Saturday 7th October 2006 – Woodland Lakes, Thirsk.
Bram had been e-mailing me at work all week trying to persuade me to go to Woodlands on the open match, as he was going to get a little practice in for his club match taking place tomorrow.
I finally relented and agreed to pick him up. Following Haircut’s 2nd place in last weeks match, I gave him a call and asked for all the inside information (remind me not to do that again). His final words were, ‘you need to draw’. Oh well, ruined already and I haven’t even got there yet.
What to do.
In view of the bomb rod being a very viable method at Woodlands, I finally took the plunge and purchased a Preston’s Hardcase, Ready Rod case thingy-what-do-you-ma-callit. I lovingly prepared my bomb rod, which is a Maver 11’/13’ multi-tip. After setting the rod up at 11’, I then proceeded to fold my rod down, so that it would fit in the rod bag. This is where my plan fell to bits. The main section of the rod is too long. I had to take the butt section off the middle section of the rod, so the rod is now in a heap in the rod case and it would be quicker to take the rod down and re-set it up rather than try to sort out the mess.
The question is, do I take back the rod case, or do I purchase a new rod? As no doubt, I may need to carry a ready prepared rod in the future. A new bomb rod it is then.
Upon arriving at Bram’s house, he appeared a little shocked that I wasn’t in my warp machine, as he e-mailed me to pick him up so that we travelled in style. I was in our works van as we are selling it. I think that it was a good job that we had the van, as I think that I may have struggled to get all of the gear in my motor.
I made slow but steady (and safe) headway to Morrison’s for a quick bite to eat. Bram elected to watch me eating as he had already had some rabbit food for brekkie.
I arrived at Woodlands with about 10 minutes to go before the draw and a large queue had already formed. I paid on, then spoke with Beanhead Norris, who so happened to be right at the front of the queue. Why is it, that when you want to speak to someone, they are usually just where you want them to be. By the time of the draw, there were 74 of us in attendance. The wind was blowing an absolute hoolie, fortunately, it was blowing more across the ponds, rather than straight up and down.
Kenny ‘Floppy Hat’ Wilson was in attendance, the obligatory quid was struck up. Nightie accosted me for the quid from my last match at Woodlands, a quick double or quits was agreed. I paid Young Adam his quid from my last match at Woodlands. I’m just glad that Chappy is at White Acres this week, that will be one quid less to pay (no doubt he’ll come back skint and try to rope me in for more than a quid to get some money in his back pocket).
I was the first one in the bucket. I put my hand in, gave the pegs a good swirl and managed to drag, kicking and fighting, Skylark 12 out. Well that improves the chances of someone else drawing a good peg.
I asked Haircut for a little bit more info, only to be told that it is in the middle of ‘Cyanide Straight’. Cheers mate.
Bram faired a little better, he had at least drawn the right lake, Partridge, peg 9. Right lake, wrong peg.
Talking about the draw. Lee Barrett won the match last week off Skylark peg 1. Where had he drawn this week? Partridge peg 1. I walked past Beanhead, who was on Skylark (about peg 4). I had one of the young Newbury clan next to me on peg 10 (11 empty as they double pegged, then left an empty peg) and I don’t know who I had to my right on peg 13. Damien Bracken was behind me on Partridge peg 27. Andy Dargue was opposite me to my right, on about Skylark peg 23 and Deano Smith was also opposite to my left, on about Skylark 26.
The rigs.
I had already set up the rod, all I had to do was to attach a hooklength, with a Korum Baitspike using the knotless knot. I tied a Preston Powerline .015 diameter hooklength to a size 14 Preston barbless eyed hook.
For the pole, I set up:
Rig 1: A .2g Colmic float with a thick bristle. This was attached to .15 Preston Powerline, straight through to a size 16 Colmic WN501 hook. The rig was attached to black hydro through my match kit. I set this up to fish up in the water, wind permitting!!!!
Rig 2: For rig 2, I used a .3g Garbolino DC 6, attached to .15 Preston Powerline straight through to a size 16 Colmic WN501 hook. This was also attached to black hydro. I plumbed up at 6m to my right with this rig and found about 3 ½ to 4’ of depth.
Rig 3 was a 4 x 16 Middy pattern with a long bristle and carbon stem. This was tied to .14 MAP Carptek line straight through to a size 14 Kamasan B911 hook. I plumbed up at 14m with this rig and found about 5ft of depth. I added on about 4 or 5 inches to allow for the tow and the wind.
Rig 4 incorporated a .2g Carp Devil float attached to .16 Maver Genesis straight through to a size 14 Colmic WN501 hook. This rig was attached to the Drennan pink hollow through a power kit top two. I plumbed up down both sides with this rig and found that I had about 2.5ft of depth.
Before the off
Whilst I was getting all of my rigs ready and within about 10 minutes of putting my keepnet in the lake, the peg started to cloud up on my top 2 / 3 line. Every now and again, I could see the odd tail pattern.
A La Carte at Chez Big Pellet
For bait today I had 2 small tins of corn, 1 tin of hemp and 1.5 tins of meat. I also had a pint of micro pellets which I could either feed or turn into a paste if needed.
I was nearly ready, but not quite, when Billy Brierley announced the all in. I checked my watch and there was still 4 or 5 minutes to go, and I thought that I had a Mickey Mouse watch!!!
Ready at last
After about another 5 minutes just getting my self in a position where I could start fishing without having to break off to do something I was ready.
Following the signs that had been in my peg whilst setting up, my first line of attack was to drop in down the side to see if I could catch the offending culprit. I baited up with a grain of corn on the hook, put in a ‘Tosspot’ of hemp and corn, and waited. Whilst I waited, I catapulted a few grains of corn and hemp out to the 6m line and I also catapulted a few pieces of meat and hemp out to the bomb/long pole line.
After some 15 minutes and no indications, it was time for a change. The lad my right on peg 13 had caught 2 carp, both around the 4lb mark. These came off his 6 metre line. He had a small tosspot attached to his pole and was feeding both corn and hemp and fishing with corn on the hook.
I swapped rigs, switched to the 6m line to follow suit with the lad next door. After 20 minutes, nothing. I was now 30 odd minutes into the match and I had not had a sign from neither of the two swims that I had tried. My inside line had started smoking again. I came back in on the inside and tried with a piece of meat on the hook, over the hemp and corn that I had put in earlier.
I waited 15 minutes before I got an indication, the float went sideways (usually the sign of a big fish), then settled again. The float dipped then buried. I struck with some vigour, nothing, apart from a boil as the fish swam out of my peg.
I dropped back in again and managed to snare a roach. It was time to go back out to the 6m line.
After nearly 3 hours, I had managed to snare a couple of small carp, the biggest was about 2lb, a couple of roach and a skimmer. I had chucked the bomb out and was getting the odd liner, but couldn’t get a wrap round. I had fed and fished down both sides and also at 6m and also on the long pole line. Nothing. The lad to my right had about 5 carp and a couple of bits by this point.
I went back out on the bomb and hair-rigged meat. The rod settled and after about 2 minutes, the tip went round slowly and stayed round. I struck and managed to snare a carp of about 10 oz. 10oz? I didn’t even know that there were carp that small in the lake.
I managed to snare a couple more by the end of the match. I would estimate that I had about 20lb made up of 10 carp, a couple of skimmers, a perch and two roach. The bloke to my right had about 35lb, made up of half a dozen skimmers and about 12 carp.
Damien tipped back about 25lb made up of 5 or 6 carp. Andy Dargue won the opposite bank section with just over 40lb. The winner weighed in about 105lb from about Partridge peg 14. Coyney who was on the next peg had a good 90lb (ish) and got in the frame.
Chris Kitchen ‘Sink’ had 11 carp for 69lb from Wagtail 11. Bram tipped back approximately 25lb. Both Floppy Hat and I agreed to tip back as we were both agreeing to a similar weight to each other. Phew, managed to save a quid. Nightie had a good 60lb+ weight and managed to beat his young ‘un.
I have had so many discussions with various people and this year, my drawing arm has let me down severely. All you have to do is to have a look at the weights that are coming from the area’s that I draw.
Oh well, there is always next week.
Monday, October 16, 2006
Thursday, September 28, 2006
Sunday 24th September 2006
Back to the grindstone.
Please let me apologies for the lack of a report from last weeks match at The Oaks, Sessay. I have been busy interviewing for a new administrator, I have also had the VAT return to complete, so have found myself busy at work.
The attendances of late have been poor to say the least, we have been getting about 40 – 44 on nearly every match for the past 5 or 6 weeks, and in view of the keen-ness for Kamasan qualifying matches in this neck of the woods, people aren’t prepared to fish a match if there aren’t 50 on. The thing is, is that if they turned up, they would make up enough numbers to be able to get them to be a qualifier.
This week, I had high hopes of getting a 50 peg+ match. Mr & Mrs (Scotthorne) were in attendance and another bloke had booked 5 of them on, and with the people that had booked on from the previous match, I was hopeful.
By the time of the draw, we had 59 in attendance and to make it fair for everyone, I decided to take out every 4th peg, in view of Cedar Lake being an 80 peg snake lake. I still received a complaint or two. ‘Why have you done this’, ‘what have you put this peg in for?’. I can’t win.
Upon Orc’s arrival, I quickly accosted him for his pound from the match a couple of weeks ago when he beat me. Let me explain. On the match two weeks ago, I weighed in 25lb. Orc admitted to his travelling partner that he’d had about 35 – 40lb and in view of wanting to get off and not wait for the scales, Orc tipped back. Some you lose, and some more you lose.
For this weeks match, the obligatory jackpot pegs were drawn and they were pegs 30 (No tongue Jarvis), 63 (D Worsley) and 78 (Old Lad Kenning). The jackpot had a serious chance of going today and Old Lad was the fella to do it. He is on fire at the moment.
I put my hand in the bag and drew out peg 62. This is a good winter peg, but has not produced anything for a good while. The last time that peg 62 threw up a weight was when Paul Burton was in attendance and he plonked just over 60lb on the scales and didn’t even win his section. Peg 62 is a on a bend and it is a very long peg across to the island, I would estimate it as being one of the longest pegs on the lake from willow tree to willow tree.
Going back to the pegging, there were 3 anglers in a row, then and empty peg. I was the middle angler in my 3 anglers in a row. I had Brian Armstrong on peg 61 and D Worsley on Jackpot peg 63. My first job was to beat the jackpot peg fella. Chappy was on peg 11 (with his empty peg on peg 12), Orc was on peg 15 (16 empty), Macca was on peg 19 (20 empty) and Barney Grumble (see below), was on peg 65, with either side empty. I had left one peg in the bag in case someone arrived late and that was peg 66. My quid’s were looking ropey this week, I was on a bad peg and I didn’t have any empty peg around me.
I set up 3 rigs at the start of the match as follows:
My first rig was a shallow rig to fish with either caster or maggot up in the water. This was a small dibber type of float (Preston’s I think). I set this up on .13 Preston Powerline straight through to a size 16 Kamasan B911 hook. I attached this rig to grey hydro.
My second rig was a .2g Garbolino DC6, set to fish on top of the shelf at 13m. The float was also on .13 Preston Powerline, straight through to a size 16 Colmic WN501 hook. I found that I had 2ft of depth across. This was also attached to grey hydro.
I also set up a deep rig at the base of the far slope; this was planned on being used if the bites dry up whilst fishing shallow (hopefully the fish will have followed the bait down). This was a .5g Garbolino DC6 float attached to .15 Preston Powerline straight through to a size 14 Kamasan B911 hook. This rig was attached to black hydro.
I had 2 pints of maggots, 1 tin of hemp, a few expander pellets for the hook and 2 pints of casters.
All In
At the start of the match, I cupped in casters and hemp down the middle, and also potted some maggots straight in front of me and put some casters and hemp right over to my left, which was still some 6 or 7 metres away from my maggot line.
I baited up the shelf rig with double maggot and went over to the far side. The float settled and some 2 minutes later, the float dipped. I struck with all the speed of Xman and foul hooked a carp, which quickly shed the hook
I dropped straight back in again. The float dipped. I struck and a gudgeon came flying out and dropped off the hook.
I re-baited and went back over. I managed to snare my first carp after 15 minutes. Over the next hour or so, I managed to snare a couple more carp, one over my caster and hemp across and another over my maggot line. I tried in the deep water, no luck.
Dave Worsley on the Jackpot peg was putting the odd carp together and by now had about 6 or 7 carp, all of which came up in the water. He would feed 2 handfuls of bait, then nothing at all again, until he’d caught a fish, this could be 10 minutes after he had fed.
I resorted to fishing up in the water and I was feeding about 10 casters every 30 seconds or so. Sometimes I would feed half a dozen, other times I would feed about 15. I would feed every 10 seconds, I would feed every 30 seconds, I would feed every minute. Nothing seemed to get the fish to settle.
I did however, know when I was going to hook a carp up in the water as there would be a good boil where I had catapulted in my bait.
I managed to snare the odd carp up in the water, but I had to keep on swapping my hookbait. I caught a few on pellet, maggot or caster, all the while I was feeding caster up in the water.
After about 3 hours, I was fishing up in the water, when the float shot under, I lifted into the fish, had it on for all of 5 seconds, then nothing. I shipped back to find that I had no rig left, the line had broken right on the loop at the top of the rig. Preston Powerline .13 to grey hydro. I must have had a nick in my line or something. Why does it keep happening to me?
Someone else must have also lost a fish as a red topped float kept on popping up around me now and again.
I got some micro pellets out of my bag with an hour to go and put a few in the shaker pot. I caught a couple more carp. It was turning out to be a weird match, although I caught fish on a variety of baits, I just could not get the fish to settle down and have a proper feed.
Brian Armstrong to my left was having a grueller. Craig Ebbrill, on peg 59 was catching a few, Barney was struggling, but would catch the odd fish now and again, same applied to Dave on my immediate right.
I could get the fish clouding across on the far side, but as soon as I catapulted some more bait over, they would disappear. If I caught a fish, they would disappear. The fish just would not settle, not matter what I did or where I fished.
All Out.
I was glad when it was all over. I was admitting to 30lb, Barney was admitting to 25 – 30lb. Dave didn’t know what he had. Brian tipped back.
I went over to see Barney and have a chat to him, and I observed Martin Murphy with about 10m of pole in the sky with an angry carp attached. After some to-ing and fro-ing, he managed to get the said fish in the landing net. It was only about 2lb.
By the time that the scales had arrived, Pimmy was top dog with 52lb odd. Young Emu Ebbrill weighed in 50lb 4oz. I plonked 32lb on the scales, Dave had 36lb and Barney weighed in 34lb. I rang Macca to see how my 2 quid was doing. He also weighed in 36lb. Chappy had 50lb. This was turning into a bad day at the office.
I checked the board to see if I could salvage something from Orc. He didn’t let me down as he DNW’d.
Mr Scotthorne just missed out on his section by 1lb, courtesy of Marco – 45lb against 44lb. Mrs Scotthorne faired worse than I.
Following on from my look-a-likes, Vinnie ‘Diesel’ Martin has now been renamed and his long lost brother is non other than Barney Grumble. If you don’t know who he is, do a search. They are identical.
Chappy isn’t here for the next couple of weeks, I will be able to save up for my kids Christmas presents whilst he is away.
Full Result
1. Rob Minikin (HAS) - 56-09. Peg 69
2. Gaz Pawlett (Oaks) - 55-11. Peg 17
3. Jonny Kenning (Diawa Goldthorpe) - 53-04. Jackpot peg 78.
4. Dave Pimlott (Garbolino Elton) - 52-08.
5. Craig Ebbrill (Mosella Garbolino) - 50-04
6. John Chapman (Garbolino Elton) - 50-02
Tackle review – my new pellet pump.
I have just purchased a new pellet pump and to be straight up, I think that it is crap. It is a new one that I have just seen on the market and is a plastic container, almost like a jar, with what seems like a bicycle pump attachment that allows you to expel the air from the ‘jar’.
It is a screw-on design. You unscrew the pump, put said pellets in the jar, refit the top, then pump away. I tried it for the first time on Sunday, and after pumping for what seemed like ages, some pellets had sunk, and some were still floating. I know that this happens anyway, but there were nearly as many floaters as there were sinkers. This ain’t good.
When you buy a pump, you want to be safe in the knowledge that most of them (if not all) sink. I realise that people go on about neutral buoyancy, etc, but at least when you have them in the jar, you would like them to sink slowly.
I will be returning this to my local shop and either getting another one from a different manufacturer or I may even stick with the plastic bottles.
Back to the grindstone.
Please let me apologies for the lack of a report from last weeks match at The Oaks, Sessay. I have been busy interviewing for a new administrator, I have also had the VAT return to complete, so have found myself busy at work.
The attendances of late have been poor to say the least, we have been getting about 40 – 44 on nearly every match for the past 5 or 6 weeks, and in view of the keen-ness for Kamasan qualifying matches in this neck of the woods, people aren’t prepared to fish a match if there aren’t 50 on. The thing is, is that if they turned up, they would make up enough numbers to be able to get them to be a qualifier.
This week, I had high hopes of getting a 50 peg+ match. Mr & Mrs (Scotthorne) were in attendance and another bloke had booked 5 of them on, and with the people that had booked on from the previous match, I was hopeful.
By the time of the draw, we had 59 in attendance and to make it fair for everyone, I decided to take out every 4th peg, in view of Cedar Lake being an 80 peg snake lake. I still received a complaint or two. ‘Why have you done this’, ‘what have you put this peg in for?’. I can’t win.
Upon Orc’s arrival, I quickly accosted him for his pound from the match a couple of weeks ago when he beat me. Let me explain. On the match two weeks ago, I weighed in 25lb. Orc admitted to his travelling partner that he’d had about 35 – 40lb and in view of wanting to get off and not wait for the scales, Orc tipped back. Some you lose, and some more you lose.
For this weeks match, the obligatory jackpot pegs were drawn and they were pegs 30 (No tongue Jarvis), 63 (D Worsley) and 78 (Old Lad Kenning). The jackpot had a serious chance of going today and Old Lad was the fella to do it. He is on fire at the moment.
I put my hand in the bag and drew out peg 62. This is a good winter peg, but has not produced anything for a good while. The last time that peg 62 threw up a weight was when Paul Burton was in attendance and he plonked just over 60lb on the scales and didn’t even win his section. Peg 62 is a on a bend and it is a very long peg across to the island, I would estimate it as being one of the longest pegs on the lake from willow tree to willow tree.
Going back to the pegging, there were 3 anglers in a row, then and empty peg. I was the middle angler in my 3 anglers in a row. I had Brian Armstrong on peg 61 and D Worsley on Jackpot peg 63. My first job was to beat the jackpot peg fella. Chappy was on peg 11 (with his empty peg on peg 12), Orc was on peg 15 (16 empty), Macca was on peg 19 (20 empty) and Barney Grumble (see below), was on peg 65, with either side empty. I had left one peg in the bag in case someone arrived late and that was peg 66. My quid’s were looking ropey this week, I was on a bad peg and I didn’t have any empty peg around me.
I set up 3 rigs at the start of the match as follows:
My first rig was a shallow rig to fish with either caster or maggot up in the water. This was a small dibber type of float (Preston’s I think). I set this up on .13 Preston Powerline straight through to a size 16 Kamasan B911 hook. I attached this rig to grey hydro.
My second rig was a .2g Garbolino DC6, set to fish on top of the shelf at 13m. The float was also on .13 Preston Powerline, straight through to a size 16 Colmic WN501 hook. I found that I had 2ft of depth across. This was also attached to grey hydro.
I also set up a deep rig at the base of the far slope; this was planned on being used if the bites dry up whilst fishing shallow (hopefully the fish will have followed the bait down). This was a .5g Garbolino DC6 float attached to .15 Preston Powerline straight through to a size 14 Kamasan B911 hook. This rig was attached to black hydro.
I had 2 pints of maggots, 1 tin of hemp, a few expander pellets for the hook and 2 pints of casters.
All In
At the start of the match, I cupped in casters and hemp down the middle, and also potted some maggots straight in front of me and put some casters and hemp right over to my left, which was still some 6 or 7 metres away from my maggot line.
I baited up the shelf rig with double maggot and went over to the far side. The float settled and some 2 minutes later, the float dipped. I struck with all the speed of Xman and foul hooked a carp, which quickly shed the hook
I dropped straight back in again. The float dipped. I struck and a gudgeon came flying out and dropped off the hook.
I re-baited and went back over. I managed to snare my first carp after 15 minutes. Over the next hour or so, I managed to snare a couple more carp, one over my caster and hemp across and another over my maggot line. I tried in the deep water, no luck.
Dave Worsley on the Jackpot peg was putting the odd carp together and by now had about 6 or 7 carp, all of which came up in the water. He would feed 2 handfuls of bait, then nothing at all again, until he’d caught a fish, this could be 10 minutes after he had fed.
I resorted to fishing up in the water and I was feeding about 10 casters every 30 seconds or so. Sometimes I would feed half a dozen, other times I would feed about 15. I would feed every 10 seconds, I would feed every 30 seconds, I would feed every minute. Nothing seemed to get the fish to settle.
I did however, know when I was going to hook a carp up in the water as there would be a good boil where I had catapulted in my bait.
I managed to snare the odd carp up in the water, but I had to keep on swapping my hookbait. I caught a few on pellet, maggot or caster, all the while I was feeding caster up in the water.
After about 3 hours, I was fishing up in the water, when the float shot under, I lifted into the fish, had it on for all of 5 seconds, then nothing. I shipped back to find that I had no rig left, the line had broken right on the loop at the top of the rig. Preston Powerline .13 to grey hydro. I must have had a nick in my line or something. Why does it keep happening to me?
Someone else must have also lost a fish as a red topped float kept on popping up around me now and again.
I got some micro pellets out of my bag with an hour to go and put a few in the shaker pot. I caught a couple more carp. It was turning out to be a weird match, although I caught fish on a variety of baits, I just could not get the fish to settle down and have a proper feed.
Brian Armstrong to my left was having a grueller. Craig Ebbrill, on peg 59 was catching a few, Barney was struggling, but would catch the odd fish now and again, same applied to Dave on my immediate right.
I could get the fish clouding across on the far side, but as soon as I catapulted some more bait over, they would disappear. If I caught a fish, they would disappear. The fish just would not settle, not matter what I did or where I fished.
All Out.
I was glad when it was all over. I was admitting to 30lb, Barney was admitting to 25 – 30lb. Dave didn’t know what he had. Brian tipped back.
I went over to see Barney and have a chat to him, and I observed Martin Murphy with about 10m of pole in the sky with an angry carp attached. After some to-ing and fro-ing, he managed to get the said fish in the landing net. It was only about 2lb.
By the time that the scales had arrived, Pimmy was top dog with 52lb odd. Young Emu Ebbrill weighed in 50lb 4oz. I plonked 32lb on the scales, Dave had 36lb and Barney weighed in 34lb. I rang Macca to see how my 2 quid was doing. He also weighed in 36lb. Chappy had 50lb. This was turning into a bad day at the office.
I checked the board to see if I could salvage something from Orc. He didn’t let me down as he DNW’d.
Mr Scotthorne just missed out on his section by 1lb, courtesy of Marco – 45lb against 44lb. Mrs Scotthorne faired worse than I.
Following on from my look-a-likes, Vinnie ‘Diesel’ Martin has now been renamed and his long lost brother is non other than Barney Grumble. If you don’t know who he is, do a search. They are identical.
Chappy isn’t here for the next couple of weeks, I will be able to save up for my kids Christmas presents whilst he is away.
Full Result
1. Rob Minikin (HAS) - 56-09. Peg 69
2. Gaz Pawlett (Oaks) - 55-11. Peg 17
3. Jonny Kenning (Diawa Goldthorpe) - 53-04. Jackpot peg 78.
4. Dave Pimlott (Garbolino Elton) - 52-08.
5. Craig Ebbrill (Mosella Garbolino) - 50-04
6. John Chapman (Garbolino Elton) - 50-02
Tackle review – my new pellet pump.
I have just purchased a new pellet pump and to be straight up, I think that it is crap. It is a new one that I have just seen on the market and is a plastic container, almost like a jar, with what seems like a bicycle pump attachment that allows you to expel the air from the ‘jar’.
It is a screw-on design. You unscrew the pump, put said pellets in the jar, refit the top, then pump away. I tried it for the first time on Sunday, and after pumping for what seemed like ages, some pellets had sunk, and some were still floating. I know that this happens anyway, but there were nearly as many floaters as there were sinkers. This ain’t good.
When you buy a pump, you want to be safe in the knowledge that most of them (if not all) sink. I realise that people go on about neutral buoyancy, etc, but at least when you have them in the jar, you would like them to sink slowly.
I will be returning this to my local shop and either getting another one from a different manufacturer or I may even stick with the plastic bottles.
Monday, September 25, 2006
Saturday 16th September 2006
Where do I start. Well, for all you purists out there, I had originally planned on fishing an open match on the River Aire at Birkin. Let me explain.
A couple of weeks ago, I finished work early one Thursday and went to fish the mucky hole on the River Wharfe at Tadcaster. I was armed with a few worms and a pint or so of maggots. I took a bomb rod, float rod and my pike rod. To cut a long story short, I managed to catch 6 chublet’s of about 6oz apiece, half a dozen dace, same of roach and about 20 bleak or so. I re-hooked one of the small roach of about 2oz and put it out on the pike gear, consisting of 8lb maxima and a 15lb wire trace. After about 20 minutes, I got a run and ended with a pike of about 13lb on the bank. It was a long lean fish that would, over winter, probably go to 18lb+. If there is one thing that I must say and that was that I really enjoyed it. This wetted my appetite for a river match. Midweek, I rang The Legend that is known as John Allerton and asked him about the matches that take place on the River Calder around Brighouse, as I knew that The Legend at been attending them.
He told me that there wasn’t a match on the river this weekend, but that there was a match on, on the River Aire at Birkin. The Legend then told me how he had come 2nd on the weekend’s match just gone with over 14lb of roach. The winning weight and most of the backup weights had come on pole to hand, fishing between 7 and 9m. I didn’t fancy the pole to hand method as I didn’t have any floats heavy enough (6g) to be able to do the method. I asked The Legend if I could borrow one of his 20 footers, as the river varies in depths between 12 and 24ft. I asked The Legend, if he could book me on the match and I arranged to me John and follow him down to the draw.
This my friends, was all agreed on Wednesday. On Thursday, Leeds and the surrounding areas suffered some of the worst storms and rainfall all year. The weatherman estimated that we had had 10 days of rain in 30 minutes to an hour and the Harehills part of Leeds, had had a mini tornado rip through the place and damaged about 6 or 7 houses.
The local council, estimate that the damage bill will amount to about……..£8.00.
Anyway’s on the Friday, I went over the River Aire on my way to work. The river was carrying a bit and was very coloured. The river was no different on the way home. I rang The Legend and cancelled off. I didn’t fancy fishing a stretch of river that I had never fished before. I would rather go on the match, when the river is looking better and catch 6 or 7lb of roach and come nowhere, than go on the river carrying water, catch very little and go away thinking that it was crap. Do you get where I am coming from?
After all this, with a quid in my hand, I booked on the open match at Woodlands, Thirsk. I might as well pay my quid to Chappy before we start.
I arranged to pick up Panic, later on he rang me to say that he couldn’t make it. I don’t think that he likes my driving.
At the draw, there were 61 people booked on and the match organiser, Young Adolf, wanted a word with everyone, as 10 people had all booked off the match, with about 30 minutes to go before the start of the draw. The thing is, as a match organiser myself, what can you do about no shows. It is alright telling everyone that is there, but they’re not bothered, as they are already there. You can ban people for being a no-show, but sometimes there is a genuine reason, so in the end, you can only organise all those that turn up.
The obligatory quid was struck with Chappy. When I say obligatory, what I mean is that Chappy comes up to me and says ‘Mick, Quid?’, to which trembling with fear, I nod my head. I think that I must be getting my head nod’s and shake’s the wrong way around.
Whilst being in the draw, a few of the Oak’s Banter, http://oaksbanter.proboards19.com/index.cgi regulars were all on about the look-alike’s that we have recently been discussing. Des Southern is Punch out of Punch and Judy, Meathead and Macca are Shrek 1 and 2, courtesy of Young Bart Simpson (Connor Barlow), Pete Costello is Stone Cold Steve Austin and the best one yet. Andy Stoner turned up with what looked like a new hair style. It was all scruffy and greying, but in a trendy sort of way, just like Jim’s hair off Rosie and Jim. Boy, did I break out into song, all together now:
"Rosie and Jim, Rosie and Jim, what an effing mess you're in". It sounds better already.
As I arrived at the draw bucket, I put my hand in the bag and drew out Skylark peg 22. I fancied that for a few. Chappy had also drawn half decent, Partridge lake, somewhere around 27, 28.
For company I had Paul ‘Nightmare before Christmas’ Burton on corner peg 18, Meatcutter Bailey on 20 (19 empty), Rocket Ronnie Wilkinson on peg 21, and Ron Jeremy on peg 23.
Following a chat with Chappy, I had 3 tins of meat, 2 tins of hemp and a few pellets for today’s menu. I set up the following;
My trusty bomb rod, with 4lb maxima mainline and a .16 Maver Genesis hooklength with a size 14 Colmic WN501 hook attached. I also set up:
Rig 1 was a shallow rig, for fishing with meat up in the water. This set up included a .2g Garbolino DC6 float, shotted with a couple of No.8 Preston Stotz at halfway down. The line was .16 Maver Genesis straight through to a size 16 Colmic WN501 hook. I set this rig to fish about 18” deep; I could also shallow up if needed.
Rig 2 was a .2g Carp Devil. This was also set up on .16 Maver Genesis. To this I attached a size 14 Colmic WN501 hook. I plumbed up down both sides with this rig and found just over 2ft of depth next to the boards.
For rig three, I set up a .3g Garbolino DC6 float. This was on .15 Preston Powerline, straight through to a size 14 Colmic WN501 hook. I plumbed up at 6m to my left and found about 3.5ft of depth.
My fourth and final rig was set up to fish at 14m, the idea being that you feed the meat on your bomb and long pole line. For the long pole line, I set up a .5g Drennan Roach. This was also on .15 Preston Powerline straight through to which I attached a size 16 Colmic WN501 hook. I plumbed up at 14m and found about 5ft of depth.
At the all in, I threw some hemp and meat to my left and just put in hemp to my right, down the boards. I potted in a bit of bait at 14 and started to fish on my 6m line. I put a few grains of hemp in a toss pot and a couple of pieces of meat with meat on the hook. I shipped out to 6m, dropped my enticing bit of feed in and dropped my float over the top.
After about 15 minutes, I got my first indication. The float dipped, then shot under. A bottletop skimmer was the culprit. Well a fish is a fish, it’s a start.
I re-baited, dropped in again, put a few bits of hemp and meat over the top and waited, and waited. Nothing. When you are an hour into the match with a skimmer to show for your troubles, you do start to worry a tad. Rocket to my left was getting a few by fishing with pellet up in the water and dripping in the odd pellet now and again. Ron Jeremy had a couple of carp and Meatcutter Bailey had a couple, so all in all, I wasn’t that far behind.
I came up in the water, with meat on the hook. I fed a few pieces of meat, the float buried, followed by my black hydro screaming off at a rate of knots. A carp of 5lb was soon in the net. That’s it, they were up in the water, where they wanted to be.
After another fruitless 30 minutes, I managed to snare another carp of about 2lb. I decided that it was time to have a look down the side. I dropped in with meat on the hook, fed a few pieces of meat. The float buried, and a roach of about 2oz was soon in the net. I tried at the other side and caught a slightly bigger roach, this one was probably 3oz.
By now, Ron had 5 carp and was starting to get a few bites by feeding meat at full depth and fishing with meat over the top. He probably had about 6 carp. I had 2, Rocket had about 10, and Meatcutter had 3.
I continued to rotate all of my swims, trying to locate fish. I saw a fish swirl down to my right over where I had been feeding. They had turned up, or so I thought. I dropped in, the water was all cloudy. My float moved sideways, and that was it. My float moved sideways as the fish made a quick dash out of my peg.
Going into the last hour, I had managed to snare another carp up in the water. I had cut back on all feed up in the water and was only feeding 4 or 5 pieces of meat about every 5 minutes or so. It was as if the fish were already up in the water, but were backing off the feed. (Thinking about it afterwards, it was similar at Woodland View).
By the time the match had ended, the fish were just starting to get their heads down, so to speak and I think that I had finally got the feeding (or not) pattern right. I had managed to end up with 8 carp and a few bits and pieces for a total weight of 25lb 8oz. Ron Jeremy ended up with 44lb, Rocket Ronnie had 70lb+ (and got in the frame). Meatcutter Bailey tipped back an estimated 30lb (so he tells me).
Chappy came round to say that he’d had 23lb, and then he changed his mind and said that he’d had 38lb, then changed his mind again and said that he really had had 23lb. I still gave him a quid as I could see from the glint in his eye that he was telling porkies. He had weighed in 38lb and also managed to win his section. Paul Burton won our section with 50lb, most of which he had caught in the first 2 hours.
Dean Smith won the match with 120lb from Partridge Lake. Peg 23 or 24 I think all on meat up in the water.
Where do I start. Well, for all you purists out there, I had originally planned on fishing an open match on the River Aire at Birkin. Let me explain.
A couple of weeks ago, I finished work early one Thursday and went to fish the mucky hole on the River Wharfe at Tadcaster. I was armed with a few worms and a pint or so of maggots. I took a bomb rod, float rod and my pike rod. To cut a long story short, I managed to catch 6 chublet’s of about 6oz apiece, half a dozen dace, same of roach and about 20 bleak or so. I re-hooked one of the small roach of about 2oz and put it out on the pike gear, consisting of 8lb maxima and a 15lb wire trace. After about 20 minutes, I got a run and ended with a pike of about 13lb on the bank. It was a long lean fish that would, over winter, probably go to 18lb+. If there is one thing that I must say and that was that I really enjoyed it. This wetted my appetite for a river match. Midweek, I rang The Legend that is known as John Allerton and asked him about the matches that take place on the River Calder around Brighouse, as I knew that The Legend at been attending them.
He told me that there wasn’t a match on the river this weekend, but that there was a match on, on the River Aire at Birkin. The Legend then told me how he had come 2nd on the weekend’s match just gone with over 14lb of roach. The winning weight and most of the backup weights had come on pole to hand, fishing between 7 and 9m. I didn’t fancy the pole to hand method as I didn’t have any floats heavy enough (6g) to be able to do the method. I asked The Legend if I could borrow one of his 20 footers, as the river varies in depths between 12 and 24ft. I asked The Legend, if he could book me on the match and I arranged to me John and follow him down to the draw.
This my friends, was all agreed on Wednesday. On Thursday, Leeds and the surrounding areas suffered some of the worst storms and rainfall all year. The weatherman estimated that we had had 10 days of rain in 30 minutes to an hour and the Harehills part of Leeds, had had a mini tornado rip through the place and damaged about 6 or 7 houses.
The local council, estimate that the damage bill will amount to about……..£8.00.
Anyway’s on the Friday, I went over the River Aire on my way to work. The river was carrying a bit and was very coloured. The river was no different on the way home. I rang The Legend and cancelled off. I didn’t fancy fishing a stretch of river that I had never fished before. I would rather go on the match, when the river is looking better and catch 6 or 7lb of roach and come nowhere, than go on the river carrying water, catch very little and go away thinking that it was crap. Do you get where I am coming from?
After all this, with a quid in my hand, I booked on the open match at Woodlands, Thirsk. I might as well pay my quid to Chappy before we start.
I arranged to pick up Panic, later on he rang me to say that he couldn’t make it. I don’t think that he likes my driving.
At the draw, there were 61 people booked on and the match organiser, Young Adolf, wanted a word with everyone, as 10 people had all booked off the match, with about 30 minutes to go before the start of the draw. The thing is, as a match organiser myself, what can you do about no shows. It is alright telling everyone that is there, but they’re not bothered, as they are already there. You can ban people for being a no-show, but sometimes there is a genuine reason, so in the end, you can only organise all those that turn up.
The obligatory quid was struck with Chappy. When I say obligatory, what I mean is that Chappy comes up to me and says ‘Mick, Quid?’, to which trembling with fear, I nod my head. I think that I must be getting my head nod’s and shake’s the wrong way around.
Whilst being in the draw, a few of the Oak’s Banter, http://oaksbanter.proboards19.com/index.cgi regulars were all on about the look-alike’s that we have recently been discussing. Des Southern is Punch out of Punch and Judy, Meathead and Macca are Shrek 1 and 2, courtesy of Young Bart Simpson (Connor Barlow), Pete Costello is Stone Cold Steve Austin and the best one yet. Andy Stoner turned up with what looked like a new hair style. It was all scruffy and greying, but in a trendy sort of way, just like Jim’s hair off Rosie and Jim. Boy, did I break out into song, all together now:
"Rosie and Jim, Rosie and Jim, what an effing mess you're in". It sounds better already.
As I arrived at the draw bucket, I put my hand in the bag and drew out Skylark peg 22. I fancied that for a few. Chappy had also drawn half decent, Partridge lake, somewhere around 27, 28.
For company I had Paul ‘Nightmare before Christmas’ Burton on corner peg 18, Meatcutter Bailey on 20 (19 empty), Rocket Ronnie Wilkinson on peg 21, and Ron Jeremy on peg 23.
Following a chat with Chappy, I had 3 tins of meat, 2 tins of hemp and a few pellets for today’s menu. I set up the following;
My trusty bomb rod, with 4lb maxima mainline and a .16 Maver Genesis hooklength with a size 14 Colmic WN501 hook attached. I also set up:
Rig 1 was a shallow rig, for fishing with meat up in the water. This set up included a .2g Garbolino DC6 float, shotted with a couple of No.8 Preston Stotz at halfway down. The line was .16 Maver Genesis straight through to a size 16 Colmic WN501 hook. I set this rig to fish about 18” deep; I could also shallow up if needed.
Rig 2 was a .2g Carp Devil. This was also set up on .16 Maver Genesis. To this I attached a size 14 Colmic WN501 hook. I plumbed up down both sides with this rig and found just over 2ft of depth next to the boards.
For rig three, I set up a .3g Garbolino DC6 float. This was on .15 Preston Powerline, straight through to a size 14 Colmic WN501 hook. I plumbed up at 6m to my left and found about 3.5ft of depth.
My fourth and final rig was set up to fish at 14m, the idea being that you feed the meat on your bomb and long pole line. For the long pole line, I set up a .5g Drennan Roach. This was also on .15 Preston Powerline straight through to which I attached a size 16 Colmic WN501 hook. I plumbed up at 14m and found about 5ft of depth.
At the all in, I threw some hemp and meat to my left and just put in hemp to my right, down the boards. I potted in a bit of bait at 14 and started to fish on my 6m line. I put a few grains of hemp in a toss pot and a couple of pieces of meat with meat on the hook. I shipped out to 6m, dropped my enticing bit of feed in and dropped my float over the top.
After about 15 minutes, I got my first indication. The float dipped, then shot under. A bottletop skimmer was the culprit. Well a fish is a fish, it’s a start.
I re-baited, dropped in again, put a few bits of hemp and meat over the top and waited, and waited. Nothing. When you are an hour into the match with a skimmer to show for your troubles, you do start to worry a tad. Rocket to my left was getting a few by fishing with pellet up in the water and dripping in the odd pellet now and again. Ron Jeremy had a couple of carp and Meatcutter Bailey had a couple, so all in all, I wasn’t that far behind.
I came up in the water, with meat on the hook. I fed a few pieces of meat, the float buried, followed by my black hydro screaming off at a rate of knots. A carp of 5lb was soon in the net. That’s it, they were up in the water, where they wanted to be.
After another fruitless 30 minutes, I managed to snare another carp of about 2lb. I decided that it was time to have a look down the side. I dropped in with meat on the hook, fed a few pieces of meat. The float buried, and a roach of about 2oz was soon in the net. I tried at the other side and caught a slightly bigger roach, this one was probably 3oz.
By now, Ron had 5 carp and was starting to get a few bites by feeding meat at full depth and fishing with meat over the top. He probably had about 6 carp. I had 2, Rocket had about 10, and Meatcutter had 3.
I continued to rotate all of my swims, trying to locate fish. I saw a fish swirl down to my right over where I had been feeding. They had turned up, or so I thought. I dropped in, the water was all cloudy. My float moved sideways, and that was it. My float moved sideways as the fish made a quick dash out of my peg.
Going into the last hour, I had managed to snare another carp up in the water. I had cut back on all feed up in the water and was only feeding 4 or 5 pieces of meat about every 5 minutes or so. It was as if the fish were already up in the water, but were backing off the feed. (Thinking about it afterwards, it was similar at Woodland View).
By the time the match had ended, the fish were just starting to get their heads down, so to speak and I think that I had finally got the feeding (or not) pattern right. I had managed to end up with 8 carp and a few bits and pieces for a total weight of 25lb 8oz. Ron Jeremy ended up with 44lb, Rocket Ronnie had 70lb+ (and got in the frame). Meatcutter Bailey tipped back an estimated 30lb (so he tells me).
Chappy came round to say that he’d had 23lb, and then he changed his mind and said that he’d had 38lb, then changed his mind again and said that he really had had 23lb. I still gave him a quid as I could see from the glint in his eye that he was telling porkies. He had weighed in 38lb and also managed to win his section. Paul Burton won our section with 50lb, most of which he had caught in the first 2 hours.
Dean Smith won the match with 120lb from Partridge Lake. Peg 23 or 24 I think all on meat up in the water.
Thursday, September 21, 2006
Friday, September 15, 2006
Sunday 10th September 2006 – The Oaks, Sessay.
For the past few Saturday’s or so, I have been taking one of my son’s sea fishing off Scarborough Harbour. I have been using a 2lb test curve carp/pike rod and I have also purchased a couple of spinning rods, one of 7ft and one of 9ft. I have been fishing with 1 oz lead weights with a long tail and a couple of hooks going up the line, fishing with squid as bait. It has been enjoyable because it has been different. Take yesterday for example. We caught 4 flatties and about 60 little Pollack or Coalfish (not sure which) and all of this was in about 4 hours on a high tide.
Having little fishing trips like this fire me up for a Sunday. You know how it is, when you aren’t doing as well as you know what you can and should be doing, you get a little bit dejected and that is the stage that I am at, at the moment. Saying that though, I enjoyed myself two weeks ago when I was fourth as I had caught a few. I am not bothered about winning an envelope, for me it is about catching fish. If I caught 70lb and came 10th, I would have enjoyed it as much as catching 40lb and winning the match.
As far as venues go, Sessay must be one of the hardest venues that I have fished. A few years back I used to fish places like Raker Lakes at York, Lindholme at Leeds and even the old lakes, Swallow, Mallard and Dragonfly at Woodlands Lakes, Thirsk. I won my fair share of matches on all of the above venues including winning the series at both Raker Lakes and Lindholme (Winter and Summer). But for some reason, I just cannot seem to be able to do it at Sessay. The venue is fair, you do not know where the winner is going to come from and the class of angler that fish there are amongst, if not, the best commercial anglers in the North East.
I also believe that the draw is currently less than kind to me at the moment. In my last 10 matches at Sessay, I have drawn in the same area, pegs 3 – 6, 6 times and the other times I have been on peg 36 (50+lb), 37 (25lb), 64 (74lb) and 69 (19lb). The funny thing is, is that there is 80 pegs on the lake. Why oh why can’t I move about a bit?
Today was no exception!!! By the time of the draw there were 43 of us ready for the match. The jackpot pegs were pegs 11 - Ray Wallace, 58 – Martin Murphy and Moi – Peg 7!!
Peg bloody 7. I don’t care if it is/was a jackpot peg, I still didn’t want to be there. Just possibly, due to the fact that I keep drawing in the same area, am I going to my peg with a negative attitude?
Talking about attitudes, what about this. Dean Smith turned up to fish the match. He travelled all the way from South of York. When he arrived, he asked me how many people were on the match. I told him that I had about 40 names. He didn’t pay on. He went back home to either pleasure fish or do whatever. What is that all about? Just because there wasn’t 50 on the match. Doesn’t he enjoy his fishing? If he fished the match, no doubt he would have probably won an envelope, which would have paid for his fishing. You can’t win them all.
Anyway’s you can but try, sometimes life throws up all sorts of surprises.
I had managed to source some quid action by way of Chappy (peg 61), Orc (peg 46) and Nightie (peg 21). Chappy, speaks for himself. Orc, possibly a quid coming my way and Nightie had drawn the same peg that Young Harry Potter had won off on Thursday’s open match. It wasn’t looking good. Comeback Macky and Pacifier.
I arrived at my peg to find that I had Ron Jeremy look-alike, Ray Singh to my left on peg 5 and the Kamasan Open, Andy Middleton, winner to my right on peg 8. ‘Old Lad’ Jonny Kenning was further round on peg 9.
For bait I had 3 pts of pellets (a mixture of two bags of Skinz in yellow and brown), Skinz for hook bait along with some 4mm and 6mm expanders and a tin of corn. My main plan of attack was to fish pellet up in the water.
Peg 7 is a corner peg on the end of the island. Peg 8 can also go down the side into the corner as the corner is about 15m round the arc. The wind was blowing from left to right straight into my corner.
As I was setting up, I heard the funniest thing all day. Ena Sharples was sat on his box setting up, when all of a sudden he chirped up and said of all things “I’m gonna be quiet today”. I nearly fell off my box laughing as did Ron Jeremy.
The rigs.
In view of trying to get them to come shallow, I set up the following:
Shallow rig – was a 4 x 10 Garbolino DC6 float set up on .11 Preston Powerline straight through to a size 18 Kamasan B911 hook. I had approximately 2ft of line between pole float and pole tip. This would allow me to follow the fish up and down in the water.
Shelf rig – was a 4 x 12 version of the above float. This was set up on .13 Preston Powerline straight through to a size 16 Kamasan B911 hook. I plumbed up across and found about 2ft of depth just on the edge of the shelf. I used the same float to plumb up down the side.
I was ready. I decided to go and have a chat with Old Lad prior to the start of the match. Whilst I was sat behind him, he was giving me a little ‘pep talk’, but he also said that he hated my peg.
At the all in, I cupped a little bit of bait down the side and a bit of bait at 12m on the edge of the shelf. Then like a whirling dervish, I started to catapult the assorted pellets out to 11m. After 30 minutes, I caught my first carp (well, fish for that matter) about 2lb. It was another 30 minutes before I caught another one. Middy on peg 8 had caught about 6 or so, all from the far side.
After 1 ½ hours, I thought that enough was enough, they don’t want to come up and sacked the up in the water method. I then concentrated on fishing both down the side and across. I was rotating both swims trying to get fish off either of the lines, with little success. Middy wasn’t fairing any better.
At the halfway stage, I would anticipate that I had caught about 14lb made up of about 8 or 9 carp. I managed to snare a few down the side, then they would disappear. You’d wait a bit, then they’d come back. They wouldn’t stay put.
By the end of the match, I was admitting to about 22lb. I had had a crap day, just couldn’t catch on any of my lines. Middy had also struggled, he will put it down to being slightly inebriated, I think that it was because he is crap. He’s nearly as bad as me.
Ron Jeremy was admitting to 40lb and I thought that Old Lad had about 70lb or so. By the time that the scales had arrived, Ena had weighed in 43lb (blimey, keeping quiet must have worked), Ron Jeremy had 42lb. I plonked 25lb on the scales. Middy had 34 and Old Lad’s 70lb turned out to be 95lb. What do I know.
To give you an idea of the area that I was in was like, the weights were as follows by peg; 1 – 27lb, 3 – 43lb, 5 – 42lb, 7 – 25lb, 8 – 34lb, 9 – 95lb, 11 – 20lb, then you get 13 – 57lb, 15 – 58lb, 17 – 38lb and 19 – 67lb, 21 36lb. Pegs 24 – 34 had a lowest weight of 54lb with a total of over 500lb weighed in between 7 anglers.
Full result:
1. John Kenning (Moorfields) 95-3-0, carp and silver fish, pole and maggot, peg 92. Rob Minikin (Harrogate Angling Services) 93-0-03. Lee Harrison (Van den Eynde) 92-12-04. Gareth Drury (Harrogate Angling Services/ Oaks) 90-1-05. Rob Morley (Wakefield) 78-1-06. Darren Taylor (Whizzo) 69-12-0.
As Old Lad went past me, he said that I will have to give him a ‘pep talk’ next time. He didn’t even pay me any money for the pleasure.
Talking of money, I was even further out of pocket as Orc DNW’d (and drove off without paying), Nightie had 36lb and Chappy ended up with 47lb.
I made a hasty exit. See you all next week.
For the past few Saturday’s or so, I have been taking one of my son’s sea fishing off Scarborough Harbour. I have been using a 2lb test curve carp/pike rod and I have also purchased a couple of spinning rods, one of 7ft and one of 9ft. I have been fishing with 1 oz lead weights with a long tail and a couple of hooks going up the line, fishing with squid as bait. It has been enjoyable because it has been different. Take yesterday for example. We caught 4 flatties and about 60 little Pollack or Coalfish (not sure which) and all of this was in about 4 hours on a high tide.
Having little fishing trips like this fire me up for a Sunday. You know how it is, when you aren’t doing as well as you know what you can and should be doing, you get a little bit dejected and that is the stage that I am at, at the moment. Saying that though, I enjoyed myself two weeks ago when I was fourth as I had caught a few. I am not bothered about winning an envelope, for me it is about catching fish. If I caught 70lb and came 10th, I would have enjoyed it as much as catching 40lb and winning the match.
As far as venues go, Sessay must be one of the hardest venues that I have fished. A few years back I used to fish places like Raker Lakes at York, Lindholme at Leeds and even the old lakes, Swallow, Mallard and Dragonfly at Woodlands Lakes, Thirsk. I won my fair share of matches on all of the above venues including winning the series at both Raker Lakes and Lindholme (Winter and Summer). But for some reason, I just cannot seem to be able to do it at Sessay. The venue is fair, you do not know where the winner is going to come from and the class of angler that fish there are amongst, if not, the best commercial anglers in the North East.
I also believe that the draw is currently less than kind to me at the moment. In my last 10 matches at Sessay, I have drawn in the same area, pegs 3 – 6, 6 times and the other times I have been on peg 36 (50+lb), 37 (25lb), 64 (74lb) and 69 (19lb). The funny thing is, is that there is 80 pegs on the lake. Why oh why can’t I move about a bit?
Today was no exception!!! By the time of the draw there were 43 of us ready for the match. The jackpot pegs were pegs 11 - Ray Wallace, 58 – Martin Murphy and Moi – Peg 7!!
Peg bloody 7. I don’t care if it is/was a jackpot peg, I still didn’t want to be there. Just possibly, due to the fact that I keep drawing in the same area, am I going to my peg with a negative attitude?
Talking about attitudes, what about this. Dean Smith turned up to fish the match. He travelled all the way from South of York. When he arrived, he asked me how many people were on the match. I told him that I had about 40 names. He didn’t pay on. He went back home to either pleasure fish or do whatever. What is that all about? Just because there wasn’t 50 on the match. Doesn’t he enjoy his fishing? If he fished the match, no doubt he would have probably won an envelope, which would have paid for his fishing. You can’t win them all.
Anyway’s you can but try, sometimes life throws up all sorts of surprises.
I had managed to source some quid action by way of Chappy (peg 61), Orc (peg 46) and Nightie (peg 21). Chappy, speaks for himself. Orc, possibly a quid coming my way and Nightie had drawn the same peg that Young Harry Potter had won off on Thursday’s open match. It wasn’t looking good. Comeback Macky and Pacifier.
I arrived at my peg to find that I had Ron Jeremy look-alike, Ray Singh to my left on peg 5 and the Kamasan Open, Andy Middleton, winner to my right on peg 8. ‘Old Lad’ Jonny Kenning was further round on peg 9.
For bait I had 3 pts of pellets (a mixture of two bags of Skinz in yellow and brown), Skinz for hook bait along with some 4mm and 6mm expanders and a tin of corn. My main plan of attack was to fish pellet up in the water.
Peg 7 is a corner peg on the end of the island. Peg 8 can also go down the side into the corner as the corner is about 15m round the arc. The wind was blowing from left to right straight into my corner.
As I was setting up, I heard the funniest thing all day. Ena Sharples was sat on his box setting up, when all of a sudden he chirped up and said of all things “I’m gonna be quiet today”. I nearly fell off my box laughing as did Ron Jeremy.
The rigs.
In view of trying to get them to come shallow, I set up the following:
Shallow rig – was a 4 x 10 Garbolino DC6 float set up on .11 Preston Powerline straight through to a size 18 Kamasan B911 hook. I had approximately 2ft of line between pole float and pole tip. This would allow me to follow the fish up and down in the water.
Shelf rig – was a 4 x 12 version of the above float. This was set up on .13 Preston Powerline straight through to a size 16 Kamasan B911 hook. I plumbed up across and found about 2ft of depth just on the edge of the shelf. I used the same float to plumb up down the side.
I was ready. I decided to go and have a chat with Old Lad prior to the start of the match. Whilst I was sat behind him, he was giving me a little ‘pep talk’, but he also said that he hated my peg.
At the all in, I cupped a little bit of bait down the side and a bit of bait at 12m on the edge of the shelf. Then like a whirling dervish, I started to catapult the assorted pellets out to 11m. After 30 minutes, I caught my first carp (well, fish for that matter) about 2lb. It was another 30 minutes before I caught another one. Middy on peg 8 had caught about 6 or so, all from the far side.
After 1 ½ hours, I thought that enough was enough, they don’t want to come up and sacked the up in the water method. I then concentrated on fishing both down the side and across. I was rotating both swims trying to get fish off either of the lines, with little success. Middy wasn’t fairing any better.
At the halfway stage, I would anticipate that I had caught about 14lb made up of about 8 or 9 carp. I managed to snare a few down the side, then they would disappear. You’d wait a bit, then they’d come back. They wouldn’t stay put.
By the end of the match, I was admitting to about 22lb. I had had a crap day, just couldn’t catch on any of my lines. Middy had also struggled, he will put it down to being slightly inebriated, I think that it was because he is crap. He’s nearly as bad as me.
Ron Jeremy was admitting to 40lb and I thought that Old Lad had about 70lb or so. By the time that the scales had arrived, Ena had weighed in 43lb (blimey, keeping quiet must have worked), Ron Jeremy had 42lb. I plonked 25lb on the scales. Middy had 34 and Old Lad’s 70lb turned out to be 95lb. What do I know.
To give you an idea of the area that I was in was like, the weights were as follows by peg; 1 – 27lb, 3 – 43lb, 5 – 42lb, 7 – 25lb, 8 – 34lb, 9 – 95lb, 11 – 20lb, then you get 13 – 57lb, 15 – 58lb, 17 – 38lb and 19 – 67lb, 21 36lb. Pegs 24 – 34 had a lowest weight of 54lb with a total of over 500lb weighed in between 7 anglers.
Full result:
1. John Kenning (Moorfields) 95-3-0, carp and silver fish, pole and maggot, peg 92. Rob Minikin (Harrogate Angling Services) 93-0-03. Lee Harrison (Van den Eynde) 92-12-04. Gareth Drury (Harrogate Angling Services/ Oaks) 90-1-05. Rob Morley (Wakefield) 78-1-06. Darren Taylor (Whizzo) 69-12-0.
As Old Lad went past me, he said that I will have to give him a ‘pep talk’ next time. He didn’t even pay me any money for the pleasure.
Talking of money, I was even further out of pocket as Orc DNW’d (and drove off without paying), Nightie had 36lb and Chappy ended up with 47lb.
I made a hasty exit. See you all next week.
Friday 8th September 2006 - Match fishing Subscriber Classic - Woodland View, Droitwich
Match fishing magazine ran a competition in order to win a ticket to fish the inaugural Match fishing Subscriber Classic, which was being held at Woodland View Druidic.And through a cancellation or another, and a few e-mails here and there, I managed to get a ticket, courtesy of the Rochdale Raver putting my name forward to Mr Harrell. In response to one of my e-mails Mr Harrell replied something along the lines of ‘AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHH, although I may have missed a few A’s and R’s off the reply.
I gleaned all the information that I could from Jon Arthur (Dudley Moore). I had to e-mail him once or twice (he he) to get the info as he was less than forthcoming with his tips, he even tried to charge me a pound a tip (well at least it wouldn’t have cost me a lot). The general consensus was a corn approach with meat over the top, although things were on the change and it could be a maggot day or a worm day or even a pellet day. I wished that I’d never asked.
I even e-mailed my mate Coxy, who had just returned from his jollies in Turkey. He basically backed up what Dudley had said.
What a palaver?
I was up early in order to have a nice relaxing steady drive down there. I set off at 2 minutes past 6 and was hoping to be there by 8:00 – 8:15. I was making good progress down the M1 and by 7:10, I was already at junction 13 of the M42/A42(?). This is where my day started to go wrong. By 7:45, I was at Junction 12 of the M42 – as Mr Harrell would say ‘AAAAARRRRRGGGGGGGHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!. Whilst I was stuck in traffic due to the M42 being closed between junctions 11 and 10, I got out my trusty atlas (who needs satnav?) and started to travel cross country, past Twycross Zoo and round the lanes and all over. I managed to get back on the M42 at Junction 10, just below the accident and was then met by traffic calming speed restrictions between junctions 9 and about 4. Traffic Calming, what the flip do they know about TRAFFIC CALMING. Here I am in a rush to get somewhere, I am on a motorway and I can only do 50mph maximum speed. Calm, was I calm? Is Dave Harrell really The Hoff in disguise? Answers on a postcard please.
I finally managed to arrive at 8:50 for a 9:00 draw. That gave me 10 minutes to get something to eat and to get into the draw queue.
I ordered a brekkie and then joined a table with O’Dear Driscoll, Sconeeee, Andy T and God’s Dad, Steve May. Dad was quizzing me about my in depth knowledge of the place, but I knew even less than him. Whilst I was torturing Dad for all the info, apparently someone shouted my number for me to go and get my brekkie. In view of being somewhat slightly deaf, I couldn’t hear them. After some 5 minutes of wasting away, I went in search of my brekkie. Due to the stress that I had endured getting here, taking into consideration the Traffic Calming, I got a wee bit of indigestion whilst eating my brekkie. 2 Sausage, eggs, bacon, beans, tomatoes, toast and what ever else was on my plate in less than 3 minutes then into the draw queue.
In view of taking a quid off O’Dear a couple of weeks ago, the return side bet was back on; let’s see if I can keep up my good record of one from one.
Dad told me to come and see him when I had drawn as he was going to speak to God and get all the info on his lake and his peg. I put my hand into the magic box and pulled out……….. High 33?????
From all the info that I had received, this was probably the only lake that I didn’t want to be on. It is the deepest lake on the venue and it is teeming with silvers.
When I found Dad, he was speaking to God. I managed to prise the phone out of his grip and spoke to God myself. God told me that High pool is a good up in the water pool with caster as loose feed and worm on the hook, the best way to score.
I didn’t have any casters, but I did have some worm, about ½ a kilo. God said to keep feeding the casters, fish with worm on the hook and stick at it. I would get bitted out to start then the carp, predominantly F1’s will come in, and you can build up a good weight. He also said ‘do not forget to feed the inside line’.
I quickly went into the onsite shop and stole 3 pints of casters and another ¼ kilo of worm. One of us was stealing as it cost me £12.00. In addition, I also had some 3 tins of corn, 6mm cubed meat and some rough meat that I had pulled to bits.
I arrived at my peg to find that I had Dad at the back on me on Arles pool. I quickly struck up a quid with him, hoping that youth and enthusiasm would earn me a quid against age and experience.
In view of my newly acquired information, I set up the following rigs:
Down the side rig:
I set up a .2g Colmic float with a rugby ball body and a fat plastic bristle. This was attached to .16 Maver Genesis line straight through to a size 12 Colmic WN501 hook. I plumbed up down the side to my right about 5m along the bank and about 2ft from the bank and found that I had about 18” of depth. I used the same rig to plumb up down to my left and side and plumbed around until I found the same depth.
Shallow rig:
I set up a Preston Bazzerla PB2 taking 4 x 10 shot. This was attached to .13 Preston Powerline straight through to a size 14 Kamasan B911 hook. I had a maximum of 2ft of line between pole float and pole tip with the bulk of shot about 6 – 8” from the hook, this would allow me to alter my depth by about 12 – 18”. I planned to fish at about 9 – 10m out.
My deep rig:
I set up a middy 4 x 16 float which caught my eye whilst in my tackle shop the other day. It is a rugby ball shape, with a long carbon stem (which I trimmed down) and a long plastic bristle. The line also passes through the side of the body. I set this up on .16 Maver Genesis line straight through to a size 14 Colmic WN501 hook.
For both the side and deep rig’s I was using black hydro through the power top twos and for the shallow rig, I was using grey hydro through a match 2 & 3.
Dad’s peg looked a little better than mine, he had an island that was within reach (14m) and this was his main target area.
On your marks!!!
We were off. At the all in, I cupped in some corn down both margin swims and also at 5m. I then proceeded to fire casters out to my chosen shallow length. I baited up with worm on the hook, shipped out, fired some casters over the top and caught a roach. God did tell me that I would get pestered by the bits for the first hour or so, then the carp (F1’s) should move in, then I should start bagging.
Whilst I was continuing to fish up in the water, I was all the while keeping an eye on my margin swims and I was also baiting up down both sides and at 5m. After about an hour, I had about 5lb or so of silver fish, and a couple of small crucian carp. I had just caught a small roach, I re-baited with worm again, shipped out, dropped in and the elastic streamed out.
Carp No 1 was soon in my keepnet and added about 1lb to my weight. I repeated the process and it was about another hour before I got my next carp, again, about 1lb in weight.
I was constantly keeping an eye on all those around me and apart from the bloke on Peg 2 or 3 (I think his name was Les Thompson?) no one seemed to be breaking any records. Les was catching by feeding a few pellets in a pole cup, and adding something else, then putting a squirt of red liquid in the pot, presumably Predator Plus which had been doing some damage on the venue. When he tipped his bait in, there would be a big red slick in his peg, then he would eventually catch a fish, mainly carp. The only downside was that this slick was also going through about 4 or 5 pegs to his left.
2 ½ hours into the match, I threw a good handful of casters down to my right hand side swim. Some 20 minutes later I saw some tails and the water was clouding up down the side. I quickly shipped back in and swapped over to my margin rig.
I baited up with a grain of corn on the hook, dropped in the middle of the now cloudy water and waited. I waited and I waited. I came back, swapped over to meat on the hook, threw some more casters down over the cloudy water and dropped in. My float went this way, it went that way, but it wouldn’t put its head under the water.
I thought ‘Right, they want caster’. I came back, put on 3 casters, fed some more, then dropped in. The float had been in the water about 3 minutes, the float shot under and a roach about 3 oz was soon in the net.
The water was still clouding. I put a worm on the hook, dropped in and waited. After a couple of minutes, the float buried and a perch was found to be the culprit. I had only put on half a worm and the worm was still bigger than the perch.
With about 1 hour to go, I made the decision to leave my margin swim and concentrate on my 5m line, which had been lovingly pre-baited all match and the fish should be queuing up to get to my bait.
I baited up with corn on the hook, dropped in and fed a handful of casters over the top. After about 5 minutes, I caught a trench of about 8oz. Next drop in and a carp of about 5lb was soon on it’s way. There was about 30 minutes of the match left. The bloke to my right (Dave from Nottingham/Derby?) was steadily starting to put a few fish together by fishing in the deep water. He later told me that he started to fill it in with maggots at 8m, and fished corn over the top. He ended up with 7 carp.
Dad must have seen me catch my big carp as he was worried and he was asking me ‘Mick, what weight have you got?’ ‘5lb’ I replied.
By the time of the all out, I had managed to snare another smaller carp of about 2lb. I was admitting to 14/15lb and Dad was admitting to 19/20lb. I gave him my quid, even before the scales had arrived. Being the gent that Dad is, he wanted to get off. He gave me my quid back and tipped back. I told him that he owed me a quid now as he was a DNW and I was going to weigh. After all of the crying and sobbing, I relented and tipped back also.
O’Dear had caught a few and weighed in 37lb odd. So I was a quid down after all and the series is now 1 all.
I thanked all around me and made for my journey home. It took me 3 hours and 4 minutes and I averaged 47 mph. A 300 mile round trip and 6 hours on the road. That is motorway driving for you.
Any way’s I still enjoyed the match as it was somewhere new and the fishing was different to what I had been doing in terms of fishing into open water and fishing against an island. I was also told to expect some big fish which also leads to the anticipation.
Roll on next year.
Match fishing magazine ran a competition in order to win a ticket to fish the inaugural Match fishing Subscriber Classic, which was being held at Woodland View Druidic.And through a cancellation or another, and a few e-mails here and there, I managed to get a ticket, courtesy of the Rochdale Raver putting my name forward to Mr Harrell. In response to one of my e-mails Mr Harrell replied something along the lines of ‘AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHH, although I may have missed a few A’s and R’s off the reply.
I gleaned all the information that I could from Jon Arthur (Dudley Moore). I had to e-mail him once or twice (he he) to get the info as he was less than forthcoming with his tips, he even tried to charge me a pound a tip (well at least it wouldn’t have cost me a lot). The general consensus was a corn approach with meat over the top, although things were on the change and it could be a maggot day or a worm day or even a pellet day. I wished that I’d never asked.
I even e-mailed my mate Coxy, who had just returned from his jollies in Turkey. He basically backed up what Dudley had said.
What a palaver?
I was up early in order to have a nice relaxing steady drive down there. I set off at 2 minutes past 6 and was hoping to be there by 8:00 – 8:15. I was making good progress down the M1 and by 7:10, I was already at junction 13 of the M42/A42(?). This is where my day started to go wrong. By 7:45, I was at Junction 12 of the M42 – as Mr Harrell would say ‘AAAAARRRRRGGGGGGGHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!. Whilst I was stuck in traffic due to the M42 being closed between junctions 11 and 10, I got out my trusty atlas (who needs satnav?) and started to travel cross country, past Twycross Zoo and round the lanes and all over. I managed to get back on the M42 at Junction 10, just below the accident and was then met by traffic calming speed restrictions between junctions 9 and about 4. Traffic Calming, what the flip do they know about TRAFFIC CALMING. Here I am in a rush to get somewhere, I am on a motorway and I can only do 50mph maximum speed. Calm, was I calm? Is Dave Harrell really The Hoff in disguise? Answers on a postcard please.
I finally managed to arrive at 8:50 for a 9:00 draw. That gave me 10 minutes to get something to eat and to get into the draw queue.
I ordered a brekkie and then joined a table with O’Dear Driscoll, Sconeeee, Andy T and God’s Dad, Steve May. Dad was quizzing me about my in depth knowledge of the place, but I knew even less than him. Whilst I was torturing Dad for all the info, apparently someone shouted my number for me to go and get my brekkie. In view of being somewhat slightly deaf, I couldn’t hear them. After some 5 minutes of wasting away, I went in search of my brekkie. Due to the stress that I had endured getting here, taking into consideration the Traffic Calming, I got a wee bit of indigestion whilst eating my brekkie. 2 Sausage, eggs, bacon, beans, tomatoes, toast and what ever else was on my plate in less than 3 minutes then into the draw queue.
In view of taking a quid off O’Dear a couple of weeks ago, the return side bet was back on; let’s see if I can keep up my good record of one from one.
Dad told me to come and see him when I had drawn as he was going to speak to God and get all the info on his lake and his peg. I put my hand into the magic box and pulled out……….. High 33?????
From all the info that I had received, this was probably the only lake that I didn’t want to be on. It is the deepest lake on the venue and it is teeming with silvers.
When I found Dad, he was speaking to God. I managed to prise the phone out of his grip and spoke to God myself. God told me that High pool is a good up in the water pool with caster as loose feed and worm on the hook, the best way to score.
I didn’t have any casters, but I did have some worm, about ½ a kilo. God said to keep feeding the casters, fish with worm on the hook and stick at it. I would get bitted out to start then the carp, predominantly F1’s will come in, and you can build up a good weight. He also said ‘do not forget to feed the inside line’.
I quickly went into the onsite shop and stole 3 pints of casters and another ¼ kilo of worm. One of us was stealing as it cost me £12.00. In addition, I also had some 3 tins of corn, 6mm cubed meat and some rough meat that I had pulled to bits.
I arrived at my peg to find that I had Dad at the back on me on Arles pool. I quickly struck up a quid with him, hoping that youth and enthusiasm would earn me a quid against age and experience.
In view of my newly acquired information, I set up the following rigs:
Down the side rig:
I set up a .2g Colmic float with a rugby ball body and a fat plastic bristle. This was attached to .16 Maver Genesis line straight through to a size 12 Colmic WN501 hook. I plumbed up down the side to my right about 5m along the bank and about 2ft from the bank and found that I had about 18” of depth. I used the same rig to plumb up down to my left and side and plumbed around until I found the same depth.
Shallow rig:
I set up a Preston Bazzerla PB2 taking 4 x 10 shot. This was attached to .13 Preston Powerline straight through to a size 14 Kamasan B911 hook. I had a maximum of 2ft of line between pole float and pole tip with the bulk of shot about 6 – 8” from the hook, this would allow me to alter my depth by about 12 – 18”. I planned to fish at about 9 – 10m out.
My deep rig:
I set up a middy 4 x 16 float which caught my eye whilst in my tackle shop the other day. It is a rugby ball shape, with a long carbon stem (which I trimmed down) and a long plastic bristle. The line also passes through the side of the body. I set this up on .16 Maver Genesis line straight through to a size 14 Colmic WN501 hook.
For both the side and deep rig’s I was using black hydro through the power top twos and for the shallow rig, I was using grey hydro through a match 2 & 3.
Dad’s peg looked a little better than mine, he had an island that was within reach (14m) and this was his main target area.
On your marks!!!
We were off. At the all in, I cupped in some corn down both margin swims and also at 5m. I then proceeded to fire casters out to my chosen shallow length. I baited up with worm on the hook, shipped out, fired some casters over the top and caught a roach. God did tell me that I would get pestered by the bits for the first hour or so, then the carp (F1’s) should move in, then I should start bagging.
Whilst I was continuing to fish up in the water, I was all the while keeping an eye on my margin swims and I was also baiting up down both sides and at 5m. After about an hour, I had about 5lb or so of silver fish, and a couple of small crucian carp. I had just caught a small roach, I re-baited with worm again, shipped out, dropped in and the elastic streamed out.
Carp No 1 was soon in my keepnet and added about 1lb to my weight. I repeated the process and it was about another hour before I got my next carp, again, about 1lb in weight.
I was constantly keeping an eye on all those around me and apart from the bloke on Peg 2 or 3 (I think his name was Les Thompson?) no one seemed to be breaking any records. Les was catching by feeding a few pellets in a pole cup, and adding something else, then putting a squirt of red liquid in the pot, presumably Predator Plus which had been doing some damage on the venue. When he tipped his bait in, there would be a big red slick in his peg, then he would eventually catch a fish, mainly carp. The only downside was that this slick was also going through about 4 or 5 pegs to his left.
2 ½ hours into the match, I threw a good handful of casters down to my right hand side swim. Some 20 minutes later I saw some tails and the water was clouding up down the side. I quickly shipped back in and swapped over to my margin rig.
I baited up with a grain of corn on the hook, dropped in the middle of the now cloudy water and waited. I waited and I waited. I came back, swapped over to meat on the hook, threw some more casters down over the cloudy water and dropped in. My float went this way, it went that way, but it wouldn’t put its head under the water.
I thought ‘Right, they want caster’. I came back, put on 3 casters, fed some more, then dropped in. The float had been in the water about 3 minutes, the float shot under and a roach about 3 oz was soon in the net.
The water was still clouding. I put a worm on the hook, dropped in and waited. After a couple of minutes, the float buried and a perch was found to be the culprit. I had only put on half a worm and the worm was still bigger than the perch.
With about 1 hour to go, I made the decision to leave my margin swim and concentrate on my 5m line, which had been lovingly pre-baited all match and the fish should be queuing up to get to my bait.
I baited up with corn on the hook, dropped in and fed a handful of casters over the top. After about 5 minutes, I caught a trench of about 8oz. Next drop in and a carp of about 5lb was soon on it’s way. There was about 30 minutes of the match left. The bloke to my right (Dave from Nottingham/Derby?) was steadily starting to put a few fish together by fishing in the deep water. He later told me that he started to fill it in with maggots at 8m, and fished corn over the top. He ended up with 7 carp.
Dad must have seen me catch my big carp as he was worried and he was asking me ‘Mick, what weight have you got?’ ‘5lb’ I replied.
By the time of the all out, I had managed to snare another smaller carp of about 2lb. I was admitting to 14/15lb and Dad was admitting to 19/20lb. I gave him my quid, even before the scales had arrived. Being the gent that Dad is, he wanted to get off. He gave me my quid back and tipped back. I told him that he owed me a quid now as he was a DNW and I was going to weigh. After all of the crying and sobbing, I relented and tipped back also.
O’Dear had caught a few and weighed in 37lb odd. So I was a quid down after all and the series is now 1 all.
I thanked all around me and made for my journey home. It took me 3 hours and 4 minutes and I averaged 47 mph. A 300 mile round trip and 6 hours on the road. That is motorway driving for you.
Any way’s I still enjoyed the match as it was somewhere new and the fishing was different to what I had been doing in terms of fishing into open water and fishing against an island. I was also told to expect some big fish which also leads to the anticipation.
Roll on next year.
Sunday, September 03, 2006
Saturday 2nd September 2006
Intersite Individual - Barston Lakes, Midlands
After all the apprehension and the build up to the intersite individual match taking place at Nigel Harrhy's place at Barston, the day was finally upon us, us being Andy Purvis (Purverted) and I.
One of the most popular questions that I had been asked in relation to the match was, why was I going? Because (I know you shouldn't start a sentence with 'because') it is something different and I also wanted to put a face to the names that I have got to know from the Total-Fishing website.
In view of the recent Drennan Superleague match being held on the lake recently, I asked about for one or two ideas about how to go on. I managed to wangle some method feeders (never used the method before) from Johnny Bradders, I had a chat with Des Southern and I also saw Mark Addy in my local tackle shop.
The general consensus was to fish the method feeder with either dead red maggot or mini boilies on the hook or fish the pole with either a pellet or chopped worm approach.
I arranged for Purverted to be at my house for 6:30 in order to allow us 2 hours to get there, then have a brekkie before the 9:30 draw. We timed it just about right, as we didn't leave my house until nearly 6:45 and we arrived by 8:30 courtesy of my navigational skills, although I did take my eyes off the road and the map on occasions (and I thought my driving was scary, you ain't seen Purverted drive yet, when you see him, ask him about the ducks in the middle of the road on the way home from work about a year ago).
Barston lake is a 21 acre lake with 100 pegs set along side a golf course and the draw and breakfast was to take place in the 19th hole. When I arrived at the door of the 19th hole, I was half expecting a commissioner to open the door for me and point me in the direction of some slippers.
For my bait list I had 1 bag of green swimstim bulked out with micro pellets, already prepared to deaden the mix, a couple of bags of micro pellets, hard 4mm pellets, hooker pellets, 1/2 pt dead red maggots, 1 small tin of corn, 1/2 kilo of worms and some mini boilies (cheers Bradders).
The interesite was to be contested between members from Total-Fishing.com, Maggotdrowners (?), the recently re-vamped Talk Angling and not sure of other sites. By the time of the draw, there were 29 of us there, mainly Total-Fishing members.
I put my hand in the bag and pulled out peg 94. Well, what did I know about peg 94. Nothing, nada, zilch, zero. Purverted put his hand in and drew peg 80, he knew even less than me. Harrhy (?) was next to Purverted on peg 81. Red Army was 3 or 4 pegs away from me on peg 90/91 .
Quid action? Whilst I was having my breakfast Red Army shouted that I chickened out of the intersite match that took place at Lindholme Lakes, Doncaster. The book was opened, my first quid account was struck. I also proceeded to have a quid with anglers both sides of me. Now this is where I must offer my apologies to Neil Powell who was next to me on peg 95. I went to the lad on peg 93 and offered him out for a quid, this was quickly accepted and I then went to the fella who was hiding behind his umbrella on peg 95 and shouted across to him, if he wanted a quid. This was duly accepted. I got the chap to look out from behind his umbrella and thought, blimey mate, I don't want to be taking any of your heating money, but then again, sod that it was warm. In view of Purvedted being present, the obligatory £2 was struck!!
The Weather.
I thought that it was windy at Sessay until I arrived here. There was a slight wind blowing, it must have been the strongest wind of the year. I set my pole up at 13m and very very quickly brought it back to 10/11m. I didn't want to risk seeing my pole get snapped and go flying down the lake.
All the gear, no idea.
I set up 2 pole rigs which both incorporated Drennan Roach floats;
1st rig was a 4 x 14 float on Maver Genesis .14 mainline with a .12 hooklength tied to a size 16 Kamasan B911 hook. This rig was attached to Grey Hydro.
my 2nd rig was a .5g float set up as above. I plumbed up at 10m with both rigs as the wind wasn't going to let me plumb up any further without smashing my pole first. At 10m I found a pretty flat even bottom where I had about 3.5ft of depth. I attached this one to white hydro.
I also set up the obligatory method rod. This consisted of a Maver multi-tip 11/13ft feeder rod (set at 11') with a Shimano Perfection Match reel attached. I had 6lb Maxima has my mainline. I attached one of Bradders' Fox method feeders (25g) and I was ready to go.
Prior to the all in, Purverted came up to see me and told me that he had seen 5 carp topping in his peg, 2 to the left, 1 at about 16m in front, 1 at 25m in front and 1 to his right. The winner of the match held yesterday (Friday) came from about peg 82/83 and he begged and pleaded and grovelled his way to borrowing my rod. He had either forgotten his or he couldn't be bothered taking it. In view of us going halves and him being in the right area, I obliged.
At the all in, I cupped in 3 medium balls of groundbait and pellets on to the 10m line and immediately went over with the .5g float rig and pellet as hookbait. The lad to my right fed a little further out on his pole line, then chucked his method feeder out.
After about 3 or 4 minutes, my float buried and carp no1 one was soon in the keepnet. I dropped in again with a tosspot full of pellets and groundbait. I dropped in over the top, the float dipped and I lost a foul-hooked carp.
Next drop in, I foul-hooked another. On my 4th drop in, I caught another carp. 40 minutes in and I had a total of 2 carp for about 2.5lb. The lad to my right had a couple of carp and a couple of skimmers on the method. He had seen me starting to get a few fish on the pole, he came in on his pole line and caught a skimmer almost immediately.
I swapped over to corn on the hook. I shipped out the pole, dropped in and a skimmer about 8oz had a liking for the hookbait. The skimmers had finally arrived.
After a further fruitless 30 minutes, I went to go and see Purverted to see if he was bagging on my bomb rod. He was out on the pole and had been done up like a kipper once. I got my bomb rod back and went back to my peg.
I chucked the method out with corn has hookbait, put it on the rest and waited. The tip trembled, and I wasn't sure if it was because of the wind. I waited a little longer and the tip still trembled, I struck and carp no 3 was soon on it's way. I made a decision, I was going to change my 10m line over to a groundbait and chopped worm line. I chopped some worms up and cupped them in. I chucked back out on the method and after about 15 minutes, I caught a skimmer of about 8oz. I waited another 20 mintues, and nothing. It was time to try the worm.
I baited up with half a worm on the hook, dropped it in and caught a carp almost immediately. That was it, they wanted worm, or so I thought.
Purverted had in the meantime, come back down to me. He couldn't hold his pole and wondered if he could have the rod back. The lad who was on peg 84 was bagging on the method and Harrhy was starting to get a few.
The wind was only slightly stronger than what it was an hour ago and was steadily increasing in speed as the match progressed. Atleast I could hold a pole in my peg.
I then fished the remainder of the match on the worm, feeding small amounts of worm and groundbait after every fish. I managed to snare another 3 carp with the biggest one being about 5lb, a couple of roach (which I might add are generally nuisance fish), and a few more skimmers.
At the all out, the rain started to drizzle, unless it was the spray being carried 50m from the fountain next to the 18th hole, which was a little island straight infront of me. Every so often I thought that I saw a fish top, it wasn't. It was a golf ball splash landing from the palyers with a handicap of over 100. It was a bit like tennis - chip and charge!!! I wonder if Harrhy has got some scuba gear to get all of the golf balls for a little bit of cash on the side.
Purverted was soon at my peg and gave me back my method rod - too late mate, the match is over. I asked him what he weighed, he said 11lb. I missed his 2 quids.
By the time that the scales arrived Red Army had weighed in 14lb (another quid up), the lad to my right weighed in 25lb (he managed to snare a few by alternating both the pole and the method feeder). I lifted my net out and plonked 21lb on the scales. Purverted had cost me a quid.
Oh well, there was Neil Powell to weigh in to my left yet. He had had 2 carp for not a lot. £5 up, £1 down.
It was back to the 19th hole for a beer and something to eat. Whilst I was munching on the food provided by Harrhy (note to self, do not let Harrhy employ me, he was snapping at the staff about the poor service, which to be honest, I hadn't noticed was bad), he slapped a bird on the posterior. He said it was alright, it was his missus. I told him that I thought that it was customary, and I started to form an orderly queue.
The overall result
1st Lee Taylor 77lb.
2nd Keith Taylor 51.8
3rd Ian Topliss 44.12
Sections
A R Byas 42.4
B J Sterndale 36.8
C M Kay 37.4
D M Paynter 36.8
Well done Lee.
Overall, it was windy, but it was a good day as a change is as good as a rest. I met a few faces, Sconneeeeee, Andy Topliss, Andy Jameson (?), Neil Powell, Neil H, Harrhy and to the rest, sorry if I have missed you off.
Here's to the venue and the match, hopefully there will be a few more at the next one and I hope to see some of you at the Duane memorial match in October. There's over 200 on now.
Tighlines and bent rods!!!
Intersite Individual - Barston Lakes, Midlands
After all the apprehension and the build up to the intersite individual match taking place at Nigel Harrhy's place at Barston, the day was finally upon us, us being Andy Purvis (Purverted) and I.
One of the most popular questions that I had been asked in relation to the match was, why was I going? Because (I know you shouldn't start a sentence with 'because') it is something different and I also wanted to put a face to the names that I have got to know from the Total-Fishing website.
In view of the recent Drennan Superleague match being held on the lake recently, I asked about for one or two ideas about how to go on. I managed to wangle some method feeders (never used the method before) from Johnny Bradders, I had a chat with Des Southern and I also saw Mark Addy in my local tackle shop.
The general consensus was to fish the method feeder with either dead red maggot or mini boilies on the hook or fish the pole with either a pellet or chopped worm approach.
I arranged for Purverted to be at my house for 6:30 in order to allow us 2 hours to get there, then have a brekkie before the 9:30 draw. We timed it just about right, as we didn't leave my house until nearly 6:45 and we arrived by 8:30 courtesy of my navigational skills, although I did take my eyes off the road and the map on occasions (and I thought my driving was scary, you ain't seen Purverted drive yet, when you see him, ask him about the ducks in the middle of the road on the way home from work about a year ago).
Barston lake is a 21 acre lake with 100 pegs set along side a golf course and the draw and breakfast was to take place in the 19th hole. When I arrived at the door of the 19th hole, I was half expecting a commissioner to open the door for me and point me in the direction of some slippers.
For my bait list I had 1 bag of green swimstim bulked out with micro pellets, already prepared to deaden the mix, a couple of bags of micro pellets, hard 4mm pellets, hooker pellets, 1/2 pt dead red maggots, 1 small tin of corn, 1/2 kilo of worms and some mini boilies (cheers Bradders).
The interesite was to be contested between members from Total-Fishing.com, Maggotdrowners (?), the recently re-vamped Talk Angling and not sure of other sites. By the time of the draw, there were 29 of us there, mainly Total-Fishing members.
I put my hand in the bag and pulled out peg 94. Well, what did I know about peg 94. Nothing, nada, zilch, zero. Purverted put his hand in and drew peg 80, he knew even less than me. Harrhy (?) was next to Purverted on peg 81. Red Army was 3 or 4 pegs away from me on peg 90/91 .
Quid action? Whilst I was having my breakfast Red Army shouted that I chickened out of the intersite match that took place at Lindholme Lakes, Doncaster. The book was opened, my first quid account was struck. I also proceeded to have a quid with anglers both sides of me. Now this is where I must offer my apologies to Neil Powell who was next to me on peg 95. I went to the lad on peg 93 and offered him out for a quid, this was quickly accepted and I then went to the fella who was hiding behind his umbrella on peg 95 and shouted across to him, if he wanted a quid. This was duly accepted. I got the chap to look out from behind his umbrella and thought, blimey mate, I don't want to be taking any of your heating money, but then again, sod that it was warm. In view of Purvedted being present, the obligatory £2 was struck!!
The Weather.
I thought that it was windy at Sessay until I arrived here. There was a slight wind blowing, it must have been the strongest wind of the year. I set my pole up at 13m and very very quickly brought it back to 10/11m. I didn't want to risk seeing my pole get snapped and go flying down the lake.
All the gear, no idea.
I set up 2 pole rigs which both incorporated Drennan Roach floats;
1st rig was a 4 x 14 float on Maver Genesis .14 mainline with a .12 hooklength tied to a size 16 Kamasan B911 hook. This rig was attached to Grey Hydro.
my 2nd rig was a .5g float set up as above. I plumbed up at 10m with both rigs as the wind wasn't going to let me plumb up any further without smashing my pole first. At 10m I found a pretty flat even bottom where I had about 3.5ft of depth. I attached this one to white hydro.
I also set up the obligatory method rod. This consisted of a Maver multi-tip 11/13ft feeder rod (set at 11') with a Shimano Perfection Match reel attached. I had 6lb Maxima has my mainline. I attached one of Bradders' Fox method feeders (25g) and I was ready to go.
Prior to the all in, Purverted came up to see me and told me that he had seen 5 carp topping in his peg, 2 to the left, 1 at about 16m in front, 1 at 25m in front and 1 to his right. The winner of the match held yesterday (Friday) came from about peg 82/83 and he begged and pleaded and grovelled his way to borrowing my rod. He had either forgotten his or he couldn't be bothered taking it. In view of us going halves and him being in the right area, I obliged.
At the all in, I cupped in 3 medium balls of groundbait and pellets on to the 10m line and immediately went over with the .5g float rig and pellet as hookbait. The lad to my right fed a little further out on his pole line, then chucked his method feeder out.
After about 3 or 4 minutes, my float buried and carp no1 one was soon in the keepnet. I dropped in again with a tosspot full of pellets and groundbait. I dropped in over the top, the float dipped and I lost a foul-hooked carp.
Next drop in, I foul-hooked another. On my 4th drop in, I caught another carp. 40 minutes in and I had a total of 2 carp for about 2.5lb. The lad to my right had a couple of carp and a couple of skimmers on the method. He had seen me starting to get a few fish on the pole, he came in on his pole line and caught a skimmer almost immediately.
I swapped over to corn on the hook. I shipped out the pole, dropped in and a skimmer about 8oz had a liking for the hookbait. The skimmers had finally arrived.
After a further fruitless 30 minutes, I went to go and see Purverted to see if he was bagging on my bomb rod. He was out on the pole and had been done up like a kipper once. I got my bomb rod back and went back to my peg.
I chucked the method out with corn has hookbait, put it on the rest and waited. The tip trembled, and I wasn't sure if it was because of the wind. I waited a little longer and the tip still trembled, I struck and carp no 3 was soon on it's way. I made a decision, I was going to change my 10m line over to a groundbait and chopped worm line. I chopped some worms up and cupped them in. I chucked back out on the method and after about 15 minutes, I caught a skimmer of about 8oz. I waited another 20 mintues, and nothing. It was time to try the worm.
I baited up with half a worm on the hook, dropped it in and caught a carp almost immediately. That was it, they wanted worm, or so I thought.
Purverted had in the meantime, come back down to me. He couldn't hold his pole and wondered if he could have the rod back. The lad who was on peg 84 was bagging on the method and Harrhy was starting to get a few.
The wind was only slightly stronger than what it was an hour ago and was steadily increasing in speed as the match progressed. Atleast I could hold a pole in my peg.
I then fished the remainder of the match on the worm, feeding small amounts of worm and groundbait after every fish. I managed to snare another 3 carp with the biggest one being about 5lb, a couple of roach (which I might add are generally nuisance fish), and a few more skimmers.
At the all out, the rain started to drizzle, unless it was the spray being carried 50m from the fountain next to the 18th hole, which was a little island straight infront of me. Every so often I thought that I saw a fish top, it wasn't. It was a golf ball splash landing from the palyers with a handicap of over 100. It was a bit like tennis - chip and charge!!! I wonder if Harrhy has got some scuba gear to get all of the golf balls for a little bit of cash on the side.
Purverted was soon at my peg and gave me back my method rod - too late mate, the match is over. I asked him what he weighed, he said 11lb. I missed his 2 quids.
By the time that the scales arrived Red Army had weighed in 14lb (another quid up), the lad to my right weighed in 25lb (he managed to snare a few by alternating both the pole and the method feeder). I lifted my net out and plonked 21lb on the scales. Purverted had cost me a quid.
Oh well, there was Neil Powell to weigh in to my left yet. He had had 2 carp for not a lot. £5 up, £1 down.
It was back to the 19th hole for a beer and something to eat. Whilst I was munching on the food provided by Harrhy (note to self, do not let Harrhy employ me, he was snapping at the staff about the poor service, which to be honest, I hadn't noticed was bad), he slapped a bird on the posterior. He said it was alright, it was his missus. I told him that I thought that it was customary, and I started to form an orderly queue.
The overall result
1st Lee Taylor 77lb.
2nd Keith Taylor 51.8
3rd Ian Topliss 44.12
Sections
A R Byas 42.4
B J Sterndale 36.8
C M Kay 37.4
D M Paynter 36.8
Well done Lee.
Overall, it was windy, but it was a good day as a change is as good as a rest. I met a few faces, Sconneeeeee, Andy Topliss, Andy Jameson (?), Neil Powell, Neil H, Harrhy and to the rest, sorry if I have missed you off.
Here's to the venue and the match, hopefully there will be a few more at the next one and I hope to see some of you at the Duane memorial match in October. There's over 200 on now.
Tighlines and bent rods!!!
Wednesday, August 30, 2006
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
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
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
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