What a glorious day, wall to wall sunshine with temperatures in the high teens. I took the picture on the right of a Pansy in my garden because of the vivid yellow (never looks as good as the real thing).
Leyton suggested I get some sun on me to help the pains in my neck and back – I now have sun burn and still a bad neck!!
Off again to Plantation with Leyton “Fourth” (every time he takes me he comes fourth)! After our usual breakfast in Yatton Railway station we were off for a draw. In to the draw bag and out comes peg 12 - a corner peg – not usually good for Silvers. But what was really disheartening was to see Steve Kedge arrive on point peg 19 and Steve Dawson on peg 18, both in my section and both up my ass in the Silvers league, and both on better pegs. The optimist in me was hoping for them to share the fish allowing me to compete.
After I set up my usual Silvers rigs I walked round to Steve Dawson who showed me his catapult. Well, I have a picture of the “Sutton” Pult I now have a picture of the “Dawson” pult (pictured right). Two ends of the spectrum I think.
After feeding two balls of Skimmer GB at 10 metres I started on the usual Ronnie rig with caster hook bait over caster. I caught decent Rudd and Ronnie’s straight off, but was soon playing a 6lb Carp which broke me. New hook length and another Carp on - bugger. I pulled harder but as it was only 3lb 8oz it came in very easily – but it broke my float and trashed the rig. This really slowed me down as I had to change rigs and fish a different line to avoid the Carp. I had been feeding the RH margin with caster with the intent of catching some of the big Perch. I later tried it and lost a 3 pounder followed by netting two smaller ones. However, I did have two Decent Skimmers on this line which was a surprise and a bonus. With two hours gone I tried the Skimmer line which had been fizzing like hell since the start. I had three Skimmers over it with 3mm expander pellet but it wasn’t as productive as the Ronnie’s. So I stayed with them to the end chasing them around the extremities of my swim. I thought I had kept up with Steve Dawson but couldn’t tell what Steve Kedge had caught. I weighed 37lb 7oz. Steve Dawson 38lb 12oz and Steve Kedge 50lb – taking over my Silvers lake record – well done Steve. I make that 126lb of Ronnie’s over the 3 pegs and took the top three pools in the Silvers. With one match left I am still just in the lead. It is all down now to the last match which makes it all very interesting and will probably decided on weight which is usual in these small sections.
Anyone interested in a trip to Holland from 27th May to 5th June 2011? Party of 6 going but 2 cabins booked so room for 2 more. Good Bream fishing with Carp, Big Ide and Roach also featuring. Restaurant on site with excellent food.Contact Bob Feltham on 07789 201735.
I got a picture of a rarity today – a four wheel drive trolley (pictured right) designed and built by Martin Rayet, sponsored by Dave Tippet.
Back to Boyd Valley for the last time for a few weeks. I drew peg 7. As I fish for Silvers I don’t really mind where I drew but do like a bit of bank side cover, which peg 7 doesn’t offer. I was sandwich between the two Martins, Rayet on peg 6 and McMahon on 8. I set up my usual Ronnie rigs and as usual caught straight away with caster hook bait over loose fed caster. The fishing was much harder than previous matches but the Ronnie’s were averaging bigger. The weather conditions didn’t help as the swim occasional went flat calm making it difficult to hit the bites. I wish I had started a Skimmer line as Martin Rayet was catching a few on pellet, this would also give the Ronnie’s a rest. I did have a difficult last ¾ hour, but still managed to put 30lb of Ronnie’s on the scales. This put me 1st in the Silvers and 4th overall.
Today was the first match of this seasons BAA Coffin Dodgers. And it looks like a lot of coffin dodging has been going on over the winter as we had our biggest turn out with 32 fishing – only two pegs left out – 12 & 20. It was also Mike Jones first match as organiser coinciding with his 76 67 birthday, so Mike had a rendition of the traditional song. As can be seen from the picture right with Ray Bazeley Mike was well organised bringing his patio set with him (1st and 3rd in the Silvers pool today)
There was a bit of drizzle before the draw which soon subsided and we were left with the angler’s worse condition – high gusting SW winds. The night before I was thinking of the pegs I would prefer and those I wouldn’t. It’s amazing I drew a peg that I didn’t even consider – peg 25. By no means a peg you would say no to. For company I had Terry Bruton on his usual Skimmer peg 24 and Chris Rolfe on his usual peg 26. My peg is 7 metres back from both of these pegs so you need to fish long for the Silvers. However, because of the windy conditions that wasn’t an option. The best I could offer was 9 metres.
For some reason Chris Rolfe was loose feeding most of his tackle throughout the match. The only items that didn’t get a wetting were his pole roller, tackle box and himself! He didn’t get all of it back either.
I set up a Ronnie rig which didn’t catch a fish. A margin paste rig, which although had a few outings didn’t have any interest. A Skimmer rig to fish at 9 metres. The upshot was the lake fished really strange. All I could muster from the swim was 3lb 1oz even though throughout the match I set all sorts of rigs in an attempt to get bites. With the Ronnie’s not feeding and the only way to catch a Skimmers was either on the drop which accounted for the only two I caught or up in the water. This is the second match on the lake that I couldn't catch on the bottom!
I was on the scales today and I was amazed that from pegs 34 to 27 everyone DNW’d, with seven of the angler going early including matey Rich Coles.
The match was won by Martin Alexander (pictured right with his biggest Carp) from peg 27 with eight Carp for 71lb. Martin caught all but one on the straight lead with hair rigged hard banded pellet fished to the opposite island. Martin loose feed two pints of 8 mm pellets throughout the match. Martin did have a big foul hooked Common Carp on the pole.
The Silvers was won by Mike Jones from peg 9 with 14lb 8oz. Mike caught Skimmer on caster over loose fed casters fishing 30 inches deep in 9ft of water.
Full Result:
1. Martin Alexander 71-0-0 peg 27
2. Chris Snow 20-02-0 peg 21
3. Bob Tilley 19-14-0 peg 5
4. Bob Warren 15-04-0 peg 17
5. Mike Jones 14-08-0 peg 9
6. Pete Phillips 12-05-0 peg 10
Top Silvers:
1. Mike Jones 14-08-0 peg 9
2. Terry Bruton 5-13-0 peg 24
3. Ray Bazeley 5-01-0 peg 11
Bill Ferris wanted to know what my winter Skimmer GB mix consisted of. I don’t have any issues with this; unlike some anglers, one I know doesn’t even like other anglers fondling his GB!
All of the following GB’s should be sieved to remove all the large particles, which can be kept and stored for a summer bag up mix.
1 x 1 pint Sensas Lake (black or natural)
1 x 1 pint of Sensas Magic (great on it’s own for small Canal Skimmers)
1x 1 pint Swim Stim – Amino (black or green)
I then add IM5 as a binder. The quantity is dependant on the depth of the water I am fishing. For shallow venues such as Viaduct and Bullocks Farm, etc… I add ½ pint. For deeper venues such as; The Sedges and Huntstrete I add up to 1 pint.
I blacken up to suit with Sensas black powder.
I always mix it the night before and split the mix in to two separate plastics bags (because I am fugal). I take home any unopened bags and freeze for the next match – but check the bags for any air holes.
On the day of the match I decide on the quantity of GB to feed dependant on the conditions etc…If I am going to feed kinder pot I add extra water to bind it tight (this mix is easily made in to a paste like substance). If I am going to “Ball it”, I leave as is, providing it hasn’t dried out too much.
The deep mix is ideal for feeding expander pellet through the kinder pot.
I can all most guarantee that Carp will not home in on this GB as I have only caught two all winter whilst using it.
All of the above ingredients are available from Avon Angling.
I might now remember for next winter what I was using and where I bought it!!
Yet another Sunday at Boyd Valley Lake. Once again we were surrounded by wild life and at last I found a bird (pictured top right) that would keep perfectly still and is without the best tehre is at catching small Ronnie's.
Son Steve wanted another outing to Hillview, so as he offered to drive I agreed to take my aching neck for a restful Carp session.
On arrival Keith Hill informed us that he had re-stocked the fishery with F1’s. Keith has put 1100 lbs in to both Lakes and 700 lbs in each of the four canals. A total of 4480 lbs. The fish appear to be between 12oz to 1lb.
After one of the best breakfasts this year (I couldn’t eat the last half of sausage) I was first in to the woolly hat (according to Keith because I am the oldest) and out comes peg 7. This peg is opposite the only island and has some recent form on the waggler. There were plenty of fish crashing around it when I arrived. However, I had no intention of fishing there. I noticed that Steve had drawn opposite me on peg 18 the other island chuck. I walked round to tell him he had the whole island to himself if he wanted.
The Special One and took the Granddaughters to Vassals Park yesterday where I was persuaded to have a go on the Tarzan swing. It looked easy enough with a four year old weighing 3 stone. I should have known that it’s a completely different story with 11 stone Pensioner on it. I hit the end buffer and jarred my neck. This resulted in a restless nights sleep. I got up early this morning and I felt fishing the long pole for Skimmers today was going to be painful, especially seeing the pole back on to the back roller, which it proved to be.
The weather was real spring like with bright blue skies and temperatures in the high teens – great this long cold winter is over.
In to the draw bag and out comes peg 27, yet another island chuck and a Carp flyer. My draws must be pissing off a lot of the Carp Slayers. I have fished the peg before winning the Silvers with a good net of Skimmers, so I set up a Skimmer rig to be fished at 11.5 metres and three Ronnie rigs – one to be shallow at 6 metres, one for 7 metres on the bottom and a short rig also for fishing on the bottom. All the Ronnie rigs would use caster hook bait over loose fed caster. After feeding four balls of Skimmer GB on the Skimmer line and a few casters for over the close in Ronnie rig. I tried for the Skimmers, first with maggot which resulted in two small Ronnie’s then 3 mm expander which also resulted in a similar catch. Great, I could rest my neck. On to the short Ronnie rig and I started to catch fish to 1lb. The up shot was I kept switching between the shallow 6 metre rig and the short rig to keep the Ronnie’s with a smattering of Rudd coming on and off through out the match. The 7 metre rig didn’t get used. I weighed 34lb 9oz for 2nd in the Silvers and I think 7th overall.
Back to Bowd Boyd Valley Lake for another open run by Leyton Palmer. Every match we have a different line up with Andy Britt putting in an appearance today, luckily there was no singing! Andy brought with him some good news that Dad Bryan is enjoying a spell of good health – might see him out fishing next.
This lake is a nice place to spend a day for the wild life alone. The herd of Deer are still in the back field and I spied the fattest Pheasant (pictured right). I was assured by Matt Taynton that the meat would most likely be tough – colourful game bird all the same. One thing that irritates me is litter being left by pleasure anglers. I wonder what state their homes are in – it’s so easy to take it home and recycle. I clear my swim every time as I can’t fish with litter anywhere near me.
What a lovely Spring day – BBC got it wrong again – no rain or clouds.
I went for a walk around the lake yesterday meeting up with Layton Palmer in peg 11. With the wind blowing into this bank there was a lot of Carp showing in the margin. Leyton was hoping to draw the peg today but ended up in just the peg he didn’t want – peg 6, however, he did manage moan a few on to the hook.
I drew peg 10. Happy with this, but in two minds as to fish for Carp or Silvers, as this peg has two good Carp margins. As I had a bite on a bare hook whilst shotting up decided me – Silvers it was. I set up three rigs two identical Ronnie rigs to be fished on the bottom 4 ½ foot deep, and a 3.5 metre whip with a small waggler to be fished at 2 ½ foot deep. All the rigs to be fished with caster hook bait over caster. The whip only accounted for 7 or so Ronnie’s albeit better quality, but because of the wind I was missing too many bites. So the majority of my fish came to my Ronnie’s rigs, which needed three no 11 back shot to get better presentation against the right to left wind. I nearly added three Carp but they were a bite too fast for me and I lost them all in the bank side Sedges luckily I had the spare rig made up. Isn’t it amazing all though there appeared identical I couldn’t catch as quick with the substitute? Andy Britt was also fishing for the Silvers and had counted his 230 fish which I thought would run me close. I weighed 33lb 13oz of Ronnie’s to Andy’s 17lb. This put me first in the Silvers and because the Carp didn’t feed third overall.
