Sunday 09/05/2010 - Kev Perry Series - Bullocks Farm - Round Four

Every Sunday after a hard day’s fishing the Special One always and without fail has a roast beef dinner waiting for me. Today I counted up the vegetables and including the roast potatoes there were nine (eat your heart out Kenny Logan). As usual the dinner was absolutely wonderful, as is the Special One.

I was lifting some furniture yesterday and come Sunday morning my back was in agony. I spent most of the match sat on one cheek to mimimise the pain.

Why is it that when you are weighed in on metric scales (Kilogrammes) that you only seem to have half of what you think you caught!! Perhaps it’s because 1 Kg is equal to 2.204 lb.

Back on the Match Lake – thank God as Rushcombe fish absolutely crap today with quality anglers like Dave Roper catching three small fish and DNW’ing. I drew peg 18 and was a little disappointed as both 19 and 17 were pegged. So, not as much room as most pegs. I set up a paste rig for the RH margin (on good advice from Nick Collins). My usual Silver rig a 4x12 Jolly for the Crucians with use with 3mm expander over the wetted micro pellet at 10 metres, plus the Ronnie rig to use with caster in the LH margin (on advice from Bob Gullick). I started kinder cupping in a bit of micro and caught steady for about 2 hours – Crucians, three small Tench and the odd Skimmer. The Crucian's died off and I started to get the odd 4oz Skimmers. I had been feeding the margins and had a look in the RH with paste and had one small Carp (this was my Carp banker swim). I then tried the caster in the LH margin and didn’t have a bite – so this swim was dumped. On hind sight I then made the wrong decision to fish paste over my Silvers line for Carp, feeding wetted 4mm pellet with my paste. Although I caught another three Crucians, the Carp appeared to be not feeding – or weren't present. I opened up another paste line towards the reed bed and did catch a couple of small Carp. I did try and resurrect the Silvers swims but to no avail – why o why didn’t I stay catching the Silvers as I was one out of the Silvers pool by just 2lb. My Carp weighed in 3.85 Kg (8lb 8zoz) and my Silvers went 11.150 Kg (25lb 9oz) for a total of 15 Kg (33lb 1oz) for 2 section points and fifth in the Silvers.

The match and the Silvers was won by Dave Wride (pictured right – caught him smiling - perhaps - with some of his Carp catch) from peg 24 with 82lb 7oz overall and a great net of Silvers of 44lb 15oz. Dave caught most of the Silvers out in front at 11.5 metres and the Carp from the numerous options his swim presented to him.

As explained Nick Collins (pictured right with half his net of Crucians) came fourth in the Silvers pushing me to one out of the money. Interestingly, Nick caught all his Silvers on single caster over caster from peg 15 fishing at 7 metres. Well done matey. Apparently Nick tells me he has lost two stone since Christmas, through power walking up to twenty miles a week - those legs must be whirling!

Full Result:

1. Dave Wride 37.400 Kg peg 24 (82lb 7oz)
2. Andy Hockin 29.450 Kg peg 12
3. Bob Gullick 24-550 Kg peg 17
4. Tony Goodland 21.750 peg 22
5. Tom Thick 19.800 peg 21
6. Shaun Kitteridge 18.350 Peg 27 (I have only 20lb – on my Mums life”)

Top Silvers:

1. Dave Wride 20.400 Kg peg 24 (44lb 15oz)
2. Shaun Kitteridge 14.300 Kg peg 27
3. Tom Thick 13.600 Kg peg 21
4. Nick Collins 12.350 Kg peg 15
5. Mike Nicholls 11.150 Kg peg 18 (24lb 9oz)

Wednesday 05/05/2010 - Carps AC - Tanhouse Farm

It was interesting to see that the Lake owners have installed four rotating flashing buoys (see pictures right) equally spaced along the length of the fishery. I assumed they are to scare predatory birds. On one side of the bouy there are mirrored vanes and on the other side a face – I must admit it scared me as it looked very much like my first girl friend! I was left wondering if we will be seeing more of these as I only see one Coot chick and its Mother all day.

Colin asked me to peg out the match – well - put the pegs where he told me to. Colin still can’t let go. I wasn’t sure about peg 1 as the wind was blowing in the opposite direction towards the other end. I pulled out peg 1 (see I don’t always draw well). I really like fishing this venue as it is primarily a Silvers venue, plus the peace, quiet and tidiness. However, it is a disused quarry and therefore has a stone infrastructure, hence the deep water is clear at the best of times and the water temperature kept down. Because of the change in weather conditions I wasn’t expecting it to fish very well. I was right, for my end of the Lake at least. My prime target would be Ronnie’s and Skimmers, so I set up a 4x16 jolly set just tipping the bottom in 10 foot of water. I intended to fish 3mm soft pellet over micro pellet on this line. I also set up a 4.5 metre whip waggler to be fished at various up in the water depths with caster. On the whistle in went a 125 ml of wetted micro at 7 metres, starting on the whip with caster hook bait. I tried numerous depths to no avail. It wasn’t long after suspending the whip that I had also suspended fishing the pellet at 7 metres. I switched to maggot over this line kinder potting in some maggot and caster. From the whistle it took half an hour to catch my first fish – a Perch – not a good sign. I then had a run of Ronnie’s to 4oz but every time I fed I had to wait 20 minutes for the fish to follow the bait to the bottom. Chris Davis came down and said he hadn’t had a bite nor had Colin Golding. I subsequently resulted to fishing on the drop, adding a few more Ronnie’s to the net, but it was really slow. The last two hours were really painful adding only to more Perch. I weighed 4lb 13oz for 4th in the match and a pick up of £10.


The match was won by Steve Dawson (pictured right with runner up Andy Gard) from peg 8 with a credible 25lb 12oz of Skimmers to 2lb. Steve caught all his fish on 6mm expander over loose fed 6 mm pellet. Steve fed approximately 5 pellets after every fish.

Full Result:

1. Steve Dawson 25-12-0 peg 8
2. Andy Gard 11-09-0 peg 9
3. Mike Snudden 8-08-0 peg 6
4. Mike Nicholls 4-13-0 peg 1
5. John Bennett 4-06-0 peg 5
6. Bill Ferris 3-05-0 peg 2

NO CARP CAUGHT – TWO LOST!

Sunday 02/05/2010 - Avon Angling Open - Acorn Fishery - Paddock Lake

Off to a new venue – Acorn Fishery – Paddock Lake. It’s only the second time it’s been fished on a Sunday, and my first outing here.

The weather conditions that welcomed us was atrocious, high gusting, freezing NE winds with the temperature in single figures. After breakfast in the fishery café I had a quick walk round (see picture right). I predicted peg 7 or 8 (approximately where I am stood taking the picture) would be a good peg draw – I wasn’t proven wrong.

I drew peg 15 which is over the far side across two bridges. (I thought bridges were designed to have a space between the water and underside - perhaps they are fixed pontoons). The pegs are yet to have platforms and currently have black gravel put down over the clay. I don't mind fishing from a natural bank, but gravel is pole unfriendly. As you do when you are not sure what to expect you set up for every options - which I did. As it happened I only needed two rigs: a 4x14 PB14 for over the far bank (not used much because of the wind giving poor presentation) and Colmic Series Top. This float is the Brother to the Jolly. Colmic take a 4x16 Jolly, fit a wire stem (not that crappy bendy wire either) and label them 4x14, then paint the body blue, hence Brother and Sister. I used this float at 5 metres for most of the day and I must say it worked really well in the gusting conditions very, very stable, picking up a gently tow. I didn't know what species I was fishing for so I started by kinder potting in mixture of caster, maggot held in by soft micro. On went double red maggot and I had a 6oz Perch straight off, followed by another of about 10oz. Looking in it's mouth I could see that he had been eating maggot, but no signs of caster even though I was feeding more of this, but what was surprising it had a lot of micro pellet in his throat! I then started to catch Carp to 3lb and during the first hour I had about 20lb in the net. I don't know what happened but for the next 5 hours I could only muster another 5lb (very similar pattern to Rip off' and Dean Mallin's match). I think because these are new fish they scare off back to the main shoal (peg 7, 8, 9) - safety in numbers. I weighed 5lb 1oz of Perch and 20lb of Carp for nowhere.

The match was won by Shaun Kitteridge (pictured right with a quality stamp of fish to 5lb) from peg 7 with 135lb 13oz. Shaun caught 25% of his fish short at five metres and the rest over to the far bank using soft pellet over micro pellet. Although Shaun had the wind off his back I don't think this was significant as the fish are tightly shoaled up at this end of the Lake.

The Silvers was won by Paul Faiers from peg 4 with 25lb. Paul caught on chopped worm, caster and maggot over chopped worm and caster feed. Paul had Perch and some decent Skimmers.

Full Result:

1. Shaun Kitteridge 135-13-0 peg 7
2. Rod Wotton 64-04-0 peg 11
3. Gary Wall 60-0-0 peg 30 (Bridge peg)
4. Martin Rich 51-08-0 peg 15 (Bridge peg)
5. Tim Ford 49-14-0 peg 5

6. Paul Faiers 49-06-0 peg 4

Top Silvers:

1. Paul Faiers 25-0-0 peg 4
2. Rod Wotton 19-07-0 peg 11

Saturday 31/04/2010 - Hillview Open

Son Steve wanted to fish a Saturday match and his chosen venue – Hillview Fishery. Good choice. I was surprised at the turn out, high twenties, so both Moorhen and Heron Lakes were needed. Moorhen had been fishing well with a few ton weights recently, so I was expecting that you would need a ton to frame. I really didn’t mind where I drew, in to the black woolly hat (starting to smell a bit now Keith) and out comes peg 27 on Heron Lake. I was pleased with this draw as it does have a good deep margin ideal for my paste approach. Steve drew peg 10 on Moorhen, again another decent draw for the margin. I set up my paste margin rig, plus a 4x14 Jolly for the soft pellet just up the inside shelf at 5 metres. I also set up a paste rig for the same line at 5 metres. That was it. On the whistle I kinder cupped a few dry micros in on the 5 metres line with a 3mm expander on the hook. I also started to feed the LH margin with dry 4mm pellet with the occasional micro. I started well with a 2lb Skimmer first put in, followed by a three 2lb Carp. I was kinder potting between each fish and at this stage I started to foul hook Carp – too much feed then, so time to reduce. What I did noticed was that because the rules dictated you feed pellet dry (I don’t know why) some of them float for a short while until they take on water and sink, the Carp appeared to be only interested in the ones that floated, witnessed by them scooping them up along the surface. So I quickly set up a shallow rig – TBF taking 4 no 11 shot. This didn’t work as the Carp appeared to be only interested in the pellet that was either on the surface or falling through the water. I quickly set a 3.5 metre whip as I thought this might trick them. First cast with single red maggot I hooked and landed a 4lb Carp – sorted – NOT – the next four casts resulted in four small Ronnie’s. Time to try the LH margin - my banker. First put in resulted in a surprise 3 lb Skimmer – not what I was expecting, but welcome all the same. Out again and a 3lb carp in the net. I then started to get indications followed by the odd bite without connecting. So I adapted my shallow rig and put on a soft pellet which resulted in a foul hooked Ghost Carp which pulled free. Out next time with double maggot and once again Ronnie’s were in evidence (no Silver pool at this venue), so back out at 5 metres, this time I arranged the shotting on my Jolly to fish on the drop and had a run of Carp to 4lb. However, you needed to be very careful of the feeding p[attern, because if you got it wrong foul hookers would result. From my peg I could see more or less everyone and noticed a lot of Skimmers being caught (Skimmers will play when Carp are away), I thought I was doing reasonably well so decide to stay on the 5 metre line until the end. I weighed 13lb of Skimmers and 42lb 12 oz of Carp for an overall weight of 55lb 12oz for first overall and a pick up of £90.

I had a lot of bites that I missed. These weren't your usual swirly, dipping liners, but positive bites. I put this down to the fish taking my number 11 shot mistakingly for the micro pellet feed. I did try a micro on the hook, but that didn't produce anything.

Steve weighed 33lb for third on Moorhen, 2lb out from winning his section. He did point out that he beat Nev off the next peg!

I am not sure how second place Jake Cork caught, but in third spot was Tim Davis (pictured right with the overall winner) on peg 23. Tim caught long at 11.5 metres on soft pellet, but the lucky so in so landed a 10lb foul hooked Ghost Carp from his RH margin for a total of 50lb 1oz.

Both Steve and I thoroughly enjoyed the match, plus it kept dry, even though the BBC promised heavy showers. I am sure we will back again soon.

Full Result:

1. Mike Nicholls 55-12-0 peg 27
2. Jake Cork 54-04-0 peg 3
3. Tim Davis 50-01-0 peg 23
4. Josh Cork 47.05.0 peg 25
5. Terry King 41-06-0 peg 22
6. Francis Porter 39-08-0 peg 16

Thursday 29/04/2010 - Bathampton AA Over 55's - Bridge Pool

I had a walked around Bridge Pool with Martin McMahon before the draw and decided that pegs 22, 23, 24, 25, 26 and perhaps 17 and 18 would be the pegs to draw as there were signs of Carp in all the margins. This was primarily down to the wind direction making these pegs favourite. Well I was delighted to draw peg 24 as it not only has lots of Silvers potential but Carp too. However, after yesterday’s workout on the Ronnie’s I was hoping for a steady day on the Skimmers. So I set up a 4x16 Jolly to fish at 5 metres down the near shelf with pellet or maggot for the Skimmers, a Ronnie rig with the caster and of course the paste rig for the LH margin. The water colour looked a bit strange – it looked clear but with solids appearing to come out of suspension. I started by feeding a pot of wetted micros at 5 metres and the same into the LH margin. I started by loose feeding casters on the Ronnie line and second cast I foul hook a Carp – new hook later and next cast another foul hooked Carp – new hook later and a 7lb Carp in the keep net. Bugger this, lets get on the Skimmer line. Out with pellet and – nothing, so I decided to put a big pot of maggot over this line as I was fancying this bait for the Skimmers. Back on the Ronnie’s (sorry Carp) and an 8lb Carp in the net. Out on to the Skimmers and I had a run of them on double red maggot until I hooked another Carp – thank heavens for the pull-a-bung. Back out on the Skimmer line and – nothing. Sod it Carp day it was going to be and on to the paste in the RH margin. I started by loose feeding caster over the paste and had a couple of Carp. I then decided (because it was on my tray) to loose feed some micro – mistake. The micro was so wet it was braking up as it fell through the water – very slowly at that. This brought the Carp up in the water and I had a bad run of foul hooked Carp. Realising what had happened I switched to loose feeding wetted 4 mm pellet. I then didn’t look back I had Carp up 18lb until the end. My 22 carp weighed in at 201lb 10 oz and my meagre Silvers weight of 4lb 2oz taking my total weight to 205lb 12oz for first overall and a pick up of £25.

The upshot of today was that the Ronnie’s I think are spawning and the Carp feeding up ready to spawn hence, the differential in today’s results.

The Silvers was won by Terry Bruton with 15lb 15oz. Terry fished white maggot short at full depth from peg 22. Runner up was Mike (peter pan of angling) Jones (pictured right with the overall winner) with 15lb 10oz from peg 14. Mike fish waggler and top and bottom whip using maggot over maggot. A good weight from this peg when all considered.

Once again this lake has fished very well and I had a great day’s fishing, but unfortunately I will remember it for the brutal murder of two Mallard ducklings. I witnessed a Canadian goose kill two ducklings whilst the mother Mallard fought like hell to stop it. Once they were dead the goose just kept tossing them about because being a grass eaters it wouldn’t be interested in them for food. What a nasty bird. BAA - the Canadian goose is not a protective a species – so do the honourable thing and shot the fxxking lot. The anglers and the Huntstrete residents will also get some peace and quiet.

Full Result:

1. Mike Nicholls 205-12-0 peg 24
2. Terry Bruton 112-11-0 peg 22
3. Martin McMahon 95-7-0 peg 26
4. Pete Phillips 44-09-0 peg 23
5. Bob Warren 32-05-0 peg 17
6. Bill Ferris 32-05-0 peg 28

Top Silvers:

1. Terry Bruton 15-15-0 peg 22
2. Mike Jones 15-10-0 peg 14
3. Bob Warren 15-05-0 peg 17
4. Bill Ferris 12-05-0 peg 28

Wednesday 07/04/2010 - Carps AC - Cider Farm - Yarlington Mill

After reading Tony Rixon’s blog from last Sunday’s match at CF it was a bit Déjà vu. I drew peg 40 (Rip off’s peg from Sunday) and Chris Davis was on his same peg 37! Peg 40 has many options (I counted six) for the Carp Slayer. However, knowing that the Silvers wouldn’t have seen a keep net I decided it was out and out Silvers on the maggot. That is unless it got difficult or the Carp came looking for me. I set up an elasticated 3.5 metre whip (just in case a Carp hooked itself). A 4x16 Jolly for over the same line set at full depth for the Skimmers. I also set up my Ronnie rig.

Having set up I went for a walk down to see Mark Tanner who had drawn peg 46. Mark had just got off the phone to Tim Ford for information about the peg and was told to fish long under the Aerator rope. The picture right shows Mark's first attempt at plumbing up!! I suggested to Mark he fish short in to open water – at least he might get to find out how deep his swim is!

I won’t bore you with a fish by fish narrative as I had approaching 300 of the little blighters. I caught Silvers from fry to 2lb – Skimmers, Hybrids, Rudd but mostly Ronnie’s up to 6oz. My match was interrupted eight times by Carp due to over feeding the maggot. These "accidental" Carp weighed in at 17lb 10oz and my Silvers went 26lb 5oz for first in the Silvers and a pick up of £40. My total of 43lb 15oz put me sixth overall. Pictured right is my net of Silvers – very wide ranging size of fish. I think there is a great future for the Silver fishing at this venue, and they don't hide in the reeds. I fed one pint of mixed coloured maggot over the six hours.

First in the match was John Thompson (pictured bottom right with the Silvers winner) with 81lb 7oz of Carp from peg 14. John caught at 11 o clock at 17 metres against the corner of the far island. John fished hard banded pellet over loose fed 4mm pellet.

Chris Davis was runner up with 75lb 4oz and similarly I could hear Chris Davis all day splashing his carp across the surface interrupted by the occasional THWACK.

Full Result:

1. John Thompson 81-07-0 peg 14
2. Chris Davis 75-04-0 peg 37
3. Martin Rayet 74-11-0 peg 17 (couldn’t get 10 more oz then)
4. Dave Wride 67-0-0 peg 11
5. John Paige 51-12-0 peg 4
6. Mike Nicholls 43-15-0 peg 40

Top Silvers:

1. Mike Nicholls 26-05-0 peg 40
2. Dave Wride 15-14-0 peg 11

Sunday 24/04/2010 - Kev Perry Series - Bullocks Farm - Round Three

As explained in my previous blog I broke my 7th section on my Colmic 707 at the Plantation Fishery during a Carps AC Wednesday match. So first thing Thursday morning I was down to see Mr Rixon at Avon Angling. Tony got on the phone straight away to Nick the Colmic UK Representative. As the pole was less than two years old they agreed a free replacement was in order. However, a replacement would need to come from Italy and would take two weeks. Because the broken section would not pull through it meant I would have to use my old Preston (that swear word again) 8151. Not so, Nick knowing the urgency kindly agreed to drop off a loan section from a Colmic 307. This he did Friday – even better he has loaned me a complete 13 metre 307 – all the sections interchange with mine, albeit the pole being heavier, it will certainly suffice for a couple of weeks. – That’s what you call service, thank you Tony and Nick. If you are looking for a new pole I am sure you won’t go wrong with Colmic irrespective of your budget and fishing preference, there will be a pole that will suit. The Avon Angling shop run by the man pictured right (making tea, he's not bad at that either), might appear to be a tad untidy (expect some comments on this statement), but it’s the best match fishing shop in the South West whether it be tackle or advice your after – “if you can’t get it here you don’t need it”!!

When I was very small my Dad had two fish ponds in his garden. On the very rare occasion Dad would allow me to fish these ponds. He would give me a short piece of bamboo, a short length of line, a gold Mustad crystal bend hook with the barb crushed down and a "live" red topped match stick with two rubbers attached. I would fish for the Gold fish with either pieces of worm or maggots if Dad had any. I thought of this and Dad for throughout most of this match.

It was decided by Paul and Chris to drop North pool for the next two matches and use Rushcombe instead. It was a free draw for the four sections of seven – two on Match Lake and two on Rushcombe. If Match Lake is the best Crucian fishery in the South West Rushcombe is without doubt the best Goldfish fishery!! Dave Wride, Mark Bromsgrove and I had a walk around Rushcombe before the draw all agreeing that pegs C1 and D7 would be a good draw. Whilst standing on these pegs Mark got out one of his lucky coin and gave it a rub, he kindly let me have a rub too (not that I am superstitious). We agreed we wouldn't let Dave have a rub. I drew peg D3 on Rushcombe Lake, Mark C3 and Dave Wride C1! I assembled three rigs; 1 – 4x14 pb14 for fishing to hand for the GF’s on 3mm soft pellet; 1 – TBF that takes 4xno12’s shot far bank for again for the GB’s and anything else that swims, again with 3mm pellet; plus the usual paste pellet rig for the LH margin. The RH margin was a no-no due to the small trees growing out on the bank (get ‘em out Phil). I started on the “to hand” rig and caught straight off small Carp to 1lb 8oz over hand fed wetted micro. I bumped three in a row and then had a few GF’s before it went dead. Umm. Over to the far bank, where I stayed for most of the match catch GB’s and BG’s (Brown Goldfish) with the occasional small Carp. I did keep trying the LH margin with paste without much joy, that was until the last 30 minutes when I had a run of 2lb Carp, but it slowed towards the end because the sun decided to make an appearance. My GB’s and BG’s weighed in at 4.1 Kg (9lb ½ oz) ad the Carp 8.2 Kg (18lb 1oz) for a total of 27lb 1 ½ oz. This put me fourth in the section (4 points). The pegs to draw in both sections are the two each side of the foot bridge leading over to the island where both sections were pegged, these pegs were first and second in each section. On the whole Rushcombe fished reasonably well with around 10 Kg's being the average.

The match was won by Glen Calvert (pictured right with the worthy Silvers winner) for the second time running with 31.95 Kg (70lb 7oz) from Match peg 22. Glen caught the majority of his fish from the LH margin on paste. Glen fed approximately 1 pint of wetted micro.

The Silvers (sorry Gold’s) was won by Dave Wride from end peg C1 on Rushcombe with 27lb 3oz. Like most of us Dave was forced to fish long/over for his fish and caught GB’s and BG’s steady all day using soft pellet hookers over kinder potted micro pellet. I must say putting a draw to the side this was an excellent catch considering the size of his fish - averaging 4oz. Well done matey.

Full Result:

1. Glen Calvert 31-95 Kg peg Match 22
2. Lewis Jones 27.5 Kg peg Match 10
3. Clive Petitt 25.1 Kg peg Match 26
4. Dave Roper 19.61 Kg peg Match 8
5. Shaun Ketteridge 18.07 Kg peh Rush D6
6. Dave Wride 17.98 Kg peg Rush C1

Top Silvers:

1. Dave Wride 12.32 Kg peg Rush C1
2. Lewis Jones 11 Kg Peg Match 10
3. Dave Roper 10.95 Kg peg match 8