Sunday 27th August 2006 – The Oaks Lakes, Sessay
Cedar Lake.
Panic was a no go, so I was left to travel by my own devices. I arrived in plenty of time in order to partake in the onsite breakfast, although I am now only having a small breakfast and I have managed to lose 1.5stone in about 4 months.
One of my first tasks was to pay Orc his quid from last weeks match and congratulate him on fishing a blinder, I also told Orc not to get too attached to my quid and DON’T SPEND IT. I managed to squeeze my quid out of Toddy’s pocket from last week, so I ended up even stevens before the match had even started. Toddy (Peg 38) was on for a repeat as was the usual quid with Orc (peg 26) and Chappy (Peg 25). In view of Orc being next to Chappy, I felt that an easy quid was going to be coming back my way from Orc as he would be astounded by Chappy’s fish catching ability. Micky ‘Dierdre’ Barlow made the trek, bringing his up and coming protégé with him, his son Connor. I recall reading that this lad is starting to go places in an article about him in Matchfishing magazine. If he comes on my match, pays his dues and wins, it is his money, not his dad’s. Fair play to him for taking on the big boys.
By the time of the draw there were 46 of us paid on. Where has everyone gone? Last week was a low attendance, so people stayed away this week thinking the same. If they had attended the attendance would have been nearer 60 than the 48 that arrived.
There were 3 jackpot pegs as follows, peg 36 - Tony ‘Polish Mick’ Kozaczek – No chance, peg 65 - Adam Jarvis, even less chance than Polish Mick and the ever present Dave ‘Pimmy’ Pimlott – peg 68, some chance if the peg had form, which it hadn’t, thank god. The reason that there are so many jackpot pegs is that I cap the jackpot winning money at £400 and for every £400 put into the fund I add another jackpot peg until £400 has been won.
I put my hand in the bag and pulled out peg 64. I recall that Harry Potter had a weight (90 odd lb) off the same peg last Sunday for 6th over all.
The wind, the wind.
Upon walking to my peg, I noted that the wind was ever so slightly breezy and was already moaning about it before I had even got to me peg and sat down. By the time that I had sat down, I was feeling much better. The wind was coming straight off my back and in view of the high bank (again) behind me, I was sheltered from the said wind.
My attack for today was going to be out and out pellet approach, across, down the side (if needed) and up in the water. I was hoping to be able to make my main attack up in the water, but you know how sometimes the best laid plans and all that…
I set up 3 rigs at the start.
Rig 1 was a .2g DC6 float this was set up to fish on top of the shelf, where I had about 2ft of depth to the front of the stickups both in front of me and also to the end of my peg at 14m. The float was attached to .14 Maver Genesis line, direct to a size 16 Kamasan B911 hook. This rig was attached to grey hydro through the match 2 & 3 kit.
Rig 2 was a .5g Drennan Roach. This was attached to .16 Maver Genesis line tied direct to a size 14 Colmic WN501 hook. I also attached this rig to grey hydro (set a little tighter than the shallow rig). I plumbed up at the base of the far shelf and found approx 5ft of depth.
Rig 3 was a Bazzerla PB2 float. I attached this to .3 Preston Powerline tied direct to a size 16 Colmic WN501 hook. This was also attached to grey hydro. I set this float to fish about 12” deep. After setting the depth, I also plumbed right across to the mud line with this rig and was planning on using it as a dual purpose rig. I had about 12” of line between pole float and pole tip, this would allow me to alter depth to try to find the fish.
Question, in view of the amount of time that most people have been using diameter to determine line choice, how many of you reading this actually know the stated breaking strain of the line being used, because believe you me, I don’t. The only time that I buy line by breaking strain is when I buy reel line for feeder/leger fishing.
My bait consisted of 1 tin of hemp, 3 pts of 4mm pellets, bought on site and some 4mm and 6mm (conkers) BBPC expander pellets. I mixed half a tin of hemp in with 1 pt of pellets.
After tackling up, I, dressed in my t-shirt, went to go and speak to both Pimmy and Lee Furness (peg 67) who were dressed in hoodies and the windstopper jackets.. With the wind blowing side on for them, it felt about 10 degrees colder. I quickly hurried back to my warm peg.
I had Adam Jarvis ‘Cocker’ to my immediate right on peg 65 and Gordon ‘Chubby’ Brown to my left on peg 62. The wind was blowing down both arms and making it uncomfortable. In view of Adam generally coming last (except when I take the honour), I offered a little bit of advice. I advised him to fish slightly down wind as this would aid his pole and bait presentation. He ignored me. Oh well.
At the start of the match, I cupped in some pellets and hemp at 7m. I placed a bit of bait (pellet and hemp mixture) in a fruitshoot top, baited up the 12” deep rig and went right over to the mud line. I tipped the bait over, the bait hadn’t even touched the bottom and the elastic screamed from the end of my pole.
2 minutes into the match and I have 4lb in the net already. Wwwhhhooooooo. I started to throw 4mm pellets by hand and wind assisted out to 6 or 7 metres. I re-baited the rig, put some more bait in the fruitshoot and went back over to the mud line. I waited all of 3 or 4 minutes and another carp joined it’s relative in my already bulging keepnet. After 20 minutes of feeding up in the water and fishing across, I decided whilst shipping the shallow rig across, to quickly drop the rig in at 6m. The float never even settled and another carp was on its way. By now I would estimate that I had nearly 10lb in the net. I was getting dizzy from the constant stream of fish coming my way. I wasn’t used to it.
Over the next few hours, I fished up in the water at 6m, but I was struggling to gauge whether or not they wanted the hemp and pellet mix, or if they wanted just pellet. I was also struggling trying to gauge how much to feed, whether to feed 6 pellets little and often or not so little and often.
Cocker on the next peg hooked a fish down the middle on paste and carefully played with deft agility right into my peg, where it swirled on my 6m line. I nearly called him Darryll for a minute, but he probably wouldn’t get it. Oh hum.
Although I was catching fish on a regular basis, the fish kept on coming and going and I couldn’t work out if it was because of the way that I was feeding which I would say was sporadic. I was also starting to miss a couple of bites. I quickly set up another rig as follows:
Rig no 4 was a .2 DC 6 float set up on .14 Maver Genesis tied direct to a size 16 Kamasan B911 hook. The rig was probably 12” from pole tip to hook giving me about 3 inches between pole float and tip. I attached this rig to white hydro in the event that I hook a fish; it runs out of the peg spooking less fish in the swim.
3 hours in
I baited up with pellet, threw a few pellets out, shipped out, dropped in over the top and the white hydro shot out. I was by now some 3 hours into the match and I would estimate that I had about 50lb.
I continued in this manner for the next hour or so, and I felt as though the peg was steadily dying. I put some bait in down the side and didn’t fish it until I saw it clouding up. After about 20 minutes, there was a swirl and a large cloud where I had fed some bait. I dropped in with my white hydro shallow rig (rig 4) and waited. After about 3 or 4 minutes, the float dipped, then buried. A carp of 3lb was soon in the landing net. I fed some more bait and went back out to the middle. I managed to snare a couple more carp, they seemed to be getting smaller, before I saw another cloud down the side. I dropped in, the float buried and shot under. I struck and 8m of white hydro was doing it best to maintain what was on the end. But to no avail. The fish shot off towards peg 65 and went round the corner. I tried to put the brakes on it, but it broke me.
Into the home straight
There was some 30 minutes of the match left and I would estimate that I had between 65 and 70lb. Chubby Brown was struggling as was Cocker and I couldn’t see anyone else. I continued at 6m up in the water.
With about 10 minutes to go, another cloud appeared down the side. I dropped in down the side again with rig no 3, and no sooner had the rig settled when it started wobbling. A float appeared at the side of my float, I was fishing about 12” deep in 8” of water, laying the rig up the slope. My float shot under and the said float was entangled in my line. I lifted my float out of the water and the attached float came with it. After some 4 minutes or so I transferred the offending 3lb’er back to the water but it some how landed in my keepnet.
I managed to snare one more carp from the up in the water swim, then it was all out.
I would estimate that I had some where between 70 and 80lb. Pimmy was admitting to 60lb.
By the time that the scales had arrived, Harry Potter was winning with 98lb 5oz from peg 28 and Chappy weighed in 77lb 9oz. This was going to be close!! Toddy weighed in 46lb 9oz and Orc had 34lb 2oz – told you he’d be blinded and his head will have gone up his jacksey. £2 up and one to go!!
Whilst Gandhi was weighing Chubby Brown in on the next peg, the weigh sling broke and Chappy was stood behind me asking how much I had caught. Marco lifted my net out and estimated that I had about 65lb in two nets. Chappy said that I had more and a bet was struck between the two of them, at my expense, that for every pound over 65lb I weigh, Chappy will get 10p. There was nothing said for me weighing in less than 65lb. Chappy was in a win, win situation as usual.
By the time that a replacement weigh sling arrive, Chubby weighed in 25lb 8oz. Cocker at the other side had packed up and gone so was a DNW.
My first weigh went 29lb 4oz. My second weigh went 45lb 2oz. For those non mathematicians reading this and for Adam’s benefit (he can’t add), my total weight was 74lb 6oz. Not enough to stop me giving Chappy his quid, but a good days fishing none the less. I was by now, in 3rd place with only Pimmy stating that he had a weight (some 60lb or so).
Pimmy plonked 35lb 4oz on the scales as his first weigh, and then put another 40lb 10oz for his second weigh for a total of 75lb 14oz. 60lb my foot. He obviously goes to the Chappy school of estimations. I had come in 4th and with no Purverted in sight, I got to keep it all to myself.
Where is the rest of my cashbook when I do well, there was no Panic (£1), Purverted (£2), Macca (£2) and Pacifier (£2). I was seriously out of pocket this week. With the quid’s that I would have won, I could have afforded to feed the good lady wife and the kids this week.
Could I have done anything different? The only thing that I think would have made a difference would have been to have some Skinz Pellets as on a few occasions I had to come back and re-bait, so would have save time and possibly put another couple of fish in the net. Also, if I had got the fish out that broke me, it would have been a little closer between Chappy and I. I may have even ounced him.
Final result:
Rob Minikin (HAS) 98-05
John Chapman (Garbolino Elton) 77-09
Dave Pimlott (Garbolino Elton) 75-14
Mick Herrington (Oaks/Bob-Co) 74-06
Dean Smith (Garbolino Elton) 68-10
Jt 6th Adam Richards (Elton Tackle) and Mark Whittaker (Oaks) both 64-03
Wednesday, August 30, 2006
Saturday 26th August 2006 – Woodland Lakes, Thirsk
I arrived at Woodlands, paid my dues and went in search of some quid action. Chappy was ever-present, Panic was back on the books and Nightie was also present and said that I owed him a quid from the last time (???, I will have to look into this later!!).
The lakes had been fishing pretty consistent on the mid-week matches and the weights could come from anywhere. I put my hand in the bucket and pulled out Partridge 36. Partridge 37 wasn’t in, and neither was 35. An empty peg both sides.
Chappy had drawn Skylark 21 (absolutely sock on), Panic was on Skylark 26 and Nightie was on Skylark 6. This was turning into a Big Pellet – v- Skylark match. I was in good company, I had Meatcutter Bailey opposite me on Partridge 1. He only put one net in, that indicates what he thought of the area. Tony Neesom was to my left on P34. John McG was behind me on S3, with Coyney to his right on S4.
In view of just picking up my new Brilo Box (the stacks system) complete with winders, I had no rigs ready, so quickly set about making up two rigs. I had also left my large landing net head at home and asked around if someone had a landing net that would hold an 8lb’er. I wonder why everyone laughed when I said that they would need to accommodate and 8lb'er. Haircut, being the good egg that he is, lent me a large Garbolino (does he not have any other gear?) landing net head. Cheers mate.
Rig 1 was a .2g DC 6 set up on .16 Maver Genesis line direct to a size 14 Colmic WN501 hook. This was attached to black hydro through the power top two kit. I plumbed up down both sides where I found about 2.5ft of depth. One was on the top 3 kit, the other was at 9m along the bank, next to the platform in P37.
Rig 2 was a .4g DC6 set up as above. I plumbed up at the base of the slope at 8m and also out in front of P37 at 13m, where I found the same depth of about 5ft deep.
For bait, following my conversation with Panic, I had 1 tin of large hemp, 3 tins of meat, cut lovingly using my own ‘Meatcutters’, meatcutter and 1 large tin of corn.
At the all in I cupped 10 pieces (or there abouts) of meat and a handful of hemp on the 13m line and put a similar amount in down both side swims.
For the 8m line, I put 4 pieces of meat (I counted) and a small pinch of hemp in. I baited up with meat on the hook, dropped in and waited. After some 5 minutes or so, the float buried and a 4lb was soon in the net. I re-baited, dropped in again and foul-hooked one. I did the same and foul-hooked another. On the 4th drop in, I managed to snare one, although it was foul-hooked in the tail and took a bit of time to get out. I was now 15 minutes into the match and had 2 fish for 10lb in the net. I carried on in this manner until I felt that the swim had died or was dying. After about 1 hour of the match, I estimate that I had about 20lb, made up of 4 carp, 2 skimmers and 2 tench, so wasn’t doing to bad. Meatcutter opposite me had had 2 fish, both of them were small from where I was sitting.
I decided that now was the time to try down the side, which I had been lovingly pre-baiting whilst fishing the 8m line. I dropped with the side rig down to my left and immediately caught a small roach. I dropped in again and caught another small roach – maybe I should try fishing hemp??
I went down to my right at 9m, dropped in with meat on the hook and caught nothing.
By now I saw the odd carp cruising about up in the water in front of me at between 8 and 12m. I immediately swung the shallow rig out in front of me, waited all of 3 minutes and caught one of the ‘cruisers’ of about 3lb. Whilst playing this fish, there were one or two bow-waves as the fish in the area spooked.
I went back out to the 8m line, nothing. I came back down the inside, nothing. Down to my right, nothing.
My match was over and there was 3 hours left, what to do.
I rotated all of the lines and managed to pick up the odd fish, including another ‘cruiser’. Meatcutter opposite me was faring worse than I. I could hear and see the odd splash to my left as both Tony and Young Adam caught fish.
With about 1 hour to go, John McG behind me was bagging on his 2m line, straight out in front of him.
That was that. I had a good start then it sloooowwwwweeeeeeedddd to a stop.
By the time that the scales had arrived, Meatcutter opposite me weighed in 30lb odd. Tony to my left DNW’d. Young Adam had over 60lb. Bill Brierley is on fire at the moment and weighed in over 120lb. Deano Smith was second with 108lb and Pimmy was 3rd with over 90lb. I managed to eke out 38lb odd. Chappy was stood behind me, saying that it was going to be close as he thought that he had that much in one net alone. Oh well, one quid down already. Nightie DNW’d, so I was even stevens. There was only Panic to go and following his recent run of good form, he didn’t disappoint and took my quid. For the record, Chappy ended up with over 80lb.
I never set up a bomb rod, but after watching Meatcutter opposite me catch nothing on his, I thought that it was time well saved.
I have also just invested in a trolley for the long walks (Barston next Saturday and any other forays to Woodlands).
Partridge Lake
After a quick call to Panic, inside information was gathered as was a time agreed for a lift. The usual stop off at Morrisons, Boroughbridge was the order of the day for one of their ‘Flying Start’ breakfasts.I arrived at Woodlands, paid my dues and went in search of some quid action. Chappy was ever-present, Panic was back on the books and Nightie was also present and said that I owed him a quid from the last time (???, I will have to look into this later!!).
The lakes had been fishing pretty consistent on the mid-week matches and the weights could come from anywhere. I put my hand in the bucket and pulled out Partridge 36. Partridge 37 wasn’t in, and neither was 35. An empty peg both sides.
Chappy had drawn Skylark 21 (absolutely sock on), Panic was on Skylark 26 and Nightie was on Skylark 6. This was turning into a Big Pellet – v- Skylark match. I was in good company, I had Meatcutter Bailey opposite me on Partridge 1. He only put one net in, that indicates what he thought of the area. Tony Neesom was to my left on P34. John McG was behind me on S3, with Coyney to his right on S4.
In view of just picking up my new Brilo Box (the stacks system) complete with winders, I had no rigs ready, so quickly set about making up two rigs. I had also left my large landing net head at home and asked around if someone had a landing net that would hold an 8lb’er. I wonder why everyone laughed when I said that they would need to accommodate and 8lb'er. Haircut, being the good egg that he is, lent me a large Garbolino (does he not have any other gear?) landing net head. Cheers mate.
Rig 1 was a .2g DC 6 set up on .16 Maver Genesis line direct to a size 14 Colmic WN501 hook. This was attached to black hydro through the power top two kit. I plumbed up down both sides where I found about 2.5ft of depth. One was on the top 3 kit, the other was at 9m along the bank, next to the platform in P37.
Rig 2 was a .4g DC6 set up as above. I plumbed up at the base of the slope at 8m and also out in front of P37 at 13m, where I found the same depth of about 5ft deep.
For bait, following my conversation with Panic, I had 1 tin of large hemp, 3 tins of meat, cut lovingly using my own ‘Meatcutters’, meatcutter and 1 large tin of corn.
At the all in I cupped 10 pieces (or there abouts) of meat and a handful of hemp on the 13m line and put a similar amount in down both side swims.
For the 8m line, I put 4 pieces of meat (I counted) and a small pinch of hemp in. I baited up with meat on the hook, dropped in and waited. After some 5 minutes or so, the float buried and a 4lb was soon in the net. I re-baited, dropped in again and foul-hooked one. I did the same and foul-hooked another. On the 4th drop in, I managed to snare one, although it was foul-hooked in the tail and took a bit of time to get out. I was now 15 minutes into the match and had 2 fish for 10lb in the net. I carried on in this manner until I felt that the swim had died or was dying. After about 1 hour of the match, I estimate that I had about 20lb, made up of 4 carp, 2 skimmers and 2 tench, so wasn’t doing to bad. Meatcutter opposite me had had 2 fish, both of them were small from where I was sitting.
I decided that now was the time to try down the side, which I had been lovingly pre-baiting whilst fishing the 8m line. I dropped with the side rig down to my left and immediately caught a small roach. I dropped in again and caught another small roach – maybe I should try fishing hemp??
I went down to my right at 9m, dropped in with meat on the hook and caught nothing.
By now I saw the odd carp cruising about up in the water in front of me at between 8 and 12m. I immediately swung the shallow rig out in front of me, waited all of 3 minutes and caught one of the ‘cruisers’ of about 3lb. Whilst playing this fish, there were one or two bow-waves as the fish in the area spooked.
I went back out to the 8m line, nothing. I came back down the inside, nothing. Down to my right, nothing.
My match was over and there was 3 hours left, what to do.
I rotated all of the lines and managed to pick up the odd fish, including another ‘cruiser’. Meatcutter opposite me was faring worse than I. I could hear and see the odd splash to my left as both Tony and Young Adam caught fish.
With about 1 hour to go, John McG behind me was bagging on his 2m line, straight out in front of him.
That was that. I had a good start then it sloooowwwwweeeeeeedddd to a stop.
By the time that the scales had arrived, Meatcutter opposite me weighed in 30lb odd. Tony to my left DNW’d. Young Adam had over 60lb. Bill Brierley is on fire at the moment and weighed in over 120lb. Deano Smith was second with 108lb and Pimmy was 3rd with over 90lb. I managed to eke out 38lb odd. Chappy was stood behind me, saying that it was going to be close as he thought that he had that much in one net alone. Oh well, one quid down already. Nightie DNW’d, so I was even stevens. There was only Panic to go and following his recent run of good form, he didn’t disappoint and took my quid. For the record, Chappy ended up with over 80lb.
I never set up a bomb rod, but after watching Meatcutter opposite me catch nothing on his, I thought that it was time well saved.
I have also just invested in a trolley for the long walks (Barston next Saturday and any other forays to Woodlands).
Wednesday, August 23, 2006
Sunday 20th August 2006 – The Oaks, Sessay
Chappy Slap No. 1
Let me just start this weeks account with a continuation of my last story, following my comments about the resemblance between Hattie Jacques and Chappy, (well, have you ever seen them in the same room together), Chappy said, via the Oaks Banter website that he was going to give me a Chappy slap.
Whilst I was in the middle of organising everything, I was talking to Desperate Dan look-alike, Paul Hart who introduced himself and we were just talking about the look-alikes on the website, at which time, this promptly reminded Chappy that he was going to slap me.
Being behind a desk, I was boxed in and couldn’t make my escape. “Hattie Jacques, Eh, Mick, Hattie Jacques, I’ll give you Hattie Jacques” which was repeated again and again as he was slapping me.
The attendance for today’s match was very low in relation to recent attendances, as there was only 37 on the match. There were a few people away practising for team matches, there was a match on over in Manchester and there was also a big river match on, I think that that is the reason for the low attendance.
