06-07-2025 - Ron Hardiman's Summer League - Round 5 - Westerleigh - Taylor's Pool and Shipp's Canal

Penultimate round of this well run league (Ron told me say this -  pictured some time ago 😁), which will be my last in the league as can't make the last round. This means losing one result as only allowed one dropper and have already had one stand in.

My turn on Shipp's. The draw bag gave my peg 10. So, from the four matches I have drawn peg's 10 and 20 twice. Both average pegs at the moment.

It was sad to find a dead 6 lb Carp in my peg. Ricky netted it out for me - thanks mate, who later nearly fell in due to nodding off.

From last experience gained match on this peg decided only needed GB and Maggots. One short Ronnie rig, 4x12 Winter for two barrels for hopefully a Skimmer or two and a 0.3 RJ slim for the LH margin.

Fed the Skimmer line with GB and a few LR's and tried the the line straight away on single LR to catch a few small Ronnie's - no Skimmers. Meanwhile been loose feeding the Ronnie rig line with LR's - No GB as wanted to catch some Perch which GB seem to turn off. Had a steady 90 minutes catching Perch and Ronnie's before it went quiet. Expected a Carp had took some interest and yep soon after that thought was landing a 4 lb fish. From the chatter around the canal it was fishing hard with most only having a Carp or two. So brought the RJ into use with triple LR hook bait over loose fed same and had a run of decent Carp. After we had a bit of a squall most of the others started to catch and with the wind picking up into peg 6 expected the weights to now come from that end. Set up a small dibber for tight into the margin where I started feeding the GB in 18 inches of water and had a few more plus a couple of munters, but as anticipated foul hooked a few over the GB.

Weighed 72 lb 8 oz which included 7 lb of silvers for the silvers win and 5th in the match, again average 5 points. But really enjoyed it, and nearly the Carp fishing!

Shipp's canal and the match was won by Bela Bakos (pictured with the silvers winner) from in form peg 8 with 103 lb 7 oz. Until the squall Bela was struggling with one Carp and thought I heard some crying. However, as expected he turned it around fishing his top set with DR's hook bait over GB and DR's feed. Well done matey can't keep a good man down.

Best of luck for all in the last round.

Back to the pub for a decent pint of Doombar. Good job the Banter Police wasn't in attendance.

Weigh Sheets:

29/06/2025 _- Westerleigh Summer League - Round 4 - Taylor's Pool and Shipp's Canal

My turn on Taylor's. With the aerator running fancied pegs 14, 26,25, 22. Alas drew the same peg as last time peg 10.

When Mark turned off the aerator there was loads of fish topping close to it. 

Didn't think I could make the top two on the lake from so far from the aerator, so set out for the silvers and see what developed.

Set up short Ronnie rig, Paste float for top set plus two barrels and a 4x14 Winter to fish the same line as the paste. Not been setting up the waggler of late reply because of the weed growth on the shallow bar which hasn't been producing. Some fish were showing out on the bar though so nearly set it up.

Now here's a thing after the match Mark Taylor told me he had cleared the weed from the bar and as he did so fish were feeding behind him. So if you think of doing something do it and give it a go.

Fed the two barrel line with GB laced with LR's and with single LR on the Winter had a tiny Skimmer and a few Crucians which seem to have grown on a fair bit on Taylors. I was hoping for some better Skimmers but probably didn't give it long enough as too soon converted the line to paste to got ragged by small F1's and Crucians. That was it, it's spent the remainder of the day on the Ronnie rig catch small Silvers and three better Skimmers. Late on caught four decent Carp losing one plus a 2 lb flying Skimmer (also known as a RAF Skimmer - fight harder in the air than in the water) they always look bigger in the air. Very enjoyable day.

Carp weighed 39 lb 3 oz and silvers 10 lb 7 oz for a total of 49 lb 10 oz for 4th on the pool. Felt second place was touchable had I actually spent time focussed on Carp, plus regretted not trying the waggler.

The match was won by Nick Saunders (pictured with the silvers winner) with 116 lb 7 oz from peg 23 (which hasn't produced for some time). Nick caught primarily down his margins on maggot. Well done matey.

Weigh Sheets:

15/06/2025 - Westerleigh Summer League - Round 3 - Taylor's Pool and Shipp's Canal

Just back from the Viaduct week and my side stomach muscle playing up, it's weird symptoms - can lift etc... but can't lightly touch it with clothes or hand?

Breakfast at Wetherspoons with Geoff.

My turn on Shipp's Canal. Into the draw bag and found disc 10. OK peg can throw up F1's and a few small silvers. Plus there are some munters in the margins late on which can be frustrating to catch.

For company on 9 with loads of options was matey Bela Bakos. I was half expecting a keep net count.

The short Ronnie rig and a 0.4 paste rig for down the middle.

Had a look on the paste expecting a F1 first try. Alas, it was soon apparent it wasn't going to happen early doors. Meanwhile Bela was busy foul hooking over to the island on banded pellet. He was struggling and understandably getting frustrated. So binned the paste and perhaps try again in the last hour in favour of the silvers on the Ronnie rig and single LR over loose fed same. Had a good couple of hours catching Perch and very small Ronnie's - no Skimmers. Did have a few 4 oz F1's and Crucians which quite rightly class as Carp which have to be placed in a separate net. Ninety minutes to go hooked a decent Carp which broke the hook length. I obviously wasn't paying attention - Bela had binned the pellet in favour of worm over GB in his margin and started to catch well so Carp not interested to pellet or forms of, so I make the mistake of setting up a margin paste rig catching a decent Carp first try, but after that foulers and lost rigs followed. Went back on the Ronnie rig with single LR and had three more decent Carp. Had I been paying more attention I would have set up a RJ slim with double LR sure I would have had a better last knockings.

Weighed a total of 38 lb 4 oz which included 8 lb of silvers for the silvers win.

The match was won by Steve Rogers with 124 lb from peg 6. Steve caught over to the island and long down his LH edge on bread hook bait over big pots of liquidised bread. Well done matey.

Weight Sheets:

O1/06/2025 - Westerleigh Summer League - Round 2 - Taylor's Pool and Shipp's Canal

On my return form Whiteacres I was hoping to fish Alcove's club match on Margret's at Whitehouse Farm . Unfortunately, it was fully booked again. Not sure how the booking system works. 

So my next match was the second in the Ron Hardiman Westerleigh summer league. I missed the first round due to being at Whiteacres. Matey Paul Barnfield stood in for me and drew his usual flyer peg 2 on Shipp's weighing with 60 lb 15 oz and a couple of Skimmers to win the silver's and 5 points - midway. Thanks matey. Unluckily for Paul the wind was blowing down the other end where the other draw bag Des Shipp won the match from peg 8 with 182 lb 14 oz a stand in for Ron "Shipp".

My turn on Taylor's Pool. Didn't mind where I drew. Pulled Peg 20. Found myself next to matey Bela Bakos on peg 19 so was going to get some amusement and piss taking for most of the day. Peg 20 is one of the best winter pegs as it holds lots of small Carp. Not much of a margin here due to the reeds both sides. Matey Paul "Beaver" Elms came and helped clear some of the reeds sufficient for a top set only. Decided to give the paste a go today but slightly concerned it might get ragged by the small F1's. Started at three barrels a yep pesterer by 4 oz Crucian's/F1's. So potted in a large helping of micro over the line to keep the Widgers occupied and came in to two barrels over 4's and caught better fish to 2 lb still not match winning size though. Caught steady all day which was very enjoyable. Got a bollocking off of Bela for borrowing one of his nets now taking 4 nets on his command.

I weighed 61 lb 13 oz for 5 points - midway. The pensioner psyches out Roofer with the keep net trick to beat him by 10 lb 😂

 Weigh Sheets:

Sunday 04/05/2025 - Westerleigh Winter League - Final Round 8 - Shipp's Canal and Taylor's Pool

My turn on Shipp's Canal and with 19 points I would at least need a lake win or maybe a second to frame overall in the league. So the draw would be important. One end or the other would be best with the wind deciding which end. The temperature had dropped considerably with a nasty cold NW wind

I went first in the draw to see if I could make it all four matches on peg 13. Instead was faced with peg 3, very rarely gets in the top 3 on the lake so no expectations. Got to the peg to find John the Jinx next to me for the seventh time on peg 2, we have had a good laugh all through.

The fish had been spawning over the past few days so my thinking was the margins would produce. Decided to go for the silvers for the first half and see what develops. Fed the RH margin with 5 pieces of meat, starting down the left with the short Ronnie rig with Single LR over loose fed LR's first put in had a small F1 then 20 Crucian Carp which all went 5 lb 13oz. In between caught the odd Ronnie which were tiny. Tried the meat margin with and was only getting nibbles from small silvers. So made my mind up to keep after the silvers adding more Ronnie's and three small Skimmers. Last hour tried the meat margin with double LR's over loose fed LR's and foul hooked five Carp landing a decent F1 and a 3 lb Carp.  For some reason the Carp didn't want to follow the feed down which was the cause of the fouling.

Silvers weighed 8 lb 5 oz for the silvers win and the Carp 10 lb 14 oz for 8 points so well short. Only regret didn't try the paste which stayed in the bait bag. Think it was worth a try as usually results in less fouling. I also won the overall highest silvers weight. So happy overall with my league results from indifferent draws. The weather could have been much kinder at times.

The match and Taylors pool was won by Ricky Mills (pictured) with 69 lb 9 oz, beating Bela off the next peg by 7 oz!. Ricky having failed with his favourite meat attacked changed to pellet to catch at full depth at 13 metes and later in his margins. Well done Matey.

The day was all about Johnny Clarke who won Shipp's Canal with 66 lb 4 oz from peg 6. Also winning the league with just 9 penalty points out of a possible 7. Well deserved and popular win he's not put a foot wrong over the eight matches. Whats so amazing Johnny usually arrived worse for wear as he did today straight from a party with no sleep!

Thanks to Bri Shanks for running the league and Mark Taylor for providing a great fishery.

Back to pub for end of term drink and looking forward to the Ron's Summer League.

Overall League Result:

Weigh Sheets:

Sunday 06-04-2025 - Westerleigh Winter League - Round 7 - Taylor's Pool and Shipp's Canal

My turn on Taylor's Pool. The plan was to fish for silvers as too far behind in the league, but second in the pairs but not sure how far behind first place, likely to be too much. Bri Shanks was away so Steve Rogers stepped in to run the match, which was bit worrying😅

Mark Taylor thought the fish had started to spread out from their winter haunt's and with the wind blowing down the opposite end thought middle to far end would be good for silvers and a few Carp. 

Into the draw bag and found myself on peg 26. Pegs 14, 26 and 22 have been the pegs to draw all winter for Carp. Not really a silvers peg. Lee my pairs partner had drawn flyer peg 2 on Shipp's so silvers plan out of the window, Carp it would be and perhaps pull some weight back and give us chance on the last match.

Two rigs - 4x14 to fish top set plus either three or four barrels which took the end section to just touching the fence. A 0.3 gram RJ slim to fish either three barrel down to the reeds or with a slight depth adjustment down the RH side on the top set.

Pinched some corn off Johnny W started with a piece on the hook over some kindered micro at three barrels and straight away getting indications, thought it was silvers. Switched to 4 mm semi hard pellet and had 20 F1's for 5 lb 6 oz 😆. The line died so tried down to the reeds with LR's on the hook over kindered LR's and a bit of micro and had a small Carp which had a plummet and hook in it mouth (later established to be Ricky Mills rig he lost three weeks ago). Had a few Ronnie's so went back out on the 4 mm pellet and had a small Carp and a decent F1. After trying various other lines and baits everything seem to be dead. So tried the margin on the top set with LR's over LR's and micro and hooked a biggish Carp which fought really hard testing my patients too much causing the hook to pull - bad angling another - careful couple of minutes would have made the difference. The upshot was had four decent Carp, but with 15 minutes to go hooked a branch on the bottom which unsettled the line so no more bites.

Weighed 32 lb 15 oz for third in section 10 oz out of a pick up - note to self must be more patient with the bigger Carp.

The match and Shipp's Canal was won by Ron Hardiman (pictured) from peg 11. Ron caught on meat. Well done matey.

Taylor's Pool was won by Johnny Clarke (pictured) with 43 lb from peg 20. Johnny caught down both margins on meat. Well done matey.

Silver on Taylor's was by default Dave with a lowly 2 lb 3 oz from peg 22 and Taylors it was Martin McMahon with 5 lb 11 oz from peg 1.

Back to the pub and glad I didn't pick up today as a good few more were in attendance, Probably due to the sunny warm weather we're having.

Weigh Sheets:

Sunday 23/03/2025 - Westerleigh Knock Up - Shipp's Canal

We had an impromptu knock up on Shipp's Canal. Ten of us fishing, so all pegging, pools etc.. as winter league.

Great to see the access road now prepared for tarmacking. 

I couldn't draw peg 13 today as Mike Etheridge just beat me to it. However, only one peg away on peg 1. Bri Shanks struggled for Carp on it last Sunday. This decided me from the start to fish for Silvers and if the Carp were there I could easily change to expander over micro or what ever.

Three rigs - Long and Short Ronnie rigs and a 4x14 Winter to fish three barrels for Skimmers and four barrels towards the aerator in case the Carp showed late on. Didn't bother with the margin bush as Vince Shipp would be fishing there from his regular haunt peg 2!

The up shot was caught a couple of small Hybrids, an 8 oz Skimmer and lots of Ronnie's from 1/2 oz to 4 oz on single LR on the short Ronnie rig. Had a look for a Carp on expander now and again to rest the Ronnie line without a sign. However, did catch two accidental F1's and got beat up by two lumps. GB don't seem to be working at the mo.

Silvers weighed 11 lb 12 oz for the silvers win. The two F1's weighed 4 lb 13 oz so they have really grown on, the fishery seems to be exceptional in this respect.

The match was a close run thing for the top two placings with three 70 lb plus weights. It was Paul Elms (picture with his catch and with the silvers winner) coming out top with 76 lb 14 oz from peg 10. Paul caught long into the bay using meat or pellet. Well done matey.

Runner up was  Vince Shipp (pictured) with 74 lb 8 oz from peg 2. To see how he catches see the other 100 times he's drawn peg 2.

Wish I hadn't left off one layer of clothing as it the wind was bloody freezing. What a dower 8 months its been. 

Weigh Book:

Sunday 16/03/2025 - Westerleigh Winter League - Round Six - Taylors Pool and Shipp's Canal

Thought the weather would be more pleasant than it was, cold wind from the North. My turn on Shipp's Canal. This series have only drawn one peg which was 13. So in anticipation of missing it left it late to draw.Two pegs left for me and Bri Shanks who said peg 13 was still in the bag, thought he was joking. Nope yes peg 13 for me again. Unbelievable. At least it caused some amusement.

Got to the peg and again it was going to be a cold one. Set up a 6" Drake bodied waggler, a 4x14 Winter to fish 10 metres in two places, a 0.3 RJ Slim to fish 11.5 metres down the edge to the right, finally the long Ronnie rig - luckily.

Fed the waggler line and had a few chucks on it but both the light and wind made it too difficult. Kindered the 10 metres in front line with maggot and micro and then swung round to the right and fed just micro for 4 mm expander on the hook. Had a quick look on all the lines and caught a Ronnie on every single line including the expander. Looked like the Ronnie's were having a munch. Bri was struggling on peg 1 so decided to fish for the Ronnie's whilst keeping an eye on Bri and if he started to catch I would fish for Carp down the edge where I was loose feeding LR's in case. Had a good couple of hours catching Ronnie's to 3 oz but most were 1 oz or less. The feeding was interesting which for once got right on this peg. Kept having a look down the edge kindering micro and LR's to only catch more Ronnie's, but they were a better stamp but too low catch rate fishing long. As Bri only had a couple of small Carp I saw the match out on the Ronnie rig adding the odd fish.

Weighed 7 lb 4 oz for the silvers win, but as usually goes with silvers wins is poor points - 9 points last but one in section. Free now to concentrate on silvers as out of the league placings due to poor draws.

Taylor's Pool and the match was won Tony Mears (pictured) with 48 lb 7oz from inform peg 14. Tony caught at 13 metres kindering micro fish 4 mm expander on the hook. Well done matey.

Shipp's Canal was won by Marcus Murley (pictured) with 31 lb 8 oz from peg 11. Marcus caught over to the right side island loose feeding maggots with maggot hook bait. His catch included two doubles. Well done matey.

Back to the pub with the usual suspects and a right laugh.

Weigh Sheets:

Sunday 02/03/2025 - Westerleigh Winter League - Round 5 - Taylor's and Shipp's

Three days of frost and beautiful clear blue skies. Gradually emerging from the winter darkness, packed the car in the light.

My turn on Taylor's Pool. Four of the pegs face South so wanted to avoid them the sun would be a nightmare. Into the draw bag and peg 19 it was. North facing so OK in that respect. However, the results from the peg has be awful with ounces coming from it. No Carp then! Being ever optimistic hoping some might have migrated down this end. Next to Johnny Jinx again third time, not a good omen.

Set up the kitchen sink. Started at three barrels with a 4 x16 Winter initially fishing expander over micro, thirty biteless minutes later changed to double LR's over the micro thirty biteless minutes and with peg 26 and 14 bagging thought I better save a blank and fish for silvers the only possible way to pick up today. So onto the waggler fishing on the bar off bottom with double Pinkie had a run of small Ronnie's after an hour that died, not to be resurrected. After trying another six lines with various rigs in search of an elusive Carp focused on one line at 2 o clock at three barrels with double Pinkie and GB, again just off bottom. Last twenty minutes had a couple of small Skimmers and a decent one suddenly from wanting to be sun bathing elsewhere to not wanting the match to end felt the Skimmers had suddenly woke up.

Weighed 2 lb 11 oz which was the highest silvers weight across the two Pools. Learnt a bit about the peg today. The big plus the warmest I've Been for many many months.

The match was won by Johnny Clarke (pictured with the Westerleigh Hard Rock Trio - Mark third overall on the lead guitar, Shanksey on the drums and Johnny on the magic Mushrooms) from peg 14 with 54 lb 1 oz. Johnny caught in the deep water at four barrels using his favourite expander hook bait over micro.

Ryan Shipp (pictured) deputised today winning Shipp's Canal taking second overall with 47 lb 13 oz from peg 11. Ryan caught long over to the island's on maggot over loose fed same. Appropriate result as the Pool is named after him due to the hard work he put in helping to remodel the venue. Well done matey. 

Back to the pub with the usual suspects. Great end to the day. Here's to the fish starting to get active splitting the shoals.

Weigh Sheets:

Sunday 16/02/2025 - Westerleigh Winter League - Round Four - Taylor's and Shipp's

Broke a cardinal rule today. Over a Wetherspoons breakfast with Geoff and with him on Taylor's said he didn't want peg 23. Unfortunately I retorted by saying I didn't want peg 13 on Shipp's - dam.

Into the draw and yep Geoff on 23 and me on 13!! There was some very cold wind blowing into peg 13 from the East but not enough I feared to entice the fish there. This series both Geoff and Me have drawn it twice each. Can be decent peg in the latter stages of the league, bet we are nowhere near it by then.

Just had Carp in mind today as the peg is shallow and doesn't hold enough silvers to target them. Two rigs a 4x12 Slim to fish down to the right into 3 foot, and a 4x14 to fish 3 inches deeper into the deepest line all fished at 10 metres and a bit. Started on the 4 mm expander over some micro at 2 o

clock hoping for a quick Carp. One Ronnie after 30 minutes everyone I could see was also struggling so if the better pegs like 1 & 2  were to I was in serious trouble. In a bit of panic set up the Ronnie rig (should have been the waggler on hindsight) and had a few silvers before that died. Spent a painful three hours freezing cold catching the odd silver from now four lines. Ten minutes to go had a surprise F1 quickly followed by a small Carp from two different lines. Both caught on double LR's over kindered DR's.

Weighed 2 lb 3 oz of silvers and 4 lb of Carp for 6 lb 3 oz which got me 6 points. Needed another 14 lb to get better points that wasn't on the cards from 13. For some reason at the mo the silvers don't seem to want GB.

The match and Taylor's was won by Ricky Mills with 28 lb 10 oz from peg 20. Ricky caught in the deeper water with maggot.

Shipp's seen a unusual draw between Steve Rogers peg 10 and Mark Taylor peg 2. Both catching 23 lb 8 oz using like most of us today maggot. Steve boosted his weight with a nice 7 lb of Roach on Pinkie fishing shallow over loose fed Pinkie. Both pictured. Well done to all three.

Back to the pub with the usual suspects and a warm up with plenty of piss taking. Apparently Bela gave Geoff a kick up the ass about his presentation and heeding his advise lead to catching a couple of decent Perch with him missing out on a silvers pick up by 1 oz, unlucky, blame Bela for not kicking ass earlier. 

Arriving home the BBC were saying it was a very mild day today - NOT it was 4 degrees adding the wind chill 2 degrees or less, I suspect it was the same all over the UK.

Weigh Sheets:

Sunday 02/02/2025 - Westerleigh Winter League - Round Three - Taylor's Pool and Shipp's Canal

Weather wise sunny all day with little to no wind - OK for walkers but not fishing.

My turn on Taylor's wanted pegs 14 round to 20 (excluding 23). Draw bag gave me peg 15. Last week 1 lb 14 oz came from it!! Oh, dear, can I beat it? Little to no wind and bright sun in the face wasn't going to help that cause.

Geoff drew peg 13. I went and had a look tried to boost his enthusiasm, but i knew he would struggle with no wind and the Canal loosing it's colour. Third time on the peg this term unlucky draw arm at the mo.

Thought about setting up the waggler but the conditions were against it, plus felt the fish wouldn't be on the bar. Set up a 0.3 gram Slim for the Left margin which to be fair was ideal depth and a decent flat spot. A 4 x14 Winter for top set plus four barrels for expander and over micro - my banker. Set up the short Ronnie rig for scratching around. Started feeding some micro at four barrels with 4 mm expander nicked on a 20 - 808. No sign of a bite gave it 30 minutes at which time panic set in thinking blank, so quickly on the Ronnie rig with pinkie over loose fed Pinkie and had about 15 Perch. So tried the expander again and still nothing - should I be patient and try it for longer? Nope went down the margin with double LR's over kindered same. Had a few very small Ronnie's and Perch then had a 1 lb Gold fish. Set up 13 metres adjusting the  the margin rig to try the bar but having fed it could not  see anything red or black tips so only lasted 5 minutes. Came in to top set plus one with the 4x14 near same depth with GB and Pinkie and had two small Crucians. Sat the rest of the match sat down the margin hoping for a decent Carp which didn't materialise.

Weighed 3 lb 11 oz for 6 points so not a complete disaster. Lee kept our pairs hopes alive from peg 1 with 19 lb 3 oz.

The match and Shipp's canal was won once again by Vince Shipp from peg 11 with 42 lb 3 oz. Vince caught on Maggot over micro.

Taylor's pool was won by inform Johnny Clarke (pictured with the match winner) with 21 lb 6 oz doubling the next weight from peg 26. Johnny caught on expander, Pinkie and Maggot over micro. Well done to both on a very hard day.

Back to the pub with the usual suspects. 

Weigh Sheets:

Sunday 26/01/2025 - Westerleigh Winter League - Round 2 - Taylor's Pool and Shipp's Canal

Here we go again, high winds and heavy rain. At least a good breakfast with Geoff before it all begins.

Pairs drawn which is decided on weight alone. Whereas the individual is points then weight. Got paired with the affable Lee Waller, happy with this as he pretty good on this venue and already has a decent weight in the locker.

My turn on Shipp's Canal. Tried to get peg 13 out of my mind as the rain and wind would be howling into it. Hoping for peg up the other end, pegs 8 or 6. Late into the draw bag and couldn't believe it to be looking at peg 13 and with only ounces off it in the last two matches was a concern, but worse was the condition's facing me. However, had an idea that the fish might be down in this very shallow peg. That said the conditions was awful. Put two Gore-Tex coats on and gloves this time. Certainly not a peg for Scaffolders!!

Set up the margin pole three barrels and a top set elasticated with blue hydro. Love this elastic as OK for both silvers and Carp. A 4x13 black top MR winter rig with a 20 - 808 hook to 0.14 GLine. That's it. Not really caught many silvers on this peg but decided to fish for them at one barrel initially then if the wind eased go to three barrels at 2 o clock in search of Carp.

Started on Pinkie and GB and had a Ronnie first put in after a couple more had a F1. After a few more Ronnie's and Perch and even though the wind was still gusting switched to the longer line with Mainline 4 mm expander over micro and had a good couple of hours catching Carp to 7 lb and some F1's, this in between fighting the wind which occasionally caused the pole to whiplash violently due to quick change of wind direction. Absolute nightmare, but catching a few took my mind off freezing fingers exposed from the gloves. Last 45 minutes was awful as stopped catching.

Weighed 34 lb 2 oz for second in the match and the important section win

Stand-in Matt Tainton won from flyer peg 2 with 48 lb 6 oz catching down to the bush and at 3 barrels out in front using maggot.

Partner Lee (pictured with his partner) won Taylors pool with 30 lb 4 oz from inform peg 14. Lee was restricted to fishing down his left due to the wind conditions. Again all caught on maggot. Well done partner.

As so often happens right on the all out the sun came out and the wind and rain eased.

Back to the pub with the usual suspects - less one Scaffolder!

Weigh Sheets:

Sunday 05/01/2025 - Westerleigh Winter League - Round One - Taylor's and Shipp's

Some snow overnight which luckily turned to rain. Had a call from Geoff Francis and had a tree down in his road, fortunately a local farmer cut some branches enabling Geoff to get through to keep our meet at Wetherspoons. Very mild 10 degrees.

First round today, so all keen to get a decent start. I wanted Taylors first as Shipp's fishes better last, especially the dreaded peg 13.

Into the draw bag and peg 25 (pictured) it would be, one away from practice day. Not the best at the moment, better in the summer.

Even though the silver fishing results all over are really poor for some reason only the fish know. Still set up for them with a short Ronnie rig. Just adding a 4x14 Winter for the expander to fish up to top set plus three barrels. Feed the Ronnie line with GB laced with some Pinkie and the pellet line with "not a lot" of micro and four expanders. Undecided what to started on choosing the expander over the Pinkie as can catch both decent Skimmers and Carp on them, which I think proved to be the right choice.

Out on a 4 mm expander at two barrels and had a decent Carp first put in, another second put and a F1 third put in. Going to empty it - NOT. Other than a lost fouler at three barrels didn't have another bite for four and half hours except for four 1 oz Perch on the Ronnie rig. Could not catch a Ronnie!! I don't think it helped having a hell of a tow against the wind which was making it difficult to hold the rig still. Ended up with six lines in a very restricted peg mainly to try and generate some enthusiasm!!

Weighed 12 lb 12 oz and was amazed and delighted to get a keeper 3 points.

The match and Shipp's was won once again by Vince Shipp (pictured) from in form and his regular draw peg 2 with 58 lb 3 oz. Vince caught mainly at three barrels in open water on maggot over kindered maggot and micro. Well done matey.

Johnny Clarke (pictured) won Taylor's with another stand out weight of 36 lb 13 oz from peg 20. Johnny caught the same as previous match expander over "not a lot" of micro at 12 and 7 metres.

Expect the fishing to improve once the water levels return.

Back for a pint at the pub with the usual suspects to round off a slow but good to be out fishing.

Weigh Sheets: