Sunday 02/11/08 - Veals Teams of Four Winter League Round 4 - Landsend Fishery

With the weather turning wintry, with heavy over night rain and a stiff North Westerly blowing, the consensus was that the fishery would fish hard - as it proved to be for some anyway, with many Anglers not breaking the pound.

However, we faired better than most fishing the "Real" Winter League fished on the in flood Brsitol Avon (believed to be the oldest river in England - this is measured by the bankside tree growth). My mate Darren Gillman drew the crane section and framed with 2lb 3oz! Some sections were won with ounces. The match was won from just above the bay at Fry's by Graham Hunt with 4lb!

Charlie drew me peg 51 on John Walter (again). I was hoping for for Sidney's, but was content with my draw. We all knew that one Carp was needed for good points. So it was disappointing to lose a Carp second put in on double red maggot over a nuget of Black Lake ground bait (fits in a kinder pot). However, I then have a run of small Ronnies and Skimmers on single maggot. From what I could see the going was very hard. I kept a few Silvers going for a while at 10 metres until I landed a 8lb 9oz Carp, on single maggot. This decided me to forget the Silvers and fish 6mm expander pellet at 13 metres to the far bank bush which resulted in about ten Crucians to 4oz!! I weighed 6lb of Silvers to go with my Carp, for a total of 14lb 9oz and seventh on the lake and 9 points.

My five peg section was won by Tony Rixon on peg 54 with 17lb (which included a 3lb Bream!).

The match was won by Anton Page (pictured top right - what a lovely set of dentures)

with 115lb 12 oz of Carp from peg 31 on Specimen. Anton caught his 13 fish on the far bank, two foot deep using double red maggot.

Tim Pallant (pictured right) was runner up with 59-10-0 of Carp from peg 83 on Sidney's. Tim caught on soft pellet fishing to the far corner leg.

The Silvers was won by Vince Shipp from peg 78 with 13lb 13oz. Which included what was described as a "Golden Bream"!

Team wise Charle's Angles came joint second on the day with 40 points, which now raises us to the dizzy heights of 5th overall with 38 points!

Ful result:

Carp:

1. Anton Page 115-12-0 peg 31

2. Tim Pallant 59-10-0 peg 83

3. Eric Fouracres 50-13-0 peg 15

4. Steve Kedge 44-15-0 peg 40

Silvers:
1. Vince Shipp 13-13-0 peg 68
2. Kev Perry 9-0-0 peg 58

3. Ryan Shipp 8-13-0 peg 25 (arrived at his peg 2 hours in to the match!)

4. John Gray 8-03-0 peg 72

Thursdays 30/10/08 Bathampton AA Over 55's and Disabled - Bridge Pool

The latest News on Colin Golding is that he is now at home and looking much better. I hope Colin takes some time off fishing during these cold winter months to get himself back to his old self . In the mean time he will be missed, especially by the Silver Anglers - Colin is always good competition in this respect - the man to beat.

After two previous consecutive days of heavy frost (the first of the year) a very cold North Easterly welcomed us. Despite this, another good turn out. All the competitors were thinking negatively in terms of winning weights, especially, as most venues have been suffering from water temperature drops and poor weights. However, we need not had worried, as the venue fished exceptionally well. I think this was primarily due to the excellent pegging by Bob Warren and Terry Bruton - these two know the venue better than anyone.

Bob Warren drew my peg and I his. Thanks Bob for the best winter peg on the venue! I drew peg 18 for Bob, which is the best Summer peg!! Terry drew peg 7 which is the peg he had practiced on the Monday and bagged up (you can see how serious these matches can be to some). I only set up one rig which was a 4x16 Jolly with a 16 Tubertini 808 hook. This rig can fish baits from 6mm expander to single maggot and any size in between. I plumbed this up at top set plus two (about five metres). I choose a top set with a soft 6-12 Maver hollow elastic (which I later changed to a stiffer 18 - 22 Middy hollow). I decided that single maggot over maggot and nuggets ground bait was a good start, which resulted in a couple of 1lb Skimmers and one lost foul hooked carp. I then got bitted out by 1oz Ronnies, so switched to 6mm expander and had a run of Skimmers from 4oz to 1lb, with the odd Ronnie. I decided to loose feed maggot to my left with the anticipation that the small Ronnies would follow the "piper", so that I could get back on to the Skimmers with double red. This worked and I netted a few more Skimmer until I latched into my first double figure Carp. I kept a few Skimmers coming in between landing four quality Carp for a Carp weight of 47lb 14oz and a Silvers weight of 13lb 8oz for a total of 61-06-0. This put me first in the Silvers and second overall for a pick up of £25.


The match was won by "the master" - Terry Bruton (practice makes perfect - picture right with part of his catch) with eight carp for 68 4oz from peg 7. Terry fished the waggler at depth - mid lake, with hair rigged hard pellet. Terry fed sparingly through out.

Full Result:

1. Terry Bruton 68-04-0 peg 7
2. Mike Nicholls 61-06-0 peg 31
3. Martin Alexander 39-03-0 peg 23 (good weight from this peg)
4. John Bradford 35-12-0 peg 24
5. Terry Church 28-13-0 peg 30
6. Bob Warren 19-05-0 peg 18

Top Silvers:

1. Mike Nicholls 13-08-0 peg 31
2. Geoff Stones 12-10-0 peg 16
3. Bill Ferris 10-04-0 peg 4

Sunday 26/10/2008 Carps AC - Wednesday's Silversmania Final - Landsend Fishery

With Thirty Six Anglers qualifying there was not much scope for leaving the worse pegs out. My hope was that I did not have an end (corner) peg. My preference was a mid peg on Specimen Lake. I was delighted therefore, when I drew peg 35 on Specimen (where my good friend Darren Gillman was second from in the Wednesday practice match with 18lb 3oz). Was this my target weight? Darren and I had developed a plan based on ground bait and maggot. So I mixed one pint of Sensas Lake Black with one pint of Gimps Gold. This I fed at 11.5 metres with a little red maggot. I also fed chopped worm and caster at 4 metres for the Perch (and anything else). I also set up two whips one elasticated with a PB14 at 3 metres (caster line) and one at 4.5 metres with one of my home made wagglers. I started over the CW&C line with worm tails on the hook which resulted in two 1 oz Perch and one 4oz Roach - very slow though - so out on the 11.5 metre line over the GB which resulted in being "bitted out" by small Ronnies. So I decide to fish the caster 3 metre whip to see if I could catch quicker. This resulted in no bites! So on to the 4.5 metre whip (I am in effect fishing at 8 metres) using single maggot over loose fed maggot. This resulted in a number of quick Ronnies to 4oz, two Skimmers and one small Crucian. After re-feeding the GB line tried it again, but indications were that Carp had moved in over it (this GB mix produces a very attractive cloud just above bottom). So I spent the rest of the match on the 4.5 metre whip for a weight of 18lb 8oz for first overall and a pick up of £500.

Through the grape vine I had heard that Darren was third overall, which was pleasing news (plan worked then for someone). Alas, Darren was pushed in to fourth place and first out of the money!! Bad luck matey.

Full Result:

1. Mike Nicholls 18-08-0 peg 35 (£500)
2. John Green 17-12-0 peg 27 (£300 - pictured top right)
3. Mike Owens 17-08-0 peg 22 (£200 - Pictured right)

4. Darren Gillman 14-13-0 peg 5
5. Bob Gullick 14-09-0 peg 17
6. Gary Wall 13-06-0 peg 5

Wednesday 22/10/2008 Carps AC - Silvers only Match - Landsend

As most of the Carps AC members know that Colin Golding has been out of sorts recently, picking up a heavy cold during his visit to Stafford Moor. Well, today Colin was emitted to hospital (Bristol - Frenchy Hospital) and is currently under going emergency treatment. Get well soon matey.

In the meantime, during Colin's absence I will run the Bathampton AA over 55's, starting with the match on Bridge Pool on the 30/10/08.

Today's match was targeted as practice for Sunday's Wednesday Carps AC Silversmania. With 25 fishing the pegs were split between Specimen and Match Lake. So it was decided to pay the top three on each lake.I drew Peg 13 (unlucky for some). Again in a corner peg on match lake. I can remember a few years back this was considered a good silvers peg, fishing in to the end margin, but of late has proved a good Carp peg. Due to the trees now in full autumn golden colours made the visibility of the float difficult to see, it was a question of fishing where you could see a particular colour. With an near frost overnight and the colour dropping out the fishing was going to be difficult - as it proved. I weighed 7lb 14oz of small Perch and Roach for fourth on the Lake - one out of the money)! I caught most of my fish on chopped worm over chopped worm and caster.

The Match lake was won by Mike Duckett (pictured right) with 14lb 8oz from peg 6. Mike caught mainly Skimmers on soft pellet. The Specimen lake was won by Tom Thick (pictured top right - less the red high-lights) with 23lb 10oz. Tom was keeping his cards close to his chest on how he caught!
Ten of the Anglers fishing "Did Not Weigh - DNW"

Full Result:

Match lake:

1. Mike Duckett 14-08-0 peg 6 (Qualifies for the Carps AC Wednesday Silversmania)
2. Rich Coles 9-06-0 peg 20
2. Pete Sivell 9-06-0 peg 22
4. Mike Nicholls 7-14-0 peg 13
5. Jess Jordan 7-02-0 peg 5
6. Paul Lock 3-15-0 peg 18
7. Phil Coulam 3-05-0 peg 11
8. Bill Ferris 2-12-0 peg 3

Specimen lake

1. Tom Thick 23 10-0 peg 27
2. Darren Gillman 18-03-0 peg 35
3. John Green 8-0-0 peg 36
4. Ian Dawe 7-10-0 peg 37
5. John Bennett 6-12-0 peg 39
6. Adrian Bishop 4-08-0 peg 40
7. Ryan Potter 3-08-0 peg 29 (Qualifies for the Carps AC Wednesday Silversmania)

Sunday 19/10/08 - Veals Teams of Four Winter League Round 3 - Landsend Fishery

After many years of trying to develop "hind sight" I am still left lacking in this department. Today was such an example. "If only" I knew that 10lb 15 oz of would win the Silvers pool today, with 8lb 10 oz coming fourth!

The team draw put me on peg 32 on Specimen Lake (why can't I draw my own peg!). This is the car park end, far bank, corner peg, (I hate corner pegs when targeting Silvers). Tom Thick gave me a run down on the peg - "Fish sixteen metres shallow to the end margin tree". How nice it must be to be eighteen, sixteen stone and six foot two. I didn't have the heart to tell him I only take two poles both thirteen metres, because I can't see any further! Tom had drawn peg 50 on John's Water (a peg I fancied).

I set up seven rigs (don't tell Kev Dicks). I started by feeding chopped worm and a few caster at 4 metres at 2 o clock. I fed corn and caster at 13 metres into the end margin. I started on the 4mm pellet over my test pot of micro at 10 metres at 11 o clock. This resulted in one five pound Carp. No silvers! Blimey I am in trouble (as was everyone else, as it happened). On to the Ronnie caster rig - no bites - the world is about to end. On to the chopped worm rig and a few small Perch and Ronnies - one lost foul hooked carp. Out on the paste over the test pot at 10 metres - nothing. Fed a new chopped worm and caster line at 10 metres which resulted in a 15lb 8oz Common Carp (Dad was looking down on me whilst I was playing it, I gave it plenty of chances to get free).

I kept rotating all the swims until I decided to stay on 10 metre chopped worm rig to the end, which resulted in a total Silvers weight of 5lb 11oz (see what I mean, if I had stuck with the CW&C I am sure I would have framed in the Silvers. I weighed a total of 26lb 3oz for fifth in the section of fifteen and first in the section of five by double default for a pick up of £40.

Specimen lake fished hard with the likes Paul Garrett weighing 14oz on peg 25 and Bryan Slipper weighing 4oz on peg 36!!

The match was won by Brett Holly (pictured top right - it wasn't that cold) with 80lb 06 oz from peg 31. Brett landed 10 fish averaging 10lb. Runner up was Julian Heaven with 67lb 10 oz from peg 31. Julian lost at least 70lb of foul hooked Carp - how frustrating.
The Silvers was won by Mark Taylor from peg 16 with 10-15oz!!!

Charlie's Angels finished 8th overall (with Charlie getting his usual 1 point). This now puts us in joint 7th overall. I am sure once Charles gets a few points we will start moving up the table!

Westerleigh are currently topping the league table.

Full Result:

Carp:

1. Brett Holly 80-06-0 peg 33
2. Julian Heaven 67-10-0 peg 31
3. Nicky Collier 51-07-0 peg 78
4. Steve Seagar 50-12-0 peg 58

Silvers:

1. Mark Taylor 10-15-0 peg 16
2. Vince Brown 10-04-0 peg 70
3. Vince Shipp 9-06-0 peg 42
4. Dean Malin 8-10-0 peg 21

Thursdays 16/10/08 Bathampton AA Over 55's and Disabled - Withy Pool

Another good turn out, the weather remained fine and dry, although once the sun disappeared the North Westerly wind was cold, but seasonal.
It was "fish bank holiday Wednesday", the fish had turned completed off . I could hear all sorts of reason why echoing around the lake - temperature dropped overnight, NW wind blowing, too bright, etc... The answer for me was simple, it was a near full Moon and the fish feed at night/early morning (this also happen yesterday to some extent).
I drew peg 42 for the second time and was happy with this as I caught some good Ronnies and Skimmers on the last visit. So naturally I started after the Ronnies with caster - not a bite. On to the maggot - not a bite!! I decided to focus on the Skimmers with 6mm GOT expander. The bites were extraordinary shy, but managed to put together 4lb 8oz of Skimmers by the close. However, due to the Silvers being so slow I spent 90% of the match on paste, at five metres (this is nearly half way according to Bob Price), which accounted for five Carp in the net and five lost - four were definite foul hookers, swimming about two foot about the deck. The five Carp weighed 34lb 6oz for a total of 38lb 14oz. This put me first overall by 1oz and a pick up of £25! When the matches fish hard, as today, it is usually a close affair.
Geoff Stones was runner up with 38lb 13oz from unfancied peg 72 (let that be a lesson to you Geoff!
The Silvers was won by John Bradford with 11lb 12oz from peg 49. John caught most of his fish in the first two hours - struggling for the rest of the match for 2lb.
Full Result:
1. Mike Nicholls 38-14-0 peg 42
2. Geoff Stones 38-13-0 peg 72
3. Bob "The Bread" Price 36-08-0 peg 55 (on paste)
4. Bob Warren 33-12-0 peg 62 (excellent result form this peg)
5. Bryan Sheppard 28-05-0 peg 43 (I now know where son Bob learnt his fishing - Bryan fished a tidy match)
6. Dave Bacon 27-03-0 peg 50
Top Silvers:
1. John Bradford 11-12-0 peg 49
2. Bill Ferris 11-0-0 peg 69

Wednesday 15/10/2008 Carps AC - Plantation - Main Lake

We were promised rain, which tried to start at the draw, but thankfully it held off all match, until halfway home. I drew peg 1, which I was well pleased with. However, I did have a niggling doubt as, what wind we had, was blowing into pegs 6, 7 & 8 the water was flat calm on my peg. I was expecting to catch Skimmers and some big Crucians (they are big on the venue - averaging 2lb) using maggot over ground bait. I set up two rigs one for Ronnies over caster and the other maggot over the GB. I started over the GB and had two 1oz Ronnies before I had a 1lb 8oz Crucian. I then could not get to the bottom without catching a 1oz Ronnie. Changed to caster on the hook and had two good Ronnies then nothing. I tried a 4mm pellet over the GB and had a 5lb Carp (explains why no bites from the Silvers). I decided to set up the caster whip, which resulted in four Ronnies then the swim died again (bloody Carp). I set up a paste rig to try and sort out the Carp, which I fished over micro pellet. This resulted in three more reasonable Carp and four foul hookers! I got out the pellet waggler from the holdall and gave that a half hearted go, which resulted in one bite. In the last 45 minutes I went back on the caster whip and caught a number of quality Ronald's for a Silvers weight of 10lb 8oz. My four carp weighed 24lb 8oz for a total of 35lb. This gave my fourth in the Silvers and third in the match.

The match was won by team mate Rich Coles (pictured top right - cripes I got to sleep in the same room as him at Stafford Moor) with 68lb 2oz from peg 6. Rich caught his fish on 6mm expander pellet over pellet.

The Silvers was won by Paul Lock (picture inset) with a very good Skimmer catch of 30lb 6oz from peg 5. Paul also caught his fish on 6mm expander pellet.

John "Turkey" Thompson was the only Angler fishing that had not qualified for the Carps Wednesday Silversmania final. His 5lb was just enough to qualify him!!

Full Result:

1. Rich Coles 68-02-0 peg 6

2. Paul Lock 43-01-0 peg 5

3. Mike Nicholls 35-0-0 peg 1

4. Colin Golding 33-15-0 peg 7

5. Roy Short 28-05-0 peg 2
6. John Bennett 18-01-0 peg 8

Top Silvers:

1. Paul Lock 30-06-0 peg 5

2. Rich Coles 13-14-0 peg 6