21/06/26 - Harescombe - Match

Weight - 61lb 1oz

Catch - 18 Carp, 9 F1, 1 Gudgeon

Weather - Hot & sunny

Match - Open (13 fished) - 3rd overall, 2nd in section.

I was looking forward to returning to match lake as I haven’t fished it since the Pole Champs and I was more than happy to draw p29.

Looking at recent results, it hasn’t featured that often, however it is a peg that has been kind to me in the past.

On arrival the aerator was in full flow and was switched off just before the start of the match.

On the all-in I started by the island on Cocosquid paste and there were plenty of fish swimming about and not feeding. I tried feeding a cup of kriller micros and 4s to get their heads down, but they just weren’t feeding.

In the meantime, I had been feeding 8mm meat (covered in Sludge) and 6mm kriller pellet my side of the spillway where I caught 2 carp on meat. I also started tosspotting meat and a few micros the other side of the spillway at 13m.

After 2hrs I only had 4 fish, however the 13m spillway swim kicked into life and I started to get regular bites all on meat, just feeding no more than 4 cubes with a few micros.

I kept the near spillway swim topped up and picked up the occasional fish when I needed to rest the far swim.

I also started feeding 2 pouches of 6s to the island and when I returned fishing paste caught a couple of fish before having to rest the swim and returning for a couple fish. To be honest, paste wasn’t as effective as I had hoped. 

The last 30mins of the 5.5hr match the swim faded, before catching a couple more fish from the far spillway swim towards the all-out.

I knew I had done ok, but I was a little concerned that the stamp of fish may go against me, particularly as I saw Mark on p4 catching some decent fish, which is how it turned out.

1.    73-13 – Andy Jane – p18

2.    67-  3 – Mark Court – p4

3.    61-  1 – Ken Rayner – p29

4.    60-13 – Richard Rogers -p15

5.    58-  1 – Steve Partington – p13 

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

14/06/26 - Witherington Farm - Cottage

Weight - 112lb 15oz

Catch - 18 Carp

Weather - Warm, sunny and muggy

Match - Tackle Den (12 fished) - 1st on lake, 2nd overall

We only 12 fishing today as 6 dropped out during the week, which was a shame. At least we had plenty of room, with 6 on Cottage and 6 on Sellwood and everyone had an island chuck.

I drew p3 on Cottage and to be honest I wasn’t that concerned where I drew. I expected a day of being patient, as apparently otters and cormorants have been a problem.

On the all-in I started on the method loaded with kriller micros and cocosquid groundbait, with a 6mm pink gofter, cast tight to the island. Within 2mins the tip rapped round and a 6lber was safely netted.

It took another 40mins before I caught my next carp, again on the method. As I couldn’t get another bite, I tried fishing cocosquid paste at 12m just feeding a few 4mm baninion pellet in with the paste and caught 2 carp quite quickly. I did try fishing worm over the top without success.

By the halfway stage of the 6hr match I was up to 6 fish and winning the lake, closely followed by Vince Grillo who was foul hooking most of his fish.

I had also been pinging 6s to the island and caught 1 carp on the straight lead and 6mm expander, but I spent most of the 2^nd half of the match fishing either at 12m or down my right margin.

Over the 12m line I switched to catapulting 2 half pouches of 4s every 5mins to spread the feed around a little, whilst I fished the margin. This worked well as I caught fish up to 10lb.

As for the margins I didn’t bother with the left side as Simon was too close on the next peg, so I concentrated on the right. When I plumbed up, I was a little surprised to find it was only very slightly shallower than at 12m. Therefore, I decided to feed 8mm meat covered in So Simple Sludge, initially with some micros to kick start the swim.

When I switched to fishing the margins with 2.5hrs remaining I cut out the micros and just fed a few bits of meat, fishing double 8mm meat. This worked well as I only foul hooked 1 fish and lost another in a snag but I managed to catch 7 carp up to 13lb.

I also had another couple of fish at 12m and by the all-out knew I had won the lake.

1.    159-  4 – Alistair Tilney – p16 Selwood

2.    112-15 – Ken Rayner – p3 Cottage

3.    112-11 – Andy Burns – p1 Selwood

4.    103-14 – Bobby Moore – p9 Selwood

13/06/26 - Harescombe - Doughnut

Weight - 67lb 12oz

Catch - 22 Carp

Weather - Warm, sunny and breezy at times.

Match - Harescombe Summer League - rd1 (12 fished) - 2nd in section, 3rd overall.

The first round of the Harescombe Summer League, starting on Doughnut Lake and then alternating with Match Lake over 6 rounds.

The weather had improved from last week, being warmer and less windy, and hopefully I would avoid breaking any more pole sections.

I was reasonably happy with p18 as it was in the right area, but the peg itself does not plumb up well as there was are no flat spots tight to the far bank and it was around 3ft deep. Also down the track it was 6ft deep.

I did find one shallower spot to my right along the island and decided to start there on Cocosquid paste, but after 30mins I hadn’t had a bite. I tried meat and pellet over the same area but just couldn’t get a bite.

Looking around everyone except for Arthur on p15 appeared to be struggling.

I then tried fishing shallow, but I was having a mare, as I was struggling to present the bait due to overhanging branches, strands of sedges getting in the way and an overhanging stick up that I didn’t see until I tried slapping a pellet and lost the whole rig.

I eventually caught my first fish after 2hr 20mins on meat over a 2+2 line and that was the only fish I caught here.

Back to the shallow line I was starting to put a few fish in the net, concentrating on the left side of the bushes/trees, fishing a 6mm baninion pellet over pinged 4s. However, I was losing too many fish at the net and I must admit the air was turning blue as I became increasingly frustrated.

With 2hrs remaining I had 20/25lb and I had a serious word with myself to get it sorted, as I was probably last in section. A change of hook from an 18 B960 (which normally is very reliable) to a 16 B911 and switching from feeding 4s to 6s was much better.

I had also been feeding 6mm meat covered in So Simple Sludge down my left margin in 2.5ft of water with a few kriller micros. Now, I was starting to enjoy myself as I knew I was catching quickly and I was confident I had at least caught up with a few anglers in the section.

When I needed to rest the margin I would catch a couple of fish from the shallow line, plus I caught 2 carp on paste off the end of my keepnets in 5ft of water.

By the all-out I thought I would be 3^rd in section, however I was pleasantly surprised to claim 2^nd in section, particularly after my poor start.

1.    96-  3 – Arthur Hicks – p15

2.    80-  2 – Gary Townsend – p1

3.    67-12 – Ken Rayner – p18

4.    63-12 – Jerry Wiggett – p5

06/06/26 - Harescombe - Doughnut

Weight - 19lb 0oz

Catch - 6 Carp

Weather - Rain and sunny periods. Windy.

Match - Open (15 fished) - 12th overall

With the Summer League starting next week, I decided to book into today’s open. The weather however had taken a turn for the worse, as it was a lot cooler with rain and with strong winds forecast, it was likely to be a difficult day.

I drew peg 4 which is not the best, but I at least hoped the wind would allow me to fish the far bank.

On the all-in I thought I would start fishing tight to the island fishing worm over groundbait whilst the wind would allow me. After 20mins my 13m section folded! Not sure why, can only think I dinged it. Fortunately, I had a spare section with me. 10mins late my 16m section snapped and my spare was sat at home. Looks like I might be buying a new pole.

Since I could no longer fish the far bank using the pole, I tried the method and a straight lead but couldn’t get a bite. In the meantime, the wind just got stronger.

I eventually caught my first fish after 2hrs 45mins fishing paste at 2+2 to my left where I had been feeding 4s and micros, catching my 2^nd an hour later. Despite trying all the other areas of the swim, I couldn’t get another bite.

With 90mins to go I started feeding pellet at 2+1 in slightly shallower water, catching 4 more fish on paste.

I have to admit I wasn’t sure what more I could have done. Snapping my 16m section didn’t help as I couldn’t fish the far bank as I wanted when the wind dropped a little. At the weigh in, pegs 1 & 2 weighed 9lb and Phil to my left weighed 17lb, which meant the bottom 4 all came from the same area of the lake.

1.    56-  7 – Andy Jane – p9

2.    56-  0 – Allan Oram – p16

3.    34-10 – Jason Shirley – p18

4.    33-14 – Steve Broadhurst – p8

5.    32-  9 – Gary Townsend – p15

24/05/26 - Rood Ashton

Weight - 42lb 4oz

Catch - 7 Carp

Weather - Hot & sunny

Match - Tackle Den (17 fished) - 2nd overall

With Steve Venn away on holiday, it fell on me to run todays match. A significant change in the weather meant today would be hot and it was no surprise to see the fish spawning, which also meant it was likely to be tough day.

Peg 15 along the top bank opposite the island wouldn’t have been my first choice, but at least I would be in the shade for the first half of the match.

In the first hour I caught 3 carp, 2 on the method cast to the island with So Simple Kriller micros and a 6mm yellow gofter and 1 carp on the straight lead and 8mm meat boosted with Kriller Sludge over pinged 6mm kriller pellet at 25m.

Another carp on the feeder and then another on the lead, meant I was up to 5 fish after 2.5hrs. The following 2.5hrs produced nothing. I even tried catching roach to put a few extra pounds in the net but never had a bite.

In the last hour I managed 1 carp on three maggots from the left margin over dumped maggot and micros, with my final carp coming from the right margins on meat.

By the all-out I was pleased when the match finished and was surprised to have come 2^nd overall.

1.   75-  6 - Andy Black - p21

2.   42-  4 - Ken Rayner - p15

3.   39-11 - Michael Triggs - p1

4.   27-  1 - Simon Collins - p14

5.   26-14 - Brian Duckett - p20

18/05 - 20/05/26 - Over 50s Festival

Monday – Day 1 – High p17

Day 1 – 1pts – 74-  9

Day 2 – 3pts – 46-10

Day 3 – 5pts – DNW

Weight - 74lb 9oz

Catch - 31 F1, 3 Carp, 1 Perch, 1 Roach

Weather - Cool, breezy & showers

Position (123 fished) - 21st overall, 3rd on lake, 1st in section

I was very disappointed to draw High Pool, as I had struggled on this lake last year. Peg 17 also meant I was next to peg 15, a well-known flyer.

On the all-in I had considered starting short on pellet, but the wind was forecast to get stronger throughout the match, so I decided to start across whilst I was able.

Feeding stodgy balls of Cocosquid with chopped worm, micros and caster, with worm on the hook I found a flat spot in amongst the far bank reeds. The wind was a pain at times, however after 90mins I had 10 fish for about 12lb and looking around felt I was doing OK.

In the meantime, I had been feeding maggot down both margins (top kit +1) and immediately caught a couple F1s before the swim faded.

I had also been feeding fishery 4s (boosted with Baninion) at 2+2 at an angle to my right in 5ft of water, just as I thought I wasn’t going to get bite I caught a 3lb F1 and ended up staying on this line for an hour catching some chucky F1s all on 4mm expanders.

For the last 90mins of the match it was a case of rotating around my short swims. I had also started feeding 6mm meat (boosted with Baninion) over a top kit +1 line. I hooked a carp on meat, that was obviously foul hooked as it took me into the far bank reeds! I then had a 4lber, before hooking another carp that I thought was hooked properly, before it decided to go mental and broke me.

Next, I caught a couple of F1s, before hooking another carp 10mins from time. Fortunately, this one behaved itself and at 10-11lb was well worth having to help comfortably win the section.

I felt I fished a good match, but was a little disappointed to miss out on a super pool payout by 7oz. Losing those 2 carp, knocked me out of my rhythm for a bit, but I was really pleased to have had a strong start to the festival.

1. 133-12 - Barry Byrd - p15 Top

2. 120-15 - Steve Daley - p14 High

3. 118-  4 - Jason Jones - p30 Top

4. 113-13 - Steve Parry - p1 Canal

5.   96-  5 - Simon West - p29 House

6.   95-  1 - Dave Hawkins - p17 New

High Pool

1. 120-15 - Steve Daley - p14

2.   75-  0 - Glenn Cousens - p50

3.   74-  9 - Ken Rayner - p17

4.   45-  0 - Andy Jackson - p36

Tuesday – Day 2 – High p38

Day 1 – 3pts – 21-  7

Day 2 – 3pts – 28-10

Day 3 – 5pts – 24-  3

Weight - 28lb 10oz

Catch - 16 F1, 1 Perch, 1 Skimmer

Weather - Showery & breezy

Position (123 fished) - 102nd overall, 12th on the lake, 3rd in section

High Pool again for me, but this time p38 and I was reliably told it was one of the worst pegs on the lake and plumbing up revealed why. I had 5ft of water on a top kit, levelling out to 6ft further out. Fortunately, the margins were only 2.5ft deep either side, but shelved away quickly, and I expected this would be where I caught most of my fish.

On the all-in I started across by the spit, fishing my groundbait mix from the previous 2 matches. After 15mins I caught a F1 on worm and lost another 30mins later. I did try later in the match and caught another F1, but the wind was making presentation difficult. In fact, the 2 anglers on the spit who fished to the corner, caught very little so I don’t think there were many fish in the area.

I tried fishing pellet over 2 lines catching 4 F1s and a skimmer, and it was very slow going.

My best area was the left margin on maggot.

I felt I was ahead of the 4 anglers I could see in my section, but felt I needed a carp, so I dumped micros and 4s at 10m to my right and I had been feeding meat on my top kit next to my nets.

Fishing paste over the micros produced a small F1 and my meat line also only produced 1 F1.

The 2 anglers in my section (p27 & p30) that I couldn’t see, both beat me and as it happened I only missed out on 2^nd in section by 3lb and a bonus carp would have been handy, but it wasn’t meant to be.

1. 101-10 - Steve Parry - p31 House

2.   98-13 - Barry Byrd - p30 Top

3.   95-10 - Carl Lee-Hopps - p27 New

4.   82-15 - Simon Penny - p1 Canal

5.   81-10 - Roger Hayton - p11 Canal

6.   76-  6 - Dave Hawkins - p17 New

High Pool

1.   76-  6 - Barry Hickford - p15

2.   62-  3 - Martin Rayet - p48

3.   53-  9 - Mick Stamp - p6

4.   39-11 - Craig Middleton - p27

Wednesday – Day 3 – Extension p29

Day 1 – 1pts – 71-  8

Day 2 – 3pts – 47-  6

Day 3 – 5pts – 42-  9

When I drew this peg I thought I had a chance of finishing the festival strongly.

The island was 16/17m away, but with New Pool directly behind me it wasn’t really practical to fish to the island. So, the plan of action was to start on pellet, catch on caster shallow as it was a little warmer today and down my margins.

Starting on pellet at 2+2 I only had 1 small F1 and was soon trying my margins on maggot, with the right side being the best, but action was slow going.

I tried fishing worm over ground further down my right margin on the other side of the gap,

which produced a few fish, but once again it was slow going.

I had primed a shallow caster line but only caught 4 F1 despite trying different shallow rigs.

In the last 2 hours I just tried to focus on my margins, plus a new 2+2 line where I fed caster, catching on worm.

The problem was I would only catch in fits and starts, and I never caught any carp or the bigger F1s. I just felt with the wind blowing down the other end of the lake, it had pushed those fish further down the lake.

I was really disappointed with how my match went, finishing the festival 48^th so an improvement on last year’s 61^st place.

1. 100-  9 - Laurie Laing - p1 Canal

2.   99-13 - Dave Traunter - p10 New

3.   99-  3 - Harry Billing - p13 Canal

4.   98-  4 - Barry Byrd - p30 Top

5.   94-  8 - Craig Middleton - p5 Extension

6.   91-12 - Mark Ord - p31 House

Extension

1.   94-  8 - Craig Middleton - p5

2.   79-15 - Simon West - p19

3.   76-  2 - Gary Donaldson - p13

4.   68-14 - Denis Lutwyche - p38

Summary

My intention was always to improve on last years 61^st place, which I achieved, however it could have been so much better.

The first day, everything just clicked, making the right decisions at the right time, which resulted in the best score and weight from the peg over the 3 days.

The second day was just hard work from a poor peg and I was pleased to have claimed 3^rd in section, as well as achieving the best weight over the festival.

At the start of the third day was I was lying 27^th, by the end of the day I dropped to 48^th. A really disappointing day. If I’m honest I felt the fish just weren’t here on the day, but its difficult to ignore there were significantly better results from the peg over the previous 2 days.

Overall, it’s always a tough one to compete with the locals and ‘full-time’ anglers, but I really enjoy fishing the venue as you usually get plenty of bites and I have booked in for next year.

As for my partner in crime, Matt finished 49^th, helped by drawing p6 on House twice!