Sunday 18/09/2022 - Windmill Open - Match Lake

My favourite time of year nearly here with the early morning mist rising from the match lake. Had my usual walk around to find pegs 17,16 and 8 full of litter. all collected and disposed of. Guessing teenagers - pictured.

Good turn out with 21 fishing. To justify the ball of paste I was hoping for pegs 14,12,10 or 1 . However, had to settle for peg 4, which I have had my fair share of. Not my favourite. For company I had Jason on peg 3 and Kevin Bamford on 5.

The opposite side of the lake is best for silvers, but with only 5 lb needed at the moment thought this doable from the peg so set the roost out accordingly:-

Short and long Ronnie rigs, 4x10 F1 light rig for the margins, a 4x13 MR to fish top set plus 3 barrels and the waggler.

Started on the MR with 4 mm expander over kindered micro in the hope of a skimmer or two. First put in and a 4 lb Common landed. Next put in a lost fouler. Following this I was getting tiny indications which proved to be 1 oz skimmers and managed just the two before switching the feed to Pinkie in GB (which wasn't to get fished over). Tried both Ronnie rigs with single LR on the hook over loose feed same and after 30 minutes of no indications it was very disappointing to have to abandon these banker silvers rigs. So picked up the waggler with single LR over LR loose feed. For the next 30 minutes I landed one carp and lost 4 foulers. This due to either fishing over depth and dragging into them of casting over them. I shallowed up and after a blank spell started to catch the odd Ronnie and skimmer. Only hooked one more carp which was landed. It was a question of catch 3 or 4 silvers before it slowed then 3 or 4 more. Think this was due my feeding pattern and carp interference. 30 minutes to go I had two consecutive better skimmers. The last 5 minutes was spent retrieving  Kevin's top set attached to a very angry carp. Come to think of it he didn't shout "fish on". It's just enjoyable helping a mate as being helped.

My three carp weighed 11 lb 13 oz and my silver 8 lb 11 for the silvers win. The total of 20 lb 8 oz was nearly last. Very enjoyable fishing the waggler - a skill lost to many nowadays.

The match was won by Kevin Bamford on next peg 5 (pictured with the silvers winner) with 74 lb 7 oz. Kevin had just returned form Whiteacres and decided not to waste his left over worms and casters putting them to good use at 11.5 metres. Kevin caught 13 carp steady over the six hours. Well done matey.

Result:

1. Kevin Bamford 74-07-0 peg 5

2. Nick Saunders 65-14-0 peg 12

3. Malcolm Fitzgerald 58-15-0 peg 10

4. Paul Elms 57-04-0 peg 21

Silvers:

1. Mike Nicholls 8-11-0 peg 4

2. Dave Haines 7-07-0 peg 22

Weigh Sheet:

Thursday 15/09/2022 - Over 55's - Westerleigh - Taylors Pool and Ships Canal

With Hunstrete closed due to low water levels and with the over 55's still wanting their weekly fix we booked Westerleigh which has been fishing reasonably well. However, the day before some of us were celebrating one our own, Kev Winstone's marriage, so a few blurry eyes especially Junior who was suffering from red wine amnesia. A great day out and must say - a beautiful bride indeed - great catch.

Sixteen fishing so match split into two - eight on each pool. My preference would have been Shipp's canal. Into the draw bag and out comes Taylors peg 22. Happy with this as for unknown reason is the better side of the pool. For company I had Chris Ollis on peg 21.

As expected the water levels were well down. Mark Taylor had told us that the bar on Taylors was now only a foot deep but was fishing well close in - suits me sir. I set up the waggler to chuck around and a 4 x13 MR to fish top set plus two barrels with the intentions of fishing for silvers. Started on 4 mm expander over micro and had a 1 lb carp first put in. I then got pestered by indications from small Crucian carp with none getting on the hook - frustrating. So picked up the waggler with LR's on the hook over the same loose feed and first cast had a small carp then a few small Ronnie's. It was slow. Have tried the Ronnie rig every time Iv'e fished here and never really caught on it. So decided to set it and give it another try. Fed some GB with Pinkie and started to catch the Crucians, Ronnie's and small Skimmers and the occasional carp to 1 1/2lb on single LR. 

