I took my nephew who is just getting started fishing and mad keen down to Bullock Farm on Thursday, it fished pretty hard then, so I was sure today wouldn't be a red letter day - in fact most of the words uttered around the lake today were of the turn the air blue variety.
A hearty breakfast curtesy of Karen's cafe at Bullock's, then the draw which put me on peg 15, a peg with lots of options, but not much history of success. I have caught carp across to the back of peg 27 in the warmer weather, but wasn't hopeful today with the water being pretty clear and Pete Sivell's pole pushing back over their heads. Not that Pete had much option other than to break down three times, although he could tone down the bright red stripes on the butt section.
I started about 2/3 across towards the boards (which are mostly covered by a tree now)with a meagre feeding regime of very sloppy swim stim and pinkie. I also fed a caster line at 5m to my right. I had a couple of crucians (the new, small stockies, not the big old boys) and a goldfish, before a carp around the 1lb mark took the pinkie. A decent roach followed and then a carp around the 5lb mark, gently coaxed in on the 0.10 and size 20 6313. I was getting the odd bubble and indication on the float, another crucian and small hybrid were netted.
It all seemed to be going to plan, it was fishing hard and I was getting bites, when I lifted into a carp that the double 5 wasn't going to stop from reaching the tree and debris in front of the boards. That signalled the end of my match, as I pulled for a break, instead of the 0.10 or 0.11 mainline breaking, it seemed that the carp had snagged the elastic, which broke and disappeared at a rate of knots towards the tree, taking the PTFE bush with it.
I set up a new rig on 0.13 with an .011 hooklength matched with doubled 8 elastic and never had a bite on it, I also lost a fish from the margin adjacent to the pallet of 14,in another snag, that was my last action, either of the lost fish would have given me the section. 9lb odd was my sum total, which was all caught in the first half of the match.
The temperatures are forecast to hold up, with a little rain this week, which might give some hope to those on the Teams of Four next week, the lake definitely needs a bit of colour from somewhere.
1) P Elmes 35.01 peg 17
2) G Bedford 24.02 peg 8
3) G Calvert 22.07 peg 30
4) D Roper 21.14 peg 25
5) R Wooten 19.01 peg 31
=6) J Gray 12.02 peg 2
=6) T (lucky tench) Rixon 12.02 peg 12
Showing posts with label Bullock Farm. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bullock Farm. Show all posts
Sunday, 31 October 2010
Sunday, 3 January 2010
Carps AC, Bullock Farm, 3rd Jan 2010
I wish I was as organised as Mike Nicholls, I've just read his review of 2009 - what a comprehensive set of stats. I can match that for the Kev Perry series, as I have kept records over the last 3 years, but I'd have to go back to diaries from the 70's for that much info about my matches.
I haven't ventured out since 20th Dec, I was going to get out in the week but my Dad died suddenly in the very early hours of the 29th, so making sure Mum was OK came before fishing, even if I'd have felt like going, which I didn't.
I'd booked into this match before Xmas, along with long term angling mate, Paul Faiers, I was thinking of cancelling, but thought the fresh air and a few hours out on my own my do me some good.
I guessed that we'd be breaking ice, so spent some time yesterday buying rope and making a 'top of the range' ice breaker, using a Class 158 DMU (type of train) brake block as the weight.
Minimal bait was going to be required, so a few maggots, pinkies, casters and squatts were obtained and shared out between Paul and myself, we both had some bread as well.
The Bullock Farm breakfast was up to its usual filling standard and discussion then turned to the pegging, Tom Thick was picking out the best pegs to peg in, but there were too many anglers for everyone to have some ice free water. So it was decided that 6, 11 and 27 would be in, the rest of the pegs being around the main part of the lake which was mainly ice free. I really didn't want to draw any of these, which meant, that as I opened my ticket I saw No 27 in Tom's shaky hand writing. Tom managed to draw 17, I reckon he pressed extra hard with the pen for the braille effect
I got to my peg and realised just how thick the ice was, over an inch thick, it took some breaking and I really didn't fancy my chances, seeing as so many good pegs were ice free. I set up two rigs, a 0.3G Jean Desque with 0.13 and an 18 808 (just in case) and a Malman winter wires with a 0.07 hooklength and a 24 Gamma Green.
I started a few minutes late, because the ice breaking took so long, not that it mattered, feeding tiny piches of liquidised bread, with punch on the hook saw zero action, like wise the squatt and pinkie line. Its been a while since I have had the feeling that I wouldn't catch at all, but I had it today after an hour and a half. I took the short walk to peg 26 where Paul was, he'd had 3 bites and one goldfish in the net.
I went back and tried again, but really didn't feel confident, even of getting a fish in the late stages of the match, perhaps my mind wasn't fully on the fishing, especially without a bite to show for my efforts. I packed up half an hour before the end, something I don't do very often at all. Not sure when I'll be out again, as I have the funeral to arrange this week, I think I'll wait until thats happened before fishing again.
Only five weighed in, they all picked up money in some form of overall or silvers payouts.
1) Dave Evans 15.03 peg 11 (Two carp (one lump), a roach and a crucian on bread)
2) Tom Thick 03.05 peg 17
3) Bill Ferris 00.12 peg 24
4) Paul Faiers 00.09 peg 26
5) Steve Evans 00.04 peg 18
6) All the rest DNW
Just something that may help avoid amaggot escape, I went into the garage just before Xmas and opened the fridge door, maggots and pinkies on the loose and the liccy in the freezer defrosting. Fridges stop working if the ambient temperature gets too cold, so its worth checking if you have a bait fridge in an unheated, garage or shed.
I haven't ventured out since 20th Dec, I was going to get out in the week but my Dad died suddenly in the very early hours of the 29th, so making sure Mum was OK came before fishing, even if I'd have felt like going, which I didn't.
I'd booked into this match before Xmas, along with long term angling mate, Paul Faiers, I was thinking of cancelling, but thought the fresh air and a few hours out on my own my do me some good.
I guessed that we'd be breaking ice, so spent some time yesterday buying rope and making a 'top of the range' ice breaker, using a Class 158 DMU (type of train) brake block as the weight.
Minimal bait was going to be required, so a few maggots, pinkies, casters and squatts were obtained and shared out between Paul and myself, we both had some bread as well.
The Bullock Farm breakfast was up to its usual filling standard and discussion then turned to the pegging, Tom Thick was picking out the best pegs to peg in, but there were too many anglers for everyone to have some ice free water. So it was decided that 6, 11 and 27 would be in, the rest of the pegs being around the main part of the lake which was mainly ice free. I really didn't want to draw any of these, which meant, that as I opened my ticket I saw No 27 in Tom's shaky hand writing. Tom managed to draw 17, I reckon he pressed extra hard with the pen for the braille effect
I got to my peg and realised just how thick the ice was, over an inch thick, it took some breaking and I really didn't fancy my chances, seeing as so many good pegs were ice free. I set up two rigs, a 0.3G Jean Desque with 0.13 and an 18 808 (just in case) and a Malman winter wires with a 0.07 hooklength and a 24 Gamma Green.
I started a few minutes late, because the ice breaking took so long, not that it mattered, feeding tiny piches of liquidised bread, with punch on the hook saw zero action, like wise the squatt and pinkie line. Its been a while since I have had the feeling that I wouldn't catch at all, but I had it today after an hour and a half. I took the short walk to peg 26 where Paul was, he'd had 3 bites and one goldfish in the net.
I went back and tried again, but really didn't feel confident, even of getting a fish in the late stages of the match, perhaps my mind wasn't fully on the fishing, especially without a bite to show for my efforts. I packed up half an hour before the end, something I don't do very often at all. Not sure when I'll be out again, as I have the funeral to arrange this week, I think I'll wait until thats happened before fishing again.
Only five weighed in, they all picked up money in some form of overall or silvers payouts.
1) Dave Evans 15.03 peg 11 (Two carp (one lump), a roach and a crucian on bread)
2) Tom Thick 03.05 peg 17
3) Bill Ferris 00.12 peg 24
4) Paul Faiers 00.09 peg 26
5) Steve Evans 00.04 peg 18
6) All the rest DNW
Just something that may help avoid amaggot escape, I went into the garage just before Xmas and opened the fridge door, maggots and pinkies on the loose and the liccy in the freezer defrosting. Fridges stop working if the ambient temperature gets too cold, so its worth checking if you have a bait fridge in an unheated, garage or shed.
Sunday, 27 September 2009
Bullock Farm 27th September 2009
This seems like overkill, three blogs (mine, Tony Rixon's and Mike Nicholls on the same match.
Todays plan was, its my birthday, I'll draw a good peg and at least frame, as anyone who knows me, plans aren't my thing and today proved it.
I arrived in plenty of time and walked round the lake, just as well I did, the usual Bullock scenario, three pegs occupied by pleasure anglers, there is a sign as you drive in indicating which lakes are open or closed, it isn't the biggest sign you'll ever see. One of the guys was on peg 29 (gawd knows why!!) and he didn't realise he was on the match lake, or even that the lake he was fishing, was the same lake as the one behind him.
Perhaps Phil needs to adapt his sign to include a map of the lakes for the newbies and a lethal injection for the terminally dense.
Charlie and Tom's organisational skills were up to scratch, with 20 being an ideal number for the match lake, 22 were actually booked in, someone needs to tell Tom that whilst he takes his shoes and socks off to count to 20, it doesn't work when you have 6 toes...
So with the final tally being 24, as 2 turned up for the breakfast and a chance that someone didn't show, 4 pegs were put on North Pool, restoring the karma to the match lake and giving some lucky sod the chance of pocketing the cash.
Another good Bullock breakfast (as last time, eaten in the company of Nicky Collins, who this time didn't get on his soapbox, although it was close....) and then to the draw, the old fishwives that are Charlie and Tom, had bickered a lot less this time and I managed to draw 27. Not too happy, with the lack of crucians and fantails when I fished peg 17 on Friday, I wasn't convinced that they'd be anywhere near this peg, let alone enough carp to win it.
I set up a maggot rig on 0.13 with a size 18 808, a pellet rig with 0.15 and a size 16 808, a paste rig, but lighter than usual, with a 14 911 to 0.15 line, I also set up 2 margin rigs, one for maggot / caster 0.15 to a 18 911 and a cat meat rig.
I started at 10m, with maggot and had the odd fish, skimmers, roach and a crucian, I could keep the occasional bite coming by very light feeding (Mike Nicholls would be proud!!). The rate of fish was slow, so slow that I was pretty convinced that somewhere else on the lake, the usual 20lb+ bag of 'silvers' would take the silvers money - big mistake.....
I buggered about trying to catch vermin in the margins, to no avail, they either weren't there, (no liners, so possible) or weren't interested in any bait I could offer. Why I bothered I don't know, I trashed several rigs in the roots and untrimmed crap that infest the margins, whilst watching Pete Sivell and Ray Cooper do similar.
Last half hour saw me back on the silvers and as the scales came around, the realisation that, had I fished for silvers all day, I could have gone home with some beer tokens.
I weighed 8-09 of silvers and one vermin that went 7-10 which took in excess of 10 minutes to land on 0.10 and a 22 808, which I'd resorted to, to try and keep the silvers coming.I also had the peg ploughed up by another vermin that refused to be landed on 0.10 and a 22 808.
The typical indecision I suffer on commercials continues, the result being:
1. Gary Bedford 75-10-0 peg North Pool 12
2. Mike Nicholls 58-08-0 peg 17
3. Adrian Jefferies 50-04-0 peg 19
4. Tom Thick 49-07-0 peg 25
5. Jason Radford 40-06-0 peg 22
6. Paul Faiers 36-02-0 peg North Pool 6
Top Silvers:
1. Glyn Wickems 12-05-0 peg 26
2. Ray Wickems 12-05-0 peg 24
3. Nicky Collins 12-04-0 peg 21
Unless I can win the lottery - ha ha, how likely is that with my shite drawing arm - the necessity that is work, means that I won't be fishing another match for about a fortnight, lets hope I can make the right decision then!!
Todays plan was, its my birthday, I'll draw a good peg and at least frame, as anyone who knows me, plans aren't my thing and today proved it.
I arrived in plenty of time and walked round the lake, just as well I did, the usual Bullock scenario, three pegs occupied by pleasure anglers, there is a sign as you drive in indicating which lakes are open or closed, it isn't the biggest sign you'll ever see. One of the guys was on peg 29 (gawd knows why!!) and he didn't realise he was on the match lake, or even that the lake he was fishing, was the same lake as the one behind him.
Perhaps Phil needs to adapt his sign to include a map of the lakes for the newbies and a lethal injection for the terminally dense.
Charlie and Tom's organisational skills were up to scratch, with 20 being an ideal number for the match lake, 22 were actually booked in, someone needs to tell Tom that whilst he takes his shoes and socks off to count to 20, it doesn't work when you have 6 toes...
So with the final tally being 24, as 2 turned up for the breakfast and a chance that someone didn't show, 4 pegs were put on North Pool, restoring the karma to the match lake and giving some lucky sod the chance of pocketing the cash.
Another good Bullock breakfast (as last time, eaten in the company of Nicky Collins, who this time didn't get on his soapbox, although it was close....) and then to the draw, the old fishwives that are Charlie and Tom, had bickered a lot less this time and I managed to draw 27. Not too happy, with the lack of crucians and fantails when I fished peg 17 on Friday, I wasn't convinced that they'd be anywhere near this peg, let alone enough carp to win it.
I set up a maggot rig on 0.13 with a size 18 808, a pellet rig with 0.15 and a size 16 808, a paste rig, but lighter than usual, with a 14 911 to 0.15 line, I also set up 2 margin rigs, one for maggot / caster 0.15 to a 18 911 and a cat meat rig.
I started at 10m, with maggot and had the odd fish, skimmers, roach and a crucian, I could keep the occasional bite coming by very light feeding (Mike Nicholls would be proud!!). The rate of fish was slow, so slow that I was pretty convinced that somewhere else on the lake, the usual 20lb+ bag of 'silvers' would take the silvers money - big mistake.....
I buggered about trying to catch vermin in the margins, to no avail, they either weren't there, (no liners, so possible) or weren't interested in any bait I could offer. Why I bothered I don't know, I trashed several rigs in the roots and untrimmed crap that infest the margins, whilst watching Pete Sivell and Ray Cooper do similar.
Last half hour saw me back on the silvers and as the scales came around, the realisation that, had I fished for silvers all day, I could have gone home with some beer tokens.
I weighed 8-09 of silvers and one vermin that went 7-10 which took in excess of 10 minutes to land on 0.10 and a 22 808, which I'd resorted to, to try and keep the silvers coming.I also had the peg ploughed up by another vermin that refused to be landed on 0.10 and a 22 808.
The typical indecision I suffer on commercials continues, the result being:
1. Gary Bedford 75-10-0 peg North Pool 12
2. Mike Nicholls 58-08-0 peg 17
3. Adrian Jefferies 50-04-0 peg 19
4. Tom Thick 49-07-0 peg 25
5. Jason Radford 40-06-0 peg 22
6. Paul Faiers 36-02-0 peg North Pool 6
Top Silvers:
1. Glyn Wickems 12-05-0 peg 26
2. Ray Wickems 12-05-0 peg 24
3. Nicky Collins 12-04-0 peg 21
Unless I can win the lottery - ha ha, how likely is that with my shite drawing arm - the necessity that is work, means that I won't be fishing another match for about a fortnight, lets hope I can make the right decision then!!
Monday, 14 September 2009
Bullock Farm, 6th September 2009
I was looking forward to a return to Trinity Waters this weekend, but when Paul (Faiers) told me that Charlie Barnes and Tom Thick were organising a open on Bullock Farm, several things drew me to it, even though it needs a bit of TLC and tidying, it usually is a decent match, the breakfast is bloody great and finally, Tom & Charlie support the series that Paul and I run (Kev Perry series) on the venue. So, a bit of reciprocal support never does any harm.
This year nature really has got a grip on the match lake and the rush beds could really do with taming, they are shaking all day as the fish quite contentedly stay in them whilst matches are in progress. Some of the islands are now eroding away and the tree on the island in front of peg 22 looks like it won't be long before it goes over into the lake.
I arrived in plenty of time to get a breakfast, chatting about old times (and how now we're getting old, its not so easy to drink all night and still fish the next day) with Nicky Collins and if we're both honest, the full Bullock Farm cafe breakfast, isn't likely to help the diet plans......
I wasn't surprised to see Charlie and Tom in a state of disorganisation, bickering like an old married couple, in the end Charlie took the pools money and noted it all down on the back of a fag packet ( or something similar) and then held the draw.
Once the melee had settled it didn't take long for everyone to hear that Tony Rixon had drawn peg 24 and Dean Malin, peg 17, two good anglers on two of the best pegs, if it went to form, that was everyone else fishing for 3rd place.
I'd drawn 21, a real up and down peg, it has framed and it has come nowwhere, on an inconsistent basis, some days the crucians and fantails are there, others they aren't, when it has an off day, it really isn't good. Earlier this year the wooden boards that surrounded the island were removed, its now possible to get more bites from carp, but they often end up buried into the roots and debris around the island, witness the tackle shop dealers delight, a plethora of lost floats gracing the foliage that enters the water.
I decide to fish the open water and only venture near the rig killing foliage and roots if desperate. Soft pellet and paste were to be the plan, with a back up of corn, maggot and catmeat. On the all in, I cupped in a few 4 mm pellets and some micro pellet, going in on top of this with a 4mm expander, I was well chuffed when the float went under and a 1lb+ fantail was in the net, I needn't have been, from then on it was a real struggle, I'd alter the rig or change bait and get a bite or a fish, thinking I'd sussed it, no I hadn't, every change that brought a bite or fish, was then met with a motionless float.
Giving up, I went into the rooty jungle by the island, lost a few carp and landed 3, all the while, I could see Tony Rixon bagging on peg 24. I had to put it down to one of those days, I think it was a combination of not too many fish in the peg and I overfed it, thinking it would produce a few fish. I even tried a caster line out to my left at about 7m, usually good for a few silvers, not a bite.
As predicted, Dean and Tony first and second, both with 60lb+ and match organiser Tom Thick third with 53lb 14oz
This year nature really has got a grip on the match lake and the rush beds could really do with taming, they are shaking all day as the fish quite contentedly stay in them whilst matches are in progress. Some of the islands are now eroding away and the tree on the island in front of peg 22 looks like it won't be long before it goes over into the lake.
I arrived in plenty of time to get a breakfast, chatting about old times (and how now we're getting old, its not so easy to drink all night and still fish the next day) with Nicky Collins and if we're both honest, the full Bullock Farm cafe breakfast, isn't likely to help the diet plans......
I wasn't surprised to see Charlie and Tom in a state of disorganisation, bickering like an old married couple, in the end Charlie took the pools money and noted it all down on the back of a fag packet ( or something similar) and then held the draw.
Once the melee had settled it didn't take long for everyone to hear that Tony Rixon had drawn peg 24 and Dean Malin, peg 17, two good anglers on two of the best pegs, if it went to form, that was everyone else fishing for 3rd place.
I'd drawn 21, a real up and down peg, it has framed and it has come nowwhere, on an inconsistent basis, some days the crucians and fantails are there, others they aren't, when it has an off day, it really isn't good. Earlier this year the wooden boards that surrounded the island were removed, its now possible to get more bites from carp, but they often end up buried into the roots and debris around the island, witness the tackle shop dealers delight, a plethora of lost floats gracing the foliage that enters the water.
I decide to fish the open water and only venture near the rig killing foliage and roots if desperate. Soft pellet and paste were to be the plan, with a back up of corn, maggot and catmeat. On the all in, I cupped in a few 4 mm pellets and some micro pellet, going in on top of this with a 4mm expander, I was well chuffed when the float went under and a 1lb+ fantail was in the net, I needn't have been, from then on it was a real struggle, I'd alter the rig or change bait and get a bite or a fish, thinking I'd sussed it, no I hadn't, every change that brought a bite or fish, was then met with a motionless float.
Giving up, I went into the rooty jungle by the island, lost a few carp and landed 3, all the while, I could see Tony Rixon bagging on peg 24. I had to put it down to one of those days, I think it was a combination of not too many fish in the peg and I overfed it, thinking it would produce a few fish. I even tried a caster line out to my left at about 7m, usually good for a few silvers, not a bite.
As predicted, Dean and Tony first and second, both with 60lb+ and match organiser Tom Thick third with 53lb 14oz
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