River Huntspill (Super league) Sunday 22nd July.

Well its that time of the year again" I managed to get in on this round of the super league guesting for the local Sensas 88 team ran by Lance Tucker, only seven teams of seven fishing but always the chance of landing on a few of the resident bream" the areas to be fished were a section at gold corner, Four sections above woolavington & two sections below, I had managed to have a few hours on The first section below woolavington a week of so ago & had one big skimmer on the tip & plenty of rudd on the pole but bites on the pole can be hard when their a match on for some reason? Lance came back with the draw sheet for the team & spookily I ended up on the peg next door to where I had practiced! It wasn't classed as a match winning area but I remember it being quite fair when I drew the same area last year" The end pegs tend to dominate & with Martin Barrett from Thatchers on the first peg & Dave Mickalright" for Gordon League on the other end peg we would see? I had Steve (Stretch) Sanders Between Myself & Martin Who is always good company & the banter was flowing as we all set up. Quite simple really, I planned to fish the feeder 3/4 of the way across & had a selections of baits' Worms, Red Worms, Maggots, casters, dead maggots, Squats' you name it! & set up two pole rigs, One being a 0.3g rig in 5ft of water with an 0.10 bottom to a 20hook for small fish, The other being a 0.6g rig with an 0.11 bottom & a size 20hook to fish on the deck in the hope of some eels later in the day? I started the day cupping in a small ball of chopped worm on the pole line at 13mts, & had half a dozen quick chucks on the feeder to get a bit of bait on the bottom being a mix of chopped worms, a few casters some dead red maggots & some live Squatts, I added the hook-length & started with three dead red maggots on a size 16 B611 hook, I was surprized as I had a bite after a few minutes, It was a skimmer but not massive, I had done a major weed clearing job with the cutter before the start but had odiously missed a bit" I picked my landing net up to see a 1lb plus skimmers shed the hook as the feeder went around the weed! Great Start"...

Back out I was quite confident it would go round again, It did but I was a bit quick & bumped it off straight away" Third chuck I had calmed down & was ready... That was it, No more bites' I looked around & Steve, Martin & Andy Price below me were yet to get indications. It was time to start switching the baits from bits of worm, Cocktails Or even a small bunch of red worms but still nothing. On the hour mark with nobody catching it was time to try the pole where I had been feeding a few casters over the top with the catty & topped it up twice with small balls of worm twice more, I started on single white maggot expecting it to go straight under but it took a few minutes to induce a bite, A 3oz perch" but at least I had caught' Back out & a minute later I turned to see Andy playing a decent fish on the feeder, I looked to tell Steve Just as he struck into a fish! Soon Back out on the feeder this time with two bits of dendra on the hook which I switched to a size 14 after seeing Andy Net a bream over 5lb" first cast & it landed bang on' I joked with Steve that this cast was the one to catch up, Two minutes later I was playing a better fish which turned out to be a skimmer around 2lb safely netted with no weed issues" Buzzing now as you always think your going to get another, Nope.. no more indications, I had upped the loose feed on the pole in the hope of catching eels if need be as Steve netted another decent skimmer & within 90mins gone it looked like who was going to catch the most on the feeder?? It looked like Andy's Fish was a flash in the pan as a couple of hours later it was the same result, I hadn't had another indication on the feeder & with an hour to go had a 2oz skimmer on the pole but that was it, It clouded over slightly from the red hot day going into the last 45mins & I thought it might spur a few fish to feed on the tip, It didn't happen, I even took the clip off a few times in the day to search past the feed but it didn't help, They just didn't appear to be in-front of us as martin on the end peg went from last in the section to first when a few fish arrived in his swim later in the day on his feeder line. When the match finished Andy Had added a blade skimmer to his bream I had a decent skimmer, a blade, one perch an one 2oz rudd! , Steve had finished with the two bigger skimmers & two small blades so we hadn't exactly emptied it! Dave Was first to weigh on the far end peg & fished with 6lb 4oz, Next to him Ditch had 6lb 2oz, There was a 3lb weight before Andy's Bream & 2oz skimmer went 5lb 11oz' My fish totalled a massive 2lb 11oz", Stretch finished with 6lb 3oz before Martin Who landed a bream on the whistle finished with 11lb 4oz to easily win the section, So stone last for me Lol, Theirs one thing I will say though, Gone are the days of ever putting a weight of eels together like you used too as a back up plan, There just not getting caught anymore, Are section didn't have one eel & back at the results it seemed they were void in most sections except for the odd eel at the top end of the river. Don't know what more I could of done today to try & induce some bites on the tip but most of the day was sat motionless on the tip for all of us. back at the results I wasn't the only one in the team to suffer a last in the section as Lance had the same result as Did Paul Nichols so we didn't feel so bad after, On the opposite side of the coin though WE had the top two individuals on the day" Tony Goodland won the match from further up the river with 73lb of bream on the feeder" & travelling partner Punjab! was second overall from the next section opposite him with 66lb of bream on the feeder! Well done Lads" Just a shame I don't seem to draw these breamy filled sections on this place! Lol. Thatchers won the day & are leading the league with three rounds to go, Another match on here this Sunday & two rounds on the Bristol Avon, I still enjoyed the day, Good company & we had the added bonus of a nice breeze on an otherwise red hot day, There's always the chance of a few pull rounds on the venue, We just weren't in the right section today, The section below us was won with 14lb odd but the better weights all came from further up the river, I was going to be in for this weeks round but shot myself in the foot as I pulled out hoping to pair up with Paul Nichols for the two day event at Trinity waters but his partner still wants to fish so having a weekend off this week, Tight Lines..               

Landsend Fishery (John's Lake) Sat 21st July.

Last Saturday I headed to Landsend Fishery , When I arrived I found out it was on the third lake (Johns) I think? I haven't fished this lake for around what must be ten years so fancied the change & with another hot day forecast. A good turn out with 14 fishing, Ken Raynor tried to get in as a late arrival which beany was in the middle of sorting before Ken decided to turn around & go, We did have a giggle when Rod Wotton sang to the tune of he's going home, He's going home before a few of us joined in to add Kenny's going home!, It was a laugh but no harm intented Ken' Lol. Into the draw & I ended up on peg 58, the end peg on the far bank, I was told it was a good draw so hoped to catch a few? I got to the peg & there were already fish cruising right on the top so a mugging rig was first out the bag, I had the end of an island at 14mts so plumed up to find 2ft of water tight over but then found out it was only that depth all the way across the lake" You could see on the islands the levels were right down, It made it quite simple though as I didn't have to set many rigs up! the same 0.2 island rig would also double up to fish down the right edge around a metre off the bank, I could get closer to the bank but it meant standing up to fish over the bush but in the heat I just didn't fancy doing that unless I had too"

I had venue regular Russ Peck above me on peg 61 & Rich Lovering opposite me on peg 55 but he couldn't reach the point of the island. I started straight out trying to mug some cruising fish but after missing one take that was it & they just wouldn't have it & soon went from the surface with just the odd fish poking there head up, I gave it 30mins before switching to the island with the rig set half depth to start with pinging a few 6mms over the top with banded 8mm on the hook, I eventually had a 2lb fish but it wasn't happening for me, I decided to start feeding the edge with decent amounts of hemp & a bit of meat & just feed the odd pellet down the left hand side of my swim, I switched to fishing on the deck across this time cad potting a few pellets in, This got me another 3lb fish but then all I could get were odd foul hooked fish, I tried shallow around the point of the island where I could see fish backing off but with not being able to fish it wasn't helping my cause, I did hook one after swinging the rig in but it missed the hook boiling right over & causing a right commotion which put pay to that" after a couple of hours baking in the sun I was beginning to feel really hydrated, I had forgot take a cold drink & was sipping my flask to keep me going, I couldn't get it to work across so decided I would have a look down the edge on meat & if I didn't get early signs I was going to contemplate calling it a day as I didn't want to make myself ill, Typical, No sooner had I put the rig in I hooked a fish which turned out to be around 7lb" Rich had taken a coupe of fish & Russ could be heard netting a few but they seemed smaller stamp? back down the edge & ten minutes later I had another around 6lb but it really stirred the swim up with doubles of silt coming up everywhere! I had a feeling this would kill it for a while so had to feed a decent amount & wait for fish to return whilst trying other lines.

It did work for a few more carp including one on the whistle but I knew it wouldn't be enough to do much good as Russ seemed to catch the odd fish though the day & Rich had netted a few better lake fish but at least I made it to the end" I went to Russ after the whistle to see if he had a cold drink left, He handed me a bottle of water he had spare which lasted a few seconds & I was very grateful of! Leon Hubbard won the day from the first peg on the opposite bank with 62lb of smaller carp so well done mate & Russ finished second with 57lb so well done their, I ended up with 35lb odd, Most of which were down the edge, perhaps I should of fed the same to me left but I didn't really have enough to do so! Lol, Still enjoyed it being the first time on here for years & with a bit more depth to play with would of caught a few more I'm sure.

1st Leon Hubbard (Mosella Bathampton) peg 41, 62lb.

2nd Russ Peck (Thatchers Tackle) peg 61, 57lb 14oz.

3rd Mark Walsh (Acorn) peg 51, 53lb 11oz.

4th Alan Oram (Dynamite Baits) peg 46, 53lb 10oz.

5th Rich Lovering (Clevedon A.A) peg 55, 51lb 14oz.           

Acorn Fishery (Thursday Evening) Paddock Lake,

Bit late with this one sorry but would love to say I bagged up, Only ten of us but plenty of room & I ended up on peg 38, well had to move up one so peg 39 as 38 was in need of some repair" I didn't really fancy it to be fair but gave it nearly the full three hours before calling it a day with around 15lb" My lowest summer weight ever on this venue but I just couldn't suss it today, I ended up with signs of fish on every line I fed but as soon as I went near them they were gone! Maybe the wrong choice of baits today but that's the way it goes & enjoy the pleasant evening we had. Well done to Mark Walsh on winning the evening with 136lb odd from peg 12 ahead of Matt Culpin on peg 19 with 111lb, before two other 110lb weighs so it fished well really, Must of done something wrong! Lol.

Shiplate Farm Pairs Match (Canal Lakes) Sunday.

I ended up fishing this pairs event on Hawthorn & Westpool Lakes with team mate Gado Skarba, Ten pairs fishing & the format was you could choice what lake you each wanted to fish with the winners picking up a decent £200, Even The Gabo hadn't fished Westpool before he was happy to try it so it meant I would be on Hawthorns. I did the draw for us picking peg 12 which I was happy with & it meant Gabo had what I would say was a decent draw on Westpool.

I planned to keep it simple, A pellet line across to the far bank in 18inches of water, & a groundbait line to my left slightly again tight to the bank both 0.2g Stu Bartlett floats which are ideal & strong! both on 0.17-0.15 & size 16 hooks, one with a hair to fish hard pellet. I had a rig to fish on the deck down the edge in nearly 5ft of water on my topkit plus one section, I had a theory I wanted to try as I know you can catch shallow but it can be hit & miss & frustrating" & finally a small clear dibber for dobbing around or shallow down the edge if need be. My day involved around hard pellets across to the right, worm over G/bait to the left, & meat/hemp down the edges & down the track.

I started the day potting a full cup of G/bait over & a handful of hard 4mms on the pellet line, Fed a decent pot of hemp down my left edge with around a dozen cubes of meat. There were a few shadows lurking around so I started the day trying to dob a bit of meat of their noses before the disappeared, I did miss one bite but Resident peanut Howell below me on peg 10 was already catching on his favoured worm over Groundbait across so I soon followed suit', It wasn't long before I had a fish which was around 5lb, I had a 3lb fish hooked in the face ten minutes later but it wasn't happening, peanut was catching well but despite adding more G/bait across I couldn't get it to work? Onto the far pellet line & I foul hooked one fish after 10mins after cad potting a few hard 4mm over the top but again it wasn't happening, Jonny Page above me also appeared to be struggling so it wasn't just me but he said he would be winning the silvers race' I began to ping a few hard 4mms further left off the end of the grass which eventully show some signs of fish so went shallow on the dibber rig with meat & hook one straight away but after a couple more missed bites they were gone again, It wasn't happening at this stage & after nearly three hours I had around 15lb in the net! I had continued to feed decent amounts down the left edge of hemp & a few bits of meat & noticed it was bubbling away' Time to try it again after having a failed attempt earlier & this time I had a fish on 8mm meat within seconds around 6lb" I hooked another decent fish shortly after which I stupidly let get back in the edge & it took me behind the tree stump further along the bank! I did lose the hooklenght & fish but got the rig back, no more here so fed another decent amount & had another go over the G/bait line across as Peanut was still doing well with it, I couldn't get it to happen, All I could muster was the odd skimmer" with just over a couple of hours to go I started to put the odd fish in the net most of which were between 5-7lb, It seemed best to have a couple of fish then re-feed another decent amount, Just as I thought I would soon put a decent weight together with an hour to go & added another net just Encase the wheels came off slightly, I targeted around ten fish in the last year but fell a bit short as I only managed four but they were a decent size, I had two down the left edge on the heavy fed line & two down the right where I had fed lightly with the odd cube of meet by hand in the last couple of hours, Steve's peg had slowed up across in the last hour but Pagey above me was really motoring in the last hour & it turned out he was catching really shallow down his right edge on maggots but he fed a bit" Ten Pints! Lol, I hadn't a clue what weight I had but guessed around 70-80lb? I hadn't used the clicker as I was well behind peanut & was more concerned about trying to catch" John Hawkins was first to weigh on peg 15 of are lake ending up with 61lb odd, Pagey was next & finished with 109lb odd & I didn't think I had anything near that, My fish were bigger than I thought, My last four went 28lb odd to see me pip pagey with 112lb odd' Peanut was next & did well on his worn method again to finish with 121lb odd but Top weight on are lake was Rich Hawkins from peg 3 catching down his edge to finish with 129lb odd, I had heard Gabo had done well On westpool & with the overall winners being decided on weight it looked to be a close affair, So it proved as are total weight of 196lb 8oz was just enough to beat John Page & Titch Williams on 185lb odd winning us the nice pick-up of £100 each' A good day all round & the weathers still holding up, I'm back on The River Huntspill for the next couple of weeks Guesting for the Sensas 88 Team for the next couple of rounds of the super league which I'm looking forward too.

Full Results -

1st Rich Hawkins (Wormheads) peg 3 Hawthorns, 129lb 10oz.

2nd Steve Howell (Shiplate) peg 10 Hawthorns, 121lb. 

3rd Dom Sullivan (Mosella UK) peg 12 Hawthorns, 112lb 4oz.

4th John Page (Thyers Tackle) peg 13, 109lb 12oz.

5th Tom Thick (Tom Thick Baits) peg 1 Hawthorns, 98lb 2oz.

Pairs -

1st Dom Sullivan & Gado Skarba 196lb 8oz. £200

2nd John Page & Titch Wiliams  185lb 11oz. £100

3rd Julian Pinkett & John Hawkins 175lb 14oz. £80        

      

Colmic V Shipate Farm (Shiplate Main Lake).

I was asked by owner Steve to represent the home side for this fun event between fourteen of us, It was another warm day with temperatures expect to rise to 29", Their was a nice breeze blowing down the lake for a change when we arrived so was really hoping to draw in it for a change as I know it can make a difference on this lake except for stating the obvious pegs 1 & 15 that is, Although each side could only end up with one of these so that lessened my hopes even more" Lol, Are team consisted of Groundbait Guru Tom Thick, (More on him Later") His Dad as a last minute stand-in which was grateful, Star man Gary O'Shea, Venue Regulars Titch Williams & Gary Finders, Viaducts Dave White, good Mate Young Lewis Jones & Myself, The format was we would all be next to one of the other team spread around the lake & the idea was you beat your man & those who came out on top would win the day'

Titch did draw for the A or B pegs then we drew for are own numbers, I was gutted to be honest as I drew peg three at the end of the island which can be good, Even Mr Rixon will tell you that' The problem was the wind was howling at him that day which the fish loved but today with the wind blowing down from the north east it was flat calm & hot" & we didn't start until noon! Just to make it worse Mark Poppleton was on peg 2 but had some breeze in his edge going back towards peg 1 & I fancied him to catch there later in the day, He would be my guy to beat as pegs 1 & 15 were put together but knew it would be hard too today. Quite a simple set up, A bomb rod, Small method feeder rod, Pellet waggler,  Yet again it looked like I would have arms like Popeye by the end of the day as I found myself setting up 17mts of pole to fish to the island, Getting to old for this distance" Lol, two rigs, One to fish tight to the bank, 0.2g, 0.17-0.15, 16 hook & a smaller dibber styled swinging rig which I could fish in the slightly deeper water off the island if need be on the same line. Owe & a rig to fish just off the rocks in the slightly deeper water to my left down the edge at 12mts.

I decided on the all-in I would feed a decent amount of corn & pellets down the edge straight away, It was flat calm here so didn't expect many fish to be there so hoped to draw a few fish in by feeding odd bits by hand over the top through the day, I went straight across to the island in the shallow water with banded 8mm pellet feeding a few hard 6mms with the catty, I spooked a carp after 10mins but no more signs, Except for two small roach which went flying" I had began pinging a few hard 8mm's off the end of the island & after another 10mins switched to fishing the conker" (Paste wrapped around banded 8mm) on the bomb rod off the end of the island, I had four pull rounds in the next 20mins' Shame they were all skimmers around 12oz-1lb...

I tried off the point in the deeper water but still nothing, I even tried the method over the same line but just another skimmer, I decided to have a go on the shallow wagg past the point where I could see the odd fish cruising around in the sun, Well" they were their until I chucked to them! the Chap the other side of the bush had netted one carp shallow & the pegs below him seemed to be producing a few but they all had a ripple on the water" So frustrating I just couldn't get signs off carp, Mark had netted around three carp from across by the halfway stage but not from my direction" I kept trying all my lines, Even had a go in the deeper water at 16mts but still nothing, I kept feeding across off the point & the pole line & with around 90mins to go saw a tail on the mud line, straight across again on banded pellet I had carp pushing 12lb, At Last!, I hooked another 10mins later but it was fouled & came off straight away, That was it for the moment, I continued to feed it quite heavy & had another look down the edge I had fed all day, This time it hadn't even settled before I had a fish, A 2b Tench.. No carp.

Back across I had a fish around 10lb after 15mins of trying & with an hour to go thought I had a chance of catching mark up who was now catching down his edge", It wasn't to be, I had another around 6lb with 20mins left & missed a bite at the end, Nothing down my edge or off the point for the rest of the match.

Back at the results & it had fished harder on the far back except for peg 15 of course" But it was Dave White on are side so that's ok' but most of are team had beat are men, Back on are side Mark Wynne faired best with 92lb off peg 6, I ended with three carp for 28lb & 6lb of silvers which wouldn't compete with mark who finished with 61lb odd but a good team result come the end as it finished 5-2 in are favour, Money wise we all picked up as it was spread between the whole team so after are pools money back we gained £13 each" With Lewis & myself dually spend on a giant steak burger on the way home in the pub!"

I did attempt to attend the open on Westpool on the Sunday but it was limited to ten pegs which I didn't quite understand as in the cooler months last year I drew dreaded winter peg 2 & was between pegs 1 & 3 that day with just one empty peg on the 15 peg lake.. So off home after are hearty meal" for a few more Tinny's with no Sunday fishing. Not sure if I'm fishing this weekend, The footy's on Sat Afternoon so that's a must watch & next week I'm off to Manor Farm fishery for a few days which is a much needed break & should be a good laugh.

Full Results -

1st Dave White (Shiplate) peg 15, 93lb 8oz.

2nd Mark Wynne (Colmic) peg 6, 92lb 12oz.

3rd Ken Raynor (Colmic) peg 1, 85lb 4oz.

4th Gary Finders (Shiplate) peg 5, 66lb 4oz.

5th Mark Poppleton (Colmic) peg 2, 61lb 6oz. 

Shiplate Farm 5pts

Colmic 2pts.