Thursday 12/11/2015 - Harescombe Fishery - Cost Cutter - Match Lake

On the way to the venue there was a serious accident on the M5 just after Junction 12 - south bound, loads of police directing traffic off the motorway back to J12. Luckily I just made it off in time. The South bound carriageway was closed for most of the day which meant on the way home I had to go around the back roads to Stroud and get on at J13 to avoid hold-ups.

There was a cold wind blowing down into the valley with it flat calm the near end and rippling the far end as pictured right.

I guess the traffic may have deterred some anglers as only eight of us made it.

In to the draw bag and out comes peg 2. The peg Tony Rixon wanted last match – god knows why as he struggled. That said at least I was, to some, degree out of the wind, in fact I parked the car closer to peg 1 to get some extra shelter.

I set up the usual rigs but found the margins shallower and flatter than other pegs I have fished, which was a bit disappointing. Out at top-set plus one I had about 4 foot. The plan was top fish caster in the RH down-wind margin and meat in the LH margin and dead reds out in front on the Jolly.

After the initial feeding of all three lines I started on double dead reds and soon had a 1lb Barbel ripping the elastic out. After missing a few bites from tiny fish I foul hooked an F1 which I lost followed by a couple more foulers not reaching the net. An hour gone and still the one fish in the keep net. So it was time to try the margins. The upshot was I could catch an F1 from one margin then having to switch margins to catch another and that how the match developed. Throughout the day and unusual for the venue and me I lost a total of 11 F1’s either foulers or lightly hooked. The impression I got was there wasn’t the head of fish in this peg at the moment as they all seem to have migrated to the other wind covered end.

I weighed 33lb 2oz which although only got me third I was satisfied with how I fished.

The match was won by Brian Duckett (pictured right with his catch) with 45lb 6oz from peg 10. Brian fished the Jigga with hair Rigga banded pellet, feeding hard 4’s over the top. Umm.

Result:

1. Brian Duckett 45-06-0 peg 10
2. Martin Hook 43-12-0 peg 6
3. Mike Nicholls 33-02-0 peg 2

Weigh Sheet:

Sunday 08/11/2015 - Tony Rixon Open - Harescombe Fishery - Fields Lake

I was back travelling with Bela even though I was risking catching his Man Flu. First stop, the Beefeater for a scrummy breakfast.

Both of us were looking forward to fishing a new venue the Fields Lake at Harescombe with the promise of lots of big Carp but most importantly for me big Ronnie’s, which was to be my focus for the day.

I think we were all hoping to draw the near end where the Lake was the widest. In to the draw bag and out comes peg 4 which put me half way along the left hand bank, reasonably happy with this. However, because there wasn’t much structure to the parking I had to walk from the van.

For company I had Kev Moulton to my right and Alan Oram to my left – good company then.

The pegs I really fancied were pegs 10 and 11. These were taken by Bela and Tony Rixon (pictured above).

My bait tray was made up as shown right.

I set up three rigs – a 4x16 Jolly to fish at top-set plus one at 12- o clock where I would be fishing in five foot of water some 2 foot up the inside shelf. The Ronnie rig and a margin paste rig for the down wind margin in 3 foot of water.

I started by feeding a pot of micro with 10 pieces of 6mm meat out on the Jolly line and started to loose feed caster on the Ronnie line. First put in on the Ronnie rig with single caster I hooked and landed a 4lb Common Carp. The writing was on the wall I should have forgotten the Ronnie’s and changed to Carp fishing. I didn’t because I was still expecting to catch some big Ronnie’s. I did catch a few but it was really slow and they were only 3oz fish. The wind wasn’t right for this rig dragging it through too fast. I changed to the Jolly with 6mm meat but that produced nothing. I decided to change this line to caster with a dash of worm. I tried a piece of worm but didn’t have a bite switching to double caster was producing bites on the drop which I couldn’t hit. So I set up the 4 metres Drennan whip with a small waggler, set to full depth but fished on the drop with just 5x12 shot droppers. This initially worked better but if I loose fed I would hook a Carp. So I had to sneak the caster feed in by pot, it wasn’t idea but kept the odd Ronnie coming. I did hook 10 Carp on the flick tipped whip loosing 7 hooks and landing 3 Carp on 0.1 G-line! I had been feeding hard 4’s down the RH margin so rested the Ronnie’s and tried the  paste and had two Carp. The wind dropped in the last hour so I went back on the Ronnie rig and had a good 15 minutes catching Ronnie’s to 6oz. However, they were soon being disrupted by Carp landing another two before the all out.

I finished with a disappointing 11lb 8oz of Silvers putting me second in the Silvers and my Carp weighed a surprising 41lb 8oz fro a match third with 53lb.

The Match was won by Tony Rixon (pictured right with some of his catch) with 114lb from peg 9. See his blog on how he thrashed around shallow long on the pole.

The Silvers was won by Stewart Graham (pictured right a bit hazy with the match winner – unfortunately he couldn’t keep still!) with 12lb 2oz from peg 8. Stewart caught short using worm and caster.

Today was a bit of a trial match and I think we all concurred that although it’s a great pleasure fishing Lake it isn’t a Match Lake. That said the day was very enjoyable, especially as both Bela and me picked up some coin – double bubble again.

Bela decided to take a "Long Cut" Home around Yate - Duh!

Full Result:

1. Tony Rixon 114-0-0 peg 9
2. Bela Bakos 84-03-0 peg 10
3. Mike Nicholls 53-0-0 peg 4

Top Silvers:

1. Stewart Graham 12-02-0 peg 8
2. Mike Nicholls 11-08-0 peg 4

 Weigh Sheet: (4 DNW's)

Thursday 05/11/2015 - Harescombe Cost Cutter - Match Lake

Tony Rixon is running a match at Harescombe on Sunday this time on Field Lake shown right. Plus at the bottom of the page is a video starring Andy Price explaining the match rules.

The weather forecast wasn’t good with rain more or less all day. However, the temperature was well up n the teens, plus the rain was fairly light at least until the last hour.

Into the draw bag with only three counters left and out comes peg 21. Not pulled the same peg yet! The peg is ¾ up the far bank. No emotions. For company on my left I had Stuart Barnett the other side was Jon Fuidge.

Setting up I realised I had left my roller home; luckily Rod Wotton came to the rescue. Thanks matey. Also luckily I had a spare pair of glasses!

The water looked clear so I wasn’t expecting a very high winning weight, so decided to take it steady with the feed. On the bait tray was half pint casters (last weeks), half pint of meat, half pint of wetted micro, Corn and semi-hard pellets, more than usual. However, the rigs were the same – 4x10 Yoof for margins and over to the far bank if needs be and the 4x14 jolly to fish at top-set plus one out in front.

Initially I fed the up wind RH margin with caster which I really didn’t fancy because the presentation wasn’t going to be that good, and the LH down wind margin with pellet my banker. Thirdly I fed micro out in front where I intended to start.

Starting on the Jolly with 6mm meat I had a run of five F1’s before the swim completely died, time to re-feed which didn’t have the impact I was hoping for, just one more F1. I decided to put on an extra section taking me to top-set plus two and re-fed micro. Absolutely no response umm. I persevered with this line trying various baits lined up on my tray – no serious response. In fact I stayed here too long. I tried the banker LH margin with various baits – nothing. Time to fish for anything that swims so on went a single caster in to the RH margin where I had and continued to lightly feed caster. I also kept lightly feeding the LH margin. On the caster I had two big Perch and Barbel plus the occasional F1. Once again I outstayed the margin, because when in the last 45 minutes  I switched to meat over the pellet in the LH margin I started to bag big time, adding half my total weight – bugger (or not) who knows.

I weighed 69lb 2oz for second overall. Could I have got another 6lb, I would like to think so that is if I could develop hindsight.

The match was won by Adrian Jeffery (pictured right) with 74lb 12oz from end peg 15. Adrian caught shallow with 6mm hard pellet fished up towards the end margin.

Full Result:

1. Adrian Jeffery 74-12-0 peg 15
2. Mike Nicholls 69-02-0 peg 21
3. Martin Hook 50-14-0 peg 7

Weigh Sheet:

Sunday 01/11/2015 - Ivy House Open - Both Match Lakes

Talking to Alan Oram at last Thursdays match he told me that Ivy House was starting to fish harder, so time for me to visit again as I like it when it fishes hard as it prevents the worm merchants buying their fish and evens things out a bit more. Bela was also up for it.

At 06:44 this morning I had a text from Bela explaining that he had a text in the early hours informing him that his Dad had been unwell so he naturally had to go and visit with him, on my own again today then.

There was a mist all the way there (venue pictured above right), however, by the time we started the sun was out and all change (pictured right view from my peg) not conducive for Skimmer fishing with it also being flat calm.

The plan was to fish for the Silvers so into the draw tin and out comes ball 17, which put me on the causeway. I had a look at the last six results from the peg and it didn’t look good for Silvers weights. That said you don’t know if the anglers pegged there had fished for them. The area does hold Skimmers.

I set up a 4x16 Jolly to fish initially at 10 metres then later out to 11.5. I also set up a 4 metre whip with a tiny waggler to fish at 5 metres with maggot hook bait over GB. As it happened I didn’t have a bite on this so it was sin binned.

The whole match was spent on the two lines fishing semi-hard 4’s over wetted micro. The shorter line yielding Skimmers and the longer line some Carp including three foul hooked “Stockies”.

I landed two proper Carp and two Stockies for 23lb 12oz and my Silvers weighed 15lb 14oz mostly made up of pounders for second in the Silvers and my total weight of 39lb 10oz put fifth overall.

With 15 minutes to go the venue switched from bright sunshine to a dense mist all within about 2 minutes - amazing.

The match was won by Martin Lenaghan (pictured right playing one of his Carp) with 59lb 10oz from peg 3. Martin caught at 16 metres at ¾ depth using 6mm hair rigged 6mm pellet over loose fed 4’s. He fed about half a pint all match.

Runner up was Smiffy from peg 20 with 51lb 2oz (also pictured right landing one of his Carp).

The Silvers was won by regular Dick Young (pictured right with the match winner) with 21lb 8oz from in form Silvers peg 11.

Very enjoyable day.

Full Result:

1. Martin Lenaghan 59-10-0 peg 3
2. Alan Smith (Smiffy)  51-02-0 peg 20
3. Paul O’Connor (Red) 45-02-0 peg 38
4. Chris Cottrell 40-14-0 peg 40
5. Mike Nicholls 39-10-0 peg 17
6. Dick Young 39-0-0 peg 11

 Top Silvers:

1. Dick Young 21-08-0 peg 11
2. Mike Nicholls 15-14-0 peg 17

Weigh Sheet:

Thursday 29/10/2015 - Harescombe Cost Cutter - Match Lake

I wasn’t sure if the fishing times had changed due to the clocks changing last weekend so left early. As it happened I arrived earlier that planned due to it being half term! Times were the same 9 draw fish 10 to 3 spot on. Breakfast in the café (pictured right), where I was joined by Big Al Oram.

With only seven fishing Andy said he spread us out. In to the draw bag and out comes peg 16. It was a double take, yes on the natural bank in the far left hand corner. I must say that I have fancied the peg from my first visit but its not often pegged. However, I was surprised to find I was the only angler with someone on the next peg 15 (pictured right), on the other side of the bridge. I still had plenty of room so only greedy to say more.

The guy on peg 15 set up a feeder and before the start practiced casting it in my peg. He did apologised explaining that he doesn’t often fish the method often – I believe him!! A real gentleman though. Looking up from my peg I could see the café (pictured right).

The strong wind was blowing directly into me; combined with the rain it wasn’t going to be pleasant.  I set up the usual two rigs – a 4x14 Jolly to fish out in front at top-set plus one section and a 4x10 Yoof for both margins.

The swim out in front was to be fished over pellet, the RH margin to fish over caster and the LH margin to fish over pellet with some meat. All hook baits to be 6 or 4mm meat

On the Jolly the presentation was spot on with the float going against the tow (away from me) and slightly to the left. The hydraulics on these types of canals are unpredictable, so best to understand this before feeding. After potting in some pellet short I was soon catching F1’s and had a great first hour, but as the wind subsided the slower it became. I tried the RH margin but the presentation wasn’t that good due to the float coming at me and out from the bank. The LH margin was much better where I caught three proper Carp to 4lb. The upshot was I swapped between the three lines to keep the F1’s coming. I abandoned the Jolly line after three hours focusing on both margins for the last two hours.

I weighed 85lb 4oz for first on the day only 2oz ahead of youngster George Organ (pictured upper right). Well done lad. Another memorable day.

Full Result:

1. Mike Nicholls 85lb 4oz peg 16
2. George Organ 85lb 2oz peg 8

Weigh Sheet:

Thursday 22/10/2015 - Harescombe Fishery - Cost Cutter - Match Lake

I picked up Two Pots Bailey this morning and got a bollocking for being early; true I was – 4 minutes!! Not a morning person I think. Took on the Ring Road and won arriving reasonably early to Two Pots distain.

After breakfast into the draw bag and out comes peg 20. No emotion. Dropped off Glenn and parked behind my peg – useful that. I found myself next to Rich Heatley again and on the other side was Julian Pinkett, who has JULIAN emblazed on the back of his coat, I guess it’s in case he forgets his name. Found myself opposite Two Pots, now slimmed down to one Pot!

Set up just the two rigs – a 4x10 Yoof for the down wind RH margin, I knew it would also suit the far bank depth if I decided to fish there. And of course the 4x14 Jolly to fish at top-set plus 1 ½ sections again down wind at 1 o clock. Simple.

