Sunday 12/02/2023 - Westerleigh Knock-up - Taylor's Pool and Shipp's Canal

The plan was to fish Shipp's Canal with 10 anglers, however, we had 11 booked in so it was decided to split the match between the two pools - 6 on Shipp's and 5 on Taylor's. Payouts adjusted accordingly.

Into the draw bag and out comes peg 22 on Taylor's. I would normally run to this peg, but since the big freeze over the fish have shoaled up at the other end vacating their normal island haunts.

Found myself between Norman "Winter Paste" Ferris and Phil Coulam whom I've not seen for some time. He amazed me today with the amount of equipment he set up around him in such a short time. Nice to see him again.

Thought the waggler the best option so set that up first and a short rig for the silvers as suspected the two Shipps down the right end would clean up today.

Started on the waggler with single LR on the hook fished over loose fed LR's and had two small Carp. It then slowed down and what surprised me that I couldn't catch any silvers on it. On to the short line with double Pinkie over GB laced with the same. One small Carp and one micro Perch. Meanwhile the two Shipps were bagging at 14.5 metres. For the first time for years set up the full 13 metres of the Colmic 808 which didn't quite get me far enough up the far slope, but was hoping for some Skimmers over GB and Pinkie. Fished this for an hour for one lost carp and Ronnie. Packed that up. Spent the rest of the match on the waggler catching the odd occasional small carp in pairs and one Skimmer. Difficult to work out the feeding, should have tried shallow.

Finished with 11 carp and 12 oz of silver for 13 lb 13 oz.

As expected the Shipp's (pictured) emptied it, both catching 55 + lb with only 1 lb between them. It looked like all the silvers were also down their end. Interestingly Vince caught on soft pellet and Ryan on maggot and GB.

Tim Ford won Shipp's canal with 27 lb from peg 11. Tim fished banded pellet over 4's. See his blog for further details.

Bill Ferries won the silvers with his usual net of small Ronnie's fishing short with maggot and GB.

Martin McMahon was runner up on Shipps with 21 lb 11 oz all caught on hard pellet in the last 30 minutes!!

Weigh Sheets:

Sunday 05/02/2023 - Westerleigh Winter League - Round 3 - Taylor's Pool and Shipp's Canal

Left home in plenty of time only to turn round as forgot to take my medication, which would be needed as my turn on Shipp's Canal. Thanks to Glenn for checking on reason for my lateness.

Three left to draw, Brian said "I suppose you want peg 2 same as last match" "Yes please, is that it there"? Yes say's Brian and it was to his surprise. More over both Ricky and Brian drew the same pegs 1 and 4. Amazing. Mark Taylor believed since the big freeze over the fish had moved to the other end of the canal. Similarly the carp had moved away from around the island on Taylor's

Overnight frost, bright sun and flat calm was going to make it difficult some cover would be good. So it would mean concentrating on fishing down to the bush on the right, which since Mark done some bank clearing is now shared with peg 1 meaning fishing about a metre away from each other (pictured). Thought about this thinking it would be detrimental to peg 2. However, don't think this is necessary the case. It has improved peg 1 and probably peg 2 as the fish would just back off instead of playing F1 ping pong.

Set up a 0.3 gram RJ Slim (great floats can stand on them and they still work!) for the bush, and a 4x13 MR to fish in at top set plus 2 barrels where I caught some decent carp last match or any other distance as the flat bottom if reasonably flat. Because of the  conditions thought the waggler would be useful over to the island where it is flat up to 2 metres from the island. No need for thrashing the line under as it was flat calm. Used a Drake slim bodied 6 inch which was perfect. Love these floats. Some more arriving today.

Fed the bush with some micro and LR's and GB laced with Pinkie on the short line. Fed a few LR's over. Started down to the bush with single LR and had a 2 lb mirror first put in. Followed by a chunky F1. Then lost a carp in a snag, not sure if I sunk the pole deep enough. I wan't quite with it today in this respect. Ricky started to catch let the the ping pong commence. Tried the short line with a bunch of Pinkies and was disappointed not to get a bite - meanwhile Bela over on peg 10 was emptying it - suppose it helps if the peg been rested for 4 years! Back to the bush and started to put a few F1's in the net loosing a couple more better carp. Ricky was landing his better carp, think it was my poor concentration that was doing me. Out on the waggler and had 2 1/2 of Ronnie's in 15 minutes before landing another F1. As we know F1's disrupts the silvers more than other carp. Added two small carp before fishing down to the bush for the last10 minutes. Instead should have stayed on the waggler.

Weighed 21 lb 10 oz for fifth on the canal. A tad disappointed with this result, but wan't that focussed today. Nonetheless thoroughly enjoyed the day. The bigger carp appear to have moved down the canal. Both Pools fished well with it being close for points one of the lost carp would have been nice.

Back to the Inn with the usual suspects - glad I didn't pick up today as a fair few there! Well done to the framers.

Result:

Taylors Pool:

1. Martin McMahon 59-09-0 peg 20 - (15 metres banded 6's over 4's)

2. Vince Shipp 36-13-0 peg 19 - (14. 5 metres 4 mm expander over micro,hard 4's)

Silvers: Joint Mark Taylor and Lee Waller 1-10-0 pegs 17/23

Shipp's Canal:

1. Bela Bakos 35-04-0 peg 10 - (14 metres banded 6's over 4's)

2. Ricky Mills 26-11-0 peg 1 - All from the bush corn and maggot)

Silvers: Bill Ferris 5-06-0 peg 3 (caught short) hand fed GB and maggot hook bait)

Weigh Sheets:

Thursday 02/02/2022 - Bathampton Over 55's Silvers pairs - Round 3 - Withy Pool

One no-show, so peg 71 taken out again. Might be worth taking out peg 48 next time as it's fishing poor. 

Predicting the wind on Withy Pool is impossible it can blow in three directions at the same time - hard to believe but witnessed by me today - hate the wind, ask Glenn Bailey.

We had a new draw recorder to day - Tommy Winstone - pictured.

In to the draw bag shaking the bag around a disc bounced up and landed in my hand - must be a good one then, nope peg 40 again - carp corner. That said it's one of the better ones in a very poor section. One problem with this peg is no platform so have to set up in the mud and stones  - pictured. The second issue it the very stony bottom which goes our a fair distance causing hook and line breakages, making plumbing up difficult to decided the depth to set.

Set up exactly the same as the first match, but wasn't going to bother with the waggler. However, just purchased a new Shimano 2500HG reel and wanted to try it out with a modified waggler I made up - a Drake with a 2.5 mm diameter Drennan glow tip glued in.

Fished an almost identical match as previous, only difference landing two beautiful 12 oz Roach and a lost decent Perch which would probably have given me the same weight as last time. Four Ronnie's on the waggler but the wind made it too difficult. Signs of carp but didn't hook any this time 😀The hybrid waggler proved very sensitive and the reel - really pleased with it, especially the quick retrieve. Only negative was the deep spool which needed loads of backing before putting on the 3 lb Maxima - still the best line by a mile.

Weighed 8 lb 8 oz for a section win. My partner Clayton had a decent weight but was knocked back to 4 points by ounces. Unlucky matey. Current standings below.

The match was won by Tony Rixon (pictured with others collecting coin) from end peg 60 with 15 lb 1 oz. Tony caught at 11.5 metres using caster - see his blog for the finer details.

Result:

1. Tony Rixon 15-01-0 peg 60

2. Paul Barnfield 12-08-0 peg 45

3. Glenn Bailey 11-03-0 peg 41

4. Chris Rolfe 10-03-0 peg 55

5. John Smith 9-13-0 peg 64

6. Kev Winstone 9-08-0 peg 44

Weigh Sheets:

Pairs Result after three rounds:

Sunday 29/01/2023 - Windmill Open - Match Lake

Hopefully that's the end of the Ice Tappers and Shunters club matches.

After a bumpy ride down the drive - bring back Gardy I say. Expecting to to be first there, but half already there.

Told there wouldn't be any silvers payouts due to none being caught, so thought I would go home only to see matey Glenn there, persuaded by me to come so obliged to stay. So carp it would be, but wouldn't stop me from trying a line or two for silvers.

Had a walk around the lake with Glenn and he wanted peg 3, me pegs 25 or 1 - good choices - we can pick em but not draw em!!! As expected after being iced over the water had gone clear.

In to the draw bucket and out comes peg 8. No emotion unsure what to expect - pictured. Easy set up - a 4x14 Winter to fish top set plus 4 barrels and an 8" yellow top waggler. Fed two pole lines one to the left the other to the right, one with micro and loose GB and the other with GB laced Pinkie. Decided to start on the waggler with double maggot hook bait but no feed. First cast had a 6 lb Common same for the second cast - great start. One missed indication, now the quandary was whether to feed or not. Naturally fed some maggot over and left it and tried the two pole lines for silvers. The upshot was one more carp on the pole of triple Pinkie. Not a sign of a silver not even a tiny Perch! Back on the waggler and had two more carp straight away. Fed again but had to wait for the next pair. With 120 minutes to go hooked another carp and whilst playing it the bottom holding shot came off allowing he waggler to slide down pass the droppers down to the carp's mouth. The hook pulled thinking the waggler would still be held by the hook, it wasn't lost it (spot the float - pictured). So had to reset up. It wasn't the same after wards plus the wind had picked up a bit too much, having only two lost foulers - bugger.

My 7 Commons weighed 40 lb 3 oz. These Commons were some on the one's we caught on the specimen lake and were about 1 1/2 lb, goes to show how quickly they grow. Think only one silver caught, guessing the they are hiding in the reeds until night fall or until the Cormorants go back. Enjoyable day.

The match was won by Tom Baker (pictured with some of his catch) with 263 lb 15 oz from peg 3. Tom caught on the pole one metre from the far bank reeds fishing dobbed bread. Tom had loaded his bait tray but fed nothing, hopefully the fish had a well earned feed at the end. Well done Tom an amazing weight.

Runner was match organiser Gerry Walsh with 80 lb 15 oz from peg 25 - pictured.

Result:

1. Tom Baker 263-15-0 peg 3

2. Gerry Walsh 80-15-0 peg 25

3. Fred 62-05-0 peg 10

4. John Williams 51-04-0 peg 6

5. Shaun Townsend 42-07-0 peg 1

6. Mike Nicholls 40-03-0 peg 8

Weigh Sheet:

Thursday 26/01/2023 - Over 55's (And Some That Look It) - Silvers - Bitterwell Lake

Sad news that Bob Warren passed away this week whilst doing the thing he loved best - fishing. RIP matey.

Arrived to find that 2/3 of the lake ice free and Paul breaking the ice on the few pegs still affected. We had 19 fishing today and a queue waiting at the shop! Some thought there may have been too many fishing but as the results show it fished much better than it did on Tuesday's match.

I didn't mind where I drew but an ice free peg would be favourite so having pulled two discs stuck together, Martin Rayet took the bottom one leaving me the top one, putting him on peg 29, me 27 so ice free but would have the sun in our faces. Good company with Geoff Francis the Apiculturist and Cider Maker on peg 28 and the Hughie Evans the Jimmy Edwards look-a-like on peg 24.

With only 12 oz winning the Tuesday match by John Smith whilst having a sneaky practice, hence thinking a careful approach was necessary. Set up the waggler, 4 metre whip (didn't get off the sub bench) and a 4x13 MR to fish three barrels.

Fed the pole line with a small ball of GB with a few loose Pinkies and loose GB. Pulted a few Pinkies out at about 25 metres - surprised how far they went and reasonably grouped using the new Guru light catapult recommended by Vic Bush for the first time, going to get another reserve one. Started on the waggler with double Pinkie and was soon relieved to have a quick Ronnie in the net. Had a run of small 1 - 2 oz Ronnie's when the sun came out blinding us all on our bank. On went the Polaroid's and having preempted the sun I used the glow tip Drake waggler's, absolutely brilliant visibility glistening in the sun. Had a few more Ronnie's and a 6 oz Skimmer before the peg died which I couldn't understand until I hooked a 5 lb carp which was landed on 0.1 hook length. Thought the fish would now return so thrashed away for far too long foul hooking two more carp. I had kept trying and toping up the pole line to add a couple of Ronnie's before going back on the waggler. Come the last 45 minutes gave up the now non-productive waggler and stayed on the pole resulting in two decent Skimmers and losing two good ones due to the double Pinkie going over the hook and one more carp which tested the 3 elastic with the 0.1 hook length breaking - thankfully.

Weighed 5 lb 6 oz for 6th overall. Kicking myself for loosing those two Skimmers and spending too long on the waggler both costing some coin.

The match was won by Martin Rayet (pictured with his catch of skimmers) with 12 lb 7 oz from peg 29. Martin caught on the pole at 13.5 metres using expander hook bait over kinder micro and fishmeal GB. - Well done matey.

Back to the Ringer where we had some cheese and onion rolls waiting for us kindly provided by the gorgeous Land Lady. Nice end to another great day out with some special people.

Result:

1. Martin Rayet 12-07-0 peg 29

2. Jeff Grant 7-0-0 peg 18

3. Andy Greenham 6-09-0 peg 4

4. Paul Barnfield 6-02-0 peg 1

5. Paul Clayton 6-0-0 peg 23

6. Mike Nicholls 5-06-0 peg 27

Weigh Sheet:

Thursday 19/01/2023 - Bathampton AA Over 55's - Silvers Pairs - Round 2 - Withy Pool

Due to the current Global warming cold snap checked in with Tony Rixon who was adamant it wasn't frozen, so didn't load the ice breaker. Passed Bridge Pool which had a little ice. Rounded the corner to Withy and found that pictured - Tony (who carries 5 ice breakers of differing sizes) - on the phone giving the God Boreas a bollocking.

Wanted to avoid the high 60's/70's into the draw bag and out comes peg 43 - happy with this one. Luckily Aiden was in my section and had an ice breaker. Rounded the corner at peg 40 and was delighted to see that my peg was ice free!!

Got to the peg and found myself in a hard section sandwich between Tony Ponting and Kev Winstone and Barny next up. Got settled in the peg and noticed the peg was starting to freeze over! Set up the 4x14 Winter Wire to fish top set plus two barrels and the Ronnie rig. Surprised how much colour was in the water. With plenty of time before the whistle had a walk around the pool and by time I got back my peg was nearing iced over up to two barrels that's ok, however, Tony;s peg the only other one ice free was still relative ice free, but would get worse in the last quarter. Decided to keep the ice at bay by tapping with the pole pot every time I fed.

Fed the long line with neat Thatchers and the short line with Pinkie laced with my usual GB. Started on the short line with single Pinkie and before I  had a bite Tony had a 2 lb Skimmer! Only one indication short so went long with double Pinkie and had a micro Perch followed by a 2 oz Ronnie. Topped this line up and came short with double Pinkie and had a couple of 4 oz Ronnie's. The pattern was feed, rest, catch a couple of fish re-feed then swap lines. At mid match I had a purple patch catching skimmer's to 4 oz on the long line and Ronnie's to 8 oz on the short line and a decent Perch. I thought I was going to catch Tony. However, come the last hour a marauding carp arrived and it wasn't until it was foul hooked that it buggered off, in the last 10 minutes added three more decent Ronnie's. Come the end my kit was white with frost land me freezing cold - no sun all day. By the time I got back to the car where it had been sunny all day my kit had thawed out.

Whilst taking my net to the scaled slipped and did good impression of of Wayne Sleep with the splits - didn't help the hernia healing. Weighed 9 lb 3 oz for second in section to Tony who weighed 11 lb 1 oz for second overall (his net of fish pictured) so happy with that, don't think I would have caught him up with the big skimmers doing it for him.

The match was won by Andy Greenham (pictured) with 11 lb 12 oz from peg 59.

Chris Ollis run came to a bitter end on peg 48 the Mink on the spit opposite was in and out of his peg not catching much either.

Overall it fished better with the lid on that the first match!!!

Back to the Compton with the usual suspects where the Smith and Grant double act kept us laughing.

Result on Day:

1. Andy Greenham 11-12-0 peg 59

2. Tony Ponting 11-01-0 peg 42

3. Shay Gillman 10-01-0 peg 58

4. Mike Nicholls 9-03-0 peg 43

5. Dave Wride 8-08-0 peg 55

6. Hughie Evan 7-10-0 peg 64

Weigh Sheets:

Pairs Result To Date:

Thursday 12/01/2023 - Over 55's Silvers Knock up - Bitterwell Lake

With Ray Beazley's rip off's at Windmill not starting until March we have moved to Bitterwell for a few silvers matches. A venue Iv'e not fished for two years. Due to various reasons we only had 8 fishing who were prepared to suffer the horrendous weather of high winds and heavy rain to get our weekly fix.

Paul Issacs the the fishery manager has certainly turned the venues fishing around. One thing having the enthusiasm for managing a fishery, however, you also need the fishing/fishery management knowledge, Paul has both in in bucket loads. If your lad/lass shows any interest in fishing contact Paul, the go to venue for junior training sessions.

On to the draw tray and picks last peg 12. Not the bank I was hoping for. Arriving at the peg found I was on the now "wader" peg - top peg by the fir tree - pictured.

I had a walk around on the Tuesday match which was won with 14 lb and looking at today's conditions thought it was going to be a low weight match. So went negative with a 4x14 Titan. I set up the waggler but having change the waggler three times getting to the largest in the box and still couldn't stop the float going with wind gave it in. So the one rig to fish top set plus one and two barrels. The presentation was awful with it going with wind. Fed negative choosing small balls of GB laced with Pinkie and double Pinkie on the hook. first put in at three barrels had a 2 oz Ronnie followed but one a put in until foul hooking a carp on the drop. I tried the short line for 2 small Perch, spending most of the match on the longer line getting battered by the wind for some small Skimmers and Ronnie's had nothing over 6 oz and one more foul hooked carp. The upshot was got it wrong and should have been more positive as it fished really well. The water lever came up 3 inches during the match, making adjustment to the depth necessary, probably noticed this more than most as the level was creeping up the seat box and the foot path behind me.

Weighed 4lb 12oz for nearly last. But some learning in the bag. Considering it's a popular venue it was surprising the exceptional condition on the fish and the size mix from 1 oz to 3 lb Skimmers.

The match was won by in form angler Chris Ollis (pictured with his catch) with 22lb 14z from peg 3. Chris caught ay 10 metres (wind off back) using expander hook baits over micro, feeding 1/4 pint throughout.

Runner up was John Smith with 18lb 8oz (pictured) from peg 10, Similarly John caught on expander hook bait over GB at 10 metres.

Back to the Ringer with the usually suspects. Managing to avoid most of the floods driving home.

Next match 26/01/2023

Result:

1. Chris Ollis 22-14-0 peg 3

2. John Smith 18-08-0 peg 10

3. Andy Gard 14-14-0 peg 1

4. Pere Greenslade 9-02-0 peg 17

Weigh Sheet: (Andy guarding his sandwiches)