Goodiford Mill Fishery. (Saturday 23rd)

A bit late for this one but have been flat out at work this week among other things, Still feeling some pain so have to have a complete MOT over the next month or so to try & find the problem, Hopefully nothing to serious. I was invited by Garbolino's Steve Tucker to fish a match he was running at Goodiford Mill fishery near Tiverton, I haven't been to the fishery for nearly ten years & back then the pegs which seemed to have underwater Bar's' were the most productive with the pellet waggler dominating, Lewis Jones also got in as did Gabo so we all stopped off on route for breakfast before arriving & having a wander around, The old favourite pegs still seemed to have fish present & choice wise my old peg 10 would of been top of the list as I had heard the pellet wagg was still working & last time I drew it I managed over 280lb on it but trust me I felt like I had been in a marathon come the end".

Their were seventeen of us today & Steve was paying the top three & two Section but no silvers payout so all or nothing today, Into the draw & I ended up with peg 12 but Steve Had numbered it himself so it turned out I was the first peg as you went though the gate, It wouldn't off been my choice as I felt I was to far from any of the Bar's & trust me I know where they are as I've swam the lake to see where they are & in one spot it was that shallow it looked like I was walking on water stood in the middle of the lake" End peg Lewis had done it again pulling peg 17 in the far end corner But Ben Hagg had drawn peg 6 which would of the been old peg 10 so fancied his chances, All I assembled was a rig to fish down the edge as close in as I could get which was still a couple of feet off the bank in 3ft plus of water,

A rig to fish shallow & on the deck at 14mts with pellet, & finally two pellet waggler rods'. I had Dave Romain on what would be the point of the channel & Mike West between him & myself, We thought we were seeing things when he assembled a pellet wagg as I've never seen him with a rod in his hand" .

I started the day feeding some meat down the edge & some 6mm pellets at 14mts but by the time I had done this & picked up my pellet wagg rod Dave was netting his second carp! I was soon out feeding 8mm's with the same on the hook,

25mins later I still hadn't caught & Dave was netting about his tenth fish, Over the far side I could see Mark Wynn who was fishing the long pole to the small island in-front of him was also bagging & thankfully I couldn't see the Bar' swims around the corner as I was sure they would be catching". The writing was already on the cards after the first hour as all I could manage was the odd fish, I persisted at it but it just wasn't happening, I had a go on the long pole but the silvers were happy to hang onto 8mm's here so didn't fair any better, Dave never seemed to stop catching & even Mike was getting a few on the waggler, Well, He Was, Until he decided to trim the top 1ft or so off it in the tree behind him" but he still managed a few the way it was". I was hoping for some fish to switch on late but it didn't happen & I never had a bite all day down the edge, Bit of a disappointing day really as I was never going to keep up with some of the pegs & with no silver pool the options were limited, As I expected Guru's Ben Hagg won the day with just over 200lb taken on the pellet waggler but you still got to catch them, Mark Wynn caught all day but a smaller stamp to finish with just over 180lb to finish second & Dave Romaine Ended up 3rd with 164lb odd again with a smaller sample of carp, Were having another match here soon but this time their will be a silvers pool should carp not be an issue & judging by the size of some of the roach & plenty of skimmers present some good weights could be had, I ended the day with 61lb odd but Lewis did ok taking the section Money with 114lb, Hopefully my next visit will be a little more productive but that's the way it goes. Just to add I did manage a few hours at Shiplate farm just on my doorstep on the Thursday which turned out to be another good visit, I had some nice fish on the waggler including this beast'

      I ended up with a couple shallow on the pole to end the day with 28 carp then had a go on the short pellet line later on catching over 10lb of silver in less than an hour on hard 6mm over 4mm's,

 Certainly a venue to try when you want to try something different with plenty of options of what to target. Fishing tomorrow at Summerhayes For Clive Cunningham's memorial match & good turnout will be on the cards & with the match being a Rover Format over Longs & Sellicks Lake it will be interesting to see where I end up??. 

                  

River Huntspill Practice Match.

