Ivy House Open, Sunday 30th July 2017

When I rang up to book in I booked into the match on the canal, I wanted to see if I could keep my run of wins/framing going and I fancied a busy day with a few bites.  On arrival at the fishery, Andy said there was only another 1 or 2 booked on the canal, so only one match today, on the Match Lake.  Oh well, no prep, either tackle or mentally for the late switch, so after a nice breakfast and coffee (A fishery that has a machine to make fresh coffee from beans - surely it must catch on!!) into the drawbag and out comes peg 19.

19 is a corner peg, so my thoughts of fishing for silvers were put on the back burner, as along with most lakes, the corners here aren't noted for big skimmer weights.  Plenty of time to get set up, I had put my ready made up rod bags into the van, just in case the match was switched, so a lead rod set up and a waggler, both with the thought of fishing 8mm pellet halfway across.

I got 3 topkits out, set one up with a 0.3g HB Chump, banded 16 B960 on 0.16 for hard pellet at 14m, same float on 0.16 with a 0.12 hooklength and a 18 Kaizen hook for corn, dead maggot or if I got desperate enough, devils spawn.  Then with such a nice end bank, I had to set up a margin rig, initial thoughts were to go with hard pellet in the edge, so a HB AK47 with a banded 14 B960 on 0.18.  Plumbing up I found a little shelf about 2' out from the bank, that was about 18" deep, then a little tapered rise before the shallower shelf close in, this was about 12" deep, so a HB AK mini margin float was hastily put on another topkit, to fish maggot up the slope.

I was just about ready, when, just to confuse matters, Andy(Lloyd) walked past and said "carp were caught here yesterday, short on paste" Hmmm, as I was thinking I was on the canal, any paste I had was at home in the freezer.  I did have a bit of green Swimstim in the van, so another topkit out and knocked up some paste - I should have saved myself the bother......

On the all-in I potted in some softened pellets short, then some GB, corn, micros and dead maggots at 11m, before starting at 14m with 6mm hard pellet. 30 minutes of this and nothing to show for it had me reaching for the skimmer rig, better to be putting something in the net and there was the odd bubble over the 11m GB line. First two drop ins with a grain of corn on the hook and two skimmers about 1 1/4lb were n the net, then nothing.  A switch to the waggler, conditions were lovely for it, I had about 4' of water, so a peacock waggler with just a micro swivel down the line, it was bound to go under - but it didn't it resolutely sat there, mocking me with the perfect presentation and nothing to show for it.

Back on the skimmer line with corn and out of the blue a 7lb carp was the next fish from here, but he was a loner, as I didn't hook another.  I did try dead maggot, this wasn't much better, I added a couple more skimmers, but these were smaller.  I had been pinging some pellets to the end bank and had a look here, but nothing.  Back on the waggler, I couldn't believe it hadn't gone under earlier and my disbelief was compounded, as it still remained motionless.

By now (2pm) it was obvious I was behind, I had to catch carp to try and get back in the match and the end bank seemed to be the most likely, so a switch to GB and dead maggot feed - as this is something I have more confidence in than pellet - I had a bite straight away and missed it, then another and it was a roach.  Another pot of feed and finally a carp, another about 7/8lb to join the loner from earlier, this was on the shallower margin rig..  There were some very hungry and determined ducks that were up ending and eating the bait when ever I brought the pole back, they were colouring the water, so a switch to double worm made sense.  This was a lot better and I had a run of fish to about 14lb.  Then it rained, proper rain, this didn't put them off but it was uncomfortable fishing in it. 

I had to top up the bait after every fish and the ducks were content with this as well, not sure why, whether they'd eaten their fill or just got bored, but the ducks moved away and the bites dropped off, I was waiting  a lot longer for a bite now they'd gone.  Luckily the run of fish I had was enough, I had 54lb and 47lb on my clicker for each net and I weigh 103lb of carp and 6lb silvers for 109.08 and first on the day, keeping my nice little run here going.

Next up, Saturday at Viaduct for the Angling for Heroes match.

England Ladies Team Fundraiser, Barston, Tuesday 25th July 2017

I had booked myself and Tony Rixon into this match ages ago and was looking forward to it, makes a nice change to get to Barston and the great fishing it can offer.

Months of anticipation were pretty much dashed at the draw, peg 95, one of the least favoured areas, but there was the section to fish for and why not try and create an upset from here.  Ages to set up, so I set up loads of kit to try and cover all the options. A 12/13' at 12' Tournament to chuck a method feeder as near to halfway as I could - I had tried to find a gravel bar, but there didn't appear to be one in any sort of reasonable casting difference.  A 10' Tournament to fish the bomb and pellet and another to fish a method shorter - no idea why, I just had the time....  I think I must have the most unused feeder and lead rods in the country, the often stay in the bag and if they do get set up, rarely do more than a few minutes work!

Two wagglers set up, one at depth (which wasn't much - less than 3') and one shallow.  3 topkits, one with 10 solid, 0.16 rig with a 0.14 hooklength and a 18 Kaizen hook, this was a wire stemmed 0.3g NG Gimp.  Another Gimp with same line and hooklength, this time with a 18 LWG tied with a band, finally, feeling optimistic, another pellet rig with 0.20 mainline and 0.16 hooklength, in case the carp moved in.

Bait tray was simple, pellets and corn, with 1kg of groundbait.  I had thought about bringing worm and caster, but decided against it. On the all-in I fed a line at 13m with GB, pellets and corn, then launched a 45g method into the middle of the lake. 5 minutes with no signs and I refilled it and had another chuck. 5 more minutes and I just had a feeling it wasn't going to go round.  I switched to the waggler at about 30m and all that brought was a missed bite and a skimmer.  Another switch, this time to the pole and corn, I had 4 or 5 skimmers on this, but then they disappeared.  I refed and went back in, it took a while, but I then had some indication that they'd come back, I finally caught another and they promptly disappeared again - this set the pattern for the rest of the match, they wouldn't settle in less than 3' of water and bright sun didn't help.

I rested the skimmer line by looking back on the waggler and had a big F1, but it was a lonesome fellow and no more bites on that.  Back on the skimmer line and by now I was reaching for some dead maggots that I had in my bag, hoping this might hold them better than pellet and corn.

I could see the odd fish moving, but a long way out, so on with the biggest pellet waggler I had and 11mm pellets fed as far as I could ping them.  First chuck and fish on, another big F1, frustratingly it was the only one, even with another 30 minutes of trying.  Back on the skimmer line and this was getting harder and harder, still giving up an odd fish, but not many.  Time to try the bomb and pellet where I had been feeding the 11mm pellets.  This brought an immediate bite and a low double was soon netted, once again, it was a false dawn, as that was the one and only bite on the lead.

I managed another couple of smaller skimmers towards the end, on the pole line, but it was hard going.  I was slightly surprised when my skimmers went 19lb and even more surprised when the 3 fish n the carp net went 20lb.  The 39lb total was enough for joint second in section, the lowest weight section - something I have grown used to!!

As the match was being paid as top two in sections, that meant I was splitting the £50 for second, so break even on the match cost, winning £25... better than a poke in the eye I suppose.  Already looking forward to next year!!

Weigh sheets below:

Tony Rixon's Short Pole Series, R2, Trinity Waters, Sunday 23rd July 2017

Round two of Tony's topkit + 3 sections league, the draw is all important on this lake when you have some pegs with an empty peg and others with anglers either side.  I was chatting before the draw and missed my usual spot near the front, leaving me with a choice of 3 when I got there, I took the middle card in the bowl and wasn't wildly happy when I opened it and saw 23.  22 is an end peg and with 20 and 21 not pegged I'd have preferred that, I also had 24 in.  On this bank (22-33) the margins are hugely improved by having an empty peg.

On the plus side (or so I thought......), the wind was blowing down into this corner, so hopefully the fish would be there as well.  I had intended to stick with two baits, paste and pellet, but I did have a few dead maggots, hoping that this would draw some fish into the edge, if the angler either side didn't have them.

Far too much time to set up, so I set up more rigs than I needed, just in case..... A paste rig for straight in front, a paste rig for the edge, a shallow rig, a rig to fish banded pellet on the deck and a margin rig for maggot or worm.

On the all in I started as usual on paste over pellet, instant bite and after a very spirited tussle, I had a fish I thought was 15lb, but on seeing it at the weigh in, it was probably 13lb, a long lean common.  great start and I was expecting the usual 3 or 4 in the first hour.  What I expected and what I got was two different things!  The pegs on here usually fizz when pellet is fed, but not today and the wind was getting up, making things tricky.

With 45 minutes gone and not another bite, on paste or banded pellet, I found an old jar of JPZ pellets and tried one of them, a carp took a liking to this, but it was the only one I caught on JPZ, so back under the bench in the garage for them.  I got off my box and pumped some expanders, desperate times mean desperate measures.  This brought a couple of 4 oz skimmers and one more carp, but bites were very few and far between.  I then got off my box again and made up some GB, put dead maggots in it and fed this out in front, fishing double maggot on a 18 - like the bloody winter!!

I managed 3 or 4 more small skimmers on the maggot, but no carp.  I had been feeding both margins, but fishing either side brought the same result, banded pellet = stationary float;  maggot, worm, corn or paste = float doing a jig, shit fish in the edges.

By now the wind had increased and fishing at topkit + 3 was pointless, the tow was going with the wind and fishing paste saw the rig pulled out of the paste, I had a 0.8g float on for fishing pellet and this was led at a 30° angle, presentation was impossible.  I have some 2g rigs made up for this, but hadn't brought them as I haven't experienced conditions like this on this lake for years, I'm not even sure 2g would have been enough.

The wind dropped a little and I managed one more carp on paste straight in front and in the last 15 minutes the shit fish disappeared from the margin, a sure sign some carp had arrived, indeed they had and I had 2 in those last 15 minutes, too little too late.  Not an enjoyable day, not sure if I could have found some trip against the wind if I could have fished out further (although the wind would have made much more than 11m impossible).  It would have been a day for the feeder or lead had it been allowed!!

Only managed 3rd in section, disappointing on a venue I know and have a good record on, but the conditions and not having an empty peg were against me and if I could fish it again tomorrow, I haven't a clue what I could do differently to improve my result (apart from take some heavier rigs).  The fish seemed to be at the back of the wind, as the main weights came from calmer pegs.

Todber Manor Open, Saturday 22nd July 2017

Back to Todber and I can't believe I drew 54 again, same as last match.  It's a peg that as soon as you get it, the usual flyer, you'll win it from there comments start and it looks like it should be a boss peg, as it has loads of space...... or so it seems.  The LH edge is constrained by peg 49 which can cast across and fish a method about 16m along from the pallet.  The RH edge goes into the corner which 55 can fish to, there is no island and 49 and 54 can be trying to take your fish, if everyone fishes long.

That said, its not as if there many really duff pegs at Todber, so with the wind in a different direction to the last time I drew it, I went with a totally open mind and thoughts about where I could improve on the last performance.

One thing I thought might have been better than a pole, was to chuck a method down the LH edge, abut today there was some ripple and the sky was overcast, whereas last time it was flat calm and sunny.  Also last time I really struggled to catch on pellet, so meat was at the fore of my thinking for this one.

I set up a rig to fish pellet at 11m on the deck, a home made diamond float, with a carbon stem, I find this to be really stable and sensitive, probably the best float I've made so far.  A Hillbilly chump to fish pellet short and a Hillbilly Blimp to fish meat short.  A shallow rig and a margin rig, as it was only 12" or so tight in, I went with a Hillbilly AK47, a nice float for shallow margins.

Started at 11m on pellet, whilst feeding meat and corn short, had a couple of small tench and a carp, but it wasn't hectic, so I had a look short, this was a bit of a surprise, plenty of bites here last time, today, not many bites and the first 4 resulted in a tiny tench, 2 small perch and a small carp.  Its not a venue that you feel you can too far behind on, so I was thinking about my next move, to maximise catch rate.

Back out to 11m and a few small tench and carp, but again, not setting the world on fire, I stuck at it and after an hour had 14lb on the clicker.  Not quick enough, so I picked up the method rod, I had fallen for the advertising and bought some 6mm orange wafters.  First chuck up to the inside of the point and a 7lber in the net, next chuck a 3lber, sussed it, but no, a quiet spell, I did change to a 6mm pellet with GB and this brought a couple more fish, but the quiet spells had me doubting myself if this was right - I have no confidence in the lead or feeder as a way of catching.

I had fed a line at 11m down the LH edge and went in this with the pole and margin rig, two missed bites and two trashed rigs proved there was a horrendous snag in there, that had managed to avoid showing its self when I plumbed up.

I abandoned that and tried the short line again, poor, a couple of decent skimmers, but little else.  The 11m started to come to life with 2 ours to go and I was getting a carp from 10oz to 2lb most put ins.  I had fed some meat in the RH margin and whenever I saw a fish there I'd have a drop in and sometimes had one, sometimes didn't.  I saw two 8-10lbers side by side nosing the fed area and quickly dropped a 10mm cube of meat tight in, just in front of them.  The float buried, a bloody 1lber had grabbed the meat first, obviously the brace of weight builders swirled and vanished......

So, should I have stuck it out on the method down the edge and hoped it built, I am sure I wasted too much time chasing bigger fish in the edges, when they weren't there in any number and maybe I should have just fished pellet at 11m all day, as this got stronger and as an opposite to my last visit, they didn't want meat.  Too many questions and no definitive answer, I suppose that's why we keep going!!  96.04 and thanks for coming, can't complain, a decent days fishing and the peg may well have been worth more.

Ivy House Open, Kingfisher Canal, Sunday 16th July 2017

Back to Ivy House after a successful last two visits there, on the canal again, this time with 9 fishing and another separate Open on the Match Lake.  Nice thing about Ivy House is the coffee machine, proper decent coffee to kick start the day!!!

I drew peg 5, so a short walk and plenty of time to set up, I set up two rigs to fish across, one about 15" deep, I found one small area that a plummet would sit on at that depth, so hoped to catch there. Another rig at about 2' 6" which the next depth with any sort of shelf.

A rig to fish short and one for down the track, identical apart from the depth and the float size - Hillbilly Chumps, on 0.16, with a 18 Kaizen hook tied to 0.12.  Finally a rig to fish down the edge.  bait tray was simply pellets, hard and soft, maggots and corn.

On the all in I fed the short line and started across, this resulted in a couple of fish, but the same problem I have had in the past, liners and lots of them, even with the float touching the bank, not quite sure how to overcome this.  I had seen a few skimmer bubbles between me and peg 6 before the start and was hoping they'd move my way.

I switched to the short line and started catching the stockies straight away, no sign of the skimmers.  The action wasn't frantic here either, but it was just as quick as fishing across, without the shipping in and out time.  I also fed a line at 7 sections, this was really slow to start with and never really got going quick enough to make me change to it, other than when resting the short line.

I tried across again and had another stockie, I picked up the deeper rig and went back over and had two in two put ins, maybe this was the answer.  Next drop in a bite, I lifted into the fish and it went into some vegetation under the water, taking the float and elastic into it.  No choice, but to pull for a break, but the bloody elastic broke at the puller bead, taking the PTFE bush with it.  Now I had the debris, a rig and a length of 12 solid all where I was fishing.  That was the end of fishing across.

Back onto the short line and I was having to lower the rig in, flicking it out meant that whatever bait I put on, it was grabbed by a roach.  I kept some stockies and silvers coming, with a little spell on the 7 section line, but with an hour or so to go, I could see some swirls down the edge, where I had fed some GB and maggots/corn.  It was typical of margin fishing at many venues now, the fish were tail waving and boiling up the water, but either a small fish grabbed the bait first or the bigger ones either touched the line and shot out of the peg.  I did mange 4 for 20lb, so it was worth persevering with.

The scales gave me 32.02 of silvers, and 55.12 of carp, 87.14, enough for the match win and also the silvers and as you pick up both here at Ivy House, it was a welcome pick up - and after the all-out I went round and cleared out the snag, got my elastic, float and someone else's float as well. so happy days!!

Results of match on match lake below.

Norman Sterry's Open, Viaduct Saturday 15th July 2017

Nice to get back to Viaduct and even better, a draw on Campbell, 127, not the peg I would have chosen, but there are fish to be caught from every peg on this lake.

A lead rod was set up (and it went away unused) as well as a waggler.  Two topkits with rigs to fish meat, one with a couple of No11's down the line and a bulk rig.  A shallow rig and a full depth pellet rig. As there was loads of time I also set up a lighter pellet rig, in case the skimmers were having a go.  Finally a rig to fish the edge, luckily it was within an inch or two the same depth either side.

Starting sort on meat, first put in saw a 2lb skimmer in the net, then his smaller brother and that was it, no other indications.  A switch to pellet at 14m and the fizzing started, but no bites, I tried shallow, on the deck and several depths in between, all to no avail, not even a liner.  I stared a new line up with 4mm pellet at 11m to the LH side, hoping for skimmers, but again, nothing I was yet to get a bite on a pellet.

With well over an hour gone I was struggling, so feed some GB and dead maggot on the 11m line and went over it with a section of worm, this brought an occasional skimmer and one carp, but it was slow going.  I tried the waggler - nothing, I cannot ever recall fishing this lake before and not having a bite on pellet. 

With 4pm approaching, I had been feeding the edges and had a few drop ins from about 2.30 onwards, all without reward, when finally the float dipped and a bream about 3lb had taken the meat.  Swopping between sides, from then until the end of the match gave me 7 more carp and ensured I had .the 'all important ton' ( a couple or so years ago I made a statement saying every peg on Campbell was worth 100lb from May to early October......)

My 100.02 put me 9th over all and second in section, so one out of any pick up, one more fish would have been enough for the section, frustrating as they didn't feed until so late.

Ivy House Open, Sunday 9th July 2017

Back to Ivy House after last weeks success, this week the canal was sold out and with Gabe Skarba and Tom Mangell from the Mosella team turning up, as well as the weather, I doubted last weeks 123lb would be needed to win today.

It would have been nice to draw 6 or 7, but it wasn't to be, unlucky for some 13 was my destination, whilst Gabe got his young lady to draw for him and she drew him the favoured peg 6.

Whilst I was tackling up, Andy Lloyd walked along and said there wasn't so many silvers at this end of the canal, so it was looking like a carp or bust match, although I still intended to try and back up the carp with some silvers.  On peg 14 was genial Ade Crawley, so a bit of company.  I started up plumbing the far bank, but unlike last week, I couldn't find a shallow shelf, it was a sheer drop down to about 2'6" and then a drop off to nearly 4'.  I did find a tiny area about 18" deep next to the grass, but it would be like balancing a pellet on a upturned jam jar.  I also set up a rig for the 2'6" shelf, both the across rigs had banded LWG 18 on 0.14.

A rig for down the track, with a banded LWG 18 on 0,14, another similar rig with a 18 Kaizen (still loving these hooks) on 0.12.  I set up a similar rig to fish just up the near shelf.  The sun was pretty hot and I was surprised there weren't more cruisers, but I only saw a couple, they weren't exactly cruising, motoring through the peg would be a better description, so no mugging rig today.

Bait tray was simple, 4 & 6mm hard pellets, 4 & 6mm expanders, maggots and some corn.  I did have a few worms, but left them in the bag at the start.  I started across and first put in had a 5oz tench, next put in I lost a foul hooked tench - didn't see it, but the hooklength was covered in tench slime.  That was it no more bites shallow, I did have a look on the 2'6" deep rig, but just had liners and a couple of lost foulers.

I came back on the short line after having fed it from the off and got off to a good start, catching bream, skimmers, perch, roach and stockies.  I kept feeding across and a line down the track, the idea being to rest the short line as there was a lot more pressure on the lake this week.  Back over and still nothing, I shallowed the rig up to 6" and pulled it up the mudline, still nothing, there were signs of fish, but they disappeared as soon as the pole went over, I even went to a long line to no avail.

I tried the line a 7 joints down the track, but this just produced tiny stockies, so back on the short line and a couple more skimmers and stockies added to the net.  Hard pellet was a waste of time, corn and soft pellet were better and maggot also caught a few.  Ade asked me what I was catching on and I told him, he switched to maggot and started getting much better quality fish and was rapidly catching me up.

Back over to the far side and I fouled a 7lber in the wing, just about to net it and it dived into the bottom of the keepnet, transferring the hook to the net.  I then made a big mistake, I should have pulled for a break, but I lifted the net out and unhooked it.  This killed off my inside line, which wasn't wildly prolific, but kept putting fish in the net.

I refed the line down the track and went over it, hoping to get some of the proper carp Ade was getting, but I could still only get stockies.  I did see a couple of bubbles back on the short line and had a look back in there, taking a big skimmer.  I had been flicking pellets down the edge and saw a carp nosing around, so flicked a worm in there and had a 3lber.  I finished the match down the track, catching small skimmers and carp.

Not as many fish as last week, but that was expected, I thought the big fish Ade had would beat me, but thankfully my mixed bag of 41 stockies and silvers went 56.10 and the silvers part of that was 21.08, which was enough for second on the day, both in the match and the silvers, behind Gabe, who didn't make a mistake and won both.  Another enjoyable day at Ivy House.

Todber Manor Open, Saturday 8th July 2017

Good number booked into this one, 37, so with the standard of angler fishing, a decent draw was required, 54 revealed its self as I opened the draw card - a peg with plenty of room, but sadly today, the wind coming right off the back of it.  Not that there was much wind, but it meant the peg was flat calm, not ideal on such a hot sunny day.

Pellet has served me well on my previous visits, so that was to my main attack, with some meat, in case there was a chance of the big boys showing up.

I set up a homemade diamond to fish at 13m, this had a 0.14 hooklength and 16 LWG with a band, a rig to fish just up the near shelf, again with a band.  The obligatory margin rig, before the start Scott Russell had given me some information and I plumbed up towards the point at 14.5m.

I did set up a method rod, although there is no feature to cast to on this peg and a waggler.

Starting at 13m, I had a couple of fish, but unusually for this venue (in my limited experience) the fish wouldn't go down on the deck and feed, I was getting liners, indications and either nothing on the lift or a fouler - first time I have had that here.   I switched to the short line and had a run of fish, before this too went 'iffy'.  I started up a new line and had a few before that too died off.  I think it was a combination of the weather and the complete lack of ripple - on a lake that is normally in the teeth of a gale!!! - the other important component was feeding, too little and no bites, too much and liners, foulers and frustration.  I even tried a line dump potting and they still came up over it, but I couldn't catch shallow, didn't have a bite trying it.

The margin had to be my saviour, but as the water is very shallow close in I picked an area about 1m or so from the bank and fed,  First drop in saw a stockie netted, next put in a better fish was hooked and after a battle a 16lber was netted, that was a confidence boost, but it was a lone fish, as I had some more stockies, but nothing else in this size bracket.  There is a wide flat shelf where I was fishing, giving the fish ample opportunity to get behind the rig.  So I refed closer to the haybales and shallowed the rig up, this brought a couple fish, but nothing big.

I tried meat up the long margin, but was plagued with unhittable bites, I came back on the shortline and could only get bites on meat, not sure if it was the weather, or if the fish are getting a taste for it in preference to pellet - I hope they don't its a great venue for banded pellet fishing, not sure if meat becomes dominant it will be such a good thing.

I swapped and changed between the short line, the LH long margin and a RH short margin, this saw odd fish coming to the net, but it was never going to be enough and my 97lb was a nice days fishing, but in the context of the match, no good.

Acorn Evening Open, Thursday 6th July 2017

The bag of ping pong balls gave me peg 12, not sure why when there was so many empty pegs, that 11 was in as well, but I'm not a venue expert, so maybe there was a good reasoning behind it.

Bart has been at the banks with his digger again, this time pulling out the rushes and other plants around the outside margins, this had led to much flotsam covering the favoured RH margin in my peg.

I went round and cut out a gap to fish tight to the island, so set up a rig to fish in 12" of water, another for the second shelf which is about 2'6", there was some bubbling just at the bottom of the near slope, I wasn't sure if it was fish or gas coming from the bottom, it looked like fish blows, but was a little too regular.  Last but not least was a margin rig, I had pondered bringing a method feeder rod, but left it in the garage, that may have been a mistake.

Going straight across, I had a couple of fish straight away and then that was it, no liners, no indications, I had been flicking pellets short, so had a look there, that was a non event as well.  There were some fish showing in the open water off the island, so I had a go for them, hooking one straight away, sussed I thought, but as so often in fishing, I hadn't sussed it, I never had another shallow.

I think that myself and peg 11 were causing the fish to move around between us, rather than settling in one place.  I had been feeding 8mm pellets in the margin and dropped in there, had a couple of fish and thought it would get better- it might have, but the wind / surface skim then pushed the flotsam barrier in, over the fish, the cover was good, but it was so thick, I couldn't get a rig through it - here is where I was regretting leaving the method rod at home, as a method would have dropped through.

I could see Steve Shaw on 8 catching well, so knew it was all over, I did stay to weigh in and managed 4th place, peg was probably worth a bit more, but not sure it could have had the weight of the winner.

Given the success of Mark Walsh, just fishing paste on his topkit, I might have to take some next match.

Ivy House Open, Sunday 2nd July 2017

I decided to head to Ivy House for this Sundays fishing fix, a visit back to the Kingfisher Canal was overdue, so that where I booked into for today.  I drew peg 7, Allan Oram and Andy Lloyd said it was a decent area, so that was good news, not much fun drawing a duff area!!

I had only brought a pole, so that was easy, just a few topkits to set up.  Andy has cut out an area opposite the platforms on the far bank, which is clear from overhanging grass and vegetation - nice to see some proactive fishery management.  I set up two rigs to fish over, one for 12" deep, as it plumbed up 12" deep about 12" from the far bank, any tighter in and it went to 8" and the depth below the float has to be 12" - venue rules.  These were both set up with a 18 LWG tied with a band on 0.12, No10 elastic.  There were a few cruisers moving round and expecting to get some of them, I set up a mugging rig on a long line, 0.14 hooklength with a 16 LWG, again with a band.

Two more rigs to complete the set up, both for down the track at the joint of 6/7, where I plumbed up and found the same depth at 10 o'clock and 2 o'clock.  Both Hillbilly chumps, one with a LWG and band, the other with a 18 Kaizen on 0.12.  These would also do for a short line at the bottom of the near shelf.

Bait tray was live maggots, dead maggots, 4 & 6m pellets, corn and 1/4 of a big Preston cup of chopped worm, I mixed up 1 kilo of GB and as I had loads of spare time, I did pump a few 4 & 6mm expanders.

The all-in saw me trying to mug one of the cruisers, but they would spook away at any attempt, even with 5' of line above the float.  This wasted nearly 15 minutes, then I tried across and had a couple of missed bites, I also tried banded pellet short where I had been flicking them in - nothing and half an hour was gone!!  That wasn't the plan at all, as this lake has a large head of small stockies and getting too far behind makes it difficult to catch up.  I had fed the two lines down the track, one with GB, dead maggot and worm, one with pellet and corn, first fish was a stockie carp on worm from the RH line.

I was going nowhere fast so switched the short line to maggot whilst I picked off a couple of stockies from the far bank, dropping in on maggot short was more successful, as I put together a few more stockies and a couple of skimmers.  As the bites were at least as frequent as those over, I stuck with it and carried on feeding a few 4mm pellets and maggot, this saw a run of carp and skimmers coming, not at an amazing rate, but quick enough to keep working at it to increase the catch rate.

I started feeding nuggets of GB on the short line and this brought in the big skimmers, maggot had been the best bait, but it had slowed a little.  A switch to expander brought an immediate response and 3 more skimmers netted in quick succession.  By the halfway point I thought I had 30lb + of silvers, so dropped another net in (50lb limit).  I rested the line by going back tight across, as there were the odd sign or two of bigger carp over the pellet I had kept putting in with a catapult, there didn't seem to be a way of picking up a better fish, as the stockies got to the bait before the bigger ones could get to it.

Fishing across was slower than the short line, so I kept plugging away at it, when it went quiet, a change of bait seemed to do the trick, I had a couple on worm, a few on corn and I was catching steadily to the end.  I had to stop and mix up some more GB, they wanted plenty, it was a very enjoyable days fishing and my 61 stockies went 39.09 and the skimmers, some cracking roach and a couple of perch went a very enjoyable 84.10 - I think this is my PB match weight for silvers from a commercial.  Definitely won't leave it too long to get back to Ivy House.