Tuesday 26 July 2016

Alders Farm 26 07 16 Pines Lake

Seeing as I managed a pick up last week I thought it would be rude not to give it back to them this week. Todays match was on Pines lake at Alders Farm, and with the Maggotdrowning.com website holding their annual pairs match this weekend I thought I had better post this so people attending have an idea of how it is fishing. After a net dip including the stink bag, I was off to the cafe to await the others.
There were only 7 Anglers fishing the knock up today but the lake had a few pleasure anglers on to spread the fish out a bit. There was a slight breeze blowing into the corner of peg 1 and an area that normally fishes quite well with a ripple on the water.
With all the monies paid in the draw could take place. Ricky was on Peg1, Ken on 2 Ash on 4 with Brian on 5, Dennis on 8, Matt on 10 and myself on 12. So we all had a bit of room to fish.
One thing I have found on this lake is that we over complicate things by having too many lines and fishing them all quite negatively. Today, I set up 4 rigs,two for up in the water and two deck rigs. However they were all to be fished over one line, 2+2. I had one deck and uitw rig set with a plain size 16 B911x on .20 Stroft, the other two both incorporated a hair rigged band. Bait was Corn and both 6 or 8mm fishery pellet over 4mm fishery feed pellets.
At the all in, I threw around 20 4mm pellets and started off on the banded pellet, promptly foul hooking and losing my first five fish. It was shallow, at around 20 inches so out came the shallow rig at 1/2 depth. This worked with hooking fish in the mouth but the black hydro was too soft so I switched to red and this cured the problem.After a couple of hours I had 18 fish for about 40lb. However the third hour was slow, with only 4 fish coming to the net.all taken on corn, I was having to drip feed pellets regularly with 3 or 4 grains of corn every couple of minutes.and fish shallow to get a proper bite, when it was on the deck the float was moving around too much on both corn and pellet hookbaits.
Hour 4 improved with me doubling my weight to around the ton mark, I was still having to chase the fish up and down in the water, but at least I was still catching. The only downside to the peg is that all you can see are the anglers on 8 and 10 so you do not know how it is fishing properly and whether you need to increase the catch rate.
Going into the last hour I was catching quite well, only small fish around 2-3lb but regularly and I reckoned on putting 50lb in the net in this spell. I thought I had beaten Matt and Dennis but the better pegs I could not tell. When the Scales came round I was pleased to place 156-04, Matt had 129-02 while Dennis did not weigh in. Brian then placed 226-03 on the scales with plenty of peg 5 edge fish. Ash secured only his second ton on the complex with 113-09 whilst Ken put 152-06 before Ricky was last to weigh with 222-03, pushing me into 3rd place.
Overall, it fished well and with the MD's Friday match on the lake it should continue to do so. If I was fishing the weekend I would take with me to cover the 3 days, 12 tins of corn, 8pints of maggot and at least 6 bags of 4mm fishery pellets. You do not need a lot of 6mm and 8mm pellets, but they do come in handy on the hook. It is a shame I cannot be with you guys, but that cursed word Work gets in the way. Have a good one and good luck to all of you.

Wednesday 20 July 2016

Alders Farm Ash Lake 20 07 16

With a day off, I made my way over to Alders Farm for the Cheap Tuesday Open. These events normally have around 8 to 20 anglers attending and although they are competitive they also encourage plenty of banter.
I arrived nice and early, dipped my nets at the net dip and got some fishery 4 and 6mm pellets for feeding. I had with me a kilo of corn defrosting in the carryall and although the corn has not been working of late I was confident that a few fish would come to it.I also had some 6mm's for hookers and some prepared expanders.
Today, we would have the shallow bank and dam wall areas of Ash lake and with 10 of us in attendance, it was decided to pay out the winner and 2 x 5 peg section winners. One of which will be default due to the winner coming from one of them. With all the monies paid and the draw underway, peg 29 stuck to my paw. Everyone fancied it today as it had a good shaded area, which in 32 degree heat would be welcome.
I had Brainy, Hugh, Lee Newson and Nick Pringle in my section, with Charlie,Dennis, Pete Archer, Smithy and Colin Spencer making up the other section. So my first priority was to win my section and then take it from there.
I decided to fish 4 lines and see which was producing best and then concentrate on 2 lines towards the end. I opted to fish 2+2 in around 18inches of water with a Del Smith blue pattern float, dotted right down and the plan was to fish corn over pellet. Down both edges with some of Del's shallow floats, one in 10 inches the other around 14inches of water. My last line was to my right at around 2+2 at 2 o'clock. There was a slight depression here and and used the same 2+2 rig dropping 3 inches off. All were tied to .18 Stroft to a PR36.
At the all in, I opted to drip feed rather than pot in, It was hot and I did not really know how the fish were going to respond, just using a toss pot I could see how fish were reacting and fish accordingly. Placing a couple of grains of corn and filling up with 4mm pellets every put in, I was soon getting indications and fish in the net. I was feeding the other lines by hand and soon these were showing signs of fish activity. After an hour I had around 7 fish for 30lb. These fish were noticeably larger than the resident 2-3lb standard. I had a look down the left hand edge and still fishing the corn and pellet I was getting regular bites. I could see the fish coming in and going out of the swim. However by chopping and changing baits I could keep the fish coming with a 50/50 split on corn and 6mm pellets. I was hearing plenty of splashing to my right but due to a bush in the way, I could not tell whether it was Richard or Hugh catching.
With around 70lb in the net after 2 hours, I was going along nicely. This continued throughout the third hour with most of my fish coming to corn before I started foul hooking fish. I decided to stop feeding as I felt I had too many fish in the swim and this was causing the foul hookers. I did try shallowing up but in 10 inches of water there is not a lot of scope to change. I even left the swim to settle down again and tried the other edge and 2+2 2 o'clock swims, nicking a few fish from these lines before going back to the left hand edge for the last hour. I already had a ton weight and would be happy with my day.
Going into the last hour, I switched rigs to one with a shorter length of line between float and crows foot and this seemed to work better, landing a far better percentage of fish hooked. During the spell I placed 50lb in the net to end up with around 150lb and a good days fishing.
Overall
1st Hugh Crawford 242lb
2nd Colin Spencer 229lb
3rd Charlie Lancaster 223lb
4th Pete Archer 182lb
5th Keith Ashby 158lb
6th Nick Pringle 136lb
Overall it fished well, and with Hugh winning the match, I managed to secure the section by default and a brown envelope. Colin picking up the other section. Lowest weight was just under the 100lb mark.Considering that Colin drew peg 15 in suicide corner, with no wind blowing in and flat calm, he has done well to amass 229lb. Well done Mate.

Tuesday 12 July 2016

Alders Farm Pines 12 07 16

What a difference a couple of month's away from a fishery makes. I have popped down for a social cup of tea and viewed Ash lake and Oak lakes but had not ventured up to Pines since about April. I had booked into the Cheap Tuesday Open on Pines lake as I had a day off and fancied a day's fishing. On arrival I did the norm and took my gear straight up to the lake and was blown away. Gone are a lot of the trees and bankside hazards. Nice solid platforms changing it from 31 dodgy pallets to a comfortable 25, all with plenty of space.It looked and felt so different.
As I just fancied a day out and was not really bothered about the match itself, I just took a couple of kilos of corn, a couple of bags of fishery 4mms and had a few 6mms for the hook. With 9 in attendance, it was simply about recharging the batteries. I drew peg 1, which used to be a decent area, when the hazards were there, as fish congregated by the brambles and it was a case of hit and hold. With no brambles now, it would be interesting to see what would happen.
My approach. Corn at 2+2 and down the left hand margin, 6mms for fishing up at 12m. Rigs for 2+2 were MW Diamonds .3g to a size 16 PR36 on .18 Stroft. For the edge it would be a Del Smith Green to a size 14 PR36 and .20 Stroft. All elastics were red hydro.
At the all in I cupped a small pot of corn and 4mm pellet onto both the 2+2 line and down the left hand edge at 11m. I started on the 2+2 line and started throwing in 6 grains of corn every 30 seconds. After around 10 minutes I had my first carp, around 2lb. Keeping the feeding to 6 grains, it was slow going, so moved a foot closer and sneaked another couple of fish before getting pestered by crayfish, 6 in 10 put ins is a little steep.I shallowed up by 6inches a nicked another fish.
After an hour I had a look down the edge as this was where I expected to catch the bulk of my catch. I was already behind both Pete Archer and Nick Pringle. After a few changes to the rig I got it to settle properly and started to catch a few more carp, nothing big but they were still pulling hard,attempting to get right into the corner or undercut banks. I lost a few fish trying to get them into open water. I was also foul hooking a fair few fish. Something we all do at Alders.
By chopping and changing lines I reckoned on 60lb at the end of the match. Not the glorious return to Alders but at least a days fishing. Both the end pegs had performed well with Pete Archer winning with 199-10, Lee Newson second with 181-15 and Charlie Lancaster third with 167-02. The rest of us had between 43lb and 80lb.

Sunday 3 July 2016

Viaduct 250616-020716 Yam Yam

It seems like only yesterday that we were packing the gear and travelling to Viaduct fishery in Somerton for another week of fishing,drinking,eating, fishing eating, drinking and so on. This time for the Yam Yam festival, this is very much a fun festival, where your main priority is to enjoy yourself, even if it is at the cost of others. Last year Vic fell off a platform and needed 3 months off work, we have seen some off the lads sleeping on the bank, trying to get rid of the effects of the previous nights social events, but it is all taken in your stride.This year would see 10 of us fishing the festival with another 2 lads coming just for the weekend leading upto it. Both Vic and I were travelling from Milton Keynes and Del would be meeting us en route from Hemel. The rest of the lads were from the Black Country.
Saturday
We had booked Cary Lake for our first match at the venue, this was not part of the festival as this did not start until the Monday. We were all hopeful of a few fish, but the lake had not been fishing too well of late. Still we had the whole lake and could spread out.I had drawn peg 86 on the far bank. I had Soupy for company on 88 and with the wind blowing into our end of the lake was hoping for a few fish. I set up a bomb rod, a Pellet waggler for fishing around 30m and a short pole for 2+2. I also set up a shallow rig and would be trying to mug any cruising fish.
At the all in, I started pinging 3 or 4 pellets every 30 seconds to the bomb and PW lines, but no indications. After an hour I had a single skimmer on an 8mm Jupiter pellet.A look onto the short pole line bore no fruit, so back onto the bomb. After around another 30 minutes, I had my first carp of around 12lb. By switching from bomb and waggler I managed another 4 carp to weigh in 56lb and nowhere in the match. Soupy had snagged a couple of fish on the waggler short, over his long pole line for around 80lb but Fred had done the business with 94lb from peg 94 fishing the waggler into the bay.
Sunday
Sunday saw the lads travelling off complex for a trip to Goodiford Mill. A venue around an hour away near Cullompton. We have fished this lake before and it can be good on the pellet waggler or pole if you can get them in later in the day. I drew peg 1 which is in the open water section and not too good. Either side on 3 you had islands to chuck to. I had Fred and Bob,either side with Nobby, Del and Cotty in view. I started off on the PW and had a couple of quick fish and noted that Bob and Nobby were fishing lighter wagglers. They were fishing the same distance, but made less of a splash when hitting the water. I was trailing after an hour and tried to pull fish from Bob by upping the feed. This work for a short burst but not in the longer term. Fred was struggling in the open water whilst Del, Cotty, Bob and Nobby could all catch tight to the islands.
A look onto the pole line brought roach, skimmers and crucians but I was going backwards and at the end of the match threw 60lb back. Fred had also thrown back. Cotty won the match with 143lb with Dave W on 141lb, Frenchy, 140lb, Bob 125lb and Vic sneaking in fifth with 123lb.
Monday
Monday saw the start of the festival. the format is quite simple, 2 sections of 5 anglers, 1pt for winning section 5pts for last in section. Winner is the person with the lowest points followed by overall weight if there is a tie.
My home for the day was on Campbell 114. It is positioned on a jetty with a good depth down the margins. I hoped to catch on the bomb early on, then come into 2+2 and spend the last hour down the edge. I had Gongo on 116 and Soupy on 112. I started off on the bomb and although I was getting liners and small plucks on the tip, it refused to go round. I came in earlier than expected and in hindsight was a wrong move as the fish had not settled over the pellet and corn feed. I had a couple of early fish on this line and with the skimmers going 2lb apiece and odd carp coming to either double corn or an 8mm hard pellet, I was putting a few fish in the net.Soupy was chopping and changing and nicking odd fish and I thought it was close. Gongo was catching well. I had a few fish down the side and felt that I should have fished it earlier as it died with 30 minutes to go. My weight of 96lb was last in section, not the ideal start to the festival. Bob on 125 had won the match with 202lb with a mix of bomb fish and paste fish.
Tuesday
Tuesday came and again on Campbell and keen to put yesterday behind me, I needed a good result today, as another last in section would see my dreams of a top 3 finish go. I managed to draw the winning peg from yesterday 125, never a good sign, as you expect fish to be there, yet they rarely are, preferring to sulk. I again had a similar plan to yesterday, fishing the bomb whilst the 5m line settled and inside late on. I had Fred on 123 and Soupy on 127 and could see there pegs were black with fish stirring up the bottom from the off. I started off on the bomb for a single carp of around 6lb and was already 6 fish behind Fred within the first half hour. Soupy had a couple and I was now hoping the 5m line was solid. It was not to be, as I struggled to get the feeding right. I am sure the fish were there but my feeding was wrong on the day instead of dumping feed in I should have dripped it in. My weight of 76lb was never in contention with the rest of the section and my festival was over. 2 last in sections. Paul D had caught plenty of fish on 132 and would have had 213lb yet fell foul of the net limits and had a net over the 80lb upper limit and the net was disqualified leaving him on 132lb. Fred won the match with a new PB match weight of 206lb.
Wednesday
Todays match was on Cary, it was fishing hard and the feeling was that you needed to be in the bowl on pegs 87,88 or 94. My drawing arm continued to let me down and 102 was to be my home.I set up the normal bomb and PW rods and also set up a margin rig for last on. I had Vic next door on 100 with Soupy on 98. I started off on the bomb and had a carp around 7lb within 10 minutes and the area I was fishing, around 3/4 across to the aerator had started fizzing. I was hopeful of a good day. By chopping and changing between bomb and waggler I was able to snare 7 fish in total for 56lb 15oz. Vic won the section with 60lb, and Soupy was third in section with 56lb 14oz. I had done Soupy by an ounce to pick up the 2nd in section envelope. Gongo won the match with 123lb from 87 with Cotty second with 88lb from peg 88. Everyone else had nicked odd fish and it was a struggle for everyone.
Thursday
The regular Thursday open on the complex meant we could not have our fixed sections so we work it out to be first 5 pegs are in one section whilst the second 5 pegs are in the second section, despite which lake you draw on. My draw saw me on peg 68 on Lodge lake, Bob was on 70, Vic on 72, Dave W was on Cary 74 and Paul D was on Cary 81. I set up 4 rigs to fish the pole. 2+2, a margin rig to fish to the platform on 67, a shallow slapping rig and a long line deep rig. I started of fishing long pinging a few 4mms over the top and saw a few swirls so went out on the slapping rig to connect with a carp which bottomed out the black hydro and came flying back with a vengeance. 1-0 to the carp. Back on the deck I caught a few roach and skimmers but the were on the small side so with 4 hours left I decided to fish the margin. Within 10 minutes I had my first carp in the net, at around 12lb it was a nice addition. A couple more skimmers and another lost carp (2-1) before I started getting a few iffy bites. Next door a local was catching well on pellet so tried an 8mm and I started hooking a few carp. Some went straight under the platform and into the large bush and I lost the rig, others I managed to get out. I weighed in 5 carp for 48lb and 10lb of skimmers/roach for a total of 58lb and third in section. Vic had 63lb, so any of the lost carp would have got me second. Bob won our section with 102lb. Again Cary had fished hard with Dave having 57lb and Paul D 26lb. Gongo won the match with 140lb from peg 111 on Campbell's with Del coming 6th overall with 109lb from 129.
Friday
Last day of the festival and I was bottom of the table with 15points (5-5-2-3) Bob was leading but anyone could still win it. The chasing pack of Cotty Dave W, Gongo, Del and Vic could all still win it with a good result. The draw was interesting, Bob had drawn probably the most consistant peg on Campbells throughout the week 129 but the chasing pack were all on decent pegs. I had drawn peg 132 and knew it was an out and out bomb peg. I did set up a shallow PW rod and a 2+2 pole rig but never had any intention of using them unless I was struggling. There were fish about in the peg and I was hoping for a good day. Starting off on the bomb, I lost my first three fish, pulling out of every one, so adjusted the clutch and changed the hooklength and I was soon up and running. I was already behind Gongo on 110, who had got off to a flyer. After the first 2 hours he had sneaked in 14 fish to my 11 and I felt mine were on the small side, averaging 4lb each. I kept plugging away and although reports were coming down that people were catching I needed to keep my head and not panic. In hours 3 and 4 I added another 15 fish and reckoned on having 150lb in the net. In the last two hours I started struggling for bites and found the by fishing away from the feed area I could keep fish coming. Switching between 8mm and 10mm coarse pellets worked on the day and ended up with 37 fish for 233lb. A few larger fish coming towards the later stages of the match. I had won the section and the match with Vic coming second, Del third, after having a mix up with his nets and getting a disqualification on one net. Cotty was fourth and Bob last in section. The other section had also fished well, with everyone recording a weight over the ton, but Gongo managed to win it with 156lb and take the overall title by one point from Vic in second.
Overall
I have been going to this festival for the last few years and have some great memories. I really enjoy it. It is not about the fishing, although it can be awesome and also poor. Yet it is the expectations and standards that make it so special. The highlights are the inquests after the match in the restaurant or bar, no one is safe and if you fished well they congratulate you and if you fish poorly they slaughter you, this week I have had a mix of both. As have everyone. My stomach hurts from laughter and my liver hurts from alcohol abuse but it is well worth it, for the craic. I am booked in for next year and am already looking forward to it.