Sunday 23/08/2026 - Alcove Club - Whitehouse Farm - George's Lake

Bit nippy this morning loading the car - it wasn't to last. Twenty minute drive to George's to see plenty of early birds already unloading.

The day before the club had an 8 hour Carp match on George's. Didn't see any results but told it didn't fish that well.

Most wanted peg 1 as certain winner at the moment. It came out first for Tony Welsby. Game over.

Peg 5 for me, with Steve Sewell - "the Big-un" on peg 4 and match organiser Jason on peg 6. Bit disappointed to find on the right a over-hanging Willow - so no margin there and on the left similarly a Bramble bush which went out into the lake about a metre. so limited margin fishing. A bird cage without the canopy.

With now bright sushine and flat calm I didn't fancy the Skimmers would show in numbers. However, set up a paste float to fish top set and three barrels out in the white water in 4 and half foot of water to cover both options, the lake is at least 18 inches down at the moment. It was going to be hard work in the heat to fish the Ronnie rig, but set it up anyway. - good job I did. 

Tried the paste over micro and incredibly not one indication!!. So picked up the Ronnie rig and caught small Ronnie's, Rudd and the odd Perch steady over GB laced with LR's. The Big-un was who was catching F1's and the odd Skimmer on chop worm and caster most people were catching the odd skmmer and Carp on corn. Too late for me to change. Couldn't see a Wasp nest but three of the buggers hanging out with me.

"Hindsight holds a level of perfection that real-time decisions can't provide".

Now here's a thing a phone call with a family emergency only second time ever out fishing. Which wasn't really, by time I got there someone in Sainsbury's car park had got the car started with jump leads.

I tipped back about 5 lb of spratts and was unlikley to get anywhere near 10 lb of silvers. Did  lose a Carp in the brambles - would be very difficult to land an angry Carp from this peg.

I don't have the results sheet but when it appears I will add to the blog. However, walking past Tony on peg, was playing yet another decent Carp so took a video for something to blog. Tony caught at 10 metres using corn over corn. The beautiful Common Carp in the video weighed in at 14 lb 7 oz.

I predict that The Big-un (pictured) would have the highest silvers weight as claiming 15 lb -3 F1's and some Skimmers.

Weigh Sheet:

Sunday 02/08/2026 - John Treasure Memorial Match - Joint with the RBL Club - Whitehouse Farm - Margret's and George's

Not been fishing for four weeks for various reasons. So at last had a chance to go to the Alcove match at Whitehouse Farm. Both Georges and Margret's were both in the draw, both have been throwing up some big Carp weights especially George's peg 1. The Carp are mostly double figures and too big for me to wrestle with in the landing net these days especially with the water levels down. If I drew the peg I would still have go though it's in the DNA, but hoping to avoid the known Carp pegs.

The match was split into two with top 3 and 1 silvers on each lake.

But first had to follow instructions and pick my annual helping of the Special One's Blackberries for her pies. So with mission accomplished it was Into the draw bag and peg 8 (pictured) on Margret's for me. For company on the next peg 9 was matey Andy Gard - now a serial match angler who does more miles than an Uber driver. Had this peg before and always fished for small Ronnie's of which there are millions add the millions of tiny Perch it's a bit of a physical effort in this hot weather. I had bought some worms but had left them home - hope they're OK, so only had LR's and Paste. So went for the waggler to fish for the Chub and a paste rig - simple.

It's very wide to the island on this peg but had waggler's that could do it, but would not be able to loose feed it, so settled for an 8" Drake bodied waggler. With the water level really low had just 4 and a bit foot of water. So a 0.4 gram PC paste rig with yellow top selected. That was it so had 45 minutes to hang around for the 10 o clock start - a few more Blackberries it was then.

Having mixed my paste and making a right mess of my trousers fed the paste line at 10 metres with micro and the waggler line as far as the catty and wind conditions would allow - about half way!! No wind can be worse than a side wind for loose feeding.

Started on the waggler with double DR and had a 1 1/2 lb Gold fish fan tail second cast. Good start. Then it was the usual small Ronnie's and Perch afterwards. Occasionally I  was getting the complete ragging of the maggots which I'm sure were Chub. Didn't connect with any though, smashing the hook bait on the way down me thinks. Shallowed up to no avail. I had planned to leave the paste until I saw some fizz, but tried it anyway and was surprised to catch a 2lb Skimmer first try. I then had problems with the platform being too far off the water, the elastic being too strong and shipping back into bushed and jamming up causing the loss of a couple of Skimmers. Switched to a lighter elastic and adjustment of the pole roller helped considerably. Had a couple of hours picking off the odd better Skimmer and one F1. The peg was by now showing a lot of fizz caused by tiny Skimmers which were becoming a nuisance they are hard enough to catch on natural baits let alone paste. Had a common and Mirror Carp both about 5 lb each which herald the end of the Skimmers fishing. So upped the feed to try and catch more Carp alas only one lost foul hooker. On hindsight wish I had rested the line in favour of the waggler for a while, think the extra feed buggered it up. Struggled the last hour which I spent catching small  silvers on the Waggler.

The two Carp weighed 10 lb 4 oz and my silvers 18 lb 7 oz for a total weight of 28 lb 11 oz and the lake silvers win. Our side of the lake wasn't fishing that well so pleased with my result - bollocks to worms. To be fair a nice day's fishing and the Special One thought the Blackberries were excellent.

Pete Watkins (pictured with the lakes silvers winner) won our lake with 76 lb 5 oz from peg 17. It took the last hour to catch, starting with a 20 pounder. Kev caught down his left hand margin using double corn

Over to George's where the lake record was nearly broken by Kev Murch (pictured) who weighed an impressive 155 lb 14 oz from peg 1. A;ll pole caught - well done Matey.

Bill Knight picked up the silvers on George's from peg 13 with 14 lb 2 oz. You will no doubt read more of today's exploits by visiting "Billy's Blog" which is always an excellent crafted blog - very enjoyable read. Just google it.

PS: John Amato didn't get his net bag back which fell off his new motor bike last match - luckily the dog wasn't in it.

Weigh Sheets:

Sunday 02/11/2025 - Alcove Club - Poppy Match - Whitehouse Farm - Margret's and George's

Today's match was primarily for the British Legion annual appeal. So £10 pools and £10 for the good cause.

Steady drive down the Ring Road as I had a nail go in my tyre at Harescombe and had fitted the 50 mph get you home spare wheel.

19 fishing so 9 on Margret's and 10 on Georges. Hoping for Georges as not hemmed in by trees and bushes.

Into the draw bag and disabled peg 14 on Margret's for me. Great feeder peg albeit a very long chuck. Toyed with setting up the maggot feeder for five seconds, choose to fish for Ronnie's instead - my favourite target and method as it keeps me busy on a colder windy day - get bored very easily.

Next to John Amato on end peg 15 and judging by the expletives throughout the match was having a bit of a frustrating day 😀.

Geoff drew peg Margret's 7 - another feeder peg. Margins not that as good - full of snags.

Long and short Ronnie rig, 0.3 gram RJ Slim for the very short RH margin where I was advised by Bill Knight to fish for Carp, Finally a 4x14 Winter to fish top set plus two in 5 1/2 foot of water, hopefully for some Skimmers.

Only tabled live and dead reds. Had some Pinkies curtesy of Fred Welsh, but thought it too early to use them - proved a mistake.

Fed the long line with GB and DR's but started on the short Ronnie rig with single LR over loose fed same. Had an amazing 15 minutes catching a Ronnie or Perch - one a bung. It suddenly went completely dead so had a quick look on the long line which was only producing the same fish as the Ronnie rig but slower loosing a 1 lb Skimmer which may have been fouled. Picked up the long Ronnie rig to fish closer to the bush down the left. Feeling a Carp had disrupted play attracted by the sound of the loose feed and first try on the long rig foul hooked a Carp which halfway across the lake the hook pulled. Subsequent started to feed the LR's in loose GB to silence the feeding. Things picked up but it was slower. About 2 hours to go we had some light rain and the temperature dropped drastically recovering after 30 minutes. Had a short look for a Carp with a bunch on LR's down the right where I had been loose feeding DR's steady all match. Upshot never had a bite. Back on the long Ronnie rig but with Pinkie over potted Pinkie and the response was remarkable catching quicker until the end.

Weighed 8 lb 8 oz and due to Georges fishing really poor this put me 6th overall! It probably looked sacrilege to most that I didn't set the feeder up - perhaps next time!! Definitely should have started on the Pinkie.

Tony Welsby (pictured - smiling!) double bubbled today winning over weight and silvers from peg 8 with 27 lb 15 oz. Tony caught at top set plus 4 barrels fishing various baits over GB, Micro and Corn. Well done matey impressive 

Weigh Sheets:

Sunday 21/09/2025 - Alcove Interclub with Silver Bream - Whitehouse Farm - Margret's and George's Lakes

Geoff Francis joined the club this year and today was his first match and visit to Whitehouse Farm. Had a walk around with him before the draw, he was impressed with both lakes.

Was hoping to draw George's lake. Into the draw bag and Margret's 11 for me and surprised to find Geoff had drawn peg 12 next to me!

The water level is still really low nearing 3 foot down on Winter levels.  The light wind was blowing off my back favouring the waggler but the gap in the trees was a little risky so didn't bother. Instead set up three Ronnie rigs and a margin rig for Carp for the last knockings.

Started on the short Ronnie rig down the left side on single LR over loose fed LR's. Had a few expected Perch of various small sizes. Doing ok until caught an over hanging branch trashing the rig. So now down the right side with another heavier short Ronnie rig with the same feed and hook bait, however, it was very slow. Bined that and converted it to a Carp line feeding some corn. Picked up the Long Ronnie rig fishing single caster over caster and GB. I soon had switched back to LR's on the hook and caught Ronnie's steady but interrupted four times by Carp - all lost The last hour arrived with the Sun blinding me out of the long Ronnie rig line. So time to test the Carp line with single corn, had a bite first drop in and thought it was a Carp only to net a hard fighting 8 oz Chub! Didn't have another bite on corn. Tried the long line again for a few more Ronnie's but couldn't really see bites properly.

Meanwhile there was a lot of cussing coming from peg 12 - "ANIMALS" was the cry mostly. Geoff had landed a small Carp and had lost four snapping 0.2 main rig line.

I weighed 10 lb 8 oz for third silvers with Tony Welsby having 10 lb 9 oz but Steve Sewell winning the silvers with 11 lb 12 oz  which included a 3 lb 11 oz Perch. Well done matey a beautiful fish.

Our lake was won by Pete Turner (pictured) with 30 lb from peg 15. Pete caught on the method cast around his peg in ope water. Well done matey.

Georges Lake was won by Don Searle with 44 lb 3 oz from Carp peg 1. Apparently Don lost more Carp than he landed today. Well done matey.

Silver catches were below expectation with Steve Brown taking the honors with 10 lb 8 oz from peg 19. Well done Mr Crabtree.

Alcove, the home team came out in top in the interclub match taking the top 4 places.

Back to the pub with Geoff where, couldn't resist taking the P a tad today's misadventures.

Weigh Sheets:

Sunday 24/08/2025 - Alcove Club Match - Whitehouse Farm - George's

I have been concerned as of late as to what the dry, warm weather is/will have on our still waters and fish. With water levels well down and water warming up and reducing the dissolved oxygen both adding to the stress of fish especially if kept in keepnets for long periods. Fish are habitual and will get confused and stressed with their margin haunts no longer available to them. Be watchful everyone. So, it was good to see our club match this Sunday switched from "all in" to Silvers only and them being spread over two keep nets. I have found that silver fish won't feed if the oxygen is too low and of course are not susceptible to the dreaded KHV.

Jonny Amato pictured with his club loan wheel barrow fully loaded including his trusted peg guard dog - prevents sky lining plus new dog house.

Wasn't sure if the Skimmers would feed so decided to forget skimmers and only take maggot and GB.

Into the draw bag and peg 3 for me. First time for this bank. walking around pegs 1 to 5 looked very Carpy, especially 1 obvious signs of bring popular with the Carp Anglers. I was delight to find I would be sitting under a large Willow all day with the Sun behind me. Set up the Waggler as a back up if struggling for bites, long and short Ronnie rigs both to fish in the shade of the Mr Willow. The short was set at half depth and the long full depth at 3 1/2 feet. After feeding a pot of loose GB and red unconscious Maggots

started on the long Ronnie rig with single LR and had a Rudd off the top first put in, so a quick change to the short rig and for an hour caught small Rudd. Ronnie's and Perch off the top by just loose feeding now LR's. When it slowed had a quick go on the Waggler and Maggot had one Ronnie and far slower, that was binned. Switch to the long rig on the bottom and started to introduce GB and caught small fish steady to the end. Did have two better perch, one 8 oz Skimmer and two 6 oz Hybrids. Although I didn't hook a Carp had suspicions one might have come in and had a look.

Weighed 17 lb 14 oz which I was very happy with. I love catching small
Silvers. Very enjoyable day. However, Could see Kev Murch opposite catching Skimmers on paste! As it happened I was wrong about the Skimmers with a few caught on worm and caster too. I did sneak my section though plus another tub of Blackberries.

The match was won by  club Treasurer Tony Welsby (pictured) from my favourite peg 10 with 24 lb 9 oz. Tony caught mainly Chub to 3 lb short on Maggot. Well done matey.

Took all my remaining Maggots home to be looked after now they're £4 a pint. Wonder if the price will go down once the weather issues are over - remains to be seen.

Weight Sheet:

Sunday 03/08/2025 - Alcove v. Royal British Legion (RBL) - Whitehouse Farm - Margret's and George's

Twenty minute drive to this lovely picturesque fishery. Nineteen fishing so it would be ten on Margret's and nine on George's.

But first my annual forage for Blackberries which are abundant here. Nice full tub for my tart.

Was hoping for George's. However, found myself on peg 8 on Margret's. The lake was at least two foot down - need some serious rain.

Have previously caught Chub to 3 lb on the maggot feeder here, but due to the levels didn't bother to set it up, instead favouring the waggler but some concerned that the hacking wind right to left would make this difficult. Short Ronnie rig and a 0.3 margin paste float for the RH side and a 4x14 Malman slim to fish top set plus four barrels.

Fed some loose GB with loose LR's on the long line and a big pot of micro down the RH side. With single LR on the hook caught a 6 oz Skimmer first put in which hopefully would be  the start of a good day on the Skimmers. Alas not the Ronnie's were very active and were first to the hook bait. After three Ronnie's and the same number falling off picked up the waggler and as I thought the wind wasn't helpful. Missed a bite to find the double LR hook bait sucked right out - Chub? Had a few more casts but was missing bites due to the wind and having to lay too much line on the bottom. Normal circumstances would have fished shallow waggler binned. Had a look on the paste in the margin with no indications binned that. So the Ronnie rig was my last chance to put some fish in the net which I fished down the LH side with single LR over loose fed LR's and hand fed looseish GB with the depth set at 30 inches. The upshot was caught initially lots of small Perch and once they got pissed off of my GB started to catch Rudd and Ronnie's to the end. The fact that I caught silvers all match shows the Carp didn't show causing the usual disruption.

Weighed 15 lb 14 oz for first silvers and not a sign of a Carp (silvers winner pictured with the match winner).

The match was won by Matt Challenger - Owner of Scott's Tackle with a new match record of 152 lb 5 oz from Georges peg 19 which included a fair few doubles including a 20 lb 1 oz Carp (pictured - don't look like a twenty on Matts hands - 😂). Matt caught long down his LH margin fishing paste over micro and 4's. Matt lost a few Carp and went home with two broken top sets and number six - get yourself a Drennan margin pole. Don't think his picked up help much towards the replacements. Well done matey.

Driving home I wondered what the record silvers match weight is.

Great day out but could have been better if it wasn't for the bloody wind.

Well done to all the framers.

Margret's

George's:

Sunday 03/11/2024 - Alcove Club - Whitehouse Farm - Margret's

Now here's a thing, me and the Special One have avoided the Covid virus for 5 years. Two weeks ago we had out winter Covid jabs, next day we go down with Covid. No longer contagious but both have a lingering cough. Think we had it mild due to the jabs we've had.

Back to Whitehouse Farm for their Poppy match. Not many from RBL this year. Hoping to be on George's, but due to the low turn out of 13 we all fished Margret's. Pulled peg 7 again, not a great silvers peg unless the Chub have a go. I seem to draw pegs in doubles, so plenty of pegs still to fish. Next to Pete Watkins again peg 8.

My target was Chub on the block end feeder and triple maggot hook bait. It's a bit of a long chuck at about 33 metres. Started on this. If the Chub are about can expect a response straight away. So the writing was on the wall early no indications except from a tiny Perch. I kept trying, but knew as the day went on the likelihood of them turning up would diminish. Ended up fishing at top set plus three barrels catch small Ronnie's on Pinkie and GB. Did have a small F1.

Weighed 5 lb 6 oz which was less than half the weight I weighed last time on this peg. It's very much a Carp peg for the Methodist. Pretty sure the Chub are down the other end which doesn't get pegged very often. Not much energy today still match fit yet.

Once again Pete Watkins (pictured) won the match on peg 8 fishing the method tight to the island. Pete landed 5 to 7 lb for 49 lb. Fair play sitting it out for 6 bites. Well done matey.

The silvers was won by John Amato (pictured with his peg guard dog) from peg 13. John caught on 4 metre whip with maggot over loose fed slop GB. His catch included some F1's and a big Goldfish. Well done matey.

Weigh Sheet:

Sunday 04/08/2024 - Alcove Inter club with RBL - Whitehouse Farm - Margret's and George's

First things first Blackberry picking for Chef. Got some here last year and were approved.

Match spilt in two 8 on Margret's and 7 on George's so loads of room. Paying top 3 on each - no silvers 😢.

Into Alcove draw bag and out comes peg 17 on Margret's again. A great peg and third time I've drawn it, but a tad disappointed as would have preferred one of the many pegs I have yet to fish.

Simple plan start on the maggot feeder to see if the big Chub would oblige, then into the LH margin for Carp with a RJ 0.3 gram slim. No point in fishing for small fish today. The first issue was it's very overgrown down both margins. I tried to clear the LH as best I could but was hampered by bramble's. So was left to fish in 3 foot. Need to get tooled up next match to give it a real go.

A hour on the feeder drove me mad getting ragged by small Chub and Ronnie's. No decent Chub, so it was into the margin with sweet corn hook bait over sweet corn and 4's feed, where a surprise was awaiting in the shape of five Bream to 4 lb and was subsequently pestered by small Chub. Went quite and started to foul hook Carp due to the depth, loosing them all, could see the Carp sneaking down from tight against the bank, more frustration. Did land two in the mouth late on though. Couldn't do the peg justice today.

Weighed 17 lb 7 oz accidental silvers and two Carp 15 lb 07 oz for third on Margret's.

The match and Georges was won by Kev Murch with 71 lb 12 oz from peg 3. Kev caught long on the pole using meat. However, his day had a set back breaking his number 5 section in the process. Two other anglers suffering a similar fate. Not surprising as three of Kev's fish went 40 lb! Well done matey.

Andy Brookman was runner up with 68 lb 11 oz taking the win from Margret's peg 13. Andy caught on the method over to the island and later short on paste. Well done matey.

Think these two got Alcove the win over RBL.

Weigh Sheets (muddle by a rewrite silvers and Carp mixed and weights but overall correct, no silvers/Carp columns?)

Sunday 30/06/2024 - Alcove Club - Whitehouse Farm - Margret's

Looking forward to this match as it's a lovely quiet venue surrounded by wildlife and close to be a natural lake. In need of an haircut though.

In to the draw bag and to a gasp from all around when pulling peg 17. Well, someone got to have the flyer.

Walking to the peg and even though I've fished it before walked passed it due to be overgrown. So out came the trusty pen knife and did what I could. clearing enough of the Hawthorne's to cast a waggler or feeder. Found a brand new well made platform, was I the first to use it?

A good Chub peg and apparently good for Carp down the RH edge to the peg 18 empty platform, which was inaccessible due to the overhanging branches out of my reach for the penknife. Pondered the waggler, unfortunately the wind conditions would prevent feeding more than half way, so set up the maggot feeder which needed a fair bit of lead to reach the island. Set up the long Ronnie rig and a 0.3 gram RJ lifter with normal shotting to fish top set plus three barrels. Fed the short line with GB and DR's and the long line with some chopped worm and GB. Started on the Ronnie rig which was soon abandoned due to being ragged by tiny deepthroated Perch and Ronnie's.

Picked up the feeder knowing it was going to be a challenge to get it tight with the Willow's opposite combined with the small area behind to cast. After a few incidents with Mr Willow and Mr Hawthorne which broke my feeder tip and with a replacement tip managed to get some accuracy. Now here's a thing once putting it in tight regularly (nearly) and having had a couple of Chub to 4 lb the feed attracted the small Chublets which were getting to the feed quicker once finding the feed. It was ok but very difficult to read their bites especially the one's on the drop. So started new line to fish some tight and some shorter which produce a decent Chub or two and once the Chublets arrived start another line. This worked well. The bites from the big Chub were ferocious, also taking the bait well down so the combination of this caused the hook to pull on two decent fish. Having used all the lines went long with worm and had a 7 lb Carp and three decent Skimmers before the nuisance Perch arrived. Lost two more Carp - one slipped hook the other was a fouler. Seen the rest of the match out catching Chublets from various lines.

Silvers weighed 28 lb 12 oz - mostly Chub. the Carp weighed 7 lb 3 oz a very lively fish indeed, amounting to a double bubble beating Tony Welsby into second spot by 10 oz - unlucky.

The default silvers went to Bill Ferris (pictured with the match winner) with 15 lb 2 oz from peg 6. Bill fished maggot short catching small fish but did add a bonus Skimmer.

The Chub are healthy and thriving at this venue.

Weigh Sheet:

Saturday 20/04/2024 - Alcove Club - Whitehouse Farm - Margret's

Thought I would limber up for Whiteacres non-sponsored angling festival next week with a double header. The match was advertised as both lakes but with only 10 booked in Tony sensibly chose the one lake - Margret's. As it was a knock up decided to try a few things out.

Peg 7 for me not been on of this side of the lake before, so would be interesting. Sandwiched between Kev and Pete on peg 6 end peg today. Pete has won a few matches off the peg with Carp.

The Canadian Geese were making a right racket obviously didn't like the pair of Barnacle Geese - found their match. 

The pegs are a bit of a birdcage for the feeder chucker's as Pete found out breaking his feeder tip casting out. He was getting frustrated and was thinking of packing in but talked him round.

Set up various rigs and rods. The far far island is a very long cast and is where the Carp and Chub tend to hang out together. Tried casting a maggot feeder over but it wasn't man enough needs to be heavier - got some in the garage. My chose was the waggler and even though the light looked good couldn't see any colour tip tried, so binned it. Played about with a few pole rigs until the second half and sat on the long Ronnie rig with GB and LR's and caught 5 lb of tiny Perch which were really having a munch - guessing finished spawning. Added a couple of small Skimmers and a fan tail thing and 5 lb of Ronnie's which were either spawning or thinking about it and were reluctant feeders.

Finished with 11 lb 7 oz of silvers. Learnt a bit more about the lake.

The match was won by Pete Watkins (pictured with his catch) with 55 lb 8 oz from peg 6. Pete caught on the Hybrid feeder. Think I got the name right as Pete was showing me all the various method feeders he uses. It was white maggot hook bait with micro and maggot feed. Well done matey.

The Silvers was won by retiring Match Secretary Tony Welsby (pictured with the match winner) with 17 lb 12 oz from peg 13. Tony had a decent Chub and some F1's on the feeder the rest coming on the pole.

Have to mention John Treasure's Carp of 19 lb 7 oz helping him to second over all.

And finally can anyone remember that stuff we use to put on our faces to stop sun burn - used some today - but still it not that warm for the time of year.

Weigh Sheet:

Sunday 25/02/2024 - Alcove Club - Whitehouse Farm - Margret's Lake

I can remember when we looked at the weather to see if we could expect rain, now day's we check to see if it will be dry. Another match in the rain. At least think I have mastered the application of the brolly.

Manage to get a spare place on the clubs winter league.

Into the draw bag ably held by Steve "Enigma" Dawson and pulls peg 17. Like I have said before don't know the venue well but told it was a feeder peg. Must admit it looked good for Chub over to the island. However, it would be the waggler for that. Also set up the long Ronnie rig and a 4x14 to fish top set plus three barrels.

Fed the Ronnie rig with a small nub of GB laced with DR's and the long line a big pot of the same fed loose and pulted a few LR's out towards the island, it was obvious the wind wouldn't be my friend on the waggler. Started on the Ronnie rig - no bites. Out on the long line loads of bites form small Ronnie's which wasn't quick enough to get a weight, so back on the Ronnie rig and suddenly loads of bites from small fish at least they weren't coming off. Did hook a decent fish which was either a F1 or a Perch which came off - which might have been fouled. It was apparent that the GB was attracting the small Ronnie's which were getting to the hook bait first. So reasonable excuse to pick up the waggler with the hope of some Chub. Alas no Chub but started to get some better Ronnie's to 4 oz. Spent the rest on the match on this with Single LR on the hook. I really enjoy waggler fishing as I did today trying to pre-empt the wind direction and speed - also learnt how to fish the waggler over head with the brolly up which means getting the height of the brolly just right.

My net of silvers weighed 10 lb 3 oz for 2nd pick up with Enigma piping me in the silvers by 2 oz. Which I had some caster - next time.

Steve also catching on single red maggot over loose feed short on peg 9.

Pete Watkins won the match with 13 lb 5 oz from peg 13. Pete sat it out on the method feeder for the one Carp. Well done both - pictured.

Now for another kit dry out .

Weigh Sheet:

Sunday 05/11/2023 - Alcove AC - Poppy Match at Whitehouse Farm - George's and Margret's Lakes

Because I'm still learning about the venue was looking forward again to the unknown. Anticipated the silvers to be in the main frame. Really didn't mine where I drew - mainly out of lack of experience

Into the draw bag and out comes peg 19 on George's (pictured with the light starting to go, Roach now topping everywhere and the island trees looking beautiful in autumn colours). Couple of steps down to the platform, something that's needed at Windmill Fishery. Told is was the dam end so deep which scuppered a idea I wanted to try.

Waggler to fish 20 metres where it was 10 foot. A short rig and a two barrel rig. The water here gradually slopes off from 4 to 10 foot which should be good for the Skimmers.

Just Maggot and GB - Magic, Lake and fish meal for a binder.

The issue with the peg today was the Sun. Another week before picking up the prescription Sun glasses. I was awful. This meant initially fishing down Sun then move up Sun once it moved. Initially no way could I fish the waggler or fish too long. So started short and had a couple of 1 lb Skimmers and a 1 lb Gold fish, but mostly Ronnie's keeping them coming by topping up with GB laced with DR's. Had been loose feeding up Sun ready for the switch and on the move managed to keep some Ronnie's coming, pulling out of two decent Perch - as you do. Sun abated along with the odd light shower so switched to the long line again with GB and DR's for a couple more skimmers and Ronnie's. Did have a small Ronnie taken by a predator bringing it in - apparently no Pike in the lake so might be Perch. With all initial lines dead went out on the waggler over loose fed LR's for a couple of small Chub and a few decent Ronnie's, but over done the feeding and should have tried shallowing up - next time.

Weighed 13 lb 2 oz for the lake win. Very enjoyable except for the bloody Sun glare causing a headache.

Margret's Lake and the match was won by Kev Swanston (pictured with George's lake winner) with 19 lb 15 oz of Skimmers from peg 16. Kev caught on both the method and cage feeder with mainly pellet hook bait. Well done Kev excellent weight on the day.

What a nice quiet venue, can see why it's so popular for pleasure anglers.

Weigh Sheets:

 

Sunday 01/10/2023 - Alcove Interclub - Alcove AC v. Silver Fish AC - Whitehouse Farm - Margret's and George's

Weather set fair for a decent days fishing. Twenty minute drive to Whitehouse Farm for me. 

Thirty fishing which now day's is a good turn out, very hard to find local matches with this number of anglers. Fifteen anglers on Margret's and 15 on George's.

No preference where I drew as I'm a novice on this venue and don't really know which are the better pegs. So Georges peg 10 for me. Arrived at the peg which looked really fishy, plus a small island opposite - WAGGLER UMMY. Told it was the home of some large Carp, however, it would be silvers for me with 0.1 hook length for protection!

Set up two pole rigs one short, one at 9 metres in 4.5 foot of water. The one waggler rod with a 6" Drake all with 20 Tubertini 808 hooks.

The upshot was although a few fish were caught on both pole rigs the lion share by far came from the waggler and maggot and very enjoyable it was too. Once my casting was switched to over the left hand shoulder didn't hook any more trees behind or any of the island bushes. Caught all match until last few minutes. Netted allsorts, Chub to 3 lb, Skimmers to 2 lb and Ronnie's to 12 oz. Wonderful days fishing. Only the one hook length stolen by a Carp.

Weighed 28 lb 8 oz of silvers for both the lake win, silvers win and third overall.

The match was won by Russ Baker (Silverfish a/c - pictured with the match organiser Tony who was overall runner up) with 30 lb 7 oz from Margret's peg 13 catching Carp on the method 3/4 across to the island. Well done matey.

Very enjoyable day for all with a really friendly bunch. Met Alan Jenner whom I last saw at work on the day I retired - 17 years ago.

Having a go at Bitterwell Tuesday with Glenn and Gary.

Weigh Sheets: