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:

Sunday 06/08/2023 - Alcove AC - Inter club with RBL - Whitehouse Farm - Margret's and George's Lakes

Inter club between Alcove AC fishing against Royal British Legion today. Looking forward to fishing George's lake for the first time, not seen it yet, so hoped to draw draw there. 

What a surprise to see John Amato at the match fishing for RBL. A bigger surprise was his mode of transport, himself, tackle, and camera shy long Haired Chihuahua, arriving on his 300 cc Motor bike (pictured)! Amazing to watch him pack his gear away in every space he had, plus the Doggy bag. Emanating Topper Haskins! Nice to catch up. John is starting back and had a baptism of fire at Windmill losing 14 carp. Did alright today though on the silvers catching Roach on Hemp. We fished in the Avon Angling team together. John more at home catching river Bream.

Drew peg 18 on George's. What a beautiful looking lake and a very pleasant place to fish. Told there were silvers to target but to expect some interruptions from Carp.

Long line for the Skimmers and short for the Ronnie's. Mainly Ronnie's and a four 12 oz Skimmers short. Caught very little long due to loosing three Skimmers in a snag which was just enough to pull the hook, possibly weed roots. All silvers caught on LR's and GB. Wishing for some casters. Had a blow on the long line and went over it with paste and first try hooked a Carp which initially disguised itself as a Bream and once down on the top set went mad, after a tug of war with both Carp and Lily pads lost the lot. Shouldn't have done this as it killed my short line for a while.

John Treasure impressed me getting a Carp out if his Lily pads. He did loose two I think.

Weighed 10 lb 9 oz for third in silvers. Very enjoyable day's fishing.

Once again the W-S-M bandit John Dursley (pictured) won the match from M5 with 48 lb 7 oz all caught down his margin on Sweet Corn. Well done Matey.

Steve "Enigma" Dawson won the silvers with 13 lb 6 oz. Well done matey. Thanks for the magic bag.

Home team won.

Thanks to Tony Welsby for running the match.

Picked some juicy Blackberries for the Special One's Pie. Just need some cooking apples.

Weigh Sheet:

Sunday 12/06/2023 - Alcove AC - Whitehouse Farm - Margret's Lake

A few got caught out with the weather, luckily the brolly was with me, some didn't. Rained on an off throughout the match. Couldn't think where I've seen similar umbrella's?

My plan was to fish expander over micro, however, on the way relised I had left them home. Rest of the way thinking of other options. 

Full contingent of 18 anglers. Shame peg 2 wouldn't be in due to some weed growth. Into the draw bag and out comes peg 13. Good skimmers peg I'm told and a long cast to the island for the chub. Got to the peg which was a bit of a parrot cage but sufficient space to cast a waggler or feeder. No way could I loose feed anywhere the island probably half way at best. Still set it up with a 9" small bodied Drake in doing so noticed a eye missing - bugger - but still functional. The new plan was to fish 10 metres out in front with worm over micro for skimmers using a 4 x16 Winter Titan. A paste rig for over the same line, a paste rig for the LH margin and the long Ronnie rig.

Fed the long line with micro and five of finely chopped worms. Fed the Ronnie line with GB laced with DR's. Catapulted out some LR's which as I thought fell short of half way, going to try anyway once the umbrella came down. Had a few Ronnie's, Rudd and the usual micro Perch before foul hooking a Carp up in the water. The line went dead, noticing there was significant fizzing over the long line went over it with a big worm and had a good spell two Skimmers and three fantail thingy's one bright orange. Again foul hooked another carp. So refed, trying the Ronnie rig again for just a few Perch. More fizzing, so out again, no bites just another fouler. Fed again which was too prove a pot too far, more fizzing, so decided to leave it until it stopped which sometimes works. Ounce stopped out long with the paste float and another skimmer and a 3 lb Carp. Unfortunately fed again, couldn't help myself - lesson learnt here. Couldn't by another bite on this line. Rain stopped and had a four casts on the waggler and 4 bites and judging from the nicked end of the LR it was tiny fish. Rain back so waggler abandoned. In to the margin with the paste where I had been loose feeding hard 4's and first put in missed a bite, in again and a 4 lb carp, next put in a foul hooked carp which came off, thought this was the start of a bagging session, alas not, nothing more from the margin. As the rain had stopped started to pack away watching John Dursley peg 6 and Kevin Manning peg 7 catching well (pictured).

The two Carp weighed 7 lb 10 oz and silvers 12 lb 6 oz for fourth and more importantly a silvers win beating Bill Ferries by 2 oz, he didn't go home empty handed winning his section. No doubt the fish like the micro here, but too much and they become to preoccupied with it - less is more I think.

The match was won by John Dursley (pictured with the silvers winner) with 58 lb 10 oz from peg 6. John caught down his RH edge, finding he had to keep ringing the changes of hook baits. He lost a few foul hookers probably due to his margin being a tad deep up to the reeds. Well done matey. 

Credit where credit is due Tony Welsby runs a great match, especially as he does all the weighing and weigh sheet, like another Tony I know Thanks.

Result:

1. John Dursley 58-10-0 peg 6

2. Kevin Murch 25-12-0 peg 18

3. Dave Manning 20-15-0 peg 7

Silvers:

1. Mike Nicholls 12-06-0 peg 13

2 Bill Ferris 12-04-0 peg 1

Weigh Sheet:

Alcove AC - Whitehouse Farm - Margret's Lake

My first match with Alcove AC and first visit to Whitehouse Farm. Took 15 minutes from home - perfect. Arrived to see anglers I've not seen for years and nice to meet up again. Steve Brown (aka Mr Crabtree) looked just the same except not wearing a tie, and carrying his wicker basket, must ask him how many he's had over the years, expecting a Trigger's brush reply. Seeing anglers with this sort of tackle is scary and not to be underestimated - did their Apprenticeship on rivers etc... for sure.

Had a walk around the lake and didn't fancy pegs 1 or 2 because of the the Willow fluff There were others that would be difficult for me to get down. Fishery looks really well looked after. Really exited to be fishing a new unknown venue.

Drew peg 2! Not particularly happy but who knows. For company on 3 was Glynn Sage who is always cheerful and would fish the feeder all match and on 3 was Steve (Enigma) Dawson. Down round to my right was the Ferris brothers.

Not sure what to expect set the lot up. However, the waggler was to be the only method which would put fish in the net, that is when I could fish it due to the wind blowing the Willow fluff in and out of the peg. I set up a heavier waggler than needed due to casting with rod rings fluffed up, which was a 7" bodied Drake. The only species to feed was Chub which I haven't caught for sometime. I could moan about the fluff but it's nature and there's nothing better and have to live with it. Caught Chub up to 3 lb and lots of Chublets 3 to 4 oz on double LR's over loose fed same, on and off throughout and when fluffed out sat on the paste on the top set for a couple of nibbles probably Gudgeon or had a walk for some learning. I am now a Willow fluff removal expert - need long sharp nails though. With 15 minutes to go lost my waggler which had came off the snap swivel - probably fished all match without it snapped up!!  Waggler was last see circling between peg 1 and 2 but just out of reach for retrieval.

I had Lily pads in front and luckily Lake Chub are not as wise to snags as their river cousins. 

My Chub catch weighed 15 lb 5 oz for the silvers win. Very enjoyable. Would I have had more if it wasn't for the fluff? - who knows. I didn't realise there were lots of carp in the lake so will be prepared more next match.

The match was won by Julie Taylor (pictured with the silvers winner) with 40 lb 11 oz from peg 6. Julie caught on the method feeder with a mixed of ingredients with a banded pellet but didn't know the size! Explains a lot. Well done Julie.

Result:

1. Julie Taylor 40-11-0 peg 6

2. Steve Dawson 31-15-0 peg 4 (incl; Carp 20-07)

3. Tony Welsby 29-10-0 peg 13

4. John Dursley 27-02-0 peg 16

5. Andy Gard 15-12-0 peg 17

6. Mike Nicholls 15-05-0 peg 2

Silvers:

1. Mike Nicholls 15-05-0 peg 2

2. Bill Ferris 7-08-0 peg 18

Weigh Sheet: