Its a long time since I managed to get to a Thursday Costcutter, so it was good to be back and join the 18 other hardy souls who braved the first frost for a while. With Campbell and a section of Cary in, I wasn't too fussed where I drew, as the plan would be similar. I decided to try the breakfast in Woody's cafe, it was tasty enough, but didn't leave me feeling full up, just as well I had a flask of mulligatawny soup to ward off the cold.
110 stuck to my drawing hand, a peg I'd prefer on a warmer day, but surely there would be some perch along the brambles past the stump. I set up a 4m whip for roach, a 4x12 jolly and a chimp one with a 20 on 0.10 the other a 16 on 0.12 for caster and maggot short and at 14m. A waggler rod for caster and another for corn or meat, not so much as a quiver on either meat or corn, so no more about that rod.
On the all in the wind started, only a light breeze, but into my face and as 110 doesn't get the sun, it was the start of a chilly day. A start on the whip saw a couple of micro roach snaffle the caster and that set the scene for the day. A consistent pattern of two or three fish on caster, then nothing, a switch to maggot would bring another fish or two, bizarrely, these were often bigger (but not much) than the caster fish. Then dead again, so a switch to another line, be it pole or waggler would see the pattern repeat, this was the case when I tried down to the pallet of 136 and along the brambles, although the brambles did produce the best fish of the day, a 8oz, perfect Rudd.
At one time during the match a few bread crusts floated past, followed by some red onion rings, either someone had dropped their ploughmans lunch in, or the fish are getting fussy and want the prawns that some were using, garnished.
No matter what I tried, I couldn't get through the micro roach, even triple caster didn't thwart them, worm didn't tempt one bite, so I ended the day with lots of fish and effort for 7.02. At least it kept me warm.
1) Dick Bull 78.02 Peg 100
2) Jim Butcher 55.09 Peg 128
3) Martin Lenaghan 35.10 Peg 115
4) Terry Lenny 31.13 peg 123
5) Paul Lock 31.05 peg 98
6) T Heath 26.08 peg 116
Silvers
1) Andy Gard 13.06 peg 102
2) Stu Wood 12.15 peg 132 ( says 132 on the sheet, I'm sure he was sat on 131)
3) Mike Jones 12.12 peg 119
4) Rich Coles 11.07 peg 126
5) Chris Fox 7.02 peg 110
6) Nick Ewers 6.14 peg 125
Thursday, 29 November 2012
Avon Angling Open, Landsend, Wednesday 28th November 2012
Well after the disaster of getting stuck in the snow a couple of weeks back, I decided that a Nissan X Trail that I'd been looking out for on the web, might as well be my early Xmas pressie to myself, so I found a 2008 model with al the toys and a six speed auto box in Swindon yesterday, deal was done to trade in the Astravan and home the Nissan came. I've ordered a Rhino boot liner, but foe now have to make do with a blanket to keep the back tidy until it comes.
So onto the fishing, peg 3 out of the tin and I'd psyched myself up to fish just the two baits, caster and a line with soft pellet over micro's, it all seemed so simple, a MW diamond for soft pellet at the bottom of the far shelf and a Carpa chimp for caster short and down the middle. I had also, just in case, put a couple of handfuls of 6 and 8mm meat in the bait bag and as I had time, set up a rig that would suit to fish this or corn across.
To cut a long and fairly boring day short, I struggled to catch on any line, even though I tried my normal generous feeding and at a good distance away, fed with such frugality, Mike Nicholls would have approved.
Swapping and changing between the lines saw a few tiny perch and roach grace the net, 3 skimmers and an odd looking pot bellied F1for about 4 or 5lb which was tipped back before the end, as I packed away neatly and tidily, instead of my usual rush and throw it all in the box.
As I walked down the bank, Tom Mangnall, asked how I'd got on, when I told him, he said "peg 3 is the worst on the lake", so it seems the draw hoodoo keeps on going.
For the results see Tony's blog.
So onto the fishing, peg 3 out of the tin and I'd psyched myself up to fish just the two baits, caster and a line with soft pellet over micro's, it all seemed so simple, a MW diamond for soft pellet at the bottom of the far shelf and a Carpa chimp for caster short and down the middle. I had also, just in case, put a couple of handfuls of 6 and 8mm meat in the bait bag and as I had time, set up a rig that would suit to fish this or corn across.
To cut a long and fairly boring day short, I struggled to catch on any line, even though I tried my normal generous feeding and at a good distance away, fed with such frugality, Mike Nicholls would have approved.
Swapping and changing between the lines saw a few tiny perch and roach grace the net, 3 skimmers and an odd looking pot bellied F1for about 4 or 5lb which was tipped back before the end, as I packed away neatly and tidily, instead of my usual rush and throw it all in the box.
As I walked down the bank, Tom Mangnall, asked how I'd got on, when I told him, he said "peg 3 is the worst on the lake", so it seems the draw hoodoo keeps on going.
For the results see Tony's blog.
Saturday, 24 November 2012
Viaduct Silver league, Round 5. Sunday 18th November
Round 5 of the Silvers League and with no chance of
finishing anywhere other than well down the table, a positive approach and fish
for 20lb+. Working until 22.00 the night before meant preparation wasn’t great,
which was compounded by realising I had left my waggler rod at home once I
opened the tailgate to get my tackle out. Two offers of the loan of a rod were
forthcoming, from Clayton Hudson and Paul Faiers and whilst my home for the
day, peg 99 (Cary), would be one of the pegs that I’d usually opt for the
waggler, I declined and put my faith in the pole and a tiny cage feeder set up.
With hindsight, probably a mistake, as the fish didn’t want to venture too
close in.
On the all in I fed 3 lines, 2 balls of GB with only minimal
caster and a couple of dead pinkies in, same at 11m of to an angle and I had
set up a 4m whip, which produced 4 roach, so no more of that. Leaving the pole
lines to settle I cast 3 times with a next size up from tiny feeder and that
resulted in a small roach, a switch to the smallest feeder I own, with either
caster, maggot or dead maggot on the hook resulted in the odd little roach and
an occasional steady pull round of the ½ oz glass tip – liners from the few
carp that were showing themselves out towards the middle of the lake.
The pole lines were slow, with just an occasional bite,
again, small roach, with one two even smaller perch. By now Phil Cardwell on 96
was catching skimmers, whilst Dave Roper on 97, myself and Rowland on 100 were
just spectators. Another look on the feeder, the same result, liners and roach,
not a sign of a skimmer. I dropped down to 0.08 and a 22 and would have gone
smaller, but I didn’t think that it would have made any difference, I could
hear Nicky Collins directly behind me, catching decent roach on Lodge, the
biggest I had might have gone 2oz.
A switch back to the 13m line saw three skimmers (palm size
– but welcome) in three put ins, then I lost four fish in five put ins, 3 of
which had the maggot over the hook point – co-incidence? or perhaps it was the
way the fish were feeding and my rig was set up. Anyway, that was enough to
upset the skimmers and that was the last I saw of them. Those around me fishing
the waggler were getting the odd roach and Dave Roper had a better skimmer, had
there been more time I would have looked behind me to Paul or Clayton, both on
lodge for the loan of that waggler rod, but with ½ an hour to go, I just knew
that I wasn’t going to get a flurry of big skimmers or perch, so packed up
early and tipped back about 5lb. I guess Clayton must have stood too close to
me before the draw, as he drew 66 for the 3rd time in the series,
what are the odds of that happening, at least he amused himself towards the end
landing some big carp.
With one round to go, its another open for me, as a couple
of poor results and missing the 4th round due to the snow ( lorry
stuck on the hill after Chewton Mendip on A39, so I turned round and went back
down the A37, only to find the hill out of Gurney Slade blocked, with the snow
still falling heavily – must treat myself to a 4x4).
For the results please see either Tony’s, Mike’s or
Clayton’s blogs.
Tuesday, 13 November 2012
Trinity Waters, Avon Angling Open 11th Novemebr 2012
Back to Trinity, always a good place to visit, sure of a friendly welcome and it's a well maintained and run fishery. I seem to have got into the habit of drawing on the near bank, which doesn't seem to have regained the consistency it had before the lake re-modelling, today was no exception with 32 being my home for the day. Company for the day was the Silverfox on 31, always a tough angler to beat, he seems to have sussed when to fish for silver and when to switch to carp.
There was a time when soft pellet, corn or maggot would ensure bites from most pegs in the winter, but following on from yesterday, the fish seemed reluctant to feed. They were moving around and some big roach were topping down the middle, so I set up a waggler to fish caster as far as I could catapult them.
A short caster rig, a rig to fish 7m (although it was a consistent depth out to 14m) and a rig with similar depth but an olivette in case the tow got up - although I doubted the fish would be on the bottom. Starting on the caster waggler, I had a couple of small roach, before the float settled and the bump, bump of a good skimmer was felt up the rod. It was a bit of a false dawn, as the bites were then from tiny rudd, micro roach and even motherless minnows.
The line at 7m fed with a few micros and softened 4's was bubbling, but with little other evidence of fish, this produced a couple of skimmers and a 5lb carp, before it too, joined the waggler line, in waiting ages for a bite, only to get a fish twice the size of the caster.
The margins on this side haven't really produced in the winter months, but the crafty old Silverfox on the next peg had a couple of carp snap him up on the 'ronnie' whip, so he switched to paste and landed 5 fish, before suffering a blank couple of hours. I managed one from the margins on meat and reset up the waggler to fish a 8mm pellet at full depth, with no shot down the line, this was because there were fish moving near the surface, but they obviously weren't feeding. I managed 18lb odd, which wasn't good, being battered off the next peg by Mike who had 44lb with his paste caught carp.
There was a time when soft pellet, corn or maggot would ensure bites from most pegs in the winter, but following on from yesterday, the fish seemed reluctant to feed. They were moving around and some big roach were topping down the middle, so I set up a waggler to fish caster as far as I could catapult them.
A short caster rig, a rig to fish 7m (although it was a consistent depth out to 14m) and a rig with similar depth but an olivette in case the tow got up - although I doubted the fish would be on the bottom. Starting on the caster waggler, I had a couple of small roach, before the float settled and the bump, bump of a good skimmer was felt up the rod. It was a bit of a false dawn, as the bites were then from tiny rudd, micro roach and even motherless minnows.
The line at 7m fed with a few micros and softened 4's was bubbling, but with little other evidence of fish, this produced a couple of skimmers and a 5lb carp, before it too, joined the waggler line, in waiting ages for a bite, only to get a fish twice the size of the caster.
The margins on this side haven't really produced in the winter months, but the crafty old Silverfox on the next peg had a couple of carp snap him up on the 'ronnie' whip, so he switched to paste and landed 5 fish, before suffering a blank couple of hours. I managed one from the margins on meat and reset up the waggler to fish a 8mm pellet at full depth, with no shot down the line, this was because there were fish moving near the surface, but they obviously weren't feeding. I managed 18lb odd, which wasn't good, being battered off the next peg by Mike who had 44lb with his paste caught carp.
1) Tom
Mangnel 66-01-0 peg 2
2) Mike
Nicholls 44-04-0 peg 31
3) Tony
Rixon 32-06-0 peg 15
4) Craig
Edmonds 29-03-0 peg 14
5) Phil
Harding 28-05-0 peg 17
=6) Bela
Bakos 27-05-0 peg 25
=6) Kev
Moulton 27-05-0 peg 7
Silvers:
1) Nigel
Bartlett 9-09-0 peg 24
2)
Tom Mangnel 8-08-0 peg 2
3) Mike Nicholls 8-02-0 peg 31
Plantation Saturday Series 10th November 2012
An opportunity to fill in for an absentee today, so I took it. Plantation has a large head of carp, but also there can be some decent silver weights to be had and that was what I had in mind. with caster maggot and worm in the bait bag. I drew peg 7 which is a decent draw for carp, especially for the method chuckers. As it is a noted carp peg I set up a waggler to fish full depth with banded pellet out to the island, in case the silvers weren't playing.
The silvers rigs consisted of a caster rig to fish short and a rig that would suffice for caster/worm or soft pellet at 13m. I fed some caster and groundbait at 13m on the all in and caster short, leaving it to settle I started on the waggler, without so much as a liner for 20 minutes. A switch to the pole saw an occasional roach and not much else grace the net, but everyone was struggling, the skimmers did not show for me, I had none.
Another look out to the island and the gap in the islands on the waggler produced 2 carp, one foul hooked and another lost, before that went quiet again. The pole lines were very slow with only an occasional roach or minute perch. Back to the waggler and I had a run of fish, but the float and pellet had to land in the bramble fronds to get a bite, this included a chub getting on for 2lb. Two lost floats and a few hooklengths were the price of fishing tight to an untidy island, even clipped up. The last hour reverted to being quiet and that cost me, I suspect that setting up a lead may have resulted in a couple more fish as the wind was awkward.
1) Brian Slipper 57.08 peg 12
2) Andy Hembrow 57.02
3) Rich Lovering 55.04 peg 4
4) Rich Heatly 45.08 peg 26
5) Mark Broomsgrove 43.12 peg 24
6) Chris Fox 42.10 peg 7
Silvers
1) Mark Broomsgrove 28.12 peg 24
2) Paul Nicholls 19.04 peg 33
The silvers rigs consisted of a caster rig to fish short and a rig that would suffice for caster/worm or soft pellet at 13m. I fed some caster and groundbait at 13m on the all in and caster short, leaving it to settle I started on the waggler, without so much as a liner for 20 minutes. A switch to the pole saw an occasional roach and not much else grace the net, but everyone was struggling, the skimmers did not show for me, I had none.
Another look out to the island and the gap in the islands on the waggler produced 2 carp, one foul hooked and another lost, before that went quiet again. The pole lines were very slow with only an occasional roach or minute perch. Back to the waggler and I had a run of fish, but the float and pellet had to land in the bramble fronds to get a bite, this included a chub getting on for 2lb. Two lost floats and a few hooklengths were the price of fishing tight to an untidy island, even clipped up. The last hour reverted to being quiet and that cost me, I suspect that setting up a lead may have resulted in a couple more fish as the wind was awkward.
1) Brian Slipper 57.08 peg 12
2) Andy Hembrow 57.02
3) Rich Lovering 55.04 peg 4
4) Rich Heatly 45.08 peg 26
5) Mark Broomsgrove 43.12 peg 24
6) Chris Fox 42.10 peg 7
Silvers
1) Mark Broomsgrove 28.12 peg 24
2) Paul Nicholls 19.04 peg 33
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