Charlie Barnes Memorial Match, Friday 30th March 2018

I had taken a couple of weeks off, one enforced by work and one as I just needed a break, far too many matches this winter getting cold, not catching anything was not doing my enthusiasm any good at all.

I had booked into this match as soon as I saw it advertised, some great memories of Charlie over many years and a chance to celebrate his life in a match was nice, as I had to miss his funeral, fittingly it's a silvers only match.

The usual ping pong balls had been replaced in the drawbag today, Cadbury Crème Eggs with numbers on, first time I have ever been able eat my peg number.....

From the information I was given, it seemed likely that munching on the egg would be the highlight of the day, with the top lake being a popular wish for many to draw and the main straight of Paddock lake being the next choice.  I went to my peg determined to give it a go and passed venue regular Mike Chapman on peg 40, who told me we'd both struggle, so not one positive comment about the peg, I was determined to put a few silvers together from it.

 I set up 4 topkits, the depth was pretty even, so they were just different size floats and shotting patterns, as well as one to fish off the bottom looking for roach.  I thought the best to go was positive, so put two balls of 50/50 groundbait and leam with a few pinkies, maggots and casters in at the bottom of the far slope and loose fed caster at the bottom of the near slope.  Starting on the near slope hoping for some indications and small fish to get me going, I fished bronze maggot over the caster.  After 20 minutes I hadn't seen any indication and the rain started, so I put up a bait brolly, put on my coat and was blissfully unaware that I was in for one of the coldest, wettest days of the winter so far.

A switch to the GB line after 25 minutes was equally uneventful with maggot on the hook, I switched to pinkie and over the next 40 minutes I had 4 small skimmers and a tench that was no more than 3" long....  The next 3 hours were painful, both mentally and physically, my hands were seizing up with the cold, the float wouldn't go under, I started a new line up the shelf, wondering if any roach would be in the shallower water.  I was a little apprehensive as there was the odd carp moving along the far bank and the homed straight in on the bait and it quickly became obvious that going up the shelf was a waste of time - although the bites and playing the carp on light gear were a welcome respite from the long blank spell.

I must admit, with 4 hours gone I was very tempted to pack up, the mental image of the gear in the van and me dry and warm, was an appealing one, but there wasn't much being caught that I could see, so a late run of fish could still see a framing place or section win in the bag.  I had some false hope that I'd made the right decision with an hour and a half to go I had a decent skimmer, just over 2lb over the GB on double pinkie, but he was a lonesome soul, next couple of bites were carp.  In fact I think by now I had hooked and landed more carp than in all the matches I have fished since November.... bloody typical, but at least I can still catch them.

Finally the short line produced some fish, a skimmer, a nice roach, then four more carp, the GB line appeared dead, the short line did come back but it was a case of catch a roach, then two carp and another wait, before another roach.  I cannot think how I might have got more from the peg and the scales showed my efforts amounted to 7lb, which given the pegs either side blanked and some decent anglers struggled, I can't complain too much - apart from drawing the wrong lake again.....

After the match, Bev was handing out hotdogs to everyone, there was an Easter egg with your peg number on it and Zoe was dishing out tea and coffee, for those inclined, there was cider or cans of coke, a nice touch and it was very much appreciated.  Confirmation was also made that Charlie's Memorial will be an annual match on Good Friday every year.

There was a shield for the winner and trophies to keep for the top three, they and section winners also had more Easter eggs, again, all nice touches, before they trophies were presented, there was a minutes silence and the Harry Muir said a few words, he did say Charlie would be looking down at us laughing, all sat out in the cold and wet, I must admit, the very same thought had crossed my mind.

Weigh sheets below, it was a clean sweep for the Shipp family, who all drew the top lake, so well done to them.