22/02/09 - Lands End - Match Lake

Weight – 19lb 7oz
Catch – 17 Roach, 14 Perch, 2 Tench, 1 Common Carp, 1 Rudd, 1 Bream.
Weather – Mild. Bright, windy.
Water Temp– 7.0c > 7.5c
Match – Open – 4th overall, 1st in silvers

I had no intention of fishing Lands End today, but Mike said he was running a knock up. With most anglers in the area fishing Viaduct, Avalon and Bullocks, meant there was only 8 of us, so at least we would have plenty of room.

The wind today was stronger than yesterday, but I still fancied a draw between 19 & 24, so I was disappointed to pull peg 7. This peg has been very hit & miss recently, mostly miss, although yesterday 7 carp came off it which was hopeful, but I cant remember a decent silvers weight coming from it for quite a while.

After hearing Mark say how much he enjoyed fishing here, Nick Merry decided to fish the venue for the 1st time and drew peg 5.

The wind was becoming a bit of an issue, so I decided to fish comfortably for the carp at 11.5m feeding micro pellet, whilst feeding caster under the pallet on peg 8 for some silvers.

My pellet swim never produced all match, I even tried setting up a new swim to my right at the bottom of the shelf, pinging 4mm’s over the top, however without success.

It became obvious very quickly the carp were still in pegs 1 & 24, with both Adrian Clark (peg1) and Mike "corner peg" Duckett (peg 24) catching from the start. Anton Page on peg 19 was also catching, so I was really up against it.

The pallet swim was only producing fish sporadically on caster or maggot, but in amongst the small roach & perch I managed the odd better perch up to a 1lb plus a 3lb tench. Every time the swim died I would switch to the pellet swim, but fortunately the wind died a little and I was able to start fishing tight on the far side.

Since I seemed to be completely out of the running for the overall, I decided to fish maggot or caster on the far side, fishing for bites, besides which I was struggling to hold the pole long enough to allow a pellet or corn to sit still. I managed a few small fish, plus a bonus 7lb carp, but overall I felt I was going no where far.

Except for pegs 1, 19 & 24 everyone seemed to be struggling and the only way I could see myself picking up any money was to win the silvers. Nicky Collier on peg 16 was struggling and packed up an hour early, Nick on peg 5 had a few fish, but I was sure I was beating him, which left Anton who had caught skimmers & tench amongst his carp. With an hour to go, I was pleased to see Anton start catching strongly, which meant he could frame and I could pick up in the silvers even if it was by default!

My silvers swims had really slowed, so a handful of maggot and another of caster, were thrown to my left, half way to peg 6. 10mins later 1st put in resulted in a tench. I kept the bait going in and I kept picking up odd small fish, but landing 2 big perch in the last 10 minutes added a further 3-3½lb to my weight.

Anton won the match with 73lb, whilst Adrian was 2nd with 69lb. My silvers weight went 12lb 6oz, but to be honest I should have had 15-16lb, because I lost 2 tench, 1 in an unseen weed bed and the other dived under my keepnet, they are buggers for doing that.

As for Nicks 1st visit I couldn’t tell if he enjoyed himself or not, but I don’t think the 2 lost bream when the hook pulled helped his mood.

21/02/09 - Lands End - Match Lake

Weight – 9lb 15oz
Catch – 15 Roach, 7 Perch, 1 Mirror Carp, 1 Bream.
Weather – Mild. Bright, cool breeze
Water Temp– 7.0c > 7.5c
Match – Open – 6th overall

With a week of mild weather and the results from Wednesday open suggested we could have a good day, although there was a stiff breeze blowing into pegs 1 & 24. As it turned out it was only a good day for those at the windward end of the lake.

I drew peg 16 again, which I was initially happy with, because it was out of the worse of the wind, plus I had a few here last Sunday, however peg 15 was in, which meant I didn’t have as room as before.

I started at 11.5m toss potting micro pellet, fishing pellet on the hook. I also potted micro pellet at the bottom of the far shelf, plus caster 5m in front of peg 17. After 30mins I caught 1½lb skimmers shortly followed by a 6lb carp and thought at least I would have a good day.

As the match progressed I began to struggle. I couldn’t get anymore bites on the pellet and the caster swim only produced a few fish. Time for a change of tact. With the increased wind, the lake was towing a little, so I set up a heavier rig to improve presentation, but this didn’t have any affect, it seemed there were no carp in the area.

Most were struggling including Alan Oram on peg 19, who won Wednesdays match from the same peg. The only person, who was catching, was Andy France on peg 24. In the meantime Andy Bryant on 15 had been catching silvers all day on top of the shelf with maggot and then pinkie. Although I tried the same line I had simply started too late and couldn’t catch quickly enough.

I was convinced the carp or even the skimmers would turn up, but they never did. In fact I was the only person to catch a carp between pegs 11 & 19. They really had followed the wind.

Andy France did win the match with 40lb and Andy Bryant won the silvers with 14lb. For me today was a bit of a non event, the fish just weren’t there. In fact Nick Collier drew the same peg on Sunday and tipped back 7lb. Hopefully it won’t be too long before the fish spread out.

15/02/09 - Lands End - Match Lake

Weight – 26lb 3oz

Catch – 5 Roach, 4 Carp, 2 Perch, 1 Bream, 1 Rudd.
Weather – Mild. Cloudy with sunny spells. Slight breeze
Water Temp– 5.0c > 5.5c
Match – Lands End Winter League – 10th overall, 3rd on lake, 2nd in section

Halfway though the league and it was back to a random draw, which meant I could be on any lake. As it happen I drew peg 16 on Match Lake, however the random drew meant my section could include anyone and ideally you wanted to avoid those anglers in the top 10. Alas I managed the section of "death" which meant 5 out of the top 10 would be on my lake for the next 4 matches. At least it meant I had the opportunity to take points off the top anglers (and vice versa).

With a spare peg either side I had plenty of room, which presents its own problem by having too many options. Based on yesterday’s match, feeding micro pellet pulled the carp in, although I had to be patient, however feeding casters didn’t. I settled on 5 lines. 11.5m slightly to my left down the track, 13m to the right at the bottom of the far shelf, 14.5m on top of the shelf, plus the 2 margin swims.

I concentrated on the 11.5m line toss potting micro pellet, every 15 mins. In the meantime I kept firing caster to the island, hoping for some decent silvers and I cupped micro pellet & caster at the bottom of the shelf.

After an hour, I bumped what I think was a skimmer on pellet, but no more bites followed, so I switched to my light rig (.08 bottom & 22 hook) with a single maggot in the hope there were still a few fish around. 5 minutes later a bite was met with very solid resistance. This wasn’t the expected skimmer but a proper carp. The fact I was on light kit wasn’t the problem, but the sunken tree to my left was and it continually tried to find sanctuary in the branches. 15 minutes later it did!

It took me 1hr before I had another bite and that was only from a tiny roach. I could see the rest of my section and knew at least 3 people had carp. My far shelf swim wasn’t producing and the bottom of the shelf swim was only yielding small fish.

2 hours to go I had less than 2lb and needed another get out of jail. Fishing caster was pointless and the margins had produced very little. So I decided to concentrate on 2 areas fishing pellet, 11.5m still toss potting micros and 13m cupping in micros.

A pound skimmer and 3 carp from the 11.5m line put me back in the race with an hour to go, but now I couldn’t get a bite. Peg 24 appeared to winning the section with 5 or 6 carp, whilst Kev Molton on peg 19 had 3. 30 minutes to go and Kev caught his 4th carp. 20 minutes to go I sat on the 11.5m line. 15 minutes, the float dipped & I struck into thin air, bugger. 10 minutes, the float dipped again, but this time I connected and managed to land my 4th carp.

It would be close between Kev & I, but fortunately my 4 carp were bigger and I got 2nd in section, which meant I kept the momentum going. Although I stayed 7th overall in the league, it is only by virtue of weight, with 4 of us in joint 4th.

1-Adrian Clarke - 29pts
2-Nicky Collier - 28

3-Mike Duckett - 24
4-Anton Page - 23 (163-3)
5-Alan Oram - 23 (145-8)
6-Andy France - 23 (74-14)
7-Ken Rayner - 23 (62-0)

14/02/09 - Lands End - Match Lake

Weight – 27lb 4oz
Catch – 10 Roach, 7 Perch, 4 Common Carp, 1 Rudd
Weather – Mild! Cloudy and calm.
Water Temp– 5.0c > 5.0c
Match – Open - 3rd overall.

Last weekends snow

After last weekends enforced lay off due to snow, I was looking forward to getting back. Speaking to Mike mid week suggested we could catch a few, because there was some colour in the water. It was also nice to arrive at the venue to see no frost or snow, in fact this was the 1st day in 3 months were I didn’t need to wear my woolly hat!

I drew peg 21, which I had a few weeks ago and it has been fishing poorly over the winter. However unlike the last I drew here, peg 20 wasn’t in so at least I had some space to play with.

Despite the colour the water temperature was only 5c, which was lower than expected, although a fair indication of how cold it has been recently. However, it was a useful indicator this match wasn’t going to be easy.

As it turned out this match turned into a classic case of never giving up until the very end. For much of the match the quality and quantity of my fish frustrated me. Alan Oram on 22 had picked up odd carp, tench and skimmers, so there were there was a few fish feeding. However I couldn’t get anything bigger than 4oz despite rotating rigs & baits. I even struggled to get a bite on .08 & 22 hook and I was beginning to think today’s blog entry was going to be short and not so sweet.

With 90 minutes to go I had 2½lb in the net and decided to go for a walk to see how Mike Duckett was doing on peg 16. As usual he was catching and after 10 minutes I went back to my peg with my head a little clearer. For the last 75 minutes I decided to stick it out with pellet, because the only way I was getting back into this match was with a few carp.. After a few knocks fishing at the bottom of the shelf in front of me, I switched to the bottom of the shelf in peg 20, tosspotting micro pellet.

5 minutes later I landed a 3-4lb carp, next put in I had another. Now I was interested. 3rd put in and I hooked a proper munter which took 10mins to land on .11 bottom, 20 silverfish pellet hook and doubled 6 elastic (the more I use this set up the more impressed I am). With 10 minutes left, 1 more carp and I could be in a chance of framing. Next put in I had another munter, which I landed on the all out.

At the weigh in my 4 carp went 24lb 12oz, plus my silvers meant I was 3rd overall. I nearly caught Mike who weighed 29lb for 2nd and Alan won the match with 34lb.

I just hope the mild weather continues so the water temperature can increase, then we should catch properly.

01/02/09 - Lands End - Speci Lake

Weight – 7lb 15oz
Catch – 13 Roach, 5 Perch, 1 Common Carp, 1 F1
Weather – Cold, cloudy. Easterly breeze.
Water Temp– 5.5c > 5.5c
Match – Lands End Winter League 4th rd - 15th overall, 3rd on lake, 1st in section

Of the 4 lakes at Lands End, Speci Lake can be the most difficult, particularly in what would be challenging weather conditions. With a strong easterly breeze I wanted to avoid pegs 25 & 40 and fortunately I drew peg 34, which I was happy with. At least I was out of the worst of the wind.

To maintain pressure on the top anglers in the league I really needed a minimum of 2nd in section. I had 2 options, go all out for silvers or take a chance looking for a carp. Based on past experience I could work hard for 50/60 roach, but only finish with 4 or 5lb which won’t be any good, so I needed at least 1 carp to compete.
Due to the size of the carp here I couldn’t afford to go too light, but I needed to temper that against getting bites. In the end 4 rigs were set up, 2 to fish down the track, 1 with .11 bottom and 20 silver fish pellet hook and the other had .13 bottom and 18 B911 and the same again to fish just off the far shelf.

As expected fishing was difficult, I tried on the point of the island, a small bush on the island, down the track and even a positive swim that I set up in front of peg 35. However after nearly 90mins I lost a decent perch or F1 on the heavy rig and a carp on the light rig, which I had on for 10 minutes before the hook pulled. I suspect it was foul hooked, because I was never in control it.

I really needed to catch, so I decided to concentrate on the lighter rig, fished next to the small bush and kept feeding 3 or 4 caster every put in. Eventually I caught a tiny roach, soon followed by another, but I was getting silly bites from the roach, which were nipping the end of the maggot. I tried a caster, but I couldn’t get a bite so I stayed with maggot plugging away and a 2½lb F1 put me back in the race.

Pete Nurse on peg 33 had a carp and it appeared to be the only 1 in my section. Alan Oram on the opposite peg 32 (not in my section) had 2 double figure carp, so there were a few in the area.

I occasionally tried pellet and corn, but I could only catch on maggot and eventually hooked a carp, which I took my time about. At 4lb 11oz it was worth having, but after landing it I struggled to get another bite.
Fortunately it was enough to win my section, Pete was 2nd 6lb. Alan Oram won the match overal with 44lb.

Overall in the league I jumped from 12th to 7th, which was exactly what I needed. The next round in 2 weeks will be a random draw again, so I could be on any lake. Ideally I would prefer to avoid the Speci Lake when it’s cold.

1st Adrian Clarke 23pts
2nd Nicky Collier 22
3rd Mike Duckett 21 (116-0)
4th Andy France 21 (69-13)
5th Pete Nurse 18.5
6th Clint Wojtyla 18 (123-15)
7th Ken Rayner 18 (35-13)

31/01/09 - Lands End - Match Lake

Weight – 13lb 0oz
Catch – 37 Perch, 17 Roach, 1 Tench
Weather – Cold, cloudy. Easterly breeze.
Water Temp– 6.0c > 6.5c
Match – Open – 6th overall, 1st in Silvers

The weather had recently turned colder, with a strong easterly breeze likely to chill the water and put the carp off feeding, so I really wanted to avoid the corner pegs 12 & 13, however peg 12 found its way into my grubby mitt. Mike had won the midweek open from 12, so I was hopeful the carp were still there, or had they disappeared to a warmer part of the lake?

When I arrived at my peg I was pleasantly surprised to find the wind had dropped a little and the water colour was better than of recent, so I was a little more optimistic.

Since there had been carp in the area, I decided against setting up an out and out silvers rig. Instead I opted to concentrate on the bottom of the margin shelf with a Drennan roach 4x14 float with a strung out styl bulk, a .11 bottom and a 20 drennan silver fish pellet hook, attached to doubled 6 elastic. This was the 1st time I had tried this hook pattern, which is very similar to the B911, but a lighter wire and they looked spot on for catching big silvers and occasional carp

At the start, I potted a handful of caster 13m down the right the margin and the same down the left margin under the pallet on peg 11. Whilst I let that settle I started on doubled hair rigged corn at 15m next to the aerator, without feeding. Other than a slight dip on the float the 1st 15mins was uneventful, as was the next when I tried the same swim with maggot. Ideally I didn’t want to overfeed the aerator swim, since it was the deepest part of the swim and I was hoping for the carp to turn up later, so just a pinch of micro pellet & caster was deposited.

First put in down the right margin resulted in a small perch, as did the 2nd put in on maggot. I decide to try a caster and that resulted in a bigger perch. For the next 2hrs I caught consistently on caster, swapping between the right & left margin feeding either by a tosspot or catapult.

Half way through the match I had 30 fish for an estimated 7lb and other than Mike Duckett on peg 7 I couldn’t see much being caught. I occasionally tried under the aerator, but only caught small roach & perch – no carp. So for the remainder of the match I decided to concentrate on the silvers.

My margin swims were dying, so with 90 mins left, I set up a swim 15m to the point of the island, which turned into a good idea, with a few more perch, roach and a tench.

None of the really big perch showed, but I had a few between 1lb & 1½lb and reminded me how Lands End can be. With no carp showing, there are usually plenty of silvers to go at.

During the weigh in I was hopeful of winning the silvers, but heard that skimmers had been caught on the other bank. In the end, peg 5 weighed 11lb of silvers, whilst Mike West on peg 18 weighed 12lb of skimmers and tench, but lost a big bream estimated between 5-7lb.

Anton Page won the match overall with 68lb from a sheltered and warm peg 24.

As for the new hooks, I was really impressed.