One well-known angler said that he wouldn’t be booking on the match (or turning up) if there wasn’t 50 on the match. Is the Kamasan so important? I don’t think that the said angler has any (or not many) points yet.
3 jackpot pegs were drawn and they were pegs 40 (Mal Bailey), 44 (Martin Craig) and 74 (Andy Dargue).
In view of Panic, Purverted, Pacifier, Nightie and Macca not being in attendance, I quickly looked around for an opportunity of a quid. I asked Paul ‘Sweeney’ Todd if he caught anything yesterday, he replied “No”. I asked him if he had caught anything last Sunday, he said “No”. I asked him if he wanted a quid, he said “Yes”. Easy Money!!!
Chappy said that Pimmy was feeling left out and that I ought to have a quid with him. Shall I just pay their digs whilst they stay over? I very quickly declined, poor Pimmy.
My quid’s were going to peg 22 (Orc), peg 76 (Chappy) and peg 10 (Sweeney).
I put my hand in the bag and drew peg 60. I blame my bad draw on Granddad. He volunteered to hold the bag and was first in. I am usually first in the bag and I think that Granddad took all of my luck when he dipped I before me.
I arrived at my peg to find it flat calm. There were fish clouding the far bank at the bottom end of my peg, some 16m away. Fish were topping down the middle at about 7m.
I set up 3 rigs as follows:
A very shallow rig set about 12” deep. This was a .1g DC6 float set up on .13 Preston Powerline straight through to a size 16 Colmic WN501 hook. This was tied to white hydro through my top two kit. (I might do away with the white hydro through 1 section!!).
A rig was set up to fish on top of the shelf at 12m. I found that I had about 18” depth and a .2g Garbolino DC6 was the weapon of choice. This was also set up on the same line and hook as above.
I also set up a .75g Series ‘E’ float for down the middle. This was set up on .15 Preston Powerline straight through to a size 14 Colmic WN501 hook. Both of these 2 rigs were set up on grey hydro elastic. I found that I had about 5ft of depth at the base of the slope. In view of the wind, I added about a floats length of depth onto the rig.
I like the WN501 hooks as they have a nice bend for rolling either conkers/pellets and or corn onto the hook. They are strong and they also stay sharp for a long time.
For bait today I had:
1 bag 3mm pellets
1 large tin of corn
Some conkers
4mm expanders
And some 4mm hard pellets
The wind, the wind!!!
Within 5 minutes of the match starting, the wind picked up and started blowing from left to right and the 16m line was now a bit like Afghanistan – a no go zone.
Why does that always happen, you arrive at your peg to find it flat calm, during the setting up period the peg is still flat calm, as soon as I shout time, the wind blows and continues to blow, generally increasing in strength as the match progresses, until I shout time at the end of the match. Today was not different.
Suggestions were flying around about having matches 4:00 am – 11:00 am and 4:00 pm to dusk.
At the start of the match, I fed a Tosspot full of bait on the deep line and also across on the 12m line. I got the 12” deep rig, baited up with pellet on the hook, put a few 3mm pellets in a fruit shoot and shipped out to 16m. This was made increasingly difficult due to the high bank some 3m behind me. In order to get to my peg, I had to walk down a little bank to put my box down.
I tipped the bait in and waited about 2 minutes, got my first indication and missed it (probably a liner). I dropped back in again and caught an F1 about 10oz. I re-baited went back out to 16m, dropped in and caught another F1 almost immediately. The wind was by now getting very strong and it was becoming a struggle to hold the pole and present the bait properly.
After 30 minutes and 5 fish, I decided to sack this line. I swapped over rigs and put the shelf rig on, baited up with pellet, shipped out to 13m, the float buried and a carp of 1lb was soon in the net. I baited up again, the float was being dragged offline due to the wind. I got a ‘dink’, struck and foul-hooked a fish. With the wind pushing the rig around the rig brushed into a fish, causing the ‘dink’, hence the reason for the foul-hooked fish.
I baited up with corn and fed pellets through the fruit shoot, the bait was keeping still, but the bites were at a premium. I decided to have a look down the middle.
Paul Burton on the next peg (62) was catching a few fish up in the water feeding some sloppy groundbait (I presume) and either caster or pellet. The wind was side on for him, but he had turned round slightly to have the wind coming at a diagonal for him. Keith Alder on peg 58, was fairing worse than I. I just felt as though I was going nowhere as usual. I lost approx 5 or 6 fish all match (most likely foul-hooked). I managed to get a few fish going in the last hour by feeding 4mm pellets at 3m out and fishing with the deep rig over the top, baited up with corn on the hook. I would estimate that I caught approximately 15 – 18lb in the last hour doing this.
As soon as I shouted time to end the match, the wind abated and it would have been possible to fish across to the far side. Bloody English Weather!!!
Thank god for Sweeney!!
Chappy was saying that he had about 25 – 30lb, I said that I had a similar weight, and as I found out, I wasn’t telling porkpies. I put 31lb 5oz on the scales; Chappy put 43lb on the scales – bugger, a quid down already. Orc had fished a blinder and managed to eke out 59lb form peg 22 (well done, must be your best weight up there yet), but alas, another quid down. Sweeney saved my bacon by weighing only 29lb odd (he should have had a lot more from there).
Full Result:
Gareth Drury (Oaks/HAS), 118-08. Peg 4.
Billy Brierley (Garbolino Elton) 103-10. Peg 50.
Mark Calvert (Garbolino Elton) 101-12.
Haircut Andy Bridge (Garbolino Elton) 100-04.
Chris Hall (The Oaks) 100-00. Peg 6.
Rob Minikin (HAS) 95-02. Peg 64.
Chappy Slap No. 2 - Have you ever seen a grown man cry?
I did, I was that man. I was crying from laughing so much at seeing Chappy chasing me round the Oaks Lakes car park. Let me explain.
Following Chappy’s 25-30lb being nearer to 45lb than 25lb and the subsequent loss of weight from my pocket. I asked the boys behind the counter to give me a quid in change (50p in 5p and 50p in 10p, to be precise). I went over to Chappy, shook his hand, said “well done”, and then handed him the change. His response was unprintable. I started to walk off with Chappy asking for a quid coin. As I made a mad dash for the door with Chappy in hot pursuit (“chase me, chase me”), I managed to squeeze past Andy Dargue, who was minding his own business standing just outside the doorway. I was halfway across the car park when Chappy got to the door and the aforementioned Andy Dargue.
In view of the size difference between Chappy and myself, Chappy was only just able to get past Andy, although he did take the cup of coffee that Andy was holding with him and promptly poured it down his own sleeve.
After a short jog, I relented and hastily got a quid coin out of my pocket to give to Chappy and let him catch me. As I handed over the quid, Chappy threw my shrapnel on the car park floor. As I bent down to pick up my change before it got lost in the pebbles etc, Chappy pushed me over, where I laid laughing my arse off with tears streaming down my face. Although, I will say in Chappy’s defence, he did help me pick up my shrapnel.
2 Chappy slaps in one day, I must be doing something right!!!
User Report – Alan Scotthorne Shimano Carryall
I purchased this carryall some 4 months ago now. I bought it because it was large, has a hard base and seemed comfortable. The dimensions of the carryall are 52 x 35 x 45cm. Now that I have used it, it is still large and the hard base is still there, it hasn’t been chewed through by rats or mice yet and I can get all of my stuff in the carryall including my wet togs at the end of a rain soaked session. The large side zipped pocket looks big enough to accommodate a keepnet, although I prefer to use a dedicated stink bags, and the side pocket is large enough to take a large bait tray (6 bait boxes). The only down size is the length of the strap. The strap is set as short as possible, but it still knocks against my knees when I walk, which makes it v. v. uncomfortable to carry, with this in mind, the carryall would only be suitable for some one the size of Hattie or Big Mark. I would assume that it is also too long for Mr Scotthorne himself. Come on Shimano, we’re not all 6ft 6” tall.
All in all, a large good quality carryall that seems well put together let down by the length of the strap.
Chappy Slap No. 1
Let me just start this weeks account with a continuation of my last story, following my comments about the resemblance between Hattie Jacques and Chappy, (well, have you ever seen them in the same room together), Chappy said, via the Oaks Banter website that he was going to give me a Chappy slap.
Whilst I was in the middle of organising everything, I was talking to Desperate Dan look-alike, Paul Hart who introduced himself and we were just talking about the look-alikes on the website, at which time, this promptly reminded Chappy that he was going to slap me.
Being behind a desk, I was boxed in and couldn’t make my escape. “Hattie Jacques, Eh, Mick, Hattie Jacques, I’ll give you Hattie Jacques” which was repeated again and again as he was slapping me.
The attendance for today’s match was very low in relation to recent attendances, as there was only 37 on the match. There were a few people away practising for team matches, there was a match on over in Manchester and there was also a big river match on, I think that that is the reason for the low attendance.
One well-known angler said that he wouldn’t be booking on the match (or turning up) if there wasn’t 50 on the match. Is the Kamasan so important? I don’t think that the said angler has any (or not many) points yet.
3 jackpot pegs were drawn and they were pegs 40 (Mal Bailey), 44 (Martin Craig) and 74 (Andy Dargue).
In view of Panic, Purverted, Pacifier, Nightie and Macca not being in attendance, I quickly looked around for an opportunity of a quid. I asked Paul ‘Sweeney’ Todd if he caught anything yesterday, he replied “No”. I asked him if he had caught anything last Sunday, he said “No”. I asked him if he wanted a quid, he said “Yes”. Easy Money!!!
Chappy said that Pimmy was feeling left out and that I ought to have a quid with him. Shall I just pay their digs whilst they stay over? I very quickly declined, poor Pimmy.
My quid’s were going to peg 22 (Orc), peg 76 (Chappy) and peg 10 (Sweeney).
I put my hand in the bag and drew peg 60. I blame my bad draw on Granddad. He volunteered to hold the bag and was first in. I am usually first in the bag and I think that Granddad took all of my luck when he dipped I before me.
I arrived at my peg to find it flat calm. There were fish clouding the far bank at the bottom end of my peg, some 16m away. Fish were topping down the middle at about 7m.
I set up 3 rigs as follows:
A very shallow rig set about 12” deep. This was a .1g DC6 float set up on .13 Preston Powerline straight through to a size 16 Colmic WN501 hook. This was tied to white hydro through my top two kit. (I might do away with the white hydro through 1 section!!).
A rig was set up to fish on top of the shelf at 12m. I found that I had about 18” depth and a .2g Garbolino DC6 was the weapon of choice. This was also set up on the same line and hook as above.
I also set up a .75g Series ‘E’ float for down the middle. This was set up on .15 Preston Powerline straight through to a size 14 Colmic WN501 hook. Both of these 2 rigs were set up on grey hydro elastic. I found that I had about 5ft of depth at the base of the slope. In view of the wind, I added about a floats length of depth onto the rig.
I like the WN501 hooks as they have a nice bend for rolling either conkers/pellets and or corn onto the hook. They are strong and they also stay sharp for a long time.
For bait today I had:
1 bag 3mm pellets
1 large tin of corn
Some conkers
4mm expanders
And some 4mm hard pellets
The wind, the wind!!!
Within 5 minutes of the match starting, the wind picked up and started blowing from left to right and the 16m line was now a bit like Afghanistan – a no go zone.
Why does that always happen, you arrive at your peg to find it flat calm, during the setting up period the peg is still flat calm, as soon as I shout time, the wind blows and continues to blow, generally increasing in strength as the match progresses, until I shout time at the end of the match. Today was not different.
Suggestions were flying around about having matches 4:00 am – 11:00 am and 4:00 pm to dusk.
At the start of the match, I fed a Tosspot full of bait on the deep line and also across on the 12m line. I got the 12” deep rig, baited up with pellet on the hook, put a few 3mm pellets in a fruit shoot and shipped out to 16m. This was made increasingly difficult due to the high bank some 3m behind me. In order to get to my peg, I had to walk down a little bank to put my box down.
I tipped the bait in and waited about 2 minutes, got my first indication and missed it (probably a liner). I dropped back in again and caught an F1 about 10oz. I re-baited went back out to 16m, dropped in and caught another F1 almost immediately. The wind was by now getting very strong and it was becoming a struggle to hold the pole and present the bait properly.
After 30 minutes and 5 fish, I decided to sack this line. I swapped over rigs and put the shelf rig on, baited up with pellet, shipped out to 13m, the float buried and a carp of 1lb was soon in the net. I baited up again, the float was being dragged offline due to the wind. I got a ‘dink’, struck and foul-hooked a fish. With the wind pushing the rig around the rig brushed into a fish, causing the ‘dink’, hence the reason for the foul-hooked fish.
I baited up with corn and fed pellets through the fruit shoot, the bait was keeping still, but the bites were at a premium. I decided to have a look down the middle.
Paul Burton on the next peg (62) was catching a few fish up in the water feeding some sloppy groundbait (I presume) and either caster or pellet. The wind was side on for him, but he had turned round slightly to have the wind coming at a diagonal for him. Keith Alder on peg 58, was fairing worse than I. I just felt as though I was going nowhere as usual. I lost approx 5 or 6 fish all match (most likely foul-hooked). I managed to get a few fish going in the last hour by feeding 4mm pellets at 3m out and fishing with the deep rig over the top, baited up with corn on the hook. I would estimate that I caught approximately 15 – 18lb in the last hour doing this.
As soon as I shouted time to end the match, the wind abated and it would have been possible to fish across to the far side. Bloody English Weather!!!
Thank god for Sweeney!!
Chappy was saying that he had about 25 – 30lb, I said that I had a similar weight, and as I found out, I wasn’t telling porkpies. I put 31lb 5oz on the scales; Chappy put 43lb on the scales – bugger, a quid down already. Orc had fished a blinder and managed to eke out 59lb form peg 22 (well done, must be your best weight up there yet), but alas, another quid down. Sweeney saved my bacon by weighing only 29lb odd (he should have had a lot more from there).
Full Result:
Gareth Drury (Oaks/HAS), 118-08. Peg 4.
Billy Brierley (Garbolino Elton) 103-10. Peg 50.
Mark Calvert (Garbolino Elton) 101-12.
Haircut Andy Bridge (Garbolino Elton) 100-04.
Chris Hall (The Oaks) 100-00. Peg 6.
Rob Minikin (HAS) 95-02. Peg 64.
Chappy Slap No. 2 - Have you ever seen a grown man cry?
I did, I was that man. I was crying from laughing so much at seeing Chappy chasing me round the Oaks Lakes car park. Let me explain.
Following Chappy’s 25-30lb being nearer to 45lb than 25lb and the subsequent loss of weight from my pocket. I asked the boys behind the counter to give me a quid in change (50p in 5p and 50p in 10p, to be precise). I went over to Chappy, shook his hand, said “well done”, and then handed him the change. His response was unprintable. I started to walk off with Chappy asking for a quid coin. As I made a mad dash for the door with Chappy in hot pursuit (“chase me, chase me”), I managed to squeeze past Andy Dargue, who was minding his own business standing just outside the doorway. I was halfway across the car park when Chappy got to the door and the aforementioned Andy Dargue.
In view of the size difference between Chappy and myself, Chappy was only just able to get past Andy, although he did take the cup of coffee that Andy was holding with him and promptly poured it down his own sleeve.
After a short jog, I relented and hastily got a quid coin out of my pocket to give to Chappy and let him catch me. As I handed over the quid, Chappy threw my shrapnel on the car park floor. As I bent down to pick up my change before it got lost in the pebbles etc, Chappy pushed me over, where I laid laughing my arse off with tears streaming down my face. Although, I will say in Chappy’s defence, he did help me pick up my shrapnel.
2 Chappy slaps in one day, I must be doing something right!!!
User Report – Alan Scotthorne Shimano Carryall
I purchased this carryall some 4 months ago now. I bought it because it was large, has a hard base and seemed comfortable. The dimensions of the carryall are 52 x 35 x 45cm. Now that I have used it, it is still large and the hard base is still there, it hasn’t been chewed through by rats or mice yet and I can get all of my stuff in the carryall including my wet togs at the end of a rain soaked session. The large side zipped pocket looks big enough to accommodate a keepnet, although I prefer to use a dedicated stink bags, and the side pocket is large enough to take a large bait tray (6 bait boxes). The only down size is the length of the strap. The strap is set as short as possible, but it still knocks against my knees when I walk, which makes it v. v. uncomfortable to carry, with this in mind, the carryall would only be suitable for some one the size of Hattie or Big Mark. I would assume that it is also too long for Mr Scotthorne himself. Come on Shimano, we’re not all 6ft 6” tall.
All in all, a large good quality carryall that seems well put together let down by the length of the strap.
Tuesday, August 15, 2006
Sunday 13th August 2006
No fishing last week as a mate of mine got married in Richmond, London on Saturday, then we spent Sunday at Thorpe Park, so had a weekend away darn sarf.
Following a rest, the batteries had been recharged and I ready for todays match at The Oaks, Sessay. I travelled on my own this week as both Panic and Purverted had cancelled off for one reason or another.
By the time of the draw, there were 60 anglers ready to do battle. The wind was blowing an absolute hoolie (?).
The current method has still been to fish meat down the middle over hemp, although pellet is starting to make a comeback and more and more peolple are taking maggots to their peg (don't they read my blog?)
3 jackpot pegs were drawn, they were 46 (Alan Scott), 63 (Andy Dargue) and 79 (Mr Pimlott). Of all the jackpot pegs, in order of preference I would have to choose 79, 46 then 63. This is not totally down to anglers ability, more down to form of the peg. Peg 79 holds more records than any other peg on the venue and 63 just isn't a good peg (62 is, generally, miles better).
Orc was in attendance and prompty accosted me for my quid from the last match, which I gave up gracefully, not. I even wrote my name on the quid as I had a feeling that I would be getting it back. Macca wasn't in attendance (£2 down already), Pacifier was there, as was Chappy. The now obligatory side bet's had been struck. Chappy handed me a piece of paper with his bank details on it in order that could set up a Standing Order - Cheeky Beggar!!! I have to mind my words with Chappy as he is bigger than me and might give me a 'Chappy Slap'. But hey he's bigger than everyone bar Big Mark (Happy Birthday Mate!!).
On the Oaks Banter website, we have been aliking people to various cast members from the Carry On crew and ended up as follows:
Marco - Charles Hawtrey
Chappy - Bernard Bresslaw or Hattie Jacques in Drag!! - Aren't they one and the same?
Bruce Poland - Sid James
Me - Kenneth Williams
Ian Exman - Frankie Howard (although he did comment that he would have preferred to have been likened to Jim Dale, does he live in a house without mirrors?)
I digress, back to the match. Johnny Mac, the Rochdale Raver, sent a raiding party over and introduced himself (nice to meet you mate).
Will my drawing arm still fail me or am I round the corner now? I shuffled the peg numbers, then passed them to Tom (the owner to be!!), who shuffled them some more.
I dipped in the bag and peg 37 was stuck to my hand. Trying to work out the way that the wind was blowing, I thought that it would be coming straight into my face from peg 35, but according to all the locals, the peg is and would be flat calm all day.
My quids were going to pegs 50 (Orc), 58 (Chappy) and 75 (Pacifier).
Peg 37 is a peg on a bend with pegs 38 - 42 being on the straight. Peg 36 to my left looks straight down both arms and 35 is the one at the top of the other straight from pegs 35 - 28. There was no one peg 36 and Harry Potter lookalike, Rob Minikin, had drawn peg 35. Dave Parkinson was to my right on peg 38 and Stewie Newbury was further round on peg 38.
After taking a couple of minutes to look at my peg and those around me I decided on the following:
1 shallow rig - a .2g Garbolino DC6 on .11 Preston Powerline straight through to a size 16 Colmic WN501 hook. I plumbed up to the edge of the sedges and found that I had about 18" of depth. This rig was attached to white hydro through my No2 section only.
1 deep rig - .5g Series E float on .13 Preston Powerline straight through to a size 14 Colmic WN501 hook. I plumbed up at the base of the slope and found about 5ft of depth. When I plumbed up at the base of the slope, it was whilst looking towards peg 35. This rig was attached to grey Hydro.
1 rig to fish down the side - a .3g Garbolino DC6 float on .13 Preston Powerline straight through to the same hook as above. I plumbed up down the side and found 2 1/2 ft at 11m.
My bait for the day consisted of:
2 pts micro pellets, 1 tin of corn, hook pellets (including the conkers) and 2 tins of meat.
On your marks!!!
At the all in, I 'Toss-potted' some micro's down the side, some meat down the middle, then went over to the farside with pellet on the hook and a fruitshoot top of micropellets as feed.
I dropped the bait in and fed the micro's over the top. After about 5 minutes, I caught a carp of about 10oz. I re-baited and dropped in again, another carp, of a similar size, was on it's way to join it's breathren.
My third drop in, and the rig was all over the place. Ducking and diving, bobbing and weaving. i kept on tyring to hit the indications, then all of a sudden a gudgeon about 1oz (if I was lucky) came flying out of the water (superstrike hit home again) and dropped off the hook. I hope that it doesn't cost me!!
I dropped in again and waited for about 10 minutes, I was still getting the dips and blips, but the float wouldn't go under. Then all of a sudden 3ft of white hydro went screaming from the pole tip. I managed to gain control of the fish, that was until I got it to the landing net. When I saw the fish and it saw the landing net, it bolted and snapped me, right next to the loop used to attach my rig to my connector. That one will cost me, I would estimate that it was a 4lb (ish) mirror carp.
Why is that when you lose a fish, it can affect your stride, considerably!!
I quickly got a duplicate rig out and went back over to the farside and caught some more gonks. I re-baited down the middle and decided to have a look down the side.
I baited up with pellet, and fed some micro's over the top. 7 drop in's and 7 carp, then it all went squiffy. I caught a perch, then an ide, then 2 roach then 2 gudgeon. Time to rest this line me thinks.
I decided to have a look on the meat line down the middle. I baited up with meat, dropped in and waited and waited. I had been feeding a few micro pellets in with my meat. I came back, put a conker on the hook, dropped in and caught a succession of carp, mainly F1's to 2lb. This line then went squiffy. I foul-hooked 6 carp in 7 put ins.
Do you ever get the feeling that it is going to be one of them days?
I started to then rotate the swims, trying to pick up the odd carp until the bits moved in.
Harry Potter was steadily catching fish throughout and was fishing pellet across to the far side. Parka Parkinson and Stewie were, I would say, fairing worse than I. Parka was fishing with maggots as hook bait and was catching the odd fish, barbel, roach, carp, ide. Stewie didn't seem to be catching much of anything.
By the time of the all out, I was ready to go home. I could not get one method to work and was getting 'bitted out' on every line that I fished with pellet and I struggled to get a bite on meat. had I done something wrong???
By the time that the scales had arrived, Harry Potter was leading on my half of the lake with 88lb. I weighed in 25lb 8oz for nowhere. Parka, Stewie and the lad on peg 41 all DNW'd.
I was tempted to drive straight home, but then I remembered, I had to sort out the brown envelopes.
Orc weighed in 17lb. I asked for the quid with my name on it. Chappy had 41lb and Pacifier had 29lb (I new that the fish that snapped me would cost me - £2.00). Do you have the feeling that sometimes your up one minute (£1) then down the next (£3).
Oh well, there is always next week.
Full result:
1. Rob Minikin (HAS) - 88-03. Peg 35. Pellet across to the island.
2. Andy Stoner (Team Browning/Cudmore) - 74-08. Peg 30.
3. Geoff Scott (Mosella/Rochdale) - 66-12.
4. Dave Pimlott (Garbolino Elton) - 61-02.
5. Tony Neesom (Elton Tackle) - 53-10.
6. Mal Bailey (Garbolino Elton) - 52-13.
No fishing last week as a mate of mine got married in Richmond, London on Saturday, then we spent Sunday at Thorpe Park, so had a weekend away darn sarf.
Following a rest, the batteries had been recharged and I ready for todays match at The Oaks, Sessay. I travelled on my own this week as both Panic and Purverted had cancelled off for one reason or another.
By the time of the draw, there were 60 anglers ready to do battle. The wind was blowing an absolute hoolie (?).
The current method has still been to fish meat down the middle over hemp, although pellet is starting to make a comeback and more and more peolple are taking maggots to their peg (don't they read my blog?)
3 jackpot pegs were drawn, they were 46 (Alan Scott), 63 (Andy Dargue) and 79 (Mr Pimlott). Of all the jackpot pegs, in order of preference I would have to choose 79, 46 then 63. This is not totally down to anglers ability, more down to form of the peg. Peg 79 holds more records than any other peg on the venue and 63 just isn't a good peg (62 is, generally, miles better).
Orc was in attendance and prompty accosted me for my quid from the last match, which I gave up gracefully, not. I even wrote my name on the quid as I had a feeling that I would be getting it back. Macca wasn't in attendance (£2 down already), Pacifier was there, as was Chappy. The now obligatory side bet's had been struck. Chappy handed me a piece of paper with his bank details on it in order that could set up a Standing Order - Cheeky Beggar!!! I have to mind my words with Chappy as he is bigger than me and might give me a 'Chappy Slap'. But hey he's bigger than everyone bar Big Mark (Happy Birthday Mate!!).
On the Oaks Banter website, we have been aliking people to various cast members from the Carry On crew and ended up as follows:
Marco - Charles Hawtrey
Chappy - Bernard Bresslaw or Hattie Jacques in Drag!! - Aren't they one and the same?
Bruce Poland - Sid James
Me - Kenneth Williams
Ian Exman - Frankie Howard (although he did comment that he would have preferred to have been likened to Jim Dale, does he live in a house without mirrors?)
I digress, back to the match. Johnny Mac, the Rochdale Raver, sent a raiding party over and introduced himself (nice to meet you mate).
Will my drawing arm still fail me or am I round the corner now? I shuffled the peg numbers, then passed them to Tom (the owner to be!!), who shuffled them some more.
I dipped in the bag and peg 37 was stuck to my hand. Trying to work out the way that the wind was blowing, I thought that it would be coming straight into my face from peg 35, but according to all the locals, the peg is and would be flat calm all day.
My quids were going to pegs 50 (Orc), 58 (Chappy) and 75 (Pacifier).
Peg 37 is a peg on a bend with pegs 38 - 42 being on the straight. Peg 36 to my left looks straight down both arms and 35 is the one at the top of the other straight from pegs 35 - 28. There was no one peg 36 and Harry Potter lookalike, Rob Minikin, had drawn peg 35. Dave Parkinson was to my right on peg 38 and Stewie Newbury was further round on peg 38.
After taking a couple of minutes to look at my peg and those around me I decided on the following:
1 shallow rig - a .2g Garbolino DC6 on .11 Preston Powerline straight through to a size 16 Colmic WN501 hook. I plumbed up to the edge of the sedges and found that I had about 18" of depth. This rig was attached to white hydro through my No2 section only.
1 deep rig - .5g Series E float on .13 Preston Powerline straight through to a size 14 Colmic WN501 hook. I plumbed up at the base of the slope and found about 5ft of depth. When I plumbed up at the base of the slope, it was whilst looking towards peg 35. This rig was attached to grey Hydro.
1 rig to fish down the side - a .3g Garbolino DC6 float on .13 Preston Powerline straight through to the same hook as above. I plumbed up down the side and found 2 1/2 ft at 11m.
My bait for the day consisted of:
2 pts micro pellets, 1 tin of corn, hook pellets (including the conkers) and 2 tins of meat.
On your marks!!!
At the all in, I 'Toss-potted' some micro's down the side, some meat down the middle, then went over to the farside with pellet on the hook and a fruitshoot top of micropellets as feed.
I dropped the bait in and fed the micro's over the top. After about 5 minutes, I caught a carp of about 10oz. I re-baited and dropped in again, another carp, of a similar size, was on it's way to join it's breathren.
My third drop in, and the rig was all over the place. Ducking and diving, bobbing and weaving. i kept on tyring to hit the indications, then all of a sudden a gudgeon about 1oz (if I was lucky) came flying out of the water (superstrike hit home again) and dropped off the hook. I hope that it doesn't cost me!!
I dropped in again and waited for about 10 minutes, I was still getting the dips and blips, but the float wouldn't go under. Then all of a sudden 3ft of white hydro went screaming from the pole tip. I managed to gain control of the fish, that was until I got it to the landing net. When I saw the fish and it saw the landing net, it bolted and snapped me, right next to the loop used to attach my rig to my connector. That one will cost me, I would estimate that it was a 4lb (ish) mirror carp.
Why is that when you lose a fish, it can affect your stride, considerably!!
I quickly got a duplicate rig out and went back over to the farside and caught some more gonks. I re-baited down the middle and decided to have a look down the side.
I baited up with pellet, and fed some micro's over the top. 7 drop in's and 7 carp, then it all went squiffy. I caught a perch, then an ide, then 2 roach then 2 gudgeon. Time to rest this line me thinks.
I decided to have a look on the meat line down the middle. I baited up with meat, dropped in and waited and waited. I had been feeding a few micro pellets in with my meat. I came back, put a conker on the hook, dropped in and caught a succession of carp, mainly F1's to 2lb. This line then went squiffy. I foul-hooked 6 carp in 7 put ins.
Do you ever get the feeling that it is going to be one of them days?
I started to then rotate the swims, trying to pick up the odd carp until the bits moved in.
Harry Potter was steadily catching fish throughout and was fishing pellet across to the far side. Parka Parkinson and Stewie were, I would say, fairing worse than I. Parka was fishing with maggots as hook bait and was catching the odd fish, barbel, roach, carp, ide. Stewie didn't seem to be catching much of anything.
By the time of the all out, I was ready to go home. I could not get one method to work and was getting 'bitted out' on every line that I fished with pellet and I struggled to get a bite on meat. had I done something wrong???
By the time that the scales had arrived, Harry Potter was leading on my half of the lake with 88lb. I weighed in 25lb 8oz for nowhere. Parka, Stewie and the lad on peg 41 all DNW'd.
I was tempted to drive straight home, but then I remembered, I had to sort out the brown envelopes.
Orc weighed in 17lb. I asked for the quid with my name on it. Chappy had 41lb and Pacifier had 29lb (I new that the fish that snapped me would cost me - £2.00). Do you have the feeling that sometimes your up one minute (£1) then down the next (£3).
Oh well, there is always next week.
Full result:
1. Rob Minikin (HAS) - 88-03. Peg 35. Pellet across to the island.
2. Andy Stoner (Team Browning/Cudmore) - 74-08. Peg 30.
3. Geoff Scott (Mosella/Rochdale) - 66-12.
4. Dave Pimlott (Garbolino Elton) - 61-02.
5. Tony Neesom (Elton Tackle) - 53-10.
6. Mal Bailey (Garbolino Elton) - 52-13.
Tuesday, August 01, 2006
Sunday 30th July 2006 – The Oaks Lakes, Sessay
Following my debacle last week, I nearly never made it to today’s match as I was contemplating suicide all week. But hey, you can’t have a bad draw all the time!!!
Or can you????
I had prepared a list of all those people that had booked on from last week’s match and had 46 names for the open match, it was going to be close for a 50 pegger.
I texted Panic on Friday to see when he was back off his Jollies and he replied "Back Sat 9pm Number 5 38 Degrees Time For A Beer". So I took that to be that he was back at 9pm on Sat 5th Aug. So I travelled on my own, again. Just call me Billy Nomates.
Whilst driving up the A1, I was trying to make a decision, do I fish pellet up in the water all match, as most of the recent winning weights have all come on this method, or do I do as most of the other people and fish meat on the deck? Choices, choices.
By the time that I arrived I had made up my mind, I was going to fish pellet up in the water if I had a calm(ish) peg and meat on the bottom if it was windy.
Whilst preparing my bait prior to the draw I had none other than Mr Scotthorne asking me questions. What had I done? Big Al had been a couple of times within the first 6 months of Cedar Lake opening, but commitments etc had kept him away. I said to him 'don't ask me nothing, I was last last week!!'. He was asking me about methods, distance, stamp of fish etc and being the good egg that I am, I gave him as much bum info as possible, not!!
at about 9:00, Panic rang me to ask if I had set off yet. I said that I was already there. Anyways, his text meant that he was back on Sat @ 9pm. I don't what the Number 5 referred to.
By the time of the draw, there were 68 of us for the weekly payroll. Where had everyone come from?
I had the obligatory quids with Chappy, Orc, Bedpan Movley, Pacifier (£2) and Panic.
Due to the Jackpot peg(s) still not being won, I, again, put 3 jackpot pegs into the draw, peg no's 41 (Ian Bowman), 55 (Tim Moran) and peg 77. Of these pegs, it was thought that Tim had the best chance of going home with the extra loot.
In view of Tom being crap at drawing, I decided to draw my own peg this week. Where had I been in previous matches? 4, 5 and 6 (although not necessarily in that order). I put my hand in the bag and drew........
Peg 3!!!
What's up, when I put my hand in the bag do all the pegs between 3 and 6 jump up to my hand and I only pick out of those. I shake the bag, as does Tom prior to my putting my hand in.
Oh well you can only do your best (although in my case it ain't good enough). I did have a weight (and won my section) when I was last in the area (peg 4).
Geoff Scotty has been doing well by fishing with paste across to the far side (or on any other line for that matter) and he had drawn peg 1, which is scales help for his sins and Deano Smith had drawn peg 7. Both of these pegs are at either end of the straight before they go around the corner. The only (dis) advantage was that the wind was blowing into their respective pegs and as most of the regulars know, when it is windy at The Oaks, it is damn windy!!!
Marco drew the same peg that won yesterdays open, peg 73 (Ian Exley with 115lb) and literally run to the peg carrying all of his gear.
Let's get on with it
I arrived at my peg to find that I had D Edwards (sorry, don't know him) and N Rogison (Sorry, Don't know him either) on either side of me.
In view of my deciding to fish with pellet up in the water, I made up 3 rigs as follows:
I set up a rig to fish on top of the shelf whilst I was feeding the up in the water line. I set up a .2g Garbolino DC6 on .13 Preston Powerline straight through to a size 16 Colmic WN501 hook. This was attached to white hydro. Someone asked me a question as to why I was fishing with white hydro. When you lift/strike into a fish, it allows the fish to run out of your peg whilst you play the fish, hopefully causing any remaining fish to spook less.
I set up 2 shallow rigs, one was a .1 Garbolino DC1 set at 2ft deep with a long line between pole float and pole tip (about 2 ft). This was set up on .12 Maver Genesis line tied direct to a size 18 Colmic WN501 hook. This was attached to white hydro.
My other shallow rig was a .1 Garbolino DC1 float set at 2ft deep with a short line (about 4") between pole float and tip. This was also set up on .12 Maver Genesis tied direct to a size 16 Colmic WN501 hook. This was attached to grey hydro.
Bait
for feeding, I had 2 pts of micro pellets (for shaking up in the water), 3 pints of 4mm hard pellets (for catapulting) and 2pts of Ringers 3mm expander pellets, which I had pumped to make them sinkers (again for catapulting).
For the hook, I pumped some 4mm and 6mm BBPC pellets and I also had some 4mm 'Skinz' This is the first time that I have used some Skinz. I read the info on the packet and covered them in a little bit of water (just to help to soften them, as I felt that they were a little hard)
All in
At the all in, I put some micro pellets in my Tosspot and a conker on the hook and shipped out to the shelf and started to shake the pellets over the top of my float. I got the 'cattie' out and started to catapult bait at about 9 -10m. I was alternating feeding the 3mm Ringers and the 4mm hard pellets (with the intention that the noise of the 4mm would bring in the fish and the noise and texture of the soft 3mm would give them something to eat).
After about 10 minutes, I got my first indication and caught a gudgeon. It was that small, the scale that I caught last week would have weighed more (had it not blown away).
I re-baited, shipped out again and after shaking in some more micro pellets, the float buried and a carp of about 10oz was trying it's best to get off, but it failed. I had increased my weight 10 fold with one fish.
I persevered in this manner for the next 15 minutes or so, as every so often (well maybe not that often) after I got an indication, I would re-bait and quickly drop the rig in on the shallow line as I shipped out for about 20 seconds or so, just to see if there was anything there.
On one of these '20 second' drops, I got an indication. That was it. The fish were there, it was solid. I quickly came back and swapped my top over to my shallow rig (not the bagging one). I baited up with a 'Skinz', shipped out and caught a carp first drop in - a mirror carp of about 2lb. This was 1 hour into the match. Images and visions of a phenomenal weight was before my eyes as I still had 4 hours to go.
I continued to feed in the same manner for the duration of the match, but for some reason, I just could not string any number of fish together. No-one else around me was fishing up in the water (and neither were they catching except for Scotty and Deano), so I had the method to myself.
I would catch the odd fish, then I couldn't get another bite for 10 - 15 mintues or so, but everytime that I caught a fish, it was a decent stamp of a decent stamp (2lb'er). I was lifting and dropping, slapping the rig in, I swapped over rigs, I short lined, I run out of ideas.
After about 4 hours of the match, Marco came round for a walk, he was admitting to about 12lb, off the match winning peg from yesterday?????. For some reason, the lake seemed to have switched off. Could it be because of the airpressure with the storms that had and were due to take(n) place.
It's All Over - It Is Now!!!
By the time that the scales had arrived, Scotty had weighed in 63lb off peg 1. The lad at the side of me on peg 2 weighed in 26lb odd. I weighed in 25lb odd. Peg 4 had 17lb, peg 5 had 14lb, peg 6 had 22lb and Deano on peg 7 had 69-08 for a match win.
The Pacifier
I got so much abuse last week of Pacifier and Macca for coming last in the match with 19lb. There were only a few DNW's. There is a lad who books on the matches week in, week out. He arrives at about 9:55 for a 10:00 draw. Doesn't speak to anyone and hardly ever catches anything. I think that his best weight has been about 20lb.
Anyways, this lad generally fails to trouble the scalesman, but today, for whatever reason, he decided to weigh in. He weighed in 14lb odd for last in the match. The Pacifier had been saved from a mauling. He weighed in 15lb odd for 2nd last in the match. Next week I am going to pay this kid a quid to tip back!!!
User Report
I was planning on doing a User Report every couple of weeks or maybe even every month, but after using the 'Skinz' hook bait I feel that I just have to write about them.
The first time that I saw someone using them was John Emmerson at Lindholme. He was fishing shallow feeding pellet and fishing with a Skinz on the hook and was bagging.
I bought a packet from Bob-Co tackle yesterday and thought that it was time to give them a try. I put one on the hook and you could get so many dips, blips and indications and yet still feel confident that your bait was still there. At one point I caught 3 fish on the same Skinz'. If small fish try to 'rag' your bait off, it is still there. I think that after fishing with the Skinz for most of the match, there was only a couple of times that the pellet had come off.
When I took them out of the packet, they felt a little hard so I covered them in a little water. Even at the end of the match, they were still perfectly hookable.
Bloody fantastic. I recommend them with a big A+ - go out and try some.
The top 8 all weighed in between 60 and 70lb, so it was probably the closest match that we have had for a while, with no outright winner. 5 of the 6 sections were won with 50lb + (including a couple of 60lb section winners). Tim Moran had 61lb and didn't win his section. So all in all, it still fished ok.
Full Result:
Dean Smith (Garbolino Elton) 69-08
Alan Scotthorne (Shimano) 69-02
Jonny Bradshaw (Mosella Garbolino) 68-06
Chris Hall (The Oaks) 67-02
Robb Minikin (Harrogate Angling) 65-03
Geoff Scott (Mosella Rochdale) 63-00
Following my debacle last week, I nearly never made it to today’s match as I was contemplating suicide all week. But hey, you can’t have a bad draw all the time!!!
Or can you????
I had prepared a list of all those people that had booked on from last week’s match and had 46 names for the open match, it was going to be close for a 50 pegger.
I texted Panic on Friday to see when he was back off his Jollies and he replied "Back Sat 9pm Number 5 38 Degrees Time For A Beer". So I took that to be that he was back at 9pm on Sat 5th Aug. So I travelled on my own, again. Just call me Billy Nomates.
Whilst driving up the A1, I was trying to make a decision, do I fish pellet up in the water all match, as most of the recent winning weights have all come on this method, or do I do as most of the other people and fish meat on the deck? Choices, choices.
By the time that I arrived I had made up my mind, I was going to fish pellet up in the water if I had a calm(ish) peg and meat on the bottom if it was windy.
Whilst preparing my bait prior to the draw I had none other than Mr Scotthorne asking me questions. What had I done? Big Al had been a couple of times within the first 6 months of Cedar Lake opening, but commitments etc had kept him away. I said to him 'don't ask me nothing, I was last last week!!'. He was asking me about methods, distance, stamp of fish etc and being the good egg that I am, I gave him as much bum info as possible, not!!
at about 9:00, Panic rang me to ask if I had set off yet. I said that I was already there. Anyways, his text meant that he was back on Sat @ 9pm. I don't what the Number 5 referred to.
By the time of the draw, there were 68 of us for the weekly payroll. Where had everyone come from?
I had the obligatory quids with Chappy, Orc, Bedpan Movley, Pacifier (£2) and Panic.
Due to the Jackpot peg(s) still not being won, I, again, put 3 jackpot pegs into the draw, peg no's 41 (Ian Bowman), 55 (Tim Moran) and peg 77. Of these pegs, it was thought that Tim had the best chance of going home with the extra loot.
In view of Tom being crap at drawing, I decided to draw my own peg this week. Where had I been in previous matches? 4, 5 and 6 (although not necessarily in that order). I put my hand in the bag and drew........
Peg 3!!!
What's up, when I put my hand in the bag do all the pegs between 3 and 6 jump up to my hand and I only pick out of those. I shake the bag, as does Tom prior to my putting my hand in.
Oh well you can only do your best (although in my case it ain't good enough). I did have a weight (and won my section) when I was last in the area (peg 4).
Geoff Scotty has been doing well by fishing with paste across to the far side (or on any other line for that matter) and he had drawn peg 1, which is scales help for his sins and Deano Smith had drawn peg 7. Both of these pegs are at either end of the straight before they go around the corner. The only (dis) advantage was that the wind was blowing into their respective pegs and as most of the regulars know, when it is windy at The Oaks, it is damn windy!!!
Marco drew the same peg that won yesterdays open, peg 73 (Ian Exley with 115lb) and literally run to the peg carrying all of his gear.
Let's get on with it
I arrived at my peg to find that I had D Edwards (sorry, don't know him) and N Rogison (Sorry, Don't know him either) on either side of me.
In view of my deciding to fish with pellet up in the water, I made up 3 rigs as follows:
I set up a rig to fish on top of the shelf whilst I was feeding the up in the water line. I set up a .2g Garbolino DC6 on .13 Preston Powerline straight through to a size 16 Colmic WN501 hook. This was attached to white hydro. Someone asked me a question as to why I was fishing with white hydro. When you lift/strike into a fish, it allows the fish to run out of your peg whilst you play the fish, hopefully causing any remaining fish to spook less.
I set up 2 shallow rigs, one was a .1 Garbolino DC1 set at 2ft deep with a long line between pole float and pole tip (about 2 ft). This was set up on .12 Maver Genesis line tied direct to a size 18 Colmic WN501 hook. This was attached to white hydro.
My other shallow rig was a .1 Garbolino DC1 float set at 2ft deep with a short line (about 4") between pole float and tip. This was also set up on .12 Maver Genesis tied direct to a size 16 Colmic WN501 hook. This was attached to grey hydro.
Bait
for feeding, I had 2 pts of micro pellets (for shaking up in the water), 3 pints of 4mm hard pellets (for catapulting) and 2pts of Ringers 3mm expander pellets, which I had pumped to make them sinkers (again for catapulting).
For the hook, I pumped some 4mm and 6mm BBPC pellets and I also had some 4mm 'Skinz' This is the first time that I have used some Skinz. I read the info on the packet and covered them in a little bit of water (just to help to soften them, as I felt that they were a little hard)
All in
At the all in, I put some micro pellets in my Tosspot and a conker on the hook and shipped out to the shelf and started to shake the pellets over the top of my float. I got the 'cattie' out and started to catapult bait at about 9 -10m. I was alternating feeding the 3mm Ringers and the 4mm hard pellets (with the intention that the noise of the 4mm would bring in the fish and the noise and texture of the soft 3mm would give them something to eat).
After about 10 minutes, I got my first indication and caught a gudgeon. It was that small, the scale that I caught last week would have weighed more (had it not blown away).
I re-baited, shipped out again and after shaking in some more micro pellets, the float buried and a carp of about 10oz was trying it's best to get off, but it failed. I had increased my weight 10 fold with one fish.
I persevered in this manner for the next 15 minutes or so, as every so often (well maybe not that often) after I got an indication, I would re-bait and quickly drop the rig in on the shallow line as I shipped out for about 20 seconds or so, just to see if there was anything there.
On one of these '20 second' drops, I got an indication. That was it. The fish were there, it was solid. I quickly came back and swapped my top over to my shallow rig (not the bagging one). I baited up with a 'Skinz', shipped out and caught a carp first drop in - a mirror carp of about 2lb. This was 1 hour into the match. Images and visions of a phenomenal weight was before my eyes as I still had 4 hours to go.
I continued to feed in the same manner for the duration of the match, but for some reason, I just could not string any number of fish together. No-one else around me was fishing up in the water (and neither were they catching except for Scotty and Deano), so I had the method to myself.
I would catch the odd fish, then I couldn't get another bite for 10 - 15 mintues or so, but everytime that I caught a fish, it was a decent stamp of a decent stamp (2lb'er). I was lifting and dropping, slapping the rig in, I swapped over rigs, I short lined, I run out of ideas.
After about 4 hours of the match, Marco came round for a walk, he was admitting to about 12lb, off the match winning peg from yesterday?????. For some reason, the lake seemed to have switched off. Could it be because of the airpressure with the storms that had and were due to take(n) place.
It's All Over - It Is Now!!!
By the time that the scales had arrived, Scotty had weighed in 63lb off peg 1. The lad at the side of me on peg 2 weighed in 26lb odd. I weighed in 25lb odd. Peg 4 had 17lb, peg 5 had 14lb, peg 6 had 22lb and Deano on peg 7 had 69-08 for a match win.
The Pacifier
I got so much abuse last week of Pacifier and Macca for coming last in the match with 19lb. There were only a few DNW's. There is a lad who books on the matches week in, week out. He arrives at about 9:55 for a 10:00 draw. Doesn't speak to anyone and hardly ever catches anything. I think that his best weight has been about 20lb.
Anyways, this lad generally fails to trouble the scalesman, but today, for whatever reason, he decided to weigh in. He weighed in 14lb odd for last in the match. The Pacifier had been saved from a mauling. He weighed in 15lb odd for 2nd last in the match. Next week I am going to pay this kid a quid to tip back!!!
User Report
I was planning on doing a User Report every couple of weeks or maybe even every month, but after using the 'Skinz' hook bait I feel that I just have to write about them.
The first time that I saw someone using them was John Emmerson at Lindholme. He was fishing shallow feeding pellet and fishing with a Skinz on the hook and was bagging.
I bought a packet from Bob-Co tackle yesterday and thought that it was time to give them a try. I put one on the hook and you could get so many dips, blips and indications and yet still feel confident that your bait was still there. At one point I caught 3 fish on the same Skinz'. If small fish try to 'rag' your bait off, it is still there. I think that after fishing with the Skinz for most of the match, there was only a couple of times that the pellet had come off.
When I took them out of the packet, they felt a little hard so I covered them in a little water. Even at the end of the match, they were still perfectly hookable.
Bloody fantastic. I recommend them with a big A+ - go out and try some.
The top 8 all weighed in between 60 and 70lb, so it was probably the closest match that we have had for a while, with no outright winner. 5 of the 6 sections were won with 50lb + (including a couple of 60lb section winners). Tim Moran had 61lb and didn't win his section. So all in all, it still fished ok.
Full Result:
Dean Smith (Garbolino Elton) 69-08
Alan Scotthorne (Shimano) 69-02
Jonny Bradshaw (Mosella Garbolino) 68-06
Chris Hall (The Oaks) 67-02
Robb Minikin (Harrogate Angling) 65-03
Geoff Scott (Mosella Rochdale) 63-00
Friday, July 28, 2006
Sunday 23rd July 2006. Cedar Lake, The Oaks, Sessay.
Panic was away on holiday duties, again, so I was travelling 'on my tod'.
In view of getting my meat cutter back of Mal Bailey, I had already prepared my meat ready for today, so it should save me some time after getting everyone else ready.
In view of running the matches and sorting out all of the monies, prior to starting the match, I still get one or two people who are always saying, can't we start earlier as I am ready with about 20 minutes to go, etc, etc. I do the draw at pretty much 10:00 (give or take 5 minutes and generally no more),and by the time that everyone has come through the draw and I have added up all of the money, sorted out the prizes and sections, etc, etc, I don't generally arrive at my peg until 10:30, that leaves me about 45 minutes to prepare myself, (30 minutes if I was to start the match at 11:00) hence the reason for an 11-15 (usually) start.
By the time that the draw came round there were 64 anglers (for want of another word) ready to try their best. We had 3 jackpot pegs, peg 8, 23 and 41.
Following my run of pegs (namely drawing pegs 4 or 5 over the last few matches), I asked Tom (the pond owners son) if he would do me the honour and draw me a good peg. He put his hand in the back and there was a look of anticipation from yours truly as he then pulled his hand out of the bag. Tom looked at the peg and gave a groan. Sugar. He showed me peg 70. Basket!!!!
Peg 70 is at the end of a straight of pegs, which goes from peg 66 - 70. It is on the inside of a bend with peg 71 being to your right about 15m away. Peg 71 can also go down to the bend. You do have the island to fish to, but it seems a short peg as the island has a 90 degree angle going away from you and from the marker in your peg to the end of the island only seems to be about 2m or so. The fish seem to come so far up the straight, turn round and go back down again. Oh well, I have got a peg, you can only do your best and sometimes you get the results.
The obligatory quid's were struck with Chappy, Orc, Bedpan (Roger Movley), Topshop, The Pacifier (Vinnie Diesel) and Macca (both £2 each).
I arrived at my peg to find that I had Tala on peg 71, Pacifier on peg 69 and Macca on peg 67 - peg 68 was empty (not put in the draw bag).
Bait Tariff
I recall a few weeks ago, Big Mark Calvert was in this area and had 40lb by fishing with maggots up in the water. So for today I had 3 tins of cubed meat, 1 tin of frenzied hemp, 3 pts of maggots and a handful of hook pellets.
I set up the following rigs:
Deep Rig No 1: a .4g DC6 float tied direct to .15 Preston Powerline straight through to a size 16 Colmic WN501 hook. I plumbed up at the base of the island slightly to my left where I found about 4ft deep. This rig was attached to grey hydro.
Deep Rig No. 2: a .5g Drennan Roach float tied direct to .15 Preston Powerline straight through to a size 14 Kamasan B611hook. This was also attached to grey hydro.
Shelf Rig: a .2g Garbolino DC6 float on .14 MAP Carptek direct to a size 16 Colmic WN501 hook. This was attached to white hydro through the no.2 section of my pole only.
Shallow rig: was a .1g Garbolino DC6 float set up as above, with approximately 18" - 2ft of line between pole float and pole tip (in order not to spook the fish).
At the all in, I potted some meat and hemp on both deep lines and went across to the far side with meat on the hook and a bit of hemp and meat in a Fox Toss Pot.
I waited for about 10 minutes and I got my first indication and I caught a scale, I ‘unhooked’ my scale, went to put it in my net and the wind blew it away – ho hum. I re-baited and went back out. Whilst fishing across I had been feeding maggots at about 8m all the time and I was now starting to see swirls and boils up in the water. I caught a small carp off the far side for about 8oz.
I decided, now was the time to attack it with the maggot approach. I dropped in with double maggot on the hook and missed an indication immediately. I dropped back in and caught a roach. It was that small I wondered, how had it got double maggot and a size 16 hook in it’s mouth?
I unhooked the ‘eyes’ and went back out. I caught another 'plip', then another, then another! Bugger!! I upped the amount of maggots and started to feed 15 – 20 each go. I managed to snare a couple of ide around the 12oz mark.
I carried on in this vein for the next 20 minutes or so catching the odd ‘plip’ and ide, when all of a sudden, the elastic shot out from the pole tip – carp No. 1 was on it’s way. I re-baited and did the same again and caught a few more 'plips'. I felt as though I was going nowhere – fast. I decided to try a pellet on the hook and feed maggots. I dropped in, had a few dips, then the elastic shot out. Carp No. 2 was in the net. I had got it sussed, they wanted pellet on the hook over loose fed maggot!!
20 minutes later, I had nothing further to add for my efforts. I had by now fished maggot/pellet hook bait over loose fed maggots for about 1hr 15mins. I had managed to feed 1.5 pts (nearly) of maggots. What to do????
Tala was struggling to catch on any line (albeit, he was fishing predominantly down the middle). The Pacifier was stringing the odd fish together and I could see that occasionally Macca had his elastic stretched out a bit.
I decided that the maggot approach wasn’t going to work and went back to a meat approach by fishing meat at the base of the slope whilst catapulting a few pieces over to the far side.
Landing 2 fish at once.
After about an hour of fishing in the deeps I caught a fish, to go with a couple that I caught earlier, as I played the fish, I swooped to net the fish and lifted the fish out of the water in the landing net. On closer inspection, there was a little F1 carp (about 1.5lb) in the net along with the fish that I had just caught (a mirror carp about 1lb). I had almost doubled my weight in one go, now then, where is my dragnet!!
Another spawny fish!!
Whilst I had been flicking the odd bit of meat and hemp across to the far side, I saw the odd fish come out of the water to get at the bait. Now was the time to go across and empty it. I baited up with meat, went across to the mud line and waited. After about 5 minutes, the float shot under and I played a fish. As I was bringing the fish to the landing net, a top kit appeared next to my float, as I lifted higher, a float appeared next to my float, then some shot, then the fish with the offending top kit and hook attached. I had caught a fish without hooking it. The carp was approximately 2.5lb (my biggest fish today) and was dragging round a paste float rig with a shark hook attached (which I later found to be a size 12 method feeder hook). The pole had broken just at the base of where the elastic was tied to the bung. The elastic seemed to be the Drennan pink hollow stuff (bit heavy). After the match, the lad that had lost his top kit was on peg 61, the fish had gone round to peg 56, as Chappy reported seeing the top kit, then it had gone past all of the anglers between pegs 56 and 69 to be caught in my peg.
Whilst all of this was going on and I was shouting to all and sundry, The Pacifier broke the number 5 section on his pole – he had caught a fish, got giddy and grabbed hold of his pole whilst the pole was jammed and snap. I didn’t laugh much. I offered him my spare section from my pole knowing that it wouldn’t fit. We were both using Garbolino poles, but my pole is made on a different mandrel. After trying the section and getting nowhere, he got out his replacement pole – a banana bazoocarp (or something like) and due to the stiffness (lack of), set the pole up at 14m but could only fish at 11m to allow for the bend in the pole.
I persevered to the end of the match picking up the odd carp, and I mean the odd carp.
That was it, time, thank god.
The scales
I felt as though I fished a really bad match and that all of my decisions were the wrong ones. By the time that the scales had arrived, Chappy had 69lb; there were a couple of 80lb weights and a couple of 70lb weights, that was on my half of the lake. Macca put 37lb on the scales, Banana man put 44lb (ho hum) on the scales and I have to weigh in as I have so many quid’s, that I hope and pray that at least someone won’t weigh.
I weighed in 19lb 1oz.
This weight put me LAST IN THE MATCH out of all those that weighed in. All of my other quid’s weighed in, it has cost me £8-00 today in £1's (including a couple of £2'ers), but hey, it is not that often that I end up having to cough up to all and sundry. After speaking to Age Concern, who was next to the lad that was 3rd, he said that he had probably tipped back no more than 20lb.
Tala on the next peg tipped back what I would assume to be less than me as most of his fish were skimmers.
Where did it all go wrong? My last 3 results have been 54lb, 63lb and 49lb (in that order) and today I weighed in 19lb 1oz. I think that it is time to take up golf; then again, just maybe I would be worse at golf than I am at fishing.
Full result:
1. Jon Jowett (Drennan Northwest)- 88lb odd (peg 54)
2. Simon Beswick (Tricast Rochdale Angling) - 83lb odd (peg 55)
3. G Scott (Mosella Rochdale)- 77lb (peg 61)
4. Dean Smith (Garbolino Elton) - 76lb
5. Dave Pimlott (Garbolino Elton) - 74lb
6. John Chapman (Garbolino Elton) - 69lb (peg 56)
Panic was away on holiday duties, again, so I was travelling 'on my tod'.
In view of getting my meat cutter back of Mal Bailey, I had already prepared my meat ready for today, so it should save me some time after getting everyone else ready.
In view of running the matches and sorting out all of the monies, prior to starting the match, I still get one or two people who are always saying, can't we start earlier as I am ready with about 20 minutes to go, etc, etc. I do the draw at pretty much 10:00 (give or take 5 minutes and generally no more),and by the time that everyone has come through the draw and I have added up all of the money, sorted out the prizes and sections, etc, etc, I don't generally arrive at my peg until 10:30, that leaves me about 45 minutes to prepare myself, (30 minutes if I was to start the match at 11:00) hence the reason for an 11-15 (usually) start.
By the time that the draw came round there were 64 anglers (for want of another word) ready to try their best. We had 3 jackpot pegs, peg 8, 23 and 41.
Following my run of pegs (namely drawing pegs 4 or 5 over the last few matches), I asked Tom (the pond owners son) if he would do me the honour and draw me a good peg. He put his hand in the back and there was a look of anticipation from yours truly as he then pulled his hand out of the bag. Tom looked at the peg and gave a groan. Sugar. He showed me peg 70. Basket!!!!
Peg 70 is at the end of a straight of pegs, which goes from peg 66 - 70. It is on the inside of a bend with peg 71 being to your right about 15m away. Peg 71 can also go down to the bend. You do have the island to fish to, but it seems a short peg as the island has a 90 degree angle going away from you and from the marker in your peg to the end of the island only seems to be about 2m or so. The fish seem to come so far up the straight, turn round and go back down again. Oh well, I have got a peg, you can only do your best and sometimes you get the results.
The obligatory quid's were struck with Chappy, Orc, Bedpan (Roger Movley), Topshop, The Pacifier (Vinnie Diesel) and Macca (both £2 each).
I arrived at my peg to find that I had Tala on peg 71, Pacifier on peg 69 and Macca on peg 67 - peg 68 was empty (not put in the draw bag).
Bait Tariff
I recall a few weeks ago, Big Mark Calvert was in this area and had 40lb by fishing with maggots up in the water. So for today I had 3 tins of cubed meat, 1 tin of frenzied hemp, 3 pts of maggots and a handful of hook pellets.
I set up the following rigs:
Deep Rig No 1: a .4g DC6 float tied direct to .15 Preston Powerline straight through to a size 16 Colmic WN501 hook. I plumbed up at the base of the island slightly to my left where I found about 4ft deep. This rig was attached to grey hydro.
Deep Rig No. 2: a .5g Drennan Roach float tied direct to .15 Preston Powerline straight through to a size 14 Kamasan B611hook. This was also attached to grey hydro.
Shelf Rig: a .2g Garbolino DC6 float on .14 MAP Carptek direct to a size 16 Colmic WN501 hook. This was attached to white hydro through the no.2 section of my pole only.
Shallow rig: was a .1g Garbolino DC6 float set up as above, with approximately 18" - 2ft of line between pole float and pole tip (in order not to spook the fish).
At the all in, I potted some meat and hemp on both deep lines and went across to the far side with meat on the hook and a bit of hemp and meat in a Fox Toss Pot.
I waited for about 10 minutes and I got my first indication and I caught a scale, I ‘unhooked’ my scale, went to put it in my net and the wind blew it away – ho hum. I re-baited and went back out. Whilst fishing across I had been feeding maggots at about 8m all the time and I was now starting to see swirls and boils up in the water. I caught a small carp off the far side for about 8oz.
I decided, now was the time to attack it with the maggot approach. I dropped in with double maggot on the hook and missed an indication immediately. I dropped back in and caught a roach. It was that small I wondered, how had it got double maggot and a size 16 hook in it’s mouth?
I unhooked the ‘eyes’ and went back out. I caught another 'plip', then another, then another! Bugger!! I upped the amount of maggots and started to feed 15 – 20 each go. I managed to snare a couple of ide around the 12oz mark.
I carried on in this vein for the next 20 minutes or so catching the odd ‘plip’ and ide, when all of a sudden, the elastic shot out from the pole tip – carp No. 1 was on it’s way. I re-baited and did the same again and caught a few more 'plips'. I felt as though I was going nowhere – fast. I decided to try a pellet on the hook and feed maggots. I dropped in, had a few dips, then the elastic shot out. Carp No. 2 was in the net. I had got it sussed, they wanted pellet on the hook over loose fed maggot!!
20 minutes later, I had nothing further to add for my efforts. I had by now fished maggot/pellet hook bait over loose fed maggots for about 1hr 15mins. I had managed to feed 1.5 pts (nearly) of maggots. What to do????
Tala was struggling to catch on any line (albeit, he was fishing predominantly down the middle). The Pacifier was stringing the odd fish together and I could see that occasionally Macca had his elastic stretched out a bit.
I decided that the maggot approach wasn’t going to work and went back to a meat approach by fishing meat at the base of the slope whilst catapulting a few pieces over to the far side.
Landing 2 fish at once.
After about an hour of fishing in the deeps I caught a fish, to go with a couple that I caught earlier, as I played the fish, I swooped to net the fish and lifted the fish out of the water in the landing net. On closer inspection, there was a little F1 carp (about 1.5lb) in the net along with the fish that I had just caught (a mirror carp about 1lb). I had almost doubled my weight in one go, now then, where is my dragnet!!
Another spawny fish!!
Whilst I had been flicking the odd bit of meat and hemp across to the far side, I saw the odd fish come out of the water to get at the bait. Now was the time to go across and empty it. I baited up with meat, went across to the mud line and waited. After about 5 minutes, the float shot under and I played a fish. As I was bringing the fish to the landing net, a top kit appeared next to my float, as I lifted higher, a float appeared next to my float, then some shot, then the fish with the offending top kit and hook attached. I had caught a fish without hooking it. The carp was approximately 2.5lb (my biggest fish today) and was dragging round a paste float rig with a shark hook attached (which I later found to be a size 12 method feeder hook). The pole had broken just at the base of where the elastic was tied to the bung. The elastic seemed to be the Drennan pink hollow stuff (bit heavy). After the match, the lad that had lost his top kit was on peg 61, the fish had gone round to peg 56, as Chappy reported seeing the top kit, then it had gone past all of the anglers between pegs 56 and 69 to be caught in my peg.
Whilst all of this was going on and I was shouting to all and sundry, The Pacifier broke the number 5 section on his pole – he had caught a fish, got giddy and grabbed hold of his pole whilst the pole was jammed and snap. I didn’t laugh much. I offered him my spare section from my pole knowing that it wouldn’t fit. We were both using Garbolino poles, but my pole is made on a different mandrel. After trying the section and getting nowhere, he got out his replacement pole – a banana bazoocarp (or something like) and due to the stiffness (lack of), set the pole up at 14m but could only fish at 11m to allow for the bend in the pole.
I persevered to the end of the match picking up the odd carp, and I mean the odd carp.
That was it, time, thank god.
The scales
I felt as though I fished a really bad match and that all of my decisions were the wrong ones. By the time that the scales had arrived, Chappy had 69lb; there were a couple of 80lb weights and a couple of 70lb weights, that was on my half of the lake. Macca put 37lb on the scales, Banana man put 44lb (ho hum) on the scales and I have to weigh in as I have so many quid’s, that I hope and pray that at least someone won’t weigh.
I weighed in 19lb 1oz.
This weight put me LAST IN THE MATCH out of all those that weighed in. All of my other quid’s weighed in, it has cost me £8-00 today in £1's (including a couple of £2'ers), but hey, it is not that often that I end up having to cough up to all and sundry. After speaking to Age Concern, who was next to the lad that was 3rd, he said that he had probably tipped back no more than 20lb.
Tala on the next peg tipped back what I would assume to be less than me as most of his fish were skimmers.
Where did it all go wrong? My last 3 results have been 54lb, 63lb and 49lb (in that order) and today I weighed in 19lb 1oz. I think that it is time to take up golf; then again, just maybe I would be worse at golf than I am at fishing.
Full result:
1. Jon Jowett (Drennan Northwest)- 88lb odd (peg 54)
2. Simon Beswick (Tricast Rochdale Angling) - 83lb odd (peg 55)
3. G Scott (Mosella Rochdale)- 77lb (peg 61)
4. Dean Smith (Garbolino Elton) - 76lb
5. Dave Pimlott (Garbolino Elton) - 74lb
6. John Chapman (Garbolino Elton) - 69lb (peg 56)
Thursday, July 27, 2006
Saturday 22nd July 2006 – The Oaks Lakes, Sessay.
I must have scored some brownie points at home, or was it the fact that it was thundering outside, that our lass let me out on a Saturday. With comments like “bye darling, have a wonderful day”, and “I hope that the weather is not too bad for you” and the usual “will the fish feed more when it is raining because they think that there is more food going in the lake? I think that she was hoping that I would get struck by lightening.
Anyways, I made the long trek north, well it is 36miles from my house, to go to The Oaks, I had contemplated going to Woodlands instead, but my steering wheel veered off the A1 at Topcliffe and I soon found myself in The Oaks car park!!! Bloody auto-pilot.
Seeing as I wasn’t running the match (Saturday is Middy’s day), it was my turn to shout and holla’ “what time do we draw on Saturday’s?”, “Tom, can’t you get a decent match organiser on a Saturday?”, only to be greeted with the obligatory, Go forth and multiply. Nothing changes, does it?
There were approximately 40 of the regulars there (41 with myself). I put my hand in the draw bag and pulled out peg 48. So, so!!!
Following my weights from the previous couple of matches, a meat approach was the way forward. I planned on fishing and feeding meat up in the water at approx 10m (at the base of the far slope) and also fishing at depth with meat on top of the shelf. I was also going to feed hemp in addition to the meat.
I got to my peg and found that I was in good company, I had the resident venue expert and big weight specialist (Marco) on my left, peg 46 and the wise old man on peg 50 (Granddad). I wasn’t going to have a quid with either of them. Marco was going to fish up in the water and Granddad was going to meat it at both 10m and across to the far side.
My 3 rigs consisted of:
Deep rig: A .5g Drennan Roach set at 5ft deep at the base of the far side slope. I shotted this with a bulk of shot at half depth, hopefully, enabling me to be able to get bites on the drop as the fish start to come up in the water. This was set up on .15 Preston Powerline straight through to a size 14 Colmic WN501 barbless hook. This rig was attached to grey hydro.
Shelf rig: A .2g Garbolino DC6 float (read my user report below) set at 18” deep on .13 Preston Powerline straight through to a size 14 Colmic WN501 hook. Grey Hydro complimented the set up. I plumbed up at the very edge of the shelf before it fell away down the slope. Again, this float was shotted with the bulk weight at mid-depth.
Shallow rig: A .1g Garbolino DC6 float set at 12” deep on .15 Preston Powerline (I didn’t want to have the breakages that I had last week) straight through to a size 16 Colmic WN501 hook. White Hydro through the No2 section of my pole was the chosen elastic.
Following the return of my meat cutter, repaired (cheers Mal), I cubed 3 tins of truncheon meat to go along with 1 tin of Frenzied hemp.
All In
At the all in, I cupped in a small cup of both hemp and meat down the slope, on the deep rig.
I baited up the shelf rig with meat, and loaded a Toss-Pot with the same and went over to the far side. Fish were swirling and boiling up in the water already, it shouldn’t take long for them to get their heads down, so to speak. I dropped in and waited all of 5 minutes. The float buried and an F1 about 1lb was soon in the keepnet. I re-baited, dropped in again. All the while, I was feeding 3 or 4 bits of meat with the catapult over the deep line. I waited for a bite, the float shot under, another carp joined it’s mate in my net.
I re-baited and as I shipped out, I had a quick look with the shelf rig, to see if anything was up in the water. After about 20 second’s, nothing, so I went back over to the shelf. I continued in this manner for the next 20 minutes or so and had about 6 fish in total, it was time to drop in on the deep rig to see if anything was there. I baited up with a piece of meat on the hook, put a bit of bait in a Toss-Pot and dropped in and waited. The float had only just settled and a mirror carp of about 2lb was trying it’s best to get away, but it failed. Carp No 7 was soon in the net. Sounds easy this, doesn’t it?
On the very next drop in, I foul-hooked a fish, up in the water!!!. I very quickly came back and put on my shallow rig, baited up with meat and shipped out. I flicked a few bits of bait out with the catapult. The float was all over the place, going this way, then that, then all of a sudden, the float plummeted, the elastic shot out, and the fish came off, I came back with a scale (I wonder if it will add anything to my weight).
I dropped in again and also flicked a few pieces of meat tight over to the mud line, waiting for the backs of the fish to come out before I go over. After about 2 minutes, the float buried and an F! carp about 1lb was soon in the keep net.
I caught 3 more fish, then they seemed to back off. Granddad on the next peg was steadily putting a few fish together by fishing at the base of the slope. Marco on the other side was catching small fish on caster up in the water.
I went back over to the far side, the fish just would not settle. I was able to pick up the odd fish from both lines over the next few hours.
In The Final Straight
With just over an hour of the match left, I estimated that I had about 40lb (not good enough by a long shot) and thought that Granddad had nearer 60lb. Granddad had plugged away on the deep rig and occasionally flicking a few bits of meat over to the far side. Granddad went over with his shallow rig and caught very well for the last hour of the match. He pulled out of about 30 – 40lb.
I, on the other hand, struggled to string fish together. It was like the fish were coming to the noise of the bait hitting the water, but would not take the hookbait. I tried different depths, short line, long line, but nothing seemed to get me a string of bites or settle the fish. Following how I had got on last week by fishing meat up in the water, I tried to get the fish to be more competitive by feeding 3 – 4 pieces of meat (last week I was feeding 6 – 8 pieces), but nothing seemed to work, yet the fish were still boiling and swirling on the surface.
By the time that the scales had arrived, Andy Quarmby was leading with 137lb off a peg in the 30’s. He fished pellet up in the water.
Marco put 68lb on the scales, he started to get a better stamp of fish in the last hour. I weighed in 49lb and Granddad weighed in 88lb. Ho hum, where did I go wrong.
The Weather
During the first half of the match, we had 4 phenomenal thunderstorms with very heavy rain which lasted for approximately 10 minutes each time. Had these knocked the fish down a little bit as Marco started to get a steady stream of fish late on after the storms had disappeared.
137lb – Andy Quarmby
114lb - 2nd
107lb – Dave Topshop
Granddad was unlucky, he didn’t win anything with his 88lb. Must try harder heh?
User Report
A new addition to my blog is a User Report where I will give my opinion (and it is only that) on products that I have been using, either long term or short term.
This week I will report on the Garbolino DC6 series of floats.
I have been using these floats now for about 1 month. I bought a few of these floats as the first thing that caught my attention was the high visibility bristles. I bought a variety of sizes, from .1g to .4g, with different coloured bristles. Typically, the .2g float takes approximately 3 x No. 8 Preston Stotz and one tiny dropper (No. 11 shot). I have used the .1g for fishing v. light with maggot when fishing up in the water, but the main ones that I use are the .2g, which I find are ideal for fishing across to the far side at Sessay. If the wind picks up, you can take the tiny dropper off, add a couple of inches to your depth to lay on a touch, and the bristle is not dragged under by the wind. They are also sensitive enough that you can use the weight of your bait to pull the bristle down to dead depth, therefore, ensuring that your bait is just touching the bottom.
Since getting the floats, I have found that they don’t seem to take on any water (at the moment anyway), but they are not indestructible. The only float breakage that I have had so far, was when I got snagged on some reedmace and pulled my rig back. The float shot back, the bristle hit the pole and snapped clean off.
Tightlines
I must have scored some brownie points at home, or was it the fact that it was thundering outside, that our lass let me out on a Saturday. With comments like “bye darling, have a wonderful day”, and “I hope that the weather is not too bad for you” and the usual “will the fish feed more when it is raining because they think that there is more food going in the lake? I think that she was hoping that I would get struck by lightening.
Anyways, I made the long trek north, well it is 36miles from my house, to go to The Oaks, I had contemplated going to Woodlands instead, but my steering wheel veered off the A1 at Topcliffe and I soon found myself in The Oaks car park!!! Bloody auto-pilot.
Seeing as I wasn’t running the match (Saturday is Middy’s day), it was my turn to shout and holla’ “what time do we draw on Saturday’s?”, “Tom, can’t you get a decent match organiser on a Saturday?”, only to be greeted with the obligatory, Go forth and multiply. Nothing changes, does it?
There were approximately 40 of the regulars there (41 with myself). I put my hand in the draw bag and pulled out peg 48. So, so!!!
Following my weights from the previous couple of matches, a meat approach was the way forward. I planned on fishing and feeding meat up in the water at approx 10m (at the base of the far slope) and also fishing at depth with meat on top of the shelf. I was also going to feed hemp in addition to the meat.
I got to my peg and found that I was in good company, I had the resident venue expert and big weight specialist (Marco) on my left, peg 46 and the wise old man on peg 50 (Granddad). I wasn’t going to have a quid with either of them. Marco was going to fish up in the water and Granddad was going to meat it at both 10m and across to the far side.
My 3 rigs consisted of:
Deep rig: A .5g Drennan Roach set at 5ft deep at the base of the far side slope. I shotted this with a bulk of shot at half depth, hopefully, enabling me to be able to get bites on the drop as the fish start to come up in the water. This was set up on .15 Preston Powerline straight through to a size 14 Colmic WN501 barbless hook. This rig was attached to grey hydro.
Shelf rig: A .2g Garbolino DC6 float (read my user report below) set at 18” deep on .13 Preston Powerline straight through to a size 14 Colmic WN501 hook. Grey Hydro complimented the set up. I plumbed up at the very edge of the shelf before it fell away down the slope. Again, this float was shotted with the bulk weight at mid-depth.
Shallow rig: A .1g Garbolino DC6 float set at 12” deep on .15 Preston Powerline (I didn’t want to have the breakages that I had last week) straight through to a size 16 Colmic WN501 hook. White Hydro through the No2 section of my pole was the chosen elastic.
Following the return of my meat cutter, repaired (cheers Mal), I cubed 3 tins of truncheon meat to go along with 1 tin of Frenzied hemp.
All In
At the all in, I cupped in a small cup of both hemp and meat down the slope, on the deep rig.
I baited up the shelf rig with meat, and loaded a Toss-Pot with the same and went over to the far side. Fish were swirling and boiling up in the water already, it shouldn’t take long for them to get their heads down, so to speak. I dropped in and waited all of 5 minutes. The float buried and an F1 about 1lb was soon in the keepnet. I re-baited, dropped in again. All the while, I was feeding 3 or 4 bits of meat with the catapult over the deep line. I waited for a bite, the float shot under, another carp joined it’s mate in my net.
I re-baited and as I shipped out, I had a quick look with the shelf rig, to see if anything was up in the water. After about 20 second’s, nothing, so I went back over to the shelf. I continued in this manner for the next 20 minutes or so and had about 6 fish in total, it was time to drop in on the deep rig to see if anything was there. I baited up with a piece of meat on the hook, put a bit of bait in a Toss-Pot and dropped in and waited. The float had only just settled and a mirror carp of about 2lb was trying it’s best to get away, but it failed. Carp No 7 was soon in the net. Sounds easy this, doesn’t it?
On the very next drop in, I foul-hooked a fish, up in the water!!!. I very quickly came back and put on my shallow rig, baited up with meat and shipped out. I flicked a few bits of bait out with the catapult. The float was all over the place, going this way, then that, then all of a sudden, the float plummeted, the elastic shot out, and the fish came off, I came back with a scale (I wonder if it will add anything to my weight).
I dropped in again and also flicked a few pieces of meat tight over to the mud line, waiting for the backs of the fish to come out before I go over. After about 2 minutes, the float buried and an F! carp about 1lb was soon in the keep net.
I caught 3 more fish, then they seemed to back off. Granddad on the next peg was steadily putting a few fish together by fishing at the base of the slope. Marco on the other side was catching small fish on caster up in the water.
I went back over to the far side, the fish just would not settle. I was able to pick up the odd fish from both lines over the next few hours.
In The Final Straight
With just over an hour of the match left, I estimated that I had about 40lb (not good enough by a long shot) and thought that Granddad had nearer 60lb. Granddad had plugged away on the deep rig and occasionally flicking a few bits of meat over to the far side. Granddad went over with his shallow rig and caught very well for the last hour of the match. He pulled out of about 30 – 40lb.
I, on the other hand, struggled to string fish together. It was like the fish were coming to the noise of the bait hitting the water, but would not take the hookbait. I tried different depths, short line, long line, but nothing seemed to get me a string of bites or settle the fish. Following how I had got on last week by fishing meat up in the water, I tried to get the fish to be more competitive by feeding 3 – 4 pieces of meat (last week I was feeding 6 – 8 pieces), but nothing seemed to work, yet the fish were still boiling and swirling on the surface.
By the time that the scales had arrived, Andy Quarmby was leading with 137lb off a peg in the 30’s. He fished pellet up in the water.
Marco put 68lb on the scales, he started to get a better stamp of fish in the last hour. I weighed in 49lb and Granddad weighed in 88lb. Ho hum, where did I go wrong.
The Weather
During the first half of the match, we had 4 phenomenal thunderstorms with very heavy rain which lasted for approximately 10 minutes each time. Had these knocked the fish down a little bit as Marco started to get a steady stream of fish late on after the storms had disappeared.
137lb – Andy Quarmby
114lb - 2nd
107lb – Dave Topshop
Granddad was unlucky, he didn’t win anything with his 88lb. Must try harder heh?
User Report
A new addition to my blog is a User Report where I will give my opinion (and it is only that) on products that I have been using, either long term or short term.
This week I will report on the Garbolino DC6 series of floats.
I have been using these floats now for about 1 month. I bought a few of these floats as the first thing that caught my attention was the high visibility bristles. I bought a variety of sizes, from .1g to .4g, with different coloured bristles. Typically, the .2g float takes approximately 3 x No. 8 Preston Stotz and one tiny dropper (No. 11 shot). I have used the .1g for fishing v. light with maggot when fishing up in the water, but the main ones that I use are the .2g, which I find are ideal for fishing across to the far side at Sessay. If the wind picks up, you can take the tiny dropper off, add a couple of inches to your depth to lay on a touch, and the bristle is not dragged under by the wind. They are also sensitive enough that you can use the weight of your bait to pull the bristle down to dead depth, therefore, ensuring that your bait is just touching the bottom.
Since getting the floats, I have found that they don’t seem to take on any water (at the moment anyway), but they are not indestructible. The only float breakage that I have had so far, was when I got snagged on some reedmace and pulled my rig back. The float shot back, the bristle hit the pole and snapped clean off.
Tightlines
Tuesday, July 18, 2006
Sunday 16th July 2006 – The Oaks Lakes, Sessay.
Panic cried off this week, so I was left to travel by my own devices. I arrived in plenty of time and after a light breakfast, I started to get everyone in order and take the names for the match.
I was expecting low numbers this week as most of the Manchester contingent were absent due to practising for a forthcoming team match, but by the time of the draw, there were 56 of us hardy souls in attendance. The weather was forecast to be damn hot with a tad more heat for good measure with a slight breeze (no such thing at Sessay).
My now obligatory quid was struck with Purverted (£2), Chappy, Orc, Nightie, Topshop and Geri (atric Movley).
Two jackpot pegs were announced, pegs 25 and 31. Age Concern drew peg 25 and there was a slight anticipation that it may go following his 2nd place on last Sunday’s open. Mala Dunlop was on the other jackpot peg. I put my hand in the bag and drew peg 32, so I had Mala on one side and Timothy (Sorry) Moran on the other side, peg 34. Chappy drew peg 7, Purverted was on peg 69 (and cried his way to the peg, don’t know why, there was a few fish down the last week).
Preparation
I had been out to Bob-Co tackle shop and purchased a selection of Garbolino DC1 and DC2 floats in a variety of sizes from .05g to .5g. I like the floats has they have high visibility bristles and you can ‘read’ your bites. I had spent all last night making up about a dozen rigs on a variety of lines from .13 Preston Powerline to .16 Map Carptek line, all that was needed was for me to add shot to the rigs on the bank, which is the easy part. I was ready.
The rigs
I set up 3 rigs to start with as follows:
Shelf rig. I set up a .2g DC1 float for on top of the shelf at 12m. This was going to be my main line of attack. When plumbing up, I found approximately 2ft of depth. When fishing for carp I like to have most, if not all of my shot set at half depth. Mark Lucas got me doing this, as it allows the fish to watch the bait as it flutters down and your bites are positive when they take it as they feel less resistance than if the shot was closer to the hook. The rig was set up on .14 MAP Carptek line tied to a size 14 Colmic WN501 hook.
Rig 2. Whilst plumbing around my swim, I found that if I went both left and right of my peg number, the peg shallowed up so I set up a rig to fish the shallower water if needed. I used a .1g DC1 float and again had a couple of No.9 Preston Stotz just pulling the float to the base of the bristle. This float was set up on .13 Preston Powerline direct to a size 16 Colmic WN501 hook. (I realise that although .13 Preston Powerline may be thicker in diameter than .14 Carptek, the fact that it says .13 on the packet makes you assume that you are actually fishing finer??).
My 3rd rig was a Drennan Roach set up to fish in 5ft of water at the base of the far side slope. This was set up on .14 Maver Genesis line tied direct to a size 14 eyed barbless hook (Kamasan B981).
Both rig 1 and rig 3 were set to fish approx 3 – 4” over depth, this follows on from the bites that I was getting last week when it was a tad windy and I was having to fish well over depth.
A La Carte Menu
The menu for today was going to be pretty much basic. Meat, meat and more meat with a splash of hemp, just for something different.
I have finally got my meat cutter from Mal Bailey, but, assuming that he wasn’t going to turn up, I had asked Chappy if he could do me 3 tins of meat when I arrived in the morning. I let Charisma Pawlett, Kev McKie and Purverted use the meat cutter. When I went to get it back off Purverted, I wanted to do another tin of meat; the wires had been snapped at one end. I spoke with Mal; he has taken it back to repair it for me. Mal told me that they had snapped as whoever had used it, had done the meat on an angle and pressed the plunger onto the wires at an angle. So, I had to borrow Toddy’s cutter. Saying that about the meat cutter, most of the Woodland’s regulars have them, so if they are good enough for them, it is good enough for me.
On Your Marks, Get Set!!
At the all in, went out with the shelf rig. I filled a large Tosspot full of hemp and meat and shipped out to the 2ft deep swim. I dropped the bait in, waited about 5 minutes and caught my first fish, an ide of about 10oz. I rebaited, loaded up again and went back over. After about 5 minutes, I caught my first carp of about 10oz. Over the next hour, I was catapulting bits of meat onto the shelf line, with a few pieces of meat being fired over to the mud line at 14m.
After 1 hour, I estimate that I had 6 carp and 2 ide for about 6lb. I was now starting to miss bites, liners. I shipped out with the shallow rig (this was probably about ½ depth), dropped in with meat up in the water. The float buried and a mirror carp about 2lb was trying it’s best to get away. After a 5 minute battle the carp was in the net. I was using white hydro through the match 2 & 3. I immediately swapped over to white hydro through the match No. 2 only.
Over the next 2 to 3 hours, I proceeded to catch a steady procession of fish (although I wasn’t breaking any records), all of which came up in the water. Mala on the next peg was struggling (he fished paste down the middle) and Sorry on the next peg the other way was starting to string a few fish together. Granddad and Calvert were both bagging on pegs 28 and 29.
To save time and to create a bit of noise, when fishing shallow, I flick the rig from one side of the pole to the other, going up and over. This allows the rig to land in a straight line, which also slows the fall and as an added bonus, creates noise.
I tried to go shallower with the shallow rig, but it didn’t seem right. I quickly made up a polyball rig set about 6” deep on .14 MAP Carptek line to a size 14 hook. I dropped in; the float was bobbing, but not going under. After about 2 minutes, the float shot under and a carp of about 3lb was soon in the net. On the next drop in, the polyball buried, and I never saw the fish or the rig again, I had been snapped where you tie the knot at the top of the rig.
Going into the last hour, I felt that the fish had disappeared, I was still getting liners, I was fishing between 12” and 6” deep, (I kept on altering the depth to try to find the fish). I went back onto the bottom for about 20 minutes, thinking that they had followed the bait down to the bottom (I think that I got the feed amount wrong). I caught a quick succession of fish, but they were generally smaller.
That was it, time. I had caught a few fish and felt confident of a good 50lb weight. Both Granddad and Calvert had emptied it, and I felt that Granddad would have over a ton. Sorry had started to catch a good few fish at the end by fishing up in the water at about 7m. Mala had had a bad day and was already packing up.
How had I faired?
The scales finally arrived at Granddad and there were a few decent weight with the majority of the weights being between 50 – 65lb. Granddad put 95lb on the scales. I knew he had a good weight. Big Mark put 98lb on the scales off the next peg to win the match. I weighed 63lb odd (my best weight for a while) and Sorry, whom I kept on trying to cajole into a quid, weighed 68lb odd, thank god that he didn’t want to have a quid. Mal Bailey won my section from peg 41 with 75lb, by default, as Minty Whittaker had 86lb off peg 37.
Purverted tipped back about 40lb and he left without paying. Chappy weighed 54lb (up a quid), Topshop had a lowly 40lb (up another quid) and my other quid’s all went without paying, so presumably I had beaten them all.
I feel as though I was there or thereabouts, a little tweaking with the feeding pattern and a few more fish may be on the cards.
The full result
Mark Calvert (Garbolino Elton) 98-08. Meat over hemp. Up in the water at 12m. Peg 29
Bert Poole (Oaks/Westpark) 95-12. Meat over hemp in the deep water. Peg 28
Adam Richards (Garbolino Elton) 88-08
Mark Whittaker (The Oaks) 86-13
John Allerton (Tricast Oaks) 79-15
Andy Dargue (Shimano Quaker) 76-02
The lowest section winning weight was 61lb odd. I had 63lb for about 15th.
Dean Smith had 74lb and didn't win his section.
Panic cried off this week, so I was left to travel by my own devices. I arrived in plenty of time and after a light breakfast, I started to get everyone in order and take the names for the match.
I was expecting low numbers this week as most of the Manchester contingent were absent due to practising for a forthcoming team match, but by the time of the draw, there were 56 of us hardy souls in attendance. The weather was forecast to be damn hot with a tad more heat for good measure with a slight breeze (no such thing at Sessay).
My now obligatory quid was struck with Purverted (£2), Chappy, Orc, Nightie, Topshop and Geri (atric Movley).
Two jackpot pegs were announced, pegs 25 and 31. Age Concern drew peg 25 and there was a slight anticipation that it may go following his 2nd place on last Sunday’s open. Mala Dunlop was on the other jackpot peg. I put my hand in the bag and drew peg 32, so I had Mala on one side and Timothy (Sorry) Moran on the other side, peg 34. Chappy drew peg 7, Purverted was on peg 69 (and cried his way to the peg, don’t know why, there was a few fish down the last week).
Preparation
I had been out to Bob-Co tackle shop and purchased a selection of Garbolino DC1 and DC2 floats in a variety of sizes from .05g to .5g. I like the floats has they have high visibility bristles and you can ‘read’ your bites. I had spent all last night making up about a dozen rigs on a variety of lines from .13 Preston Powerline to .16 Map Carptek line, all that was needed was for me to add shot to the rigs on the bank, which is the easy part. I was ready.
The rigs
I set up 3 rigs to start with as follows:
Shelf rig. I set up a .2g DC1 float for on top of the shelf at 12m. This was going to be my main line of attack. When plumbing up, I found approximately 2ft of depth. When fishing for carp I like to have most, if not all of my shot set at half depth. Mark Lucas got me doing this, as it allows the fish to watch the bait as it flutters down and your bites are positive when they take it as they feel less resistance than if the shot was closer to the hook. The rig was set up on .14 MAP Carptek line tied to a size 14 Colmic WN501 hook.
Rig 2. Whilst plumbing around my swim, I found that if I went both left and right of my peg number, the peg shallowed up so I set up a rig to fish the shallower water if needed. I used a .1g DC1 float and again had a couple of No.9 Preston Stotz just pulling the float to the base of the bristle. This float was set up on .13 Preston Powerline direct to a size 16 Colmic WN501 hook. (I realise that although .13 Preston Powerline may be thicker in diameter than .14 Carptek, the fact that it says .13 on the packet makes you assume that you are actually fishing finer??).
My 3rd rig was a Drennan Roach set up to fish in 5ft of water at the base of the far side slope. This was set up on .14 Maver Genesis line tied direct to a size 14 eyed barbless hook (Kamasan B981).
Both rig 1 and rig 3 were set to fish approx 3 – 4” over depth, this follows on from the bites that I was getting last week when it was a tad windy and I was having to fish well over depth.
A La Carte Menu
The menu for today was going to be pretty much basic. Meat, meat and more meat with a splash of hemp, just for something different.
I have finally got my meat cutter from Mal Bailey, but, assuming that he wasn’t going to turn up, I had asked Chappy if he could do me 3 tins of meat when I arrived in the morning. I let Charisma Pawlett, Kev McKie and Purverted use the meat cutter. When I went to get it back off Purverted, I wanted to do another tin of meat; the wires had been snapped at one end. I spoke with Mal; he has taken it back to repair it for me. Mal told me that they had snapped as whoever had used it, had done the meat on an angle and pressed the plunger onto the wires at an angle. So, I had to borrow Toddy’s cutter. Saying that about the meat cutter, most of the Woodland’s regulars have them, so if they are good enough for them, it is good enough for me.
On Your Marks, Get Set!!
At the all in, went out with the shelf rig. I filled a large Tosspot full of hemp and meat and shipped out to the 2ft deep swim. I dropped the bait in, waited about 5 minutes and caught my first fish, an ide of about 10oz. I rebaited, loaded up again and went back over. After about 5 minutes, I caught my first carp of about 10oz. Over the next hour, I was catapulting bits of meat onto the shelf line, with a few pieces of meat being fired over to the mud line at 14m.
After 1 hour, I estimate that I had 6 carp and 2 ide for about 6lb. I was now starting to miss bites, liners. I shipped out with the shallow rig (this was probably about ½ depth), dropped in with meat up in the water. The float buried and a mirror carp about 2lb was trying it’s best to get away. After a 5 minute battle the carp was in the net. I was using white hydro through the match 2 & 3. I immediately swapped over to white hydro through the match No. 2 only.
Over the next 2 to 3 hours, I proceeded to catch a steady procession of fish (although I wasn’t breaking any records), all of which came up in the water. Mala on the next peg was struggling (he fished paste down the middle) and Sorry on the next peg the other way was starting to string a few fish together. Granddad and Calvert were both bagging on pegs 28 and 29.
To save time and to create a bit of noise, when fishing shallow, I flick the rig from one side of the pole to the other, going up and over. This allows the rig to land in a straight line, which also slows the fall and as an added bonus, creates noise.
I tried to go shallower with the shallow rig, but it didn’t seem right. I quickly made up a polyball rig set about 6” deep on .14 MAP Carptek line to a size 14 hook. I dropped in; the float was bobbing, but not going under. After about 2 minutes, the float shot under and a carp of about 3lb was soon in the net. On the next drop in, the polyball buried, and I never saw the fish or the rig again, I had been snapped where you tie the knot at the top of the rig.
Going into the last hour, I felt that the fish had disappeared, I was still getting liners, I was fishing between 12” and 6” deep, (I kept on altering the depth to try to find the fish). I went back onto the bottom for about 20 minutes, thinking that they had followed the bait down to the bottom (I think that I got the feed amount wrong). I caught a quick succession of fish, but they were generally smaller.
That was it, time. I had caught a few fish and felt confident of a good 50lb weight. Both Granddad and Calvert had emptied it, and I felt that Granddad would have over a ton. Sorry had started to catch a good few fish at the end by fishing up in the water at about 7m. Mala had had a bad day and was already packing up.
How had I faired?
The scales finally arrived at Granddad and there were a few decent weight with the majority of the weights being between 50 – 65lb. Granddad put 95lb on the scales. I knew he had a good weight. Big Mark put 98lb on the scales off the next peg to win the match. I weighed 63lb odd (my best weight for a while) and Sorry, whom I kept on trying to cajole into a quid, weighed 68lb odd, thank god that he didn’t want to have a quid. Mal Bailey won my section from peg 41 with 75lb, by default, as Minty Whittaker had 86lb off peg 37.
Purverted tipped back about 40lb and he left without paying. Chappy weighed 54lb (up a quid), Topshop had a lowly 40lb (up another quid) and my other quid’s all went without paying, so presumably I had beaten them all.
I feel as though I was there or thereabouts, a little tweaking with the feeding pattern and a few more fish may be on the cards.
The full result
Mark Calvert (Garbolino Elton) 98-08. Meat over hemp. Up in the water at 12m. Peg 29
Bert Poole (Oaks/Westpark) 95-12. Meat over hemp in the deep water. Peg 28
Adam Richards (Garbolino Elton) 88-08
Mark Whittaker (The Oaks) 86-13
John Allerton (Tricast Oaks) 79-15
Andy Dargue (Shimano Quaker) 76-02
The lowest section winning weight was 61lb odd. I had 63lb for about 15th.
Dean Smith had 74lb and didn't win his section.
Wednesday, July 12, 2006
Sunday 9th July 2006 – The Oaks, Sessay
Kamasan British Open Final, Browning Cudmore
Before I start to go into the events of this weekend (well, Sunday), I would just like to make a big mention of the exploits of the Saturday match organiser, Andy Middleton (The Oaks).
Andy has won the Kamasan Open Final, which took place at Browning Cudmore fisheries. Andy amassed 20 points in the Kamasan table, which was enough to take him to the final, and he ended up winning the final with 106lb, beating local venue experts and previous Kamasan final winners and table toppers. Andy has only fished the venue once previously, and that was for the Premier League Final, which he also won (I know I came second). Not bad work if you can get it, 2 visits to the venue and over £2400 richer!!
Andy drew a corner peg on Pool 4 and had a few empty pegs to one side. He told me that he had a few fish down the side, but the majority of fish came up in the water feeding with a shaker pot, with pellet as hookbait. He caught mainly carp to 3lb with the odd chub and ide.
Former Kamasan Final Winner (2005) and Kamasan Table Topper (2003 or 2004), Dean Smith (Garbolino Elton) was 2nd with 93lb 5oz, Steve Rothery (Diawa Goldthorpe) 90lb and Gregg Norris (Daylite Baits/The Oaks) 89lb 12oz. I would also like to point out that all of the main framers (I think the nearest a venue regular got was 8th, according to www.total-fishing.com) have been venue regulars to The Oaks Lakes at some point or other).
All I can say is that The Oaks Lakes must be a good training ground!!!
Here Goes!!!
I made the trip to The Oaks Lakes, as you do, seeing as I am the match organiser (or something like) and promptly had to ring a couple of lads that have been in recent weeks to get an idea what I needed and general consensus was that meat and hemp are the order of the day at present, fished either on top of the shelf or down the middle.
After travelling with Panic to the Lindholme Fisho Qualifier, I persuaded Panic to make the long trek north and join the mass.
I had to make a special mention at the start of the match. There is a 2-keepnet rule currently in place at The Oaks Lakes, with 50lb per net, then alternate between the two. During my absence last week, venue regular, Chappy managed to weigh in over 70lb, all of which, was in one net. If I had been there, should I have paid him a quid or would I have got off on a technicality? I was tempted to give him a quid from last week, although we didn’t have a quid, and also pay him in advance for this week so that he could hire a net from the venue.
53 anglers turned up to fish the match.
My pegs for the last few matches have been peg 4 (29lb), 54 (49lb), 36 (55lb), 5 (31lb) and 5 (29lb). I was hoping for a good draw.
The Jackpot pegs were pegs 16, 55 and 61. Peg 55 had the best chance of going, 61 would be a better peg due to peg 62 not being in the draw and peg 16 throws up a weight now and then. So all in all, there was a chance that the jackpot may go today, angling ability dependant.
My bank Account
I had the obligatory bets as follows:
Chappy - £1
Macca - £2
Vinnie Diesel - £2 (roped in courtesy of Macca)
Nightie - £1
Panic - £1
Roger (Geri(atric)) Movley - £1
Orc - £1
I put my hand in the bag first and promptly drew peg 5. Flippin' Eck or words to that effect quickly followed with lots of expletives for good measure. I have fished 6 matches and drawn the same peg 3 times (with today) and drawn next door on one other occasion. My best weight from the area has been 31lb. I was absolutely gutted. One wise person asked me, if I didn’t like the peg, why put it in? I told him to go forth and multiply.
I arrived at my peg to find that I had General Patton on peg 1, the Quite One was on peg 2, John (Bradders) Bradshaw was on peg 4 and Orc was on peg 7. I also had venue expert Tim Moran in my section along with Kamasan Open Winner, Andy Middleton. I was out of it before I had even started!!! Paul (Toddy) Todd was on peg 8 and promised me £2 if I shut up for the full match. Well, I lost that in the first few minutes.
I set up 3 rigs as follows:
Deep rig was a .75g Drennan Roach float on .14 MAP Carptek line straight through to a size 16 Colmic B501 hook. I planned on fishing with paste on this line. I plumbed up at the base of the far slope and found it to be about 5ft deep.
My shelf rig was a .2 DC2 float on .13 Preston Powerline straight through to a size 16 Colmic B501 hook. Meat and hemp was the preferred bait on this line. I found that I had about 18” of depth. I also plumbed up at the next platform (peg 6) with this rig until I found the same depth.
Inside rig was a 4 x 14 patterned float direct on .13 Preston Powerline straight through to a size 14 Colmic B501 hook. I was going to paste it on this line. I found about 3.5 ft on the top 2 kit fishing to hand.
All In
At the all in, I cupped in some meat and hemp across to the far shelf, put some pellets and hemp down the middle, a bit of meat/hemp at the next peg and some groundbait and pellets on the top two line.
I went over to the far side, fed a little hemp and meat and caught an ide straight away, it was solid. I dropped in again and caught a carp of 10oz, after about 40 minutes or so, I probably had about 5lb, but the fish had seemed to disappear on me. I fed it again and left it whilst I explored my other lines.
I dropped in on the deep swim with a blob of paste and caught a carp about 1lb, then nothing for the next 10 minutes. I came in close with the top 2 rig and caught a succession of carp on paste, albeit the fish were on the small side. I was now 2 hours into the match and had approximately 10 – 12lb of mainly small fish.
I put on my shelf rig, baited up with meat and dropped in on the next peg. By this time the wind had started to pick up considerably and was blowing down the lake from peg 12 – corner peg 7, where Orc was getting a few by rotating the margin and the deep swim. The wind was also blowing from peg 1 to peg 7 (Orc should win today with all the fish being blown his way – literally) and was causing presentation problems when fishing across. The float buried next to the platform and I foul hooked a fish which shot off towards peg 7, told you it was solid down in peg 7.
Orc probably had about 20lb by now, so I was playing catch up. Bradders was probably a couple of pounds in front of my by now. I was getting battered.
I decided that there was one thing for it. I hastily set up a .4g DC2 float rig on another top kit with white hydro set soft through a match 2 and 3. This rig was on .12 Maver Genesis line straight through to a size 16 Colmic B501 hook. The rig length was approx 3ft long. I plumbed up across and added about 5” to the depth and kept the remaining line above the float.
I baited up with meat and put some meat and hemp in a Toss Pot (the small one) and shipped across to the far side. The float buried and a carp of about 2lb was trying it’s best to get to peg 62 (which is over the mud mound for those that don’t know the venue). Soon in the net, that was easy.
I proceeded in this manner for the next 2 hours and put together an estimated 40lb in that period. The fish seemed to be backing off, or were being pushed/forced down to peg 7 by the wind. Alas, I could hold on no longer, the wind was getting stronger and I was knackered, I had backache and was sweating buckets. It was warm as well as windy. At one point, I thought that I was going to smash my pole as it was pulled round by the wind. If I had held on and fought against the wind, I would have smashed it for sure.
I had a look down the inside again and caught odd fish until the end of the match, but again, they were too small.
I estimate that I had a good 40lb – 45lb.
The scales arrived and General on peg 1, set the standard, 30 odd pounds. The quite one had just over 30lb, Bradders (who wouldn’t be roped into a quid) put 35lb on the scales, the new target to beat. I put 24lb on the scales………. With my first net. I then put 29lb on the scales with my second net and had a 54lb 1oz total. Orc weighed just over 40lb (one quid up). Toddy had 46lb. The next best in my 10 peg section was 50lb (caught by the Kammie Open Champ). I was going to get an envelope. But the question was, how many quid’s had I done in?
Chappy told me that had 2 fish in the last 2 drop in’s for nearly 5lb (one of 3.5lb and 1 of 1.5lb) and beat me for the quid by 5lb (59lb odd). Oh Hum. Chappy also said that Macca had battered him, I was gonna be down a few quid at this rate. Macca put his fish on the scales and weighed in 56lb, I thought that Macca had battered Chappy? But I was still down £2 quid now (-3 +1). Although I caught, the information that I received came from both Macca and Chappy who both beat me. Where they hiding something in order to save their quid’s?????
Andy was entitled to a share of Granddad’s purse, but declined and his comments went along the lines of, ‘It’s alright Bert, you don’t have to give me any money, I have got some’. I should have had a quid with Topshop seeing I also beat him, but we weren’t on next pegs so, no chance.
Every cloud has a silver lining – Yeah, they may have both beaten me, yet, I still won my section!! I am not going to put myself in an 11 peg section if I can help it am I???
My other quids:
Vinnine, Nightie, Geri, Orc and Panic all owed me some pennies.
The full result:
53 Fished on Cedar Lake.
1. Dave Pimlott (Garbolino Elton), 91-04. Peg 44. Meat across to the island
2. Bruce Poland (The Oaks), 70-05. Peg 31. Meat over to the island.
3. Paul Taylor (The Oaks), 70-02
4.Bert Poole (Oaks/West Park), 65-08
5. Simon Beswick (Tricast Rochdale) 62-12
6. Anthony Stock (Nutrabaits) 61-03
Over 50lb was needed to win every 10 peg section and over half of the field had 40lb+. Panic came 25th with 41lb odd.
Sections (for the record)
S1. Me - 54 - 01. Peg 5
S2. A Stock 61-03. Peg 16
S3 Vinnie Martin 53-04. Peg 43 (Next to the winner)
S4. G Scott 59-04. Peg 54
S5. Mark Calvert 53-04. Peg 66
Kamasan British Open Final, Browning Cudmore
Before I start to go into the events of this weekend (well, Sunday), I would just like to make a big mention of the exploits of the Saturday match organiser, Andy Middleton (The Oaks).
Andy has won the Kamasan Open Final, which took place at Browning Cudmore fisheries. Andy amassed 20 points in the Kamasan table, which was enough to take him to the final, and he ended up winning the final with 106lb, beating local venue experts and previous Kamasan final winners and table toppers. Andy has only fished the venue once previously, and that was for the Premier League Final, which he also won (I know I came second). Not bad work if you can get it, 2 visits to the venue and over £2400 richer!!
Andy drew a corner peg on Pool 4 and had a few empty pegs to one side. He told me that he had a few fish down the side, but the majority of fish came up in the water feeding with a shaker pot, with pellet as hookbait. He caught mainly carp to 3lb with the odd chub and ide.
Former Kamasan Final Winner (2005) and Kamasan Table Topper (2003 or 2004), Dean Smith (Garbolino Elton) was 2nd with 93lb 5oz, Steve Rothery (Diawa Goldthorpe) 90lb and Gregg Norris (Daylite Baits/The Oaks) 89lb 12oz. I would also like to point out that all of the main framers (I think the nearest a venue regular got was 8th, according to www.total-fishing.com) have been venue regulars to The Oaks Lakes at some point or other).
All I can say is that The Oaks Lakes must be a good training ground!!!
Here Goes!!!
I made the trip to The Oaks Lakes, as you do, seeing as I am the match organiser (or something like) and promptly had to ring a couple of lads that have been in recent weeks to get an idea what I needed and general consensus was that meat and hemp are the order of the day at present, fished either on top of the shelf or down the middle.
After travelling with Panic to the Lindholme Fisho Qualifier, I persuaded Panic to make the long trek north and join the mass.
I had to make a special mention at the start of the match. There is a 2-keepnet rule currently in place at The Oaks Lakes, with 50lb per net, then alternate between the two. During my absence last week, venue regular, Chappy managed to weigh in over 70lb, all of which, was in one net. If I had been there, should I have paid him a quid or would I have got off on a technicality? I was tempted to give him a quid from last week, although we didn’t have a quid, and also pay him in advance for this week so that he could hire a net from the venue.
53 anglers turned up to fish the match.
My pegs for the last few matches have been peg 4 (29lb), 54 (49lb), 36 (55lb), 5 (31lb) and 5 (29lb). I was hoping for a good draw.
The Jackpot pegs were pegs 16, 55 and 61. Peg 55 had the best chance of going, 61 would be a better peg due to peg 62 not being in the draw and peg 16 throws up a weight now and then. So all in all, there was a chance that the jackpot may go today, angling ability dependant.
My bank Account
I had the obligatory bets as follows:
Chappy - £1
Macca - £2
Vinnie Diesel - £2 (roped in courtesy of Macca)
Nightie - £1
Panic - £1
Roger (Geri(atric)) Movley - £1
Orc - £1
I put my hand in the bag first and promptly drew peg 5. Flippin' Eck or words to that effect quickly followed with lots of expletives for good measure. I have fished 6 matches and drawn the same peg 3 times (with today) and drawn next door on one other occasion. My best weight from the area has been 31lb. I was absolutely gutted. One wise person asked me, if I didn’t like the peg, why put it in? I told him to go forth and multiply.
I arrived at my peg to find that I had General Patton on peg 1, the Quite One was on peg 2, John (Bradders) Bradshaw was on peg 4 and Orc was on peg 7. I also had venue expert Tim Moran in my section along with Kamasan Open Winner, Andy Middleton. I was out of it before I had even started!!! Paul (Toddy) Todd was on peg 8 and promised me £2 if I shut up for the full match. Well, I lost that in the first few minutes.
I set up 3 rigs as follows:
Deep rig was a .75g Drennan Roach float on .14 MAP Carptek line straight through to a size 16 Colmic B501 hook. I planned on fishing with paste on this line. I plumbed up at the base of the far slope and found it to be about 5ft deep.
My shelf rig was a .2 DC2 float on .13 Preston Powerline straight through to a size 16 Colmic B501 hook. Meat and hemp was the preferred bait on this line. I found that I had about 18” of depth. I also plumbed up at the next platform (peg 6) with this rig until I found the same depth.
Inside rig was a 4 x 14 patterned float direct on .13 Preston Powerline straight through to a size 14 Colmic B501 hook. I was going to paste it on this line. I found about 3.5 ft on the top 2 kit fishing to hand.
All In
At the all in, I cupped in some meat and hemp across to the far shelf, put some pellets and hemp down the middle, a bit of meat/hemp at the next peg and some groundbait and pellets on the top two line.
I went over to the far side, fed a little hemp and meat and caught an ide straight away, it was solid. I dropped in again and caught a carp of 10oz, after about 40 minutes or so, I probably had about 5lb, but the fish had seemed to disappear on me. I fed it again and left it whilst I explored my other lines.
I dropped in on the deep swim with a blob of paste and caught a carp about 1lb, then nothing for the next 10 minutes. I came in close with the top 2 rig and caught a succession of carp on paste, albeit the fish were on the small side. I was now 2 hours into the match and had approximately 10 – 12lb of mainly small fish.
I put on my shelf rig, baited up with meat and dropped in on the next peg. By this time the wind had started to pick up considerably and was blowing down the lake from peg 12 – corner peg 7, where Orc was getting a few by rotating the margin and the deep swim. The wind was also blowing from peg 1 to peg 7 (Orc should win today with all the fish being blown his way – literally) and was causing presentation problems when fishing across. The float buried next to the platform and I foul hooked a fish which shot off towards peg 7, told you it was solid down in peg 7.
Orc probably had about 20lb by now, so I was playing catch up. Bradders was probably a couple of pounds in front of my by now. I was getting battered.
I decided that there was one thing for it. I hastily set up a .4g DC2 float rig on another top kit with white hydro set soft through a match 2 and 3. This rig was on .12 Maver Genesis line straight through to a size 16 Colmic B501 hook. The rig length was approx 3ft long. I plumbed up across and added about 5” to the depth and kept the remaining line above the float.
I baited up with meat and put some meat and hemp in a Toss Pot (the small one) and shipped across to the far side. The float buried and a carp of about 2lb was trying it’s best to get to peg 62 (which is over the mud mound for those that don’t know the venue). Soon in the net, that was easy.
I proceeded in this manner for the next 2 hours and put together an estimated 40lb in that period. The fish seemed to be backing off, or were being pushed/forced down to peg 7 by the wind. Alas, I could hold on no longer, the wind was getting stronger and I was knackered, I had backache and was sweating buckets. It was warm as well as windy. At one point, I thought that I was going to smash my pole as it was pulled round by the wind. If I had held on and fought against the wind, I would have smashed it for sure.
I had a look down the inside again and caught odd fish until the end of the match, but again, they were too small.
I estimate that I had a good 40lb – 45lb.
The scales arrived and General on peg 1, set the standard, 30 odd pounds. The quite one had just over 30lb, Bradders (who wouldn’t be roped into a quid) put 35lb on the scales, the new target to beat. I put 24lb on the scales………. With my first net. I then put 29lb on the scales with my second net and had a 54lb 1oz total. Orc weighed just over 40lb (one quid up). Toddy had 46lb. The next best in my 10 peg section was 50lb (caught by the Kammie Open Champ). I was going to get an envelope. But the question was, how many quid’s had I done in?
Chappy told me that had 2 fish in the last 2 drop in’s for nearly 5lb (one of 3.5lb and 1 of 1.5lb) and beat me for the quid by 5lb (59lb odd). Oh Hum. Chappy also said that Macca had battered him, I was gonna be down a few quid at this rate. Macca put his fish on the scales and weighed in 56lb, I thought that Macca had battered Chappy? But I was still down £2 quid now (-3 +1). Although I caught, the information that I received came from both Macca and Chappy who both beat me. Where they hiding something in order to save their quid’s?????
Andy was entitled to a share of Granddad’s purse, but declined and his comments went along the lines of, ‘It’s alright Bert, you don’t have to give me any money, I have got some’. I should have had a quid with Topshop seeing I also beat him, but we weren’t on next pegs so, no chance.
Every cloud has a silver lining – Yeah, they may have both beaten me, yet, I still won my section!! I am not going to put myself in an 11 peg section if I can help it am I???
My other quids:
Vinnine, Nightie, Geri, Orc and Panic all owed me some pennies.
The full result:
53 Fished on Cedar Lake.
1. Dave Pimlott (Garbolino Elton), 91-04. Peg 44. Meat across to the island
2. Bruce Poland (The Oaks), 70-05. Peg 31. Meat over to the island.
3. Paul Taylor (The Oaks), 70-02
4.Bert Poole (Oaks/West Park), 65-08
5. Simon Beswick (Tricast Rochdale) 62-12
6. Anthony Stock (Nutrabaits) 61-03
Over 50lb was needed to win every 10 peg section and over half of the field had 40lb+. Panic came 25th with 41lb odd.
Sections (for the record)
S1. Me - 54 - 01. Peg 5
S2. A Stock 61-03. Peg 16
S3 Vinnie Martin 53-04. Peg 43 (Next to the winner)
S4. G Scott 59-04. Peg 54
S5. Mark Calvert 53-04. Peg 66
Thursday, July 06, 2006
Lindholme Lakes – Fisho Qualifier – Wednesday 5th July 2006.
I arranged for Panic to come and pick me up at 7:00 for the trip to Lindholme for the penultimate Fisho Qualifier.
My Gardener
Yesterday I had a word with my gardener and asked him if he could come and tidy the front and back garden, the hedge needed trimming, the front garden needed turning over and the back garden needed a good seeing to!!!
When I opened the door at 6:45 to get my stuff ready for when Panic arrived, I found my gardener sat on my doorstep (it’s 6:45 in the morning), waiting to get on with the garden. I showed him where all the tools were and left him to get on with it.
Panic was early for once, I thought that either he’d dropped a turd in bed or he’d been out all night. It was about 10 to 7 and everyone was present and correct. Panic was laughing and joking about me having a gardener, but when you work 5 days a week, fish on a Sunday, that only leaves Saturday (if I am not fishing) and I like to spend the day with the kids and our lass, hence I have little time left so I have a gardener.
With my directions and Panic’s turbo-charged van, we arrived at Lindholme in good time, although we did have a scary moment when 2 eeejit’s (move over Jonesey and Sam) over took us on a narrow country lane.
Upon arrival, I was in the company of Nightie, Jonesey, Tommy Pick, Matt Hall, Rob Hitchens, Steve Greggs, Beanhead, Daylite, Marco and a few others. Both young Adam and Darryll arrived on spec. to try to get on the match on the day. Apparently, the first one on the reserve list had arrived at 6:30 to ensure that he went down as first reserve.
As I queued for brekkie, I finally arrived at the counter and ordered a brekkie, my ticket number was 72, they were only just serving number 54!!. Adam ordered a sandwich, hoping that it was going to arrive quicker, but no!, they do the orders in number order.
Only £2 to worry about this week, as quid side bet’s were struck with Daylite and Nightie.
The Draw
I joined the queue for the draw and some 5 minutes later there were as many people behind me in the draw as there was in front. Daylite was nearer to the back than the front, and as usual, he found some sort of excuse for him to join our little tete a tete!!
6 lakes were being used, Beeches, Loco, Willows, Laurel, Strip and Bonsai.
Bonsai
At the draw Neil G made an announcement that the Bonsai Lake was suffering as a result of a lack of oxygen and that a pump/aerator was promptly being moved into position on the lake and that he apologised, but the aerator would have to run all day. One or two of the anglers that had had a look at Bonsai commented that there were fish belly up and they were gasping for air. There were 50 pegs on Bonsai – OOOpppss.
At the draw, most of the anglers wanted to draw either Loco or Beeches. Beeches because this lake was a converted trout lake and was used in the North V South match that took place a couple of months ago. Loco was wanted as they had only pegged 10 anglers on a 60 odd peg lake.
I put my hand in the bag and pulled out Willow 32??? In view of never having fished the lake before, I sought out local advice from Rob Hitchens and Johnny Howard. Apparently I had drawn a flyer as it was a corner peg (peg 31 was not in) and the wind was blowing into the corner.
Daylite had drawn Strip Pond, Panic was on Laurel 67, Nightie was on Laurel 3 (both Nightie and Panic were pegged next to each other????), Adam was at the back of Greggs on Willows Lake, on about peg 24, another quid side bet was promptly struck.
I arrived at my peg and the two waggler rigs that I had so lovingly prepared were left in the van. It was approx 25m wide to the other bank which was occupied by venue expert and all-round good guy, Steve Gregory!!!
Does the peg look fishy or what!!, This picture was taken about halfway through the match when the wind had stopped blowing into the peg and was blowing the opposite way.
I sat and observed my peg for 5 minutes or so just to try to formulate a plan of attack. I decided on the following:
Shallow Rig was a little poly ball attached to .16 MAP Carptek line straight through to a size 14 Kamasan B981 hook. The total amount of line on the rig was about 3ft to allow me to move up or down in the water and to also allow me to put a bit of line between pole float and pole tip, should I need to. Pellet or floater was the order of the day.
My Deep Rig, was a Colmic patterned float of 4 x 16 in size. It has a thick nylon bristle. I attached it to .15 dia. Preston Powerline straight through to a size 14 Kamasan Animal hook. I plumbed up and found about 5ft of depth, both in front and down the side at 15m. I planned on fishing paste at 11m in front and pellet down the side. I decided upon pellet down the side as I had great difficulty shipping in and out and if I had fished paste, it would have probably come out of the shipping pot and come off as I shipped out. The reason for the difficulty was that I was down a steep bank, and I didn’t even have enough room to lay a section behind me without it going up hill.
I also set up another rig, but this one was a shallow rig for fishing at 16m right into the corner up the mud bank. I set the rig about 2ft deep and plumbed around until I found the correct depth. I couldn’t find a flat spot as there was a steep slope (I know for sure as you will find out later) from grass/reed bank to the base of the slope.
Whilst I was assembling my various rigs, I could see fish swimming around up in the water, they appeared to be a good few fish about 3 – 7lb in size. The wind was still blowing into my corner. I decided to go for a little walk to see Beanhead to get some more advice and to ensure that I was going down the right track with regards to tackling my peg.
I arrived at Beanhead’s peg, I thought that I had a lot of fish in front of me, you ain’t seen Beanhead’s peg. It was solid between 6m – 14m and they were all over 5lb. Beanhead had a grin from here to here (I say with my arms open wide). Beanhead confirmed my plan(s) of attack.
Le Menu
I brought that much bait with me (as I thought that I may be fishing up in the water at distance), I had 6mm Sensas Pellets, 8mm Bob-Co pellets, micro pellets, 4mm pellets, expander pellets, sinking pellets, banded pellets, drilled pellets and some more pellets for good measure. Oh, almost forgot, I had a tin of corn should I need it.
At the all in, I cupped in some micro pellets at 16m to the corner, have you tried to feed a pole cup full of pellets at 16m whilst trying to hold the pole horizontal, when you are having to stand up to ship the bait out, if not try it. A large pot full of pellets at 2m doesn’t weigh a lot, when you are trying to ship out to 16m whilst standing up, the pot gains weight, a lot!!!
I cupped in at 11m and started on the up in the water rig, flicking a few 4mm pellets over the top of the float. Steve Greggs cupped in some sloppy pellet or groundbait down the side (for him it was about 13m and it was even, he could ship out normally) and he cupped in some pellets at 8m in front of him.
The Match
The actual match write up is v. short, if you are not catching, there is not a lot to write about, sorry.
Well, over the next 5 hours I managed to catch 1 carp and 1 chub after 2 hours 45, both on expander pellet down the side by feeding micro pellets over a 5 minute period I then snared another chub up in the water on a floating pellet with about 30 minutes to go. I could not buy a bite and it didn’t matter what permutation of bait and feeding that I carried out.
I tried down the side on both deep and shallow rigs, I tried at 7m, 11m and 13m both on the bottom and up in the water. I just could not get a bite and indications were very few and far between. Steve Greggs ended up with about 7 carp for 10lb odd, he caught 3 on paste down the side and 4 on floating bread (I didn’t have any).
Matt Hall won the match with over 140lb and one of the Ringers was second with 88lb. Nightie had about 10lb, Panic tipped back about 30lb, Adam weighed 24lb and I am not sure what Daylite had (oops, I forgot to give him his quid, oh well, we will fish for it next time).
The Slippery Slope
I lost one of my DC floats that I set up (I se this rig up on thinner line, smaller hook and tried to catch a fish the Oaks way). I went to go get my DC float back and took my landing net handle only. I managed to dislodge the float from the line that was still tethered to the snag and persuaded the float to come into the bank to my feet, I bent down to get said float and started to slip into the water. I went just over my knees (and I was still sliding down the slope that I mentioned earlier) until I managed to grab hold of something to slow down my slide down the slippery slope and pull my self out. I went and got my landing net head and scooped my float out!!
Uniformity
If there is one thing that I would like to see is a uniform set of rules for all Fisho qualifiers. I say this because:
On the Fisho qualifier, you could use floating pole, it is banned in the final and it is also banned in the open matches at Lindholme.
You can use floating baits, but not feed which is always open to abuse.
A pole limit, to make it more of a level playing field.
What do we do/not do at The Oaks, which you will be able to do/not do in the final, as I am not entirely sure of the rules for the Fisho final.
The rules should also reflect what can and can’t be used in the final, in that if you can use catmeat in the final, why not allow people to fish it in qualifiers.
I have fished 2 Fisho qualifying matches this year and I have, I must admit, I have enjoyed them both. They are on different venues, using different methods and catching different size fish to the usual methods used at The Oaks.
Viaduct was good because of the practice sessions and the ‘craic’ and the size of the fish also meant that a weight was possible from most pegs. Lindholme was good because of the apprehension and the hope of drawing the right lake. I was hoping to be able to draw a peg where the splashing wag could be used, or at least catch up in the water. When you go to a new venue, you are usually excited as you just do not know what to expect and it can invigorate you when you feel as though things are going stale.
All I can say, is keep at it. Life has some strange ways of evening itself out.
I arranged for Panic to come and pick me up at 7:00 for the trip to Lindholme for the penultimate Fisho Qualifier.
My Gardener
Yesterday I had a word with my gardener and asked him if he could come and tidy the front and back garden, the hedge needed trimming, the front garden needed turning over and the back garden needed a good seeing to!!!
When I opened the door at 6:45 to get my stuff ready for when Panic arrived, I found my gardener sat on my doorstep (it’s 6:45 in the morning), waiting to get on with the garden. I showed him where all the tools were and left him to get on with it.
Panic was early for once, I thought that either he’d dropped a turd in bed or he’d been out all night. It was about 10 to 7 and everyone was present and correct. Panic was laughing and joking about me having a gardener, but when you work 5 days a week, fish on a Sunday, that only leaves Saturday (if I am not fishing) and I like to spend the day with the kids and our lass, hence I have little time left so I have a gardener.
With my directions and Panic’s turbo-charged van, we arrived at Lindholme in good time, although we did have a scary moment when 2 eeejit’s (move over Jonesey and Sam) over took us on a narrow country lane.
Upon arrival, I was in the company of Nightie, Jonesey, Tommy Pick, Matt Hall, Rob Hitchens, Steve Greggs, Beanhead, Daylite, Marco and a few others. Both young Adam and Darryll arrived on spec. to try to get on the match on the day. Apparently, the first one on the reserve list had arrived at 6:30 to ensure that he went down as first reserve.
As I queued for brekkie, I finally arrived at the counter and ordered a brekkie, my ticket number was 72, they were only just serving number 54!!. Adam ordered a sandwich, hoping that it was going to arrive quicker, but no!, they do the orders in number order.
Only £2 to worry about this week, as quid side bet’s were struck with Daylite and Nightie.
The Draw
I joined the queue for the draw and some 5 minutes later there were as many people behind me in the draw as there was in front. Daylite was nearer to the back than the front, and as usual, he found some sort of excuse for him to join our little tete a tete!!
6 lakes were being used, Beeches, Loco, Willows, Laurel, Strip and Bonsai.
Bonsai
At the draw Neil G made an announcement that the Bonsai Lake was suffering as a result of a lack of oxygen and that a pump/aerator was promptly being moved into position on the lake and that he apologised, but the aerator would have to run all day. One or two of the anglers that had had a look at Bonsai commented that there were fish belly up and they were gasping for air. There were 50 pegs on Bonsai – OOOpppss.
At the draw, most of the anglers wanted to draw either Loco or Beeches. Beeches because this lake was a converted trout lake and was used in the North V South match that took place a couple of months ago. Loco was wanted as they had only pegged 10 anglers on a 60 odd peg lake.
I put my hand in the bag and pulled out Willow 32??? In view of never having fished the lake before, I sought out local advice from Rob Hitchens and Johnny Howard. Apparently I had drawn a flyer as it was a corner peg (peg 31 was not in) and the wind was blowing into the corner.
Daylite had drawn Strip Pond, Panic was on Laurel 67, Nightie was on Laurel 3 (both Nightie and Panic were pegged next to each other????), Adam was at the back of Greggs on Willows Lake, on about peg 24, another quid side bet was promptly struck.
I arrived at my peg and the two waggler rigs that I had so lovingly prepared were left in the van. It was approx 25m wide to the other bank which was occupied by venue expert and all-round good guy, Steve Gregory!!!
Does the peg look fishy or what!!, This picture was taken about halfway through the match when the wind had stopped blowing into the peg and was blowing the opposite way.
I sat and observed my peg for 5 minutes or so just to try to formulate a plan of attack. I decided on the following:
Shallow Rig was a little poly ball attached to .16 MAP Carptek line straight through to a size 14 Kamasan B981 hook. The total amount of line on the rig was about 3ft to allow me to move up or down in the water and to also allow me to put a bit of line between pole float and pole tip, should I need to. Pellet or floater was the order of the day.
My Deep Rig, was a Colmic patterned float of 4 x 16 in size. It has a thick nylon bristle. I attached it to .15 dia. Preston Powerline straight through to a size 14 Kamasan Animal hook. I plumbed up and found about 5ft of depth, both in front and down the side at 15m. I planned on fishing paste at 11m in front and pellet down the side. I decided upon pellet down the side as I had great difficulty shipping in and out and if I had fished paste, it would have probably come out of the shipping pot and come off as I shipped out. The reason for the difficulty was that I was down a steep bank, and I didn’t even have enough room to lay a section behind me without it going up hill.
I also set up another rig, but this one was a shallow rig for fishing at 16m right into the corner up the mud bank. I set the rig about 2ft deep and plumbed around until I found the correct depth. I couldn’t find a flat spot as there was a steep slope (I know for sure as you will find out later) from grass/reed bank to the base of the slope.
Whilst I was assembling my various rigs, I could see fish swimming around up in the water, they appeared to be a good few fish about 3 – 7lb in size. The wind was still blowing into my corner. I decided to go for a little walk to see Beanhead to get some more advice and to ensure that I was going down the right track with regards to tackling my peg.
I arrived at Beanhead’s peg, I thought that I had a lot of fish in front of me, you ain’t seen Beanhead’s peg. It was solid between 6m – 14m and they were all over 5lb. Beanhead had a grin from here to here (I say with my arms open wide). Beanhead confirmed my plan(s) of attack.
Le Menu
I brought that much bait with me (as I thought that I may be fishing up in the water at distance), I had 6mm Sensas Pellets, 8mm Bob-Co pellets, micro pellets, 4mm pellets, expander pellets, sinking pellets, banded pellets, drilled pellets and some more pellets for good measure. Oh, almost forgot, I had a tin of corn should I need it.
At the all in, I cupped in some micro pellets at 16m to the corner, have you tried to feed a pole cup full of pellets at 16m whilst trying to hold the pole horizontal, when you are having to stand up to ship the bait out, if not try it. A large pot full of pellets at 2m doesn’t weigh a lot, when you are trying to ship out to 16m whilst standing up, the pot gains weight, a lot!!!
I cupped in at 11m and started on the up in the water rig, flicking a few 4mm pellets over the top of the float. Steve Greggs cupped in some sloppy pellet or groundbait down the side (for him it was about 13m and it was even, he could ship out normally) and he cupped in some pellets at 8m in front of him.
The Match
The actual match write up is v. short, if you are not catching, there is not a lot to write about, sorry.
Well, over the next 5 hours I managed to catch 1 carp and 1 chub after 2 hours 45, both on expander pellet down the side by feeding micro pellets over a 5 minute period I then snared another chub up in the water on a floating pellet with about 30 minutes to go. I could not buy a bite and it didn’t matter what permutation of bait and feeding that I carried out.
I tried down the side on both deep and shallow rigs, I tried at 7m, 11m and 13m both on the bottom and up in the water. I just could not get a bite and indications were very few and far between. Steve Greggs ended up with about 7 carp for 10lb odd, he caught 3 on paste down the side and 4 on floating bread (I didn’t have any).
Matt Hall won the match with over 140lb and one of the Ringers was second with 88lb. Nightie had about 10lb, Panic tipped back about 30lb, Adam weighed 24lb and I am not sure what Daylite had (oops, I forgot to give him his quid, oh well, we will fish for it next time).
The Slippery Slope
I lost one of my DC floats that I set up (I se this rig up on thinner line, smaller hook and tried to catch a fish the Oaks way). I went to go get my DC float back and took my landing net handle only. I managed to dislodge the float from the line that was still tethered to the snag and persuaded the float to come into the bank to my feet, I bent down to get said float and started to slip into the water. I went just over my knees (and I was still sliding down the slope that I mentioned earlier) until I managed to grab hold of something to slow down my slide down the slippery slope and pull my self out. I went and got my landing net head and scooped my float out!!
Uniformity
If there is one thing that I would like to see is a uniform set of rules for all Fisho qualifiers. I say this because:
On the Fisho qualifier, you could use floating pole, it is banned in the final and it is also banned in the open matches at Lindholme.
You can use floating baits, but not feed which is always open to abuse.
A pole limit, to make it more of a level playing field.
What do we do/not do at The Oaks, which you will be able to do/not do in the final, as I am not entirely sure of the rules for the Fisho final.
The rules should also reflect what can and can’t be used in the final, in that if you can use catmeat in the final, why not allow people to fish it in qualifiers.
I have fished 2 Fisho qualifying matches this year and I have, I must admit, I have enjoyed them both. They are on different venues, using different methods and catching different size fish to the usual methods used at The Oaks.
Viaduct was good because of the practice sessions and the ‘craic’ and the size of the fish also meant that a weight was possible from most pegs. Lindholme was good because of the apprehension and the hope of drawing the right lake. I was hoping to be able to draw a peg where the splashing wag could be used, or at least catch up in the water. When you go to a new venue, you are usually excited as you just do not know what to expect and it can invigorate you when you feel as though things are going stale.
All I can say, is keep at it. Life has some strange ways of evening itself out.
Wednesday, July 05, 2006
Lindholme Lakes – Fisho Practice – Sunday 2nd July 2006.
With the impending Fishomania qualifier just round the corner, I felt that a visit to the venue was required and I promptly booked myself on the open match.
There were 32 anglers present including such names as Rob Hitchen, Jonny Howard, Matt Hall and Ben Fisk (???)!!
I had managed to talk Purverted into attending the match and had arranged for him to come and pick me up. I spoke to Daylite, Beanhead and Marco to get an idea of what was/might be required and promptly had to ring Purverted back. A waggler rod was needed!! And Purverted ain’t got one of those. After telling him that he WILL need a waggler rod he very, very quickly cried off. No amount of coaxing was going to make him change his mind. A quick call to Panic and a new travelling partner was arranged.
I picked Panic up at about 7:15 for the trip to Lindholme in order to get there for the draw. The draw at Lindholme takes place at 9:00 am and they have 6 hours matches (might have to have a word with Tom on this).
3 of the lakes being used in the Fishomania qualifier were being used for the match today with each lake having approximately 10 anglers on and if you won your lake you got a good payout in terms of there was no 1st, 2nd or 3rd prize. The prize consisted of £100 (ish for winning your section). The 3 lakes being used were Beeches, Willows and Loco. No-one wanted to draw Loco!! And everyone (in the know) wanted to draw Beeches.
Beeches is an old trout lake that has been stuffed full of fish and was used for the North V South match. Loco is a rectangular lake with approx 60 pegs on. There is a tiny island some 40m out in front of about 6 pegs (2 from 3 sides of the lake), what is that all about, other than that, it is featureless. Not sure about willows, as I don’t even know which lake it is.
Panic put his hand in the draw bag and drew Beeches Peg 16 and I drew Loco Peg 34 – we were both none the wiser. I was told (by Beanhead) to fish paste at 6m and pellet up in the water at 14m or further with a waggler rod. Beanhead drew Loco 42, Daylite was on peg 30 (ish, on the bottom bank and had no-where to go). Cromie was on Beeches peg 30 (a quid down already). Daylite promptly roped me into a quid side bet.
Upon arriving at my peg, I had Chris (Sherlock) Watson on peg 38, Beanhead was further round on about peg 42/44. Matt Hall was on my lake on about the peg 2nd from the end (about peg 60).
I set up 1 waggler rod which consisted of 5lb Maxima mainline (I don’t know how big they go), with a 3AAA MAP pellet float and a 12” length of Preston Powerline (.15 diameter) tied to a size 14 Kamasan Eyed Barbless Hook (B981, me thinks!!). I had hair-rigged a baitband and attached it using a knotless knot. The rod that I was using was an old Daiwa Amorphous Whisker. The Whisker rod is quite a tippy rod, with plenty of power in reserve.
In view of not knowing too much about the lake and the venue, I set up my pole rigs on the bank as follows:
6/7m paste rig: was a 0.5g Drennan Carp 2 float on .15 Preston Powerline straight through to a Kamasan B981. I was told that the lake was deep. When I plumbed up the depth was deeper than the 2 & 3 pole kit by some 3 inches. (I didn’t fancy the deep rig from this moment forward and would keep an eye on all those around me to see if I had made a mistake).
I then set up 1 shallow rig for 14.5 metres (there is a pole limit of 14.5m on the lake), this consisted of a 4 x 12 Garbolino DC 2 float on .16 MAP Carptek line straight through to a Kamasan B981 hook. Again, as the waggler rig, I had attached a baitband as a hair, also using the knotless knot (have you tried to make up a float rig from hook to loop?)
I also set up a rig to a overhanging tree to my right, the lad on Peg 32 was planning on fishing this area as his main swim (did he know something I didn’t). Whilst I was setting up my deep rig, I could see the odd fish boil and swirl tight in to the side under the tree. I plumbed up expecting to find about 10ft, but alas no, it was a reasonable depth – some 2ft. My rig was a Garbolino DC2 float taking 0.2g. This was set up on .16 Carptek line, direct to a size 14 (same pattern as above).
My bait table consisted of every pellet and size known to man with some more for good measure. I had some Sensas 6mm, Viaduct 6 and 8mm and some 10mm pellets that I was planning on using as hookbait. I also had some paste, groundbait, micro pellets and sweetcorn. Was I prepared or what?
Wait and See.
At the all in, I waited to see what everyone else was doing and where they were feeding. The general consensus was to feed at both 6/7m and also at 14m and splash a little bit of bait at 2m to one side. I followed suit.
The majority of people then went straight out onto the 6/7m line. There was one lad who was bucking (yes bucking) the trend and he went straight out on a splashing wag. He had what appeared to be a big ping pong ball attached to the top of his float, painted day-glo orange. He was on peg 38.
I baited the waggler rod and chucked out about 20 – 25m. There was a slight breeze blowing from left to right diagonally across the lake coming towards me.
I catapulted out 2 pouches of 6mm pellets and promptly cast out over the top. I put another pouch over the top and waited. I kept on catapulting a few pellets out over the top of the float, trying to get a rhythm going. I could see the odd fish boiling about 35m out. The float buried and a carp of about 3lb was soon in the net.
I repeated the process and after a further 20 minutes another carp was doing it’s best to run to the other side of the lake, but it failed and was in the landing net. This one was about 5lb.
When waggler fishing, I have a tendency to fish with the anti-reverse on and let the reel free spool, playing the fish using the drag. This is a good method until you get them under the rod tip. I used to fish by back winding, but I feel that sometimes, you give line when you don’t really need to.
Over the next 3 or 4 hours, I only managed to catch one fish and lost 2. The highlight was catching one of the Canadian Geese that inhabit the lake and watching it swim and flap all around Daylite’s peg – he wasn’t pleased (don’t know why, he wasn’t catching anything). Shortly after, I am sure that a couple of stones (or such) came flying my way and landed in my peg.
I tried the paste rig – nothing. I tried the margin rig, under the tree, nothing – the lad on peg 32 had a tench about 4lb from the margin and a couple of small bottle top carp. I plumbed up at 14m (just to get and idea and possibly have a go at full depth) using the same 6m rig. When the pole tip touched the water and the float hadn’t touched bottom, I sacked that idea straight away.
Sherlock on the next peg was catching all of his fish in the deep water at both 6m and 11m. He was getting a lot of small carp (6 to the lb) and the odd bonus fish (now and then), but wasn’t breaking any records. The lad with the ping pong ball was catching the odd fish but would have spells where he caught 2 or 3 then nothing.
There was a lad next to Daylite on about peg 28 (2 pegs away from Daylite) who was starting to get a few fish. He seemed to be fishing about ½ depth (to me, as I don’t know how deep it was for him) and was starting to get a few fish.
I added more depth on to the waggler rig and started to get a few more indications. I now cottoned onto what I needed to do (there was about 40 minutes of the match remaining). I cast out the waggler rod, placed the rod to my right side and catapulted pellets over the top, periodically and waited for the rod tip to go round. In this 40 minute spell, I managed to snare 4 more carp of between 2 and 3lb and lost another 2. I had felt as though I had finally got something together. I had previously been striking at every indication. That was that. Time!!!
My Weight!!!
The scales arrived and confirmed what everyone already knew, you didn’t want to be on Loco Lake. Someone on Willows had 115lb, Rob Hitchens had won the match with 125lb from Beeches, Panic tipped back 40lb, Cromie had 82lb and my lake was won with 44lb. Sherlock had 34lb, Beanhead had a similar weight, Ping Pong had 44lb and won the lake, Daylite was a DNW and the lad next to him, also had a 40lb + weight. I had 7 carp for 24lb odd. My winning quid off Daylite promptly left my palm and made it’s way to Cromie.
I haven’t got a clue where I need to draw for the fisho, but hopefully if I catch a few fish, I will have enjoyed myself and that is what fishing is all about.
With the impending Fishomania qualifier just round the corner, I felt that a visit to the venue was required and I promptly booked myself on the open match.
There were 32 anglers present including such names as Rob Hitchen, Jonny Howard, Matt Hall and Ben Fisk (???)!!
I had managed to talk Purverted into attending the match and had arranged for him to come and pick me up. I spoke to Daylite, Beanhead and Marco to get an idea of what was/might be required and promptly had to ring Purverted back. A waggler rod was needed!! And Purverted ain’t got one of those. After telling him that he WILL need a waggler rod he very, very quickly cried off. No amount of coaxing was going to make him change his mind. A quick call to Panic and a new travelling partner was arranged.
I picked Panic up at about 7:15 for the trip to Lindholme in order to get there for the draw. The draw at Lindholme takes place at 9:00 am and they have 6 hours matches (might have to have a word with Tom on this).
3 of the lakes being used in the Fishomania qualifier were being used for the match today with each lake having approximately 10 anglers on and if you won your lake you got a good payout in terms of there was no 1st, 2nd or 3rd prize. The prize consisted of £100 (ish for winning your section). The 3 lakes being used were Beeches, Willows and Loco. No-one wanted to draw Loco!! And everyone (in the know) wanted to draw Beeches.
Beeches is an old trout lake that has been stuffed full of fish and was used for the North V South match. Loco is a rectangular lake with approx 60 pegs on. There is a tiny island some 40m out in front of about 6 pegs (2 from 3 sides of the lake), what is that all about, other than that, it is featureless. Not sure about willows, as I don’t even know which lake it is.
Panic put his hand in the draw bag and drew Beeches Peg 16 and I drew Loco Peg 34 – we were both none the wiser. I was told (by Beanhead) to fish paste at 6m and pellet up in the water at 14m or further with a waggler rod. Beanhead drew Loco 42, Daylite was on peg 30 (ish, on the bottom bank and had no-where to go). Cromie was on Beeches peg 30 (a quid down already). Daylite promptly roped me into a quid side bet.
Upon arriving at my peg, I had Chris (Sherlock) Watson on peg 38, Beanhead was further round on about peg 42/44. Matt Hall was on my lake on about the peg 2nd from the end (about peg 60).
I set up 1 waggler rod which consisted of 5lb Maxima mainline (I don’t know how big they go), with a 3AAA MAP pellet float and a 12” length of Preston Powerline (.15 diameter) tied to a size 14 Kamasan Eyed Barbless Hook (B981, me thinks!!). I had hair-rigged a baitband and attached it using a knotless knot. The rod that I was using was an old Daiwa Amorphous Whisker. The Whisker rod is quite a tippy rod, with plenty of power in reserve.
In view of not knowing too much about the lake and the venue, I set up my pole rigs on the bank as follows:
6/7m paste rig: was a 0.5g Drennan Carp 2 float on .15 Preston Powerline straight through to a Kamasan B981. I was told that the lake was deep. When I plumbed up the depth was deeper than the 2 & 3 pole kit by some 3 inches. (I didn’t fancy the deep rig from this moment forward and would keep an eye on all those around me to see if I had made a mistake).
I then set up 1 shallow rig for 14.5 metres (there is a pole limit of 14.5m on the lake), this consisted of a 4 x 12 Garbolino DC 2 float on .16 MAP Carptek line straight through to a Kamasan B981 hook. Again, as the waggler rig, I had attached a baitband as a hair, also using the knotless knot (have you tried to make up a float rig from hook to loop?)
I also set up a rig to a overhanging tree to my right, the lad on Peg 32 was planning on fishing this area as his main swim (did he know something I didn’t). Whilst I was setting up my deep rig, I could see the odd fish boil and swirl tight in to the side under the tree. I plumbed up expecting to find about 10ft, but alas no, it was a reasonable depth – some 2ft. My rig was a Garbolino DC2 float taking 0.2g. This was set up on .16 Carptek line, direct to a size 14 (same pattern as above).
My bait table consisted of every pellet and size known to man with some more for good measure. I had some Sensas 6mm, Viaduct 6 and 8mm and some 10mm pellets that I was planning on using as hookbait. I also had some paste, groundbait, micro pellets and sweetcorn. Was I prepared or what?
Wait and See.
At the all in, I waited to see what everyone else was doing and where they were feeding. The general consensus was to feed at both 6/7m and also at 14m and splash a little bit of bait at 2m to one side. I followed suit.
The majority of people then went straight out onto the 6/7m line. There was one lad who was bucking (yes bucking) the trend and he went straight out on a splashing wag. He had what appeared to be a big ping pong ball attached to the top of his float, painted day-glo orange. He was on peg 38.
I baited the waggler rod and chucked out about 20 – 25m. There was a slight breeze blowing from left to right diagonally across the lake coming towards me.
I catapulted out 2 pouches of 6mm pellets and promptly cast out over the top. I put another pouch over the top and waited. I kept on catapulting a few pellets out over the top of the float, trying to get a rhythm going. I could see the odd fish boiling about 35m out. The float buried and a carp of about 3lb was soon in the net.
I repeated the process and after a further 20 minutes another carp was doing it’s best to run to the other side of the lake, but it failed and was in the landing net. This one was about 5lb.
When waggler fishing, I have a tendency to fish with the anti-reverse on and let the reel free spool, playing the fish using the drag. This is a good method until you get them under the rod tip. I used to fish by back winding, but I feel that sometimes, you give line when you don’t really need to.
Over the next 3 or 4 hours, I only managed to catch one fish and lost 2. The highlight was catching one of the Canadian Geese that inhabit the lake and watching it swim and flap all around Daylite’s peg – he wasn’t pleased (don’t know why, he wasn’t catching anything). Shortly after, I am sure that a couple of stones (or such) came flying my way and landed in my peg.
I tried the paste rig – nothing. I tried the margin rig, under the tree, nothing – the lad on peg 32 had a tench about 4lb from the margin and a couple of small bottle top carp. I plumbed up at 14m (just to get and idea and possibly have a go at full depth) using the same 6m rig. When the pole tip touched the water and the float hadn’t touched bottom, I sacked that idea straight away.
Sherlock on the next peg was catching all of his fish in the deep water at both 6m and 11m. He was getting a lot of small carp (6 to the lb) and the odd bonus fish (now and then), but wasn’t breaking any records. The lad with the ping pong ball was catching the odd fish but would have spells where he caught 2 or 3 then nothing.
There was a lad next to Daylite on about peg 28 (2 pegs away from Daylite) who was starting to get a few fish. He seemed to be fishing about ½ depth (to me, as I don’t know how deep it was for him) and was starting to get a few fish.
I added more depth on to the waggler rig and started to get a few more indications. I now cottoned onto what I needed to do (there was about 40 minutes of the match remaining). I cast out the waggler rod, placed the rod to my right side and catapulted pellets over the top, periodically and waited for the rod tip to go round. In this 40 minute spell, I managed to snare 4 more carp of between 2 and 3lb and lost another 2. I had felt as though I had finally got something together. I had previously been striking at every indication. That was that. Time!!!
My Weight!!!
The scales arrived and confirmed what everyone already knew, you didn’t want to be on Loco Lake. Someone on Willows had 115lb, Rob Hitchens had won the match with 125lb from Beeches, Panic tipped back 40lb, Cromie had 82lb and my lake was won with 44lb. Sherlock had 34lb, Beanhead had a similar weight, Ping Pong had 44lb and won the lake, Daylite was a DNW and the lad next to him, also had a 40lb + weight. I had 7 carp for 24lb odd. My winning quid off Daylite promptly left my palm and made it’s way to Cromie.
I haven’t got a clue where I need to draw for the fisho, but hopefully if I catch a few fish, I will have enjoyed myself and that is what fishing is all about.
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