For me the fishing season runs from June to May and I usually like to take a few weeks off during April & May, simply because the fishing during this time, particularly May can be a bit dodgy with spawning fish.
On a personal level the last 12 months has been hard. Back in June my parent company made a decision to sell off the company I worked for. I had to make a decision about either continue working for my existing company or move to the parent company. In the end I moved to the parent company in August with a mandate to set up a new service, however progress has been painfully slow and it is only recently that all my hard work is starting to bear fruit.
As for Sue, I have never known someone to have such a bad run of luck, but I think (& hope) she has settled on what she wants to do for the future. Having given up trying to find a full time job, she now wants to run her own business selling AVON and Ann Summers. Sue's problem has been the 2 fold, firstly she spent 20 years in the motor trade and secondly she was a manager. Unfortunately, with so many people looking for work, it appears potential employers are seeing 20 years motor industry and immediately discounting her managerial skills. So Sue has decided to set up her own business, building a sales team for AVON and Ann Summers. There is some serious money to made if she can grow the team large enough and I have told her if it gets to the point where she needs to employ someone to deal with admin etc, I will be her man. That way I will have more time to go fishing! Unfortunately, that will be a few years away.
With such a tight financial year, it has meant I haven't been able to go fishing as often as I would like and that's one of reasons why I focused much of my time at Lands End during the winter. Ironically being on a tight budget and seen me have one of my best seasons. Having to limit what bait I take has allowed me to focus on how I approached a match. Previously I have been guilty of taking too much and confusing myself, but by looking at how other anglers approach their matches, such as Tony Rixon and Rod Wootton has allowed me to be more confident that what I am doing is right and I shouldn't keep chopping and changing.
Fishing has certainly kept me sane these last 12 months, although there has been some lows, as well as some highs.
The lows – Being dropped by Maver Veals wasn't unexpected and on reflection I should have dropped myself months ago, however I honestly thought I would back straight financially sooner and able to commit the necessary time.
The big low for me however was the Lands End Winter League. After the 6th round I was lying 3rd overall, but the last 2 rounds weren't kind. A draw on peg 55 Johns, although normally a decent peg, on the day the weather was getting milder and there was a real strong westerly blowing. So whilst everyone had some sort of ripple, my swim was flat calm and the fish simply didn't want to be there. The last round saw me draw the wrong end of Sydneys lake and as a consequence I dropped out of the top 7 and no money – gutted.
On the positive side, I had some seriously big weights in the last 12 months, 5 tons, 4 double tons and a personal best 335lb. I also managed a personal best match weight of 218lb, which was a club match record, well up to last month anyway. Whilst that was a memorable match, probably my best result was at Rood Ashton, fishing against 18 locals, who normally approach the lake with the method feeder and pole/paste. According to the locals my pellet waggler approach wouldn't work because the lake was too shallow! 45 carp for 133lb and a convincing match win proved otherwise.
Of the 37 matches fished, I've picked up in 24, which has been very helpful, collecting more money than I have paid out and during December to February I picked up 10 times from 11, its just shame that during March a run of poor draws halted that little run.
So what about the future? Being a glass half full type person, I am hopefully that the next 12 months will see Sue and I back on a even keel. Both our jobs are showing signs of going in the right direction, so hopefully in the not to distant future I can commit to more fishing.
Saturday 29 May 2010
28/05/2010 - Winterbourne Duck Pond
Weight – 44lb 13oz
Catch – 72 Skimmers, 1 Tench
Weather – Sunny, blustery at times
A trapped nerve in my back, prevented me from fishing last weekend. I had booked today off with the intention of going to my club water, however Sue needed the car (I'll be glad when she gets her own). I decided to still have the day off and got Sue to drop me off at the duck pond for an afternoon session.
When I arrived, someone was already in the bus stop swim, but the water level had dropped about 1ft, so I chose the slip way off the dam wall, which would offer the most depth at 2ft.
Nothing complicated today, a roach 4x12, .11 bottom & 18 silverfish pellet hook & double 5 elastic, fished at 11.5-13m towards the island and 11m down the left hand margin towards the road wall. Initially started feeding 4mm pellet & maggot via a toss pot, but soon reverted to catapulting 4mm. After a slow 10mins I started catching nearly every put in on double red maggot. After 40mins I ditched the maggot switching to soft pellet and the skimmers kept coming , although after an 2hours the swim was slowing, which coincided with the wind picking up.
A switch to corn helped and for the remainder of the session, I kept swapping between pellet and corn. When the main swim went quiet, a look down the left hand edge produced the odd fish, including a lost carp when the hook pulled, but most fish came at 11.5m. A 2½lb tench went a welcome change from the skimmers which went up to 1¾lb.
In the end I had to get Sue to pick me up earlier than intended , because I was running out of 4mms, having fed 2pts. Whether the drop in the water level had concentrated the fish in the deeper water, I'm not sure , but this beat my previous best silvers weight from the venue by 9lb.
Catch – 72 Skimmers, 1 Tench
Weather – Sunny, blustery at times
A trapped nerve in my back, prevented me from fishing last weekend. I had booked today off with the intention of going to my club water, however Sue needed the car (I'll be glad when she gets her own). I decided to still have the day off and got Sue to drop me off at the duck pond for an afternoon session.
When I arrived, someone was already in the bus stop swim, but the water level had dropped about 1ft, so I chose the slip way off the dam wall, which would offer the most depth at 2ft.
Nothing complicated today, a roach 4x12, .11 bottom & 18 silverfish pellet hook & double 5 elastic, fished at 11.5-13m towards the island and 11m down the left hand margin towards the road wall. Initially started feeding 4mm pellet & maggot via a toss pot, but soon reverted to catapulting 4mm. After a slow 10mins I started catching nearly every put in on double red maggot. After 40mins I ditched the maggot switching to soft pellet and the skimmers kept coming , although after an 2hours the swim was slowing, which coincided with the wind picking up.
A switch to corn helped and for the remainder of the session, I kept swapping between pellet and corn. When the main swim went quiet, a look down the left hand edge produced the odd fish, including a lost carp when the hook pulled, but most fish came at 11.5m. A 2½lb tench went a welcome change from the skimmers which went up to 1¾lb.
In the end I had to get Sue to pick me up earlier than intended , because I was running out of 4mms, having fed 2pts. Whether the drop in the water level had concentrated the fish in the deeper water, I'm not sure , but this beat my previous best silvers weight from the venue by 9lb.
Monday 17 May 2010
16/05/10 - Cuckoo's Rest
Weight – 6lb 6oz
Catch – 33 Roach, 10 Perch, 8 Skimmers
Weather – Cold, cloudy, rainy start. Brighter later, but windy
Match – Open - 7th overall
16 turned up Mark’s match at Cuckoo’s Rest, with the expectation of plenty of skimmers and tench. However, the weather had a big hand in how the day turned out. After the warm day yesterday, it was back on with the fleece, because it was certainly a bit nippy and with the early start I expecting a slow start.
I drew the 1st peg over the bridge on the left side of the island. General consensus was, it wasn’t a great draw, however a few tench had been caught recently in the area by pleasure anglers. Being on the corner of the island, meant I was sitting at angle to the open water, but to my left there was an over hanging tree at 14.5m on the “mainland”, as well as the margin towards to the bridge, so at least I had a few options.
Green Swim Stim & micros were deposited at 13m and 4mm’s were catapulted towards the over hanging tree. Whilst I let that settle I started at 5m fishing caster and after 30mins I had 10 fish in the net, before bites dried up.
The 13m line produced very little on soft pellet with bites very hard to come by. In fact everyone seemed to be struggling, expect Hippy who was on the right bank, casting a small method feeder towards the far bank, catching proper bream and the odd carp.
I would have been happy to keep going with the roach at 5m but couldn’t keep them going, as they drifted in & out of the swim. Even adding another section didn’t help, so a bit oft head scratching.
My overhanging tree swim did produce a couple of small skimmers on corn, but again no more and I had to keep rotating swims just to keep a few fish going into the net. Even tried the waggler, which only produced 1 roach. Although Hippy was running away with it, a couple of decent skimmers or tench would soon put you back in the contention for the frame.
With the wind increasing strength, I was beginning to regret not packing a feeder rod to fish beyond 14.5m, but with the wind cutting across me, fishing longer as I had intended was no longer an option.
I set up a new swim at 11.5m, just feeding 4mm and caster via a toss pot, reasoning the roach at 5m were worth having , perhaps they would feed more confidentially further out and hopefully a few skimmers would show. Unfortunately the roach got smaller and there were very few skimmers.
As the match drew to a conclusion, I stuck with the pellet and corn hoping for a better fish, but it just didn't happen. Those that framed all had at least 1 decent fish, but overall a very disappointing match. Those skimmers never feed and not 1 of the 2500 small carp stocked last month showed.
Hippy won with 64lb, but 2nd was only 16lb, which was 2 carp, 1 proper bream and a skimmer.
Catch – 33 Roach, 10 Perch, 8 Skimmers
Weather – Cold, cloudy, rainy start. Brighter later, but windy
Match – Open - 7th overall
16 turned up Mark’s match at Cuckoo’s Rest, with the expectation of plenty of skimmers and tench. However, the weather had a big hand in how the day turned out. After the warm day yesterday, it was back on with the fleece, because it was certainly a bit nippy and with the early start I expecting a slow start.
I drew the 1st peg over the bridge on the left side of the island. General consensus was, it wasn’t a great draw, however a few tench had been caught recently in the area by pleasure anglers. Being on the corner of the island, meant I was sitting at angle to the open water, but to my left there was an over hanging tree at 14.5m on the “mainland”, as well as the margin towards to the bridge, so at least I had a few options.
Green Swim Stim & micros were deposited at 13m and 4mm’s were catapulted towards the over hanging tree. Whilst I let that settle I started at 5m fishing caster and after 30mins I had 10 fish in the net, before bites dried up.
The 13m line produced very little on soft pellet with bites very hard to come by. In fact everyone seemed to be struggling, expect Hippy who was on the right bank, casting a small method feeder towards the far bank, catching proper bream and the odd carp.
I would have been happy to keep going with the roach at 5m but couldn’t keep them going, as they drifted in & out of the swim. Even adding another section didn’t help, so a bit oft head scratching.
My overhanging tree swim did produce a couple of small skimmers on corn, but again no more and I had to keep rotating swims just to keep a few fish going into the net. Even tried the waggler, which only produced 1 roach. Although Hippy was running away with it, a couple of decent skimmers or tench would soon put you back in the contention for the frame.
With the wind increasing strength, I was beginning to regret not packing a feeder rod to fish beyond 14.5m, but with the wind cutting across me, fishing longer as I had intended was no longer an option.
I set up a new swim at 11.5m, just feeding 4mm and caster via a toss pot, reasoning the roach at 5m were worth having , perhaps they would feed more confidentially further out and hopefully a few skimmers would show. Unfortunately the roach got smaller and there were very few skimmers.
As the match drew to a conclusion, I stuck with the pellet and corn hoping for a better fish, but it just didn't happen. Those that framed all had at least 1 decent fish, but overall a very disappointing match. Those skimmers never feed and not 1 of the 2500 small carp stocked last month showed.
Hippy won with 64lb, but 2nd was only 16lb, which was 2 carp, 1 proper bream and a skimmer.
15/05/10 - Fishponds
Weight – 130lb 14oz
Catch – 18 Carp
Weather – Mostly sunny, westerly breeze.
Match – Rod & Reel Float Only - 2nd overall
Whilst loading the car, I realised I had forgotten something – my nets, but where the hell were they? Then it dawned on me, that whilst sorting a few bits out in the shed last night I took my stink bag, containing 3 keepnets and 2 landing nets, out of the shed, leaving them out overnight. Some light finger bar-steward had only nicked it. Unfortunately a blown down fence panel allowed them easy access, via our next door neighbour. I suspect it was nicked, because there wasn’t anything else light enough to take which is bloody annoying.
I arrived at Tony's on the way to the match with my tale of woe, upon where Tony did his best impression of Arkwright from “Open All Hours”, never seen him move so fast, rubbing his hands together.
Anyway back to the match. As mentioned in a previous blog entry, my club would be running a series of Saturday afternoon/evening matches. This round was a rod & reel, float only match, which would be interesting.
Fortunately I drew an open water swim so I set up 2 pellet wagglers (1x 4” hooklength & the other 10”), a conventional waggler to fish mid-depth (& the margin) and an on the deck waggler to fish 8m out at the bottom of the shelf. All rigs had .17 bottom to 16 B960, hair rigging 8mm pellet.
After all the cold & rain over the last couple of weeks the sun made a welcome appearance, so I was hopeful I could catch a few shallow.
Starting at 8m other than a liner no bites where forth coming. In the meantime I had been feeding 8mm ready for the pellet waggler and after 30mins saw my first swirl. 5mins later I lost a foul hooker on the longer hooklength, 10mins later and another lost foulhooker – bugger. A switch to the shallower rig and I hooked one properly, but then they disappeared.
After 2 hours I only had 2 carp and my short line had yet to produce. However, most around the lake were catching well, with Graham leading the way fishing hard pellet 2 rod lengths out.
I kept the pellet going in and come the 3rd hour the fish arrived properly. Found it best to fish the 10” rig, cast then feed, wait 10-15secs feed again, wait again. If no bites, then feed again just as I reeled in. For some reason feeding & then casting straight away didn’t work as well. The conventional waggler didn’t work over the waggler line, although I managed a couple of carp towards the pallet on my right.
Going into the 5th & final hour I was up to 16 carp, but the wind dropped and I struggled to get another bite, which was disappointing, because I knew I was catching Graham and ultimately the last hour cost me.
1st 148lb – Graham Millard
2nd – 130lb – Ken Rayner
3rd – 121lb – Roger Putterill
4th – 86lb – Andy Lord
Catch – 18 Carp
Weather – Mostly sunny, westerly breeze.
Match – Rod & Reel Float Only - 2nd overall
Whilst loading the car, I realised I had forgotten something – my nets, but where the hell were they? Then it dawned on me, that whilst sorting a few bits out in the shed last night I took my stink bag, containing 3 keepnets and 2 landing nets, out of the shed, leaving them out overnight. Some light finger bar-steward had only nicked it. Unfortunately a blown down fence panel allowed them easy access, via our next door neighbour. I suspect it was nicked, because there wasn’t anything else light enough to take which is bloody annoying.
I arrived at Tony's on the way to the match with my tale of woe, upon where Tony did his best impression of Arkwright from “Open All Hours”, never seen him move so fast, rubbing his hands together.
Anyway back to the match. As mentioned in a previous blog entry, my club would be running a series of Saturday afternoon/evening matches. This round was a rod & reel, float only match, which would be interesting.
Fortunately I drew an open water swim so I set up 2 pellet wagglers (1x 4” hooklength & the other 10”), a conventional waggler to fish mid-depth (& the margin) and an on the deck waggler to fish 8m out at the bottom of the shelf. All rigs had .17 bottom to 16 B960, hair rigging 8mm pellet.
After all the cold & rain over the last couple of weeks the sun made a welcome appearance, so I was hopeful I could catch a few shallow.
Starting at 8m other than a liner no bites where forth coming. In the meantime I had been feeding 8mm ready for the pellet waggler and after 30mins saw my first swirl. 5mins later I lost a foul hooker on the longer hooklength, 10mins later and another lost foulhooker – bugger. A switch to the shallower rig and I hooked one properly, but then they disappeared.
After 2 hours I only had 2 carp and my short line had yet to produce. However, most around the lake were catching well, with Graham leading the way fishing hard pellet 2 rod lengths out.
I kept the pellet going in and come the 3rd hour the fish arrived properly. Found it best to fish the 10” rig, cast then feed, wait 10-15secs feed again, wait again. If no bites, then feed again just as I reeled in. For some reason feeding & then casting straight away didn’t work as well. The conventional waggler didn’t work over the waggler line, although I managed a couple of carp towards the pallet on my right.
Going into the 5th & final hour I was up to 16 carp, but the wind dropped and I struggled to get another bite, which was disappointing, because I knew I was catching Graham and ultimately the last hour cost me.
1st 148lb – Graham Millard
2nd – 130lb – Ken Rayner
3rd – 121lb – Roger Putterill
4th – 86lb – Andy Lord
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