Stafford Moor May Festival 13th May - 19th May 2017

It has been a few years since I have fished at Stafford Moor Fishery at Dolton, Devon. A lot of changes have taken place during that time, the new owners in Paul and Joanne Coombes have really put a lot of time, effort and money into the fishery, opening up a new lake, Oaks, changing the layout of Pines Lake, net dips, proper walkways around the lakes enabling anglers to get to their pegs and when you get to your peg you now have a comfortable platform to fish from. From all of these changes you get a greeting like no other from both Paul and Joanne. Always having a smile on their faces despite the moans and groans of the match angler.
I was travelling down by myself and left nice and early to avoid the traffic and arrived safely at the venue around 0730. There was an open on Pines, Tanners and Woodpecker and as I had not booked in I was going to fish Oaks as I had not seen it before. Trevor Price, Gary Thorpe and Derek Smith were booked into the Tanners/Woodpecker Match while John Beasley booked into the Pines Match. Madd and Richard Brain was going to sort out the accommodation and have a general walk around the complex trying to see what was working and more importantly what was not.
Day One Practice Oaks Lake
Having never seen the lake before I asked where to park and where to go to the lake, I took a walk before unloading the gear and noticed a few other pleasure anglers on the pegs at the top of the lake, so settled into peg 11 with the wind blowing into it. I set up a Pellet Waggler and a couple of pole lines one at 11m and another on a top kit plus one. First thing I noticed was the depth. I had around 5ft at 2+1 and around 7ft at 11m. I started off on the waggler and after around 10 minutes of feeding and casting I was into my first Oaks carp, around 5lb. A few more followed before Madd arrived for a chat. I was feeding my pole lines with a few pellets and a couple of grains of corn. A few more on the waggler and Madd was back with some good news. The Pellet Waggler was NOT allowed in the festival. It was Pole Only. I had caught around 10 fish on the Pellet Waggler, but now needed to focus on the pole lines. The long pole line saw a few small carp around 2lb on a 4mm pellet before the wind made it impossible to fish the long line. A switch to the 2+1 line, a couple of carp around 4lb each with a odd skimmer thrown in. I found that by feeding around a dozen pellets each put in would get bites but you had to wait for the bite. I ended up with around 40lb of carp from the pole line ( around 50lb from the 2 hours on the waggler) before packing up to meet the others.
Gary Thorpe had caught well from Peg 1 on Tanners to make the frame on the open with 100lb +, Trevor on peg 13 Tanners fishing up to the platform on 12 had 70lb but questioned whether he could fish to the bush further along the bank. Del had struggled on the far bank on 25. John had caught on Pines Lake but not enough for a section place.
Day Two Practice Tanners Lake
Peg 14 Tanners.After getting the method wrong on day one, I was determined not to practice the wrong tactic on day two. I set up the pellet waggler and a bomb rod plus a margin rig to fish just short of the platform on Peg 15. Starting off on the pellet waggler I had a couple of quick fish pinging 3 or 4 8mm pellets in between the islands. This line died so I switched to the bomb and another couple of fish. A move to the boards on the island, saw another couple of fish. A look on the margin rig and bingo. Fishing double corn and edging the rig tight to the bank saw fish to around 10lb come to the waiting landing net. I did lose a couple under the platform but switching to red hydro sorted that out. Ended the day with 12 fish from the edge and 8 fish from the bomb and waggler lines for an estimated weight of a low ton.
Festival Day One Woodpecker Peg 7
With the festival starting with an open draw then a lake rotation system in place before another open draw on day five, I pulled out peg 7 on Woodpecker. This would be followed by Oaks, Tanners and Pines before the open draw on day five.Points were awarded each day with your worst score being dropped from the five matches fished. I set up a Pellet waggler Rod to fish across to the far bank but felt it would be a non starter due to the wind. A bomb rod clipped up to the boards would be my main plan of attack. I also set up 3 pole lines, one for the edge, plus 2 rigs for fish 5m with corn and pellet. I started off on the bomb and first put in I snared a fish around 6lb to kick start the festival off nicely. Within the first couple of hours I had a few more fish before the line seemed to die. A look at 5m saw no fish or bites so a look down the edge. A few dinks and a small skimmer before the elatic stretched out a lot further and a carp of 4lb was in the net. A couple of lost fish which were foul hooked would cost me in the end before the skimmers moved back in. I had a couple more fish from the bomb line but the waggler line was impossible to fish properly. My weight of 70lb 2oz would see me get 5pts from the section but only needed another 15lb for 3rd in section. I felt that the peg was worth 100lb on the day. So although good section points, I was a little disappointed.The other lads had performed alright without any framing places except Gary who claimed section 2nd from Oak Lake peg 11.
Festival Day Two Oaks Peg 13
One thing about the group of lads we had with us was the sharing of information, how you fished the peg the day before and how you could improve. You learn from other peoples experiences. I had a chat with Gary about his experiences from Day one on Oak and it was obvious that the fish did not want a lot of feed going in, so with this in mind I refused to get a cupping kit out of the bag. I set up to fish 4 lines. One at 11m, One at 12.5 where it shallowed up a little. Another at 5m and an edge rig.
Starting off feeding at 11m with a plan to fish 12.5 if they backed off, I was feeding just 6 or 7 pellets via a kinder pot, whilst others around me potted in feed. I was soon nicking odd fish but they were small 2lb fish before it died. Onto the 5m line and no bites, a look down the edge saw nothing. I was starting to worry that the fishing on day one had affected the fishing. Back out to 11m and another fish around 8lb boosted my weight. I was fishing a 6mm pellet over the top of 4mm feed, but it was slow. The rain was now pouring down and I was fishing 12.5m this time with a banded 4mm on the hook with no feed. I was still nicking odd fish but going nowhere fast. To my left peg 12 was catching well on meat and peg 11 again was catching well. Peg 14 had a good last hour on maggot over micros long to boost his weight considerably. My weight of 28lb 14oz was 6th in sect and a poor day. Lessons learnt though for the other lads to pass on.
Festival Day Three Tanners Peg 18
After the disappointment of Day Two, I was hoping for a good draw on Tanners. This came by way of Peg 18 on Tanners. This is a corner peg and the corners had fished well throughout the festival so far. I had a chat with Richard Brain who had had a chat with the guy on the peg the previous day and Kevin Wingfield who mentioned that a few fish had come at 6m. I had a plan. I set up a bomb and waggler rod, a margin rig for both left and right edges and a 6m line rig. Again light feeding of the pole lines was important, I could always up it, but you cannot take it out. I started off fishing the waggler across to the far bank and nicked a couple of small fish, a switch to the bomb saw another come before the temptation to go down the edges proved too great. Left hand edge saw surprisingly no bites despite looking a couple of times throughout the match. However, the right hand edge was fraught with danger. I was fishing 12.5m down the edge to a gap between the lily pads. A couple of grains of corn and 4 pieces in a toss pot. I would hook fish and steer them out into open water. Fish to 10lb but averaging 4lb I did lose a couple of fish in the pads or across the far bank, but thats fishing. Martin Foster on peg 16 was catching well down the edge with meat over micros. Peg 20 opposite was getting odd fish down the edge. I managed to keep fish coming for the first 3 hours when the peg just died on me. I had only fed less than a tin of corn throughout but the fish had backed off further down the peg beyond pole range. A few fish from the 6m saw me boost my weight to 84lb 2oz for the section win and a vital 1pt score. Day three was a good day for the other lads, Trevor winning Oaks Lake, Richard winning Pines Lake and John Beasley winning his section on Pines to join me as a section winner.
Festival Day Four Pines 8
Spirits were high after yesterday's performance, however I knew I would need a good day on my weakest skill, catching silvers. Weights needed would be 20lb plus of silvers and small carrassio. This lake has changed a lot since my last visit, instead of fishing from the outside in, you now fish inside out from the spit created. It can get a bit tight with plenty of long poles especially on the early pegs but I had drawn peg 8 and had room behind me to be able to ship in and out. I planned to fish 12.5m with chop worm late on. Dead reds at 11m left and 4mm expander at 11m right. Another line at 4m in case they were close in which I would feed with micros and dead reds. Starting off close in I fed a couple of hard balls of micros and fished a dead red over it. A couple of small 3oz skimmers obliged before dying. A look at 11m on the expander line produced a couple of small carrassio and skimmers before I moved to 11m left dead red line. I had potted in GB at the start and found that putting a small ball in every put in would get me a fish. However keeping them on the hook proved an issue, I was bumping a lot of fish with white hydro. It was obvious to me the elastic was too severe for this type of fishing. I need to fish blue or orange hydro for these fish. However white was my lightest I had so had to persevere. I was still catching and putting fish in the net, everything needed to be landed and not swung in. A move to the chop worm line with 90 minutes to go saw a few larger skimmers grace the net including a bonus 1lb fish. My weight of 14lb 5oz was good enough for only 7th in section and although it was my worst score of the week I had thoroughly enjoyed the day. It was something I do not do on a regular basis and took away a lot of lessons from some very good anglers in the section. Richard Brain was doing well in the festival with another section win.
Festival Day 5 Pines 13
Final and last day of the festival andf an open draw, only two anglers wanted to fish Pines Lake Mark Hathway and John Beasley. Everyone else wanted a peg on the other lakes. So when the hand went into the draw bag a red token came out, the heart sank and peg 13 Pines was to be my home. At least I had some company either side in Mark Hathway on peg 14 and Derek Smith on 12. Madd had drawn peg 18. I decided to fish similar to the previous day, this time setting up a rig for the margin as I was told odd tench come from the edges tight in and I would need a couple to boost the weight. Steve Shaw had the peg the previous day and struggled for 14lb. Still armed with no light elastics I was hoping a few better fish may be present. Again 12.5m line for chopped worm and two 11m lines for expander and dead reds. A 4m line and my margin rig. I was surprised at the depth having a good 7ft on the long lines and 5ft at 4m. Even the edge had 2ft of water. I started off with the same feeding format, a couple of balls at the start packed with worm or dead reds., then feeding via a tosspot of GB every fish. Fishing 4m saw no bites over micros so i was soon out to 11m and dead reds. A few small skimmers came to the net but I was bumping more than the previous day. The problem was I was bumping small carrassio's and you needed to strike firmly to set the hook in their bony mouths. This is were the lighter elastic comes into it's own. Mark was doing what he does best, fishing for silvers and was pulling away. Peg 10 was catching well and Jon Owen was getting odd bonus fish. Del was catching on the GB feeder across. I was lagging behind and although I tried to push the peg I would catch one or two fish before having to start a new line. I tried the margins for no fish. But Del boosted his weight in the last 20 minutes with 3 good tench. My weight of 11lb 8oz was never going to compete. Another poor day, but I think with a bit of practice and correct gear I can improve on this style of fishing. Mark came second in section whilst Madd won his section with 30lb of tench.
Summing up
Overall I can honestly say I have enjoyed the experience of fishing a festival again. The whole week has been a learning curve. I have had a high and a few lows but was happy overall with my performances. A greater understanding of silver fishing is needed. I think lost fish on day one cost me a few more points while I need to invest in a good meat cutter. The anglers who fished are all first class, imparting knowledge and sharing experiences from the previous day. Paul and Joanne have put their stamp on a venue that is without doubt one of the best in the country. The work they put in around the fishery is non stop and all they want is for you to enjoy yourself. Our group of anglers had three in the top twenty with Richard Brain finishing with a top five placing. We had a few section and lake wins amongst us, so were not too far off the pace. This could not have been done without the banter and debriefing sessions in the evenings. Well done to Tim Guise, Perry Stone and Lee Werritt for claiming the top three places. Excellent performances in some testing conditions.The only down side to the week was the accommodation was to far from the fishery and pubs.You felt isolated from a lot of the other anglers staying in lodges or Dolton. The house was great, plenty of room for us all. Trevor even had his own wing.