Tuesday, 23 June 2026

19/06/26 - Marston Fields - Elm

Weight - 38lb 14oz
Catch - 6 Carp, 1 Bream
Weather - Warm, sunny and windy
Match - So Simple Open (17 fished) - 14th overall

The So Simple boss Sev had organized a So Simple day at Marston Fields, that was a match with a mixture of sponsored and non-sponsored anglers. Sev also had a stand for spectators to sample the So Simple products.

Marston Fields was just over a 2 hour drive, which meant an early start and we would be fishing Elm Lake, that is in the shape of a doughnut lake with the island being 30m away and 5ft deep.

At the draw, I was told the best area would in the 20s. Alas I drew p11, with 2 locals either side and neither of them were enthusiastic about our draws.

I was also told the lakes are quite exposed and it can get a bit windy.

Setting up and there was a strong wind blowing at me from 11’o clock and it became obvious I would be lucky to fish longer than 11m. As I didn’t know the venue, I decided on a simple plan, namely the method to the island and paste over the pole line.

On the all-in, casting tight to the island was challenging as the wind was gusting quite a bit and I couldn’t get a bite.

I had also fed fishery micros and 4mm pellet boosted with Kriller Sludge at 11m and after 2.5hrs I caught my fish on Cocosquid paste, but due to the wind had to drop back to 10m.

This worked I as I started to get regularly indication and over an hour spell hooked 7 fish but only netted 2! The strong wind and tow were causing issues as the rig blow into a couple of fish, the hook pulled out of another at the net and the elastic (newly fitted) snapped on another. Needless to say, I was a little frustrated and any indications had stopped.

I did catch 2 fish on method to the island, but the action was short lived. I also tried pinging 8mm pellet and fishing the straight lead over the top without success.

Back on the pole I came back to 9m and the fish eventually retuned catching a couple more before the end of the match.

As we were weighing it became obvious that I was in the most exposed part of the lake. As a result, myself and the anglers either side of me were in the bottom 4, so I will consider myself a little unlucky.

It was good to catch up with Sev and Chris Whitehead who helped on the day, plus a couple of the sponsored anglers who I hadn’t previously met.


1.   
144-  4 – Andy Griffiths – p5
2.    136-  6 – Matt Linforth – p18
3.      98-12 – LJ Stroud – p25
4.      90-11 – Mick Collinson – p23
5.      84-11 – Alan Hughes – p24

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