Due to shift patterns I have to try and get my match fix where and when I can. Finishing work Tuesday morning meant no Alders Farm match so both Mick and I decided on a trip to Oakfield for their open. Red Kite in winter is very much feast or famine, but no different to anywhere else. Ideally somewhere in the middle of the lake would suffice, always seems to be consistent fishing. The weather forecast was also not too good. Cold Rain planned from 0900 until around 1500 and a slight breeze bringing the temperatures down considerably.
Arriving nice and early I pulled into the car park to see Mick was already there and waiting for his breakfast. So I ordered a bacon sandwich and a mug of PG and joined Mick on the table.With everyone present and correct the 13 anglers drew their pegs. My home was to be peg 34, not where I wanted to be but fish swim so who knows. Mick had drawn peg 6, a little further up the lake on the opposite bank, although that bank did not produce much at the weekend.
I decided on fishing 3 pole lines, one at 12.5m another at 11m to the right and a margin line in front of peg 33's platform. I also set up a bomb rod thinking that with the cold rain going in, feeding the peg may be the kiss of death. I could always add a feeder if needed later on.Bait was meat, corn 6mm pellet and some dead reds.
I had Barry Eddy for company on peg 36 and we both started off on the bomb. I opted for hair rigged corn. After 15 minutes and no indications, a switch to 5 maggots and still no signs after another 30 minutes. I switched over to the pole at 12.5m, the wind was not too bad and with a .4 DT diamond I was able to fish it comfortably, however still not a sign of a fish. I could see the guy on peg 9 and Mick both have an early fish and after 90 minutes all I had was a slight dip on the float. A move to 11m with corn saw another dip on the float but nothing really positive. I played around with both depths and shotting to no avail.
After 4 hours with nothing to show for my efforts, I was getting desperate, I was soaking wet as I do not own an umbrella, I could not feel my hands that were red in colour and wrinkled. I started upping the feed down the edge. With 90 minutes left I had my first proper bite and with it a good size F1, only to lose it at the net. My day gets better. Feed again and back out and a smaller F1 around 1.5lb was on the card. Another couple of missed bites and a foul hooker gave me hope that they had moved in. Mick had snared a proper lump on the tip. And I do mean snared, he was wiping his hands dry and noticed the tip was round and bouncing.
Persevering in front of the platform, I sneaked in a couple of similar F1s around 1.5lb followed by a carp of around 7lb. A couple more foul hookers followed but nothing else came to the net.
My 4 fish went 13lb 10oz for nowhere, well beaten by those in the middle of the lake, Mick's 3 fish went 16lb, including a carp of 12lb which sneaked him into 4th place overall and the receipt of an MK Nugget. 48lb won the match, apologies for not naming the angler but I failed to get a photo of the weighing in at the end.
My doctors have said" keep your legs and feet warm". So after 6 hours in the freezing cold and rain, it has taken two hours to get warmth into my bones. Glad I went but also glad it is over.
Keith 1
Mick 1
Wednesday 28 March 2018
Sunday 25 March 2018
Marsh AC Claygate Lakes Eva 24.03.2018
As a few of you already are aware I have been undergoing various hospital tests and appointments over the Xmas and New Year periods, add in the snow," blast from the east", and his smaller brother has curtailed my fishing. The health issues are now being dealt with by both the doctors and myself, so onward's and upwards. I am happy to report that I am back into fishing mode.
My first match coincided with the start of the Marsh AC 2018 season. The venue Claygate Lake Eva. A difficult venue, but a fair one. Basically it is full of F1s, there are odd skimmers and roach but to do well you need to plunder the F1s. There are odd carp in the lake but you cannot target them. If you nick one then great.
Mick had volunteered to drive and although we had arranged to meet up at 0530. I was wide awake by 4am and looking forward to the day. I had not been out since early December and who know's what my gear was like. It looked alright from the outside of tubes, no moisture lingering about. My bag had been emptied of all rot able matter prior to packing some Micros,4mm, 6mm GOT sinking pellets, meat. Troy had agreed to pick me up some maggot in case it was really hard. If I hard left anything behind then so be it.
As is always the case with Claygate we tend to stop off at Monks Lake near the fishery for breakfast and a cup of tea of coffee. Today was no exception.
Arriving in the car park at Claygate, we could see a few of the others unloading their gear and renewing acquaintances from last October. Hand shakes all round, club and match fees paid, it was onto the draw. Unfortunately only 9 anglers made it to the draw. As is customary, I let Mick draw his flyer before I went into the bag. Myself Peg 22, a double peg at the entrance to the lake close to the island where hopefully a few fish will be lurking. Mick had indeed drawn well Peg 3 on the opposite bank and a good area for F1s. The other MK member is Troy, pegged on another good peg 31 with the gap of the island to go at.
I planned to fish a couple of spots along the edge of the island either side of a small snag at 12.5m. An area around a metre off the island at 14m and a 2+2 line where I had the same depth as across at 12.5m. I also set up a small .2g DS Green for up in the water.
All were tied to .17 NGuage to .15 of the same. .3g DT Diamonds with a small bulk around 6 inches from either a size 16B911F1 or a size 18. White Hydro completed the set up.
I started off feeding micros with a 6mm banded hard pellet on the hook and first put in, I had an F1 around 1 1/2lb and it was if I had not been away. That feeling stayed with me as I foul hooked my next 3 fish losing them all. In hindsight I think it was because I was lifting at every small dink.A quiet remainder of the hour with a couple of smaller fish. Simon opposite was catching well, small fish but he did have a carp of around 7lb hooked in the fin safely netted. Tony next door was dobbing bread along the reed line, he had nicked a few fish and to be fair there was not a lot between any of us. Clive was catching switching between pole and the tip.
A look on the 14m line resulted in another F1 around 1 1/2lb but it was getting harder, bites were getting more difficult to read. Simon was the only one really catching the rest were just trying to catch up. Chairman Dave, came for a walk admitting to 4 fish,
At the all out I felt as though I had needed another 30 minutes to pip Simon. I think I got the tactics right eventually but it took too long for the brain to engage. But that's fishing.
My first match coincided with the start of the Marsh AC 2018 season. The venue Claygate Lake Eva. A difficult venue, but a fair one. Basically it is full of F1s, there are odd skimmers and roach but to do well you need to plunder the F1s. There are odd carp in the lake but you cannot target them. If you nick one then great.
Mick had volunteered to drive and although we had arranged to meet up at 0530. I was wide awake by 4am and looking forward to the day. I had not been out since early December and who know's what my gear was like. It looked alright from the outside of tubes, no moisture lingering about. My bag had been emptied of all rot able matter prior to packing some Micros,4mm, 6mm GOT sinking pellets, meat. Troy had agreed to pick me up some maggot in case it was really hard. If I hard left anything behind then so be it.
As is always the case with Claygate we tend to stop off at Monks Lake near the fishery for breakfast and a cup of tea of coffee. Today was no exception.
Arriving in the car park at Claygate, we could see a few of the others unloading their gear and renewing acquaintances from last October. Hand shakes all round, club and match fees paid, it was onto the draw. Unfortunately only 9 anglers made it to the draw. As is customary, I let Mick draw his flyer before I went into the bag. Myself Peg 22, a double peg at the entrance to the lake close to the island where hopefully a few fish will be lurking. Mick had indeed drawn well Peg 3 on the opposite bank and a good area for F1s. The other MK member is Troy, pegged on another good peg 31 with the gap of the island to go at.
I planned to fish a couple of spots along the edge of the island either side of a small snag at 12.5m. An area around a metre off the island at 14m and a 2+2 line where I had the same depth as across at 12.5m. I also set up a small .2g DS Green for up in the water.
All were tied to .17 NGuage to .15 of the same. .3g DT Diamonds with a small bulk around 6 inches from either a size 16B911F1 or a size 18. White Hydro completed the set up.
I started off feeding micros with a 6mm banded hard pellet on the hook and first put in, I had an F1 around 1 1/2lb and it was if I had not been away. That feeling stayed with me as I foul hooked my next 3 fish losing them all. In hindsight I think it was because I was lifting at every small dink.A quiet remainder of the hour with a couple of smaller fish. Simon opposite was catching well, small fish but he did have a carp of around 7lb hooked in the fin safely netted. Tony next door was dobbing bread along the reed line, he had nicked a few fish and to be fair there was not a lot between any of us. Clive was catching switching between pole and the tip.
A look on the 14m line resulted in another F1 around 1 1/2lb but it was getting harder, bites were getting more difficult to read. Simon was the only one really catching the rest were just trying to catch up. Chairman Dave, came for a walk admitting to 4 fish,
Troy getting the Rods Ready
Troy on 5 and Terry on 3, we were all in front of those scores but not by a lot. I needed to up the catch rate and decided to ping 4 or 5 4mm pellets over my lines to see if this made any difference to the catch rate. It did, by keeping a regular few pellets trickling through the water column, a few fish came. I had to wait for a bite but they were more positive.
Tony's dobbing had slowed, maggots brought roach and perch into his swim.
Simon had slowed down whilst Clive was still nicking odd fish on the tip between the island.
Overall
1st Simon Watkins 36-00
2nd Keith Ashby 34-00
3rd Mick Wright 32-08
4th Clive Pritchard 29-00
5th Tony Roberts 26-08
6th Jim Boase 25-04
7th Dave Collier 25-00
8th Troy Hillyer 18-08
9th Terry Goff 12-04
It was great to get back out on the bank after such a long lay off. I do not think I have ever gone that long without wetting a line before.But getting your health right is important, I am told it leaves you time to do the things you enjoy for longer. So second overall, a nice shiny MK Nugget from Mick and a new toy to play with on my next outing. A new electric barrow courtesy of Neil Dudsbury to help me getting to and from my peg. Certainly looks the part.
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