Acorn Fishery (Tuesday Costcutter).

With my hand now much better I took the chance of entering this Tuesday open at Acorn, I haven't fished the pole for a few weeks now and with this lake being pronominally canal shaped it was time to take the chance that I could manage ok. I left home in plenty of time to miss rush hour & get to the fishery in plenty of time for a nice fry-up as I was starving' Or so I thought, But when I arrived I found out they no longer serve breakfast as the attendances had been down on resent Tuesdays & it wasn't worth owner Bev wasting money on rolls or electric ect which was fair comment, A quick call from Gabo who wanted booking-in had me pleading to him to grab me some grub of some sort on route.

It turned out with the forecast for a nice day the attendance was up with 15 fishing & with Gabo arriving late I had to draw for the pair of us, I picked out his first and it turned out to be peg 1 on the middle island with me ending up on peg 18 of the far bank, I've never draw this peg before, always ending up on the wider area further down but after driving right behind my peg (No trolley needed") I was pleased to see it was only around 13mts to the far bank which would make it easier for me with the added comfort of the breeze off are backs. With the nights now getting much cooler I didn't fancy catching tight over in the shallower water so opted to plumb up at the bottom of the far shelf were I found just under 4ft of water in two separate spots which I planned to feed differently,

 

 

Rig wise I had two identical rigs being a 0.3g float on 0.13-0.11 one with an 18 808 hook & the other a 16 808, The only other rig I assembled as we all had plenty of room was a 4x10 Chanti to fish down in-front the next pallet on 0.14-0.12 and a 18 Wide gape pellet hook.

Gabo had managed to arrive in time & came around to give me a couple of sarnies he had knocked up before he left, I'm not so sure what was in um' but they tasted ok and I was truly thankful" For company I had Barry Fitchew on peg 16 and Keith Fisher Next to the bridge on 21, Looking Around I fancied venue regular Dave (Dogging) Wride to do well off peg 5 which I was told won the match on Sunday as well as a few others on the more noted pegs but was looking forward to the day.

 

All I had brought with today was various pellet and some sweet corn so I was hoping to make them work' At the all-in I cupped a small amount of hard 4mm pellet and a few bits of corn on a line off to my left towards the far bank, Fed a small amount of corn and a few 4 & 6mm hard pellet down to the empty pallet and started the match directly in-front of me about 2ft off the far bank at dead depth with a 4mm expander on the hook feeding a few micro's via a cadpot.

I had a carp of 4lb within the first minute which was a good start" Another of similar size came shortly after before I foul hooked two fish which came off and started it get iffy bites which saw me connect with nothing, I cut back on the micros and fed a few more hard 4mm to pin them to the deck but things were still slow, Looking around I hadn't seen much caught and some anglers were already trying their inside lines which told me they were struggling, After an hour I had managed to put 4 in the net off this line and just one fish from were I had fed heavier to the left.

The next hour proved difficult only adding 1 more fish but losing 3 more foul hookers so it was time to have a quick look on the swim by the pallet, Starting on a single grain of corn I had a fish of 3lb quite quickly but then nothing followed so I started cad potting a few grains of corn & 4mm pellets over the top, I had another fish but then had signs of fish coming up in the water which soon spooked out the swim so re-fed a larger amount & went back across.

resting the swim seemed to do the trick as I had 3 more all on expander pellet then another on corn before it needed resting again. One thing I did notice was the fish weren't keen on much feed as I still couldn't catch off the line I had fed heavier across, It seemed best just to feed small amounts after each fish where I was getting indications. Back down by the pallet and a couple more fish on the corn followed but they weren't keen to feed in numbers so it was a case of catch one or two then go back across and do the same.

It wasn't hectic but in the next couple of hours I got into a nice rhythm pinching odd fish off the two lines, With about 90mins to go I had about 17 carp then had a funny' 30mins hooking and losing a couple & missing some good bites! But thankfully things settled down a little when I just took a fish of each line before feeding small amounts and leaving it, I finished the match with 25 or 26? carp of similar size and thought I might have about 90lb odd. When I caught up with the scales the lake had fished harder than of late and the top weight was 48lb odd, Thankfully I had a really enjoyable day just plodding away searching odd fish when it got hard and was pleased to take top spot with 102lb, The fish certainly new the temperature had changed but feeding fragile amounts worked for me today. 

 Part of my catch.

 

Not a massive pick-up being £34 but it more than covered the day as I bet I never used more than £3 worth of bait, My hand was acing a little at the end as I forgot to wear my strap this morning' but more pleasing was the fact its the only the second time I've had chance to fish the venue this year and that resulted in a win so lets hope it comes in three's when I get chance to visit again?

Full Results -
1st Dom Sullivan (Maver) peg 18, 102lb 1oz.
2nd Keith Fisher (Over 50's) peg 21, 48lb 6oz.
3rd Mike Chapman (Over 50's) peg 7, 48lb.
4th Barry Fitchew (Pole Repairs) peg 16, 47lb 12oz.
5th Gabriel Skarba (Hillview) peg 1, 42lb 5oz.

Silvers -  Eddie Wynne (Over 50's) peg 3, 6lb.

  

                      

Viaduct Fishery (Thursday Costcutter).

At Long last it was time for me to return to the bank to have a fish myself now my hand is out of plaster although still having to wear a strap for support and a few sessions of physio  in order it could make things a little awkward? For this reason I chose just to take my rods with me and hope to end up on a peg I could fish for carp rather than struggle to try & fish for silvers on the pole which I felt most would be doing with the silvers festival starting at the fishery soon as well as trying to qualify for a last minute place in the all-winners final in a few weeks.

With Gabo picking me up & the normal hilltops breakfast in order we arrived in plenty of time, Their were 24 booked in today so the match would be spread over Cambell (15peg) & Cary (9pegs), into the draw and I found myself on peg 123 which was the top end peg on the far bank of Cambell, Typical as this can be a good swim for Tench so would of been my first choice if I had of brought my pole' but I still hoped to catch a few carp? What I did notice when making my way to my peg that there was a lot of fish activity in the middle of the lake on the pegs below me 128, 127 ect but when I got to my swim there seemed to be a lack of it" but fish have fins as they say so you never know. It didn't take me long to set up as the two rods I had brought were already assembled, A bomb rod to search around my peg and a pellet waggler to fish up in the water if they appear to be shallower. Bait wise it was quite simple, Pellet, Pellet, and more pellet' along with a couple of tins of 8mm meat.

At the all in I decided just to have a chuck around with the bomb and various pellet on the hook without feeding anything, 15mins later and without any signs I began pinging in some 6mm & 8mm pellets in a few different areas to produce a response but it just wasn't happening, I had been feeding a few cubes of meat at around 7mts by hand and tried the bomb over the top with meat on the hook but nothing showed here but I felt it was still early for it to work, the worrying thing as I hadn't had so much as a liner on the bomb so gave the pellet waggler a try. Still nothing! & as I expected the pegs I mentioned were already netting fish as were the pegs opposite them and I had to start catching if I was ever going to catch up' I had been pinging a few pellets along the end bank in different areas and at 1pm I had my first fish over towards the empty pallet of around 4lb which was a bit of a blessing as I was beginning to think a blank was on the cards!'.

Buy 2 o'clock I had added 3 more to 8lb but it seemed to be a case of catching a fish then trying further along the bank to trigger a response, Not long after Gabo rang me to see how things were going and the second I picked up the phone the tip flew round' yep I was to late to react and the fish had time to bolt under the pallet snapping my main line in the process!" I soon was re-assembled and the second I cast back out I hooked another which was safely netted. I expected the last couple of hours to improve but if anything it got harder again as I felt the fish were shying further along the bank towards peg 119 with the breeze in that direction, John (The Gimp) Bradford was fishing for silvers off this peg so they were going to be safer there than me hooking them'. It was a case of casting to different areas for the rest of the day pinching the odd fish but the carp seemed to move away from the end bank as I only managed a late skimmer over by the pallet, I kept trying the short line at 7mts though the day and with 5mins remaining I hooked a right beast which lasted seconds before shedding the hook" I ended the day with 10 carp and the lone skimmer but new it wasn't going to be enough from what other had caught further down the lake. When the scales arrived the top weight on are lake was Dave White from end peg 110 with 127lb, My fish went 66lb odd and the pegs further down produced a few 70lb weights so I felt I hadn't done to bad to nearly catch up with them. Top weight on the day went to Dave Chidzoy from peg 98 on Cary with 140lb and the top silvers went to Somerset Angling's Steve kedge with 39lb from peg 129 Cambell which included 6 tench along with a nice net of roach. Not one of my best matches but being limited as to what I could fish the result was ok just a shame I didn't latch into a few earlier. Quite a busy schedule ahead starting with the silvers league here in a couple of weeks along with the silvers all-winners final to look forward too as well as booking into the Stafford Moor silver mania in November, Time to scale down the rigs then' but looking forward to it.

           

The Sedges Fishery, (Weds Costcutter).

Still unable to fish due to having my arm in plaster I had to opportunity to take a trip with Gabriel for the day for his first visit to the fishery, Its not a venue I have had much chance to fish over the years but has been producing some great results so it would be a bit eye opener for both of us. The match would be held on the re-formed brick lake which I must say looks very inviting from what I remember it to be a few years ago when it was classed as their speci lake, Since owners Jamie & Denise took over the hold some years ago now they really have put the effort in to produce another excellent and very tidy fishery on the map in the south west so all credit to them.

The total pools entry on the day was only £10 and with the peg fee taken out there wasn't much to fish for money wise but these matches can be used as a chance to try a few different things with costing a fortune' after the draw Gabo found himself on peg 35 in the middle of the first of the lake but at least he had an island chuck as well as the breeze of his back, Arriving at the swim it looked perfect for a pellet waggler approach if the fish should be up in the water or maybe a method feeder tighter to the island which a lot of the regulars seem to favour, The only hitch here was Gabo had never fished one before but wanted to give it ago as a bit of a practice but I did warn him I would have the camera out if he tried it as it was bound to go wrong!?,

He also assembled a couple of pole rigs to fish on a short line at 5mts & a rig for down the edge. Starting on the pellet waggler towards the island with 8mm pellet on the hook feeding a few of the same there were already signs of fish in the upper layers of the water and after 20mins he had his first fish around 4lb,

 

 

Things proved a little difficult after this as the breeze had picked up slightly and Gabo was clipping the branches from the tree behind him hampering the cast, After a few more missed bites and another 3lb fish the inevitable happened and he managed to snag the tree properly snapping the main line and leaving the rig sitting pretty in the tree!"

 

Plan B' then? He decided to have his first attempt on the method (Should Be Interesting?) over to the island with a hard 6mm pellet on the hook and a mix of micros and ground-bait around the feeder, Fair play to him as his first cast landed as tight to the island as it could without looking foolish"

 

It didn't take long for an un-miscible take resulting in another 4lb fish which had him beaming as he was telling me how he would empty the place on it' lol,

After a few missed casts he removed the clipped up line to try further off the point of the island, The only problem was he hadn't re-attached it" And yep it had to happen' as he clipped the tree again on the cast resulting in the feeder flying straight through the tree in the middle of the island!" That was the end of that then..!

 

As I tried to get my breath back I decided it was time for a wander leaving Gabo to try his poles lines as by now it was all he had left set up' The bank we were on seemed to be fishing quite hard & Gabo's Polish Alcoholic friend Ziggy on peg 39 Also had 3 carp and others were struggling for the time being, When I Returned To Gabo after noticing some fish moving around on the top in the middle we both thought it best to have ago on the long pole shallow without the risk of clipping the tree whilst trying to cast a rod & line. Starting with 6mm pellet on the hook feeding the same with the catty after a few minutes he added another carp followed by a big roach and a decent skimmer, Another look down the edge saw a foul hooked carp and another skimmer but it seemed more active on the long shallow line, After a few missed bites a bit of alteration to the shotting saw a bigger fish attached which was safely netted at around 9lb,

 

With about 90mins to go I took a wander up to Venue Regular Paul Lock on the end peg of are bank who was playing a good carp as I arrived,

 

The only problem was it was in the tail so trying to get it safely was proving difficult but after a bit of persuasion he steered it in the net which turned out to be near double figures'

 

I watched Paul for a short while & he was fishing paste on the long pole on the deck in around 10ft of water, Paste Can be tricky to fish at the best of times but after watching him hook and lose two more fouler's' I now know why I try and avoid the stuff" Returning to Gabo his last hour was proving the most prolific with a couple of double figure carp and more skimmers all on the long pole shallow,

 

By the time of the all out I thought that Gabo had safely enough to be top weight on are bank, I didn't venture over the other side as it looked a bit chilly judging by the way they were all rapped up' but it proved the best area to be as a local chap by the name of Eric was leading the way with 147lb of carp caught on the method feeder in the middle of the lake followed by fishery owner Jamie with 98lb from peg 21 in the corner, Gabo's total of 87lb was enough for 3rd on the day but not in the money as just first in Carp & Silvers were paid out overall although he was a tad unlucky as he missed out on the silvers by 7oz". All in All a good day for Gabo on his first visit to the venue and one im keen to try when I can in the near future.