Witherington Teams Of 4, Round 1.

 Witherington's Selwood Lake.

Browning Andover was fielding 2 squads in the Withy teams of 4, this hotly contested 8 round league. Browning Blue, and Green, I was in the Blue squad and volunteered ( thanks John! ) to fish Selwood lake, with 2 others on the snake and another on cottage. After a suitably good breaky, Barry drew me peg 16 on Selwood. Talking to John he informs me it is the shallowest peg on the lake, but does have an aerator to the right in the margins where sometimes the lumps can be caught. Arriving at my peg and it looked ok, a nice bit of colour, and the odd fish moving. It has been a couple of years since I fished Selwood last, but it hasn't changed much.

I set up an 8ft. Browning commercial wand with a small method attached for the island, 2 rigs for the 13m line, which was going to be my skimmer line, an 0.10 and an 0.12, a 6m meat line on 0.16, and a margin swim down towards the aerator, which was 0.18 for the lumps, hopefully. I had soaked micros, expander's, meat and corn, and some worms, that should hopefully tempt something. At the all in I cupped in some meat on the 6m line, and some micros out at 13m, and half a pot of corn in the margin. I chucked the method to the island for the first fifteen minutes, one to let the other swims settle, and two hopefully there would be something lurking around the island. Without so much as a line bite it was time to have a look on the pole lines.

Peg 16 On Selwood.

A quick look in the margins and on the 6m meat line resulted in no bites, so it was out to the 13m line. A couple of pegs round and they were catching skimmers regularly, but I was having to work for any bite, a couple of small skimmers was all that I could tempt. I kept trickling corn into the margins, and meat onto the 6m line. I was struggling a little and went back onto the method for a bit. Still no bites on that so I decided to have a good look in the margins. A foul hooker almost instantly I dropped a bait in, encouraging, then a few minutes later I hooked one properly. A lengthy tussle ensued, before I slipped the net under a nice 8 lb fish. The Heavens then opened up, and what with the thunder and lightning, turning the day very unpleasant.

Giving the margin line a rest I had a look onto the other 2 pole lines, only a couple of small skimmers out on the 13m was the result. It was becoming clear that the majority of the skimmers were further round the lake, and the only way I was going to do something was to catch a few more lumps, so I decided to concentrate in the margins, plus the fact the weather had deteriorated and fishing the margins was easier! I kept trickling in the corn before I hooked Carp number 2, a smaller fish of about 5lb. A good hour had passed before I hooked the 3rd lump, and this gave me a good battle before it was in the net, another fish of about 8lb. I felt I was not doing to bad now, as it went into the final hour. I foul  hooked a fished which tore through my margin swim before the hooked pulled. Not another bite until 10 seconds before the all out, and then I was doing battle with a a right old beast! It didn't want to play ball at all, and wouldn't come within netting range, but after battling with it well into overtime, I managed to subdue it, and folded it into the landing net! A nice double to end the day with. My 4 Carp weighed 32lb, and with 2lb 8oz of skimmers I ended up 4th on the lake, not a bad result at all. Browning Blue ended up 6th on the day, with all to play for over the rest of the series.

Blog Catch Up, Part 2.

 Pine's Peg 3, Stafford Moor.

Stafford Moor Fishomania qualifier was my next outing, my first visit to this renowned Devon fishery, a very picturesque venue with several lakes and lots of features. At the draw bag I pulled out peg 3 on Pine's lake. Talking to the owner he said I probably wouldn't win the match from there, so all out for the lake and section win. After a heavy thunderstorm the night before, and spawning fish it wasn't going to be an easy day, the swim was nice, with an island just about reachable with 16m, not comfortable but just about manageable. After catching some early fish next to the island on corn over pellet things slowed and bites became a premium. At the all out I ended up with 26lb 04oz, this was good enough for second on the lake. A hard days fishing with not a lot to show and a long drive home.

The next day it was the next round of the spring series at Dandy's ford, I was knackered after the long day before at Stafford Moor, so when I pulled out peg 23, I decided to chuck the tip all day, as I didn't fancy battling with the pole all day in the gusty wind. I set up a small method feeder and soaked some 4mm pellets to squash round it and hair rigged some meat for the hook. After a couple of miss casts into the island, ( I blamed the tiredness! ) I found my range and managed to catch 55lb, for 3rd in section. I was doing well in the series being joint top, but unfortunately due to circumstances beyond my control I couldn't fish the final 2 rounds, a bit of a shame as I was doing well.

 Peg 23 At Dandy's.

After a few weeks away from fishing, my next outing was with the team at Witherington Farm for the inaugural Army challenge match, Browning Andover against some rufty tufty army chaps! Needless to say we won, albeit a narrow victory! But another trophy for the cabinet, hopefully we can keep hold of it next year! The weather made it interesting being very windy in the morning giving way to heavy rain which was a good test for the new waterproofs! I had a so so match, catching a few to begin with before struggling for bites, but the fish seemed to be in pockets, and you were either on them or not, but that's commercial snake fishing for you. A very enjoyable close fought contest, despite the weather.

My next outing was back down to Orchard, the weather was atrocious, very strong gusty wind and heavy rain was going to make it interesting! I pulled peg 18 out of the draw bag, not to bad a peg but well away from the fliers, ( which is probably good as I would only bugger it up! ) Some big weights had been coming out now that the fish had finished spawning, all on the short pole. So I got out a top 4 and that was as far as I was going to go, hoping to catch on the top set. I caught all day on the top set, using meat as a hook bait and feeding the same, ending up with 132lb, a good weight and good enough for a section win, but no where near the weights that came of the fliers! I did loose a top set to the lake as a gust of wind took it clean off the roost and across the lake where it slowly did it's Excalibur impression, before sinking out of site! Much swearing!

Next outing was with the team on the River Huntspill, for the regional national. A first for me and some of the team. Another wild and wet day was forecast, ( testing both angler and waterproofs to it's limit! ) It was a very interesting day, with the pole being virtually unfishable, so a feeder job was the order of the day. After 5 hours I managed just 500 grams of Eels and Roach, not last in section but was beaten by other anglers who caught bonus Bream, which sadly I never saw all day! The team did ok, being just a couple of points from finishing in the top three, a good result which we hope to improve on next year.

 Back to Dandy's for the next swaray. It doesn't seem to matter where you draw, as there is always plenty of fish and bites to be had, so after pulling out peg 19 form the draw bag Iwas quite pleased. It seemed that I had my own little island to fish to, so I set up a small cage feeder with a 15" hook length, using the method is now prohibited. Soaking some 4mm pellets, and hair rigging meat as a hook bait, I also set up a margin swim next to some lillys. I caught steady on the feeder all day plus a couple late on in the margins, a mixture of Carp, small Barbel and Tench for 77lb 8oz, good enough for second on the day, another good result for me at his lovely venue, no wonder it's one of my favourites!

Looking At Dandy's Peg 19, Very Pretty!

Team duties next for the National. After Some Practice, which resulted in some good days including a second in section on a pratice match, as well as some hard days, a team plan was formed, and the day arrived. I got drawn a lovely looking peg just up from a bridge, but it wasn't till I started plumbing up that I realised that my day was going to be " one of those ", and my nice looking peg turned into a snag pit from hell! Trying to find a clear area in my peg was virtually impossible, and I was loosing hook lengths and rigs like no tomorrow. And when I did get through the snags, I hooked big Carp on my squatt rigs, a no contest really, Carp 4 Ian 0 ! I ended up with a measly 270 grams, not last but no where near good enough, and I was very dissapointed with my efforts, for the team as well as myself, I know in a clearer peg I could of caught more, but thats match fishing, always a good leveller even when you think you have it sussed!

Blog Catch Up. Part 1.

Time for a blog catch up, have been very busy with work since coming back from my White Acres holiday, ( some time ago now I know) and have had a few problems! ( Which I won't go into! ) But I have managed a few outings, individually and with the team. First off was the first of the Challis spring series, at one of my favourite venues, Dandy's Ford Lakes. I had to come back from Cornwall to get a decent draw, peg 17 on Calvert's lake, all on it's own in a corner, I never blew my end peg, and won the match catching 83lb 4oz using meat in the margins at 7m, plus catching a few across at 13m, a good start to the series and a pick up, which always helps!

Peg 17 on Calvert's Lake.

Next up was the second round at Viaduct Fishery in Somerset, Campbell lake was the venue, another favourite of mine, in the draw bag and I pulled out peg 110, another end peg with lots of room, my drawing hand was definitely making up for the poor draws I had in Cornwall! The favoured pegs though are usually those in the middle of the lake, but with the weather nice and warm I was sure there was a few fish to be had. I soaked a load of 6mm pellets, and put this through a cage feeder, with double hair rigged meat as a hook bait. This was my main attack whilst feeding the margins. A steady run of fish on my feeder approach throughout the day, plus a couple very late in the margins resulted in another lake win with 106lb 13oz. A very enjoyable day plus a pick up, and another good result for the series, it was all going too well!

Viaduct's Campbell Lake, Lovely! With peg 110 nearest.

Next up was the 3rd round at Orchard's match lake, the weather was still lovely and with 2 series wins under my belt I was looking forward to it. I put my now "lucky" hand into the bag and pulled out peg 30, another end peg! One of the favoured pegs on this venue, as it normally wins! After some moans and groans from my fellow anglers, ( good job I have broad shoulders!) I set myself up in "the corner". The peg was alive with fish, although most seemed to be spawning, which I hoped wouldn't affect the fishing. Wrong! I ended up having a very frustrating day, foul hooking so many fish it was unbelievable! It didn't seem to matter what I did, to cut a long story short I cocked up an end peg flier, weighing in 87lb 04oz, which is nothing for that peg when they are feeding properly, for 5th in section, I told you it was all going to well!

Orchard's Peg 30, "The Flier!"

Next up was an open on the newly revamped Charlie's Lake in Andover, it was my first look at the venue after the work had been done, first impressions were very good despite it looking a bit new. I picked out peg 15 out of the draw bag, and set up on one of the new platforms, with a couple of my Browning team mates for company on the adjoining pegs. Despite having a bit of trouble with a weed bed in front of me at 13m, I managed to catch 32lb 02oz, a mixture of small stockie carp and bream, caught using corn and expanders over micros. This gave me 3rd in section, and a very pleasant day on this revamped venue.

Charlie's Lake.

Dynamite Baits Festival, Day 5.

Day 5, Trelawney.

The final day had dawned, and after a frustrating day the day before I was hoping for a nice days fishing, and perhaps a decent draw, even maybe on Twin Oaks! As the sections were split between Twin Oaks and Trelawney. I had fished Trelawney a few times and looking at the weights that had been coming out you needed to be at the far end of it. At the draw I pulled peg 10 on Trelawney, no luck again, but it wasn't too bad, talking to a few of the lads it could be alright, if the fish were there. Another glorious day in Cornwall, and with little wind it was going to be a hot one. Setting up on my peg I decided to set up a method rod for tight to the island, and a pellet waggler to go over the top. A shallow 14.5m swim which was 0.16 straight through to a 16-911 to green hollow. A 5m meat line 0.16 straight through to a 14-911 to orange hollow. And a margin rig which was to be fished at 7m either side, 0.18 straight through to a 14-911 to orange hollow.

Looking Up Trelawney From Peg 10.

I was going to start on the method whilst feeding the other lines, hopefully getting the fish queuing up. At the all in I cupped a big potful of corn onto the 2 margin lines before chucking out the clipped up method rod. After a couple of minutes the tip flew round and after a short battle a nice carp of 5lb was in the net, a good start and I was hoping for a few more. A couple of f1's followed before the bites dried up, I kept plugging away on the method for an hour and a half, but it never really happened, the fish seemed to be a bit further up the lake, as the anglers on those pegs were catching quite steadily. I switched to the pole and had a look on the shallow 14.5m line which I had been feeding regularly since the start. After 10 minutes without so much as a nibble I decided to bin that line.

Peg 10 On Trelawney, Looking To The Island.

I switched to the 5m meat line which I had been trickling a few cubes in every couple of minutes or so. After a couple of missed bites I hooked a couple of f1's, before the bites dried up there. Switching back and forth between the method and the 5m line put a few fish in the net, all be it small f1's or barbel. The anglers to my right in the section were also struggling, and it was obvious the fish were further round to my left. I decided to have a quick look on the pellet waggler tight to the island, I did manage to hook a couple of f1's but not the size of carp I was hoping for. The last 1/2 hour of the match and I managed a few small barbel in the 2 margin swims before the all out sounded. The scales came round and I weighed 23lb 12oz for mid way in section, the weights went up the further left you went. So that was it all over, knackered, sun burnt, frustrated at times but still thoroughly enjoyable. Despite not drawing well, I learnt a lot and it is all in the old grey matter for next, I might even win something next year!

Dynamite Baits Festival, Day 4.

Day 4, Trewaters.

The forth day and the section was going to be split between Jenny's lake and Trewaters. I was hoping for Jenny's as I have fished it before, but as my lucky drawing hand was letting me down this week I got peg 41 on Trewaters! A quick chat with some of the regulars and was told it wasn't a brilliant peg but there were enough fish to have a go at, all be it f1's, something that I never have really fished for before. After a 20 minute drive I arrived at the lake and I was on the bottom of the 2 lakes, they looked quite nice with an island at 19m across. I set up the pole and a small method rod, I never bothered with the waggler as there was a nasty skimming wind from left to right. I have been told that the fish were averaging 1/2 to 1lb, so I set up three rigs on yellow hollow.

Trewaters, Bottom Lake.

The first at 5m an 0.14-0.12, 911-16. the second was similar, but would be fished at 14.5m, and a shallow rig for over the the top, as I was expecting them to come off the bottom. I was going to feed corn at 5m, and pellet at 14.5m. with some meat as an alternative bait. I had pumped some expander's for the hook on the far line. At the all in I slipped an expander onto the hook and a few 6mm pellets into the toss pot and went out with the depth rig, the wind was quite nasty and was considering fishing at 13m, but felt that being closer to the island would be better. After a minute or so I hooked a nice 3/4lb f1, out again and the same, it was then that the missed bites started, the float absolutely sailing away and not connecting with anything. I was hooking about 1 in 10! Bloody frustrating! I put the shallow rig out to see if that would improve the catch rate, all it did was to increase the ratio of missed bites to hooking the little blighters! I decided to ease off the feed and have a look on the 5m line which I had been trickling the corn over.

Peg 41, Trewaters.

I had a couple of fish but they weren't really there, I had to wait for the bites so I decided to leave it and keep trickling it in. I had a quick go with the method, couldn't miss those bites! but I was having to wait along time again, the pole it was then. The fast missed bites carried on until the end of the match, I couldn't work out how to improve the missed bite to hooked fish ratio, the only thing that would of helped was a very stiff pole, and a lot more practice at f1 fishing! I weighed in 27lb 10 oz, 3rd to last in section. I felt I should of done better,and was extremely frustrated the way the day had gone, I just need to work out how to fish for small f1's! Either that or take up golf! , then again I would probably loose all my balls!

Dynamite Baits Festival, Day 3.

Day 3, Pollawyn.


The sun was out and the forecast was for a lovely sunny day in Cornwall, after the previous day's poor showing I was hoping for a good draw today. Pollawyn is one of the lakes that I have fished before, and I was looking forward to getting back on it. At the organised chaos that is the draw, I pulled out peg 41, and the bloke behind took a sharp inhale of breath and shook his head! Great another bum draw! The peg is down in the corner of one arm, and the fish don't congregate down there very often, apparently! Looking at the previous weight from yesterday it looked dire, 11lb had come of it! So I made my way to my peg full of enthusiasm!



Looking Up Pollawyn From Peg 41.

I arrived at my peg and my first thoughts was that looked quite nice! An island in front and a nice long margin to my left. An all out pole approach was called for. I was going to keep it fairly simple and fish tight to the island in front, and have another line at 7m, and a long margin swim at 13m. The island was 16m across, but with no wind I wouldn't have to battle the pole, the only problem was the high bank behind me, making shipping a bit tricky. Two identical rigs were set up across, kc cubes on 0.16 straight through to a 16-911, to green hollow. It was only 18" deep and I plumbed up next to a small clump of Irises. I used the same rigs for the margin as it was the same depth. The 7m was kc chimp on 0.12 - 0.10, 911-18, to yellow hollow, which I was going to be my skimmer line, hopefully!

Peg 41, In The Corner Of One Of The Arms.

At the all in my opening gambit was to cup some ground bait and micros on to the 7m line, and a big pot full of chopped worm and caster in the margins. I was going to start across and see what happened. After a few minutes with corn on the hook and I had my first bite, a f1 of a 1lb, I was catapulting a few 6mm pellets across, not many but enough to hope fully pull a few bigger specimens in. After a little while I latched into a bigger specimen, a nice carp of 7lb ish. I had to wait for the next bite but what a scrap that turned out to be, a clonking great Tench about 6lb! And boy didn't he go! I was quite happy in my little corner and I was beating the guys either side of me. I was still having to wait between bites, feeding a few pellets every few minutes, but when they came along they were usually good fish. The next 2 fish both shed the hook into a snag further along the island on my right, a bit annoying, but they new where it was, and they were in there before I could stop them.

16m To The Island.

I hooked a couple more decent carp of 5lb before it went very quiet in the middle of the match. I had a look in the margins, but the wasn't much doing, so a re-feed and onto the 7m line. I was hoping a few skimmers would of settled but all I could get was some small roach, the guys either side of me also weren't getting many silvers so I made the decision to go all out across and hope the margins would produce later. Back out across and the bigger fish made way for small fish, f1's, small barbel and skimmers. I was getting regular bites and was building the weight slowly, nothing fantastic but I was hoping for a reasonable result. I had a few looks in the margins but there wasn't much there. The end came and the scales man weighed me in, 34lb 10 oz, not to bad and middle of the section, a pretty good result, well an improvement on the day before!

Dynamite Baits Festival, Day 2.

Day 2, Bolingey. After some heavy overnight rain, the weather was cold and gusty for the day's match at Bolingey. The talk at the draw was that it could affect the weights, but the good pegs should still produce. I stuck my hand in the bag and pulled out peg 12, a quick chat with some of the regulars and they said it wasn't brilliant, and a look on the previous days results showed that it had come last in section, so it was some trepidation that I made my way to the lake which is just outside Perranporth. When I arrived at my peg it revealed an island chuck, with the pegging quite tight, it somewhat restricted what I could do. I decided on a method to the island, 2 pole lines 1 at 14.5m, the other at 6m, and a margin to my left. A View Of Bolingey Lake. With the fish running from big to huge the gear was set up accordingly, the method was 8lb mainline to a 0.20 4" hook length, the 2 pole lines were both 0.18 straight through to a 911 14, both married to orange hollow, the depth was 8ft. on the 14.5m line and 7ft. at 6m. I also set a shallow rig up just in case they wanted it up in the water. The margin was 0.18 to a strong 14 animal hook, married to a solid 20, I was plumbing up next to some willow roots so a strong elastic seemed appropriate! I had meat for 6m line, corn for the margins, and pellet for the 14.5m. Some ground bait micro mix was mixed up for the method feeder. The wind was gusting, and I had a one of those feelings it was going to be one of those days! At the all in I cupped a few bits of meat out to 6m, some pellet out to 14.5, and some corn down the edge.

Looking Down The Lake From Peg 12. I Chucked the method to the corner of the island hoping it would go round, but I didn't even get so much as a liner! A few fish were being caught at my end of the lake, but it was obvious it was going to be slow. A good hour had passed and nothing, but I wasn't the only one, but it felt like it! I had a look on the 6m line where I had been trickling in some meat, but not so much as a sniff! It was the same on the other lines as well! Time for some thing different, I chucked the method to the island and started pinging pellet at 14.5m. as there were some fish milling around in the upper water layers. With a a few fish being caught further down the lake I needed to catch some fish, so it was out with the shallow rig and a pellet hook bait. After a good half an hour lifting and dropping and pinging pellet, as well as battling with the gusty wind, I hooked into my first fish which was a nice 4lb mirror carp. Phew one in the net, now for a few more, hopefully! It took a we while again until I hooked into another, which I lost in a snag down to my right hand side, back out again and another good twenty minutes before I hooked into a real corker, a good double figure fish, which didn't want to give up! I knew there were a few fish to be had but the wind was now gusting very strongly and making presentation a nightmare. Time was now getting on, after a couple more fish shallow, I had a look in the margins, slipping on a grain of corn, a few seconds later the float shot away, a bit of a tussle ensued as I tried to extract it from the Willow roots, a few minutes later and it was in the net, and that was it. The all out sounded and I was knackered! The scales came round and I weighed in 28lb 10oz. I had beaten the anglers around me but found out that they weren't in my section! Bit of a blow as I thought I was doing ok. As it turned out I was last in section, hard work for not alot! Perhaps the next day's draw will be kinder to me.

Dynamite Baits Festival, Day One.

Day One, Porth Reservoir. My first festival and my first day, I had a good look round on Sunday to familiar myself with lakes as I haven't fished at White acres for a few years, and had not even seen the off site waters! Any way my first day was to be on Porth, a very pretty water which I did manage to sneak a couple of hours practice in on Sunday! I pulled peg 18 out of the bag at the draw, this put me in the section closest to the dam, although it was still a fair hike with all the tackle! A lot of the pegs at Porth are wade able, but this had a nice platform to fish from, and I didn't need my waders or platform, despite dragging it down there! Having a quick practice the previous day helped as I honed my pole rigs and had my feeder set raring to go. Pole rigs were 1grm. kc porth floats on 0.10 to 0.08, 611-18 and 20. The depth was about 11ft at 13m, and with the nice warm breeze this was comfortable, the feeder was clipped up at 25 yards, 3lb main line to 0.12 hook length, 611-18. I also set up an insert waggler set shallow ( 4ft ) for going beyond the pole, again 3lb main line to 0.12 611-18. I mixed up 3 kilo of ground bait the night before and had to dampen it down a little before pushing it through a riddle. I had worm, caster, maggot and pinkie on the bait table, all within the festival limits, but I had more of caster than any thing else. Having the quick practice the previous day I knew there were a few fish on the pole line, and with the wind being kinder I was hoping to catch quite quickly on this. At the all in I put 10 balls on the pole line laced with chopped worm and caster and a few pinkies, before starting on the feeder. Looking Back Towards The Dam At Porth. The first half hour resulted in some small roach and a couple of small skimmers on the feeder, before it slowed, so I switched to the pole line. I kept a steady stream of small fish coming in on the pole, feeding a nougat of ground bait every couple of fish, nothing big but it was building the weight slowly, the odd bigger perch showed on the worm hook bait which boosted things along. I was going along quite nicely beating the lad to my left, before the first of the pike struck. 3.00 o'clock was Pike time, and I had 12 Pike strikes! It basically ruined my pole line for a good hour or so, even when I switched to the feeder they were still grabbing the fish on the way in! My Peg, 18 On Porth. I cupped in 5 more balls on the pole line to try and let it settle again, before having a go on the waggler, I did have a few fish on the waggler with caster hook bait, some small skimmers, but my waggler rod was a little "over gunned" and I was bumping them off, so I switched to the feeder, two better skimmers, 5-6oz ! were the result, but that was it for a while. Picking the pole back up for the last hour and the pike had gone, Phew! The funny thing was the lads to my left never had any strikes all day! Must of been doing something wrong! A steady steam of small roach and perch continued till the end of the match. The scales came round and I weighed in 8lb 6oz, not too bad, middle of the section, the pike trouble in the middle of the match cost me a couple of section points, as there were a couple of weights around the 10lb mark, but I was quite pleased with efforts for my first trip to Porth, just need to re-ty all my hook lengths and rigs that the Pike trashed!

Dace Fishing On The River Nadder, Salisbury.

I decided to have a few hours pleasure fishing on the River Nadder before the season finishes in a few days, what with one thing and another I hadn't managed to get down to the river until now! So I was looking forward to running a stick float through and hopefully catching some fish. I gave Andy Brooks a call for some info, as he had been fishing the match on the river on Sunday, and low and behold he was at Brunel Road! So I decided to join him.
My Swim at Brunel Road On The Nadder.

I caught up with Andy, had a quick sandwich and a natter, before picking a swim. I set up in a swim that had some slack water on the far side, and decided to fish the crease, I set up a 13ft. waggler rod with a close face reel with 2.6lb main line. A 6 no4 wire stem stick float shotted shirt button style to a carbon chub 18 hook. After about an hour I had a couple of Dace plus numerous Minnows. The wind and sun were getting a problem, so I moved to the swim pictured above. It was narrower than the first and shallower, just below a pinch point in the river with a nice steady flow. I adjusted the depth to about 3ft. First run through and a Salmon Parr snaffled my double maggot hook bait, a few more followed before I hit the first Dace, which put up quite a scrap in the pacy water.

Me With A Nice Size Dace.

Regularly feeding a few maggots kept the bites coming, a few Minnows, Salmon Parr and good size Dace, some of which felt like sandpaper, obviously getting ready for spawning. I was bumping a few fish on the strike, a little frustrating but that's part of the fun of Dace fishing! I was getting a bite a chuck, and I didn't know what it would be next, including some Wild Brown Trout that fight like fury!

A Cracking Hard Fighting Wild Brown Trout.

The bites kept coming, some of which were no more than 10ft. down the swim. Andy packed up and brought me some more maggots, which was handy as I was rapidly running out! The action slowed a little so I packed up about 4 pm. I ended up with a net into double figures, not bad for a few hours! A lovely afternoon and nice way to end the river season on, even if I hadn't been down much!

A Cracking Afternoon's Dace Fishing.

Winter League Semi Final, Gold Valley Lakes.

After a couple of practices for myself and the squad it was time for the semi final. I was looking forward to this as well as being a bit apprehensive as the fishing had been a bit up and down. There is always a buzz around at the pre-match breakfast before a big match and today was no exception. With some big teams and big names involved it was always going to be a struggle. The weather was cold and a keen northerly wind was blowing. A breakfast bap was the first order of the day washed down with a cup of tea and a natter with the rest of the team, before Barry went up for the draw. I was on E5 on Middle lake, just a few pegs further up from where I was on the previous Wednesday. After a quick pep talk and a collection of the bait, it was time to get to my peg. Phil was running the bank today and I had given him my camera, unfortunately I had given him two sets of flat batteries! So apologies to those that didn't get photographed it was my fault! ( I blame the nerves! ) When I got to my peg I found that John was behind me on Gold, so we had a chin wag before setting up.

Phil's "Arty" shot of me fishing on E5, nice!

I set up two feeder rods, one a straight lead, and one a method, both were clipped up to just short of the rope that splits the lake in two. As I had a free peg either side of me I could fish two long pole lines at 10 and 2 o'clock so to speak, as well as one at 5m. A KC chimp 4x16 on 0.12 line to a 18 hook to yellow hollow was set up for the long lines, as well as a heavier 0.14 rig to cover the same lines. A lighter Chimp on 0.10 to a 20 hook on pink hollow was set up on the 5m line. I had about 4ft of water on the long pole lines, but it was a bit deeper close in. I was going to put some chopped worm and caster on one long line and some ground bait and micros on the other, with an initial pot of choppy on the 5m line, which would be loose fed after with maggot. After a quick comfort break back at the clubhouse it was time to settle down to the match. The hooter sounded and I cupped in some ground bait and micros on one of the long pole lines, and chopped worm on the other, as well as a small pot on the 5m line.


Keith netting a carp.

I started on the lead with hair rigged corn and cast it to the rope, after 20 minutes with not so much as a line bite I had a cast with the method. I left it in for a good while but again no indications. The guy to my right had had one on the straight lead, so I cast it out and left it there, it really is a waiting game and it gets a bit nerve wracking when the tip doesn't go round! I could see Kieth opposite had had a couple, as well as a few others on the lake, but despite my best efforts I couldn't buy a bite.



Barry, still smiling!

I tried the pole lines after an hour and a half but there was no joy there so I went back onto the lead. I started to feed a few grains of corn onto a line about 20m out, as some of the team in practice had caught a few late on this line. Half way through the match and I still hadn't had a bite. I decided to do what I did on the previous Wednesday, to give the maggot feeder a go, after a couple of casts Keith phoned up to see if I had anything and had to cut him short as the tip flew round! I had finally caught a fish to my relief! A carp about 5lb. A few more casts and then a skimmer of 1lb. Then nothing for a bit so I had a look on the pole.

Yours truly in a brief moment of action!

No bites over the 5m line, or over the pellet, but as soon as I dropped in on the far worm line the float buried and I was attached to another one of Gold Valley's hard fighting carp. A few minutes of careful playing and another 5lb fish was in the net. I had another look but no more bites followed. A few casts onto the 20m line where I had been flicking a few grains of corn resulted in nothing. So as time was getting on and a few fish were being caught further down the lake, so I went back out onto the maggot feeder, no indications until 1 minute from the all out when the rod tip flew of the rest, and the final fish again a fish of around 5lb was in the net landed after the whistle. At the scales I weighed in 17lb, not last in section as there were a few below me. The maggot feeder had caught me a few fish again and I can't help wondering what would of happened if I had started on it. Back at the clubhouse and it was clear that we had come last, Dave George did well to come second on Bungalow lake, but a bit disappointing in the end for the team but we learnt a lot, and Browning Andover Match Group will go from strength to strength and be back next year!

Gold Valley 02/03/11

Gold Valley's Middle Lake.

Back down to Gold Valley for the Wednesday open match, a few days from the winter league semi final. With three lakes in and a section on Gold, Middle and Syndicate. The weather had turned cold with over night frosts, it could have a baring on the semi. After a bacon sarnie and a cup of tea, it was time for the draw. I pulled out peg 65 on middle, a quick look on the results board from the open the previous Sunday and it won it's section with a weight of 65lb, but chatting to some of the regulars they said it either fishes well or it blows out, as the swim is quite shallow, and the cold weather could give it the kiss of death, either that or I could fish it like a plank! Getting to my swim and the first thing that was noticeable apart from the islands in front of me, was the strong north wind that was blowing in, it was freezing! Woolly hat and gloves to the ready! Having a quick chat with Phil on the phone who was on 63 last Sunday, I decided to set up two lead rods, one a straight lead, and one a method, both to be fished to the point of the far island, although I could move to other areas if this didn't work. A few casts and both rods were clipped up nicely. Both were 8lb breaking strain main line, with 0.20 hook length to a strong 14 hook. I also set up a couple of pole lines in open water, but this would be secondary if the island feature didn't fish. One was a KC chimp on 0.12 line to a 18 hook to yellow hollow, the second was again a chimp on 0.14 line to a 16 hook to green hollow.


Peg 65 on Middle Lake.

I had some corn, meat, various hooker pellets and maggots, plus some ground bait micro pellet mix for the method and pole lines. A few minutes before the off a carp rolled along the island, so at the all in I decided on a softly softly approach. I cupped in some micro mix and meat on one pole line, and micro and corn on the other. My opening gambit was to fish the island with a straight lead and hair rigged corn. After half an hour and trying a couple of different places with the lead and corn without so much as a line bite, it was time to chuck the method feeder. I hair rigged a pellet and squashed some micro mix into the method mould and cast to the point of the island, I was going to leave this in till hopefully it would go round. Looking down the lake it was obvious it was fishing hard with just the odd carp coming out, so I was still hopeful that I would get a few. Well that didn't work either, and a hour had gone without so much as a line bite! I had a quick look on the pole lines, but no indications. I tried coming off the islands with the lead into the flat water in between the islands, just in case they were not tight, but that didn't prove productive either!
Three hours had now passed and I was getting cold and bored! After another quick look on the pole lines with no joy, I decided on a different tack. I took off the lead and clipped on a maggot feeder, I was going to cast this more regularly, hoping that something would feed! After a few casts with the maggot feeder to the point of the island the rod flew round and I had a battle with an angry carp that had snaffled my triple maggot hook bait, and it was determined to go round the island! After a bit of bullying I had it in the net, a nice fish of around 5lb. A couple of casts later and the rod flew of the rest again, a fish of a similar size made it's way to the net, again after a bit of a scrap. I was now getting warmer and was feeling better in my self. After a few more casts the tip flew round again, this time I had latched into something much bigger, I got it away from the island ok but it seemed to take me an age to get it to the net, but it was worth it a fish of double figures. I thought I had finally got it cracked but no that was it for the rest of the match, despite regulars casts with the maggot feeder. The scales came round and I weighed 21lb 8oz, not bad for three fish! This put me mid way in section, but only ounces away from second. Hopefully the semi would be warmer and fish a bit better, well a few more regular bites would be nice just to stop me from getting to cold and bored!

Gold Valley 20/02/11

Gold Valley's Gold Lake.

First team practice for the upcoming winter league semi final, and my first trip to Gold Valley. (forgot the camera again sorry!) I didn't know really what to expect. Meeting the rest of the squad for a particularly good breakfast bap in the on site cafe over looking Gold Lake, some of them dressed in there new Browning attire, (very Smart!). There was a good turn out as you would expect with 11 teams, and the buzz and excitement that goes with a big match. The draw took place and Dave Tuck was at the front as usual and the first to draw! I was quite a way down and the draw took a bit of time to do with the large numbers of anglers fishing. I finally stuck my hand in the pot and pulled out peg 42, on the causeway bank of Gold Lake, along with a few others from the team! I made my way to my peg and found out that I was pegged right next to Kieth, after a bit of a chat with him we decided we would fish it slightly different from each other to see what would work best.

A couple of the lads had been down to the mid week match earlier in the week, so we had an idea, but it was still a bit of trial an error. I set up a method rod on 8lb main line to 0.20 hook length and 14 hook. This was for fishing towards the rope that splits Gold lake in 2, meanwhile Kieth went for a bomb and maggot feeder approach. On the pole lines again we tried slightly different tacks, to see which would work best, I plumbed up at 14.5m and had about 7ft. I set up 2 rigs for this line a heavy rig in case the carp showed up and this was a Karpa Carp 1, 4x16 to 0.16 straight through to a 911-16 to a green hollow. I also set up a lighter rig which was a Karpa Chimp 4x16 on 0.12 straight through to a 18 hook on yellow hollow. I plumbed at 16m also and found it slightly shallower, a go to area in case the fish backed off. The last line was a line at 5-6m which again was good depth at 6ft. A Karpa Chimp 4x14 on 0.12 - 0.10 to an 18 hook married to pink hollow.

Kieth an I decided on a slightly different approach, I was going to put in micros with minced luncheon meat on the 14.5m line, while he put micros on one line and some chopped worm on another, as he had a blank peg to his right. At the all in I fed three good size balls of the micro meat mix, and went out onto the method. It was quite a cold day and it was obvious from the early proceedings that it was going to be a tricky day. Not much early indications on the method just a few small movements of the tip, not the full blown wrap around was hoping for from the size able carp that live in Gold Valley. The odd carp was coming out further down the lake. Kieth was not doing much better on the bomb. About an hour had past before the tip flew round and a 1lb skimmer was in the net. Kieth had now switched to the maggot feeder and was getting the odd roach. No further fish followed in the next half an hour so I went onto the pole. After having a quick look on the 5-6m line which I had been trickling maggot over with no indications.

Out to the 14.5m line with a couple of maggots on the hook, after a couple of minutes the float slipped away and a skimmer of a 1lb came to the net. Next put in this time with a bit of meat on the hook and the float slipped away again this time it was a better fish of 2.5lb. Out again with the meat but nothing for a bit so I went back onto the maggot, the next fish was a lumpy beam of 5lb. Kieth was struggling for bites next door, as was the guy to my left. The swim seemed to die for a while so I fed a small cup of micro meat mix and went back on to the method. Not much doing out there so leaving the 14.5m line to settle for twenty minutes I went back onto it. Some nice size roach and a couple of nice big perch followed in the next small spell of catching. Again it died, I just couldn't seem to keep them going. A small re-feed and out onto the method.

It was well into the match now, no carp but I seemed to be doing OK on the silver's side of things. Again not much doing out on the rod, so back onto the pole. Again a small run of fish, skimmers and roach, before the bites stopped. Into the last hour and I decided to feed once last time, going on the method for half an hour before coming back onto the pole. A couple of fish this time on the rod was a bonus, nothing big but it was adding to the weight. Switching back to the pole for the last half hour and it was slow, so I pushed it out to 16m, I did have a nice skimmer but that was it for me at the all out. At the scales I weighed in 25lb 4oz, for 4th in section not to bad, but a carp or 2 would of helped out. Kieth struggled all day next to me, as did the guy to my left. It was generally a tricky day for most, just the odd angler doing well or catching a couple of bonus carp, I seemed to do quite well on the silver fish, just need to try a couple of things out in the next match that I observed during quiet spells, it might just catch some of those elusive carp!

Silver, But No Golden Delicious At Orchard!

A very wet and windy day was in store at Orchard's Match lake on 13/02/11. I arrived at the venue early and seeing the wind blowing down the the lake, the favoured pegs were definitely going to be those at the entrance end, Orchard is windy at the best of times and these pegs seem to offer some sort of calm water. I made my way into the dry of the hut where a warming cup of tea was the order of the day before venturing out into the abyss! The golden peg was up for grabs and with it being won from this venue last year from one of the favoured end pegs. After everyone had arrived suitably dressed in various waterproofs, the draw was done for the golden peg. Peg 33 was drawn out of the hat, one of the favoured end pegs! A good chance with the conditions that it could go! I stuck my hand into the hat to draw for the peg for today, and pulled out peg 33! I made my way to my peg, along with the other hardy ( fools! ) souls and couldn't help thinking about the comfort of my nice warm bed, and now it was my intention to sit out in the wind and rain for 5 hours! I got to my peg and my thoughts turned to my peg, the golden peg! My first impressions was it looked nice despite the rain hitting off my face! I decided to put all my eggs into one basket and to fish down to my left next to the reeds, and to not bother fishing across to the island, my back was aching and I didn't fancy battling with the pole in the wind! Plumbing up I found that I had good depth next to the reeds at 9m, about 3 foot, not tight as there was some rubbish and roots there, about 18" from the reeds. I set two rigs up, nice and simple, one on yellow hollow which was 0.12 - 0.10 18 hook. And a green hollow which was 0.14 - 0.12 16 hook. Two rigs to cover the same line. Bait was nice and simple too, corn, some meat, and micros and 4mm pellets mixed. I was going to fish corn on the hook and feed a little corn and pellet mix through a toss pot.
The all in sounded, and I slipped a grain of corn on to the hook and a few into the toss pot before lowering the rig in, after a few seconds the float shot under and I lifted into a small carp of 1/2 lb. The bites and fish were coming thick and fast, most of the fish were on the small side, with the odd bigger specimen thrown in for good measure. I could see Dave catching on the other end peg flier and judging buy the elastic he had out he was catching fish of a bigger stamp than I was, the thing was I seemed to be catching a lot faster than him, I was just hoping it would be quick enough. About 3 hours had past and Mike came walking past on the way to a comfort brake, ( I think he wanted out of the rain for 5 minutes! ) He asked how I was getting on, and I said I had 60 fish, mostly still small. The wind and rain had not eased at all, in fact it seemed to be getting worse, the thing was my hands were getting that cold I was struggling to hook the bait and to unhook the fish. Going into the last quarter of the match and the bites were slowing down, so I put another section on, this seemed to do the trick as the fish had just backed of a bit. I was still getting plenty of bites, mostly small still. The all out came and I had 102 fish on the clicker, so putting all the effort into 1 swim had paid off, but would it be enough to beat Dave? At the scales I weighed in 121lb 8oz, a cracking weight and I was hoping it would be enough for the golden peg. Dave was next and he put 127lb odd on the scales! beating me into second, and the golden peg survives for another day! I don't think I did anything wrong as I caught plenty of fish, Just that Dave caught a better size stamp of fish than I did! On the whole we all had a good day's fishing despite the foul weather! De-robing and the rain had found it's way in slightly, and I was a bit damp in the nether regions! Along with most others! It will take a week to dry everything out! I must order some sun for next time!

Foxcotte Lake 23/01/ 2011

Foxcotte Lake from the top bank.


My first trip to Foxcotte for a while and I was looking forward to some roach fishing. The weather had been changeable the week before and with a few hard frosts the fishing could be tricky. I pulled 17 out of the hat and made my way there. With Nick for company on 16 hopefully there would be some fish in the area as Nick always draws on fish!





Peg 17 on the left with 16 in close proximity.



The water had a slight tinge to it, and whilst plumbing up I found a lot of weed in the peg and it was very difficult to find a clear area to fish. Nick on the other hand caught a fish on a bare hook, I knew he would have a load of fish in his peg! With so much weed in the area I decided to fore go any rods, and set up a couple of rigs on the pole. I found a small hole to fish in at 12m straight in front of me, and one at an angle to my left. I set up a 0.3 gram DS9 0.10 to 0.08 611-20 to a pink hollow, and a 0.4 gram DS9 0.12 to 0.10 611-18 to a yellow hollow. I also plumbed up next to the tree on my left at 6m. I decided to fish over groundbait in front of me and to put some chopped worm and caster in on the left angled swim. A 50/50 mix of black lake and match blend well riddled was the mix. I had worm, caster and maggot as bait. At the all in i cupped in three balls of groundbait with some caster in straight in front of me and half a pot of chopped worm each on the other 2 swims.
The first ten minutes were a bit of a disaster, with me faffing about, the float wasn't quite sitting correctly and I was putting on and taking shot off! I managed to settle down and hooked a couple of small roach. Nick was getting a few, with some netter roach in there for good measure. The bites were slow in coming and the weed was a problem, I did manage to catch another couple of fish when I decided to fetch a finer elastic out of the bag as the pink hollow was to heavy for the small roach that I was getting. I took off the rig from the pink hollow and put it onto a top set with 3 elastic. After I did that I couldn't get a bite! Swapping to the other lines didn't improve matters, with nothing forthcoming. I dropped a down to a finer hook and hook length but it didn't make a difference. A good hour and a half had passed before I caught another small roach. Nick was still getting a few but the whole lake seemed to be fishing hard with some anglers walking. I could see James catching steady on the sluice, and Buzz next to him catching the odd fish. I was struggling now with the weed, so when Nick went for a walk I fetched an on the drop rig out of the box and attached it to the 3 elastic, with the plan to fish above the weed.
I started pinging caster and maggot and kept lifting and dropping the rig in, this worked to a degree and I started to string a few fish together, only tiny but at least it was something. I would get a couple then it die for some time, it was difficult to keep them coming. I did this for the remainder of the match as it was the only way I could get a bite!

Hard work for not a lot.

The scales came round and I weighed a massive 1lb 2oz, 21 small fish, good enough though to take the section by double default! Nick had 2lb 8oz for third, and James and Buzz either side of the sluice were 1st and 2nd respectively, all in all a very hard day for all.

Greenridge Farm. 16/01/2011

Having not been out for a couple of weeks due to work/snow ice/ Christmas etc. I was looking forward to the match which was on lakes 3 & 4. I had heard that a few fish had been coming out in the regular Saturday matches, but it was patchy. Whilst taking my gear down to the lakes prior to the draw I managed to tread in some dog dirt, hmmm nice! Time would only tell if this was a good sign, or I was going to have "one of those days! ". At the draw I pulled out peg 36 on the middle of lake 4, not quite what I was hoping for as it is quite narrow and shallow. The end pegs had been quite kind to me on lake 4 in the past, and was hoping for a nice end peg! I did have the next best thing as peg 35 to my left hadn't been put in, so I had a nice margin to fish, if they were to come in.

I was going to fish three lines, tight across at 11.5m, down the middle at 6m, and to my left just before peg 35's platform. Whilst plumbing up I had forgotten how shallow it was and couldn't find much more than 2ft anywhere in the peg, actually it was pretty even, which made it easy as far as rigs would go. I set up 3 rigs, an image dibber on 0.10 to a barbless 611-20, to a pink hollow. A slightly heavier image dibber on 0.12 to a pr32-18, to a yellow hollow, and a heavy rig which was a Carpa cube on 0.14 to a 911-16, to a green hollow, for the margins. As the depths were similar I could use any of the rigs on any swim. I had corn, maggots, micro pellet and some 4mm expander's, At the all in I cupped a few grains of corn to my left into the margins, and half a small pole pot of micros and corn at 6m. I was going to feed the far swim with a toss pot. My intentions were to have a look on the corn first off, before switching to the maggot if the corn didn't work.

I slipped a grain of corn on the 0.12 rig and a few in the toss pot and had a look at the far bank swim, after 5 minutes the float dipped and the first small carp of a 1lb was heading it's way to the net, a good start, perhaps the dog pooh was a good omen! Ten minutes later and number 2 of a similar size to the first was in the net. Then almost instantly number 3 this time slightly bigger. Then nothing! For a good 20 minutes or so. Stu to my left on peg 34 had had a couple and Simon to my right on peg 37 had had one. I had a look on the 6m swim but there was no bites there to be had, so I went back to the far swim, this time on maggot. There was not sign on the far line except by small fish towing the bait about. By now Stu was fishing in the margins and almost instantly he had a lump on, I kept an eye on him whilst trying to get the far line to come back to life. Stu then had another couple of lumps out of the margins, so i fed the far line with some corn and micros and decided to have a go in the margins myself.

A few minutes had passed before the float wobbled before burying, and a nice fish of 2lb had graced my landing net, not the size of fish Stu was catching, but welcome none the less. I had a few more reasonably sized fish, before I hooked one of Stu's lumps, which I promptly lost underneath the platform! This sort of killed my margins for a bit, I so re-fed and went back over to the far line. Stu was still getting the odd lump in the margins, and by now was well in front on the lake, and as far as I could tell I was second. Back out onto the far swim with corn and a small dip in the float resulted in a 1lb carp. Another couple followed before it died again. Back onto the margin line, again a small carp of a 1lb or so, followed by another couple, again nothing like the size Stu was catching! After having a look on the 6m swim, again with no bites, I went back onto the far line. After a bit the float dipped and I hooked into a fish of a decent size, I played it carefully across the lake before messing about to much and it dived under my net and I lost it ! Total Clampetry! The two best fish hooked and both of them lost!

The last 45 minutes of the match and swapping from the margins to the far line kept some fish coming, nothing big and not frequently enough to catch up Stu. At the all out I had 18 carp, not to bad, I think I had more fish than anyone on the lake but they were all of the small size! The scales came round and I weighed 29lb 14oz good enough for second on the lake and another nice pick up, Stu Weighed 52lb lump fishing, I think I cleared the small fish out of the way for him! Now where's that DVD on catching big fish....!

Upper Thames Winter League Final Round. ESKIMO FISHING! 05/12/10

The final round of the Upper Thames Winter League on The Kennet & Avon Canal at Devizes had come around, after some heavy snow the previous week and some severe frosts prospects looked hard for the match. Whist the snow had gone, several days of brutal frosts were going to make conditions and fishing very tricky. At the draw the team was on peg 2, and I was on b2 on a section up at Allington. I had not fished this bit before so new territory for me. After a long walk to the canal, I was greeted with a frozen canal and the prospect of an ice braking session, whilst I knew it would be frozen, I just didn't realize quite how thick it would be. My section was split either side of a swing bridge, with B1,2,3 one side and 4,5,6,7 the other. I got to my peg and dug the ice breaker out of the carryall. The first three chucks with the ice breaker did not go well, bouncing across the surface of the ice! After a few expletives about how thick the ice must be, I started attacking it from the edge first.

After 10 minutes of furiously swinging the ice breaker over my head I finally managed to break through, the ice was 3-4 inches thick! This was going to turn into a mammoth ice breaking session, one way of working off your breakfast and keeping warm! It was extremely hard and exhausting work chipping away at it, after 2 hours and the match due to start and a couple of huge blisters on my hands, I had managed to break to a distance of 6 meters, that would have to do! Talking to Simon from Blackmore vale next door he arrived at the same conclusion! A few minutes with the net to clear all the broken ice and I was ready to set up! I had just put my box in position when someone shouted the all in, hmm I was going to be a bit late in starting fishing! I set up 2 rigs, both 0.9 to 0.7 on 1-2 elastics, one had a 511-22 and one a 511-24, plus some finer hook lengths should they be needed. Whilst I was setting up the ice was forming in the hole I had just created, and had to swirl the pole cupping kit to keep it ice free. I was going to fish at 5m, and at 6m, as far as I had broken. I did touch the ice with one of my rigs whilst setting up, and there it stayed glued to the ice! ( note to self don't touch the ice with your rigs! )

Just before 11 o'clock and I was ready to fish, I cupped in some punch crumb on the two lines, hopefully I would get a few on the punch. I kept alternating between the two lines but nothing, not even an indication, no one had caught to my right either, but the guy to my left had 2 small perch. After 45 minutes the float moved sideways slightly, I lifted and felt resistance, I carefully played it and slipped the net under a 2oz skimmer, phew! I hadn't blanked! Back out on the punch but no more bites, so I decided to turn the 6m swim into a worm line, as the chap to my left had another small perch. I chopped up a lobby and a few dendrabena and included a pinch of squatt and minced it up. I fed this, and had another cat ice clearing session, which was forming every few minutes. Out with a squatt on the hook, after a few minutes the float buried but I missed it! I wasn't quite expecting such a positive bite! Back out again with squatt and the float dipped, this time I hooked it, it turned out to be a netter roach, as far as I could tell I was doing well! No more bites for twenty minutes or so, time for a re-feed. Again a lobby, a few dendra and a pinch of squatt minced up.

After a phone call from Dave Tucker using Kieth's phone, ( cheapskate! ) I went back out on the squatt, the float dipped again and another nice netter roach, I was beating the guys around me as Simon was still blanking and the guy to my left was only catching the odd tiny perch. The ice was forming quicker now and keeping my hole clear was becoming a problem. I had a few small roach and a tiny perch, then the bites slowed. Another re-feed again not to much, buy now it was 2.30pm. It was getting colder buy the minute, and so was I. After 10 minutes or so after the feed the fish had switched on, catching tiny roach with the odd bigger one thrown in, even missing a few bites. I was catching well when the all out came even catching a few on flouro pinkie. Simon blanked next door and I knew I had beaten the guy to my left, just had to wait for the scales to see how the other side of the bridge had done. Following the scales the ice the other side of the bridge was a lot thinner, at the weigh in I put 2lb 1oz on the scales, this was made up of 23 fish, for 3rd in section, not to bad a day after all.

Back at the pub for the results, the team had done it! Second on the day with 50 points, and winning the league! A superb result for the whole squad. A nice trophy and medals for the squad, and an individual champion in the guise of Stu Dabbs. A hard day for everyone but a thoroughly enjoyable one for every body, and a semi final to look forward to at Gold Valley in March, lets hope it's warmer!

Round 5 Upper Thames Winter League 21/11/2010

No post for a bit due to not going fishing, ( circumstances beyond my control ) sorry about that but normal service is now resumed! You can tell I haven't blogged for a bit because I keep forgetting to take the camera! Oops! Words will just have to paint the pictures for me! ( I hope I don't bore you to tears! ) Having walked the bank last week, and with Andover still leading the league, I was looking forward to it especially having not going out for a bit. The canal around Bedwyn had fished well the previous round, with some good weights, just a couple of sections seemed to be fishing hard. I had prepped my gear, tied numerous rigs, and loads of hook lengths, all systems go.
At the draw Barry had pulled peg 4, all the team on 4 just different sections, A4, B4 etc. I had F4, in a section known as the Beeches, it had fished well the previous week, with the winner coming from this section, catching some sizable perch, and with good back up weights of small fish. When I got to my peg I was next door to the match winning peg from the previous round, I had reeds at 10 o'clock and 2 o'clock on the far bank, with a gap in between that went back to metal piling's. Info from the John who was in this section last week was that it would be a fish race, apart from the end peg flier. Plumbing up I found no depth at the piling's, I had 18" at the reeds at 2 o'clock and 2ft at the 10 o'clock reed swim, both theses swims were at 14.5m. These 2 swims I was going to fish positively with chopped worm and caster, hoping that some of the big perch in the area would make an appearance! I set up an Image dibber on 0.10 straight through to a 611-16,to a nice soft pink hollow elastic. I had two other swims, one at 5m in front of me which was for the punch, a Garbolino 0.4 gram DS9, 0.9 to 0.7, 511-22 to a 1-2 elastic, and a squatt and ground bait line at 11.5m at 10 o'clock so to speak, a 0.3 gram Preston classic, 0.9 to 0.7 511-22, to a 3 elastic.
At the all in I fed a small pot of liquidized bread at 5m, 3 balls of ground bait laced with squatt and a few caster at 11.5m and both the two reed swims got half a pot of chopped worm and caster, I was going to have regular looks on the reed swims all day so I decided to feed it from the off. In on the punch line, bites straight away from small roach, but it was not as quick as I was hoping, a couple of bites and then nothing for a few minutes, I soon realized what the problem was when I had strike from a pike! After a few bite less minutes I re-fed and left it, by this time either side of me were catching a lot quicker than I was. A quick look on the reed swims produced a couple of small perch, so I fed those again and went onto the squatt line. This proved to be crucial as I started catching very quickly, catching up the two anglers either side, I was loose feeding squatt regularly and getting a bite a chuck. After 45minutes I fed a small ball of ground bait and had a quick look on the other lines.
I had a look on the 5m punch line, whilst I had a few fish it was nowhere near as quick as the squatt line, even so I kept feeding just in case that pike showed up on the squatt line! Over to the reed swims, I had half a dozen 2 oz perch, before it went quiet, not the size I was hoping for but not to be sniffed at. I re-fed these 2 swims and went back onto the 11.5m squatt line. The squatt line was still fishing well and I caught regularly for the next hour before this slowed a little, I gave it a couple more balls of ground bait before having a look at the reed swims. Just over half the match had gone and I was doing ok, I think I was still behind those either side of me but only just. First put in on the 10 o'clock reed swim resulted in a small perch, I shipped back out with another half a worm on and the float buried, and this time I was met with something a lot bigger. Playing it carefully I slipped the net under a perch of just over the pound, back out again and the next bite resulted in a perch of similar size, it is funny how they come along in two's! The chap to my right had just landed a big perch to, I was now well up in the section, only a couple of small perch off the other reed swim so I re-fed and went back onto the squatt line.
I was still getting regular bites off the squatt line, putting a few fish in the net, I kept having regular looks on the reed swims but this only resulted in small perch, I kept feeding hoping for another couple of big uns! The chap to my right had another couple of big perch, putting me second in section as far as I could tell. I kept swapping between the squatt line and the two reed swims for the rest of the match, a minute before the all out I hooked a lump on the squatt line, I played it carefully shouting fish on at the whistle, a couple of minutes later I finally saw it, a 5lb Pike, I was hoping for another big perch! I pulled for a break and that was that. At the scales I weighed in 8lb 11oz for second in section, very pleasing for my first match for a while. The chap to my right won the section and finished second overall, the peg is the proverbial flier! Another great team performance saw us third in the match, still first in the league overall with one round left, looking good!