Weight - 39lb 12oz
Catch - 11 Carp, 8 Perch, 1 Tench, 1 Gudgeon
Weather - Rainy start, bright later, but breezy
Match - Airsprung - 4th out of 13, 1st out of 6 section
When I originally booked in I thought we were on Merritts Lake which, however this lake has been partially drained in order for maintenance work could be carried out.
I fished Ellis once 5 years ago and was informed it was full of fish, but can fish hard in matches. Nick Merry and Tom Ince fished it earlier in the week and caught well mostly on pellet shallow. The lake itself was dug about 10 years ago and its a classic case of digging a lake without any thought about how to fish it. Its a rough rectangle shape with a central island, however its 10-11ft deep with no shelves. Have to ask what were they thinking?
With 13 fishing there should have been plenty of space. Walking around with Hippy and Nick pegging the lake, we had different ideas. However, not having any experience of the lake I deferred Hippy's knowledge which on balance was right, but you are never going to please everyone!
As for me I didn't fancy one of the island pegs, because that would mean giving the method rod an airing. What I did fancy were the bottom pegs at the car park end with the blowing into it, so I was pleased to draw 27, which put me on the end peg on the right hand bank. It looked very fishy, but plumbing up revealed a deep margin of 4ft, which started to slope away straight away. At 4m it was already 8ft deep and only getting deeper.
Plan of attack was to focus on the margin fishing paste (redneck 0.2g > .17 > 12 carp feeder), fishing shallow at 13-14m (I had 2 rigs set up for 1ft and 3ft deep) and finally a silvers rig to fish at 5m at an angle to my left feeding groundbait (soft balls so they don't roll away) and 4mm pellet, because I was told there were some very good bream in the lake.
Starting in the margin I had a carp straight away on paste, shortly followed by a tench and then another carp, after 45mins. A switch to the shallow rig eventually produced a carp on 6mm pellet, plus another which I lost at the net. Back in the margin and it was slow going, which died completely when a fish which judging by the jagging fight was a good tench snagged me in the reeds.
Onto the silvers rig produced a small perch on worm, re-feeding only brought more perch, plus a gudgeon. This was getting harder and harder. Tom was pegged next to me and couldn't believe how hard it was, because his last 3 pleasure sessions resulted in over 100lb, including 50lb of silvers.
Hippy and Nick were on the other 2 pegs at this end of the lake and were also struggling, which was a real surprise because were expecting a good day. Steve Musitano, Mark Poppleton and Kev Hanson were all catching from the far bank opposite the island on the method to the island.
I kept working my 3 swims, but at the half way stage only had 4 carp and my silvers. I had left the feeder rod in the car, but a quick chat to Tom who said I could fish the end of the island if needed. Nick opposite was doing the same, using his waggler rod because he didn't expect to be fishing the method either, but only had 1 carp thus far.
After retrieving the rod from car, I had a carp 2nd cast fishing tight to the boards on a bright orange pellet. Another 2 followed over the next 20mins and started to think I might be able to push for a framing position, but the fish soon backed off.
I got the feeling the fish were backing off too much feed down the margin as well, so instead of cupping feed in, found it best to either throw in a small handful of pellet or cup a few pellets in with paste and started to get a few more indications. The fish in this lake as well as Merritts have very small mouths, which means they have to suck very hard on the paste, which resulted in a couple of missed bites or hook pulls.
I managed another carp on the feeder and a couple more from the margin including a 6lber with 5mins to go which was my biggest of the day.
By the all out it was obvious where the bulk of the fish where and Tom confirmed that was were most of the pleasure anglers fished. As for me I had hoped for a better days fishing, but in the end pleased to have at least claimed the section which fished poorly by comparison to the other side of the lake.
1st 78- 2 - Mark Poppleton - p5
2nd 70-10 - Steve Musitano - p4
3rd 42- 6 - Kev Hanson - p7
4th 39-12 - Ken Rayner - p27
5th 22-14 - Andy Fox - p23
6th 22- 7 - Steve Ince - p6
Silvers
1st 18- 0 - Steve Ince - p6
Weight - 49lb 8oz
Catch - 11 Carp
Weather - Showers clearing later
Match - Airsprung - 7th out of 12
Booking a half day off work and then driving to Trowbridge from Weston-Super-Mare, expectations were high of a good evening match.
Stopping off at Wests Tackle for a coffee and found out only 68lb won yesterdays evening match. Walking around the lake with Hippy we had to peg around a couple of pleasure anglers on the lawns, but still had plenty of space and there were a few fish moving around. With the space I wasn't too concerned were I drew provided I avoided peg 6 on the top bank which I struggled from in the last 2 matches.
To say I was gutted to see 6 staring back at me would be an understatement. Being an evening match, my intention was to focus on the margins, but the problem with peg 6 is the lack of cover and I was doing my best to push the negative thoughts to the back of my mind. However a stiff breeze blowing from behind met I really wasn't confident.
3x rigs were set up to fish banded pellet, paste and meat. Since the depth was roughly the same all over the rigs covered fishing at 13m and the margins.
Starting at 13m, first put in I hooked a carp! Yay, perhaps it will be better than I thought. Err, no. I got the fish in on the top kit only for the hook to pull. Then I couldn't a proper bite on either the paste or pellet. It was strange. I was feeding 6s, there were fish milling around, but couldn't get a bite. Talking after the match this was a common theme.
In the meantime I had fed groundbait and a small amount meat down the left hand margin and 6s to my right. After 45mins of frustration fishing long I went down the left margin and landed a carp straight away only to be then pestered by roach. I kept rotating swims to try and find my next fish, but just couldn't get a proper bite. Another carp from the left margin brought my tally to 2 with an hour left to go.
The left margin was showing most signs of activity, even if it was from roach. I decided to re-plumb the margins only to discover I may have been fishing just off bottom if I didn't get very tight to the bank. Needless to say as soon I adjusted the rig I had a carp straight away! Oh dear, did I just make a big school boy error or was it coincidence? We will never know.
I also switched from feeding pellet down the right margin to feeding groundbait and I couldn't get my rig in quick enough catching 9 carp in the last hour rotating left and right. I had the best weight on the top bank, so not convinced there was as many carp in the area.
1st 75-0 - Ryan Heard - p3
2nd 69-12 - Nick Merry - p4
2nd 69-12 - Mark Poppleton - p9
4th 68- 8 - Tom Ince - p1
5th 58-10 - Rich Whitmarsh - p11
6th 53- 6 - Dan Blackwell - p12
Weight - 21lb 9oz (9lb - silvers)
Catch - 43 Roach, 5 Carp, 3 Perch, 2 Skimmers, 2 Tench, 2 Chub, 1 Rudd
Weather - Mostly sunny, but windy.
Match - Glenfall - 4th out of 16
Having not fished this lake for a number of years, I tried to find out how it was fishing. Most responses weren't printable, but of the few that were I was told to fish 6mm expander or corn over micros, although typically matches can be tricky, with the middle (wide) part of the lake being the place to draw. The lake holds plenty of tench, skimmers (plus the silvers from the old canal), a number of stockie carp and some double figure fish.
At the draw there was 16 of us, which meant only 2 space pegs, so a little tight. Peg 15 put me a couple pegs past the wide section.
Plumbing up revealed a fairly uniform depth with 2.5ft down the track and 2ft tight across and in the margins, so setting up rigs was straight forward. Since there was so many of us I decided to fish for bites setting up relatively light rigs (SM Pellet > .12 > 16 B911 to fish across and a SM Chimp 0.3g > .12 > 18 silverfish pellet to fish down the track).
Starting across toss potting micros & 4s I struggled to get going only catching a small carp after 30mins on 6mm expander. Re-plumbing a different spot and I caught a few silvers, plus another carp, but generally it was very slow.
The cross wind was making it awkward, so changed to a wire stem rig (HB Frostie 0.2g) which sat better in the crosswind.
In the meantime I had kept feeding maggot at 5m for when I couldn't catch across. Switching to the 5m line and for an hour I caught mostly roach, plus 1 decent skimmer. Feeding a ball of groundbait kept the fish on the deck, but generally the fish were smaller than I hoped.
Having given the far bank a rest, I returned to catch a couple more carp, before snagging up on some underwater roots. Fortunately I was able to walk round, retrieving the rig with a 6oz chub still attached (even the small ones are quick to find the snags) and clearing some roots.
By the all out I knew Craig on p17 had beaten me, catching 6 carp, including a couple decent fish, plus a few decent skimmers and tench, but I wasn't sure about everyone else. As it turned out a couple of decent carp showed up including one of 15lb. I did hook one decent fish, but think it was foul hooked as it shot down the lake, before busting me.
To be honest, I don't think I made the most of the peg. I should have caught more in the opening 30mins. Also I'm not confident feeding maggots was the best approach, since there was more small roach than I expected.
At least it was a useful in sight in case I draw here for the float only next month.
1st 33-10 - Craig Davidge - p17
2nd 27-11 - Andy Lord - p11
3rd 24- 5 - Roger Putterill - p7
4th 21- 9 - Ken Rayner - p15
5th 18- 7 - Glenn Putterill - p3
6th 17- 6 - Andy Bradley - p5
Weight - 70lb 12oz
Catch - 13 Carp, 2 Skimmers, 1 Perch, 1 Rudd
Weather - Mostly sunny and light breeze
Match - Float Only - rd 2 - 14th out of 40, 3rd in section
Following yesterdays match I was looking forward to doing battle again with renewed confidence, although p21 meant my drawing arm was still off.
However, when the knockout was announced it appeared by luck may be changing, drawing Leon Hubbard who unfortunately couldn't make todays round of the float only series, which meant just 1 fish put me through to the next round. Yay!
Back to peg 21 and I was disappointed with the draw because pegs 20,22 and 24 were last in yesterdays match, but on arrival there were a few fish sunning themselves, although these are cute fish, because come the all in at 11am they all but disappeared.
My section included 18 (Tony Rixon), 19 (Clint Wotlyla), 22 (Dave Haines) and 24 (Martin Lenaghan). To be honest I thought if I got 3rd in section today I would have done OK.
I managed to hook 2 carp on the mugger rig, landing a near 10lber and losing the other, before the carp disappeared and I was conscience of wasting too much time chasing shadows.
After yesterdays match catapulting pellet to the island didn't work. All it did was bring the fish in, but they didn't get theirs head down, which resulted in loads of liners. Instead decided to fish paste on the far shelf, toss potting a few 6s in with the paste. This worked landing 6 after 90mins, only losing 1, but it was becoming increasing difficult to get a proper bite. I tried the pellet rig, but only got liners.
I wasn't concerned, because I had my skimmer line to fall back on. Errr... It didn't quite work out like that. Unlike yesterday when I had a caught skimmers/F1s straight away over pellet. Today though produced a skimmer straight away, but I couldn't get a proper bite other than nibbles from smaller fish.
I had set up swims left and right, but simply couldn't get a bite, which was a little worrying. The left hand swim was converted to meat, but never produced anything.
Since I couldn't get a bite down the track any where in the peg, even at 14m where I started a new pellet swim, meant I had to rely more heavily on the far island swim. The only way I could get a positive bite was by cupping in some pellet, leave it for 10mins whilst I tried somewhere else in the swim.
Tony was starting to catch well and I was hoping if he framed I might pick up the section by default, however both Clint and Martin were also catching now, although Martin was adamant his fish were on the small side. Clints definitely weren't and any chance of a pick up was looking more remote particularly since my catch rate had dropped off.
With 90mins to go it was time to pot in the unused hemp & caster on my bait tray down the left hand margin, fishing double meat. This produced 2 carp, a rudd and a perch, so hardly prolific.
By the all out I knew Tony and Clint had beaten me. I also thought Martin would pip me, but as it turned out he did have some very small carp and I claimed 3rd in section, by 5lb. Back at the results it transpired I picked up the section thanks to a double default!
Hopefully normal service will now be resumed. Its amazing what a little confidence can do, although I really to start drawing some decent pegs.
1st 125- 9 - Steve Tucker - p1
2nd 123-15 - Tony Rixon - p18
3rd 105- 9 - Clint Wotlyla - p19
4th 105- 8 - Dave Evans - p13
5th 105- 0 - Sean Townsend - p70
6th 102-15 - Craig Edmunds - p51
Silvers
1st 22-12 - Gordon Cannings - p31
2nd 16- 2 - Tim Ford - p27
3rd 14-15 - Clint Wotlyla - p19
Weight - 25lb 11oz - silvers (44lb 10oz overall)
Catch - 10 Skimmers, 10 Roach, 7 Perch, 6 F1, 1 Tench, 5 Carp
Weather - Mostly cloudy.
Match - Open - 2nd out of 12 - silvers
Back to one of my favourite venues, with a view to practicing for tomorrows float only series and hopefully break the poor run.
Into the draw bucket and out came peg 3, 'oh ffs!'. It looked like the poor run was going to continue. Must admit I wasn't happy, but was determined to make a better go of it than I did the last time, when I was absolutely battered.
Starting across by the island, I initially couldn't get a proper bite on pellet, so switched to paste resulting in 2 carp, losing 4 others, but generally struggled to get a proper bite. After an hour it was time to see whether there was any skimmers over the loose fed 6s fed at 5m and down the right margin. Fishing with 6mm hair rig pellet (Ackoo Carbon Carrat 0.2g > .12 > 18 B911) I soon caught a decent skimmer. By swapping between the 2 swims I kept the fish coming, including a few F1's. It wasn't hectic just steady, but at least I was catching and after another hour or so bites slowed down.
A switch down the left margin, where I had been feeding caster, only resulted in small perch and roach, which was a surprise because I had expected a few better fish.
At the half way point, I tried for carp again by the island and again struggled to get a proper bite. There seemed to be little point pursuing the carp anymore, because those to my right, in particular Lewis Jones on p5 were catching really well.
Back on the 5m line produced a couple more F1s and skimmers, but it was slow going.
A new swim by the p2 pallet and 14m to my left at the bottom of the far shelf were both fed with pellet. The pallet swim didn't produce a single fish, whilst the 14m line brought a couple more skimmers, a F1 and a tench, before the carp moved in.
Back into the caster swim , still only produced small fish which meant regular bites, but I just felt I needed some better quality fish, so switched back to pellet. Another new swim to my right at 14m produced an F1, however now it was getting late in the day the carp were becoming more active.
In the end Nigel Bartlett beat me for the silvers, catching mostly on caster, but at least this time I enjoyed my day and actually felt I fished a decent match from a poor peg, restoring some confidence.
1st 138- 9 - Jamie Parkhouse - p15
2nd 131- 6 - Lewis Jones - p5
3rd 96-12 - Rich Lovering - p11
4th 96- 4 - Rod Wootton - p7
5th 74- 1 - Paul Homewood - p13
6th 64- 3 - Jim Jenner - p17
Silvers
1st 31-10 - Nigel Bartlett - p19
2nd 25-11 - Ken Rayner - p3
3rd 21- 8 - Rod Wootton - p7
Weight - 57lb
Catch - 7 Carp, 1 Rudd
Weather - Sunny, but a stiff breeze
Match - Club - 5th out of 11
I have been a little lax with updating my blog recently. Work has been busy and I have to say I feel wiped out come the weekend, combine that with a poor days fishing leaves little enthusiasm to write a blog.
Really not sure what's going on. Although the draw bag hasn't been kind, I don't what to blame poor pegs for poor performance, because that's far too easy. Either way fishing confidence is low and I cant seem to get a rub of the green at moment.
My last 3 matches, 2 at Viaduct and an evening match at Rood Ashton hadn't gone well. 2 weeks ago I guested in the Viaduct Winter League with a view to getting a feel for the venue prior to the first round of Tony's Float Only series. I drew p97, which was a good draw, but I had no expectations. I should have spent the day fishing the tip, but instead tried to make the waggler work, because you cant fish the tip in a float only series. Needless to say Andy Neal on p96 gave me a lesson.
I had planned to fish the Thursday cost cutter, but had forgotten to MOT the car since March, which I only discovered when taxing the car!
Onto last Sunday and the first round of Tony's Float Only. P78 was my home, which I had mixed feelings about. Its not the best area, particularly with 80-86 in my section, however the area has thrown up some decent silvers weights. With a strong wind blowing from behind I could also fish the waggler, however I was concerned the fish would be at the windward end of the lake. I didn't catch on the waggler, although I did bump a skimmer early on and a carp took me around the aerator. On the pole, decided to target the skimmers with 6mm pellet and paste. 20lb of skimmers later, I should have used meat, since there was 3x 30lb silvers weight, p86,88 & 94 all on meat. Having said that I learnt a few things for next time.
In between I fished Rood Ashton and drew one of the pegs I didn't want. Unfortunately a snag meant I spent more time pulling on branches than I did on fish. The lost fish probably cost me at least a section.
So onto today's afternoon/evening match, on a venue I love, where I have framed in every match in the last 3 years with an average of over 100lb. Peg 3 put me on a peg were I have caught some big weights and with the wind blowing down into the arm of the lake I was confident of a few fish.
A simple approach of paste or pellet at 8m and the same down the margins. Starting on paste I hooked and lost my first fish after 10mins, then had a 5lber on paste.
The following 1hr typified how things have been going for me. A switch to the pellet rig with 8mm pellet resulted in 4 hooked fish. 1x just pulled out, 2x snapped the line above the hooklength and the elastic snapped at the side puller on the 4th carp. The toys were very, very close to coming out of the pram! What the f*** have I got to do to get a break at the moment!
After taking a deep breath I got back to trying to catch, but knew I was falling behind, although it would have been easy to catch up if I could get a run of fish together.
With the wind blowing I fancied catching a few shallow and had been pinging pellet at 13m. For what ever reason I couldn't get another bite at 8m or down the margins, so was relying on the shallow line to produce and hopefully the margins would kick in later in the evening.
The rest of the match was a case of catch a carp or 2 slapping shallow, before switching to the margins/8m, feeding the long line to get the fish back, catch another carp shallow, before they disappeared and so on.
I just didn't get the feeling there was many carp in the area, or they weren't feeding. Needless to say disappointed to miss out on framing, because it means the poor run continues.
1st 211- 8 - Chris Davidge - p6
2nd 102-14 - Glen Putterill - p16
3rd 97-15 - Andy Bradley - p24
4th 76- 2 - Andy Lord - p1
5th 57- 0 - Ken Rayner - p3
6th 54- 8 - Roger Putterill - p20
As for me I didn't fancy one of the island pegs, because that would mean giving the method rod an airing. What I did fancy were the bottom pegs at the car park end with the blowing into it, so I was pleased to draw 27, which put me on the end peg on the right hand bank. It looked very fishy, but plumbing up revealed a deep margin of 4ft, which started to slope away straight away. At 4m it was already 8ft deep and only getting deeper.
