Sunday 18/10/2026 - Ron Hardiman's Summer League - Final Round - Shipp's and Taylor's

Final match of this well run league by Ron Hardiman. If it wasn't for anglers like Ron there would be a lot less choice of matches. Oraganisers are far more important than participating anglers.

Last round which should have been fished some time ago but due to water levels some matches had to be cancelled. Won't be long before the winter league starts here. Already the weather has turned in that direction, it was rather Nipply this morning.

My turn on Shipp's. Into the draw bag and peg 13 for me. This is a funny peg and can be good for Carp but more reliable for Silvers. Tom Thick had 200 lb of Carp off it last match. No way I was up to landing this amount at the moment, so fingers crossed the weather has sent the Carp to the other end as it was going to be silvers for me.Set up the long Ronnie rig, a 4x10 Winter to fish top set plus three barrels (deepest part pf the peg at 2 3/4 feet, finally a 4x10 Speedy for anywhere from 6 inches to 2 foot for Carp in case they were lurking ready to spoil the day. I would know very quickly which it would be!

First problem I faced was the sun which was straight in my face and would stay there until it passed overhead or it clouded over. Fed some loose GB and Pinkie on the long line, loose feeding  LR's on the Ronnie rig line. Started on the long line with single LR on the hook and had a small Ronnie first put in, then another. Fishing this distance is too slow for small fish, so picked up the Ronnie rig and basically has a small fish every put in. However, my arm was aching shielding the sun reflection with my hand. It wasn't untill half way through that it clouded over. Much better afterwards and it wasn't until the last 30 minutes that it dried up thought Carp might have arrived but with pegs our end struggling for Carp was doubtful. Spent the last knockings on the long line and had a tiny Skimmer and the nearest I got to Carp was one foul hooker 😁

Weighed an estimted 150 Ronnie's for 12 lb 4 oz for the silvers win. It was inevitable that I would finish near bottom of the league which I did coming last - only once fished for Carp which was a mistake. Except for the sun issue it was a very enjoyable day.

Shipp's was won by Nick Saunders (pictured with a 15 lb Common Carp) with 130 lb 8 oz from peg 8. Nick caught on tripple maggot feeding 3 pints of dead maggot. Nick also won the league with 11 points and 750 lb of fish. Well done matey,

Taylor's pool and the match was won by Tom Thick (pictutred with today's silvers winner) with 159 lb 14 oz from peg 17. Tom caught mainly at 13 metres with pellet or meat. He also took a few down his end margin. Well done matey pity you missed  match.

Bela Bakos caught a few silvers from Taylor's peg 23 to take the silvers with 5 lb 12 oz.

Back to the Old Inn where Nick bought a round as did Paul Elm's another overall framer. Thanks lads.

Top six overall - rouges gallery pictured at the top.

Weigh Sheets:

Final League table: Thanks to Chris Fox

Sunday 27/09/2026 - Ron Hardiman's Summerish League - Round 5 - Westerleigh - Shipp's and Taylor's

My turn on Taylor's. My last two matches had to fish for Carp. So looking forward to having a go back on the silvers. Hoping for peg 20 - my favourite for silvers plus would have the wind off my back.

Into the draw bag and peg 15 for me it's an OK silvers peg but with the wind hacking into it might be a proplem for the Ronnie rig and a Carp attractor. For company had Mike Etheridge on 14 and inform Nick Saunders on 16.

Set up the 4x14 Winter to fish at top set plus one just down the shelf and a 0.25 gram RJ short Ronnie rig. Thought about  0.3 gram RJ Slim for the Carp - incase, but didn't bother my wrist still a tad sore.

Started on the long line with single LR on the hook over GB with some very very old crappy Pinkies in it. Had two quick small Skimmers and a 8 oz Tench before the Carp arrived. Bloody things had a few F1's and a small Mirror Carp before loosing the hook, so onto the Ronnie rig down the right and had a little run of Ronnies over loose fed LR's. Meanwhile both Tony Rixon on 17 and Nick were bagging with Carp on Maggot in the margins. The wind really picked up which brought lots of Carp into my peg which were a bloody nusience. Thought about setting up a Carp rig but was so far behind Nick, Tony, Paul Elms and Des Shipp decided to tough it out. Just couldn't feed anything especially maggot. Didn't count how many I lost, but would have been embassing to mention in any case. Decided to set up a 4x12 Speedy with a light hook length to prevent loosing rigs and fed a very big pot of very loose GB down the left margin which seem to work resulting in a few better Skimmers and Ronnie more importantly less Carp. Had to keep topping up as most fish were coming on the drop.

Silvers weigh 9 lb which won the silvers by 1 oz 😁. My accidental Carp weighed 26 lb 8 oz. I bloody hate the wind.

Nick Saunders (pictured) won Taylor's with 168 lb 6 oz from peg 16. Nick caught well for 5 hours slowing once the wind eased. Well done matey nice to watch. 

Shipp's was won by Tom Thick from peg 13 (kiss of death in the winter peg) with an incredible 201 lb 12 oz and so far taking the prize for the highest league weight by 9 oz. Tom caught on meat intially down the right on his top set and later further down the right to 9 metres. All caught in 10 inches of water. Tom pictured at the top (on the right) with his mentor Charlie Barnes, and weight lifting todays silvers winner. Tom is great comany and hard to beat on either Carp and Silvers. Well done matey.

Shaun Fillingham won the silvers on Shipp's with 5 lb 8 oz. Fished hard for silvers today.

Some great Carp weights today. Well done to Mark Taylor for keeping the fishery so well.

Weigh Sheets:

Sunday 13/09/2026 - Ron Hardiman's Summer League - Westerleigh - Taylor's and Shipp's

At last we are able to finish the Ron's summer league which has been cancelled a few times due to low water levels. Well done Ron for sorting it all out.

My turn on Shipp's and with the water levels down I would find it difficlt to fish peg 9 to 11 due to having to set up in front of the platform which would need a lot of rock climbing skills. So was really happy to draw peg 2 - my favorite. However, it wasn't to be - REDRAW - bugger. Back in and peg 6 for me. OK peg as could fish from platform with 2 1/2 foot of water right infront, BUT it was clear it would have to be a Carp day rather than silvers - loads swimming around especially in the margins. For company had Ron on peg 5.

Set up two paste floats one for the margin and the other for the deepest part which was top set plus one barrel. As back up the short Ronnie rig.

We were get light rain on and off. With umbrella going up and down mainy due being under a tree which kept shedding it's stored rain over me from time tio time throughout the match.

Had to use my 3 metre landing net handle which I find hard to do these days becasue of arthritis. Usually three keepnets in to start.

Started on the long line with paste over a pinch of kindered micro as concerned too much feed would lead to fouling. Have great two hours intially catching F1's then bigger Carp as did most anglers. The F1's were going in one net whilst the Carp were going into the other leaving the third for silvers if neccessary. With the nets limits currently 50 lb with net disqualification after 60 lb and nearing the 50 lb in one net put an another. The next fish I caught was 14 lb which I found hard to lift out strainng my hand in the process. Now here's a thing I have said many times how I couldn't understand how anglers (you know who you are) go over in keep nets. Well today I found it very easily actually. Landed the 14 lb Carp and realised loweruing it into the net it was the wrong net and too late to scoop it out as it soon disappeared to the bottom of the net - bugger now thinking my net would be disqualified - but your never sure. Thought about moving it but would have caused it more stress, so would take it on the chin.

After two hours or so the Carp shut up shop. Just adding some more F1's and four more Carp before in the final 45 minutes switched to the Ronnie rig for silvers with single maggot over maggot.

Weighed 4 lb 11 oz of silvers including a small Tench. Indeed my net weighed 64 lb and was therefore disqualified, but my estimation was spot on - duh. Weighed 38 lb 12 oz of Carp. Could have had a total of 100 lb plus had I not lost concentration. Fishing for silvers next match, bugger the Carp too stong for me.

Nick Saunders (pictured) won Shipp's and overall match with 140 lb 7 oz from peg 2 - the peg I intially drew - could things been dfferent had there not been a redraw? Nick caught on maggot up and down in the water, adding a few silvers to his weight Well done matey.

Ron Hardiman (pictured) took the silvers with 6 lb 8 oz from peg 5 using expanders/pellets.

Tom Thick (pictured) was second in the overall match winning Taylor's with 139 lb from peg 16. Tom caught long on pellet and short on meat. Well done matey - Charlie would have been proud.

The silvers on Taylors went to Shaun Finagen with 13 lb 10 oz from peg 20. Well done matey.

Weigh Sheets:

28/06/2026 - Bela Bakos - Knock Up - Westerleigh - Taylor's Pool

Knee's 90% better and both of them looking forward to getting back out fishing. Nice gentle start at Westerleigh on Bela's knock up on Taylor's Pool. At last putting all 13 pegs in, which I support, think it makes it a closer lower weight match - better for me. No Silvers's pool though - didn't bother me, but would have preferred any caught be returned.

Peg 14 for me today with Geoff drawing peg 15. That's him before the all in, there is some suspicion of an hangover. Geoff's watching too much football, he wanted a hydration break halfway through. The wind was blowing into our pegs. Neil Mercer had 200 lb off my peg in last Summer league match on paste.

Only took paste, micro and 4's today so very simple with 2 paste rigs - one for top set plus 3 barrels the other for the margins. Thought about fishing the pellet waggler but the wind was a concern, but not such a concern as Bela opposite nearly poking me in the eye fishing on the bar at 16 metres. My wayward loose feeding and casting would definitely would have effected Bela.

Fed both margins and the long line with a mix of wetted micro and 4's Started long and was soon realising the wind was going to be a nuisance and was wishing I choose one or two barrels instead. However, I got off to a flying start catching Carp to 4 lb and after 30 minutes was concerned I would just spend the day playing fish rather than fishing. I need not had worried as I had a spell catching some F1's and Skimmers before starting a period of foul hooking Carp. I had been feeding heavy and thought it was that but Geoff and others were also having the same issue. Gave the line a rest and went in the margin which seemed completely dead. Went back out and had a couple more Carp and F1's and far too many foul hooked Carp nearly getting two 4 pounders in the landing net, but it had slowed. It wasn't long before it completely died, not only for me but everyone. Spent some time messing around in the margin for two Carp and another lost foul hooker. Last twenty minute came in to one barrel which is where I should have started and another foul hooker not reaching the landing net.

Finished with 49 lb 10 oz for 4th. Again my impatience lost me 8 lb of Carp. A few things differently would have improved things, like coming short earlier. Still a nice days fishing.

The match was won by Tony Rixon with 74 lb 11 oz from peg 26. Tony is one the the best mud bank anglers around, I could see his delight when peg 26 gave him two banks to fish at. And that's how he caught and like most anglers only caught early slowly coming to a dead stop. Well done matey.

I dare not put the weigh sheet up as one of our "Donk" builders had taken the opportunity to take the urine out of a few of us, so top six:

1. Tony Rixon 74 lb 11 oz peg 26

2. Bela Bakos 59 lb 3 oz peg 21

3. Neil Mercer 57 lb 13 oz peg 17

4. Mike Nicholls 49 lb 10 oz peg 14

5. Geoff Francis 45 lb 9 oz peg 15

6. Ron Hardiman 36 lb 12 oz peg 24

Sunday 24/05/2026 - Ron Hardiman's Summer League - Round Two - Westerleigh - Shipp's and Taylor's

Just back from Whiteacres and feeling a but jaded, so no prep and left over bait of maggots, casters and GB so limited to probably silvers.

My turn on Shipp's and pre-draw could see some big Carp cruising around with the odd rushes moving so not long before a full spawn, especially as the temperature has at last become comfortable 30 degrees C!

Peg 9 for me which has replaced peg 4 used in the winter league. It's a good Carp peg - silvers not so much. I have done well fishing over to the island which is reachable with 11.5 metres and one of the short stubby bits in the end. However, wasn't going to be bothered with that today as the reeds were moving a lot and thinking foul hooking, couldn't be assed more like. Loads of big Carp cruising between the two islands seen one of the Grass Carp - looked lonely.

Set up a 4x12 Winter to fish top set and two barrels over LR's (soon to DR's in the heat) laced GB, Short Ronnie rig for maggot over loose fed same and a 0.3 RJ swinging the two barrels down the right to some Sedges.

Started long over the GB with single LR and started to catch very small Skimmers. I netted them all due to a lesson given to me by Kim Milson, fishing a match next to him at Durleigh. We were whip fishing which naturally leads to swinging the fish which were mainly 4-6 oz Skimmers. Of course you loose a few swinging. I noticed Kim netted all his Skimmers but swung all the Roach. He beat me but only just ever since have netted Skimmers - soft mouths. Kept a bit of feed going in and wasn't long before bubbles appeared which soon went after landing a decent F1. F1's tend to scatter the Skimmers so rested it in favour of the Ronnie rig catching a few Ronnie's and Perch until hooking an 8 lb Common. So back out and a couple more Skimmers and some Ronnie's until more F1's re-appeared. Went down the long edge to the right with kindered caster and double on the hook. Was soon playing another 8 lb Carp this time a Mirror. Thought I might have enticed the 3 lb Perch that lives nearby with the caster but alas not just more Carp. Spent the rest of the match on the Ronnie rig down the left loose feeding DR's catching the odd Ronnie and Carp on single DR's. No doubt I would have caught much more if I could have been assed to fished over - next time!!

Weighed 4 lb 10 oz of silvers for the silver win - mission accomplished, with the Carp taking my weight to 44 lb and 8 points. 

Shipp's was won by Nick Saunders (pictured with the Taylors winner) with 55 lb 12 oz (weigh sheet had incorrect adding) from peg 6. I couldn't see Nick but from what I could hear he spent the match slapping about his peg with maggot hook bait. NO FEEDING - HOW?? Well done matey.

Taylor's was won by Martin Rayet's stand in young Freddie Harper-Wojtyla (pictured) drawing the winter unfancied peg 16 - summer peg apparently.

In his own words:

"Set up 14m with pellets then top 5 with meat and both edges one maggots and gb and one with meat. Shit first 30 mins no bites then had a nice hour and a bit catching small f1s and little carp about 2 pound f1s 6 ounce to a pound and a half then dried up a bit  with odd bite last 2 hours was good in edge on meat on a top kit ended up with 106 pound what won the section and the lake 🥇🥇🥇and got the important 10 points for mart." 

Nice to see how well Freddie has come on and one to watch for the future. Nice lad too. Keep it up and obviously not listening to Dad anymore. Well done great result.

Matt Tainton won the silvers on Taylors with 10 lb from peg 26. Matt caught on worm over chopped worm. Mine had died overnight! Well done matey.

Well nearly back to the New Inn with the usual suspects to find it closed!! Strange pub. However, a much better pub just across the road. Old Inn much better managed I think.

Thanks to Ron Hardiman for another well run match.

Weigh Sheets:

Sunday 03/05/2026 - Ron Hardiman's Summer League - Round One - Westerleigh - Taylor's and Shipp's

Round one of Ron's Summer League today. Weather looked reasonable, with hardly any wind which would likely effect the silver fishing. However, on the start on any league it's only sensible to start to catch the heaviest weight and get some good points. So Carp targetted.

Nineteen fishing with one "unavailable".

First round is a random draw following matches swop between the two pools. So you stay fishing with the same ten anglers throughout the league.

Into the draw bag and peg 16 on Taylor's for me. Far from being the best peg. it's been poor for some time usually last on the pool. However, you never know - staying positive. For company on 15 was Shaun T and peg 17 Tony M. Our pool had the full 10 fishing with the absentee being on Shipp's peg 1.

Well had to give the paste a go. I should know this peg well by now, drawn it a few times and fishing any closer than three barrels you are fishing over a rocky bottom and difficult to plumb. Sensibly it's best to fish just short of the bar at 13 metres. So set up a 0.4 gram PC paste float to fish top set plus three barrels. The peg does have a good margin to the left so a 0.3 gram paste float was set up for that. The usual short Ronnie rig in case! Finally set up the waggler to fish on the bar in 30 inches of water.

Fed half a pot of micro on the long paste line and plopped in the paste and had a fouler first attempt, which didn't reach the net. After which the paste was getting pestered by I think were small Tench, too small for the size of paste, so put on a small piece and had a 8 oz Tench, so refed and had a few casts on the waggler with double LR's over loose fed same and once again foul hooked a Carp which broke me. Subsequently got pestered by small Ronnie's. Meanwhile Paul Elmes opposite was catching well short (good short peg). All along our bank was struggling. So on to the Ronnie rig to put something in the net fishing single LR's over loose fed same and caught small Perch and Ronnie's for a couple of hours before trying the long paste line again but with no sign of a fizz it was soon abandoned back to the Ronnie rig. Nick S on 14 was blanking at this time Shaun T had a few F1's long on pellet. So stayed on the Ronnie rig and had three Skimmers and a couple of Tench when the rain started and the line went completely dead. It was either due to the rain or Carp had moved in. Luckily it was the latter had a 5 lb dumpy Carp on the Ronnie rig with single LR. So time to pick up the margin paste rig, so fed some micro and with great expectations as it was plopped in and it just sat there without any indications!! Shaun was now bagging in his margin on meat. So went back on the Ronnie rig and had three more decent Carp and some F1's (well F0.5's as they were so small). Shaun T and me needed another hour as Paul E opposite had stopped catching at the same time we started to catch.

Weighed 40 lb dead with 9 lb 9 oz of silvers enough for the pool silvers win. I would have settled for 6 points off this peg at the start. Very enjoyable day's fishing.

Taylor's was won as expected by Paul Elmes with 87 lb 11 oz from peg 20. Paul caught short on meat and 14.5 metres out to the bar fishing pellet. Well done matey.

That man on fire on this venue Bela Bakos (pictured with the winner on Taylor's pool) easily won Shipp's with 102 lb 8 oz from peg 11. Bela started short with meat and had a few F1's, switching to long over to the end of his right side island with pellet and started to catch better stamp of Carp. He later dropped back short on meat and was rewarded with a beautiful 12 lb Grass Carp (foul hooked apparently). he also manged to properly hook some munters that do come in close to your keep net on this peg late on and are very difficult to hook properly. Well done matey.

Couldn't help noticing a number of anglers now suffering with injuries from fishing very long. Think it's time to introduce a 13 metre limit. Even the best pole you can buy are heavy fished long.

Back to the New Inn for a pint and the usual banter.

Weigh Sheets - Rain effected:

Sunday 12/04/2026 - Bela Bakos Open - Westerleigh - Shipp's and Taylor's

After a short break was looking forward to today's match. Usual twenty pegs and hoping for a peg on the far side of Taylor's. Into the draw bag and peg 4 Shipp's again! This peg can throw up a Carp weight once in a while but not of late, so no need to cut up meat or mix paste today. However, it's an OK silvers peg - so that will do. Nice to have fishery manager next door on peg 3.

Simple set up 4x14 winter to fish two barrels, Short Ronnie rig and a 6" slim bodied drake.

Plan was to initially fish the two barrel line for Skimmers then switch to the Ronnie rig and if things got hard onto the waggler for again Ronnie's. Every time I fish this peg the first 30 minutes is spent catching F1's and can guarantee one first put in. So fed a knub of GB laced with Pinkie and yes the Winter rig hadn't settled and a F1 took the double Pinkie and was soon in the net. Kept topping up every fish and after four F1's had two small Skimmers and a couple of Crucians (which don't count as silvers). Had a couple more Skimmers and some Ronnie's before it was time to test for the Ronnie's on the short rig. Had a good couple of hours regularly catching 1 - 2 oz fish. Thought I would rest it and try the waggler with single LR over lose fed same. First couple of cast was getting indications, then the heavens opened with a barrage of hail stones making the waggler invisible, so abandoned that and went back on the Ronnie rig. Last hour thought I would have an experiment on the two barrel line by dumping a big pot of LR's in. With single LR on the hook and had two instant F1's and foul hooked two decent Carp.  Experiment over - thinking paste might have worked today. Spent the remaining time on the Ronnie rig had slowed but did add two better Skimmers.

F1's weighed 12 lb 4 oz and the Silvers 8 lb 13 oz for the lake silvers win. Mission accomplished.

Shipp's and the match was won by Vince Shipp (pictured) - AGAIN - with 90 lb 1 oz from peg 8. Vince struggled early on fishing soft pellet and micro (thought I heard some moaning) . He later switched to corn hook bait over micro fishing short down his right margin and caught decent Carp. Vince had also had a go with meat which didn't produce much - guessing it was due the highly coloured water. Well done matey.

Taylor's was won by Mike Etheridge (pictured) with 74 lb 10 oz from peg 20. Mike tried catching long which didn't produce switching to both his margins fishing meat in both. Well done matey.

Taylors silver's was won by Matt Tainton with a decent weight of 14 lb 12 oz from peg 25. Matt caught mainly Skimmers on either maggot or worm over chopped worm. Well done matey.

Now here's a thing Ricky Mills was on peg 11 which was on my sight line and his yellow topped float was a right distraction. Then relised Ricky must of borrowed some of Geoff Francis special floats also explaining Geoff's absence.

Well done to Bela for running the match today and thanks for putting peg 4 in 😉

Weigh Sheets:

Sunday 22/03/2026 - Westerleigh Winter League - Final Round 8 - Taylor's and Shipp's

Weather set fair again 😊. It's the best health wise I felt for some time - joyous.

My turn on Shipp's. Into the draw box and "Scull Corner" - peg 8 for me. Umm, can be a very good Carp peg, wind dependant, with very few silvers coming from it. Arrived at the peg and could see pairs a big Carp on the surface. So thinking it might be a Carp day. But first need to test it for silvers.

No chance of pick up in either the pairs with matey Johnny Wintle or the league.

Holstered the Long Ronnie rig, 4x12 Winter to fish two barrels and a 0.3 gram RJ to fish four barrels down to the LH side margin to the tree. The island was 13 metres so out of my physical reach.

Felt if the Carp were to have a go I would catch one very early. Started on the two barrel line feeding some GB with Pinkies and a single LR on the hook and had a Ronnie first put in and started to miss bites so went on the Ronnie rig with single Pinkie. Had a nice couple of hours catching small Skimmers and Ronnie's - no sign of Carp. It started to slow and had two F1's before the peg completely died so thinking oxygen crash. Struggled for the odd small silver. Had a go down the margin with a bunch of LR's on the hook over kindered DR's expecting Carp, just two more Ronnie's. Went on the two barrel line with double Pinkie over GB and had a 8 lb Carp spending the rest of the match on this line had one more decent Carp getting beat up three times.

Silvers weighed 5 lb for the silvers win and the two accidental Carp and two F1's took me to 26 lb 3 oz for 6 points. Really enjoyed the day. Picked up the highest weight silver prize, so mission accomplished.

Our pool was won by Dave Monks (pictured with the silvers winner) from peg 10 with 56 lb 7 oz. Dave initially caught tight over at 14.5 metres fish maggot over loose fed maggot mainly catching small Carp and F1's. Later Dave switch to down his margin catching a better stamp of Carp again on maggot. This also elevated Dave to second overall in the league and a decent pay day. Well done matey well deserved.

Taylor's was won once again by Vince Shipp (pictured). Drawing peg 20 Vince initially fished long, switching later in the match to his RH margin. His all Carp catch came on meat fished over meat. Well done Matey.

Silvers went to Marcus with a lowly 2 lb 3 oz from peg 25. Well deserved.

The individual league was won by inform Vince Shipp with 10 points, also the pairs with Ricky Mills with 604 lb

Thanks to Mark Taylor for the use of his lovely well kept fishery and Brian Shanks for running a well manged league. Already looking forward to the 2026/27 league. Lots of fish caught in some very difficult conditions.

Back to the pub for the presentation and a pint.

Weigh Sheets:

Final League:

Vince 10.   326-12

Dave. 14    309-14

Paul    15.   284-8

Ron.     15.   238-12

Bela.    16.    294-4

Ricky.    16.   278-4

Mike E.  19.   187-4

Brian.     20.   245-10

Mark.      23.   197-8

Steve R.  30.   129-9

Lee.         32.    162-4

Mike N.    32.    156-8

Geoff.       32.    154-5

John W.    33.    106-1

Tony.        33.     104-12

John C.    36.    139-5

Glen.         38.    120-5

Marcus.     45.    78-1

Steve S.      46.   62-8

Andy.          50.    58-2 

Pairs

Rick & Vince 604-0

Dave & Ron.  548-9

Mark & Bela  491- 12

Sunday 01/03/2026 - Westerleigh Winter League - Round 7 - Taylor's and Shipp's

If you have not watched "Dirty Business" on Channel 4 - it's a must watch for anglers, and follow up by contacting your MP. That said the sewage system is intended for pee, poo and toilet paper only. So stop flushing other crap, this is down to us.

Only light rain today and signs of warming up. Wind still with us though.

My turn on Taylors and peg 20 for me. Happy with this one for a number of reasons, primarily because the wind would be off my back.

Good company with Nick on 19. With the Carp bunched up on the far left hand corner pegs 25, 23 and 22 decided to fish for silvers for any chance of coin. With the wind off the back set up a 8" Drake to fish the bar with maggot over loose fed maggot. A 4x16 Winter in full depth in 7 foot of water at top set plus one barrel, finally the short Ronnie rig.

Fed the deep line with with GB laced with some pinkies. No good loose feeding in this depth. First put in on a single LR had a decent Carp about 6 lb. Initially thought it was fouled but it was just fighting hard in the deep water. Umm, might have to switch to carp fishing - nope it was the only one caught on this line, later was to catch two F1's shallow. Had a nice run of small Skimmers and Ronnie's before picking up the Ronnie rig to rest the line. The Ronnie's were at last feeding catching some decent ones on single LR over the LR's. Switched between the two rigs adding some very small Tench on the deep line plus a 12 oz Perch. The last hour switch to fishing shallow - 3 foot - and was wishing I started it earlier as the catch rate and quality of Ronnie's increased. Even though I fed LR's onto the bar the waggler didn't get used as it was patiently waiting for Nick and Ricky opposite to catch there - it didn't happen.

My silvers weighed 14 lb 10 oz  and the Carp 9 lb 2 oz for 23 lb 12 oz and the silvers win, mission accomplished. Very rare to beat Nick, so had to give him the poke in the chest. Very enjoyable day.

Taylor's was won as expected from peg 22 by Paul Elm's (pictured with his catch) with 79 lb 10 oz. Paul caught over to the island at 16 metres with pellet and 14.5 metres with maggot. Well done matey.

Shipp's was won again as expected from peg 2 by Vince Shipp (pictured) with 77 lb 1 oz. Vince caught on his usual soft pellet and micro. He does have a knack of drawing this peg regularly. Well done matey.

The silvers was won on Shipp's from the dreaded peg 13 by matey Geoff Francis (pictured) with a lowly 3 lb all caught short until the Carp arrived taking him to third weight on the canal with 43 lb. Nice one.

Felt for Lee Waller fishing peg 17 where the wind was hacking into, he was fishing 13 metres down the edge, during gusts Lee could be seen walking round to the tree to recover his rig.

Back to the New Inn for a well earned pint with the usual suspects.

Weigh Sheets:

Sunday 22/02/2026 - Bela Attila Bakos Open - Westerleigh - Shipp's and Taylor's

Bela has lined out the floor of his van with artificial grass which included parts of a goal line! Just wondering how well the next football match went! Glenn would love this (pictured).

Bela has gone solo running the match today. Must say in nearly all went superbly well. A nice touch was his environment friendly peg cards made of corrugated cardboard ideal for recycling (pictured).  Well done looking forward to the next one.

As the bread is allowed in Bela's matches, decided to do some liquidised bread. Very long time since I done this, didn't know we had a new liquidiser. However, as it turned out won't be doing it again any time soon.

Into the draw bobble hat (another nice touch) and peg 12 for me - Oh, that's not normally in! However, peg 13 was left out. Happy with the peg for for the potential fishing, however, it's a right quagmire. All my gear now a bright red. Good company with Geoff opposite on 2 and Tim "Calamity" Ford next door on 11.

Peg 12 is a good small silvers peg, but can throw up some big Carp, that's what the bread was supposed to be for, that is, if they were at our end of the Pool - they weren't so no more about bread and bread rigs Ronnie nibbling. Just the two rigs fished in earnest - 4x12 Winter with a black sleeve on the tip and a long Ronnie rig.

Fed top set plus three barrels with GB laced with Pinkies and bread down the right in 3 foot of water - last mention of bread. The wind was hacking into my peg so the Ronnie rig was left in abeyance until better conditions. Had a few decent

Ronnie's and a 12 oz Skimmer, all on double Pinkie. It went a bit iffy, stayed a while on the line thinking it might be a Carp - alas not. The wind had eased a bit so tried the Ronnie rig with single Pinkie over loose fed Pinkie. Started well catching much smaller Ronnie's but the wind was hindering feeding - most of it going in the keep net!! Now here's a thing when the wind permitted sensible feeding the catch rate fell missing lots of bites, however, when increasing resulted in much more positive bites and higher catch rate. Stayed on the Ronnie rig for the remainder of the match.

The only match that I can remember at Westerleigh that I didn't hook a Carp of any description. My 50ish Ronnie's weighed 7 lb dead, for the silvers win. Love this type of fishing.

Shipp's was won by Martin Rayet (pictured with the silvers winner) with a decent weight of 76 lb 13 oz. Martin started slow, it wasn't until he started loose feeding caster that he started to catch on double maggot. He most probably pulled fish from peg 6 probably drawn by the sound of caters being fed. Well done matey.

Taylor's was won by tackle dealer Matt Challenger (pictured - yes that him smiling) from peg 22 with 59 lb 10 oz. Matt fished 16 metres using 6 mm hard pellet feed and banded. Well done Matey a good weight on the day. 

Matey Dave "Rodney" Monks won Taylor's silvers with 6 lb 3 oz from peg 21.

Back to the New In for a pint with the usual suspects and a few stragglers form the Bitterwell match.

Weigh Sheets:

Sunday 15/02/2026 - Westerleigh Winter League - Round 6 - Taylor's and Shipp's

Although we had rain once again today (rained all of my eight matches this year), think I must be getting use to it as it didn't seem too bad.

My turn on Shipp's and with the wind blowing down to peg 13 would have settled for pegs 2,1,13 (yes) and 11. Preferably avoiding 3 and 4.

Must stop thinking about pegs. Peg 3 for me and next to Andy on 4 and Dave on flyer 2, so good company.

Fished this peg recently and was surprised nothing came from either margin which is nice and flat but 3 foot deep. Nonetheless, set up a 0.3 gram RJ set to suit both sides. Next was a 4x14 Winter to fish just up the inside slope at top set and just short on middle at 5 1/2 feet. I set up the Ronnie rig which due to the wind wasn't used.

Really expected the top set line to produce well with double Pinkie over GB laced with plenty of Pinkie. Soon relised it was a poor choice catching a few quick Ronnie's before it died. Having tried the margin and realising my prediction, catching just one tiny Perch. Spent the rest of the match at top set plus three barrels fishing GB and Pinkie expecting to initially catch some F1's. Alas not, they haven't fed on the pool. Instead, and unusually the bigger Carp fed. In between catching the odd Ronnie had a 8 lb Carp so decided to up the hook length and soon playing a foul hooked munter which after careful playing it the hook pulled. I knew there was another Carp about as a few bubbles were apparent. Hooked it and played not as careful as the first being over confident with the hook length which bust on me - bugger. Potentially two big Carp not in the net. Had a couple of Skimmers before another few bubbles and a 4 lb Carp in the net. Had three decent F1's and another Skimmer late on just before the all out.

The Carp weighed in at 16 lb 3 oz and the silvers 3 lb 15 oz for a silvers win, with the total of 20 lb 2 oz getting me 5 points. Thinking now I might have under feed today. Really enjoyed it today, especially packing up in the dry for once.

Taylors was won by Ron Hardiman (pictured) with 21 lb 4 oz from peg 15. Ron fished long all match on the bar fishing pellet over pellet. Well done mate especially holding the pole at that distance for so long in gusting wind.

Taylor's was won by Lee Waller (pictured with his catch of decent Carp) with 47 lb 4 oz from peg 11. Lee caught on maggot over Kindered maggot from various lines - mainly long to the corner of each island. Well done matey.

Back to the New Inn with the usual suspects and yes they had some beer this week!

Weigh Sheets: