Viaduct Open, Saturday 13th June 2020

Got here just after 09:00 and most of the pegs gone, some people certainly are arriving early!!  Anyway handed over the money and was drawn 16 by Matt, 21 fishing today.  It's not had any form for a while - until the last two matches where it has framed, although the midweek matches do attract a few silvers anglers, so sometimes the results are slightly skewed as to what pegs might have done better overall.

Simple approach today, 6 and 8mm pellets, 8mm meat, a line at 5m, one at 14m and a lead rod and a waggler - just in case. Also a margin rig to fish both edges, although in this peg the RH margin is certainly the one that most often produces, there is a nice little shelf and a drop off to deeper water.  It was more consistent when the tree was in the water, but that low slung branch was removed last year.

I was interested talking to a couple of guys I haveeknown a long time, it transpired they are both using one of the pellet 'brands' that seem to be catching a lot of fish.  I'm not sure I am convinced of the effectiveness of flavourings and pellets that cost 3 times the standard pellet, but lately I have seen plenty of fish come out on them, maybe I'll have to give them a go.

Started on meat short and had two perch, a big skimmer, a roach and an rare (for Campbell) F1.  Switched to the long line to no avail, Nick Chedzoy on 115 was catching, but he is 2m further out, because of the bank/platform.  A switch to the waggler, set at dead depth brought a fish 1st and 3rd chucks, sussed it...... well not exactly, never had another bite on it.

Another go on the long pole, again not even a bite, by now I was a long way behind, I had regular looks in the margin, nothing to show for them, I'd switched the short line to pellets and did get a couple of fish from there, but it was little reward and I was expecting to be well down the pecking order.

Finally, with an hour and ten minutes to go, the margin switched on and I had a run of fish to about 16lb, too little too late, to claw my back on those who'd caught consistently and nowhere near troubling Sam who fell just 5lb short of breaking the venue record.

 Overall

1. Sam Powell - 455lb 1oz - peg 119

2. Nikki Miller - 253lb 13oz - peg 112

3. Dan White - 227lb 8oz - peg 128

4. Nick Chedzoy - 221lb 11oz - peg 115

5. Phil Hardwick - 219lb 10oz - peg 114

6. Martin Rayet - 205lb 2oz - peg 129

7. Chris Fox - 164lb 10oz - peg 116

8. Dave Bruton - 157lb 13oz - peg 132

9. Steve Denmead - 148lb 5oz - peg 127

10. Lee Massey - 143lb 13oz - peg 111

11. Ryan Morgan - 117lb 5oz - peg 126

12. Terry Leney - 102lb 2oz - peg 118

Silvers

1. Ryan Morgan - 33lb 7oz - peg 126

2. James Guy - 28lb 7oz - peg 125

3. John Fuidge - 20lb 7oz - peg 130