27/09/22 - Ivy House - Old Match Lake

Weight - 56lb 0oz (11lb 4oz - silvers)

Catch - 11 Carp, 17 Skimmers

Weather - Mostly cloudy. Showers and sunny periods, with a gusty wind.

Match - Open (13 fished) - 3rd overall

I    Decided to jump on todays costcutter before my holiday in Mauritius. With the match spread over the Old Match Lake and Kingfisher there would be plenty of space.
 
It has been noticeable the weights have started to drop off recently and a potentially difficult day was likely, particularly as the weather forecast was for cloud and a cool wind. The number of showers was an added bonus.
 
I ended up on p5 which is the shallowest on the lake and I quite fancied it, assuming the wind would allow me to fish 16m to the bottom of the island shelf.
 
As the lake had been fishing a little hard recently, I decided to start very cautiously so no big potting of bait and just feel my way into the match. I started on a mini method feeder and 6mm yellow gofter and had hooked a 4lb carp, but the hook pulled at the net!
 
With no more bites on the method, I switched to fishing a hair rigged 4mm pellet at 16m tapping in a few 4s and lost my 2^nd carp at the net – not happy! Fortunately, the next one was landed, followed by a skimmer and a couple more carp to get up and running.
 
A further carp and couple more skimmers on 6mm pellet or corn at 7m were welcome but short lived. After 2hrs the wind was now really tricky and presenting the bait at 16m was increasingly difficult. Therefore, I set up a new swim in slightly deeper water at 15m fishing a heavier rig, feeding nuggets of micros and groundbait, fishing a 4mm expander to try and get some bites. Over the next 90mins I caught more skimmers, plus a couple more carp.
 
With 90mins remaining I was hoping to catch down my margins. The right margin was too shallow in the cool weather, but the left side was slightly deeper, and this is where I fed mostly micros and corn.
 
I had tried fishing the straight lead over pinged pellet, but never had a bite and fishing 16m in the wind was becoming a real pain. So, I was relying on my short line to produce, which it did, catching a few better sized carp and more skimmers all on corn. The margin only produced an 8lber late on.
 

1.    115- 4 – Mick O’Brien - p8
2.      56- 2 – Alan Smith – p10
3.      56- 0 – Ken Rayner – p5
4.      55-12 – Val Murray – p43
Silvers
1.      20- 2 – Alan Smith – p10
2.      17- 0 – Pete Ziemniak – p1
3.      13- 0 – Sid – p41
4.      11- 4 – Ken Rayner – p5

25/09/22 - Goodiford Mill - Match Lake

Weight - 66lb 2oz

Catch - 13 Carp, 5 Skimmers, 2 Roach

Weather - Chilly start, mostly sunny and flat, cloudy later.

Match - So Simple League - rd 8 (18 fished) - 11th overall (4th in section)

The last round of the So Simple league and I was lying 2^nd courtesy of a better weight advantage as 3 of us (Karl, Gary and myself) were all on the same number of points.

When I drew peg 1, I initially thought I would be able to cast to the island on my right with the willow tree, but when Chris Whitehead turned up on p51 I realised that wouldn’t be possible. With Phil Hart on peg 2, I had no features to fish to, just open water.

I was told there was a bar and to fish on top of this, although no one could tell me exactly where it was. Plumbing around revealed a very slightly shallower spot about 30m out, but no bar. I was also told it was a good peg for the pellet waggler, however it was a very chilly start, bright and there was no ripple. Other than fishing the open water I had very few options. I set up a pole line at 13m fed with 4s and a margin rig which I wasn’t hopeful about as the pegs either side were quite tight.

Well, the first 3 hours was a struggle, I only had 1 skimmer on the method, 3 carp and 2 big roach on the waggler and a few silvers on the pole. I was long way behind everyone in my section, as they all had shallow water or islands to target, which it soon became obvious the fish preferred to be and not on the deck in 5ft of water.

At the halfway stage, I was going nowhere and felt I had to force the peg, dumping a pint of 8s via a catapult in 5mins. This seemed to work, as I managed to pull in a few carp catching a further 5 carp on the waggler and 5 on the straight lead and red 8mm gonut up to 10lb. In total I fed 6pts of 8s, which was all I had!

I’m pleased I managed to pull back 2 section places, but I needed a further 35lb to claim 3^rd in section. Unfortunately, lost fish was a problem, either due to a snag or some of the carp had poor mouths resulting in hook pulls, which was quite frustrating.

In the end I finished 4^th overall, collecting £125. Karl managed to win his section, to claim 2nd, although there is a suggestion, he was coached all the way by Giff – lol. Gary had a similar match to me, and Chris Whitehead claimed 2^nd in section to finish on the same number of points as me and claimed 3^rd spot by 4lb. So, a tight finish and well done to Chris ‘Giff’ Ware who comfortably won the league.

It has been an interesting league due to the variety of venues; it was just unfortunate that Durleigh didn’t fish as well as expected. However, it was good to meet up with a good bunch of lads and an enjoyable league fished in good spirit, it was just a shame that Andy was unable to attend as he waits for a knee operation.

1.    161-10 – Elliot Faye – p7

2.    148- 8 – Karl Turner – p28

3.    134- 4 – Andy Bull – p36

4.    117- 3 – Simon Poynter – p16

5.    113-11 – Chris Whitehead – p51

17/09/22 - Glebe - Pool 7

Weight - 140lb 13oz

Catch - 23 Carp, 1 Skimmer

Weather - Sunny, strong northerly breeze

Match - 2 dayer (15 fished) - 8th overall, 3rd in section

Another end peg for me in the shape of p109 on pool 7 and a few screwed up faces on the locals suggested it hasn’t been the best. With a northerly breeze blowing in the end bank, I was hopeful for a few fish.

As I set up the wind was quite light, so I plumbed up at 13m where it starts to shallow up feeding 4s and 13m off to my left fed with micros and corn. Well, the first 90mins was a struggle. I couldn’t get a bite at 13m out in front and hooked 2 carp to my left on corn. The hooklength snapped on the first and then the elastic snapped at the connector for the second.

I did catch 1 carp on the straight lead and pellet over the 13m line, but with an increasingly strong breeze the tow had picked up and I decided to sack off the 13m lines.

I had already been pinging 4s into the end bank, as well as pinging 8s long to fish the straight lead as a backup line.

Switching to the end bank toss potting baninion boosted corn and micros with corn on the hook, I started catching and feeling much better about things. I lost a few foul hookers, but generally most fish were hooked properly including a few decent fish.

At the halfway point the swim was fading a bit and whilst I let it rest, I caught a few fish on the straight lead and 8mm pellet. Moving back to the end bank it was still tricky, mostly because the wind had increased. Switching to a heavier rig helped.

I had been feeding 6s on a short line, but never had a bite and my lead line didn’t produce any more, which just left my left hand margin. I had given the swim regular pots of corn and micros and first drop in produced a 12lber on double corn.

The last 90mins was steady swapping between the end bank and margin. By the end I caught more than expected, but I was a little disappointed as I missed out on 2^nd in section by 7lb and winning the section by 22lb. With a few better choices earlier (and local knowledge) I should have pushed for the section win.

Pool 6 was the place to be as everyone caught over 200lb.

An enjoyable 2 days and I just wish it was a little closer to home.

16/09/22 - Glebe - Pool 1

Weight - 99lb 4oz (10lb 8oz - silvers)

Catch - 21 Carp, 7 Skimmers, 1 Tench

Weather - Sunny, with a cool northerly

Match - 2 dayer (18 fished) - 11th overall, 3rd in section

The first of 2 days at the Glebe. Nothing big just a few of the locals getting together and I managed to get an invite via Pops, probably to just to make up the numbers! None the less I do enjoy coming here and haven’t managed a trip so far this year.

Today would be on pool 1 and tomorrow on pools 5, 6 and 7. Today also coincided with the coldest night and a forecast northerly wind as summer slips away.

I drew the end peg p30. A great peg in the summer but speaking to a few locals suggested it could be hard as it has been near bottom of the section in the previous couple of weeks.

Fortunately, I was mostly sheltered from the worst of the wind and spent most of the match in a t-shirt, whilst those further down the lake were wrapped up in several layers.

I started off at 14m where the lake starts to shallow up tapping in 4s and fishing a 6mm pellet. 2 carp in 15mins was a good start, but bites soon tailed off as I managed 1 more carp and a skimmer in the next 30mins.

In the meantime, I had been pinging 4s towards the end bank and when I switched, I stayed here for most of the match again fishing a 6mm pellet tapping in 4s in 2ft of water. The fish were a little smaller than the normal stamp, but at least I was catching, although I lost a couple of fish under the overhanging reeds

I tried a short line with corn, but this only produced a few skimmers, so I didn’t waste too much time on that. I had also been feeding micros and corn down the left margin, hoping for a strong finish, but only managed 2 carp on paste and nothing on corn. With no ripple the fish just didn’t seem to settle.

Overall, I felt I did ok bearing in mind the peg hasn’t fished well recently. 157lb won my section with 175lb winning the match.

11/09/22 - Lodden Lakes

Weight - 20lb 14oz

Catch - 14 Roach, 13 Skimmers, 3 Perch

Weather - Mostly sunny, a little breezy later

Match - Steve Martin Series - rd 4 (12 fished) - 9th overall

The sixth and final round of this friendly series run by Steve Martin and my first visit to Lodden Lakes, which is a venue I have always wanted to fish.

There were only 12 of us today as 6 couldn’t make it due to holidays, so we at least had plenty of room. Going into this round I was lying 4^th, with a chance of finishing anywhere between 3^rd and 6^th.

Based on the information I had received, chopped worm and caster was the way to go, as well as corn. When I drew p15, I was told it is a good area and carp had been caught by the island opposite.

My intention was to fish a large method, loaded with RTG micros (FA1 & kriller) for the first 20mins whilst I let my 13m line just off the left-hand spit where I fed a ball of groundbait, plus plenty of chopped worm and caster.

I ended up fishing the feeder for 80mins netting 5 skimmers (4 on an orange 8mm gofter and 1 on a yellow).

I had topped up the 13m line with more chopped worm and caster, so when I switched, I was soon attached to another skimmer on worm, but the small roach were proving to be a pain. So rather than toss potting in bait, I big potted worm and caster which was much better netting a further 4 big skimmers up to 3lb. I’ve then hooked what was obviously a decent fish. After playing it for a few minutes it found some roots down my right margin. I could feel it was still on and hoped that with some gentle persuasion I could free it by hand. Well, it nearly worked as I untangled most of the rig, but the ‘fish’ kicked and broke the hooklength. I’m not sure what it was, but think it was either a 3-4lb tench or a small carp. I must say I was disappointed.

Unfortunately, with about 18lb in the net this was the turning point in my match. Of the anglers I could see I was leading the way and felt a few more skimmers would put me in contention. However, my 13m line was now full of tiny roach and pushing out to 14m didn’t help.

I had been feeding corn ¾ of the way across to island and caught 2 skimmers, but no more. I also never had any more indications on the method.

A new swim off to my right fed with just micros at 14m, resulted in a skimmer first put in on 4mm expander, but then the roach returned – argh!

In desperation with an hour to go 4 balls of groundbait with chopped worm, caster and some micro’s was cupped in at 13m out in front. Alas this produced only 1 small skimmer and a roach.

After my good start, it was a disappointing end. I could only see 3 other anglers and felt I had done ok, but as I walked back to the car park the weights just got better. In fact, the bottom 5 weights all came from my end of the lake.

I finished the series 5^th overall and well done to Pete Ball who won fishing paste in every round.

1. 49-  4 - Steve Martin - p1

2. 39-  9 - Pete Ball - p40

3. 37-11 - Steve Musitano - p6

4. 32-11 - Andy Eagle - p4

5. 26-  2 - Phil Wilkins - p38

 

 

 

04/09/22 - Ivy House - Heron

Weight - 229lb

Catch - 125 Carp, 87 F1s

Weather - Cloudy start, sunshine and showers later.

Match - Open (5 fished) - 2nd overall

I decided to book in on the open on Heron Lake to put into practice some of the things learnt from 2 weeks ago. Sadly, there were only 5 fishing. There was supposed to be 8, but 3 didn’t turn up and the Old Match Lake was fully booked.

One of those that turned up was Glen Picton, so we were all fishing for 2^nd again – lol. Jason Robinson was also fishing, who has had over 200lb in the last couple of matches so I really wanted to see whether I could beat him.

Peg 8 was a good start, as it is in the right area for the F1s. Unlike the last time I set up 3 shallow rigs, plus a rig to fish tight in the margins. I also set rigs to fish on the deck, but these never got used.

Starting down the margin resulted in some tiny carp that had to be put back, so I didn’t spend too long here as there was already signs of fish shallow at 2+2, which is where I spent most of the match. Initially at 12in deep, before settling at 7in, feeding 4s with a hair rigged 4mm and occasionally a 6mm.

Whenever the shallow line went a bit iffy, usually indicated by fewer F1s and smaller carp I would switch to fishing the top kit in the right-hand margin fishing corn over 6s and corn. I caught quickly, including a couple 2lb carp, before the tiny carp reappeared and I moved back to the shallow line.

Overall, I was happy with how I caught, although further practice will be required to get closer to Glen who won with 241 fish.

1.    276- 8 – Glen – p4

2.    229- 0 – Ken – p8

3.    226- 6 – Jason – p2 

03/09/22 - Ivy House - Old Match Lake

Weight - 92lb 6oz (10lb 2oz - silvers)

Catch - 19 Carp, 12 Skimmers, 2 Roach, 1 Crucian

Weather - Sunny, with cloudy periods.

Match - Open (23 fished) - 4th overall

Todays match was spread over Old Match Lake and Kingfisher and I drew p8 on Old Match. A good peg and hopefully a good day ahead.

Unfortunately, the first 2 hours were particularly slow. I only had 1 small carp and a skimmer on a small method to the island. Ideally, I would have liked to be able to ping pellet to the island, but with a slight head wind my 6mm pellet couldn’t reach. I tried fishing on the deck with banded pellet at 16m as well and then fishing shallow but I didn’t catch on either and to be honest I wasted time trying to work out what was working.

The best swim was at 6m fishing corn where I caught a few carp and skimmers. I also caught a few more carp on 6mm pellet at the bottom of the near shelf 6m to my left, but strangely not to my right.

At the halfway point I probably had about 25lb and was a long way behind Smiffy to my left on p7 catching short on corn and Phil on p10 catching on the straight lead over pinged pellet to the island. For the 2^nd half of the match, I decided to concentrate on the short lines and margins, hoping for a late run of big fish.

Switching the short line from corn to 6mm pellet and then later paste, resulted in more carp than skimmers, but I probably got a bit too aggressive with the feed as I couldn’t keep the line going towards the end.

Down my margins, the left side was far better than the right which was full of scum. It was necessary to feed quite heavily with micros and corn to get the fish in. Initially I caught on paste, before that went funny, but a switch to double corn was much better, although trying to line up the fish was tricky.

Overall, I felt I should have caught more and in hindsight I should have stayed on the short line for longer during the early part of the match.

1.    150- 4 – Matt Hamilton – p5

2.    144-10 – Alan Smith – p7

3.    136- 8 – Phil Gooding – p10

4.      92- 6 – Ken Rayner – p8

5.      89- 8 – Mick O’Brien – p16

Silvers

1.      20- 8 – Alan Smith – p7

2.      15- 0 – Matt Hamilton – p5

3.      12- 6 – Mick O’Brien – p16

4.      12- 4 – Ian Millichip – p12

5.      12- 0 – Paul Baker – p9