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.

Two pleasure days and Alders Farm Ash match

Being a man of leisure at present, I am fortunate to be able to go fishing a couple of times a week, fishing where I want and when. My first stop was a trip to Meadowlands Fishery near Coventry, one of the best fisheries i the country and fast becoming a favourite of mine. Vic is in the same position as I, so we quite often team up and arrange where to go next.
Arriving at the fishery we happily paid our peg fee and purchased the fishery 8mms needed for fishing the bomb and pellet waggler, which was our aim. In fairness a sneaky trip out practising for Viaduct fishery at the end of the month.
We slotted into pegs 9 and 10, Vic on 9 and me on 10. I was going to start off on the waggler, fishing 2ft deep with a 8mm fishery pellet on the hook. I also set up a pole line on top three, where I would be dripping in 3 or 4 pellets every ten minutes or so. Vic was also going to start on the waggler, switching to the bomb as the session progressed.
Pinging into a left to right breeze was fine, two pouches containing 4 in each to the desired spot, cast, twitch reel in  and repeat. On the third go the float goes and fish on, did not even get to the twitch. A nice common around 5lb, Out again and within 10 minutes fish number two was on and soon in the net. My third fish shed the hook halfway back making it 2-1. Back out again and again on the cast the float goes again. 3-1 to me, happy days!!! Only been here 45 minutes and getting them going well.
Vic was also catching on the waggler before pulling out of a fish and snapping the tip off his Maver Powerlite 11ft Pellet Waggler rod (in case anyone has a spare tip section). A move to the bomb for him proved a pivotal decision. Slowly catching fish on 8mm pellets, fishing over the PW line.
After a couple of hours I dropped in on the pole line and had 4 fish in four drop ins, unfortunately losing them all. How did we fish before we had puller kits?
Back on the waggler and we were both catching well, the breeze had completely changed around now going right to left and as long as there was not too much of a bow I was still getting bites and plenty of fish.
At the all out we had both had 20 plus fish to 12lb, no monsters but all in pristine condition.

Alders Farm Ash Lake 07.07.2020

I had booked into my first open match at Alders Farm since the lockdown, I enjoy the Tuesday matches, a great bunch of lads and a good giggle. I got there nice and early to familiarise myself with the new rules and how the matches were to work.
There were plenty of people there, before me as i drove into the car park, a socially distanced queue outside the door for bait and day tickets. All seemed well and organised.
Loading the gear onto the barrow and wheeling it to the net dip before holding onto it as I descended down the hill. A cup of tea in the cafe before the draw. Peg 25 for me, not ideal for me, it is simply too shallow for the way I fish. We had 18 anglers on the match and the usual moans and groans bellowed around the draw.Plumbing up I found 2ft at 12.5m, less than a foot at 5m and less than 9inches close in to the bank.
I decided to use a couple of my new floats, one for fishing in the edge, mud line, and the other a margin pattern with most of the shotting below the float, a slim line float was being used on the 12.5m line. Bait would be 6mm pellets feeding fishery 4mms with maggot as a change bait late on.
For company on our bank we had, Stefan, Richard and Colin before going round to Trevor,Nick and Lee on the dam wall bank.
I started off alright catching and landing my first 5 fish in the first hour, no losses, before the line went a bit iffy. No bites. A look to the 12.5m line and a couple of small bites but nothing positive. Colin was catching at 5m, Richard was giving the pellet waggler a go. My fish were a good stamp, just not enough of them. In hindsight I think they were probably hanging off the feed.
A look down both sides saw me nick a couple more on maggot, but it was a struggle for us all on our bank. Stefan was getting a few down his edge towards 27 now and I suspected he would overtake me, as it proved in the end.
My 59lb 10oz getting me a thanks for coming whilst Stefan put 64lb on the scales. Dan Twine winning from peg 30 with 240lb with Nick Dean second from peg 8 and 145lb.

Toft Lake 13.07.2020

Another pleasure day out at another well looked after fishery, Toft Lakes near Rugby. I had been here before with a variety of people as it offers plenty of choice, method, bomb, pole and waggler all have there day. Personally I opt for the pole most times. The fish run to a good size, mainly mirrors with odd commons thrown in.
I got there nice and early, and settled into peg 7 in the open water, an area of the lake I had never visited before. I normally fish on both sides of the island. But I fancied a change. Vic and his son in law Paul were soon settling into the next couple of pegs for a social and a spot of fishing.
Opting to fish 2 lines today, 2 plus 2 and to the side where yet again I had very little water to play in. Setting the float to 9inches did not leave me too enthused on my choice of swim. However I had 5ft on the 2 plus 2 line so would concentrate there. Using one of my .5g diamonds I left a bit of bristle to show bites better, .19 N Guage to a size 14 B911X. Having fed a half pot of 4mms with a few 8mms and a dozen grains of corn, I was soon in play, after what I thought was drift on the float, I struck and red hydro came out nice and smooth. A good carp around 8lb to get me under way. I was just tripping bottom and there was a fair bit of tow on the water. Fish two was soon in the net, before a couple of foul hookers, no more bites followed, despite lifting and dropping an 8mm pellet. I re-fed the line via a cupping cut and this sparked an instant response with another couple of fish coming. Vic was soon into fish and suffering as I was, catch a couple in the mouth, a few foul hookers and a couple of fish being pulled out of.

It seems that this phenomena is happening at a lot of venues recently., may also be how I am feeding.
Still it was a pleasure session and trying to iron out a few kinks, We both caught plenty of fish to low doubles to keep us occupied throughout our time there. Paul was not so lucky.

Nice time out is at Alders Farm tomorrow on Pines Lake, my favourite lake. Please be kind drawbag.

Marsh AC Alders Farm Ash Lake 04.07.2020

Getting back into the club matches after a long lay off, when quite rightly no fishing was allowed. This would be my second match back and still feeling my way back in. A section win and second place overall on the last match at Puddledock Snake Lake settled the nerves and this match is on my local fishery. I had not visited the lake before the week prior when I had a little dabble on peg 6 whilst sorting out elastics, floats and rigs etc. Peg 5 was being rebuilt during that session and I still caught well despite Pete and Pop Up efforts to distract me.
As I live locally, I did not see the rush to get there as soon as the fishery opened, much preferring to give it 30 minutes to settle down. Arriving into the car park, I managed to sneak in next to the shop and order a couple of pints of maggot, more as a back up, in case my plan of 6mm hard pellet did not work. Nets dipped and packed away it was time for the draw.
As a section winner from the previous round I only needed to fork out the princely sum of £2 to fish today, and that included pools money. We do not win big in this club. Mick as usual was already ahead of me, making sure he stood behind the F%^K O*^ line before pointing to his folded up peg number. Can you believe it Peg 30 comes out, a peg that has won so many matches recently it was unbelievable. I followed him into the queue and tell Dave any peg will do. Out comes peg 5 or 7. Peg 5 if its has been completely rebuilt or peg 7 if not.
We had pegs 1-12 and 27 to 30, so all the pegs were capable of throwing up a weight, My section was Gino on 1, Kyle on 2, Pete Morton on 3, guesting with his former club and having a sneaky practice before the MDs weekend later this month, and Mark Fox on 4. Tony Roberts was on my peg from during the week, peg 6.

 



I had opted to fish 6mm pellet on 2+2 line to start, using a small .4g diamond to a sixe 16 KKMB. Red hydro should tame the 3 to 4lb fish, as they tend to go all over the place. A margin rig to the left hand side in 12 inches of water for later on during the match. I also set up a small slim float.3g to a size 14 KKMB to fish top three and just off deck on the 2+2 line.

                                                   Tony tucking into a boiled egg and soldiers!!!!!
At the all in I started feeding by toss pot 4mm fishery pellets with a cap full of the "price is right" liquid. (Not sure on how much to add yet). Fishing with a banded 6mm on the hook I was soon getting indications, I was missing a few bites but after a couple of minutes I was into my first fish, around 2lb. A few more followed, lifting and dropping the pellet to get the best from it. After an hour I had 8 fish but had lost the same amount, either foul hooked or just bumping them with the red hydro. Switching to purple hydro improved things slightly but I was still foul hooking and pulling out of fish.
Hours two and three flew by, no real bagging runs, just plodding away, landing one, losing one. Constantly changing shotting, depths etc to see if I fall upon the required method on the day. Word was that Kyle, Gino and Pete were catching well on 1,2 and 3 whilst Mark and Tony were nicking a few down the edges. I thought there was nothing between Mark and I but felt I was slightly ahead of Tony, so it was heads down.
Plugging away on the 2+2 lines seemed fruitless, so I decided to go down the edge with an hour to go. I had started on maggot feeding around 30 every 30 seconds, and fishing 5 maggots on the hook. Perch, Perch and a few more Perch. Back to pellet and start feeding pellet and after a couple of minutes the float goes and purple hydro comes out of the kit and a good rate of knots. Taking me all over the place a fish around 4lb and slightly better stamp than those previously caught. A switch back to red hydro and more control was welcome. I was also not bumping or foul hooking fish. I just had to ignore the little dips on the float and strike at the more positive bites.
At the all in, I thought it was close, no one was admitting to a lot, bloody lying anglers, glad I am not like them. The only one with a real grin on his face was Kyle, he knew he had broken the 100lb mark for the first time. Well done Kyle.

                                                             Kyle with a PB weight of 126-08

                                                              Foxy with part of his 131-12
Kyle and Tony grabbed the scales and started weighing in.
1st Mick Wright          170-12     Section Winner
2nd Keith Ashby         134-04     Section Winner
3rd Mark Fox              131-12
4th Gino Exell             130-00
5th Kyle Deane           126-08
6th John Holdsworth   123-04
7th Clive Pritchard      112-12    Section Winner
8th Peter Morton         105-04
9th Tony Roberts        101-04
10th Josh Donovan       96-04
11th Chris Thomas       91-08
12th Dave Collier         72-00
13th Jim Boase             44-14
Overall the lake has fished well and fair. Mick on peg 30 was always going to take some stopping but the rest of us were only separated by a couple of fish here and there. A rare MK 1-2.Well done to Mick, Keith and Clive on winning their sections. Mick has clawed back his first MK Nugget of the year making it 3-1 to me. Next match is on Tuesday at Alders on the Costcutter match.

 

 

Marsh AC Puddledock Farm Snake 20.06.2020

It has been a while since the last blog, this Covid-19 has taken its toll on everything we do. We have been fortunate to be able to get out and enjoy the sport we love, albeit with different rules to the norm. I had been out to a couple of fisheries, trying to avoid the masses of anglers also desperate for their fix. Toft Fishery, Meadowlands and Stockton Reservoir have all shown good form and have given up plenty of fish.
Today was my first match of the Marsh AC season, the earlier dates were cancelled due to fisheries being closed at the time. Our first chance to get out as a club was at Puddledock Farm. Again restrictions were put in place to ensure ours and everyone else's safety. We had pegs 1-30 for our 15 anglers, pegging just odd numbers meant everyone had a spare peg either side of them. I arranged to follow Mick to the fishery in separate cars, again following social distancing rules. On arrival, Dave was already in motion, collecting monies and drawing from pre-prepared pegs. Mick's luck continued drawing the end peg on the match length, whilst I had to settle for peg 11, ironically next to where I drew the last time I was there. John had arrived with his new motabilty scooter complete with trailer, to carry his gear to his peg, however, the weight was not something he had considered and it hardly moved before falling apart. Tony also had a new electric trolley from a converted wheelchair.
I had Gino and Josh to my left and Clive and Chris T to my right hand side. I have started making up a few floats over the lockdowm, certainly not of the standard of the professionals who make their own bodies. I am just gluing a few parts together for what I think I need. I planned to use these today and see how strong they are. A couple of margin floats, for both near and far banks at 12.5m, a .4 diamond for 5m line. Biggest issue I had was elastics, rarely using black or white hydro for this style of fishing. I settled on both. setting up identical rigs for across, one on white the other black. The 5m line was on green KND and black.

At the all in I started of across feeding 4mm pellets via a toss pot and fishing a 6mm hard pellet in a band. A few dips before foul hooking and pulling out of a small carp. Same thing on the next two bites. A switch to white hydro seemed to work and a 3lb carp was in the net. I was already behind the game with both Josh and Chris netting fish. Plodding away over the first hour saw odd carp come my way, but I was losing more fish than I was landing. I would either pull out at the net or lose them shipping back, I am getting a feeling of trying to rush the process and need to slow down a bit.
A move to the 5m line saw a few fish on meat, soaked in So Simple's Banions Juice. Again feeding via a toss pot seemed to be better than throwing by hand. Nicking odd fish before again suffering lost fish.

I felt that I was way behind Chris who was now fishing across to the far bank and still putting fish in the net. Josh had slowed but was still a threat, with Clive catching in the nearside margins on 8mm pellet to go with a few fish on the method. Gino was struggling, the method to the far bank was not working and he had resulted to catching a few silvers.

It was a case of head down and try to curb my enthusiasm, focusing on landing what I could, but by rotating lines I kept bites and odd fish coming throughout the day.
At the all out I felt I had done alright, a bit ring rusty and need to sort out elastics, once and for all.
The weigh in was also well done with social distancing in mind. We had a plastic plasterers bucket with a large landing net frame placed inside to keep the bucket open.

The angler would placed the fish in the bucket, step away and the weighing in person (Kyle) would perform the weigh in, calling out to the boards man ( Me). The same process worked from the other end of the match length with Josh and Tony working together as a team.

1st Chris Thomas 129-08   Section Winner
2nd Keith Ashby 72-12      Section Winner
3rd Dave Collier 61-12
4th Clive Pritchard 56-00
5th Josh Donovan 52-14
6th Mark Fox 39-08           Section Winner
7th Kyle Deane 38-08
8th Simon Watkins 38-00
9th Mick Wright 36-12
10th John Holdsworth 32-08
11th Tony Roberts 26-08
12th Jim Boase 14-00
13th Gino Exell 13-10
14th Chris Withall 11-14
15th Terry Goff 9-04

A hand sanitised MK Nugget was passed over, making it Keith 3 Mick 0 so far. Well done to Chris on winning, an ideal way to start the defence of the Marsh league. Also to Mark Fox on the far section win. A few more fish here and there would have made a big difference to the scores. Social distancing seemed to have worked within the guidelines and was good to fish a match again.

Alders Farm Tuesday Open Ash Lake 03.03.2020

It has been a frustrating couple of weeks recently, preventing me from fishing, a few storms have hit our shores, along with couple of family events coinciding with  Tuesday's have all put a bit of a damper on things.
Still I was up and about nice and early for this weeks match, I had loaded the car up and was ready to go by 0715. Pulling into the car park, I was one of the first, ordering my maggot from Jim Stubbings and then going into the shop to see Trevor. Gradually all the regulars started arriving, Denis, Lee, Sean, Richard, Madd, Mick and Vic along with a few I did not know. The Alders Farm Spring League starts next week so I assumed they were practising for this event. Still always nice to see some new faces.
The general consensus seemed to be, to fish Ash Lake and with a dozen of us in attendance we could all have a bit of room. A cup of tea in the cafe pre draw and I was ready. Mick had gone in first and drew peg 6. A good winter peg that has the edge of the island to chuck a feeder to. Vic had 17 where the previous week, Richard Brain had a near 100lb net of carp. My draw placed me on 19, a very good peg, both in winter and summer. Madd was on 21 so at least we could have a bit of banter. And this is where the problems started. The axle on my barrow decided to snap. Luckily, Jim and the team were on hand to get me to my peg via the mule. Without them I would still be getting the gear to the car.
Looking at the peg, I could see I light ripple going from left to right. I had a dark area within range that I could comfortable fish at 12.5m. Two rigs were set up for this. Both .4g Derek Smith Diamonds, one with a blacked out bristle. Shotting varied from a strung out pattern to a bulk and hooks were 16s and an 18 on .15 lines.
I also set up a shallow rig, just in case as occasionally fish are caught in two foot of water on this peg.
I did not set up a feeder or waggler as time ran out due to the mechanical breakdown earlier, so it was pole or bust.
I had been guilty of killing my peg at the start of matches by feeding too heavily at the start. Today I started negatively, feeding nothing and letting the double maggot drop through the layers on there own. Ten minutes later and I placed a few 4mms and micros into a cup and dropped them into the peg, the change was instant, next put in and a small skimmer, followed by a carp. Both Vic and Madd were bite-less. I decided to ping a few maggots out to 12.5m. Lifting and dropping I was able to keep a few fish interested. Bites were very hard to see today, sometimes just slight dips on the float or the float holding up. There were very few straight under bites and the majority of these were missed. I could see Mick and every now and again I would see his landing net in the air placing a fish in his keepnet. Lee Newson was catching a lot of skimmers from peg 4, Brainy was on 12 in suicide corner and was picking up a few odd fish towards the tree. Trevor was nicking the odd fish by rotating a line in front of him and a long edge swim in really shallow water. I was on around 8 carp and a few skimmers.
As the time went on I just kept plugging away on the one line, adjusting depth and shotting patterns to try to see the small dips in the ever changing light and wind conditions. Vic had a couple of fish but was struggling, Brainy's Peg was getting stronger and even Madd was getting a few fish having switched from pellet to maggot.
By the time the all out came I was still playing the best fish of the day, a nice common around 8lb and suspected I was close to going over in the net. Lee had placed 21lb of silvers in his catch of 60lb, excellent weight on the day.

Mick was next up with 31lb, not that I knew that as they had written 91 on the sheet to wind me up. Brainy's 80lb from peg 12 showed there are always fish in the area, you just need to find them. Vic had packed up and thrown back. I was next up and put 11lb of silvers and 97lb of carp for a total of 108-03.

Part of 97lb catch

Just avoided the disqualification as one more fish would have taken me over the net limit. Madd put 28lb on the scales with Trevor catching 50lb from peg 27.
I was happy with the win, but more importantly taking another MK Nugget from Mick. Its great to see him back on the bank, treatments are going well and he looks and feels well in himself. Great news and puts a lot of things into perspective.
Tight Lines All