Viaduct Fishomania – Match Day
Saturday 24th June 2006.
The day was finally here, the two days of practice WAS going to be put into effect. I was feeling slightly less apprehensive and felt a little more at ease. I was planning on fishing up in the water (unless I drew a Mr Crabtree peg) for most, if not all of the match with either pole (hopefully first choice) or splashin’ wag.
Whilst waiting at the draw, Daylite decided to take his van of gear to the venue and drop it off there. Marco provided assistance by giving him a lift there and back. Upon getting back to the venue, they realised one problem, how were Daylite and Lee going to get back to the venue, there was no room in the Oaks Shed.
At the draw it was good to see a few familiar faces, Tommy Pick (the bionic bleaker), Rob Hitchens, Steve Jacko, the 4 local Oik's, to name but a few and to meet some not so familiar faces.
At the draw a few of the local aces had drawn good pegs. Ian, the pond owner/partner had not drawn too well. I finally arrived at the front of the draw queue, dipped my hand in the bucket, whilst spinning around and simultaneously hoping on one foot. Cary Lake peg 76 was stuck to my mitt. After seeking expert advice, well Ian was the only one around, I was informed that I was on a good pole peg.
Marco, the spawny git, had only gone and drawn Spring Lake peg 6, the self same peg that he had pleasure fished yesterday. He couldn’t get to his peg fast enough. He had a venue regular (someone) Dix on peg 5, Bionic Bleaker was on peg 2 and Total Fishing regular Northern and Proud had drawn Spring 18.
I arrived at my peg to find that I had Pete Wild (?) on peg 77, Minty’s (off Eastender's) brother on peg 75 and Clinton someone or other on peg 74 (sorry mate, I only discovered your first name whilst you was talking to Daylite). Steve Mayo had drawn a good peg and was on Cary 81. Young Matt Parsons was on Campbell peg 114.
My peg was pretty much the same as the rest of the pegs on my bank, pretty non-descript with a overhanging willow to my right. I set up 3 pole rigs:
Shallow rig; a small poly ball on .21 Preston Powerline, direct to a size 12 Kamasan B981 Eyed Barbless Specimen Hook. This was set on about 2ft of line to allow me to either shallow up or go deeper. If I was to be fishing shallow (some 6 – 8” deep), I would be able to keep the pole tip from right over the rig, hopefully not spooking the fish.
14m deep rig; was a .4g Drennan Carp 2 set to fish on the bottom. This float was set up on the obligatory .21 Preston Powerline tied direct to a size 12 Kamasan Animal Eyed hook.
Margin/Willow rig entailed a robust Drennan float tied to the same hook and line diameter as above.
I also set up a splashin’ waggler rig, incorporating a 3g loaded pellet rig. This was set up on 6lb Maxima tied direct to a size 12 Kamasan B981 Eyed Barbless Specimen Hook. In view of the problems being encountered, I made a slight adjustment to my set up. Most people when fishing the splashin’ wag, were getting broken at the point where the locking shot is placed. I got some 8lb Maxima, thread it through the eye of the waggler, created a double loop at the bottom of the Maxima and placed the bulk shot on the doubled up 8lb line. I then thread the 6lb Maxima mainline through the small loop, twice and locked it off with 4 No. 8 Preston Stotz. This allowed the float to carry the shotting capacity, whilst not weakening the mainline by biting on large shot.
I had 2 kilo of 6mm pellets, 1 kilo of 8mm pellets, some 10mm pellets, both banded and drilled and one tin of catmeat (I had more tins of catmeat in reserves if I started bagging).
We’re away!!!
At the all in, I cupped some bait in to the overhanging willow bush and put a piece of catmeat on the full depth rig. I shipped out to 14m and started to feed 6mm pellets over the top, hoping to be able to bring the fish up in the water and get signs whilst fishing with the full depth rig. After about 30 minutes and a couple of missed bites, I finally connected with my first fish – a carp of about 8lb. I was off, under way. That was the ice-breaker. Pete to my left had had 1 skimmer and a small carp. Minty to my right had not had a bite and neither had Clinton. The lads opposite on pegs 100 (ish?) were catching the odd fish, but they were also waiting in between bites.
The remainder of the match was very uneventful!! I tried all methods, feeding patterns, baits, rigs, depths, line diameters, but I could not get any bites or indications on any thing. As a last resort, I soaked some pellets and turned them into a paste and fished that under the willow. With about 1 hour of the match remaining, I caught a skimmer of about 1lb.
I then fished the paste at 14m for the remaining 30 minutes of the match and lost a skimmer. Pete to my left had 4 fish, 3 carp and a skimmer, Minty to my right packed up having lost one fish and Clinton managed to snare 2 carp in the last 30 minutes or so. The lads opposite had a few fish, with the best one having approximately 9 or 10 fish from about peg 101.
Young Matt Parsons, who was pegged behind me was getting a few on the splashin’ wag, as was Steve Mayo (who had a little audience behind him – 3 of the Oik’s were there).
Marco rang me and told me that he’d had 2 carp within the first 20 minutes of the match, one about 12lb and the other of about 8lb.
For some reason, the venue (and later I subsequently found out, other venues around the country) had not fished at all well. In view of the conditions affecting other venues aswell, it could not have anything to do with the No. of anglers on the venue (the venue was just about every other peg yesterday) so it must have been down to something else.
Dave Brittain (Northern and Proud) showed that local knowledge was put to good use by winning the event from Spring 18, fishing splashin’ wag and recorded nearly 130lb. Well done mate!
Daylite didn’t weigh in, he caught 3 rudd and 1 roach from Middle Lake (I think). Lee had over 65lb from Match Lake and I tipped bac about 9lb.
I still enjoyed myself, the fishing and the hospitality (from the pub, the pond owners and the Oik’s) was absolutely spot on.
Would I go again, yeah of course. Marco and I have been considering going down for a weekend and fishing a match on both a Saturday and a Sunday (if some one would be prepared to put us up or is that put up with us?).
Tightlines, and once again, well done NAP…
Monday, June 26, 2006
Viaduct Fish - they don't half know how to pull back abit. All of the pictures were taken using my camera phone.
One of Marco's mad Common Carp from Spring lake.
A round, fat, football Mirror Carp for yours truly.
After getting his elastic sorted out by the local Oiks, Marco went on to land fish of this size with ease, whereas he had previously been struggling. The only problem now, was that where was he going to use the top kits again, as he is a tad over-gunned for the Oaks.
One of Marco's mad Common Carp from Spring lake.
A round, fat, football Mirror Carp for yours truly.
After getting his elastic sorted out by the local Oiks, Marco went on to land fish of this size with ease, whereas he had previously been struggling. The only problem now, was that where was he going to use the top kits again, as he is a tad over-gunned for the Oaks.
Viaduct Fishomania – Practice Days.
Thursday 22nd June 2006.
Oooops!!
Today was our (the missus and I) 15th Wedding Anniversary and I was going to Viaduct for a few days. A quick visit to the florist (well she was still in bed asleep) and a few cards later and all was sorted. To be fair, I have not missed nor been away for any of our previous anniversaries.
Having applied for 4 tickets for the Fishomania qualifiers (The Oaks, Woodlands, Lindholme and Viaduct), I managed to be lucky enough to get 2 tickets, one each for Lindholme and Viaduct. Marco had also been lucky enough to get a ticket as did Daylite Rothery and Lee Furness. Marco and I agreed to go down on Thursday morning, to get a few hours in during the afternoon/early evening and Daylite and Lee were going to join us on Friday.
Marco arrived at my house for 10 (ish), final preparations were carried out (that meant putting the flowers in water and leaving them in a prominent position so that the missus would notice them when she got up) and the long journey into the back of beyond was under way. Some 3 hrs 20 minutes later we arrived.
I had taken nigh on all of my fishing gear and was hoping to be able to use it all to formulate some sort of plan of attack. Upon arrival a few minutes were spent talking to both Ian and Steve just to re-introduce ourselves and to get an idea of what was needed, both gear and bait wise.
Wake up call!!!
At The Oaks, we generally fish with micro pellets as feed and 4mm or 6mm ‘conkers’ expander pellets as hookbait. At Viaduct the order of the day was 6mm and 8mm hard pellets (as standard) and either 8mm or bigger on the hook. After our chat with Misters Parsons and Long, we decided to have a go in pegs 79 (Marco) and 80 (Me), which where both located on Cary Lake.
I went initially for a pole approach to the reeds that ran for a good 20m down the side of the spit and Marco went for a splashin’ wag and pellet approach. Due to the appearance of the swim, I thought better of setting up my 995 pole and opted to set up my Power Maxim instead (erring on the side of caution). I have had my PM for about 8 years or more now, and it is the only pole that I wouldn’t really consider getting rid of, it is probably the strongest pole that I know (as I will explain later). I set up (on the bank) a .30g float direct to a size 12 Colmic B501 hook tied to .21 Preston Powerline. I had a No 25 elastic (set soft on a tensioner) through the top 2. I also set up a poly-ball rig for up in the water at 14m. I forgot how bloody heavy the PM is at this sort of lengths.
I started to catapult some 6mm pellets at both 13m down the side and 14m into open water. I was planning on getting the fish up in the water at 14m and to feed them on the deck down the side.
I baited up with a 8mm hard pellet on a bait band. I dropped in down the side, the float buried about 2ft of No. 25 elastic came out, then retracted (almost immediately) and a tench of about 3lb was soon beaten up.
I did the same again, the skimmer (about 1.5lb) didn’t even pull the elastic out. 2 drop in’s and about 4.5lb caught. I baited up again, dropped back in, waited a couple of minutes. I got the tell-tale walking of the float (as the fish swims past), the float shot under, about 6yds of elastic shot out (this one was big), then the hook pulled. I came back with a scale bigger than my glasses.
I dropped in again, hooked into a fish, played for all of 5 seconds as it tried to get to the other side of the lake (which was about 50 yards away). The hook came out (at a right rate of knots). I checked my rig, the hook had straightened. Told you that I didn’t want to use my 995.
Marco, meanwhile, was now starting to get the odd fish up in the water fishing with the waggler at about 25yds. Both Marco and I had borrowed a couple of waggler rods. I had borrowed a Garbolino medium waggler rod from Pimmy and Marco had borrowed a Tricast Senator (you must be old if you remember one of these) from John Allerton. You’d have thought that if you had borrowed a rod of a running line legend, that the rod would have been in good nick. Well, Marco was slightly embarrassed to take the rod out of the tube. I had a look, the butt ring was held on with a couple of whippings of red insulation tape and the next ring up was held on with yellow insulation tape. I commented that if he hits a big fish, the rings will ping off, one by one.
I’ll tell you what tho’, the rod was holding it’s own against the fishes. Although Marco had lost a few he still managed to get half a dozen out, and they ran to nearly double figures.
After spending the next hour or 2 persevering with the pole both down the side and up in the water, I decided to set up the waggler rod (it may also have had something to do with getting battered by Marco).
I set up ‘the rod’ with 6lb Maxima straight through to a size 12 Colmic B501 hook. The float was a pellet float of .3g in weight that required a further 3AAA to shot it. First cast and I started to get indications up in the water. I hooked into a fish and promptly lost it. I reeled in, re-cast and the same thing happened. Over the next couple of hours or so, I lost more fish than I got out (I ended up with 4).
Marco ended up with about 8 or 9 carp for a good 60lb weight. One of the main problems being encountered was that due to the weight of the float, the size of shot put on the line and the size of fish being hooked/caught, there was a lot of strain on the line and on a couple of occasions, Marco had to re-tackle due to the line snapping where he had nipped his shot on his main line. It was now gone 8:00 and we decided to call it a day. A few beers in the Somerton Hotel beckoned. At least we had had a go and got a feel for the place.
Friday 23rd June 2006.
A quick breakfast ensued, then a quick call into the onsite tackle shop at Viaduct to have a word with Ian and Steve, found Marco on Spring Lake Pegs 6 (Marco) and 8 (Myself). Marco was again going to fish up in the water (using the pole this time) and I was in Mr Crabtree’s peg.
Marco’s peg was pretty non-descript, he was possibly at the end of a central island which was some 30m + away, but decided on 14m of pole and go for it. My peg on the other hand was entirely different. There was a large lily pad between peg 7 and 8, which was also a corner with the wind blowing into it. There was some 3m between the lily pad and my bank and it was approximately 9m to the lily pads. Stout gear was the order of the day!!!
I set up 2 rigs, one for 14m into open water fishing at full depth (about 4ft deep) and the other was for between the bank and the lily pad at 9m (just under 4ft deep, a couple of inches difference). I decided to fish catmeat on both lines to see if it was still as prolific as the last time that we came to Viaduct. The rig for open water was a .4g Drennan Carp 2 set up on .21 Preston Powerline tied direct to a size 12 Kamasan Animal hook. I also had the same set up for the margin swim (enabling me to swap lines if I should lose a rig). One rig was on a 25 solid latex elastic (the margin rig) and the other was on a 18 – 20 hollow elastic.
I baited up with catmeat, dropped in down the side, waited about 2 minutes and hooked one. The fish swam straight through the lily pad and didn’t even know it was hooked, I lost this one. Best tighten the elastic, I put 10 wraps on the large Vespe winders.
I repeated the process, hooked another one, this shot into the lily pads and shed the hook into the lily pads. I pulled for a break and came back with half a lily pad. Nothing was going to break me. I dropped in again, hooked a carp, pulled for all I was worth and managed to get it in the landing net, it wasn’t far off 9lb. That was it for the margin swim. Every other drop in there after resulted in either a skimmer or a roach, it didn’t matter what bait I had on the hook, they still ate it.
I decided to have a look at 14m into open water. I had been feeding a few pellets on this line and dropped in with catmeat over the top. The float buried and a carp of about 7lb was soon in the landing net, they can’t do a lot with a 18 – 20 elastic putting their brakes on.
I repeated the process and ended up catching a skimmer, then a couple of roach – all on catmeat.
Whilst I was emptying the lake of skimmers and roach, 4 country Oik’s were stood behind Marco watching him, struggling to land a fish. The blue Preston 15h elastic was no match for the fish and Marco was having a hard time of it. After he landed the fish, the lads told him to go to the cabin and get some Dacron and some Vespe E2 elastic. Some £20 later Marco was back at his peg. The Oik’s were all taking it in turns doing various bits of re-elasticating Marco’s pole. One cut the elastic, the other tied the Dacron on, another tied the Dacron to the bung and another thread it through the pole. Didn’t one of them know how to do the job lot? After making a couple of Dacron connectors for Marco’s new re-elasticated pole tips, the Oik’s also went through how he should be playing fish with his new elastic set up – Keep it low. Whilst the Oik’s were still in attendance, Marco promptly shipped out, caught a fish and netted a big carp. He was made up, so were the Oik’s. I must admit though, that Marco’s ring-piece was twitching a bit with the fish that he had hooked and once or twice, he could hear the bung trying to get out of the bush at the other end of his pole.
After taking the Mickey some more, we asked the Oik’s if they would like to join us at the hotel for a beer later on, they all declined, I wonder why. I personally, don’t think that they had the beer legs to keep up with us Northerners, as Daylite and Lee Furness had now made their arrival and were fishing with the splashing wag on peg 100 on Cary Lake.
I decided to have a go at fishing up in the water at 14m (I ended up with muscles in my eyeballs after fishing with the PM for 3 days), which proved to be relatively successful, considering that I was jammed in a corner and could only catch the odd passing fish that came my way when Marco stopped feeding. I still managed to end up with about a dozen carp and a few skimmers. Marco had had a good day and had about 120lb+ up in the water.
Tony’s Fish and Chip’s were beckoning us away, shortly after a few beers were the order of the day. Marco and I decided that we would show both Lee and Daylite how to play Texas Hold’em Poker. After a couple of goes, both Daylite and Lee felt confident to start betting, with a maximum of 50p per betting round (meaning a possible winning pot of some £6 per game). Daylite was promptly dealt a pair of Kings, which he folded thinking that it was no good, and a king was flopped as part of the 5 card flop. He soon made amends, with a 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 of hearts ‘straight flush’. Ho hum, he has all the luck. Lee kept on betting even against the advice of Marco. We were finally turfed out of the pub at about 1:30 in’t morning.
Roll on the actual Match!!!!!
Thursday 22nd June 2006.
Oooops!!
Today was our (the missus and I) 15th Wedding Anniversary and I was going to Viaduct for a few days. A quick visit to the florist (well she was still in bed asleep) and a few cards later and all was sorted. To be fair, I have not missed nor been away for any of our previous anniversaries.
Having applied for 4 tickets for the Fishomania qualifiers (The Oaks, Woodlands, Lindholme and Viaduct), I managed to be lucky enough to get 2 tickets, one each for Lindholme and Viaduct. Marco had also been lucky enough to get a ticket as did Daylite Rothery and Lee Furness. Marco and I agreed to go down on Thursday morning, to get a few hours in during the afternoon/early evening and Daylite and Lee were going to join us on Friday.
Marco arrived at my house for 10 (ish), final preparations were carried out (that meant putting the flowers in water and leaving them in a prominent position so that the missus would notice them when she got up) and the long journey into the back of beyond was under way. Some 3 hrs 20 minutes later we arrived.
I had taken nigh on all of my fishing gear and was hoping to be able to use it all to formulate some sort of plan of attack. Upon arrival a few minutes were spent talking to both Ian and Steve just to re-introduce ourselves and to get an idea of what was needed, both gear and bait wise.
Wake up call!!!
At The Oaks, we generally fish with micro pellets as feed and 4mm or 6mm ‘conkers’ expander pellets as hookbait. At Viaduct the order of the day was 6mm and 8mm hard pellets (as standard) and either 8mm or bigger on the hook. After our chat with Misters Parsons and Long, we decided to have a go in pegs 79 (Marco) and 80 (Me), which where both located on Cary Lake.
I went initially for a pole approach to the reeds that ran for a good 20m down the side of the spit and Marco went for a splashin’ wag and pellet approach. Due to the appearance of the swim, I thought better of setting up my 995 pole and opted to set up my Power Maxim instead (erring on the side of caution). I have had my PM for about 8 years or more now, and it is the only pole that I wouldn’t really consider getting rid of, it is probably the strongest pole that I know (as I will explain later). I set up (on the bank) a .30g float direct to a size 12 Colmic B501 hook tied to .21 Preston Powerline. I had a No 25 elastic (set soft on a tensioner) through the top 2. I also set up a poly-ball rig for up in the water at 14m. I forgot how bloody heavy the PM is at this sort of lengths.
I started to catapult some 6mm pellets at both 13m down the side and 14m into open water. I was planning on getting the fish up in the water at 14m and to feed them on the deck down the side.
I baited up with a 8mm hard pellet on a bait band. I dropped in down the side, the float buried about 2ft of No. 25 elastic came out, then retracted (almost immediately) and a tench of about 3lb was soon beaten up.
I did the same again, the skimmer (about 1.5lb) didn’t even pull the elastic out. 2 drop in’s and about 4.5lb caught. I baited up again, dropped back in, waited a couple of minutes. I got the tell-tale walking of the float (as the fish swims past), the float shot under, about 6yds of elastic shot out (this one was big), then the hook pulled. I came back with a scale bigger than my glasses.
I dropped in again, hooked into a fish, played for all of 5 seconds as it tried to get to the other side of the lake (which was about 50 yards away). The hook came out (at a right rate of knots). I checked my rig, the hook had straightened. Told you that I didn’t want to use my 995.
Marco, meanwhile, was now starting to get the odd fish up in the water fishing with the waggler at about 25yds. Both Marco and I had borrowed a couple of waggler rods. I had borrowed a Garbolino medium waggler rod from Pimmy and Marco had borrowed a Tricast Senator (you must be old if you remember one of these) from John Allerton. You’d have thought that if you had borrowed a rod of a running line legend, that the rod would have been in good nick. Well, Marco was slightly embarrassed to take the rod out of the tube. I had a look, the butt ring was held on with a couple of whippings of red insulation tape and the next ring up was held on with yellow insulation tape. I commented that if he hits a big fish, the rings will ping off, one by one.
I’ll tell you what tho’, the rod was holding it’s own against the fishes. Although Marco had lost a few he still managed to get half a dozen out, and they ran to nearly double figures.
After spending the next hour or 2 persevering with the pole both down the side and up in the water, I decided to set up the waggler rod (it may also have had something to do with getting battered by Marco).
I set up ‘the rod’ with 6lb Maxima straight through to a size 12 Colmic B501 hook. The float was a pellet float of .3g in weight that required a further 3AAA to shot it. First cast and I started to get indications up in the water. I hooked into a fish and promptly lost it. I reeled in, re-cast and the same thing happened. Over the next couple of hours or so, I lost more fish than I got out (I ended up with 4).
Marco ended up with about 8 or 9 carp for a good 60lb weight. One of the main problems being encountered was that due to the weight of the float, the size of shot put on the line and the size of fish being hooked/caught, there was a lot of strain on the line and on a couple of occasions, Marco had to re-tackle due to the line snapping where he had nipped his shot on his main line. It was now gone 8:00 and we decided to call it a day. A few beers in the Somerton Hotel beckoned. At least we had had a go and got a feel for the place.
Friday 23rd June 2006.
A quick breakfast ensued, then a quick call into the onsite tackle shop at Viaduct to have a word with Ian and Steve, found Marco on Spring Lake Pegs 6 (Marco) and 8 (Myself). Marco was again going to fish up in the water (using the pole this time) and I was in Mr Crabtree’s peg.
Marco’s peg was pretty non-descript, he was possibly at the end of a central island which was some 30m + away, but decided on 14m of pole and go for it. My peg on the other hand was entirely different. There was a large lily pad between peg 7 and 8, which was also a corner with the wind blowing into it. There was some 3m between the lily pad and my bank and it was approximately 9m to the lily pads. Stout gear was the order of the day!!!
I set up 2 rigs, one for 14m into open water fishing at full depth (about 4ft deep) and the other was for between the bank and the lily pad at 9m (just under 4ft deep, a couple of inches difference). I decided to fish catmeat on both lines to see if it was still as prolific as the last time that we came to Viaduct. The rig for open water was a .4g Drennan Carp 2 set up on .21 Preston Powerline tied direct to a size 12 Kamasan Animal hook. I also had the same set up for the margin swim (enabling me to swap lines if I should lose a rig). One rig was on a 25 solid latex elastic (the margin rig) and the other was on a 18 – 20 hollow elastic.
I baited up with catmeat, dropped in down the side, waited about 2 minutes and hooked one. The fish swam straight through the lily pad and didn’t even know it was hooked, I lost this one. Best tighten the elastic, I put 10 wraps on the large Vespe winders.
I repeated the process, hooked another one, this shot into the lily pads and shed the hook into the lily pads. I pulled for a break and came back with half a lily pad. Nothing was going to break me. I dropped in again, hooked a carp, pulled for all I was worth and managed to get it in the landing net, it wasn’t far off 9lb. That was it for the margin swim. Every other drop in there after resulted in either a skimmer or a roach, it didn’t matter what bait I had on the hook, they still ate it.
I decided to have a look at 14m into open water. I had been feeding a few pellets on this line and dropped in with catmeat over the top. The float buried and a carp of about 7lb was soon in the landing net, they can’t do a lot with a 18 – 20 elastic putting their brakes on.
I repeated the process and ended up catching a skimmer, then a couple of roach – all on catmeat.
Whilst I was emptying the lake of skimmers and roach, 4 country Oik’s were stood behind Marco watching him, struggling to land a fish. The blue Preston 15h elastic was no match for the fish and Marco was having a hard time of it. After he landed the fish, the lads told him to go to the cabin and get some Dacron and some Vespe E2 elastic. Some £20 later Marco was back at his peg. The Oik’s were all taking it in turns doing various bits of re-elasticating Marco’s pole. One cut the elastic, the other tied the Dacron on, another tied the Dacron to the bung and another thread it through the pole. Didn’t one of them know how to do the job lot? After making a couple of Dacron connectors for Marco’s new re-elasticated pole tips, the Oik’s also went through how he should be playing fish with his new elastic set up – Keep it low. Whilst the Oik’s were still in attendance, Marco promptly shipped out, caught a fish and netted a big carp. He was made up, so were the Oik’s. I must admit though, that Marco’s ring-piece was twitching a bit with the fish that he had hooked and once or twice, he could hear the bung trying to get out of the bush at the other end of his pole.
After taking the Mickey some more, we asked the Oik’s if they would like to join us at the hotel for a beer later on, they all declined, I wonder why. I personally, don’t think that they had the beer legs to keep up with us Northerners, as Daylite and Lee Furness had now made their arrival and were fishing with the splashing wag on peg 100 on Cary Lake.
I decided to have a go at fishing up in the water at 14m (I ended up with muscles in my eyeballs after fishing with the PM for 3 days), which proved to be relatively successful, considering that I was jammed in a corner and could only catch the odd passing fish that came my way when Marco stopped feeding. I still managed to end up with about a dozen carp and a few skimmers. Marco had had a good day and had about 120lb+ up in the water.
Tony’s Fish and Chip’s were beckoning us away, shortly after a few beers were the order of the day. Marco and I decided that we would show both Lee and Daylite how to play Texas Hold’em Poker. After a couple of goes, both Daylite and Lee felt confident to start betting, with a maximum of 50p per betting round (meaning a possible winning pot of some £6 per game). Daylite was promptly dealt a pair of Kings, which he folded thinking that it was no good, and a king was flopped as part of the 5 card flop. He soon made amends, with a 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 of hearts ‘straight flush’. Ho hum, he has all the luck. Lee kept on betting even against the advice of Marco. We were finally turfed out of the pub at about 1:30 in’t morning.
Roll on the actual Match!!!!!
Wednesday, June 21, 2006
Tuesday, June 20, 2006
Sunday 18th June 2006 – The Oaks, Sessay.
Only one blog this week as I went for a walk along an old stamping ground of mine yesterday. I went for a walk along the banks of the River Wharfe, Boston Spa. I had a look off the bridge and could see a pike that was nearing double figures just basking on the central sandbank.
There was a group of 15 (ish) year old youngsters (sounds funny saying that at my age) fishing on the member’s side of the river. They were chucking in maggots by the handful, the chub were going mad. There was only one lad that seemed to be catching. He was fishing with bits of meat on a stick and fishing well over depth. Whilst watching him he caught 2 barbel about 2 – 3lb each and a chub about 4lb. There were a few chub around the day ticket side of the bridge and there was a good shoal of chub moving between the bridge and the weir.
I wish that I had taken my rod with me now. I took my kids with me with a net and bucket and went to the weir and caught bullheads, minnows and stone loach. It was nice to be besides the water and not fishing just having a stress-free day. I think that we all ought to try it sometime.
My assault on the Kamasan table starts today!!!
I suppose that us match anglers in Yorkshire are spoilt for choice for Kamasan matches as having a quick glance at the results from this weekend, there were approximately 6 or 7 Kamasan qualifying matches including The Oaks, Woodlands, Rivers Nidd and Ouse to name but a few. I often read on www.total-fishing.com that there is a lack of qualifying matches down south. I don’t know why as they have the venues, the anglers and the weather to cater for the numbers.
At the draw there was 55 of us anglers ready and waiting to do their best. In view of the jackpot money being capped at £400 it was time to introduce another jackpot peg, giving 3 pegs this week. The lucky pegs this week were pegs 30, 35 and 64. Granddad had drawn peg 35 and which had a chance of winning, when you also consider his form on the venue. Peg 64 had a chance, which was drawn by Joe ‘Carcass’. Carcass had won the match 2 weeks previous with over 70lb from peg 36, so was in good form.
The Quid’s
The obligatory £2 was set up with Purverted, £1 with Nightie and £1 with Chappy. I also had a consolation prize in the form of Return of The Mack. Paul ‘Macca’ McMahon was back. My piggy bank was back. When I first started having a quid with Macca, it was a quid, but after losing to him for about 3 weeks, I was after some pennies back, so asked him if he wanted to raise it to £2. Since the £2 has been struck, I think that he had beaten me a couple of times, but not for the last 7 or 8 matches, so much so that I asked him if he could set up a direct debit, but he wouldn’t agree to the direct debit guarantee. I wonder if he ever felt hustled. He obviously didn’t see me ‘accidentally’ dropping my fish back in the lake. I was in to the tune of £6 and Orc wasn’t even here this week. Vinnie (Diesel) Martin was Macca’s travelling companion and failed to turn up for last week’s match. He owed us £6. We agreed to ‘fish for it’.
The Draw
After drawing my peg the obligatory £1 side bet was struck with none other than Topshop who had drawn next peg. I was on Peg 54, which although was a good peg, had no recent form. Pegs 55 and 56 were the pegs with form. Topshop had drawn peg 55. Mick Dykes Sykes was on peg 56 and Jubby was next to me the other way on peg 52. Purverted had drawn 65, (Tim Moran had 117lb of peg 66 on Saturday’s match). Macca was on peg 21 (ooops), Diesel was within eyesight on peg 57 and Nightie was on peg 71.
Marco Drury had drawn peg 11, with pegs 10 (not in the draw) and pegs 12 (the only peg not drawn) empty. Marco has been on fire of late with winning weights of 149lb, 127lb (yesterday) and numerous other 100lb weights. Marco was going to be the man to beat. A weight in excess of 100lb on Cedar Lake is a considerable feat as the average stamp of fish is between 1lb to 2lb and with the method that is catching these weights (caster and worm shallow), the weights are also including silver fish.
Other than Topshop and Marco’s draw’s there weren’t any other notable draws and the winning weight could literally come from anywhere.
Here Goes!!!!
Upon arriving at my peg, there were numerous fish swirling in my peg. A shallow approach was the order of the day. I had 1pt of caster, 1 tin of Frenzied Hemp, 3 pints of maggots and a few pellets all for feeding up in the water. I set up 2 shallow rigs, one on white hydro and the other on grey hydro. They both consisted of DC6 floats, one in .05g and the other in .2g. Both rigs were set up on Maver Genesis .14 diameter line direct to size 16 Colmic B501 hooks. I also set up a .2g Colmic float for across to the island on top of the shelf. This was set up on .13 dia. Preston Powerline direct to a size 16 Colmic B501 hook. My final rig (at the setting up stage) was a .2g Colmic float on .13 diameter Preston Powerline direct to a size 16 Colmic B501 hook. I prefer to fish direct on my carp rigs as it creates less weak spots with knots, there are no snags in the venue (no need to create a weak link by having a bottom) and you can get away with fishing direct for carp, especially at this time of year with the coloured water.
At the all in, I started to catapult both casters and hemp out to 7/8 metres with the odd pouch of maggots. I had double maggot on the hook (red and/or white combination). After about 10 minutes, I finally caught my first fish, which dropped off (thankfully) a roach of about 1oz. It wasn’t worth the effort to ship back with these fish, so a quick shake and the fish was off (barbless hooks), I then dropped in with the same bait (hopefully saving time). The wind was steadily starting to pick up and was blowing from right to left. The float was pushing through slowly. I persevered with the shallow method taking 3 ide (between 12oz and 1.5lb), a couple of roach (that wouldn’t fall off) and 3 carp between 1lb and 2lb. Why is that every time you start to think about changing lines/methods, you catch a fish and think that they have finally turned up.
After 2 hours, I would estimate that I had less than 10lb. Drastic action was required. I cupped some bait across to the mud line (maggots, caster and hemp) and left it until I could see signs that there were fish in the swim. I decided that it was time to have a look down the inside. I had been feeding it steadily all the while. I baited up, dropped in, nothing. I proceeded on this line for the next 10 – 15 minutes and caught one little perch for my troubles.
I could wait no more. I had seen a tail appear across to the mud line. The time was right to empty it. I dropped in with 3 red maggots on the hook. The float dipped, nothing. I dropped in again, an ide about 2lb was soon in the net. I dropped in again, nothing. The float drifted sideways (from a fish being in the vicinity), I waited and waited. The float shot under, I struck with a little gusto and a roach about 2oz, flew out of the water and shed the hook.
Plan Z-26,000,000
I decided that I had to do something. Topshop was catching steadily but he was catching his fish more or less to the very edge of his peg going towards peg 56. Jubby was getting a few from across and also what appeared to be down the farside slope. Everybody else around me seemed to be a little quiet. I decided to get a deep rig out, big pot it and suck it and see.
I quickly attached a 4 x 14 series E float rig to grey hydro and plumbed up down the middle. The line was .14 Maver Genesis direct to a size 16 Colmic B501 hook. I cupped in a pot full of caster, hemp and maggots with the idea of not feeding over the top and trying to force the fish down. I left the deep swim for the next 5 minutes or so and went over to the mud line. I managed to snare one more ide about 1lb. I had approximately 14 – 15lb of fish in the net and I was 3 hours into the match.
That was it, I had to go down the middle. First drop in, I caught an F1 carp of about 10oz. I dropped in again and caught a steady succession of barbel. Every 5 or 6 fish, I re-potted to try to keep the fish there and on the bottom. I managed to put together a steady respectable net of fish and was starting to catch up all those around me.
Ooopsss, Time
I was so busy engrossed in my fishing (now that I had got into a steady rhythm), that I completely forgot about what time it was. Topshop shouted to me ‘what time are we finishing Mick?’. A quick glance of the watch showed that it was a couple of minutes past 4:15. That was it TIME!!!! Doesn’t time fly when you are enjoying yourself. I estimated that I had about 35 – 40lb as I hadn’t really caught much in the first 3 hours.
How had I done and how many quids had I lost?
By the time that the scales had arrived John Illingworth had weighed in 81lb and there was a 57lb. Jubby weighed in 1oz shy of 68lb. I put 49lb 11oz on the scales, so was a little pleased that I had more than I thought. Topshop put 76-10 on the scales (down a quid to start), Dykesy weighed 28lb and Diesel had 32lb, so I hadn’t done too bad, and I was £5 quid in pocket (up £6 courtesy of Diesel and down a quid to the superstar), now for all of my other quid’s.
Purverted weighed 37-05 (another £2), Chappy 31-12 (£1), Nightie 35-13 (£1) and Macca 31-08 (£2). Bloody hell, I don’t even get paid this much at work.
Final Result
Andy Dargue – 122lb 8oz. Paste down the middle. Peg 9.
John Illingworth – 81lb – 8oz. Meat down the middle. Peg 47.
Dave Topham – 76lb 10oz. Peg 55.
Adam Richards – 72lb 8oz. Peg 3.
Gary Jubb – 67lb 15oz. Peg 52.
John Allerton – 67lb 6oz. Peg 77.
Jonny Kenning won my section with 54lb. If I had gone down the middle about 30 minutes earlier, I would have won my section.
The Lizard
As I was driving round, prior to sorting out the final result rumour was going round that Pete ‘Lizard’ Baron had caught 137lb and was winning the match. As I passed him, I stopped for a chat and he was telling me that he caught here, there and everywhere and that he couldn’t get his bait in quick enough. I was asking the usual questions, what would a good angler have had? Did you have hook on? Etc, etc. John Illy was stood with Lizard and was straining to stop laughing. The Lizard hadn’t caught 137lb (I thought that it was hard to believe) and had actually caught 40lb. He only got them all to kid me on because I call him LIZARD!!! I gave him the moniker as he is like a lizard, he warms up with the sun!!!.
Next week is Fisho day at Viaduct Fisheries on Saturday, then back to Sessay on Sunday to sort the rabble out.
Tight lines and may all your dreams be match-winning ones!!
Only one blog this week as I went for a walk along an old stamping ground of mine yesterday. I went for a walk along the banks of the River Wharfe, Boston Spa. I had a look off the bridge and could see a pike that was nearing double figures just basking on the central sandbank.
There was a group of 15 (ish) year old youngsters (sounds funny saying that at my age) fishing on the member’s side of the river. They were chucking in maggots by the handful, the chub were going mad. There was only one lad that seemed to be catching. He was fishing with bits of meat on a stick and fishing well over depth. Whilst watching him he caught 2 barbel about 2 – 3lb each and a chub about 4lb. There were a few chub around the day ticket side of the bridge and there was a good shoal of chub moving between the bridge and the weir.
I wish that I had taken my rod with me now. I took my kids with me with a net and bucket and went to the weir and caught bullheads, minnows and stone loach. It was nice to be besides the water and not fishing just having a stress-free day. I think that we all ought to try it sometime.
My assault on the Kamasan table starts today!!!
I suppose that us match anglers in Yorkshire are spoilt for choice for Kamasan matches as having a quick glance at the results from this weekend, there were approximately 6 or 7 Kamasan qualifying matches including The Oaks, Woodlands, Rivers Nidd and Ouse to name but a few. I often read on www.total-fishing.com that there is a lack of qualifying matches down south. I don’t know why as they have the venues, the anglers and the weather to cater for the numbers.
At the draw there was 55 of us anglers ready and waiting to do their best. In view of the jackpot money being capped at £400 it was time to introduce another jackpot peg, giving 3 pegs this week. The lucky pegs this week were pegs 30, 35 and 64. Granddad had drawn peg 35 and which had a chance of winning, when you also consider his form on the venue. Peg 64 had a chance, which was drawn by Joe ‘Carcass’. Carcass had won the match 2 weeks previous with over 70lb from peg 36, so was in good form.
The Quid’s
The obligatory £2 was set up with Purverted, £1 with Nightie and £1 with Chappy. I also had a consolation prize in the form of Return of The Mack. Paul ‘Macca’ McMahon was back. My piggy bank was back. When I first started having a quid with Macca, it was a quid, but after losing to him for about 3 weeks, I was after some pennies back, so asked him if he wanted to raise it to £2. Since the £2 has been struck, I think that he had beaten me a couple of times, but not for the last 7 or 8 matches, so much so that I asked him if he could set up a direct debit, but he wouldn’t agree to the direct debit guarantee. I wonder if he ever felt hustled. He obviously didn’t see me ‘accidentally’ dropping my fish back in the lake. I was in to the tune of £6 and Orc wasn’t even here this week. Vinnie (Diesel) Martin was Macca’s travelling companion and failed to turn up for last week’s match. He owed us £6. We agreed to ‘fish for it’.
The Draw
After drawing my peg the obligatory £1 side bet was struck with none other than Topshop who had drawn next peg. I was on Peg 54, which although was a good peg, had no recent form. Pegs 55 and 56 were the pegs with form. Topshop had drawn peg 55. Mick Dykes Sykes was on peg 56 and Jubby was next to me the other way on peg 52. Purverted had drawn 65, (Tim Moran had 117lb of peg 66 on Saturday’s match). Macca was on peg 21 (ooops), Diesel was within eyesight on peg 57 and Nightie was on peg 71.
Marco Drury had drawn peg 11, with pegs 10 (not in the draw) and pegs 12 (the only peg not drawn) empty. Marco has been on fire of late with winning weights of 149lb, 127lb (yesterday) and numerous other 100lb weights. Marco was going to be the man to beat. A weight in excess of 100lb on Cedar Lake is a considerable feat as the average stamp of fish is between 1lb to 2lb and with the method that is catching these weights (caster and worm shallow), the weights are also including silver fish.
Other than Topshop and Marco’s draw’s there weren’t any other notable draws and the winning weight could literally come from anywhere.
Here Goes!!!!
Upon arriving at my peg, there were numerous fish swirling in my peg. A shallow approach was the order of the day. I had 1pt of caster, 1 tin of Frenzied Hemp, 3 pints of maggots and a few pellets all for feeding up in the water. I set up 2 shallow rigs, one on white hydro and the other on grey hydro. They both consisted of DC6 floats, one in .05g and the other in .2g. Both rigs were set up on Maver Genesis .14 diameter line direct to size 16 Colmic B501 hooks. I also set up a .2g Colmic float for across to the island on top of the shelf. This was set up on .13 dia. Preston Powerline direct to a size 16 Colmic B501 hook. My final rig (at the setting up stage) was a .2g Colmic float on .13 diameter Preston Powerline direct to a size 16 Colmic B501 hook. I prefer to fish direct on my carp rigs as it creates less weak spots with knots, there are no snags in the venue (no need to create a weak link by having a bottom) and you can get away with fishing direct for carp, especially at this time of year with the coloured water.
At the all in, I started to catapult both casters and hemp out to 7/8 metres with the odd pouch of maggots. I had double maggot on the hook (red and/or white combination). After about 10 minutes, I finally caught my first fish, which dropped off (thankfully) a roach of about 1oz. It wasn’t worth the effort to ship back with these fish, so a quick shake and the fish was off (barbless hooks), I then dropped in with the same bait (hopefully saving time). The wind was steadily starting to pick up and was blowing from right to left. The float was pushing through slowly. I persevered with the shallow method taking 3 ide (between 12oz and 1.5lb), a couple of roach (that wouldn’t fall off) and 3 carp between 1lb and 2lb. Why is that every time you start to think about changing lines/methods, you catch a fish and think that they have finally turned up.
After 2 hours, I would estimate that I had less than 10lb. Drastic action was required. I cupped some bait across to the mud line (maggots, caster and hemp) and left it until I could see signs that there were fish in the swim. I decided that it was time to have a look down the inside. I had been feeding it steadily all the while. I baited up, dropped in, nothing. I proceeded on this line for the next 10 – 15 minutes and caught one little perch for my troubles.
I could wait no more. I had seen a tail appear across to the mud line. The time was right to empty it. I dropped in with 3 red maggots on the hook. The float dipped, nothing. I dropped in again, an ide about 2lb was soon in the net. I dropped in again, nothing. The float drifted sideways (from a fish being in the vicinity), I waited and waited. The float shot under, I struck with a little gusto and a roach about 2oz, flew out of the water and shed the hook.
Plan Z-26,000,000
I decided that I had to do something. Topshop was catching steadily but he was catching his fish more or less to the very edge of his peg going towards peg 56. Jubby was getting a few from across and also what appeared to be down the farside slope. Everybody else around me seemed to be a little quiet. I decided to get a deep rig out, big pot it and suck it and see.
I quickly attached a 4 x 14 series E float rig to grey hydro and plumbed up down the middle. The line was .14 Maver Genesis direct to a size 16 Colmic B501 hook. I cupped in a pot full of caster, hemp and maggots with the idea of not feeding over the top and trying to force the fish down. I left the deep swim for the next 5 minutes or so and went over to the mud line. I managed to snare one more ide about 1lb. I had approximately 14 – 15lb of fish in the net and I was 3 hours into the match.
That was it, I had to go down the middle. First drop in, I caught an F1 carp of about 10oz. I dropped in again and caught a steady succession of barbel. Every 5 or 6 fish, I re-potted to try to keep the fish there and on the bottom. I managed to put together a steady respectable net of fish and was starting to catch up all those around me.
Ooopsss, Time
I was so busy engrossed in my fishing (now that I had got into a steady rhythm), that I completely forgot about what time it was. Topshop shouted to me ‘what time are we finishing Mick?’. A quick glance of the watch showed that it was a couple of minutes past 4:15. That was it TIME!!!! Doesn’t time fly when you are enjoying yourself. I estimated that I had about 35 – 40lb as I hadn’t really caught much in the first 3 hours.
How had I done and how many quids had I lost?
By the time that the scales had arrived John Illingworth had weighed in 81lb and there was a 57lb. Jubby weighed in 1oz shy of 68lb. I put 49lb 11oz on the scales, so was a little pleased that I had more than I thought. Topshop put 76-10 on the scales (down a quid to start), Dykesy weighed 28lb and Diesel had 32lb, so I hadn’t done too bad, and I was £5 quid in pocket (up £6 courtesy of Diesel and down a quid to the superstar), now for all of my other quid’s.
Purverted weighed 37-05 (another £2), Chappy 31-12 (£1), Nightie 35-13 (£1) and Macca 31-08 (£2). Bloody hell, I don’t even get paid this much at work.
Final Result
Andy Dargue – 122lb 8oz. Paste down the middle. Peg 9.
John Illingworth – 81lb – 8oz. Meat down the middle. Peg 47.
Dave Topham – 76lb 10oz. Peg 55.
Adam Richards – 72lb 8oz. Peg 3.
Gary Jubb – 67lb 15oz. Peg 52.
John Allerton – 67lb 6oz. Peg 77.
Jonny Kenning won my section with 54lb. If I had gone down the middle about 30 minutes earlier, I would have won my section.
The Lizard
As I was driving round, prior to sorting out the final result rumour was going round that Pete ‘Lizard’ Baron had caught 137lb and was winning the match. As I passed him, I stopped for a chat and he was telling me that he caught here, there and everywhere and that he couldn’t get his bait in quick enough. I was asking the usual questions, what would a good angler have had? Did you have hook on? Etc, etc. John Illy was stood with Lizard and was straining to stop laughing. The Lizard hadn’t caught 137lb (I thought that it was hard to believe) and had actually caught 40lb. He only got them all to kid me on because I call him LIZARD!!! I gave him the moniker as he is like a lizard, he warms up with the sun!!!.
Next week is Fisho day at Viaduct Fisheries on Saturday, then back to Sessay on Sunday to sort the rabble out.
Tight lines and may all your dreams be match-winning ones!!
Tuesday, June 13, 2006
Sunday 11th June 2006 – Cedar Lake, The Oaks, Sessay.
I thought that attendances might have been low due to anglers no longer practising for any large matches. I must admit, we have had a good run at high profile big matches this year and I am glad that The Oaks Lakes are finally getting the recognition that the place deserves. We have held a 130 peg Fishomania qualifier and yesterday held the Maver Pairs qualifier.
When the new café and bait shop are built (yes, built, with bricks and mortar) hopefully the venue can go from strength to strength. If there is one main issue that I would like to point out and that is that on both of these two matches, it has been near impossible to predict who will win the matches and also which lake (as two lakes have been used for both matches) would win on the day.
On another venue that I have been frequenting, if you do not draw one of 2 lakes, of which there are sometimes 5 lakes in, you are not, usually, going to compete. I am not saying that the other lakes cannot compete, but at present all the talk and most of the weights have been coming from one lake predominantly with the other regular lake taking first place if the other lake fails to produce (do you get what I mean?).
Anyway’s I digress.
65 of us hardy soles arrived to fish on the day and with the weather that we have been enjoying of late, there were a lot of tan lines (red skin/white skin) about and some of the attire that people were wearing left a lot to be desired. Take for instance, Jubby, he was wearing a pair of light blue (turquoise) cycling shorts (or at least that is what I think that they were), and on most people said cycling shorts are stretched tight as they include Lycra in the material. Well, the ones that Jubby was wearing were either stretched or 10 sizes too big. He stood there and looked like a scraggy chicken with his legs sticking out of a soggy turquoise paper bag.
The jackpot pegs for today’s event were 45 and 49. One of the pegs had a chance of going, although on recent form maybe not, as venue regular and all-round expert, Pimmy had drawn peg 49. Peg 49 had won and framed in a couple of matches about 1 month ago, so the peg could not be discounted. The other jackpot peg was safe!!!!
I agreed the obligatory quid with Chappy, £2 with Purverted and I then had to look around for other kiddies to take a quid off, as both Orc and Panic were not in attendance. I think Panic has fallen out with me and Orc was skint after raiding the kiddies piggy bank to give me a quid 2 weeks ago. Just as I was looking a bit lost and forlorn at not having anyone else to have a quid with, guess who just walked in the door, non other than Andy ‘Haircut’ Bridge. That was another quid struck up. Nightie promptly showed his face when he found out that I was looking for action and another quid was on the go. At this rate, it is going to be the ‘Mick Herrington Optional’, everybody puts a quid in the jar, and I pay out to all those that beat me and keep the rest – it is going to be an expensive day if when I come last.
I might change ‘Haircut’s moniker to ‘Blue Rinse’ as his haircut hasn’t changed, but he likes anything blue. He arrives in his Garbolino blues and puts on more blue if required. I don’t live near Haircut and I have not been to his gaff (Vicky probably wouldn’t let me in’t door) so I am not sure if he even sleeps in the stuff. I will have to put the question to both Pimmy and Chappy.
At the draw, I put my hand in the bag (first as always) and drew peg 36. Cedar 36 had won the match the previous week with over 70lb, but had not done anything during the week and ‘Racing’ was on peg 35 yesterday and had 30lb (ish).
Purverted drew peg 40, Chappy was on peg 79, I was already looking at being a quid down as peg 79 has had the two best weights for the lake, one weight of 154lb and another of 149lb. Haircut drew peg 74, which Jubby had come 4th off yesterday, so I was probably going to be even stevens (£1 each to Chappy and Haircut and £2 up from Purverted) at the end of the day.
John Allerton, Big Mark, Grandad and Marco had all drawn a decent area between pegs 23 and 28. John ‘Young Man’ Illingworth had drawn peg 56, the same peg that Xman was on yesterday. I could see Young Man listening to every word the Xman was saying, then walked away with a plan of action. He was going to do the opposite of what Xman had told him.
I arrived at my peg to find that I had Adam Jarvis ‘Cocker’ next to me on peg 35, he is one quiet lad. I thought that ‘The quiet One’ was quiet, but Cocker hasn’t even got a tongue. I quickly looked around for someone else to have a natter with. What a shame, no one on peg 37. Ah, I found a victim, Topshop was on peg 33, peg 34 was empty, boy did he give me some stick when he saw me arriving at my peg.
Here goes
I set up 4 rigs
The first rig was set up to fish up in the water set about 12” deep. I have just purchased some of the Garbolino DC6 series of floats and they seem to be sock on. I set one up for the shallow rig. I have bought them in .05 - .4g in weight and I set up a .05g float, shotted with 2 x 11 Preston Stotz and 1 x 13 shot. This rig was on .12 Maver Genesis line with a size 18 Colmic 501 hook. Having spoken to Marco the day before, I was informed that I would need a long lash between pole float and pole tip. I put about 2ft of distance between the two.
I then set up a rig for on top of the shelf, again this was one of the DC6 floats, but a .2g float was selected. This was set about 18” deep and was just touching bottom. I set this float up on .14 Maver Genesis line to a size 16 Colmic 501 hook.
Rig 3 was a Drennan Carp 2 set up to fish down the side at 7m towards empty peg 37. I plumbed up until I found about 2ft deep. This was set up on .14 Maver Genesis to a size 16 Colmic 501.
My 4th rig was another shallow rig, but slightly heavier. It was a .2g DC6, set about 2ft deep. Again, it was set up on .12 Maver Genesis line to a size 18 Colmic 501 hook.
The two shallow rigs were set up on hydro elastics, the lighter .05g on white hydro through no.2 section only and the .2g on grey hydro. If I felt that I was bagging, I could put on the heavier rig if needed.
As and afterthought, I also set up (rightly or wrongly) a small 2 x No.4 canal waggler. This was set to fish shallow, but was set up to fish to hand on a top 3 kit. The idea of the little waggler was that if the fish are close, but would not come under the pole tip and if the wind picked up, I could flick this rig out, sink the line and still catch the fish close in. That was my thoughts anyways.
Food for thought!!
I was proper armed today, I had 1 tin of frenzied hemp, 3 pts casters, 1 tin corn, ½ pt maggots (for the hook) and some pellets (3mm for loose feeding and 4mm and 6mm for the hook). As you can see from the bait menu, and out and out up in the water attack was called for.
We’re Off
At the start of the match, I baited up with 2 red maggots on the hook and started chucking hemp and casters at the fish at about 5m. They were already up in the water and it didn’t take long to get my first fish. A carp of about 1lb was in the net. Over the next 20 minutes or so, I caught a further 4 more carp. I was also having a lot of problems, namely foul-hooked fish. I was getting a bite/indication, I would strike, play the fish to the net then it would come off. I tried caster on the hook and I couldn’t get a proper bite, I was getting shelled casters all the time. I tried pellet and caught a couple on pellet. I was having to go further out, then come back in, then back out again, you do the hokey cokey and you shake it all about. The fish just did not seem to want to settle.
I went back to the maggot and caster/hemp approach and continued to fish in this vain for the next 1 hour or so. I was by now 2 hours into the match and was not feeling happy at all. I had approximately 12 – 15lb of fish in the net. I felt as though I was not getting the best from the peg. I was getting bites and fish on maggot and pellet hook baits, but they seemed to be a little bit sporadic. Not sure if the caster/hemp was drawing the fish into the peg, but they didn’t actually want to eat the stuff.
A decision was to be made.
At 1:00 I rang Tom in the cabin and asked if one of the lads could bring me some maggots round. I was going to fish and feed maggot.
45 (yes, forty five) minutes later, my maggots finally arrived, I could get down to business. I shortened the line between pole float and tip and started to ‘fish properly’. I was spraying maggots every few seconds or so and also tapping the water on the odd occasion. The fish were queuing up.
Over the next hour or so, I estimate that I put about 35lb in the net. I was on a roll!!
I was having to follow the fish in and out as they kept on moving off the bait. I was also still losing fish, mostly at the landing net and a few of the fish had the hook just outside of the their mouths. On more than one occasion, I also came back with a couple of scales.
Although I had started bagging, I was still losing fish. I tried to cut back on the feed, tap the water more, feed more maggots but less often, feed less maggots but more often. I just did not seem to be able to get the fish to settle down properly.
I had swapped between the two shallow rigs and tried the mini waggler rig throughout the match and caught fish on them all. The only rigs that I did not use were the rig for down the side and the rig for on top of the shelf.
With about 1 hour to go, I got involved in a conversation with Topshop and another quid was struck (the last time we had a quid it was 1 hour into the match, this time it was one hour of the match left). The wind was steadily starting to pick up and blow from right to left
I ended up with a small wind knot some 4” from the hook and either laziness or the fact that usually, they don’t make a difference, I decided to do nothing. Bad mistake. Shortly after finding the wind knot, I hooked into a carp of about 3lb and played it all the way to the net, twice. It decided to make one last bid for freedom and won!! I
Re-tied on a hook and went back out and promptly lost the next 3 fish also, again, at the net. The 4 fish that I had just lost would have added about 8 – 10lb to my net.
Over the last 45 minutes of the match the wind increased considerably and the fish just would not have the pole wafting around over their heads. I estimate that I caught about 5 or 6lb in the last 45 minutes.
That was it, time. I had fed some 3 pts of maggots, 2 pints of hemp and caster and 1 pt of pellets. I was hoping to have about 60lb. Darryl Taylor had weighed in 66lb from peg 17, Gandhi had 61lb from peg 31, Graham Skirrey weighed 40lb between Topshop and Gandhi. The scales finally arrived at Topshop and he put 63lb on the scales from 2 weighs. It was going to be close.
No Tongue on the next peg DNW’d and tipped back about 10 fish. My first net with the least fish in, went 23-12. I honestly thought that I had more than that. I put my 2nd net on and weighed in 30-12. Did I have a hole in my net? Where is my 60lb?
I’d had one of those days where you have got the method right, but nothing else will come together. If I’d have fished maggot sooner, I would have caught more. If I’d changed my hook when I found the wind knot, I wouldn’t have been snapped. If I had short-lined earlier, would I have foul-hooked less fish?
I have ended up coming away with more questions than I started. Last Sunday I only caught 26lb and won my section and felt better than I did today.
Where had I come – 5th. Ho Hum, or words to that effect. I just have a feeling that today if things had gone right and I had done things different from the start, I would have had a different result. Purverted had won his/my section by 4th (yep, fourth) default as Gandhi, Topshop and I had got in the main money.
To top it all off, when sorting out all of the prize money after the draw, I had, somehow, managed to mix up 2 envelopes. I had put the section money (£30) in the 5th place envelope and the 5th place money in the section envelope (Section 5 I think for £50).
Talk about dishonesty. Some people would have realised that the section prize is usually £30 and may have asked if it was right. Well, whoever (I think that I know who) has the £50, I hope they choke on their kebab and beer!!!
The quids came rolling in from Chappy (24-00), Purverted (47-00) and Blue Rinse Haircut ((21-12) who has yet to pay me). The worst part was that I was also going to have to give a quid to Topshop.
I now have a plan of action for next weeks match. Watch this space.
Official Result
1. John Illingworth (Team Dons) 68-01. Peg 56.
2. Darryl Taylor (Garbolino Elton) 66-11.
3. Dave Topham (Sensas Wibsey) 63-11.
4. Chris Hall (Oaks) 61-08.
5. Mick Herrington (Bob-co/Oaks) 54-08.
6. Mick Sykes (West Park) 54-03.
I thought that attendances might have been low due to anglers no longer practising for any large matches. I must admit, we have had a good run at high profile big matches this year and I am glad that The Oaks Lakes are finally getting the recognition that the place deserves. We have held a 130 peg Fishomania qualifier and yesterday held the Maver Pairs qualifier.
When the new café and bait shop are built (yes, built, with bricks and mortar) hopefully the venue can go from strength to strength. If there is one main issue that I would like to point out and that is that on both of these two matches, it has been near impossible to predict who will win the matches and also which lake (as two lakes have been used for both matches) would win on the day.
On another venue that I have been frequenting, if you do not draw one of 2 lakes, of which there are sometimes 5 lakes in, you are not, usually, going to compete. I am not saying that the other lakes cannot compete, but at present all the talk and most of the weights have been coming from one lake predominantly with the other regular lake taking first place if the other lake fails to produce (do you get what I mean?).
Anyway’s I digress.
65 of us hardy soles arrived to fish on the day and with the weather that we have been enjoying of late, there were a lot of tan lines (red skin/white skin) about and some of the attire that people were wearing left a lot to be desired. Take for instance, Jubby, he was wearing a pair of light blue (turquoise) cycling shorts (or at least that is what I think that they were), and on most people said cycling shorts are stretched tight as they include Lycra in the material. Well, the ones that Jubby was wearing were either stretched or 10 sizes too big. He stood there and looked like a scraggy chicken with his legs sticking out of a soggy turquoise paper bag.
The jackpot pegs for today’s event were 45 and 49. One of the pegs had a chance of going, although on recent form maybe not, as venue regular and all-round expert, Pimmy had drawn peg 49. Peg 49 had won and framed in a couple of matches about 1 month ago, so the peg could not be discounted. The other jackpot peg was safe!!!!
I agreed the obligatory quid with Chappy, £2 with Purverted and I then had to look around for other kiddies to take a quid off, as both Orc and Panic were not in attendance. I think Panic has fallen out with me and Orc was skint after raiding the kiddies piggy bank to give me a quid 2 weeks ago. Just as I was looking a bit lost and forlorn at not having anyone else to have a quid with, guess who just walked in the door, non other than Andy ‘Haircut’ Bridge. That was another quid struck up. Nightie promptly showed his face when he found out that I was looking for action and another quid was on the go. At this rate, it is going to be the ‘Mick Herrington Optional’, everybody puts a quid in the jar, and I pay out to all those that beat me and keep the rest – it is going to be an expensive day if when I come last.
I might change ‘Haircut’s moniker to ‘Blue Rinse’ as his haircut hasn’t changed, but he likes anything blue. He arrives in his Garbolino blues and puts on more blue if required. I don’t live near Haircut and I have not been to his gaff (Vicky probably wouldn’t let me in’t door) so I am not sure if he even sleeps in the stuff. I will have to put the question to both Pimmy and Chappy.
At the draw, I put my hand in the bag (first as always) and drew peg 36. Cedar 36 had won the match the previous week with over 70lb, but had not done anything during the week and ‘Racing’ was on peg 35 yesterday and had 30lb (ish).
Purverted drew peg 40, Chappy was on peg 79, I was already looking at being a quid down as peg 79 has had the two best weights for the lake, one weight of 154lb and another of 149lb. Haircut drew peg 74, which Jubby had come 4th off yesterday, so I was probably going to be even stevens (£1 each to Chappy and Haircut and £2 up from Purverted) at the end of the day.
John Allerton, Big Mark, Grandad and Marco had all drawn a decent area between pegs 23 and 28. John ‘Young Man’ Illingworth had drawn peg 56, the same peg that Xman was on yesterday. I could see Young Man listening to every word the Xman was saying, then walked away with a plan of action. He was going to do the opposite of what Xman had told him.
I arrived at my peg to find that I had Adam Jarvis ‘Cocker’ next to me on peg 35, he is one quiet lad. I thought that ‘The quiet One’ was quiet, but Cocker hasn’t even got a tongue. I quickly looked around for someone else to have a natter with. What a shame, no one on peg 37. Ah, I found a victim, Topshop was on peg 33, peg 34 was empty, boy did he give me some stick when he saw me arriving at my peg.
Here goes
I set up 4 rigs
The first rig was set up to fish up in the water set about 12” deep. I have just purchased some of the Garbolino DC6 series of floats and they seem to be sock on. I set one up for the shallow rig. I have bought them in .05 - .4g in weight and I set up a .05g float, shotted with 2 x 11 Preston Stotz and 1 x 13 shot. This rig was on .12 Maver Genesis line with a size 18 Colmic 501 hook. Having spoken to Marco the day before, I was informed that I would need a long lash between pole float and pole tip. I put about 2ft of distance between the two.
I then set up a rig for on top of the shelf, again this was one of the DC6 floats, but a .2g float was selected. This was set about 18” deep and was just touching bottom. I set this float up on .14 Maver Genesis line to a size 16 Colmic 501 hook.
Rig 3 was a Drennan Carp 2 set up to fish down the side at 7m towards empty peg 37. I plumbed up until I found about 2ft deep. This was set up on .14 Maver Genesis to a size 16 Colmic 501.
My 4th rig was another shallow rig, but slightly heavier. It was a .2g DC6, set about 2ft deep. Again, it was set up on .12 Maver Genesis line to a size 18 Colmic 501 hook.
The two shallow rigs were set up on hydro elastics, the lighter .05g on white hydro through no.2 section only and the .2g on grey hydro. If I felt that I was bagging, I could put on the heavier rig if needed.
As and afterthought, I also set up (rightly or wrongly) a small 2 x No.4 canal waggler. This was set to fish shallow, but was set up to fish to hand on a top 3 kit. The idea of the little waggler was that if the fish are close, but would not come under the pole tip and if the wind picked up, I could flick this rig out, sink the line and still catch the fish close in. That was my thoughts anyways.
Food for thought!!
I was proper armed today, I had 1 tin of frenzied hemp, 3 pts casters, 1 tin corn, ½ pt maggots (for the hook) and some pellets (3mm for loose feeding and 4mm and 6mm for the hook). As you can see from the bait menu, and out and out up in the water attack was called for.
We’re Off
At the start of the match, I baited up with 2 red maggots on the hook and started chucking hemp and casters at the fish at about 5m. They were already up in the water and it didn’t take long to get my first fish. A carp of about 1lb was in the net. Over the next 20 minutes or so, I caught a further 4 more carp. I was also having a lot of problems, namely foul-hooked fish. I was getting a bite/indication, I would strike, play the fish to the net then it would come off. I tried caster on the hook and I couldn’t get a proper bite, I was getting shelled casters all the time. I tried pellet and caught a couple on pellet. I was having to go further out, then come back in, then back out again, you do the hokey cokey and you shake it all about. The fish just did not seem to want to settle.
I went back to the maggot and caster/hemp approach and continued to fish in this vain for the next 1 hour or so. I was by now 2 hours into the match and was not feeling happy at all. I had approximately 12 – 15lb of fish in the net. I felt as though I was not getting the best from the peg. I was getting bites and fish on maggot and pellet hook baits, but they seemed to be a little bit sporadic. Not sure if the caster/hemp was drawing the fish into the peg, but they didn’t actually want to eat the stuff.
A decision was to be made.
At 1:00 I rang Tom in the cabin and asked if one of the lads could bring me some maggots round. I was going to fish and feed maggot.
45 (yes, forty five) minutes later, my maggots finally arrived, I could get down to business. I shortened the line between pole float and tip and started to ‘fish properly’. I was spraying maggots every few seconds or so and also tapping the water on the odd occasion. The fish were queuing up.
Over the next hour or so, I estimate that I put about 35lb in the net. I was on a roll!!
I was having to follow the fish in and out as they kept on moving off the bait. I was also still losing fish, mostly at the landing net and a few of the fish had the hook just outside of the their mouths. On more than one occasion, I also came back with a couple of scales.
Although I had started bagging, I was still losing fish. I tried to cut back on the feed, tap the water more, feed more maggots but less often, feed less maggots but more often. I just did not seem to be able to get the fish to settle down properly.
I had swapped between the two shallow rigs and tried the mini waggler rig throughout the match and caught fish on them all. The only rigs that I did not use were the rig for down the side and the rig for on top of the shelf.
With about 1 hour to go, I got involved in a conversation with Topshop and another quid was struck (the last time we had a quid it was 1 hour into the match, this time it was one hour of the match left). The wind was steadily starting to pick up and blow from right to left
I ended up with a small wind knot some 4” from the hook and either laziness or the fact that usually, they don’t make a difference, I decided to do nothing. Bad mistake. Shortly after finding the wind knot, I hooked into a carp of about 3lb and played it all the way to the net, twice. It decided to make one last bid for freedom and won!! I
Re-tied on a hook and went back out and promptly lost the next 3 fish also, again, at the net. The 4 fish that I had just lost would have added about 8 – 10lb to my net.
Over the last 45 minutes of the match the wind increased considerably and the fish just would not have the pole wafting around over their heads. I estimate that I caught about 5 or 6lb in the last 45 minutes.
That was it, time. I had fed some 3 pts of maggots, 2 pints of hemp and caster and 1 pt of pellets. I was hoping to have about 60lb. Darryl Taylor had weighed in 66lb from peg 17, Gandhi had 61lb from peg 31, Graham Skirrey weighed 40lb between Topshop and Gandhi. The scales finally arrived at Topshop and he put 63lb on the scales from 2 weighs. It was going to be close.
No Tongue on the next peg DNW’d and tipped back about 10 fish. My first net with the least fish in, went 23-12. I honestly thought that I had more than that. I put my 2nd net on and weighed in 30-12. Did I have a hole in my net? Where is my 60lb?
I’d had one of those days where you have got the method right, but nothing else will come together. If I’d have fished maggot sooner, I would have caught more. If I’d changed my hook when I found the wind knot, I wouldn’t have been snapped. If I had short-lined earlier, would I have foul-hooked less fish?
I have ended up coming away with more questions than I started. Last Sunday I only caught 26lb and won my section and felt better than I did today.
Where had I come – 5th. Ho Hum, or words to that effect. I just have a feeling that today if things had gone right and I had done things different from the start, I would have had a different result. Purverted had won his/my section by 4th (yep, fourth) default as Gandhi, Topshop and I had got in the main money.
To top it all off, when sorting out all of the prize money after the draw, I had, somehow, managed to mix up 2 envelopes. I had put the section money (£30) in the 5th place envelope and the 5th place money in the section envelope (Section 5 I think for £50).
Talk about dishonesty. Some people would have realised that the section prize is usually £30 and may have asked if it was right. Well, whoever (I think that I know who) has the £50, I hope they choke on their kebab and beer!!!
The quids came rolling in from Chappy (24-00), Purverted (47-00) and Blue Rinse Haircut ((21-12) who has yet to pay me). The worst part was that I was also going to have to give a quid to Topshop.
I now have a plan of action for next weeks match. Watch this space.
Official Result
1. John Illingworth (Team Dons) 68-01. Peg 56.
2. Darryl Taylor (Garbolino Elton) 66-11.
3. Dave Topham (Sensas Wibsey) 63-11.
4. Chris Hall (Oaks) 61-08.
5. Mick Herrington (Bob-co/Oaks) 54-08.
6. Mick Sykes (West Park) 54-03.
Monday, June 12, 2006
Saturday 10th June 2006 – Maver Pairs, The Oaks, Sessay.
No fishing today as I was drafted in at the last minute to run the Maver Pairs qualifier at The Oaks, Sessay.
I got there in plenty of time, as nothing had been prepared. By the time that the draw came around, there were 48 pairs that had paid onto the match.
In addition to the payment for the ticket and the pools on the day, I decided to run 2 further optional pools. A £1 optional winner take all and an optional £2 pairs winner take all. When Daylite Rothery arrived another optional pool was devised….
A £5 optional pool. Was I going to have fun trying to sort this lot out.
To try to make the match as fair as possible, I decided to peg 1 of the pairs on Maple Lake and his partner on Cedar Lake.
I got everybody under way, then had to shoot back to Leeds to get my bait from the tackle shop, then get back to The Oaks to sort the winners out, etc, etc.
Gary Jubb and Derek Jackson (both Diawa Goldthorpe) had drawn good pegs, Jubby was on Cedar 74 and Jacko was on Maple 66. Grandad Poole had drawn peg 62 on Maple. Son of Nightie was on Maple 10, with the wind blowing down the straight into 10 and blowing from left to right into the corner, he should do well from there. Dave Topshop had drawn Maple 8, Andy Stonner was on Maple 18 and Nightie was on Maple 56.
Xman had drawn a good peg on Cedar, 56. (John Illingworth won the match from the same peg the day after the Maver Pairs match, shows what a good angler can do from a good peg).
I decided prior to the draw that I was going to do 10 peg sections.
After arriving back at the venue following my flying visit to Leeds, I had a walk around the lakes. Son of Nightie was admitting to 40lb and was catching the odd fish up in the water at about 5m. SoN also told me that Topshop was catching. I carried on walking around the lake and spoke with Chris Watson (Maple 23), he was struggling. I walked round to Nightie and spoke with him for a short while. He had just started catching on small cubes of catmeat across to the island, but the wind was making presentation difficult.
I carried on round the lake and had a word with Jacko on peg 66. I am not sure what he had in his chopped worm as his hands where jet black. I thought that he had used coal dust and water to wash his hands, seriously!!! He was feeding small pots of chopped worm down the side and was admitting to about 40lb. Micky ‘Deirdre’ Barlow was also catching from Peg 1 on Maple.
I then went round Cedar Lake and had a word with Jubby, he was catching fish on top of the shelf, feeding small amounts of chopped worm and fishing with worm on the hook. He was admitting to 60 carp for about 50lb. I carried on round and sat behind Xman for a short while (not a lot happening here then), he was feeding a few pellets and caster topped off with green (swimstim) groundbait, and fishing with pellet on the hook. Didn’t see any Marinated Burbot Strip though.
‘Racing’ on peg 35 was just starting to catch the odd fish down the side towards peg 36. Marco was getting odd fish from Cedar 32. Chris Gorrell on Cedar 6 was catching by fishing in front of the footplate on peg 7.
One thing that I did realise was that everybody that I sat behind had a fish whilst I was in their presence.
Time to get the rigs out of the water. I wasn’t sure who was going to win it as I hadn’t spoke with everybody, I didn’t know who’s partner was whose and most people seemed to be getting a few.
At the start of the match, I decided on 10 peg sections and the qualifiers would go through by virtue of lowest points, 1 point for a win, 10 points for last in section and 11 points for a DNW.
The overall result was as follows:
Individual:
Andy Geldart (Middy) 75-03. Cedar Lake peg 18. Feeding and fishing caster at 9m shallow. Andy told me after the match that he had got through 7 pints of casters.
Mark Calvert (Garbolino Elton) 72-04. Cedar Lake peg 62. Caster and worm across to the island.
Bert Poole (Oaks/Westpark) 71-12. Maple Lake peg 62.
Gary Jubb (Diawa Goldthorpe) 69-15. Cedar Lake peg 74.
Dave Topham (Sensas Wibsey) 64-10. Maple Lake peg 8.
Sam Morgan (Ackworth) 58-06. Cedar Lake peg 34.
After checking and double checking all the results and positions the winning pair and 2 further qualifiers were as follows:
Qualifying Pairs:
Gary Jubb & Derek Jackson (both Diawa Goldthorpe) 3 points - 126-11.
Ian Exley (Team Dons) & Kirk Grainger (Clay Lane) 3 Points - 102-13.
Lee Kerry (Maver Barnsley) & Andy Geldart (Middy) 3 points - 101-07.
After finally sorting out all of the pools (including all of the optionals), Lee Kerry and Andy Geldart shared out over £350 for today.
No fishing today as I was drafted in at the last minute to run the Maver Pairs qualifier at The Oaks, Sessay.
I got there in plenty of time, as nothing had been prepared. By the time that the draw came around, there were 48 pairs that had paid onto the match.
In addition to the payment for the ticket and the pools on the day, I decided to run 2 further optional pools. A £1 optional winner take all and an optional £2 pairs winner take all. When Daylite Rothery arrived another optional pool was devised….
A £5 optional pool. Was I going to have fun trying to sort this lot out.
To try to make the match as fair as possible, I decided to peg 1 of the pairs on Maple Lake and his partner on Cedar Lake.
I got everybody under way, then had to shoot back to Leeds to get my bait from the tackle shop, then get back to The Oaks to sort the winners out, etc, etc.
Gary Jubb and Derek Jackson (both Diawa Goldthorpe) had drawn good pegs, Jubby was on Cedar 74 and Jacko was on Maple 66. Grandad Poole had drawn peg 62 on Maple. Son of Nightie was on Maple 10, with the wind blowing down the straight into 10 and blowing from left to right into the corner, he should do well from there. Dave Topshop had drawn Maple 8, Andy Stonner was on Maple 18 and Nightie was on Maple 56.
Xman had drawn a good peg on Cedar, 56. (John Illingworth won the match from the same peg the day after the Maver Pairs match, shows what a good angler can do from a good peg).
I decided prior to the draw that I was going to do 10 peg sections.
After arriving back at the venue following my flying visit to Leeds, I had a walk around the lakes. Son of Nightie was admitting to 40lb and was catching the odd fish up in the water at about 5m. SoN also told me that Topshop was catching. I carried on walking around the lake and spoke with Chris Watson (Maple 23), he was struggling. I walked round to Nightie and spoke with him for a short while. He had just started catching on small cubes of catmeat across to the island, but the wind was making presentation difficult.
I carried on round the lake and had a word with Jacko on peg 66. I am not sure what he had in his chopped worm as his hands where jet black. I thought that he had used coal dust and water to wash his hands, seriously!!! He was feeding small pots of chopped worm down the side and was admitting to about 40lb. Micky ‘Deirdre’ Barlow was also catching from Peg 1 on Maple.
I then went round Cedar Lake and had a word with Jubby, he was catching fish on top of the shelf, feeding small amounts of chopped worm and fishing with worm on the hook. He was admitting to 60 carp for about 50lb. I carried on round and sat behind Xman for a short while (not a lot happening here then), he was feeding a few pellets and caster topped off with green (swimstim) groundbait, and fishing with pellet on the hook. Didn’t see any Marinated Burbot Strip though.
‘Racing’ on peg 35 was just starting to catch the odd fish down the side towards peg 36. Marco was getting odd fish from Cedar 32. Chris Gorrell on Cedar 6 was catching by fishing in front of the footplate on peg 7.
One thing that I did realise was that everybody that I sat behind had a fish whilst I was in their presence.
Time to get the rigs out of the water. I wasn’t sure who was going to win it as I hadn’t spoke with everybody, I didn’t know who’s partner was whose and most people seemed to be getting a few.
At the start of the match, I decided on 10 peg sections and the qualifiers would go through by virtue of lowest points, 1 point for a win, 10 points for last in section and 11 points for a DNW.
The overall result was as follows:
Individual:
Andy Geldart (Middy) 75-03. Cedar Lake peg 18. Feeding and fishing caster at 9m shallow. Andy told me after the match that he had got through 7 pints of casters.
Mark Calvert (Garbolino Elton) 72-04. Cedar Lake peg 62. Caster and worm across to the island.
Bert Poole (Oaks/Westpark) 71-12. Maple Lake peg 62.
Gary Jubb (Diawa Goldthorpe) 69-15. Cedar Lake peg 74.
Dave Topham (Sensas Wibsey) 64-10. Maple Lake peg 8.
Sam Morgan (Ackworth) 58-06. Cedar Lake peg 34.
After checking and double checking all the results and positions the winning pair and 2 further qualifiers were as follows:
Qualifying Pairs:
Gary Jubb & Derek Jackson (both Diawa Goldthorpe) 3 points - 126-11.
Ian Exley (Team Dons) & Kirk Grainger (Clay Lane) 3 Points - 102-13.
Lee Kerry (Maver Barnsley) & Andy Geldart (Middy) 3 points - 101-07.
After finally sorting out all of the pools (including all of the optionals), Lee Kerry and Andy Geldart shared out over £350 for today.
Friday, June 09, 2006
Thursday, June 08, 2006
I took my 3 (nearly 4) year old son fishing. He is called Thomas and this is his first fish. He fished at 14m and we were at None Go Bye. This is the average stamp of fish from the top lake.
He caught on pellet over pellet and also caught a smaller one as well. It was absolutely siling down, but he still enjoyed it.
He caught on pellet over pellet and also caught a smaller one as well. It was absolutely siling down, but he still enjoyed it.
Sunday 4th June 2006 – Spring Valley Invitation Match, Wakefield.
Trying to get on was the hard part! Having had a chance encounter with 2005 Fishomania champion, Marc Jones, at Bob-co in Leeds on Bank Holiday Monday, he was telling me about his new lakes and that the first match was being held on Sunday 4th June. Marc was saying that the few that have fished it had bagged up. After pleading with Marc to get a ticket, he told me to ring him on Wednesday to see if he could get us on.
I rang Wed, both Purverted and I had got on. Phil Chapman had fished the lake, as had Castleford Munchkin, Marc had also had a go, as you do.
I spoke with Philly at Woodlands on Saturday and got a bit of information on what he did and what he caught on – everything. After getting a lift with Panic to Woodlands the day before, he also told me that he also had a ticket, so the cast list was something like:
Legend Barrett (Fisho 2006 qualifier)
Marc Jones
Panic Poole
Castleford Munchkin
Meatcutter Bailey
Mick Grant
Tony Hoppo Hopkins
Rob Hitchens
Mick Lodge
Purverted Purvis
Magnum Clarke
Steve (Higgins) Simmons
To name but a few.
After arranging to meet up with Philly for a breakfast (good job we followed as we’d never find it), which I might add was good, cheap and a lot, we arrived at the venue. Philly told us that Marc had been rotating the fish feed. One time he would feed the fish sweetcorn, then the next time that he fed them, he fed them pellets. That’s the bait bill sorted.
The Lakes
The lakes are similar to Woodland Lakes, Thirsk, in that they are rectangular in shape, with about 2ft deep at the side, with 5ft at 7m and 6ft at 11m. The lakes are some 20m to the middle and you are pegged on opposite banks. Some work still needs to be carried out yet, platforms need to be put in place etc, etc. The 2 lakes are called Fox (22 pegs) and Badger (20 pegs). The lakes are stuffed with fish between 1.5lb and 4lb. Marc had also put another 650lb of stock into the lake on Thursday.
I arranged the usual £2 with Purverted, £1 with Panic (who although he DNW’d yesterday at Woodlands, failed to pay me) and I had arranged a quid with Chappy at Woodlands the previous day. That’s not bad is it, I am on a virgin lake that has hardly been fished and I manage to get a quid going with someone who is at a totally different venue.
My Drawing Arm
At the draw, all the talk was of the winning weight(s) and the possible winning pegs, wind direction being the main point. Marc was hoping that someone would do the double ton.
At the draw, I managed to draw Fox 1, a corner peg (about 3m to the corner), with the wind blowing into it, scum on the water, a nice ripple. The only downside was that the draw took place about 5 yards away from the peg, anybody that wanted to have a look at the lake prior to the draw, stood in my peg or stood on top of the small bank that run along the bottom end of the lake, and when everybody went to their pegs, most (if not all) of them trundled past my peg with their trolleys, etc, etc (excuses already, or are they?). Everyone still told me as they walked past, that I would need at least 3 keepnet’s (I’d only taken 2) and that if I don’t get over 150lb, I might as well sell my gear.
Purverted had drawn Fox 18, with Meatcutter on 17, Higgins was on 19, and Castleford Munchkin drew 11, at the end of my section. I had Tony Hopkins opposite on 21 and one of the Rymer's (not Bob) directly opposite on peg 22. I must apologise, I can’t remember the name of the lad that was next to me on peg 2, although I did ask his name.
Rigs
I set up 4 rigs to try to cater for all eventualities, as follows:
A .2g Garbolino DC6 on .14 Maver Genesis direct to a size 16 Colmic 501 hook. I plumbed up along the bank, at 7m and 14m, and found about 2ft of depth (by pulling the rig up the slope).
A .3g Series E set up on .16 Maver Genesis direct to a size 16 Colmic 501 hook. This was for fishing the top 2 to hand where I had about 3ft of depth.
A .3g Carp Belter (?) that I had found the day before at Woodlands. This was set up on .4 Maver Genesis direct to a size 16 Colmic 501 hook. I plumbed up at 14m and found 6ft of depth.
This rig was a 4x14 Drennan Carp 2 rig; set up on .16 Maver Genesis tied direct to a size 14 Colmic 501 hook. I plumbed up at 7m and found 4ft of depth. I was hoping that this line was going to be my main catching line.
The A La Carte menu for the day consisted of 2 small tins corn, 4pts micro pellets, various hook pellets (including the conkers) and a bit of meat left from the previous day and that’s about it.
Time to bag up!!
At the all in I cupped (a small Garbolino cup) in some micro pellets at 7m, a smaller helping at 14m and two small pots in down the side to both swims.
I baited up with a conker on the hook and a ‘Toss Pot’ full of micro pellets. I shipped out in anticipation, as you do on a virgin water, and waited. I waited a little bit longer, then waited some more. I’d only cupped in some bait and blown it all ready.
With the design and the layout of the lake, I was able to keep an eye on about 15 or 16 of the competitors and get an idea of who was doing what and catching where. Nobody else seemed to be breaking any records. The majority of people were fishing at 6 – 8m, with the odd person fishing at 13m.
After about 15 minutes, I got a dink, the bait was gone. I re-baited, dropped in again hoping that the fish had finally found the bait. Got an indication, the float buried, I struck, foul-hooked. Basket!!!
I then waited another 15 minutes without a bite. I dropped in down the side at 7m, shock horror; I caught a fish, a carp of about 2lb. I dropped in again thinking that they may be in the shallower water. Nothing. I went out to 14m down the side and managed to snare 2 more fish.
We were now 2 hours into the match and I had 3 carp to show for it. The lad next to me had about 5 fish (most of them shallow at 14 – 16m). Hoppo had about 6 fish, Rymer had 3 fish. Purverted rang me to say that he was catching on corn over pellet, feeding next to nothing. He was admitting to 13 fish. Meatcutter at the side of Purverted had about 10 fish. It was hard.
I had a go shallow, feeding 6 or 7 pellets every so often, I foul-hooked one and that was that. The lad who was 2 pegs away from me (on peg 3) was fishing with a 13m pole, a 5ft lash between pole tip and float and was swinging his rig out, not feeding anything and catching the odd fish shallow.
I cut back on all feed on all lines, and just waited and waited for the fish to come.
Bag up city
Between 2:30 and 3:05, I got a steady stream of fish between 1.5lb and 3lb from the same hole down the side at 14m, feeding a small fruitshoot of bait after every fish (it’s like scratching in winter). I managed to snare 10 fish for an estimated weight of 20lb, to add to the 3 fish that I already had.
Purverted was still catching a few, Legend was starting to motor, Higgins was getting a few and Meatcutter had slowed.
That was it, no more bites. The lad next to me was catching the odd fish shallow, albeit, slowly and I thought that it was going to be close between us.
Marc came round with the scales; he was admitting to 150lb and losing another 60lb. I was the first to weigh. I put 26lb exactly on the scales. Peg 2 weighed 25-12, I should have had a quid with him, peg 3 had 16lb, then there was a couple of v. low 20’s, including Keith Kotchie who had 21lb. The Castleford Munchkin was the last to weigh on my bank and he was admitting to 15 fish (I’d had 13 fish for 26lb), did he have more weight?
Did he heck, he weighed in 25lb dead. I’d won my section. It was bloody hard. The scales then disappeared on to Badger Lake.
By the time that the scales had got back onto my lake, Marc Jones had weighed in 123lb odd, duty rumour was going round that Marc had used 2 kilo of worms and 4 pints of caster in the process. Philly weighed in just shy of 70lb (the practice made a difference) and 55lb was lying in 3rd place, all from Badger Lake. Legend weighed in 53lb for 4th overall. Purverted had 35lb (and my £2 and also half of my section win), Meatcutter had 31lb, Higgins had 41lb and Hoppo opposite me had 29lb. Panic weighed in 35lb next to Marc on Badger Lake, I was down another quid.
And to cap it all, I couldn’t beat Chappy who was on a different venue. He weighed in 37lb (ish), so that is another quid down, although I haven’t paid him yet!!
My thoughts!
I don’t know why the lake(s) didn’t fish. I can recall the same thing happened on Cedar Lake at The Oaks Lakes, Sessay when they first opened it.
Would I go back?
Yeah, of course, with the stamp of the fish and the amount of fish that are stocked, I would predict that 100lb weights would be common place once the fish get used to the disturbance on the bank and the various baits going in.
A match was held on Wednesday 7th June and by all accounts, 70 - 80lb was common place, not sure what or who won.
Trying to get on was the hard part! Having had a chance encounter with 2005 Fishomania champion, Marc Jones, at Bob-co in Leeds on Bank Holiday Monday, he was telling me about his new lakes and that the first match was being held on Sunday 4th June. Marc was saying that the few that have fished it had bagged up. After pleading with Marc to get a ticket, he told me to ring him on Wednesday to see if he could get us on.
I rang Wed, both Purverted and I had got on. Phil Chapman had fished the lake, as had Castleford Munchkin, Marc had also had a go, as you do.
I spoke with Philly at Woodlands on Saturday and got a bit of information on what he did and what he caught on – everything. After getting a lift with Panic to Woodlands the day before, he also told me that he also had a ticket, so the cast list was something like:
Legend Barrett (Fisho 2006 qualifier)
Marc Jones
Panic Poole
Castleford Munchkin
Meatcutter Bailey
Mick Grant
Tony Hoppo Hopkins
Rob Hitchens
Mick Lodge
Purverted Purvis
Magnum Clarke
Steve (Higgins) Simmons
To name but a few.
After arranging to meet up with Philly for a breakfast (good job we followed as we’d never find it), which I might add was good, cheap and a lot, we arrived at the venue. Philly told us that Marc had been rotating the fish feed. One time he would feed the fish sweetcorn, then the next time that he fed them, he fed them pellets. That’s the bait bill sorted.
The Lakes
The lakes are similar to Woodland Lakes, Thirsk, in that they are rectangular in shape, with about 2ft deep at the side, with 5ft at 7m and 6ft at 11m. The lakes are some 20m to the middle and you are pegged on opposite banks. Some work still needs to be carried out yet, platforms need to be put in place etc, etc. The 2 lakes are called Fox (22 pegs) and Badger (20 pegs). The lakes are stuffed with fish between 1.5lb and 4lb. Marc had also put another 650lb of stock into the lake on Thursday.
I arranged the usual £2 with Purverted, £1 with Panic (who although he DNW’d yesterday at Woodlands, failed to pay me) and I had arranged a quid with Chappy at Woodlands the previous day. That’s not bad is it, I am on a virgin lake that has hardly been fished and I manage to get a quid going with someone who is at a totally different venue.
My Drawing Arm
At the draw, all the talk was of the winning weight(s) and the possible winning pegs, wind direction being the main point. Marc was hoping that someone would do the double ton.
At the draw, I managed to draw Fox 1, a corner peg (about 3m to the corner), with the wind blowing into it, scum on the water, a nice ripple. The only downside was that the draw took place about 5 yards away from the peg, anybody that wanted to have a look at the lake prior to the draw, stood in my peg or stood on top of the small bank that run along the bottom end of the lake, and when everybody went to their pegs, most (if not all) of them trundled past my peg with their trolleys, etc, etc (excuses already, or are they?). Everyone still told me as they walked past, that I would need at least 3 keepnet’s (I’d only taken 2) and that if I don’t get over 150lb, I might as well sell my gear.
Purverted had drawn Fox 18, with Meatcutter on 17, Higgins was on 19, and Castleford Munchkin drew 11, at the end of my section. I had Tony Hopkins opposite on 21 and one of the Rymer's (not Bob) directly opposite on peg 22. I must apologise, I can’t remember the name of the lad that was next to me on peg 2, although I did ask his name.
Rigs
I set up 4 rigs to try to cater for all eventualities, as follows:
A .2g Garbolino DC6 on .14 Maver Genesis direct to a size 16 Colmic 501 hook. I plumbed up along the bank, at 7m and 14m, and found about 2ft of depth (by pulling the rig up the slope).
A .3g Series E set up on .16 Maver Genesis direct to a size 16 Colmic 501 hook. This was for fishing the top 2 to hand where I had about 3ft of depth.
A .3g Carp Belter (?) that I had found the day before at Woodlands. This was set up on .4 Maver Genesis direct to a size 16 Colmic 501 hook. I plumbed up at 14m and found 6ft of depth.
This rig was a 4x14 Drennan Carp 2 rig; set up on .16 Maver Genesis tied direct to a size 14 Colmic 501 hook. I plumbed up at 7m and found 4ft of depth. I was hoping that this line was going to be my main catching line.
The A La Carte menu for the day consisted of 2 small tins corn, 4pts micro pellets, various hook pellets (including the conkers) and a bit of meat left from the previous day and that’s about it.
Time to bag up!!
At the all in I cupped (a small Garbolino cup) in some micro pellets at 7m, a smaller helping at 14m and two small pots in down the side to both swims.
I baited up with a conker on the hook and a ‘Toss Pot’ full of micro pellets. I shipped out in anticipation, as you do on a virgin water, and waited. I waited a little bit longer, then waited some more. I’d only cupped in some bait and blown it all ready.
With the design and the layout of the lake, I was able to keep an eye on about 15 or 16 of the competitors and get an idea of who was doing what and catching where. Nobody else seemed to be breaking any records. The majority of people were fishing at 6 – 8m, with the odd person fishing at 13m.
After about 15 minutes, I got a dink, the bait was gone. I re-baited, dropped in again hoping that the fish had finally found the bait. Got an indication, the float buried, I struck, foul-hooked. Basket!!!
I then waited another 15 minutes without a bite. I dropped in down the side at 7m, shock horror; I caught a fish, a carp of about 2lb. I dropped in again thinking that they may be in the shallower water. Nothing. I went out to 14m down the side and managed to snare 2 more fish.
We were now 2 hours into the match and I had 3 carp to show for it. The lad next to me had about 5 fish (most of them shallow at 14 – 16m). Hoppo had about 6 fish, Rymer had 3 fish. Purverted rang me to say that he was catching on corn over pellet, feeding next to nothing. He was admitting to 13 fish. Meatcutter at the side of Purverted had about 10 fish. It was hard.
I had a go shallow, feeding 6 or 7 pellets every so often, I foul-hooked one and that was that. The lad who was 2 pegs away from me (on peg 3) was fishing with a 13m pole, a 5ft lash between pole tip and float and was swinging his rig out, not feeding anything and catching the odd fish shallow.
I cut back on all feed on all lines, and just waited and waited for the fish to come.
Bag up city
Between 2:30 and 3:05, I got a steady stream of fish between 1.5lb and 3lb from the same hole down the side at 14m, feeding a small fruitshoot of bait after every fish (it’s like scratching in winter). I managed to snare 10 fish for an estimated weight of 20lb, to add to the 3 fish that I already had.
Purverted was still catching a few, Legend was starting to motor, Higgins was getting a few and Meatcutter had slowed.
That was it, no more bites. The lad next to me was catching the odd fish shallow, albeit, slowly and I thought that it was going to be close between us.
Marc came round with the scales; he was admitting to 150lb and losing another 60lb. I was the first to weigh. I put 26lb exactly on the scales. Peg 2 weighed 25-12, I should have had a quid with him, peg 3 had 16lb, then there was a couple of v. low 20’s, including Keith Kotchie who had 21lb. The Castleford Munchkin was the last to weigh on my bank and he was admitting to 15 fish (I’d had 13 fish for 26lb), did he have more weight?
Did he heck, he weighed in 25lb dead. I’d won my section. It was bloody hard. The scales then disappeared on to Badger Lake.
By the time that the scales had got back onto my lake, Marc Jones had weighed in 123lb odd, duty rumour was going round that Marc had used 2 kilo of worms and 4 pints of caster in the process. Philly weighed in just shy of 70lb (the practice made a difference) and 55lb was lying in 3rd place, all from Badger Lake. Legend weighed in 53lb for 4th overall. Purverted had 35lb (and my £2 and also half of my section win), Meatcutter had 31lb, Higgins had 41lb and Hoppo opposite me had 29lb. Panic weighed in 35lb next to Marc on Badger Lake, I was down another quid.
And to cap it all, I couldn’t beat Chappy who was on a different venue. He weighed in 37lb (ish), so that is another quid down, although I haven’t paid him yet!!
My thoughts!
I don’t know why the lake(s) didn’t fish. I can recall the same thing happened on Cedar Lake at The Oaks Lakes, Sessay when they first opened it.
Would I go back?
Yeah, of course, with the stamp of the fish and the amount of fish that are stocked, I would predict that 100lb weights would be common place once the fish get used to the disturbance on the bank and the various baits going in.
A match was held on Wednesday 7th June and by all accounts, 70 - 80lb was common place, not sure what or who won.
Saturday 3rd June 2006 – Woodland Lakes, Thirsk.
I rang up and booked my peg on Friday afternoon and was told that there were 69 names down and if they got more than 71 on, they would have to put in both Curlew and Wagtail along with the usual Partridge and Skylark. A quick call to Panic and transport was arranged. Purverted was booked on, so that was £2 in the pocket before I’d even started. I was also going to get my £2 of Shane, following my beating Purverted last week, I was quid’s in.
I arrived at Woodland’s after a brekkie at Moggie’s. Panic was telling me that he went on the Wednesday match, ordered an egg sarnie and a tea and was charge
£3-80; he refused to pay and starved all day – tight git.
On paying on, I reminded the young scroat behind the counter that he owed me £2, a quid dip in the till soon sorted that, making my pocket heavier in the process. Purverted had called Friday evening to blob off, he was sorting his truck for Monday’s deliveries.
At the draw, you get butterflies and a tingle as you put your hand in the bucket. If you draw the Slow Norris way, you also end up with pins and needles, whilst you tie your self in knots, cutting off the blood supply in the process. I pulled out Skylark 27, which was according to the local’s so, so.
I got to my peg to find that I had John McGarrell on peg 26, peg 28 was empty and Bill Brierley was on peg 29. Ian Bowman was on peg 24, Coyney was on peg 23, Pimmy on 21 and Mark Longhurst on peg 20, was I in good company or what?
I had already struck up a quid with Chappy at the draw, and he had drawn somewhere on Curlew and Panic had drawn peg 10 on Wagtail. I also got the nod to have a quid with McG.
I set up the following:
Rig at 6m was a 4 x 14 Drennan Carp 2 set up on Maver Genesis .16 line direct to a size 16 Colmic B501 barbless hook.
The 14m rig was a .3g Series E float set up on .16 Maver Genesis line, tied direct to a size 14 Colmic B501 hook.
Shallow rig was set up with the intention of fishing on the 14m line, up in the water after I had been flicking a few bits of meat out all the time. This was set 1ft deep.
Rig 4 was a 4 x 12 Drennan Carp 2 set up on .15 Preston Powerline, direct to a size 14 Colmic 501 hook. I plumbed up down the side about 2ft off the boards and found a flat spot about 2ft deep. This rig could also be used as an up in the water rig, to fish a little deeper if required.
I didn’t have time to set up a bomb rod.
McG had also set up rigs to fish the same lines and in addition he also had a bomb rod and a shallow waggler rod set up incorporating the new 5 – 8g pellet waggler’s. McG had on the smaller of the sizes.
The Menu
I had 1 small tin of corn, 3 tins of meat (200g) chopped into 4mm and 6mm pieces, 1 tin of hemp, 4 & 6mm expanders for the hook (1/2 pt) and 3mm expanders for feed (1 pt).
Off Putting
How un-sportsman like is this. With about 10 minutes to the start of the match, McG decided to strip down to his grollies. He sat down, and I am sure that I observed his ball bag hanging out of the side of his grollies, what a sight. I didn’t even know that you could buy thongs in XXXL. At one point, I mis-took McG for Peter Stringfellow (there would have been an uncanny resemblance if his hair was longer).
Underway
I missed the start of the match as I was still pissing myself at the sight of Stringfellow on the next peg.
After I had finally composed myself, I cupped in some hemp and meat at 14m, 6m and down the side. It was a bright sunny day, with hardly any wind and you could see the carp moving about just under the surface at about 15 – 20m +.
I went out to 6m, dropped in with meat, and waited and waited. After some 20 minutes, the float buried, and a tench of 1lb was soon in the net. It doesn’t take long to get them out on blue Preston 15h elastic. I dropped in again and caught a skimmer about 4oz, which came off as I was shipping back.
After a further 20 minutes, I went out to 14m with the full depth rig, expecting to get liners as I had been constantly feeding 3 – 6 pieces of meat at 14m. I dropped in with meat on the hook, waited all of 30 seconds, the float buried and a carp was soon on, then off again, foul hooked!!!
Third of the way in!
We were approximately 1 ½ hours into the match, McG had 6 carp, 1 tench and a skimmer. He had caught 1 carp at 6m, 2 at 14m, 1 on the shallow pole rig and 2 on the shallow waggler rig. I had 6 tench and 2 skimmers. One of the skimmers had come on the 1ft rig out at 14m. How can you fish a lake that is full of carp and 2 hours + into the match not have a carp? It’s a funny old game, innit.
After about 3 hours, I still hadn’t caught a carp and a change in tactics and feeding patterns were called for.
I stopped feeding the meat with the catapult, and started to cup in 3mm pellets and fish pieces of meat over the top. I did this on all lines, as I felt that (in my peg) the carp just did not want too much bait.
After about 10 minutes of this on the 6m line, I finally got my first carp, and for the next 30 minutes, I got 2 carp at 6m, 1 carp shallow (without feeding anything), and 2 carp at 14m at depth. McG had added no more in this period, so I was still 1 carp behind, but I did have more tench than him.
The Home Straight
With about 45 minutes of the match remaining my lines seemed to be devoid of fish. I decided to concentrate more on the swim down the side as I had seen some clouding of the water and a couple of swirls.
I baited up with pellet, put some pellets in the Toss Pot, dropped in down the side and waited. After about 3 minutes, the float dipped then shot under. I stuck!!! Nothing. I re-baited and did the same again. The float shot under and a tench that thought that it was a trout leaped out of the water, shedding the hook in the process.
I repeated the process and waited about 5 minutes. The float shot under and a carp about 4lb was soon in the landing net.
There was now about 15 minutes of the match remaining, McG had also gone down the side and soon had a fish on, and out. It was a carp about 6lb.
About Bloody Time
That was it. The match was over. No more. Stop now, everyone.
I had observed Billy throughout the match, he had caught on paste at 6m for the first hour or so, catching odd fish, then he went out on his deep rig at 13m and caught a few, then went out on his shallow rig, feeding very sporadically and caught a few more. He had fished a tidy match. But get this!!
He was on peg 29, I was on peg 27. That meant that I was some 15m away, he was also fishing at 16m, or near enough (for all you geometrist’s out there, how far is that as an obtuse triangle). I could see his bait from where I was, and it looked quite big. So at the end of the match, I went over to him to see what he had done, and he tried to tell me that he had caught on 6mm meat. From where I was, it looked (for all the world) that he had on a BIG pellet, probably bigger than the conkers that I use.
McG got up off his box, and he was a little red (Chappy has a camera video of McG watching the weigh in with his belly and tackle hanging out of his thong. It will be available by blue tooth on Saturday for anyone that wants it) to say the least. You know how sometimes, some of these porno stars have bikini marks, well McG had a thong mark, but where as these porno stars are tanned, McG was RED.
The corner pegs up from Bill had weighed in no more than 21lb. Bill weighed 60lb. I put all of my fish into 1 net (I knew that I hadn’t caught a lot, as usual) and dropped 26lb -8oz on the scales. McG put his fish on the scales and weighed in 32lb dead. The last gasp fish had saved him and cost me a quid. Chappy, was stood behind me as I weighed in and promptly held out his hand for his usual quid. He weighed in 37lb (ish). Panic was a DNW from Wagtail 10, but said that he had tipped back about 25lb. I never got my quid off him.
Pimmy won the match with 108lb, 33 carp. He caught half and half at full depth and shallow. Ian Bowman weighed in over 70lb, Coyney had just short of 70lb and Mark Longhurst had just over 70lb. There were 4 of them in a row that weighed in just over 315lb.
Hopefully, one of these days the draw will be kind, but in order for it to be kind, you have to keep going. It is the law of averages.
I rang up and booked my peg on Friday afternoon and was told that there were 69 names down and if they got more than 71 on, they would have to put in both Curlew and Wagtail along with the usual Partridge and Skylark. A quick call to Panic and transport was arranged. Purverted was booked on, so that was £2 in the pocket before I’d even started. I was also going to get my £2 of Shane, following my beating Purverted last week, I was quid’s in.
I arrived at Woodland’s after a brekkie at Moggie’s. Panic was telling me that he went on the Wednesday match, ordered an egg sarnie and a tea and was charge
£3-80; he refused to pay and starved all day – tight git.
On paying on, I reminded the young scroat behind the counter that he owed me £2, a quid dip in the till soon sorted that, making my pocket heavier in the process. Purverted had called Friday evening to blob off, he was sorting his truck for Monday’s deliveries.
At the draw, you get butterflies and a tingle as you put your hand in the bucket. If you draw the Slow Norris way, you also end up with pins and needles, whilst you tie your self in knots, cutting off the blood supply in the process. I pulled out Skylark 27, which was according to the local’s so, so.
I got to my peg to find that I had John McGarrell on peg 26, peg 28 was empty and Bill Brierley was on peg 29. Ian Bowman was on peg 24, Coyney was on peg 23, Pimmy on 21 and Mark Longhurst on peg 20, was I in good company or what?
I had already struck up a quid with Chappy at the draw, and he had drawn somewhere on Curlew and Panic had drawn peg 10 on Wagtail. I also got the nod to have a quid with McG.
I set up the following:
Rig at 6m was a 4 x 14 Drennan Carp 2 set up on Maver Genesis .16 line direct to a size 16 Colmic B501 barbless hook.
The 14m rig was a .3g Series E float set up on .16 Maver Genesis line, tied direct to a size 14 Colmic B501 hook.
Shallow rig was set up with the intention of fishing on the 14m line, up in the water after I had been flicking a few bits of meat out all the time. This was set 1ft deep.
Rig 4 was a 4 x 12 Drennan Carp 2 set up on .15 Preston Powerline, direct to a size 14 Colmic 501 hook. I plumbed up down the side about 2ft off the boards and found a flat spot about 2ft deep. This rig could also be used as an up in the water rig, to fish a little deeper if required.
I didn’t have time to set up a bomb rod.
McG had also set up rigs to fish the same lines and in addition he also had a bomb rod and a shallow waggler rod set up incorporating the new 5 – 8g pellet waggler’s. McG had on the smaller of the sizes.
The Menu
I had 1 small tin of corn, 3 tins of meat (200g) chopped into 4mm and 6mm pieces, 1 tin of hemp, 4 & 6mm expanders for the hook (1/2 pt) and 3mm expanders for feed (1 pt).
Off Putting
How un-sportsman like is this. With about 10 minutes to the start of the match, McG decided to strip down to his grollies. He sat down, and I am sure that I observed his ball bag hanging out of the side of his grollies, what a sight. I didn’t even know that you could buy thongs in XXXL. At one point, I mis-took McG for Peter Stringfellow (there would have been an uncanny resemblance if his hair was longer).
Underway
I missed the start of the match as I was still pissing myself at the sight of Stringfellow on the next peg.
After I had finally composed myself, I cupped in some hemp and meat at 14m, 6m and down the side. It was a bright sunny day, with hardly any wind and you could see the carp moving about just under the surface at about 15 – 20m +.
I went out to 6m, dropped in with meat, and waited and waited. After some 20 minutes, the float buried, and a tench of 1lb was soon in the net. It doesn’t take long to get them out on blue Preston 15h elastic. I dropped in again and caught a skimmer about 4oz, which came off as I was shipping back.
After a further 20 minutes, I went out to 14m with the full depth rig, expecting to get liners as I had been constantly feeding 3 – 6 pieces of meat at 14m. I dropped in with meat on the hook, waited all of 30 seconds, the float buried and a carp was soon on, then off again, foul hooked!!!
Third of the way in!
We were approximately 1 ½ hours into the match, McG had 6 carp, 1 tench and a skimmer. He had caught 1 carp at 6m, 2 at 14m, 1 on the shallow pole rig and 2 on the shallow waggler rig. I had 6 tench and 2 skimmers. One of the skimmers had come on the 1ft rig out at 14m. How can you fish a lake that is full of carp and 2 hours + into the match not have a carp? It’s a funny old game, innit.
After about 3 hours, I still hadn’t caught a carp and a change in tactics and feeding patterns were called for.
I stopped feeding the meat with the catapult, and started to cup in 3mm pellets and fish pieces of meat over the top. I did this on all lines, as I felt that (in my peg) the carp just did not want too much bait.
After about 10 minutes of this on the 6m line, I finally got my first carp, and for the next 30 minutes, I got 2 carp at 6m, 1 carp shallow (without feeding anything), and 2 carp at 14m at depth. McG had added no more in this period, so I was still 1 carp behind, but I did have more tench than him.
The Home Straight
With about 45 minutes of the match remaining my lines seemed to be devoid of fish. I decided to concentrate more on the swim down the side as I had seen some clouding of the water and a couple of swirls.
I baited up with pellet, put some pellets in the Toss Pot, dropped in down the side and waited. After about 3 minutes, the float dipped then shot under. I stuck!!! Nothing. I re-baited and did the same again. The float shot under and a tench that thought that it was a trout leaped out of the water, shedding the hook in the process.
I repeated the process and waited about 5 minutes. The float shot under and a carp about 4lb was soon in the landing net.
There was now about 15 minutes of the match remaining, McG had also gone down the side and soon had a fish on, and out. It was a carp about 6lb.
About Bloody Time
That was it. The match was over. No more. Stop now, everyone.
I had observed Billy throughout the match, he had caught on paste at 6m for the first hour or so, catching odd fish, then he went out on his deep rig at 13m and caught a few, then went out on his shallow rig, feeding very sporadically and caught a few more. He had fished a tidy match. But get this!!
He was on peg 29, I was on peg 27. That meant that I was some 15m away, he was also fishing at 16m, or near enough (for all you geometrist’s out there, how far is that as an obtuse triangle). I could see his bait from where I was, and it looked quite big. So at the end of the match, I went over to him to see what he had done, and he tried to tell me that he had caught on 6mm meat. From where I was, it looked (for all the world) that he had on a BIG pellet, probably bigger than the conkers that I use.
McG got up off his box, and he was a little red (Chappy has a camera video of McG watching the weigh in with his belly and tackle hanging out of his thong. It will be available by blue tooth on Saturday for anyone that wants it) to say the least. You know how sometimes, some of these porno stars have bikini marks, well McG had a thong mark, but where as these porno stars are tanned, McG was RED.
The corner pegs up from Bill had weighed in no more than 21lb. Bill weighed 60lb. I put all of my fish into 1 net (I knew that I hadn’t caught a lot, as usual) and dropped 26lb -8oz on the scales. McG put his fish on the scales and weighed in 32lb dead. The last gasp fish had saved him and cost me a quid. Chappy, was stood behind me as I weighed in and promptly held out his hand for his usual quid. He weighed in 37lb (ish). Panic was a DNW from Wagtail 10, but said that he had tipped back about 25lb. I never got my quid off him.
Pimmy won the match with 108lb, 33 carp. He caught half and half at full depth and shallow. Ian Bowman weighed in over 70lb, Coyney had just short of 70lb and Mark Longhurst had just over 70lb. There were 4 of them in a row that weighed in just over 315lb.
Hopefully, one of these days the draw will be kind, but in order for it to be kind, you have to keep going. It is the law of averages.
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