With a good second place under my belt and my first ton plus weight of the year last week I was quite pleased that Trevor Price announced that we would be back on the match lake for this weeks match.
I wanted to try fishing micros with stinky corn and see if this would make a difference to my catch rate. The conditions were good leading up to the match, +degrees and no frosts. A lot of rain water kept the colour clear so I would be fishing at distance.
Unfortunately only 6 anglers turned up which is a shame as we get to fish all the better pegs and spread the anglers out so everyone gets a bit of room. Still I suppose most people work weekdays and cannot get time off, whereas I am the opposite, plenty of time off during week and very little at weekends.
With monies paid, the draw saw Nick Wooding on 32, a peg he won from on Sunday fishing the tip to the island. Mick was on 28 and again set his stall out to fish the island. Keith R was on 27, Charlie Lancaster on 23, myself on 7 and Trevor Price on peg 6.
Michael Buchwalder and Joe Carass were doing a feature for a magazine on pegs 19 and 20.
As stated earlier I wanted to fish stinky corn over micros and see if I could catch more consistently than last week. I was hoping the micros would hold the fish for longer. So I set up 3 rigs to fish 12.5m. All .3g MW diamonds to a size 16 PR36. The only difference being the shotting patterns. One had a bulk around 6inches from the hook. Another with a bulk around a foot from the hook and 2 droppers. The last a strung out shotting pattern to drop through the water slower.
At the all in I was the only person on the pole line. Everyone else was on the tip. I had cupped in a couple of small balls of micros and around 12 grains of corn. After 10 minutes I had my first bite and a small pound carp was in the net. A couple more followed before it went quiet. A change of rig to the strung out version accounted for another couple of small carp and after an hour I had around 12lb.
Things were not quite right, I was struggling for bites but by lifting and dropping I could induce odd bites to keep fish coming however I was having to wait between bites. Nick was off to a flyer and was catching well on 32. Trevor and Charlie had both come off their tips and were fishing the pole.
Mick and Keith R were both struggling.
I decided to fish around 4m to my left in the slightly deeper area of the swim, still with the same rigs and see what happened with no feed going in. I also added around a foot of line above the float in case the pole was spooking the fish. I had a good spell doing this and kept fish coming although I did lose a few. After 3 hours I reckoned on 35lb before again this line went quiet. I started toss potting micros and corn and although I had a few on this, it soon died as well.
I was still picking up odd fish over the original fed line, but was not setting the world alight. Trevor was catching on maggot on the pole but was chopping and changing between pole, feeder and waggler. Charlie was catching well and Nick was still bagging.
With an hour and a half to go I started getting a few better fish to 2lb and this was boosting an already lowish weight. It was strange, there was a slight ripple on the water and when it was there I was biteless, when the breeze died down I would get bites.
At the all out I reckoned on 60lb with Trevor admitting to 40lb. I knew he had more, why does he do that? We all know what he is like.
1st Nick Wooding 127lb 4oz
2nd Trevor Price 84lb 2oz
3rd Charlie Lancaster 69lb 15oz
4th Keith Ashby 67lb 0oz
5th Keith R 41lb 12oz
6th Mick Wright 17lb 6oz
Overall the lake had fished patchy, I really fancied it for a few fish today, but they were just not there in any numbers. Interestingly the lads on the dam wall doing the feature caught steadily throughout, perhaps the fish were in the deeper water.
Still I managed to pick up another MK Nugget off Mick to take the total to 2-0. A good start to the year.
Next weeks Tuesday Affordable Open is on Wednesday. Draw at 0900 fish 10 til 1530. If you can make it, I will see you there.
Wednesday 29 January 2014
Wednesday 22 January 2014
Alders Farm Match Lake 21 01 14
Having ventured onto the bank again last week for the first time in ages, I was excited at the prospect of another day out, my mojo is finally returning. I had booked into the Tuesday Affordable Open at Alders Farm, the same as last week but this time on the match lake.
I knew from last week that I was not prepared for the specimen lake, so this time I spent a few days checking elastics, tying a few rigs etc. I already had a lot of hook-lengths prepared for Stafford Moor and these would be alright for winter fishing at Alders.
I awoke nice and early to be greeted by fog, iced over car and a temperature of -2. As long as the lakes are free from ice we were on. I left early to avoid the traffic jams at the end of the A5D and was the first to arrive at the fishery. Grabbing a bag of 4mm fishery pellets on my way down to the café for the draw.
There would be 8 of us fishing today, so pegs were chosen where it would give the anglers options, feeder, pole or waggler. I managed to draw peg 5 whilst Vic Nugent was on 4. Both good pegs. Charlie Lancaster on 7, probably the most consistent peg during the winter. Trevor Price was on his favourite peg 16. A hard peg in winter (famine or feast). Nick was on 21, whilst Mick Wright was on 23, again another good peg in the winter with good cover and depth. The MK Nugget resumes. Keith R was on 27 which had fished well on the preceding Sunday match with Terry Lancaster on end peg 28.
I decided to just fish 3 lines today. 2 at 12.5m at 10 and 2 o'clock. One line would be fed heavily whilst the other lightly fed. another line was set up at 6m in case the fish decided to come closer.
Soft black Hydro with .16 Colmic Stream to .12 hooklengths with a size 18 PR36 with MW .3g Diamonds set to fish dead depth on all three lines. Bait was stinky corn and expanders. Using 4mm fishery pellets as feed with a couple of grains of standard corn in each kinder pot.
At the all in I potted a large pot of fishery pellets with around 30 grains of corn onto the 2 o'clock swim and went out again with a half pot onto the 6m line. I put nothing onto the 10 o'clock line. Starting off at 2 o'clock I was soon getting indications but missing bites on stinky corn so added another 2 inches to the rig and started connecting. After an hour I had 10 fish for around 20lb. I was having to wait for bites but by lifting and dropping the float I was at least catching. Both Vic and Charlie were catching well and I felt I was behind them both. Mick had caught 5 fish and Terry Lancaster on 28 was catching very well. I had a look on the slightly deeper 10 o'clock line with no joy and another 10 minutes was spent on the 6m line again with no joy. So I decided to concentrate on the 2 o'clock swim. I was getting a few fish and after 3 hours I reckoned on around 50lb in the net. Vic had 45 fish and reckoned on 60lb (yea right). I thought I was on a par with Charlie as his fish seemed smaller. I re-fed this line again with another large pot of corn and pellets and went to 10 o'clock feeding only via a kinder pot. I was picking off odd fish to 3lb and was getting a good run together however but all to often after 1/2 hour the bites dried completely.
The winter sun had risen and was causing problems for the 3 of us on the café bank, spotting the float, let alone a bite. I was fishing the sun reflection on the water, which was around a metre from the fed areas and although it was hard to spot bites I was getting fish. Vic and Charlie seemed to be fishing the same areas that they fed and not off it like me. They were still getting bites and fish but I was putting fish in the net more frequently. I knew I could not catch Vic in the remaining time but thought I could pull away from Charlie. According to Vic, Terry was emptying the lake, Mick was still catching and Trevor in the corner was getting a few fish late on.
At the all out I reckoned I had around a ton and was pleased with my days fishing, the stinky corn had produced again, standard on the hook caught but was slower getting bites. Every now and again I would put an expander on and caught on them as well, so in future I might need to think of a pellet line as well.
Vic was first to weigh in and after 3 weighs he tipped 146-6 on the scales. I was next and my 105-8 was slightly better than I thought. Charlie weighed in 92-12 to prove again what a consistent peg 7 has been. Trevor placed 67-11 on the board, whilst Nick was close behind with 60-4. Mick was next up and his 80-11 would see him hand over a nugget to yours truly. Keith R placed 29-8 and finally Terry put 103-14 all caught on the feeder.
So overall the lake fish well again. I managed a pick up for second place and my preparation is improving. But more importantly I have taken a 1-0 lead over Mick in the 2014 MK Nugget Stakes.
I knew from last week that I was not prepared for the specimen lake, so this time I spent a few days checking elastics, tying a few rigs etc. I already had a lot of hook-lengths prepared for Stafford Moor and these would be alright for winter fishing at Alders.
I awoke nice and early to be greeted by fog, iced over car and a temperature of -2. As long as the lakes are free from ice we were on. I left early to avoid the traffic jams at the end of the A5D and was the first to arrive at the fishery. Grabbing a bag of 4mm fishery pellets on my way down to the café for the draw.
There would be 8 of us fishing today, so pegs were chosen where it would give the anglers options, feeder, pole or waggler. I managed to draw peg 5 whilst Vic Nugent was on 4. Both good pegs. Charlie Lancaster on 7, probably the most consistent peg during the winter. Trevor Price was on his favourite peg 16. A hard peg in winter (famine or feast). Nick was on 21, whilst Mick Wright was on 23, again another good peg in the winter with good cover and depth. The MK Nugget resumes. Keith R was on 27 which had fished well on the preceding Sunday match with Terry Lancaster on end peg 28.
I decided to just fish 3 lines today. 2 at 12.5m at 10 and 2 o'clock. One line would be fed heavily whilst the other lightly fed. another line was set up at 6m in case the fish decided to come closer.
Soft black Hydro with .16 Colmic Stream to .12 hooklengths with a size 18 PR36 with MW .3g Diamonds set to fish dead depth on all three lines. Bait was stinky corn and expanders. Using 4mm fishery pellets as feed with a couple of grains of standard corn in each kinder pot.
At the all in I potted a large pot of fishery pellets with around 30 grains of corn onto the 2 o'clock swim and went out again with a half pot onto the 6m line. I put nothing onto the 10 o'clock line. Starting off at 2 o'clock I was soon getting indications but missing bites on stinky corn so added another 2 inches to the rig and started connecting. After an hour I had 10 fish for around 20lb. I was having to wait for bites but by lifting and dropping the float I was at least catching. Both Vic and Charlie were catching well and I felt I was behind them both. Mick had caught 5 fish and Terry Lancaster on 28 was catching very well. I had a look on the slightly deeper 10 o'clock line with no joy and another 10 minutes was spent on the 6m line again with no joy. So I decided to concentrate on the 2 o'clock swim. I was getting a few fish and after 3 hours I reckoned on around 50lb in the net. Vic had 45 fish and reckoned on 60lb (yea right). I thought I was on a par with Charlie as his fish seemed smaller. I re-fed this line again with another large pot of corn and pellets and went to 10 o'clock feeding only via a kinder pot. I was picking off odd fish to 3lb and was getting a good run together however but all to often after 1/2 hour the bites dried completely.
The winter sun had risen and was causing problems for the 3 of us on the café bank, spotting the float, let alone a bite. I was fishing the sun reflection on the water, which was around a metre from the fed areas and although it was hard to spot bites I was getting fish. Vic and Charlie seemed to be fishing the same areas that they fed and not off it like me. They were still getting bites and fish but I was putting fish in the net more frequently. I knew I could not catch Vic in the remaining time but thought I could pull away from Charlie. According to Vic, Terry was emptying the lake, Mick was still catching and Trevor in the corner was getting a few fish late on.
At the all out I reckoned I had around a ton and was pleased with my days fishing, the stinky corn had produced again, standard on the hook caught but was slower getting bites. Every now and again I would put an expander on and caught on them as well, so in future I might need to think of a pellet line as well.
Vic was first to weigh in and after 3 weighs he tipped 146-6 on the scales. I was next and my 105-8 was slightly better than I thought. Charlie weighed in 92-12 to prove again what a consistent peg 7 has been. Trevor placed 67-11 on the board, whilst Nick was close behind with 60-4. Mick was next up and his 80-11 would see him hand over a nugget to yours truly. Keith R placed 29-8 and finally Terry put 103-14 all caught on the feeder.
So overall the lake fish well again. I managed a pick up for second place and my preparation is improving. But more importantly I have taken a 1-0 lead over Mick in the 2014 MK Nugget Stakes.
Wednesday 15 January 2014
Refreshed and ready to go???????
To be honest, I had seemed to hit a mental block regarding fishing. I had fished the Stafford Moor festival in October and although it is one of my favourite venues in the country, albeit a long way from home, I just could not seem to get motivated to fish my local, more regular haunts. I don't know why, the fishing at Stafford Moor was ok, my local venues were fishing well. I just could not get interested in going. This had to stop, so I thought get Xmas and the New Year out of the way and the first opportunity to fish I will. This came in the way of a knock up at Alders Farm on the Specimen Lake.
This lake has a lot of small carp up to a pound with a lot of doubles to 30+lb. Mix in a good head of proper bream and skimmers and you can have a good day. A couple of sharp frosts leading up to the match did not help but it was the same for everyone and with a winning weight in the region of 60lb required it should prove a good days fishing, if nothing else.
I planned to fish corn, expanders and maggot over a couple of lines feeding fishery micros, initially with a cup then kindered every couple of fish. I had around 8ft at 12.5m and around 6ft at 6m so armed myself with a couple of MW Diamonds and dotted them down to a dimple. A size 16 PR36 hook length would easily cope with a single grain of corn or expander. A size 18 PR36 would be used with maggot. Elastic was black hydro, only because it was the lowest grade in my pole sleeve. Should have checked before going I suppose, but as I said my mind and heart was not into fishing. A soft white would have been better suited.
I had for company Vic on the peg I fancied, and done well from in the past. Polish Chris the other side of me. Terry Lancaster was on the second peg on the café bank side with Bernie Fraser a couple of pegs further up. Charlie Lancaster was next to him and Trevor Price in the top corner in the shallower water.
At the all in I cupped in a half pot of micros and around 12 grains of corn onto the 12.5m line and a half pot of micros onto the 6m line. I would feed another half pot at hour intervals onto this line. After around 5 minutes I started getting a few bites and small carp around 6oz were coming quite regularly although I was bumping a few on black hydro. This continued for around an hour. 6oz fish all taken on stinky corn. I reckoned on having around 5lb. A look onto the expander line at 6m hoping for a few larger fish never materialised so I refed and went back out. I was feeding micros with a couple of grains of corn and a pinch of maggot and tried to eliminate the maggot to see if this made a difference to the fish I was catching, but with no obvious signs it was a case of plugging away. Vic was catching 2 to my one on expander at 13m on the next peg and Chris the other side was catching well in spells. Although he suffered dry spells as I did.
Terry was starting to catch a few fish after a slow start. Charlie was getting a few on the tip over to the island and Trevor had snared a couple of decent carp. Bernie was getting a few bites but was struggling.
I tried expander on the corn line and although it caught me a few fish it was slower than the stinky corn. However even after slacking off the black hydro as much as I could I was still bumping a few fish. I suspect that the hook was too large for 6oz fish and coupled with the hydro I was not connecting properly. 6m line only produced a couple of fish.
Vic had by now connected with a proper carp and was playing it very gingerly for around 10minutes before slipping his net under a nice double figure common. Couple that with two out of season Tench and plenty of small carp and he duly won out right. Charlie had an excellent 4th hour where everytime I looked up his rod was bent round and he was playing a carp. Trevor had snagged a few more from alongside the bushes on the far bank.
1st Vic Nugent 70-06
2nd Charlie Lancaster 62-04
3rd Trevor Price 56-02
4th Chris 43-01
5th Keith Ashby 34-02
6th Terry Lancaster 30-11
7th Bernie Fraser DNW
Overall, it fished well, nigh on 50lb a man on the Specimen lake. Personally I was glad to be back on the bank. I thoroughly enjoyed myself. Plenty of bites. However it did show a complete and utter lack of preparation on my part. I will be better next time around.
This lake has a lot of small carp up to a pound with a lot of doubles to 30+lb. Mix in a good head of proper bream and skimmers and you can have a good day. A couple of sharp frosts leading up to the match did not help but it was the same for everyone and with a winning weight in the region of 60lb required it should prove a good days fishing, if nothing else.
I planned to fish corn, expanders and maggot over a couple of lines feeding fishery micros, initially with a cup then kindered every couple of fish. I had around 8ft at 12.5m and around 6ft at 6m so armed myself with a couple of MW Diamonds and dotted them down to a dimple. A size 16 PR36 hook length would easily cope with a single grain of corn or expander. A size 18 PR36 would be used with maggot. Elastic was black hydro, only because it was the lowest grade in my pole sleeve. Should have checked before going I suppose, but as I said my mind and heart was not into fishing. A soft white would have been better suited.
I had for company Vic on the peg I fancied, and done well from in the past. Polish Chris the other side of me. Terry Lancaster was on the second peg on the café bank side with Bernie Fraser a couple of pegs further up. Charlie Lancaster was next to him and Trevor Price in the top corner in the shallower water.
At the all in I cupped in a half pot of micros and around 12 grains of corn onto the 12.5m line and a half pot of micros onto the 6m line. I would feed another half pot at hour intervals onto this line. After around 5 minutes I started getting a few bites and small carp around 6oz were coming quite regularly although I was bumping a few on black hydro. This continued for around an hour. 6oz fish all taken on stinky corn. I reckoned on having around 5lb. A look onto the expander line at 6m hoping for a few larger fish never materialised so I refed and went back out. I was feeding micros with a couple of grains of corn and a pinch of maggot and tried to eliminate the maggot to see if this made a difference to the fish I was catching, but with no obvious signs it was a case of plugging away. Vic was catching 2 to my one on expander at 13m on the next peg and Chris the other side was catching well in spells. Although he suffered dry spells as I did.
Terry was starting to catch a few fish after a slow start. Charlie was getting a few on the tip over to the island and Trevor had snared a couple of decent carp. Bernie was getting a few bites but was struggling.
I tried expander on the corn line and although it caught me a few fish it was slower than the stinky corn. However even after slacking off the black hydro as much as I could I was still bumping a few fish. I suspect that the hook was too large for 6oz fish and coupled with the hydro I was not connecting properly. 6m line only produced a couple of fish.
Vic had by now connected with a proper carp and was playing it very gingerly for around 10minutes before slipping his net under a nice double figure common. Couple that with two out of season Tench and plenty of small carp and he duly won out right. Charlie had an excellent 4th hour where everytime I looked up his rod was bent round and he was playing a carp. Trevor had snagged a few more from alongside the bushes on the far bank.
1st Vic Nugent 70-06
2nd Charlie Lancaster 62-04
3rd Trevor Price 56-02
4th Chris 43-01
5th Keith Ashby 34-02
6th Terry Lancaster 30-11
7th Bernie Fraser DNW
Overall, it fished well, nigh on 50lb a man on the Specimen lake. Personally I was glad to be back on the bank. I thoroughly enjoyed myself. Plenty of bites. However it did show a complete and utter lack of preparation on my part. I will be better next time around.
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