Acorn Spring Series, Round 1, 7-4-18

I was looking forward to this match as I do like Acorn, but it can be patchy at times at the moment with weights all over the place it is hard to put a figure on the winning or framing weights, but like we do, I did, I reckoned around 120lb to win and 80ish would be in the top 4. But then I wouldn't have been shocked if 50lb won, lol.

Me and the wife travelled up with plenty of time so got some grub in Tescos as it was an 11am draw and fish 12:15 til 18:15. When we got to the lake there were plenty of peeps already there and discussing various things, I just dipped my nets and went for a walk around the lake, plenty of fish showing in areas but a few areas seemed barren in comparison. Peg 6 caught my eye as the breeze was pushing in to that area and the peg has plenty of features and options.
There are not many pegs considered 'bad' on the lake but there are always preferred areas, 1-6, 9 and the bridge pegs usually. But the pegs between 14 and 18 have been consistent recently.

I paid my dues and the draw was soon under way, 21 fishing, 3 sections of 7 pegged in number order this year rather than split them up. I delved in towards the back, as usual, and pulled peg 11. I was happy enough with that, but someone commented prior to the match that although good at times it isn't really a peg for 'now'. Indeed Paul Nichols said the same after the match, it is great when it is really cold and similar it can be great when warm and the fish are shallow/edge dwelling.

Either way I went about my business, 5 top kits were made up.
2 shallow using DT Pingers, one with a band and one without, these would cover across to the island and really tight in to my left.
2 depth rigs were put together, DT RBS open water floats in 0.4g, again one for banded pellet, the 2nd with a standard hook. These covered a few spots all over the peg should I need that option.
Lastly a 'deep edge' rig of 3ft or so, which I could only find in one sensible and sizeable spot down to my left, across plumbed up not so great as it went really shallow to a little too deep then full depth in a very small area.
Bait tray consisted of micros, 4mm and 6mm pellets and a few pints of maggots, oh some expanders were there too. I mixed a little groundbait should it be needed, it wasn't, or rather it didn't make a blinding bit of difference during the day.

Acorn peg 11

At the all in the water was calm in front of me and the breeze was noticeable down to my right in peg 6 and 5 where Bob Gullick and Ken Rayner were respectively. A few fish were moving in my peg but in a way that didn't convince me I would catch. But I sure would try.
I cupped some bait down in the 3ft spot to my left and some maggots at 2+3 in the 2 o'clock direction. Some micro and 4's at the same distance in front.
I began by toss potting tight across but other than a few liners and a couple lost foul hookers it wasn't productive.
I had my 1st fish after 30 minutes, a small 1lb stockie, another soon followed then it went dead. Vince Shipp on peg 9 was struggling as was Darren Wilton on peg 13.
That was my action for a few hours, all the while I could watch Ken Rayner, Bob G and Paul Nichols who was around peg 17 catching well. Bob had 60lb in the first 2hrs.

After 3hrs and just the odd small roach and another 1lb stockie and attempts to catch a few carp I decided to drop in on the topkit just to see what was there, more out of boredom than the fact there were a few bubbles present. Well 1st drop I had a fish, my largest at around 6lb or so and was my only fish from that spot, I did foul hook a couple there but I think I got lucky to catch one.
A look on maggots down to the left saw a few roach and a chublet before a clonking roach of 2lb-ish was netted, a beauty of a fish. But silvers was not what I wanted, in hindsight I should have fished for them because Vince swapped to maggots from pellets and ended up catching plenty of silvers and a few carp in the last couple hours.

With an hour to go I opened a spot right down to my left nearly under some trees and after feeding it I left it for 10 minutes or so, but when I went on it I had a 4lber right away, again my hopes raised but this was yet another solitary fish.
Darren on peg 13 was getting the odd fish down to the empty pallet of peg 12, but not exactly getting lots of action but a fish on the whistle I was sure put me down to last in the section as pegs 1 to 6 had all done well and Vince on 9 had a cracking last 2 hours.

The all-out sounded and the car was loaded in rapid time while we waited for the scales.
Once they arrived I saw that 1 to 5 all had between 55lb and 99lb and I knew Bob and Vince had more than me. Darren had 20lb and I was not sure I had that, but luckily my 5 or 6 carp and few pounds of silvers gave me 25lb and 6th not 7th in section. Vince had 47lb and Bob won the match with around 130lb from peg 6. I don't think I was getting 90lb to finish in the top 3 in section for sure.

So it is on to the next round in a couple of weeks where I need a run of top 2 in sections for the last 5 matches.....as no doubt that this 2dt round was my dropper.

Until next time, have fun.
Lee