It seems that it was only yesterday that I was packing away all the gear and going off on my travels around the country in search of those elusive fish. The one event of the year I really look forward to is the Yam Yam week.It sees 12 anglers descending to Viaduct Fishery from all parts of the Black Country and Buckinghamshire. We all go with the same agenda, the chance to catch some wonderful fish, enjoy each others company and to get slaughtered both during and after the matches. It is a week where the banter is in full flow. Friendships that have been forged over periods of time, from way back in the Whiteacres and Stafford Moor festival days If you can understand them.
Our week actually consists of 8 days, a week at Viaduct and a days fishing at Goodiford Mill. Just to get us in the mood. So with an even longer trip than normal and an early booking at Goodiford Mill it was the sound of the alarm clock going off at 2am, I had arranged top meet Vic in Buckingham and we would travel down in convoy eventually meeting up with Derek at Taunton Deane Services.
Leaving so early enabled us to make good time and before long we both were sitting in McDonald's at the services waiting for Derek, and we waited and waited. A phone call allowed us to find out the reason. Instead of coming off the motorway at the services, Derek and his satnav took him off earlier than expected and although he could see the services he could not get to them. We agreed to push on and in true Top Gear fashion we left him to his own devices and headed to Goodiford Mill. His satnav must have fixed itself by now as when we arrived Derek was walking round the lake looking hungry. All of a sudden a mass of vans arrived and we were set, Our week had started and in true form so did the mickey taking.
Goodiford Mill 13.07.2018
Goodiford Mill responds well to pellet waggler tactics and this is a major strength with our Black Country friends. However although I can fish the PW I cannot get it to work as well as the others. I would give it a go for a couple of hours but would know at some point I would have a look on the pole.
I had drawn end peg on the bank, permanent peg 10 with Gongo and Nobby for company. Gongo would be fishing the Bomb with pole as a back up whilst Nobby would have a go at both Bomb and PW with a dabble on the pole with paste late on.
I set up to fish the PW for the first two hours then go on the pole if I was struggling. Bait would be 8mm skretting pellets on the waggler, 6mm skrettings down the edges with corn or double corn as a hook-bait.Vic had drawn in my section and as the top two in each section got a pay out we would be aiming for that pot. We also had Paul in our section, part man part fish.
I do not know whether it was us or not but the bottom of the lake our end was fishing hard, after the two hours on the waggler I only had one skimmer. It was getting better the closer you were to the entrance. Nobby and Gongo were nicking odd fish on the waggler, Paul was getting small fish, Vic was also getting a few but also losing a lot.
I needed to go onto the pole, I had fed it for a couple of hours and after 5 minutes one of Derek Smiths green floats buried and I was in. A good fish of around 7lb.10 minutes later another one. I was catching a few up. These fish were bigger than the 2lb fish the others were catching. Persevering on both left and right margins I managed to overtake both Nobby and Gongo.
The lake fished well considering it was baking hot, plenty of fish coming to the pellet waggler. Bob slaughtered the match with around 200lb
and took the section first pot with Cotty coming second with
100lb
. Our section was being won by Paul D with 140lb Vic in second place 92lb until I weighed in to pinch it by just over a pound. So a good start to the week with a section payout and money into the MK Hemel pot.
With all the gear packed away it was off to the pub to have a wash and brush up before a meal and a few pints. It was a long day, 2am start, really hot day, a few pints, a good meal, a few more pints and bed. I did sleep.
Viaduct Fishery Campbell Lake 14.07.2018
After a good nights sleep and a full English breakfast at the pub it was off to Somerton and the brilliant Viaduct fishery. We had booked a match on Campbell lake and with only the 12 of us on it we all had a bit of room. My home would be 119 in the top corner and a peg I had fished before. I knew there were resident fish in the bush right in the corner, but getting them out was difficult and I lost no end of gear fishing too close. I went with a plan to fish the open water shallow and down the edge at 5 sections, halfway to the bush. If I could get a few feeding fish at least I would have a chance of getting them out.
I had Frenchy for company, on 118 then Derek and Vic on 116 and 114. Cotty on 112 and Nobby finishing the section on 110. I could see Paul and Bob opposite so I could keep an eye on what they were doing.
I started off fishing shallow, slapping a 6mm pellet with a crystal dibber, this worked well for around 2 hours with around 10 fish in the net. Frenchy was matching my catch rate and it was to and fro.
The middle of my match was just about nicking odd fish and by switching areas of the peg, I sneaked another four of five fish out. Word was Cotty was getting a few fish and was the man to beat in our section. Paul D was bagging on the bomb to the first pallet, after getting a few shallow and some edge dwellers.
My last couple of hours were spent down the edge where I managed another 7 fish giving me 22 in total.
My weight of 146lb was enough to pip Cotty's 141lb with Derek getting third with 128lb. Everyone in the section had over a ton. On the opposite bank Paul blitzed the match and section with 259lb with Dave W second on 173lb and Gongo third on 155lb. Only Fred missed out on a ton but only just. Still I had an important section win and 1 point to start the festival in a good position.
Viaduct Fishery Lodge Lake 15.07.2018
Those of you who have read my blogs before may know that I dislike Lodge Lake with a vengeance, I just cannot get my head around it. Although there are plenty of fish in there, they seem to live in certain areas and are reluctant to move too far. I fancied a peg in the narrow section at the top of the lake. With brilliant sunshine, the carp were all cruising around the surface without a care in the world. I had drawn peg 56, on the lawn in front of the shop and not in my eyes a good peg with the wind going in the opposite direction.I had two good looking edges though and just hoped I could nick one or two dobbing and a couple of edge fish. I started off flicking a pellet in front of any cruising fish i could see but after thirty fruitless minutes I switched to a slapping rig hoping to provoke a reaction. I had been feeding the edges and after another 30 minutes with only a single roach to show for my efforts, it was time to have a look. A couple of small skimmers came to the right hand edge and although I fed two lines along the bank I could only catch skimmers from one of them and nothing on the longer line. I had also fed a line on top two/three to my left with corn and after re-feeding it noticed a swirl and went over it with double corn. Bang, the float goes and orange vespe is coming out of the pole. At last a proper fish. Safely netted I went back out and nothing. Rotating the margins did not work and I managed another fish and lost one at the net for 26lb and last in section. All my good work the day before was for nothing.I firmly believe it is a poor peg as others have had it over the years and nothing has come from it. Gongo won the section with 100lb. Soupy second with 88lb and Frenchy 3rd with 67lb.
Vic won the other section and the match with 129lb with Dave W second 103lb and Del third with 83lb. Still a few more coins into the MK Hemel pot.
Viaduct Fishery Cary Lake 16.07.2018
Cary's or scary Cary's as the locals call it is a bit of an enigma, during our stay one of the huge larch trees cracked and fell into the lakeng off a large area around peg 81. The impact was that within a couple of hours loads of carp where seen within the branches feeling nice and secure.For my part I drew peg 100, not really where I wanted to be but I worked on the premise that the fish will want to get to peg 81 and to do that they needed to go past my traps. Two bomb rods and two waggler rods, one up one down and a top four down the edge. We have had some really good days on the lake but also our share of gruellers. So I was going to do something different to start with. I had Frenchy and Dave W either side of me with Nobby on the end peg flyer. I started off on the waggler fishing and feeding 6mm pellets. There seems to be a preference at present with a smaller bait, but after an hour I hadn't had a bite on the waggler so switched to the bomb. After 10 minutes on this my first bite ripped the rod off the rest and I was lucky to hang onto it. Slowly clawing the fish back I slipped the net under a superb common around 15lb. A smaller mirror around 7lb followed after another 30 minutes but it was slow going. A change to an 8mm pellet did not make any difference although there was a few more liners. Do not know why!!!. Still I was ahead of Frenchy and Dave W who both had 1 fish each. Nobby had caught 4 at this stage. Still plugging away on the bomb with 6mm pellets I sneaked out another two good carp around 11lb each for a total of 46lb. Dave had a good last hour and landed 6 fish in the time including one on the whistle. Nobby had slowed down and Frenchy had foul hooked and landed two more fish. Paul D won the section with 159lb from Bob who popped 91lb onto the scales. My weight was only good enough for 5th in section and together with last in section the day previous, my festival was over. I could only hope for a top 6 finish at best.
Fred had secured the other section with 151lb from Derek's 132lb. Vic was like me struggling and 5th in section. Still some more coin into the pot.
Viaduct Fishery Campbell Lake 17.07.2018
After having a good result on the opening Saturday it was back onto Campbell lake for the Tuesday match. I had drawn peg 128 next to the spit on the lake. A peg fraught with snags in the shape of brambles along the right hand bank and overhead willow trees impairing the bomb lines. I could still fish the pole comfortably but was hoping for the fish to come to me at 2+2 rather than me chasing them all over the peg. I had caught on the bomb in this peg before but this area of the peg was out of bounds due to the willow tree. I could only fish to the side of it if the fish would travel up that far.
I started off fishing the bomb in the area I could get to, feeding 6mms and fishing a 6mm on the hair. A slow start with only 2 small carp for around 7lb saw me try the 2+2 line. I had fed it with 4mm pellets and was hoping the larger 6mm would stand out from the crowd. A run of decent skimmers boosted my weight but was no good as everyone else was catching carp. I definitely got this day wrong tactically and feeding. I did catch some fish late on down to the brambles but also lost a lot of kit in the process. Not a good day all round. Derek was just up from me and with three hours to go was struggling and then they turned up down his edges and he managed 157lb for 4th in section only. Gongo had won the match and section with 312lb, Dave W in same section had 228lb and Bob with 192lb. The other section fished equally as well with Soupy 203lb, Cotty 187lb and Paul D 167lb filling the places. No pennies into the pot but a day where I got it all wrong and was glad it was over. Time for a beer or six.
Viaduct Fishery Match Pool 18.07.2018.
I was out of the festival by a long way but still had a chance of gaining a few places on those around me. My positive mental attitude had kicked in and I was going to do some damage. I felt the alcohol the previous night had cleared my head and would allow me to attack. The match lake was poor for me last year but I learnt a lot. It contained some large carp and some good sized F1's along with skimmers and roach. My plan was going to be slapping for 3 hours followed by 3 hours down the edges no matter where I drew.
At the draw I pulled out 49 a good peg. a bank of reeds although I could not get close I could get closeish and that would do. My edge looked good top three to my right. I had around 18inches here and a little bit more out from the bank.Bait was 6mm pellet and corn. 6mm pellet would be my prefered bait of choice for the slapping. I had Derek and Nobby for company either side but also had Gongo, Bob and Frenchy in the section. Taking on the F1 guys at there own game. I started off slapping in open water and had an F1 around 3lb second slap but is was a lone fish. I remember from the previous year though to keep switch lines and areas of the peg to keep bites and fish coming. I moved to the reeds and again a run of F1's and an odd carp. I was going well, the white hydro worked well in the conditions and everything was going to plan. Nobby and Derek had caught a few fish each, Nobby on the bomb to the island whilst Derek was on the pole margins. I had around 40lb after around the three hour mark and word was it was doing well. I had primed the margin with corn and a few pellets. First put in on this line saw a foul hooker. next thing again. I shallowed up to half depth and started connecting with fish hooked in the mouth. This continued until the end of the match, catching shallow with corn in nine inches of water and pushing the bait up the bank. I weighed in 117lb for the overall win and section prize, Derek was second in the section with 79lb and Bob third with 70lb. Dave W and Paul D kept up their great form coming first and second in the other section.
I had managed to overtake a few anglers on the day and created a gap from the chasing pack. A few more pennies into the pot. A celebratory drink was had by all.
Viaduct Fishery Thursday Open 19.07.2018.
To be fair I felt a little rough after the previous nights exertions but was happy when peg 123 stuck to my paw on the Thursday Open. I had Derek opposite me on 118 with Dave W and Nobby on 113 and 114. Paul D was on peg 130 and again was hopeful of a good day's fishing. Bob had caught well on the peg earlier in the week and I fancied it for a few fish.to the platform on the bomb.On arrival at the peg I could see the black silt bottom being churned up on the next peg at bomb distance. Unfortunately so did the lad on the peg. I would try to split the fish but did not fancy my chances. It was full of feeding carp. I set up a couple of bomb rods for the platform and open water and a couple of shallow rigs in case I could get a run together. My match was a bit of an anti climax, I would get one then wait too long before the next bite, changing to the pole did not seem to work either. However, the guy on the next peg and Derek opposite me destroyed me completely. Peg 124 had 266lb for the eventual match win after another lad on Cary went over on one of his nets. Derek had 157lb and did not seem to be catching well but to make matters worse he caught on the bomb late.
Nobby and Dave both had over a ton whilst Paul had 183lb and Bob 167 from Cary's and 5th and 6th respectively.
Viaduct Fishery Lodge Lake 20.07.2018
Last day of the festival and although I had sneaked up a place in the last match I could gain another improvement by doing well in the last match. It was back on Lodge Lake and I must admit I was not looking forward to it. The only saving grace was that my nemesis 56 could be changed to 57 if the angler drew it.
And guess who that was, yep me, again. This time i was going on 57 and although I would not see sunshine all match as it is very sheltered. I thought attacking it from a different angle may help me get more bites. Bomb, long pole, shallow pole, edges everything was catered for. Although I had only 12 inches to the right edge I could go along the bank and just off to find 18inches. My right hand edge was around 2 ft and was getting plenty of 4mm pellets and 2 tins of corn at the off. No messing around this time. (&*%^ or bust
To cut a long story short 3lb of roach to the right edge, 1 carp for 15lb 11oz, 2 foul hooked and one lost at the net for 18lb 11oz and believe it or not second last on the lake.
Believe it or not though, I was lucky enough to gain a place on that angler and managed to creep up the leader board.
Overall it has been a cracking week, plenty of banter and good laughs along the way. No one is safe.
But I must say a large thank you to all the lads who make it each year, they make us feel truly welcome and that means a lot. We are not going to set the world alight we our angling prowess, but we try and we learn from some of the best who keep nothing back. To Paul and Soupy who organise everything. All you need to do is turn up. Well done to all who competed. We have all won some coin during the week and can take away some prize money. It is about competing not winning.
On a rather surprising note we stayed overnight at the Old Pound Inn at Aller, A lovely old pub with bed and breakfast available. They said we could come back, whoo whooo!!!!! More than the last two places did.
Goodiford Mill again looked after us on the day and allowed a later start than normal due to the distances involved. We will be booking again for next year. Finally to Steve, Helen,Matt and Colin at Viaduct. Your welcoming hospitality knows no bounds. Always greeting us with a smile and bending over backwards to ensure our stay is perfect in every way. Even emptying our bins so we can get more empty bottles and cans in them. Next time can you arrange for me to catch some fish.
A brilliant week away and something I look forward to each year. Roll on July 27th 2019.
Overall Results
1st Paul Davis 13 points
2nd Gongo 16 points 2 section wins
3rd Dave W 16 points 1 section win
4th Cotty 17 points
5th Soupy 18 points
6th Derek 19 points
7th Vic 23 points
8th Keith 24 points 2 section wins
9th Bob 24 points 0 section wins
10th Fred 26 points 1 section win
11th Nobby 26 points 0 section wins
12th Frenchy 30 points
Next fishing for me is the MDs Pair's weekend at Alders Farm.
