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!!!
Monday 28 September 2009
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.
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.
Monday 21 September 2009
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.
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.
Tuesday 15 September 2009
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!
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!
Wednesday 2 September 2009
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!
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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