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.