Sunday 09/08/2009 - Carps AC - Rood Ashton

At last the Bristol Balloon Fiesta had a sunny, dry weekend – must be the first for many years. As I write I can see Balloons galore from my office window heading my way.

I like Rood Ashton, the only downer – no café. One other issue I have is the up keep of the fishery. The access drive is in a terrible state, with only 4x4’s now able to drive to pegs. Luckily I was with Mark Tanner and his Jeep thing. It was disappointing to hear that Charlie Barnes decided not to fish after drawing peg 19 due to the walk (second longest walk – second best peg)! Anyway, I hope Carps AC kept his pools money!!

Gordon “Corner” Cannings drew corner peg 1 again! John Baker said that if the Lake was perfectly round Gordon would still manage draw a corner!!

I drew peg 15 which is on the top bank, just before the corner – opposite the “Jungle” Island. Rood is one venue where I do enjoy catching the Carp equally as much as the Silvers. However, compared with many of the swims I had seen there weren’t many Carp showing. Hence I made the decision to start after the Ronnie’s on a 3 metre whip and maggot (the Ronnie’s are a good stamp at Rood so caster not essential). I caught Ronnie’s steady for about two hours, I then foul hooked a Carp, for the next half hour it was hard – picking off the odd Ronnie. I then hooked a Carp which broke me, so on to the paste and pellet for the Carp. I had fed both margins – one heavier than the other. I started at 8 metres with 6mm expander over 4mm hard pellet and had a run of four Carp. I then ventured in to the margins. It’s strange how one side produces and the other not. In this case it was the RH side where I caught (lightly fed). I had nine good Carp to 10lb on paste. The swim improved steady over the last two hours until the whistle – another hour would have been good – should have gone in sooner – perhaps! I weighed 6lb 8oz of Silvers and my thirteen Carp went 61lb 12oz. This put me second in the Silvers and a pick up of £30 with my total weight of 68lb 4oz putting sixth overall.

I was drawn next to Mark Bird - What a noisy beggar!! However he does have a sense of humour.

The match was won by Rod Wotton from peg 2 with 122lb 15oz and Jamie Dyte was runner up from peg 10 with another ton of 104lb 4oz (pictured together right).

The Silvers was won by John “The Gimp” Bradford from peg 7 with 15lb all Roach on caster.

Full Result:

1. Rod Wotton 122-15-0 peg 2

2. Jamie Dyte 104-04-0 peg 10

3. Martin Mahon 81-15-0 peg 3

4. Scott Lovell 74-10-0 peg 20

5. John Baker 68-07-0 peg 18

6. Mike Nicholls 69-04-0 peg 15

Top Silvers:

1. John Bradford 15-0-0 peg 7

2. Mike Nicholls 6-08-0 peg 15

Bathampton AA - Veterans Match - Huntstrete - Bridge and Withy Pool

As it was a glorious day I decided to pick up my camera and have a walk around the Bathampton Veterans match being fished at Hunstrete. Walking around the Lakes I immediately noticed that the fish had resumed their summer margin haunts with pegs 1, 34, 35, 51 and 53 packed with them ( none of these pegs were being fished - why not?) I decided to go to Withy pool first and the first two anglers I met that were “still moving” was Topper Haskins and Mike Jones – pegged next to each other, Mike on 66, Topper on 67 (both pictured top right). These two anglers were in my opinion the best river angler in the country during the seventies and early eighties. I am sure if the match was held at Newbridge it would have been a question of who came first or second (not that I am suggesting the match is held on the river you understand - I need a chance of winning). Topper had landed a couple of Carp and a few decent Bream on the waggler at all depths using banded pellet. Mike on the other hand was struggling from what I consider a "dead of winter peg" and shouldn't have been pegged this time of year. Mike owned up to 5lb of Silvers.
Terry Bruton had drawn peg 60 on Withy which suited his stile of fishing – waggler up and down and the straight lead. Terry had netted seven Carp by the time I had walked past.

Colin Golding had drawn well on peg 44, I immediately new he wasn’t catching, as on approaching him, he moaned “ucking Ronnie’s”.

On to Bridge Pool and “Bob the Price of Bread is Right” was catching well on peg 28 using Baste hook bait (can’t say paste as it would tarnish “Bob the Bread” image). Bob had 12 Carp to 13 lb on both the lead out to the end on the island and pole fished in the margin at 7 metres. His biggest fish weighed 13lb 14oz (pictured right with Bob - Thats Bob wearing his thermal fleece - The temperature was only in the mid twenties). As you will hear in the short video below, showing Bob being weigh in, Bob was unable say the word paste - "and I caught a couple on ..." (bit like Rip Off). Come on Bob you are nearly out of the closet on paste. However, I do understand that Bob “The Paste” Price, doesn’t have quite the same ring, but close enough!

The Silvers was won by Bill “The Maggot Man” Ferris” (pictured right) with 22lb from peg 24. Good one Bill.

For full Result go to: http://www.bathampton.org/

During my walk I was asked many times why I wasn't fishing - Can't you tell I am not old enough - the next bloke that ask's this will get a punch on the nose!!

Disabler

Following my record match weight on Bridge Pool a couple of weeks ago I had a text message from Glenn Bailey suggesting my back must be hurting. Well my back was fine, but my legs were in agony!! Let me explain, peg 16 which I fished that day is classed as a disabled peg (see photograph top right). Whenever I fish these pegs I find it difficult to fish the margins each side of the platforms. I also have to elevate my seat box to get my nets over the front wooden bar. This limits my ability to move my legs for six hours the match lasts and also puts me four foot above the water! Hence my legs are in agony after the match. However, I believed that this was a small price to pay to enable the disabled to fish safely.

That was until I fished a subsequent match at Hillview. A disabled angler (wheel chair bound) was fishing a club match on Moorhen Lake directly behind me and was perched on what is no more than a piece of small (very slippery) decking. His name was Derek Hall and lives in Driotwich – West Midlands (see photograph right). I thought I would enquire whether he felt secure on his peg. Well I was amazed at his reply, he said “as far as he was concerned the peg was fine, better than most he fishes”, adding “that he was close to the water and could fish his entire peg including both margins”. I then described the disabled platforms in the above photograph. His reply was “he believed that this sort of platform was specifically required if you were promoting the catering for the disabled angler”. However, Derek also found them very difficult to match fish. His final comment was – “these platforms were designed by the able - non angler for the disabled angler”! I am sure these platforms will change, but not in the near future.

Derek came second in his match with 65lb of Carp – well done mate.

PS: Derek what a great use of your wheel spokes - brilliant pole roost!

Thursday 06/08/2009 - Bathampton Over 55's - Main Lake

Considering we were on the main lake today I was surprised to see such a good turn out. It was helped with two new attendees in Steve “The Scud” Jefferies (I’m surprised Steve’s waited ten years to fish these matches) and Chris Rolfe, Bathampton stalwart in many ways. Also back fishing was Pete Bryer, forget the angling, great humorist, wish he would come to every match. I am not going to discuss the weather and forecasting anymore – what happens, happens. In fact why don’t we close all the meteorological offices in the UK and save billions of pounds!

I drew peg 35 – I would like to say it is the worse peg on the lake, but it probably isn’t – but very close to it. Once again I am next to Mr Pastry who drew peg 36 (lets hope he doesn’t try learning to swim again today). Lucky enough I was opposite Rich Coles so able to hold some sensible conversation during the match! The RH margin looked like it might produce a Carp (who was I kidding), so set up a margin paste rig. I knew the Ronnie’s were going to be prime target in this swim and I didn’t expect anything bigger than 2oz – and I wasn’t disappointed. I set up three Ronnie rigs (how sad is that Rip off). All differing lengths to chase the Ronnie’s further out as the match progressed. For some reason I also set up a paste rig for the big Bream at 8 metres. On the whistle I potted in 250ml of wetted micro at 8 metres and the same in to the RH margin. I picked up the short whip and started after the Ronnie’s with caster. I caught micro to 2 oz Ronnie’s for the first hour, then they got jittery due to the high number of predators in my swim. At one stage the Pike were attacking my keepnet. Rich Coles hooked and landed a 8 pound Pike, only to have to throw it back as they don’t count in Bathampton matches (why on earth not). I must say it was fun watching him play it; everything was either too short or too long to land it. I chased the small Ronnie’s all match, gradually going out to 9 metres on my 4.5 metre whip. With two hours to go it was pointless feeding as the fish wouldn't come anywhere near it. It was a question of casting around away from any feed to pick off the odd fish. As expected I caught naught on either of my paste rigs (except one small skimmer in the eye ball). With an hour to go I had lost the will to live and had completely ran out of ideas. With five minutes to go I threw in the towel with the rest of my bait. I weighed 9lb 12oz of “Whitebait” for fifth overall and a pick up of £20.

The match was won by “The Real” Pete Phillips (pictured right – scary isn’t it – I strongly recommend that you don’t enlarge it) with 28lb of Bream from peg 13 (I think BAA should re-peg it 12A as it certainly isn’t unlucky). Pete caught on the pole at 10 metres using corn hook bait.

It was good to see Chris Rolfe take second place with 25lb 10 oz from peg 11. Let’s hope Chris fishes more of these Matches as we could do with more good anglers (and we want our money back).

Full Result:

1. Pete Phillips 28-0-0 peg 13

2. Chris Rolfe 25-10-0 peg 11 (practice makes perfect)

3. John Wild 17-04-0 peg 12

4. Rich Coles 9-15-0 peg 38

5. Mike Nicholls 9-12-0 peg 36

6. Mike Jones 9-04-0 peg 6 (this is called "ounced out")

Wednesday 05/08/2009 - Carps AC - Tockenham Reservior

Although Tockenham Reservoir is reasonably close to home I have never fished it. This is probably because there are few matches held there, tending to be a Pleasure anglers venue. The venue doesn't have any permanent pegs, so a need to peg. All the pegs were down the left hand bank, with peg 1 starting just out of the leg. John Bennett announced at the draw that there wouldn’t be separate pools payout for the Silvers, justified by “there wouldn't be any Carp caught”!! The reason I and many others fish Carps matches is because of the Silvers pool. If there are going to be changes to the rules it should be made clear when you book in for the match.

As always I had a plan of either long pole or feeder, but which ever I started on I had planned to fish it through (one of my cardinal rules). I drew peg 2 which had high Sedges each side, making the swim very narrow, so although I set up the feeder I was concerned about losing fish in them. I set up one rig at 11.5 metres where I had about eight foot of water which could be used for both 6mm pellet and caster/maggot.

On peg 3 was Colin Golding who was complaining about his peg, he asked me to help him with his box – I must agree with him the decking gang plank and platform was very narrow and slippery. I suggested he take the wheels off his box, however, no, no, no it will be all right!! Back to my swim to sort out the bait and then one hell of a Splash – was it a Hercules crashing in to the Lake or was it Colin. I ran round as fast as I could to find Colin completely submerged – then his head pop up. I caught hold of his Harris Tweed jacket until he found terra firma. Once he got his breath back he was able to walk up the bank side. There were many offers for a change of clothing which Colin accepted - (picture right shows Colin drying off – not for the faint hearted - what on earth is Tom Thick doing!). It's a well known fact that Colin can't swim!!

I started on the pole with 6mm expander and had a few small Skimmers. The swim then slowed. As I had made up a big mix of GB for the feeder I decided to add one pint of casters and ball the lot in – about eight pints. I then switched to caster hook bait and caught Ronnie’s and the odd Skimmer to the end. I did have one scare – Colin hooked a Carp and I was worried that he might get pulled in – so some coaching from me until he landed it. I weighed 21lb 10 oz of mainly Ronnie’s, but got beaten all round by mainly Carp! So much for “No Carp today”.

The match was won by Paul Barnfield (pictured lower right) from peg 8 with 64lb 8oz. Paul caught quality Carp and Bream on the feeder at twenty metres with a small white boily (not sure I have spelt this right) as hook bait.

Full Result (No Silvers):

1. Paul Barnfield 64-08-0 peg 8 ( 5 Carp + Bream)
2. Tom Thick 43-02-0 peg 7 (3 Carp)
3. Charlie Barnes 38-14-0 peg 9 (All Skimmers/Bream)
4. Steve Jefferies 36- 01- 0 peg 10 (2 Carp)
5. Colin Golding 33-08-0 peg 3 (1 Carp)
6. Gordon Cannings 29-08-0 peg 6 (3 Carp)

Avon Angling "WhiteBait" Award 2009

Tony Rixon ask me to present this years "Whitebait - Rip Off"" award to Darren Gillman for his catch at Sedges Tile Lake on 28/06/2009. So last night I present Darren (pictured left - receiving his prize - not looking to pleased if you ask me) with a new Sensas landing net. Tony made the following comment (in his own words):

“I have just worked out how he manages to catch all those blips, they must have an excess of energy cos they ain't getting none at home!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!” PS: – Real men use these as pole pots!

On a sadder note anglers are mourning the death of Britain's biggest common carp after the famous fish was found poisoned in a lake.The 25-year-old, dubbed Benson, weighed a staggering 64lb (29kg) - and was worth £20,000.But the carp was found floating on the surface of Kingfisher Lake in the Bluebell Lakes complex near Tansor in Peterborough last Wednesday.A quantity of uncooked nuts, which are toxic to fish that swell up because they cannot process them, were found nearby on the bank.Tony Bridgefoot, 53, the owner of BluebellLakes, said that the angling community was stunned by Benson's death. He said: "This looks like the work of some very irresponsible anglers. We are all rocked by Benson's death. He was an iconic carp. "Large quantities of nuts have been found on the bank and in the margins, empty bags have also been found in the skips."It seems his demise was caused by the introduction of foods that are harmful to fish." Tony described Benson as a "stunning" fish who would leave a long legacy behind. "Benson was the biggest common carp in the country and I certainly believe him to be the most famous," he continued. Now you see why nuts are banned on most waters.

But more worrying still is the spin that the BBC have put on the death of Benson, see article link :

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/8183547.stm

I have made a comment to the BBC - which I think is unlikely to get published. "If 45% of all fish hooked die the there would be very few fish left in UK commercial fisheries - and Benson should have died before or on her third capture!"

Sunday 02/08/2009 - Carps AC - Bullocks Farm - Match Lake

Colin “Mr Pastry” Golding (pictured right with his quick release net) had his new Colmic pole ran over and completely written off in Withy Pool car park after last Wednesday’s Carps match (it’s the only way you can break these poles). Apparently, I was the prime suspect. However, I did have a good alibi; I didn’t drive that day as I had a lift from Mark Tanner! Apparently Bob “The Sleuth” Price has taken car tyre prints from Colin’s Preston Hard Case (told you Preston kit is crap they should be able to withstand a 4x4 running over them) and has been comparing it with other suspect’s tyres. Apparently Bob now has enough evidence to stand up in court.

What a change in weather – bright sun all day with light to no wind. After the usual Bullocks Farm breakfast the draw was held and I pulled peg 22 – again. I like this peg and I have not failed to win some coin from it – that is until today. Before setting up I needed to clear loads of rubbish from my peg left by anglers from the previous day. I set up for the Crucians – 4mm pellet over micro pellet – my prime target. I also set a caster rig for the inside as well as the usual margin paste rig. I started after the Crucians at 7 metres and immediately hooked and landed a 4lb Mirror. I soon followed this with two Crucians – so far so good, me thinks. I then struggled on the pellet and swapped to the caster on the same line – a couple more Crucians followed, but it was very slow. I then tried caster in the margin and had a 3lb Common. On to the paste in the RH margin and a 5 lb Mirror found itself in the net. It was very slow. Back on the caster and a huge Eel bite me off! I basically kept catching the odd fish by rotating the swims until the end. I weighed 9lb of Crucians and eight Carp for 19lb 15oz for a total of 28lb 15oz. At least I beat the Gimp off next peg 21, but only just - phew!

The match was won by Tom Thick (pictured right with a slippery Carp – I try to get Tom to look at the camera – but I have just realised he doesn’t know what a camera is) with 69lb 8oz. Tom caught on maggot over potted maggot from the opposite weed bed. Tom fed about three pints of red maggot

.

In third place was Keith Firks (pictured lower right) with 44lb 12oz from un fancied peg 12. Keith caught mostly Carp from both his RH and LH margins on corn over corn.

The Silvers was won by the "Archangel" Charlie Barnes from peg 25 with 22lb 4oz. Charlie caught on his usual caster bait fished out in front at 6 metres.

Full Result:

1. Tom Thick 69-08-0 peg 18

2. Gordon Cannings 47-0-0 peg 24

3. Keith Firks 44-12-0 peg 12

4. Shane Caswell 40 -10-0 peg 6

5. Tony Thick 39-12-0 peg 28

6. Steve Jefferies 35-06-0 peg 26

Top Silvers:

1. Charlie Barnes 22-04-0 peg 25

2. Shane Caswell 17-02-0 peg 6