Back to part of my fishing roots today, Clevedon's Xmas match which was traditionally held on the River Kenn, now moved to Plantation Lakes, as it seems unlikely there would be much interest in getting covered in the Kenn's renowned grey mud, even though, by all accounts it's fishing well at the moment. My previous best in this match is a second place, so a good draw today would be needed to try and get the elusive win.
The draw was delayed, it seemed as if there was pegging by general consensus going on, finally the tickets went into the bucket and a ungentlemanly rabble wrestled for the chance to draw one of the coveted flyers. No need for me to get excited, the bay, peg 33 found it's way into my hand, I can't recall it ever winning a match and it used to be a good silvers peg, but even they don't seem to live there in the same numbers now.
The bread I bought on the way down to the match, along with the lead rod was unlikely to get used, although I did set it up, just to try out a rod I bought yesterday, a 10/11' Tournament. Three rigs would suffice, two NG gimps a 0.3g to fish the open water at 11m and a 0.25g pencil for the short line, which used to be very productive on this peg. Lastly, as the wind was forecast to be strong and gusty, I set up a 0.4g MW cane diamond.
I fed two pole lines with a cup, one at 11m of to my right, using Paul Faiers on 38 as my line up marker and one at 11m straight in front, the line in front fed with micro's, the RH line fed with maggot. Caster into the short line and close margins, then a couple of chucks with the lead, not so much as a liner on there, so up the bank with it. It took half an hour or so to get my first bite, a perch about 8oz, this on maggot over the micros. A switch to the RH line and a decent skimmer graced the net, before that went dead. Straight back in front and a small carp gave me the run round as it was hooked just outside of the mouth. That was it, no more bites from either of those lines, I didn't manage a bit from either of the short margins or short line and it was tough going. Kev Perry came round for a walk from Horseshoe lake where he was blanking and he wasn't alone, he must have brought some luck, as I'd got off my box and made up a rig to fish 16m round the margin, just past peg 34, this brought another small carp.
Dobbing 3 white maggots saw me foul another, but it came off straight away, a try with bread was a total waste of time and switching back to maggot brought one more carp. That was to be my last bite, as we then had a wind and hailstorm, tricky to hold the 16m whilst it was going on, a look round the other lines was biteless and the last 20 minutes when it calmed down again, was also devoid of any action.
I guessed that Paul Faiers had just beaten me, as he had 4 carp and two tiny roach, watching him play and land a tail hooked carp on 0.10 and six elastic was the highlight of the day, even though he just edged past me with it.
My perch and skimmer went 2.08 and the 3 carp 13.02, so 15.10 in total, for 6th in the match and on the lake. Gawd knows what prize I'll get as Faierzy and Glenn were propping up the bar as I left, with them getting a a lift home, they'll no doubt have a pint or two........so perhaps asking them to get my prize was a mistake!!! I had to go as the new puppy had been at home a few hours by herself.
Run away winner was John Wolvenscroft from peg 8 with 14 carp on bread/liccy in the feeder. A special mention for Lance Tucker who blanked on the sought after peg 7 - although he was far from alone, I think there were 7 blanks from the 31 fishing and some pretty low weights. There were 20 pegs on the Main lake and 11 on Horseshoe, top six all from main lake, best weight from Horseshoe was Rich Lovering, 15.05.
1. John Wolvenscroft 64.10 peg 8
2. Don Sutherland 25.08 peg 31
3. Paul Nicholls 19.12 peg 1
4. John Page 19.04 peg 18
5. Paul Faiers 16.09 peg 38
6. Chris Fox 15.10 peg 33
Silvers
1. Mike Owens 6.14 peg 12
2. Brian Slipper 5.03 peg 23
Sunday, 22 December 2013
Thursday, 19 December 2013
Avon Angling Open, Landsend, Wednesday 18th December 2013
The weather forecast was pretty bad for today, but as I have somehow managed a couple of decent section and silvers results in the first two rounds of the Landsend league, I need the practice, today's match was on Match Lake and that's where I am for the next round.
It seems that the pegs in the teens (including eleventeen) have been the place to draw lately, I managed to avoid that area and drew 21. Plenty of room as there were only 9 hardy souls braving the inclement weather, with Martin Lengahan on peg 18 and John 'Turkey' Thompson on peg 24. I set up 3 rigs, one to fish the edges down to the pallets of 20 and 22, neither side produced a bite, so no more elaboration on that. A MW slim on 0.16 to a banded hooklength on 0.14 for the second shelf right across (that was about 2'6" deep), it was pretty mild, about 10-12°C, so why wouldn't the carp fancy a 6mm pellet. A pencil float on 0.14 with a 0.12 hooklength completed the set up, this would do to fish caster, maggot or devil spawn, close in and down the track.
I fed the far shelf with half a dozen 4mm pellets, before cupping in a few casters and 4 maggots in at 8m, the deepest part of the peg, immediately the float buried and I was connected to a carp, I think it was fouled, but I wasn't to find out, as I manged to get the pole back and break down to the top kit, before the fish took off again and snapped the hooklength. Lesson learned, I think the hooklength was 0.10, I had changed it at Viaduct and not remarked the winder. On with a 0.12 hooklength and that lasted the rest of the match.
I was also feeding a few casters just over my nets, as the water had some colour in it, with a reasonable depth. The 8m line proved to be pretty non productive after the initial lost fish, so after ¾ of an hour, I did have a look over the far shelf with a 6mm pellet, not so much as a liner was forthcoming. Dropping in on the short line saw the float bury after less than 1 minute, double maggot accounting for a carp which was at least 9lb. A couple of micro perch followed, the a solid feel to the next strike and a bream of 3lb or so was netted.
To rest this line I retried the 8m line and swapped the banded hook for a plain spade end on the far shelf rig, the far shelf then produced a couple of decent perch and carp to maggot, before that too went quiet. Back in close and another big skimmer, a couple of roach and then a perch, before it died off again.
The 8m line produced a carp and a small f1, but it was a long wait for bites, the far shelf had responded to loose fed maggot, but in the shape of small roach and rudd, not much point catching them,especially at 16m. One more carp from the close line and I thought I had 27lb of carp and 8 or 9lb of silvers, the 4 carp went 30lb exactly and the silvers 11.06 for what is now becoming a habit, one out of the money!!
1. Tony Rixon 95.10 Peg 16
2. Aaron Britnell 68.06 Peg 11
3. Chris Fox 41.06 Peg 21
4. Alan Oram 36.08 Peg 7
5. John Thompson 31.00 Peg 24
6. John Bradford 25.08 Peg 3
Silvers
Tony Rixon 19.06
It seems that the pegs in the teens (including eleventeen) have been the place to draw lately, I managed to avoid that area and drew 21. Plenty of room as there were only 9 hardy souls braving the inclement weather, with Martin Lengahan on peg 18 and John 'Turkey' Thompson on peg 24. I set up 3 rigs, one to fish the edges down to the pallets of 20 and 22, neither side produced a bite, so no more elaboration on that. A MW slim on 0.16 to a banded hooklength on 0.14 for the second shelf right across (that was about 2'6" deep), it was pretty mild, about 10-12°C, so why wouldn't the carp fancy a 6mm pellet. A pencil float on 0.14 with a 0.12 hooklength completed the set up, this would do to fish caster, maggot or devil spawn, close in and down the track.
I fed the far shelf with half a dozen 4mm pellets, before cupping in a few casters and 4 maggots in at 8m, the deepest part of the peg, immediately the float buried and I was connected to a carp, I think it was fouled, but I wasn't to find out, as I manged to get the pole back and break down to the top kit, before the fish took off again and snapped the hooklength. Lesson learned, I think the hooklength was 0.10, I had changed it at Viaduct and not remarked the winder. On with a 0.12 hooklength and that lasted the rest of the match.
I was also feeding a few casters just over my nets, as the water had some colour in it, with a reasonable depth. The 8m line proved to be pretty non productive after the initial lost fish, so after ¾ of an hour, I did have a look over the far shelf with a 6mm pellet, not so much as a liner was forthcoming. Dropping in on the short line saw the float bury after less than 1 minute, double maggot accounting for a carp which was at least 9lb. A couple of micro perch followed, the a solid feel to the next strike and a bream of 3lb or so was netted.
To rest this line I retried the 8m line and swapped the banded hook for a plain spade end on the far shelf rig, the far shelf then produced a couple of decent perch and carp to maggot, before that too went quiet. Back in close and another big skimmer, a couple of roach and then a perch, before it died off again.
The 8m line produced a carp and a small f1, but it was a long wait for bites, the far shelf had responded to loose fed maggot, but in the shape of small roach and rudd, not much point catching them,especially at 16m. One more carp from the close line and I thought I had 27lb of carp and 8 or 9lb of silvers, the 4 carp went 30lb exactly and the silvers 11.06 for what is now becoming a habit, one out of the money!!
1. Tony Rixon 95.10 Peg 16
2. Aaron Britnell 68.06 Peg 11
3. Chris Fox 41.06 Peg 21
4. Alan Oram 36.08 Peg 7
5. John Thompson 31.00 Peg 24
6. John Bradford 25.08 Peg 3
Silvers
Tony Rixon 19.06
Monday, 16 December 2013
Viaduct Silvers League R6. Sunday 15th December 2013
Last match in the league today, it's been a well run league, albeit one that won't linger too long in the memory for me. League winner Tony Rixon picked me up, nice for him to have it in the bag with one match still to go, proof that a simple approach and confidence in it pays off.
The draw tin wasn't too kind to me, off to peg 81 on Cary, which is usually a bit of a feast or famine peg where silvers are concerned and it's mostly been famine this series looking at the previous weights/points from it.
With the wind blowing into my face and rain forecast to fall all day, the first thing I set up was a small groundbait feeder, to fish out level with the end of the spit. Two pole rigs completed the tackle line up, a MW diamond to fish at 11m, for caster or maggot over groundbait and a rig to fish down to the monk, in the hope that some decent perch or tench were in residence and hungry.
Not much point in fishing negatively today, as a few small roach won't be enough for the section or frame and with Tony Rixon and Tim Pallant in the section on pegs 78 and 79 it would be tough to beat them. I cupped 5 balls of groundbait into the 11m line, some caster down to the monk and then started on the feeder. in 50 minutes I had one bite, which was a skimmer about 10oz. Even with a fluoro maggot on, the tip remained resolutely still, the rain was still holding off so time to switch to the 11m line. This produced a few bites, but instead of the intended skimmers, the pegs occupants seemed to consist of 1-2oz roach. As this was all I could catch, I set up the waggler rod that had lain ready made up in the rodbag, this was effective at catching the roach, but they weren't coming quickly enough to build a double figure weight.
The monk produced a couple of 4oz roach and two perch, one about 12oz, another 8oz, but bites were few and far between. A new line was started at 11m along the spit, this fed just with maggot, as caster had been totally non productive, just one ½oz roach to show for it, this line produced a few hybrids and roach, with the hybrids being of a better stamp than the roach, one of them going just over a lb.
To round off the series, I lost a fish that would have won me the section, a hybrid of at least 3lb, in fairness it was lassoed or fouled, I lifted the rig to lift and drop the bait and it was on, it came to the surface totally inanimately, with it's dorsal fin and a proportion of its back out of the water, one big kick of its tail and it was gone, along with a chance of any sort of redemption for the series.
By rotating the lines and keeping fish, even though small, coming, when they went on the scales the dial pulled round to 10.08, as expected not enough to beat Tony or Tim who both managed to find a couple of better skimmers as they took 1st and 2nd in the section with 12.07 and 12.02.
The trip home was not without event, a dark wet and miserable night and as we pulled away from the traffic lights in Shepton mallet and drove into the dip by the cider factory, a car pulled out of town lane totally oblivious to our presence, Tony nearly managed to stop, but the young lads Audi suffered a crumpled wing as we unavoidably hit him, thankfully at low speed. Then coming out of Clutton and rounding the corner towards Chelwood we came to a halt in a line of stationary traffic with a sight of half a dozen or so blue lights at the top of the hill. Thinking it would be a good idea to turn round and cut through Clutton village and round by the Hunters Rest, we did so, forgetting now that nearly everyone has a sat nav, so many others had the same idea, even if they didn't have that bit of local knowledge. The van got stuck in a soft verge, causing a bit of a jam in the narrow lanes, but with a push from some helping hands we got on our way and at least got home safely.
1. Steve Tucker 21.10 peg 110
2. Bob Gullick 20.13 peg 98
3. Paul Greenwood 17.04 peg 131
4. Keith Mashedar 17.00 peg 119
5. Andy Power 16.12 peg 56
6. Ian Didcote 16.10 peg 98
Overall.
1. Tony Rixon
2. Bob Gullick
The draw tin wasn't too kind to me, off to peg 81 on Cary, which is usually a bit of a feast or famine peg where silvers are concerned and it's mostly been famine this series looking at the previous weights/points from it.
With the wind blowing into my face and rain forecast to fall all day, the first thing I set up was a small groundbait feeder, to fish out level with the end of the spit. Two pole rigs completed the tackle line up, a MW diamond to fish at 11m, for caster or maggot over groundbait and a rig to fish down to the monk, in the hope that some decent perch or tench were in residence and hungry.
Not much point in fishing negatively today, as a few small roach won't be enough for the section or frame and with Tony Rixon and Tim Pallant in the section on pegs 78 and 79 it would be tough to beat them. I cupped 5 balls of groundbait into the 11m line, some caster down to the monk and then started on the feeder. in 50 minutes I had one bite, which was a skimmer about 10oz. Even with a fluoro maggot on, the tip remained resolutely still, the rain was still holding off so time to switch to the 11m line. This produced a few bites, but instead of the intended skimmers, the pegs occupants seemed to consist of 1-2oz roach. As this was all I could catch, I set up the waggler rod that had lain ready made up in the rodbag, this was effective at catching the roach, but they weren't coming quickly enough to build a double figure weight.
The monk produced a couple of 4oz roach and two perch, one about 12oz, another 8oz, but bites were few and far between. A new line was started at 11m along the spit, this fed just with maggot, as caster had been totally non productive, just one ½oz roach to show for it, this line produced a few hybrids and roach, with the hybrids being of a better stamp than the roach, one of them going just over a lb.
To round off the series, I lost a fish that would have won me the section, a hybrid of at least 3lb, in fairness it was lassoed or fouled, I lifted the rig to lift and drop the bait and it was on, it came to the surface totally inanimately, with it's dorsal fin and a proportion of its back out of the water, one big kick of its tail and it was gone, along with a chance of any sort of redemption for the series.
By rotating the lines and keeping fish, even though small, coming, when they went on the scales the dial pulled round to 10.08, as expected not enough to beat Tony or Tim who both managed to find a couple of better skimmers as they took 1st and 2nd in the section with 12.07 and 12.02.
The trip home was not without event, a dark wet and miserable night and as we pulled away from the traffic lights in Shepton mallet and drove into the dip by the cider factory, a car pulled out of town lane totally oblivious to our presence, Tony nearly managed to stop, but the young lads Audi suffered a crumpled wing as we unavoidably hit him, thankfully at low speed. Then coming out of Clutton and rounding the corner towards Chelwood we came to a halt in a line of stationary traffic with a sight of half a dozen or so blue lights at the top of the hill. Thinking it would be a good idea to turn round and cut through Clutton village and round by the Hunters Rest, we did so, forgetting now that nearly everyone has a sat nav, so many others had the same idea, even if they didn't have that bit of local knowledge. The van got stuck in a soft verge, causing a bit of a jam in the narrow lanes, but with a push from some helping hands we got on our way and at least got home safely.
1. Steve Tucker 21.10 peg 110
2. Bob Gullick 20.13 peg 98
3. Paul Greenwood 17.04 peg 131
4. Keith Mashedar 17.00 peg 119
5. Andy Power 16.12 peg 56
6. Ian Didcote 16.10 peg 98
Overall.
1. Tony Rixon
2. Bob Gullick
Thursday, 12 December 2013
Avon Angling Open, Trinity Waters, Wednesday 11th December 2013
A significant date for this match, 11-12-13, that's the last number sequencing any of us will see, as it won't happen again until 2103.
14 on the lake today, so a good spread of pegs, I was hoping to avoid the top bank, as it has been unkind to me, but the cold wind blowing down the lake did suggest that the top end of the lake might be the place to draw. Into the hat, after friendly greeting from Misha, out comes peg 8, 7 and 8 used to be flyers when the tree was in the water, but they have become more on par with the rest of the pegs as the tree has been gone a while now.
Two rigs would suffice today, a 0.6g NG Gimp to fish various baits in the open water and a MW slim to target the margins, particularly under the pallets either side. the water was pretty coloured so no need to fish too light, 0.16 on the margin rig and start on 0.14 on the open water rig. Given the depth of this lake the fish often sit off bottom, so I did have a lead rod with a 2' hooklength, set up to fish popped up bread.
Some micros and a couple of grains of corn went in at 13m, no need to go longer and the wind would have made it too much like hard work to do so. Leaving it to rest I did have a dob under both pallets with bread, but not so much as a tremor on the float. A look over the fed area brought micro roach to maggot, and even dead maggot wouldn't put them off and leave the bait for a decent fish to pick up. A switch to corn brought a skimmer, but that was to be my only bite on corn in the open water, Devils Spawn was completely non productive, so back to maggot and a few small skimmers fell to that, but it was slow and the fish were too small to make it worth while.
At 1pm I went down under the pallet of peg 7, having fed a few grains of corn, this produced 4 fish in a 20 minute period, then it went quiet, so I guess I had taken the resident fish, I refed and tried the pallet of peg 9, but the wind was making it too tricky to get the presentation correct and in the right place.
I decided to make a proper bread dobbing rig for under the pallets, even though the water was probably a bit too coloured for it to work, I chucked the lead whilst I was doing it and before I could pick up the line to start making the rig, the tip was nodding and a carp had taken the bread, a false dawn, as I didn't have another bite on it, nor the dobbing rig.
The open water swim was totally non productive, so I finished the match by taking a couple more fish from the margins and with hindsight, should have concentrated on that, as it was the only area of the peg producing carp. My fish went 33.08, frustratingly one out of the money, by 10oz. As I thought the fish came from the top end of the lake, but that will change, as at the moment different pegs/areas seem to be winning every week.
1. Kev Molten 71.07 peg 15
2. Tony Rixon 62.10 peg 23
3. Martin Lengahan 34.01 peg 31
4. Chris Fox 33.08 peg 8
5. Matt Tomes 28.03 peg 19
6. Tim Pallant 22.07 peg 12 (All silvers, top silvers weight as well).
14 on the lake today, so a good spread of pegs, I was hoping to avoid the top bank, as it has been unkind to me, but the cold wind blowing down the lake did suggest that the top end of the lake might be the place to draw. Into the hat, after friendly greeting from Misha, out comes peg 8, 7 and 8 used to be flyers when the tree was in the water, but they have become more on par with the rest of the pegs as the tree has been gone a while now.
Two rigs would suffice today, a 0.6g NG Gimp to fish various baits in the open water and a MW slim to target the margins, particularly under the pallets either side. the water was pretty coloured so no need to fish too light, 0.16 on the margin rig and start on 0.14 on the open water rig. Given the depth of this lake the fish often sit off bottom, so I did have a lead rod with a 2' hooklength, set up to fish popped up bread.
Some micros and a couple of grains of corn went in at 13m, no need to go longer and the wind would have made it too much like hard work to do so. Leaving it to rest I did have a dob under both pallets with bread, but not so much as a tremor on the float. A look over the fed area brought micro roach to maggot, and even dead maggot wouldn't put them off and leave the bait for a decent fish to pick up. A switch to corn brought a skimmer, but that was to be my only bite on corn in the open water, Devils Spawn was completely non productive, so back to maggot and a few small skimmers fell to that, but it was slow and the fish were too small to make it worth while.
At 1pm I went down under the pallet of peg 7, having fed a few grains of corn, this produced 4 fish in a 20 minute period, then it went quiet, so I guess I had taken the resident fish, I refed and tried the pallet of peg 9, but the wind was making it too tricky to get the presentation correct and in the right place.
I decided to make a proper bread dobbing rig for under the pallets, even though the water was probably a bit too coloured for it to work, I chucked the lead whilst I was doing it and before I could pick up the line to start making the rig, the tip was nodding and a carp had taken the bread, a false dawn, as I didn't have another bite on it, nor the dobbing rig.
The open water swim was totally non productive, so I finished the match by taking a couple more fish from the margins and with hindsight, should have concentrated on that, as it was the only area of the peg producing carp. My fish went 33.08, frustratingly one out of the money, by 10oz. As I thought the fish came from the top end of the lake, but that will change, as at the moment different pegs/areas seem to be winning every week.
1. Kev Molten 71.07 peg 15
2. Tony Rixon 62.10 peg 23
3. Martin Lengahan 34.01 peg 31
4. Chris Fox 33.08 peg 8
5. Matt Tomes 28.03 peg 19
6. Tim Pallant 22.07 peg 12 (All silvers, top silvers weight as well).
Sunday, 8 December 2013
Landsend League, Round Two. Sunday 8th December 2013
After I shocked myself (and a few others no doubt) with a section 2nd and a lake silvers win in the first round, I actually had something to build on in this round. My turn for the specimen lake today, I was a bit disappointed that anglers fishing the league had fished a match on it yesterday, just my personal opinion.
I was only a few back in the queue at the draw, but the favoured pegs 33 and 31 were already gone to a contented looking Mark Poppleton and Trigger (Craig Edmunds). I managed to pick peg 32 the end peg on the far bank, opposite Mark Poppleton, whose peg had won the Saturdays match. Some helpful advice from Ken Rayner, Tony Rixon and Mike Duckett was noted. I was surprised to see just how clear the water is at the moment, so the rigs were all on 0.14 with either 0.12 or 0.10 hooklengths. I set up two rigs, one for the open water that would suffice for Devils Spawn, caster or maggot and one for down the edge to the tree at 16m. The shelf by the tree is only about 6" shallower than the open water, so deep enough to hold fish even in the gin clear conditions.
Plenty of time, so in anticipation of a few carp showing later in the match, I set up another rig with a bait band, to fish 6mm pellet or pull the band into a piece of corn. This was a remarkable piece of optimism, which wasn't rewarded, so little to say about that rig.
On the all in, I fed some softened micros and a couple of maggots via a tosspot at 13.5m, lined up with the bin in John Bradfords peg (34). Starting on the Devils Spawn saw the float remain steady and visible, no indication of life beneath the surface. After 15 minutes, a swap to maggot brought an immediate response and a small F1 graced the net. Trigger on 31 had snared a carp and Mark P on 33 was already showing the rest of the lake how to do it.
That was it for that line, no more bites, no indication of any fish anywhere near it. So an early look down the edge saw me miss a bite, land a perch, bump one and land another, decent perch worth catching, over the lb mark. That too proved to be a false dawn and the line was for all intents and purposes, devoid of fish.
By now, it was becoming frustrating, watching Mark P, bemoaning the sun and the fizzing in his peg, causing light refraction and poor float visibility, mine and Triggers sympathy was unforthcoming, as even with this most terrible of conditions, Mark was still regularly netting, F1's, Skimmers and carp, in short, absolutely pissing the lake.
A rummage in my holdall produced an extension for my pole, so a new line started at 17.5m towards the aerator, this was bloody hardwork, but did result in 3 decent skimmers (one was really a bream) a couple of roach, some missed bites and two lost carp,one of which was definitely fouled, as a huge scale came back when it took umbrage at being hooked. The other carp snapped the 0.12 and the resultant recoil of the elastic broke the float and snapped or cut one strand of the double 5 elastic, summing up a hard day.
I did manage a couple more decent perch from the edge, but by now, was thoroughly pissed off at watching Mark P's elastic flowing from the end of his pole with almost clockwork regularity. Trigger managed a couple of carp towards the end, fishing 17.5m to the end of the island, the rest of our section, was really struggling, when anglers like Alan Oram manage two bites and one carp in 51/2 hours of fishing, you know its tough.
My motley collection of silvers went 12.12, for second in section, behind Triggers 28lb odd, the section had a DNW and a couple of 4lb weights, so pretty poor. As expected Mark Poppletons net won the match, 72lb odd, including nearly 23lb of silvers.
So I keep just about in touch in the league with two section seconds and two section silvers wins, surprising really, as Landsend usually sends me home with my tail between my legs, even though it was pretty humiliating to be so soundly beaten by the peg opposite, I just could not get the fish to move that 4 or 5 metres. With hindsight, maybe a lead rod or waggler would have been worth taking, just to be able to fish to the limits of my peg, as even with the other pole extension (which was home in the garage) 19m wouldn't have been enough and I'm now aching and knackered after fishing 17.5m for so long.
See Ken's blog http://kenrayner-fishing.blogspot.co.uk/ for the results, as I had to dash home for 'puppy duty'.
See previous post for details of Acorn pole only series, 2014.
I was only a few back in the queue at the draw, but the favoured pegs 33 and 31 were already gone to a contented looking Mark Poppleton and Trigger (Craig Edmunds). I managed to pick peg 32 the end peg on the far bank, opposite Mark Poppleton, whose peg had won the Saturdays match. Some helpful advice from Ken Rayner, Tony Rixon and Mike Duckett was noted. I was surprised to see just how clear the water is at the moment, so the rigs were all on 0.14 with either 0.12 or 0.10 hooklengths. I set up two rigs, one for the open water that would suffice for Devils Spawn, caster or maggot and one for down the edge to the tree at 16m. The shelf by the tree is only about 6" shallower than the open water, so deep enough to hold fish even in the gin clear conditions.
Plenty of time, so in anticipation of a few carp showing later in the match, I set up another rig with a bait band, to fish 6mm pellet or pull the band into a piece of corn. This was a remarkable piece of optimism, which wasn't rewarded, so little to say about that rig.
On the all in, I fed some softened micros and a couple of maggots via a tosspot at 13.5m, lined up with the bin in John Bradfords peg (34). Starting on the Devils Spawn saw the float remain steady and visible, no indication of life beneath the surface. After 15 minutes, a swap to maggot brought an immediate response and a small F1 graced the net. Trigger on 31 had snared a carp and Mark P on 33 was already showing the rest of the lake how to do it.
That was it for that line, no more bites, no indication of any fish anywhere near it. So an early look down the edge saw me miss a bite, land a perch, bump one and land another, decent perch worth catching, over the lb mark. That too proved to be a false dawn and the line was for all intents and purposes, devoid of fish.
By now, it was becoming frustrating, watching Mark P, bemoaning the sun and the fizzing in his peg, causing light refraction and poor float visibility, mine and Triggers sympathy was unforthcoming, as even with this most terrible of conditions, Mark was still regularly netting, F1's, Skimmers and carp, in short, absolutely pissing the lake.
A rummage in my holdall produced an extension for my pole, so a new line started at 17.5m towards the aerator, this was bloody hardwork, but did result in 3 decent skimmers (one was really a bream) a couple of roach, some missed bites and two lost carp,one of which was definitely fouled, as a huge scale came back when it took umbrage at being hooked. The other carp snapped the 0.12 and the resultant recoil of the elastic broke the float and snapped or cut one strand of the double 5 elastic, summing up a hard day.
I did manage a couple more decent perch from the edge, but by now, was thoroughly pissed off at watching Mark P's elastic flowing from the end of his pole with almost clockwork regularity. Trigger managed a couple of carp towards the end, fishing 17.5m to the end of the island, the rest of our section, was really struggling, when anglers like Alan Oram manage two bites and one carp in 51/2 hours of fishing, you know its tough.
My motley collection of silvers went 12.12, for second in section, behind Triggers 28lb odd, the section had a DNW and a couple of 4lb weights, so pretty poor. As expected Mark Poppletons net won the match, 72lb odd, including nearly 23lb of silvers.
So I keep just about in touch in the league with two section seconds and two section silvers wins, surprising really, as Landsend usually sends me home with my tail between my legs, even though it was pretty humiliating to be so soundly beaten by the peg opposite, I just could not get the fish to move that 4 or 5 metres. With hindsight, maybe a lead rod or waggler would have been worth taking, just to be able to fish to the limits of my peg, as even with the other pole extension (which was home in the garage) 19m wouldn't have been enough and I'm now aching and knackered after fishing 17.5m for so long.
See Ken's blog http://kenrayner-fishing.blogspot.co.uk/ for the results, as I had to dash home for 'puppy duty'.
See previous post for details of Acorn pole only series, 2014.
Saturday, 7 December 2013
Pole Only Series, Acorn Fishery, 2014
Pole Only Series 2014
Acorn Fishery, Kingston
Seymour, Somerset
Dates:
Sunday 6th April
Sunday
13th April
Sunday
27th April
Sunday
4th May
Sunday
25th May
Sunday
1st June
Draw: 09.15, Fish 10.30 – 16.30
Proposed
Payouts, based on 32 fishing, four sections of eight.
On
the day: Section 1st £60, Section 2nd £50, Section Silvers £40 (by default)
Overall: 1st - £300. 2nd - £200. 3rd - £150. 4th - £100. 5th - £50
Silvers: 1st - £120. 2nd - £80
You
can win in both categories.
Knockout:
Winner £100
Heaviest
Weight of Series £50
Heaviest
Silvers Weight of Series £50
(Payouts
will vary if numbers fishing differ, all monies except peg fees paid out)
If
32 or less fish, all sections will be on Paddock Lake, if 36 – 40 fish, there
will be a section on the top lake. This is due to an increase in peg fees this
year.
£36
Entry fee payable in advance, pools will be £25 per match, with last match
pools being paid up front with entry fee. Please pay this by 1st
April 2014. There will be an optional
superpool on the last match.
To
book a place, please call Paul Faiers: 01275 858984
Monday, 2 December 2013
Viaduct Silvers League Round 5. Sunday 2nd December 2013
Firstly, no blog for the last round, as I didn't have time when I got in and was off to London for a couple of days on the Monday morning, then to France to pick up a puppy, so its been a busy time and there was nothing much to write about, as this series continues in the disastrous vein it started.
Saturday night a few of us from work went out for a beer, so I was grateful to get a lift with Tony (Rixon) , as I doubt if I was under the limit for driving down. After the usual decent brekkie at Shipham, I felt a bit more human and managed to shrug off the hangover that was threatening to take hold.
Tony only had to win his section to sew up the league, with one to go, he managed this and fair play, he has made the most of his draws and stuck to his guns, fishing for skimmers or tench, rather than being side tracked by roach.
I managed to pick out 101, I thought it might be just too far along, but it should produce some fish, 3 rigs set up, a 0.4g rig to fish at 14m, caster/maggot over groundbait, another rig to do the same at 11m, where it was 6" shallower and a rig set up with a 22 on 0.06 as the water looked clear. This would be fished at 8m off to the left. A waggler rod completed the tackle set up. On the all in I put 3 balls in on the 14m line, 2 on the 11m line and fed some caster at 8m, starting on this line. It was tough going, with just a couple of small roach to show for it, Trigger on 102 had an empty peg to his left (down to several no shows, a real pain when you're running a series) and he used this to his advantage, taking a couple of decent skimmers, a perch and a roach nearly 1lb, whilst I struggled to get a bite.
What followed was a frustrating time, as three of us in a row (Chris Davies on 100) hooked and lost decent skimmers, they seemed to be sat up in the water and wouldn't take a caster, maggot meant these lost fish. It was like an outing of the Tourettes society it got that frustrating. If I had the beauty of hindsight, I might well have weighed in a better weight, as in a quiet spell I decided to try the waggler a couple of metres beyond the pole line. Straight away I had a decent hybrid on the drop, then a few roach and a skimmer, all this without feeding...... so thinking there were a few fish there feeding, I picked up the catapult, only fed a few casters and 3 or 4 maggots, but that killed the peg stone dead. I can only assume that the fish were sitting out behind the groundbait and were happy there, until a few casters rained down on them and they disappeared quicker than Mike Nicholls when he has to get his wallet out.
I struggled up until the end then, just with odd small roach and 1 more skimmer for w weight of 8.05, which was 3 oz more than Chris on 100, bit nearly 5lb behind Trigger on 100, who had put 6lb in the net in the first 2 hours, whilst most others struggled. At least I have a good idea that I buggered it up by feeding today, rather than a couple of the other matches, when I haven't been able to get my head round why its been such a struggle. A tough but enjoyable match and now I have to steel myself for next week, R2 of the Landsend league, I'm on Speci lake, apparently the draw will be crucial!!
Saturday night a few of us from work went out for a beer, so I was grateful to get a lift with Tony (Rixon) , as I doubt if I was under the limit for driving down. After the usual decent brekkie at Shipham, I felt a bit more human and managed to shrug off the hangover that was threatening to take hold.
Tony only had to win his section to sew up the league, with one to go, he managed this and fair play, he has made the most of his draws and stuck to his guns, fishing for skimmers or tench, rather than being side tracked by roach.
I managed to pick out 101, I thought it might be just too far along, but it should produce some fish, 3 rigs set up, a 0.4g rig to fish at 14m, caster/maggot over groundbait, another rig to do the same at 11m, where it was 6" shallower and a rig set up with a 22 on 0.06 as the water looked clear. This would be fished at 8m off to the left. A waggler rod completed the tackle set up. On the all in I put 3 balls in on the 14m line, 2 on the 11m line and fed some caster at 8m, starting on this line. It was tough going, with just a couple of small roach to show for it, Trigger on 102 had an empty peg to his left (down to several no shows, a real pain when you're running a series) and he used this to his advantage, taking a couple of decent skimmers, a perch and a roach nearly 1lb, whilst I struggled to get a bite.
What followed was a frustrating time, as three of us in a row (Chris Davies on 100) hooked and lost decent skimmers, they seemed to be sat up in the water and wouldn't take a caster, maggot meant these lost fish. It was like an outing of the Tourettes society it got that frustrating. If I had the beauty of hindsight, I might well have weighed in a better weight, as in a quiet spell I decided to try the waggler a couple of metres beyond the pole line. Straight away I had a decent hybrid on the drop, then a few roach and a skimmer, all this without feeding...... so thinking there were a few fish there feeding, I picked up the catapult, only fed a few casters and 3 or 4 maggots, but that killed the peg stone dead. I can only assume that the fish were sitting out behind the groundbait and were happy there, until a few casters rained down on them and they disappeared quicker than Mike Nicholls when he has to get his wallet out.
I struggled up until the end then, just with odd small roach and 1 more skimmer for w weight of 8.05, which was 3 oz more than Chris on 100, bit nearly 5lb behind Trigger on 100, who had put 6lb in the net in the first 2 hours, whilst most others struggled. At least I have a good idea that I buggered it up by feeding today, rather than a couple of the other matches, when I haven't been able to get my head round why its been such a struggle. A tough but enjoyable match and now I have to steel myself for next week, R2 of the Landsend league, I'm on Speci lake, apparently the draw will be crucial!!
- Gary O’Shea 23-02-0 peg 94
- Lee Werret 20-0-0 peg 59
- An-Ton Page 15-08-0 peg 118
- Mark Brennan 14-09-0 peg 119
- Richard Ahearn 13-02-0 peg 111
- Craig Edmonds 13-0-0 peg 102
Monday, 11 November 2013
Landsend Winter League Round One, Sunday 10th November
I didn't spend ages preparing for this match, as I was wondering what had possessed me to enter this league, I really did think I may as well post the £86 it cost on the day, down the drain, I was expecting the same return on my 'investment'. I didn't fancy lake 3, as it never seems to fish well when I draw it, so of course, when I went into the draw bucket, out comes lake 3, peg 70. I have drawn this peg before in a short pole match and struggled, as its a peg that needs 14m to reach the spit where some small carp live.
At the draw there were a few comments as Ken (Rayner) has now set new standards for league organisers to be judged by, no more taking league records and weigh sheets to venues in asda carriers or plastic wallets 'borrowed' from work. Ken has shamed us all, by having his documentation all neatly printed up and transported in a spick and span briefcase, to complete the shaming of the rest of us who run leagues, no stuffing the cash into old ice cream tubs, bait boxes or trouser pockets for Ken, no its a lockable cash box to complete the professionalism - just a shame that didn't carry over into his fishing....... :-) see his blog for the sorry tale.
With plenty of time to tackle up, even I was ready at the start, having had some advice on the peg from several anglers and quite varied the advice was, I stuck with the advice from Tony Rixon, as there aren't many anglers with a better record on the venue. I had set up a pencil float to fish catch close in, a margin rig for fishing caster that was on 0.16 to 0.14 with a size 16 6313 Middy hook. A yellow topped small Daiwa float to fish across in about 3' of water, this was 0.18 to a 0.16 hooklength and a 16 Drennan carp hair rigger hook. A bit strong for this time of year, but the end bank has been eroded away and is a jungle of exposed tree and bush root and stumps. Finally, a Carpa Chimp to fish caster or devils spawn to the weed bed.
I started feeding 3 lines, a short caster line, which apart from 2 roach, one of which dropped off swinging it in, was a waste of time. I fed some softened micros and caster at 7m to the weedbed and catapulted 4mm pellets across to the spit. The weedbed produced a couple of crucians before the tiny rudd moved in and were holding up even a 6mm devils spawn. Over to the spit with a banded 6mm and I had a couple of carp, but they were small, one of them going into the silvers net as it was about 8oz. The fish wouldn't stay in the baited area, I think there were odd fish coming out of the snags and roots, feeding, getting caught and then I had to wait for the next one to venture out. During a quiet spell I went back to the weedbed swim and had a 2lb carp and a F1, before once gain, the tiny rudd made it a pointless exercise.
One bit of advice was feed the margin heavily with caster, which I did from just after the halfway mark, I kept looking in there, but not so much as a twitch on the float. By persevering with the line against the spit I managed to keep the fish coming, but they were small and coming slowly, I was sure Mark Poppleton on 68 was beating me. I had ventured a little nearer snag city and lost a couple of fish and ended up having to remake the rig, the small carp are so quick they take you into the snags as you lift into them.
With 20 minutes to go, I had a fish nearer the 4lb mark from the spit, by far the biggest fish of the day so far and then with 15 minutes to go I saw a big swirl over the margin, I dropped double caster in and the float settled and went under, I was connected to the biggest fish of the day and it took me a few minutes to net it. I quickly rebaited, dropped it back into the margin as my watch showed 4pm and I missed a bite, before I could get it back in, the all out was called.
I thought I had about 50lb of carp and 5 or 6lb of slivers (crucians and F1's), I was first to weigh and my 14 or 15 small carp went 35lb, the two bigger fish went 14lb, if only they'd all have been that stamp. My silvers went 8.04 which gave me 57lb odd, for second in section, behind Trigger who had a 70lb odd and it was third on the lake and top silvers weight. The silvers couldn't have been tighter, my 8.04 was followed by Alan Oram on 41, with 8.03, Anton Page had 8.02 and John Bradford a high 7lb.
I didn't stay and take down the results, as I was off out for a beer and a curry, which were both a bit sweeter after having a decent result on a venue that usually leaves me deflated and beaten.
Have a look at Ken Rayners blog for the results, once he's extracted them from his briefcase.
http://kenrayner-fishing.blogspot.co.uk/
At the draw there were a few comments as Ken (Rayner) has now set new standards for league organisers to be judged by, no more taking league records and weigh sheets to venues in asda carriers or plastic wallets 'borrowed' from work. Ken has shamed us all, by having his documentation all neatly printed up and transported in a spick and span briefcase, to complete the shaming of the rest of us who run leagues, no stuffing the cash into old ice cream tubs, bait boxes or trouser pockets for Ken, no its a lockable cash box to complete the professionalism - just a shame that didn't carry over into his fishing....... :-) see his blog for the sorry tale.
With plenty of time to tackle up, even I was ready at the start, having had some advice on the peg from several anglers and quite varied the advice was, I stuck with the advice from Tony Rixon, as there aren't many anglers with a better record on the venue. I had set up a pencil float to fish catch close in, a margin rig for fishing caster that was on 0.16 to 0.14 with a size 16 6313 Middy hook. A yellow topped small Daiwa float to fish across in about 3' of water, this was 0.18 to a 0.16 hooklength and a 16 Drennan carp hair rigger hook. A bit strong for this time of year, but the end bank has been eroded away and is a jungle of exposed tree and bush root and stumps. Finally, a Carpa Chimp to fish caster or devils spawn to the weed bed.
I started feeding 3 lines, a short caster line, which apart from 2 roach, one of which dropped off swinging it in, was a waste of time. I fed some softened micros and caster at 7m to the weedbed and catapulted 4mm pellets across to the spit. The weedbed produced a couple of crucians before the tiny rudd moved in and were holding up even a 6mm devils spawn. Over to the spit with a banded 6mm and I had a couple of carp, but they were small, one of them going into the silvers net as it was about 8oz. The fish wouldn't stay in the baited area, I think there were odd fish coming out of the snags and roots, feeding, getting caught and then I had to wait for the next one to venture out. During a quiet spell I went back to the weedbed swim and had a 2lb carp and a F1, before once gain, the tiny rudd made it a pointless exercise.
One bit of advice was feed the margin heavily with caster, which I did from just after the halfway mark, I kept looking in there, but not so much as a twitch on the float. By persevering with the line against the spit I managed to keep the fish coming, but they were small and coming slowly, I was sure Mark Poppleton on 68 was beating me. I had ventured a little nearer snag city and lost a couple of fish and ended up having to remake the rig, the small carp are so quick they take you into the snags as you lift into them.
With 20 minutes to go, I had a fish nearer the 4lb mark from the spit, by far the biggest fish of the day so far and then with 15 minutes to go I saw a big swirl over the margin, I dropped double caster in and the float settled and went under, I was connected to the biggest fish of the day and it took me a few minutes to net it. I quickly rebaited, dropped it back into the margin as my watch showed 4pm and I missed a bite, before I could get it back in, the all out was called.
I thought I had about 50lb of carp and 5 or 6lb of slivers (crucians and F1's), I was first to weigh and my 14 or 15 small carp went 35lb, the two bigger fish went 14lb, if only they'd all have been that stamp. My silvers went 8.04 which gave me 57lb odd, for second in section, behind Trigger who had a 70lb odd and it was third on the lake and top silvers weight. The silvers couldn't have been tighter, my 8.04 was followed by Alan Oram on 41, with 8.03, Anton Page had 8.02 and John Bradford a high 7lb.
I didn't stay and take down the results, as I was off out for a beer and a curry, which were both a bit sweeter after having a decent result on a venue that usually leaves me deflated and beaten.
Have a look at Ken Rayners blog for the results, once he's extracted them from his briefcase.
http://kenrayner-fishing.blogspot.co.uk/
Thursday, 7 November 2013
Avon Angling Open, Plantation Main Lake, Wednesday 6th November 2013
The weather forecasters were promising rain and even gales
in coastal areas for today, so I decided to leave the waggler rods at home,
just bringing the pole and a lead rod.
To go with the lead rod I had a rummage around at the back of the garage
and found a couple of method feeders and decided to take them.
A reasonable breakfast in the café at Plantation was had,
then into the landing net which was serving as todays swim card receptacle,
where there were 17 eager hands trying to pick out one of the known flyers. Once a again I failed to draw one of the
‘form’ pegs, but I had resolved to go and fish whatever I drew positively
today, so off to 26, an island chuck, but I felt just too far up the lake. There was some confusion over Tim Clark’s
draw and Tony directed him to peg 25, which is about 3 yards from 26 and with
27 and 28 in, I did feel a little hemmed in.
It turns out that Tim read his swim card incorrectly and should have
been on peg 8, so he moved round there before the start, luckily for him, peg 8
is a much better peg. Let’s just hope
his use of figures is a bit more accurate when applying Ohms law!!
Back to the fishing and it would appear that leaving the
waggler rods in the garage was a big mistake, an island chuck, with the gentle
breeze off my back - perfect waggler conditions, oh well, no choice but to
stick to the plan. I set up the lead rod
and put a method feeder on, with a 3” hooklength (quite why I did this, I’m not
sure, as I have never caught a fish on a method feeder and have no confidence
in it), some micros with a bit of groundbait were prepared to go on it, along
with assorted hookbaits, such as band um’s, pellets and maggots. Little more to say about the method feeder
set up, I started on it and had another go with an hour and a half to go, I am
still waiting to catch my first fish on a method feeder………
3 pole rigs were assembled, a MW diamond to fish banded
pellet at 14m, a Carpa Chimp to fish soft pellet over the 14m line and as it
was the same depth, caster at 8m and a pencil float to fish short with caster
or maggot. On the all-in I cupped a few
4mm pellets and micro’s in a 14m, then 3 balls of groundbait with caster in at
8m and loose fed caster short. I started
on the aforementioned method feeder and gave it half an hour, before chronic
boredom set in.
I had a look over the 14m line with a 6mm hard pellet, but
that was as devoid of action as the method feeder, so I topped it back up and
dropped a maggot in on the 8m line. I had a skimmer straight away, which was
encouraging, but then a couple of small roach before the line died, another top
up brought the roach back and one more skimmer.
I had another look over the 14m line, this time with soft pellet and had
a small carp and a skimmer on this line, then the wind got up, making
presentation tricky and float visibility was very poor.
Switching to the short line brought a decent skimmer and a
near double figure carp to the single maggot, but the roach were playing hard
to get. For the rest of the match I switched between all 3 pole lines, the 14m
line remained dead, the short line produced another big skimmer and a 12lb
carp, along with the odd roach, the 8m line did produce odd roach, but was slow
going, I think I probably overfed it.
The scales gave me 40.0, 29.04 carp and 10.13 silvers which was 6th overall
and in all honesty, I wasn’t too disappointed with that from the peg. Maybe if
I’d have targeted the silvers more specifically I’d have lifted myself into a payout position as the top two silvers were paid.
1) Nick
Collier 92.10 peg 31
2) Anton
Page 85.02 peg 3
3) Tony
Rixon 81.09 peg 4
4) Rod
Wotton 71.07 peg 7
5) Tim
Clark 67.09 peg 8
6) Chris
Fox 40.01 peg 26
Silvers:
2) Tony Rixon 13.00 peg 4
3) Mike Nicholls 12.07 peg 19
Viaduct Silvers league R3. Sunday 3rd November 2013
First trip out for my new (to me) van, I was tempted to get another Astra Sportive and looked at a couple of the 1.9 150PS versions, but realistically it's just too small, a squeeze for one and virtually impossible to get two and the ridiculous amount of gear we carry now. I picked up Tony Rixon and was pleased to see that two lots of kit fit easily into a LWB Connect.
On the drive down and in the cafe, Tony said he fancied peg 78, as the favoured diagonal bank on Cary would be a bit exposed, something up with Tony's influence on the drawbag today, he drew 119 and I drew slap bang in the middle of the diagonal bank on peg 100. With the wind blowing into the bank, I did feel that I had drawn the right area on the wrong day and then compounded it by fishing it all wrong.
I guessed that a good 30lb+ weight would be needed to frame and set up to catch this, as with two poor results previously, the league and any chance of picking up in it are a lost cause. A small cage feeder was set up, in case the forecast wind got up, a rig to fish at 11m (closer than I'd like, but didn't want to feed a line too far out and then not be able to fish it), the rig would also do for 14m if I could hold it there. A pencil float to fish short and a small diamond to fish the edge, hoping for hybrids or perch. I also set up a waggler.
The short lines (topkit and 6m) produced nothing, not even a bite, even though I felt there was enough depth for them to give up a few roach, if nothing else, so no more about them. The LH edge also was devoid of feeding fish and the RH edge gave up two 4oz perch in consecutive put-ins and nothing else, not even a bite.
I think I overfed the peg, trying to catch 30lb+, instead of trying to coax a few fish out and had to switch between the 11m, 14m and waggler lines to keep the odd fish coming, where with hindsight, sitting it out on a long pole line for skimmers, or staying on the waggler and concentrating on roach would probably have given me a point or two more, but still not enough.
For results, see Tony's, Mike Nicholls or Clayton's blog.
On the drive down and in the cafe, Tony said he fancied peg 78, as the favoured diagonal bank on Cary would be a bit exposed, something up with Tony's influence on the drawbag today, he drew 119 and I drew slap bang in the middle of the diagonal bank on peg 100. With the wind blowing into the bank, I did feel that I had drawn the right area on the wrong day and then compounded it by fishing it all wrong.
I guessed that a good 30lb+ weight would be needed to frame and set up to catch this, as with two poor results previously, the league and any chance of picking up in it are a lost cause. A small cage feeder was set up, in case the forecast wind got up, a rig to fish at 11m (closer than I'd like, but didn't want to feed a line too far out and then not be able to fish it), the rig would also do for 14m if I could hold it there. A pencil float to fish short and a small diamond to fish the edge, hoping for hybrids or perch. I also set up a waggler.
The short lines (topkit and 6m) produced nothing, not even a bite, even though I felt there was enough depth for them to give up a few roach, if nothing else, so no more about them. The LH edge also was devoid of feeding fish and the RH edge gave up two 4oz perch in consecutive put-ins and nothing else, not even a bite.
I think I overfed the peg, trying to catch 30lb+, instead of trying to coax a few fish out and had to switch between the 11m, 14m and waggler lines to keep the odd fish coming, where with hindsight, sitting it out on a long pole line for skimmers, or staying on the waggler and concentrating on roach would probably have given me a point or two more, but still not enough.
For results, see Tony's, Mike Nicholls or Clayton's blog.
Tuesday, 22 October 2013
Viaduct Silvers league Round 2. Sunday 20th October 2013
It was like groundhog day as Tony pulled up and we loaded my kit in the van for the second day running, off to Viaduct for a silvers match again.
I was disappointed to draw peg 59 on Lodge, dead opposite yesterdays peg. a more cautious approach would surely be needed today? I set up the same rigs as yesterday and had listened to Matt Tomes who drew the peg the day before and had caught roach, small hybrids and skimmers short.
I fed a line with groundbait and caster at 12m and the distance off to my left just with caster, also fed a 5m caster line to the tree and a margin line. Fir the second day running I caught a snag on the short line and trashed a rig, there are loads of submerged branches in Lodge it would appear. The other lines were slow and whilst Dan squires to my right was catching reasonable skimmers, I was catching skimmers that were 1-2oz, but the odd thing was that they are starting to turn bronze. No matter what line I fished the fish were tiny, either that or 8lb+........
I persevered, but not matter what I did, I just couldn't get any quality fish, the biggest fish I had with 1 1/2 hours to go was 3oz. The carp didn't help matters, no matter what line I fished, they were there and eating, whilst Dan and a couple of others, especially Mash on the end peg were getting carp, they were getting the decent stamp of skimmers in between.
With an hour to go I was close to packing up, but then had a roach which was nudging a pound, in perfect condition, is there a more lovely fish? By now I had used 25 hooklengths and landed 4 or 5 carp as well, when all of a sudden, with 25 minutes to go I had 4 decent skimmers on the trot, which just helped my belief that they weren't in front of me earlier. This took my weight from about 5 or 6lb to 12lb or so, before the carp moved back in and polished off another 5 hooklengths in the final 15 minutes. So 30 hooks gone and 4 or 5 carp landed, no wonder the skimmers weren't there.....
So two disappointing days, when I would have expected to do better, I probably fished too positively on Saturday, but that was a go for it day and Sunday, as Dan Squires fed 3 pints of maggot, maybe I fished too negatively. I think it was a hindrance rather than a help being on the same lake two days running. As for Tony "I never draw a bad peg" Rixon, he mode the most of a good peg and won the match from peg 98 on Cary.
1) Tony Rixon 40.02 peg 98
2) Nick Collins 39.10 peg 111
3) Steve Mayo 37.06 peg 71
4) Mark Brennan 36.02 peg 129
5) Steve Kedge 36.01 peg 128
6) Bob Gullick 35.02 peg 78
I was disappointed to draw peg 59 on Lodge, dead opposite yesterdays peg. a more cautious approach would surely be needed today? I set up the same rigs as yesterday and had listened to Matt Tomes who drew the peg the day before and had caught roach, small hybrids and skimmers short.
I fed a line with groundbait and caster at 12m and the distance off to my left just with caster, also fed a 5m caster line to the tree and a margin line. Fir the second day running I caught a snag on the short line and trashed a rig, there are loads of submerged branches in Lodge it would appear. The other lines were slow and whilst Dan squires to my right was catching reasonable skimmers, I was catching skimmers that were 1-2oz, but the odd thing was that they are starting to turn bronze. No matter what line I fished the fish were tiny, either that or 8lb+........
I persevered, but not matter what I did, I just couldn't get any quality fish, the biggest fish I had with 1 1/2 hours to go was 3oz. The carp didn't help matters, no matter what line I fished, they were there and eating, whilst Dan and a couple of others, especially Mash on the end peg were getting carp, they were getting the decent stamp of skimmers in between.
With an hour to go I was close to packing up, but then had a roach which was nudging a pound, in perfect condition, is there a more lovely fish? By now I had used 25 hooklengths and landed 4 or 5 carp as well, when all of a sudden, with 25 minutes to go I had 4 decent skimmers on the trot, which just helped my belief that they weren't in front of me earlier. This took my weight from about 5 or 6lb to 12lb or so, before the carp moved back in and polished off another 5 hooklengths in the final 15 minutes. So 30 hooks gone and 4 or 5 carp landed, no wonder the skimmers weren't there.....
So two disappointing days, when I would have expected to do better, I probably fished too positively on Saturday, but that was a go for it day and Sunday, as Dan Squires fed 3 pints of maggot, maybe I fished too negatively. I think it was a hindrance rather than a help being on the same lake two days running. As for Tony "I never draw a bad peg" Rixon, he mode the most of a good peg and won the match from peg 98 on Cary.
1) Tony Rixon 40.02 peg 98
2) Nick Collins 39.10 peg 111
3) Steve Mayo 37.06 peg 71
4) Mark Brennan 36.02 peg 129
5) Steve Kedge 36.01 peg 128
6) Bob Gullick 35.02 peg 78
Viaduct Silvers All Winners Final. Saturday 19th October 2013
After Wednesdays practice match, I was looking forward to this, a lift down with Tony Rixon and a breakfast at Shipham was a good start to the day, even if it was a squeeze in the van, as we had anglings new body builder, Trigger, sandwiched in between us.
I fancied a draw on Cary, but also thought that a weight from Campbell was well overdue, so where did I draw, Lodge...... in all fairness, it is a peg that has some silvers form, peg 69, so I did think I'd catch a few fish. I had Tim Pallant on 68 for company and he was end peg, Nick Ewers on the other side on 70, also on 71 was Viaduct silvers specialist, John Green, so some tough competition.
I set up three rigs, one to fish short and two to fish at 11m, one standard rig with a bulk and two droppers, the other with a double bulk. I also set up a waggler and a margin rig, as I had time. the margin rig produced one small perch and the waggler a couple of small rudd, so no more about them.
In fact there isn't much to write about any of it, very slow, the whole lake fished hard and as it was a £750 final. I attacked the peg and fished for 40lb, which I though would be a minimum to win, probably more.
I fed 5 big balls of groundbait with CW&C in at 11m and started short, two decent roach in the first two put ins then I hooked a snag and that trashed the rig and killed the short line.
I only managed 4 proper skimmers the whole match, they came in two spells of two, after about 2 hours and in the last hour, although I did have one well over a pound that jumped over the rope that holds the aerator, the hook, obviously came out and stuck in the rope.
A miserable day and I tipped back just about double figures, not bothering the scalesman.
Winner from Cary, second from Campbell, both over 50lb, highest weight on Lodge was half the winners weight at 28lb.
I didn't get a result sheet so see Tony's blog.
I fancied a draw on Cary, but also thought that a weight from Campbell was well overdue, so where did I draw, Lodge...... in all fairness, it is a peg that has some silvers form, peg 69, so I did think I'd catch a few fish. I had Tim Pallant on 68 for company and he was end peg, Nick Ewers on the other side on 70, also on 71 was Viaduct silvers specialist, John Green, so some tough competition.
I set up three rigs, one to fish short and two to fish at 11m, one standard rig with a bulk and two droppers, the other with a double bulk. I also set up a waggler and a margin rig, as I had time. the margin rig produced one small perch and the waggler a couple of small rudd, so no more about them.
In fact there isn't much to write about any of it, very slow, the whole lake fished hard and as it was a £750 final. I attacked the peg and fished for 40lb, which I though would be a minimum to win, probably more.
I fed 5 big balls of groundbait with CW&C in at 11m and started short, two decent roach in the first two put ins then I hooked a snag and that trashed the rig and killed the short line.
I only managed 4 proper skimmers the whole match, they came in two spells of two, after about 2 hours and in the last hour, although I did have one well over a pound that jumped over the rope that holds the aerator, the hook, obviously came out and stuck in the rope.
A miserable day and I tipped back just about double figures, not bothering the scalesman.
Winner from Cary, second from Campbell, both over 50lb, highest weight on Lodge was half the winners weight at 28lb.
I didn't get a result sheet so see Tony's blog.
Wednesday, 16 October 2013
Viaduct Silvers Open, Cary. Wednesday 16th October 2013
In preparation for two 50+ peg silvers matches at Viaduct this weekend coming, the all winners final on Saturday and the 2nd round of the silvers league on Sunday, I decided to fish this and after traveling down with convivial tackle dealer, Tony Rixon, I managed to pull out another peg that I wouldn't have chosen - 85. What makes it worse is that Matt Tomes pulled 78, the peg he won the 1st round of the silvers from and Tony managed to back 102, one away from where he took 4th place in the silvers league - where do you sell your soul to draw like that!!!
Still, they may have moved and the Bridge Troll, Bobby G, managed 2nd in the silvers league from 86, so hopefully some fish in the area. I set up a cage feeder, in case the weather or more specifically the wind got worse, a rig with a pencil float to fish short, a NG Gimp to fish at 11m and a MW F1 slim to fish a double bulk at 11m, as I had time before the all in, I also set up a rig to fish the margin.
4 big balls of groundbait with caster and a little chopped worm went in at 11m, loose fed caster short, starting short, I had a couple of perch and roach, but the first half an hour soon went by with little to show for it. Shipping out a worm head to 11m resulted in...... nothing, I was expecting a few bites, there were some pin prick skimmer bubbles out by the float. A switch to maggot saw a few skimmers in the net, but mainly small ones, 2-3oz with a couple of 12oz fish. The line was very slow, as was the short line, so a look down the margin was in order, I'd been feeding casters with a catty at about 10m towards 84, this produced a couple of perch and roach, but not the tench or big perch I wanted.
I decided to try the feeder and had clipped it up at 30 turns, first put in, the tip curled round I lifted into what looked like a skimmer bite and carp no1 swam off towards the aerator, relieving the rig of its hook. Another hook tied on and back out, I tried the feeder for half an hour and missed 3 roach bites, so gave it up as a bad job.
Back on the pole and a large worm section over the 11m line brought a 31/2lb bream to the net, but it appeared to be a lonesome fish, as no more of this stamp were forthcoming. I swapped between the 11m and short line, feeding groundbait on both, taking odd fish, roach, skimmers, chub, eel, ruffe and perch, so a wide variety, but little quality until I had a big hybrid and then 3 skimmers on the short line. By now the 11m line had the tell tale sign of carp, big circular patches of bubbles erupting over it, so I left it alone and fished out the short line until the end of the match.
It was a close match and my 30 minutes on the feeder might have cost me, as my fish weighed 26.07 for second in section, although I did get the section money by default, as Matt was joint 3rd.. For the 2nd match running, not too much carp trouble, will that continue? I hope so.
1) Steve Kedge 31.10 peg 97
2) Tony Rixon 31.06 peg 102
=3) Gary Etheridge 30.06 peg 105
=3) Matt Tomes 30.06 peg 78
5) Keith Mashedar 29.07 peg 99
6) Chris Fox 26.07 peg 85
Still, they may have moved and the Bridge Troll, Bobby G, managed 2nd in the silvers league from 86, so hopefully some fish in the area. I set up a cage feeder, in case the weather or more specifically the wind got worse, a rig with a pencil float to fish short, a NG Gimp to fish at 11m and a MW F1 slim to fish a double bulk at 11m, as I had time before the all in, I also set up a rig to fish the margin.
4 big balls of groundbait with caster and a little chopped worm went in at 11m, loose fed caster short, starting short, I had a couple of perch and roach, but the first half an hour soon went by with little to show for it. Shipping out a worm head to 11m resulted in...... nothing, I was expecting a few bites, there were some pin prick skimmer bubbles out by the float. A switch to maggot saw a few skimmers in the net, but mainly small ones, 2-3oz with a couple of 12oz fish. The line was very slow, as was the short line, so a look down the margin was in order, I'd been feeding casters with a catty at about 10m towards 84, this produced a couple of perch and roach, but not the tench or big perch I wanted.
I decided to try the feeder and had clipped it up at 30 turns, first put in, the tip curled round I lifted into what looked like a skimmer bite and carp no1 swam off towards the aerator, relieving the rig of its hook. Another hook tied on and back out, I tried the feeder for half an hour and missed 3 roach bites, so gave it up as a bad job.
Back on the pole and a large worm section over the 11m line brought a 31/2lb bream to the net, but it appeared to be a lonesome fish, as no more of this stamp were forthcoming. I swapped between the 11m and short line, feeding groundbait on both, taking odd fish, roach, skimmers, chub, eel, ruffe and perch, so a wide variety, but little quality until I had a big hybrid and then 3 skimmers on the short line. By now the 11m line had the tell tale sign of carp, big circular patches of bubbles erupting over it, so I left it alone and fished out the short line until the end of the match.
It was a close match and my 30 minutes on the feeder might have cost me, as my fish weighed 26.07 for second in section, although I did get the section money by default, as Matt was joint 3rd.. For the 2nd match running, not too much carp trouble, will that continue? I hope so.
1) Steve Kedge 31.10 peg 97
2) Tony Rixon 31.06 peg 102
=3) Gary Etheridge 30.06 peg 105
=3) Matt Tomes 30.06 peg 78
5) Keith Mashedar 29.07 peg 99
6) Chris Fox 26.07 peg 85
Monday, 7 October 2013
Viaduct Silvers league Round 1. Sunday 6th October 2013
The unseasonal October weather promised sunshine and the lightest of breezes, hardly ideal conditions to herald the start of a silvers series. Campbell lake has been particularly tough for silvers lately, although last Wednesdays match did hint that sport was picking up, that said, the consensus was pretty unanimous that to be that for a chance of framing, a draw away from Campbell, on Cary or Lodge would be necessary.
A nice treat this morning, a lift down from Tony (Rixon), especially as the time I got in on Saturday night is a little vague, after a trip into town to see Jimmy Carr, all the good intentions of coming straight home, were destroyed by the temptation of the City Center nightlife.
Into the draw tin and out comes 110 on Campbell........ WTF do I have to do to draw a decent peg!! Still as its a series and the main thing is to get section points, so after collecting several commiserations (and some smug grins) on the way, I got to 110 and tried to plan out a way to score points from an unfavoured peg. I set up a small feeder and waggler rods, but they were packed away again at the end without either wetting a line.
This left my pole lines to consider, I set up a rig to hopefully catch some Tench down by the stump, although they haven't shown there for a while, a double bulk rig to fish over groundbait, with CW&C, a standard bulk and two dropper rig and a colmic pencil to fish caster close in. I used an electric drill and groundbait whisk for the first time to mix my groundbait - why have I waited so long!! A perfect mix that doesn't need riddling and in a fraction of the time, I'm now converted.
My bait tray was caster, worm, maggot as the main baits, I did dampen a few micro's and pump up some expanders and open a tin of corn, but given the conditions I was convinced putting any sort of pellet in would see the carp arrive in numbers. On the all in I put 5 balls of groundbait on a line at 12m, off to my left, using the opposite corner point of the lake as a marker, loose fed caster short and cupped in some CW&C down by the stump.
Starting short, I managed a few small roach on maggot, as caster was a waste of time, a bite on it everytime, but when I managed to hook something on it, it was of the 3 or 4 to the oz stamp, the reverse of what you'd expect as the maggot fish were 1-3oz. After half an hour, I went out over the groundbait line and sat and waited, watching a motionless float, there was no indication of fish there, so I abandoned that and re-fed it with 2 more balls of groundbait. I had a look down by the stump and missed a bite first drop in, dropping the rig back in and it shot under, this time a small tench safely netted.
By now I was behind Clayton (Hudson) on peg 111, who had managed to get three tench so far and my hopes that the tench had re inhabited the stump in great numbers were sadly dashed, as for the rest of the match, the stump produced either a small perch or a carp that disappeared round the back of the stump.
At last, an odd bubble or two over the groundbait, so back out with the double bulk rig and three decent skimmers netted in half an hour or so, not dramatic sport, but clawing back some ground on Clayton and Nigel Bartlett on 112. Then the carp decided that they would muscle in on the skimmers party and either foulers or properly hooked carp made the line a waste of time.
I did try a line fed with micros at about 7m straight in front, first drop in with a 4mm expander saw a carp take it immediately, so that line was abandoned. By now I was having some amusement, watching Clayton, it was like a well oiled bagging machine, sadly for him, it was carp after carp. One 'carp' he was tussling with and pulling a bit hard popped up and was a tench, his sudden change of playing style to careful, allowed the tench to go around his platform legs, through his keepnets and provide a couple of minutes of entertainment, but it was obviously well hooked as he safely netted it.
I found that by staying short, I was avoiding the worst of the carp, if I had set up a shallow rig, I could have caught a roach a chuck, but I stuck at the full depth rig and pieces of worm, as this produced at a slower rate, but with a tench, some skimmers and better roach, it was a better stamp of fish. Towards the end, the best way to get bites was feed a tiny ball of groundbait with CW&C every 10 put ins and a bigger ball of plain groundbait every put in.
So a disappointing draw and I honestly didn't have a clue what weight I had, due to the wide variation in fish sizes and sporadic catch rate, I was last in the section to weigh and had Anton page's 27lb to beat, I knew I didn't have that, but was pleasantly surprised to see the scales pull round to 22.13, which was 3rd in section. Which given the weights in the section, I wonder now if I abandoned the skimmer line too soon, or if I should have tried starting a new one, but then the time spent doing that would have cost me some of the fish taken short.
Campbell weighboard below.
As predicted, the framers came from Cary and Lodge, maybe Campbell will keep improving and compete as the weather gets colder.
A nice treat this morning, a lift down from Tony (Rixon), especially as the time I got in on Saturday night is a little vague, after a trip into town to see Jimmy Carr, all the good intentions of coming straight home, were destroyed by the temptation of the City Center nightlife.
Into the draw tin and out comes 110 on Campbell........ WTF do I have to do to draw a decent peg!! Still as its a series and the main thing is to get section points, so after collecting several commiserations (and some smug grins) on the way, I got to 110 and tried to plan out a way to score points from an unfavoured peg. I set up a small feeder and waggler rods, but they were packed away again at the end without either wetting a line.
This left my pole lines to consider, I set up a rig to hopefully catch some Tench down by the stump, although they haven't shown there for a while, a double bulk rig to fish over groundbait, with CW&C, a standard bulk and two dropper rig and a colmic pencil to fish caster close in. I used an electric drill and groundbait whisk for the first time to mix my groundbait - why have I waited so long!! A perfect mix that doesn't need riddling and in a fraction of the time, I'm now converted.
My bait tray was caster, worm, maggot as the main baits, I did dampen a few micro's and pump up some expanders and open a tin of corn, but given the conditions I was convinced putting any sort of pellet in would see the carp arrive in numbers. On the all in I put 5 balls of groundbait on a line at 12m, off to my left, using the opposite corner point of the lake as a marker, loose fed caster short and cupped in some CW&C down by the stump.
