A glorious week in the sun, spoilt only by work, allowed myself and Mick to fish the Affordable Open at Alders Farm, however the weather gods decided to put in a mixed day of showers and little wind. I awoke to find the rain beating against the back door at it was a slight shower as I pulled up to the tackle shop at Alders Farm.
After dropping off a no6 section that required a repair and a quick chat with Trevor Price it was down to the café for a cup of tea. Nice and friendly this match fishing lark. Just the way I like it.
All the usual suspects were in attendance today but it made a nice change to see the Nottingham lads again Colin and Carl, having just returned from fishing in Spain. Carl's legs obviously never saw the sun. A couple of others had joined us and a healthy 12 in attendance.
At the draw I fancied one of the shallow pegs 26 to 30 but 28 and 30 had gone by the time my hand went in and I had to settle for 23. A peg that can fish well and can also be frustrating. Mick had drawn well again and peg 4 was going to be his home for the day. Trevor drew peg 26 whilst Josh had 13. Terry settled into peg 3 with Charlie on peg 1. Colin and Carl drew 6 and 20 respectively with Nick Wooding on 8.
My plan was to start off shallow at 11m and hopefully feed a line at top three with corn before moving into the edge during the last 2 hours. Bait was hard pellet feeding fishery 4mm on the 11m line. Stinky Corn over corn at 4m and meat down the edge.
To be honest I hoped to catch at 4m for most of the match if I could, I had a decent 3ft on this line before sloping out to 4ft at 11m. A MW .3g Diamond and a size 14 PR36 with a bulk 12 inches from the hook.
At the all in I potted in some meat down to the platform of 22 and threw a dozen grains of corn onto the 4m line and a swirl as soon as it hit the water. I shipped out and pinged a few pellets onto 11m and within a minute I was into my first fish. However it was a small twister. Another followed and that was enough. I picked up the corn rig and placed it at 4m. Before it hit the bottom red hydro was out and a two pounder was in the net. Another pop and another fish. I was feeding four grains every 20 seconds and if it went quite I would feed a handful of 4mm pellets. In the first hour I had 15 fish for around 30lb and was happy with that. I knew that if I could keep them coming then I could do 200lb, my target weight. Hour two and three were the same, 2lb fish with the odd 3lber in among them and I reckoned on a ton. I did have a quick look down the right hand edge for 4 fish but was waiting too long for a bite and felt I could catch more fish for the same weight at 4m. Hour four and five I was really getting a lot of bites but was missing a lot and pulling out of a few fish, probably foul hooked but I did feel some were hooked in the mouth, so I shallowed up a couple of inches and was back into a rhythm. These fish were slightly bigger at around 3lb average and I did have one around 8lb to bolster my weight. I felt I had around 180lb at this stage and looking around the best I could hope for was 2nd overall. Colin was getting some decent fish on the paste as was Carl. Trevor was catching well even though he was kept busy walking back to the tackle shop to deal with pleasure anglers and so was Mick on peg 4. In fact Mick lost time trying to retrieve a top kit. He landed a fish that fell out of his landing net and took his top kit with him. He is not having much luck lately.
If I could have a good last hour who knows. I kept plugging away at 4m and was now digging through my bag for any corn that was hiding away. I found a couple of tins that must have been out of date as they had rust around the ring pulls. Still I managed to open them and started feeding again. It was during this spell that I decided to up the feed to 8 grains every 20 second and this seemed to spark a quick burst of regular fish to the net. Same stamp of fish 2-3lb but more regular hooking of fish. I was fishing just on bottom and bites would come immediately the float settled. If not out again. I did try a shallow rig over this line but it did not work. The fish were settled on the bottom and did not want to move up even though there was plenty of cruising fish during the day. In the last hour I think I put another 50lb in the net and knew I had reached my target weight.
Overall
1st Colin Spencer Peg 6 Paste 324-04
2n Trevor Price Peg 26 Stinky Maggot over GB 278-07
3rd Keith Ashby Peg 23 Stinky Corn over corn 261-11
4th Charlie Lancaster Peg 1 233-04
5th Carl Williams Peg 20 Paste 219-13
6th Josh Blavins Peg 13 Stinky Maggot over GB 203-03
A surprise 250lb+ weight for me and a third match third on the trot but more importantly I took another MK Nugget off Mick and the score is now 10-5.
I think the carp have just about finished spawning for now and with the down turn in weather should keep things normal for a few weeks. I have no matches next week as work gets in the way but as soon as I can get back on the bank, I will let you know.
Tuesday 20 May 2014
Saturday 17 May 2014
Claygate lakes Sophies 17 05 14
Back to the club scene for this blog addition. Claygate lakes are situated just outside Maidstone in Kent. Two match lakes and a specimen lake which always seems full. Today saw 18 anglers booked on to fish, however Kevin Loveland had a reaction to his detached retina and the eye become bloodshot and needed treatment. Hope all went well Kev and I know how sensitive our eyes are after having wore glasses since I was 5.
We had the whole lake and could afford a bit of space for all the anglers along this snake lake. It ranges from around 10m to 16m wide with some pegs having 11ft of water down the track. Average depths though were around 6ft with 2ft in the margins. The last time I was here I got it all wrong. Fishing big baits aimed at big fish, whereas it was a F1 match with small chublets and skimmers. They have now reverted the stocking back to bigger fish, either way I was prepared for both scenarios, in case I was informed incorrectly.
I drew peg 26, not a noted area from last year as Gino had struggled from it. Dave Collier was on the end peg 27 and had fish sitting in his swim from the off. In fact anyone who had any cover had fish crashing around in the reeds and tree roots as the first signs of spawning were underway.
Mick Wright had drawn well(again) with peg 12 close to where he caught his PB Bream last year and framed. Al was next door to him on 13 with Troy on Peg 22 being able to watch my every move as he could see me but my back was to him. Pete had drawn my peg from last year, furthest from the draw and end peg 2.
After the events of Viaduct Mick had made the MK Nugget score 8-5 and managed to close the gap.
At the all in I potted a half cup of corn and pellet across to 12.5 just down the far shelf. I also potted a large pot of pellet at 11m in 6ft of water. I threw a handful of pellet and 12 grains of corn down both sides. One side had 3ft of water and the other 5ft. Amazing since they were only 12ft apart.
I started at 11m and a banded pellet, nothing, corn, nothing, expander, nothing, maggot nothing. I tried the 12.5m line with corn and first fish on, lost at the net. Out again nothing, banded pellet another fish on, this time in the net and I am off and running with 6lb. Out again and a skimmer around 12oz and a chublet around 4oz. Back onto corn and nothing. I tried both margins and even set up a line at 6m to no avail. It seemed the only place I could get a bite was at 12.5m but it was slow. I slowed up around a foot and pushed the pole tight to the far bank by adding another section and another grain of corn produced a carp around 8lb. So with 2 hours gone I had around 15lb in the net. Dave next door was faring no better, A carp around 8lb, a 5lb 4oz PB Tench and a couple of silvers.
Word along the bank was that Troy was catching, Al was catching well shallow but everyone else was struggling with odd fish. Rod had caught a 10lb Bream.
I had tried drip feeding via a toss pot and also with a half pot but either way it made no difference to bite ratio. I was getting a bite just after it dropping to the bottom and I just started lifting and dropping to try to improve bites. The bites were positive enough you just had to wait too long for them.
However this tactic seemed to work for a little while,, within the next two hours I put another five fish in the net. I had also created a nightmare, I would get a bite and hook a fish for it to power into an underwater snag consisting of some old roots that have become disturbed. I must have lost around 6 fish in this snag and lost a few hooklengths along the way. But it was the only place I could get a bite.
It made no difference on the bait front, on the day corn was the better option. At the end of the match I had 8 carp and a couple of silvers for estimated 40-50lb depending on who asked.
It seems it was a match of Al against the rest. Al had obliterated the field with a massive 188lb a suspected new lake record. No one got even close. It was that one sided and shows the class and quality of the angler.
1st Al Loader 188-12
2nd Troy Hillier 50-08
3rd Keith Ashby 50-00
4th Clive Pritchard 32-08
5th Tony Watkins 28-12
6th Dave Collier 24-08
Overall I was happy with my third place, I avenged a few demons and gained a few more. I went further ahead in the MK Nugget Stakes to lead 9-5 now. However I only had Micks pound for a short while before giving it to Troy, who pipped me into second by 8oz. Pete had struggled at the top end but still managed 7th place beating Mick into 8th.
Next match is on Tuesday, Alders Farm Ash Lake.
We had the whole lake and could afford a bit of space for all the anglers along this snake lake. It ranges from around 10m to 16m wide with some pegs having 11ft of water down the track. Average depths though were around 6ft with 2ft in the margins. The last time I was here I got it all wrong. Fishing big baits aimed at big fish, whereas it was a F1 match with small chublets and skimmers. They have now reverted the stocking back to bigger fish, either way I was prepared for both scenarios, in case I was informed incorrectly.
I drew peg 26, not a noted area from last year as Gino had struggled from it. Dave Collier was on the end peg 27 and had fish sitting in his swim from the off. In fact anyone who had any cover had fish crashing around in the reeds and tree roots as the first signs of spawning were underway.
Mick Wright had drawn well(again) with peg 12 close to where he caught his PB Bream last year and framed. Al was next door to him on 13 with Troy on Peg 22 being able to watch my every move as he could see me but my back was to him. Pete had drawn my peg from last year, furthest from the draw and end peg 2.
After the events of Viaduct Mick had made the MK Nugget score 8-5 and managed to close the gap.
At the all in I potted a half cup of corn and pellet across to 12.5 just down the far shelf. I also potted a large pot of pellet at 11m in 6ft of water. I threw a handful of pellet and 12 grains of corn down both sides. One side had 3ft of water and the other 5ft. Amazing since they were only 12ft apart.
I started at 11m and a banded pellet, nothing, corn, nothing, expander, nothing, maggot nothing. I tried the 12.5m line with corn and first fish on, lost at the net. Out again nothing, banded pellet another fish on, this time in the net and I am off and running with 6lb. Out again and a skimmer around 12oz and a chublet around 4oz. Back onto corn and nothing. I tried both margins and even set up a line at 6m to no avail. It seemed the only place I could get a bite was at 12.5m but it was slow. I slowed up around a foot and pushed the pole tight to the far bank by adding another section and another grain of corn produced a carp around 8lb. So with 2 hours gone I had around 15lb in the net. Dave next door was faring no better, A carp around 8lb, a 5lb 4oz PB Tench and a couple of silvers.
Word along the bank was that Troy was catching, Al was catching well shallow but everyone else was struggling with odd fish. Rod had caught a 10lb Bream.
I had tried drip feeding via a toss pot and also with a half pot but either way it made no difference to bite ratio. I was getting a bite just after it dropping to the bottom and I just started lifting and dropping to try to improve bites. The bites were positive enough you just had to wait too long for them.
However this tactic seemed to work for a little while,, within the next two hours I put another five fish in the net. I had also created a nightmare, I would get a bite and hook a fish for it to power into an underwater snag consisting of some old roots that have become disturbed. I must have lost around 6 fish in this snag and lost a few hooklengths along the way. But it was the only place I could get a bite.
It made no difference on the bait front, on the day corn was the better option. At the end of the match I had 8 carp and a couple of silvers for estimated 40-50lb depending on who asked.
It seems it was a match of Al against the rest. Al had obliterated the field with a massive 188lb a suspected new lake record. No one got even close. It was that one sided and shows the class and quality of the angler.
1st Al Loader 188-12
2nd Troy Hillier 50-08
3rd Keith Ashby 50-00
4th Clive Pritchard 32-08
5th Tony Watkins 28-12
6th Dave Collier 24-08
Overall I was happy with my third place, I avenged a few demons and gained a few more. I went further ahead in the MK Nugget Stakes to lead 9-5 now. However I only had Micks pound for a short while before giving it to Troy, who pipped me into second by 8oz. Pete had struggled at the top end but still managed 7th place beating Mick into 8th.
Next match is on Tuesday, Alders Farm Ash Lake.
Tuesday 13 May 2014
Alders Farm Pines Lake 13 05 14 Costcutter Open
Well with the exertions of Viaduct behind me now, its time to get back into local fishing and my Marsh AC commitments and to start the ball rolling was the regular Tuesday Costcutter on Pines Lake at Alders Farm.
Mick had other plans today so at least my MK Nugget was safe, but with 12 other souls preparing themselves for the downpour planned for later that day, it was never going to be an easy match.
With my gear all sorted from Viaduct, it was simply a case of sorting my bait for Pines Lake. Simply a tin of meat for the edge, 4 tins of corn for the long line at 2+2 and around a pint of fishery pellet dampened down. I had more corn with me just in case it was required but was unsure if I would need it.
I had loosen off my orange vespe elastics at Viaduct and tightened them up a touch but it would be touch and go throughout the session to get them right. I really need to fit puller kits to my pole and am working towards this goal.
MW .3g Diamonds coupled with .18 Stroft to a size 14 PR38 were going to be my main line of attack at 2+2. So I doubled up the rigs in case of a breakage or wrong elastic set up. I also set up a NG Edger float to fish 18 inches to the reeds to my left.
At the all in I cup some meat down the side to my left and threw eight grains of corn to 5m. I then dropped a rig in at 2+2 and threw some more. It was not long before I was getting iffy bites, little dips but nothing positive. I shallowed up by an inch and that was better. I was now getting small carp one a chuck. Within 10 minutes I had 4 fish and could see only Josh Blavins getting a few down the side. Terry Lancaster was having a mare, dropping his paste in before the start of the match, that old chestnut, his brother Charlie was getting a few from 31 but could not string anything together. I just kept plugging away, the fish were on the small side to do a decent weight but they tend to come in packs. You get a run of 1lb fish then 2lbers followed by a quiet spell and a few 4-8lb fish before the 1lb fish return.
After a couple of hours I was going well and estimated around 60lb in the net. I was keeping in touch with fish by fishing 1/2m closer then to my left and then to the right of the feed. A tip Josh told me on an Academy day a few years ago. I was still drip feeding corn at regular intervals and getting bites. I foul hooked a couple and a couple shed the hook at the net before disaster struck and my top kit snapped in two. OOOOPPPPSSSS. Still I had another rig set up and was quickly back into a rhythm.
Trevor was catching well from his berth on peg 8 and it seemed they were bigger fish. Josh was still catching and take some beating for 19 whilst Richard Brain was getting a few on the paste. However I was still catching and putting fish into the net.
I have often been called blinkered in my approach to corn fishing, I prefer focused on what is happening and what I am trying to achieve. You also need to be aware of who is catching and where, whilst remaining confident in your approach.
After 4 hours I reckoned on around 140lb and was cruising, I was getting bites within a minute and sometimes on the drop. A quick look on the margin rig over this line produced nothing and with the rig in the correct left hand margin also produced a small carp but took too long for the bite to come. So it was back out on the deep rig. I was managing to keep feeding regularly throughout the remainder of the match and if I felt the peg was dying I would feed a handful of pellet followed by a few grains of corn and this would spur it back into life.
By the end of the match I reckoned on around 95 fish which I was pleased with. I had kept fish coming for the majority of the match and managed to adjust my feeding regularly, sometimes they wanted 4 grains other times 8, but fed regularly.
Overall
1st Trevor Price 260-10 Peg 8 Stinky Maggot over GB
2nd Josh Blavins 223-08 Peg 19 Maggot over GB and Micros
3rd Keith Ashby 221-02 Peg 4 Stinky Corn over corn
4th Richard Brain 200-11 Peg 17 Paste
5th Charlie Lancaster 149-07 Peg 31 Maggot over GB
6th Terry Lancaster 123-14 Peg 26 Paste
Not a bad day at the office and certainly beats work. Now where was Mick when you want him.
My next match is at Claygate Lakes Sophies on Saturday.
Mick had other plans today so at least my MK Nugget was safe, but with 12 other souls preparing themselves for the downpour planned for later that day, it was never going to be an easy match.
With my gear all sorted from Viaduct, it was simply a case of sorting my bait for Pines Lake. Simply a tin of meat for the edge, 4 tins of corn for the long line at 2+2 and around a pint of fishery pellet dampened down. I had more corn with me just in case it was required but was unsure if I would need it.
I had loosen off my orange vespe elastics at Viaduct and tightened them up a touch but it would be touch and go throughout the session to get them right. I really need to fit puller kits to my pole and am working towards this goal.
MW .3g Diamonds coupled with .18 Stroft to a size 14 PR38 were going to be my main line of attack at 2+2. So I doubled up the rigs in case of a breakage or wrong elastic set up. I also set up a NG Edger float to fish 18 inches to the reeds to my left.
At the all in I cup some meat down the side to my left and threw eight grains of corn to 5m. I then dropped a rig in at 2+2 and threw some more. It was not long before I was getting iffy bites, little dips but nothing positive. I shallowed up by an inch and that was better. I was now getting small carp one a chuck. Within 10 minutes I had 4 fish and could see only Josh Blavins getting a few down the side. Terry Lancaster was having a mare, dropping his paste in before the start of the match, that old chestnut, his brother Charlie was getting a few from 31 but could not string anything together. I just kept plugging away, the fish were on the small side to do a decent weight but they tend to come in packs. You get a run of 1lb fish then 2lbers followed by a quiet spell and a few 4-8lb fish before the 1lb fish return.
After a couple of hours I was going well and estimated around 60lb in the net. I was keeping in touch with fish by fishing 1/2m closer then to my left and then to the right of the feed. A tip Josh told me on an Academy day a few years ago. I was still drip feeding corn at regular intervals and getting bites. I foul hooked a couple and a couple shed the hook at the net before disaster struck and my top kit snapped in two. OOOOPPPPSSSS. Still I had another rig set up and was quickly back into a rhythm.
Trevor was catching well from his berth on peg 8 and it seemed they were bigger fish. Josh was still catching and take some beating for 19 whilst Richard Brain was getting a few on the paste. However I was still catching and putting fish into the net.
I have often been called blinkered in my approach to corn fishing, I prefer focused on what is happening and what I am trying to achieve. You also need to be aware of who is catching and where, whilst remaining confident in your approach.
After 4 hours I reckoned on around 140lb and was cruising, I was getting bites within a minute and sometimes on the drop. A quick look on the margin rig over this line produced nothing and with the rig in the correct left hand margin also produced a small carp but took too long for the bite to come. So it was back out on the deep rig. I was managing to keep feeding regularly throughout the remainder of the match and if I felt the peg was dying I would feed a handful of pellet followed by a few grains of corn and this would spur it back into life.
By the end of the match I reckoned on around 95 fish which I was pleased with. I had kept fish coming for the majority of the match and managed to adjust my feeding regularly, sometimes they wanted 4 grains other times 8, but fed regularly.
Overall
1st Trevor Price 260-10 Peg 8 Stinky Maggot over GB
2nd Josh Blavins 223-08 Peg 19 Maggot over GB and Micros
3rd Keith Ashby 221-02 Peg 4 Stinky Corn over corn
4th Richard Brain 200-11 Peg 17 Paste
5th Charlie Lancaster 149-07 Peg 31 Maggot over GB
6th Terry Lancaster 123-14 Peg 26 Paste
Not a bad day at the office and certainly beats work. Now where was Mick when you want him.
My next match is at Claygate Lakes Sophies on Saturday.
Saturday 10 May 2014
Viaduct Fishery Open Campbell and Cary 03 05 14
Six of us had decided back in October to try somewhere different to Stafford Moor for 2014 and with both Pete Thompson and myself extolling the virtues and fishing of Viaduct it was left to me to plan and book. This soon came around and Mick, Vic and I met up at 0400 to start of a weeks holiday. A smooth journey down saw us pull into the Little Chef just outside Somerton around 0630. A little wait before breakfast arrived but it gave us a chance to hang around for Del to arrive from Hemel Hempstead. Pete was travelling up from Collumpton where he had been working and stopping at his brothers whilst Troy was coming down later that night having had to work.
I had booked four of us into the open whilst Mick was going to have a play around with paste on Lodge lake and have a look around. Indeed whilst we were waiting to draw Mick was already playing his first Viaduct carp. I had fished Campbell before but not Cary and knew the fish were averaging 6-8lb with plenty of skimmers to 2lb. I did not have a clue about Cary but knew the fish ran bigger.
At the draw I pulled out 110 on Campbell with Del opposite on 132 with Pete on 115 and Vic 119 all decent pegs where anything could happen. I managed to get tackled up early, a bomb rod to fish halfway across, a 12m line and edge to the stump. However, after a quick chat with Paul, one of the fishery owner he warned me that the fish break poles in that corner going under the brambles and to use a stronger pole. Luckily I had a G20 with me and would use this down the edge.
At the all in I cupped a tin of corn onto 12m and a pot of 4mm GOT Sinkers as the last time I fished here I was opposite and had over a ton on Stinky Corn over pellet and felt I did not feed it enough. A pot of pellet with a smattering of corn down to the stump and brambles. I opted to start on the bomb though and did not have to wait long for my first fish of the holiday on 8mm GOT Jupiters. After an hour I had 3 fish on the bomb and pulled out of one.
A look on the 12m saw a few bites from skimmers around the 2lb mark and no carp. I re-fed this line again quite heavily and hoped that a few carp would move in eventually. Hour three saw me get a few fish from the brambles and I was no sitting on 6 fish for around 50lb. I re-fed again and had another look on the bomb which saw a couple more fish in the net before it also died. Back out to 12m and a few more carp on the Stinky Corn. With an hour to go I had 10 carp for 70lb plus around 10lb of silvers. Another look down the edge brought another three fish for around 8lb apiece and two trashed rigs where the fish went under the brambles and kept going. Now I know why people have there poles broken in this peg. I survived but it was hairy at times.
Del had been catching down the edge and was in front of me. I could not see Vic or Pete.
At the weigh in I placed 108lb on the board with Del having 140lb and a section win. Vic had struggled but caught 130lb from his end peg whilst Pete had struggled.
Overall it was a decent start to the holiday and after collecting the keys to the lodge it got even better. These are large luxurious log cabins ( Bungalow Style) and had plenty of room inside and out with our own pegs to fish on Middle Lake.
I had booked four of us into the open whilst Mick was going to have a play around with paste on Lodge lake and have a look around. Indeed whilst we were waiting to draw Mick was already playing his first Viaduct carp. I had fished Campbell before but not Cary and knew the fish were averaging 6-8lb with plenty of skimmers to 2lb. I did not have a clue about Cary but knew the fish ran bigger.
At the draw I pulled out 110 on Campbell with Del opposite on 132 with Pete on 115 and Vic 119 all decent pegs where anything could happen. I managed to get tackled up early, a bomb rod to fish halfway across, a 12m line and edge to the stump. However, after a quick chat with Paul, one of the fishery owner he warned me that the fish break poles in that corner going under the brambles and to use a stronger pole. Luckily I had a G20 with me and would use this down the edge.
At the all in I cupped a tin of corn onto 12m and a pot of 4mm GOT Sinkers as the last time I fished here I was opposite and had over a ton on Stinky Corn over pellet and felt I did not feed it enough. A pot of pellet with a smattering of corn down to the stump and brambles. I opted to start on the bomb though and did not have to wait long for my first fish of the holiday on 8mm GOT Jupiters. After an hour I had 3 fish on the bomb and pulled out of one.
A look on the 12m saw a few bites from skimmers around the 2lb mark and no carp. I re-fed this line again quite heavily and hoped that a few carp would move in eventually. Hour three saw me get a few fish from the brambles and I was no sitting on 6 fish for around 50lb. I re-fed again and had another look on the bomb which saw a couple more fish in the net before it also died. Back out to 12m and a few more carp on the Stinky Corn. With an hour to go I had 10 carp for 70lb plus around 10lb of silvers. Another look down the edge brought another three fish for around 8lb apiece and two trashed rigs where the fish went under the brambles and kept going. Now I know why people have there poles broken in this peg. I survived but it was hairy at times.
Del had been catching down the edge and was in front of me. I could not see Vic or Pete.
At the weigh in I placed 108lb on the board with Del having 140lb and a section win. Vic had struggled but caught 130lb from his end peg whilst Pete had struggled.
Overall it was a decent start to the holiday and after collecting the keys to the lodge it got even better. These are large luxurious log cabins ( Bungalow Style) and had plenty of room inside and out with our own pegs to fish on Middle Lake.
Viaduct Fishery Match Lake Knock Up 04 05 14
We had asked Steve the fishery owner if we could have a knock up on the match lake and he gave us the green light and even said he would weigh us in at the end.
We had no set pegs so decided where we wanted to fish and fish it how we wanted. I opted for a corner peg where I could reach with 10m of pole. I also set a line at 11m that I could fish in comfort, as I had another angler behind me. I also set up a line at top two plus two for corn.
I had Pete on the next peg where he had an island chuck at around 30m, Mick was in the opposite corner and Del was to my right two pegs up the bank. Vic and Troy were on the opposite bank to me.
We had been told to expect some F1's with a few king carp plus plenty of skimmers, roach and tench.
So I armed myself with black hydro, a .3g MW Diamond to .16 Silstar Match line and a size 16 PR38 hook strung shotted to fish both top two and 11m. A MW Dinky down the edge in around 18inches of water at 10m as the wind was blowing into it. Bait was corn for top two plus two and the margin with some 4mm GOT Sinkers as feed and Stinky Corn hookers. On the 11m line I would fish a mix of meat and 8mm hard pellet banded.
At the all in I potted in half a pot of bait onto each line and started kindering the long line. I was getting a few bites on meat but could not hit them so switched to a larger hook and this changed my fortunes. A few skimmers and odd small F1's came to the net. I was off the pace as both Pete and Del were catching well on the pole with Mick starting to catch down the edge some decent sized carp. Vic had flown out of the blocks and was catching well at 7m with Troy starting to get a few on the Pellet waggler tight to the island. I also started to lose a few fish and was getting frustrated. I needed a walk and went to see Vic and Troy at the other end of the lake. Troy's peg was solid and every pouch of pellet was met with a swirl across. Vic was getting bites and was looking down the edge early into the match.
I went back renewed that I was not doing anything wrong and just needed a run of fish to pull myself back into it. Slowly I started connecting with a few fish and getting into a rhythm and just as I thought I had sussed it out it went bang and no more bites. I had a look on 7m and had a couple of skimmers on Stinky Corn before I switched to the margins for the last hour. A burst of proper king carp boosted my weight but it was too late to matter.
Overall
1st Troy Hillyer 73-08
2nd Del Smith 58-08
3rd Vic Nugent 56-14
4th Mick Wright 56-01
5th Keith Ashby 44-00
6th Pete Thompson 34-02
So Troy took the spoils on the day and I lost another MK Nugget to Mick to make it 7-4.
We had no set pegs so decided where we wanted to fish and fish it how we wanted. I opted for a corner peg where I could reach with 10m of pole. I also set a line at 11m that I could fish in comfort, as I had another angler behind me. I also set up a line at top two plus two for corn.
I had Pete on the next peg where he had an island chuck at around 30m, Mick was in the opposite corner and Del was to my right two pegs up the bank. Vic and Troy were on the opposite bank to me.
We had been told to expect some F1's with a few king carp plus plenty of skimmers, roach and tench.
So I armed myself with black hydro, a .3g MW Diamond to .16 Silstar Match line and a size 16 PR38 hook strung shotted to fish both top two and 11m. A MW Dinky down the edge in around 18inches of water at 10m as the wind was blowing into it. Bait was corn for top two plus two and the margin with some 4mm GOT Sinkers as feed and Stinky Corn hookers. On the 11m line I would fish a mix of meat and 8mm hard pellet banded.
At the all in I potted in half a pot of bait onto each line and started kindering the long line. I was getting a few bites on meat but could not hit them so switched to a larger hook and this changed my fortunes. A few skimmers and odd small F1's came to the net. I was off the pace as both Pete and Del were catching well on the pole with Mick starting to catch down the edge some decent sized carp. Vic had flown out of the blocks and was catching well at 7m with Troy starting to get a few on the Pellet waggler tight to the island. I also started to lose a few fish and was getting frustrated. I needed a walk and went to see Vic and Troy at the other end of the lake. Troy's peg was solid and every pouch of pellet was met with a swirl across. Vic was getting bites and was looking down the edge early into the match.
I went back renewed that I was not doing anything wrong and just needed a run of fish to pull myself back into it. Slowly I started connecting with a few fish and getting into a rhythm and just as I thought I had sussed it out it went bang and no more bites. I had a look on 7m and had a couple of skimmers on Stinky Corn before I switched to the margins for the last hour. A burst of proper king carp boosted my weight but it was too late to matter.
Overall
1st Troy Hillyer 73-08
2nd Del Smith 58-08
3rd Vic Nugent 56-14
4th Mick Wright 56-01
5th Keith Ashby 44-00
6th Pete Thompson 34-02
So Troy took the spoils on the day and I lost another MK Nugget to Mick to make it 7-4.
Viaduct Fishery Monday Open 05 05 14
Bank Holiday Monday and an Open on Cary Lake. This was my first time on Cary, I had never fished it on any of my previous visits to Viaduct. I could not tell you a good peg from a bad one but knew from the internet that the pegs in the 80s catch well and the fish run big, with an average size of 12lb.
Troy was the only one missing from the rest of the lads. He fancied a day chilling in the lodge and not fishing, a welcome change from working 12 hour days 6 days a week.
I had drawn peg 100 by a big tree on the lodge side of Cary and was told it was a decent area for silvers. Not what I had hoped for, for me, it was carp or bust. I needed to learn how to catch carp here as I would be fishing it a couple of times during the week ahead. Pete and Del were on pegs 77 and 78 respectively. Vic was on peg 88 with Mick close by on 85.
I set up the customary bomb rod to fish at around 40m where I thought I could comfortably ping out some 8mm coarse pellets. I also set up a 12.5m line in 4ft of water using .18 Stroft to a size 14PR38 and a .4g MW Diamond. I also set up a line down the edge to the platform of 101 which was empty.
I had decided today to fish various pellets on the bomb and have a go on meat at 12.5 as we had been told the meat and pellet was working on the lake. My margin line would be fed at the start with 4mm GOT Sinkers and a polecup full of meat. I would top this up every hour.
At the all in in went some grub to start the swim off and out went the bomb with a couple of 8mm coarse pellets. I started pinging a few pellets over the top and within 10minutes the tip flies around and my first fish from Cary was on. First thing I noticed was my clutch was set too light so the fish pulled too much line off too quickly, I tightened up and started to gain some control. However, these fish fight all the way in and although I managed to get it under the tip I could not lift it up from the depths. Slowly the fish was tiring but I had spent 10 minutes playing this fish before slipping the net under a 12lb fish.
Another go with a couple of 8mm coarse saw no action so it was a case of swapping hookbaits around. I found that fishing 8mm GOT Jupiters on the hook brought more taps and plucks and if I left them alone occasionally it would go round, sometimes they were liners and other times it was fish on. But these were wary fish and I learnt a lesson from Vic that evening which would help throughout the week. I could see Pete was struggling to catch his silver fish targets and Del was struggling on the bomb but was getting a few smaller carp at 7m over meat. Not a line I had prepared. Another lesson.
I was no getting nothing on the bomb. So switched to 12.5m and after a couple of drop ins I connected with a skimmer around 2lb. A switch to 8mm banded brought some bites but were impossible to hit. I suspected they were skimmers and decided to pot in some 8mm pellets and give it a rest.
Into the margins and another session of missed bites but these were lightning quick. A change of depth to 2inches over depth on double meat saw me connected with a couple of carp going 8lb apiece. Followed by a couple of skimmers around 2lb. I persevered on this line until the end of the match ending up with 6 carp and a couple of skimmers for 55lb and nowhere. I was beaten both sides.
Pete had thrown back an estimated 15lb of silvers. Del had a weight of 130lb mainly from the 7m line. Vic had 78lb from his peg on the top end of Cary but felt he was getting to grips with the lake. Mick was our hero with 140lb for 5th in the match.
Troy was the only one missing from the rest of the lads. He fancied a day chilling in the lodge and not fishing, a welcome change from working 12 hour days 6 days a week.
I had drawn peg 100 by a big tree on the lodge side of Cary and was told it was a decent area for silvers. Not what I had hoped for, for me, it was carp or bust. I needed to learn how to catch carp here as I would be fishing it a couple of times during the week ahead. Pete and Del were on pegs 77 and 78 respectively. Vic was on peg 88 with Mick close by on 85.
I set up the customary bomb rod to fish at around 40m where I thought I could comfortably ping out some 8mm coarse pellets. I also set up a 12.5m line in 4ft of water using .18 Stroft to a size 14PR38 and a .4g MW Diamond. I also set up a line down the edge to the platform of 101 which was empty.
I had decided today to fish various pellets on the bomb and have a go on meat at 12.5 as we had been told the meat and pellet was working on the lake. My margin line would be fed at the start with 4mm GOT Sinkers and a polecup full of meat. I would top this up every hour.
At the all in in went some grub to start the swim off and out went the bomb with a couple of 8mm coarse pellets. I started pinging a few pellets over the top and within 10minutes the tip flies around and my first fish from Cary was on. First thing I noticed was my clutch was set too light so the fish pulled too much line off too quickly, I tightened up and started to gain some control. However, these fish fight all the way in and although I managed to get it under the tip I could not lift it up from the depths. Slowly the fish was tiring but I had spent 10 minutes playing this fish before slipping the net under a 12lb fish.
Another go with a couple of 8mm coarse saw no action so it was a case of swapping hookbaits around. I found that fishing 8mm GOT Jupiters on the hook brought more taps and plucks and if I left them alone occasionally it would go round, sometimes they were liners and other times it was fish on. But these were wary fish and I learnt a lesson from Vic that evening which would help throughout the week. I could see Pete was struggling to catch his silver fish targets and Del was struggling on the bomb but was getting a few smaller carp at 7m over meat. Not a line I had prepared. Another lesson.
I was no getting nothing on the bomb. So switched to 12.5m and after a couple of drop ins I connected with a skimmer around 2lb. A switch to 8mm banded brought some bites but were impossible to hit. I suspected they were skimmers and decided to pot in some 8mm pellets and give it a rest.
Into the margins and another session of missed bites but these were lightning quick. A change of depth to 2inches over depth on double meat saw me connected with a couple of carp going 8lb apiece. Followed by a couple of skimmers around 2lb. I persevered on this line until the end of the match ending up with 6 carp and a couple of skimmers for 55lb and nowhere. I was beaten both sides.
Pete had thrown back an estimated 15lb of silvers. Del had a weight of 130lb mainly from the 7m line. Vic had 78lb from his peg on the top end of Cary but felt he was getting to grips with the lake. Mick was our hero with 140lb for 5th in the match.
Viaduct Fishery Pleasure Day Cary Lake
So what did I learn from my first session on Cary Lake on Monday. These fish are big and take an age to land.
Today was to be a pleasure day, In fact I was still struggling with that last pint of lager the night before, which made me feel ill overnight. I can remember winding up a few Liverpool fans in the pub with Troy before and during the game.
Vic and Del had gone to the high 80s where the match was won from yesterday, Mick was out of sight on peg 81 with the spit on his right, whilst Troy had gone onto 80 the other side of the spit. I was knackered pushing my barrow so plonked the gear into peg 98. I would only set up the bomb to start with as I wanted to concentrate on this and practice different combinations and hooklengths. Also I thought I would need to tighten up on my casting.
I was already to go at around 0930 and could see the others catching already. I started off on a GOT Jupiter 10mm pellet on a single hair rigged band pinging 8mms at around 40m from the bank. The wind was not too bad and I could reach this comfortably with a catapult.
It was not too long before I managed my first fish, around 15lb. By switching hookbaits to 10mm coarse and occasionally double 8mms in both Jupiters and standard coarse I could keep fish coming. I was recording the session by dropping a pellet into an empty bait box and after a couple of hours I had 10 fish, all doubles to 15lb except two 8lb fish. Pete had come round as he was travelling back today as he had some work in Burnley to do before starting his new job and whilst he was there I added another two doubles to the total. I was catching well in comparison to the other lads and was quietly getting a clearer head. They were all catching but chopping and changing methods all the time from bomb to PW to 7m and down the edges. Time for a walk.
As I approached Vic and Del they were both into fish. Vic on the PW whilst Del had a fish on from the edge. Mick was catching fishing the waggler a rod length out in open water and had bubbles everywhere, whilst Troy was catching on the bomb just past the spit and in the margins next to the spit.
Back at my peg I decided to set up the pole to fish in the margins by the platform of peg 97. I had a good depth and 3 good handfuls of 8mm pellets by some reeds that protruded from the bank would set a boundary mark.
I gave this line another hour to settle whilst still pinging out to 40m and the bomb. In this hour I had another 6 fish for around a ton in weight including a fish I reckoned was well over 20lb. The fishing was improving as the day wore on but it was tiring and although I had only 18 fish from the bomb line all bar 2 were doubles including the 20lb fish. These fish fight all the way to the net and never give up. I can honestly say that I have never caught such hard fighting fish considering there size.
The pole line was at around 10m and had 2ft of water in it. A single banded coarse pellet was gently lowered in and just kept going, but the culprit was not a carp as I expected but a surprise tench around 3lb. Another drop in and a skimmer around 2lb. Another go and a mirror carp, this time around 20lb, happy days. It seemed I could do no wrong, every put in was met with resistance in either skimmers around 2-3lb mark or big mirrors to 20lb. I gave it two hours on this line and was knackered so after landing a ghostie around 14lb decided to call it a day. I had caught 20+ skimmers between 2-3lb, a lone tench at 3lb plus 29 double figure carp averaging 13lb each, 3 carp estimated over 20lb plus two around 8lb for a total weight in the region of 440lb.
I had packed up and had a chat with the others who were still catching and all had weights over 200lb.
An awesome venue which continues to amaze me.
Today was to be a pleasure day, In fact I was still struggling with that last pint of lager the night before, which made me feel ill overnight. I can remember winding up a few Liverpool fans in the pub with Troy before and during the game.
Vic and Del had gone to the high 80s where the match was won from yesterday, Mick was out of sight on peg 81 with the spit on his right, whilst Troy had gone onto 80 the other side of the spit. I was knackered pushing my barrow so plonked the gear into peg 98. I would only set up the bomb to start with as I wanted to concentrate on this and practice different combinations and hooklengths. Also I thought I would need to tighten up on my casting.
I was already to go at around 0930 and could see the others catching already. I started off on a GOT Jupiter 10mm pellet on a single hair rigged band pinging 8mms at around 40m from the bank. The wind was not too bad and I could reach this comfortably with a catapult.
It was not too long before I managed my first fish, around 15lb. By switching hookbaits to 10mm coarse and occasionally double 8mms in both Jupiters and standard coarse I could keep fish coming. I was recording the session by dropping a pellet into an empty bait box and after a couple of hours I had 10 fish, all doubles to 15lb except two 8lb fish. Pete had come round as he was travelling back today as he had some work in Burnley to do before starting his new job and whilst he was there I added another two doubles to the total. I was catching well in comparison to the other lads and was quietly getting a clearer head. They were all catching but chopping and changing methods all the time from bomb to PW to 7m and down the edges. Time for a walk.
As I approached Vic and Del they were both into fish. Vic on the PW whilst Del had a fish on from the edge. Mick was catching fishing the waggler a rod length out in open water and had bubbles everywhere, whilst Troy was catching on the bomb just past the spit and in the margins next to the spit.
Back at my peg I decided to set up the pole to fish in the margins by the platform of peg 97. I had a good depth and 3 good handfuls of 8mm pellets by some reeds that protruded from the bank would set a boundary mark.
I gave this line another hour to settle whilst still pinging out to 40m and the bomb. In this hour I had another 6 fish for around a ton in weight including a fish I reckoned was well over 20lb. The fishing was improving as the day wore on but it was tiring and although I had only 18 fish from the bomb line all bar 2 were doubles including the 20lb fish. These fish fight all the way to the net and never give up. I can honestly say that I have never caught such hard fighting fish considering there size.
The pole line was at around 10m and had 2ft of water in it. A single banded coarse pellet was gently lowered in and just kept going, but the culprit was not a carp as I expected but a surprise tench around 3lb. Another drop in and a skimmer around 2lb. Another go and a mirror carp, this time around 20lb, happy days. It seemed I could do no wrong, every put in was met with resistance in either skimmers around 2-3lb mark or big mirrors to 20lb. I gave it two hours on this line and was knackered so after landing a ghostie around 14lb decided to call it a day. I had caught 20+ skimmers between 2-3lb, a lone tench at 3lb plus 29 double figure carp averaging 13lb each, 3 carp estimated over 20lb plus two around 8lb for a total weight in the region of 440lb.
I had packed up and had a chat with the others who were still catching and all had weights over 200lb.
An awesome venue which continues to amaze me.
Viaduct Fishery Open 07 05 14
After the efforts of yesterday we booked ourselves into the midweek open on Cary Lake. The wind had got up during the night and all the talk before the match was which peg in the 80s would win. Myself, Vic and Del would fish this match with Troy having a day on Spring Lake and Mick having a day close to the lodge.
I was feeling a bit more confident about coping with the size of fish expected, after all its not everyday you catch carp that are nearly all double figures and 20lb+ some of them on match gear. I had learnt that to get them out you needed patience. They will come to the landing net, just do not bully them.
At the draw Del drew first and pulls out peg 99. Next to where I was on Monday and good for a few fish. I had drawn 102 in the narrower section of the lake. Again I was hopeful of a few fish. Vic had drawn 77 where Pete was on Monday and opposite me.
I decided this match I would fish the bomb and the pallet of peg 101 which was empty, I had caught there on Monday,albeit, from the other side and was hopeful of getting a few bites there. I also set up a line at 12.5m to fish hard pellet on the deck and up in the water with 8mm pellet.
At the start I was into a fish on 10mm GOT Jupiters on the bomb but then things went a bit quiet and I could see Vic getting a couple of fish although smaller in size. Del had 3 fish in the first 20 minutes on the waggler including a large double hooked in the side.
I had to keep swapping over hookbaits to single 10mms either coarse or Jupiters or double 8mm coarse or Jupiters. but by doing this I managed to keep in touch with those around me. After 2 hours I had sneaked in 5 fish. I had a look on the 12.5m line dropping in an 8mm pellet but was having to wait for a bite for too long. I was trying to make this line work and to be honest and in hindsight spent too long on it for only 2 fish. One of which was caught up in the water. I was still keeping up with those around me, but was struggling to land fish. It was only after the match finished that I found out why. The locals are all using lighter elastics on puller kits and letting them go before retrieving the elastics via the puller kits and playing them under there feet on soft elastics tightened up. I would loosen off all my topkits that night to hopefully see an improvement as I have no puller kits on my sections.
Going into the last hour I was on 7 fish, all double figures and had around the ton mark. I estimated I was around 2 fish behind Vic on the opposite side who likes to allow fish jump out of his landing net still hooked and play them again, strange man. The local next door was close but I thought I was just in front and the local on 100 was behind me.
I was now fishing the margin and after 30minutes was rewarded with another carp but it was the only proper bite I had from there. Another look at 12.5 saw no further fish so I spent the last 10 minutes on the bomb for another fish.
I think I spent too much time trying to get things to work when I should have concentrated on only the bomb and margin. I felt fish were in the edge but not really where I was fishing and perhaps by concentrating more I could have caught a couple of more fish from here.
Still I weighed in my 9 fish and was surprised to see 130lb 4oz on the scales and second in the 7 peg section, behind Del who had 10 fish for 130lb but had 10lb of silvers. Vic was also second in his section with 147lb behind peg 80 by the spit. Overall it was won from the pegs in the high 80s with weights over 200lb.
Troy had an enjoyable day catching some big carp on the pole and Pellet waggler on Spring Lake. He seems to be getting the bug for it after Sundays success. Mick was still catching from the lodges and had lost count of how many carp he had caught with his Mr Crabtree approach.
I was feeling a bit more confident about coping with the size of fish expected, after all its not everyday you catch carp that are nearly all double figures and 20lb+ some of them on match gear. I had learnt that to get them out you needed patience. They will come to the landing net, just do not bully them.
At the draw Del drew first and pulls out peg 99. Next to where I was on Monday and good for a few fish. I had drawn 102 in the narrower section of the lake. Again I was hopeful of a few fish. Vic had drawn 77 where Pete was on Monday and opposite me.
I decided this match I would fish the bomb and the pallet of peg 101 which was empty, I had caught there on Monday,albeit, from the other side and was hopeful of getting a few bites there. I also set up a line at 12.5m to fish hard pellet on the deck and up in the water with 8mm pellet.
At the start I was into a fish on 10mm GOT Jupiters on the bomb but then things went a bit quiet and I could see Vic getting a couple of fish although smaller in size. Del had 3 fish in the first 20 minutes on the waggler including a large double hooked in the side.
I had to keep swapping over hookbaits to single 10mms either coarse or Jupiters or double 8mm coarse or Jupiters. but by doing this I managed to keep in touch with those around me. After 2 hours I had sneaked in 5 fish. I had a look on the 12.5m line dropping in an 8mm pellet but was having to wait for a bite for too long. I was trying to make this line work and to be honest and in hindsight spent too long on it for only 2 fish. One of which was caught up in the water. I was still keeping up with those around me, but was struggling to land fish. It was only after the match finished that I found out why. The locals are all using lighter elastics on puller kits and letting them go before retrieving the elastics via the puller kits and playing them under there feet on soft elastics tightened up. I would loosen off all my topkits that night to hopefully see an improvement as I have no puller kits on my sections.
Going into the last hour I was on 7 fish, all double figures and had around the ton mark. I estimated I was around 2 fish behind Vic on the opposite side who likes to allow fish jump out of his landing net still hooked and play them again, strange man. The local next door was close but I thought I was just in front and the local on 100 was behind me.
I was now fishing the margin and after 30minutes was rewarded with another carp but it was the only proper bite I had from there. Another look at 12.5 saw no further fish so I spent the last 10 minutes on the bomb for another fish.
I think I spent too much time trying to get things to work when I should have concentrated on only the bomb and margin. I felt fish were in the edge but not really where I was fishing and perhaps by concentrating more I could have caught a couple of more fish from here.
Still I weighed in my 9 fish and was surprised to see 130lb 4oz on the scales and second in the 7 peg section, behind Del who had 10 fish for 130lb but had 10lb of silvers. Vic was also second in his section with 147lb behind peg 80 by the spit. Overall it was won from the pegs in the high 80s with weights over 200lb.
Troy had an enjoyable day catching some big carp on the pole and Pellet waggler on Spring Lake. He seems to be getting the bug for it after Sundays success. Mick was still catching from the lodges and had lost count of how many carp he had caught with his Mr Crabtree approach.
Viaduct Fishery Costcutter 08 05 14
After yesterdays match on Cary, where all the favoured pegs performed, Thursday's match was spread out on Cary and Campbell. The wind was still blowing hard into the Top end of the lakes and plenty of rain was forecast. Indeed it was raining as we tackled up. 32 anglers were chancing the arm and who would have believed where we ended up. Mick had drawn peg 78 on Cary, next to where Vic had caught the previous day and we all thought he could do well from there. Vic had drawn 123, myself 125 and Del 126 all on Campbell and three GOT anglers in a row.
I had a plan in my mind to fish the bomb for the first hour and was going to fish hard pellet at 12.5m and Stinky Corn over corn at 7m. I rigged up the bomb to fish double baits as this had caught me some fish the day before but I could change later if required. Pole lines where the same .3g MW diamonds in 3ft and 7m and just a float length difference at 12.5. All were tied to .18 Stroft and a PR38 hook with strung out shotting.
At the all in I cupped in a pot of corn and pellet on 7m and a pot of 4mm onto 12.5 lines. I would feed the corn close in by hand as usual and not go over it for the first hour. Before casting the bomb to around 25m. I started pinging 3 or 4 8mm pellets but the tip would not move. Vic was doing the same and in the same boat. Del was fishing the pellet waggler at depth and was still biteless. A change to single 10mm GOT Jupiter saw my first fish with around 3/4hr gone. A common around 7lb. Before I saw Vic playing his first fish. Del was on the pole line now and getting odd skimmers.
I had a quick look at 12.5 and with no bites I was giving the 7m line a whirl. In fact first put in the bait had only just hit the water before the elastic streamed out and my second carp of the day was on. My next 7 put ins produced 5 carp around 7lb apiece and by the second hour I was on approximately 50lb in my first net. Vic had a couple of carp and was now trying the margins whilst Del was doing the same.
I kept plugging away on this line but with the wind blowing harder and the tow getting stronger I was struggling with presentation. I then decided to ditch 12.5m and use the rig to fish overdepth on the 7m line. I moved the float down half a float and this had the effect of slowing the travel through the peg. Bites returned and I was now getting skimmers and odd tench as well as carp to 10lb.
Hours three and four flew by and although I lost a couple of fish I was still putting fish in the nets and trying to stay within the 70lb net limit. I was still feeding corn by hand and fishing Stinky Corn on the hook and although Vic and Del were still catching I knew I was still in front of them.
Hour 5 and 6 saw my catch rate slow slightly, where I was having to wait for a bite but by fishing to the edges of the peg at 7m I kept some fish coming. I tried fishing a metre closer and further but this had no effect.
At the all out I felt as if I had fished a good match on a method I am comfortable with. I had 2 fish on the bomb and the rest at 7m with Stinky Corn. I reckoned on 150lb of carp along with 25lb of silvers and although I thought I would win nothing due to the wind blowing into the favoured pegs on Cary and the corner peg 119 on Campbell I was well pleased to see 187lb on the weigh board next to my name consisting of 156lb of carp and 31lb of silvers. Mick had caught 56lb from his peg on Cary so the MK Nugget was back with me to end the week 8-5.
This was only good enough for second on the lake though and with two other weights of 200lb on Cary I managed 4th place overall and another GOT angler in the frame at a venue not regularly visited. Vic had 130lb with 108lb of carp and 22lb of Silvers whilst Del had his carp net disqualified for being overweight and placed 19lb of silvers on the board. Which was good enough for second and third respectively in the silvers pool. Another good days fishing.
I had a plan in my mind to fish the bomb for the first hour and was going to fish hard pellet at 12.5m and Stinky Corn over corn at 7m. I rigged up the bomb to fish double baits as this had caught me some fish the day before but I could change later if required. Pole lines where the same .3g MW diamonds in 3ft and 7m and just a float length difference at 12.5. All were tied to .18 Stroft and a PR38 hook with strung out shotting.
At the all in I cupped in a pot of corn and pellet on 7m and a pot of 4mm onto 12.5 lines. I would feed the corn close in by hand as usual and not go over it for the first hour. Before casting the bomb to around 25m. I started pinging 3 or 4 8mm pellets but the tip would not move. Vic was doing the same and in the same boat. Del was fishing the pellet waggler at depth and was still biteless. A change to single 10mm GOT Jupiter saw my first fish with around 3/4hr gone. A common around 7lb. Before I saw Vic playing his first fish. Del was on the pole line now and getting odd skimmers.
I had a quick look at 12.5 and with no bites I was giving the 7m line a whirl. In fact first put in the bait had only just hit the water before the elastic streamed out and my second carp of the day was on. My next 7 put ins produced 5 carp around 7lb apiece and by the second hour I was on approximately 50lb in my first net. Vic had a couple of carp and was now trying the margins whilst Del was doing the same.
I kept plugging away on this line but with the wind blowing harder and the tow getting stronger I was struggling with presentation. I then decided to ditch 12.5m and use the rig to fish overdepth on the 7m line. I moved the float down half a float and this had the effect of slowing the travel through the peg. Bites returned and I was now getting skimmers and odd tench as well as carp to 10lb.
Hours three and four flew by and although I lost a couple of fish I was still putting fish in the nets and trying to stay within the 70lb net limit. I was still feeding corn by hand and fishing Stinky Corn on the hook and although Vic and Del were still catching I knew I was still in front of them.
Hour 5 and 6 saw my catch rate slow slightly, where I was having to wait for a bite but by fishing to the edges of the peg at 7m I kept some fish coming. I tried fishing a metre closer and further but this had no effect.
At the all out I felt as if I had fished a good match on a method I am comfortable with. I had 2 fish on the bomb and the rest at 7m with Stinky Corn. I reckoned on 150lb of carp along with 25lb of silvers and although I thought I would win nothing due to the wind blowing into the favoured pegs on Cary and the corner peg 119 on Campbell I was well pleased to see 187lb on the weigh board next to my name consisting of 156lb of carp and 31lb of silvers. Mick had caught 56lb from his peg on Cary so the MK Nugget was back with me to end the week 8-5.
This was only good enough for second on the lake though and with two other weights of 200lb on Cary I managed 4th place overall and another GOT angler in the frame at a venue not regularly visited. Vic had 130lb with 108lb of carp and 22lb of Silvers whilst Del had his carp net disqualified for being overweight and placed 19lb of silvers on the board. Which was good enough for second and third respectively in the silvers pool. Another good days fishing.
Viaduct Fishery 09 05 14
Today was a pleasure day, no matches and myself, Troy and Mick decided to fish the back of Spring Lake pegs 17,18 and 19. This put us all on an island chuck and with the bomb and pellet waggler having worked during the week we were confident of getting a few fish. Del and Vic were going to Cary Lake and although there was a match on the Campbell Bank and Top End they could still fish the nearside bank.
The standard approach all week was to feed 8mm pellets and fish various other pellets on the hook. So I took 9pints with me for feeding and a selection of Jupiters in both 8 and 10mm, some 10 and 12mm coarse pellets and a large bag of 10mm if I was struggling to reach the island with 8mms.
I opted to start off on the pellet waggler fishing an 8g Drennan waggler 2ft deep in around 3ft of water. I started pinging 8mms across and was getting odd bites through out the first hour and managed a bream around 2lb on an 8mm coarse pellet. A switch to the bomb saw another skimmer around a pound come to the net. Troy had also caught a bream on the PW and another on the pole fishing top two with corn. Mick had a couple of fish on 8mm pellets both skimmers.
I was fortunate to hook into the first carp of the day, a hard fighting mirror around 8lb on the PW and 8mm Jupiters. I was switching and changing between bomb and PW and also ringing the changes on pellets. Trying single hookbaits and then trying doubles. None seemed to work any better than the other to be honest. Mick had a carp on an 8mm Robin Red pellet on the bomb which we estimated to be around 14lb and would be the largest fish of the session. Troy connected with an small common around 3lb which he claimed was the smallest carp he had caught all week from the main lakes.
I was still getting odd bream and skimmers before things went quiet. Another chuck next to the overhanging tree on the PW saw the rod arch round as soon as the float hit the water and another carp was soon in the net. Next chuck and the float did the same before I lost it trying to steer it away from under the willow tree. The next bite I had broke .20 Stroft like cotton and was a big fish. Before normal service was resumed and another 8lber was in the net.
Troy had also had another carp around 7lb and a few skimmers. Mick had finished on one carp and a few skimmers. Not the best end to the week but all was not over. I packed up early to sort my gear out for going home, but Mick had decided to have a dabble on one of the residents pegs by the lodge. Feeding left over 4mms he was soon into a couple of carp.
I went for a walk to see how Vic and Del were getting on. Both had caught plenty of carp to 20lb in bags estimated at 300lb plus on both bomb and pole, down the edge and at 7m. However the talking point was the fact that Vic had cast his bomb rod out only to see it dragged into the lake by a fish. By the time I had got there and a few efforts to retrieve the rather expensive rod and reel with no luck.
I returned to the lodge to pre-warn the others to be nice and not take the mickey. Mick had decided enough was enough by now and I took over his seat and pole for a quick half hour where I managed 3 carp around 7lb and got battered on another lump which pulled out after bottoming out Micks elastic.
By now Vic and Del had returned with a rather wet rod and reel. They had packed up and were casting around hoping to snag it. After around the ninth attempt a bit of resistance was felt, slowly they retrieved the bomb and gradually managed to see two bombs on the line. One was still connected to a fish. Gently they got it back and once the fish was release they concentrated on the other bomb, slowly like Excaliber it arose from the depths and back on the bank. A relieved Vic and a lesson learned.
The standard approach all week was to feed 8mm pellets and fish various other pellets on the hook. So I took 9pints with me for feeding and a selection of Jupiters in both 8 and 10mm, some 10 and 12mm coarse pellets and a large bag of 10mm if I was struggling to reach the island with 8mms.
I opted to start off on the pellet waggler fishing an 8g Drennan waggler 2ft deep in around 3ft of water. I started pinging 8mms across and was getting odd bites through out the first hour and managed a bream around 2lb on an 8mm coarse pellet. A switch to the bomb saw another skimmer around a pound come to the net. Troy had also caught a bream on the PW and another on the pole fishing top two with corn. Mick had a couple of fish on 8mm pellets both skimmers.
I was fortunate to hook into the first carp of the day, a hard fighting mirror around 8lb on the PW and 8mm Jupiters. I was switching and changing between bomb and PW and also ringing the changes on pellets. Trying single hookbaits and then trying doubles. None seemed to work any better than the other to be honest. Mick had a carp on an 8mm Robin Red pellet on the bomb which we estimated to be around 14lb and would be the largest fish of the session. Troy connected with an small common around 3lb which he claimed was the smallest carp he had caught all week from the main lakes.
I was still getting odd bream and skimmers before things went quiet. Another chuck next to the overhanging tree on the PW saw the rod arch round as soon as the float hit the water and another carp was soon in the net. Next chuck and the float did the same before I lost it trying to steer it away from under the willow tree. The next bite I had broke .20 Stroft like cotton and was a big fish. Before normal service was resumed and another 8lber was in the net.
Troy had also had another carp around 7lb and a few skimmers. Mick had finished on one carp and a few skimmers. Not the best end to the week but all was not over. I packed up early to sort my gear out for going home, but Mick had decided to have a dabble on one of the residents pegs by the lodge. Feeding left over 4mms he was soon into a couple of carp.
I went for a walk to see how Vic and Del were getting on. Both had caught plenty of carp to 20lb in bags estimated at 300lb plus on both bomb and pole, down the edge and at 7m. However the talking point was the fact that Vic had cast his bomb rod out only to see it dragged into the lake by a fish. By the time I had got there and a few efforts to retrieve the rather expensive rod and reel with no luck.
I returned to the lodge to pre-warn the others to be nice and not take the mickey. Mick had decided enough was enough by now and I took over his seat and pole for a quick half hour where I managed 3 carp around 7lb and got battered on another lump which pulled out after bottoming out Micks elastic.
By now Vic and Del had returned with a rather wet rod and reel. They had packed up and were casting around hoping to snag it. After around the ninth attempt a bit of resistance was felt, slowly they retrieved the bomb and gradually managed to see two bombs on the line. One was still connected to a fish. Gently they got it back and once the fish was release they concentrated on the other bomb, slowly like Excaliber it arose from the depths and back on the bank. A relieved Vic and a lesson learned.
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