Viaduct WL Round4

I would like to start this weeks blog with a huge congrats to one of my best fishing buddies James Knight who told me the great news that him and his partner Amy were expecting their first baby in September. I have supported him over the past years with numerous pounds from his better drawing sequences so maybe he can put them towards nappies now. 

This really put me in a good mood and I thought I may now get a good draw today. It was my turn for Campbell lake which is so peggy at the moment I was really hoping for 1 of about 10 pegs. These would be 110 and 132 at the closest end because they always hold a few fish down the edges and end bank  and then the normal fliers of 115,116,118,119,123,124,125,126. Only 9 Pegs to stay away from then and out comes peg 112. This is a good summer peg and can hold a good range of silvers in winter but with nearly every peg in including 111 and 113, the normal space it has in opens was not available. 

I got to the peg and I had my good old welsh mate Glyn Reynolds next to me on 111, so this would be another nugget head to head and chris fox on 113. After last match's total mess up I thought I would be a lot more positive as there would be carp caught in numbers in the good pegs. I targeted 4 - 5 carp but in hindsight this would be a bit optimistic. I set up the normal lead and waggler for about 25 metres out, 1 x 16m pole rig for meat and casters, 7m caster line and then an edge rig just because foxy couldn't get past a tree and I thought I would push my limits a little. All this was set up with 40mins to spare so me and Glyn had a little walk to peg 116 for a chat with Mikey (protein shake) Williams, Timmy (bum fluff) Rowe and a weird Bivvy Boy looking Shaun Kitteridge. We had a good little giggle before the match especially taking the mickey and out of mikey and timmy using phrases like shoot your fat. I can't really go into to much details but it was funny all the same and this is what fishing is about, having a bit of banter and not being too serious all the time. Ok I am going a bit of subject here so back to the match.

Just before the start a carp rolled in front so I thought screw feeding and chuck straight away, this proved to work as 3 mins in and wack I have a pull round, a couple mins later and a 8lb mirror was safely in my net. Great Start. 15mins later and another pull, in which a slightly larger fish was pretty much in the net until it rolled over the hooklength and caused the hook to pull. Bugger didn't want to do that. I decided to now feed my 16m line and short line and then give the waggler a few chucks, this resulted in nothing. By this time 115,116 and 124 were catching a few fish. Glynn had a couple tench and chris not alot. Back on lead and I had one massive liner but not much else. This put me 2 hours in to the 5 hours and I was now a bit behind the pace, quick look down the edge on bread and I missed a bite, Chris then hooked a carp and a massive twig to which he said a few naughty words but he safely managed to land both and to be honest the twig was bigger. I had a look on meat and a bite straight away which resulted in a small common about 2lb, another look and another bite but I missed this one. Thought I would give the 16m line a look now and this gave me 1 missed bite and 1 small 6oz skimmer on 6mm meat. A quick look on short line with casters but a few small roach wasn't going to get me anywhere fast. For the next hour and half I spent swapping and changing the methods and baits but for no more bites. 30mins to go and I thought I will just sit on the 16m line until the end. 30 secs back in and float goes under, carp on but this was trying to swim towards his mates on 115 and then broke my 0.10 bottom. F**K Sake. 10mins left and I have 3 more bites to which I have 3 skimmers all about 1lb. Glynn ended with 4 tench and 2 skimmers, mainly caught on 13m pole with casters and Chris had 4 carp, 2 down edge and 2 he caught towards 114 while bobby g was fishing for silvers. 

I though I would fish on a little while waiting for scales. 5 mins on pole and I had a 2lb skimmer and 2lb tench, then tom thick wanted a go on the lead so I chucked it into 115 and in 2 casts we had 2 7lb carp. To put it simply I caught about 18lb of fish in 20mins after the match and I only weighed in 15lb 4oz all bloody 5 hours. You can not beat the drawing arm at the moment I am afraid. 

The match was won by Chris Sandford on 115 with 166lb, Mikey was 2nd off 116 with 160lb (shoaled up much) I think I had 6 points as apart from pegs 111,128,129,130 and 131 (these pegs all in my area either opposite or next to me) all other people had at least 4 carp. Next week is the last round but I am not fishing because I am away in sussex on a Golfing weekend so this will be more down to me being shit rather than the draw. (If anyone wants to fill in for me your be on Cary)

Read Mike Nichols blog for weights and results.  

Viaduct WL Round 3 - All the gear no idea

Right,  a lot of people have a bad day and they decide not to write much on their blog just because it doesn't make good reading I suppose, well I am going to tell people exactly how I caught very little and how I messed up a peg I fancied for a few fish.

Ok so after doing a fair bit of prep Saturday night which involved making sure my two waggler and two tip rods were set up, few hooklengths, some silvers and carp rigs and finally my groundbait mixed and sieved and meat and bread all ready punched etc, I turned up at the draw hoping for a round 10 pegs I fancied on spring/middle lake as this was my section today. The pegs I wanted were , 8,13,15 - 19,24,25 and 37,38 so when the ginger prince came back with 24 I was rather happy to say the least even though this peg gave us a rather bad team draw. With our team second in the league going in today pegs,130,99,69,50,24 we thought this could be are poor week (this happened to be the case).

I got to my peg and it just looked rather sexy as picture shows

I set up a Waggler and lead rod for casting tight to the end of the over hanging tree, 14.5m gb line, 6m caster line and a 7m rig for down the edge. My Plan was to feed my gb line with 4 balls with casters and my edge with some hemp and casters then fish the waggler / lead for 2 odd hours catching carp then coming on my gb line to catch some skimmers. To cut a very long story short my plan went majorly wrong. 30 mins on lead with bread or meat on hook resulted in 1 massive line bite which I thought it had to be a carp on but nope so I then decided to switch onto the waggler rod, first cast with some punched 8mm meat and 2 minutes in resulted in a cracking bite which again I missed. Next cast resulted in another missed bite (I am shite) 25 mins later and yep I had another bite which this time I hooked a 1lb skimmer, O my plan was seriously going pete tong as peg 21 had 2 carp, Gary O Bunghole Shea had 2 on 16 and peg 8 had 1. Bobby G next to me on 25 had a bout 3lb of silvers at this point so not to far behind. I decided to give my short line a go for 10 mins which I probably had about 1lb of roach but wasn't going anywhere fast so went down the edge but still no go. Back onto the lead and waggler but nothing so 2 and half hours in and I had about 2lb, Maybe I will go on the 14.5m line and start catching 2lb skimmers one a bung, ummmmmm na this wasn't the case but bob was. (what the hell am I doing wrong) Gave this line about an hour and I had a few 2oz skimmers and 2 hydrids about 12 oz so maybe had 4lb  and now bob probably had 14lb. I wasn't that worried as only a few people had carp well that's when I looked up and people like Mark Brennan, Fred Roberts and the bloke on peg 13 all playing carp., shite I better look for a carp down edge. I shipped in 4 dead reads like timmy rowe said and christ I had a bite straight away but you all probably guessed it I missed it, then I missed another and then another. Bob starting giving me some banter and I knew it had to be roach because if it was carp not even I could miss bites that positive. I decide to take 1 red off and a bite straight away followed by a 2 oz roach trying to pull my 13 hollow out. See Bob I knew it was them. A couple more roach so then I decide to go back on the long pole again to which I caught a few more skimmers and I did lose a fish that could of been a 2lber.  20Mins left and I decide I need a carp so I sit down the edge to which bob shouts hahaha matt steve on 26 has a carp on, your going to be last in section today. I was not amused so with some meat on I waited for not a bite. ALL OUT (GOOD).

I weighed in a massive 6lb 13oz for 6 points, my previous two times on this peg recently I had 24lb and 19lb of silvers. I guess I just messed the peg up by not just sitting on the roach when I could of probably caught 10-15lb of them. Carp just mess your brain up. Bobby had 22lb of skimmers, fair play but we did both use same gb and hook baits so I am guessing he is just better lol. Dave White won our section off peg 38 fishing 8mm meat on the lead and waggler. He had 41 lb of carp and 31 lb of skimmers. This was good enough for 5th overall and 1st in the silvers. Some coin for that chap then. Well Done mate. Shaun Townsend had 3 bites off peg 21 for 45lb but Spring did fish rather hard today.

The Match was won by Somerset Angling's Legend Steve Kedge off peg 125 with 167lb I think. Campbell fished it's tits off with 4 tons. Team wise we had a lowly 50 points. I think Des Shipp should draw next match as he is king bunghole himself. We are now 5th overall in the league but we must get a good draw soon, the PI Thatchers OAP's, Somerset Angling and Team Amigo's can't hog them for all the matches.

I may go out next weekend but if not good luck and tight lines to whoever does.

Viaduct WL Round 2

This week and my turn on the match/spring lake section. A quick run up the unit to grab my other pole ready for hopefully it to stay in the bag with a peg on spring being my preferred destination as this is a very un fair section when the spring pegs can catch two fish and easily beat people on match lake. Last year I drew peg 3 and won section with 3 carp so was hoping my luck would be in today considering the poor showing I had yesterday. 

After a quick discussion with Mark we decided to give Andy Power another chance to draw a good team draw but this would not to be so I will be drawing next round. He came back with 129 (crap), 98(reasonable) 68(reasonable) 49 on match (worst island peg on the lake, steve long agrees with me) and peg 21 on spring (shockingly crap). The Preston Innovations OAP's who won last round only drew same peg which meant Gary O'Shea was on Bunghole peg5. Got to my peg and it was nice to see Myles Levy fishing but unlucky for him he was on peg 6. I had Tackle UK dobbing  legend Scott Russell on Peg 48 and Dave White on 50 for company.

I set up a 10ft bomb road to swap between a gb feeder and lead quickly. 1 waggler rod for casting tight to the Island. 14.5m gb line for skimmers, 6m caster line and a 16m margin line into the corner. To cut long story short I didn't have a bite on the wag or the 6m line. First hour I spent on the gb feeder with single or double dead red to which I had 1 F1 on each, by this stage scott said they were catching on the other side of the lake down the edge so me being bored I put a grain of corn on my edge rig and shipped down 16m to give it a go. 20seconds later and I have an F1, back in and another followed by another 5 in the next 20mins, awesome I said to Scott "IT'S SOLID MATE" of course I should of shut my mouth as I never had another bite down there. Gave the lead a whirl with bread for one more F1 giving me 10 in total. 2 odd hours left and I was caught in two minds to stick with the lead/edge or fish for silvers. I caught a few roach at 14.5m but no skimmers or even signs of fizz like I did when I was on the peg over christmas when I had 32lb of skimmers and F1's. Bugger it I will keep fishing for carp / F1's to which I didn't have a sniff. The other side of lake which includes Pegs 42,43,44,45 and 46 all had around 25lb except Tim Ford on 42 who had 65lb (awesome weight there by the river expert). I weighed in 17lb 12oz which was good enough to beat everyone else from pegs 47 round to peg 40. Scott had 8lb on and Dave had 4lb. Spring as expected fished better. Phil Cardwell won the section off peg 4 with 6 carp for 67lb, Pegs 1,3 and 5 had around 4 carp each and the other two pegs I beat so I ended up with 10 points. I was a bit disappointed but it could of been worse. 

Team wise we did exceptionally well off a poor draw with 65 points with a special mention to our boy Timmy Rowe who had 17 points off peg 21 with 4 carp for 46lb. (Legend)

The Match was won by Nige Easton with 119lb off peg 125, Longy was 2nd with 112lb off 78. Silvers was won by Adam Mitchell with 23lb off peg 37 (surprise surprise)

Just a quick mention to my Salisbury mate James Knight who I have a 2lb wager with every round, £1 for weight and £1 for points. He drew peg 102(flier) when I was on 60 on lodge 2-0 to him and this week he drew 73(flier) this week. I was especting to pass over another £2 but hahahaha James you absolutely messed that peg up. 1 carp off there, did you actually put some bait on???????? 2-2

Woodlands View CIPS Rules Match

This was the last of the 12 teams of 5, 3 match series of which is done to international rules with a 13m limit and float only. I chose to participate in because it puts you up against some of the best anglers in the country, Names include, Sean Ashby, Steve Hemingray, Des Shipp, Callum Dicks, Joe Roberts, Cameron Hughes, Lee Edwards the list goes on. 

My First match at Barston gave me a hammering off the next by Sean Ashby who won the match and then I finished 4th Individual and winning Spring lake at viaduct off peg 20 so I have had a mixed couple of matches. Anyway less of the background to the league and more of round 3. 

5.45 alarm goes off and a nice 2 and a bit hour drive commenced all alone as Mr Power didn't fancy travelling together, maybe it's because I talk to much. Arriving at the fishery I am greeted with verbal abuse from Adam Wakelin so after a little bit of friendly banter I decide to wipe my eggy fingers from my sarny all over his back and then the draw was made. Andy came back and showed me A35 which was on Arlyes  pool. I turn up to my peg and am greeted by strong wind right to left and with strong winds forecasted they decide to start earlier to save us a bit from the onslaught.

I set up a top 6 line for casters and two 11.5m lines, 1 with double leam, bloodworm and joker and the other micro pellets with dead reds. 10min pre baiting commences and I feed 4 balls of double leam with about half my joker pack on the 10 o clock line followed by a small cup of micros at 2 o clock.

Match starts with me at 6m for no bites in 15mins so decide to give the b & j line a whirl with double bloodworm on hook. Stayed on this for about 40mins of which i had 7 roach. Not great. tried pellet line but no bites. come in on 6m line to catch a small perch and a few roach but I did also bump a perch which felt a bit better so was getting angry. Not many people catching in my section so go out to 11.5m line again to try get some skimmers. Few roach on this when my pole gets dragged around I end up almost smacking scott next to me in the head. (Here comes the wind) 5minutes later and scott hooks into a skimmer but while playing a huge gust came and I tried to stop it from hitting him when my 11.5m section smashes in half and i end up smacking into his keepnet. Bitch what do I do now as I didn't take my spare pole so thinking I could only fish 9m I thought bugger it large pot of micros. I left it for 10mins and when I went in with dead red I hook a 4oz skimmer straight away followed by another. Maybe breaking my pole had been a god send. This was followed by a 1lber and a few more.

I weighed in 6lb exactly with scott having 7lb 4oz and bloke to my right who had 5lb 3oz. Simon Wilsmore 2 to my right had 5lb 9oz so I came 4th in section. Team didn't do too well with only John Harvey winning his section and the whole match fished hard with only 13lb winning.

A Kamasan Starlets team won the lague with Diawa Dorking second. I really enjoy these matches even if I get battered and it be nice to see a few more local anglers taking part next year rather than just sitting on a lead etc and trying something different and learning a lot. Tomorrow is Viaduct Winter League for me.

Viaduct Winter League Round 1

I am a bit of a Rookie at this blogging stuff but after reading so many other anglers fishing blogs I thought why not give it a go to pass some time in the evening while sat watching tv or talking to the mrs.

This league is one I look forward to every year as it is a 19 teams of 5 so has a great turnout and the fact that you get to fish nearly all the lakes on the complex gives you some variety on a typically predictive commercial. 8.30 was the draw time for the first match and with a 7.15 am wake up call by Lee Trivett telling me he will be late as he has forgot his keepnets (Muppet) I decided to check my gear through to make sure I was totally prepared for what ever lake I would be thrust upon. 

In the holdall was 17m of Sensas Pole with 8 silverfish topkits ranging from 3 - 6 elastic and 6 carpy topkits ranging from preston 11 hollow up to 15 hollow. 2 tip rods, 1 for lead fishing for carp and 1 for either a light feeder or small lead for a mixture of fish. 1 13ft waggler rod for carp, 1 13ft light waggler rod for silvers and a little 10ft waggler for either a little corner chuck or island chuck on match lake etc. 

Ok so that is enough of the prep I had done during the week and back to the draw where I met up with the rest of our team, Andy Power, Des Shipp and Mark Harper. We decided that we would let the ginger prince draw our team peg as he is a drawing machine (well most the time or just for him anyway). He comes back with Peg 124,88,60,44 and 16. I fancied 124 or 16 but not 88 or 60 so I had a little moan when I saw peg 60 next to my name. This is a peg I have done well off before, in fact I won the silvers off it a couple years ago in the WL but I would rather of been in a corner or on the rope in the middle of the lake. To my left on 59 I had the westlands helicopters slacker Phil Cardwell and on my right on 61 I had the welsh wizard Glyn Reynolds. I decided to have a side bet with both just to add a bit of spice to the match.

I set two waggler rods as this is a float only section, 1 with 4lb maxi to a straight drake and 0.12, size B911 with a little hair rig to fish corn or meat and the other a 10ft, 3lb maxi with 0.9 size 18 drennan silver fish for single caster or maggot.

My Pole lines consisted of 1 x Sensas .3 Pencil float on 0.11 to 0.10 hooklength and a size 18 808 hook, 1 x .4 carpa chimp  on 0.10 to 0.8 with a double bulk for lift bites on 5 elastic, 1 x .3 carpa chimp on 0.10 to 0.8 for just touching bottom with 4 elastic. Both Hooks were size 20 drennan silver fish. Finally I set up a preston silver7 for top six and casters but this I won't talk about as I didn't get a bite on this line all day.

Whistle went and I started off by cupping in 4 balls of gb at 13m and some casters and 6 grains of corn at 17m. My plan was to leave both these lines for at least two hours but keep topping up during this time.

I started on my heavier waggler rod with a small piece of corn put out at approx 25m out whilst feeding my short line with 4 - 6 casters every 3-5mins.  After about 25mins my float disappears and I hook into a carp which I let run through phils peg but after about 10mins I safely land it in which I thought was around 13 - 14lb. "Great start just what I wanted". Half an hour later I have another bite and I was thinking get in another carp but this turned out to be a 4 ounce hydrid ("crap"). I gave this line another hour or so in which I missed a bite but at this stage only corner pegs 64 and 66 had more than me, onto the 17m line with double caster and a wait of 15mins and no bites resulted in me thinking that this was going to be a hard day. Onto the 13m line and a roach first put in then next dob with single caster and an huge lift bite resulted in wait a massive snag of which I tried pulling for a break but this just angered the snag and caused eruption of bubbles where it was moving a little. This was not what I wanted as I was 3 hours into an 5 hour match so a little late to set up another gb line. I put another section on and plugged away to not a lot. 2lb to be precise 

    I was seriously annoyed with this as skimmers were being hooked on the other side of the lake and all I was getting was the odd roach. Phil had about 8lb of skimmers with about 20mins left when Paul Greenwood walks past with the scales. Phil is fishing down the edge under his tree at the stage turns round to have a quick chat and then turns back round to his pole almost being ripped out his hand. 8lber landed and I was going to lose a pound. Damn you Paul he may of missed that bite if he was looking lol

I spent the last ten mins on the waggler with corn but no bites happened so match finished with me moaning yet again about the corner pegs and how un fair my draw was lol

My Carp went 12-12 and silvers 2-04 for a total of 15lb and a very disappointing 8 points out of 19. Phil weighed in 18lb and Glyn 2lb 4oz so at least it was all square on the pound front. I was to help Phil weigh in but there is nothing worse than walking around with the board to people keep looking over your shoulder when they have caught more than you. Bobby Gullick was the biggest culprit of this. The Lake was won by corner peg 66 with corner peg 64 second (predictable).

On the team front, Mark won his lake and section with 82lb, Andy won his section with 88lb, Des had 13 points off 88 with 40lb and Lee had a sorry 3 points so in total 61 points. Tied 3rd on the day and only 10 points off top spot which off are draw we were really happy with.

Match was won by the old cart horse and Lead expert Nick Ewers with 158lb 7oz off peg 5 on Spring. Well Done mate.

Next match for me will be the Sensas Challenge CIPS rules match at Woodlands View in a couple weeks.