Sunday 7 December 2014

Marsh AC Xmas Match Colemans Cottage Wood Lake 06 12 14

Why is it that Xmas matches always seem to be in December, when it is cold and frosty. Personally I think we should have one in June or July with a hot sun and longer days. I am sure attendances would be better as well.
Still, Mick and I had a score to settle, the MK Nugget has finally reached a stage where a decision is made. I am leading 12-11 with only this match left where we can both fish. After a year it has been close with Mick edging the Marsh matches to pip me to the league winners and my matches at Alders in the early part of the year getting me some vital wins. In fairness it has ebbed too and fro all year and a draw would be a fair result over the year.
Mick was driving today and as we circumvented the M1 & M25 quite comfortably it was a surprise to see the lights out in the café and Coleman's. Jayne was busying herself inside and with a flick of a switch it was open for business. A couple of full English's followed which were welcome on a cold and frosty morning. There would only be 10 of us today with a couple of late cancellations. With pools monies paid I let Mick draw first, his customary good peg came out along Barbel Alley on 12. I was not complaining though as peg 14 had stuck to my paw and at least I would be able to see how Mick was faring and adapt accordingly.
I set up four rigs today, two with white hydro, .16 Stroft. .4g MW Diamonds to a size 18 B911 for fishing at 12m and 14.5m. The other main rig was for a top three line straight out in 4ft of water. .18 Stroft to grey hydro and a .3g MW Diamond and size 16 PR36. Hopefully I would bag on this line. But I doubted it due to the clear water. I also set up a throwaway line a metre from the bank which I would feed at the start and have a look over in case any barbel are present.
At the all in I fed the throwaway line with micro's and maggot and tried the top three line with maggot on the hook. After 10 minutes I had not had any indications so fed a toss pot of micro and maggot onto the line. A look at 12m paid off as after 5 minutes a common around 3lb graced the landing net. No other bites so out to 14.5m I decided to feed this line, again with micros and maggot via a toss pot and all I had to show after an hour was the one fish in the net and a liner.
It was fishing harder than everyone expected and the only one on the lake getting a few fish was Tony on Peg 20. Simon had sneaked one in, but everyone else was struggling.
Still, I plugged away. I was rotating lines after around 20 minutes and feeding a pinch of micros and around 6 maggots each time in the hope that odd fish will pick up whilst I am in the area. I felt I was fishing well but the fish were not there but with Mick still sitting biteless, my one fish would get me the MK Nugget at least.
Hour two saw another carp in the net and another liner from 14.5m on double maggot dipped in Gel It and even giving maggots a squirt of Stinky Stuff never improved either the catch rate or bite ratio. Hour three saw me catch a small 2lb barbel, again on the 14.5m line. Hour four saw another smaller carp and that was my lot. Despite going through all areas of the swim and keeping an eye on those around me, I honestly felt I could have done no more, but that's winter fishing for you. John had caught late on and would win the match, with Tony second who had struggled in the last couple of hours.
Overall
1st John Holdsworth            36-00
2nd Tony Roberts                22-00
3rd Tom Exell                      13-00
4th Keith Ashby                   11-00
5th Simon Watkins                 8-00
6th Jim Boase                         5-00
7th Dave Collier                     3-00


Unfortunately there was 3 blanks in the match all in my section, so it had fished extremely hard, I think a mix of the lake having been limed recently, a really heavy sharp frost, clear skies and no breeze all contributing.
The MK Nugget is over now until the New Year with myself taking the honours 13-11. A very close season and an enjoyable one with plenty of banter between us.
Thanks must go to Dave Collier and Tony Roberts who put in a lot of time in making these matches what they are. A friendly bunch of lads who just go to enjoy themselves on venues they do not normally fish.

Wednesday 19 November 2014

Oakfield Open 19 11 14

With a spare day off work and a couple of pints of maggot spare, I booked in late (it was so late they added the peg in as I arrived) to the midweek open at Oakfield. I had fished it last week and I fished really poor, could only get a bite on maggot at 12m and not only missed a lot of bites, the ones I hit were tiny fish.
I could not let it beat me up though so armed with corn, expanders, hard pellet and maggot I was confident of getting a few of the carp and f1's.
I arrived nice and early to be greeted by Nick who took my money whilst John was busy making me a bacon sarnie.
Both lakes were in again and Red Kite 4 stuck to my hand. A good draw in a good area with the light breeze pushing down our end of the lake. However as last week I set up to fish 12m but this time decided to fish 3 lines at 6m all fed differently to see if I could get something to work. I also set up a line in front of peg 3.
Last week I fished baits over GB. This did not seem to work so today I cut it out completely and fished over micros. At 12m I cupped in a half pot of micros with a few grains of corn. 6m left was just half a pot of micros, 6m straight out micros and maggot, and right was micros and corn. The margin line was just corn, no micros.
I started off at 12m and drip fed a toss pot of micros and 3 grains of corn. Within 10minutes I had my first bite an f1 around 2lb. Ten minutes more go by and another f1 around the pound mark. However despite persevering and trying other baits on this line no more bites were forthcoming. I re-fed another half pot of micros and a few grains of corn and moved to 6m left.
A couple of put in's saw a micro carp around 2oz take an expander, followed by a gudgeon. A move to straight out saw a couple of missed bites on maggot before another micro carp took the bait. The right hand line was primed with corn and micros and having left it an hour and a half I was hoping it would bury first put in and I would go onto win the match by a comfortable margin. The truth is I never had a bite on it all match, nor the margin which I tried occasionally.
The only place I could get a bite was at 12m and then it was a case of drop in and wait. The tow had started to pick up a little and the float was moving a bit so I switched to a slightly heavier rig and this seemed to stay still better. I did catch a few more f1's but was never in the race by the time the scales came round. I did fare better than the guy on peg 1 who had 3 f1's but was battered by the pegs on the opposite bank and decided to not weigh in.
To be honest, I do not know where I am going wrong at Oakfield. It is mid November and the lake was won by Pete Archer fishing deep shallow on the pole. A few of the other anglers had a couple of tip fish but were still sitting motionless for a long time.
Overall
1st Steve Nicholls               55-03   Swallow 16
2nd Pete Archer                  46-10   Red Kite 32
3rd Dick Ashby                  38-14   Swallow 11
4th Barry Edwards             37 -01   Red Kite 24
5th Gordon Worrall            34-12  Swallow 23
6th Pete Alland                  30-14   Swallow 5





Tuesday 18 November 2014

Alders Farm Oaks Lake 18 11 14

Not only did I lose a nugget last time out to Mick, I fished like an absolute idiot, in hindsight. I got it all wrong right from the off and never looked like catching a few. Still today is another day.
Last Tuesday's match was on Oaks Lake and today was no different. Ten hardy souls braved the cool winter weather but at least the rain would hold off. It was fresh but not too bad for the time of year.
With monies paid, and the peg numbers sorted I was hoping for a repeat of last weeks dr aw where peg 1 was my home if not a draw from 6 to 9 would be good. However, peg 3 was to be my home for the next five hours. I had Dennis on 4 and Del Smith on 2 with Charlie Lancaster on the flyer peg 1. John Hewison was on 5 with Terry Lancaster on 6, Madd (7) Ken on peg 8 and Lee Taylor on 9. Trevor had end peg 10 and would be hard to beat from his favourite peg on the complex.
I decided to forget about margin fishing and catch what was in front of me for five hours. I pulled a deep rig from my box and found that at 11m it would sit nicely. A similar approach found 9m to my left hand line and with 4ft on my right hand swim I was set. I opted to fish expander to my left and corn to the right leaving me to fish maggot or expander on the long 11m line.
I fed both the right and 11m line with micros with a few grains of corn or expander in the mix, whilst the left hand swim was fed with ground bait and expanders.
Starting off on the 11m line I was soon into a steady procession of small carp. Nothing over a pound but I was catching a few. I was feeding a tosspot every put in with 4 maggots and a pinch of micros and this seemed to be working as after an hour I reckoned on around 15lb. I could hear Charlie catching well down the edge and proper fish too. Lee Taylor was getting a few fish from the island on the tip. Madd had snared a good carp and was getting a few fish but not regularly. It was head down time. Hours two and three were steady apart from a spell in the middle where I only had two fish in around half an hour's fishing.
I re-fed this line with a half pot of micros and maggot/expander mix and tried both the side lines, with only 2 fish to show for 20 minutes. Still nothing over a pound came to the net but the float was going under. Back to 11m and a switch to expander brought a few skimmers before again the small carp returned and pushed them out. Going into the last hour I had 50lb and hoped a few of the larger fish would come in over this line, I had fed it religiously every put in and placed a grain of corn on the hook, but still the small carp came. Maggot was probably best bait on the day with Almond Expanders a close second.
Overall
1st Trevor Price                              159-15
2nd Charlie Lancaster                     146-05
3rd Lee Taylor                                84-03
4th Keith Ashby                             61-11
5th Del Smith                                 49-05
6th Phil "Madd" Young                 47-01


Personally I think I fished it right today and walked away thinking I could not have done anything different. I caught what was in front of me which was my aim. It would have been nice if a few of the larger specimens had come out to play but you cannot have everything. Shame Mick is never here when I fish well.

Saturday 15 November 2014

Oakfield Open 12 11 14

A lot of you will know that the MK Nugget is contested by Mick Wright and myself over the course of a year. All was fine until I was asked to swap shifts in July. It meant our normal matches were curtailed and we had to plan in advance our matches. Today was one of these matches. Not at one of our normal haunts but it made a nice change to pop over to Oakfield Fishery near Aylesbury.
Mick had agreed to pick me up in return for a breakfast and to avoid the queues around the roadworks at Buckingham we set off around 0645. We arrived nice and early for the draw but breakfast took up some of the time.
At the draw we were told there would be 14 fishing so they would split the match over both Red Kite and Swallow lakes. I was hoping for a peg on Swallow  but I ended up on Peg 8 on Red Kite, with Mick on the end peg on our bank,18.
The wind would be tricky today, It was blowing directly into our faces and coupled with rain, it was obvious that I would be getting wet today. I do not like umbrellas.
I decided to fish a line at 12m with expander or hard pellet, A line at 5m with corn and a margin line to the pallet on peg 7 for a maggot approach.
The strange thing I noticed was that there was very little tow on the water and I could easily use a MW Diamond in 5ft of water. Hooklength's were .13 to a size 18 B911. For the 5m line I used a similar float in .3g for 3ft of water to a size 16 PR36 fished direct. Margin line was .18 Stroft and a NG Mini Diamond to a size 16 PR36.
At the all in I potted in a pot of small balls of micros on each line followed by a half pot of the intended hookbait for each swim.
Starting off at 12m I missed my first bite after 5minutes but was soon into my first f1 around 2lb, next put in and another followed after a couple of minutes wait. Then nothing. I re-fed and tried the 5m line. Nothing and 20 minutes wasted. A quick look down the side on maggot and no indications or bites. Back out to 12m and nothing. Switching from expander to hard pellet made no difference, indeed the only thing I could get a bite on was maggot and a small skimmer and a gudgeon were placed in the net. That was my match. I could not get a bite on anything bar maggot and these were only small blades, no carp or f1s. To say I was disappointed was an under estimation. I had looked forward to this match and felt gutted that I had let this one slip.
Mick had also struggled but had persevered on a top three line for 12lb to comfortably beat me for the nugget, making it 12-11 in my favour with one match left to go.

Tuesday 11 November 2014

Alders Farm Oaks Lake 11 11 14

I always try to support my local fishery Alders Farm when I can and if shifts at work allow I always book into the regular Tuesday Opens. Not only are they normally well attended but are spread out across the fishery. To be honest, it would do my head in if it was on the same lake week in week out. Last week I suffered on peg 21 on the match lake and was hoping my drawing arm improved this week.
There were 8 of us fishing this week and as always it was nice and friendly, something else I enjoy, it was pegged 4 on each side of Oaks Lake. Charlie pegged it out whilst Trevor was sorting out bait, etc. I collected the monies and with everyone paid up it was draw time. I fancied a peg in the trees. That had been kind in the past and with a bit of wind on it, I really fancied it. However, peg 1 stuck to my hand and I was still pleased even though I was on the wrong bank. Peg 1 is the first peg on the lake with overhanging trees into the water at 10m to the left. It normally holds some carp, but it often depends on whether you can get them out. I also set up to fish at 12m straight out but would only go over it if the wind dropped enough to control the pole. I also plumbed a line at 2+2 where I could get out of the wind but was doubtful any skimmers or carp would venture so close as the water was fairly clear.
At the all in I cupped a pot of micros to 12m and top 4 lines and a mixed pot of micro and corn to the tree at 10m. With the wind dropped I thought it best to have a go long whilst I could. After 10 minutes and nothing to show for it I re-fed the line and dropped in close. I had a couple of small carp on expander coated with pineapple Gellit before it went quiet. Time to look to the tree. Six put ins saw six Rudd, a switch to a bulk rig fished dead depth with stinky corn saw a procession of carp to around 3lb. I was know catching well and after 2 hours put another net in as I thought I might need it. I reckoned on 50lb in that net and was going well. With a third net in, I started to put a few fish in before it went quiet. I re-fed again and switched out to 12m. A couple of 5lb fish on this line boosted an already decent weight. However it never lasted and I was waiting too long for a bite, albeit better fish. I could catch smaller fish quicker and hoped that I could catch enough from the 10m tree line to see me over the line.
I could see Charlie catching from peg 8 opposite and Terry was getting a mix of carp and Skimmers so was hard to judge. Trevor is a fish so I knew he would be there or thereabouts. John next door on peg 2 had secured a personal best carp in the region of 15lb and was elated to have done this in his first match.
I found that by fishing out a bit further from the tree line I was still getting bites but was struggling to hit them. I did not think the fish were up in the water because I tried this a couple of times for nothing. I kept plugging away and hoped for a good last hour however it was not to be and only four fish came to the net.
Overall
1st Charlie Lancaster           127-10
2nd Keith Ashby                  113-00
3rd Terry Lancaster               77-12
4th Hugh Crawford               77-00
5th Nick Rowe                      73-00
6th Trevor Price                    67-15
I feel after this match that I fished it about right today, I only lost one fish all day and that was from the 12m. I am not sure that micros were the right thing for down the side but it is certainly something I can work on over the next few months.

Tuesday 4 November 2014

Alders Farm Ash Lake 04 11 14

My first venture to Alders for a few weeks and I was biting at the bit to get amongst the resident carp and have a decent day where the float kept going under. However, the weather gods had decided a different day was to be had. I awoke to the first frost of the year, never a good sign, with a plan to rain between 2pm and 4pm.
I made my way through the daily commute and pulled into the fishery to be greeted by Lewis, the new fishery owner, who explained some of his plans for the future. Allowing youngsters on the fishery, improvements already made to the café and a far bit of TLC to the lakes and surrounding areas. It certainly all fits into his plan of having coaching days for both adults and youngsters, linking up with local schools and clubs who will thrive on the first hand knowledge available from the team at Alders.
As I said earlier I had not been to Alders for a while and the only information I could glean was from the recent winter league matches. It seemed to be a maggot/ground-bait combination or a pellet approach which was doing all the damage. But, I fancied a day on the corn and set my stall out accordingly. I was pegged on peg 21 on the dam wall and had 3ft at a top three and was confident I could get them going if they were there. I also set a couple of margin rigs up to fish the pallets either side, one with pellet, the other corn.
I had Madd for company on peg 23 who would be fishing pellet or maggot throughout. At the all in I potted a half pot of corn and pellet to my left and a full pot of pellet to the platform to my right. I threw a few grains of corn to the top three line and lowered a pineapple "gellited" corn with no immediate bites. After 5 minutes I was starting to get indications but they were minute twitches of the float. A few alterations to the shotting pattern and I was soon into my first fish, a common around 2lb. His brother soon followed and after an hour I had around 8 fish. Not the start I wanted but hopefully as the sun came up and warmed the water, things would improve. Hour two was also slow and by the end of the hour I was reaching for the margin rigs. One fish from the right hand edge, and I was back out to top three.
I could see Vic, who was celebrating his 57th birthday, or as he says 19 again and again, catching from peg 5 whilst Charlie was getting a few from peg 7. Madd was starting to get a few close to the platform on 24, after a slow start and Dell Smith on 26 was also amongst them. I must also say that the banter was second to none with nearly everyone contributing to a game of Popquiz at some stage of another and Terry Lancaster singing along to Jerry Lee Lewis and Little Richard.
Hour three and four improved a little bringing my total to 45 fish and around a ton. I decided to have a proper look down the edge in the last hour, partly due to seeing a few tails in the pegs but also because I was going no where on the top three line. The first 10 minutes were quiet before the float dipped and a 5lb fish was in the net, I re-fed and again waited for 10 minutes before another 5lb fish. A couple more followed and I estimated I had around 150lb. I ended up just a little short on 143-11 for nowhere, but was glad to blow the cobwebs off and see the float go under.
Overall
1st Colin Spencer                337-0
2nd Dell Smith                    268-13
3rd Charlie Lancaster         213-14
4th Trevor Price                  210-0
5th Vic Nugent                   204-12
6th Terry Lancaster            188-06


Good to be back at Alders and I will be back next week as my shifts fall nicely. 

Monday 27 October 2014

Claygate Eva Marsh AC 25 10 14

New Claygate  Lakes was the venue for the last match of the Marsh AC season (apart from the Xmas match) and I was lying in second position behind travelling partner and work colleague Mick. Clive who was sitting in third position was unable to make today so it was a shoot out between the two of us.
A good trip down with Troy taking his van and both Mick and I contributing to his breakfast and dinner, we made good time and pulled into Monks Lake fishery for the first of the commitments(brekkie), in good time. Its only 10 minutes away from Claygate and a good stopping off point.
We had most of the lake today and I was hoping for a peg with plenty of open water, however I had drawn end peg and knew it was over before I had even wet a line. Peg 37 is in a corner and I knew it would be feast or famine, no wind blowing in or signs of life let alone fish, but it was what was in the hat and someone had to get it. Mick had drawn well on 33 with open water and a gap between two islands and a decent clean margin. Troy had also drawn in a good area on 6 on the railway straight.
Before the start Tony W was getting ready, plumbing up as you do, shipping back his pole along the railway bank. Next thing he knew was a loud bang and a broken section. A train had passed by and nicked his last section, causing no damage but the following movement of the pole snapped another section with a whiplash effect. With it telescoped he could continue but he was a very lucky man as 750 live volts could have had a far lasting effect on him. When will people learn electricity and carbon do not mix.
I opted to fish 4 lines today, with the resident f1's and carp the target species. I had a line at 11m to my left edge, a line at 14m tight to the far bank, 12m to my right at 2 o'clock at the bottom of the shelf and a top four line directly in front. I had good depth on all lines and felt that feeding 4mm GOT Sinkers and fishing either a 6mm banded pellet or expander would account for anything that swam. I also had a tin of corn as a back up.
I started off fishing top four and after an hour only had one f1 from this line around 12oz and no other bites. I had rotated my lines during this spell and it was evident that there were no fish in the peg. No bites, no liners, nothing. Changes to shotting patterns made no difference. I set up a shallow rig and even tried that to no avail. Nothing was working.It was fishing hard and I could see the colour dropping out of the margins. In fact I dropped some pellets next to my keepnet and although I could not see them at the start they were still there clear as day in 2ft of water at the end.
Simon W on 35 had started well fishing tight across and had a couple of f1's before he managed to break his no.6 section adjusting his pole roller. Not a good day for the Watkin Brothers. Mick was plugging away and doing far better than I.
To cut a six hour story short, I managed four bites during the match and four fish for a grand total of 6lb something and with 20 minutes left started packing up. It really was a famine peg but we all stick our hand into the pot and should try to make the most of what is in front of us. At no point did I give up as a run of fish can easily change things around. Many matches I have come back in the last hour of a match but alas today was not one of them. Not the way I would have liked the season to end, but that's fishing.
Overall
 1 Tony Roberts       69  04
2 Al Loader             61  00
3 Terry Goff            60   08
4 Jim Boase             48  12
5 Tony Watkins      46  12
6 Gino Excell          44  08

Mick finished with 33lb to pip Troy with 32lb.


