12/07/25 - Harescombe - Match

Weight - 97lb 1oz

Catch - 30 F12, 21 Carp, 6 Skimmers, 1 Roach

Weather - Hot & sunny. Slight breeze.

Match - Summer Series rd 4 (12 fished) - 1st in section, 2nd overall.

The 4^th round of the Summer Series and I really needed a section win to put me back in contention. So, we were all delighted to see Matt Hamilton at the draw who was subbing for Steve Brown.

I drew p15 and at least avoided Matt in my section. It was the first time I have drawn p15 (or p16) in 22 attempts! Although, I was pleased to draw p15 I was a little concerned, as only 18lb came off the peg on Thursday, also the breeze was blowing down the other end.

Paste was going to be my main attack; however I was conscious that this end of the lake tends to hold a smaller stamp of fish and set up rigs to fish the end bank with pellet or corn. As it happened, I only used 2 rigs of the 7 I had set up.

On the all-in I started by a clump of sunken sedges to my left catching an F1 and then my rig snapped around the float on my 2^nd fish, so not a great start. Once I sorted a new rig I restarted down by the sedges, but it was full of tiny roach and I never fished there again.

A new swim was set up by the boards off the end of the island. As it happened this swim proved to be my main swim, finding it best to cup in a mix of 2.5mm & 4mm attrax pellet. Whilst that settled, I would fish another swim along various points against the end bank catching a couple of fish, before returning to the island swim.

The first half the match saw me catching mostly F1s up to 3lb, although most were around 1-1.5lb. As the match progressed a few more carp put in an appearance, many of which were of a slightly better stamp and then some proper carp turned up late fishing next to the p14 pallet.

A really busy and hot day. Also, a massive thank you to Gary and Cathryn who came around with ice cold squash for everyone twice to help keep everyone hydrated. It was very much appreciated by all.

I was really pleased to have won the section as it pulls me back up to 4^th with 2 rounds remaining.

1.    99-  8 – Jerry Wiggett – p13

2.    97-  1 – Ken Rayner – p15

3.    94-  4 – Matt Hamilton – p5

4.    80-13 – Arthur Hicks – p21

5.    72-14 – Steve Partington – p29