Starting short, I managed a few small roach on maggot, as caster was a waste of time, a bite on it everytime, but when I managed to hook something on it, it was of the 3 or 4 to the oz stamp, the reverse of what you'd expect as the maggot fish were 1-3oz. After half an hour, I went out over the groundbait line and sat and waited, watching a motionless float, there was no indication of fish there, so I abandoned that and re-fed it with 2 more balls of groundbait. I had a look down by the stump and missed a bite first drop in, dropping the rig back in and it shot under, this time a small tench safely netted.
By now I was behind Clayton (Hudson) on peg 111, who had managed to get three tench so far and my hopes that the tench had re inhabited the stump in great numbers were sadly dashed, as for the rest of the match, the stump produced either a small perch or a carp that disappeared round the back of the stump.
At last, an odd bubble or two over the groundbait, so back out with the double bulk rig and three decent skimmers netted in half an hour or so, not dramatic sport, but clawing back some ground on Clayton and Nigel Bartlett on 112. Then the carp decided that they would muscle in on the skimmers party and either foulers or properly hooked carp made the line a waste of time.
I did try a line fed with micros at about 7m straight in front, first drop in with a 4mm expander saw a carp take it immediately, so that line was abandoned. By now I was having some amusement, watching Clayton, it was like a well oiled bagging machine, sadly for him, it was carp after carp. One 'carp' he was tussling with and pulling a bit hard popped up and was a tench, his sudden change of playing style to careful, allowed the tench to go around his platform legs, through his keepnets and provide a couple of minutes of entertainment, but it was obviously well hooked as he safely netted it.
I found that by staying short, I was avoiding the worst of the carp, if I had set up a shallow rig, I could have caught a roach a chuck, but I stuck at the full depth rig and pieces of worm, as this produced at a slower rate, but with a tench, some skimmers and better roach, it was a better stamp of fish. Towards the end, the best way to get bites was feed a tiny ball of groundbait with CW&C every 10 put ins and a bigger ball of plain groundbait every put in.
So a disappointing draw and I honestly didn't have a clue what weight I had, due to the wide variation in fish sizes and sporadic catch rate, I was last in the section to weigh and had Anton page's 27lb to beat, I knew I didn't have that, but was pleasantly surprised to see the scales pull round to 22.13, which was 3rd in section. Which given the weights in the section, I wonder now if I abandoned the skimmer line too soon, or if I should have tried starting a new one, but then the time spent doing that would have cost me some of the fish taken short.
Campbell weighboard below.
As predicted, the framers came from Cary and Lodge, maybe Campbell will keep improving and compete as the weather gets colder.
- Matt Tomes 41-05-0 peg 78
- Bob Gullick 40-03-0 peg 86
- Paul Faiers 37-02-0 peg 69
- Tony Rixon 36-09-0 peg 101
- Andy Neal 35-07-0 peg 97
- Ian Didcot 34-03-0 peg 100
Wednesday, 2 October 2013
Viaduct Open, Wednesday 2nd October 2013
A choice of two matches today, Landsend or Viaduct. I've been doing a bit of thinking as regards my recent poor run and the need to try and embrace pellet fishing rather than treat it as a necessary evil, with that in mind, I chose Viaduct.
Todays match saw 12 of us on Campbell, so plenty of room and a few fish would surely grace my nets, the traffic was a nightmare and it took an hour and 20 minutes to do what is usually a 50 minute journey. I was about 3rd into the draw tin and I can't say I was too pleased when 130 was staring back at me, the peg hasn't had a lot of form this year. But I was still sure I was going to give it a good go and catch whatever it held.
I had come with the sole intention of fishing for carp, so two baits on the side tray, hard pellet and meat, I set up a rig to fish pellet at 14m, meat at 7m and a margin rig. To compliment this, I set up a full depth waggler and a straight lead. On the all in I started on the waggler out towards the aerator, it took 40 mins to get a fish and no real indication or gut feeling that they were there. Dropping onto the 14m pole line I caught a couple straight away where I had potted in some 6mm pellet at the start, but they were small fish and the bites weren't too quick in coming. I had Paul greenwood on 132 for company and by now he was catching a few on the waggler, up towards 134.
The pole line did offer up a few signs of fish, a few bubbles, not exactly fizzing, the odd swirl and a couple of foul hookers, so into the box and out with a shallow rig, I hadn't set one up as it was flat calm and the colour has dropped out a bit. I tried the shallow rig, just dropping it in, slapping and varying the depth, it didn't produce a single bite. I had fed the margins either side and had a look in them, nothing, I wasn't too surprised I hadn't seen any indication of fish down to 129 or under the tree to my right.
The 7m meat line was also devoid of signs of fish, so I did pick up the lead rod and had one fish on it, but another small one (3lb). With 2 hours gone I was struggling, so back on the 14m line and I managed a couple more fish, lifting and dropping, but the wait for a bite was far too long to compete with the pegs I could see bagging further down the lake.
Finally, with a couple of hours to go, the meat line produced a bubble or two, although the bubbles seemed to becoming slightly short of where I had fed, so I took a section off and dropped in with some meat, kinder potting about half a dozen pieces over the float. In the fifth and sixth hours, my clicker went from 45lb, to 118lb and two tench at the all out, a few better meat fish, but it was a long way behind the pegs further down the lake.
It was an interesting last couple of hours that flew by, as I tried to work out the feeding on the meat line, too little (3 or 4 pieces) and bites were very slow to come, too many (12-15 pieces) and the peg fizzed, the float jigged about and a foul hooker charged off. I had been dropping it in from 4' and that also seemed to encourage the liners, so I found that 6-8 pieces put on top of the float with no splash, produced hitable bites from bigger fish. A small consolation was beating Paul on 132, as the honours were reversed when we drew 131(me) and 132 a couple of months ago.
I was reasonably pleased with my performance, given that the fish were obviously shoaled up further down the lake, I'm sure I could have improved on my performance with the pellet, but not to the extent that would have more than doubled my weight.
Everyone who weighed (except Tim Pallant who fished for silvers), weighed over a ton, so I have gone further down the list than normal, to try and show the location of the fish in the middle area of the lake.
1) Scott Russell 280.15 peg 115
2) Dan White 232.06 peg 114
3) Dave Romain 197.02 peg 128
4) Roy Worth 180.13 peg 116
5) John Green 160.12 peg 112
6) M Skyme 145.15 peg 125
7) Chris Fox 128.02 peg 130
8) Colin (Burner or Barker?) 105.01 peg 126
9) Paul Greenwood 101.01 peg 132
Pegs 110 and 118 DNW
Silvers
1) Tim Pallant 34.10 peg 123
2) Scott Russell 13.13 peg 115
Todays match saw 12 of us on Campbell, so plenty of room and a few fish would surely grace my nets, the traffic was a nightmare and it took an hour and 20 minutes to do what is usually a 50 minute journey. I was about 3rd into the draw tin and I can't say I was too pleased when 130 was staring back at me, the peg hasn't had a lot of form this year. But I was still sure I was going to give it a good go and catch whatever it held.
I had come with the sole intention of fishing for carp, so two baits on the side tray, hard pellet and meat, I set up a rig to fish pellet at 14m, meat at 7m and a margin rig. To compliment this, I set up a full depth waggler and a straight lead. On the all in I started on the waggler out towards the aerator, it took 40 mins to get a fish and no real indication or gut feeling that they were there. Dropping onto the 14m pole line I caught a couple straight away where I had potted in some 6mm pellet at the start, but they were small fish and the bites weren't too quick in coming. I had Paul greenwood on 132 for company and by now he was catching a few on the waggler, up towards 134.
The pole line did offer up a few signs of fish, a few bubbles, not exactly fizzing, the odd swirl and a couple of foul hookers, so into the box and out with a shallow rig, I hadn't set one up as it was flat calm and the colour has dropped out a bit. I tried the shallow rig, just dropping it in, slapping and varying the depth, it didn't produce a single bite. I had fed the margins either side and had a look in them, nothing, I wasn't too surprised I hadn't seen any indication of fish down to 129 or under the tree to my right.
The 7m meat line was also devoid of signs of fish, so I did pick up the lead rod and had one fish on it, but another small one (3lb). With 2 hours gone I was struggling, so back on the 14m line and I managed a couple more fish, lifting and dropping, but the wait for a bite was far too long to compete with the pegs I could see bagging further down the lake.
Finally, with a couple of hours to go, the meat line produced a bubble or two, although the bubbles seemed to becoming slightly short of where I had fed, so I took a section off and dropped in with some meat, kinder potting about half a dozen pieces over the float. In the fifth and sixth hours, my clicker went from 45lb, to 118lb and two tench at the all out, a few better meat fish, but it was a long way behind the pegs further down the lake.
It was an interesting last couple of hours that flew by, as I tried to work out the feeding on the meat line, too little (3 or 4 pieces) and bites were very slow to come, too many (12-15 pieces) and the peg fizzed, the float jigged about and a foul hooker charged off. I had been dropping it in from 4' and that also seemed to encourage the liners, so I found that 6-8 pieces put on top of the float with no splash, produced hitable bites from bigger fish. A small consolation was beating Paul on 132, as the honours were reversed when we drew 131(me) and 132 a couple of months ago.
I was reasonably pleased with my performance, given that the fish were obviously shoaled up further down the lake, I'm sure I could have improved on my performance with the pellet, but not to the extent that would have more than doubled my weight.
Everyone who weighed (except Tim Pallant who fished for silvers), weighed over a ton, so I have gone further down the list than normal, to try and show the location of the fish in the middle area of the lake.
1) Scott Russell 280.15 peg 115
2) Dan White 232.06 peg 114
3) Dave Romain 197.02 peg 128
4) Roy Worth 180.13 peg 116
5) John Green 160.12 peg 112
6) M Skyme 145.15 peg 125
7) Chris Fox 128.02 peg 130
8) Colin (Burner or Barker?) 105.01 peg 126
9) Paul Greenwood 101.01 peg 132
Pegs 110 and 118 DNW
Silvers
1) Tim Pallant 34.10 peg 123
2) Scott Russell 13.13 peg 115
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