Weight – 12lb 6oz
Catch – 27 Roach, 6 Skimmers, 1 Carp, 1 Hybrid, 1 Rudd, 1 Perch
Weather – Mild, cloudy and very windy. Rain later.
Match - Glenfall Christmas Match - 3rd overall
For the 3rd time of asking we were at Ivy House for my clubs Christmas match. Originally we rescheduled just to have the island on the main lake, but today we had the whole lake, which at least meant more room. Whilst having my breakfast I also found out that the ice had killed all the carp in the old canal, because the lake isn’t that deep and there was more ice than water!
Today was also the final of the knockout, between Andy Lord and myself with a free season ticket at stake. Andy however had some practice yesterday, winning Saturdays open with 14lb caught on the feeder. Apparently very few carp showed and those that targeted them blew out.
There was a decent turnout today of 18, which also included a couple of guests. Andy being the venue expert, because he does fish here quite often I needed a bit of luck at the draw. Unfortunately peg 35 found its way into my hand, which was on the left hand side of the island and I would have the strong wind blowing across me left to right. Andy in the meantime drew peg 5, with the wind blowing from behind and a millpond in front. A quick chat with Gary Etheridge confirmed my fears about my peg. Not great.
The draw was at 9, fishing 10-3, but by the time I unloaded the car and got to my peg is was already 9.20 and attempts to get the start pushed back fell on deaf ears. With the wind blowing the way it was I decided on a light feeder (.10 bottom & 20 B911) to fish at 13m. My reasoning was that if the wind dropped I could fish the pole over the same line, without the need to keep loads of lines on the go.
At the all in the feeder went straight out, whilst I set up my remaining pole rigs. A Jean Francois 0.6g at 13m (.10 bottom & 20 silverfish pellet) and a Jolly 4x16 at 8m (.10 bottom & 22 silverfish maggot). On Gary’s advice I also set up a 4x12 to fish at 5m in front of the platform on peg 36, where it was shallower, but never had a bite on it.
40mins on the feeder and all I had to show for my efforts was 1 squashed maggot. However the wind had dropped a little and 1st put in on the pole resulted in a bite, but the small roach fell off. Next put in a 2oz skimmer was in the net. At least I avoided a blank and so far I had only seen 2 others catch. Ian Pople on peg 19 who had 2 carp on the feeder, but that was it for him for the rest of the match and Don Smith on 37 with 2 skimmers, including 1 about 1½lb, again on the feeder.
My 13m line started to produce small roach and skimmers, but I was losing too many in the wind. Barbed hooks would have sorted that out!
For the next 2hrs, I kept rotating between 8 & 13m, depending on how bad the wind was. I couldn’t see Andy, but I reasoned if I kept putting fish in the net, the better fish would turn up.
On the 13m line I was cupping a pinch of micros and caster every 15mins, whilst 6-8 casters went in at 8m every couple minutes. The 8m line was producing more fish, but a 1½lb skimmer from the 13m line on double red maggot was very welcome. Over the 13m single maggot only produced small fish, whilst expanders didn’t produce a bite, so I stuck with double maggot.
Unfortunately going into the 4th hour the wind increased again and I spent more time at 8m. I tried fishing the straight lead over the 13m line, but I couldn’t get a bite, which was frustrating, because I knew there was fish there.
With 20mins left, I hooked something more substantial at 8m on single red maggot. Initially it just sat there pretending to be a snag, before it decided it was time to move. As it headed for the middle of the lake, I preying I had hooked it properly and the size 22 would hold. 5mins after the all out and much plodding around I eventually landed the fish.
The question was how had Andy done? Unfortunately it was quickly established that he had 5 carp and a big skimmer, which meant he had won the match and the knockout.
My silvers weighed 4-14 and my carp was 7-8. So 12-6, which was enough for 3rd overall and a brown envelope.
1st Andy Lord 26-1 – peg 5
2nd Kev Millard 14-4 – peg 47
3rd Ken Rayner 12-6 – peg 35
4th Ian Pople 9-2 – peg 19
5th Chris Derrick 8-8 – peg 13
Tuesday 18 January 2011
Monday 10 January 2011
09/01/11 - Fishponds
Weight – 101lb 13oz
Catch – 14 Carp
Weather – Frosty start. Sunny all day, cold breeze
My clubs Christmas match at Ivy House was postponed again, until next Sunday. To be honest I wasn’t too disappointed particularly after seeing the state of the lakes on Thursday.
Apparently our club water had been fishing OK and with no where else to go decided to give it a try. It had obviously been a bit wet overnight, before freezing, because the country roads leading to the lake were very slippery. 2mins from the lake I met a tractor complete with a fully laden shovel coming the other way. Although I was only doing 25/30mph I had no traction, despite the ABS and decided the grass verge was a better place to be than the front of the tractor. Fortunately no damage, except for a few bits of grass hanging from the undercarriage of the car, but I don’t mind saying it was a change of underpants moment.
There was still ice over ¼ of the lake, although it looked to be reasonably thin. Decided to fish peg 22 which was 1 of the pegs furthest away from the ice and provided plenty of open water. My intention was to chuck out the lead (which was already made up), whilst setting up the pole.
After 2 hours the pole was still in the bag, because I had bagged 9 carp already, mainly on double corn, but I also had fish on (meat) punched bread and quadruple maggot. Initially hadn’t fed anything, but as I had to wait longer for bites, switching to the pellet cone produced a couple of quick fish before the bites dried up.
Co-incidentally the breeze had changed from SW to a NW and it certainly felt colder as a large sheet of ice drifted my peg, which fortunately melted away after 30mins.
Another 1hr on the tip only produced a few liners, but it provided me with time to set a pole rig to fish pellet or corn. Action on the pole was slow, but I started to see more activity by pinging 4-6 4mm pellets every 5mins.
Biggest fish on the day was 12-2 on bread, plus 3 more doubles certainly helped push the weight up, proving a better day than expected.
Catch – 14 Carp
Weather – Frosty start. Sunny all day, cold breeze
My clubs Christmas match at Ivy House was postponed again, until next Sunday. To be honest I wasn’t too disappointed particularly after seeing the state of the lakes on Thursday.
Apparently our club water had been fishing OK and with no where else to go decided to give it a try. It had obviously been a bit wet overnight, before freezing, because the country roads leading to the lake were very slippery. 2mins from the lake I met a tractor complete with a fully laden shovel coming the other way. Although I was only doing 25/30mph I had no traction, despite the ABS and decided the grass verge was a better place to be than the front of the tractor. Fortunately no damage, except for a few bits of grass hanging from the undercarriage of the car, but I don’t mind saying it was a change of underpants moment.
There was still ice over ¼ of the lake, although it looked to be reasonably thin. Decided to fish peg 22 which was 1 of the pegs furthest away from the ice and provided plenty of open water. My intention was to chuck out the lead (which was already made up), whilst setting up the pole.
After 2 hours the pole was still in the bag, because I had bagged 9 carp already, mainly on double corn, but I also had fish on (meat) punched bread and quadruple maggot. Initially hadn’t fed anything, but as I had to wait longer for bites, switching to the pellet cone produced a couple of quick fish before the bites dried up.
Co-incidentally the breeze had changed from SW to a NW and it certainly felt colder as a large sheet of ice drifted my peg, which fortunately melted away after 30mins.
Another 1hr on the tip only produced a few liners, but it provided me with time to set a pole rig to fish pellet or corn. Action on the pole was slow, but I started to see more activity by pinging 4-6 4mm pellets every 5mins.
Biggest fish on the day was 12-2 on bread, plus 3 more doubles certainly helped push the weight up, proving a better day than expected.
Friday 7 January 2011
06/01/11 - R.Frome - Snuff Mills
Weight – 3lb 9oz
Catch – 2 Brown Trout, 1 Chub.
Weather – Cloudy, no wind, felt colder later
Snuff Mills wasn’t my intended choice? I had driven to Ivy House to have a practice for my clubs re-arranged Christmas match, but on arrival all lakes were closed and still covered in ice. Closer inspection revealed the water was like tap water, very clear. That doesn’t bode well for Sunday.
With any other decent commercial at least 1-1½hr away, I thought about the Bristol Avon, but didn’t have the right kit or bait with me. So in the end thought of Snuff Mills, it was 10mins from home and it used to be full of good quality roach. It was probably 10 years since I last fished here and as well as the roach, there were skimmers, plus loads of Gudgeon and minnows, I even had a small carp.
Although the venue is close to home, I have been put off fishing here because it is in a public park which is popular with dog walkers and the many screaming kids, but being a week day there shouldn’t be that many people around. My favourite spot was 10mins from the car park, above the weir, where the river is 18m wide and 6 foot deep.
With no river based groundbait with me, feed was caster at 13/14m and pinkie/maggot at 6m. Due to limited time, decided on 1 rig. A 4x14 jolly, with .07 bottom and a 22 B520.
Although the river looked perfect, I didn’t get my 1st bite until after 1hr 45mins. I was at the point of going home, but a 2½lb chub was very welcome. It was also a concern, because it had quite a bit of caster down its throat and I wasn’t exactly feeding heavily, 4-6 casters every 5mins.
The 6m line used to be guaranteed for minnows & Gudgeon, but other than a ½lb trout, 30mins later was the only bite I had from here. Over the next hour, I hooked another decent fish, which broke me close to the net. This prompted a switch to .08 bottom, then the hooked pulled out of what I think was another trout, before I landed another trout. But no roach! Very, very surprised, don’t know why, I can only assume cormorants have had their fill. I saw 6 of them sitting in a tree a few weeks ago around Swineford.
Catch – 2 Brown Trout, 1 Chub.
Weather – Cloudy, no wind, felt colder later
Snuff Mills wasn’t my intended choice? I had driven to Ivy House to have a practice for my clubs re-arranged Christmas match, but on arrival all lakes were closed and still covered in ice. Closer inspection revealed the water was like tap water, very clear. That doesn’t bode well for Sunday.
With any other decent commercial at least 1-1½hr away, I thought about the Bristol Avon, but didn’t have the right kit or bait with me. So in the end thought of Snuff Mills, it was 10mins from home and it used to be full of good quality roach. It was probably 10 years since I last fished here and as well as the roach, there were skimmers, plus loads of Gudgeon and minnows, I even had a small carp.
Although the venue is close to home, I have been put off fishing here because it is in a public park which is popular with dog walkers and the many screaming kids, but being a week day there shouldn’t be that many people around. My favourite spot was 10mins from the car park, above the weir, where the river is 18m wide and 6 foot deep.
With no river based groundbait with me, feed was caster at 13/14m and pinkie/maggot at 6m. Due to limited time, decided on 1 rig. A 4x14 jolly, with .07 bottom and a 22 B520.
Although the river looked perfect, I didn’t get my 1st bite until after 1hr 45mins. I was at the point of going home, but a 2½lb chub was very welcome. It was also a concern, because it had quite a bit of caster down its throat and I wasn’t exactly feeding heavily, 4-6 casters every 5mins.
The 6m line used to be guaranteed for minnows & Gudgeon, but other than a ½lb trout, 30mins later was the only bite I had from here. Over the next hour, I hooked another decent fish, which broke me close to the net. This prompted a switch to .08 bottom, then the hooked pulled out of what I think was another trout, before I landed another trout. But no roach! Very, very surprised, don’t know why, I can only assume cormorants have had their fill. I saw 6 of them sitting in a tree a few weeks ago around Swineford.
Sunday 2 January 2011
01/01/11 - Dorset Stour - Fiddleford
Weight – 19lb 6oz
Catch – 91 Roach, 29 Dace, 2 Gudgeon, 1 Perch.
Weather – Mild, but chilly breeze
Today was a proper red letter day, plenty of fish and plenty of bites.
In the last few years, Mark, Nick & I have fished at Timsbury Manor on the river Test on New Years day. I couldn’t make it last year, but Mark & Nick struggled for only a few fish, because there was loads of anglers on the bank and at £20 for a day ticket, that’s a bit expensive not to catch.
This year I suggested the Hampshire Avon or Dorset Stour. Every time I go down to Bournemouth to see to Sue’s family, I drive past the river and keep meaning to give it a try. Nick lives in Shaftsbury and heard that the river at Fiddleford was fishing well around the footbridge, so that’s where we ended up.
Having never seen this part of the river, it looked brilliant. The Fiddleford Mill was a short distance upstream with a large weir pool. The swims around the footbridge are a winter hot spot, because it’s up to 14ft deep, although today the river was still fining down following the snow thaw. The 2 swims either side of the bridge we were told were the best, but we couldn’t decide where to have the 3rd peg. We decided to have a draw, with pegs 1 & 2 either side of the bridge, whilst who ever drew 3, could choose. I drew 3 and decided on the downstream peg, where it shallowed up before the bend. It was then decided who ever had the highest weight won’t have to pay for their £5 day ticket, which I thought Mark & Nick would win, but I was simply looking forward to a days fishing.
When we arrived there were fish topping and all of us were expecting a good day. I set up 2 rigs, a 2.5g carbo to fish at 6m on the pole. The swim shallowed up in front of me from 9ft to 8ft, so I fished the pole upstream and held it back as it shallowed up. My 2nd rig was a 6BB pacemaker (a chunkier version of the stick) to fish the far bank trotting under tree where it was 6ft deep.
I started with 5 balls of groundbait on the pole line and had 2 fish in 2 put ins, then nothing. Mark & Nick both experienced the same problem, however after adjusting my rig I started to catch regularily, including some quality roach. I feed a ball of groundbait every 20-30mins when bites slowed down or when I had a run of tiny dace.
After 2½hrs I was already up to about 50 fish, however Mark & Nick weren’t doing quite as well. Mark unfortunately managed to find a snag that stretched most of the way across the river, which was frustrating and the toys were starting come out of the pram. Speaking to a local, he reckoned the snag is new, which must have washed down when the river flooded. Nick in the meantime was fishing the back eddy, which usually holds some bream up to 8lb, but was struggling for bites and did pull out of a decent fish.
Since the start of the session I had been feeding hemp & caster to the far side and switched to the pacemaker. Initially struggled, but a few adjustments to the rig and it was running though just tripping bottom. For the rest of the session I rotated between the pole and float, finishing with several roach about 12oz topped by a 1lb roach caught on the float.
Nick finished with 6lb, whilst Mark had about 4lb, including a near 2lb perch
Catch – 91 Roach, 29 Dace, 2 Gudgeon, 1 Perch.
Weather – Mild, but chilly breeze
Today was a proper red letter day, plenty of fish and plenty of bites.
In the last few years, Mark, Nick & I have fished at Timsbury Manor on the river Test on New Years day. I couldn’t make it last year, but Mark & Nick struggled for only a few fish, because there was loads of anglers on the bank and at £20 for a day ticket, that’s a bit expensive not to catch.
This year I suggested the Hampshire Avon or Dorset Stour. Every time I go down to Bournemouth to see to Sue’s family, I drive past the river and keep meaning to give it a try. Nick lives in Shaftsbury and heard that the river at Fiddleford was fishing well around the footbridge, so that’s where we ended up.
Having never seen this part of the river, it looked brilliant. The Fiddleford Mill was a short distance upstream with a large weir pool. The swims around the footbridge are a winter hot spot, because it’s up to 14ft deep, although today the river was still fining down following the snow thaw. The 2 swims either side of the bridge we were told were the best, but we couldn’t decide where to have the 3rd peg. We decided to have a draw, with pegs 1 & 2 either side of the bridge, whilst who ever drew 3, could choose. I drew 3 and decided on the downstream peg, where it shallowed up before the bend. It was then decided who ever had the highest weight won’t have to pay for their £5 day ticket, which I thought Mark & Nick would win, but I was simply looking forward to a days fishing.
When we arrived there were fish topping and all of us were expecting a good day. I set up 2 rigs, a 2.5g carbo to fish at 6m on the pole. The swim shallowed up in front of me from 9ft to 8ft, so I fished the pole upstream and held it back as it shallowed up. My 2nd rig was a 6BB pacemaker (a chunkier version of the stick) to fish the far bank trotting under tree where it was 6ft deep.
I started with 5 balls of groundbait on the pole line and had 2 fish in 2 put ins, then nothing. Mark & Nick both experienced the same problem, however after adjusting my rig I started to catch regularily, including some quality roach. I feed a ball of groundbait every 20-30mins when bites slowed down or when I had a run of tiny dace.
After 2½hrs I was already up to about 50 fish, however Mark & Nick weren’t doing quite as well. Mark unfortunately managed to find a snag that stretched most of the way across the river, which was frustrating and the toys were starting come out of the pram. Speaking to a local, he reckoned the snag is new, which must have washed down when the river flooded. Nick in the meantime was fishing the back eddy, which usually holds some bream up to 8lb, but was struggling for bites and did pull out of a decent fish.
Since the start of the session I had been feeding hemp & caster to the far side and switched to the pacemaker. Initially struggled, but a few adjustments to the rig and it was running though just tripping bottom. For the rest of the session I rotated between the pole and float, finishing with several roach about 12oz topped by a 1lb roach caught on the float.
Nick finished with 6lb, whilst Mark had about 4lb, including a near 2lb perch
31/12/10 - Bristol Avon - Lower Reybridge
Weight – 2lb 11oz
Catch – 16 Dace, 13 Roach, 1 Chub, 1 Bullhead
Weather – Mild, cloudy, no wind
Today was a spur of the moment session. The weather had finally broken with a few days of mild temperatures which had seen the snow disappear, although some lakes still had a covering of ice. I had considered going down my club lake, but there was likely to still be some ice, plus all that melting ice won’t have done much for the water temperature.
I fancied trying for some chub again, but when I arrived at the river it was still coloured and slightly up. Must admit I did hesitate about getting the kit out of the car, but the pace of the river wasn’t too bad. As I walked down there was already an angler in the peg I wanted to fish, fortunately he was spinning for pike so was likely to move on soon. We chatted for 15mins whist he unsuccessfully worked the swim. Personally thought there was a touch too much colour for the spinner to work.
I started on the bread & lead, whilst setting up a 4BB alloy stick, feeding maggot & hemp. With no bites on the lead, it took 15mins to get my first fish on the float, a 4oz roach, but it felt cold, so obviously the river still had some melted snow in it.
As the session progressed I caught most of my fish in the slacker water on the other side of the river. I tried the inside line, where there was more flow, but could only get bites on the lead fishing 4 maggots on a size 14 looking for chub. Unfortunately only small fish showed including a tiny bullhead and god knows how it managed to stuff the bait & hook it to its mouth.
After losing my float rig on an underwater snag, I decided to set up a heavier 4AAA Avon, but was struggling for bites. So I decided to rest the swim and try a spot further down river for ½ hour, but I didn’t get a bite. When I returned I changed down a hook size on the lead and caught a few more fish, but the fish were generally small, particularly the dace. I had hoped for a few chub, however except for a 4oz chublet none showed.
A bit of a disappointing day.
Catch – 16 Dace, 13 Roach, 1 Chub, 1 Bullhead
Weather – Mild, cloudy, no wind
Today was a spur of the moment session. The weather had finally broken with a few days of mild temperatures which had seen the snow disappear, although some lakes still had a covering of ice. I had considered going down my club lake, but there was likely to still be some ice, plus all that melting ice won’t have done much for the water temperature.
I fancied trying for some chub again, but when I arrived at the river it was still coloured and slightly up. Must admit I did hesitate about getting the kit out of the car, but the pace of the river wasn’t too bad. As I walked down there was already an angler in the peg I wanted to fish, fortunately he was spinning for pike so was likely to move on soon. We chatted for 15mins whist he unsuccessfully worked the swim. Personally thought there was a touch too much colour for the spinner to work.
I started on the bread & lead, whilst setting up a 4BB alloy stick, feeding maggot & hemp. With no bites on the lead, it took 15mins to get my first fish on the float, a 4oz roach, but it felt cold, so obviously the river still had some melted snow in it.
As the session progressed I caught most of my fish in the slacker water on the other side of the river. I tried the inside line, where there was more flow, but could only get bites on the lead fishing 4 maggots on a size 14 looking for chub. Unfortunately only small fish showed including a tiny bullhead and god knows how it managed to stuff the bait & hook it to its mouth.
After losing my float rig on an underwater snag, I decided to set up a heavier 4AAA Avon, but was struggling for bites. So I decided to rest the swim and try a spot further down river for ½ hour, but I didn’t get a bite. When I returned I changed down a hook size on the lead and caught a few more fish, but the fish were generally small, particularly the dace. I had hoped for a few chub, however except for a 4oz chublet none showed.
A bit of a disappointing day.
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