Viaduct Silvers League Round 1, Sunday 7th October 2018

I couldn't make all the dates of this popular and enjoyable league, but was asked to stand in for good friend Glenn Calvert, as he was at Whiteacres.

Travelled down with Tony, so a breakfast, and a putting of the world to rights soon made the journey pass.  The day started cold and bright, but looked so much better that the miserable cold of yesterday.

There had been a bit of a panic in the South West for casters this weekend, as the caster maggot wasn't turning and that had led to a bit of a shortage, but thanks to some sterling efforts by local shops and Viaduct, everyone had had enough to fish the match.

Most wanted avoid Campbell as the carp were likely to be active, Cary was the favoured option, well I managed to avoid Campbell, but for the second day running I was in a corner, very restricted in what I could do on 53 lodge.  I had got up early and set up a waggler and a feeder rod, but these would be staying in the bag.

Peg 53 right view towards the open water

Peg 53 left view into the corner

Peg 53 

Nice and simple approach, micros and soft pellet to the gap in the trees and some GB, dead maggot and caster as far as I dare towards the open water without encroaching on Mike Nicholls on 73.  It was about 3 or 4" deeper under the trees, I had plenty of time to set up rigs to cover both depths.

A 0.2g HB Frostie with strung out No11 stotz and a 0.3g NG Gimp to fish under the tree, 18 Gamma green on a 1.3lb Supplex FC hooklength on the strung out rig, with a 16 Guru F1 on 1.7lb Supplex FC on the bulk rig.

For the open water, a 0.4g HB Frostie and another HB float for a double bulk rig, I did set up a rig to fish down the LH edge, maybe for a bonus hybrid or perch, but I wasn't too hopeful, as the water is clearing and with the temp down to virtually 0°C overnight, it was just a throwaway line.

I started fishing into the gap in the trees, fishing pretty negatively, just feeding a few micros and had a reasonably decent start, 6 or 7 skimmers in the first hour, one about 2lb and a few hand sized.  This died off and I did try a golf ball size ball of GB to see if it would restart it, but that was to that for the skimmers.  

The sun was out, I was fishing in a T shirt, this weather is mad, yesterday I couldn't feel my fingers, today was glorious, not ideal skimmer conditions, but after yesterday, I wasn't at all upset by that!!

I had been a lot more positive on the line towards the open water, but only managed to hook one small skimmer over the GB.  The rest of the match was spent picking odd roach (including an immaculate specimen that was 12oz+) on caster, but they wouldn't settle.  I caught everything on the light strung out rig.  I was certain that I didn't have double figures and during the match I had a bit of running conversation with Mike Nicholl's who also struggled, I'd say we are both capable silvers anglers and we ended up within 8oz of each other (different sections though).  I was fairly sure I'd be near the bottom of the section, but was surprised to end up 3rd with my 11.14.  Normal service resumed today, as I was in the worst section, not sure where I could have got anymore from, so Glenn will have to be happy with 3 points, better than I thought at the start.

Tony ended up ounced into third in his section, so it was a sulky trip home with both of us disgruntled, exacerbated by faulty traffic lights at Pensford and a lorry causing chaos on Pensford hill.....