a whisker all over.

Started on the Ronnie rig down to the left over GB and LR's and second put in hooked a decent fish which snagged me. three more puts in and each time snagged up, so abandoned. Had various lines all with GB and LR's (all the baits I had except a few worms), even one at 11.5 metres to the imitation island! The upshot was could only catch just out of the silt with the short Ronnie rig. Had small Perch, Ronnie's and Skimmers. Decided that I was going to need some bigger fish so spent half the match trying to catch a Carp down the left side but further out to avoid the snags on worm over worm and DR's. Surprising I didn't have any indications.

Weighed 3 lb 14 oz for nowhere. However, thunder and lightening and really heavy rain (pictured) arrived at the all out. So made use of the peg being so close to the car park and got my kit away dry.

The match was won by Tony Welsby (pictured with the silvers winner) with 7 lb 1 oz from peg 14. Tony fished a tidy match catching mostly with Pinky hook bait over kindered feed with some micro. His catch included some dumpy Crucians. Well done matey.

The silvers was picked up by Tony Cook with 5 lb 6 oz from peg 5. Tony caught on white maggot over hemp. Well done matey.

Weigh Sheet:

Sunday 03/09/2023 - Alcove AC - The Clamp

My search for the origins of why the Pool was named The Clamp continues, but have made some progress. It's common knowledge that The Clamp is believed to serve as overflow from Bitterwell lake both believed to be constructed to serve the mining industry in the area, specifically the Serrridge Mine. The Clamp was constructed at the same time as Bitterwell Lake circa 1862. Bitterwell was used to soak the wood for mine construction and most probably The Clamp was used to provide water to the mine engines. Due to this important role Bitterwell lake also served to maintained the water "head" of The Clamp. Guessing "The Clamp" was a mining slang term, slang was often used by the miners, for example the men that carried the explosives were called "Powder Monkeys". Still to get the bottom of the name though, beginning to think it's specific to this mine and it's operation.

Back to the fishing. Arrived to find the Pond completely covered in a thin green film. Most certainly caused by the pollen from the large Ash trees that surround the pool. The pollen is normally dispersed by wind however last few days it has been calm hence landing in the pool. However, it didn't affect the fishing, the pond skaters were finding it hard work though.

Pulled peg 5 which is a decent peg. which is under a large old Ash. Happy with this as it meant shade all day for me.

Fished it the same as last match except I left out the fish meal and just used Sensas Lake and Magic for the GB. Fed it loose as the pool is silted and wanted it to sit on top rather than be swallowed by the silt. Fished Pinkie all day double and single as it got harder and boy did it get hard primarily due to no wind. I caught 7 species of fish, lovely days fishing, suits me. No sign of the 5 lb carp which John Treasure informed me he has caught a few times down the LH margin.

As the weights would be close Tony weighed in kg's my silvers weighed 2.330 kg in Christian units 5 lb 2 oz for second overall being beaten by Tony by 3 oz (pictured with the silvers winner). Well done Matey, well run match, need to brush up on your smiling.

Weigh Sheet:

Sunday 13/08/2023 - Alcove AC - The Clamp

There's not much in match fishing that gets me more excited than match fishing a new venue. Back in the day the like's of Tony Rixon et el found new venues around the South West and organised matches, these matches brought excitement and great anticipation (from some talking up), always enjoyable even though we often caught very little. So off to The Clamp which brought strange looks from anglers that have fished it when making enquiries. Never seen the place even though have strained my neck driving past it many times trying to get a glimpse.

15 pegs on the Lake with 13 fishing. Had a quick look around, looked OK. Into the daw bag and out comes peg 13 on the 13th Umm. Found my self next to Julie the winning one Carp specialist on the lake.

Told it was very hard venue but plenty of small silvers, unlikely to hook a Carp - yeh right! So bait wise only took mixed Pinkies and GB consisting of Sensas Lake and Magic. Simple. Set two light elasticated top sets and a 4 metre whip. By feeding small nubs of GB and loose fed Pinkie kept small (minute) Ronnie's coming until the last 15 minutes plus a couple of Skimmers to 8 oz. Did foul hook a carp and lost another in the reeds due to  being unable to get to the top set quick enough to pull elastic. Reeds and me are having a number of fall outs at the mo.

Weighed 6 lb 8 oz for the silvers win and third in the match. Very enjoyable albeit siting in a very cold facing wind.

The match was won by Jason Pitman (pictured with the silvers winner) with 9 lb 13 oz from peg 11. Jason caught at 14.5 metres to the island using maggot hook bats over micro. Well done matey.

No doubt a great pleasure venue.

Weigh Sheet: