The 3rd round of this series came and went this past Sunday, my section of 9 were destined for the Match Lake (Lake 2) for the 6hr duration. The weather looked fair and relatively mild, I was thinking it may fish well. I should not really do that thinking stuff, I think it jinxes things somewhat......
Anyways, I arrived and had a chat with a couple of the guys before loading my trolley (I have sorted how to load it now..!!) before heading off to pay my pols and pick my peg.
Thanks to Andy Seery for providing us all with a tub of Gofters.
I was through in the Knock-Out thanks to a bye in the last round, but Steve Seager was my friendly opposition this round and thankfully he was in my section and drew a couple pegs away from me. I drew peg 16 (no pics, left phone at home....numpty), which is a bit vanilla, something and nothing, perhaps bang on average. Steve drew peg 20, which is a better peg and the area has been producing some bags of silvers including big perch, skimmers and a few tench.
For company I had Rod Wooton on peg 14 to my left and Martin Pettifer on peg 18 to my right.
A few rigs set up:
1st was a silvers rig, DT Floats F1/Silvers in 12 x no11 shot, for 7m in front using maggots and caster over a small helping of groundbait.
The 2nd rig using a DT Floats RBS Margin in 0.3g, this was for meat over a few maggots and meat both left and right at 7m each direction.
3rd rig was using a DT Pinger in 0.1g for fishing up the shelf, initially using 4mm pellets over micro, but I swapped to maggots after a couple hours. This would be dobbed around the far side at 14.5m.
I made up a margin rig for maggots over micros down to my left in a couple spots. A DT BIG D float was the pattern of choice, dotted right down.
Lastly I had a DT RBS Open Water float in 0.3g for around 13m in front using maggots over a few micros and maggots.
Well at the all-in I was just about to load my pole cup to put a bot of bait in a couple spots when I noticed Martin into a fish. Well I continued to sort my peg, pour a cup of tea and watched Martin play the fish, which was not hooked in the mouth, he took a shade over 20 minutes to get the leviathan into his landing net, it was hooked in a fin but a good 12lb+. Tidy start for him.
Now I would love to say how I spent the day picking up odd carp in amongst the big skimmers I was catching, but when does that happen?
It was actually really really hard going with everyone (except Rod) catching plippy roach, odd small skimmer and a handful of F1s (count as silvers). Steve Seager also had a golden tench, he also hooked a few decent perch which his neighbour, Gary O'Shea, also did, but Gary never lost his but landed them unlike Steve.
Me, well I had maybe 1.5lb of silvers after 4hrs, not a sign of a carp. But as we approached 90 minutes to go I managed a carp down to my left on maggot, a one off carp here as I never had another bite after I hooked a snag and had to pull for a break.
Elsewhere, Rod had 2 carp in 2 drops off the island with an hour to go, coupled with an early F1.
Tom Mangnall was over on peg 11 and despite his early slow start had began to net the odd carp and was doing alright.
Martin on peg 18 was just getting roach, more rapidly than me, he was fishing in the gap between the 2 islands.
I managed a 1.5lb skimmer with 30 minutes to go, but other than my roach and odd 1oz perch it was very hard for the 6hrs and to be fair most were happy when the all-out was called.
I packed up and followed the scales, but it was only peg 1, Martin Rayet (40lb) and Tom on peg 11 (31lb) had nets of note. Ade on peg 5 had just over 5lb of silvers and never weighed in any carp despite hooking a couple.
I managed 5lb of silvers plus my 2.5lb carp weighed a hefty 4lb 7oz so 9lb 7oz was my total.
This was a few ounces more than Rods 2 carp and single F1.
Martin's 1st drop foul hooked carp weighed 12lb 7oz plus he had 5lb 2oz of silvers for 3rd on the lake with 17-09.
Steve Seager had 7-02, which was a golden tench and a few F1s. Gary had a tidy 12-00 of silvers including some chunky perch, but no carp. Matt Williams on p24 DNW'd after 3 little silvers.
So I squeezed into section 5th and gained 5 silver's points, so not the best of days really, again one more carp would have boosted my points as would another 1.5lb skimmer. Ah well.
Tony has the full set of results on his blog, HERE.
As it stands I am mid-table in the overall standings and 3rd, I think in the silvers standings, plus I luckily got through in the Knock-Out.
Next Sunday I am at Sedges for a Silvers match, the first time I have fished there in ages and ages and am looking forward to it.
Until next time, take care.
Lee
Wednesday, 31 January 2018
Thursday, 25 January 2018
Pawlett match, Landsend Lakes 1 and 2. 21-01-17
A short blog this week as the friggin flu has taken it's hold on me and I am shattered.
The 1st match of the year with the club, usually a decent turn out for each match but often this one gets one of the largest attendances, but this week it didn't, still 20 or 21 were fishing after a few sensible souls booked out.
The weather was due to be shite, it was shite, it rained for the whole time we were there, luckily as the day wore on the temps rose, it was bitter first thing but by 1pm it was ok.
I fancied pegs 32 and 33 to do the business for the carp, as I suggested the previous night and to the 2 that drew them. Plus peg 21 on the match lake would be tough to beat with silvers, especially when Chris 'giffy; Ware drew it, he aint no mug when catching a few.
Me, I wanted to be on the match lake, not massively fussed where, but I drew peg 36 on speci.... Not an ideal start....given the incessant rain I even considered going home as the reality is (in my eyes)that you are unlikely to win anything from that area at this time of the year.
But I did go to the peg, slowly got all my kit organised and set about setting up my rigs:
1st rig, silvers. 0.3g DT F1/Silvers carbon float with 4-6 laccy and 0.10>20 hook, maggots over groundbait at 7m.
2nd rig, carp (ideally), 0.3g DT RBS 12 laccy with 0.14>16 hook for meat over a few bits of meat and a few maggots. Fished at 7m off to my left.
3rd rig, anything rig, 0.1g DT Pinger, 8-10 laccy with 0.12>16 hook for maggots and casters over the same with a few micros.. around 13.5m across dragged a bit up a shelf in a couple spots.
The all in was shouted, I was still plumbing up....lol. Steve Fouracre next door on 34 thought I was fishing already, but it was my plummet....he apologised. Lol.
My 1st fish, a small perch came after 15 minutes, then a couple more.
Then an hour of nothing before my 1st carp was hooked, on the silvers rig obviously, but I managed to get it in, around 4-5lb methinks.
Meanwhile 32 and 33 were catching odd carp while Rob Dodd on peg 40 was foul hooking them occasionally, but he got 3 in out of 5 or 6 I think during the day, and a 2lb perch.
Opposite on peg 29 Mike Davis was getting a roach every drop and was doing alright.
It was around the halfway point that I began to have 'issues', I decided to try fishing my shelf line with a couple maggots, a roach and a perch, only small but a good sign, then a carp, that tore off left and shed the hook in to a snag around 2.5m off the far bank, so then I re-plumbed around the far shelf and tangled in a bunch of line and tree branches that were attached to 2 trees on the far side and dropped down into the water. When originally plumbing up I thought it was just a branch in the water so avoided that spot. I was wrong. I lifted my plummet to reveal a huge tangle of branches, twigs, line, braid and a couple leads. It snapped my hooklength and I lost the plummet.
So I got my cupping kit and tried to drag the offending sang back to me.....that didn't work. It became too tangled so I rested my pole on the water and went off to the car for the lead rod.
I came bag cast over the snag, sort of, unscrewed my tangled pole cup which semi-sunk and drifted off to my left and then I tried hand lining the snag back. It was a farce really but I got a bunch of line/braid/2oz leads and a tonne of branches and twigs back and out of the water. The rest of the snag is possibly still in the peg, not sure, not sure if even still connected to the far bank anymore.
I spent 10 mins trying to rescue my pole cup, which I successfully managed to do down in peg 37.
So I had maybe 90 minutes left now I had under 2lb of silvers and 1 carp. Kev on peg 33 was getting the odd fish on the lead and meat cast at the aerator. Peg 32 was getting a few dobbing around the end bank with maggots I think and Mike was getting a few roach. Everyone else were not doing much, some were slowly packing up. It was still raining heavy and the lake was changing colour from the torrent washing in to the lake at peg 40. The water level rose a little.
I came back on to the silvers line after feeding and hooked a carp. I played it ok, got it up then as I grabbed my landing net the handle separated and the 3rd section was the only piece in my had, so I got don on my knees and grabbed the last bit poking out of the water and somehow rejoined the handle back together. The fish had not come off but was a little more spirited, it looked 7lb perhaps.
I got it to the surface again and went to land it and the bugger fell off....!! 2-1 to the carp now.
With 20 mins to go, Steve had left, along with one or 2 others from both lakes.
I did bump a decent fish over the groundbait, not sure what it was. I then had a look across and I think I lost a carp foul hooked, but again it may have been a perch or chub or something.
Last knocking I had a 2lb+ skimmer and Kev on 33 had a carp on the whistle.
The end was called. Yay.
I packed up, decided I was going to weigh in as I had a pants day so at least I want to see what little success I could put on the scales. I followed the scales on a little of the match lake but other than a couple nets around 20lb-22lb there was not much to report until peg 21 gave Giffy the silvers win with 17lb of caster caught fish including tench. Peg 24 gave Jason King 30lb or so.
Speci lake weighed and all to report was Mikes 11lb of roach, loads of little roach from p29. Then 32 and 33 were within 3oz of each other with 34-12 to Will Puddy from peg 32 and 34-15 from peg 33 to Kev Hunt on lead and meat. I weighed my 5-04 carp and 4-03 of silvers. Rob on peg 40 had 19lb.
It was an awful drive home, the roads at time were more like streams at least. My house became a tackle drying zone until yesterday. The joys.
Results:
1st- Kev Hunt, 34-15. Lead/Meat peg 33
2nd - Will Puddy, 34-12. Pole and maggots peg 32
3rd - Jason King, 30-14, Pole and maggots I think, peg 24.
Silvers
1st - Chris Ware, 17-00, Pole and Caster at 13m, peg 21
2nd - Mike Davis, 11-12, Pole and Caster over micros, peg 29
So a very tricky day for all and not very enjoyable for most, though I did kind of like it despite the weather and snags etc.
Next up is Landsend Winter League 3rd round, I am on Lake 2 (Match Lake) on Sunday.
Hopefully I will fit a whole load better than what I have been since Monday.
Until next week, take care.
Lee
The 1st match of the year with the club, usually a decent turn out for each match but often this one gets one of the largest attendances, but this week it didn't, still 20 or 21 were fishing after a few sensible souls booked out.
The weather was due to be shite, it was shite, it rained for the whole time we were there, luckily as the day wore on the temps rose, it was bitter first thing but by 1pm it was ok.
I fancied pegs 32 and 33 to do the business for the carp, as I suggested the previous night and to the 2 that drew them. Plus peg 21 on the match lake would be tough to beat with silvers, especially when Chris 'giffy; Ware drew it, he aint no mug when catching a few.
Me, I wanted to be on the match lake, not massively fussed where, but I drew peg 36 on speci.... Not an ideal start....given the incessant rain I even considered going home as the reality is (in my eyes)that you are unlikely to win anything from that area at this time of the year.
But I did go to the peg, slowly got all my kit organised and set about setting up my rigs:
1st rig, silvers. 0.3g DT F1/Silvers carbon float with 4-6 laccy and 0.10>20 hook, maggots over groundbait at 7m.
2nd rig, carp (ideally), 0.3g DT RBS 12 laccy with 0.14>16 hook for meat over a few bits of meat and a few maggots. Fished at 7m off to my left.
3rd rig, anything rig, 0.1g DT Pinger, 8-10 laccy with 0.12>16 hook for maggots and casters over the same with a few micros.. around 13.5m across dragged a bit up a shelf in a couple spots.
The all in was shouted, I was still plumbing up....lol. Steve Fouracre next door on 34 thought I was fishing already, but it was my plummet....he apologised. Lol.
My 1st fish, a small perch came after 15 minutes, then a couple more.
Then an hour of nothing before my 1st carp was hooked, on the silvers rig obviously, but I managed to get it in, around 4-5lb methinks.
Meanwhile 32 and 33 were catching odd carp while Rob Dodd on peg 40 was foul hooking them occasionally, but he got 3 in out of 5 or 6 I think during the day, and a 2lb perch.
Opposite on peg 29 Mike Davis was getting a roach every drop and was doing alright.
It was around the halfway point that I began to have 'issues', I decided to try fishing my shelf line with a couple maggots, a roach and a perch, only small but a good sign, then a carp, that tore off left and shed the hook in to a snag around 2.5m off the far bank, so then I re-plumbed around the far shelf and tangled in a bunch of line and tree branches that were attached to 2 trees on the far side and dropped down into the water. When originally plumbing up I thought it was just a branch in the water so avoided that spot. I was wrong. I lifted my plummet to reveal a huge tangle of branches, twigs, line, braid and a couple leads. It snapped my hooklength and I lost the plummet.
So I got my cupping kit and tried to drag the offending sang back to me.....that didn't work. It became too tangled so I rested my pole on the water and went off to the car for the lead rod.
I came bag cast over the snag, sort of, unscrewed my tangled pole cup which semi-sunk and drifted off to my left and then I tried hand lining the snag back. It was a farce really but I got a bunch of line/braid/2oz leads and a tonne of branches and twigs back and out of the water. The rest of the snag is possibly still in the peg, not sure, not sure if even still connected to the far bank anymore.
I spent 10 mins trying to rescue my pole cup, which I successfully managed to do down in peg 37.
So I had maybe 90 minutes left now I had under 2lb of silvers and 1 carp. Kev on peg 33 was getting the odd fish on the lead and meat cast at the aerator. Peg 32 was getting a few dobbing around the end bank with maggots I think and Mike was getting a few roach. Everyone else were not doing much, some were slowly packing up. It was still raining heavy and the lake was changing colour from the torrent washing in to the lake at peg 40. The water level rose a little.
I came back on to the silvers line after feeding and hooked a carp. I played it ok, got it up then as I grabbed my landing net the handle separated and the 3rd section was the only piece in my had, so I got don on my knees and grabbed the last bit poking out of the water and somehow rejoined the handle back together. The fish had not come off but was a little more spirited, it looked 7lb perhaps.
I got it to the surface again and went to land it and the bugger fell off....!! 2-1 to the carp now.
With 20 mins to go, Steve had left, along with one or 2 others from both lakes.
I did bump a decent fish over the groundbait, not sure what it was. I then had a look across and I think I lost a carp foul hooked, but again it may have been a perch or chub or something.
Last knocking I had a 2lb+ skimmer and Kev on 33 had a carp on the whistle.
The end was called. Yay.
I packed up, decided I was going to weigh in as I had a pants day so at least I want to see what little success I could put on the scales. I followed the scales on a little of the match lake but other than a couple nets around 20lb-22lb there was not much to report until peg 21 gave Giffy the silvers win with 17lb of caster caught fish including tench. Peg 24 gave Jason King 30lb or so.
Speci lake weighed and all to report was Mikes 11lb of roach, loads of little roach from p29. Then 32 and 33 were within 3oz of each other with 34-12 to Will Puddy from peg 32 and 34-15 from peg 33 to Kev Hunt on lead and meat. I weighed my 5-04 carp and 4-03 of silvers. Rob on peg 40 had 19lb.
It was an awful drive home, the roads at time were more like streams at least. My house became a tackle drying zone until yesterday. The joys.
Results:
1st- Kev Hunt, 34-15. Lead/Meat peg 33
2nd - Will Puddy, 34-12. Pole and maggots peg 32
3rd - Jason King, 30-14, Pole and maggots I think, peg 24.
Silvers
1st - Chris Ware, 17-00, Pole and Caster at 13m, peg 21
2nd - Mike Davis, 11-12, Pole and Caster over micros, peg 29
 |
| Weights. |
Next up is Landsend Winter League 3rd round, I am on Lake 2 (Match Lake) on Sunday.
Hopefully I will fit a whole load better than what I have been since Monday.
Until next week, take care.
Lee
Wednesday, 10 January 2018
Landsend 'So-Simple Baits' Winter League, Rnd 2. 7-01-18
The second round of this series was last Sunday, and I was kind of looking forward to getting a bash on the Speci Lake (lake 1). I have only fished it a handful of times over the year, but have done ok on a few occasions. The fancied pegs being 31, 32, 33 and 34. But the corners 25 and 40 can be decent. I really didn't fancy the pegs in the middle of the islands.
Anyways I arrived early enough and sorted the trolley out, which is easier said than done now I have a new seatbox. I couldn't get on the bloody thing to sit on the trolley how I wanted it. But I will figure a way to get it right.
A bit of a chat with a couple guys and the draw was started. I was 1st in the pot for my lake for the day....peg 28. Hmm didn't fancy that to be honest and unless the roach had a big munch on then I could definitely struggle. I think it was that peg that Tony Rixon had 20-odd pounds of roach from in the 1st round, but I cannot be sure.
I made my was to my peg and found out that Mr Consistent Gary O'Shea had drawn peg 33....So that looked good for him to get the section win, but he had Matt Williams on 32 opposite him for competition. I had Steve Seagar to my right on peg 31 and Rod Wootton was rather not well down on peg 25. Plenty of room, not always great.
I began to set up and the odd roach was breaking the surface in front of the gap between pegs 29 and 30. So I was a little hopeful of not blanking.
I had a full 16m to the far bank.....I cant remember the last time I got the 16m section out of the bag, but I did for this.
I had for bait, maggots, micros, corn and a few expanders and prawns....oh and some casters and I also mixed up some groundbait.
My rigs were simple:
1st was for silvers, a DT F1 float in 0.2g and hooklength was 0.10>20 b911f1 to be fished to my right at 7m and the same in front.
2nd was a rig for carp and was a DT RBS pattern in 0.3g and would be fished in front at 13m at the bottom of the far shelf, it was also suit 7m off to my left.
Two 0.1g pellet pingers were set-up, one for 16m across in 2ft of water against the island using any bait and the second in 2.5ft around 14.5m distance slightly to my right between 2 trees/bushes. I would feed micros and corn on the 7m line and maggots/casters at 14.5m in case the big perch show (they go well over 3lb here). Both rigs had B911 hooks in size 16 to 0.14 hooklengths.
At the all in I chose not to feed anywhere and started at 7m off to my right tosspotting casters and fishing a single red maggot on the hook. I had 2 baby roach in 2 drops, both fell off.....haha then I managed to put the 3rd in the keepnet, only an ounce, but no blank for me. A couple more followed before bites stopped.....they stayed stopped for a while as the first hour passed with my tally was 5oz...5 roach. Some guys hadn't had a bite. But Matt Williams on corner peg 32 had a couple carp and Gary O'Shea was 'emptying it' by all account.
The second hour saw me catch a few more roach from both silvers lines, I did bump a couple better fish, could have been skimmers, could have been perch, they were not on long enough to tell. But half a dozen roach, all around the 1oz size graced my keepnet. Oh and a single 2oz perch from 14.5m between the trees/bushes.
My few looks for a carp remained fruitless and the roach were not of any size worth catching. Steve Seager had lost 2 or 3 carp and Rod had one from peg 25. It was hard fishing for most. The wind was rather blustery and at times it was hard to fish 7m let along 16m.
I then had 2 hours or so where I think all I caught was 3 or 4 little roach. I was last on the lake, so I thought at this point.
As we came to the last 90 minutes I still had not seen a sign of carp in my peg and Steve was getting a few net silvers and looked well ahead of me. But I began to pick up 1oz roach more quickly now and I was getting into a rhythm and at least putting ounces into the net. I suppose I was on a pound and a half.
I had a couple looks for carp, again nothing. I could hear other saying they had only 3 bites, 4 bites, 2 bites etc.....
As the all out was called I was getting a bite a chuck and even managed a couple 4-6oz roach and a 2oz skimmer. I wanted the match to carry on 20 more minutes as I could have put a couple pounds in the net then. I ended with around 60 fish and had loads of bites, missed plenty though, which given the size of the fish is no shock. Plus the fish were up and down in the water that bites would be hard to spot at times, I tried shallower and laying on etc but could not quite get things sorted.
I reckoned I had 2lb 8oz or so, maybe a little more. But I was sure Steve had well more than me on the silvers front, he had caught a late carp fishing tight over. Rod hadn't had any more, 4 bites he had all day. Others had struggled but most had a carp or 2. So I was really looking at the last place in the section, but I could maybe win the silvers pot for the lake should I have more than Steve. I was sure he had more, he was sure I had more....always the way.
Anyway the scales arrived and Rod's single carp was 5-10, my silvers weighed a surprising 5-08, those odd roach that fell off and occasional bumped fish cost me at least 1 point. I followed the scales to the next peg. Steve Seager had 1 carp, but more importantly to me, his silvers were 4-08 which was a couple pound at least less than what I guessed he had. I then went back to my peg and sorted the rest of my kit out and headed back to the car.
I got hold of the weigh sheet and actually saw my net of roach was the best silvers on the lake, so at least I would get an envelope if not the points I hoped for prior to the match.
Gary O'Shea had done the business from his peg, catching well on maggots suspended mid-depth along the end bank. best part of 90lb was a great days fishing so well done him. The rest of us struggled to get to 70lb between the 8 of us.....!!
The full results are on Tony's Blog I believe.
So although a hard day, the last hour was rather enjoyable and I was getting bites, which is more that others had during the day. Maybe it was my downfall, maybe I should have sat it out for the whole match for a few carp, but I really was not convinced that I would have any in my peg, let alone expected to hook one. A 6lber would have been worth loads more points.....Hindsight eh!!
No idea where I am fishing this weekend, I don't think I have any matches so a pleasure day at Apex, where I hope to get 15lb+ of skimmers, just for a change, is my likely foray out on the bank.
Until next time, tight lines.
Lee
Anyways I arrived early enough and sorted the trolley out, which is easier said than done now I have a new seatbox. I couldn't get on the bloody thing to sit on the trolley how I wanted it. But I will figure a way to get it right.
A bit of a chat with a couple guys and the draw was started. I was 1st in the pot for my lake for the day....peg 28. Hmm didn't fancy that to be honest and unless the roach had a big munch on then I could definitely struggle. I think it was that peg that Tony Rixon had 20-odd pounds of roach from in the 1st round, but I cannot be sure.
I made my was to my peg and found out that Mr Consistent Gary O'Shea had drawn peg 33....So that looked good for him to get the section win, but he had Matt Williams on 32 opposite him for competition. I had Steve Seagar to my right on peg 31 and Rod Wootton was rather not well down on peg 25. Plenty of room, not always great.
I began to set up and the odd roach was breaking the surface in front of the gap between pegs 29 and 30. So I was a little hopeful of not blanking.
 |
| Peg 28, Landsend Speci Lake (lake 1) |
I had for bait, maggots, micros, corn and a few expanders and prawns....oh and some casters and I also mixed up some groundbait.
My rigs were simple:
1st was for silvers, a DT F1 float in 0.2g and hooklength was 0.10>20 b911f1 to be fished to my right at 7m and the same in front.
2nd was a rig for carp and was a DT RBS pattern in 0.3g and would be fished in front at 13m at the bottom of the far shelf, it was also suit 7m off to my left.
Two 0.1g pellet pingers were set-up, one for 16m across in 2ft of water against the island using any bait and the second in 2.5ft around 14.5m distance slightly to my right between 2 trees/bushes. I would feed micros and corn on the 7m line and maggots/casters at 14.5m in case the big perch show (they go well over 3lb here). Both rigs had B911 hooks in size 16 to 0.14 hooklengths.
At the all in I chose not to feed anywhere and started at 7m off to my right tosspotting casters and fishing a single red maggot on the hook. I had 2 baby roach in 2 drops, both fell off.....haha then I managed to put the 3rd in the keepnet, only an ounce, but no blank for me. A couple more followed before bites stopped.....they stayed stopped for a while as the first hour passed with my tally was 5oz...5 roach. Some guys hadn't had a bite. But Matt Williams on corner peg 32 had a couple carp and Gary O'Shea was 'emptying it' by all account.
The second hour saw me catch a few more roach from both silvers lines, I did bump a couple better fish, could have been skimmers, could have been perch, they were not on long enough to tell. But half a dozen roach, all around the 1oz size graced my keepnet. Oh and a single 2oz perch from 14.5m between the trees/bushes.
My few looks for a carp remained fruitless and the roach were not of any size worth catching. Steve Seager had lost 2 or 3 carp and Rod had one from peg 25. It was hard fishing for most. The wind was rather blustery and at times it was hard to fish 7m let along 16m.
I then had 2 hours or so where I think all I caught was 3 or 4 little roach. I was last on the lake, so I thought at this point.
As we came to the last 90 minutes I still had not seen a sign of carp in my peg and Steve was getting a few net silvers and looked well ahead of me. But I began to pick up 1oz roach more quickly now and I was getting into a rhythm and at least putting ounces into the net. I suppose I was on a pound and a half.
I had a couple looks for carp, again nothing. I could hear other saying they had only 3 bites, 4 bites, 2 bites etc.....
As the all out was called I was getting a bite a chuck and even managed a couple 4-6oz roach and a 2oz skimmer. I wanted the match to carry on 20 more minutes as I could have put a couple pounds in the net then. I ended with around 60 fish and had loads of bites, missed plenty though, which given the size of the fish is no shock. Plus the fish were up and down in the water that bites would be hard to spot at times, I tried shallower and laying on etc but could not quite get things sorted.
I reckoned I had 2lb 8oz or so, maybe a little more. But I was sure Steve had well more than me on the silvers front, he had caught a late carp fishing tight over. Rod hadn't had any more, 4 bites he had all day. Others had struggled but most had a carp or 2. So I was really looking at the last place in the section, but I could maybe win the silvers pot for the lake should I have more than Steve. I was sure he had more, he was sure I had more....always the way.
Anyway the scales arrived and Rod's single carp was 5-10, my silvers weighed a surprising 5-08, those odd roach that fell off and occasional bumped fish cost me at least 1 point. I followed the scales to the next peg. Steve Seager had 1 carp, but more importantly to me, his silvers were 4-08 which was a couple pound at least less than what I guessed he had. I then went back to my peg and sorted the rest of my kit out and headed back to the car.
I got hold of the weigh sheet and actually saw my net of roach was the best silvers on the lake, so at least I would get an envelope if not the points I hoped for prior to the match.
 |
| Score Sheet from my section.... |
The full results are on Tony's Blog I believe.
So although a hard day, the last hour was rather enjoyable and I was getting bites, which is more that others had during the day. Maybe it was my downfall, maybe I should have sat it out for the whole match for a few carp, but I really was not convinced that I would have any in my peg, let alone expected to hook one. A 6lber would have been worth loads more points.....Hindsight eh!!
No idea where I am fishing this weekend, I don't think I have any matches so a pleasure day at Apex, where I hope to get 15lb+ of skimmers, just for a change, is my likely foray out on the bank.
Until next time, tight lines.
Lee
Wednesday, 3 January 2018
Acorn/Clevedon FWAC Blind Pairs and Summerhayes Longs Open, 30/12/17 and 31/12/17
A quick round up of the couple of matches I fished on the weekend.
Saturday was Clevedon FWAC's 'Boxing Day' blind pairs, this was opened up to all and after my car had it's MOT I had to decide what to do on Saturday and this came up, but I could not initially get on but then a text from Adie said I could as someone had dropped out. Bargain.
Only 10 of us fished it and the winds were rather strong, but dropped from 40+mph to 20-something during the day. I hadn't fished it for a long while but I do keep eyes on the results and it has generally been tricky going and the fish have seemed to moved around a bit, except the island pegs (1 to 5) where I was sure the winner would come from and where I fancied (we had pegs 2 and 4 in the match).
Anyways a bit of a natter to those I know and those I didn't before the draw was done. I pulled peg 40, bridge peg by the car...short walk. They have also cleared the hedge and filled the ditch that ran parallel with the car park so it is more exposed but looks a lot neater.
I fancied it for a few fish but got told that area was pants mid-week and a few dnw's in that area were made. My partner for the day was Andy Devereaux on peg 31.
Bait was maggots, expanders, micros and corn, plus some bread for dobbing.
3 rigs, 1 for anywhere from topkit to 9 or 10m where I would feed and fish maggots (DT 0.3g F1/Silvers float, 0.10>20f1 hook). The 2nd rig for dobbing bread along the bridge which went biteless (DT RBS Open water 0.2g, 0.12>16b911), lastly a shallower rig which was for the far side and my margins both sides where corn over micros would be used (0.1 DT Pinger 0.14>16b911).
Well to summarise the day, it was bloody hard for all. I began slowly, like everyone but I started to get the odd decent roach on my topkit and after an hour or so I had 4 or 5 for maybe 1lb.
The second hour gave me a 1.5lb carp and odd baby roach from maggots halfway along the bridge.
3rd hour gave nothing except 1 small skimmer on the topkit.
4th hour gave me another 2lb carp from next to the bridge on maggots and a skimmer from here.
Last hour produced a couple nice roach and in the final moments a decent f1 on corn over micros at 13m in front. I reckoned on 6lb plus a few roach/skimmers and 1 perch of 1oz.
Elsewhere the 2 island pegs produced a few carp and Mark Walsh and Mike Owens had 23lb+ nets. The rest of us struggled more so and Adie on peg 37 had 1 roach from his 4 bites all day.
Mark Bromsgrove had a tench of 1oz in his 4lb catch, which was nice.
I totalled 10-14 for 3rd on the day.
Top pairs were:
1st- total 27-12 were Mark Bromsgrove (4-00) and Mike Owen (23-12)
2nd - total 25-15 were Mark Walsh (23-07) and Matt Roden (2-08)
There are photos and weigh sheets on Ivan's Blog
It was nice to get back there and I will be sure to try and get there more often.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sunday saw me head to Summerhayes for their open on Longs, which turned out to be a rover.
I only decided to go as Gabe said he would see me there....a little more sleep would have been more sensible.
Anyways only 8 of us and I would wait until there was 2 balls left in the tub before my go....Gabe, who was running late, would have the last one. 1st pick and last pick were those left, yep I chose last choice. Pete phoned Mr Skarba and he put himself on peg 37 when he arrived. I fancied peg 11 or 12 as there seemed to be some fish there to say the least. But that area went, I chose peg 7, which in hindsight was not too sensible as during the day the sun came out and the winds increased leaving me not being able to see my floats in most areas and the areas I could were those ii struggled to hold the pole....twat, think next time...!!
Anyway I enjoyed my 4.5hrs fishing in the most part as you can get a few bites at this venue and so it proved, obviously not enough as I chucked back half and hour early. Peg 11 went off like a train and had 16 carp in the first 45 minutes to an hour. As had Martin Addicott around in the 30's somewhere.
My 1st carp came after 20 minutes on dobbed bread, after 90 minutes I had 5 or 6 on this, plus 2 little skimmers.
That was that on the bread. Then the wind and sun came and I never had anything for a couple hours, peg 11 kept catching but I was enjoying myself. I then picked up a couple carp on maggots where I had dobbed bread earlier when the wind dropped for a couple minutes.
I then tried down to my left edge by some reeds and netted 4 carp from here on maggots and a few chunky roach. I had nothing on maggots short but had a run of fish down my right edge by the empty platform on corn over micros, well I say run of fish, it was 4 and lost 2.
When I packed up I had 16 carp (40lb maybe) and 3lb or so of silvers.
I loaded my car and spoke to Gabe, he had around 30 carp and some silvers but also chucked back as 138lb and 101lb were top weights I found out later on from him. Rob Birch on peg 1 or 2 had 4 carp and a few bits, a couple others struggled too. But everyone had some bites and a few fish.
My 3 rigs were all on DT RBS Opens in 0.3g and to 0.12 hooklengths and size 16 hooks.
Bait was simple maggots, micros, corn and bread, I did mix some groundbait and had some casters but the wildlife were fed them.
It was nice to get back there and have a few elastic pullers, but I must remember that to face the sun and wind in the winter is rather schoolboy, I should have learned that I wouldn't have seen anything in those conditions.
Next weekend is the next round of the Landsend So-Simple Winter League. The weather looks cooler and I am on the Speci Lake.
Until then, Take Care.
Lee
Saturday was Clevedon FWAC's 'Boxing Day' blind pairs, this was opened up to all and after my car had it's MOT I had to decide what to do on Saturday and this came up, but I could not initially get on but then a text from Adie said I could as someone had dropped out. Bargain.
Only 10 of us fished it and the winds were rather strong, but dropped from 40+mph to 20-something during the day. I hadn't fished it for a long while but I do keep eyes on the results and it has generally been tricky going and the fish have seemed to moved around a bit, except the island pegs (1 to 5) where I was sure the winner would come from and where I fancied (we had pegs 2 and 4 in the match).
Anyways a bit of a natter to those I know and those I didn't before the draw was done. I pulled peg 40, bridge peg by the car...short walk. They have also cleared the hedge and filled the ditch that ran parallel with the car park so it is more exposed but looks a lot neater.
I fancied it for a few fish but got told that area was pants mid-week and a few dnw's in that area were made. My partner for the day was Andy Devereaux on peg 31.
 |
| Acorn peg 40 |
3 rigs, 1 for anywhere from topkit to 9 or 10m where I would feed and fish maggots (DT 0.3g F1/Silvers float, 0.10>20f1 hook). The 2nd rig for dobbing bread along the bridge which went biteless (DT RBS Open water 0.2g, 0.12>16b911), lastly a shallower rig which was for the far side and my margins both sides where corn over micros would be used (0.1 DT Pinger 0.14>16b911).
Well to summarise the day, it was bloody hard for all. I began slowly, like everyone but I started to get the odd decent roach on my topkit and after an hour or so I had 4 or 5 for maybe 1lb.
The second hour gave me a 1.5lb carp and odd baby roach from maggots halfway along the bridge.
3rd hour gave nothing except 1 small skimmer on the topkit.
4th hour gave me another 2lb carp from next to the bridge on maggots and a skimmer from here.
Last hour produced a couple nice roach and in the final moments a decent f1 on corn over micros at 13m in front. I reckoned on 6lb plus a few roach/skimmers and 1 perch of 1oz.
Elsewhere the 2 island pegs produced a few carp and Mark Walsh and Mike Owens had 23lb+ nets. The rest of us struggled more so and Adie on peg 37 had 1 roach from his 4 bites all day.
Mark Bromsgrove had a tench of 1oz in his 4lb catch, which was nice.
I totalled 10-14 for 3rd on the day.
Top pairs were:
1st- total 27-12 were Mark Bromsgrove (4-00) and Mike Owen (23-12)
2nd - total 25-15 were Mark Walsh (23-07) and Matt Roden (2-08)
There are photos and weigh sheets on Ivan's Blog
It was nice to get back there and I will be sure to try and get there more often.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sunday saw me head to Summerhayes for their open on Longs, which turned out to be a rover.
I only decided to go as Gabe said he would see me there....a little more sleep would have been more sensible.
Anyways only 8 of us and I would wait until there was 2 balls left in the tub before my go....Gabe, who was running late, would have the last one. 1st pick and last pick were those left, yep I chose last choice. Pete phoned Mr Skarba and he put himself on peg 37 when he arrived. I fancied peg 11 or 12 as there seemed to be some fish there to say the least. But that area went, I chose peg 7, which in hindsight was not too sensible as during the day the sun came out and the winds increased leaving me not being able to see my floats in most areas and the areas I could were those ii struggled to hold the pole....twat, think next time...!!
 |
| Peg 7, Longs, Summerhayes. |
My 1st carp came after 20 minutes on dobbed bread, after 90 minutes I had 5 or 6 on this, plus 2 little skimmers.
That was that on the bread. Then the wind and sun came and I never had anything for a couple hours, peg 11 kept catching but I was enjoying myself. I then picked up a couple carp on maggots where I had dobbed bread earlier when the wind dropped for a couple minutes.
I then tried down to my left edge by some reeds and netted 4 carp from here on maggots and a few chunky roach. I had nothing on maggots short but had a run of fish down my right edge by the empty platform on corn over micros, well I say run of fish, it was 4 and lost 2.
When I packed up I had 16 carp (40lb maybe) and 3lb or so of silvers.
I loaded my car and spoke to Gabe, he had around 30 carp and some silvers but also chucked back as 138lb and 101lb were top weights I found out later on from him. Rob Birch on peg 1 or 2 had 4 carp and a few bits, a couple others struggled too. But everyone had some bites and a few fish.
My 3 rigs were all on DT RBS Opens in 0.3g and to 0.12 hooklengths and size 16 hooks.
Bait was simple maggots, micros, corn and bread, I did mix some groundbait and had some casters but the wildlife were fed them.
It was nice to get back there and have a few elastic pullers, but I must remember that to face the sun and wind in the winter is rather schoolboy, I should have learned that I wouldn't have seen anything in those conditions.
Next weekend is the next round of the Landsend So-Simple Winter League. The weather looks cooler and I am on the Speci Lake.
Until then, Take Care.
Lee
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