Chris Ollis had been catching well and had already put another net in and could see Pete Greenslade's landing net continually waving about in the air. Thought I was behind on the carp front and with about one hour to go my peg had slowed. So complete focus on silvers then, so shallowed to half depth and started to loose feed the LR's and started to get some better Ronnie's and Skimmer's. In between catching some better carp to 3 lb which were put in a third net. The upshot was catch a few silvers then a better carp, then a few silvers...had a great last knockings but still felt Chris or Pete would beat me overall.

My carp weighed 75 lb 2 oz with the last hour net containing 39 lb. My silvers weighed 11 lb for a total of 86 lb 3 oz for a double bubble. Just piping Pete and winning the silvers. Well done Pete.

Shipp's canal was won by Gary Bowden (Junior pictured with the top two) with 63 lb 1 oz from peg 7. Guessing paste was involved somewhere.

Great little venue.

Back to the pub with only half the suspects to round of another memorable day.

Result:

Taylors Pool:

1. Mike Nicholls 86-03-0 peg 22

2. Pete Greenslade 73-08-0 peg 19

Silvers: Mike Nicholls 11-0-0 peg 22

Shipp's Canal: 

1. Gary Bowden 63-01-0 peg 7

2. Shay Gillman 35-0-0 peg 9

Silvers: Paul Clayton 4-10-0 peg 11

Weigh Sheets:

Saturday 10/09/2022 - Dave Crookes Open - Hunstrete - With Pool

Always try to fish Dave's memorial Match. He was a great servant to the club and a hard act to follow. A young Dave pictured inspecting the Monk prior to the opening of Withy Pool.

Some food and drinks laid on by the club at the draw. Committee members cooking whilst the fishery Manger was doing his best to wash up under close supervision - pictured.

Two matches in memory today - A 24 hours carp match on the Main Lake and us match anglers on Withy pool. The carp crew pictured - bet they don't look so fresh tomorrow morning. When I left a few fish had come out with one going 28 lb 8 oz. More details and results will be available on the BAA website.

I walked around Withy with Aaron Brinell to give some guidance on the usual pegs used by the Over 55's. With 21 fishing it wasn't too bad finding pegs even though some may need fishing in front of the platform. Due to the lack of rain the pool was down at least two foot and flat calm - it was going to be a hard match. Aaron repegged the match and for those that wasn't there peg 1 was perm peg 71 and went anticlockwise around the pool.

I was feeling really good today so no short walk for me even though some of the short walk pegs have been fishing well for carp. Our pegs were drawn for us, peg 7 is where I would spent the next 6 hours which was peg perm 62 on the North bank a peg I seem to keep drawing. Found myself next to Aaron on peg 6! This bank is very shallow at normal water levels, with low water it was going to be hard. I didn't think carp was going to be an option so set the roost up for silvers but did have a paste rig handy in case a carp or two arrived late on. I expected to catch mainly small Ronnie's which meant fishing long would be too slow so set up the 4 metre whip which got me 3 foot of water. I also set up the long Ronnie rig which got me 6 inches less. The margin was 2 inches so would fish the paste out in 2 foot - but was to stay in the roost for the duration.

GB laced with Pinkies was fed on both lines using either top two of top three at arms length. Started short and started to catch Roach fry so the next GB feed had large DR's in and once the loose GB reached the bottom I caught some 1 - 2 oz Ronnie's and tiny skimmers. However, until it reached bottom the fry were very active. The upshot was I spent half the match on the short line and the second on the 4 metre whip without a sign of a carp or anything over 3 oz.

My silvers weighed 14 lb 7 oz which was about 200 fish. This got me first in the silvers - so mission accomplished. Last year I won the Dave Crookes and now the silvers, happy with this - one for you Dave.

The match was won by Kevin Fothergill (pictured with the silvers winner) with 89 lb 3 oz from peg 10. Kev caught on the method over to the sanctuary bank using micro and banded pellet. His catch consisted of 13 carp.

Glenn Bailey drew the point peg and out of desperation fished round the corner margin with paste and nearly got dragged into the sanctuary twice - up on the tip of his toes at one time - hilarious.

The club raised £1,000 for charity - well done everyone.

Back to the Compton for a well earn pint of Doombar.

Result:

1. Kev Fothergill 89-03-0 peg 10

2. John Smith 52-0-0 peg 3

3. Kev Winstone 45-09-0 peg 12 (P51)

4. Leighton Palmer 42-0-0 peg 17 (P42)

5. Luke Fothergill 41-15-0 peg 8

Silvers:

1. Mike Nicholls 14-07-0 peg 6

2. Kev Winstone 11-06-0 peg 12

3. John Smith 11-06-0 peg 3

Weigh Sheet:

Thursday 01/09/2023 - Bathampton AA Over 55's and Short Walks - Bridge Pool

Having fished Withy Pool all through the winter and just as we were starting to catch some of the Withy carp the club has moved us back to Bridge where there has been a recent massive fish kill. The members weren't happy with this as the recent trial match on the pool proved to be hard fishing confirming the massive loss of fish. Don't think there will be many fishing Bridge Pool in the winter.

Twenty One fishing today. 

One of the short walks today and Dave pulled me peg 2 an end peg today as 1 wasn't in. I didn't know what to expect.

I don't know if anyone has seen a "Methodist Dance" which I witnessed today. This phenomenal is brought on when a method feeder angler arrives at his peg with no island chuck - the dance starts on the yell of "I'm going home" followed by minor tackle abuse. It lasts for about 15 minutes followed by signing a song they don't know the words to. Anyway good company in matey Paul Haines today on open water peg 3

Paul Barnfield mentioned that there was still some very small Roach to be caught. In the past this end of the pool was best for them. So set up both short and long Ronnie rigs and a very optimistic paste float for the RH margin.

Started by feeding GB on both Ronnie rig lines. Started short on a single live crappy red maggot and surprise had indications straight away and second cast had a 2 lb F1. I then had a run of small Ronnie's and the odd Perch. It soon died so spent the remainder of the match on the long Ronnie rig catching mostly small Ronnie's to 2 oz four 3 oz Skimmers. For a short period tried catching carp on paste that's no longer in the pool, did see one lonely unhealthy carp swimming around. I lost a 6 oz Hybrid having got it on the landing net which I dropped for it to find it's freedom. For some reason loose feeding LCRM's wasn't working. I did have four more F1's albeit small. On the death I caught the last 1 lb Chub.

My five F1's weighed 6 lb 12 oz and my silvers 8 lb 4 oz for a total of 15 lb for 5th overall and third silvers and section pick up. So some of the rust gone.

The match was won by Kev Winstone (pictured right - soon to get married. I think it too soon as he has only been living with her for 29 years) with 29 lb 2 oz from peg 31. Kev caught mainly F1's fishing 14.5 metres to the the opposite island. His silvers catch include two big scabby skimmers for 4 lb (thought it needed mentioning). Not sure how Kev caught but could hear his scissors clicking away for most of the day. Although he pots like a girl thought he fished a tidy match.

The silvers was won by Paul Barnfield (pictured) with a lowly 9 lb from peg 16. Paul cay=guht mainly at 11 metres on maggot hook bait over chopped worm and micro.

As the weigh board shows the pool fish really bad compared to pre fish loss and trial match. Was the fish loss bad luck or bad fishery management - have to give the benefit of the doubt. Hope BAA management lets us get back on Withy full time until the issues of Bridge are resolved.

Back to the Compton with the usual suspects which I thoroughly enjoyed.

Result:

1. Kev Winstone 29-02-0 peg 31

2. Shay Gillman 19-0-0 peg 11

3. John Smith 18-12-0 peg 28

4. Chris Rolfe 16-0-0 peg 19

5. Mike Nicholls 15-0-0 peg 2

6. Paul Barnfield 14-02-0 peg 16

Silvers:

1. Paul Barnfield 9-0-0 peg 16

2. Kev Winstone 8-06-0 peg 31

3. Mike Nicholls 8-04-0 peg 2

Weigh Sheets:

Sunday 21/08/2022 - Windmill Open - Match Lake

All clear on the hernia so booked in to the Windmill Open which ,meant loading the car etc... by myself. Leighton kindly took the trolley to my peg - thank you matey. So a free draw for me. I was hoping for peg 1 as I can catch short there. However, out came peg 25. Not unhappy but would me limiting for me.

I must say the lads have done a great job with new platforms mine was exceptional - built by non other than Lee Masey - great job. 

Got to the peg and found it flat calm with a decent breeze to the opposite end, not what I wanted. To test things out decided to fish for carp today. However, would just test the peg for silvers first 😁. So set up two paste floats - one for the margins and the other out in front at two barrels and the short Ronnie rig. The margins are full of reeds with the LH side being the most productive but the worse for loosing fish with the need to fish long. The RH side is closer giving some chance in stopping the carp reaching the reeds. To aid this I fished the Drennan margin pole with their 25 elastic.

Fed the long paste line and the RH margin with pellet but started on the Ronnie rig with single maggot over maggot. Immediately I got pestered by Ronnie fry, got to about twenty for 11 oz and foul hooked a carp so abandoned the silvers for the carp. The upshot was I caught one Mirror at two barrels and five more from the RH margin at top set plus one barrel, all on paste. I lost about the same number. However, these were the small Commons of about 4 lb which are like lightening and hard to stop. The ones I landed were up to 14 lb with the biggest carp the easiest to keep out of the reeds.

Silvers went 11 oz and the six carp weighed 51 lb 6 oz for 52 lb 1 oz, happy enough with that today. The peg was worth more especially is I could fish long and shallow. Andy Gard is to clear some of the reeds.

The match was won by match organiser Gerry Walsh (pictured with the silvers winner) with 127 lb 4 oz from peg 16. Gerry started on the straight lead with 8 mm banded pellet for a couple. Tried the method which wasn't producing so spent the rest of the match at 15 metres up to the far bank fishing 6 inches deep with 6 mm banded over pinged 6 's. Well done matey. 

Shaun Townsend was relegated from first to third due to going 10 lb over the net limits of 50 lb.

The silvers was won by the fishery road Guardian Andy Gard (excellent job too)with 13 lb 5 oz from peg 10. Andy caught short on small pieces of worm over chopped worm and GB. His catch consisted of mainly Roach with a bonus three skimmers. Well done matey.

It fished really well today with 5 tons.

I felt my fitness wasn't up to it today so going to have another couple of weeks off.

Result:

1. Gerry Walsh 127-04-0 peg 16

2. Leighton Palmer 123-3-0 peg 8

3. Shaun Townsend 122-3-0 peg 23

4. Nick Sanders 111lb 11ozs peg 14

5.  Pedro 110-06-0 peg 1

6.  Chris "Shipp" Davis 82-07-0 peg 18

Silvers:

1. Andy Gard 13-05-0 peg 10

Weigh Sheets:

Sunday 14/08/2022 - Tony Rixon's Rip Off - Plantation Jubilee Lake

The owners of the plantation complex have modified the Horseshoe lake, taking out the islands and making an even bottom of 5 foot throughout. Pegging is now all around the outside of the shoe instead of both sides. It's has been renamed Jubilee lake for obvious reasons. I understand that some small carp have been added, otherwise it remained the same stocking.

The usual hype about Bream to 5 lb from Rip Off, he would make a good salesman. Nineteen fishing today.

The talk was that the end pegs would dominate - pegs 8 and 9 today.

Once again it was going to be a very hot day - 34 degrees or more, so umbrella packed. Really aching this morning and if it wasn't for the help I get from Glenn I don't think I could go at the moment. A good friend indeed. We could park behind each peg so full draw for me albeit a tad early to give us chance to off load. Peg 16 it was, fancied this side to have some shade for the brolly. For company I had Ryan Summerhayes, on 17 what a well mannered lad and Rich Major on 15.

Plenty of decent sized carp charging around and looked decisively uncatchable. Decided to fish for the 5 lb Bream with maggot and GB. So set up the Ronnie rig and a 4 x 13 MR to fish top set plus two. Plumbing up the further out it shallowed a little otherwise reasonably flat.

The upshot was I caught a few Ronnie's, Rudd and tiny Skimmers of the Ronnie rig in the first hour which was really slow. It then completely died with very few carp showing set up the 4 metre to chase the Ronnie's and Rudd up in the water. Had three more until that died. Decided to fish the MR for the rest of the match catching the odd tiny Skimmer. I then had a strange hour where I lost seven Skimmers 6 about 2 - 3oz and one about 2 lb with the hook pulling even though I had a number 5 elastic in. I thought it might be because I was using a LR to switched to DR but after couldn't get another bite. Had a walk around to Glenn on peg 6 who was blanking so hoping for an early bath but he couldn't get the van out whilst anglers fishing. I went back and packed up as the heat and fishing had got to me.

My silvers weighed 3 lb 14 oz and my one carp 10 oz. for a total of 4 lb 8 oz which wasn't quite last as the was 4 DNW's and one blank!! I wished I had taken some 4 mm expanders  think this would have been more productive over micro.

The match was won by Rod Wotton (pictured under the umbrella next to the runner up Steve Seager) with 64 lb from peg 8. Rod was one of two anglers that could reach the far bank with the pole and made the most of his Landsend mud fishing using 6 mm pellet over loose fed same. Well done matey.

The silvers was won by Martin McMahon (pictured nearly smiling) with 18 lb 2 oz from peg 5. Martin caught at 11.5 metres using maggot over small amounts of GB. Well done matey.

Non of the 5 lb Bream showed must have been the hot weather! I had a look at my past blogs on this lake and it seems to have fished similar for carp but a tad better for skimmers. 

A disappointed van driving home but nothing a couple of cold ones didn't cure.

Result:

1. Rod Wotton 64-0-0 peg 8

2. Steve Segar 55-09-0 peg 9

3. Joe McMahon 47-13-0 peg 11

Silvers:

1. Martin McMahon 18-02-0 peg 5

2. Tony Rixon 16-04-0 peg 7 

Fish seemed to be shoaled at the far end.

Weigh Sheets:

Sunday 07/08/2022 - Tony Rixon's Short Pole - Final Round - Todber Manor - Ash and Homeground

After a three month lay-off from fishing I felt I could try again providing I had a short walk. As there were some walks on Homeground Tony agreed I could fish Ash. Until I have seen my surgeon in ten days time I am avoiding heavy lifting. I thought I could fish for silvers and try to avoid the carp - might be a challenge at Todber.

PS: Guy Manton: I know a 73 year old that thinks there are too many carp in Todber match lakes.

I drew peg 71, for company I had matey Vince and Bullseye on 70 and Ginge Dark on 72. Tony warned me that the carp feed close in on Ash. Warning headed. Thanks to Glenn got set up on the listing platform albeit I was a tad rusty, forgetting where my stuff was. The plan was to feed the margin heavy all match to keep the carp occupied and fish the long Ronnie rig out in front with single LR's over lightly feeding the same.

The upshot was I had a Ronnie or a tiny Skimmer one a bung (although a good few wriggled off). I was fascinated by large carp munching on the GB and anything else I wanted to feed - sneaky fish. By four hours in I had managed to avoid the carp and thought I might get a record for the first angler not to catch a carp at Todber fishing a match. Alas I ended up with three, No way I could have fished for them all day, just lifting the three was a challenge!!

My three carp weighed 9 lb 9 oz and my silvers 24 lb 8 oz for the silvers win. A little stiff at the end but better than I thought.

The match was won by Ryan Shipp (pictured with the silvers winner) with 309 lb 11 oz from Homeground peg 80. Ryan started shallow with banded pellet over pellet and soon switched to his margin again with pellet over pellet. Ryan was one of the few anglers that sorted catching from his margin as many had plenty of fish in their margin but couldn't catch.

Ryan also won the knockout and runner up in the over all league with Martin Rayet taking the league and Vince Shipp coming third. All pictured right - looks like Martin is holding in a mighty fart!!

Apologies to Glenn for leaving him out of the picture as I thought Tony only paid three however, Glenn picked up fourth beating Tony on weight count back. Glenn also picked up a default section so happy double bubble van.

Result on the day:

1. Ryan Shipp 309-11-0 peg 80

2. Martin Rayett 261-08-0 peg 88

3. Joe McMahon 256-11-0 peg 83

4. Willy Willmott 215-09-0 peg 89

5. Matt Sheppard 187-03-0 peg 67

6 Glenn Bailey 186-08-0 peg 78 

Silvers:

1. Mike Nicholls 24-08-0npeg 71

2. Matt Dark 10-15-0 peg 64

Weigh Sheets:

Overall Final League Result: