Hillview Lakes – 7/11/2009
22 Pegs

This was meant to be the start of the winter league but with a disappointing turn out willing to fish the league it was just an open match. This was very annoying as I had put a lot of time and effort tying rigs and hook lengths preparing for this league. At least it was a decent 20 peg open to go at. At the draw I pulled out peg 13 which was a terrible draw, with peg 11 and peg 14 in! Luckily it was my bro on 14 and we agreed on fishing spots at 13 metres to avoid us clashing lines. Wind was blowing a hooly and it was freezing cold. I planned on catching at 7 metres again at the base of the shelf but also set up a rig long for fishing banded pellet. Again the 2 margins were plumped up just in case but it looked far too clear.

Rig wise it was a 0.4 Diamond short on 0.14 Silstar to 0.12 hooklenth of the same material finished off with a size 18 Tubertini 808. This was for fishing corn or soft pellet. I then set up a light rig 0.2 Ackoo Pelli Stick for fishing a banded pellet; this was exactly the same apart from the hook which was an 18 Kamasan Animal. My 13 metre rig was a 0.5 Slim Pellet 0.14 to 0.12 with a 18 Kamasan animal with a hair rigged band. I also set up a 0.6 Diamond for fishing corn with a number 1 Tubertini 175 hook. My margin rig was a 0.1 Hillbilyy Grizzly 0.16 straight through with a number 2 Tubertini 175.

Bait wise it was simple. Half a pint of 4mm feed pellet which would be soaked, 1 tin of Jolly Green Giant, nice and soft for winter, 4mm and 6mm soft hooker pellets and some 4 and 6mm hard pellets for banding. Simple!

At the all in a cupped in 20 pieces of corn short and went straight out long with 20 4mm pellets and a 6mm hard pellet on the hook. After 15 minutes without a bite I tried short again with nothing. After 45 minutes I finally hooked a skimmer about 1lb on a banded 4mm long. I tried this again with nothing. I was feeding 5-10 pellets at a time and hoped they would switch on at some point. I then foul hooked a carp which I lost at the net and then didn’t have another bite for an hour. I changed to fishing corn long and feeding corn (5 grains at a time) and after 10 minutes I was playing carp number 1 about 5lb. I then hooked another next cast about 3lb. At this time Josh was sat in the café because of the cold! When he came back I couldn’t buy a bite so I slid my pole out to 14m and had a car first drop! Then nothing again. Going into the last hour I felt I was 2 fish behind the section leader and needed to try something so I cupped in half a pot of pellet and corn at 14 metres and waited. The float buried and I was attached to a carp which was deposited in the keep net. Next cast same thing happened with a slightly smaller carp but then a 5 minute wait saw me drop onto my short line looking for a lump to sneak the section. With double corn on the hook and 2 minutes to go the float buried, wrong, it was a skimmer nudging 1lb! What a bummer. All out was called on a tough cold day! I weighed in 25lb and was beaten by 29lb for the section. Sean won with 41lb and some monster perch, Simon (SHALLOW KING) was 2nd with 30 odd. Not a million miles away but could do better.

Hillview Lakes - 31/10/2009
27 Pegs

Not a lot to write about here as I drew the dreaded canal in peg 88 and just couldn’t put a run of fish together. Fish were cruising up and down all day but just wouldn’t feed. No matter what type of ‘balaclava’ rig was put in front of them, no matter what bait, they wouldn’t have it! Welsh Simon (Shallow fishing master) won the match with 90lb from peg 35……..fishing shallow!

Hillview Lakes – 24/10/2009
14 Fished

Going in for the draw I felt that most pegs could win the match, 29 will always be a winner with the right angler on it... the only pegs I didn’t fancy was 12 and 15. In for the draw I pulled out.. You guessed... Peg 15. Possibly the worst draw on paper but I was optimistic.

I planned on basing my attack around long pole with pellet but arriving to my peg it was obvious this was never going to work as the wind was terrible so I decided to fish 2 lines at the bottom of the shelf to my left (into the vacant corner where the wind was blowing). One at 6 metres of pole and the other 11 metres down. The other 2 lines were to fish the margins either side.

Rig wise I had a light 0.4 diamond and a heavier 0.8 diamond if the wind got real bad. Both were on 0.16 Silstar to 0.14 hooklength of the same material finished off with a Tubertini Number 2 hook… Shotting was a simple bulk of number 8’s with 2 number 10 droppers. A bit different to how I normally fish, I left a good 2 foot of line above the float because of the wind and I didn’t want to be dragging my rig about the place every time there was a gust. Elastic on both of these rigs was a 14 Middy. My margin rig was a Hillbilly Grizzly 0.1 on 0.16 to an 0.16 hooklength, giving me the option of scaling down if necessary. Hook was a number 3 Tubertini 175 again matched to Middy 14. Bait wise I had 1 tin of corn and a pint of feed pellet along with some hooker pellets (ringers 4mm and 6mm).

Whilst shotting my rig before the all in I had a massive liner on my 6 metre line and the float would not keep still so when the whistle finally blew I cupped in just 10 bits of corn. I then lowered the light rig down the same hole and in seconds it shot under and a nice plump 5 pounder was in my net 2 minutes in! I then cupped in 10 more bits of corn and waited. And waited. And waited. Nothing was really happening on this line so I tried my margins where I had fed half a pot of pellet and corn at the start, I managed just one small carp from my edges. For the next couple of hours, I was really struggling but I was keeping the feed tight and to a minimum as I didn’t want to over feed my peg too soon. I was potting in 10 bits of corn, waiting 10 minutes, potting in 10 more pieces. This is a tactic I use a lot in the winter and always seems to work.

Finally at 1 o’clock I bit the bullet and gave the 11 metre line a pot of pellet and corn and left it, in this time I nicked a couple of carp on the 6 metre line still feeding light. After 10 minutes I baited up with a nice big piece of corn and lowered it down the shelf. 2 minutes later I netted a carp banging on 7lb. I decided not to feed but go back in, this time with the heavier rig as the wind was a real pain. I even took one shot off so the float was a bit further out the water and I could distinguish liners from real bites. This cast after about 5 minutes the float shot under and I was now wishing I’d dumped it earlier. After this carp I had a frustrating 10 minutes foul hooking 4 carp and losing them all. I gave it another half pot and come off it. I think I had over done it with a big pot so instead of wrecking my 6 metre line completely I just gave that half a pot. The carp were on it straight away and I netted a stockie minutes after. I then upped the feed, feeding 10 grains of corn when I hooked a fish by hand then concentrating the fish with 10 more pieces of corn in the toss pot going back out. This was lining the fish up and I was catching a carp roughly 2 minutes at a time. Going into the last hour I was really motoring and I didn’t have to even rest the line as the fish were there in numbers and really competing for food. I was fishing the 0.8 rig to bomb the hook bait down to get it to the feeding fish as quick as possible and was using a bulk 7 inches from the hook. Bites were very positive and I didn’t miss a thing, I also never lost a fish in the last hour. The majority of the fish I was catching were 3 pounders but last cast 1 minute before the all out I hooked a nice 8 pounder and slid the net under it 5 minutes after. I was left bamboozled and couldn’t believe how much feed they wanted, if I had fed heavy earlier I could have easily won the match catching at that rate. But it was done and I finished 2nd to Nev who had 126lb feeding heavy from the start I weighed in 83lb which wasn’t bad from a crap peg!

Hillview Lakes – Open Match - 11 Pegs
10/10/2009

Back to my regular haunt Hillview and I had definitely missed the big fat breakfasts! It was definitely becoming a little bit peggy and I knew where the winner would come from looking at the recent results. Peg 29 is always a good peg but always becomes a flier in winter, Steve my mate, was on Moorhen 5. I did say to him at the start peg 9 would win his lake. Sure enough Terry king was on 29 and I don’t like to be negative but I knew we were fishing for 2nd. The other peg that was regularly framing was 39, all of these are end pegs. I was placed on 37 so I was going to have some neck ache!

My plan was simple, pellet on long pole and pellet and corn 6 metres and down the edge. My rigs had now been tamed down from beast tamers and down to 0.14 to 0.12 hook lengths apart from my margin rig which was 0.16 to 0.14. Float wise I had a 0.4 MW Diamond for long and the same short. My edge rig was a 0.1 Hillbilly Grizzly. Hook wise I was using 808’s on my long rigs in size 16 and in the edge I used a number 2 175 hook. Bait wise I had 1 pint of 4mm pellet, 1 tin of corn and a handful of hookers (3mm and 4mm).

At the all in I fed about 50 4mm pellets long via my big pot and 100 4mm pellets short with a few pieces of corn. I didn’t want to feed the edge until about 12 as I didn’t want to over feed it and waste bait.

I was into fish straight away at 13m on a 4mm hooker, having a plump 3lb carp 1st cast. My first hour was very good catching small carp and skimmers, after an hour though of feeding 10 pellets after each fish the line faded so I re-fed with 100 4mm pellets and dropped on my 6 metre line, it was solid and I had a good 30 minutes of having a fish every drop, mainly car but with the odd skimmer. Every time I had a very small fish like a roach I would come off the line and feed it. I continued switching lines for most of the match snatching odd fish but I wasn’t getting any big fish. Terry was sure enough bagging on 29 and 39 was catching well down the corner again big fish. As the match looked like it was running away from me I finally fed my margin line with half a pot of corn and some pellet.

After another hour, mainly fishing 6 metres I had changed to fishing corn on the hook which had worked initially but then I couldn’t hit a bite. I pushed all the centre out of a piece of corn and laid it in, first drop I hooked my best fish of the day so far about 5lb. I caught a few more doing this but then it died so I fed both lines and dropped down the edge. After a 10 minute wait my float finally dipped and bobbed and finally slid under on a 4mm pellet. I nice 6 pounder in the net I went back in thinking I would catch well now but it wasn’t to be as I didn’t have another bite. I fed it again with 50 pieces of corn and about 100 pellets.

Back on the skimmers and small carp and I couldn’t help but think I had messed it up as I wasn’t catching as fast as before and my fish were all too small. But I plodded away altering depths and baits to keep fish coming until I saw a swirl down the edge 10 minutes before time. I rushed down with a piece of corn and it just wouldn’t go under. G u t t e d !!!

At the weigh in Peg 9 had won moorhen with 58lb Terry had obviously won with 125lb , 39 had a weight of 105lb which I was really shocked at as I knew he had caught but didn’t think he had a ton. But looking at his fish, they were beasts! Alan did well with 77lb even though some swans had flew through half his top kits!! I weighed in 77lb 8 for 3rd and my dad weighed in 58lb also after a good last hour fishing paste! Oh well, 3rd again which is very annoying, but not as annoying as winning no money! Tunnel next week for a practice before the winter league.

Cob House Farm – Laurel Pool – 20 Metre King Practice
15 Pegs – 4/10/2009

All I had heard about cob house was good reports and I thought it would suit my fishing as it is all pellet short at speed. Arriving at the place after then longest journey fishing imaginable the pool looked very small for 15 of us. Don’t get me wrong it’s a really nice fishery and well managed but why make the pegs so high up from the water??? Literally all the pegs were 2 foot or more from the water! I hate being so high up and didn’t have a platform with me so I was hoping for any draw were I could comfortably get my box in the water, I drew 16 which was an end peg but I didn’t see it being that good as I was more cramped up a corner!

I got comfy in the water (even though I was sinking! Left arse cheek obviously heavier than my right!!!). I decided to fish just close in and to my right down the edge. I plumbed my first line up at 3m with a 0.3 Ackoo Pellet Stick which was bang on for 4 foot of water I used 0.14 to 0.12 hooklength of Silstar and a size 16 Tubertini 808. This was matched to 10 elastic. My margin rig was a 0.1 Grizzly in 2 foot of water with 0.16 to 0.14 and a number 1 Tubertini 175 hook. This was on number 12 laccy. Bait wise I had 2 pints of pellet 4mm’s some hookers and some corn.

At the all in I fed 20 pellets at 3m and nothing down the edge to start with. I had indications straight away then caught well for the first hour, putting 20 fish in the net. Hour 2 I fed my margin by hand and had 1 fish off it first cast but then nothing so I was back at 3m just catching the odd small carp and skimmers. The fishing wasn’t great and definitely not fast.

The last 2 hours really slowed down and it was only the odd fish being caught. I decided to start a new line at 7 metres and just drip pellets in, this got me a few more fish but still not great.

At the all out I did think that extra line would have gave me time to rest my main 3 metre line and maybe got me a few more fish. Bob Baker won with 57lb 55lb was second, George the Farter had 45lb just pipping my 43lb. Even though all he did was moan that he wasn’t catching! Bloody Billy Bull Shit the 1st!! And did I mention his arse stinks!?

Elmbridge – Heron Pool – 3/10/2009
22 Pegs

At the draw I was hoping for the opposite side to last Sunday. 1-9 would do for me. Terry Butler winner last Sunday had a nice draw on peg 4, pegs 1 and 2 had also gone so I went in and pulled out peg 5 which was a good draw given the pegs left in the bag. Arriving at my peg the 65 mph winds were being blocked by the trees behind me which was a bonus, although it still would be very difficult holding a pole beyond 9m.

Setting up I had to do a balancing act on 2 planks of wood to get low to the water as the slabs were missing and I really didn’t want to fish form the other slabs as it was way too high. After setting all my box up I got my pole out and decided just to fish close in as the wind would hamper presentation long and I felt I could catch enough of 2 lines to compete.

My first rig was a 4x16 bulbous Preston inter series float, I had elected to fish a rig on the heavier side as tow was going to be bad with these winds and even if it dropped I would still have good presentation. Line choice was difficult one today as the temperature was dropping and I felt it was going to be quite tough but I settled on 0.16 to a 0.16 hooklength in Silstar with the option of changing to a 0.14 if it was really hard. Hook was a number 2 Tubertini 175. I was starting with a simple bulk of number 8’s and 2 number 10 droppers the last one right above the hooklength and then the other 4 inches above that. I was fishing about 3 metres (top 2 + short 4) in 4 foot of water which should be ideal. My second rig was to fish the pallet to my left which was spare, I decided to find 2 foot of water instead of fishing right up by the pallet, this was about 1 metre from the bank which was perfect. Float was a 0.2 Hillbilly Grizzly on 0.18 to a 0.16 hooklength and same hook as above. Bait wise I had 2 pints of 4mm pellet which I dampened, 1 tin of corn and some 4mm and 6mm soft hook pellets.

At the all in I cupped in half a pot of 4mm pellet and a bit of corn at 3 metres and half a pot to my pallet. I baited up with a 4mm hooker to see what was in the swim and was having indications straight away, with a small carp about 4 oz first drop. I was feeding a few (6-10) 4mm feed pellet to indications and after half an hour I was struggling for bites I had one more decent carp about 3 lb. I continued to plug away and caught a few more small carp and some skimmers but it just wasn’t happening. I had also tried shallow but not bites so at 12 o’ clock I made a tactical decision to start a new line as far out as I could as I felt the fish were pushing out to the deeper water. Because of the wind I used a 4x18 in 6 foot of water with all the same material as above. I cupped in just 50 pellets and 10 grains of corn and dropped a 4mm hooker pellet and waited for a sign. After seconds my float bobbed about and then buried with a small carp in the pan about 8 oz I clipped on a toss pot and fed a further 10 pellets and 5 grains of corn again I got a lot of indications and hooked a skimmer. Although I was catching it was not what I wanted so I decided to change to a 6mm hooker and after a 5 minute wait I netted a 3lb carp. I carried on steady for an hour and a half before it died so I re-fed and dropped short. It was now solid as I had been feeding regular and in the last part of the match I caught well having a fish on most casts and they were normally a decent stamp. I lost a big fish at the net about 9lb which really annoyed me but put a foul hooked 6lber in the net next cast! It was solid. I was feeding 6 pellets at every indication, lifting and dropping my 6mm pellet. I did put an inch of line on the bottom to anchor it down.

At the all out I felt that I was beaten by peg 1 but couldn’t see further up the lake. As Jim came round 70lb was winning and I knew I didn’t have that, I put 63lb on the scales but that was then beaten by peg 1 weighing in 65lb! I was gutted not to have won again but I really cannot win a match at the moment but I did make a great decision in fishing the long pole as that 20lb that I put in the net was very helpful to my final catch.

Hillview Open Match – 26/9/2009
20 Pegs

At the draw I pulled out peg 35 which had 117lb last Saturday and 118lb the previous Saturday to that, to say I was pleased was an understatement. Right peg, right pool or so I thought!

Setting up I went about fishing how the weights had been done normally, short pole and margins. I plumbed a 0.4 MW Diamond up and 4 metres on 0.16 to 0.16 and a 175 number 3 hook and a rig to the pallet to my left with a 0.2 Ackoo margin mugger and 0.18 to 0.16 hooklength and again 175 but in a number 4 size. I also set up a shallow rig but didn’t plan on using it.

After 3 poor hours I had 3 carp that would go about 10lb, one foul hooked! I was pulling my hair out as I just couldn’t put anything together. I decided because I wasn’t going to win anything (Nev was bagging a carp a chuck right opposite!) I set up a new rig to fish for skimmers at 13m. I fished a light 0.3 pellet stick in 5 foot of water on 0.14 to 0.12 and a number 1 175. After putting a pot of 4mm pellet in I just planned on fishing it out and catching anything. I baited up with a 4mm RS expander and never looked back having skimmers every put in and every time I hooked a small stockie I put a toss pot of 4mm pellet in again. The swim started to fizz like mad so I fished 1m to the left of the feed and was bagging. If I didn’t have to double ship I would have caught even faster. I carried on fishing this way until 10 minutes before the end when I had a quick look down the edge and had a small carp about 2lb on paste. I weighed in 47lb, 35lb of that catch was skimmers and small carp caught on my winter-ish Hillview tactics (I say ish as I wouldn’t feed that much in winter!).

Nev won again easily with 195lb 2nd was 90lb and 3rd 75lb I think if I’d have fished for skimmers all day I could have easily had at least 70lb and won the section... Lesson learnt... I nearly have no hair after 3 frustrating matches without winning!!!

Elmbridge Sunday Open Match 27/9/2009
15 Pegs

I had never fished Elmbridge before but heard some good things about it (only the heron pool though) so I fancied fishing and having a bash... after all it was only £12 as well!

Arriving at the place following Steve from a McDonalds breakfast I though it was a little plain with the pegs not the best either. I hate being sat up very high from the water and a lot of the pegs were about 3 foot off the water! I bought 2 bags of 4mm pellet and went in for the draw...

I pulled out peg 33 which I didn’t know was good or bad but im guessing it wasn’t that good as Jim hadn’t said a good weight had come off it etc as he did with other pegs. I always think it’s a good thing not knowing the pegs as you can fish how you would normally and not be down heartened from a bad draw.

Arriving at my peg it was one of the high pegs but after getting all my box level I was happy with it as it couldn’t be much better really. I decided on 4 lines, 13m on the deck ( I would of fished shallow but didn’t have any 6mm pellets for banding), short 4m line and 2 lines down the edge.

After plumbing up at 13m it was very deep, about 8 foot which I thought was too deep for today as it was mild but there was fizz coming from it before I even started feeding so I knew there was a few fish in the area, my rig was a 4x18 KC Carpa Chimp with 2 number 10 droppers and a bulk of number 8 stotz. This rig was on 0.16 to an 0.16 hook length and a number 2 175 Tubertini hook. This was set 1 inch over depth for fishing corm. Because of the depth I was planning on fishing positive feeding big pots of pellet and fishing them out.

My next rig was for 4m where I had the ideal depth of about 4 foot. My rig again was 0.16 to 0.16 hook length and a number 2 175 hook. Float choice was a 0.4 Ackoo Pellet Stick with a simple bulk right above the hooklength. I was planning to fish pellet here and just feed via hand at regular intervals.

Finally I plumbed up 2 lines in the edge at the same depth both sides. To my right I had a nice bush and to my left I had a spare pallet to target. My rig was 0.18 to 0.16 hooklength and a number 2 175 hook. Float was a 4x12 Malman thicko again with a simple bulk of number 10’s above the hooklength.

Bait wise I had 4 pints of pellet, 3 tins of corn, some hookers and 2 pints of castors. At the all in I sloshed a full pot of pellet at 13m and a full pot of pellet at 4m. I cupped in a full pot of castor and corn to my pallet and half a pot of corn and castor to the bush.

I started on pellet at 4m planning for a mug fish before I had to go long. 1st drop I hooked a minute carp about 4oz, I fed it again with 10 pellets and dropped back in. My float just danced about and after 5 minutes I fed 10 more pellets and went long. 1st drop I hooked a carp about a pound and steadily plodded on for about half an hour before it slowed, in went another pot of pellet and I dropped in short. First drop in and I was into a carp I wasn’t catching as fast as I’d like and my fish certainly wasn’t as big as other peoples but I carried on. 3 hours in and I was catching much quicker than anyone else but the fish were a lot, lot smaller.

I had been feeding my margin religiously and it looked solid and I could see tails of fish! I dropped in my rig and had 2 fish in 2 drops, still not massive but 3lb a piece. Next put in and I hooked a monster that swam off really slow, it was in the middle of the lake and I was just holding it on my mega power top 2 with 16 hollow elastic all of a sudden I felt no resistance and the fish had just stripped the lot!!! I have no idea what happened but I was fuming, it seemed every bigger fish I hooked today I was losing! I made up a fresh rig quick as you like and laid it in by the bush again and hammered another 3lb carp in the net.

I could still see tails in the edge and I became preoccupied but the fish just didn’t want it. I wasted a fruitless 40 minutes to no avail and then I bagged 10lb in the last half an hour on my short pellet line fish 6 inches off the bottom. I should have moved after not getting a bite, another costly mistake. I was gutted with myself yet again as I just couldn’t win a bean lately! It was really annoying as my results have just slid completely the last few weeks and my head is really taking a battering!

100lb plus was winning and 90lb second all bigger fish I weighed in 76lb and finished 5th. I was completely gutted again and it was really taking its effect on my confidence (which is normally sky high!). I went home dejected and thoughts of what I could have done better, when in effect those 40 minutes wasted I could have put another 10lb in the net at least and managed 3rd or even 2nd if I bagged.

As you can see from my top, my new clothing is very...aluminous!! im sure that had something to do with me not catching Saturday!!

Hillview Lakes – 19/9/2009

17 fishing

After 2 weeks of decent turn outs it was back to a sensible number for today’s match. As the days push on I feel that the place will become more iffy, which I mean I know what pegs will win you the match and what pegs won’t whereas lately its been anywhere. This was definitely the case today as I pulled out peg 3 and wasn’t looking forward to it at all. Neville who had also been doing well was on 14, I knew also that he wouldn’t win from there.

Getting to my peg it was flat calm, and after walking around to see my dad on 9, there were lots of fish moving on the top all over the lake except my end. I decided I was going to fish shallow and down the margin, after having a good weight shallow last week.

Rigs were simple, 2 Hillbilly Grizzlys on 0.16 to a 0.14 hooklenth incorporating a hair rigged band on both, a 16 B911 on one of them and a size 14 Animal on the other. Both were about 1 foot deep with 2 foot of line above. These rigs were on Middy Pink 14-16 elastic set soft. My final rig was a 0.2 Hillbilly Grizzly again for down the edge on 0.18 to a 0.16 hook length and a number 3 Tubertini 175 hook. This rig was with double 10 elastic. Bait wise I had 3 pints of 4mm pellets, a bit of meat and some 6mm hard pellets (white sensas and fishery own).

At the all in I pinged pellet at 11m for 5 minutes before I even put a rig in, there didn’t seem to be signs of fish anywhere in front of me but I could see them swirling in the fancied pegs. Fordy would be difficult to beat today on peg 18 also Terry King on end peg 39. After feeding my margin I put a white pellet on and set my rig about 18 inches and slapped it in.. I literally never even had a movement on my float for at least 45 minutes, even after trying various depths and baits. I had also gone to 16m to see if the fish were further out to no avail. Its something I don’t like doing but I was left to try my margin, going down I only had little knocks on the float, eventually it buried and I had my first fish in the net.. Even though it was about 1lb and hooked in the arse! After that fish no more bites were forthcoming either side.

Back shallow and I had now made a longer rig up to flick it past my pole tip hopefully to fool some cruising fish; I hooked 2 in the next 2 hours and lost them both. I was getting very annoyed as the fish just weren’t here in any numbers. Gerry on peg 5 had snook a couple of big fish down the edge, one about 14lb hooked in the bum! It really wasn’t my day. I was sure that the bright sun and lack of ripple had affected my peg.

When the sun finally dropped for an hour and the ripple got up I absolutely sacked up having a fish every drop for an hour until it come back out again and I was then left biteless again. It was a very tough match.

I ended up weighing in 44lb with 117lb winning from fancied peg 36.

31/08/2009
Greenhills Farm
18 Pegs

On this match I was really looking forward to catching a few fish as the place was solid and id had a decent day Saturday so the confidence was high! Arriving at Greenhills, after a breakfast at Moorlands, I really fancied the top end of the pool in the middle of the bank.

In for the draw, I rubbed shoulders with young Jim (Phil Cobb, the best at drawing in the world!) and I pulled out the exact peg that I wanted. I literally ran to my peg I was that excited. Even when the regular at the venue said to me that the fish where in the middle of the lake and down the bottom end of the lake, I was still in the thought I would empty it!

I set up a rig for 3m fishing corn (0.4 Ackoo Pellistix, 0.20 Silstar, size 14 b911), a rig for fishing shallow (Malman Thickos 4x12, 0.20 Silstar, size 16 b911) and 2 edge rigs (0.2,0.3 Ackoo margin muggers 0.22 Silstar and a size 12 b911). All bottom rigs where on doubled number 10, shallow rig was on doubled 6.

Bait wise I had 4 pints of castors and 8 tins of corn with a bit of meat for on the hook.

At the all in I fed a handful of corn in either edge along with a handful of castors in each edge. I planned on doing this every 5 minutes or so to keep the fish interested. I then laid my 3m rig in baited with one grain of corn and fed a handful of corn here also. I expected to get a bit straight away… I didn’t and after 20 biteless minutes I moved to my right edge and within seconds I had my first carp of the day in the net about 3lb but it was much slower than expected. I alternated between my right margin and left for 2 hours but was really struggling, fish were constantly crashing in the reeds about 3m past my bare bank margin. I eventually got so annoyed I went for it and tightened up my elastic slightly and lowered the rig in right in the middle of the reeds….BANG!!! That was me hooking a fish, fish getting snagged and me pulling so hard trying to get it out the 0.22 breaking!! I tried again though and had a few until they again backed off. It just wasn’t happening at all.

George and everyone in the middle of the lake were sacking I reckoned going into the last hour I had 50lb and it didn’t get much better than that as I weighed in 66lb. 180lb won. I really believe the fish just weren’t up our end in any numbers as the lowest weights all came from up my end. Oh well.

MUST TRY HARDER!!!

Hillview lakes open match 32 pegs 5/9/2009

32 turned up and everyone was worried about pegging etc but Keith did a good job and gave people plenty of room including 2 pools and a canal. As for my match it just didn’t happen I drew corner peg 33 which hasn’t produced for yonks and got an absolute battering off my bro on 31 (all the fish were up that corner!!). Nev won the match from fancied peg 42 with 129lb catching everywhere he dropped his bait in, 90lb made second and my bro made 3rd with 87lb, well done bruv!

MUST TRY EVEN HARDER!!!

Hillview Lakes Open 28 Pegs 12/9/2009

After last weeks abysmal match I set my stall out of not f-ing up again! After a real nice breakfast compliments of my dad I went in for the draw (or waited for the last few pegs) I pulled out peg 7, a peg I had wanted to draw for weeks and weeks. Neville was on end peg 25 and would be hard to beat so I had my work cut out. I was planning on fishing meat short and down the edge but arriving at my peg the fish were definitely shallow and I knew my balaclava rig would be a major part of my match today!

I set up 3 shallow rigs (two duplicates, Malman Thickos 4x12’s on 0.18 to 0.16 incorporating a pellet band on all rigs with a size 14 b911) these 2 rigs were set up to fish a foot deep with 2 foot above so I could get my slap on! The third shallow rig was a new self cocking dibber from Ackoo and it was set at 6 inches deep with the same gear as above. All three of these were on 14-16 Middy Pink. I also set up a rig to fish on my top 2 (where I thought id bag!) with 0.18 Silstar to an 0.16 hooklenth of the same material and a size 12 b911. I used a 0.5 MW Power Diamond here as it was about 5 feet. My final rig was to fish up the bank to my right margin where I had 3 feet of water. This was a 0.2 Margin Mugger on 0.20 to 0.18 and a size 12 b911, no prisoners! These 2 rigs were on double 10 elastic. Bait wise I had 3 pints of 4mm pellet (1 pint I soaked for feeding short and down the edge, the other 2 were left dry for fishing shallow) 1 tin of corn, a bit of meat for on the hook, some RS Elite expanders (if any one knows where I can get more of these lights let me know!!!) also some 6mm hard pellets for banding.

At the all in I baited my top 2 rig with a piece of meat and laid it down the shelf fully expecting to get an instant bite, but all I got was liners from the fish shallow. After 15 minutes and only foul hooking one fish that I lost I went shallow.

I pinged about 10 pellets twice, shipped out and slapped slapped, which resulted in a flurry of fish about 8 inches deep. It was solid. Also every time I saw a fish cruising near by I slapped the rig in front of it, 9 times out of 10 it would snaffle it. I continued this rhythm at 11m until it went a bit quiet, I decided after constant feeding of my edge to try it. I really needed to rest my shallow swim and with only 2.5 hours left I needed my edge to work. I baited up with a 6mm expander trying to catch what was there hoping it would be lumps. My float dinked and I foul hooked a carp about 6lb that I got out but it was definitely not the method on my lake. I fed it and decided to persevere fishing shallow. I added another section to chase the fish out and upped the feed to make something happen (up to about 15 pellets). This really did work as I started to have some much bigger fish. I did notice a big fish cruising about 7m so I grabbed the balaclava rig quickly switched kits and mugged the beast! After a ragged fight I netted a carp about 12lb! I was well pleased and absolutely love how mad the fish go when there trying to catch a tan! I went back to proper shallow fishing and continued to catch, I did occasionally try meat but I just got bitted out, it was very strange. I was now on my shallowest rig so I could hit the quick bites easier and it was working a treat and I really motored in the last hour but did end up at 14.5m, I did also stop slapping in the last hour as I felt the fish were backing of it a little (may sound stupid but it certainly worked). The best weight on my pool was 70 odd lb Nev was winning the match with 139lb I knew I didn’t have that and weighed in 128lb. 117lb made third from heron and 112lb 4th also from heron. I definitely think I made the right choice of fishing shallow on my lake as I easily won it and nearly had Neville! I didn’t lose any fish apart from the one foul hooker at the very start of the match so don’t feel I could of done anything differently apart from not bothering with the edge for one fish, but think if I hadn’t I wouldn’t of rested my shallow line at all!?!? Oh well 2nd place and an envelope with a nice bag of fish.. I really cant grumble!

Hillview Lakes Open - 21 Pegs - 29/8/2009

Hillview was the pick of my Saturday match again and was looking forward to having a few fish but I really didnt want to be on Heron. Heron is only normally in when 15 or more turn up as Keith likes to gove you plenty of room. So today all of Heron and Moorhen were in. After a big breakfast and a chat with Keith about the Wednesday result, chopped worm and castor was winning a lot of matches. Anyway... The draw... In the bag and i pulled out 28 HERON! I was gutted to be fair and thought I'd only be fishing for the lake as Moorhen usually batters Heron easily and Wednesdays 180lb looked favourable again today on Moorhen with some good blokes on some good pegs.

Getting to my peg, I had my Dad to my right and Gerry to my left. Neville Groves had drawn spot on up the corner on 40 and would be hard to beat for the lake. The reeds were really over grown on my peg and i had to push them down so i could fish in the edges, even after doing this i could only fish my top kit both sides. I stopped here as people were already moaning, and accusing.

I plumbed my main paste line on my top kit + 1 section. This rig was a Ackoo paste float (self cocking) and 0.20 Silstar straight through to a PR36 size 12. My margin rig was to fish both sides and it consisted of a 0.3 Ackoo Margin Mugger float on 0.20 Silstar to a number 3 175 hook. I had the whole bristle showing so i could determine the line bites and roach bites. My last rigs were shallow rigs, Malman Thicko's 4x10 with a mosella mini bait band on a 18 B911 matched with 0.18 to 0.16 Silstar. I also set up a secret rig which i had been messing about with at Hillview, it was a 0.5 float that i had made myself with a bulbous body and a thick tip with just 2 number 8's This was for fish shallow paste at various depths, in the edge and long. Bait wise i had 5 tins of corn, some meat for hooking 8mm, 6mm pellets for shallow and some 4mm's that i had wet.

At the all in i cupped in half a pot of 4mm pellets on my short paste line and pinged some pellets long. After a slow start i finally hooked a carp about 1lb and a skimmer. But it was very slow on this line. I tried shallow after an hour and half as i only had about 10 lb in my net. As soon as i went out to 13m i had a run of skimmers about 1lb a piece and after 5 casts i was loving it untill it went dead. I saw a black shoal beyond where i was fishing so i shoved all my 16 metres right into the middle of the shoal and the surface exploded as i hooked an angry carp. After getting this carp about 6lb i finally fed my edges with 2 big handfulls of pellet and corn both sides. I would now drip it in here with the occassional dump of a big handful. Back shallow and that shoal had backed off again to the island. i grabbed my 'secret rig' and loaded it with a blob of paste, shoved on my 17.5 metre section and held on. i was still away from the island but i was sure they would come, the pole whacked round and a carp head straight for the island, with my pole bent double i chucked it back and bullied it a little. It turned and then came in like a sack of potatoes, a plump 8lber in the net. This secret rig certainly paid off today with a bonus fish.

It died shallow and with only 2 hours to go i was going to plunder my short lines. I dumped some bait in both edges and went on my 3 metre paste line and was into some stockies. I was catching quite well here now with the odd lump and only decided to come off it when my edge line was solid with tails. I quickly grabbed my rig and lowered in a piece of meat, the float vanished within seconds. I fed a big handful of pellet and then about 20 grains of corn. When they come in the edge at this place you have to be aggressive with the feed to keep them there as long as possible. After getting this lump in about 12lb i had a spell of losing some. But then i was in a good rhythm of hooking a fish one side, feeding it, then doing the same the other. I thought i had caught up with Neville and was slowly overtaking him, until the last half an hour when my peg just died on all lines. Nev then put about 6 lumps in the net.

At the weigh in Fordy was winning Moorhen with 97lb and i was amazed. I thought i had about 80lb but when my dad weighed in 75lb i thought i had a lot more than that. I duly weighed in 104lb and was in the lead until Neville, he put an impressive 137lb on the scales. I ended up 2nd with some coin, and a chinese on the old man as he took the lake win by double default! Sound!

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Greenhills Farm – Stevens Tackle Club Match

17 Fishing

Me, my bro, Shaun, Phil, James, Steve and Gary all managed to get on this match on the old lake as Shaun from the shop had low numbers. After stopping off at moorlands for a breakfast and having a good old look through a porno we went in for the draw, James drew peg 1 (FLIER) Shaun was on 14 (FLIER) Josh was on 4 (FLIER) Phil on 5 (FLIER) Steve was on 17… and I was on 11 with Gaz on 16.

My plan was to fish shallow at 11m but getting to my peg I had a bush to my left which I guessed would be my main catching zone. The only problem was Shunter on 10 was quite close to me and if we both started feeding the bush heavy we would split the fish.

My rigs for shallow were 0.1 Grizzlys on 0.20 to 0.18 Silstar with number 2 175 hooks. My rig for ‘the bush’ was a 0.2 Wilkie Power diamond as it was about 4 feet as tight as I could get. This was a real snag pit so I used 0.22 Silstar straight through to a number 4 175 hook. My bait was 2 pints of castors and 5 tins of corn (MISTAKE 1!!!).

At the all in I threw 2 handfuls of corn in the bush peg (you can’t use pole pots at Greenhills) and pinged some castors at 11m. I went out with double castor on the deeper of the 2 shallow rigs. The fish were just swimming into the bait and then out again they really didn’t want to feed. I changed to my shallowest rig and set it to 8 inches. I flicked it in a few times and then hooked a roach. After 2 hours I had hardly anything, Shaun was bagging and so was James, from the other end of the lake. I tried my bush swim that I had been feeding regular and had a carp about 5lb followed by a roach on double corn! Back to shallow and mugging the odd carp. My dad had now come down and sat behind me watching me catch f*** all! I decided it was all or bust so I tightened up my elastic and threw in a load of corn and castor in the edge, after 5 minutes I was into fish in the bush. With an hour and a half to go I still thought it was possible to do a ton, I had 2 fish in a minute at one stage and my little bro even timed that I caught a fish after 8 seconds! It was solid but as I was feeding very positive I was quickly running out of bait, I nicked some more castors from Josh and continued to bag, I had one really big fish about 8lb that I had in the net after 30 seconds from a snag pit! Shunter was now fishing the bush the same as me and catching a few fish and applying feeding heavy the same as me. Come the last half an hour I had no bait and didn’t put another fish in the net.

Shaun won with 115lb, James took 3rd with 100lb, my bro took his section with 87lb and I won my section with 76lb. Out of 6 prizes our lads had done well! I should have more bait, I wont be making that mistake next time I’m there!

Moorlands Farm Night Match 9/8/2009

15 pegs

After a nice result the previous day I decided to get on the moorlands match as I thought it might fish ok and I was in some form. After arriving at the fishery I noticed that it was on Meadow Lake which I hated but being a night match it should still fish. I drew 54 which I thought was a decent peg and was quite pleased with it. I elected to fish 4 metres out with pellet and down either edge. I set up just 3 top kits my first one for fishing 4 metres on the deck with pellet, it incorporated a MW pellet on 0.18 to an 0.16 hook length Silstar and a number 3 Tubertini 175. Down the edge I had 2 Ackoo margin floats set up on 0.20 and number 3 175’s all rigs were on double number 8 elastic.

At the all in I fed a full cup on pellet and corn in both edges and half a cup of pellet at 4 metres. I dropped in my pellet and had a roach after seconds. I swapped from feeding softened 4mm’s to feeding 6mm’s and after 20 minutes I had a bream about 4lb I then re-fed about 50 6mm pellets and then after 10 minutes of waiting I had a carp about 5lb in the net. Nothing was showing down the margins at all. And 2 hours in I only had 2 fish. Finally my float buried at 4m and a bream flew out the water and back in, as it went back in my number 4 just snapped in half. I managed to hold the bream on a tiny piece of carbon to keep my top kit. I was really annoyed now and just concentrated on my edge. I lashed in a load of corn and saw some swirls, I dropped in some double corn and hooked a fish in an instant about 12lb but that was it…Gutted. I packed up and went home! 89lb won from the middle of the lake.

Hillview Lakes – 8/8/2009

21 anglers turned up to this one with a lot of new faces, which is always good to see. The big weights from previous matches was obviously attracting more and more anglers. It was a red hot day and I didn’t think it would be a mad bagging day as the carp were all on the top. After a mahooosive breakfast I was at the front of the queue for the draw… peg 17. Smack on the money! I wanted to be on this bank as I was planning fishing past close in on my top 2.

Arriving at my peg it looked perfect for fishing shallow… so I set up loads of rigs to cover everything. 2 rigs for shallow, 1 2 foot deep and 1, 1 foot deep both Malman Thickos 4x10 on 0.16 Silstar with 0.14 hook lengths attaching a hair rigged bait band and a size 16 animal hook. These rigs were on double number 6. I then got 2 identical rigs set up for paste on my top 2, 0.20 Silstar straight through to a size 12 PR36 and Ackoo self cocking paste floats. My last 2 rigs were for down the edges left and right with the same depth. These were also on 0.20 straight through, Ackoo margin float, and a number 3 Tubertini 175. I set up a lot of duplicates just in case I am really bagging a fish a chuck and have a break I can just drop right back in and not lose any rhythm. I have done this more so lately at Hillview as I know soon the record of 280 odd is going to tumble so I want to be prepared just in case I’m the lucky one to be on all those fish!

Back to the match, I had fed a cup of pellet on my top 2 line and fed both edges with a full pot of corn and pellet, I was also throwing some 6mm on my shallow line about 7m. After an hour on the paste I had one lump about 6lb and a skimmer about 1lb. It was tough and no one seemed to be catching much. The amount I was foul hooking was a joke so I quickly got a double pollyball rig out to try it shallow, first drop in I had a carp around the 5lb mark but that was that. I fed it, and my margins and went shallow.

Slap, slap, slap and my pole was yanked from my hands, the regular feeding in the first hour had made it rigid with fish and as I hooked one the surface exploded with fish. I netted a carp and threw about 5 6mm’s in straight away, a few more as I half shipped out, then, slap, slap, slap and again I was into yet another fish. I soon saw almost everyone around the lake go shallow. Steve and Phil on the next pegs went 13m but just couldn’t compete with how fast I was catching at just 7m and I didn’t even need to chase the fish out. I bagged a fish a chuck for the rest of the match between 1 foot and 6 inches deep. I went on to win with 115lb and 2nd place having 90 odd. Result.

Hillview Lakes - 29/07/2009

6 Pegs

The weather was dreadful today with none stop rain which resulted in hardly any one turning up which was dissappointing but meant there would be some good weights due to the space.

I didnt really mind where i drew for this one as i knew weights would come from all over moorhen which is always the case when there is a lot of space available. Peg 19 it was which was on the deep bank. I actually waited half an hour to see if the rain would slow down or stop, it didnt so i proceeded to set up.

I got hardly any pole out and went for the all or bust route purely and simply as i didnt want to get everything drenched! I got out just 2 top kits both housing double number 8 elastic. My first rig was for paste which was a Preston Durafloat on 0.22 silstar to a size 12 PR36 hook. I was literally fishing in between my keepnets on my top 2 (half a top kit i was fishing). The next rig was for the margin to my left by the hay bale. This again was on 0.22 silstar but with an Ackoo Margin Mugger (which are mega strong and needed for fishing close to snags) with a number 4 Tubertini 175 hook. My bait tray was simple, 1 pint of paste, 3 pints of 4mm pellets and 2 tins of corn.

At the all i moulded a rather large piece of paste and filled my toss pot with 4mm's and lowered it all in. Within seconds my float flew away and a carp was hooked in 30 seconds, unfortunately it dropped off. I just re-baited and again lowered in my rig. My float was dancing around, up and down all over the place until eventually it buried and my first fish was in the net, a skimmer about 1lb. More pellets in my toss pot and another piece of paste, again the float flew away but this time an angry carp about 6lb was in the pan. This carried on until about 12 o' clock where then i started to lose a few fish, so i decided to finally feed my edge with a full pot of corn and pellet and leave it 10 minutes. After half an hour on my paste i was catching really well again so i potted in my margin again and left it.

Half 2 soon arrived and i had been trickling bait in my margin whilst bagging on the paste short. I had come even closer to my feet where it was shallower still (about 2.5 foot) to reduce foul hookers and it was working a treat as every fish i hooked was hooked in the mouth and 9 out of 10 ended in the net. It was solid. I decided to rest the paste line and see if i could catch quicker down my edge, so i fed 2 full kinder pots of pellet and went down the edge baited with a lump of paste and 10 grains of corn in the pot, before the float had even settled the elastic was pulled out. This continued for the rest of the match and i was having a fish as soon as the paste was lowered in. The fish were about 2lb a piece (the new stockies that were put in not long back and have really put the weight on fast) but i was catching them a lot quicker than on paste in front of me.

The last half an hour i changed back to my paste short and put 5 more carp in the net, one pushing 15lb. At the all out i was shattered...And soaked! I was first to weigh in and put 193lb on the scales which was my personal best. I was gutted though as i was so close to the 200lb but still pleased as i had won comfortably with the next weight being 140lb and i also put the best weight of the year on the board!

Sion Farm 18/07/2009

15 Pegs

After a dreadful result on the fish o mania qualifier at Moorlands I was back to the places I like to fish, today was Sion Farm. I was hoping for a nice draw as the good pegs mean you can fish positive on the pellet waggler and straight lead. I drew peg 8, it wasn’t the peg I wanted but it was one of the good pegs on side.

I set up 2 rods, 1 13ft Preston Innovations Carbonactive rod with a Shimano Stradic 4000 reel loaded with 5lb Maxima. I was using a Middy Pellet Popper pellet waggler using a cralusso attachment with no shot on the line. Hooklength was 0.20 Silstar and then a hair rigged band and a size 14 PR36. The other rod I set up was Trabucco sygnum 12ft version medium action again with 5lb Maxima with just a free running lead and a quick change link and an 0.18 hooklength and a size 14 PR36. My bait for the day was 4 pints of 8mm pellets and a handful of 10mm pellets for change bait.

At the all in I fed 5 pellets at 10 second intervals to get some bait in and hopefully attract some fish quickly. It was looking grim as no fish were showing on the top, after an hour of fishing I had only foul hooked 1 carp and lost it. I finally hooked my first fish on the waggler about 7lb and safely deposited in the net. It then slowed yet again with no bites for half an hour, I changed the feed to more regular but cut back to 2 or 3 pellets. It just wasn’t happening. I banded a 10mm pellet on my lead rod and chucked it over the same line. I pinged some more pellets and sat on my hands..

The rod tip rattled and then gradually went round slow as you like, I thought I had hooked a big skimmer how slow it was just plodding in. As I joked with Gary that it was a bream and as I said that a big 8 pounder popped up and was in the net. I fed again and chucked out as fast I could, I literally bagged for an hour until it slowed again in the last hour when the sun came out, I went back on the waggler and had a nightmare losing 7 fish in the last hour, I was fuming. I thought I had done enough to win but all would be revealed.
50lb odd was winning, Gary weighed 61lb 12oz I then weighed in 72lb 15oz which did win. As pleased as I was I was still annoyed at the amount of fish I lost in the last hour and should have

Hillview lakes – 3/6/2009

This was a Wednesday open and they are usually ace matches to fish. The weather was looking very good but very hot. It may be difficult if the fish just decide to bask in the heat. After a nice breakfast I was in for an early draw with 18 fishing. I pulled out peg 3 and to say I was happy is an understatement. Peg 3 is an end peg on the bank closest to the café, next to an aerator. It had been throwing up good weights for weeks and I was really looking forward to it. My good mate Gary had drawn peg 1 and would be difficult to beat from there (even more so as I sorted him out with the tactics!).

Getting to my peg I didn’t know what to do as there were fish showing absolutely everywhere but the main bulk of them being on the top just splashing about. My margin also looked solid though next to a cut in, in the reeds. My plan for the day was to start short fishing paste for a couple of mug fish, feeding my shallow line and then drop down the edge later on in the match.

So with the plan of attack sorted my first rig to plumb up was a 4x14 Durafloat on 0.20 Silstar to a size 12 PR36 hook matched with doubled number 8 elastic. My rig for the edge was beefy and was taking no chances as it was a ‘messy’ edge peg it consisted of a Ackoo margin mugger on 0.22 straight through to a number 4 Tubertini 175 hook matched with double number 10. Finally I set up 3 rigs for fishing shallow using Malman Thickos 4x10 and 4x12 on 0.16 to 0.14 Silstar hook lengths and 16 B911’s with a hair rigged band, on doubled number 6 set soft. My bait was simple, paste, 2 pints of 6mm pellets for shallow, 2 pints of 4mm pellets for down the edge and paste lines and 3 tins of corn for feeding down the edge.

At the all in I put a full pot of pellet and corn to my right edge on my top 2 + 1 section, then put half a pot of 4mm pellets at 4m on my paste line. Before I put some hook bait on my paste rig I started to ping a few 6mm’s on my shallow line I continued to do this, feeding 4 pellets every minute or so. After 10 minutes I missed my first proper bite on paste so guessing there were some fish in the peg I put a bigger piece of paste on before the float had settled properly it was taken by a big fish that shot off to the middle of the lake, as I held it on my 2 sections, the fish turned and a big 8lb fish was in the net and I was off to the perfect start. I managed to put another 3 decent carp in the net in the first 45 minutes until it went dead. Gary was struggling fishing shallow and only had 1 carp so I decided to try my edge. I lowered in a small piece of paste and my float flew away and a small stockie was in the net, next drop the same happened, and next cast, and next. . . It was solid with the new fish that had been put in the lake. This was good as I was catching but the fish were quite small and I was hoping for bigger fish. At the halfway stage after fishing the 2 lines I had about 30lb, I finally decided to try shallow as my margin line was slowing.

I banded a 6mm pellet and set my rig to just 1 foot. I fed some pellet and shipped my pole to 11m, slapped the rig on the water and my pole literally ripped out my hands before I could feed again, I guided the fish back to 7 metres and then fed the peg with some more pellet to line the next fish up. The last part of the match was great regularly putting plump 2lb fish in the net with the occasional lump.

At the all out I thought I had about 75lb I knew Gary would be close to me but didn’t no a lot else that had been caught. I weighed in 81lb 10oz then Gary weighed 81lb 6oz, he was gutted! But I was then beaten by a 89lb, balls! Oh well a great day fishing in the sun and some more coin!

Hillview Lakes Open – 21 Pegs

It was red hot today and I didn’t think the fish would be feeding much, unfortunately half of the heron had to be used as there was 21 so to give us plenty of room Keith pegged 7 anglers on heron with the other half being occupied by pleasure anglers. I really didn’t want to draw on heron as all of the weights had been coming from moorhen, needless to say I drew 24 heron! Right next to a pleasure angler on peg 23, thank god he was a nice old chap!

Today I knew I wasn’t going to win from this lake so it was all about winning the section and having a few fish hopefully. I wanted to fish shallow but being a corner peg it might not be as productive like the middle of the lake.

I set up 3 rigs for shallow fishing at 13m+ all using Malman floats in size 4x12. All of these rigs were using a bait band with an 18 B911 and 0.14 hook length with 0.16 mainline. All Silstar. The difference being the depth, I had one at 4 feet deep one 3 feet and one shallow at only 1 foot. The last rig I set up was an edge rig for fishing in the corner at 11m, this was on 0.20 using a Ackoo margin mugger and number 3 Tubertini 175. Elastic for shallow work was double no. 6 and double no. 8 for down the edge. My bait was 3 pints of 6mm pellets, 2 pints of 4mm pellets and 2 tins of corn.

At the all in I fed my margin line with a pot of 4mm pellets and then started pinging 6mm’s 13m. I picked up my 3 foot rig and set it to 2 foot deep. I slapped my rig in and my elastic come streaming out so I pinged in some more pellets and netted a bream about 2lb. Next cast was very much the same apart from this was a carp about 7lb and it came in easier than the bream! I fished a steady match, pinging 6 pellets, shipping out pinging 6 more pellets, slapping the rig, then pinging 6 more pellets hook fish, ping 6 pellets... tiring stuff!

The last 2 hours I had to try much harder and ended up at 16m! Then the last hour I had a good hour of catching stockies out of my margin swim on a single grain of corn. I finished the match feeling pleased with how I’d fished, I also knew I had done enough to win my section which is always good but then I also knew that I was know where near the top weights on moorhen.

I was right when I weighed in 57lb for my section next best being 32lb and right again when 99lb won the match from moorhen. Oh well I got my money back, and got a nice tan!

Hillview Lakes Open Match – 30/05/2009

20 fishing

Back to my regular fishery Hillview and I was looking forward to catching a few fish as it had been fishing rather well in recent weeks. Pegs 1 – 5 had been doing a lot of the weights but back up weights were coming from all over. After the best breakfast in the midlands I went in for the draw and pulled out peg 8. Not been in the frame for a while but I still fancied a few fish from it.

Arriving at my peg I was relieved to know peg 9 wasn’t in and neither was 7 so I had ample room for fishing the edges. I set my stall out to fish paste as short as possible so my first rig out of my box was a paste rig comprising a Durafloat 4x14 with 3 No.8 Stotz on 0.20 straight through to a size 12 PR36 hook. Elastic was a double number 8. I only planned to fish 4m. The only other rigs I set up were for down the edges either side, I set up 2 as they were both different depths, to the right I had 3 ½ foot by the pallet and then 3 foot to my left right on the pallet, even still the 2 rigs were Identical. Both rigs again were 0.20 straight through to a number 3 Tubertini 175 hook using Ackoo margin mugger floats in 0.3g. My bait for the day was 2 pints of 4mm pellets, 3 tins of corn and a pint of paste plus some more paste powder in case I ran out.

At the all in I cupped a full pot of corn to my left margin swim and a full pot of pellet and corn to my right margin swim. In front I filled my large toss pot with 4mm pellets and moulded a piece of paste on my hook and within minutes I had a small stocky carp in the net. This pattern continued until I hooked a much bigger fish about an hour in and gave me the run around, just as I thought I had it beat it had one last dart under my pallet, I yanked and yanked but it had done me and come back around the other side just to say bye! My rig was trashed, the fish was lost and I was gutted! After sorting back out and finally getting back into gear I could not catch a fish from my short line, I was fuming!

After another biteless 20 minutes on my main line I decided to try my edges, result, first cast my float buried and I had… a ROACH! I fed this line and moved to my other, after a long wait my float danced around and finally went under resulting in a carp about 2lb. The fish just weren’t there in numbers for any period of time and I finally decided to try paste in the edge which proved disastrous as I fouled hooked everything. The last part of the match was a night mare. I had about 30lb with half hour to go, peg 4 had blitzed it 1 and 2 had caught so no money was at stake so I tried an extra metre past the pallet to the left with a soft expander, in 5 casts I had 5 fish in half an hour, I was gutted! I weighed in 47lb with 99lb winning…

Woodlands View Fish O Mania Qualifier

This was my first experience in fish o and I was really looking forward to it, after getting up late, as always, I made my way to meet my mate Wayne at the café. Wayne reckoned deans would win again, which made me want to draw a peg on back deans, preferably a corner. I knew it was all going to be down to how much room you have.

Arriving at Woodlands, it was packed, no spaces anywhere. So after loads of driving around and eventually parking up I had a good walk around. Ghost pool looked good for a few fish and was solid on top peg 12. Neither of us fancied a draw on Hay or Barley, so deans or ghost would do… Ghost peg 22 it was and yes, a corner peg! My arse was twitching like a rabbits nose when I got to the peg and I could see fish absolutely everywhere!

I set up duplicates of most rigs as I thought I was in with a chance and didn’t want to take any risks. I set 2 rigs for 5m, both MW Diamonds on 0.18 Silstar to an 0.16 hook length of the same material to a size 12 PR36. My main attack was down the corner so I set up 2 rigs at about 7m, using Ackoo margin muggers on both rigs with 0.20 Silstar straight through to a no.3 Tubertini 175. Elastics on all rigs was double no. 8.

On the all in I didn’t cup any bait in down the edge and just concentrated short on a big 8mm pellet cupping in just 10 6mm feed pellets, after half an hour I had my first fish about 3lb then went very quiet. After another hour fishing this line I put a lighter rig up for fishing a smaller pellet fishing for everything, using a MW Pellet float, 0.16 to 0.14 hook length and a 16 B911. I had 6 fish in 6 drops, only small but I thought I had sussed it, wrong I was as it died again… Finally I fed my edge peg and after half an hour my flat vanished and I was into a fish about 4lb. I now had about 15lb in my net at the halfway stage and still thought a weight could be on the cards if they showed up in my edge swim. Instead of dumping in bait I shipped out my piece of corn with 10 pieces of corn in a toss pot, as I missed a bite a massive bow wave flew across my peg DAMN! Knowing it was a big fish I put in another 10 grains of corn and waited again, my pole literally was dragged out my hand as an angry carp fled out of my margin a carp about 4lb was safely netted.

After a few more fish my peg dried up completely and I only managed to put a 5 more fish in the net to 5lb and was disappointed, I didn’t hang around for the weigh in as I needed to drown my sorrows so I tipped back around 40lb of carp and was left scratching my head. . . The match was won with over 100lb from one of those stupid sausage lakes!

Hillview Open - 2/5/2009

12 Fishing

I hadn’t fished at all for 2 weeks so back into matches and I decided to go to Hillview with my dad, as it was fishing quite well and there was something going on at Woodlands. Arriving at the fishery it seemed 50 degrees warmer than home! It was hot and calm, not the best conditions for fishing, but brilliant for getting a tan!

After a brilliant breakfast I went for a quick walk and quite fancied most pegs as it was being won from various areas so it would be nice and fair. I did point out however how I would like to be on the Heron on pegs 27-29 as I fancied fishing the rods. In for the draw and I pulled out peg 29! Result! Gary Picken did tell me once I had drawn it that the peg was fishing really iffy and no decent weights had come off it for a while. With him being the venue expert, I did take this into account, but still went about my normal match.

Arriving at my peg I realised I had loads of room with only one other angler on my bank. But I also noticed that there was a load of fish on the top which isn’t always a good sign. I got 4 top kits out of my bag (2 double number 6, 2 double number 8 elastic). My 1st rig was a deck rig at 13m, which consisted of a 0.5 MW Pellet float on 0.14 Silstar to an 0.12 bottom with a Mosella Micro Band and a 18 B911 hook. Rig number 2 was a shallow rig that consisted of a Malman 4x8 on 0.14 Silstar again with a band and a B911 hook. I then plumbed a rig on my top 2 which was a 0.3 MW Pellet on 0.16 Silstar to a 0.14 hook length. My final rig was for fishing the margins either side in 2½ feet of water was a 0.1 Griizzly on 0.18 Silstar to an 0.16 hook length and a size 4 Tubertini 175 hook. If the fish come in, they were definitely not breaking me!! Bait wise I had 3 pints of 4mm pellets, 2 pints of 6mm pellets for fishing shallow and a couple of tins of corn.

At the all in I potted around 100 softened 4mm pellets on my long line and started pinging it with 6mm’s, I also fed my short line with the same amount. I put a bit more in both margins along with some corn. I didn’t even attempt to put my full depth rig in at 13m instead I started on my shallow rig set at 1ft. After 10 minutes of missing bites I finally connected with a fish, a skimmer about 2lb. The carp just weren’t feeding. After 45 minutes of trying shallow at loads of different depths I finally decided to try short……to catch another skimmer! After an hour and a half I decided to get my waggler rod out as there were fish constantly swirling at the island. First cast my and my rod was literally ripped out of my hand and my 1st carp was in the net. I thought I had sussed it, but then after 30 minutes, I realised it wasn’t working and only had that one mug! All of the first 2 hours I was trying my edges but getting ‘roached out’ and I finally upped the feed going into the 3rd hour, putting a full pot both sides and resting it.

In the 3rd hour I decided to get all my section out of my bag and look for shoals of fish and just drop my rig amongst them hoping one of them would take it. After an hour of mugging fish I had about 21lb of carp for my efforts and 2 skimmers. I then dropped in on my edges and after a good 15 minute wait I was into my 1st carp. From that point on I caught steady until the end with all of the fish being a good size, I had one beast that scared me when it popped up! Best bait for the big fish was double corn, and I had my biggest fish on 3 grains of corn! I’m sure I would have bagged on paste but I didn’t have any. I literally fed life into my peg, giving them a big pot and then fishing it out and then another big pot. As soon as I started sprinkling like I normally do here, it was roach fishing!

At the all out I didn’t think I had done enough to frame or win the lake but had a good day, with my clicker saying 65lb. it was the most I had ever fed at this place to catch fish, I had got through 2.5 pints of pellets and a tin of corn to get the fish in my peg and believe if I had upped it earlier I would have bagged a lot more. At the weigh in, 50lb odd was winning, I took the lead with 87lb 13oz , my estimating was well out again!! I ended up coming up 2nd in the match to Gary Picken on peg 9 who had 90lb odd. All in all a good day, and some more coin!!

Mawgan Porth - 14th April 2009

After fishing the Gold match on site yesterday with a section win I was quite confident of getting a result at this place, even though it would be my 1st visit. Looking on the website, 15 anglers were booked in but unfortunately 5 didn’t show so there were 10 of us on the match lake. After talking to the owner, who was very polite, me and my dad realised it would be a fish race and could be won from anywhere. Speed fishing with pellet did suit my style of fishing so I was really up for it. Into the draw bag I pulled out peg 8. I knew nothing about the place apart from this peg won the previous match! After being called a draw bag by my mate Steve I took the short walk to my peg.

Nothing about my peg looked really appealing and to be honest all the pegs looked pretty much the same, with it being such a small place, only short fishing would be needed. After setting up my box and trays etc I pulled out 4 rigs from my box. 1st rig out that would be my main line at 5 metres was a Ackoo Pellet Stick 0.2g. It was set up on 0.14 main line to a 0.12 bottom (all Silstar) and finished off with a Tubertini 808 size 16, but if I did start to bag I was planning on switching the hook length to a 0.14 and a 175 hook size 2, this also doubled up as a very short rig (on my top-2 as it was the same depth). Next rig I set up was a margin rig that would do to my left and right at 5 metres, it was a Hillbilly Grizzly 0.1g on 0.16 to 0.14 Silstar with a number 2 Tubertini 175. My last rig was just a dopping rig in case the came up in the water (but I couldn’t see it happening as it was only 3 ft deep). This was a Malman Adams in the smallest version 4x8 on 0.14 to 0.12 Silstar and incorporated a micro pellet band with a size 18 B911 hook. This was because I could band the pellet and slap it on the water. All rigs were on doubled number 6 slip.

At the all in I cupped in 50 4mm pellets that had been soaked slightly and a couple of expanders on my 5 metre line, then I fed both of my margins with the same amount of bait. I threw 10 pellets on my top-2 line and planned on doing this after every fish (or every 2 minutes or so). 1st drop I had a fish on a 4mm pellet and had 2 in the first 5 minutes until it went slightly quiet, I clipped on a toss pot and started cupping in 10 pellets after every fish this did the trick and after half an hour I had 12 fish. But also started to get pestered by skimmers. I wanted to fish this line at least the first hour and let the top-2 line settle. At this time I could not get my pellet to the bottom so I decided to put the full bulk of shot right above my hook length (six inches) to try and ‘bomb’ the bait down as I felt there were still carp in the peg. This worked and I soon started to bag, having 22 fish in the first hour.

I finally fed the 5 metre line with 50 4mm pellets again and rested it. 1st drop in on my top-2 line I threw in 10 pellets and laid my rig in, it was solid. In 15 minutes I put 12 fish in the net keeping up with the rhythm of feed 10 pellets, drop in, hook a fish, feed 10 pellets, un-hook fish, feed and drop in. this steady rhythm got the fish in the peg and had them lined up. All the time I was on this line I was still feeding my 5 metre line. I then had a disaster mid match with my rig being broken at the loop losing the entire rig on a bigger fish. After getting a duplicate rig out of my box I was soon back in action but lost 5 vital minutes. In the next 30 minutes I had a nightmare with pulling out of fish and hooks blunting. I finally got back into my rhythm stepping up to a 0.14 hook length and a 175 hook.

At the half way stage in the match I had 48 fish and I felt I needed at least 100. I was fish for fish with Harry Billing who was opposite me but felt he had a better first hour than me and I was still catching up. I got my head down and finally got in a good rhythm switching between the 2 lines. My top-2 line was the line where I did my catching up as whenever I went on it, I bagged very quickly. But at times my 5 metre line was also solid.

Into the last hour I had 100 fish in the net and they were queuing up on both lines. I really went for it the last hour putting a carp in the net every cast, I feel I fished it bang on and was rotating at the right time, as I didn’t catch one skimmer in the last hour. I ran out of my pint of soaked pellets which annoyed me a little as I felt I should have been more prepared. But after quickly sorting them out I was back in and bagging. At the all out I was pleased with my performance but did feel I could have been a bit better prepared still with duplicate rigs and pellets, but finishing the match on 140 all roughly averaging the 1lb mark I felt I had done very well for myself on my first visit and pushed Harry Billing right to the end. It would be close at the weigh in.

Steve had weighed in 75lb there was a 50lb, my dad was really pleased when he weighed in 64lb which was his new record. Coming to me Steve was winning, after my 4 weighs I finished with 137lb. My clicker said 140 so it was the closest I had ever been with my estimates! There were a couple of 80’s and my friend Shaun had 97lb but Harry was the man to beat. After 4 weighs also, he finished with 127lb. Result! Winning on your first visit to any venue is pleasing but winning on your first visit and beating one of the best in the country is fantastic!

To top off my day I also pulled out the golden peg! To say my luck was in was an understatement! I’m sure the regulars would not be happy with there new pot of…£12.50!! Happy days!!

White Acres - Gold Match, 70 Pegs

The 3 lakes in were Acorn, Trelawney and Twin Oaks. I was hoping for a nice draw on Trelawney to be honest as I had a nice day pleasure fishing on peg 27 on Sunday. Unfortunately for me I ended up on Twin Oaks 21, not the best of pegs but capable of winning the section I was informed.

All the lakes were quite tightly pegged but I still fancied a few fish. I knew from reports that it was a rod and line water more than anything so I was planning on chucking a straight lead and the waggler to the far bank.

Setting up, the first items out of my bag were my rods and I took plenty of time making sure I was clipped up tight to the far bank. So I clipped on a ½ oz lead and cast just short and finally crept up the bank until I was as tight as I could get. My set up for this was a 12ft Trabucco Signum, medium feeder rod to my Shimano Stradic 4000 reel. I was using 6lb Maxima reel line to a 12 inch hook length of 0.20mm Silstar. I would be using banded pellet and double corn so I had plenty of hook lengths ready. Both incorporated a size 14 PR36 knotless not style, but one with a Mosella micro band and the other with a Korum quickstop. I also set up my pole to fish meat short at 6m. I used a MW Pellet 0.6g on 0.14 Silstar with a number 1 Tubertini 175 hook. Elastic wise I used double number 8 Preston Slip. I didn’t bother with a long line or the waggler rod as the wind was terrible and just wouldn’t get the presentation.

At the all in I fed a ball of 4mm pellet and some cubes of meat, along with a few grains of corn on the 6m line. I then pinged some 8mm pellets to the far bank where I had clipped up. I was only feeding 2 or 3 pellets at a time, every 5 minutes or so. Out went the lead with a banded 8mm bang on the money. After looking around it was obvious I was the wrong end of the lake as the top pegs had fish on within 5 minutes of casting in.

After 10 minutes my tip flew round and the first carp of the say was in the net, about 3lb. I cast out again and pinged some more pellets. The next 40 minutes I went without a real bite, so I fed the pole and chucked my rod up the bank! After 30 minutes on the pole I had 2 roach! It was fishing hard indeed. I fed my pole line and made a few phone calls to see how the rest of the lakes were fishing, my mate Shaun was catching steady on Trelawney and there were a lot of fish coming out of Acorn.

With half of the match left I decided just to fish the tip for the rest of the match knowing I didn’t need much to win my section (as 2 anglers had packed up!) Just as I started to tuck into a warm Cornish pasty that my dad had bought me, my tip flew around and I was into another carp, in the pan at 3lb. I cast back in, pinged some pellets, and just as I picked the pasty up again, the rod once again flew around. This happened again in 3 more casts. After a few more fish (and a nice pasty) bites slowed so I changed to double corn and as I was sinking the line under the water, the rod went round! 2 more fish on corn and again it slowed. I felt I needed one more fish so I cast 5 metres right to where I was feeding, bingo! My last fish turned out to be the biggest of the day at about 5lb.

The best weight in my section was 33lb I weighed in 35lb, what a result on my 1st White Acres match. All the weights did come from Acorn but I knew I was never going to make the frame from my peg, but went away very pleased.

Wassell Grove - 4/4/2009

I hadn't fished this place for at least a year since the big fish kill and being hit with KHV, but Jill the new owner seems to have done a good job of getting the punters back by keep putting fish in and the weights have been very consistent. I was going there with Shaun who had been in good form down there . . . . being helped along the way with his fantastic drawing capabilities!

Getting there, the match lake looked nice with not much wind. A good turn out of 28 meant it was going to be a bit crammed but only 7 on the brook pool, everyone knew the winner would come from the brook before we evern started. Richard Knowles, the biggest drawbag going went in and drew 20 on the brook! No surprise!! I pulled out 38 on match, crap! Shaun did it again and drew out 42, a right flier on match lake. Getting to my peg i knew it was going to be tough with peg 36 and peg 40 in . . . I did fancy a few from the island though so i set about getting set up.

Looking at the edge of the water, it was still very clear, showing just how little fish are in the lake even though its been stocked well recently. 1st of all i set up 2 rigs for fishing up the island at 14,5m, one heavy 0.14 rig and one light 0.12 rig both incorporating 0.1 Grzziliy floats and the heavier of the 2 rigs to fish hard banded pellet. Both were set up with double 6 slip. Next i did a rig for 'down the track' at 9 metres, and found the same depth both left and right, i planned on catching a fish of each line and rotate and just trickle pellets in all day. My rig was 0.14 to a 0.12 bottom and a 16 Tubertini 808 hook with a 0.5 MW Pellet float, dotted right down. Lastly i got a top kit out for an edge rig down to 36 pallet, i fished a metre from the pallet because it was so clear with a 0.2 Grizzily on 0.16 silstar and a Tubertini 175 no.2 hook.

At the all in i cupped in a small ball of 4mm pellets on my both 'track' lines with a few free expander offerings. And cupped in some meat and corn in the edge. Straight over on the island with a hard pellet and a Cad pot full of 4 mm pellet. 1st cast i bumped a fish. I repeated the process and next cast i was rewarded with a carp about 1lb. I had visions of it being solid! But obviously with my bubble being well and truly burst of late, that was the only action i was going to get from the island all day, despite what i tried. So down the track it was fishing for nything, I was getting a bit a chiuck from roach, ide, tench, small carp and F1's and was quite enjoying it, but after about and hour of rotating between the 2 lines i was getting frustrated as i hadnt hooked a decent fish. But the angler on 36 had 2 carp fishing maggots on his roach gear! I was starting to pull my hair out but plugged away until finaly the peg died. Eryone was struggling, apart from Tojo on 43 who went off like a rocket and was having a steady match. After trying the edge for 10 minutes with not even a sign of a fish i decided to fish shallow for the emainding 45 minutes as I thought there would be fish just off the island (as peg 40 had gone wondering). I set a long lining rig about 1 foot deep and 3 foot above with a soft pellet and double 5 slip. For the last 45 minutes i enjoyed it but was a real race as the fish were very small silvers, and very small carp. I just couldnt hook anything of any size. At the all out i was annoyed but knew i wasnt on the best of pegs. I tipped back around 12lb of bits, with not one fish over a pound. In hindsight i could have easily done 20lb of silvers fishing shallow all day and won some coin from the silvers, but thats fishing.

Shock! Richard 'Drawbag' Knowles won the match from peg 20 on the brook with a cracking bag of car for 69lb and Tojo managed 2nd with 58lb. Well done lads. Roll on White Acres Saturday!!

Talk Angling Match - Froggats - 29/03/2009

In the lead up to this match i had heard mixed comments, some people saying its decent and other saying its devoid of fish. I had never even heard of the place which wasnt good and being in Leominster it was a bit too far to practice. It would be an early one! Match day arrived and was duly picked up by my mate Steve at 6.30 . . . which was actually 5.30 because of the clocks changing. . . . times like this when you should be tucked up in bed nice and early not out getting ratted!!

After having a nice big fat fry up from Bewdley cafe and meeting some of the last there, we travelled down to Froggats. Arriving at the venue, i must say it looked superb. All the platforms were tidy, no litter. Looked the dogs danglies, apart from not seeing any signs of fish! We all knew we wanted to be on match lake, but no one knew which peg (apart from 20 which looked an out and out flier being the only peg that could reach the island). I did draw on the match lake, peg 8, Steve was right on the next peg in 7. We had a stick out island to about 13m which was seperating us that looked very fishy. My mate Shaun lived up to his name and drew peg 20 on match lake with Phil on the next peg to him.

I decided to keep things simple fishing an out and out pellet match, soft and hard pellets. Not knowing what was what i covered all my options setting up 8 top kits and a feeder and waggler rod. My main line would be at 13m where it was at its deepesst, i used a 0.5 MW Pellet, 0.14 main line to and 0.14 hooklength and doubled 5 slip elastic. Because i could change my hooklengths, i switched between a b911 (for banded pellet) and a Tubertini 808 size 18 (for soft pellet). I also had a duplicate rig with a spread bulk. Next line was at 6m, with exactly the same set up except a lighter 0.4 MW Pellet. I also had a lighter float set up for here for fishing 3mm Ringers pellets, with 0.10 hooklenth and a 0.3 Ackoo Pellet Stick, this was with double 4 slip. Next rig out was for up the island to the right, this was about 3 feet and had an overhanging tree so i decided i would fish a bit heavier just in case. I fished a 0.2 Hillbilly Grizzily to 0.16 main line and a no.2 Tubertini 175 to double 8 slip. My edge rig was pretty much the same as this but a lighter 0,1 grizzily. I also had some top kits set up for shallow using 0.14 main line to 0.12 hooklengths with Malman floats in 4x8 sizes. I also set up a straight forward free running feeder for banded pellet and a light insert waggler.

At the all in i cupped a small ball of 4mm pellets on my 13m and 6m lines and went straight up the island with around 20 4mm pellets in the kinder pot and a soft 4mm on the hook. after 10 minutes of lifting and dropping the float finally dipped and i hooked a 2oz roach that flew through the air and off! I fed this with about 100 4mm's and left it. Onto the main line at 13m, straight away i was having dips and knocks, eventually i connected with a fish about 6oz, must be the smallest carp in the lake . . .so i thought! I had a good hour of catching these tiny carp untill it went completely dead. I must have had about 20 fish for around. . . 4lb! I had been topping up all the other lines whilst fishing this one so i dropped in on the short line. 1st drop i had another tiny roach, f a few more pellets in the pot and dropped in again. This cast i hooked a lovely looking crucian which was actually a decent sized fish compared to what i was catching, i repeated the process and dropped back in, the float dipped slightly and as i lifted it felt like i had hooked a dead weight, the fish just plodded about on light gear after about 2 minutes keeping the pole nice and low i scooped a carp about 4lb WIll Raison style! What a bonus, or so i thought. From this point on i could not catch a bean on this line, also the other 2 lines where devoid of fish. I chucked out the feeder crammed with 4mm pellets and a hard 6mm on the hook. Before the tip even settled the rod ripped round and a smal carp was in the net. . . . but that too was short loved as next cast i didnt even have a liner, i even clipped on a lead and cast a few metres past the feed but this too also didnt work. WIth about 9lb in the net and the fish so small i was starting to fall behind. For the rest of the match i scraped around for fish and really struggled while steve on the next peg was building a weight fishing in the edge and Phil opposite bagging a roach a chuck on castor.

Come the weigh in, the weights were all fairly low and i knew i hadnt come last but framing was looking unlikely. I weighed in 12lb which i was dissapointed with but expected. Steve did well with 20lb. Shaun pipped him with 21lb. The match was actually won from the other lake with 39lb. All in all a good day oout but roll on the Larford TA match! Cheers for organising by the way Larry and JC. Very well run.

Hillview Open - 28/03/2009

Looking at the weights from the Wednesday open, i was rearing to go and hopefully catch a few, as the weights had been fairly consistent and good. 15 of us fishing, so it was decided as a rover . . . . again! I do hate these types of matches, as i always draw pants!! This time was no different, pulling out last but one. At least there was still some choice. Going down the list, no one was deciding to go on the pegs that won on the Wednesday, I was amazed to see that when it came to my turn peg 16 was still left. I ran to it i must say!

Setting up was quite simple. 1 short pole rig (7 metres) which comprised of a Mick Wilkinson pellet float 0.6g on 0.14 Silstar to and 0.12 bottom. I decided to fish hard 6mm pellet on the B911 size 18 hook. The only other rig i got out was an edge rig for 3 ft of water to both pallets, left and right. This rig was on 0.16 straight through using a 0.2 Hillbilly Grizzily, hook choice was a Tubertini 175 in size 2.

At the all in i potted in half a pot of pellet and corn in one edge, and half of that amount in the other to see how they wanted the feed. Then out on the 7 metre line with a full kinder pot of 4mm feed pellet and a 6mm on the hook. After 10 minutes i had 1 liner and no real bites. I put in a few more pellets and started to regularly lift and drop the rig, second lift i hooked a fish on the way up which dropped off. Next cast i finally hooked a fish, a skimmer about half a pound. This wasn't what i hoped for. In the next few casts i caught another 5 skimmers, including one real bream about 2lb. After this quick flurry i had nothing so i decided to feed it and rest it. This meant trying the edges a lot earlier than i wanted. Nothing. . . .

Needless to say i had a shocking match and no matter what i tried i couldnt catch a carp (apart fromn the 1 mug out the edge about 7lb which was the only bite in the sides). To say i was baffled was an understatement as the fish were there on the Wednesday.

I packed up 20 minutes before the end and tipped back, feeling very dissappointed about my performance although i felt i couldnt have done anything better.

The match was won from the other lake with 90lb....45lb of those skimmers!

Hillview Lakes Open - 22/3/2009

As I wasn' able to fish Saturday, Sunday open it was. Which was a decent thing in hindsight as they are very good turnouts. 31 anglers turned up to fish, on all four canals. Great! Although they had been fishing well, I didn't fancy having nearly 8 (or 7 on 1 canal) on each canal! This was going to be tough.

At the draw, I managed to get near the front (I desperately wanted peg 69). In went my left hand ... out come peg 74! Damn it! I thought I was in for a real bashing as peg 69 had been king on the 3rd canal. After realising I had forgot my trolley to my box and having one of the longest walks ever, I finally got to my peg and chucked off my jacket... I was roasting!

Looking at my peg, I felt a lot more confident than I did at the draw, it had a nice gap in between 2 reed beds where I could fish a rig right tight to the far bank, which meant I would be in the shallowest water (which I wanted with the sun blaring, and being so warm). I was on a canal with 8, which meant it was pegged quite tight but not cramped, i still had a pallet either side!

Setting up, I had 4 rigs. The 1st rig (the main 1 I would be using) was fishing over to the far bank in the gap, I pushed this tight over to find 2ft which was perfect! On this rig I fished 0.14 silstar to a short length of 0.12 with a pellet band incorporated, to an 18 b911 hook. I used a small Malman Snake 4, in 4x12 which is the perfect float for this style of fishing. The elastic I used was a double no.6. My next line was down the track in 6 feet of water, right at the bottom of the first shelf. All the material was the same as the other rig, apart from the float, which was a Ackoo Pellet Stix in 0.4 version. The last 2 rigs i set up were for fishing the margins, i had one tight to the vegetation to my left and one for shallow (as they do come up in the edges!). I incorporated the same set up as the above 2 except these were on 0.16 to 0.14 and used a 0.1 Hillbilly, Grizzly! The only bait I had with me were some 6mm hard pellets for the hook and some 4mm feed pellet...as you will tell in time i am a self confessed pellet head!!

At the all in i fed all my lines except the far bank with around 100 4mm pellets and a few 6mm pellets to let them know what theyre going to be having!! I baited my 'over' rig with a hard 6mm (with my awesome new bandabait tool) and filled my tiny drinks cap with 15 4mm pellets. I pushed the rig up the slope and potted in my bait. . . . within seconds i was into my first stockie of the day, next cast the same thing happened. Next cast i didn't have a bite straight away so now i had chance to start working the bait, lifting and dropping. This time I hooked something more substantial and i just wasn't quick enough to steer it from the 2 bushes and it snagged me! After a lot of pulling, my 0.12 hooklength finally broke. New one on and back over with another 15 pellets. I started to lift and drop again, and I was now catching much bigger stockies, and some 3lb-4lb fish. All the time i was feeding my other 2 lines as my main line started to fade. After 2 hours i had around 20lb and looked to be winning my canal. I decided to rest my main line over and try the track rig, 1st cast i had a small tench, but the next cast i had a 4lb ghostie. Superb.

In the last part of the match i swapped between the 2 lines and put fish in the net for the rest of the match, the angler on the fancied peg 69 looked to be catching in the edges, but i never had a tickle! Come the weigh in, i knew the 2 end pegs on my canal had caught but didnt know what weights they had. Apparently the end peg on the 2nd canal had bagged up all day fishing paste!

At the weigh in 40 odd pounds was winning from the 4th canal, 27lb was winning my canal, I weighed in 58lb the only one left to beat me was the angler on the 2nd canal.... he weighed 55lb. Result.

A nice win to start off my blogg, come back next week to see how i get on Saturday at Hillview and then a Talk Angling match on Sunday at Froggats Farm... a place i have never heard of!