Shiplate Farm (Main Lake Open).

It was already a warm sunny start for the day with the late draw of 10.30am fishing from 12 til 6, There appeared to be some breeze blowing along the lake from the north & I fancied to catch a few if fortunate enough to draw in it? Seventeen of us with a couple of late drop outs so still a good match, Into the draw praying for the flyers or a peg on the far side for a change, I got my wish but not a peg I fancied, Being peg 10, its around 18mts across to the island, I didn't have much wind against it so had two rigs one to fish just off in 3ft or so of water & a swinging rig to go tight to the bank, I had put my box in the water to try & take some length off but still had 17mts & the dolly but added" It would be hard work but would know if fish turned up. I really fancied catching a few down the right hand edge around 10mts where it was around 20inches deep, so had a 0.2g rig on 0.17-15 & an 14 PR36 hook, it was the same depth to my left on my top kit plus one section so would feed this lightly, Apart from this I had a rig to fish the open water at 12mts being a 4x12 Roob on 0.17-0.13 & a 16 pellet hook wher I had around 4ft of water, I did get the small method" feeder rod out just in case.

On the all in I fed some micros & hard 4mms at 12mts in the open water, fed a decent amount of hard 6mms down the right edge with a pinch of corn added & with no wind to contend with went straight across just on the deck with banded hard 8mm feeding hard 6mms with the catty, I gave it around 40mins changing depth ect but with no indications I had to give it a rest at this distance its got to be worth while for me to sit on it. I Decided to have a quick look on the open water line with 6mm expander on the hook, I had a 8oz skimmer in seconds then missed a few dodgy bites which then resulted in a blade skimmer which fell off", I had to have a rethink. I decided to start pinging some hard 8mms off the point of the island back towards peg 9 inline with the aerator on peg 8, I gave it twenty minutes chucking the small method feeder over the top which resulted in just another 8oz skimmer, It appeared Kurt Pinkett next to me was also struggling for bites although he did have some breeze blowing into the end of his island & some signs of fish there, I continued to feed across to the island regularly with decent amounts of hard 6mms & kept looking for signs of fish along the mud line, I tried the open water again but nothing so a couple of hours in it was time to try the edge, I had topped it up a couple of times so went in on banded 8mm to start with, No early signs so I added a cad pot & switched to corn on the hook cad potting around ten grains over the top, It wasn't long before I saw a vortex in the edge & not long after the float shot under, It was a decent fish around 10lb which fought like mad! I went back in but no more signs so fed a larger pot of corn & 6mm pellet & left it to rest, I went back across to the island just off the deck when a tail appeared, A few minutes later I hooked a fish which I got back to the top kit before realising it was fouled & came off but it wasn't big, I gave it another 20mins & not a sign of fish, I could see a few in Kurt's swim but they wouldn't come round the point into the calmer water I had across, I tried on the in the deeper water off the island but still nothing, I would continue to feed it just encase they racked up in the last couple of hours? Back down the edge I had been continuing to feed a bit by hand & a few minutes later had a fish around 5lb on corn followed by a 6lb fish ten minutes later, I thought I was going to bag up but with no more signs fed a decent amount again, I had been dropping just a few hard 8mms down my left edge & gave it a go but was getting bitted out by small fish, I had kept pinging a few hard 8mm off the point & even tried the straight lead over it but nothing, I had another down the edge after seeing another vortex & going into the last hour would hope for a few more.

The lovely wife turned up with 50mins to go & I hooked a beast moment later, I had it out in the open water for a while before she asked how it was going, I didn't want to answer before netting it but seconds later it pulled out coming back with just a scale so didn't expect to get it in really, I switched to cad potting around a dozen grains which resulted in two more carp before the all out but did lose a double figure fish at the net when the pan frame snapped as I went to net it snapping my hook length!. Kurt's peg came alive in the last hour as the fish he had off the point swirling got there heads down as he caught on the method but there was only going to be one winner today when Rich Hawkins drew peg 15 & I was write as he romped the day with 122lb odd so well done to him, there were a couple of 60lb weights before I had 3lb odd of silvers & six carp for 45lb odd.

Back at the results & Kurt had come second with 62lb so just a fish or two between the back up weights, Julian Pinkett won the silvers from peg 4 with 18lb odd, I had quite an enjoyable day in the end, no signs of fish across right up to the end of the day, they just didn't want to come around the island with no wind infront of me it seemed, back on here next Saturday guesting for a Shiplate farm V Colmic match again on the main lake, Seven anglers on each side so a bit of room so lets see what happens. 

Full Results -

1st Rich Hawkins (Wormheads) peg 15, 122lb 14oz.

2nd Kurt Pinkett (Wormheads) peg 11, 62lb.

3rd John Hawkins (Wormheads) peg 5, 61lb 2oz.

4th John Dursley (Taunton Angling) peg 2, 58lb 14oz.

5th John Page (Drennan Thyers) peg 12A, 58lb 12oz.

6th Dom Sullivan (Mosella UK) peg 10, 48lb 12oz.

Silvers -

1st Julian Pinkett (Wormheads) peg 4, 18lb 8oz.

2nd Ray Wickham (Summerhayes) peg 3, 13lb 6oz.

      

Johno's Match Shiplate Farm (Squirl Pool)

Another one of Johno's Knock-ups with the lads which are always a laugh although he doesn't participate as he leaves me to do the whole set up including the weigh-in" Lol. Ten of us on what looked to be another glorious day so just happy to make the most of it", I sorted the pegging & ended up on peg 10 between Jinx Mick" on peg 9 & Jim Dounty on peg 11 just around the corner slightly, A rope separated are pegs but wasn't to worried as I planed just to keep it simple & fish up & down the far shelf to the island around 12mts, I had a rig to fish tight to the bank which was only around 10inches deep being a small dibber float & 0.2g rig to fish down the shelf at 11mts in 3ft of water.

I started the day not feeding & went tight over on meat, I did miss a bite but then hooked a roach so out went a decent pot of G/bait & I switched to worm on the hook, I had a carp around a 1lb but the fish were easily spooked, It didn't really go to plan for the first 90mins, I messed around trying to catch across, Had two or three 2lb fish but lost more foul hooked, it was taking to long & it appeared nobody was catching at are end of the lake so I switched to the deeper line with soft pellet on the hook, I had bites straight away from small 4-8oz carp & goldfish' but at least I was catching, I continued to top the far side up with pots of G/bait & started to ping bits of meat with the catty over the top whilst fishing the deeper water, The rest of the match was spent waiting for fish to appear across where I would drop in & nick the odd fish to 2lb, I had a good run here later in the day putting around 15lb of fish in the net in around 20mins before it slowed again at the end of the match, I thought I had around 45- 50lb but peanut Howell down on peg 2 with peg 3 empty who we couldn't see was sure to have had a few. So it proved as he admitted to 50lb but weighed 68lb odd, so looked the easy winner today, most seemed to have struggled before I put 48lb on the scales so close to my guess' Again the pegs above me didn't produce to well so hard for most but a good laugh all day was had by all" I picked up £45 so will pay for my match on the main lake today, Hoping the lake will have some breeze on it or it could be hard for some with the warm conditions but we will see".

1st Steve Howell (Shipate Farm) peg 2, 68lb 6oz.

2nd Dom Sullivan (Mosella UK) peg 10, 48lb 12oz.

3rd Jim Douty (Weston Angling) peg 11, 16lb.

4th Andy Light (Shiplate Farm) peg 12, 13lb 14oz.       

Chiltern Trinity (Ash Lake).

I had a message at the beginning of the week to say Titch Williams was running a match on the canal lake at Chiltern Trinity, I have only ever fished here once a few years ago in the winter & it was shite' but was looking forward to having a go in the warmer months but didn't really know what to expect. Was having second thoughts when I found out their were only five of us fishing! but me & the kit were ready so decided to at least have a go, Titch had to peg us around some pleasure anglers as no pegs were reserved for us" He had to peg a few either side of the bridge which leads over to the main lake but I did make a point of saying not to put one of them in as it was a jungle on the far side, We had the draw & off I went to my peg above the bridge, Low & behold where was I? In the F*****G jungle peg!!" I couldn't believe it, Titch had drawn below me & had a lovely clear far bank to fish to, as were the next few pegs above me & their I was with a bank of reeds to fish against, Don't get me wrong it looked fishy with a bay off to my right but to go anywhere near it would be suicidal as it had a tree hanging into it & stick-ups all over the place, I wanted to chuck the kit back in the van & do one but after parting with my £20 I had to give it a try but had that gut feeing it was going to end in disaster"??, I think Titch thought the two pegs above me were reserved but they weren't as I sat there setting up cussing the fact I could of been on one of them."

I kept it simple, A rig to fish as close to the far bank reeds as I could in 18inches of water where I found a small area around 4mts from the bay & hoped it to be far enough to be safe enough to steer them clear but had my doubts' I had a rig to fish a couple of feet back towards me in the deeper water around 3-4ft & finally a rig to fish down the edge.

This Is How My Day Went!"

I started with banded hard 6mm pellet set a couple of inches off the deck tight over, cad potting a few of the same to begin with as I didn't really know what to expect, I had bites straight away with a few carp to 2lb in the net before I had a battle with a bigger fish which was desperate to get in the snags but got it in around 5lb, A few more small fish in the next 45mins before I had a fish pushing 8lb, I basically hooked it & shipped straight back to my top kit to stop it doing me" Things slowed down after this, but when I did hook a fish they were of better size but everyone made a run for the bay area which cost me a whole rig & a few hook lengths in the process, Titch had managed just two carp & was struggling but below him John page had netted a few, I was already boiling up with the pain of trying to stop the fish when a couple of hours in the inevitable happened" I hooked a lump which bolted into the bay behind the tree branch & before I could even react, BANG" the pole touched the tree snapping my number 4 section clean in half !!!, The fish buried itself under the stick-ups the other side of the tree leaving my top kit, plus the number 4 sticking out the lake". Now I was really P****D Off'...

I couldn't do anything about it at this stage but hoped to retrieve it at the end of the day, The rest of the day was slow fishing but I was still hooking the odd fish but the ratio was around 3 lost to one netted! With around an hour to go I had another decent fish dive in the stick-ups behind the tree, I managed to keep the pole out but it was now tethered around them causing a right commotion & just as I thought it couldn't get any worse it disturbed the fish which appeared to be tethered to the sections I lost earlier & it disappeared" I managed a couple more before the all out was called which I was very pleased to here for a change' I assumed the sections hadn't gone far so after asking for the boat which couldn't be used had to do the inevitable & dive in! I got into the bay area & retrieved a top kit, Just a shame it wasn't mine!" I had a good feel around but nope' it had disappeared...

Well what a day that was.. I managed to win the day with 49lb odd & john was 2nd with 33lb so I picked up £45 in the process, Just a shame the true price of the day would cost me around £250 to replace the three sections! well that wont be happening anytime soon so the high-light of my day was a couple of pints to calm my nerves in the Bristol Bridge Pub on the way home with a few Lads who had been fishing the two day event on the other lake" I shouldn't get wound up but today was totally avoidable if I had just been slightly further up on one of the other free pegs" I Knew from the start the jungle peg was going to be testing, It was that alright & expensive in the process!!

1st Dom Sullivan (Mosella UK) peg 17, 49lb 12oz.

2nd John Page (Drennan Thyers) peg 15, 33lb 2oz.            

Landsend Fishery (Saturday Open) Match Lake.

Time for a change of scenery for me so at the last minute I gave owner Mike Duckett a ring to book-in, It looked like being a fair day weather wise still warm with the risk of a shower, I arrived in plenty of time to enjoy a bacon & sausage sarnie in the on-site café which was very nice' I didn't really mind where I drew as its been sometime since I've been here so just hoped for a days fishing' Into the draw & out come's peg 18/19 which meant I had the choice of which swim to fish either side of the split between the island on the far bank, I opted for peg 18 as it was a bit easier to fish the edges & I also had the edge of the island at 16mts. I set up two of Stu Bartlett's hand made 0.2g, one on 0.17-0.15 & an 18 PR36 hook to fish around a 1ft off the bank but it was shallow around 12 inches, the other on 0.15-0.13 to fish in the deeper water a few feet off the bank in nearly 3ft of water, I had a 4x12 chanti on 0.17-0.15 & a 16 hook to fish at 7mts down the track to my left in 4ft of water, & finally a 0.2g AS4 float to fish down doth edges again at 7mts to the left & 5mts to the right where I had a tree stump in the water to fish towards both swims just over 2ft deep.