Congratulations to Mick on winning the Marsh AC League for 2014. Another MK Nugget in his pocket and he has managed to claw his way back into a very close finish to the year. 12-10 to me having been 12-6 in front(ooppss) with 2 matches left.
Well done to all the section winners and I look forward to seeing you all on the Xmas Match.

Sunday 5 October 2014

Hartleylands Reservoir Marsh AC 04 10 14

For the penultimate match of the Marsh AC season we would see ourselves gracing Hartleylands Farm Reservoir in Kent. A bit of a strange match this as there are no results to go by. This is due to the water closing down during the summer months to the carp and bivvy boys. So with this in mind you do not know how it will respond.
All the usual suspects were there, Pete, Troy and Mick, having sorted out his stomach issues during the week. A busier than usual motorway system saw us arrive at the fishery in plenty of time having had the customary stop off for breakfast. With the MK Nugget sitting at 12-8 to me, Mick was keen to close the gap as the year is running out of available matches. He had won the last two and I must admit my form has not been great.
I decided to let the others draw first and I was happy to take what was left but with Mick having drawn peg 7 on the far bank I was keen not to draw in view of him (if he was catching I did not want to know and if I was catching I did not want him to know either). Pete had drawn peg 3 and Troy was on a good peg in 9. I put my hand in and out comes peg 10. Peg 9 and 10 are separated by a willow tree and plenty of carp have lived under it for a few years gone by. Dave had sneaked into peg 1 and Al into 19 both good pegs.
As the water is a reservoir supplying the surrounding apple orchards it is quite deep in places so a variety of methods tend to work. Feeder, Pellet Waggler and both pole long and short. I had opted to fish short, but realised that historically the fish do  not tend to come in till late. I set a line up at top 2+2 for fishing corn in 4ft of water and set up two margin lines. One under the willow tree in 18 inches of water and the other on a top three to the left in 2ft of water. Both were NG Mini Diamonds to a size 16 MWG hook and .20 Stroft. Feed was 9 pints of 4mm GOT Sinkers and a kilo of corn. My plan was to drip feed the corn line at top four and dump feed pellet down both edges only going over it if I saw any indications.
At the all I potted two full pots of pellets onto both margins and starting feeding the top 4 line by hand. A good handful to start with then dripping in around 8 grains every minute. The carp in here grow to around 28lb and have seen most things so I did not want to overfeed a line in open water. I could back off if required but wanted to get some feed in early. After 20 minutes on the top 2 +2 line I had a couple of small dips on the float for nothing to show for my efforts, Mick was already catching much to Troy's delight in telling me each time he hooked another carp. A change was required and I swapped hook lengths to fish banded pellet. I placed an 8mm pellet into the band and dropped it in over the corn line and was rewarded with my first carp around 2lb. Another soon followed and I thought I was going to start making headway into Mick's fish. He was now on 8. Alas it was not to be and the line died.
Mick was catching as was Martin in the corner on 5 fish, Gino and Clive were catching regularly albeit in 15 minute intervals. Pete had a 15lber on the board, but both Troy and myself were struggling.
With no more bites forthcoming I had a look under the willow tree, expecting the float to go under straight away. I had left it for two hours and not seen a swirl, but had seen odd fish come in and have a look before drifting off. Needless to say after three hours I was still on 2 carp for around 4lb. At this point I saw a small swirl to my left close to the bank. I gentle lowered the willow tree rig in and within 30 seconds the float had gone and a 5lb carp was in the net. I re-fed a half pot of pellet and went out again on the slightly deeper rig and was rewarded with another 5lber. A couple of foul hooked fish followed so I went back out with the willow rig and a "gelled up" pellet and hooked a proper carp around 15lb, doubling my total weight. I still had a good two hours left and thought if I could catch a few more lumps I may be able to catch up with Mick. I could see Gino still catching and thought he would run Mick close, as was Al who had started off slowly but was now getting a few down the edge. Clive, Martin and Dave were now struggling to get bites. Chris had been content catching silver fish but the carp had moved in over his feed and was now plundering them.
I was now catching and a few more fish to 8lb had graced my landing net along with another 15lb fish. In the last hour though all I could muster was a couple of 4lb fish. It had slowed significantly and I thought the MK Nugget was gone. If they had turned up an hour earlier or stayed an hour longer I would have been close. That's fishing though.
Overall
1st Gino Exell                     148-00
2nd Al Loader                     134-00
3rd Mick Wright                 129-08
4th Chris Withall                111-12
5th Keith Ashby                   93-00
6th John Holdsworth            75-00

So another nugget finds its way into Mick's back pocket. I must try harder. I have worked it out though, if I only fish against Mick at the last match and the Xmas match then I will win. So no more midweeker's or impromptu matches. That wouldn't be fair would it?
I must admit I was really pleased for Gino, scoring his first match win with a decent weight from a hard venue to crack. Well done mate. Now you can stop and start rehearsing for panto season.

Thursday 2 October 2014

Oakfield Open 01 10 14

It just goes to show how determined Mick is at clawing back the MK Nuggets I have gained from him this year, he suggested that we to go to Oakfield for one of their midweek opens. He is on holiday from work and it suited my shift pattern so I agreed. However, the day before Mick cried off claiming he was not match fit and had been sitting on the toilet for the best part of the day. So it was just me travelling the relatively short distance to Oakfield.
Oakfield has changed a lot over the years, matches used to be on Brook and Swallow but with Brook having been re-developed and turned into a silver fish water, matches are predominantly on Swallow and Red Kite lake which was being dug when I used to fish it regularly. I have fished it once since then and enjoyed the day, so would be quite happy to get the chance to fish it again.
I arrived early to try to gain some info prior to the match and was told that hard pellet was doing the business, feeding 4mm fishery pellet and fishing 6mm on the hook. I had plenty of 6mm's with me and a few 8mm along with a few cans of corn and some 6mm expanders.
After breakfast in the café and monies paid I went for a walk around Red Kite and noticed that both ends of the lake had plenty of fish activity in them, however the middle sections on both bank only had odd fish topping. Swallow had odd fish showing themselves towards Brook lake yet the rest of the lake seemed devoid of fish.
Back at the draw I pulled out peg 30 on Red Kite and although I had the right lake I was out of the "showing" fish area. I planned to fish at 12m in around 4ft of water as my main line with banded pellet and to both the front of the platform on 29 and down the side of it, with corn.
Rigs were .6 MW Diamond to .18 Stroft and a size 16 PR36 with a bulk of no. 8 shot and a single 10 dropper for fishing a 6mm banded pellet at 12m. A .2 NG Mini Diamond to fish in front of the platform in 18 inches of water and a NG Ghandi for fishing down the side of the platform.
At the all in I potted a full pot of 4mm pellet onto 12m and a half pot of pellet and corn to in front of the platform around a metre from the platform legs. I also put a quarter pot of just pellet around a foot from the platform tight to the edge. Starting off at 12m saw my first bite after around 5minutes, which I promptly lost shipping back. Same thing happens with the next two fish before I swapped my elastics over to a softer and lighter elastic. This seemed to cure things and after 1/2 hour I had a nice 6lb carp in the net, before the swim went quiet. I re-fed this line and had a look down the edge tight in. I shipped out and gently lowered a grain of corn a foot from the leg and as soon as it had settled the float dipped and a f1 around 2lb was in the net. I persevered between both edge swims taking odd fish from each before I had to re-feed these lines.
It seemed that I could catch a couple of fish off each line before going quiet, whether that is the norm or that I had fed it wrong, I will learn in time.
At the all out I reckoned I had around 40lb consisting of 4 carp and around 20 small f1's which were never going to trouble those around me so I threw back. I had seen Nick Bryan and John Beasley catching regularly and had been told the two guys who had the wind blowing into them had also caught well.
Overall
1st Steve Nichols K14 103-14
2nd John Emmerson K22 85-14
3rd Pele Alland S15 85-01
4th Gordon Worrell S5 81-13
5th Nick Bryan S26 80-08
6th John Beesley S4 80-0



A good match where only 5lb separated second and sixth. I really enjoyed the day out although it was frustrating. In hindsight I should have had a line at top three, which is something I normally do but for some strange reason never set up today, I also feel that lighter elastics is the way forward here as I pulled out of a few fish shipping back. I will be back soon as I feel I have some unfinished business here.

Wednesday 17 September 2014

Alders Farm Affordable Pines Lake 16 09 14

For the last few weeks we have been enjoying ourselves on Oaks Lake at Alders Farm. Today, however, saw us fishing the prolific Pines Lake. My favourite lake on the complex. Although, I have only ever won match on there, I have performed consistently over the years and feel at home there with a variety of methods changing throughout the year.
We only had 6 anglers booked onto the match and decided to peg only on one bank giving everyone a bit of room. Charlie had drawn peg 31 in the corner, Richard was on peg 3, myself on 4, Trevor on 6, Ken on 8 with Terry on peg 10.
I opted to fish 3 lines today, one at top three straight out, another at top two to 2o'clock and a margin rig to my left on a top two. Bait would be corn, both gelled and stinky, and expander down the edge. Feed would consist of 3 kilo's of corn and a couple of pints of 4mm fishery feed pellets. At the all in I fed a pot of pellet down the edge and threw a dozen grains of corn on both the other lines and started feeding 4 grains every 20 seconds on the top three line. I was soon into carp and around 3lb apiece was happy with the size of fish coming to the net. After an hour I had around 15 fish for close to 50lb and felt I was catching well for a good weight. I tried the top two right line after this initial burst and although was catching I was having to wait for a bite where on the top three line I would get an indication within a minute of the float settling.
Richard was catching well on paste on peg 3 and I could hear a lot of splashing from Trevor's peg. Although if you believed him he was only catching "twisters". Charlie was plodding away and sneaking a few maggot fish in from 31. Ken and Terry I could not see but word was Terry was catching a few on 10.
Hour two and three were fairly consistent, again putting around 15 fish in each hour for a total of around 140lb. Hour four I made the decision to come closer to a top two, in the hope of speeding up my catch rate and also to see if any larger fish were lurking just off the feed area. I also upped my feed rate to around a dozen grains every 20 seconds. I was getting a few fish with this new feeding regime but also getting a lot of foul hooked fish. A change of depth resulted in a few more fish but my catch rate had slowed considerably. I was also loosing fish off the hook, not foul hooked fish but hooked in the mouth and pulling out of fish whilst landing them. I felt I needed to do something to combat this and changed the hook from a B911 to PR36 and this helped solve the problem.
With around 180lb in the net going into hour five, I decided to have a quick look down the margin. I had been feeding 4mm pellet regularly throughout the first few hours and started to get a few fish from the left hand side on expander. But, these were smaller fish around 2lb each. Back out to the top two and with the change in hook pattern meaning lost fish were a thing of the past I was getting a good run together. Fish around the 3-4lb mark were soon boosting my weight. My last two hours I placed around 120lb in the net and felt that without those lost fish I could have framed.


Overall
1st Trevor Price           536-04
2nd Terry Lancaster    375-10
3rd Richard Brain        369-08
4th Charlie Lancaster  368-04
5th Keith Ashby          314-10
6th Ken                        218-04

A frustrating day for me, I got it wrong on two fronts, wrong choice of hook pattern, the difference between the two hook patterns were remarkable, I felt the B911 were too springy and flexing too much and indeed had two hooks pull out of shape during the match. Also I felt upping the feed was a wrong decision, I should have kept fish coming and not change my original feeding strategy. So two lessons learnt.


Tuesday 9 September 2014

Alders Farm Affordable Open Oaks Lake 09 09 14

The Specimen Lake at Alders Farm (Oaks) has been fishing really well of late, not the massive weights normally associated with Alders Farm, but you still need a ton to frame, different styles catch and it can be won from anywhere.
I like the lake but it can be frustrating, a few weeks back I lost a "twenty" when the fish rolled over the hook-length. Yet in the same breath you can catch pound carp and skimmers all day long if you can keep them coming.
At the café it was nice to see 11 anglers on the match today with anglers travelling from London and Nottingham. I collected all the monies while Charlie Lancaster pegged it out on Trevor's instructions. Only two banks were in today with 8 on the café bank and 3 on the house bank. I had drawn peg 2 on the house bank with Charlie on 3 and Mick Wright, fresh from closing the gap in the MK Nugget stakes on the out and out flyer peg 1. He can seriously draw well.
I set up three lines, two either side of me on top two's(brambles hampered going any further, and a line on 2+2 to fish corn in 4ft of water. Bait was corn, 8mm Hard pellet and 6mm expanders. Feed were fishery micros and a kilo of 3G GB along with 3 kilo of corn.
I started off feeding 2 balls of GB onto 2+2 followed by a pot of Corn and half a pot of micros. Down both edges went 1/2 pots of micros, a ball of GB to the right and just a handful of corn to the left.
Before I had finished feeding my lines I could hear Mick playing his first fish, and thought I was going to get battered today, but slowly I started getting a few small carp to around 2lb with the odd skimmer thrown in for good measure. After an hour I reckoned on having around 15lb but was behind Mick and Colin opposite me. Hour two was slower with only around 10lb gracing the keepnet and nothing over a pound. Hour three and the peg seemed dead, despite trying both expanders and hard pellets. So I re-fed the line positively with another full pot of corn
A look down both edges produced no bites. This is a poor margin peg and although next to peg 1, a good margin peg, the fish never seemed to come round the corner close to the bank. So it was back to the 2+2 line. I added another section and added a foot to the length and fished just past my feed and this produced a few more fish, before the peg went quiet. The culprit was a large common carp around 20lb which plodded around and shed the hook as the landing net went towards it GRRRRR!!!! or words to that effect. Next drop in produced a carp around 3lb and I thought the bigger fish had at last turned up. How wrong I was. Stone dead. Again I re-fed the line with a ball of GB and another full pot of corn. Another 20 minutes down both edges again produced no bites so it was back out to where the fish were hopefully queued up. Another 10 minutes passed before my next bite from a 14lb mirror carp which swam towards me and up so was scooped with the minimum of fuss. A few more carp and skimmers around the 1 1/2lb mark came to double corn but nothing regular and my match just fizzled out. I knew Mick had beaten me again to close the gap to 12-8 but did not realise how close it was in the end. I had 79lb to Mick's 87lb, a few lost fish here and there would have seen me home, but then again we can all say that.
Oaks Lake had again fished well with 4 weights over a ton.
Overall
1st Colin Spencer         121-03
2nd Josh Blavins          117-02
3rd Ernie                      103-09
4th Trevor Price           100-00
5th Mick Wright            87-03
6th Charlie Lancaster    82-02

My next match is at Alders next Tuesday, as always you can read, the good, the bad and the diabolical days fishing I have here.




Sunday 7 September 2014

Road Trip South West

A random phone call from Pete Thompson inviting me to stay at his brother's house in Cullompton, Devon, could only mean one thing, a couple of days fishing. In the past we have fished a few waters around the area, including Stafford Moor, South Fields Farm, Goodiford Mill, Ki-Ora and Viaduct Fishery. All have been kind to us with regards to the fishing. Shame it is so far away really.
We had planned to go the weekend of the 6th and 7th but with me being able to book some holiday we were able to grab an extra day and leave on the 5th. Troy Hillyer was also coming along after juggling his workload.
A 6am start on the Friday saw us all loaded up and heading for Viaduct Fishery, hoping to fish Cary Lake and the big carp that reside there. However after a couple of hours driving we were pulling of the A303 into the local services at Amesbury for the Harvester "all you can eat" Breakfast.
With plenty of sustenance we soon back off and running.
Arriving at Viaduct we found out that Cary Lake was closed for a match so we settled into Lodge Lake. We had asked if we could have a knock up on the lake, which was agreed to, although carp had to be returned immediately and only silvers were retained. I decided I was not going to compete with both Pete and Troy on silvers, and with carp only counting as a pound weight, I could perhaps catch enough carp and a few silvers to make it interesting. I opted for two lines for silvers, one at top two straight out the other at top four. Both rigs were NG Mini Diamonds to .16 Stroft and a size 16 B911. Bait was expander on the top two line and corn at top four. I also set up a margin rig for carp. A NG Mini Diamond to .20 Stroft and a PR36 for corn on a top three.
At the "all in" I cupped in half a pot of micro onto each line and within 5 minutes was getting a few hand sized skimmers on the corn line. A switch to corn coated in GOT Baits Gel-It saw a couple of better skimmers but I was already behind Pete who was catching proper skimmers on expanders. A switch to the expander line saw a couple of small roach before a hungry carp took me for a run around. After 5 minutes the leviathan was succumbing to the power of the soft black elastic and headed into the landing net. At around 10lb it was a lovely fish to catch but was only worth a pound.
I carried on fishing and feeding the silver lines to no avail. With every put in Pete would come back with a decent stamp skimmer and odd carp. Mine were all too small. Troy was getting odd fish and again seemed a better stamp, so I decided to pick up my margin rig and have a go for some carp. The match was beyond me, time for some fun.
I had feed the line with some corn and micro's from the start and with a Gel-it grain of corn on I lowered the bait around a foot from the baited area. All too quickly the float dipped and Mr Carp was on. The red hydro soon had the fish wallowing in the landing net and at around 15lb a good fish. I followed this up with another 9 to end up with over 100lb of carp (11lb in the match) and 15lb of silvers. Troy had suffered a bit worse than me with 2 carp and 16lb of silvers for 18lb total whilst Pete had battered us. 54lb of silvers and 10 carp for around 90lb.
After settling into Pete's brother's house, we were soon up again and treating Tommy to a day at Goodiford Mill. Tommy is a pleasure angler and is just happy to catch fish, be it a one ounce roach or a 10lb carp. It was no surprise to hear that within ten minutes of our start that we were 10 fish behind him. Only small roach and skimmers but a fish is a fish. I wanted to practice the pellet waggler so picked a swim where I could comfortably cast and feed to around 40m. I also fed a margin line for later on. Troy was next to me and was just going to fish the margin before switching to the pellet waggler later in the day. Pete was targeting the silver fish in the lake and was trying to catch different species and a pound plus crucian carp.
I started off on the waggler fishing tight to the far bank trees. Pinging a few pellets every 10 seconds soon had them boiling on the surface as each pouch hit the water. After a few depth adjustments I was soon into fish, all around the 2lb mark and all falling to an 8mm coarse pellet on a hair rig. I was catching well and pinging just three pellets every cast and the float would go as soon as it hit the water, if not I would just twitch it around a foot and get a bite. After an hour I reckoned I had caught the twenty fish target and was happy with the set up and technique.
A move to the margin saw me catching straight away and it was really a fish a chuck before again the twenty fish target was reached. The fish on this line were around the 5lb mark and with over a ton easily completed I was back on the waggler line. Troy was catching a few on the waggler and it would be interesting to see how it fished with two of us going for the same fish. I found that feeding 3 pellets every 10 seconds saw fish competing for the hookbait, whereas Troy was feeding heavier and getting more line bites.With 3 hours gone I was getting a bit bored to be honest and needed something different to pass the time. Pete and Tommy were enthralled in their own head to head battle for amount of species with them tying on 9 apiece. Troy was still catching but was now catching by his feet on a top section in 6 inches of water and was in need of a change. We set about having an hour where we would not feed anything at all and see what could be caught. I opted to fish my margin rig at top two and slap an 8mm hard pellet. Troy opting to fish top three. In the hour challenge I managed another 27 fish for another 100lb on this tactic. Troy also managed 24 fish for another ton.
At the end of the day I reckoned on a good 350lb of fish with Troy having had about the same. Pete and Tommy drew their match 10-10 and were both happy with their days achievements, with Pete getting 3 crucians over the 1lb mark and an 18lb mirror on his last put in.
Back at the house it was our treat to take both Tommy and his wife out for a meal. A nice setting was chosen as it overlooked the River Exe.
Sunday saw us say our goodbyes before travelling to Wootton Bassett to fish Ivy House lakes for the first time. Unfortunately, we could not get on the match lake so had to settle in on the canal lake. We had been told there were plenty of silvers to go at with a few carp and tench. I decided to fish it the same as I would have fished a canal, a long time ago and not knowing any difference. I opted for 5 lines, one just down the margin shelf to my left, a left hand swim down the track, a right hand track line at 10m, a line just down the margin shelf on the far bank at 14.5m and a tight line across to the far bank. I fed the track lines heavily with 4mm sinkers dampened down with a pinch of corn in for good measure. The other lines were fed via a toss pot, again with 4mm sinkers. Bait was to be expanders, corn or GOT Ghost 6mm Soft Hookers and 6mm GOT Rippers.
Pete was first in to action with a carp around 2lb followed by a small perch from down the edge. I slowly worked my way across the canal with only one bite on a single grain of corn from the left hand track line. A look across to the margin shelf saw my fortunes change, with a run of small carp to 2lb and a few skimmers to a pound all falling to a 6mm expander. However I was soon searching the far bank reeds to further bites. By moving along the bank I would get a few fish including a foul hooked 8lb fish which took an age to land on light gear. A few more carp and tench followed before we decided to pack up and make our way home. I reckoned on having caught around 30lb of fish on a day where everyone else struggled for bites let alone fish.
Overall it was another good weekend with good company, both on the bank and off, the banter is always great and good fishing.


Saturday 30 August 2014

Marsh AC Colemans Pathfield 30 08 14

It seems an eternity since both Mick and I went fishing together. A change of shifts meant we rarely get to go head to head in our own personal duel, the coveted MK Nugget. However with us both on annual leave, it was on. Mick was chauffeur for the relatively short trip around the M25 to Colemans Cottage and Pathfield Lake.
We had not fished on here for a few years and both of us have suffered mixed results, but today is a new day. We arrived nice and early and dived into a full English breakfast with Pete Thompson who had followed us into the fishery. With monies and pegs decided on it was the all important draw. Mick was on peg 3, Pete on 26, whilst I was going to be on peg 2 for 6 hours and next to Mick. A proper head to head battle.
I had a cunning plan, as they say, I was going to fish maggot down both edges in 18in of water, a corn line at 2+2 and another corn/pellet line at 11m. This would leave me with around 4m to the far bank and somewhere to go if I was struggling.
I set up a couple of MW Diamond's .3g to .18 Stroft and a size 16 PR36 to fish 2+2 and 11m and targeted the edges with NG Ghandi's on .18 Stroft and a size 18 PR36.
At the all in I potted in a 50/50 mix of corn and pellet on to both 11m and 5m lines and a full pot of maggot to the left hand edge. I sprinkled a few maggots to the right hand swim and for good measure put a few grains of corn and around a dozen pellets. I would drip feed this line regularly but leave the potted maggot line until I started getting bites.
I started off at 2+2 feeding a few grains of corn every 20 seconds but after 10 minutes and no bites I opted to go out to 11m. Second put in and a carp of around 4lb, a good fish as I could hear Mick playing one in the next peg. I missed a couple of rapid bites before connecting with a good fish which took the black hydro to a bed of lily pads to the far right of my peg and snagged me. Out again and a small carp around the 1lb mark. Then nothing, lifting and dropping made no difference, nor shallower or deeper. The wind was blowing the rig a bit so I added a bit more line and tried a "gelled" grain of corn and snagged another 3lb fish. No more bites followed so it was time to plunder my carefully primed margins.
Starting off over the potted maggot line with a couple of stinky maggots saw a procession of ide and small crucian carp. But no carp. A look to the right saw a foul hooked carp which I managed to land. Then nothing.
It seems that the lake had switched off, if it had even started, everyone seemed to be struggling. So it was head down and try to sneak a few fish. By rotating all my lines I was going nowhere and thought I may have overfed my lines at the start and killed it. I added a couple more sections and pushed the pole across to the far bank. I decided initially not to fed anything. The float dipped and a small roach came back. Out again and a small carp around 2lb. I attached a toss pot and placed in a dozen pellets and a GOT Ripper on the hook. After 5 minutes a carp around 5lb was sitting in my landing net. Out again with another dozen pellets and Ripper and another smaller carp. Then nothing again, I tried moving along the far bank foliage to see if there was anything else in the vicinity but nothing. A move back inside saw a couple of small carp but time soon ran out.
I was frustrated I could not build a weight today, no matter how I fed it, it seemed wrong, another day and it may have been right. I reckoned on having 30lb for nowhere in the match, but the scales do not lie and 31lb was recorded on the weigh sheet. Mick was next to weigh and pipped me by one fish with 32-8. So the Nugget was his and leaves him trailing 12-7. As Mick put it, he is on a roll and you have to start somewhere.
Overall
1st Clive Pritchard           81-00
2nd Dave Collier             75-08
3rd Graham Manning      50-00
4th Jim Boase                  46-00
5th Tony Roberts             38-00
6th Gary Luck                 33-00


To be fair the venue did not fish to its full potential. But it was a fair match with no one really running away with it. A good hour for anyone would have seen them push up the leader board.
The next two club matches are at Rolf's Lake which I cannot attend but I will be back on the bank next week with Troy and Pete as we are going to fish Viaduct and Goodiford Mill as part of a long weekend.

Tuesday 26 August 2014

Alders Farm Affordable Oaks Lake 26 08 14

For once the weathermen have got it right, on Monday they predicted rain and lots of it and although it was scheduled to run into Tuesday I was hopeful that it would have stopped before going fishing. I was wrong and they were right, it was still raining as I drove to Alders Farm for the affordable open. Today was on the Specimen lake (Oaks).We had fished it last week and I managed my first 100lb weight from it and still came fifth. There are plenty of small carp in the 8oz to 2lb mark and if you are brave enough and fish for them carp up to 30lb+.
I got there nice and early to avoid the traffic and was surprised to see only Trevor Price's car in the car park. So I had a good chat with him before unloading the car. Paul and Terry soon turned up so it looked as if the knock up would go ahead. Personally I think the numbers were down due to the rain and holidays. A cup of tea in the café confirmed it was only going to be the four of us on the lake, so we looked out of the window, decided which way the rain was going and selected the most sheltered bank to fish on. This was in the trees.
Terry had drawn peg 11 I was on 14 with Paul on 15 before Trevor had secured 17. I was going for it today. I had mixed up 2 kilo of 3G groundbait and this was going in down the edges. One side would be fed with corn the other micros over the top of the 3G. I also set up a line at 2+2 to start the match with.
At the all in I potted in 3 soft balls of 3G down both edges and fed heavily with both corn and micros, I also started feeding the 2+2 line with just corn. Baiting up with a grain of pineapple Gel-it corn I was soon into small carp to around 2lb with an odd Rudd intercepting the bait on the drop. After an hour and with around 25lb in the net and not a fish over 2lb, I decided to have a look in the left hand edge. A standard grain of corn was impaled on to a size 14 and lowered tight to the reeds. A few missed bites before red hydro came out of the pole. Another small carp around 3lb started off my second net. Next drop in and his brother followed, before it went quiet. I re-fed the swim and switched to the left hand edge, nothing over the GB and micro line.
Back out to 2+2 and after a skimmer around 2lb came to the net I decided to pot in a few micros half a section closer, as I thought the fish may be feeding on the edges of the feed and I wanted to hold them there. I was still getting a few small carp on this line but occasionally a decent skimmer would put in an appearance. My small fish net was growing. I stuck with this line until around the 3 1/2 hour mark when I thought it was time to try the left hand edge again. I reckoned on having around 75lb and was hoping a few lumps would boost me up to the ton again.
I had been drip feeding the swim throughout and with only an hour and a bit left I decided to up the pace. Feeding around 20 grains every  minute or so started to see a few bites. A couple of 7lb fish before the elastic came out and stopped on one bite. A large paddle of a tail broke the water and I thought I was in trouble. The fish careered to the left further down the peg before coming back towards me and crashing through every reed along its route. Out in open water it got no better, bottoming out the elastic on a couple of occasions. The pole was now at top kit stage and with a gentle lift I realised I could not get its head up so added a few sections to gain more leverage. Slowly I was getting control and after 5 minutes of playing the leviathan the fish rolled in front of me and straight over the hook length and snap. It was off and I was left cursing. Gutted at losing such a large fish I re-fed with more corn and hoped to have another chance, however it was not to be. I did have a few more 4-5lb fish from the swim to bolster my weight.
After 5 hours the all out was called and I reckoned on 120lb in the nets. Terry was first to weigh and placed 96lb on the board. My 120lb went 130lb to lead, Paul put 30lb of small carp on the scales before Trevor placed 79lb and rued a few lost lumps. I had secured the win and a new PB on the lake.
My next match is a club match at Coleman's Cottage on Saturday and the MK Nugget will be up for grabs.

Saturday 23 August 2014

Alders Farm Ash Lake Challenge Match 23 08 14

Saturdays are my football days, not playing but sitting in front of the telly watching. However I had promised Trevor I would help out with the shop and assist Terry Lancaster whilst he fished a match arranged by Colin Fossey against Apollo Sonu-baits Banstead. True to my word I arrived nice and early as it can be a bit manic on match days with everyone wanting pellet and maggots. However the first words out of Trev's mouth was do you want to fish today, we are one short. So back in the car to home, collect gear including 2 bags of frozen corn. Back to the fishery and sort out my nets. Grab a couple of bags of fishery pellets and pray the corn de-frosted early enough to make it work. I did have 4 tins in my bag so all was not lost.
I had been "selected" for the ASB team, along with Terry and Brian Townley who each had had a similar conversation with Trevor. How he does it is beyond me. Still it makes a change to fish a team match, something I have not done for over 10 years. With Breakfast out of the way and monies paid the two captains drew for pegs. I ended up on peg 9, I was happy with that, I had a blank peg either side and is home to a few fish. Brian was on 7 and Colin on 12. The two "chuckle brothers" Carl and Colin were on pegs 5 and 6 respectively with Matt Grant on 4 and Mick Dickens on 3. I would do well to beat a couple of these lads on those pegs. Trevor had drawn peg 32 with Nick Darke on 28 and Ricky Quick sandwiched between them on 30. Terry had drawn 34.
I decided I was not going to complicate things today and concentrate on 2 lines only. Two plus one in front and top two to my right.  Rig one was a .3 NG Mini Diamond to fish in 2ft of water. 20 Stroft and a size 14 PR36. The margin rig was a .2 Ghandi set to fish just on bottom in a foot of water. I made duplicate rigs of each in case of any breakages or tangles.
By now some of the corn was de-frosting nicely and although would not be ready for the all in. I had enough to kick start the swim. At the all in I put a couple of handfuls of fishery pellet down the side and fed around a dozen grains of corn. Another 20 grains went to top three and a grain of "gelled corn" was shipped out to position. A positive couple of bites missed saw me change the shotting slightly before carp number 1 was in the net. Another couple followed and by the hour mark I reckoned on 15 fish for around 40lb.
I noticed a few swirls down the side so had a look down there and was rewarded with another 15 fish in the 2nd hour for another 60lb and a ton in two hours. I was starting to get a few iffy bites and felt they were coming off the feed, so moved the rig around a metre from the bank and this had a desired effect, Although I was waiting longer for a bite it was a positive bite and I was landing at lot of the hooked carp. Hour 3 gone and around 180lb in the net.
However all good things come to an end and hour 4 saw me struggle in comparison to the previous hour. A move to top three still down the edge a metre out saw me foul hook fish after fish and losing all of them. Back to top two and a half cured this problem and I was getting a few more fish by flicking the rig beyond the feed. This was a 5 and 1/2 hour match so with 200lb in the net I was hoping for a good last hour to push me up the board. Brain was catching well but was struggling for bites, Colin's splashing was less frequent although Colin on 6 was still catching. In fact Carl had told Colin he had 300lb in the first three hours but was struggling now. The last hour saw me still fishing down the right hand edge but I was rotating the line I was fishing. In close, back, to the left and front of the feed. I was gradually feeding more regularly and during this spell, by switching between standard corn and the Gellit flavoured corn I could keep fish coming. By the end of the match I estimated I had 250lb. I had done about all I could on the day from the peg on the method I chose. I had fed 2 1/2 kilo of corn throughout and 3pints of pellet to keep the fish there but at times the fish still seemed to drift off and I suffered a lot of 10 minutes spells where I could not get a bite.
Overall

1st Colin Spencer    Peg 6      486-09 GOT Baits
2nd Carl Williams   Peg 5      450-02 GOT Baits
3rd Matt Grant        Peg 4      385-00 GOT Baits
4th Nick Darke       Peg 28    371-07 GOT Baits
5th Terry Molloy    Peg 36    360-05 ASB
6th Colin Fossey     Peg 12    345-11 GOT Baits

My 293-06 was good enough for 8th on the day which I was pleased with. I was second in the ABS team and could hold my head up high. Even though we GOT beat by a good GOT Baits team. Well done lads.





Thursday 21 August 2014

Something Different 21 08 14

"What are you doing on Thursday?" was the question on Trevor Price's lips as he spoke to me before last Tuesday's affordable open at Alders Farm. "Nothing" came the reply. "Good, come up to Pines and show a few lads how you fish corn" "Errr OK" says I.
He then proceeded to tell me that he had arranged for a competition on Match Fishing Scene for 5 lucky anglers to win a day at the fishery. Breakfast was provided as was day tickets and bait. All he had to do was show them how to catch mammoth weights and provide a write up of the day for the website.
Now I admit I have caught a few fish from Pines, nothing near the large weights that others can and do, but, I will also admit that I am still learning from the experience. I am willing to listen and learn from some very good anglers and try to make it my own style. He had also asked Terry Lancaster to talk about his World Championship experiences and Mark Quick to help out as the day progressed offering his advice on GB and maggot approaches. Trevor would also give an insight into his methods and show how you can transform a seemingly dead peg into a peg full of fish. It is not often you get to sit next to a good angler fishing their method and actually see and understand what is happening in the peg.
The five lucky anglers were Mike, Neil, Russ, Terry and Dave who had travelled up with Rick Baxter who fished Ash Lake during the coaching. With lads coming from as far as Manchester it not only shows the draw of Alders Farm but Trevor Price as well.
After breakfast Trevor placed anglers on pegs 1,3,6,8, and 10 on Pines and instructed them to get tackled up and start fishing it as they saw it.
I had a chat with both Mike and Neil on 1 and 3 respectively before Trevor could do his stuff and both were catching on corn, Mike fishing corn over pellet whilst Neil was catching on corn over corn. However slight changes to rigs were needed after missing a few bites, we tried a shallow rig over the top with a couple of bites but no fish, but a change to shotting patterns meant fish came to the net. Neil commented on this slight change and how effective it was and could not believe the difference it made to his catch rate. Mike was catching on peg 1 straight out on top two plus one, carp around 2lb but regularly. Both were feeding the margins for later in the day.
I took a walk up to see the other lads and Terry was settled in on peg 6 coaching Russ encouraging the feeding approach that has gained him numerous wins on the venue. Russ was keen and listening intently fishing two plus two to the left in open water. Terry was priming a margin line by feeding a few maggots and pellets on a topkit line but with Russ getting a few lumps further out may not be required.
Dave and Terry on 8 and 10 were getting advice from Trevor on rigs for fishing maggot and pellets. Both were catching well on different methods, Dave on paste and Terry on JPZ pellets.
After an hour of the session Trevor called everyone to Peg 3 (Neil allowed Trevor to use his peg) for a demonstration of his method of margin fishing. This is a lesson I was intent on listening to. Because I fish against Trevor a lot, you never seem to notice the small things he does, you never focus on his set up and why he fishes the way he does. It is not about copying him, it is about what he is trying to achieve and that is large weights of fish. Time was spent on his bait preparation and how it would be fed throughout the match, quantities, ratios and when and how to feed ground-bait. A look at his set up would scare most anglers, a top-kit, brown hydro, 10lb line straight through and a size 12 hook. All to fish single or double maggot on the hook. Trevor started to feed the peg initially with ground-bait before putting in pellets and maggots into the swim. No rig was presented during this time. After the initial feeding spell, he showed the eager anglers how to feed the swim to build a large weight. Remember most of the anglers were catching 2-3lb fish before, Trevor said he would start to catch the slightly larger fish in the peg. After around 20 minutes of this regular feeding pattern the fish started to arrive and ended up in the keep-net. Each part of Trevor's set up was designed for a function. A strong top-kit that was capable of taking a battering, brown Hydro which stretched enough to keep the fish  under control, a real eye opener for me, I must admit. 10lb line which would not break on most fish and a size 12 hook which looked unsightly with a single or double maggot on would provide a good hook hold. Everything for a  reason.
With around 30lb in the net in 15 minutes it was clear this is a method that could not be dismissed, it took a while to get the fish queued up but once there it was manic. Trevor then allowed the other anglers to have a go in the same peg before they went back to there own pegs to put it into practice.
After all his exertions catching fish and talking, Trevor was ready for a cup of tea so we retreated to the café  to allow the MFS winners time to set up and start catching down the sides. It did not take long as when we walked back up to the lake all we could see was elastic out of the poles and fish coming to the net. A better stamp of fish than those that were caught earlier.
After an hour of watching others catching fish I needed to leave them to it. Trevor, Mark and Terry Lancaster were still in attendance and sorting out goodie bags for each of the winners. Both my charges, Mike and Neil were catching well as I left and easily on target for a good weight, they had both learnt lessons from the day and were really nice people to talk to. I had learnt a few lessons just talking to these lads so don't think for one minute it is all one sided, it's not.
It will be interesting to read their take on the day. I am sure it will be a day of surprises.

Wednesday 20 August 2014

Alders Farm Affordable 19 08 14 Oaks Lake

Every year I have the last two weeks in August off from work as holiday which is a welcome break, however the lead up is mental and apart from an odd day fishing with Troy on one of his club lakes, I have not been on the bank.
Today would see me lining the bank with 6 other anglers on the Specimen Lake at Alders Farm. I avoided the travelling exodus from Milton Keynes and left nice and early to get to the venue. A quick chat with Trevor and Terry Lancaster (fresh from his medal winning excursion to Rome with the England Veterans Team) at the shop and nets dipped. A cup of tea and the draw was being made.
Paul had drawn peg 1, Trevor was on 2 with "Kerbcrawler Dell" on 3 with Jim Stubbings, making a welcome return to fishing on peg 4, Phil "Madd" Young was on peg 5 with Owen Smith on peg 6 which left myself on peg 7.
I had the main island in front of me, but had left the rods at home so that was a non starter. I opted for a line at 12m and both edges fishing 4m. I had some nice looking margins which needed a bit of pulling back to make them fishable but after a couple of minutes it looked ok. Rigs were a .6 MW Diamond to fish in 5ft of water at 12m with a bulk of no8s and 2nos10 droppers to a size 16 PR36. I was expecting skimmers, small carp and maybe an odd lump on this line. My margins were around 18inches deep and for this I set up a couple of NG Edger floats to a size 16 PR38.
I knew that groundbait was working well on the other lakes on the complex and with this in mind I decided to mix some up on the day. I also had around 6 pints of fishery micros and a kilo of corn with 4 tins in reserve, just in case.
At the all in I cupped in 2 balls of GB onto the 12m line along with a pot of micro balls and around half a pot of corn. In the edges I fed a ball of GB and around half pot of corn and pellet to my right and just corn to my left.
I decided to start off at 12m and baiting the hook with a single grain of corn, I had my first bite instantly and a small Rudd had taken the bait of the drop. Out again and a similar story. A switch to double corn produced the first carp around 12oz. Out again and another. At this point and after around 20 minutes in I noticed a swirl over the right hand margin. A quick look and a fish around 3lb graced the net, out again and for the next hour I managed around 10 carp ranging from 2lb to 6lb before I was waiting too long for a bite. I re-fed the line and switched to the left hand edge and had a couple of smaller carp before again I was waiting too long. Back out to 12m and after a few small carp I hooked and landed a lump around 8lb but this was the death knoll for this line. No bites at all from either the left or right hand edges of the swim. I decided then to concentrate on the right hand edge.
I could see Trevor and Dell catching well and regularly on pegs 2 and 3, albeit small fish but lots of them. Pete on peg 1 had broken a topkit but was getting a few fish, I could not see Jim but word was he was catching well. Madd was very quiet so must have been catching and Owen was bagging with an estimated 70lb in the first 2 hours.
We were now 2 1/2 hours into the match and by adding another section and fishing just past the feed I managed to extract another couple of carp. In fact I was having to switch between 4 and 5m regularly to keep in touch with bites. I could see fish coming in and out of the peg and the odd one would have a munch on the corn. I was now fishing double corn with Gellit Pineapple over it but although I was still catching odd fish I had to keep switching hookbaits, singles and double both with and without the Gellit. It just goes to show that the Gellit will get a few extra fish, and I tend to start off on the standard or Stinky Corn before switching to the Gellit when things go quiet. I did try GOT Rippers and 8mm banded pellet on the hook a couple of times throughout the match but with no bites on them I was back on the corn.
At the all out I estimated I had around 100lb and was happy with the way I fished. I had attacked the peg and felt that I had caught what was there to be caught. In hindsight I think the 12m line should have been a lot closer and perhaps my normal 2+2 line would have been better suited on the day. The lake had fished well.
Overall
1st       Jim Stubbings      Peg 4    137-00
2nd     Owen Smith         Peg 6    125-14
3rd      Del Smith            Peg 3     112-11
4th      Trevor Price        Peg 2     112-07
5th      Keith Ashby        Peg 7     100-03
6th      Phil Young          Peg 5     89-02
7th      Paul                     Peg 1     48-04

A few lessons learnt and a few mistakes on the way but overall a good solid performance I was happy to walk away from. A shorter line may have got me a few more fish and something I will try next time. 

Saturday 2 August 2014

Marsh AC Alders Pines Lake 02 08 14

I have been looking forward to showcasing Alders Farm Pines Lake to the Marsh AC lads. They had fished Ash Lake before and done well with a few weights over 200lb including a couple around 300lb. However when I mentioned that in my opinion that Pines Lake was a better lake for us to fish, they were keen to see for themselves.
I had told them via this blog and in person on previous club matches on how I approach it and with the ever helpful Trevor Price, also on hand to offer assistance, hopes were high.
I arrived early as it was local to the MK members and was surprised to see a few of the other lads already in attendance. I popped in to the shop to get my breakfast ticket and arranged for a couple of lads to drive to the bottom and drop their gear off. After the compulsory net dip, I took my gear up to the lake. Dave Collier and Tony Roberts needed a hand with their tackle so Troy, John and myself took care of this whilst they sorted out the draw and pools. With everyone in attendance (14 anglers) we deposited our gear on our pegs and aired our keep-nets, before walking to the café for breakfast.
I had wanted a peg in the low numbers, anyone from 1-10. However the draw gods were not kind and I had to settle into peg 18, a decent peg and one I was happy with. I had for company Simon on 19, Gino on 20 and Tony Roberts on 21. Vic was on 17 so I would have my work cut out to win the section.
 I had a plan that has served me well recently, fish 2+2 straight out and down the edge if struggling. I do not think that 6 hours down the edge works with corn. So most of the match I would need to catch longer and have an odd look throughout.
My nemesis, Mick and Troy had drawn peg 6 and 5 respectively and would take some beating, Dave Collier was on peg 8 and I would need to keep an eye on him. Chris was on 2, Jim on 3, John had drawn between Mick and Dave on 7, Terry was on 9 with Clive filling the bank on peg 10. Graham was billy no mates on peg 15. A good peg on its day and with no one else within a couple of pegs could fish well.
At the all in I started off feeding around 4 grains of corn every 20 seconds as per plan but after 30 minutes with around 8 small fish to show for it, I started to gradually up the feed to around a dozen every 30 seconds. This seemed to have a desired effect and slowly I was building a weight. After an hour I reckoned on around 30lb. Hour two saw the fish respond better to a shallow rig fished over the 2+2 line but again I felt the fish were spooking from the pole tip. A change with more line added above the float and I was back into a rhythm. Gelled Corn was the working bait, with Stinky Corn only accounting for around 6 fish before switching off. Three hours in and with around 100lb in the net, the 2+2 line was taking too long to get a bite. A move to 2+2 right, under the tree, saw another good spell of fish to around 4lb and kept fish coming. At this point the heavens opened and a torrential downpour had me grasping for my waterproof coat. Only I had left it at home and would have to sit through it. Still the fish were biting and I was happy. This hour defined my match and I reckoned on putting around 80lb in the net during this spell. Yet again the bites dried up, so it was into the margins for the last hour. I had been feeding this all the time and first put in the float goes and another carp. I was getting enough bites to keep me interested in the margin but found I had to keep changing depths to keep bites coming through the last hour.
At the all out I honestly, thought I had 200 - 220lb and with Vic claiming 200lb I knew it would be close between us for the section. Simon and Gino had caught but both had quiet spells which cost them time. Tony had tried shallow for an hour for little reward, however his edge fishing saved his day as the fish were queuing up at the end. I could see opposite and knew the Troy, Mick and Dave had caught well so the MK Nugget was still all to play for.

Overall

1st  Troy Hillier                   271-00
2nd Keith Ashby                  254-00
3rd Vic Nugent                    235-00
4th Mick Wright                  219-00
5th Dave Collier                  213-12
6th John Holdsworth           205-08


I had managed to sneak another MK Nugget from Mick to lead 12-6 in our head to head battle. Well done to Troy and Dave on their section wins.











Tuesday 22 July 2014

Alders Farm Ash Lake 22 07 14

With Summer finally arriving over the last few weeks it was nice to get onto the Match lake at Alders Farm, I had spent last Saturday catching well at Arrans Lake in a club match and today promised to match it. Both have plenty of fish in them and it becomes a race to keep fish feeding in your peg for the duration. Many times I have started well but half way in the wheels come off.
Today we had 9 anglers on the lake, which allowed plenty of room for the pleasure anglers on the far bank. With monies paid and everyone ready for the draw, I thought I would change my luck and go in first. Peg 1 stuck to my paw and a groan. I hate the peg. I reckon whoever pruned the trees and brambles on it must have had at least 20 MW floats over the years. I have lost count of the hook-lengths I have done on it. For those who do not know the peg, there is a pipe which runs into the lake to the right hand margin and the fish no exactly where it is. There is also a branch in the water which when a fish goes towards it comes up like Excalibur. And not to forget the brick wall of the café where the fish take you round the corner. You cannot see anyone to know how you are performing and measure your catch rate against anyone else. Oh and its only about 20 inches deep. Did I say I hate this peg.
Jim Willmott was on 2, Colin Spencer on 4, Charlie on 6, Steve Dorks on 8 before a gap to Terry on 13. Josh was on 16 with Ernie Waterfall on 20 and Henry Williams on end peg 23.
I decided to fish it nice and simple, top 2+2 straight out, coming closer or further as required. There was very little change in depth so set up duplicate rigs .20 Stroft straight through to a size 14 PR38 and a .2g MW diamond. I also set up a couple of shallow rigs to fish 8inches and 12 inches deep. Bait was simply 3 kilos of corn for feed with a small pot of Pineapple Gel and some stinky stuff grains. Around 2 pints of 4mm fishery pellet would top up the swim and help keep fish in the peg.
At the all in I tossed around a dozen grains at 2+2 and went straight over with the gelled corn, fish a chuck for the first 20 minutes all around a pound. I was dropping a few grains short and came in half a section and this seemed to pick up a better stamp of fish. Only two or three pounders but certainly improved the weight. I was getting into a rhythm and with every put in I would get an indication, A lot missed but still a sign of fish being present. I had a couple of fish on the shallow rigs but found I was getting quite a few foul hooked fish even in the shallow water. Mainly as soon as the corn hit the water, Perhaps the line was going over their backs. After a couple of hours I reckoned on 100lb in the net and felt it was getting stronger. I was now upping my feed to around 10 grains of corn every 20 seconds and the fish were responding well to it. With three hours gone I was in the zone and it seemed that every hooked fish came to the net. I was still on the Gel but every couple of fish I would put a stinky corn on the hook and this had no adverse effect.
However this was when my problems started, for half an hour every fish snagged me up or snapped .20 like cotton, I think I spent more time replacing hook-lengths and rigs than actually fishing. The branch to my right accounted for a lot of my terminal tackle and if I tightened up the red hydro I would pull out of the fish.
Persevering through this spell put around 20lb in the net but I was now off the pace. Back onto the shallow rigs seemed to sort it out though, instead of foul hookers I was getting proper bites and hooking fish in the mouth. A few fish around 6lb started to make up for the lost fish earlier and I was getting back on track. With 5 hours gone I estimated I had around 280lb and a couple more fish would see me break my own Personal Best on the lake of 298lb taken a while back.
In the last hour I managed another 25 fish and was happy with my days fishing. I had only trashed 7 rigs and done 6 hook-lengths.

Overall

1st Colin Spencer                   612-05
2nd Jim Willmott                   472-01
3rd Steve Dorks                     434-02
4th Josh Blavins                    407-02
5th Keith Ashby                    370-07
6th Charlie Lancaster            356-06
7th Henry Williams              251-10
8th Ernie Waterfall               248-10
9th Terry Lancaster              233-03

 Well done to Colin on the day, a superb feat of angling. Colin has performed well over the last couple of weeks and with a Charity match set for September 13th in aid of the fishforfreddie appeal https://www.facebook.com/fishforfreddie. coming up soon I am sure he will be invited to fish the event. If you cannot make make it on the day please kindly donate to this worthy cause on the facebook page. 

Sunday 20 July 2014

Arrans Lake Marsh AC 19 07 14

Unfortunately I could not make the last club match at Sumners Ponds , where Mick did well coming second to Chairman Dave Collier. However I could attend this one at Arrans Lake near Chelmsford. So the MK Nugget was up for grabs.
I had arranged to pick up Mick at 0600 and having sorted my gear out earlier that morning, I was a little early and we were packed and on the road. Now I don't know where you live but we have an issue with pigeons sitting in the middle of the road playing chicken. Well there is one less now, I am sorry but they are a danger to motorists and themselves. But is it Lucky?
A good run down saw us pulling into Roses Café just outside Chelmsford around 0715,where Pete and Troy were already tucking into their full English breakfasts. We ordered and sat down to see Graham, Gino and Simon had joined us.
With the lake only 10 minutes away we were soon pulling into the car park and before I had the chance to unload the car and pay my pools, I was asked to peg it. We had 23 pegs to choose from and only 19 anglers, so it was a case of which 4 we left out. Tony and Troy accompanied me on the trip round the lake and agreement was reached trying to give everyone a bit of room and a bit of bank space.
Back at the draw Mick was in early but not showing anyone until we had all drawn. My hand went in and peg 24 was to be my home. Pete had drawn 36 with Troy on 37. Mick was on 26 with Clive in between us. Dave had drawn a short walk on 20 next to the car park, Danger man Simon was on an end peg on 17, Tony on 34 could get a weight up if they showed and Terry was on end peg 40.
My section of 5 consisted of Gino, Tony W, Myself, Clive and Mick. If I was to pick up any monies I needed to beat these guys. We do not pay out overall, just sections.
My plan was to fish at 5m trying to bring the fish closer as the match wore on. I have found that by having too many lines on the go spreads the fish. Just pick a line and tactic and make it work for you. You still have to work at it, but it is better than trying everything and getting nowhere. Have belief in what you are doing. I set up 3 rigs to cover this one line, one at depth, one at halfway 18inches the other around 10 inches deep. I also set up identical rigs and stored them on winders in case of trashing one. There was not a lot of difference at top 2+1 so would just adapt as the fish came in. Bait was 3 kilos of corn and 12 pints of GOT 4mm Sinking pellets. I had as hook-baits, some Pineapple Gelled Corn and also some Stinky Stuffed corn in separate tubs. I also had some 8mm Coarse pellets if I was desperate.
At the all in I started fishing on the deck, feeding 2 handfuls of pellet and a handful of corn. I started my feeding regime of  4 grains every 20 seconds and was getting Rudd after Rudd. I was getting worried that after 15 minutes I had not had a carp, I had around 20 Rudd though for about 3lb. I decided to start upping the corn to a dozen grains and this had the desired effect. Carp to around 6lb started coming on Gelled corn and I was catching the early pace setters. After an hour I had around 5lb of Rudd and 40lb of Carp. I started getting iffy bites, the float moving from side to side, burying and nothing there, so switched to the mid depth rig and resumed catching again, I could see Mick and Clive catching well. Tony was getting a few but a lot of foul hookers, Gino was plodding along getting odd fish.
My third hour was similar to the first two, but I had to keep swapping rigs to find a run of fish with the mid depth rig being more effective. I could see Carp swirling under my feed but hooking them was hard. I had more positive indications at 18 inches. With 10 minutes left of the first half of the match( we have to weigh in mid match fishery rules) I put 4 pints of pellet in and two good handfuls of corn in to try to hold any fish before weighing in.
I thought it would be close between Mick and I during this weigh in and that proved to be the case. I placed 148lb in my four nets on the board to Mick's 131lb. However Simon on the end peg had 200lb plus and I had a lot of work to do to catch up in the second half of the match. Terry had caught well from peg 40 but both Troy and Pete had struggled, although Pete was enjoying himself catching Rudd and Roach. I was second overall at this point and knowing that the fish come on stronger as the match wears on, I was still confident of getting a few. But would it be enough.
Mick was kind enough to give me his spare corn. I had used around 2 kilos during the first three hours and was concerned that I may have to start feeding pellet more during the second part of the match. I had gone through around 6 pints during this stage and had enough pellet if I had to but, I could not turn down Micks offer. Thanks mate.
At this point I made the decision to try closer, still using the 18 inch rig and as before I was into Rudd straight away, before the carp put in an appearance. Again the Gel was working but for some reason after around 3/4 hour mark it went off and I could not get a bite on it, fish were present I could see the swirls and fish under the water. I went onto the shallow rig set at 10 inches and had a few on Stinky corn to keep the fish coming to the net, but again the fish stopped taking the bait. Onto standard corn and with 1 hour 20 minutes gone I was back in and thinking of putting a fifth net in. Another few on corn before switching to 18inches again as the fish dropped down in the water again. With an hour left I was catching well. In fact everyone seemed to be landing fish every time I looked up, Simon, Mick and Dave were all still in with a shout. In goes net number 6. I had estimated that I had 220lb at this stage plus around 14lb of Rudd.
I was now feeding around 10 grains of corn every 15 seconds and getting a response immediately, if not, out it came and went back in. I was getting fish around the 4lb mark and knew 260lb was on the cards and a possible 400lb total weight. My Rudd net had to house a couple of late fish, as I did not want to fall foul of the 50lb net limit in place. All out.


Match 1 Top 6

Simon Watkins    Peg 17    204-00
Keith Ashby         Peg 24   148-08
Dave Collier        Peg 20    136-04
Mick Wright        Peg 26    131-04
Terry Goff            Peg 40    124-08
Jim Boase            Peg 29     113-00

Match 2 Top 6

Keith Ashby            Peg 24    318-08
Simon Watkins       Peg 17    227 -00
John Holdsworth     Peg 35   215-00
Troy Hillyer            Peg 37    206-08
Mick Wright           Peg 26    194-04
Dave Collier           Peg 20    190-00


Overall Result

                               1st Keith Ashby         466-12   New Club Record
2nd Simon Watkins   431-00
3rd Dave Collier        326-04
4th Mick Wright        325-04
5th John Holdsworth 308-00
6th Troy Hillyer         273-08




Section Winners were Simon, Keith, Zack and John. Well done.


I was pleased with how I had fished, changing throughout the day both feed and rigs at what I felt was the right time and making decisions based on how fish were reacting. I did lose a lot of fish, a lot of them foul hooked but this was to be expected and a lot of others had the same problem.
I had secured the MK Nugget from the lads and now lead Mick 11-6 so happy days.