Acorn Winter League, R2, Saturday 30th November 2019

No rain for this round, but a cold easterly wind, so wasn't expecting great things, drew 34, a couple or more years ago you'd have skipped to this peg, but the bridges aren't dominant like they used to be.  The other disadvantage id the close proximity of 33, it didn't seem to matter when the bridges were the place to draw, they are by far the tightest pegs on the venue and the lack of space may well be a disadvantage.

It is what it is and I did expect to catch from the peg, but I wasn't quite ready for how tough it was, I'm not going to witter on, I didn't catch across and caught 4 skimmers and 3 small carp don the track next to the bridge on dead maggot, I was bloody frozen and was at one time shivering and shaking, struggling to hold the pole still.

I beat the pegs either side, but not 31 and 38, so well done Lewy and Russ, the weights as expected came from the 'house' bank section and I don't think I could have got near the frame if I'd have fished the peg for a week.  Kev made no mistake from peg 5.

Its amazing that a venue with so many fish in switches off so drastically in winter, apart from a handful of pegs - I guess I should have known that when I signed up to the league.

It was interesting to see the pigs come charging over when you went near their pen, obviously looking for food, I hadn't seen them before, not sure if they are pets or future bacon sandwiches.....

Trinty Waters Open, Sunday 24th November 2019

It was nice to get back to what is one of my favourite venues, don't get down here often enough.  Travelled down with Tony and stopped at new cafe for me, Wooden Spoon in Weston-Super-Mare, very nice too.

Match fishing can be a cruel sport and I fear it dealt me another blow today, I waited for the last peg in the box and was more than happy with peg 7, that would be an end peg and one I was confident of catching a few fish from and with Tony on 9, a nice little head to head.  The dreaded call went up.... redraw, I did the same and took the last in the tub again, this time 16, a peg (and bank) I don't like, its too deep in the edges and whilst I have had some decent results here, I have never troubled the frame from this end bank.  Tony somehow managed to pluck out 9 again.

Peg 16 has plenty of room and options, I am yet to be convinced that too much room is always a good thing, but we'd see.
Waggler set up, just in case they were moving around, 4 topkits, one with a banded B960 16, another rig the same HillBilly Chump with a 18 LWG on 0.14.  A rig for down the edge and another to fish in front of the pallet of peg 15.

It took 30 minutes to get a bite, that was a welcome 8lb common, on maggot, as I'd given hard pellet 20 minutes with no indications. The next couple of hours saw 4 more carp landed and 22lb on the clicker.  I did expect to catch down the edge and for them to have a feed towards the end, but that was before I then went from 13:15 until 15:30 without a bite on any line, at 15:30 I had one last carp, and a couple of skimmers and a decent roach, before the all out at 15:45.

Not much else to write about, as when you cannot get a bite, no matter what you try, it gets a bit wearing trying to consider something to say.

Well when the scales got to me, my 32lb was a about 3lb more than I thought, but it was nowhere near enough to trouble the top 3 who came from pegs 7, 9 & 11, I knew that redraw would cost me, surely my persistently shite drawing must come to an end soon!!

Nice little pick up for the winner, as the golden peg was No11.

Viaduct Silvers League, R4, Sunday 17th November 2019

Travelled down to this one with Tony, I didn't realise at the time, but the eat what you want breakfast in a local pub was the highlight of the day.

I knew after yesterday that today was going to be tough for many, but I was happy with that, I don't mind a days hard work for silvers.  It was interesting before the draw, Trigger had written the 10 best pegs on a piece of paper and bet Tony that Paul Elms and Andrew Cranston would be on one of them, well he was right, how do some people consistently draw good pegs.

Myself, I drew peg 64, had I had my own transport, I may well have not even bothered going to it, its never going to compete with the pegs further down the lake.  Pretty despondent with the way I am drawing lately, this series has been a disaster.  Still, seeing as I was going to the peg, I'd give it my best shot.

Opposite on 66 was Nick Chedzoy, Chedz was also bemoaning his draw - I am of the opinion that 64 shouldn't be in, as you are limited for room and hemmed into the corner with 66 blocking you off.  I don't think this is such an issue when the water is coloured and warmer, but once the colour drops out, its at a huge disadvantage.

I did get a waggler out of the bag, but there was little point, as I could reach the reasonable limits of my peg with the pole.  4 topkits, set up, 2 for open water, one 0.3g bulk and one dropper and a 0.2g with strung shot.  A Chianti for roach at 2+2 and a Chimp style float for down the edge and down to the monk, looking for a perch or tench.

Fed two lines at the all in, one down in front of peg 63 out as far as I could get with 14m and 14m straight across to the tree. Little bit of chopped worm in the line to 63, just dead maggot out to the tree.  Started on the 2+2 for roach and had one soon after the all-in, that was not the signal to start bagging, as bites were hard to come by.  After 30 minutes I had 3 or 4 roach, so switched to the 14m lines and after about an hour had a skimmer just over a lb from out to the tree.  These lines were painfully slow and my mood wasn't improved by seeing pegs 68 & 69 catching decent skimmers.

I did start to get some indications on caster, but couldn't hook whatever it was, same with maggot and I then put a pinkie on, that did the trick and a microscopic little fish was landed, I'm not sure if it was a rudd or a motherless minnow, whichever t was, it wasn't worth catching.  On one rig I dropped to a 24 Gamma Green and 12oz hooklength, it made no difference at all.


It clouded over and with the reduced light I did start to catch roach on the 2+2 line, but far too slowly to make any in roads on the skimmers being caught further down the lake.  Chedz was having the odd better fish, as he could fish further down the lake in front of 67.  With about 40 minutes to go I had a hybrid nudging a lb and a with 20 minutes to go, hooked a decent fish, which I thought was a tench, it then ran straight into a snag and I couldn't get it out - not happy.  10 minutes later, I hooked another, this time I saw it, a tench about 2lb, smaller than the other,  it then dived straight into the same snag and was gone.

That was it, I lost the plot a bit, started packing up with 10 minutes to go and chucked back about 6lb, fed up with the draw and then losing two fish in an unseen snag.  Those two tench (and possibly a couple more roach might have seen me 3rd in the section, as Chedz took those honours and the section money by double default.  3rd was no good, I needed a section win to salvage anything from the league and that was never going to happen from that peg.

Well done to Paddy on the win, I would say it was nice to watch, but I'd be lying, I was pissed right off watching him catching decent fish when I was struggling to get a bite.

Angling Trust Silvers Qualifier, Viaduct, Saturday 16th November 2019

Nice idea to run a silvers national competition along the lines of Fishomania.  With there being a local round at Viaduct, it would have been a shame not to enter.  Fellow silvers enthusiast and long time angling mate Paul Faiers also entered and we had a chat about which pegs we did and didn't fancy before the draw.

Well, into that draw tub and I pulled out 116, not one I would have chosen, as the skimmers have been at the top end of Campbell for  few weeks now and I didn't think the rain, snow and cold weather this week would have persuaded them to move.  Paul drew peg 1 (Spring Lake) one we had on our not desirable list, but with the windless day and it was brightening up, I did say to him that he would be in with a shout if it turned into a roach match.

With two hours to set up, I was ready ages before the start, having set up a waggler, 3lb Preston sinking mono, a great waggler line for silver fishing, a 0.10 hooklength and a 20 red carp maggot hook.  A 3 square cage feeder, on the Cadence 10' wand, 4;b sinking mono and a 0.10 hooklength with a 20 F1 hook. Four topkits, one for down the edge looking for a perch or tench - never had a bite on it. so no more about that, two rigs to fish at 14m for, hopefully, skimmers, both HB Frosties one 2g and the other 4g both with 0.08 hooklengths and a 20 F1 hook.  Finally a Chianti with the same hooklength and hook, to fish at 2 + 2.

On the all-in just one line at 14m fed, there was an area at 14m with a slight drop off and slope to the right, so I fed just at the top of the slope, so I could draw the bait just onto it.  Then started on the 2+2 line loose feeding caster, this did produce a few roach, but wasn't hectic, then a bigger fish gave me a hastening heart rate, a tench 2lb or so, safely netted after giving me the run round on purple Middy elastic.
This line slowed up so I went out on the 14m line, a couple of roach from here, but no quicker, I re-fed and dropped straight on it, two quick roach and then a better fish, a bream about 3lb, that gave me hope and also probably cost me money.  I stuck it out looking for skimmers but no more were forthcoming.  I had a look on the waggler and could catch roach on that, but it was still slow.  I re-fed the 14m line and looked again, it was the same each time, I got a couple of quick roach, then nothing.

This made me pick up the feeder and give this a go, one bite one skimmer in 20 minutes, I thought the roach would be worth going for, so switched to the waggler, feeding caster and I was soon getting a bite a chuck from roach from 1-3oz, as typical with fishing for roach this size, I hit and landed 4 in a row, then missed as many, busy fishing.

I couldn't help stopping now and again, especially the last 45 minutes, to pick up the pole and try for skimmers, this has ultimately cost me second in section and the section money by default, as the skimmers were either not there or would not feed.  The section (and match) was won from the peg most fancied, but well done to Stu White, as you still have to catch them, 36lb, but 15.12 was second and I put 14.02 on the scales, I am sure sticking with the roach on the waggler would have seen me catch at least the 2lb needed.  Experience would suggest that the way to catch up at the end would be to stick it out and wait for skimmers, maybe the earlier finish should have made me think otherwise.

Well done to Paul winning his section from peg 1 and making the final at Hallcroft, with mainly roach.

Matt Culpin's Snake Lake League, Landsend, Sunday 10th November 2019

Last round of Matt's league, the first one I had fished, I was standing in for someone (no idea who), it's been a popular league, but not for me, as I prefer 'proper' lakes, the odd trip to a snake, especially in winter is OK.  Whilst Landsend isn't in the truest sake, a snake lake, it does involve a lot of fishing to the islands.

I fancied a draw on the match lake, but as is the norm when I come to Landsend (such a shame the lakes aren't a bit bigger... as I love the tranquillity of the place) I ended up on lake 3, peg 70.  Peg 70 used to be a good peg for F1's but thy have either moved or gone to the big lake in the sky. 

It is an end peg, with a spit that is within easy reach at 14m, you expect to catch across to the spit, the end bank had eroded and has roots and trees exposed, always looks a little too treacherous for me and given that I could see the bottom a fair way out, I decided that I would leave that alone.   There is a weed bed to the right, its a fair size and at this time of year dies back and is under water, but with the water being very clear, it was easy to see where it started and ended, peg 68 can fish to the other side of it.

No rods (and that may well have been a mistake), so a simple tackle up, with a kit for across, another for off the end of the spit into the open water - would also do for a short line towards the weed bed.  Two rigs for off the end of the weed bed, similar, just one with 0.12 and the other with 0.14 hooklengths.

Started across, but with no sign, I then saw a small ghostie swim into the bay, turn and follow the bank along, towards my float before it buried and the light coloured common of about 3lb was safely netted.  That was the only fish from there all day, the sun didn't get in there and it looked cold and gloomy, I wouldn't have been in there if I was a fish....

The best line was off the end of the weedbed at 13m, feeding a few micros, caster and dead maggots, to try and catch all - it worked to some extent, I had 4 perch and a couple of roach, decent perch, best a touch over 2lb, smallest 1lb and 3 or 4 small carp.  The sun moved round and I could see fish up in the water and swimming over the sunken weedbed, so off the box and a shallow swinging rig set up, I was sure I'd tempt a carp or two, but they weren't having any of it.

I did try meat short to the weedbed and did have a couple of carp from there, the sun put paid to at least 2 hours fishing on the line where the fish were feeding on the maggots, I just could not see the float and in trying ended up with a headache from the sun reflecting off the water.  If I had brought a small lead rod, I could have carried on fishing the same line - missed a trick there, one to bank in the missed opportunity column.

I walked round the lake with the scales and two anglers in the middle of the lake (one on each bank) had 43/44lb, I knew I did't have that so I managed 3rd on lake,  2nd in section for whoever it was I was fishing for.  Some consolation as I had a nice little unexpected pick up for top silvers weight, would have expected more than 8lb as the match was spread over 3 lakes.

As expected the top weights came from the match lake, I didn't get the pictures of the other weigh sheets, so can't remember the exact finishing order, I think Steve Seager won from peg 19.

Next up the AT Silvers qualifier at Viaduct on Saturday, followed by the silvers league the next day.

Acorn Winter League R1, Saturday 9th November 2109

I sometimes think I should have snappy, tempting or comedic titles for the blogs, today's would undoubtedly involve the cold and wet......

Frost on the van, ice on buckets of water at the fishery and the promise of rain, not sure why I had committed to this, but committed I had and I turned up, paid my dues and then drew peg 17 - the straight, which was good..... once upon a time.....

I drove round to the peg, leaving as much gear in the van as I could, as the rain was starting, no wind, so umbrella up and try to stay dry, as wet isn't too bad, cold isn't too bad, but both is bloody miserable.  I did have a method rod in the van, ready made up, I did put it on the roost and then put it away again at the end, here endeth the tale of method fishing.  Topkits comprised of a rig to fish close to the far bank, as the fish still come up there even in the cold, two rigs to fish down the track, one with 0.10 hooklength and the other the same, but with 0.14 - just in case.  A rig to fish down the far and near shelves as well.

Started over on 6mm pellet, had a bite and lost a fish, probably foul hooked, first put in and then had a 3lber next put in, that was as exciting as it got for an hour or so, I fed two lines down the track, one with micros and one with little balls of GB with some dead maggots.  I had one carp over the micros, a couple of skimmers and carp on dead maggots and then 2.5 hours without a bite, hard work with no reward, I did manage one more small carp over and with 10 minutes to go one about 6lb down to the pallet of 16.

Just over 17lb for bang average in section, beat 3, beaten by 3, so an unspectacular start to the league and it would be nice to have that one as the dropper.  I hope the weather is better for the next round.

Well done to Paul Faiers on winning from favoured peg 11 with 80lb+.

Viaduct Silver league R3, Sunday 3rd November 2019

Somehow I ended up first into the draw tin, so all the good 'uns (and bad 'uns) in there.  I was not over impressed with the peg I drew, 113 on Campbell.  I knew there was scant chance of framing from there and it's not a good section peg, so another match of attrition, where every bite would be vital to try and keep from being last in section.

As 113 is set back from the others along that bank, I set up a waggler and a small 3 square cage feeder.  Topkits were assembled for along the edges, hoping for a perch or tench, but suspecting the water was now too cold and too clear for it to work.  A Chianti with strung out 11's for roach and two skimmer rigs, a bulk and single dropper and a double bulk rig.

Started on the roach rig after feeding two lines at 14m one with GB and casters, the other with GB and dead maggots. The roach line did give up 3 small roach in 20 minutes, but it was painfully slow and it wasn't going to give the weight I'd need.  A switch to fishing caster over the GB saw a couple of small skimmers come to the net and a switch to the dead maggot line saw a couple more landed.

I had 8 or 9 small skimmers in the first couple of hours, then spent 2 hours 30 minutes without a bite from anywhere in the peg - apart from carp on the waggler or feeder, single caster, double caster, same with maggot, it didn't take long to get one and I had them from 3lb to low doubles.

I gave up in the end and came back in on the pole line and two better skimmers, one with 40 minutes to go and one with 20 minutes left.  I had been absolutely battered off the next peg by Martin Rayet who paralysed the section from 112 with 27lb odd, 112 is about 5m further into the lake than 113, so not sure why he wasn't carped out, be well done. Second in section was 111 with 11lb odd and my 9lb took an unexpected third in section - luckily Martin framed so I picked up 2nd in section money be default...

Tough day, frustrating with the carp, doubt I'll catch that many again this winter......

Viaduct Silvers All Winners Final, Saturday 26th October 2019

Always nice to turn up for these finals and have the chance to walk away with a decent payday and the prestige of beating some good anglers.

Campbell, Cary and Spring in today, I must admit I fancied Cary or Spring, had some usual banter with Des Shipp before the start and then pulled out Campbell 111 - a great carp peg!!  Des had 102 on Cary, good peg, very good angler had to be a hot favourite.

I set up a small cage feeder, a waggler and 3 topkits, a rig for caster - a Chianti with strung out No11 stotz and two rigs, one 0.2 and another 0.4 for skimmers at 11m.

It stared very slowly, Dan White on 112 started on the feeder and only had a carp to show for it, Alvin on 110 was getting fish down to his left. It took ages to get going and going into the last 2 1/2 hours the skimmers did start to feed, but so did the carp, maggot, single, double or triple, same with caster, short or 11m (and I didn't try the waggler, as the carp were rolling on that line).  Spent much of the last two hours playing carp and retuning them or replacing bust hooklengths, as did Dan on 112.

Alvin to my left on 110 won the section with 29lb, tench, perch and skimmers, I put a touch under 17lb on the scales and the bookies would have been quids in, as Des had over 50lb for the win from his peg on Cary.  Might have been a different tale had there not been so many carp in the area, but they seem to be resident at that end of Campbell at the moment.

Viaduct Silver League, R2, Sunday 20th October 2019

Round 2 of the silvers league, week off last week due to a long weekend in France with the dogs.

Travelled down with Tony again, it makes the journey go by quicker having someone to talk to and bounce a few ideas off.

This isn't going to be a long drawn out blog, I drew 119 and knew it would be a hard job to gain anything from this, with it being a corner and not usually home to the much needed skimmers.  That said, I drew it in my two dayer and it came up trumps, so there is always a bit of hope and in this peg that would hopefully be in the shape of bonus perch and tench.

As 121 on the end bank is in, the feeder rod was left in the van, the waggler rod did come along, as I wasn't intending on getting more than 14.5m out of the bag.  The waggler was set up first, followed by a topkit for down the edge, hoping for perch and tench, this had 0.12 hooklength, a Chianti with spread out 11's for roach and a couple of skimmer rigs of varying weight, to fish at 14m.

There is no pattern to report, no great revelation during the day, just hard work and continually switching lines, staring new ones and nicking the odd fish from all of them.  Small roach and perch made up the numbers and 3 better skimmers, one on the waggler and two on the pole at 14m made up my 11lb odd, which surprisingly was 2nd in section, to 125 who had 20lb.  The weights were better at the other end and I would have gladly taken 2nd from there after the draw.

Next up Silvers All Winners Final