Firstly I do apologise as I have a pleasure session on Shiplate Farm & yesterdays match on Goodiford Mill fishery to up-date about but couldn't connect to a network for some reason until now so will add through the week, On with today & it was another practice match on the spill" before the next round of the super-league next Sunday, Travelling on my own today I stopped off for a hilltops breakfast before making my way to laburnham house for the draw, Strangely enough I found myself parking around the back off the premises which Don used to frequent, He fished here for years with some found memory's so top of my thoughts again this morning. A few of the team were also fishing again today in preparation to next week which was good to see & another good turnout for the river/Drain?. I happened to be near the front of the draw for a swift exit & found myself on peg 76 being the section above Woolavington bridge, A little bit of a walk due to the electric pylons before the pegs started but it wouldn't make much odds as I was smack in the middle with Team Captain Chris hook on one end peg & Thatchers Gary Webber on the first peg in the section being peg 80 which won the section in last weeks super-league with 18lb odd so both of them would be fishing for the win on the tip today.

A nice comfy swim again today with just a slight breeze off are backs but a change in the conditions were due by the start of the day with rain forecast & the wind to increase? 

     I planned to start the match on the feeder in the hope of snaring a bream or a few skimmers whilst feeding the pole line up, I set up my maver 12ft tip rod to fish 2/3rds across with 5lb main line to a 0.13 hooklength & a 16 B611 hook, A 0.4g PB1 on 0.13-0.11 & an 18 B520 hook & A 4x16 Wire Wonder on 0.15 to 0.13 & again an 18 B520 hook both to fish at 13mts in approx. 5ft of water with my main target being eels over loose fed maggots & casters, The lighter rig being used if conditions didn't change. I had a quick wander before the start having a chat with Stretch" & Middy backed Sam Powell who was next to me on peg 77 who wasn't going to try the feeder just relying on the pole to produce silvers so it would be intresting'. 

I started the day feeding 10 feeder loads of chopped worm, casters & red Squatt's onto the feeder line before attaching the hook-length starting the day with a small piece of worm tipped with a red maggot on the hook whilst starting to feed the pole line with the catty, It took me 15mins to feed it & I had my first fish after 45mins being a 4oz skimmer on a bunch of squatt's, I had another smaller fish just after but after 85mins it was time to drop in on the pole line as their didn't appear to be anything bigger in the area at present.

Starting with maggot on the hook I didn't have to wait to long for my first eel around 10oz followed by a smaller sample & a couple of small perch in the next 20mins before I rested it again & had another few chucks on the tip. Another 20mins or so still didn't produce a thing & I had just switched back to the pole line when Chris came wandering down, He hadn't had any signs of bream & reckoned Sam's 6lb of bits next door was about the best weight, I new I only had around 3lb but felt if I could latch into a few more eels I may be able to catch up but we couldn't see each other due to the trees, The next eel I had managed to be over 1lb followed by another of 10oz or so, I didn't want to force the swim to much so when I felt they had backed away had another try with the feeder. This was none productive as I never had another fish on it, with an hour to go I thought I would leave the feeder line until the last 20mins or so & catch as much as I could off the pole line, Oddly enough apart from the odd small perch I hadn't had silver fish all-day on it but in the last 45mins I added the odd 4oz hybrid & a few rudd of similar size as-well as a couple more eels, I ended up with around 12 eels but some were very small together with my bits & reckoned on having around 7lb? Sam came up to say he thought he had 8lb or so but I was sure I didn't have that, Chris was first to weigh but didn't find any bream or skimmers finishing with 1kg odd , Sam was leading the way with his net of small fish for 4kg odd before my turn. My total went 4kg 900 so it was just enough to beat Sam & even better enough to take the section as not much was had below me.

Back at the results & it turned out it wasn't a big weight affair today as top on the day was former Fisho Mania Champ & recent Irish festival winner Kevin Rowles took the top weight from peg 84 below Woolavington bridge ending the day with 8kg odd mainly caught on the feeder, Their was a 7kg & 6kg in second & 3rd so a few more eels would of pushed me close to the main frame but the £50 section monies was welcome. Really enjoyed the day, Its quite odd not being able to see your fellow anglers but forces you to make decisions you may not other wise make, Nice to put a few riggler's together again today & to see I still have the snake charmer magic" Lol. Back here next week to help the team out in the Super-league so looking forward to it.

Full results -

1st Kev Rowles (Thatchers P.I) 8kg 250g.

2nd Clive Branson (Nomad's) 7kg 050g.

3rd Martin Barrett (Thatchers P.I) 6kg 050g.

       

      

I'm Back".

Well that was a bit of a shocker to say the least' I returned from fishing the Final round of the sedges series top kit only match in what I can only describe as agony" I had been suffering from a bad back (or so I thought ) since the previous Thursday, By Sunday the pain had shifted along my lower side & I wasn't sure leaning over to fish very short all day would be the best option but with a chance of making the final in August & the pool's already paid I grit my teeth & Carried on.. More of the match in a bit but when I got home my lovely Wife new I was suffering But after not having a drink all-weekend I said we would go for a quick drink & fire up the BBQ, Well I didn't make it.. We got near the pub & I just had to get out the car as I was having a funny turn' Feeling Really cold but sweating like a pig" I even got out before the car had stopped only to go headfirst into a window then falling flat on my back in the road & that's where I stayed until the Ambulance arrived 45mins later! The pain I was in from my side & luckily not my fall was enough to put up with before the Gas&Air arrived that was, I happened to know the paramedic who I worked with years ago & With my conditions was convinced on route to the hospital that I was suffering from Kidney Stones.

Well I was drugged up to the eye balls & produced the normal Blood & Pee' samples then had to wait for a CT scan the next morning, Finally I got the results at 4pm yesterday" to say thankfully no signs of any stones but had had some kind of Kidney/Muscles injury & was sent home still in pain with Anti Biotics & if the pain persists to contact my GP..! Great".

Not well enough to drive so its on with the match. I had travelled on my own today as Lewis was taking my place for the superleague which I would of been fishing had I not messed my dates up". Their were a few stand-ins today Including Bobby Gullit who was fishing the other round of qualifier's, I not sure if I was running it I would allow this as it gives them extra practice under match conditions in theory? But one things for sure I wouldn't let then draw before the others who were in that round as some did, What if they draw the peg everyone was routing for starters things would be havoc then' Lol, I fancied drawing the opposite bank for a change in the from pegs 21-24 or the spit bank 36-40 as they have been consistent, Into the draw & out comes 35, It was the peg up from what I had the last match but I remember the guy on it really struggled & had one late carp but you never know, I just so happened to have Bobby G, next to me on the peg I had 36 so expected a battering really as he's doing really well here of late in his rounds" Lol. Just setting up was proving a right effort & I knew I was in for a painful days fishing, Not going to go into detail but I managed two early carp in the first 40mins on the deck with 6mm expander on the hook feeding 6mm's by hand before I felt something pop & a burning sensation in my lower left side so that was it' No more leaning over to fish on the shelf leaving me sat like a gnome fishing just past my nets praying for the final whistle after an hour" I had to get up for a walk a couple of times & I saw Bobby catch a giant eel" to go with some better carp he had taken & to be honest I just wanted to pack-up & go but some were struggling & I didn't want to squander the chance to make the final, I had fed both edges but hadn't had a sign their but persisted to finish with 9 carp mostly on the meat later in the day, I didn't have big fish with my best going 6lb out were as Bobby's biggest went 15lb odd" but I was glad in one way as I had a hard enough job landing the smaller ones" When the scales Arrived I had to get Bob to pull my nets out as packing up & taking my kit back to the van had just about finished me off, I managed 42lb odd which wasn't going to give me a pick-up today but when the final points were sorted it had proved enough to get to the final which was the main objective so it was off home to find out my later fate". Winner on the day was Nick Fuidge over on peg 21 catching mainly on the meat over meat & caster so well done to him ahead of bobby g who finished 2nd with 119lb odd which also included second in the silvers with 12lb odd so a double pick-up for him. 

Full Results -

1st. Nick Fuidge (The Sedges) peg 21, 125lb 9oz.

2nd. Bobby Gullit (Mossella) peg 36, 119lb 13oz.

3rd. John Fuidge (The Sedges) peg 38, 105lb 3oz.

4th. Nigel Garrett (Viaduct) peg 33, 86lb 6oz.

Silvers - 1st Bruce Hunt (Tiverton) peg 25, 15lb 1oz.  

      

   

Just to keep you updated.....

 Just to let you a know Dom Came home from fishing  Today (Sunday) and he collapsed, I had to call a ambulance to which is why there will be a delay to blog for his match at The Sedges. We are waiting for tests to be done .....He's is in a lot of pain,  but flying on the pain relief....lol. In over a decade of being with him ive never seen him so ill, bit scary really. I know how he likes to get the blog done as soon as he can,

sorry for the short blog( and nothing like Doms even the speing!) but I popped home to let the dog out and grab a mug of tea....for waiting at the hosp , good job we r 2 mins away from it,Handy hey!

 As soon as I know more ile keep you updated.

What's he say ? owe yer .......Tight lines lol

von x 

Shiplate Farm Thursday Costcutter.

With my truck in for service today I had the chance to have another go on what's turning out to be quite popular in attendance with 15 of us fishing, I grabbed a breakfast roll at a local burger van along with Steve peanut Howell & the Manchester boys who were down but are conversation was cut short as a beast of a tranny" turned up! Well' not quite what you expect to see first thing in the morning.." A good day was forecast weather wise so I fancied a few fish would be caught, As normal pegs 1 & 15 Would be my first choice but was happy to end up on peg 14B so close to 15 then" It turned out Mike Owens had draw it but planned to fish for silvers so that suited me, There were already signs of a few fish shallow so that would be my main line off attack at just over 14mts so set up two of the new drennan clear floats on 0.19-0.17 & an 16 power hook with a band in the hair to fish 6 or 8mm pellets shallow, A hand made 0.3g float to fish to fish the same line but on the deck on 0.17-0.15 & an 18 PR36 hook, A smaller 0.2g float to fish down both edges on 0.19-0.17 & a 16 power hook, & finally set an in-line 15g pellet feeder to fish over towards the island which was a long chuck but with little wind I could reach it easily, I managed to slice my finger 5mins before the all-in on a corn tin I was wiping out to have my coffee in as I had forgot my cup" but thankfully Manchester George had a tissue I stuck on it till it stopped" I started the match feeding two pots of pellets on the 14mt lines, a pot of mixed pellets down to the right at 8mts & some corn & 8mm pellets down to my left at 4mts. I started the day on the in-line feeder with pellet on the hook close to the island but after 5mins & signs of fish shallow on the long pole line it didn't take me long to switch to the shallow rigs, Starting on the longer line rig with hair rigged 6mm I hooked a fish in seconds which turned out to be about 5lb, It wasn't hectic but be slapping & feeding on a regular basis I was getting the odd fish & things seemed to be going ok for the first 90mins as by then I was up to nine fish some pushing double figures but then the fish seemed to stop playing ball, I only added one more fish in the next 40mins about 4lb so it was time to try the deck rig. Starting on Banded 8mm just touching the deck I had a 2lb common after 5mins but that was it as they didn't seem to want to be on the deck' A quick look on the margin lines only produced a small tench again on 8mm pellet so it was back to the long pole shallow rigs.

It took a while to hook another but just as I was about to get it near netting range my top kit obliterated into 3 pieces leaving my playing the fish on just over a couple of feet of carbon! Thankfully I managed somehow to net it but the tip kit was now unusable" Switching to the over shallow line rig I hooked another after 10mins but just as I went to net it the elastic snapped at the connecter which resulted in me loosing the fish & the complete rig". After a change of tops I had to use a slightly heavier elastic than I would of liked but after losing one here last match & smashing one today was getting low choice wise".

The fish had became really cagey & just getting any indications was getting harder, Out of the blue I had another decent carp which I weighed & returned at just over 13lb' I tried again on the deck but nothing was happing & it was the same result down on my margin swims, I had a couple more shallow & thought they would feed better going into the last hour but it wasn't to be I managed to hook another beast but it made short work of my hooklength & added another two fish in the last hour to finish up with 15 Carp a roach, skimmer & A small tench, Mike was First to weigh & did well on the silvers finishing up with 34lb of mainly skimmers, My weight ended up being 127lb odd in total & back at the results it was enough to take the win, I wasn't going to get rich with it being a cost cutter but the £18 goes back in the wallet, Their were a couple of other ton weights & Mike went on to win the silvers so it fished quite well & apart from a few mishaps it was an enjoyable day again feeding around 5pints of pellets in the process, After the results I decided it would be a good opportunity to take a dip in the lake in the slim hope of retrieving the top4 I lost here last match" Being egged on by Tony Rixon to start with before just about everyone else arrived' I spent ten minutes routing around without any signs, I decided to go around the tree which had fallen in as I wanted to find out if there is a bar running down the middle of the lake when my leg brushed against something promising, Yep" I found it" & even better it was still fully intact!" Result..", The chances of finding it let alone it still being ok were very slim but I'm glad I took the dip to find out' Lol, & Tony was happy as I managed to retrieve one of his pellet wagglers".

Full results -

1st Dom Sullivan (Maver) peg 14b 127lb 14oz.

2nd Stan B, (Unknown) peg 13a, 118lb 2oz.

3rd Mark Thomas (Un-attached) peg 1, 111lb 12oz.

4th Tony Rixon (Mosella/Veals) peg 7, 69lb12oz.

5th Steve Weston (Manchester) peg 10, 49lb 4oz.

6th Mike Owens (Thyers) peg 15, 44lb 7oz.

Silvers - 1st Mike Owens, peg 15,  34lb 6oz.

              2nd Steve Howell, peg 5, 14lb 14oz.

  

   

        

River Huntspill (Practice Match).

Back to a bit of proper fishing today without having to stick anything in a band would make a pleasant change' Travelling on my own I had a hilltops breakfast on route before giving up my seat as it was filling up fast, I stopped off to have a look at the river before getting to Laburnham  house for the draw, I drove into the main carpark before remembering that Don Sutherland used to park around the other side always giving us a swift exit after the draw so with him still in my fond memories that's were I headed. I didn't quite get the space he used to frequent but I was close enough, It turn out the space Don used to have was Taken by Gary Cross as he told me when arriving he also thought the same so parked their" God bless Don still well remembered & Certainly thought of today by a few people.

A good turnout despite a couple of no-shows with over fifty odd fishing which is nice to see on natural venues, I fancied a draw in the area below the motorway where Lewis Jones & myself had fished but so did everybody else after hearing about it" I lay my neck on the line by saying the winner would come from either peg 264 or 265 but knew the chances of me getting near it would prove slim? I was right as I ended up drawing peg 139 in the section above Withygrove, I hadn't been here for years but after my swift exit I was first to arrive in my section, I was soon heading for the area I expected my swim to be but made the wrong choice after realising it wouldn't start until we had passed the electric pylons tipping my trolley over in the process" I arrived at the swim which needed a bit of clearing with the weed cutter attached to my landing net handle but I had plenty of time so made sure I did a good job,

Thatchers lad John Harvey was on the next peg 138 & was that impressed he borrowed it to do his own'. I planned quite a simple days fishing, The Pole at 13mts where I set up two rigs , One being a 0.4g wire stem float on 0.13-0.11 & an 20 B520 hook, & a lighter strung out 0.2g rig on 0.13-0.10 & again an 20 B520 hook to fish just off the deck in nearly 6ft of water.  Organiser Lance Tucker turned up after about 20mins to give me the scales as end peg 140 hadn't been drawn meaning I was so say now the end peg, With that in mind my main plan off attack would be the ground-bait feeder towards the far bank so set up a 20g feeder to a 3ft 0.13 hooklength & a 16 B611 hook.

I started the match by cupping in some casters & white maggots onto the pole line at 13mts just inline with the shadow of the far bank trees,

          Then I had around a dozen chucks with the feeder full of chopped worms, casters & some red squatt before attaching my hooklength & baiting up with three dead red maggots to start with, I the first hour I had put just over a 1lb in the net which included a 6oz hybrid & a few perch on the worm & maggot, It was still quite flat on the surface & it seems to fish better when theirs a ripple on the water so perhaps as the day went on it would improve? I had been feeding maggots on the pole line from the off so after the hour mark I decided to give it a try, starting with white maggot on the hook I was struggling to get the rig through tiny perch of some small blades but they soon disappeared, allowing me to present it properly, My main target was some of the rivers big eels which can grow to a good size & can be a good option should the roach ect not feed. After about 15min I had what looked like a distinctive slow eel bite, I struck to find their was indeed a decent eel attached but I had been a bit early on the strike & after a few second it was off after letting go of the bait". It made a bit of commotion on the bottom & after another ten minutes biteless I was back on the tip.

I managed a couple more small perch & another 4oz skimmer but their didn't appear to be many decent skimmers or bream willing to feed as we had hoped for, I decided to have another half a dozen chucks with the feeder packed with squats to leave some bait in the swim before trying the pole again. I managed a couple more small fish before finding myself attached to another proper' Eel, again I had been a bit early on the strike & again it managed to spit the bait out" I re-fed another amount with the pot before trying the feeder again, It was now motion less & I couldn't get a bite on anything, After another 30min of changing baits I was back on the pole this time determined to let a bite develop should I think it be an eel, After 10mins I had a slow take & waited a few second before setting the hook, I new it was another decent eel & after being attached for a while I new it was hooked this time, It took a while for me to get it off the deck but when I did I new it was a decent size, I managed to get it up enough for me to reach for the landing net but as it surface it touched the pan of it & took off across the surface like a snake possessed' straight at me before shooting in the weed to my left & snapping my hooklength in the process", The problem was it was a right beast" I've had some good ones on here in my time & can safely say it was 3lb plus!". B*****KS'. That killed it so I topped it up again & went back on the tip, Another 3oz skimmers was all I managed in twenty minutes & I was hoping to be lucky enough to eventually catch a decent eel or two off the pole line as things were looking grim & I hadn't heard much being caught? Finally I managed to hook & Land one on the pole, Not as big as the last but over 1lb, Nothing followed & with the match only being 5hrs I had another go on the tip but still nothing, A last try on the pole gave me a few more small rudd & perch & another 12oz eel before the all out, I estimated to have 4lb odd & as I walked up to do the weigh -in most said they had struggled, Liam Bradell on the other end peg put 3kg odd on the scales which I new I didn't have but with all the other weights below him being lower I was hoping for 2nd in the section for a pick-up? It was close but my weight of 2kg 600g was enough to get £30 back on what was quite an enjoyable day really despite the lost snakes". Back at the results & Andy Jane had a great day finishing up with over 40kgs to easily win the day taken on the ground-bait feeder from? Yep" Peg 264 so I predicted that right then". A lot of the fishing was hard with only a few fortunate to latch into some bream but that's down to the lack of feed the venue has seen over the last 12mts"Its the super league their next week & due to me having the last round of the short pole series I cant help the team out which I'm a bit gutted about as I grew up match fishing here when going through the ranks & don't see enough matches on here now, Their are loads of fish present but they just need to see some bait more often, A good turn-out today which is a good sign for the future as it seems people are liking a change from commercials when the opportunity arises.

                  

Shiplate Farm Open (Main Lake).

After having an eventful' But enjoyable day here on the Thursday Costcutter I was looking forward to having another go, I skipped breakfast Arriving in plenty of time for a cuppa n a chin wag most of which was filtered around me swimming for my top 4 last match" so for starters I was hoping not to repeat the scenario!

conditions looked ideal with little wind so I didn't really mind where I would end up although what breeze their was seemed to be blowing towards fancied pegs 1 & 15 so they would be nice.. Into the draw I found myself on peg 6 which I was happy with As Tony Rixon won Thursdays match here off it with 160lb odd catching shallow on the long pole, The only problem I had was recent travelling partner Lewis Jones was on peg 7 who knows the place well & would also be looking to catch on the long pole so it would be interesting & the side bet for a £1 was struck. First up two shallow rigs on different lengths of line to fish at 14mts, Both 0.2g AS4 floats, One on 0.17-0.15 & an 16 PR36 hook the other on 0.19-0.17 & a 16 PR36 hook, Next up was a hand made 0.3g float to fish on the deck on 0.17-0.15 & an 18 PR36 hook which would also double up to fish down the edge in the deeper water as theirs rock all along the inside edge of this bank

, I also set up a paste rig with a size 12 hook to try over the top should need be before finally assembling my pellet waggler rod to fish over towards the fallen tree which I planned to start on.

At the all in I fed some meat & 6mm pellet off to me left at 7mts, & two large pots of hard 4mm's to my right both swims just over a metre off the bank, Fed 3 good pots of hard 6mm's onto the 14mt line & began the match on the pellet waggler with a banded 8mm over towards the tree which has fallen in the lake, Their appeared to be fish spawning under it as we were setting up which might of been the reason I couldn't get any indications,

I had been pinging 6mm's on the long pole line from the off & after 20mins I could see the odd fish under the surface so soon switched to the shallow rig on the longer line to start with. I gave it about 20mins of slapping but only had the one bite & things were looking iffy, Their were plenty of bubbles coming up but I had a feeling they weren't from carp, I switched to the deck rig with a banded 8mm pellet & soon had my first fish being a skimmer around a 1lb, Their seemed to be a few present as I was getting plenty of indications & netting regular size fish for around 30mins before things died off after I bumped a couple off just after hooking them, Lewis had now switched to the long pole & had taken two fish on the paste before getting troubled by some pasty carp so I was happy enough to try & catch some more skimmers for the time being. I managed a couple more but then was really struggling for bites, I had been feeding quite often with 6mm's via the catty so decided to give the shallow rig another go, I missed one after minute or so then hooked a rig munter which made short work of my 0.15 hooklength" Back out on the slightly heavier rig it wasn't long before I hooked another one but disaster struck yet again.. My bloody top 4 had come off! This time it wasn't going slow" And before I new it, it was kiting up the lake infront of Andy France over on peg 12!! he did his best to try & hook it with his lead rod As did the guy further up from him which I was grateful for but neither being successful.. Their wasn't really much I could do?? I just had to hope It would venture back my way at some point if it doesn't sink first, To say I was a bit p****d off was an understatement!" it can only happen to me. The problem with all the slapping motions through the pole must have loosened it up again & I hadn't been checking it at regular intervals so my fault their.

Luckily I had another no.4 so was able to keep fishing but to be honest it had really put the mockers on my day. I managed one good fish shallow but soon realised it was better off trying to catch some more silvers as Lewis was now getting the odd fish shallow & I could see Titch Williams further up on the opposite bank landing a few, I tried again with hard 8mm on the hook but couldn't get a bite I switched to 6mm on the hook even trying it slightly off the deck but still nothing & the silvers had seemed to all but disappeared", I had a look down the edge on both sides but they failed to produce anything, I had continued to ping the odd 8mm on the waggler line & gave this another try but still nothing. Back on the long pole this time with the paste rig I did manage another skimmer but had to wait ages for a bite & missed a few before I did finally connect with one so scrapped that, Back on the lighter rig with a good segment of worm on the hook only produced two roach so with time running out I went on the shallow rig for the rest of the match ending up with 3 carp but nothing else in the silvers net which was a bit disappointing after catching on it in the early stages, Lewis had done well picking off the odd big carp through the day mainly on his shallow rig but I just couldn't get the interested enough?

When the scales arrived titch had the top weight with 113lb odd , Lewis had 105lb odd, before my four carp went 28lb odd & my silvers 13lb odd. Back at the results & it turned out that local John Hawkins on peg 3 had a great day catching on the method off the end of the island to finish the day with 173lb odd with his dad coming second from peg 1 with 139lb odd, Top silvers went to Julian Pinkett with 16lb odd but my 13lb odd was good enough to finish 2nd so at least I picket up £25 which was better than going home empty handed'. back to my top4 & I did see it appear briefly about 45mins from the end of the match between Lewis & Myself close to the far bank, Earlier on in the day Lewis had snagged some line connected to a spod' which was now still attached to the far bank & I'm hoping the carp may have shed the hook leaving my top4 connected to it somehow? Owner Steve Is going to get the boat out & have a look for me in the week so fingers crossed" Just to make my day even worse, As I was packing up I still had the thought of it all in my head & not looking properly caught the tip of my rod when putting it back in the hardcase snapping it clean off!!" A day to forget I think....

Full Results -

1st John Hawkins (Wormheads) peg 3, 173lb 12oz.

2nd Rich Hawkins (Wormheads) peg 1, 139lb 10oz.

3rd Titch Williams (Drennan Thyers) peg 113lb 7oz.

4th Lewis Jones (Drennan Thyers) peg 7, 105lb 10oz.

Silvers -

1st Julian Pinkett (Wormheads) peg 14, 16lb 6oz.

2nd Dom Sullivan (Maver) peg 6, 13lb 13oz.

       Just for the record Frys Had their match on Hawthorns lake today & old timer Pete Sivell Broke the Lake record with 176lb 2oz so well done to him.