Thursday 07/04/2016 - Coffin Dodgers Silvers League - Final Round Eight - Windmill Fishery - Match Lake

Held up going along the access road by Fishery Manager on a power roller repairing the road. Well done matey, about time.

Match eight and last of the Silvers series. I must say Ray Beazley has done a great job running the league especially as he faced a fair few anglers packing in the league as it progressed, however, Ray kept the league top-up, which isn’t an easy job. Well done matey – pint behind the bar.

I was my turn in D section which so far has been the best section out of the four. So with me laying second overall and in the knockout final it was a good section to be in. That said I had been watching the weather all week but couldn’t get the wind to change from West to North, East or South as the wind was predicted to be 16 MPH for most of the day, not good for the top two pegs 28 and 27 smack in the face.

Time to draw and up comes peg 28, Yippee end peg. It’s also a good Ronnie peg.

 Arriving at the peg I wasn’t surprised to find the wind blasting into the peg that said I wouldn’t have swopped – just yet! Once again I found myself next to Steve Jefferies (six matches out of eight). I set up a 4x16 Ronnie rig and a 4x18 Jolly to fish at top-set plus one and later top-set plus two.

The down wind margin was fed with GB laced with maggot as was the near out in front swim. I started on the Ronnie rig with single maggot and it was soon obvious the Ronnie’s had shut up shop, caching small Rudd and the odd small Skimmers. The swim went iffy and I hooked and landed 1 ½ pound F1 which didn’t count followed by an 8oz Mirror carp which also had to be returned. Re-fed and tried the Jolly line where I caught a couple of small Skimmers again on single maggot. However, the freezing cold wind was making presentation difficult in 9 ½ foot of water. The upshot was I kept rotating the two rigs catching the odd fish, but was rewarded with three Crucian Carp 4oz, 8oz and 1lb. With both swims being inhabited with carp I put on six inches on the rig adding a third section after feeding some more laced GB I hooked a couple more small Skimmers but the feed soon attracted more Carp landing a 5lb Common just before the whistle.

I was disappointed the Ronnie’s had a no show and the bloody wind spoiling the days fishing. I weighed 7lb 1oz for a narrow section win and second overall but felt cheated by the wind. I also narrowly beat Steve Dawson to win the knockout. So triple payout.

The match was won by Tony Rixon …see the attached video showing how Tony caught his fish and Ray Bazeley doing the final result and payout.

Full Result:

A Section: Tony Rixon 10-13-0 peg 2

A Section: John Barker 4-04-0 peg 4

B Section: Eddie Wynne 4-12-0 peg 6

B Section: Dave Wride 4-0-0 peg 7

C Section: Steve Dawson 6-08-0 peg 22

C Section: Dave Willmott 3-0-0 peg 20

D Section: Mike Nicholls 7-01-0 peg 28

D Section: John Smith 6-02-0 peg 24

Weigh Sheet:

Overall League Result:

Sunday 03/04/2016 - Windmill Fishery Open - Match Lake

Beefeater for breakfast purchased for me by matey Geoff Francis as a belated birthday present – 67 yesterday!!

It was a reasonable turn out with 17 anglers in the role call. In to the wooden box and out comes wooden peg 16 which is the far end, near side corner peg. So with the wind coming from the SSE combined with the high bank behind me I would be well sheltered. All the info was that it was Carp or nothing. Arriving at the peg I was relieved to find the bank reasonably free from mud. The wind was blowing more towards the far bank than mine which was a bit disappointing for targeting Carp.

I set up two rigs, 4x10 Drennan Chop to fish in the margin at top-set plus 4 sections of my margin pole and a 4x16 Jolly to fish just down the inside shelf at top-set plus two out in front. The plan was to fish semi-hards on the Jolly over micro and triple maggot over maggot and micro in the margin.

After I fed the margin I started on the semi-hards, even though presentation was good with the float being neutral against and with the wind I didn’t have any indication for the first 30 minutes, so I tried the margin and had a 10 lb Carp first try. I optimistically re-fed but didn’t have any further indications, so back out on the Jolly and foul hooked a small Carp which escaped the net. After a top up with micro in the kinder pot I had a 2lb Carp losing another foul hooker. Back down the margin and I landed a 4lb Carp followed quickly by yet another foul hooker which snapped the hook!! I kept having a look on the Jolly line but abandoned it for the last two hours to focus on the margin. After foul hooking two more lost Carp taking the tally to five, I started to get frustrated. It was difficult to unship due either the close high bank or when shipping along the bank the saplings that have been planted where hampering me some what, so it meant double unshipping which was preventing the steady playing of the fish. The fish did settle for a while due I think to the wind veering towards me giving some wind cover. Altogether I landed eight Carp until the wind disappeared leaving the swim dead clam for the last 30 minutes and all I could catch was Rudd and Ronnie’s. However, because I was elasticated for the Carp most on these Silvers were being bounced off under the double unshipping method, including a near 12oz Roach. At the time I thought this unimportant but the results proved me wrong!

I think the reason for all the foul hooking was due to the margin swim being flat. It may have been better to have fishing nearer the shelf or just down it. Now in the memory bank for next time.

My few Silvers weighed 9oz and my eight Carp 38lb 14oz for a total of 39lb 7oz for second overall by 5oz!! Umm.

The match was won by Magician Dave Willmott with 39lb 12oz from peg 21. Dave fished at 14.5 metres towards the end of his RH island in two foot of water fishing banded pellet over pellet. Dave did have two Carp on the lead.

Apparently Dave is camera shy as shown in the video below doing a disappearing act - exit stage left, which includes John Barker weighing in his 16lb catch of Silvers from peg 29 briefly explaining how he caught – Ronnie Rig!! Umm where have I heard that before?

Full Result:

1. Dave Willmott 39-12-0 peg 21
2. Mike Nicholls 39-07-0 peg 16
3. Nick Sanders 36-12-0 peg 22
4. Mark Summer 32-13-0 peg 2
5. Dave Haines 31-07-0 peg 8
6. Bob Price 27-04-0 peg 26

Top Silvers:

1. John Barker 16-0-0 peg 29
2. Chris Derrick 12-03-0 peg 10

Weigh Sheets:

Sunday 27/03/2016 - Windmill Fishery Open - Match Lake

I Travelled with Bela today so we breakfasted in the Beefeater. Bela was a bit miffed because I was given a much bigger than him and with a buffet breakie that can be important to some.

The weather conditions were forecast as bloody awful – heavy rain and high winds. Well we certainly had the high winds but little rain.

In to the draw box and out came wooden counter 18. The opposite end to where I wanted to be as the top pegs would have the wind off their backs. My peg was getting the wind effects full blast. The peg is surrounded by 3 inches of black mud which smelled some what, which necessitated carefully placing my tackle to avoid the worse of it. That didn’t stop my bib and brace getting messed up. Some cleaning up tomorrow.

I knew as soon as I got to the peg that the pole was no way going to win the match – the lead would be the way to go. However, I can’t fish this way so I had to try and make the float and pole work. I set up a heavier float than normal a 4x16 Jolly to fish at either top-set plus one or two in four foot of water. Before the start I ran the float through on the shorter line and found it moving against the wind at about 3 inches a second, plus waves of up to 8 inches to contend with. Not good. I started at top-set plus one with 4mm semi-hards on the hook over wetted micro and after 15 minutes caught and landed a 5lb Mirror Carp. I remained biteless for the next 45 minutes so decided to move out to top-set plus two where the tow was a tad less but the waves bigger. Same hook bait and feed. I remained on the line for the rest of the match feeding the occasional pot of micro (which I wasn’t sure where it was landing , if at all) and catching the odd small Skimmer and adding one more Carp a Mirror this time. The wind conditions were so bad that I could feel the number 4 section compressing in my hands. I did miss a lot of bites from the small Skimmers which was a tad frustrating. I was glad to hear the whistle.

My two Carp weighed 11lb 8oz and my Silvers 3lb 2oz for a total of 14lb 10oz for fourth overall.

Runner up Jon Clark was sporting his new Diawa pole and dinked the number seven section on a metal bank side post (what’s that doing there I ask). Jon was devastated. Unlucky matey.

The match was won by Steve Jefferies with 31lb 15oz from peg 11. See the video below where Steve explains how he caught.

Andy Gard won the Silvers with 5lb from peg 26. Andy caught on maggot over maggot.

Full Result:

1. Steve Jefferies 31-15-0 peg 11
2. Jon Clark 30-06-0 peg  28
3. Dave Willmott 26-08-0 peg 24
4. Mike Nicholls 14-10-0 peg 18

Top Silvers:

1. Andy Gard 5-0-0 peg 26

Weigh Sheet:

Thursday 24/03/2016 - Coffin Dodgers Silvers League - Round Seven - Windmill Fishery - Match Lake

We didn’t quiet get away with having a dry series, heavy rain and gusting winds back. Here all over Easter appaerently.

Our turn in C section and with John Smith back Dave Willmott was back in B section and one angler short today in D section.

I selected the swim card nearest the door which was peg 22 – a favourite of mine – or was!

I had holiday maker John Smith on next peg 23 (end of section peg) and the man I can’t escape (Fourth time next to him) – Steve Jefferies on the gap peg 21.

I set up a Ronnie rig and two 4x16 Jolly’s one for top-set plus three sections and the other for top-set plus one where it was only two feet above full depth.

I got in a bit of a pickle today not sure what to fish where. I finally decided to focus on the semi-hards on the longer line and GB laced with maggot on the shorter line. I fed all three lines which on hindsight was a mistake. I started on the short line and had a five small Ronnie’s in between missing loads of bites from the blighters due to the float going with the wind and the feed going in the opposite direction. The rain then started much earlier than forecast, which meant putting on the Gortex jacket, my number five section was waiting in the wings in case needed but was precariously place which really needed moving but I thought it would be OK – not - I got the jacket on Ok but getting back in the saddle I stood on the section – snapped in half bugger. This resulted to a period of sulking and not fishing sensibly. During this period Steve Jefferies had a decent Skimmer. I had to chase the better fish as catch up, so went out to top set plus three with the semi-hards. A mistake as I waste 30 minutes trying to catch a Skimmer which were obliviously being carped out, pinging out of two Carp. Converted the line to GB laced with maggot and spent too long catching a one pounder. With an hour to go I was fed up fighting the wind and decide to switch to the top-set plus one again fishing single maggot over GB with laced maggot. I had another big Skimmer but more importantly I was catching small Skimmer regularly plus my third Carp. Bugger should have given up on the poor presentation on the long line an hour earlier.

I was forlorn as I thought both John Smith and Steve Jefferies had beaten me. I was surprised to find my 5lb 10oz beat John by 8oz  and Steve by 10oz for a section win and fifth overall. I thnk this puts me joint second with one match to go. My pole fifth section now a matter of history.

I drew Paul Barnfield in the last four of the knockout and due to Paul being in one of the worse sections I manged to beat him and get through to the final with Steve Dawson. The sections are such that we could be next to each other which would make things more interesting.

The match was won by Tony Rixon with 11lb 5oz from peg 25 and with an empty peg next door made the most of his four peg section …see his blog for more details and the video below with no spelling mistakes!! 

Full Result:

A Section: Mike Jones 5-12-0 peg 32

A Section: Dave Wride 5-0-0 peg 5

B Section: Dave Willmott 10-02-0 peg 9

B Section: Steve Dawson 5-08-0 peg 8

C Section: Mike Nicholls 5-10-0 peg 22

C Section: John Smith 5-02-0 peg 23

D Section: Tony Rixon 11-05-0 peg 25

D Section: John Barker 7-07-0 peg 28

Weigh Sheet:

Sunday 20/03/2016 - Windmill Fishery Open - Match Lake

I had breakfast in Beefeater with matey Geoff Francis; the new young waiter appeared to be dead from the neck up!! The weather is holding dry however, the sacrifice being the freezing cold North-easterly winds dragging the temperatures right down.

Fishery manager Terry has started to repair the access road and is now a little better but does need further work.

An excellent turnout with 26 fishing. Into the draw box and out comes wooden disc with number 32 on it - excellent.

For company I had Joe Godfrey (Bela's angling apprentice) on peg 1 and Ryan Shipp on peg 30. In fact I could see another Shipp on the horizon, Dad Vince on peg 28.

The wind was blowing in at me and to the right which would make the presentation difficult. I set up a 4x18 Jolly for the Semi-hards at top-set plus two section which just about found the bottom of the inside shelf and an unseasonable paste rig for the RH margin. Gerry Welsh had most of his fish in the margin last week from this peg. I did have some corn in the bait bag if the margins around me started to produce on this bait.

I fed the margin with a mix of hard 4's and Micro. I followed that with micro on the Jolly line. Starting on the 4mm semi-hard pellet I had a quick response catching two Crucian's each not heavier than 4oz! I was getting a lot of bites from small Skimmers and expected a good day on them. The bites then changed from a steady tug under to easily missed snatch bites and then finicky bites not worth striking at then no bites at all. Mr Carp had arrived I was thinking, so gave them some more feed. I was soon playing a 8lb Carp which gave a good account. The Skimmers were back but not for long as I caught another Carp of 4lb. I then went for an age before I hooked the best fish of the day a 14lb Mirror which took me 20 minutes to get to the landing net using its weight to hug bottom. That,s how the match panned out catch a few Skimmers then a surprise Carp would arrive. From time to time most anglers were trying the margin to no avail - including me with the paste. 

In the meantime at half way through Ryan Shipp who had fished the pole up to then without much  to show for it decided to set the lead up whilst he packed up. Well in six casts Ryan landed six Carp on the straight lead down the islands shelf. Talking to Ryan after the match I was amazed that he had only plimsolls on his feet with no socks no wonder he was shivering.

I finished the match with six Carp with the smallest being about 1lb which togeather weighed 32lb 3oz with my Silvers weighing 4lb 14oz for joint first in the Silvers pool and my total weight of 37lb 1oz enough for a match win overall (my Carp catch pictured right). Another nice day at this fishery.

Full Result:

1. Mike Nicholls 37-01-0 peg 32
2. Martyn Rayett 35-03-0 peg 17
3. Gerry Welsh 31-08-0 peg 25
4. Ryan Shipp 28-09-0 peg 30
5. Vince Shipp 26-11-0 peg 28
6. Mark Summer 25-12-0 peg 16

Top Silvers:

1. Mike Nicholls + Andy Gard 4-14-0 peg 32/24
2. John Barker 3-10-0 peg 5

Weigh Sheets:

Thursday 17/03/2016 - Windmill Fishery - Match Lake - Coffin Dodgers Silvers League - Round 6

Today was round six of the eight rounds of the Coffin Dodgers Silvers League. The advantage of knowing which section you’re in is that you can prepare and take the right clothing as today I was on the far bank with a NE wind blowing along the Lake left to right and into me. The wind was bitter cold. When I returned home the “Special One” compared my head to an England’s Glory!

It was my turn in B section. My thinking was to avoid the end peg 9 as I thought it would be battered by Carp. So drawing peg 7 was OK, which is between two islands.

Once again I found myself sandwiched between Dave Willmott and Bird fancier Steve Jefferies.

I set up two rigs both 4x16 Jolly’s. Identical except the hook, on the top-set pus two Jolly had an 808 size 18 for maggot over GB and the other an 808 size 16 for semi-hard pellet at 2 o clock at top-set plus three.

Whilst waiting for the start I tried both rigs to see how they would adapt to the wind conditions – it wasn’t good, both were going left to right and towards me with the wind. Not good, but same for everyone in the section.

On the start I fed the shorter line with GB laced with maggot and the longer line with wetted micro. Starting on the shorter line it wasn’t until 10 minutes in that I had a bite a 1lb Skimmer, next put in I lost a similar fish with the hook pulling. I didn’t realise at the time how important that first Skimmer would be. I then had a run of small Skimmers and Ronnie’s, but it didn’t last long. Hour gone and it all became a struggle picking the odd small Skimmer with pellet on the longer line and Ronnie’s on the shorter line on the drop. I did catch and net four Carp to 4lb throughout the match.

Even though the fishing was slow the match seemed end quicker than normal. I weighed 3lb 10oz just 2 oz ahead of Dave Willmott, hence that early Skimmer was so important as it got me a section win and through the knockout beating “Storming Norman” Ferris who was on peg 5 fishing his usual paste.

The match was won by John Barker with 8lb 9oz from peg 23. John explains how he caught in the video at the bottom of the page (double click to go to full screen)

Section Result:

A section Steve Dawson 6-14-0 peg 2

A Section Dave Haines 3-15-0 peg 1

B Section Mike Nicholls 3-10-0 peg 7

B Section Dave Willmott 3-08-0 peg 8

C Section John Barker 8-09-0mpeg 23

C Section Tony Rixon 7-15-0m peg 19

D Section Eddie Wynne 8-02-0 peg 28

D Section Dave Wride 7-13-0 peg 27

Weigh Sheets:

Sunday 13/03/2016 - Windmill Fishery Open - Match Lake

We were promised some bright sunny weather although accompanied by a North Easterly wind. In to the draw box and out comes peg 17. Apparently a Carp peg, however, arriving at the peg the swim was flat calm with the wind blowing over my right shoulder combined with the high bank behind me I was well sheltered – felt a bit like Spring. Dave Haines who arrived on opposite peg 10 by tractor (pictured right) looked a bit cold.

I set up a 4x10 Yoof for the margin at top-set plus three sections in 30 inches of water which was about 1 metre out from the bank. I didn’t have high hopes as the water looked too clear to fish in the bright sunshine. I fed it with pellet and 6 pieces of corn. I set up a 4x18 Jolly to fish at top-set plus two sections. Here I fed micro to fish semi-hards for the Skimmers.

Although I kept topping up and trying the margin with single corn I only had two missed bites from small fish, so swim abandoned.

I fished the Jolly for 90% of the match initially catching Carp to 10lb. After netting six it dried up and for the remainder of the match I caught mainly small Skimmers with a couple of better ones and two Crucian’s. I did accidentally got more water on the semi-hards with most turning to semi-slush! 

My Silvers (pictured right) weighed 15lb 15oz for first in the Silvers and my Carp weighed 33lb 6oz for a match fourth weight of 49lb 5oz. Excellent days fishing.

The match was won by Gerry Welsh from golden peg 32 with 79lb 9oz. For who Gerry caught see his explanation in the short video below (double click for full screen).

Full Result:

1. Gerry Welsh 79-09-0 peg 32 (Golden Peg)
2. Dave Haines 66-14-0 peg 10
3. Chris Gay 58-15-0 peg 27
4. Mike Nicholls 49-05-0 peg 17

Top Silvers:

1. Mike Nicholls 15-15-0 peg 17

Weigh Sheet: