Woodlands Lakes, Thirsk - Skylark Lake - Robin Hood AC Club Knockout - Final Leg

Due to imminent staffing changes at work, I may have to work on the day that I had scheduled to fish the 2nd leg of the Knockout against Dave Horsfall (Lindholme Lakes, Bonsai in a couple of weeks), so I called him midweek to see if we could fish it this weekend at Woodlands Lakes, Thirsk instead.  Dave agreed.

Lurch was 'Back' out of retirement - he has been laid low with a dodgy back and there was a good turnout of 20 of us for the match.

The Draw (it is either won or lost at the draw).

For those fishing the knockout, you get to draw first and in view of Dave not being present at the time of the draw, someone had pulled out peg 23 for him, which I would consider to be at the right end of the lake.

I put my hand in the lucky bag and drew next to him on peg 21.  The last time that I fished peg 21 on Skylark, I won the match (a few years ago) with 149lb odd.  I was quite happy with my draw for once.  Now let us see what today brings.

Macca had drawn at the opposite end of the lake on peg 1, Woofer 2, Frontrow Harrison was on about peg 8 or so, Webster was on about peg 10, Pid was more or less opposite me on peg 12 or so.  Mark Wright was on peg 14 (ish), Paul Wilson had drawn one of the better corners in peg 17.  Michelle was in the opposite corner peg 18, I had Gary on peg 20, Horsfall on 23, Castaway Wilson was on about peg 27, Lurch (who surprised us all by turning up for once) was on about peg 30, Barry 'Alaaann, do you want a sandwich' Hunter was on about peg 33 and Ian 'Syd' Waddell was on end peg 34.

I was 18lb behind before we even started fishing so had it all to do but at least I could keep an eye on my adversary for the day.

Rigs

I set up the following:

• a bomb rod (I bought a MAP Parabolix 10ft Bomb Rod 2 weeks ago and like it so far)
• 11ft method feeder rod

following pole rigs:

• Rig 1 was a jigga rig on .17 Preston Powerline to a .12 hooklength attached to Daiwa White Hydro elastic.
• Rig 2 was a Frenzee FD200 shallow float set to fish about 18" deep on the same lines above.  This was also attached to Daiwa White Hydro Elastic.
• Rig 3 was a .4g polystyrene bodie diamond shaped float on .17 Preston Powerline tied direct to a size 14 Colmic B501 hook.  This was attached to Preston Blue 15h.
• Rig 4 was a .5g Maver float set to fish on the deck at 14.5m (the idea being to fish the line at full depth until I get liners from fish coming shallow).  This rig had .17 mainline with a .13 hooklength and was attached to Preston Green 13h.

Bait

I had 1 bag of Sensas Krill groundbait mixed in with half a bag of Sensas Crazybait Gold, venue 6mm (for feeding shallow), 8mm & 11mm pellets for the bomb/method lines and 2 tins of corn.

I was ready before the start of the match, so popped next door to Dave and get the low down on his thoughts for today.  I eye-spied a ball of paste and was quick in requesting a bit - to try 'just in case' LOL.  NOW, I was ready and good to go.

Here we go!!

Following my endeavours of a couple of weeks ago, I was 18lb behind Dave before we even started fishing so had it all to do but at least I could keep an eye on my adversary for the day.

At the start of the match, I had a look down the margin for about 15 mins and never had a twitch.  Unfortunately for me, Dave had snared a carp about 8lb or so in the same amount of time - I was now about 26lb behind.  Oh Crap!!

I potted in some groundbait down the margin with a few grains of corn and then decided to have a chuck out on the method.  I could see that Webster, Woofer, Castaway and one or two others were catching fish.  The confusing thing was that the fish were being caught in the margin, on the bomb or on a short pole line (about 5/6 metres).

After about 20 mins on the method, I had not had a fish or anything.  Dave meanwhile had caught another carp and lost one down the margin and was now about 35lb in front of me as one of them was easily double figures.  Whilst I had been fishing the method, I had been flicking a few pellets every 30 seconds or so out to the 14.5m pole line.

I decided to go out on the pole to 14.5m with the deep rig, baited with an 8mm hard pellet on a baitband.

First drop in, the float sailed away and there was nothing there.  I dropped the rig in again and the same thing happened.  It was time to try the shallow rig.

I picked up the jigga rig, baited up with an 8mm hard pellet on a bait band and shipped out to 14.5m.  I lowered the rig in and 'worked' it a couple of times before I connected with something solid.  The white hydro slowly stretched out of the pole and I was attached to something substantial.  After a battle of about 2 minutes, I had my first carp in the net.  It was about 9lb or so.  Dave had added some skimmers and roach to his weight, I was now probably about 28lb behind and still playing catchup.

When playing fish of this size, I just keep the pole low and ship back slowly without even looking at the pole tip until I get it back to the top 2. then I start to strip the elastic slowly through a side pulla until I get it into the net.

I shipped back out again and some 10 minutes later, I was attached to another good fish.  After another couple of minutes or so, another 6lb fish was in the net.

Over the next 1.5 hours I managed to snare another 6 decent carp on the shallow jigga rig.  By this time, my adversary had caught another 2 carp

With about 2 hours of the match to go, Lurch Moorhead chirped up and said something.  I shouted back 'Blimey, you still here, I thought that you had left before the draw'.

I could see that Woofer was still catching, Macca had taken his shirt off, Webster was still catching one or two, Castaway was still getting the odd fish on the short pole line, Michelle was splashing about in the corner - I do hope that she has not fallen in again.  Wilco in the corner was getting one or two fish by fishing along the boards.  I think that at this point there was about 1 fish in it between Horsfall and I.

It was all to play for.

The wind was increasing as the day went on and at times, it was difficult holding the long pole with one hand whilst feeding with the other.  I could not get anymore bites shallow or on the deck on the long pole line.  I decided to have another couple of chucks on the bomb/method feeder but to no avail.  

Dave Horsfall had foul-hooked and lost a couple of fish down the margin.  I decided to have a look myself. 

I baited up the margin rig with double corn and lowered it down the edge.  The float wobbled a bit, dipped then shot under.  I struck and a gudgeon about 2 oz flew out of the water.  Not quite what I was expecting.

Dave Horsfall had by now hooked and landed another carp.

I baited up the margin rig with double corn and waited for about 15 minutes before the float shot under and this time I was attached to something substantially larger than a gudgeon.  After a brief tussle, I had another carp about 7lb in the net.

That was it time.  All out.  End of the match.  Dave had 4 big carp and 18lb and I had 10 carp and a couple of bits.  Only the weigh in would tell.

Dave asked  what weight had I got.  I said 10 carp for about 55lb or so (with my fingers crossed behind my back) and I said to Dave that he had caught 4 decent carp and some bits for about 40lb so maybe just in front.

The Weigh In

Macca was a DNW, Woofer plonked 89lb on the scales.  Frontrow had 39lb, Webster had 2 weighs and put 81lb on the scales.  Pid had 71lb.  Mark Wright had 30 odd lb's.  Wilco had 3 weighs for 107lb.  Michelle had 14 carp and 2 weighs for 70lb.  Gary next to me was a DNW. Now it was my turn.  I lifted out my first net and plonked 45lb on the scales.  I lifted out my 2nd net and had less in it.  I put it on the scales and watched as the needle went round to 34lb 7oz for a total of 79lb 7oz.  Now it was Dave's turn. He weighed in his silvers net first (5lb odd) and then his carp net went 32lb for a total of 37lb odd + his 18lb carry over gave him a total weight of 55lb odd. I had done it.  I WAS THE CLUB KNOCKOUT CHAMPION.  The scales finally arrived at Castaway Wilson who had 3 weighs and put 121lb on the scales to claim first place.  Lurch was a DNW - AGAIN!!! and Barry Hunter put 66lb on the scales.

Full Result:

1. Stuart Wilson - 121lb

2. Paul Wilson - 107lb

3. Paul Clough - 89lb

4. Dave Webster - 81lb

5. Mike Herrington - 79lb - 2013 CLUB KNOCKOUT CHAMPION

Thank you for reading.  The club still have some more matches to go before the summer league ends and the winter league begins.

Tightlines

Mike

Last couple of matches

Over the last few weeks, I have fished the following matches:

8th September 2013 - Kippax - Osprey Lake
15th September 2013 - Hayfield Lakes - Little Adams Lake

Kippax - Osprey Lake

This was the first of the final two legs of the club knockout competition and I was up against Dave Horsfall to determine the overall winner.  Dave opted to fish his choice of legs at Kippax and I selected Lindholme Lakes - Bonsai Lake in about a month's time.

Osprey Lake is one of my least favourite venues as it is predominantly a worm venue and Dave, along with quite a few other club members fish with worm quite frequently and being as tight as I am, I will not fish worm if I can help it.

I put my hand in the bag and drew peg 11, which was a little indifferent to me as Osprey Lake is pretty much straight up and down with a central island between 14 - 17m away.  On my last visit here I drew peg 23 and was 3rd with 44lb ish.  Dave put his hand in the bag and drew peg 23 or thereabouts.  It was all to play for.

I fished with pellet across on the pole at 16m and pellet, paste down the edge.  I could see the fish down the edge, but as has usually been the case for the past couple of months, the fish are coming into the margins, but not eating my hookbait.

I had some worms left from a previous fishing session (I think from last year LOL) and started to fish worm and slop down the edge for the last hour and managed to snare one or two fish.

At the end of the match, Dave shouted across to me 'Mick, what have you got?'.  I said about 30lb.  He replied 'No, be honest, what have you got'?  I said about 35 - 38lb.  He shouted back that it was going to be close.

By the time that the scales had arrived, Webster had plonked 39lb on the scales.  Craig McKenny had weighed in 44lb odd.  I weighed in 38lb odd.  Colin the worm had 48lb by fishing worm down the middle.  Dave was next to weigh and a couple of weighs later had plonked 56lb on the scales.  There was another 40lb+ weight, putting me 5th overall.

Worst of all, I was 18lb behind Dave in the knockout match - got a lot to catch up.  Gulp!!!

Full Result:

1. Dave Horsfall - 56lb
2. Colin Weaver - 48lb
3.  Craig McKenny - 44lb
4.  Dave Webster - 39lb
5. Mike Herrington - 38lb


Hayfield Lakes - Little Adam's Lake

Last Sunday, the club were booked on at Hayfield Lakes on Little Adam's Lake.  By the time that the draw took place, due to various reasons, there were only 8 of us in attendance, so I did the pegging out.  I put in pegs 15, 17, 19, 22, 25, 28, 30 and 32.

I wanted to be on pegs 15 - 19 and 30 - 32 due to either having the wind in your face or off your back, in addition pegs 28 - 33 all had over 100lb each on the clubs last match here. I put my hand in the lucky bag and drew peg 25 - unlucky or what.

Front row drew peg 15, michelle was on 17, Craig Mckenny was on peg 19, Colin the worm on peg 22, Horsfall on peg 28 , webster on 30 and can't remember who was on 32.

I set up a pellet waggler rig, bomb rig and two pole rigs, one for the margin and one for fishing about 10m out.

I had a bag and a half of groundbait, sweetcorn and some 8mm and 11mm pellets.

At the all in, I lobbed the bomb out to about 30m or so and catapulted some pellets out over the top.

The weather was cold, horrible, drizzly and overcast.  I was not looking forward to today.

After about 3 hours of trying things that were not working (I had 1 carp at 10m on the pole along with about 5 skimmers), I decided it was time to go on the margin swim and see if I could get anything off that line.

I potted in some groundbait and some corn.  First drop in over my potted in groundbait with double corn and the elastic shot out of the pole tip.  A carp about 7lb was soon in the keepnet.  I managed to snare another 5 carp off this line and shouted to Dave Horsfall to see if we could bring our 2nd leg of the knockout forward to today (he had 2 carp and some bits), but wasn't having any of it.

I had 7 carp and some bits for 51lb odd and 2nd place.  Craig McKenny won with 65lb odd.  Michelle was 3rd with 36lb odd, then there were a few weights between 25-29lb,

Full Result:

1.  Craig McKenny - 65lb
2. Mike Herrington - 51lb
3. Michelle Webster - 36lb

Forest Lane Fishery, Alne

A few weeks ago, Scott 'Big Nose' Dodsworth at Pudsey Angling Supplies organised a match to be held at Forest Lane Fishery, Alne and I put my name down for the match which took place on Sunday 1st September.

Forest Lane is currently Scott's regular fishery as he has been doing quite well on the venue with numerous wins and placings from various matches.  Whilst in his shop, on one occasion, he challenged me to a fiver side bet on this match.  I accepted.  GULP!!!  I reminded Big Nose about the fiver and he was still up for it.  Gulp, Gulp!!!.  I told him that IF I win the fiver, I want a fiver note, not five pounds of credit in the shop, LOL.

Donkey Waterhouse was also here and the obligatory quid was up and running.  Robin Hood AC were well represented as Macca and Stuart 'Castaway' Wilson were also in attendance.  A face that I had not seen for quite a while was also here - Catkiller Hawkins LOL.

Gary Bennett is a fella that I have been helping out, who goes into the shop, with his pole and getting it elasticated correctly and cutting it all back to the same length top kits was also in attendance.

The Draw

Due to running the match, 'Big Nose' was first to draw and got one of the lads to draw for him.  Gaz Bennett said that he would do it as he usually draws crap.  He put his hand in the bag and promptly drew him one of the best pegs on the lake - Peg 31.  Gaz then drew his own peg which put him on one of the other best pegs - Peg 8.  Donkey drew peg 33.  It was now my turn.  I put my hand in the bag and drew peg 16.  As I had only fished one other match here (when I drew peg 2) this year, the peg was a bit indifferent to me.  Macca was a couple of pegs away on 19, Castaway was on peg 21.  Catkiller was also on flyer peg 11.

Peg 16

I arrived at my peg to find that I had peg 17 empty and Daz 'Tattoo' Ans was on corner peg 15.  Due to the empty peg to my left, I had a tasty looking margin swim to the next platform.  The wind was blowing left to right and was quite squally.

Left Margin Swim

 And a over-hanging tree to my right margin swim.

Right Margin Swim

It was about 20m to the island straight in front of me.

The Island

Rigs & Tackle

I set up a 9ft Shimano CX rod as a bomb rod and the same rod in 11ft as a method feeder.  Both with Shimano DL 2500 (for 9ft) and 4000 (for 11ft) reels.

I also set up 4 pole rigs as follows:

Rig 1 - Shallow Rig - Frenzee FD200 pole float set to fish about 18" deep.  The main line was .15 Preston Powerline with a 4" .13 Preston Powerline hooklength.

Rig 2 - Margin Rig - .3g teadrop float set at 12 - 18" deep.  This was on .17 Preston Powerline to a 6" .15 Preston Powerline hooklength.

Rig 3 - Top 2 + 2 rig set to fish about 4ft deep at the base of the near slope.  This was set up on .17 Preston Powerline to a 6" .15 Preston Powerline hooklength.

Rig 4 - Shallow Rig 2 - was a 'Jigga' float set to fish between 6" - 2ft deep by working the bait up and down.  This was set up on .15 Preston Powerline with a 4" .13 Preston Powerline hooklength.

Rigs 1 - 4

Bait

For bait, I had a 50:50 mix of Sonubaits F1 Fishmeal and Sensas Crazybait Gold groundbaits with 2 handfuls of micro pellets mixed in.  I also had 2 tins of 6mm and 1 tin of 8mm meat mixed together.  Some 4mm and 6mm hard pellets, 1 large tin of corn and a handful of 6mm BaitTech Expander Pellets.

I have also just invested in a new Steve Ringer Pellet pump.  In a word - Awesome.  About 4 or 5 pumps and they all sink.  I have also just invested in a shallow landing net and opted for the Preston Latex Shallow Spoon (as seen in the picture below).

Bait 1

A right old mixture

The Match

At the start of the match, I baited up the method rod and cast it over to the island, then potted in some bait to left and right margins and threw a handful of meat and corn on the top 2 + 2 line and started to catapult a few 4mm pellets out to 14.5m on the shallow line.

After a couple of minutes, I rebaited the method feeder and cast back out again, and I catapulted a few 6mm pellets over to the island.

After about 20 mins on the method, nothing was forthcoming so a quick change to the pole shallow at 14.5m was next on the list of things to try.

I picked up the Jigga rig and baited up with a 4mm pellet on a hair-rigged band and shipped out to 14.5m.  I lowered the rig in and catapulted some 4mm pellets over the top, which given the wind took two or three attempts lol.

I worked the rig a couple of times and all of a sudden the elastic shot out of the pole.  Fish on.  I was fishing with Diawa White Hydro elastic.  After a brief tussle, my first carp of the day was soon in the net, at about 4lb it was a welcome first fish.  I catapulted some more pellets out before unhooking the fish.

I rebaited and shipped back out.  A few more pellets over the top.  A couple of 'Jigs' and another fish was on.  Another carp, albeit a bit smaller at about 1.5-2lb.  After about 30 minutes of me fishing shallow, Tattoo then set up a shallow rig and decided to have a go.  He dropped in and slapped his rig a couple of times, then the black hydro shot out of his pole and he had his first fish of the day.  A carp about 8lb.  Why couldn't I get one like that LOL.

I carried on in this manner for the next couple of hours catching carp between 1lb - 4.5/5lb.

The wind was horrendous.  I was really struggling to hold the pole at times.  Due to the wind, I was swapping between the Jigga rig and the standard Frenzee shallow rig.  Sometimes I could get a bite working the bait up and down and other times the fish wanted a static shallow bait.

I was now about halfway into the match and had about 40lb or so.  The fish were backing off and I was waiting up to 10/15 minutes between fish, but given that I seemed to be the only one catching I was persevering but it was hard work given the wind etc.  At one point, I had hooked a carp on the Jigga rig and it bolted off and snapped me, ON MY MAINLINE...aaarrggghh.  My Jigga float was being carried away from me on the wind.  I must have got a knot or something in the line.

I decided to give the pole a rest and went back on the method for 10 minutes.  Nothing but a couple of liners.  I cast a few times to the island and also over the pole line.  

I decided to have a chuck on the bomb rod.  I baited up with a 6mm pellet and cast over to the island.  Just as I was sinking the line, the rod tip flew round.  Carp on.  It was a welcome 3lb extra in the net.

Catkiller was struggling to catch.  Tattoo had about 3 fish shallow but was struggling fishing the pole shallow.  Gaz Bennett was getting one or two fish down the middle.  Eddie, the pond owner came round and asked how I was getting on, I said that I had about 40lb or so and if he speaks to Big Nose to tell him that I was struggling.

I chucked the bomb back over to the island and had a couple more fish when this line seemed to go quite.

I dropped the bomb short, onto the pole line and caught a few fish off that line also. 

We were now into the last hour or so of the match and Tattoo had gone down the side and was catching the odd 6/7lb fish to the platform in peg 14.

I had been potting in groundbait with a few bits of meat and corn down the edges periodically throughout the match.  It was time to have a look.  After about 5 mins each side.  Nothing extra was added to the net.

I had also been chucking in a few bits of meat and corn on the top 2 + 2 line and decided to have a look there.  After a couple of minutes, the float sailed under and a bream about 1lb was soon in the net.  No carp then.

Eddie came round and asked what sort of weight I had and I said about 70/75lb or so.  He said that he wanted a good last hour and for me to 'do the ton'.  After he left, I only had about 3 or 4 small carp.  Talk about the kiss of death.

That was it.  Time.  End of the match.

I had caught about half my weight shallow and about half on the bomb.  Nothing down the margins or short and nothing on the method.

Weigh In

The scales arrived at Tattoo's peg and Gaz Bennett was leading with 38lb 3oz from peg 8.  Catkiller weighed in 31/32lb.  Tattoo lifted his net out and also had a weight of 38lb 3oz, to (currently) tie for 1st place.

I lifted out my first net and plonked 49lb 14oz odd on the scales.  My second net weighed in at 37lb 10oz for a total of 87lb 8oz, which put me into first place for now.  Peg 18 had about 25lb or so.  Macca was a a DNW, which given his recent run of form was a suprise.  Stuart 'Castaway' Wilson also had two weighs for a total of 93lb odd, pushing me into 2nd place.

Reports were coming back to me that Big Nose had also caught a few fish.  The scales arrived at his peg and he lifted out his first net.  This one went 45lb odd.  He struggled to lift out his second net and there were lots and lots of splashing around.  He then stopped kidding about and lifted it onto the scales for a 2nd weigh of 34lb odd giving a total of 79lb odd.  'Hey Big Nose, you are crap AND YOU OWE ME A FIVER' or words to that effect came out of my mouth.

Donkey was next to weigh with 36lb odd, that was another quid coming my way.  Over the final few pegs there were also a few 30lb+ weights.  I had come 2nd overall.

Big Nose was not a happy teddy bear - LOL

Full Result:

1.  Stuart Wilson - Peg 21 - 93lb

2.  Mike Herrington - Peg 16 - 87lb

3.  Scott Dodsworth - Peg 31 - 79lb

Jt 4th Gaz Bennett (Peg 8) & Darren Ans (Peg 15) - 38lb 3oz.

Thank you for reading and tightlines.

Woodlands Lakes, Thirsk - Wagtail Lake

This week Robin Hood AC were at Woodlands Lakes, Thirsk on one of the back lakes - Wagtail Lake.  Wagtail Lake is a rectangle lake about 50 - 60m wide and is pegged 10 pegs on each bank.

It was all to play for today between Paul 'Woofer' Clough and I as we were fishing the 2nd leg of our knockout competition for a place in the final.  I had a 6/7lb advantage over Woofer. Bring it on.

Dave Horsfall and Mark Wright were also fishing the 2nd leg of the knockout and Dave had a 20lb advantage over Wrighty.

The Draw

I wanted a peg in the middle of the lake as the end pegs tend to be too much of a hit or miss.  I put my hand in the bag and pulled out ....... Peg 19.  That was OK, providing that I had no one to my left on corner peg 20. I checked the peg sheet and Dave Wath had drawn peg 20. Damn.  Woofer was on peg 13, Donkey Waterhouse was on corner peg 11, Macca and Webster had drawn 7 and 8 respectively.  Mark Wright was in corner peg 10 and Michelle Webster was in corner peg 1.  The habitual moaner, 'Pid' was the next angler to my right on peg 17.  There were 14 of us on a 20 peg lake, which considering the moods of the lake, it was too many anglers to be honest.

I have done two prior club matches on this lake and won them both, one from peg 7 and one from peg 19 (when peg 20 was empty).  We will have to see how today goes...!!!

The Peg

As mentioned above, the lake is about 50/60m wide and has not distinguishing features.

Peg 19 - Woodlands Wagtail

The Left hand margin - the pole in the next peg is actually about 7/8m away.

My Right hand margin swim - all 2m of it.

Bait

Today I was going to keep things simple, all I had was some venue 6mm pellets for pinging at 14.5m, some 8mm pellets for the middle of the lake to catapult over the method, some 11mm pellets for the method hookbait and a 50:50 mix of Sonubaits F1 Fishmeal groundbait mixed in with some Sensas Crazybait Gold.  I also had some white chocolate and pineapple Sonubaits Bandums for the baitband.  I also had some 6mm and 8mm BaitTech expander pellets.

Tackle and Rigs

I set up my Shimano Beastmaster CX at 9ft to fish the method feeder.  When fishing the method I like to use the Shimano DL Baitrunners and put the freespool on and wait for the line to peel off.

I then set up the following pole rigs:

A shallow 'Jigga' rig.  This was attached to .15 Preston Powerline mainline with a 4 inch .13 Preston Powerline hooklength.

A standard Frenzee FD200 shallow rig as above.

My margin rig was a .3 Garbolino DC6 float set up on .17 Preston Powerline mainline with a 4 inch .15 Preston Powerline hooklength.

My final rig was for the top 2 + 2 line straight in front of me.  This was a .5g Garbolino float on .17 Preston Powerline straight through.

My Match

At the start of the match, I spent about the first 20 mins fishing short both at top 2 + 2 and also down the margins with double 6mm or single 8mm expander on the hook tryng to snare a margin fish early.  None were forthcoming.  I had about 5 or 6 bites and caught 3 skimmers and a roach.  All the while, I had been pinging 6mm pellets to 14.5m and 8mm pellets to the middle of the lake.

I decided to chuck the 'thod out to the middle of the lake to see if the carp were lining up after my pre-baiting.

After about 30 mins and 7 or 8 chucks, nothing.  I was nearly an hour into the match and no carp yet.

I could see that Wrighty had caught 3 or 4 decent carp and Macca and Webster were getting one or two fish up in the water lifting and dropping their rigs.

I decided to have a look shallow so baited up the jigga rig with an 8mm pellet (basically to deter the silver fish) and went out to 14.5m.  I was feeding 6 - 8 pellets all the while, whilst working the rig up and down in the water.

All of a sudden, the elastic shot out of the pole and the fish carried on going to the middle of the lake, and carried on and on.  I did not know that white hydro elastic could stretch that far LOL.

Eventually, I think the hydro elastic finally decided enough was enough and the fish turned and came back to me. After a 5 - 10min battle, the fish was in the landing net.  It was a mirror carp about 6lb.  I was off and running, although I had a bit to make up on other people.

Michelle opposite me was chucking the method down the edge and was getting the odd fish and had about 4 or 5 fish.  Wathy on the next peg was only catching skimmers and roach on pellet.  It was obvious to both of us that the carp were not here in any numbers.  A club match the day before was won with 150/160 from about peg 7 or something.

I went back shallow again and some 20 minutes later I had not added any more carp to the net.  I went back out on the method feeder and managed to snare a little common carp about 1lb.  I was feeding some pellets to the middle of the lake and could see some fish boil and swirl.

I decided to set up the pellet waggler.  I set the rig to fish about 2ft deep.  On my first cast, the float dipped, I struck into it and the reel started screaming as it shot off to the other side of the lake. Then the hook pulled, probably foul-hooked.

I re-cast about 5 or 6 times, then the float connected with another carp.  I managed to get this one out.  It was a mirror carp about 4lb or so.

Macca and Webster were miles in front and Michelle was still in front.  I was playing catch up and getting nowhere.  I would get a couple of liners/bites on one method, then not another so would have to change to something else.  The fish were spooking everytime you hooked one.

I went back on the shallow pole rig and hooked a fish some 5-10mins later and played it back to the keepnet.  It was about 9 or 10lb with a big broad back.  It kited to my right margin swim, then came back at me and run into the keepnet.  Then the fish was gone and I was attached to the keepnet.  BAUBLES or words to that effect.

I was not a happy teddy bear.

I was now into the last hour or so of the match and had 7 carp for about 28 - 30lb or so.  I decided to have a go down the margins as I could see Macca emptying it from peg 7 in the margins fishing towards peg 6.  Wrighty had not managed to snare many more fish.  I was not aware of what Woofer had caught.  Wathy was now starting to get the odd fish short.

I big potted some groundbait in at 2 +2 and also down my right margin swim.  I baited up the 2 + 2 rig with an 8mm expander pellet and lowered it in.  The float settled, then after a bit of sideways movement, I struck into a ...carp about 7lb.  I dropped in again and foul-hooked one.

Wathy was now attached to a fish that was doing it's best to run through my peg and get diagonally across the lake to Macca's peg.  Some 10 minutes later, he had a fish in his landing net that needed a saddle it was that big and we both estimated it to be best part of 14/15lb.  Why oh why, couldn't I get one like that.  Mine run into the keepnet and shed the hook. :-(

I got my margin rig and dropped in to my right.  The float settled, then shot under and I managed to put another carp about 6lb in the net.  I snared another couple of carp before that was it.  Match over.

I would estimate that I had about 45lb - 50lb or so.  Michelle put 48lb on the scales from peg 1, Charlie Filofax had a good 30 odd pounds from peg 2.  The scales arrived at Macca's peg and after a couple of weighs, he had plonked 108lb on the scales.  Webster put 62lb the scales.  Wrighty had 35lb or so from peg 10.  Donkey was next to weigh and after a couple of weighs, put 78lb on the scales - damn another pound down.  Now it came to the crunch.  I watched expectantly as Woofer pulled his first net out and put 32lb on the scales.  I asked where his 2nd net was.  He didn't have one.  :-)  Stuart Wilson on peg 14 had 59lb and was currently in 4th place.  Dave Horsfall had 45lb odd.  Pid was a DNW.  I was next to weigh.  After 2 weighs I managed to plonk 54lb odd on the scales for 5th overall and Wathy had ended up with 38lb odd.

I had won my end of the lake, but not won any coin. My main objective today had been achieved.  I had beaten Woofer. :-)

Full Result

1.  John McCall (Peg 7) - 108lb
2.  Stuart Waterhouse (Peg 10) - 78lb
3.  Dave Webster (Peg 8) - 62lb
4.  Stuart Wilson (Peg 14) - 59lb
5.  Mike Herrington (Peg 19) 54lb

Thank you for reading...

Tightlines.

Last Week...

The Robin Hood AC were at The Oaks Lakes, Thirsk on Maple Lake again.

On our last visit here the lake fished really hard with 25lb winning followed by 22lb, then me with 20lb.  We will see if it fishes any better today.  At least on this occasion, we had what I would consider to be the better pegs from peg 68 going back to peg 44.  Peg 55 won this years fisho qualifier and peg 63 (old peg 62a) has had 3 fisho qualifiers from it.  Basically the higher the number the better on this lake (excluding pegs 1 - 3).

The Draw

I put my hand in the bag and drew peg 48. Big Macca was on peg 54, with 55 empty.  Frontrow Harrison drew peg 63 (old peg 62a), Baz Hunter was on peg 64, Casper Moorhead was on peg 65, Woofer Clough was on peg 66 and Sooty Waddell was on peg 68.  Donkey Waterhouse threw the gauntlet down with the obligatory quid and he drew peg 52.  Alan Hunter was on peg 62.

The Peg

Peg 48 is a peg that is at the start of a bay with the bay going from pegs 48 - 54.  I had Frank Crook on peg 50 to my right and Pid on peg 46 to my left.  I would have preferred to have been on peg 47 (as this peg has a long margin swim) or further into the bay on about 51 or 52.

The Rigs

I set up 3 rigs as follows:

My left and right margin rig was a 4 x 14 Carpa Raisor set to fish as close to the bank as possible, which was about 1m out in 3ft of water.  This was set up on .15 Preston Powerline with a .13 Powerline Hooklength to a size 14 Colmic B501 hook.

I then set up two across rigs, one was to fish in line with a bush on the far bank, after plumbing up, I found that i had about 15-18" of depth.  My other rig was set to fish tight across and due to sedges lying on the water (again), I had about 12-15" of depth.  I used .3g Garbolino DC6 floats on both of these rigs and both had on .12 Gamakatsu hooklengths with Preston Baitbands.

The Bait

For bait I had some of the venue's own micro pellets and some 4mm pellets for feed.  I also had some 6mm BaitTech expander pellets, some Nutrabaits 6mm meaty pellets. Two tins of sweetcorn.

The Match

At the start of the match, I fed some micro's and 4mm pellets across to the sedges, then put on a 6mm expander pellet on my margin rig and lowered it to the left and swim and fed some corn and 4mm pellets.

After a couple of minutes, the float bobbed, then shot under and I was hooked up to my first fish of the day.  About 10 seconds later, it was gone.  I lost it.  I think that it was foul-hooked.

I re-baited and lowered the rig in again. After a couple of minutes, the float lifted slightly and went sideways.  I struck and was connected to....

a crayfish.  Baubles!!!

I fed some bait and went over to the far side to the swim under the tree.  After a couple of minutes, the float buried, I struck and the fish shot off to the left, then the hook pulled.

I rebaited and dropped back into the same swim.  Nothing.  Not a bite or anything.

I swapped rigs and went to the gap between the two sedges straight in front of me as I had seen a couple of fish moving on the mudline.  I dropped in about 12" short of the far bank. - I could not get any closer as the rig was then laying on sedges and did not sit in the water correctly.

After a couple of minutes, the float dipped, then shot under and I was attached to an angry carp.  As I shipped back and took the topkit off the pole, the elastic and line went slack.  Lost another one.  3 fish on and lost every one of them.

Over the duration of the match, I swapped all of the lines to snare the odd fish here and there along with a couple of unwelcome crayfish.

At one point a wasp went into my baitbox full of sweetcorn and I nearly got stung by it as I went to get some corn out, so I ended up squashing it, then another wasp came to me and started attacking me.  It got trapped behind my watch and wrist and managed to sting me (basket or words to that effect), then about another 5 or six came and started flying around me.  If there is one thing I really can't stand are wasps.

I had about 10 - 15lb with about 1 hour to go and spent the remainder of the match fishing the margins to my left and right and managed to snare 5 carp in addition to foul-hooking and losing another 3 or 4 fish.

That was it, match over.  Today had proved to be a very frustrating day with too much depth and too many foul-hooked fish.  I just could not get them to go down.

Casper Moorhead did a runner again with about an hour to go. Now you see me, now you don't.

Eric the Viking was first to weigh from peg 44, then Pid who put 24lb on the scales.  I had one weigh and put 30lb 5oz on the scales to take the lead.  Frank was a DNW, Donkey put 25lb on the scales.  Macca had 2 weighs and manged to put 56lb on the scales.  There were a couple of mid-teens to low twenties weights from 56 - 62.  Frontrow emptied both his nets on the scales and managed to weigh 32lb 10oz to take 2nd place.  Barry Hunter on peg 64 had a low twenty pounds or so.  Woofer had 18lb odd and last Sooty was last to weigh and plonked 31lb 6oz on the scales to take 3rd place, knocking me down to 4th place and a section win.

Full Result:

1.  John McCall (Peg 55), 56lb odd
2.  Daz Harrison (Peg 63) 32lb 10oz
3.  Ian Waddell (Peg 68) 31lb 6oz
4.  Mike Herrington (Peg 48) 30lb 5oz

The last couple of weeks..

Robin Hood AC have had two matches in the last couple of weeks with the first match being at Lindholme Lakes on Oasis Lake.

The club had from peg 1 through to peg 26 and were double pegged then an empty peg.  There was an open match on the remaining pegs and they were pegged with a couple of empty pegs both sides.

Due to making it through to the Semi-Final of the club knockout, I was up against Paul 'Woofer' Clough, which needed to be fished over 2 matches.  We both picked our venues, I was going to have my first leg today at Lindholme Lakes and Woofer selected Woodlands Lakes' Wagtail Lake in a couple of weeks time.

Donkey wasn't here so there no quids to play for.

I put my hand in the bad and pulled out peg 21.  It didn't mean anything to me.  I spoke to resident venue expert, Gregg 'Beanpole' Norris about the peg.  He said that if they are there, you will win the match, if not you will really struggle and that peg 22 is probably the worst peg on the lake.

GREAT!!!

I arrived at my peg to find that I had John 'Macca' McCall to my left on peg 20 and my arch nemesis for the day Woofer to my right on peg 23.  Travelling partner Frontrow Harrison was on about peg 12.  The two Dave's had drawn end pegs 2 (Horsfall) and 26 (Webster).

Before the match even started, I decided to play with fire.  I said to Macca (who is a staunch Leeds United supporter), that it was my youngest son's birthday and that I had got him a new football top.  He replied 'Oh yeah, nice, did he like it?  I replied 'Yes, especially when he saw the Manchester United badge'.  Macca's replies are unprintable.

The weather was warm and sunny with a strong breeze blowing over my shoulders, but also swirling from left to right or right to left.

I set up 3 rigs..

Rig 1 was a 4 x 12 Carpa Chimp for the margin.  This was set up on .17 Preston Powerline mainline with a .15 hooklength and a size 12 Colmic B501 hook.  I had approx 2.5ft of depth in this swim.

Rig 2 was a 4 x 14 Carpa Chimp for fishing across to the front of the sedges.  This was set up on .15 Preston Powerline to a .13 hooklength and a size 14 Colmic hook.  I had approx 18" of depth on this line.

Rig 3 was my mudline swim and was a .3g Garbolino DC6 float that I had adapted and cut down to be a smaller float.  This was mounted straight through on .13 Preston Powerline to a size 14 Colmic hook.  I went as far over to the farside as I could, but was still about 12" short of the mudline due to the sedges laying down on top of the water.

For bait, I had some 6mm BaitTech Expander pellets, some 8mm cubed meat, some corn and about half a bag of Sonubaits F1 Sweet Fishmeal groundbait to which I also added 1 bag of Lindholme Lakes' own micro pellets.

I was ready.

At the all in, I baited up my across swim with meat and put some meat and groundbait in a tosspot.  I went over to the farside and lowered the rig in and waited.

And waited...

And waited.

I re-baited and waited some more.  I could tell that today was not going to happen.

I brought the rig back, swapped from meat to 6mm expander pellet and caught a .....Roach.

I went back out to the farside, the float shot under and I was attached to a large angry carp.  It shot off to the left and I had to follow it with the pole.  I got the pole back halfway and the the carp and white hydro elastic was about 2 pegs down the lake - extreme apologies to Macca followed as he stared at me with a face like thunder - I had to grovel apologise as Macca is somewhat bigger than I am LOL.  I managed to turn the fish and got the pole back to the top two, but alas, the fish was still on the farside bank.  I started to pull the hydro back through my side pulla and all of a sudden, the fish came off.  I can only assume that it was foul-hooked due to the way that it took off and also that it came off when I put any sort of pressure on the fish.  It really was not going to be my day.

The wind hindered presentation, especially when trying to fish tight over in my little 8" gap across between the sedges.

I swapped and changed swims and managed to get a few fish together, but not even nearly enough.  Macca at the side of me was fishing across to his mudline and was catching fish.  You could even see their backs out of the water and they were slurping the pellets off the mudline.  I could not get tight enough over to do this.

That was it, time, end of the match.  Thank god.

I also could tell that Woofer had also struggled, it was going to be close for the first leg of the knock out.

Dave Webster on end peg 26 was first to weigh and set the standard at 56lb odd. The scales arrived at Woofer's peg and he plonked 20lb on the scales.  I had that...DIDN'T I?  Fingers crossed time now.

I lifted out my two nets and emptied them both into the weigh sling for a total of 28lb odd.  Good enough for nowhere, but good enough to have an 8lb lead going into the second leg of the knock out at Woodlands Lakes, Thirsk.

Chris 'Lurch' Moorhead has now got a new nickname - Casper - now you see me, now you don't.  He left early - AGAIN!!! LOL.

Frontrow put 36lb on the scales to win my section.  Stuart Wilson then raised the bar to 60lb odd.  Last to weigh was Dave Horsfall from end peg 2 who put 66lb on the scales made up of mainly barbel with some carp mixed in.

Full Result

1.  Dave Horsfall (Peg 2) 66lb odd
2.  Stuart Wilson (Peg 8 ish) 60lb odd
3.  Dave Webster (Peg 26) 56lb odd
4.  John McCall (Peg 20) 54lb odd

Wholesea Grange - Pond 1

Robin Hood AC were back at Wholesea Grange Lakes and this time we were on pond one.  Pond one is not one of my favourite venues.  It is too deep - even at 5/6m on some pegs it is 10ft deep, and it is rammed with gudgeon.

Due to the club growing in numbers and the size of the lake, we limited the match to 18 anglers.

I pegged the match out and I wanted to be on pegs 2 or 15 as they were both end pegs.  I pegged it with most anglers (11) on pegs 1 - 15 and the rest (7) from pegs 16 - 24.  The lake was double bank pegged.

It was all to play for today....I was having a quid with Donkey Waterhouse.

I put my hand in the bag and drew peg 16. Lurch Moorhead drew peg 2 and Craig McKenny drew peg 15.  I fancied Craig to win today.  Why did I want peg 15??  As I walked round pegging it out, there were loads of carp down the margin reeds as it is a corner peg and there was a bit of reed cover to his left away from the corner and they also had carp in them.  The same applied to peg 2.  Frontrow was on peg 23 - Mr Crabtree's peg.  It had some burnt tree stumps in about 12m out in the lake.

Peg 16..

I had a bush to my left..

Some reeds on the opposite bank..

I set up the following rigs...

(L - R 4 x 16 Carpa Raisor, .3 Garbo float and a 4 x 12 Carpa Caster)

Rig 1 was a 4 x 16 Carpa Raisor.  This was set to fish at 6m where I had about 7ft of depth.

Rig 2 was a .3 garbolino DC2 and was on top of the shelf to my right where I had between 8 - 12" for about 3 metres before it dropped off to 7ft at 6m.

Rig 3 was a 4 x 12 Carpa Caster set at 3ft deep to the margin bush to my left.

For bait, I had some Sonu Sweetfishmeal F1 Groundbait with some micro pellets mixed in.  I also had some 8mm cubed meat, 6mm Bait-Tech Expander Pellets and some corn.

.

 I also set up a 9ft Shimano Speedmaster CX rod coupled with a Shimano 2500 DL Baitrunner Reel.

The Match..

At the all in, I cast out the method rod, put it down and threw some bait onto my short lines.  Whoosh, the tip flew round and carp No.1 was soon in the net at about 2lb.  Can we please shout time now.  I think I have won. Lol.

Over the next hour whilst I was priming my margin swims, I continued to fish the method to the reeds and managed to snare about 10 carp for about 15lb or so.

Due to the peg being so shallow near the margins, every carp that I caught went mental when it came up onto the 12" deep are of my peg.

I then stopped getting bites on the method.

I decided to have a look to my left next to the bush.  I put on a piece of meat and dropped in and caught a gudgeon.  I dropped in again and caught another gudgeon.  I tried double corn and caught another gudgeon.  I put on one of the new Maver Bow Tie Pellet Bands with a hard 8mm pellet in the band and caught another gudgeon.

I fished the method for the next half hour and never had another fish.

Then, out of the corner of my eye, I saw some shadows in the margin and decided to have a go for them.  I tried 8mm pellet, 6mm pellet, double corn.  I also tried some of those Sonubaits White Chocolate Band 'Ums.  Nothing.  Every time that I fed some groundbait, they came to it after a few minutes.  I dropped the method off the rod tip.  Nothing.

Over the remainder of the match, I caught a couple of roach, some more gudgeon and 1 more carp.

That was it.  Time.

Crap, tipped back about 17/18lb.

Donkey Waterhouse won with 78lb odd, fishing down the edge with worm over groundbait and caster.  Lurch put 48lb on the scales for 2nd and Uncle Fester McKenny put 47lb on for 3rd.  Woofer Clough won his section bank 42lb and miracle of all miracles, Frontrow Harrison won my section (and bank) with 32lb from Mr Crabtree's peg.  There were 7 of us on my bank and 4 of DNW’d (pegs 16 – 24).  Pegs 1 – 15 had all the weights and the fish.

The worst thing was…I could get fish in the peg as they were coming in to the bait, but they would not take a bait and they spooked really easy.  It was about 12” deep from bank to about 3m out, then it dropped of to 7ft at 6m.  I could see them come in and eat the groundbait and micro pellets, I tried corn, paste, meat, pellet and worm.  Nothing.  I got right close to them to be able to take pictures on my camera phone.  It has got to be my most frustrating day this year so far.  They were munching around in the groundbait as I could see particles coming out of their gills.  Oh, and the water was gin clear.

After the match, I threw in my spare groundbait and managed to get a couple of pictures..

This fish was about 6" from the bank

Full Result:

1.  Stuart Waterhouse 78lb odd

2.  Chris Moorhead - 48lb

3.  Craig McKenny - 47lb

4.  Paul Clough - 42lb