Marsh AC Arrans Lake 17.10.2020

It seems like only yesterday we were lining up in a civilised order to pay our pools at Puddledock Snake lake for the first match of the Marsh AC season. That was the back end of June and now in mid October the season finale is upon us. Marsh's last match of the season is a rearranged match from March. 

Both Mick and Vic were able to attend this one and we arranged to meet up at Micks for the journey to Arrans Lakes near Chelmsford. A nice steady journey down until we reached the Essex countryside and Vic just missed a Stag bounding out of the woods and actually hit a pigeon. Feathers everywhere. But all in one piece as we pulled into the car park. Tony and Chris were there already and were in the process of arranging the pegging. 

Slowly we all arrived, 16 plucky souls hoping for a proper days fishing to end the season. We had a far bank and the far car park pegs and it was tight pegging. 4 on the smaller car park bank and 12 along the far bank. I have been quite fortunate throughout the season, only paying for the first match out of my own pocket, section wins paying for the rest and this match was kindly paid for by Josh who I'd done a favour for previously. Many thanks Josh.

As per normal Mick dips his hand into the bag for the short walks and draws peg 2 (flyer). I go in and peg 15. far end of the lake. I had the Reverend Tony Roberts on end peg and more importantly the fallen fish holding tree. We could see the fish queuing to go in and out of it. It was that solid. Chris T to my left with Josh another peg down, Terry and Jim making up the section.

Tony before the off

Simon enjoying getting back on the bank

Clive would struggle today

After plumbing around the peg, I decided on a couple of lines. Top two plus two and 2+1 at slight angles where I had around 2ft 6inof water. I also set up a margin/shallow rig to fish in 12 inches of water to my right. I would be able to see the fish in the shallow water if they came in. I would be feeding 4mm Alders Farm pellets and fishing either a 6mm hard pellet or a grain of corn over the top.

I went for a walk before the start of the match, others had put a bit of thought into their approaches, feeder rods with both cages and methods on view, others priming long lines others with shallow rigs and float rods. Such is the diverse nature of Arrans and the fact we only fish it once a year. But which would prevail.

At the all in I started off at 5m with 6mm hard pellet and fed a small handful of 4mm sinkers. Float dips and a bite, missed it and the next 3 bites. On the fift bite I connect and a carp around 3lb comes to the net. Tony had gone off like a train with some shallow slapping fish. Over the next hour it seemed he would have one every couple of minutes. Chris and Josh were both off the mark with Chris starting off on the pole before trying the bomb and bread. Josh catching on expanders over 4mm feed pellets. I felt way off the pace and mentally shot. I did not want to be there and felt as if I was just going through the motions. A chance chat with Tony who had got up for yet another boiled egg, about floats of all things helped. I sat back down and felt the fish would switch on at some point. I decided to keep my silvers instead of throwing them back( wise move). Vic had called and said things were bleak up his end of the lake and very few carp were being caught except for Mick who was plodding away.

Vic prepping his pellets

I started working the float a lot more, lifting and dropping a couple of inches each time, fishing shorter/longer to the sides, all stuff I would normally do and slowly I would nick odd carp and they looked bigger than Chris T's. Both Tony and Josh were way in front of me and I had no chance of catching them up unless the fish came into the shallow water late on. By rotating 5m, 4m and margin and a slapping rig I was getting plenty of bites from roach and rudd but little in the way of carp. With 90 minutes left things changed in the peg. The bites stopped, no roach, no rudd, no carp. I made the decision to put 3 big handfuls in to kick start the peg. Nothing to lose. 

After 10 minutes the float dipped at 4m and a carp, followed by another carp. I was now sat on 10 carp for estimated 30lb. I had nothing all day on corn, everything coming to 6mm hard pellet. In hindsight I think I made a couple of mistakes during the match, not setting up and fishing a longer pole line, which would have allowed me to prime a shorter line better. A few more carp followed. Finishing on 13 carp. 

Tony and Josh were way out in front, but it would be close between my pellet fish and Chris's bomb and bread fish. As it happens, me saving my odd roach put 2lb on the scales to add to my 46-08 of carp. Chris's 46-00 falling just short.

Josh on his way to second place

It would be tight between Chris and I

It fished very hard throughout our match, or it was just winter fishing. Tony fished a blinder, catching those resident fish, shallow to start before going deeper to catch them on the deck. Josh chopped and changed from hybrid, to long pole to short pole and an excellent second place. Mick took third spot and an MK Nugget off me with 61-00.

Tony with part of his match winning 112lb

Jim with 13lb of roach and rudd

Overall

1. Tony Roberts             112-12      Section Winner
2. Josh Donovan             77-08
3. Mick Wright                61-00      Section Winner
4. Keith Ashby                48-08
5. Chris Thomas              46-00
6. Dave Collier                38-00

Vic and Gino shared the middle section prize with 21-00

Well done to all who have managed to stay safe and able to continue their fishing throughout these troubled times. Another season over but a new one to look forward to, hopefully a few new venues to try out next year.

On a personal note I will be splitting time between the southern matches with Marsh and a lot more matches in the West Midlands with the Yam Yams.

Unfortunately, a Yam Yam, Mark Fox with be returning home to West Bromwich and not fishing the Marsh matches again. Its been a pleasure to know you Mark and hopefully will catch up soon.

Finally to Dave and Tony for putting up with all the rubbish a committee has to put up with. You both do a great job, keeping everything simple and trying to achieve a balance. 

Mick 3 Keith 3

Marsh AC Southend Farm Damsel Lake 03.10.2020

 As a result of some repairs or maintenance work at Hartleylands Farm, we needed to change our match at the last minute. Southend Farm came up trumps and gave us use of Damsel Lake. 17 pegs and can be a bit tight if all the pegs were in, but it was a lot closer to Milton Keynes and somewhere I like, a good head of skimmers which in turn give lots of bites, a decent amount of carp to give the elastic a good stretch.

It was close enough for Mick to attend and resurrect the MK Nugget match. Vic also requested to fish and as numbers were on the low side for this match, he was welcomed back. Meeting up at Micks at 0630 we took a nice steady run down to Waltham Abbey to the lakes. A little after 0730 and we were parked in the car park and both Mick and Vic were ordering their bacon sandwiches from the site cafe. John was already sat in the cafe and after a quick chat we drove round the corner to the lake car park. Soon after Dave, Tony and Jim arrived with tales of woe on the M25 which must have occurred just after we passed. 

A chat with a few locals ensued about methods and peg numbers to use, with Vic and Tony using this info to peg out our match, knock up, gathering, call it what you like. We had 7 anglers who were going to brave the elements, winter is on its way, loads of rain and a bit of a breeze which could turn nasty at any time. Unfortunately 3 of the pegs, the better pegs according to local info, were down a set of steps or a steep slope. I ruled this out as A. I would struggle getting my tackle to the peg and back out, B. very little room to move around. If I drew one of these pegs I would fish somewhere else. Dave and Mick drew the car park bank leaving me with a choice of pegs 1 or 2. Into the draw bag and peg 1 sticks to my paw and I was grateful not to have to choose a peg from the rest of the lake. Jim on 2, Dave 3 and Mick 4. Vic, John and Tony were on the awkward pegs but at least they would have a days fishing.

On arrival at my peg I felt I had too many options, I was tucked away in a small arm, 16m across to the far bank, 14m to a set of reeds, two good looking edges but unable to go long down them plus the obligatory short lines. I had cut a couple of tins of meat (8mm) and opened a tin of corn, a mixture of hard pellets both for feed and hookers, along with around a pint of turning maggots.

I decided to start off on meat at 5m in around 5ft of water, using one of my own .4g diamonds to a size 14 kkmb hook and using the new dura elastic for the first time. A feeding a few cubes of meat and around 20 4mm pellets, a skimmer around 10 ounces graced the net then nothing. a switch to maggot saw a procession of small perch and blade roach. With the rain slowing and becoming more showers, I was able to have a look across, both at 14m to the reed bed and 16m to the far bank. Both lines only gave up a couple of small skimmers around 4oz apiece so I came back to the nearer lines where the stamp of fish were slightly bigger and the catch rate similar( why struggle when you don't have to). 

John was catching well from the middle of the 3 awkward pegs, plenty of skimmers, roach and an odd carp. Tony was also catching well with a slightly smaller stamp of fish to John, but was catching regularly. Vic I could not see through the trees but his landing net was visible going back and forth. Mick was catching carp as he does from his close lines and any hopes of me getting an MK Nugget off him were disappearing fast. Dave nicked a couple of carp and a few skimmers, with Jim like me carp less.

By rotating all my lines, I managed to keep a few fish coming throughout the day. I had a carp with around 20 minutes to go which went nearly 7lb and was quite pleased how the Dura elastic coped with it. My weight of 27-12 was never going frame but I did learn a few lessons. 

Overall

1.  Mick Wright       72-00
2. Vic Nugent          71-12
3. John Holdworth   48-00
4. Tony Roberts       32-12
5. Keith Ashby         27-12
6. Dave Collier        27-04
7. Jim Boase            22-04

John had the best silvers net with 92 silvers for 37lb Well done to both Mick and Vic on the frame places. 

Mick 2

Keith 3

Next up for me is a couple of pleasure sessions with Vic and Pete in Somerset/Devon followed by the last match of the Marsh AC season at Arrans. 

Marsh AC Orchard Place Lake 6 19.09.2020

 As the alarm clock went off at 0500 for the Orchard Place match, I reconciled it with the fact it was the last of the long drives. Two hours driving to a venue and two hours back is fine with a bit of company but was really starting to take its toll on me. Social distancing and other's health issues compounding everything. Still we continue on. 

Orchard Place is a set of lakes sitting in the middle of nowhere near Paddock Wood. We had secured the spit on Lake 6. Normally a brilliant area of the lake, but on arrival, the far banks of the lake were solid, nearly every peg was taken and still people were arriving. Bivvies scattered around the lake, bed chairs and rod pods everywhere. At least the spit was clear of anglers. 

We only had 9 of us, so more of a knock up than a match, a few working, one moving house and a few others doing other things. But those in attendance were more than capable of winning, so I still had to work hard and think about my match. I had peg 2 drawn for me, along the straight on the left hand bank. 

Not really where i would have liked to be and even offered to swap pegs with Tony behind me. I had Rod, Clive and Jim in my section. Dave, Tony, Chris, John and Terry would make up the other section.

My match would be based around 4 and 6mm hard pellets, a good simple match, feeding 4s and fishing 6s. I would be fishing for mainly f1s and odd carp, both up and down in the water at 5m, a couple of margin rigs and a rig for 2 plus 1 on the end of my keepnets. 

On my laast match at Claygate, I also found an issue seeing the bites from F1s, the bites were really tiny and only a slight indication on the float. Since that match I came up with the idea of making a float that was stable enough yet had no bristle, just the stem painted up. Shotted with a small bulk of 3 no 8 shot set on top of the 6inch hooklength. Happy to say on the day, this float would be responsible for 85% of my catch. 

Starting out on the prototype float at 5m, fishing on the deck in 4ft of water. putting 8 to 10 pellets around the float. Five minutes in and instead of the expected float burying, it lifted, a gentle lift and fish on. A pristine 2lb F1 was soon in the net. A few more fish followed but everyone else around me were struggling. Dave had a good 8lb carp but little else, Clive and Jim were sat motionless. With an hour gone I had around 10 small F1s for 20lb. The second and third hours flew by, just nicking odd fish at 5m. A look on my other lines produced nothing. The fourth hour proved the most successful with nearly a 2lb fish every 5 minutes. I reminded myself that in previous years the fish generally came late, but that was on the bank behind me and not mine. I was putting fish in the net and thought another couple of fish would take me over the ton mark.

I could see the other anglers on the bank behind me, catching a few lumps, Chris was giving it the "oooosssshhh" so I knew he had a few fish. John was catching and through the vegetation Terry was putting a few fish together. Dave and Tony were both getting a few carp late on as expected. I was trying close in and was hoping for a few lumps of my own to bolster my weight. A mistake, I should have stayed out fishing the 5m line, although not prolific, I was catching. Still another lesson learnt.

At the all out, I felt as if I had won my section, but did not know where I was in the match. Some were saying John had caught 20 plus carp, Chris was catching but no one was admitting to anything.

Overall

1. Keith Ashby         108-00
2. Chris Thomas        91-08
3. John Holdsworth   73-04
4. Terry Goff             56-08
5. Jim Boase             43-08
6. Dave Collier         41-04
7. Tony Roberts        41-00
8. Clive Pritchard      27-12
9. Rod Turner           13-00

Another enjoyable day out with the Marsh lads, another section win and 100lb to boot. I am getting to grips with my fishing, my positive mental attitude has returned and although not fishing many opens, they will return in time. Looking after my Grandson, on Wednesdays and Thursdays are enjoyable and well worth giving up two days fishing for. A couple of pleasure days up next, one to Tofts, the other to How End before heading back on my travels to Southend Farm.

Marsh AC Claygate Lake Eva 05.09.2020

 Another match with the Marsh AC lads and another long drive, getting quite used to it now. Mick made the decision not to attend as the drive is too much for him. And with Covid 19 still present and the both of us declared as vulnerable it is a wise decision. So with a couple of hours drive ahead I set off around 0545 planning to arrive at 0800. Arriving a little ahead of time I was able to have a cup of tea before the draw.

We had been given all of the front bank, pegs 19 -36 and with a dozen of us in attendance we could leave out some of poorer pegs. I had previously stated that the end peg was a either brilliant or absolute garbage dependant of the wind. It is at the end of an arm, from 33 to 36 can be poor and the further down the arm you go the worse it gets.So those selecting the pegs decided to leave it out and make peg 33 the end peg, at the entrance to the arm.

I let Dave, the Chairman, draw for me as he has done it so well throughout the season. Peg 33 and not where I hoped to be. But I had a bit of room with no-one to my left. I had Josh on 32, Chris T on 31 and Clive on 29, all in my section. All more than capable of winning the section, let alone the match.

I set up a couple of rigs for the margins, top of the shelf and bottom of shelf. A 4m line, just off the end of my keepnets for meat, a pellet line at 6m and a line at 11m both up and down. Bait was corn, meat, pellets and a few maggots left over from the previous days pleasure session.

Starting off on the meat line at 4m, feeding 3 or 4 cubes every couple of minutes, I had a small tench and a perch after 20 minutes but none of the carp or F1s I was hoping for. A look long on 6mm pellet both up and down never produced a bite all day. I was struggling and with an hour gone I had a couple of tench and one perch. 

Josh and Chris had been catching as I could hear the splashing in the shallow water. So I was up against it. The banter was flowing between the pair of them and at times it was funny just listening to them. Coupled that with a young family on the far bank pleasure pegs, running around and screaming at the top of their young voices made for a memorable day. I could not see any further down the bank to the early pegs but word was Foxy was catching well and Dave had nicked a good carp. 

I decided to concentrate on one area of the peg at 6m on pellets, dotting the float down to a dimple, I would lift at any movement of the bristle. The bottom of the lake was very silty and I was thinking the bait may be sinking into the silt. When I got a bite I could see a few bubbles approaching, then a small indication on the float, With a normal bristle set up I am sure I would have missed these bites, or waited longer for it to go under. Slowly I was putting together a few fish, some just after you fed and the light elastic just ripping out of the pole, other times waiting for the bubbles. F1s around the 2lb mark and with the halfway mark approaching I reckoned on having 25lb in the net, consisting of 5 tench, one perch and 10 F1s. Similar to Josh who was catching on the tip and pole across to the island. 

I would catch a couple of fish before it would cool off, I made another decision at this time to stop feeding meat close in and start feeding pellets, in hindsight a poor move, I think the fish were comfortable away from the bankside disturbances.But what it did do was give me the chance to come away from the 6m catching line and rest it. Because I could not monitor how the fishing was, I was fishing a bit blind, Foxy was still catching, Josh, Chris or Clive were catching but I could not which one of them.So it was a case of just plugging away, nicking odd fish and ringing the changes. Switching from fishing 6mm to 8mm, feeding a couple of 6mm in with the 4mm, adjusting shotting from spread to bulk and vice versa, fishing up and down. All changes whenever there was a quiet spell.

I was pleased when the whistle went, my head was hurting from the family opposite and thought I was well battered by Josh and Chris.Then Tony came down to help with the weigh in, moaning about the poor day he had and how everyone else had struggled. My spirits lifted and now my (in my head estimate) of 50lb was looking good, Josh was admitting to 60lb and to be fair he is normally pretty close with his calls. 

Overall

1.  Keith Ashby            57-12
2.  Josh Donovan         56-10
3.  Mark Fox               51-12
4.  Jim Boase               30-08
5.  Chris Thomas          29-08
6.  Dave Collier            27-00

Overall the lake fished as it always does, poor in most areas, just odd catches here and there.It maybe because the we only have half a lake and pleasure anglers on the opposite banks on a small venue, nearly every peg was in on our side with very little room. A lot of the pleasure anglers were catching odd fish, fishing a feeding floating baits, as I saw a few dog biscuits skirt by. It may be we got OUR tactics wrong and our expectations are too high. Still I am not too proud to claim a win, but did I enjoy it, not really.

Marsh AC Puddledock Farm Road Lake 15.08.2020

After missing the last round of Marsh AC matches due to being away with the Yam Yams, I was looking forward to catching up with a few of the lads at a venue I have done well at before, albeit I only fish it once maybe twice a year. Still Puddledock must like me. Mick was away for this match cruising the Midland Canals on a barge, with his sense of direction, I feel for the other canal users.
It takes around 70 minutes to get to Puddledock, just outside Havering, Essex from Milton Keynes so started off at 0615 to allow plenty of time for breakfast and a quick look in the on site tackle shop. Unfortunately, I never got to do either, for some reason I got talking to a total stranger and the time just passed, Marsh anglers arriving regularly, all wanting to laugh at my exploits from my trip away. Still it was all in good faith and nothing was meant.
At the draw I was given peg 22, not really where I fancied as the wind was blowing up into the high teens and generally the fish follow the wind. Still on arrival at my peg I was pleasantly surprised, there were a few fish cruising around that hopefully would succumb to the slap, 

My plan was to go across on the waggler to start with and nick a few early fish, then come onto the 5m line and sack up, following the fish back across the lake to 12m, before coming down the edge in the last hour to empty it again. Never bloody worked.

For company, I had Josh on 23, Gino on 20, Kyle on 19 and Terry on 17, the latter three were all in my section. I decided to start off on the waggler, as per plan but after struggling with the left to right breeze, I felt I could not present the bait correctly. I stuck it out for 20 minutes and one bite or it could have been line drag but importantly no fish.A look onto the 5m line feeding 4mm pellets and fishing a 6mm over the top brought bites at dead depth but again no fish, changes to shotting patterns and depths did not work and I was stumped as to why, I tried a shallow rig over the to top, no bites. steadily going deeper til the bottom where bites started again. I could only get a bite on the deck but still could not hit them. Putting it down to small silvers pecking away at the 6mm pellet, I gave up earlier than expected and went out to 12m. 

Gino and Kyle had both caught a carp each, Terry had sneaked one in, All three were in my fancied pegs area. Both Josh and I were both struggling, I could get bites but not connect with them. Swapping hook lengths for lighter ones made no difference. Then out of the blue a small stockie around 12oz graced my net, before another around 2lb. Both caught on 6mm pellet, Josh then had a carp. We were both suffering a fair few foul hookers. But it was getting us positive and connecting bites, so it was a case of sticking with it and hopefully they would get there heads down and feed properly. 

I started pinging around 15 4mm pellets around the float, spreading the shotting and fishing a small, 6mm pellet. Lifting and dropping a couple of inches would get odd bites and I started putting a couple of fish in the net. I was sure my three keepnets were not going to get used to their full potential today. With an hour to go I dropped into my margin line, fed with groundbait and a few grains of corn, nothing. 

Kyle was getting a few late down the edge and I thought he would win the section with myself or Terry second. Gino had really struggled and was admitting to 6lb. I thought I had between 20 and 30lb. Josh although not in my section was doing the same, it was close. Fortunately I sneaked home in the section. That's all you can do to start with.

Overall

1st Tony Roberts        74-00         Section Winner

2nd Chris Thomas      62-00

3rd Mark Fox            37-08

4th John Holdsworth  32-08         Section Winner

5th Keith Ashby         25-04         Section Winner

6th Kyle Deane          22-08

A very frustrating day was had by all, the top three anglers all coming from one the opposite side bank where the wind was blowing in. And if you put good anglers in good pegs they will perform well. Well done to the framers and section winners.

Next Marsh match is at Claygate Lakes on Eva, not one of my favourite venues, but it has a good head of fish, both carp and F1's. Hopefully Mick will be there and the MK Nugget can resume.

Yam Yam Week Viaduct Fishery 23-31 August 2020

There are certain things we all look forward to each year, special events, holidays etc. This week is one of those, a mixture of both a special event and a holiday feel to it. The festival has been running for a few years now, disappointed with the ways of other festivals it was a chance to bring back the joy of angling, and more importantly the social aspect. Nights out, nights in, surrounded by like minded individuals. A chance to catch up, spending plenty of time with friends. 

Thursday 23rd July Spring Lake Viaduct

As the venue is a couple of hours drive away, it was an early start for both Vic and I, we would travel in convoy, due to Covid - 19, protecting ourselves where we can. Meeting up in Buckingham, we left around 0530 for the 2+ hour drive. The plan was to get there for 0830 with a 0900 draw with the rest of the anglers coming from the West Midlands. A nice, steady run down saw us pulling into the venue with 15 minutes to spare to be met by Pete Thompson who had already unloaded his gear. As soon as the car was emptied, the remaining anglers arrived en masse, a parade of fishing wagons filling up the car park.

With old and new acquaintances greeted, it was down to the draw. We had booked Spring Lake for the opening match. This would be an eye opener, few carp but plenty of silvers for those that targeted them. Pete would guest on the match but surprisingly Vic, Del and I would all draw in the same section. Cotty would fill the remaining spot, Cotty on peg 1, me on 2, Del on 3 and Vic on 4. I set up a waggler to fish at full depth towards the aerator, a long pole line at 12m a short 5m line and a line down the edge. Bait would be corn, 6 and 8mm hard pellets. 

Starting off on the waggler, I had a couple of good bites and the corn but no fish, a look long also on corn, saw a small 10oz skimmer. I was pinging a few 6mm pellets long and tried an 8mm pellet on the hook, after around 10 minutes another small skimmer. This seemed to be the way things were going, a long wait for a bite, a bite and either a small fish or another long wait. Pinging pellet, toss potting or dumping bait did not seem to make any difference.

All of us were struggling, Cotty had a couple of small skimmers and a roach, Del was plugging away on his GB and skimmer line with dead reds. Vic was also struggling, losing a fish on the bomb and only had a couple of small skimmers to show for his efforts. Bob a little further around, along the spit had nicked a couple of carp, Tim was also getting some decent skimmers and perch on worm hookbaits. 

A look on the 5m line with a 6mm pellet saw no improvement in the catch rate or size of fish and I was definitely feeling a more natural bait approach would have been a better option. Down to the inside line, fishing double corn and hoping for a proper lump. I did hook one, which ploughed through the peg and along the rope before the hook straightening. 

Cotty sneaked a carp in the last 30 minutes to redeem some pride, Vic had secured a single carp going 4lb, one of the smallest carp in the lake. Del had an enjoyable day catching silvers only and weighing in 21lb to win the section. My weight of 12lb 6oz securing me second in the 4 peg section.

Overall

1st Frenchy   78-03

2nd Fred       69-04

3rd Nobby    60-04

4th Bob         48-12

Friday 24th July Campbell Lake Viaduct

After a few beers and a takeaway the previous night, we were up with the lark and raring to go on our first venture of the week on Campbell Lake. We would spend a lot of time on here, with only the Thursday Costcutter and a match on Cary's Lake on the Tuesday to break up the week.

At the draw the chat was all about who would draw the better pegs, from previous years results. My thought was just see where I draw and react accordingly. Peg 128 would be my home. A nice looking peg, which has been severely pruned back. There used to be loads of brambles along the right hand margin and along the spit, now all gone and certainly looks a lot better.

My plan was to fish the bomb with pellet hookbaits for the first hour, then switch to 5m and finally end up down the edges with a couple of hours to go. All feed would be corn, 6 or 8mm pellets. 

My section would consist of Bob on 126, Dave W on 130, Chunk on 132 and Mark C on 135. I started off as planned going out on the bomb, trying both single and double 8mm pellets, a robin red and either a standard coppens or a red pellet produce by GOT Baits. A few liners but no fish came, an odd twitch but nothing positive. I tried a few liquids, I had brought with me, The Price is Right, and a Tutti Fruitti glug. The first liquid getting me my first fish around 8lb, before no more bites. A look on the 5m line and a few skimmers on a single 8mm pellet. A look down the edge, both along the bank and into the corner brought nothing. Back onto the bomb and another carp. I was feeding my 5m line regularly with 3 or 4 8mm pellets. Back out with 90 minutes to go and I was picking up odd carp. It was a strange phenomena, nothing in the peg, then a few bubbles appeared and you felt a bite would come, no bubbles no bites. I did however manage to put 60lb in the net within the last 90 minutes, getting me out of jail.

Overall

1st Del      164-08

    2nd Dave W  155-01

3rd Paul    154-14

4th Fred    152-13

My weight of 78-07 was 3rd in section behind Dave W and Chardy's 120-02. Again, it was a frustrating day, the dominant weights being taken on the bomb and pellet. 

Saturday 25th July Campbell Lake Viaduct

A few beers and a takeaway would see us through the previous evening. A few lads went into town and said it felt strange, no one around and very few interacting. I was starting to feel a little unwell, feeling clammy and completely knackered just moving my gear in and out of the car. Still after a little rest I was OK to fish. 

Peg 115 on the Cary Bank, opposite where I was yesterday and Soupy had 118lb off it the previous day, so at least it had some form. Albeit late in the day, on the bomb.

Soupy

"Scared" Steve on 116

My section consisted of Scared Steve on 116, me on 115, Chunk on 126 and Gongo on 125. Opposite pegging. A different plan was hatched and instead of feeding 8mms I was going to try 6mms as a feed, fishing 8mms over the top. Focusing on 5m and the edge but starting off on the bomb. 

At the all in I went out on the bomb, feeding five or six 8mm pellets every 30 seconds, still the tip did not move positively. after 45 minutes the tip did move into a large arc and my first fish was on. After an epic struggle a lovely 7lb common was in the net, firmly hooked in the pectoral fin. Back out and nothing.

5m line feeding 6's and fishing an 8mm saw a few good sized skimmers and odd bites from carp that stripped the elastic out. Good sized fish but not going into the landing net. Frustrating. Frenchy next door on 114 was suffering a similar fate, before we both started getting a couple of fish into the net. Scared Steve the other side had reverted to the margins for his bites and getting a couple out, It was close between us three, but opposite Gongo and Chunk were both catching well on the bomb.

Another go on the bomb was short lived, a single fish, but no liners to show fish in the area. Back to 5m and another couple of carp. Down the edge and a couple of flying skimmers but no carp. I have ended the match confident of beating Steve, but behind those opposite. 

Overall

1st Cotty   212-14

2nd Dave W 191-10 

3rd Paul D 147-11

4th Gongo 140-03

My weight of 84-01 was another 3rd in section but the weights were going up slowly. Cotty securing the first double ton of the week and Dave W doing the damage from the same peg drawn the previous day.

Sunday 26th July Campbell Lake Viaduct

After a meal in the Globe Inn the previous night, I was feeling very tired leading into this match, everything was a struggle, unloading the car, pushing the barrow, unloading the barrow. I  was feeling it and sat at my peg wondering what I was doing. After 15 minutes I was feeling much improved. I was now thinking that I need to continue with my medication. I was getting palpitations and struggling to breathe correctly and suspected it could have been a withdrawal side effect.

I had drawn peg 132 for the match, one of those pegs everyone would have run to last year. By far the most consistent peg then but not so much this year. Paul D had it the previous day and struggled to 80lb. 

To the right

Down the edge.

Again the plan was to fish the bomb to the second pallet along the bank, but with the overgrown trees this was impossible.  I chose a line between two trees a little short of the pallet and somewhere I could comfortably catapult pellets to. A line on the top 2+2 and a line down the edges, one close the other longer to the far bank.

I fed a few pellets on these pole lines to start and almost immediately I could see bubbles appearing at 2+2. Resisting the temptation to go in too soon, I started off on the bomb, Surprisingly, it worked and 3 fish all on small side pulled the tip round, to give me a good start, with an hour gone, I still only had those three carp. A look at 5m with toss potted 8mms, a couple of skimmers but was bumping loads, red hydro is not the ideal skimmer elastic, but if you don't you seem to get smashed up by the carp. It was with two hours to go and approximately 25lb in the keepnet, when I looked down the edge to the right. I only had a foot of water before the shelf and you could see fish come in, grab a mouth of food and straight out, never stopping. The fish were big fish, all doubles and although I hooked 4 of them only managed to get one out. 

I was feeling unwell, making poor decisions and not concentrating, palpitations were kicking in and I did not feel right. It was a struggle to do anything. 

My weight of 50lb was poor and should have been better. I had a few fish on to double that weight, but lost them at the net, pulled out of fish, smashed up the hook lengths and even snapped elastics. Not a good day all round.

Fred had won the section with Bob second, Steve third and me last. 

Overall

1st Cotty 212-04

2nd Del 194-12

3rd Frenchy 190-12

4th Dave W 180-10

I was going backwards in the festival, a third and fourth leaving me on 7 points and already out of contention after two days. Cotty was leading with 2 section wins and big weights to back it up.

Cotty with 2 double tons

Monday 27th July Campbell Lake Viaduct

I had restarted taking my medication and woke feeling better, no thumping heart and a bit more energy. An early night refreshing the batteries.

Peg 114 and still in the middle of the lake, the previous day it had 80lb with most of that coming in the last 30 minutes.So again not a good area to be in. Chatting with a few others along the bank I was in a section of death and fully expected another last place finish with Paul D on 112, Bob opposite on 129 and Gongo sitting in 128, I had learnt that you needed to give the bomb a go at the start of the match, then come closer on the pole, before attacking the margins late. So with this in mind I set the alarm on my phone to give it an hour on the bomb and take it from there.

Pinging 5 or 6 pellets to around a third distance across the pool and towards the aerator rope. I had a wrap round after 20 minutes, a fish firmly hooked in the tail, 5 minutes later and a bit of a struggle it finally graced the net, all 10lb of it. Another bite 10 minutes later and a smaller 5lb fish, hooked in the mouth on a double pellet. No more bites came in the run up to the alarm call, so it was on to the pole at 5m, a few skimmers before a couple of lost carp on a single 8mm pellet and feeding 8s. After 3 hours I had 5 carp and around 5 or 6 decent skimmers. I had been feeding 2 or 3 pellets down the edges regularly but felt it was still too early to have a look. Mark Chard on 115 had a couple of looks down the edge but nothing to shout out about.

Left hand Margin

Right hand Margin

I went back out on the bomb and decided to give it another 30 minutes, resting the 5m line. I was still planning to go down the edge with an hour to go so had plenty of time to still try to make other lines work.

A couple of bomb fish, albeit small at 5lb and a couple of skimmers on the 5m line. With an hour left I dropped in on the right margin. Using only a top kit and avoiding a cable running out of the bank, I lowered the rig in and it just kept going. A slight lift and resistance was felt and a nice common around 8lb. A look down the other side and nothing after 5 minutes. Back to the right and another 2 pellets fed and the float goes, 5 minutes later I shovelled into a waiting landing net a monster of a fish. Later to be weighed in at 19lb 4oz, a new personal best. A couple more fish, and my match was over. Gongo had caught well on the bomb all day, something the Yam Yams are all good at and where I am learning all the time. I think I can catch fish but these guys are different class on the bomb and waggler.

Overall

1st Dave W    144-14

2nd Fred        140-12

3rd Gongo      132-02

4th Chunk       127-09

My weight of 123-02 was just out of the main frame but was second in section from a peg expected to come last. I was having a good day, feeling a lot better, fishing was organised and the result was my first ton of the week. It must also be said about a certain Mr Walters drawing the same peg 3 times out of 4. Drawbag.

Tuesday 28th July Cary Lake Viaduct

I did not know what to make of this match, there had been no matches on the lake since lockdown was lifted, plenty of specimen anglers posting their catches on Facebook and most days were packed and busy. Waiting for the random draw, all we could ponder was how it would fish. 

We had the whole lake so that was a bonus. I was given peg 97 by Fred, in what used to be a decent area and to be honest I fancied it for a few fish. I had Gongo on 99 and Dave Walters on 100 in my 3 peg section (one section always had 3 in and an average taken to work out position). Both very good on the bomb and again I would have my work cut out. I set up a Waggler at depth, a bomb and short pole and margin rigs. I was hoping not to use the pole but if after an hour I had to at least it was there. 

The peg is on a corner and can be a great area to be in. The issue today would be feeding pellets, the wind was gusting straight into my face and into the corner of the lake. I have caught better fishing long on this peg before towards the spit, but today would need me to fish shorter. I started off at depth on the waggler, feeding 8mm pellets, just to get the range and see the area I wanted to concentrate any fish in. After 30 minutes and no bites or liners I switched to the bomb. After 10 minutes the tip moved slowly round and pinged back, Thats was it for the first hour. Gongo had not had a bite, neither had Steve on 96. Mark Chard had 4 small carp from 95 Dave Walters was on fire and catching well. Paul D and Vic had caught one each but a lot of us were biteless.

I decided to feed a pole line with 8mms at 6m. A couple of small skimmers saved the blank before a carp attached itself to my hook and ploughed straight off into the sunset. Foulhooked. A couple more small skimmers and another carp, this time in the mouth and despite playing it for 10 minutes snapped the hook at the net. 

Back out onto the bomb, and with a single coppens pellet on the hair I had a proper pull round and my first carp was in the net. But it was the only indication I had all day. Steve was still struggling, Gongo had started picking up a few fish, despite having gone 3 hours without a movement on his tip. Back on the pole and a few more skimmers, Steve and I going head to head and both switching between pole and bomb. Dave Walters was still catching well. Chunk was getting a few fish fishing down the edge on the bomb towards peg 90. 

Our triples team had all caught something and with both Gongo and Bob catching well we were hopefull of going through this difficult hurdle.

At the all out, I believe the fish were not in the area, Steve had also struggled to my right, Mark had those 4 early carp but nothing else. Gongo who had caught, only did so late on and Dave Walters had emptied it.

Overall

1st Dave W     218-04

2nd Chunk      110-06

3rd Gongo      101-15

4th Bob             83-15

Highlight for me was Dave Walters fish of 19-06, two ounces bigger than mine and best fish of the week. My weight of 17lb was in a poor area of the lake,  16lb next door and a 20lb weight before the far bank when only one weight was of any note.

Dave Walters 19lb 6oz of Cary Carp

Wednesday 29th July Campbell Lake Viaduct

After our diversion onto Cary Lake, we were back in familiar surroundings and for me peg 128 again. I was frustrated from the previous session on the peg, where I felt I could have and should have weighed more. I really did need to speak with Fred about his drawing arm, but he was stuck in the early bowl and me in the middle.

On my last visit to the peg I caught late on 8mm pellet down into the corner and at 5m. I was hoping that I could sneak a few out before the late run though. I changed tack slightly by feeding 6mms instead of 8s in the hope of getting a few more silvers before the carp showed up. 

As had become the norm, I started off on the bomb for the first hour, surprisingly the tip jerked into action straight away and after 15 minutes I had 3 fish for around 15lb. Then nothing, Not a bite, twitch or liner.

After an hour I made the switch to the pole at 5m. Expecting the float to bury straightaway was not going to happen, lifting and dropping an 8mm pellet produced a reaction from a carp and at 8lb was a welcome boost. Refeeding the line with a full toss pot of 6mms I had a quick look into the corner, where I had been trickling in 8mms in ones and twos. After 5 minutes and nothing I went back out to 5m. A few skimmers that were worth catching, before another carp, which smashed up the elastic and was last seen cruising off around the spit. With all the disturbance I had a second look on the bomb for a couple of fish but these where caught short on double pellets. During this spell on the bomb I could see some movement on the pole line at 5m and slinging the rod up the bank I was soon playing another carp. The pole fish were a lot bigger than those on the bomb, averaging 8lb each compared to 5lb on the bomb but they were harder to get out. Persevering on the 5m line I was starting to get the upper hand with 5 fish in the last hour for 40lb. I was enjoying the time in the peg and feeling I was doing it some justice.

Overall

1st Paul D     271-04

2nd Dave W 198-06

3rd Mark C  161-08

4th Frenchy   142-08

My weight of 111-14 was only good enough for last in section. One more fish would have got second.It was that tight. Bob, Gongo and I also made it through to the final on Friday of the triples competition.

Frenchy ready for the off

The Machine Paul D best weight of the week 271-04

Thursday 30th July Campbell Lake Costcutter

Every Thursday at Viaduct they have an open where the guests can book in and fish against the locals on their venue. We had been fishing it all week and although we went mob handed, there were enough locals to make it interesting.There are seperate pools for carp and silvers so whatever you wish to do, you still have a chance.

I really fancied a day on Cary bank but no, Matt drew me 129, the opposite side of the spit. A good peg that Mark Chard had caught well from the previous day. For company I had a local on 132, Soupy on 131, Fred on 130. 

I set up the normal stuff, bomb, pole at 2+2 and a margin rig to fish along the spit at 11m, nice and comfortable fishing. Bait again was corn, 8mm and 6mm pellets. 

Starting off on the bomb, I had 3 fish straight away, only small but 12lb is better than none. I was feeding short of the aerator and in the direction of 112 before it all died. Same thing happened a couple of times during the week, Fred had not had a bite and Soup was fishing the long pole at 16m with a view of fishing the bomb over it later in the day. A local on 111 was catching well, mainly silvers but plenty of them. 

I had a look on the 2+2 line and thought that my bait was plugging into the silty bottom and took a couple of inches off the rig and straightaway had a couple of skimmers before a good carp around 10lb. Playing around with rigs and elastics I lost a couple of fish where the elastic just kept going. One thing was the floats remained strong although I did notice a bit of cutting into the bodies. 

Every now and again I would look towards the spit and give it a go. Only two skimmers came off it throughout the day. Fred was now catching a carp every ten minutes or so and all I could hear was Soupy's reel having line stripped from it. Although I was catching I felt I was always behind Soupy and close to Fred. I could not see the remainder of the lake due to overhanging trees etc, but I thought Soupy or the local on 111 was winning with me or Fred next. One thing I did know was the guy on 111 was catching silvers very regularly.

A few more fish followed and a good spell at the death kept the interest going, all taken on 8mm red GOT Pellets over standard  8mm Coppens.

Overall

Five of us were in the main frame, so not a bad day at the office. The locals certainly know how to catch silvers and it is easy to see why it is one of the premier silverfish venues in the country.

Friday 31st July Campbell Lake Viaduct

I was feeling a little fragile on Friday morning, the effects of Thursday's  Hawaiian shirt night out was starting to tell. But it was a great night and something different we could all enjoy.

 

Cotty, Del and George

Vic and Nobby

Still we all had a great night. It was the final day of the festival, I was lying way down in the points system. So when Fred draws me 128 for the third time in a week, I just laughed, cried, screamed and wanted to just go home. I had been in the same area of the lake for a week.

Still I had a chance to do something different and catch a few fish, I got a couple of rigs out of the box and they hardly needed plumbing up. I was going to try to see how long I could fish the bomb for before switching to the pole. It would be a struggle, don't get me wrong if its going round I am OK with it but if its not happening I think my options are limited. I managed to last a complete 2 hours before I felt that I needed to change, two carp to show for my woeful efforts. Watching across the lake all I could see was team mate Bob catching well and Frenchy next door to him putting a few in the net. Even on my pole lines I was going nowhere fast, foul hookers, liners, snapped elastics( again) and a top kit completely obliterated. I felt my world crumbling.

I would put 57lb on the scales towards the team cause but felt I had let them down. Surprisingly Bob had weighed in 238-04 and Gongo 208-03 to carry me home. Our team ending up with 503-14 to Dave W, Del and Mark C's 419-02.

Overall

1st Bob       238-04

2nd Gongo  208-03

3rd Mark C 161-11

4th Dave W 148-05

Well done to all the framers and section winners. The top Three in the festival were certainly the most consistent anglers throughout the week.

There is a colossal gap in my bomb fishing, and something that needs to improve. My eyes have truly been opened. 

I have had a great nine days away in great company. An open door policy within the three lodges, a good laugh at every opportunity. Good to see Mark Goggins in the next lodge to us, catching well throughout the week.Unfortunately it all has to end and despite getting stuck in a rut fishing wise, not feeling too good at the start of the week, I have thoroughly enjoyed it. My floats stood up to the test but need stronger top kits.👊👊.

And finally a few pictures from the week.

Fred

Vic

Chunk

Dave W

Bob

And finally Nobby.

Next year dates are in and booked. The only way is up. 

Marsh AC Monks Lake 2 18.07.2020

A long road trip for this match, Monks Lakes near Maidstone, Kent.And of course due to Covid 19 no car sharing. This had the impact on Mick being unable to attend, he is fine but with new treatments, driving himself there, fishing and driving back it would all take its toll on his already ageing body.
Still i left in plenty of time and hopefully the speed cameras on both the M1 and M25 are faulty, leaving me pulling into the queue for Monks Lake. I sat in it for 10 minutes when A load of Marsh cars drive past and cut straight in. I soon followed suit and was parking the car a couple of minutes later.
The match lakes were packed with matches on lakes 1,3 and 4. Fish o Mania is there next week and a lot were getting in a bit of final practice. We had Lake 2 and the chat beforehand was about peg 67, Josh saying 400lb would be needed. Personally I thought 200lb would be a good weight on the day from anywhere.
We had pegs 45 to 77, one section on the front bank and the remaining two sections either side of the spit.
As I was fortunate to pick up a section win on my last match I was exempt from paying for this one, so when Dave asked which peg I wanted ( all folded and stapled) I said anyone. Gingerly he opened it up and peg 67 was held up. Happy days and I was off to my peg leaving a trail of moans behind me.
Peg 67 is at the end of the spit, it gives the angler loads of options, wag and bomb, method to the reed lines, Pole up and down in open water, two really great looking edges, one along the boards to the end of the spit, the other to some overhanging brambles. There is something for everyone. A chance encounter with venue regular Mike McMillan confirmed my plan and I was going to base my attack around both 6mm and 8mm pellet at 2 plus 2, and down both edges.

At the all in, I cupped in some 6mms on both my edges, the right hand side adding around 30 grains of corn, as a holding bait and option for change. I also started throwing 6mms to the 2+2 line, sometimes getting there sometimes not. The wind was blowing hard towards me and along the spit. At times it was difficult to hold the four sections. Still I could always come in closer. A few missed bites to start before a couple of skimmers around 10oz apiece graced the net. A solitary carp around 4lb put in an appearance but I was going nowhere. Clive behind me on 64 was getting a few fish. whilst John next door was catching skimmers and odd roach.

I felt they wanted some food but presenting a still bait was proving difficult. Going a whole float length over depth, grabbed a couple of carp around 8lb and after 90 minutes, I had around 25lb without my silvers. I re-fed with a couple of big pots of 6mms and had a look down both edges, nicking a 4lb fish from the left edge and a big low double from the right hand edge just before the brambles. Out again to the right and a smaller carp, but more importantly proper bites. It was at this time I made a conscious decision to drop my longer left margin line and start feeding 8mms on a top kit there instead. I was still feeding 6's to my right side and felt it was getting better, a few lulls but steadily it was buildinng a weight. After 4 hours I knew I had a ton, the clicker was doing its job.By chopping and changing pellet size, I was keeping odd fish coming. and although It was taking 5 or 10 minutes for a bite, nearly all were hooked cleanly in the top lip and by letting the red hydro take the strain, I was not losing as many as I have been recently.
Clive had struggled for the last 2 hours with only 2 carp to show to add to his previous 4hours exertions, word was Chris Thomas and Kyle Deane had caught well on the first pegs on the spit.

 I just kept my head down and never went back out to 2+2 or the left hand margin. The fish wanted to be close to the brambles in a good 2ft of water. Nice depth and proper fish, a great combination.

Overall 

1st Keith Ashby     247-04               Section Winner

2nd Chris Thomas 125-08

3rd Mark Fox       109-00                Section Winner

4th Kyle Deane     106-04                Section Winner

5th Clive Pritchard 94-12

6th John Holdsworth 71-12

7th John Drake       64-00

8th  Simon Watkins 61-12

9th Chris Withall    53-04

10th Tony Roberts 52-08

11th Dave Collier   39-08

12th Gino Exell      38-12

13th Terry Goff      35-08

14th Jim Boase      31-02

Personally I had a very enjoyable day, good company, easy traffic and plenty of lumpy fish. It was hard going elsewhere and it just goes to show how the draw can dominate the events. I drew a good peg and felt I did it justice eventually. Many thanks to Mike McMillan for words of support. And as Dave said before the match I can only win when Mick is not there. 

I am away for 9 days at Viaduct Fishery for our annual Yam Yam trip. Hopefully my form will continue and the tales of glory will follow. Tight lines all.