On the all in I fed some hard 6mms down the left edge, Fed a decent amount of the same across to the island & began down the track on meat feeding just a couple of cubes by hand, I had a bite after as couple of minutes which I managed to miss" but had another soon after & netted a 5lb carp so up & running' I gave it another 15mins or so but added just a couple of roach so time to look across.

I started on banded hard 8mm cad-potting a few hard 6mms over the top, I managed an early fish on this but started to miss bites? I went a couple on inches shallower & began to ping some 6mms with the catty over the top, Again it worked & I had another then it appeared the fish were spooking all over the place across & I lost a couple of foul hookers, This didn't seem right & I was going knowhere fast, I changed to fishing tighter in to the island again with 8mm banded pellet this time cad-potting a few hard 8mms over the top, This proved best for a while adding a few more before I started to get fish in the swim but couldn't hook any", Around halfway through I had had a look down the edges but was getting bitted out with the float dibbing up & down so switched to feeding just a few hard 8mms by hand every now & again, No more fish on the meat line so had to try & catch a few more across at this stage.

I decided to switch to hard 6mm in the band & came off the point of the island where I hadn't fed with the rig set around a 1ft deep, I began by just swing the rig in to start with & after a couple of goes I was in! another fish around 5lb soon followed by another around 4lb" I continued to ping a few hard 8mms closer to the island & every now & then dropped in to pinch the odd fish, I started to slap the rig off the point without feeding here & although it wasn't hectic I began to add the odd carp, It was to good to be true though & from nowhere the wind got up & was howling down the lake" I even got an extension out to take the pole to 17mts to give me some more balance but I was spending more time just trying to hold it still for a few seconds before getting spun round on the box than I did putting anything in the net, It was so frustrating as I knew the fish were still their but just couldn't present the rig! I had no chance of trying tight to the island without hooking the foliage, Which I managed a few times! I wasted nearly an hour trying to make it work really before I had to give up for the time being.

I had been feeding the edge with the odd hard 8mm pellet so had to give it a try, I started to the left & within a minute had a 4lb fish the nothing so dropped in on the right edge again with 8mm pellet, Again an instant fish before I pulled out of another just after hooking it which caused a commotion" I had continued to feed the track/meat line with the odd cubes & gave it another try but missed just one bite, I managed another carp from either edge before one took me the wrong side off the tree stump on the right snapping my elastic in the process" with 20mins to go the wind dropped a little so I went back off the point shallow again on 6mm pellet, as soon as I gave it a couple of slaps I was in' & had a fish around 7lb the wind picked up again slightly but I managed one more before the all out just a shame the wind hadn't stayed off for the last few hours as I feel I would have done well without even having to feed off the point, Come the end I had 76lb on the clicker which today I thought would be close, I didn't really know what had been caught but I knew Eric Fouracre on peg 5 had done ok as he began the day catching some F1's on worm across then added some better carp through the day.

I gave Beany" a hand with the weigh board whilst he did the scales, Rod Wotton had a few carp & 14lb of silvers from peg 2, Eric had 20lb of mainly F1's which count as silvers here to add to his 59lb of carp for a total of 79lb odd, Weighing around the rest of the lake the weights were quite close as there were a few 60lb weights before it got to me, I had a massive 11oz of silvers to add to my carp & it was close by I just pipped Eric to finish with 80lb odd, Ray had 16lb of silvers & a few carp above me before Stu Barnett was last to weigh on end peg 24, He admitted having a great last 30mins adding what turned out to be 39lb of carp to go with his earlier fish & 6lb of silvers to finished with 85lb winning the day so well done to him, It turned out to be a close match with just one fish separating the top three, happy to finish 2nd picking up £40along the way & will be back for another go soon I'm sure.

Full Results -

1st Stu Barnett (Landsend/S.B.Floats) peg 24, 85lb14oz.

2nd Dom Sullivan (Mosella UK) peg 18, 80lb 9oz.

3rd Eric Fouracre (Sedges Fishery) peg 5, 79lb 12oz.

4th Dave Wescott (Landsend|) peg 13, 68lb 2oz.

5th Russ Pecker (Landsend) peg 11, 64lb.

6th Rich Lovering  (Clevedon. A.A) peg 15, 62lb 12oz. 

Shipate Farm (Squirle Pool)

Back on this little lake again today, It usually produces a few bite from the small carp & goldfish' with a few better fish in the lake if you can find them, 14 of us fishing so no spare pegs today, I fancied pegs 4 or 5 either side of the small bridge but it wasn't to be as I ended up on peg 13 at the far end off the lake with my back to hawthorn lake, It can produce a few fish but when I arrived at my peg I was disappointed to find it coated in pollen as the wind had blown it all down'. I struggled even plumbing up getting the rig coated it the stuff, I had a small dibber rig to fish close to the back of the small island at 9mts but with the water levels down it was shallow around 10inches deep, I wanted to have another line at 12mts behind the bull rushes further along the island but had no hope for the start of the match so had to hope it somehow cleared through the day? The only other rig I had was a rig to fish the deeper water off the island by a metre or so which was around 4ft deep, I Had Peanut Howell opposite me on peg 12 but he didn't have the pollen issues as it was all holed up on the rope my side", & Rich Hawkins on the last peg 14 next to me, On the all in I fed some hard 4mm pellets & some micros in the deeper water, fed a few 4mms down the edge by hand but again I thought it was a bit shallow? & began in the deep water with 4mm expander, I had a 2oz carp after 5mins but already I knew it wasn't right, Gary finders further down & Kurt Pinkett next to him on pegs 9 & 10 started right across & were already netting better size fish, I had to switch to the shallow water by the island, feeding a decent pot of G/bait starting with a bit of worm on the hook, I did net two carp over a 1lb but before they spooked off, Peanut had started to catch a few fish to the point of his island closer to where I wanted to try but I couldn't fish it so back to the shallow water feeding a bit of G/bait each put in with a cad pot, I was getting the odd fish but felt I was already falling behind with the pegs further along the straight & peanut, I had a look down the shallow edge but no early signs, I tried the deeper rig again but just another tiny carp on this, I plugged away for a few hours catching the odd fish with a couple close to 2lb, Rich seemed to be struggling but Gary & Kurt were still doing ok. I was really frustrated being limited to how far I could fish, the edge had now covered over in skum ect so that was now ruled out" so it was a case of fishing the 9mt line and making do".

I added the odd fish after switching to small pieces of meat on the hook instead of worm but you had to feed each put in to draw anything into the swim,  I was able to get further along the bank in the last hour but not close enough to the bank so fished meat shallow where I had been pinging a few pieces but this just resulted in a couple of small rudd" The last 90mins were a right struggle, I managed a decent 3lb plus fish but only added a couple of small carp before the all out. I thought I had 20lb odd as the fish were  on & off most of the day, I thought peanut had over 60lb as did Gary & I thought Kurt wasn't far behind? Me & rich were the last to weigh being on the opposite bank & when the scales arrived Peanut was leading the way but with less than I thought as he put 47lb on the scales, Gary again had less than I thought finishing with 41lb odd but Kurt had less than him finishing with 28lb odd, My turn & I was surprized to finish with 38lb odd for third on the day picking up £35 so a decent result in the end, I really didn't feel as if I was competing today & was surprized I wasn't to far off come the end, Frustrating when I knew I had the chance of catching more further along but I couldn't fish it so nothing I could. oddly I never had a goldfish today, most of the fish I had were carp from 10oz - 1lb odd. turned out to be another close little match come the end.

full results -

1st Steve Howell (Shiplate Farm) peg 12, 47lb 7oz.

2nd Gary Finders (Shiplate Farm) peg 10, 41lb 8oz.

3rd Dom Sullivan (Mosella UK) peg 13, 38lb 8oz.

4th Nigel Webber (Shiplate Farm) peg 5, 33lb 15oz.

5th Kurt Pinkett (Wormheads) peg 9, 28lb 15oz.         

Shiplate Farm Friday Evening Match (Hawthorns).

I mentioned last week to a few anglers about running a few evening matches on a Friday being short pole matches to level things out a little, Top kit plus two sections only, We drew at 4pm & would fish from 5 till 9. For this match only eight of us but simple pegging for me as it meant every other peg from peg 1 to 15,  I had the last in the tub ending up on peg 5, Gabo had drawn peg 1 which I fancied for a few on this type of match but I expected it to fish well & we all had an empty peg so the winner could come from anywhere?

A simple set up, A shallow swinging rig but the rule I had is it was only allowed to be the length of you top kit. A 4x12 Rube on 0.17-0.13 for down the track at the maximum length allowed which was around 5ft deep, Set the same float up on 0.17-0.15 to fish down the edge to my left a foot or so off the bank in 4ft of water, Any closer & I would be in the stick ups on the deck, And finally a rig to fish down my right edge in a couple of feet of water on my top-kit.

I started the day feeding a decent amount of hemp & a few cube of meat down the left edge at the max length, Fed some G/bait & dead maggots in the shallow right edge & started on the deck at down the track on meat feeding just a couple of cubes by hand over the top, I expected a few early signs but 15mins on this I switched to the shallow rig trying further along the right edge where I had fed the odd cube, Still nothing, Down the left edge on the deck it was then again on meat but I started on two 6mm cubes, At last I had a fish but only around 2lb' I had heard some splashing above me from resident Steve Howell on peg 7 & John had caught below me on peg 3 by the sound of it? I was really struggling to get bites & after 90mins I had added just one carp around 3lb, Terry Taylor who was behind me from the start went for a wander after 90mins or so, I had tried down the track again but still nothing, & even tried in the shallow water with a bunch of maggots after seeing a sign of a fish but  that soon disappeared, I had just gone back down the left edge on single meat contemplating what to do next when I hooked a decent fish which turned out to be around 7lb, Followed by a 5lb fish not long after, I was feeding the odd cube by hand over the top & tried the shallow rig over the top when I saw a carp swirl, I missed a bite straight away then nothing but it didn't seem right, Terry return to say Gary |Finders on peg 9 had around 20lb & Peanut Howell had netted seven carp' I had 26lb on my clicker.

We still had a couple of hours remaining so thought if I could get the feeding right down the left edge I could get some more, I started to feed with a big pot again hemp & a few bits of meat & leave it for 5mins whilst trying the track line, I started to get the odd fish here again decent stamp but they were few & far between, Down the left edge proved best in the end I had a few fish feeding heavier then sitting on it & a few when I fed the odd cube over the top but this seemed to cause a few fish to come off the deck so didn't feed much by hand, The last hour was slow with only three fish added to the net but I cursed losing a decent fish down the track & from down the edge, I had heard a fair bit of splashing below me & though John Hawkins on peg 3 had done ok & Steve above me, Whilst packing up Steve said he only had around 40lb odd & John said he had around 35lb? I had 56lb on my clicker so we would see. Word was it had fished harder than we all expected as most said the had 30-40lb, Starting with Julian Pinkett on peg 15 he ended up with 46lb odd as did Gary on peg 11, Peanut finished with 45lb before my turn, I had a little more then the clicker finishing with 63lb odd, John guessed well finishing with 37lb odd & Gabo was last to weigh, He said he had a mare & would have 40lb at best but had 47lb of carp & 5lb of silvers for 53lb odd. So a good result for me winning the day when I thought I had been battered picking up £53 along the way, 2nd went to Gabo meaning John Hawkins won the silvers pool by default with 1lb 14oz!"

It didn't fish half as well as we all expected but I think there were a lot of fish interested in spawning as they were crashing in the reeds across further up the lake but it lead to a close match in the end & a pleasure to make the most of a pleasant evening. I'm running another in two weeks on the same lake/same rules so if anybody is interested either contact myself or book in at the fishery, £20 entry, Draw time will be 4pm & fish 5 till 9pm weather conditions permitting.

Full results -

1st Dom Sullivan (Mosella UK) peg 5, 63lb 4oz.

2nd Gabo Skarba (Mosella UK) peg 1, 52lb 14oz.

3rd Gary Finders (Shiplate Farm) peg 11, 46lb 14oz.

4th Julian Pinkett (Wormheads) peg 15, 46lb 12oz.

5th Steve Howell (Shiplate) Peg 7, 45lb.

Silvers - John Hawkins (Wormheads) peg 3, 1lb 14oz.      

Shiplate Farm (Main Lake) Sunday.

After spending the day with the wife again yesterday it was back to Shiplate Farms main lake, It was going to be a warm day with the sun already out but little wind, I had felling unless you drew the fancied pegs 1 & 15 it would be hard fishing for most with the bright conditions, A good turn out with nineteen fishing again, I let a few go before me but Titch drew one of the flyers peg 15 when he had the first peg out" I wasn't surprized to find myself on peg 6 as I haven't drawn it for at least four matches & was over due being back on it! I didn't really fancy it for winning the carp, Most times I have fished it I've struggled for a few carp but its got me nowhere, Most times I see others on here the same thing has happened so would be more inclined to target some silvers if early signs of carp didn't happen.

I set up a 4x12 rube on 0.17-0.13 & a 16 B911 to fish on the deck at 14mts in 5ft of water, Set up two shallow rigs, Long & short lines, & a 0.4g rig to fish down the edge in 3ft of water just off the rocks to my left at 9mts, Finally I set up a small method feeder to chuck to the island in the hope of some early fish. I had Gary Finders next to me again on peg 7 & Jonny page on peg 6 & had a feeing they would go all out for carp? On the all-in I fed some meat/hemp & corn down the short edge line, & cupped a decent amount of hard 4mm pellets at 14mts, I started on the method with Micros & 8mm pellet on the hook chucking to the island, I gave it 30mins but not a sniff, I had seen peanut Howell catcha couple of smaller carp on the method from peg 13 on the opposite bank & Mark jones had mugged two early fish down on peg 9. Onto the pole shallow to start with but still nothing in twenty minutes of trying, Gary was yet to catch as was john, Onto the deck rig with 6mm expander on the hook I still couldn't get bites, I began to feed 4mms with the catty over the top & finally I had a bite & a skimmer around 1lb, In the next 45mins I added another four around the same size before I felt it was time to feed a bit more with a large cup & rest it, I had been feeding corn on a new line at 13mts to my left so gave that a try but no signs here so fed another new line at 10mts this time with some micros & 4mm expanders.

Back out at 14mts I managed a few more bigger skimmers one pushing 2lb, Things seemed to be going well as I had over 10lb of skimmers by 1pm & still had 4hrs remaining' I think I had one more decent skimmer & a couple of had sized fish then nothing, & I mean Nothing! I had one more bite on the long pole which was a carp but we parted company' I had one bite on the new micro line but missed it' Never had a bite down the edge & never had a sign over the corn line, I just cant suss why this happens on here, It wasn't just me as those who were catching silvers on the far bank had seemed to have there lines shut up shop" I tried shallow for them, mid depth & just of the deck but it made no difference I just couldn't get another skimmer for the rest of the match, John had a couple of decent carp shallow one pushing 20lb late in the day, And Gary had netted a few but most seemed to be anywhere but in the gob". maybe if I had took some maggots or casters I could of gave that a go but don't think it would of gave me any more skimmers just roach ect? Frustrating really if it had of kept going I thought I was going to be in for a cracking day but it wasn't to be.

When the scales arrived Glyn Wickham was leading the silvers from peg 13A with 23lb odd, I knew I didn't have that but the next best weight was 12lb odd so thought it would be close, The scales went 14lb odd which saw me pick up 2nd overall in the silvers worth £45 so a good out come after all. As I expected peg 15 produced the goods with Titch Williams winning with 142lb odd catching on the method & the pole at 10mts with Meat/Corn, A great peg but you still got to catch them so well done, Surprize, Surprize peg 1 finished 2nd with Rich Hawkins catching down the edge to finish with 71lb odd, looks like I made the right choice to target silvers today.

Right" I have Negotiated With Owners Steve & Carol to run some Friday Evening matches on Hawthorns starting this week coming the 8th of June, the draw time is 4pm, Fishing 5pm til 9pm, The rules are a maximum pole length of top-kit plus two sections With the rig length no longer than the top kit only". It looks as though it will be popular as only put the word out today & I'm up to ten names already for this week with the maximum being 15 so anybody who may be interested in this week or coming weeks please contact me on 07967243456 or Steve & carol at the fishery, I really expect the lake to fish well for these matches so looking forward to it along with the rest, The payouts will still be Carp & Silvers depending on numbers entry £20.

Full Results -

1st Titch Williams (Drennan Thyers) peg 15, 142lb 6oz.

2nd Rich Hawkins (Wormheads) peg 1, 71lb 4oz.

3rd John Page (Drennan Thyers) peg 5, 61lb 6oz.

4th Gary Finders (Shiplate) peg 7, 53lb 8oz.

Silvers -

1st Glyn Wickham (Tom Thick Baits) peg 13A, 23lb 4oz.

2nd Dom Sullivan (Mosella UK) peg 6, 14lb 12oz.