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