All the hook baits was to be 4mm meat (fyi Rich) fished over pellet. I started by putting a half pot of pellet into the RH margin. I started by picking up the Jolly and kindering in some caster and micro. With 4mm meat on the hook nothing happened, whilst Rich next door was bagging over to the far bank. After 45 minutes I could only account for eight F1’s. I tried the full range of hook bait in the bag, Caster, Semi-hard pellet and the humble Maggot. Plenty of bites from micro fish, at least I think it was small fish, nonetheless nothing to weigh in. I started to catapult some hard 4’s over to the far bank wooden piling whilst I tries the margin to no avail. So bugger into the rod holdall and found another five carbon tubes to take the rig out to 13 metres. Again with meat hook bait (fyi Rich) I commenced to catch small Mirror and Common Carp plus a couple of Chub and one Barbel. The wind wasn’t cold but not conducive for fishing long and it wasn’t long before the shoulders threw the towel in even though I was catching regularly, it was the double unshipping that done it. I spent the rest of the match in the margin with meat hook bait (fyi Rich) over loose fed pellet. I did have a purple spell catching some decent F1’s with a smattering of Skimmers.

The scale came round (pictured upper right) which has gone metric weighing (I have converted to pounds for us purist) and I was surprised to weigh 47lb 10oz which put me second overall.

Tony Rixon beat me for first place (pictured right with the runner up) with 55lb 10oz from end peg 25. Tony caught on hard pellet…see his blog for the finer details.

Two Pots came fourth one out of the coin, caching three big F1’s on paste!!

Full Result:

1. Tony Rixon 25.72 Kg (56lb 10oz) peg 25
2. Mike Nicholls 21.62Kg (47lb 10oz) peg 20
3. Kevin Jefferies 18.26Kg (40lb 4oz) peg 15
4. Rich Heatley 14.48Kg (31lb 15oz) peg 19
5. Glenn Bailey 14.02Kg (30lb 15oz) peg 10
6. Ray Cooper 13.32Kg (29lb 6oz) peg 3

Weigh Sheets (dopey buggers left the proper weigh sheet in the café):

Saturday 17/10/2015 - Viaduct Silvers Only - All Winners Final - Campbell, Carey and Lodge Lakes

I breakfasted at home and had a steady drive to the venue on my own.

Interesting enough there were more fishing the Silvers final than fished the Carp final with 44 in the field.

I was first into the coffee tin and out comes peg 100. Two years ago it would have been the peg to draw. As usually happens on this time of year the fish move well out from the bank and margins. Nonetheless I still set up the Ronnie rig and a 4 metre whip which would take me out further for the Ronnie’s. I set up a 4x12 Jolly with the shot set for the semi-hard pellet and a 4x14 Jolly to fish long with a double bulk shot.

I fed two balls of GB at 10 metres and another two at 11.5 metres all laced with a smidgen of maggot and caster. I then followed up at 7 metre with wetted micro for the pellet hook rig. I first started on the Ronnie rig with single caster over loose fed caster. I had one first put in, and that was it other than a few small indications. So out on the pellet rig and nothing, I put a single dead red on and started to hook small Ronnie’s most of which were falling off.

I then went out on the 10 metre line with double dead red and what followed was very frustrating I was again hooking small Skimmers quite quickly only for then to come off. I thought it might be the elastic so changed it to a lighter one, but to no avail. I reckon in the first two hours I lost 4lb of fish. I then hooked a Carp which I pulled for a break. New hook length then. I subsequently switched to the 11.5 metre line and had two good Skimmers to 2lb, looking up – not. The upshot I kept switching between the two lines catching the odd small Skimmer and Ronnie.

With 1 ½ hour to go I had fizz over both lines and broke on 4 more Carp, after which I made a pact with myself, another lost hook length and I pack up. I didn’t although I landed a 14lb Common and a 10lb Mirror before the all out!!

 

I thought Gabe next door on peg 99 would frame so was hoping that my 12lb 4oz might be enough for a default section, alas not Trigger on the end peg beat me by 2lb.

The match was won by Mark Saunders (pictured right) with 35lb 1oz from Campbell peg 112. Mark caught short at 5 metres using caster hook bait over GB.

Gabe (pictured below centre with his partner) next door to me was runner up with 32lb 6oz of Skimmers. I must say he fished a really good match fishing expander pellet over neat GB. Well done matey I was dead impressed.

Full Result:

1. Mark Saunders 35-01-0 peg 112
2. Gabe 32-06-0 peg 99
3. Steve Denmead 29-01-0 peg 129
4. Andy Power 28-11-0 peg 68
5. Steve Tucker 26-04-0 peg 110
6. Paul Elmes 26-03-0 peg 78

Weigh Sheet: